SailorStar9: So with Chapter 296 uploaded, this is Chapter 297 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.

Guest: Too bad I'll have to put this fic on hiatus until the flashback episodes end in the anime.

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 297: Arc 18:The Promised Port! Wano Country Arc Act 3 Begins

At Tokage Port...

Despite having clear weather in Flower Capital, it was overcast at Tokage Port, with heavy rain complete with lightning clouds.

"Not a single ship in sight." Raizo was shocked.

"Where are the four thousand soldiers?" Kanjuro gasped.

"I am positive was conquered Udon." Kiku was certain.

"But no one is there at the labor camp, either." Kawamatsu reminded.

"It seems like this port was attacked." Ashura surveyed the ruins.

"It appears the cat couldn't make it." Dogstorm realized Cat Viper was also missing.

"The Smart Tanishi isn't responding." Kin'emon hissed. "We cannot contact anyone. At the twilight on the day of the Fire Festival at Tokage Port." he pulled out the altered flyer. "This is the rendezvous point. Why hasn't anyone come? Where did they go? It has been only a day." he sank to his knees. "What is this all about? Something happened to everyone?" the worst case scenario dawned on him. "Sasha-sama, where are you?" he shouted down the Smart Tanishi. "Hyogoro-dono, please respond! Dogstorm Musketeers! Law-dono! Jibuemon of Kibi! We are Kozuki Oden's retainers. From 20 years ago... we came from 20 years ago to avenge our lord. We should have died at that time. So we came to die for a cause. However, it takes more then just our lives. The enemy is 30 thousand soldiers. We need help. I am begging you!" he slammed his head on the shore. "Somebody, please help us. Someone respond. Please help."

"Enough, Kin'emon!" Ashura barked. "Look at the sky and sea. We are already abandoned even by heaven. No one will help us."

"Something must have happened to everyone." Kanjuro concluded.

We now bring readers back to two days ago...

With Kin'emon's plans finalized, everyone set to work preparing for the raid in two days' time.

"You enemy is that ill-famed Kaido." Hitetsu reminded, the gathered Straw Hats had donned on the loaned samurai armor. "Are you all prepared?"

"Why don't you wear one, too?" Sanji teased the group's swordsman.

"No, it'll just slow me down." Zoro replied.

"Wear it." Sanji insisted. "Since your bounty is so low."

Zoro's eye flashed and he drew Enma, slicing off the cliff and Sanji's cigarette with one slash.

"Do you wanna fight?" Sanji fumed. "I'll kill you!"

Any pending retort from Zoro was immediately cut off by a looming aura emitting from the group's resident ice user.

"The two of you, cut it out right now!" Sasha flared her Divine Haki.

"Orochi said that it's winter at the entrance of Onigashima." Robin told the Musketeers.

"What do you mean by 'entrance'?" Shishilian asked.

"The mainland of Wano has different seasons in different areas." Carrot explained. "We're covered in fur, so we're okay with cold weather."

"For us, the weather is more crucial." Shishilian agreed.

"Than the season." Concelot added.

"It's supposed to be a full moon that day, but if it hides behind the clouds, it's useless." Giovanni looked up.

"But the Sulong transformation will depend on luck." Wanda pointed out. "It's more important to have Master Cat Viper and the Guardians here."

"Nii-san?" Sasha looked at Luffy who had walked off.

"Big Mom is here." Luffy looked out to sea. "But Jimbei isn't here yet. Thanks to him, we got away from Big Mom. He joined us after he settled things."

"We're happy to have him." Sasha assured her older sibling. "We've still have the time; I know he will come."

We now return to present day at Tokage Port.

"There is a small boat." Dogstorm spotted a boat nearby. "We can use it."

"What are you doing, Dogstorm?" Momonosuke pleaded. "Stop it. Let's do this another day, Kin'emon."

"That is not an option." Kin'emon stood firm.

"Kin-sama!" Shinobu sobbed.

"Let go of me, Shinobu." Kin'emon instructed.

"Kin-sama, we can't do this tonight." Shinobu begged.

"We must do it tonight." Kin'emon insisted. "You know that, Shinobu. It has got to be tonight."

Too bad for the Akazaya, Orochi, having been notified by his spy, had already made his move the previous night.

We flashback to the night before...

"Akazaya..." Orochi chuckled. "And Oden!" he sneered. "I am going to show you hell!" he marked down on the map before him. "Did you find the ship?" he inquired, having been notified by a bird Gifter that they had found the Thousand Sunny tucked away in a cave on the beach of Kuri. "Just do as I say. Do it!" he ordered and had the group of Gifters bomb the ship. "I will not have them have their way!" he celebrated upon receiving news of destroyed ship. "Next, bridges! Destroy them!" he crossed out the bridge connecting Kibi and Udon. "They had it coming!" he bragged, after reports came in about the bridge between Kuri and Udon being destroyed. "All that remains is the port!" he laughed after the bridge connecting Ringo and Udon was also destroyed. "That is fine." he assured the Beast Pirates after the ships at the Itachi Port were destroyed. "We will rebuild after everything is over. I still have not seen the Akazaya members or samurai troops who they recruited with my own eyes. People skipped forward from 20 years ago? How can anyone believe that? Unless they see one of their heads. No, even if they see it, it is still hard to believe. And that fool Yasuie, made it sound more ridiculous. But the information is credible. The Akazaya members are alive. I do not care if my men think that I am talking nonsense. I have the authority to take action. I have blocked all the routes to Tokage Port. Four thousand troops? Good job recruiting so many. But no one will make it to the port. I will not give them even a chance to get revenge." he promised, tearing the map into pieces. "Damn you, Akazaya ghosts! Wallow in despair from being helpless and isolated."

Back at Tokage Port at present time...

"Stop, you all!" Momonosuke tried to stop the seven Akazaya samurai from boarding the boat. "Taking that small boat is like suicide. Let's regroup again when we get another chance."

"If we miss this opportunity, we have to wait for a year." Kin'emon tightened his grip on the oar. "But we cannot hide anymore. They will find out we took control of Udon soon. Kaido's whole army will come to hunt the rebels. We cannot continue to steal their food any longer, either. Before we left Kuri, I am sure you heard what happened. The people of Okobore Town who believed in our great battle were burned alive. Among them was my wife. Please allow us to go."

"No." Momonosuke wept.

"Do you want us to flee and live in disgrace?" Kin'emon demanded.

"What about me?" Momonosuke reminded.

"We want you to live with Hiyori-sama." Raizo pressed.

"Do not be so selfish!" Momonosuke snapped.

"Even your father had no support at first." Kin'emon stated.

"If we had no met Oden-sama..." Ashura voiced.

"We would not be samurai since we were all immature." Kanjuro sobbed.

"That is why we want to be Oden-sama's samurai retainers until the very end." Kin'emon was firm.

"Do not go, Kin'emon!" Momonosuke pleaded. "I do not want to lose even one more person."

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