Chapter 1, part 2: Cursed blades
Lina took the question in for a moment and let it sink in as she ate her fries and sipped her tea. Her first instinct was to say skippy or skips, the epithet she normally gave to keep her real name under wraps. However right now she was thinking twice about it, with a wide eyes and a suddenly peaked expression. On the side of the road she heard a few boys running around in rags waving around newspapers with the usual slogans one would expect from clickbait titles such as, "
Extree extree reed all bout it dewgong colony hijacks merchant vessels. Extra extrrrah read alll bout it, cloaked girl suspected of killing a navy commodore thought to be sighted on alabasta. Suspect is armed and dangerous"! A bead of sweat rolled down her cheek and as she set her tea down. Amongst her were whispers of curious towns people deep in their little conversations. One couple actually approached the two, with inquisitive eyes and worried expressions. "
Deary do you think---uhhh what is that smell? geez", the woman said while holding her nose. Lina put her sleeve to her nose and sniffed to see if it was her while the demon hunter gave them a glare which scared them far worse than Lina ever could. "
If you're done LEAVE, I am having a conversation here". The couple almost as if they were the ones should be offended stormed off with the girl rushing to the restaurant while the man trailed closely behind trying to dissuade her. "
No honey no they were rude"!
The Demon hunter gestured for her to continue, which prompted Lina to say, " uhhh it's ski---I mean Lina". His eyes narrowed on her for a moment before he partook in his own beverage and continued to examine her. "
I see..and where of that scar on your forehead"? Lina felt around her crown for a moment, until her fingertips found a familiar sensation she all but forgot about. It was the reminder of her first encounter on the grand line, with the Pulverizer from Water 7. " It's from my first fight on the grand line....I fought some hammer heads who came back for revenge". "
Does it have anything to do with fisher and jaws?", he asked in a low tone. She nodded and ate more fries. "
And what of the scarring all over your body?", he asked in an inquisitive tone. She looked at the chaffed skin on her arm and felt the patches on her cheeks. " From the cold...still healing a bit I guess".
The Demon hunter placed his empty cup down and peered at her sword once more. "
Where did you get that blade"?", he asked in a low tone. Lina longingly stroked the hilt and looked back to the old man with a slight hesitation. " It was my father's sword. He passed it down to me before heading off to the New world as part of the G-50 expeditionary forces", she said with a surprisingly fluid tone. The Demon hunter froze for a few minutes, almost like a statue of sorts. As she began to wave her hands in his face, he came back to and sighed. "
Let me examine your blade", he said whilst extending his hand out for her sword. Lina however shook her head with a frown and stooched her chair a few paces back. He gave her an inquisitive look once more, actually taken aback at his own actions after realizing he had almost taken advantage of her somewhat agreeable nature. "
Your blade if it's tsuaka is what I think it is....is the clear marker of the demon blacksmith from Wano...your blade would be cursed by his malice. Even now it sings a regretful song".
Lina rubbed her chin and glanced down at her sword, slowly pulling it up to the table. She carefully unsheathed it, as demonstrated by its signature click whenever the sword breaks its seal. The Demon hunter did not move, but his eyes were transfixed on the blade and its firey hamon. " This...blade was always a bit'uhf a wierd sword. Hardly needs cleaning, hard tah break n it seems ta cut beyond its reach...sometimes it speaks to me. The sound whir it makes in motion sometimes feels like its sad". The demon hunter nodded and his expression became angered for a moment, before returning back to normal. "
Kitetsu's blades are said to turn on their masters. Sandai was said to be the weakest of them all, due to it being one of his last. Some say his previous blades carried his wrath and hatred, but Sandai carried his sorrow and regrets. If you don't want to suffer anymore calamaties girl, I'd toss that blade in the ocean".
" Regardless of this weirdo blade...it's spechill ta me", she said with a softened expression and genuine love for her blade. The Demon hunter examined her long and hard as she was also lost in thought as well. His mind was fixated on the reports he read in the newspaper, about a girl who killed over 100 people and collected their bodies like playthings. Or the accomplice to the icewitch who tortured and slaughtered marine after marine. Though he wasn't much of a fan of them as well, he made the distinction between killing and self defense. As most people did, he too felt that difference was critical to judging those suspected of being monsters.His eyes slanted and brows furrowed in anger as he tried to gauge her demeanor. He actually was more frustrated that he couldn't tell if she was a wolf in sheep's clothing or a girl with a tragic journey on the grand line, as was the story of many others."
You will meet at the great plateau on the eastern side of the city at dawn". Lina tilted her head and went to ask him a question, but even before she could get off one syllable his blade was drawn and held to her neck. Its curved tip flirting with her artery and the table they were eating at, cut in half before she could react. Others in the area including the pissed off lady all stood frozen, as if they feared moving would kill Lina. " ok--ay".
- Spoiler:
Haki: 6/6
Haki Cooldown: N/A
Skills used: N/A
+5 Doriki allocated to Endurance and Durability