Box, Sword and Ears? (Long Chap) (Edited 01-26-2024)

Big Surf Island, East Blue 

(Kuina's POV) (3 Days earlier around 5ish in the AM - 10 hours after the incident) 

 I tried to stand up, well I staggered to my feet and looked down at my new height 'not that far, eh? Well, I am 8 yrs. old now .... what 4 ft 8 maybe? The ground is pretty close anyway' She notices the rough, mostly tied up, black military-ish boots and tall stockings, that are messy. "Well... all of me is a mess. Mostly dry, but sandy and waterlogged. Ugh." She keeps up the check-over. Black jean short shorts with decent pockets for short shorts, black suspenders, white shirt with three buttons that are open under a heavy, wet, black poncho with a hood. 'I also feel something weighing me down from my lower back' I decide to pull off my poncho then investigate the semi-cylinder. "It's a small sheath" {protection. Tanto Blade} my brain/Kuina's memory provides as I drop the wet poncho down and see a short bow attached to the inside of the coat. I pick my poncho back up and dig to see if anything else is in the internal hidden pockets. I feel my Memories Melding into me as if they were my own and I start remembering what I stashed in there for our trip to Logue Town..."Weird." As I stand up straighter, I find my wallet, it's a piece of brown leather folded 4 ways kind of like a loose letter with a long piece that folds around the whole thing. It's tied together with a piece of leather string with a coin riveted through the lip of the flap to tie down. In the wallet are held paper bellies and change. "I'll Count that later." I also find there are two cards, metal cards. I pull them out. 

(Citizen of East Blue Shimotsuki Kuina / Gender: Female / Born: September 17th of 1501) 

(Citizen of East Blue Roronoa Zoro / Gender: Male / Born: November 11th of 1501) 

"Well at least my Identity is with me... I also have Zoro's card ... better get that back to him... if he's still alive. I think BoB mentioned that two people lived and there were only two 8 year olds on the ship" I stretched and felt wet hair hitting around the bottom of my back in a loose pony tail. 'Eh isn't Kuina's hair .... like short?' 

{No silly. I've always had my hair long! [A well of sadness and loneliness hits me] of a Mother being gone} As my memory crushes me, I think: 'She would like me to keep my long hair.' I know with confidence and in loving memory. "Wow, I am really integrating with my memories ... that's good, isn't it?" Tears start to fall from my cheeks..."Ehhh??~" 

"SNIFF .... Yosh! ... enough of that I need to find food!" as I rub away the trail of tears off my face. 

I reach up to the base of my pony-tail and untied the ribbon and start to comb it with my fingers to put it into a high-top pony-tail 'It feels like I've done this a million times. After, I put my hand to the back of my waist and grab the tanto handle. And it feels natural, years ... well~ 4 years of training with 3 types of blades/bamboo blades. I pull it out and inspect it, about 12 inches of straight black steel, classic stub nose. It looks like a mini katana or more Shikomizue {A Fathers Vow} my memory provides. It's a blade that's been handed down in the female line of my family to every first daughter. On the blade on the right side of the blade on the 'mune' before the 'Habaki' piece was Kanji that reads ' A Fathers Vow' and on the left side in the same place in Kanji is 'A Daughter's Protection' in white gold engraving. "Yee-ea-ah not going to touch that edge looks sharp as hell. And it feels glad to be in my hand?" The blade had a warm feeling like a hug from your dad and granddad and great grandad all at once. Like it was saying: I will always be with you. and protect you, I am your last defense. "Huh ... solid." {Reassurance?} 

I sheath it and it gives me comfort. I also noticed the sheath is dry and feels like it was protected, it didn't need attention, "neat", I pick up my poncho and hang it on a nearby branch while taking out the short bow " basic bow? 4 arrows, feels natural in my hand. The line is fraying, looks like I'll have to replace that." I hang it from a branch also and sit on a stump to take off my soaked shoe's and drenched stocking's also placing them to dry "In this lovely sun it won't take too long," ("Sigh~") I let out a breath and turn to the woods and carefully make my way deeper in to the avocado tree I see just inside. I grab an avocado and my tanto and cut one that is 'ripe', smells fresh like one feels and... I only take a small nibble, to make sure. Even though it's like my brain is saying not to worry we have them on our island near Shimotsuki Village, I then go to town with the fruits and move around to see some bananas and apples. " The foliage is not bad around here. Easy to walk on, like someone comes here pretty often." 

(Buuu-uuu-uurp) "Ti-hehehe that was unladylike. Oh well at least I got some food." Satisfied, I was slouching up to a tree when I noticed a small creature with black fur and white ghostly tipped Fox ears and white paws. Sitting right in front of me, giving me the most unimpressed look an animal can. I notice the creature is kind of see through. "Huh? You are looking for food also?" 

"Hey you! ... Listen!... You Feel like the one I've been waiting for ...follow me!" It speaks with an almost ethereal whisper. 'Was that in my mind?', as the creature gets up it spins to the left and starts walking with purpose. Is it a fox ... spirit? 

"Uh ... ok Navi. What we in Legend of Zelda now? Why should I follow a seemingly random spirit?" I say with exasperation. 

♤ BoB here ... Bahahaha! No, that is not the little annoying fairy from... Well, you know what? If you do a good job maybe you will get to help me with another story also~ SO, follow her ... She's pretty much your Kin. ♤ The being says with an almost excited but serious tone. 

(Sweat drop) I quickly get up to follow the fox Spirit. 

"Hey are you related to me in any way because I do not remember my dad mentioning that we had any fox family members?" I ask while I am stepping in time with the fox's hop like trot. 

"We do have a relation ... but distant. We are Descendant and Ancestor of the Shimotsuki Family. A part of my soul lives in our line passed down through the generations. In the time of need, A pair of twin girls will be born into the family and will be called forth to right the wrongs. Even though it may be Danger or Corruption. Like you, my twin is a distance away.... Our shrines are the same but always moving near our descendants that will use our weapons and powers when called. But unlike us, the Shrine has never been this far.... It was different when we were in the land of our 'Family and Clan'. We would only be on either corner of my lady's court or in recent years we would be on the precise north and south ends of a village of our Family and Clan. But that changed in your time because of the last part of the 'Void Century' Now be ready my Dear One. Once a descendant takes on the role ... You/We get a Reward, or Curse, depends how you treat it." The fox spoke in its ethereal way, while trot-hopping beside me ... 

"Twin? I have a sister?" I get excited and nervous. But as I talk out load, I feel a piece of my |Haki| gets Warmer and Stronger. {Protect and Fight for Her}. While I am thinking about it, I notice the fox stumbles a bit and scoffs and side-eyes me. 

"(Pffft). That. My dear one... I feel slightly bad if that's the case. How do you not know of your twin ... your Adviser and Shield. Your Sister will be your guiding Wind and your Shield of Body and Mind as you are the blade that strikes in offence of both your Body and Mind." The fox explained with joy and respect of my twin. She stopped, at a 'rock' and put her paw on the surface. As I was going to ask about what she meant about what she said... I was struck dumbfounded, (BANG!) Quite literally a clap of lightning struck the rock with a flash, there was a little Shinto shrine with a Fox Statue in the sitting position. Under the front paws was an ornate blueish white box. In the maw of the fox was held a sword. 

I was drawn to the sword ... more like a {Nodachi} (memory kicks in again) 'In size. That's like 3 to 4 ft long' As I go to reach for the sword. 'The fox-spirit put her ghostly white paw on my hand and moved it down and ...to the box. 

"Dear one... Do not touch the blade 'til you are the element that of with it was forged ... it would be ... bad ... and painful... please we have much to learn and discuss" she said ominously with care. 

I tug the box out from the statue and open the box to find a blueish-white pear with a weird green 'T' like stem on top with swirls and electricity and power coming from it ... 

'Is that the Goro Goro no mi? It looks different from the description on the One Piece fandom page.' I pick it up "Eh? It smells sweet, Like Grandma's apple and pear crumble pie. Hope it doesn't taste like they describe in the manga" I open my mouth and eat it whole... 'I really don't want to taste what the user tasted in the... oh yuck.' 

("Bleh") 'Gross!! it's absolutely disgusting like they portrayed in the manga... Luffy was not exaggerating' As it went down to my gullet, I pulled a face of disgust and I felt it hit my core ... 'No ... soul? it's like a key that slots in your will... 'Power. Just intrinsic and energetic but elegant power. "I feel like I can... guh" 

Kuina jolts straight and falls backwards onto the soft landing into the grass slipping into oblivion. 

♤BoB here: And a he-ere we go!! (~giggle~) ♤ 

[INITIATING SYSTEM] 

SYSTEM 100% 

In the state of unconscious. 

Welcome User 

'Huh... User?' 

Please say or think: 'User profile or stats to bring up your personal profile. 

' Stats?' and then a page right out of a game of D&D appears in her mind's eye. 

User: Shimotsuki D. Kuina 

Age: 8 

Race: Awakened Mink: Fox [Human DNA suppressed by Mink DNA variant] 

Stats: 

Strength: 10 

Constitution: 4 

Agility: 12 

Intelligence: 9 

Haki: 5 

Perception: 10 [20] 

Cunning: 3 

Abilities: Inspect 

Devil Fruit: Logia: Goro Goro No Mi, Model: Kitsune 

Devil Fruit Abilities: Logia body [electricity], Doubled Perception, Enhanced Movement 

Clansmen of D. 

Mink Tribesmen: [Fox] natural boost to: Strength and Agility, added stat: cunning 

Kitsune Tails: 1 out of 9 

Kuina was dumbfounded... again. ...First the fox 'ancestor', Then the Devil Fruit. 'Thought the Goro Goro no mi Was Enel's Devil Fruit? But is it like Choppers and Luffy's with the whole Zoan: Hito Hito No Mi. Differences only in being the model. One is the mythical model: Nika, thought that could only happen to Zoan's... Kitsune Eh? Is that causing my Mink Race? Is that why I am a Mink now? Well, this IS an alternate story line ... and on that note. D. .... huh? so I am part of the Clan of D. or Will of D. Well, isn't that going to be fun if any Important or General Asshole's find out. oh, that will be a Furkin Kerfuffle Eh?... I am also part of the Mink tribe .... huh I don't know about being a natural furry ... uh yeah, I don't want to think about that (shivers~) does dad know? he must ... maybe? Why didn't he say anything? And oh, I cannot wait to try out that beautiful sword ... if I can even swing it? Might be a few years though' (Sad Face of broken dreams) 

"Uh-hG!!... Why-yy me-eee??? Twice in one day even. I feel like this will be the norm knowing this world" While I wake up sore and well, I keep my eyes closed to figure stuff out and just feel. I feel confused of my status and general well-being. 'Let's not make this a thing though' 

I feel stronger though and I can hear more clearly. Like someone connected a Hi-fi unit to my ears with some really damn good unit straight to my brain, I hear noises I didn't even know existed, but I could feel my 'ears'? Move to pick up the noises, 

 like my brain wants to focus on them, they passively do this ... but ..."e-rr" I try and move them, and I can feel them move...? They move like they have more to them. Damn ... It's quite natural. Like second nature even, ... and my right ear flicks as a leaf tickles the tip of my ear? Feels like a finger grazing the little hairs. 'All right, enough of my ears ... I better get up and actually take stock. I really hope I don't have fur like the Mink of One Piece. 

Kuina straightens up off the ground and looks around to not find the little Fox. "Uh... Ancestor??"