Chapter 20: East Blue Arc: Kitetsu III and Yubashiri! Zoro's New Swords and the Woman Sergeant Major!

"Wow!" Luffy gushed once the crew docked at Logue Town. "What a large town."

"The place used to be full of pirates on their way to the Grand Line." Nami explained. "it has everything you could ever need."

"Alright, I'm gonna get equipment for our upcoming great adventure." Usopp declared.

"Looks like I can get some good ingredients here." Sanji grinned.

"I've got something I wanna buy too." Zoro added.

"How are you going to do that?" Nami posted a question. "You're flat broke, as I recall."

"Alright, I'm gonna check out the execution platform." Luffy announced. "I'm gonna see where the King of the Pirates was executed."

"Hey, wait!" Usopp voiced. "We still haven't decided where to meet up! Man, that guy..."

"Aniki never changes," Sasha sighed. "Still always going at his own pace."

"Sasha, your choker..." Nami pointed, the sapphire that hung around Sasha's neck glowing faintly.

"This is..." Sasha glanced down. "I can sense it..." she mumbled, concentrating on the pulse of power the crystal let out. "One of my armors... it's here."

Damn, these are expensive! Zoro twitched, giving the swords on display at the nearest weaponry shop a quick glance. Too expensive! I can't afford to borrow anymore from that girl. But I can't go into the Grand Line stuck with just one sword. What do I do?

"Pay me back for them!" Tashigi demanded, Zoro having crushed her glasses in his hands from shock after he saw the Kuina-lookalike.

"Now, you're in for it." Sasha shook her head in resignation.

"I'd like some swords." Zoro informed the shop keeper as he and Sasha entered the weaponry shop Sasha was standing outside off.

"Yes, yes. Welcome." the shop keeper beamed. "Have a look at anything you like. Our shop's been in business for 200 years, you see."

"I got 100,000 Berries." Zoro slammed the stack of bills on the counter. "Sell me two swords.

"50,000 a sword'll only get you some dull blades." the store keeper sighed.

"I'll make do with whatever." Zoro insisted. "I just don't got any money."

"Hold on!" the shop keeper spotted the sword on Zoro's waist. "Lemme see that sword of yours. That's not a bad sword." he appraised the blade. "What do you say? I'll but this from you for 200,000 Berries. Then you'll have 300,000 Berries in total. You could get three good swords at 100,000 apiece."

"Hello!" Tashigi ran in as Zoro and the shop keeper haggled over the price. "Did you finish polishing my Shigure? Is this sword the Wado Ichimonji? What are you doing with a a legendary sword?" she looked at Zoro.

"You're here for your Shigure, right?" the store keeper brought out the blade. "I'm done polishing it. It's true." he admitted. "That's sword's so legendary, it'd be a waste for a guy who doesn't know it's value to walk around with it. All the swords in that barrel are 500,000 Berries apiece. Just take whatever two you want. Now lassie," he turned to Sasha as Zoro went over to the sword collection and started digging. "What can I do for you?"

"May I take a look at your armors?" Sasha requested. "I'm looking for a specific armor."

"A curse sword, huh?" Zoro mused, sheathing the Kitetsu III.

"I know that grin." Sasha smiled, seeing Zoro's satisfied smirk.

"I like it." Zoro declared. "I'll take it. Then, let's do this. My luck, and this thing's curse. Let's see which one is stronger." giving the cursed blade a toss upwards, he stretched out his arm just as the sword was falling. "I'll take it." Zoro grinned, the sword passing his arm harmlessly.

"Hold it!" the shop keeper shouted and dashed upstairs to retrieve another sword. "The make is black lacquer, and the blade's temper pattern uneven. The Ryo-Wazamono Yubashiri. My shop may not have much, but this is the finest sword I have."

"I can't buy that," Zoro reminded. "I got no money."

"Forget the money." the shop keeper assured. "And I don't need anything for the Kitetsu either. It's been a while since I've seen a good swordsman's eyes. They say the sword chooses the owner. I pray for your good fortune.

"Found it!" Sasha declared proudly, standing before a dark armor suit. "But the color... isn't how I remembered it. Unless..." she frowned and pressed a palm on the breastplate. The sapphire on her neck reacted, sending a strong ripple of power to the armor. In response, the armor's black tarnish vanished, replaced by its original color; sky-blue with cornflower trimming. "It's been too long, Winter Purgatory."

"You're..." the store keeper gaped in shock. "Could it be... child, you're.. the Water Empress, Queen Selena... after all these years... finally... my family..." he sobbed. "We've been waiting for you to appear and reclaim what was rightfully yours, my Lady."