[Voice, Action for the Straw Hats]

[seakingbait]

[Keimi stands on the deck of the ship, a small tanto in her hand. In front of her is a mannequin, reinforced with leather. She grips it tight, bringing the blade above her head and, eyes shut tight, she swings it downward.

And misses by a mile.

She falls, but catches herself on the mannequin. With the assistance of a bubble, she is back on her tail. This time, she won't miss. The same stance, the same shut eyes, and with another swing, she sticks the blade into the mannequin's shoulder.

And when her eyes open to see what she has done, she gasps, releasing the blade's hilt and falling onto her rear in terror.]

----

[Later in the day, after she's cleaned up her mess, she takes to her journal.]

What... kind of weapon do you use... if you don't really want to hurt someone?

Comments

[seakingbait]

To protect my nakama. We have a bounty, and the Navy will be coming after us. If I can't fight, I'll be a burden.

[thethundersaid]

So you want to protect your friends, but you don't want to hurt your enemies? You'll be less of a burden staying out of the fight entirely.

[seakingbait]

It's not like that. I know I'll have to hurt them. That's what fighting is.

I just... don't think that anyone deserves to die.

[thethundersaid]

It takes more skill to avoid killing someone than to just kill them, no matter what weapon you use. Are you prepared to develop that skill?

[seakingbait]

Yes. [Said firmly.]

I won't be a burden to my nakama, and I won't kill anyone, either.

[thethundersaid]

How are you currently training?

[seakingbait]

My crewmate Zoro-chin is teaching me. He's an incredible swordsman.

[And an incompetent teacher.]

[thethundersaid]

[He knows that name from somewhere ... ah.]

Isn't he the one who was looking for strong people to fight some time ago? You're learning swordsmanship from him?

[seakingbait]

Mhm. He's one of the strongest people I know. Who better to learn from?

[thethundersaid]

And he's experienced in combat that leaves opponents alive? [Not what Sasuke would have guessed from their brief conversation.]

[seakingbait]

Well, I've never seen him kill anybody.

[thethundersaid]

I see. [If he sounds dubious, it's because he is.]

If you're learning from a sword-master, why are you asking for other weapons?

[seakingbait]

Because I'm afraid I'll screw up and hurt someone.

[thethundersaid]

Then don't.

[Then again, probably most people don't train their students like Orochimaru did.]

Or use a wooden sword. You can still kill someone with one, but it's less likely.

[seakingbait]

Maybe. I might be able to make a wooden sword...

[thethundersaid]

Buy one. You'll want a durable one with realistic weighting. Weapons aren't something you scrimp on.

[seakingbait]

Mn. Maybe you're right. I wouldn't want it breaking on me...

[thethundersaid]

[Dead serious:] I've grown up with weapons all my life. I'm right.