He sat wide eyed as she finished telling about what happened when Mamoru's biological father had broken out of prison. He couldn't believe it. The plan had been for Mamoru to use his Zanpakuto to separate this thing, the Hogyoku from his birth father and then for himself or Rina to hide it somewhere without disclosing the location to anyone.

The reason for this was simple, it was Mamoru's Zanpakuto that allowed travel through the Apex of time and space, it also allowed him to manipulate time and space on a small scale. With this in mind it was now important to note that Rina's Zanpakuto allowed her blade to mimic the abilities of other Zanpakutos. In other words they were selected for the mission of hiding the Hogyoku not because of who they are, but because of what they could do.

Right now she was sitting on the bed, her knees up to her chest and her arms wrapped around herself. He felt like someone was piercing his heart with a thousand shards of glass. He'd never seen her so fragile. He slouched a little, allowing her to rest her head on his shoulder. As she did this he brought his head over hers. He wrapped one arm around her shoulders, cuddling her close. That's when he felt her trembling from silent sobs. He found himself swallowing a lump in his throat, she'd had to deal with a lot in the last six years, an unplanned pregnancy, child birth, becoming a mother and the sleep deprivation that comes with it. That alone would stress most people out. Then add to it that when Cora was barely two she had left her behind to go on a mission for several months just to hide something so someone horrible would be less of a threat.

"He injured Mamoru—he's been comatose ever since. I feel like it's my fault He hasn't woken up yet," she revealed. At this Law glanced from the corner of his eye at her about to console her for blaming herself when she continued, "I know it sounds stupid. But if I hadn't gone off world, I could've used his power to reverse the injury right when it happened. I didn't get to go back for almost a year—I can't effectively control time warps over that stretch of time. I could end up making him a child or infant—and that's if I don't accidentally erase his existence."

'Geez! Who the hell is this Aizen guy? What kind of entitled sick bastard attacks his own son that horribly? Fuck,' Law thought to himself.

"Maybe I could come back with you? See if there's something I can do to help. I did manage to cure Amber Lead syndrome in myself and that was supposed to be incurable," he offered.

Rina looked to Law and confessed, "I love that you'd offer—but there's repercussions to you going into my world. The main issue being you're still alive. You don't belong there, and they're not very kind to outsiders."

He almost laughed as he reminded her, "I'm a pirate. I'm not accustomed to warm welcomes and I'm used to laying low."

She gave a small smile as she agreed, "true. But you wouldn't be facing other humans. You'd be facing spirits with God-like abilities."

"Good thing I happen to be good friends with one," he hinted.

She hesitated before advising him, "we might see Ace—it's actually likely since he's been staying with my family. You can't mention anything about Luffy or Whitebeard to him—or anything about this world, really."

He thought for a moment before nodding in acknowledgement, "Alright. I can do that."

Law turned his full attention to her and inquired, "So you and Ace-?"

"It isn't like that. He's a friend. He was there when I was really struggling to keep it together after what happened with Mamoru and his father. We have a close friendship but it isn't anything more than that. He helps with my sister and Cora when everyone's off at school or working. He's actually turning out to be a pretty good blacksmith. But he'll be attending the academy himself next semester," she advised.

"Alright," he conceded. He looked down at his attire and requested, "just let me change my clothes first."

"Obviously I'm not taking you there wearing white pajamas bottoms covered in little red hearts. Although—if you've got a Yukata that'd fit right in," She hinted.

He smirked as he glanced back at her and teased, "you'd enjoy that, wouldn't you?"

"Seeing you walking around in traditional Japanese attire? No, not at all," she jested.

He smirked as he went over to a wardrobe and pulled out a black garment along with a few other items then disappeared into the washroom again. After a few minutes he emerged in a black and white Yukata, an orange sash around his waist, and slipped a pair of zori onto his feet. He looked to her while she looked over his outfit and admitted, "you'd almost pass for a Shinigami."

He grinned, while reminding her that she had been the one to taught him how to dress the part to blend in. Rina laughed and nodded in agreement, "true again."

He walked over to her and she stood up, the Zanpakuto at her side drawn. She took a deep breath and stated, "here goes nothing."

She mumbled a phrase under her breath, he watched as the blade began to glow with a green aura that expanded until it surrounded both of them. Next thing he knew he was in what appeared to be a dimly lit room with billions of tiny square items like photographs floating around. He took in their surroundings until one image came up that didn't float away. An image of a brunet boy in a hospital bed, he was on what appeared to be a ventilator. He had a fair complexion and was obviously physically fit. Rina took Law's hand and leapt at the image, he allowed himself to be led by her and found that they landed in the room the boy was in.

"So this is Mamoru," Law concluded.

Rina nodded in agreement while confirming, "yes. This is my unofficial sixth brother, Mamoru."

He glanced around briefly but was soon met with a blade being aimed t his neck as well as a tall woman with short white hair and steel grey eyes glaring at him. As quickly as the blade had appeared in front of him, another collided with it, moving the threatening weapon away from him. He heard Rina's voice pleading, "let me explain! Captain Kotetsu, this is Trafalgar Law. He's a doctor with some unique abilities. He's offered to examine Mamoru and see if he can help."

"You just agreed to this without consulting me? This patient is my responsibility," Isane scolded.

Rina calmly replied, "I'm aware. I'm also aware that a shinigami being comatose for three years is nearly unheard of and never ends well. He's offered his assistance. Report this to my Captain if you must, but please let him try to help."

Isane paused for a moment before backing down and sheathing her blade. She looked to Law and asked, "You're a doctor?"

"A surgeon," Law confirmed, walking over to Mamoru's side and looking at the machines that were tracking his vitals.

"We can ask someone from the 12th to come over and do some updated images," Isane offered.

Law raised his hand to waist level over Mamoru and called out, "room."

Isane blinked as a spherical barrier appeared around them and their medical equipment. Next Law uttered the word 'scan', Isane watched as he intently observed the boy. His eyes narrowing after a minute, Rina also observed this slight change in his facial expression and inquired, "you found something?"

"It wasn't the injury that caused his coma," Law stated, though he seemed dismayed at what he'd uncovered.

Isane pressed him with, "judging by your expression it's something bad. Is it inoperable?"

"No such thing—but it would be high risk. He has an AVM near his cerebellum, and a tumor directly behind it. The tumor is pressing against the AVM. That's what's keeping him comatose," he revealed.

He looked to Rina and stated, "So stop blaming yourself. This would've happened to him even if he wasn't injured—but if he hadn't been injured he wouldn't have received the life support that's sustained him this far."

Rina nodded a little and looked over to Mamoru while asking, "can you help him?"

"I can excise the tumor, relieve the pressure on the AVM then cut off the blood supply and starve it. Give it another day or two, he should wake up," Law announced.