Chapter 3

Sin was intently looking at the green-haired boy who was madly practising his strange three-sword style. He had seen people using a Dagger with their mouths but never a sword, and as messy as the little boy's form was, there was little doubt that he would not become a great swordsman by how determined he was.

It was very early in the morning, and the sky had not brightened yet, but the students of Dojo were arriving in the training field and starting their sword practice. The sadness they were engulfed in yesterday was now replaced by bright smiles and focus.

Sin sensed the person, whom he was keeping tabs on, approach the field, and hrturned to look in her direction.

Kuina was holding her Wado Ichimonji on her waist, and held a wooden training sword in her right hand. And as soon as she stepped in the training field, everyone walked up to her.

All the students of the Dojo addressed her as their big sister, and she politely greeted all of them before finding a vacant spot and start practising her Sword Form.

"Shouldn't you be resting?" Sin silently walked up to her and spoke, which spooked the girl, who had not sensed him approach, and she turned around to look at him in alarm.

"I am fine." It did not take long for her to regain her composure, and then she politely bowed to him. "Thank you for saving me yesterday."

Sin stayed silent and looked her in the eyes when she straighted her back, which made her blush and feel uncomfortable, but she did not look away.

"I came to this place for your Sword." He said and looked at the sword on her waist. "You can pay us back by giving it to me."

Kuina was surprised by his bluntness, and his voice held no hesitation when he asked for her family's treasured sword.

Sin thought that the little girl was going to hand him the weapon to repay him, but to his surprise, she drew it out of the scabbard and pointed the blade at him.

"I can not just hand over my Family's heirloom even if you saved my life. But if you beat me in a sword fight, it is yours." She declared and fiercely looked at him.

Her action drew the attention of everyone in the field, and Zoro came over to ask what was happening.

Sin stayed silent and kept looking her in the eyes. He could see the resolve of the girl, and the strong will that she possessed. A bright smile bloomed on his face as suddenly his interest in Wado Ichimonji waned.

"If that is what you want, so be it." He said and drew the dagger from his waist.

"Are you looking down on me?" Kuina narrowed her eyes at him when he drew his dagger in a sword fight. "Draw your sword." She demanded and glanced at the Odachi on his back.

All the students of the Dojo were jeering at him, voicing their displeasure at his rudeness. They did not like that he was looking down on their senior sister. But the smile on his face did not subside.

"I don't have another sword on me, and if I draw the one on my back, I will have to bathe it in your blood." He sinisterly said, and all the voices in the field quietened down. "And yes, I am looking down on you. This dagger will be enough for someone with your skills."

As soon as he said that, the girl lunged at him with her sword and attacked his neck, but Sin calmly blocked it.

The two of them engaged in a heated battle, with the clanks of the metal resounding in everyone's ears.

None of the students had ever seen Kuina as helpless as she was right now. She could even give a tough time to her father, but against Sin, even after going all out, she was completely helpless. And to hurt her pride even more, her opponent had not once gone on the offensive. It was as if he was mocking her sword and all her hard work over these years.

Her arms ached badly and she was losing control over her breath, but the girl did not give up. She was ready to faint of exhaustion than to admit her defeat because she felt that if she stopped, she would never be able to fulfil her dreams.

Sin had judged her character and sword enough by now, and he decided to end their battle. His dagger once more clashed against her sword, and he twisted his wrist at an angle that earned his dagger access to her neck.

The sharpness of the blade kissed her skin, and Kuina's mind froze in disbelief. Soon her body started trembling, and the weight of the sword in her hand felt much heavier than ever.

"I win." Sin knew that he had to say something to her or her will to continue on the path of a Swordsmanship would take an everlasting hit. "You are naive and have no intent to kill. That's a weakness, girl."

He drew his dagger back and sheathed it in its scabbard.

"Am I this weak because I am a girl?" Kuina voiced the doubt that was looming on her mind, and her misty eyes looked at him for an answer.

"There are several women on the Seas that are much stronger and braver than men." He smiled at her. "The weak are those who lack the will to become stronger."

He let her contemplate his words and ceremoniously bowed to the crowd that was now cheering for him.

He had given them a performance that they would never forget.

"You are strong!" Zoro looked at Sin in amazement, with his eyes shining in a mad glint.

"I am still weak." Sin humbly said. "The world is filled with monsters, boy. Some swordsmen can cut through anything in the world. I am still at the bottom of the well." He left Zoro to his thoughts and took his leave from the training field.

"Wait!" Kuina called after him as he was walking to the beach with his hands in his pockets.

Sin stopped and turned around to find the girl panting heavily as she came to a stop.

"Here..." She presented him with the Wado Ichimonji that he was after. "I will surpass you one day and win it back from you. And then I will become the greatest swordsman the world has ever seen." She declared.

Sin lightly smiled at her words.

"Keep it." He said. "Someone who aims for such heights would need the help of such a sword."

"But..." Kuina wanted to argue, but he placed his hand on her head and gently patted it.

"I will find another sword for myself. It is not the only Great Grade Sword in the world." He chuckled and walked away.

He was just about to use his Devil Fruit to board the Black Pearl when Kuina shouted from behind him.

"Take me with you!"

Her words halted his steps and he turned around to seriously look at her.

"Why?" He asked.

"I want to become stronger. And I can't do that without fighting against strong people." She determinedly said and looked him in the eyes.

"I am a pirate." He smirked at her surprised expression. "And my hands are stained in blood."

His words made her turn quiet, and she lowered her head. She understood what he meant. Coming with him would make her a Pirate too, and now she had to ask herself if that was the life she wanted for herself. And if she was honest, she felt a little scared of him now.

Sin knew that the decision was not going to be easy for her, and if he was honest, he wanted a person like her on his crew. He would always welcome a person driven by a goal and ready to take risks for it, and the girl had a powerful will that attracted him to her.

"Think over it." He said. "We depart at noon. And if you decide to come with us, come to the beach and call out my name."

"What's your name?" She realised that she did not even know his name yet.

"Black D. Sin." He gave her his full name. "Everyone just calls me Sin." As soon as he said that, his body dematerialised into lightning and he was gone, leaving behind a crackling sound of electricity.