SailorStar9: So with Chapter 317 uploaded, I present Chapter 318 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 318: Arc 18: A Risky Invitation! A Plot to Eliminate Queen

Upstairs behind the Live Stage...

X Drake slid open a window as he watched the fights erupt on the Live Floor and recalled what Coby had told him about Luffy. Indeed, the atmosphere changed when Straw Hat appeared. I was afraid of what would happen when Kaido and Big Mom declared their alliance. This confusion that the Straw Hats created is not a bad thing for me.

On the Live Stage...

"It's not just the Straw Hats." Queen snarled. "Those are definitely Udon prisoners. Even Hyogoro is here. What happened at the Excavation Labor Camp at Udon? Was Babanuki threatened? That doesn't add up." he remembered Babanuki's report.

"I'm not gonna blame you now." King landed on the Live Stage. "You've always been brainless."

"You say one word too many!" Queen retorted. "Have you heard the word 'kindness'?"

"We must settle this situation already." King reminded.

"Now you sound like a leader." Queen grinned. "Damn Straw Hat. That shithead."

Behind the Live Stage...

"Onigashima is in chaos." X Drake spoke. "Hawkins, don't you think this is a good chance?"

"If an enemy comes, I'll just slice them." Hawkins dealt his cards. "I don't know what you mean by 'chance'."

"I don't know you were so loyal to Kaido-sama." X Drake noted. "You're only here because Apoo fooled you. Kid, you and Apoo formed an alliance, but Apoo betrayed you two. You unwillingly joined the Beast Pirates. Now's the best time to betray them."

"Are you encouraging me to betray them?" Hawkins looked at his formation. "Don't take me for a fool. One percent."

"What have you been trying to predict?" X Drake asked.

"The probability that this certain man survives until tomorrow." Hawkins replied. "Just one percent; I feel sorry for him."

"Come in, Tobi Roppo." King contacted the Tobi Roppo via Smart Tanishi.

"How annoying." Ulti snapped into her Smart Tanishi. "What do you want, King?"

"Guys, as you know, the situation has changed." King stated. "On the day of the annual Fire Festival, out of all our enemies, we let the Akazaya samurai invade. This is the worst blunder in Onigashima's history. We must cease the internal strife that Kaido encouraged. It has to do with Young Master Yamato. The one who brings the missing Young Master Yamato home earns the right to challenge one of us, the Lead Performers, for our positions. Though I was looking forward to it, we must postpone it for now. Kaido's on the rooftop, the enemies are gonna climb to the top of the castle from the inside. Each of you must intercept them in any way available to you. We have 30,000 troops. As for them, they only have 5,000 troops. But you'd better not underestimate them."

"Drake." Who's-Who knocked in X Drake's and Hawkins' door. "This mess reveals an opportunity for me. Come along with me. It's bit too tough for me to go by myself."

"Where are you going?" X Drake asked.

"I'm gonna kill the one who I wanna kill." Who's-Who grinned. "To where Queen is. Even if an officer is killed in this confusion, it'll be considered a casualty in war."

"Don't get me involved in your rivalry." X Drake rebuked. "Do you wanna diminish our forces?"

"He's useless anyway." Who's-Who shrugged. "Just follow me."

On the Live Floor...

"Charge!" Omasa ordered his troops. "Send Straw Hat and the others into the castle."

"Don't let them get into gear." Kazekage fought back.

"They're damn yakuza and prisoners." Hanzo snarled.

"We must kick that big one out of the way, too." Yatappe was blocked by Goki.

"I can't believe such a human exists." Cho noted.

"Zoro jumped in, slicing Goki's mace into half before he could take out the attacking samurai.

"That was close." Jinbe remarked, holding up the falling mace with one hand.

On the Live Stage...

"Did you say there is a traitor among the officers?" Queen demanded. "Is it true, Who's-Who? Come to think of it, Babanuki was acting strange. Have you figured out who was it?"

"Who do you think it is?" Who's-Who pointed his pistol at Queen.

"Don't tell me you guys..." Queen gaped when X Drake also pointed his saber at him. "Are trying to supplant your superior?"

"That's highly unlikely." Hawkins corrected.

"Pay the price of betrayal and agonize in pain." Who's-Who growled.

"I don't wanna die." Queen backed away.

"You're a bad actor." Who's-Who retorted, firing his gun at X Drake instead, hitting him on his dominant arm and forcing him to drop his sword. "Who could you be fooled by shit like that?"

"Don't call good acting shit." Queen snapped, punching X Drake on the head. "Didn't I act quite well?"

"Let's just leave it at that." Who's-Who replied.

"What's going on?" X Drake demanded.

"The probability that you survive until tomorrow is one percent." Hawkins related. "My reading of your future, I was kind enough to tell you that, X Drake."

"We're the ones who want to know what's going on." Who's-Who snarled.

"We Beast Pirates aren't so careless that we don't notice someone betraying us." Queen remarked.

"Why did you suspect me?" X Drake glared.

"Ask yourself that question." Queen fired back.

"You let Trafalgar Law escape in Flower Capital, didn't you?" Who's-Who accused.

"I thought it had to be you." Hawkins added. "What's your objective?"

"I see..." X Drake realized. "The one you wanted to kill is..."

"It's you, you piece of shit." Queen barked.

"We should be ashamed that we have a rat as our officer." Who's-Who remarked. "What are you up to? Did you infiltrate by yourself or with other people? Who are you?"

"You'd better come clean." Hawkins warned.

I guess this is it. X Drake was resigned. It's impossible to make an excuse. "Unfortunately, I won't tell you anything even it means death."

"We're not gonna kill you." Queen corrected. "My torture will torment you mentally. Can't wait, huh, Drake?"

On the Live Floor...

"Damn monster..." Luffy grinned, Jinbe causally tossing the mace aside. "Just watch us." he dashed forward. "We once fought against one as large as that. That monster is just like Oars. Back then, it took all of us to finally bring down something that massive. But things have changed." dodging Goki's palm thrust, he dashed up the giant's arm. "Gear Four!" he activated Gear Four as he was swung around. "Boundman." he then shot toward Goki.

On the Live Stage...

What do I do? X Drake wondered. Even if I run from them, I'll be surrounded be a legion of Beast Pirates. I guess there's no hope.

"Are you gonna talk or not?" Queen demanded.

"All right." X Drake responded. "This is a thank you gift from me." he pulled out a grenade from his coat and threw it at Queen after he removed the safety pin with his teeth. Now what? He fled under the smoke cover. How should I get away? There's no way to get back to the Navy? Let's not think about that now. He sliced through a Shōji. There's still hope. He jumped out onto the Live Floor.

On the Live Floor...

"Gomu Gomu..." Luffy readied his attack.

"Get out of my way." X Drake barked. "Juki! X Caliber!"

"King Kong Gun!" Luffy took out Goki, just as X Drake's attack landed on Juki.

"That's..." Usopp spotted the falling X Drake.

"Why did he attack the giant?" Zoro wondered.

"Straw Hat Luffy." X Drake shouted. "I'm fighting alone for a reason. Please, let me fight alongside you guys."

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