SailorStar9: So with Chapter 265 uploaded, this is Chapter 266 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 266: Arc 16: Mysterious Grave Markers - A Reunion at the Ruins of Oden Castle!
"Tell me." Luffytaro whined. "What do you mean by 'ghosts'?"
"You'll see when you get there." Zorojuro replied.
"Torao, don't leave me hanging." Luffytaro turned to the other swordsman.
"In any event, we'll talk once we get to the top of this mountain where the ruins of Oden Castle are." Law supplied.
"You're so mean." Luffytaro pouted.
"There's someone strong." Zorojuro started, all three pirates' Observation Haki went on high alert.
"Maybe it's Orochi's assassin." Okiku suggested.
"Luffy, you go ahead." Zorojuro stated. "I'll catch up to you once I take care of this."
"Thanks." Luffytaro gave his second-in-command the go-ahead.
In the geisha house where Orobi and Sahiko were working at...
"Orochi-sama is a coward!" Kyoshiro wailed, downing a cup of sake after another.
"Kyoshiro-dono, what are you saying?" one of his retainers stammered. "You're too loud." he whispered.
"Shut up, idiot." Kyoshiro rebuked. "Don't be scared." he loomed over his subordinate. "Even if someone says it, I only spoke the truth. Sake, bring me more sake. 20 years ago, in front of the burning Oden Castle, Oden's wife uttered these words before she passed away: You are the moon unaware of the dawn. May your purpose be fulfilled and cast nine shadows on the night woven of 20 years and you shall know the brilliance of the dawn. She just said it out of desperation." he laughed. "But Orochi-sama interpreted it in a very specific way."
"How did he interpret it?" his subordinate pressed.
"Orochi-sama..." Kyoshiro started. "'I lay a curse on you. 20 years later,on a moonlit night, in order to settle this grudge, nine samurai will appear as ghosts, to kill you.' Which means 'to kill Orochi-sama'. And they'll open Wano. This marks the 20th year. That's why Shogun Orochi is in fear." he rolled on the tatami mat in hysterical laughter. "Thinking the 'ghosts of the Kozuki Clan might come to kill him'. I want to fight them. But what can the dead do? The samurai of the Kozuki Clan, 20 years ago, we cornered them in the castle and burnt them all alive."
"Kyoshiro-sama," Sahiko voiced from the corridor. "Your serving of yokan and a bowl of hangover soup."
At the ruins of Oden Castle...
"There's no castle." Luffytaro gawked at the destroyed castle.
"I said 'ruins'." Law reminded. "It's this way. Follow me."
"What are those?" Luffytaro spotted the nine stone grave markers on a hill up ahead. "Kozuki Oden?" he read the first marker he walked by.
"Look at the other graves, too." Law added.
"Kozuki Momonosuke?" Luffytaro frowned.
"That grave belongs to that kid you know." Law supplied. "It's not just him."
"Raizo?" Luffytaro gaped. "Kanjuro? Kin'emon? Why are their graves here? Wait a minute, when we were on our way to Wano, I couldn't get in touch with Kin'emon. Don't tell me..." he realized the implications. "He's dead. They can't be dead." he shook his head. "I thought Kin'emon was waiting here."
"He's been gone for a while." Law cut off the younger 'D's protests. "Maybe he'll come out at night. He appeared repeatedly last night, too."
"Luffy-dono..." an obviously sick Kin'emon crawled out from the ruins.
"Kin." Luffytaro beamed in relief. "I'm glad that you're alive."
"I'm sorry I couldn't come to get you." Kin'emon moaned. "It's so great that you arrived safely. I'm afraid I got the runs pretty bad and I thought I wouldn't be able to come out of the bathroom tonight again. But I'm starting to feel a little better."
"He's alive, Torao!" Luffytaro snapped.
"When did I say I wasn't?" Law chided. "I meant to say he appear from the bathroom at night."
"You misguided me." Luffytaro complained.
"Kin-sama!" Okiku ran towards the men and glomped Kin'emon. "You were back. I really missed you and it made my body tremble. Honestly, if you were back, why didn't you tell me?" the transgender pouted. "I was worried about you. Don't be a stranger. Momonosuke-sama is okay, too?"
"Kiku, why are you with Luffy-dono's group?" Kin'emon asked.
"What?" Okiku blinked. "Don't tell me they're..."
"You're right, Kiku." Kin'emon declared. "They're strong allies to help us bring down Orochi, Luffy-dono and Law-dono."
"Hey, Luffy!" Momonosuke ran out from the woods. "You arrived safely. Kiku, it's been a while." he greeted his other retainer.
"Is Inu-oji-san in Wano too, Momo?" Luffytaro asked.
"Of course Dogstorm is here, too." Momonosuke assured.
"I see." Luffytaro smiled. "Then, it just them left now."]
"Are we there yet?" Carrot whined, trekking through the woods with the rest of the Straw Hats. "We walked a lot."
"Hey!" Sanji called out, pushing the grass out of the way.
"So, you've returned to the group, Sanji-dono." Kin'emon noted.
"Sorry to make you worry." Sanji nodded.
"Kin-san." Okiku voiced. "Are these people Luffytaro's friends?"
"They are all Luffy-dono's friends." Kin'emon confirmed. "The reliable people who will help us."
"Captain!" Penguin and Shachi ran in.
"You guys." Law turned to his crewmates. "How's Bepo doing?"
"He hasn't come out of the bush yet because of the runs." Shachi explained.
"What's wrong with everyone?" Law sighed. "Straw Hat, let's have a talk inside." he led the enlarged group into the temporary shelter.
"This ruined castle will be our headquarters." Kin'emon started. "I'm sorry, everyone. Luffy-dono, everyone. Thank you for coming to Wano. First, aside from Momonosuke-sama's identity, there is another thing I haven't told you guys. But you're not going to believe what I'm going to say. You know Kanjuro and Raizo and the three of us here, the five of us altogether. As a matter of face, we came from the past. The thing is we came from Wano 20 years ago, crossing through time to the present Wano."
SailorStar9: Any OOC-nes is regretted. *Sighs* Don't you just hate plot bunnies sometimes? Reviews are much appreciated.
