[ thirteen years old. ]

Law didn't much like Doruya's friends.

He found them rough, big and even mean at times. In short, a bunch of bullies.

They never bothered him too much – oh, they tried, but Law was faster and, above all, smarter, so he could overpower them with ease. And when the cruellest of them really sought revenge, it was Doruya herself who kicked his ass before he could do anything.

Eventually, the kids gained respect for Law's wit, plus he was gaining muscles thanks to his constant training with Killer, and he barely saw them around town.

So it was definitely weird when a couple of them came to his training ground to inquire about his sister's whereabouts. Apparently she was supposed to meet them for some exciting adventure she wouldn't have bailed on.

Of course Law had no idea where Doruya was most of the time, normally she showed up for dinner, and only if she hadn't bullied some local shop into feeding her before.

He dismissed her friends quickly and went back to his sword.

Except something didn't sit right.

For the rest of his training, the teen found his mind wandering back to Doruya, and no amount of swings or push-ups seemed to wipe that off.

He scoffed in annoyance.

Okay, maybe he was slightly troubled. But what for? He could think of very few people on the island able to harm his sister, and those that could, would never.

Perhaps it was the twin thing.

He knew that, whenever one of them was uncomfortable, the other felt it too.

«Damn it.» Law finally grunted, letting the wooden sword fall on the ground.

It wasn't a long way to the castle, so he quickly went back home and entered Doruya's quarters.

«Oi, mad sister.» he called, looking around and approaching her room.

No answer.

He didn't even know why he went there first, Doruya was almost never indoor, not if she could choose at least. But he trusted his instinct.

«Sister?» he called again, knocking at her door.

Again, no answer.

«I'm coming in.»

Law walked into the room (which was a mess, as always) and yeah, she was nowhere to be seen, but he heard a quiet shuffling coming from the adjacent bathroom.

He frowned, heading over. Was she sick?

«Doruya?» he asked through the door.

«GET THE FUCK AWAY!»

The redhead was startled by the violence of her reply, the shout making him jump back.

Yet, he sensed the distress in her voice. And that was nothing like her.

«Oi, what's going on?»

«I SAID PISS OFF, LAW.»

Instead, he leaned his ear against the door.

«Doruya, what the hell? Are you hurt? Or did you kill somebody?»

«I did neither, you idiot, now go away!»

Wait, was her voice like... cracked?

«Okay, I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what's going on!»

Now he was panicking a little. He never heard his sister like that.

There was a pause inside the bathroom, then more shuffling and what horribly resembled a choked sob.

«Get mom.»

Law's eyebrow twitched.

«But–»

«GET MOM!»

The teen backed a few steps away.

«Fine.»

He was about to run off when Doruya stopped him for a moment.

«OI, IDIOT! Only mom, okay? Nobody else!»

«Hum, sure?»

«You heard me, right?! No dad, no Killer-ojisan, NOBODY ELSE! Or I swear to the devil, I will flay you alive!»

«Okay, okay, I got it!»

Well, she was still threatening lives, so she wasn't in imminent risk of death.

Nevertheless, Law hurried off to frantically search the rest of the castle.

The first person he met aside from the servants was Killer, sitting on a balcony with the newspaper.

«Ojisan!» he called, stopping at the threshold «Do you know where mom is?»

The blonde lowered the paper, his striped helmet coming into view.

«Hm? I think she's at the shooting field.»

«Cool, thanks!»

«Wait, Law. Is something wrong?»

«Nope, all good!» the teen yelled without even turning, already running out.

«Wow. Do you like ever miss?» Ikkaku asked you from below the tree you were chilling on, watching the distant targets all perfectly pierced in the centre.

You smirked proudly, reloading your rifle.

«Nope.»

«MOM!»

Something in Law's voice immediately triggered your parental instinct. You jumped down just as he ran up the hill.

«What's wrong?»

The boy finally reached you and he took the first few seconds to regain his breath. A frown curled your forehead.

«It's... Doruya.» he panted, looking up at you «She's locked in her bathroom, something is wrong but I don't know what and she said to get you and only you.»

The moment he put together all the words your heart started going haywire in your chest, but you knew you couldn't panic. It wouldn't have helped anyone, plus Law was only barely keeping himself from freaking out, and seeing you scared would have most likely toppled him off.

Moreover, you weren't even sure something bad happened.

Damn, it was so much easier to face the monsters of the Grand Line!

«Go, I'll be behind if you need anything.» Ikkaku immediately said.

You nodded and turned back to Law.

«Okay, I'll go on, see you there.»

Your Geppo brought you in front of Doruya's bathroom in a couple of minutes, but it still felt like hours in which multiple, horrible scenarios played out in your head. You literally banged the door once you broke in through the window.

«Doruya, it's me, open up!»

There were a few moments of silence in which your heart stopped, but eventually the lock clicked and the door opened slightly.

«Mom?»

You immediately slipped in and she closed it behind you.

The girl was up and walking, which helped with your tachycardia, but she looked distraught and definitely paler than usual.

«What happ–»

Your heart skipped a beat again when your eyes fell on the numerous towels on the floor, all stained in blood.

«I-I don't know what's happening.» she whimpered «I can't stop bleeding from... and I don't remember getting hurt but I never do! And I can't find the wound, but I can't see well there, and--»

She slid down in the corner, her body trembling weakly.

Thankfully, she had vaguely indicated her underwear, now bloody as well, and your brain had decided to work again.

You let yourself go against the wall and let out a long sigh of relief.

«Oh thank goodness.»

«What?!»

Her eyes flicked up on you, a glimpse of anger now sparkling in her gaze.

«Sorry, sorry.»

You waved your hand and moved to sit beside her. She eyed you in suspicion.

«It's okay, you're not hurt.» you explained, attempting a reassuring smile «You're just having your first period.»

Doruya stared at you with a lost expression.

«Remember how we talked about it?» you tried again «How women bleed from their vagina a few days every month once they hit puberty?»

She blinked.

«No.»

You rolled your eyes.

Damn, does she EVER listen when I'm trying to teach something besides shooting?

You and Killer regularly tried to give the kids lessons like sexual education and other stuff, but Doruya slept most of the time. When she didn't manage to sneak out at least.

For a thirteen-year old girl, she wasn't particularly developed. Her chest was still flat and she never showed any interest in boys, but you knew it was only a matter of time now. And it scared you shitless.

As an orphan and a marine recruit, you went through puberty completely alone and mostly surrounded by soldiers. The best thing that happened to you at the time was that Aokiji took you out for solo missions a lot, and that at least allowed you to deal with it by yourself.

But you were at a base when your first period hit, he was far away, and you had no clue what was going on. So you spent a day locked in a bathroom, had a mental breakdown, received a disciplinary note, until you finally mastered enough courage to go to the infirmary the next day, where an annoyed nurse explained to you what menstruation was.

That awful memory made you scoff lightly.

No, you were not going to let your daughter go though anything similar.

«Well, your body is changing.» you calmly started «You're going from being a girl to a woman. Periods are part of the package, unfortunately.»

She listened attentively and was about to ask something when you heard racing steps entering the adjacent room.

«So? What's going on?!»

«GO AWAY, LAW!» Doruya immediately barked.

You patted her head and got up, slightly opening the door just enough to stick your head out.

«Don't worry, frog, she's fine. Nothing bad happened. I'll explain later, okay?»

Law frowned at you for a second, but his young features immediately relaxed when he saw how calm you were.

«Mh, okay. Do you need anything?»

«No, thanks, we're fine.»

The redhead shifted his weight from one leg to the other, hesitating for a moment, before nodding.

«Huh, I'll go then.»

He turned and headed to the exit.

«Oi, Law?»

«Yes?»

«Thank you for calling me. You did great.»

His lips tightened and a pale blush spread on his cheeks before he marched outside.

«Yeah, whatever.»

You chuckled, then closed the door and returned by Doruya's side. She hadn't moved, a dark expression now clouding her face.

«I feel weird.» she grumbled.

«Yeah, menstruating can be pretty uncomfortable. It's different for every woman though.» you placed a hand on her shoulder «You know what? You take a shower while I get what you need to handle this thing, then I'll explain everything, okay?»

She never stopped glowering.

«Fine.»

Forty minutes later, Doruya was lying on her bed, arms resting over her face while you sat beside her.

«I fucking hate it.» she finally spoke.

You sighed.

«I hear ya.»

«Why are we the ones that have to deal with it?!» the girl growled «Every month?! What if a fight breaks out on my ship, am I supposed to stay back? What kind of captain would do that?!»

«Well, I guess it comes with the fact that we are the ones giving birth.» you reasoned «I used to feel the same way. Then... well, I know it won't mean much to you, but after I did get pregnant, I would never exchange this privilege with your father.»

She moved her arm just enough to peer at you.

«You're right. That means nothing to me.»

You quirked an eyebrow.

Damn, this girl. I swear Kid could be better suited than me for this talk.

«Look, if you want to be a pirate captain, you'll just have to power through it. Tons of women do.»

Doruya grumbled something incoherent under her breath.

«How did you handle it?» she asked after some time «When you and dad first crossed the New World. What did you do?»

«Our doctor used to make a concoction to keep my period as short and painless as possible. It didn't always work, but it helped.»

«So you could fight with it no problem?»

You faltered.

«Mmh... I'm not gonna lie to you, plague, I did stay behind if I could. Sometimes it wasn't possible though, so I had to women up and fight. It's kinda like being wounded but still kicking, right? Plus being a sniper is an advantage here. And you're both a shooter and a brawler, so it just means you're going to rely a bit more on your sniping skills, occasionally.»

That seemed to cheer her up a little. A small smile crept to her lips and a sparkle of her usual brashness flickered in her eyes.

«Yeah, that sounds right.»

«You can rest for now, though.» you smirked, getting up «Hum, what shall I tell your brother?»

The smile disappeared from her face and she propped herself up on her elbows.

«Tell Law the truth. But...»

The girl bit down her lower lip and her gaze fell on the sheets.

«Just don't tell dad.» she muttered.

You observed her for a few seconds. It was almost like she was ashamed.

«Why not?»

Doruya kept staring at her blanket, her jaw tensing as she decided whether talking or just blurting something aggressive to shut you up. You knew her well enough to read it on her face (you made her, after all).

«I don't want him to know... that I am weak now.»

Her words faded so much by the end of the sentence you barely heard them. Yet they still angered you.

Not because she said that, but because she had to feel that way.

«You're not weak!» you snapped «If anything, this is a trial that'll make you even stronger!»

Her amber eyes darted on you but before she could retort you pointed a finger to her face.

«Your father knows better than that, given the times I kicked his ass while on my period! Actually, you know what? The whole crew was terrified of me during that time of the month!»

The girl gaped at you.

«Wha— really?»

«I guarantee you! Eustass Kid, Emperor of the Sea, still walks on eggshells around me when I'm bleeding.»

«So... guys are afraid of that?»

«They were afraid of me.» you eyeballed her up and down «And they will be even more afraid of you, Doruya.»

A small spark of enthusiasm started to spread across her face.

«They will?»

You clicked your tongue with a fatalistic smile.

«Well, they are afraid of you already, so this is definitely gonna make it worse.»

She grinned, that signature, cruel grin that resembled Kid's so much.

«Great.»

Next up: as it's now undeniable the twins are not children anymore, Kid and birdie can't postpone it further.

It's time to sit down with them and have "The Talk".