SailorStar9: So with Chapter 259 uploaded, this is Chapter 260 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 EiichirÅ-sensei. Me, on the other hand, own absolutely nothing, except my OC, the pairing and the fic idea.
Chapter 259: Arc 16: The Greatest Day - O-Tama's First Oshiruko
Back in Tsuru's teahouse...
Okiku was grinding the herbs to brew the healing tea for Tama. "This is a decoction of Evil Purging Tea." she brought the tea cup to Luffy.
"It's bitter, but it works well." Tsuru supplied. "Let her drink it."
"Tama, here's the medicine." Luffy lifted Tama's head.
"Ew..." Tama struck out her tongue once the bitterness hit her mouth.
"Bear with it and drink." Luffy insisted. "Drink." he literally poured the herbal tea down Tama's throat.
"Aniki." the recovered Tama sat up. "Madam." she turned to Tsuru. "Where am I?"
"This is my teahouse." Tsuru explained.
"Komachiyo." Tama spotted the tearing komainu outside. "Sorry to make you worry."
"Otama," Okiku called from outside as she tended to Zorojuro's wounds. "How is your stomach?"
"I feel better." Tama beamed.
"It worked so fast!" Zorojuro gawked.
"The Evil-Purging Herb is an incredible wonder drug." Okiku smiled.
"But," Tsuru cut Tama's celebration short. "The poison in your body can't be removed completely. So, don't ever drink the river water again, Otama."
"Okay, I got it." Tama nodded. "Stop making noise, stomach!" she panicked when her stomach growled. "This isn't becoming of a samurai."
"I forgot to introduce myself." Okiku spoke. "I am Okiku.
"What?" Tama gaped at the steaming bowl of red bean soup with three dango balls. "I can't... you shouldn't do that." she looked at the chuckling Tsuru.
"Go ahead and eat." Tsuru insisted.
"Please, take it away, madam." Tama pressed. "I don't even have money for the herbs. How could I pay for some sweet red bean soup?"
"You don't have to pay for it." Tsuru giggled, hearing Tama's stomach growl.
"No, I can't have it." Tama insisted. "I know both you and Okiku haven't eaten much."
"That's okay." Tsuru assured. "Don't be shy."
"You've already saved my life, and now you're trying to give me food." Tama stated. "How can I accept this? I'll pay you back for the herbs, no matter what." she inched back towards the door.
"That's enough!" the fuming proprietress snapped. "Once a woman serves food, do you think she'll just put it away so easily? If you're not gonna eat it, I'll spill it to the streets."
"Otama, eat it." Okiku pleaded. "Otsuru won't take no for an answer."
Outside...
A thoroughly chastised Tama held the soup bowl in her hands.
"You should be happy." Luffy stated, seeing Tama's hesitation. "Today's your birthday."
"Is that true?" Tsuru stepped out.
"That's what I heard." Luffy nodded.
"Then, take it as a birthday present from me and eat up." Tsuru told Tama.
Blowing across the bowl to cool the soup off, Tama took a sip. "It's so yummy!" the tearing girl declared. "This soup is so delicious. There are some mochi in it." she gushed, the chewy rice cake was easily stretched out between the chopsticks. "What a sumptuous treat."
"You can make them out of your cheeks." Luffy pointed out as Tama bit in the chewy rice cake.
"You can't fill your stomach with those." Tama explained. "Madam, thank you very much." she beamed. "I don't think I can top a wonderful birthday like this. This is the greatest day of my life." she finished up the red bean soup.
"Children like her are not uncommon in Wano." Tsuru explained to Luffy and Zorojuro, after Tama dozed off under Okiku's care. "
"Such a small child is not being able to get enough food is unbelievable." Luffy fumed. "As long as we have the sea, mountains, and forests, getting food shouldn't be a problem."
"Right," Tsuru agreed. "If we humans hadn't ruined them ourselves.
"Damn Kaido..." Luffy cursed.
"Yeah." Zorojuro agreed.
"Oh yeah, what are your names?" Tsuru asked.
"I'm Zorojuro." the green-haired swordsman replied. "I'm a ronin. He is..." he pointed to Luffy. "Luffytaro."
"You're from overseas, right?" Tsuru chuckled. "It must have been hard to enter the country. I'm new to this town, too. And Okiku has only been working here for one month."
"I heard this town is called Okobore." Zorojuro noted. "What kind of name is that?"
"Just like the name implies." Tsuru replied. "Those who live here get leftovers from the town of officials."
"Tama said there is non-poisonous food somewhere." Luffytaro stated.
"Look over there." Tsuru turned to the mountain behind them. "You see the mountain without chimneys? On the top of it, there used to be a castle called Oden. It's already been 20 years. Until some 20 years ago, a clan called Kozuki had governed Wano for a very long time. That vast farm that expands to the bottom of the mountain was made by the late Oden-sama in order to feed everyone in Kuri delicious food. It wasn't meant for Orochi and the others to monopolize the country's food supplies. That Paradise Farm..."
Further away, Batman, using his exceptionally good hearing, managed to spy on Tsuru.
"Is there non-poisonous food at the farm?" Luffytaro pressed.
"There is." Tsuru declared. "Safe delicious food, clean water and clothes; they all belong to the Shogun Orochi. On the other side of the shrine gate, there is a town where the officials live. We beg them to sell us things that they no longer use and nearly spoiled food to maintain our lives."
"That's why it's call Okobore." Zorojuro realized.
"But, we're fine." Tsuru assured. "At least, we can live."
His Observation Haki alerting him of the sudden attack, Zorojuro drew Sandai Kitetsu and blocked the incoming arrow flying towards Tsuru. With a swung of the blade, he sent the arrow flying off.
"What do you think you're doing?" the flying Batman demanded. "Don't get in my way. I heard you, woman." he turned his attention to Tsuru. "You were speaking ill of the Shogun. I can hear six times better than normal humans. I won't miss a foul word spoken about the Shogun."
"I understand that you heard it." Zorojuro remarked. "But is that a good reason to take someone's life? She would've died if it hit her."
"As long as you live quietly, I'll rarely have cause to hurt you." Batman laughed. "But Orochi-sama will never allow people to harbor a rebellious spirit." he let loose his arrows at the pirate pair.
Zorojuro shifted and deflected the two arrows with Sandai Kitetsu. With only Sandai Kitetsu in hand, he rapidly swatted off the rain of arrows Batman sent their way.
"How about this?" Batman snorted, realizing his usual attack was going nowhere and fired five arrows from his bow. Using sonar waves, he redirected the arrows' paths.
Drawing Shusui as well, Zorojuro cut all five arrows into halves.
Meanwhile, Luffytaro was using Observation Haki to dodge the incoming arrows. Embedding his right hand with Armament Haki, he swung out, breaking the arrowhead of a redirected arrow. With both fists coated in Armament Haki, he punched out the incoming rain of arrows.
"I got this." Zorojuro ended the fight by imbuing both Sandai Kitetsu and Shusui with Armament Haki and cut down all the arrows with his energy attack waves.
"He blocked all of them." Batman was shocked. "Who are you? For several weeks, there have been robberies at the farm. We're looking for the robber now. A one-eyed ronin?" he realized who Zorojuro was. "I saw him on the wanted poster."
With Luffytaro and Zorojuro distracted by Batman, the quick-footed Gazelleman snatched up the unattended Tama still napping on the bench and fled with the child.
"Let go of me!" Tama screamed. "Who are you?" she demanded her kidnapper. "Aniki!"
SailorStar9: Any OOC-nes is regretted. *Sighs* Don't you just hate plot bunnies sometimes? Reviews are much appreciated.
