SailorStar9: So with Chapter 293 uploaded, this is Chapter 294 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 294: Arc 17: Respite: The Heart Pirates

In Flower Capital...

"Gee..." Sangoro sighed, he and Shinobu were on a scouting mission. "We should steer clear of the capital from now on."

"Not just the capital." Shinobu cut in. "We're wanted across the country. Wherever we go, Orochi's assassins will be on the lookout to catch us. Our wanted posters have been spread throughout Wano. So the capital isn't the only place that's dangerous."

"We're considered diabolical outlaws." Sangoro smirked.

"But in a way, our business in the capital is done." Shinobu noted. "Our objective is to find samurai with the moon tattoo."

"But all those samurai are..." Sangoro reminded.

"Behind bars now." Shinobu hissed.

"After Tonoyasu gave that speech risking his life, I thought they'd be considered innocent." Sangoro mused.

"It might not be that easy." Shinobu reasoned. "The Prisoners Quarters are vast. I assume that about a thousand people got caught. He won't admit that he was wrong. But now that we know that they're our allies, we definitely need their help. We've got to do something."

"Law's crew must be there, too." Sangoro recalled. "By the way, Shinobu, what are they doing?" he spied the capital citizens readying the sky lamps.

"They're making Sky Boats." Shinobu supplied. "The Fire Festival is approaching, so they're preparing for it. The Fire Festival in the Flower Capital is an event to honor the dead. The bigger the festival, the better the chance that your thoughts will reach the dead."

In Ebisu Town...

The released Heart Pirates, minus Law, regrouped with the Straw Hats.

"I"m glad that you're alive." Onami beamed.

"Sorry to make you worry." Bepo apologized.

"We heard you guys got caught." Sahiko stated.

"Luckily, we escaped." Bepo explained. "Oh yeah. Take a look at this." he pulled out a piece of paper from his yukata. "Before he died, a Daimyo named Yasuie: he drew the symbol and showed it to the people in the prison.

"Wait a minute." Onami peered closely. "There are two lines added on the snake?"

"That's right." Bepo nodded. "I think the symbol's meaning was altered by those lines. The people of Wano knew what it meant. It's Yasuie's last message."

"This is very important." Sahiko looked at Onami. "Get this to Kin'emon ASAP."

"Okay." Onami nodded and headed off. "Come to Amigasa Village once you're all ready."

"Law exchanged himself for all of your release, didn't he?" Sahiko gave the assembled Heart Pirates a flat look.

"Captain..." Bepo muttered, Sahiko having hit the nail on the head as he recalled how Law had allowed himself to get taken by Hawkins.

"Bepo, be assured." Sahiko spoke, confident. "If my suspicions are correct, then Law has an ally in there."

"We'll leave it to you." the old lady selling seaweed handed Yasuie's body over to Kanjuro; Sahiko having used the Druid healing abilities of the 'Armor of Llyr' to cast a village-wide healing wave that purified the SMILEs' defective chemicals from the villagers' bodies and allowing them to gain their other emotions.

"Count on me." Kanjuro assured. "I will take it upon myself to lay Yasuie-sama's body to rest in Kuri."

"Please take extra care." the seaweed seller prayed.

"Of course." Kanjuro nodded. "We owe a great debt to Yasuie-sama too. Thanks to Yasuie-sama, our long-cherished wish has not been crushed. We cannot have a massive funeral, but we at least want to lay him to rest in the same ground as Oden-sama.

"Please take care of him." the old lady sobbed on Kanjuro's hakama.

"We're all set." Franosuke rode in on a tiger. "Let's go."

On the southwest side of Kuri...

"It's been a while since the last time we walked side by side like this." Dogstorm reminisced as the three members of the Akazaya headed to the harbor.

"Come to think of it, it is true." Ashura agreed.

"It was just days ago for me." Kin'emon stated. "Ashura, what is there to see in a place like this?"

"There is something that I want to show you." Ashura replied.

"Those are...!" Kin'emon gawked at the battered ships Ashura managed to salvage. "Don't tell me. Ships! I'm speechless, Ashura."

"They need to be fixed up a bit." Ashura admitted. "But I brought them here from ports across the country that were destroyed by Kaido. We have enough to transport thousand of warriors to Onigashima. I did not spend 20 years sleeping."

"I will ask Franosuke-dono to do maintenance later." Kin'emon noted.

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