Many thanks to the gracious and patient MasterQwertster for beta-reading this story. Any mistakes remaining are my own.

Originally, there was only this first chapter set in Logue Town. After getting a few questions, I decided to expand on this one a bit. This is the first time I'm putting up a story that I haven't planned an end for, although I have a couple more chapters almost done. I'd be happy to hear if you have any ideas you'd like me add or expand on. I'm trying for this Miyazaki-esque idea of a lively spirit world standing just out of sight of the human world, although I did not stick to strictly Japanese mythology.

I have posted some character concept art on DeviantArt. If you're interested, just go to DeviantArt and search for 'One Piece Anycents.'

Wado Ichimonji gives a doubtful look into the barrel of discount swords the shop owner had dismissively directed them toward. What an annoying man, insulting her by calling her worthless and all to try steal her away from Zoro too!

She knows Zoro would never willingly part with her, but she's glad that the Marine that looks like Kuina popped up again, if only to interrupt what was turning into a very annoying conversation. Despite her disconcerting outward appearance and the fact that her dedication to swordsmanship seems to be secondary to her fascination with the swords themselves, she seems nice enough.

Wado scrunches her nose, Zoro needs three swords to make use of his signature style. However most of these seem to be made to be worn as part of a dress uniform or a costume. They are cheap steel that would shatter the moment it came in contact with a real blade.

They have no names let alone spirits to grant them strength.

Relying on them seems like it would be worse than not having a weapon at all.

Then she spots one notable exception.

There is a red sheathed katana, mixed in with the trash.

A momentary spike of optimism is quashed when the sword's spirit stirs and she fully registers the kind of energy that is radiating from the weapon.

When the Marine picks it up and holds it out to Zoro the spirit uncoils from the blade like a cobra raising its head. It coalesces into a ragged, spindly figure with wild eyes, and a manic grin.

Unseen by the humans, the spirit slings an arm around Zoro's shoulders.

She bares her teeth at him in warning, but he just continues to grin at her while bending to whisper in Zoro's ear with a voice like metal scraping over stone, "Take me with you swordsman. My maker was one of the greatest who ever lived."

At the same time the shop keeper starts to sweat, fighting with his own conscience until he breaks out, "No! I changed my mind! I can't sell that sword!"

Zoro is still inspecting the blade impassively. The manic spirit sneers at her, "Hah, this idiot can't even hear me, he's totally oblivious to what he's -"

Zoro unknowingly interrupts, "It's cursed, right?"

The shop keeper goes on to nervously explain that the blade's name is Sandai Kitetsu and that all that carry blades of that line come to a tragic end.

Wado reflects that a violent death is hardly an uncommon fate for those who make their living fighting. If this sword has gained a reputation, either the individuals who died were particularly infamous or their deaths were particularly gruesome.

The sword seems amused by this recounting of his reputation, he leans toward Zoro again, "No one will be able to stop you from doing anything you want. With me by your side you can cut down anyone."

Wado scoffs to cover up how this spirit is making her skin crawl, "Laying it on a bit thick, aren't you?"

The other spirit scowls and sneers back at her, "What shelf have you been sitting on to be so clean? You will soon know for yourself, I've seen his kind countless times before, radiating pride like heat from a furnace. His sort answers insults with death, every killing only leading to another, until one day they are put down like a rabid dog. Then his killer will claim you only for the cycle to start all over again."

She is struck by the weight and bitterness of the other spirit's words. She can picture it. Fools thinking a famous name would protect them, making enemies at every turn only to fall under the weight of their pride.

Zoro is foolish in many ways, but he does not kill for pride or sport, "I have been by his side for many years already. You are wrong. He is not seeking a blade that can make up for his deficiencies, only one that can keep up with him."

Kitetsu hisses, "A loyal little dog to follow the arrogant fool."

At the same time Zoro declares, "I like it. So much so that I'll take it." He has a battle ready smirk on his face that makes it obvious he's picking up at least the gist of what they are saying.

The shop keeper starts to protest at the same time Wado rolls her eyes, of course he would take this slinking weirdo's words as a challenge rather than a warning. She's going to be stuck with this guy as a traveling companion.

Zoro responds to the shop keeper's protests, "Then how about this? Why don't we test what's stronger? My luck or its curse?"

Kitetsu starts to cackle like the swordsman has just told a hilarious joke, "It usually takes me at least a few days to drive them to do something suicidality reckless, this will be a record."

As Zoro prepares to throw the blade, Wado grins back at the other blade, "He can sheath a blade by throwing it in the air. This will be easy."

The blade stops laughing, but continues to grin at her as it waits for the right moment.

As Zoro drops his hand in order to throw the blade the ragged spirit crouches.

Just as the swordsman starts to lift his arm into the throw, Kitetsu throws its head back and howls like a mortally wounded animal, a sound of pure despair and terror.

The marine gasps and her legs start to shake, but Zoro simply holds his arm out and closes his eyes.

The blade seems rise and fall in slow motion.

It skims around Zoro's and arm and embeds itself almost to the hilt in the floor. The marine and the shop keeper fall to the ground as their knees give out.

Kitetsu growls when he sees that Zoro's arm is completely unharmed, "So he has some skill, it only means the blood bath will be greater in the end! The more pride they have in their strength, the more dangerous they become when that pride is wounded by fear."

She is already thoroughly tired of the other spirit's attitude, "If he ever becomes so despicable, we can turn on him together. How about paying attention to what's actually going on?"

The shop keeper has just jumped to his feet and run to the back of the shop. He soon returns with another katana with a black sheath.

The spirit of the third blade uncoils and stretches like a tiger waking from a nap as the shopkeeper introduces the blade as Yubashiri.

The new spirit assesses her with a critical eye. His upright posture speaks of discipline and self-confidence verging on cockiness. Military, Wado thinks, but he is not a standard issue saber of the Marines.

"Can't say I'm sorry to see you go Sandai Kitetsu. You may have had a hard time of things, but that's no reason to make everyone else miserable. It's nobody here's fault your masters were all a bunch of honorless thugs." He turns to Wado Ichimonji, "Good luck working with him. You'll need it."

Yubashiri's 'everyone else' causes her to look around and realize that there are indeed a few other spirits lingering unobtrusively around the shop, apparently content to avoid the attention of Sandai Kitetsu, and possibly Yubashiri as well.

Kitetsu growls, "At least some of my masters made a name for themselves! Nobody remembers the name of the island you came from, let alone any of its defenders."

Yubashiri bristles, but their attention is brought back to the humans' conversation when the shopkeeper declares, "I'm not asking for any money! Just take it!"

The feral blade starts to cackle again only to cut off as the shopkeeper continues, "Of course I won't ask you to pay for Sandai Kitetsu either. I apologize for trying to trick you before. It's been a long time since I've seen a swordsman as good as you. They say a sword choses its owner. So I shall believe in your good luck and pray."

She can't help but smile as she looks between the two spirits now sporting comically similar airs of indignation at the presumption of the shopkeeper's words.

Kitetsu sees her smile and scoffs, "He's getting three? Does he break blades so often that he needs a spare? Or maybe that's why you're so clean? He keeps you for show?"

Wado tries not to show how that hits a nerve. She had survived the clash with Mihawk's Yoru because she is a better blade then the two nameless ones Zoro was carrying at the time.

Still, despite refusing to give up multiple times, he had ended the fight when it became clear that another charge would almost certainly lead to her being shattered. That risk had stopped him when having a blade pressed to his heart had not.

She had cursed her own weakness that day.

She glares at the other spirit and reminds herself that while Zoro might not use her as often as the other blades he has carried over the years; she is the one he relies on when his strike needs to be at its strongest and most sure.

She ignores Kitetsu's smug look at having managed to get to her and replies airily, "He uses three swords when he fights. He developed the technique himself."

"And how does he do that exactly?" Yubashiri asks with skeptical curiosity.

She tries to maintain her air of confidence as she replies, well aware that fully explaining would sound silly even if the technique has more than proven itself over the years, "You'll see when the time is right."

Sandai Kitetsu starts up his annoying laughter again and even Yubashiri snorts, "That bad, huh?"

Wado decides that she doesn't like either of them very much.

She tries not to let the disappointment get to her too much. She finally has companions to talk to and they turn out to be a brute and a snob. Great.

Thank you for reading! I know it's not much, but I've been struggling with some longer stories that I can't seem to get in order and I was happy to just to finish an idea.