DISCLAIMER: -- why would I need one of these? No own One Piece...

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Years had gone by and any word of Hiriluk became scarce. It was easier that way, she supposed. Out of sight out of mind, and that worked for her. That is until the day he came barreling back onto the island as a smug 20 year old. Starting with a bang on her door, "Hey, old lady!" it was still early and she hadn't even finished her breakfast. Kureha got up and went to the door.

"Who are you calling old?" she yelled out the door, "I'll let you know..." she was stopped by a smug grin that she recognized as only, "Hiriluk..." after a second of taking

his grown up image, she smacked him upside his head, "You should know better, I'm no old woman!"

He laughed before hugging her, and with a sigh she hugged back, it was nice to see the boy. "You know though you look good and still hit hard for your old age!" he was then shoved off, and he looked hurt that she'd disown him so soon.

"Have you seem your mother yet?" she snarled with crossed arms.

"Nah, you're my first stop, aren't you lucky!"

"Get going," she barked, "don't bother coming here when your mom's been worried sick since you left!" With a nod he ran off smiling like a fool. Kureha sigh, it was good to see him again, but what was the smile about?

The next few days he popped by smiling and always trying to get her to laugh or smile, which was an utter failure. She'd give him a bone here and there, though, for his persistence.

One day, Hiriluk showed up while she was walking back from a patient's home. With the same grin he seem to always have nowadays, he questioned, "Hey doc, Did you know that I'm becoming famous?"

"Oh, really?" she mused, "find a nice freak show to let you in?"

"No, I'm becoming a popular criminal, a great thief! Like I said I would!" Kureha laughed a little, "Hey, I am! In fact, I'm rich..." his voice trailed as he reached into his pack to pull out few expensive jewels.

"Ok, fine, you're rich. You don't need to show those to me."

"But. . . Well, um, Dr. Kureha?

"Yeah," she didn't mean for her voice to sound so annoyed.

"Well, uh..."

"Spit it out boy!" again her words was harsher then she wanted them to sound.

"I need to…talk to you. Alone, maybe at your place tonight after you're…done w-with work." The way he stuttered made her worry, did his illness come back after all this time? She hoped not.

"Ok, I'll be done at 7:30 pm. Oh, if your so rich…you can bring dinner."

"Right!"

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