SailorStar9: So with Chapter 256 uploaded, this is Chapter 257 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 257: Arc 16: Save O-Tama - Straw Hat, Bounding through the Wasteland!


On Komachiyo's back, Luffy bore the gravely sick Tama on the komainu's back and raced to the town for seek a doctor.


In the wilderness of the Kuri...

Two lower- ranked Beast Pirates were chasing after Tsuru on their two-legged lizards.


With Luffy and Tama...

"If you're ever hungry, you can just eat them." Luffy pointed out, witnessing a wanizame chasing after a boar and tiger.

"That's impossible." the eight-year-old replied. "Those samurai that are strong enough to catch them have either been arrested or became bandits. Besides, animals drink the polluted river water, too. So, they're poisonous for humans to eat."

"Is that the factory where the smoke is coming from?" Luffy asked as Komachiyo made its way through the wasteland.

"Yes." Tama nodded. "They have a mine and a weapon factory. So there are a lot of Kaido's subordinates there."

"What do they eat?" Luffy inquired.

"The Shogun and Kaido have an untainted farm just for themselves." Tama answered. "That's why they have clean water and rice."

"Tama." Luffy realized the girl had passed out. 'Are you okay? I think your temperature is rising." he felt Tama's fever getting worse.

Meanwhile, having heard Tsuru's cry for help, Zorojuro moved in, slicing the steads' legs with his swords. Another energy wave blasted the two Beast Pirates off. "Step back." the swordsman told Tsuru. Charging in, he parried the two Beast Pirates' swords away before taking out both Beast Pirates in one move.

"That's Zoro!" Luffy spied his second-in-command in the distance. "Hey, Zoro!" he steered Komachiyo towards Zoro.

"Luffy!" the the green-haired swordsman grinned broadly at his arriving Captain. "You were here after all!"

"Zoro!" Luffy leapt off Komachiyo's back to give his First Mate a bear hug. "It's been a long time."

"Is everyone with you?" Zorojuro asked, prying Luffy off.

"I lost them, but I guess they're okay." Luffy replied. "Anyway, Zoro, come with us. One thing led to another and I'm on my way to take her to a doctor."

"A sick kid." Zorojuro gawked at the unconscious Tama.

Just then, both pirates' Observation Haki alerted them of Hawkins and his men.

"He's..." Luffy recognized Hawkins.

"That's right." Zorojuro confirmed, readying to fight as Hawkins brought out his tarot cards. "Seems like he's working for Kaido."

"Straw Hat!" Hawkins recognized Luffy. "I was on my way to Kuri Beach, but you're the one who caused the trouble there, aren't you? Two of my subordinates and a baboon went missing. The possibility that you guys have something to do with it is 98 percent. But that doesn't matter. In this Land of Wano, you either follow the strong or become their prey." he drew his sword. "You have no other option."

"This is the warning Kin'emon gave us, Luffy." Zorojuro warned, both men drawing their swords in response. "Don't make a scene."

"Then, I'll just have to apologize to him later." Luffy smirked.


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