Gosh, I actually finished this! I'm more shocked than anything...XD It's not that long of a chapter but i plan on updating another one come weekend, so don't be too angry. I really leave you guys over another cliff hanger here...XP Don't kill me please! (*nervously looking over my shoulder*)

As always a very warm and genuine THANK YOU to all those who review, follow, favor or read this fiction! I tried to get a message back to some of ur reviews, but i didn't get too far...I'm so very sorry if i didn't answer you back! It's just that i don't have time, but i can assure you that i read them all and they all make SUPER happy (in the words of Franky XD)

Either way, I hope you like the new chapter and please please review. ENJOY!

21

Even through there were people rushing to and fro around them, Kid and Law felt like they were in a protective bubble that separated them from the rest of the world. Their ears didn't seem to work properly. The noise that was no doubt rising with the buzzing of life didn't reach them. In their bubble there was a deadly silence.

Smoker and Tashigi were leading them through the long and matriculate hospital corridors. The two followed them in absolute silence, barely aware where they were going. They trusted the police officers enough to not fear being led in a ditch. Each one was lost in their own separate maze of thoughts.

Law was terrified. Of Todd. But mostly of losing Kid. He wanted to grab the red-head and squeeze his hand tightly. He wanted to drag the other away from the hospital and put as much distance as possible between themselves and Allen. Was he being a coward? Yes. For Kid's sake he was more than ready to walk all over his 'pride', whatever little of it he had left.

Kid was worried. For himself. But mostly for Law. He wasn't sure how the other would deal with being near the son-of-a-bitch Todd. He regretted not having tried to convince Law to remain home. He knew the other would have stubbornly refused, but it irked him that he hadn't thought of this in advance. As for himself? Whatever Todd dished out he was more than capable of taking. And if the rich brat even considered sending him to jail, there was going to be a bloody murder.

With those things weighing on their mind, the two followed the officers with heavy steps.

'We're here.' Tashigi's chirpy voice successfully burst the protective balloon and the two literally snapped back to reality. They shared a momentarily look of confusion before they understood what was happening and where 'here' was. In the click of a finger their confusion turned to dread.

'What's with your faces? You look like you're about to be executed.' Kid glared at Smoker, really hating the man's lack of tact. The older man was even worse than him, and that was saying something considering Kid was certainly no sensitive guy.

'Shut up old man.' He watched with satisfaction as Smoker underwent a rapid change of facial expression. From amusement to anger. It looked like the bloody murder was going to happen prematurely.

'What was that Kid?' The two were ready to jump at each other's throats like dogs in a ring. Kid was more than happy to have something which could become the focus of his anxiety. His fists just ached to feel the texture of damaged meat or cracking bones under them. Anger drove him to dark places.

'Now, now. Stop you two! This is not the time or place.' Tashigi stepped in between the two, distracting them form their plan of action. Kid didn't lower his eyes from Smoker's though. Like hell he was going to admit defeat! If Tashigi stepped in between two rabid dogs, it was at her own peril.

'Eustass, calm down. This is not helping anyone.' Kid felt Law's hand grip his arm, not pulling him back but not letting him move forwards either. He felt his tension leaking away. Law was the level headed one, for sure. And he had a point. It hardly made sense to make the situation worse than it already was. It was like Kid was looking to get thrown in jail.

'You're right.' Kid relaxed his posture, showing that he meant what he said and only then did Smoker do the same.

'We gonna have any more trouble form you?' Kid flared his nostrils at Smoker's tone. The man really thought of himself as somehow superior. That annoyed the living hell out of Eustass. To him, being looked down upon by anyone was the equivalent of being spat on. He felt Law's fingers clench a little tighter and he understood the other's warning. Begrudgingly he let go of the anger and, for once, chose the smart thing. He didn't bite Smoker's bait.

'No sir.' But his words came out through ground teeth.

'Gosh. What's the matter with the two of you? Let's all calm down shall we?' Smoker smirked gruffly and took his eyes off of Kid. That conflict was over, for now. There would be other encounters. Kid was bound to slip up and do something bad in the eyes of the law, and probably sooner than anyone expected. It was in his freaking nature.

'So, where are we exactly?' Law decided on a swift change of topic before things got heated up again. His hand was still tightly glued to Kid's forearm.

'Room 196. This is where we were instructed to bring you two. It is the room currently occupied by a Mister Todd.'

'And why is he here?' Law looked at the door as he spoke. He still didn't know the exact extent of what Kid had done to his abuser and bully. All he knew was what Kid had told him, and he didn't go into any details. He sneaked a peek at the other. Kid looked almost bored. No trace of remorse or regret. Clearly he didn't care for Todd's state and a part of Law was feeling great satisfaction at the thought of Allen beaten up and dressed in layers upon layers of bandages on a hospital bed.

'I wouldn't be able to tell you a lot of detail, since I'm not a doctor. However the report we received said that Allen Leon Todd was brutally beaten in a park playground nearby by an unknown individual. There were others beaten up at the scene, but not as badly. I wouldn't be able to tell you the exact number. Mister Todd was in critical condition when he was brought to the hospital. He was in a minor coma for two days and just woke up this morning. More than that, I wouldn't know.'

Kid was aware that Smoker was looking straight at him while Tashigi was retelling the events. The other most certainly knew. Again, Kid wondered why he wasn't being arrested. And why was he 'an unknown individual'? Somehow he doubted this was based only on the incompetence of police work. Even they had to have a limit. Right?

'And who told you to escort us here?' Surely it wasn't Todd himself. Not if he just woke up from a minor coma. At least that's what Law's logical trail of thought told him.

'Mister Philip Todd. Allen's father.' Law and Kid exchange a shocked look. His father? Things were even more questionable now. Shouldn't he have ordered Kid's head on a spike by now?

'His father? Are you sure?' Kid only sounded surprised. The full meaning of the new information hadn't yet settled. Law on the other hand fell mute. His eyes bore holes into the door as if hoping to suddenly get the ability of seeing through wood and catch a glimpse of what was waiting for them on the other side.

'Positive. He's waiting for you, with his son.' She motioned to the door, confirming Law's thoughts. Philip Todd was really on the other side! That was shocking for a number of reasons. For one, the man was a celebrity practically. A world billionaire. Law didn't know much about those things but he didn't imagine one just walked happily on the street and into a common hospital without people fussing left, right and centre.

'We have to wait here and make sure nothing goes wrong. So get going, I have other things to do that don't involve watching a door.' Smoker really had no tact. And no shame. He was in a hospital with a very clear, red on white, no smoking sign directly in front of him and still continued to let streams of smoke rise form the tips of his two cigars. Kid would have loved to see one of the nurses come and give out to him. Maybe another time…

Law gulped air. Nervous just didn't describe how he was feeling at that moment. He glanced at Kid one last time and saw a deep hidden fear in the reddish eyes. While Kid didn't show it, or maybe he wasn't even aware of it, he too was afraid. At least a little. An almost invisible nod of the head from Law and Kid took the first step and touched the door intend on opening it.

However it opened all by itself. No. That wasn't right. Someone was coming out. Kid took the step back to let whoever it was free passage. An old woman in a doctor's white coat pushed forwards. Even to this day Kid couldn't stop associating Doctor Kureha with a witch. It was the face.

'Stop getting on my nerves or you can get someone else to deal with your pathetic son!' She shouted over her shoulder before not-so-gallantly slamming the door making sure the person inside didn't have a chance to answer back. She took a second to look around and her eyes settled on Kid. A wide grin stretched her old lips and Kid found himself grinning back. She was a crazy, maniacal, unorthodox creature, but he and she got along just fine. Maybe it was because they shared a love of drink and violence, even though a whole century separated them.

'Ah! Eustass Kid. What brings you here? Another broken bone?'

'No. Personal business.' She quirked an eyebrow but didn't pursue the question. 'You this guy's doctor?' Kid pointed to door to indicate the guy in question.

'Sure am. Allen Leon Todd. A rich, spoiled brat that can't learn to shut his stupid gob. I wish whoever put him in that bed would have ripped out his tongue too. Then maybe he'd do what I tell him to do.' Kid almost snickered. Kureha, or Doctorine as some called her, manifested violently when her patients didn't do as they were instructed. He learned that early and saved himself a few throws against walls along the way. He wasn't ashamed to say that her strength far outmatched his. No wonder some did indeed believe she was a genuine witch.

Kid remembered hearing a rumour that she was aver one hundred and forty years old. Looking at her, Kid could believe that. Though her taste in clothes was something else entirely. She wore a tank top and hipster purple trousers with decorative flames, all under the subterfuge of her doctor's coat. Her flat stomach was completely exposed and so was the golden belly button ring. That was not how most respectable women her age dressed. But Doctorine? She was something else entirely.

'So then you know what his state is?' The other three around them were starting open eyed at the doctor, reacting as any normal person would in the presence of such a…..creature.

'I do. Why are you interested?'

'Let's say it's curiosity.'

'You are a bad liar Eustass Kid, but let's call it that.' She fell silent for a moment while thinking about the answer. 'Well he's not in good shape, that's for sure. He had three broken ribs. A fractured pelvis. Both arms broken, left ulna and radius, right humerus and wrist. A number of fingers as well. A dislocated shoulder and a concussion. But that wasn't too severe. He's missing four teeth, happy to say two are incisors. You should see him talk. It's funny. Broken nose and enough bruises and cuts to cover this entire hospital hallway. Whoever got to him had a personal vendetta. They messed him up good. It's almost surprising he's alive. Oh, and his left femur is pulverized as well.'

Kid nodded, a little impressed at his handy work. One thing he loved about Kureha was the way she didn't beat around the bush. You asked for an answer? You got one. You insulted her? You got killed. Plain and simple, black and white. He saw the remaining three's mouth fall open at the macabre description with such an airy expression. She had a special ability of freaking out anyone who didn't know her. Kid knew she was actually surprisingly a much kinder person than first impression told. Or second impression. Or, in fact, a hundred impressions. You had to really want to see it...

'Thanks.'

'Sure. But Kid, I'm not the type of person who does favours for free. I'll let this one slide, but it's the last one understood?' He grinned a toothy grin, feeling surprisingly fine considering he had just heard the extent of his deeds.

'Sure.'

'Well fine then.' She turned to leave only to stop abruptly in mid step and turn sharply towards Smoker. Her eyes were ablaze and Kid smirked when old Smoker flinching. He couldn't be blamed thought. That woman was terrifying.

'Are those eyes actually connected to your brain or are they just there to fill your sockets?'

'Huh?' Smoker didn't manage anything more intelligent. He had a stray thought in which he imagined the doctor working at the office. They would all be out of a job. The criminals would stop being criminals for fear of having to face the terrifying Kureha.

'What does that sign mean to you?' She pointed a long and bony finger to the no-smoking sign. Smoker knew he was caught with the cat in the bag and he really didn't have a defence. 'I'm waiting for an actual answer here genius.'

'No smoking.' Oh this was making Kid's entire day. He was only sorry he didn't have some means of recording this and posting it on the internet so others could join in his fun. Smoker being given out by Kureha for smoking in a hospital. Pure gold.

'Oh my! So you can read! Well go on. Throw them out.' She glared at Smoker who very begrudgingly did as he was told. Kid could see the defiance written all over his features but even he had no say against Doctorine. It was the first time he ever saw Smoker without his smoke. It took his all to resist laughing.

'Good.' This time she turned and walked away without stopping.

'What the fuck are you looking at?!' Smoker was highly irritated and Kid was not really hiding his amusement. However even he knew that it wasn't wise to poke an angry dog. Better leave that alone for a while.

'Nothing.'

'Then get the fuck out of my face!'

Kid retook his step in front of the door and pushed it open. It swung inwards. No opposition this time.

Most of your questions will be answered next chapter! XD Hopefully it will be a fast one. Like i said, i hope to have it up by the end of Sunday, at the latest. *Crossing fingers*

Either way, THANK YOU for the read and i hope you enjoyed. X3 (I'll explain Kid's relationship with Doctorine and the whole hospital staff more in the coming chapter(s)) I don't even know when this stupid fiction will ever end...sigh. XD

Oh well, please review if you can because it makes my day! Until next time, have a lovely bunch of days! X3