Switch-Switch 2: Chapter 12

(11 Years Ago)

The sounds of their swords clashing echoed through the halls of the dojo.  It wasn’t long until the sound of a body hitting the floor followed.

“Winner: Kuina!”

The green-haired boy watched as his sensei’s daughter started to walk away until he heard, “What, not even going to help me up?”

“You’re a big boy; surely you don’t need the help of a girl to get to your feet. Or are you just feeling that pathetic after your 100th straight loss, Pencil Chin?”

“Just you wait, Kuina; one of these days, I’m going to defeat you!”

“Just try it, Katai.”

(Present Day)

Zoro parried another blow from Katai’s sword, though panted heavily because of the effort. “Dammit; his strikes have gotten more powerful since we last fought.”

“What’s wrong, Zoro? I remember your blows from the other day to be much more powerful,” Katai said, his face stoic. “Could it be you’re not as powerful as you once were because of your currently shaming Kuina’s image?”

“I already told you; this isn’t Kuina’s body!” Zoro responded.

“The resemblance is too remarkable for it to be anyone else; quit trying to fool me into thinking it truly is someone else.”

“You’ve always been a stubborn bastard, ever since I first joined the dojo.”

“I think we’ve talked enough. At least with your death, I will have finally vanquished my two greatest regrets: not defeating you, and my losses against Kuina.”

Katai then started thrusting his sword toward Zoro with such speed and velocity that it felt like a squad of Marine soldiers was attacking him. He had backed up against a wall, so he countered as best he could. However, several of the attacks ended up puncturing his skin.

“Damn, he got a few good shots in…” Zoro thought as he recalled a memory from long ago.

(11 years ago)

Zoro had gone to get a sharpening stone for his sensei when he heard the clash of wooden swords in the distance. Those sounds were normal around the dojo, but it sounded like several people were attacking at once; something that ordinarily would never be allowed. Curious, he went toward the sound of the clashes.

He eventually saw seven people wielding their practice swords against Katai, who was the most accomplished student after Kuina. The seven charged, but Katai simply stood his ground and thrust his own practice sword toward the attackers. The thrusts were so fast that Zoro thought he had instantly grown a hundred arms. The power of the attack couldn’t be denied, as Zoro saw the seven opponents sprawled on the ground, and in great pain.

“Hmph!” Katai grunted as he walked away. “Not nearly powerful enough. If I could only defeat that girl!”

Zoro, having seen enough, went to Koshiro, his sensei, and presented him the sharpening sword. He then asked, “Sensei, how strong is Katai when he uses the sword?”

Koshiro started sharpening his sword as he said, “Katai’s strength is something he takes pride in, and for good reason. However, his technique still needs refining in order to make full use of that strength.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve seen him practice once in a while. I understand he has a technique that can take down multiple opponents at the same time.”

“Yeah; I just saw him do it. Why can’t he beat Kuina then?”

“Because while his strength and that technique are impressive, he hasn’t done enough to defeat the myriad of skills Kuina has accumulated over her years under my tutelage. Zoro, remember this, if nothing else I’ve taught you: in a sword fight, it’s the one with the greater skill that will triumph, not the greater strength.”

(Present Day)

Zoro dropped to one knee as he panted heavily, feeling the sweat stream down his female body. Looking up, he saw Katai with a disappointed look on his face. “I guess it’s true what Koshiro-sensei said: women could never be as strong of sword wielders as men. You’ve bored me now, Zoro.”

Katai then turned his back and started walking away, until the sound of swords being sheathed caught his attention.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Zoro remarked, brandishing Wado Ichimonji and looking bruised. “Our fight isn’t over!”

Katai turned back toward Zoro and said, “I was willing to let you walk away, but if it’s death you want, I’d be happy to oblige. Just don’t blame yourself when I end up snapping your swords in two and carving out your heart!”

Katai got himself in position as he prepared his special technique again, but Zoro kept himself still. Katai then lunged forward, only for Zoro to duck under the onslaught of attacks. Zoro then ran past Katai, slashing Katai with Wado Ichimonji.

The two stood back-to-back for a while, still in the position they finished their moves in. Suddenly, Zoro fell to one knee, quickly sheathing Wado Ichimonij before propping himself up on a crate. Several crates in front of Katai also burst into splinters, leaving only a wall with several holes in it. “Still so powerful in your strikes, Katai, but your technique isn’t all that impressive.”

Katai scoffed as he quietly said, “Spare me. I’m humiliated enough…” He then collapsed to the ground, blood gushing from the wound Zoro had inflicted on his torso.

Zoro wearily stood himself up and limped out of the room, saying, “Remember, Katai: don’t fight a master swordsman with strength alone.”

(Siber’s Hideout)

“What are you waiting for, Black Leg?” Siber said, looking at Sanji, who possessed Nico Robin’s body. “Put your Switch-Switch powers in a fruit.”

“What makes you think I can, dumbass?” Sanji responded. “In case you’ve forgotten, my hands are in Seastone cuffs! How can I use Devil Fruit powers while in them?”

“Oh, come now, Black Leg; surely you don’t expect me to believe you kept the cuffs as they were.” As if to prove his point, Siber’s hand turned into a tiger paw as he swiped at the binds holding Sanji’s hands. The bonds split apart instantly while Siber smirked. “Switching out the Seastone cuffs with regular cuffs was a clever trick, especially since it was Aria who cuffed you. Fooling her sharp eye is no easy feat.”

“Beating her is, though!” Nami shouted as she appeared with Luffy, Kay, Vice Admiral Gibraltar and a tied-up Aria. She looked up at Siber and said, “Forgive me, Captain.”

Immediately, Siber pounced at the group around and tried to swipe at them with his claws. He then removed the binds keeping Aria in her place and said, “Get to higher ground and just observe. I’ll take care of this myself.”

Aria simply nodded and went to the top of a pole, while Siber parried a kick from Sanji, now looking like his old self. “I’m not going to let you have your way!”

Surprised by Sanji’s appearance everyone turned to Gibraltar, who now  possessed Nico Robin’s body. “Of course that idiot wouldn’t bring Robin’s body into a fight,” Nami seethed. “The rest of us had to fight in different bodies, but no; Heaven forbid he do the same!”

“You look so pretty, Daddy!” Kay remarked as she hugged Gibraltar, who kept a mortified expression on his face. “Why…am I…a woman?”

“Be sure to let me have a crack at him, Sanji!” Luffy shouted.

Aria observed the fight between Sanji and Siber from atop her perch, looking at Siber in particular. “Please be safe. I can’t stand to be separated from you again.”

(20 years ago)

“Who…who are you?”

The lanky man bowed before the two children and said, “Don’t be afraid. My name is Viktor. What about you?”

The little boy and girl looked at each other and told Viktor, “We don’t know…”

“Well don’t worry, children. We’ll give you names. How do you feel about…Beng and Aria?”