When Tashigi is unwillingly forced into a betrothal by her clan, she needs to find a substitute fiancé, fast! Now who would fit all the requirements? Who else? ZoroxTashigi

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Why did it have to come now?

The crisp piece of parchment lay stretched on her desk; the signature at the bottom stood out starkly as though it had been signed a moment ago.

It may as well have. The urgency of the script was indisputable. If she chose to ignore it now, the consequences were too dire to discount. Hell might as well been loosed on earth if she did.

There were so many ways out of this that she thought up of, so many ridiculous concepts that became more desperate than the next. Well, times have changed. She would have to go with her most desperate plan, only because it was the one with the greatest chance of success.

Now to file a leave with Captain Smoker…

--O--

Tashigi wiped the fog off her glasses. She stared long and hard at the ship that loomed directly ahead. Surprisingly, it wasn't at all hard to track them down, working as a single-man team over the past few days. They left a pretty conspicuous trail wherever they went, leaving clues that were so obvious you would have to be stupid to not notice them.

I guess tracking them down is a thing idiots do, thought the marine, grimly. Were the marines just too intellectual for their own good? Oh well, should save the philosophical banter for later.

She strode down the dock where the Thousand Sunny was moored for the time. She followed their trail to this tiny fishing island, where the log pose sets only after two and a half weeks. Divine intervention or not, that little fact just ensured the timing of her mission, assuming everything else would go smoothly.

"Marine-san, may I ask what you are doing here?" a silky voice behind her asked.

The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end when she heard it.

"Nico…R-Robin…"

An arm sprouted from the blue-haired girl's chest, moving upwards for its hand to encircle her neck. It kept a dangerous pressure, but not enough to strangle her.

"I'm afraid I can't let you into our ship, for the sake of my nakama."

"I c-come in peace," Tashigi managed to choke out, hands trying to pry off the alien arm. " I haven't come here…ah, as a marine."

The hand on her neck relaxed its hold a little. "So what is your intention?"

"I have a proposition that would benefit the crew. I must speak to your captain."

Ice blue eyes narrowed treacherously, but then: "Please, follow me."

The archeologist crossed the distance to the gangplank leading up to the ship. Tashigi followed her, the sprouted hand still around her neck. They arrived at the grassy center of the ship.

"Everyone, we have a visitor."

Heads popped out from around the ship, doors began opening to let out the curious occupants. The curly haired sniper, the blue-top cyborg, the raccoon dog pet—they were all here.

"Mellorine! Who is this beautiful new arrival??" A blond head with hearts for eyes began prancing towards the pair.

A young man with dark hair arrived with a buxom beauty. Tashigi concluded that this was Strawhat Luffy and cat burglar Nami. "Eh, who is this, Robin?"

From the watchtower at the mast, their green-haired lookout began descending the ladder to see about the commotion. Halfway through, though, he looked down and saw exactly who the visitor was. His eyes went wide. A huge crashing sound was then heard.

"YOU!!"

Zoro had fallen off the ladder, but was now standing up in a panicked stance, pointing towards the intruder.

"Eh, Zoro, you know this woman?"

"Logue-Loguetown…and Alabasta…"

"I remember now! She was the woman you fought against at Loguetown! What have you done to her this time, stupid marimo?" Sanji growled, livid.

"So you've fought with Zoro and lived," the captain said resolutely. He crossed his arms." "Would you like to join my—"

BONK! Nami smacked his head so hard it bounced off the ground. "Don't make everyone join our crew!!"

"Everyone, this is Sergeant Tashigi," Robin gestured with a smile.

"Sergeant?"

"So you're a marine?" Chopper hid behind Usopp's leg.

Zoro was in a state of shock, still pointing at her. "What the heck are you doing here??"

"If I may be permitted to speak," Tashigi said meekly, dropping down to one knee.

"Fine, we'll here you out," the navigator said.

The hand on her neck receded, and she continued her statement. "I am Sergeant Tashigi of the Marines, serving under the World Government. But I didn't come here to fulfill those duties."

Everyone waited with bated breath.

"My real name, you see, is Shigatsu Tashigi."

Audible gasps rippled through the ship.

"Shigatsu?" Robin's eyes were now widened in alarm.

"Huh? What does that mean?"

"The Shigatsu clan. Originally from North Blue, where I'm from," the blond cook said, flicking out a cigarette. " Now they control a lot of the Grand Line."

"They're weapons specialists. Guns and the like, but their main specialty are katanas," continued Franky. "But most of their dealings are underground, in the black market. They pride themselves too much to sell to the highest bidder. They sell to those they deem worthy."

"As such, they control much of the underground criminal network. The World Government cannot reel them in because of their extensive reach," stated Robin. "They provided the bomb that Crocodile used in Alabasta."

"That huge thing that Pell tried to fly away?"

They all looked at Tashigi, confused.

"I escaped that life, and went to work as a marine, to start anew," Tashigi said. "My father tolerated it for a while, but now he sent me a summons that I cannot disregard. I have been betrothed to a suitable candidate."

"OK, so what does your getting married have to do with us?" Nami said impatiently.

"Our clan is very traditional and it holds its customs very meticulously. As the only daughter and successor of the leader, I am obliged to carry on our family legacy. I still have a choice in this, however. I can still choose someone to challenge my betrothed. If he defeats him, then I don't have to marry the one my father chose for me."

Eyes were hardly blinking at this point.

"So now, I need someone to act as my fiancé."

She looked directly at Zoro, then, who broke out in a nervous sweat.

"For this, I have chosen Roronoa Zoro."

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First chapter done! This is just a prologue! The next installment in a few days, I promise!!