Howkay. Get ready people. This is gotta be a bit long and unusual. May I ask for drumrolls?

*looks at Skull who's sleeping next to the drums*

Well, guess not. So, I'm just going to say it:

PREPARE TO BE COLOLALIZED! This fine print below is a promised request for a special person (*ehem*COLONELA*ehem*) that somehow regenerated, and was transformed into a chappy!

So, while I still have the floor, allow me to yet again establish a few things. This little fic is AU, so do not be surprised if the characters are a bit OOC, since their settings have changed. Although, I must request, if you do happen to find parts where I've gone too far, do tell me.

That aside, please, do enjoy!

-m16-

"The problem here, obviously, is that you are one big ass, and you take up too much space here!"

"What's that?"

"Let me translate that for you, then . . . Get the fuck out of here, Bastard!"

That voice.

Quickly, I pushed myself up from my bed and ran towards the windowpane. All other windows were already out of lights, save for one. Her window.

What was going on?

"Honestly, I don't even get why you have to come here! And, in the middle of the evening, too! You're causing up a stir and waking up my tenants!"

"Is that how you talk to your father, you ungrateful little . . ."

"Ungrateful little what? Go on and say it, Old Man! Let the whole neighborhood hear!"

"Don't make me say it. We can talk about this peacefully."

"You're the one here who started this! Get out, and I can reassure you that everything will be peaceful!"

The window adjacent from mine opened, and out came a blue-haired woman. She stepped into the thin ledge, and looked down.

"Lal Mirch, young lady, get down from there! That's dangerous!" a man's voice called out from inside the window. Soon, his head protruded from that opening.

"Oh, shut up," she replied, rolling her eyes. "I know you don't care about me."

"I very much do!" the man argued. "Now, get out of there!"

Lal did start getting out of there, but she only went farther away, stepping into more treacherous grounds. The old man began wigging out and started to step out of the window as well, but she threatened that she'll jump off that five-storey building if he went any nearer.

"Damn, that's dangerous, kora," I muttered, running towards my drawers to find the key ring. My hands shook as I tried fitting every key in that ring, hoping to find the right one. From the corner of my eye, I saw her bob her head towards me.

The window finally opened, and I gestured for her to come near. She looked at me uncertainly, and then back at her original opponent. The man was already calling at someone. I saw her face grow pale.

"Over here, kora!" I cried. She looked at me again, bit her lip, and started stepping towards me. I leaned forward and reached for her hand, and she took it, striding towards my window ledge, landing inside my room.

"Are you alright?" I asked, closing the window.

"Yeah," she breathed. "I didn't die, did I?"

I looked at the man from where we stood, and saw him glaring at me. Quickly, I looked away.

"You shouldn't be afraid of him. He won't be able to hurt you if you just stay away." She faced me, and smiled. "Thanks for that."

"Sure," I whispered. "I don't mean to pry or anything, but, what was that about, kora?"

"Nothing much," she sighed, pressing her fingers on the glass of my window, watching as how the old man muttered some sort of curse at her, and she returned by raising her middle finger at him before he slammed the window in frustration.

"Really?" I asked, slowly looking back at her to catch a playful beam on her face, before it turned into a scowl. "That didn't look like nothing much, kora."

"Did it now?" She bit her lip and appeared to be assessing something. Then, she faced me again. "If you must know, that guy's Lucio, Hell's very own God of the Devils."

"Why do you call your father by his first name, kora?"

She scoffed.

"Lucio's not my dad," she answered, leaning on the wall and crossing her arms. "He's my stepdad."

"Oh."

"By the way," she said, holding out her hand at me. "I'm Lal Mirch."

"Colonello," I smiled, reaching for it. Suddenly, she winced.

"What's wrong, kora?" She smiled and shook her head as she examined her palm. I took it back, and found that it was bleeding.

"Shoot," I exclaimed softly.

"Relax," she claimed, pulling her hand away. "It's just a scratch I got while I was out on that ledge."

Real now? I thought. That surely didn't look like just a scratch to me.

"Wait here, kora," I instructed her as I hurriedly ran to get my First Aid kit and go back to her, only to see her crying softly in front of the window.

"Lal, kora?"

Her big brown eyes shimmered with tears underneath the soft moonlight. They stared unto me for a short while, and then swiftly turned away. I had to look away in embarrassment.

"Sorry, kora," I mumbled.

"I should be the one apologizing," she answered, raising her head and wiping away the tears.

I looked back at her, and she was still looking out at her window. She was muttering curses or something as she watched the fading light from where she stood.

"Damn that devil. He's not leaving."

"You can stay here for the night, if you like, kora." My hand immediately flew to my mouth, but it was too late. She was already looking at me with wide, uncertain eyes.

"T-that's not what I meant—uh—er, uhm . . ."

"I get it," she smiled. "Thanks for the offer, but no thanks. I can face him anytime. He always comes here every month . . . Slimy Bastard."

I watched as she began fidgeting with her dark blue locks, eyes casted down in a wary manner. She looked like a troubled angel from my point of view, and I have never seen anyone who looked lovelier than she. It was overwhelming, yet at the same time, heartbreaking.

"Something's wrong, kora," I pointed out softly and comfortingly.

"Of course there is," she choked, raising up her other hand to wipe away the tears. "That man's there."

"No, I mean . . ." My voice trailed off when she looked at me, as if watching how my blue eyes blink awkwardly at her. I didn't bother continuing. Her gaze was too hard to depict. It was as if she was looking through me beneath those glimmering tears.

Instead, I took her hand—the bleeding one—and examined it. Anything to keep my eyes from looking at her. Still, she stared at me curiously.

"I think you should sit down so we could do something about this hand of yours, kora," I suggested, gesturing at my small bed. The inquisitive glint in her eyes seemed to have rouse, making me swallow my next words.

"Sure," she finally said, lowering herself at the soft, white duvet covers. I felt her eyes look away for a moment, giving me enough tension to at least let me move and click open the light.

As soon as the whole room lit up, exposing my rather "upsetting" dwelling place, I took a place next to her, and started treating her hand.

"Nice place you got here," she commented, eyes journeying around my small, blue room. "Simple and understated. Quite unique for a man's home."

"Uh, I just moved in, which explains the boxes over there, kora," I explained, wrapping her hand tenderly, still refusing to have eye contact.

"So you're the new guy, huh?" she asked.

"Y-yeah . . ."

She gave out a small chuckle as she pulled away her bandaged hand.

"No wonder you look so familiar."

I just gave out an uncertain laugh.

Of course I was familiar.

I've been spying on her since I first came here. Now, don't get the wrong idea and say that I'm some sort of stalker. I'm not . . .but I've found her quite interesting. I've always had the chance to brush against her in the hallway, and, I guess, in that short period of time, I've grown this slight fondness for her.

She's cute. Can you blame me?

Oh, that and because she's the landlady here.

Beautiful coincidence, no?

"Colonello, right?" she suddenly said. I looked at her as she smiled at me. "Thanks for being such a great guy. I feel like we're going to get along really well." She sighed. "Sorry, if I've disturbed your sleep or anything."

"That's fine," I quickly told her. "I'm happy to have helped. Besides, I don't think I can sleep knowing that there are these kinds of bad elements lurking around my home, kora."

"That makes two of us," she muttered.

"Are you okay, kora?"

"Uh, what?" She blinked at me, and then slightly blushed. "Oh, sorry. I was . . ." She looked up, and then smiled, as if defeated. "I guess I can't hide anything from you, can I?"

I blinked. She giggled.

"Cute," she murmured, eyes softening. "Well, if you must know, I've been bothered by what that guy told me when he came tonight."

"Why? What did he say, kora?"

"He told me updates about my mother like how he did everytime he comes here. Usually, I didn't care about it. It was the same thing over and over again, and it's not like I'd give a damn about him and her ever since I kicked myself out of that blasted home. Not until he told me the news."

"Did your mother fall sick or something, kora?"

"Heh, I'd wish," she sneered. Then, her eyes turned supple and dampened. "But, that wasn't it. She'd been sick for a long time now. Lucio always says that she became like that because I left. Yeah, like that was ever true."

"It might be, kora," I told her hopefully.

"But, it isn't," she argued. "No mother will let her daughter move out just because she came into a conflict with her most beloved new husband. She doesn't care about me. She just pretended for my dad, to show him that we really do get along well."

"Why would she want to pretend for your father, kora?"

She shrugged.

"What can I say? My father's kind of filthy, stinking rich, and as an added bonus, he was close to dying. She wanted part of the bounty. Everybody did."

"And . . .?"

Her face turned grim.

"And, when he did . . . die, we've found out that he left all his treasures and wealth to his only daughter."

"That's you, right, kora?"

She smiled at me.

"Look who catches on fast," she teased. "So, yeah, my dad left everything in my name, with a note that says I was open to share it with those who care about me. Something my mother and her other husband will never be."

"So that man's really after your money, kora?"

"Exactly. They wanted to show my dad's lawyer that they cared about me to convince him, but, thankfully, he wasn't convinced. So, my life has been a series of wild goose chases between me and my mother for the past two years. Still, they didn't get anything from me."

"Connect the dots for me, will you, kora?" I told her. "If you're really as wealthy as you say you are, then why are you here? Not that I'm saying you don't belong here, but, shouldn't you be where other rich girls go?"

"Like where?"

"I don't know! Las Vegas, maybe?"

To my surprise, she laughed. Hard. So far from her usual soft giggles.

"Good one," she chortled. "But, I don't think I'd be comfortable in anywhere as lavish as that. Besides, it's not like I want my dad's money."

"You d-don't, kora?"

"I know, kind of weird, huh? Me refusing a multibillionaire's inheritance. Well, that's just the kind of person I am. I don't like being wealthy. It just attracts too many weirdoes and pretenders. So, I left the lawyer to divide it among charities, and what not. But, he couldn't because . . ."

"Because of the condition, kora," I found myself mutter.

"Right," she agreed. "Even though he's on my side, the lawyer believes that these idiots will actually be able to prove that they fucking care about me. I always believed they wouldn't succeed . . ." A sparkle of loneliness passed by her russet orbs. "Then, my mom died."

My eyes widened at her, and she scowled at me.

"Don't look at me like that," she demanded. "I'm not sad because she died. As a matter of fact, I am very much happy she's out of my life. That only leaves Lucio after me, and what good would he do? He's not even related to me."

"I can see you crying, kora."

She looked away in an irritated manner.

"I'm just upset, alright?" she insisted. "Lucio might be able to use her death to convince everybody that she loved me so much that she died worrying about me."

"Was your lawyer convinced, kora?"

She shrugged.

"He wasn't," she answered. "But, we both have the same hunch. What if that devil takes this to court, and those idiots believe him? A lot of good that will do to me and my efforts to keep my dad's hard-earned riches to fall into his clutches."

"I see, kora."

She forced a smile as she stretched her arms forward.

"Well, that's the story of my life." She looked up at me. "It felt good to share this with someone. Thanks again, Colonello."

"You're welcome, kora," I grinned. Then, that curious look on her face returned. She started watching me again, reviving that awkward feeling from a while ago.

"Something wrong, kora?" I asked.

She neared her face towards mine, making me recoil.

"Uh . . . you might want to back a little, kora . . ."

"Your eyes," she suddenly blurted out. I focused my stare at her. "Are they really blue?"

"Y-yeah . . . Why, kora?"

"Nothing," she whispered, looking away. "It just reminds me of my dad."

"Oh. Well . . . I'm glad I could remind you of a good memory for a change, kora."

She smiled again.

"Well, it's not everyday that you see a blond and blue-eyed Italian in this part of Namimori. Especially, the tender and loving kind. You are so much like my father."

I looked at her, and she looked back at me. Slowly, the awkwardness began to disappear as I found myself grinning easily at her.

"Isn't this quite an interesting way to get to know your proprietor, kora?" I commented.

"Yeah, you're right." She looked at her watch and stood up. "Maybe, I should go. We both need to get some sleep."

"What about that Lucio person, kora?"

"I'll just kick him out," she answered confidently. "And, when he doesn't leave, don't be surprised to hear police sirens, all right?"

"I'll keep that in mind, then, kora."

She walked back to the window, and pushed it up, letting the cold evening breeze ruffle her beautiful cobalt tresses. I walked after her.

"Are you sure you don't want to use the door, kora?" I asked as she carefully stepped out.

"Nah," she replied. "Then, I'd have to go a long way and risk having others see me get out of your room. People might get the wrong idea and a lot of good that will be for you." She balanced herself on the ledge, and then faced me.

"Come here," she called out. I stepped towards her.

"Yeah, kora?"

"Thanks again, Colonello, for everything. It means a lot for me to meet you. I hope we could be great friends."

"Sure thing, kora."

She leaned forward and gave me a peck on the cheek, and then carefully treaded the dangerous path back to her window, leaving me there standing like a lost puppy, blushing like crazy.

-FIN-

To COLONELA: Hey, onee-chan! This is the fic you've requested FYI! Thanks for your undying support!

Thanks for reading!

LoveLots!