#kuina

Oooooh Kuina AU questions!!

Okay so I have thought about this a little bit! And I do think it could go in multiple directions, but I feel that her being a bounty hunter prior to meeting Luffy would make some amount of sense, based on how I imagine her life going. Similar to Zoro, Kuina would spend most of her time trying to advance her swordsmanship, and the bounty hunting would be more of an afterthought— a girl's gotta eat, and whatnot. She's in it for the money, and any marine/anti-pirate association she acquires along the way would not be something she cared much for (similar to how Zoro insisted that he never named himself pirate hunter). However, I do imagine Kuina to be a more... considering person than Zoro? Overall, I believe their morals align very closely, but Zoro's philosophies are very "gut reaction" or "instinct" based, whereas Kuina does strike me as someone who prefers to ruminate on her place in the world and her values more. We can see this in how heavily the idea that "women are weaker then men" weighed on her during childhood. She clearly thought a lot about the implications of that for herself and for others, whereas Zoro never seemed to consider the realities of the world in opposition to his dream (and though there's the very valid argument that zoro was never discouraged to the extent that kuina was, I still think that it demonstrates a difference in how they approach handling things). Zoro's death inspired Kuina to forego her reservations and be consciously determined in the face of adversity, but I believe she would still be the type to think things through. All this to say that I imagine Kuina would think more about how corrupt the marines' system is as a whole than Zoro is shown to in canon. Now, I do disagree with the idea that Zoro is actually stupid or entirely politically unaware (he does understand power structures and is not naive about the marines or world government), but he seems to usually be the "take the world one day at a time" kind of guy, whereas I imagine Kuina thinks more about the future. I am not entirely sure what it would be just yet, but I do think that Kuina would have some sort of future plan that reaches beyond the East Blue, and would allow her to get out of bounty hunting. Probably not joining some kid's pirate crew on a whim haha, but definitely something.

As for her first encounter with Luffy, though, I am not really sure 🤔 I could see it going the same as Zoro's, what with the... crucifixion and Rika and the onigiri, but I'm not sure she would handle it the same way that he did. Perhaps she would connect more to Rika emotionally? As in, she's a little girl trapped in a system where she is disadvantaged, but is still willing to try and make a difference/go out on a limb anyways? Kuina would certainly notice her bravery in breaking into the marine facility, and the way she refuses to be cowed by being young or a girl. It was something Kuina used to struggle with, after all. Zoro's kindness in that scene came from trying to protect the girl through not acknowledging her, leaving her in the dark at the sacrifice of his own image. But, maybe Kuina's comes from explaining to her why helping her in this situation is a stupid choice. More of a "meet her on her level" approach where she takes a moment to teach Rika to be safer with brutal honesty, rather than trying to trick her into safety with dishonest cruelty like Zoro did. She might still be harsh about it (I do not see her as the type of person to pull any punches), but Luffy would see the heart in it all the same.

awh yes they’re adorable (*´ω｀*)

wado - loyal / stuck

kitetsu - cursed

yubashiri - noble

while kitetsu is obvious and alludes to his reputation as a ruthless killer who witnesses said went on a murderous rampage he could not control (demon), yubashiri was gifted to him because he was seen by the average people as a protector, folk hero, and "worthy swordsman". wado is the more complicated blade and the one he carries most protectively and reverently.

if kitetsu is the "devil" on his shoulder (ego) and yubashiri is the "angel" (superego), wado is the complex blade which attempts to constantly blend the 2 (the id). wado represents zoro's guilt and his idealism, his sorrow and his hope, and his loyalty & his hazardous inertia.

these concepts are tied together as a person in his memory of Kuina - a complicated oath he carries. one which tasks him not to fail the girl he knew but also ensures he is unable to fulfill his promise to her unless he grows beyond her.