SailorStar9: So with Chapter 292 uploaded, this is Chapter 293 of this fic. For everyone who put this fic on your favorited and followed lists and/or story alerts, thank you, but remember everyone, a lot of authors (myself included) sustain on readers' reviews.

Pairings: Married!Ace/Sasha, Sibling!Luffy/Sasha, Sibling!Sabo/Sasha, Background Protector!Law/Sasha

Disclaimers: One Piece belongs to Oda Eiichirō-sensei. Me, on the other hand, own absolutely nothing, except my OC, the pairing and the fic idea.

Chapter 293: Arc 17: Ashura Reunited!

In Bakura Town...

"I did not expect that the Flower Capital would be in such turmoil after Yasuie-dono's execution." Kin'emon admitted.

"I know how Zorojuro-dono and Sangoro-dono feels." Dogstorm agreed. "It can't be helped."

"Let's go beat the hell of out Holdem." Ashura ordered his men.

"Wait a minute, Ashura." Kin'emon tried to stop his former comrade. "I have something to tell you."

"Is that true?" Ashura asked, after Kin'emon revealed that it had been them who raided from the Beast Pirates

"Yes, it is all true." Kin'emon confessed. "We provoked Holdem; I mean, I did. It was my order. I told them to steal food and weapons from Holdem and make it look like the Atamayama Thieves Bridge did it. That is why Holdem became mad and attacked your clan."

"You really use any means." Ashura had his men back down. "Don't you, Kin'emon? Because of that Atamayama was destroyed by fire." grabbing Kin'emon by his coat, he flung his former leader to the ground. "Did you try to entrap us?"

"Stop, Ashura." Dogstorm tried to stop the fuming Ashura. "We are deeply sorry."

"I did it because I wanted to motivate you." Kin'emon explained. "I was driven by that thought." he got back to his feet. But... I'm so sorry, Ashura." he prostrated before Ashura. "I should've listened to Sasha-dono and came to you like this instead. I was justifying my actions in the name of our lord, and I did not have much time, so I could not help but use such drastic measures instead. But I was completely mistaken. 20 years is a long time. The world itself would change, let alone people's minds. I have never thought about it. No, I tried not to see it. But I realized there were still unchanged minds and unshakable beliefs left in this country. When I saw Yasuie-sama... our plan is still safe. Yasuie-sama misled the enemy for us at the risk of his life. The mark on the ankles of those captured by Orochi; those samurai know the best that the moon tattoo is not just a popular design. On the night of the Fire Festival, we will raid Onigashima. Those samurai in the capital will be released because of what happened and I am sure they will join us. In order to take down Kaido and Orochi, we definitely need you. Will you please fight together with us, Ashura?"

"20 years..." Ashura started. "You'll never understand the weight of the past 20 years." taking a drink from his sake bottle, he instructed. "Follow me. There's something I want to show you."

In front of a mass grave site...

"Look what 20 years can do." Ashura led Kin'emon and Dogstorm to a graveyard. "It is very hard to keep believing in a hopeful dream. They could not wait more than 10 years. They became impatient and went to Onigashima and they all died."

"What happened?" Kin'emon was stunned as Ashura recounted how those dead samurai had sailed to their deaths 10 years earlier.

"Why did it have to take 20 years?" Ashura wondered, outloud.

"We will know once this is over." Dogstorm replied.

"There must be a meaning to it." Kin'emon agreed.

"I have no reason to mistrust Oden-sama." Ashura held back his tears. "You guys." he turned to his men. "Eight days from now, on the day of the Fire Festival, in the name of the Kozuki, we will raid Onigashima to take the pirate Kaido and the Shogun Orochi's heads. Those of you who are determined follow me! You guys have no changed since that day, right?" he turned to Kin'emon and Dogstorm. "We were the same age at that time, but now that we've lived 20 years longer, we are stronger than you."

"Shut up, you old fart!" Kin'emon fumed and the three reunited comrades burst out laughing.

SailorStar9: Any OOC-nes is regretted. *Sighs* Don't you just hate plot bunnies sometimes? Reviews are much appreciated.