A/N: People who keep up with One Piece (anime), tell me... Was I the only one who cried last week?
Anyway, enjoy the chapter 8 ^^
Chapter 8: Simple person.
He was right, the clothes were a bit big for me, especially the sweater. Anyway, when I finished getting dressed and redo the fake bandages, I left the bathroom and, due to the good smell of curry, my stomach growled. It had been a while since the last time I ate. However, when I was going downstairs I heard a loud noise that made me hurry. I reached the kitchen to see Cora-san facing the floor.
"Oi, are you okay? What happened?" I asked concerned while helping to get him to his feet.
"I'm fine" He grinned at me "I just tripped. This happen all the time."
"God, you are too clumsy" I cleaned the blood coming out his nose with my sleeve.
"I'm used to it. But..." he pointed to the pot with the curry on the floor "Sorry, I think that our dinner will be only rice."
"That's okay. But it's better if I serve us." I picked up two bowls and two pairs of hashi at the cabinet.
"Then I'll accept" he seemed a little confused by the fact that I knew where to find the bowls, but he ended up sitting down at the dinning table and waiting for me to serve him, what took a while since I had to do that with only one hand. He thanked the food and started to eat only after I was also at the table with my own bowl of rice.
"I forgot to ask, what is your name?" I almost spit rice at the sudden question, I wasn't expecting this. I didn't have time to think about a name, so I said the first one that came in my mind.
"It's Bepo. And yours?"
"Rosinante. You can call me Rocy."
"Then, Rocy-ya, do you often break the arms of travelers?"
"No, you are special."
"I feel much better"
"Sorry about that, really. You know, I'm a little... paranoid. When I saw your coat, a number of possibilities ran through my mind. I still don't know if I can trust you completely, but I don't see you as a danger either. I hope that giving you a place to stay can make up for it."
"I thought you let me stay here to keep an eye on me."
"It's also that. As I said, it is going to be good for both of us."
"I think you are right. And that's okay about the arm. It's just an arm after all" since I had already lost an arm before, breaking it wasn't too much.
"If you say so." he sighed and stared at the food for a moment before continuing to talk "Also, sorry about before"
"What are you talking about?"
"I think I was a bit rude to you because of the hat. "
"It was my fault. I wasn't supposed to be stirring in your belongings."
"I was the one who told you to pick up my clothes. The hat was there and once you have a very similar one, of course you'd be curious." I almost forgot about my own hat. Perhaps it wasn't good for him to see me wearing it, so I decided that I would take it off before bedtime and stop using it at least for a while.
When I put the last portion of rice in my mouth, he picked up both empty bowls and went to the kitchen to do the dishes.
"You can go sleep, I'll do the same after I finish cleaning up the mess I made with the curry."
"I'm not sleepy. I slept all day long, remember?"
"So, do whatever you feel like doing."
"I wanted to talk."
"With me?"
"Well, I don't see anybody here but you, and I don't usually talk to myself."
"Fine" he showed a smirk at me "Do you drink green tea?"
"...and that was how my clumsiness saved my life" he started to laugh loud and I ended up letting a soft laugh come out "Gosh, I can't remember the last time I spent that amount of time talking to someone."
"Nor can I" That was a fact, it has been a long time since the last time I truly relaxed and chatted with someone without any worries. I had to admit, it was very good, especially with Cora-san. Between a smirk, I took the last sip of my tea before taking the teapot to fill my mug for the third time.
"I'll have another mug, too" he reached for the teapot in my hands, however I didn't let him pick it up.
"No, It's hot and you almost spilled it all over yourself last time. Let me serve you." he stared at the filled mug, seeming a little upset "what's the matter?"
"I was just thinking..." he sighed before continuing "You know, I'm not used to having someone who cared so much about my clumsiness."
"Sorry, am I overreacting?"
"A little." his usual smile returned to his face "But I kind of like it. Thanks."
"You don't need to thank me, it's natural to worry about people you like" shit, I said it without think. He looked at me a little confused – but who wouldn't – and then he burst into laughter "What?" I tried to hide my shame, however I could feel my flushed face denouncing me.
"Sorry..." he was trying to speak without laughing even more, but obviously in vain " You... You're such a simple person, Bepo."
"What are you implying?" I showed that he was making me angry to make him stop laughing, though it didn't worked.
"You met me today and... and you are saying that you like me as if it was nothing." I attempted to kick him in the face – God, he was pissing me off – and he instinctively swerved backwards, what made him fall off the couch and his mug fly, pouring tea on the floor next to him. Unfortunately, it didn't stop him from laughing. "Actually, you are pretty crazy. I... I gave you a beating, and you still... still like me."
"You don't get tired, do you?"
"I'm sorry." he took a deep breath and finally stopped laughing "Sorry, but it was funny. Now can you, please?" he reached out to me for my help, which I gave with a lot of pleasure... "Thank.. Ouch!" he groaned when I let him fall back on the air.
"Oops, I'm sorry" I smirked wickedly.
"You did it on purpose!" he said while standing up by himself.
"Oh, you don't say? " I was clearly sarcastic.
"You asked for..." he was smirking and, even though I knew he wasn't serious, I jumped over the couch when he came in my direction.
"You wouldn't hit an injured person, would you?" I pointed to my 'broken' arm. The only thing that kept him away was the sofa between us, so I had to think fast before he could get rid of the obstacle.
"Hmm" he faked a thoughtful expression "Yeah, I would" while he was jumping over the couch I ran towards the kitchen with a plan in my mind. Since it was Cora-san, it would be an easy task to make him fall into my trap. Though I didn't want to hurt him, he was asking for it. So, arriving at the counter, I turned to see the show. And I couldn't help but laugh really loud when he slipped on the tea that himself poured before.
"C'mon, where all your worries about me went?"
"They went away when you made fun of me." I went to help him get up, this time for real.
"Geez, you really..." He looked at his watch with a shocked expression. "Gosh, look at the hour... I have to work tomorrow."
"It's better for you to get some sleep" I tried to not look so upset.
"Yeah, good night" he rushed to the second floor, but when he was already halfway up the stairs, he stopped and turned only his face to me, showing a large grin "You know, I think I'm beginning to like you, too."
Then he left. He left, leaving me standing there, completely still. My heart was beating so fast and so loud that I could perfectly hear it. I stood there looking at the place he stopped before, as if he hadn't left. Of course I liked him, I hadn't known him today, I met him sixteen years ago. At that time, he said 'I love you' and I was never able to forget those words, though they seemed so simple to me before. However, this time it was different. This time... it seemed more important, deeper. Also, something had changed inside of me. But, what? What the hell was making my heart ache that much?
Answers to the guests:
To Apple Boom: Hehehe, that's something you have to wait to find out. I intend to give some tips into the following chapters, so be aware ^^ Anyway, sorry for the delay to give you more chapters, but I hope you have enjoyed this one and keep reading (and reviewing, cause I love to read your comments hahahaha) Thanks !
To yoyo: Since it is about Law and Cora-san, a lot of feels are involved T_T Poor little Law... Oh, that reminds me about his flashback, man, I'll cry again ;3; [Thanks for the review, by the way]
