A new morning rose in Grand Jipang as Ash was snuggled by Ocarrot, Rebecca and Shirahoshi. Robin and Pikachu woke and sneaked a peek to the four together. "My son…" she whispered. A mink, a mermaid and a human fell in love with the Great Sage.

("Let's not wake them up,") Pikachu whispered. Robin agreed before they walked out to eat. Ocarrot softly gnawed on Ash's ear in her sleep while Rebecca unconsciously palmed and rubbed his chest and Shirahoshi held his hand.

"Stay with me…" quietly wished Shirahoshi.

"I love youteia," Ocarroted mumbled.

"You deserve the best," Rebecca hoped. Ash remained still, though he felt everything.

'Is there a thing as too much love?' he asked himself. Without warning, the three girls swarmed and smothered his face with kisses. All three were not aware of their actions on Ash. 'I don't think it matters… Oh, brother…'

Celebration! Festival's Kickoff!

After the group woke up, they cleaned themselves and ate breakfast before they headed out as a group. "I heard that the repairs to the festivities will be completed by this evening," Rebecca reported.

"After all that we've been through," Ocarrot voiced. "We need a break and have fun." Pikachu agreed with a squeak. Ash had a silent walk with everyone while partially smiling.

"Ash?" voiced Robin. Ash turned to his mother.

"Mom?" he replied. "What is it?"

"You've been pretty quiet since we left the flat," Robin spoke. "Is something wrong?" Ash shook his smiling head.

"Being named a Great Sage is still a lot to absorb," he admitted with Pikachu on his shoulder. "After all, I was originally the Summoner. This new moniker will take some time to grasp. You know what I mean?"

"It doesn't matter what they call youteia, Ash," Ocarrot smiled. "Youteia will always be youteia."

"Indeed," Shirahoshi agreed. "They may call you many monikers, but you'll still be our Ash." Humbled, Ash blushed.

"That's all I need," he awed. They reached a shrine with a box between two women wearing white robes and red samural trousers.

"Let's all make a wish," Robin suggested. They reached the shrine with a coin in each of their hands.

"Welcome," one of the women greeted. "Please, one at a time. We don't want you to all yank the bell down." Everyone giggled to the thought.

"I can go first," Robin offered. Ash nodded as he allowed his mother to throw a coin into the box. She then shook a large red and white rope that was attached to large bells for a few seconds. Finally, she clapped her hands twice with her eyes closed and prayed. 'I wish that my son is loved with each other.' After her prayer, she stepped back for Ash who was next. Like Robin, Ash tossed a coin into the box, rang the bells, clapped twice and prayed.

'After all that we've been through,' he thought. 'Peace for Grand Jipang is what's best. I wish for that.' Ocarrot followed. Once her coin caromed the cover a few times, she rang the bells before she had her prayer.

'All I would want is Ash to love me,' she prayed. 'I don't care if he's a Lesser Mink, he's done more than even some of the Minks stronger than me have done.' After Ocarrot, Rebecca came next. Her coin didn't touch the wood on top before it hit the bottom of the box. She rang the bells and started to pray.

'The weather must be perfect,' she thought. 'A great night will do wonders for all of us.' When Rebecca finished, Shirahoshi was last. She overshot her coin toss, causing gasps... but the coin rebounded and into the box.

"Next time, take it a little easy on the toss," Robin giggled.

"Sorry," Shirahoshi laughed. She resumed by ringing the bells and started to pray.

'Ash and I should marry soon,' she wished. 'That is what I want to pray for.' After their prayers, they praised those watching the shrine. As they came back to the streets, the girls turned down a different path. "We're gonna get ready for tonight."

"Okay, we gotta get ready ourselves for the festivities," Rebecca informed.

"We do as well," Robin excused.

"Hopefully, it'll be exciting tonight," Ash wished. Pikachu squeaked, anxious to also participate.

"Okay, we'll see youteia later," Ocarrot waived. They left and Robin, Ash and Pikachu returned to the flat. A warm bath was drawn by Robin where Ash and Pikachu bathed in.

"Don't get me wrong, Pikachu," Ash started.

("Wrong on what?") asked Pikachu.

"All three of the girls who seem to love me: Ocarrot, Rebecca and Shirahoshi… I didn't exactly ask for that."

("So? Take it for what it's worth.")

"I know. Still, of all three of them, I would just have Shirahoshi. What about you?"

("Rebecca… since I spent the most time with her.")

"Rebecca?"

("That's right.") After the bath, Ash and Pikachu started to redress themselves with Pikachu wearing a handmade robe.

"We're going to be having a fun time tonight." Just then, Robin appeared.

"What do you think?" she asked. Ash and Pikachu turned to see their mother wearing a heavy red kimono and a headdress. Her face was also painted white.

"Whoa, Mom!" gasped Ash as Pikachu's jaw dropped in shock. "What's… what is up with the geisha look?" Robin giggled to Ash and Pikachu's reactions.

"I was asked to perform at the event with a few others. Does it look good?" A cheer from Pikachu was a positive sign.

"You look amazing. I'm actually shocked that you can look like this."

"I know, right? Anyway, I'll allow you to get dressed before we set out." A nod from Ash allowed Robin to further prepare for the evening. At the Pinwheel, Onami praised a couple of customers before she reached the sign to take it down.

"You're closing early?" asked Orika. Onami turned to Orika and Aisa.

"Yeah, but we have that festival that will have more food and fun," Onami briefed. The little girls awed the idea.

"Will we see you out there?" asked Aisa.

"Yeah, I actually have a new kimono to wear for the festival," Onami confirmed. "And so will Omao." The little girls giggled to the thought of Onami's new kimono. They ran off before Onami returned inside where Sanji stepped out of the kitchen.

"I'm done back there," he reported.

"Great," Onami trusted. "Omao and I'll get ourselves ready. You're free to leave."

"Are you sure? Do you want some assistance in getting in your-" BONK! Onami stopped Sanji's plea with a stool to the head.

"That's low, even for you." She walked off while Sanji laid unconsciously.

"O… Nami… Swan…" At the castle, Robin, Ash and Pikachu saw Cobra with Vivi, wearing a vividly bright kimono with cherry blossoms printed to it. There was also, Neptune, Cat Viper, Dogstorm, Momonosuke, Gancho and Riku.

"Great Sage, are you ready?" asked Cobra. Nodding, Ash felt prepared. The leaders came to the balcony overlooking Grand Jipang and the people. Mansherry was back on Ash's shoulder with Leo on the other. All sorts of people were there: humans, fishmen, dwarves, minks and mermaids. "People of Grand Jipang! We do apologize for the long delays from one kingdom's late arrival to the Imperial Dragons' invasion. Now, let the fun… BEGIN!" Cheers echoed as the lanters lit up as dusk started to settle.

"Ash!" voiced Luffy. Ash and Pikachu turned to see Luffy, Usopp and Kaya.

"Ash, I'm so glad that you can move again," she greeted. "Part of me wasn't sure about how you would given your injuries."

"You would thank me for helping Ash move," Mansherry said as she and Leo appeared on the shoulder opposite of Pikachu.

"Mansherry!" awed Usopp. "You like being on Ash's shoulder?"

"We did want to get a good view," Leo mentioned. Kaya took Mansherry and held her in her hands.

"I heard about the tears and want to know how they work," she wished. "Maybe when this festival is over, I'd like to know more on their properties for medical research."

"Anything to help out," Mansherry accepted. Leo also joined by hopping onto Usopp's nose before swinging to the shoulder.

"About time that long schnoz came into play," Luffy teased. Usopp growled while the others giggled. "Anyway, I'm gonna see what food is around! Hopefully, there's a lot of meat!" He raced off as Onami and Omao came to Ash and Pikachu. Onami wore a tangerine-colored kimono with a blue sash while Omao wore a pearl white kimono with a black sash. Onami picked up Pikachu.

"Hi there!" she cheered as she kissed Pikachu's cheek. Pikachu cheered to the kiss.

"Ash, how are you doing?" asked Omao.

"I'm fine," Ash replied. "I was told that Mom's gonna do a geisha dance soon." Onami and Omao gasped to the information.

"Your mom!?" repeated Onami.

"As a geisha!?" repeated Omao.

"How did you think we reacted?" questioned Ash. Pikachu and the women laughed. They started to proceed through the streets before Ocarrot arrived.

"Ash!" she called out. Ash turned and found Ocarrot and Rebecca arriving. Ocarrot wore a bright orange kimono with a green sash while Rebecca donned a gold kimono with a peach-colored sash.

"Don't you two look lovely tonight?" he awed.

"Oh, stop," Rebecca giggled. "I thought you had your eyes fixated on Shirahoshi."

"Even if that's the case, Ash isn't one to pass on complimenting others," Omao briefed.

"I can agree," Ocarrot acknowledged. They made their way to see some stands with games which they found Shirahoshi holding clay masks. She wore a coral kimono and a white sash.

"Shirahoshi!" voiced Ash. Shirahoshi turned, finding her crush approaching. "I think I found the winner for best kimono." Shirahoshi giggled to the praise.

"Everyone is in good spirits," she realized. "The kids have noticed you and have told me that they want to be as strong as you." Ash awed how the children have looked up to him.

"It's a lot, isn't it?" teased Onami.

"Even so," Ash scoffed. "I still feel I owe a lot to Grand Jipang." Someone else heard it and turned to Ash and the girls.

"I consider it vice-versa," Shakky spoke. Ash turned to Shakky, wearing a gray kimono with a similar sash. "What you've done is more than even your Sensei would feel is an accomplishment." Ash shyly smiled as Omao also saw her.

"Is Rayleigh with you?" she asked.

"He is," Shakky answered. "He wants to explore some weapons at a few nearby stands." Everyone else sighed to the idea. "Say, where's Robin?"

"Ash told us that she's going to dance as a geisha," Onami briefed. Shakky giggled, imagining Robin as a geisha.

"I can't wait to see it," she wished. "Let's go and see." Everyone agreed before they headed out to a large stage. They watched while Zoro, Luffy, Brook, Blue-Nose and others saw the taiko drums. Just then, they saw Robin emerge with a few other young women. All looked to be similar with Robin as they emerged with parasols that they opened. They also walked on platform sandals as they danced. Their grace became paramount. Everyone around watched as they became enamored to everyone's dance. Ash recognized Robin, but he chose not to distract her. Young girls awed the dancing of the geishas. They viewed it with such enthusiasm to dance like them. As Ash watched, he couldn't believe how graceful Robin was. After a few minutes, the dancers finished. The crowd cheered wildly to the dancing.

"That was beautiful!" awed Brook. "Ah, if I had eyes, they would become hearts!"

"I don't blame ya," Franky awed. "That was SUPER!" A little while later, Ash and the three girls came to stands which had games like goldfish scooping and ring toss. Ocarrot and Rebecca did the goldfish game while Ash and Shirahoshi did the ring toss. They had gone back with Rebecca holding a bowl with two goldfish and Ocarrot empty-handed. Ash and Shirahoshi had a pair of dolls. They found the mask stand where Rebecca wore a fox mask and Ocarrot wore a kabuki mask.

"Does this make youteia think of someone?" she teased. Ash and Pikachu laughed, knowing she referred to Buggy.

"Yeah…" he snickered. Shirahoshi wore a geisha mask.

"Is this wrong?" she wondered.

"Nah, it's okay!" denied Ocarrot. Ash had a red tengu mask with a long nose.

"Look, my nose is longer than Usopp's!" he joked. Everyone had a giggle as Ash made the purchase. They continued on as a giant cherry blossom tree started losing the pink petals that began to scatter over Grand Jipang. The festival was only going to get better.

TO BE CONTINUED...