A/N: I was able to upgrade ahead of schedule! Yay \o/ ~~

(Yeah, I kind of know I'm crap at writing comedy - and I also discovered that I don't know how to write as a child either -, but, well, at least I tried XD)


Chapter 9: Going out.


Since I started to live with Cora-san a few days ago, the routine has been almost the same: he had to work in the morning and in the afternoon, so he only came home for lunch and at the night when we had dinner and talked until he had to sleep. About me, when I wasn't with him, I was usually sleeping, reading, bathing or attempting to cook something when he was late. Also, I haven't seen Lady-ya since the day I met with Cora-san, what bothered me, because I really wanted to know what she meant with 'that's what everyone says at the beginning' thing.

Anyway, this day was going to be different. Cora-san said before going to work in the morning that his afternoon would be free, so he wanted to show me the city. What meant I would go out with Cora-san. What meant I finally would go out and breathe fresh air. What meant he was starting to trust me, even if I only could go out with him watching me. It was okay, I already knew that like doesn't always mean trust.

When I left bath, I heard Cora-san calling me on the first floor. So I dressed quickly with the gray and blue hoodie and the white jeans that belonged him (what meant that they were a little big). I didn't want to keep him waiting, so I didn't dry my hair properly and it was dripping when I opened the door. I was in such a hurry that I didn't see that he was already waiting me outside the bathroom and I ended up bumping into him. Fortunately, I had remembered to do the fake bandages.

"Are you trying to make me fall without the help of my own clumsiness?" he giggled softly.

"Sorry, I didn't see you."

"I kind of noticed it." his expression suddenly changed to a worried one "Oi, oi, it's very cold outside, were you intending to go out with a wet hair dripping?"

"Sorry..." Fine, now I'm ACTING like Bepo, that thought made me want to laugh, but I held it.

"You don't need to apologize for every single thing." He said while he grabbed a towel to dry my hair, which made my cheeks get a little pink.

"So, where will we go first?"

"I'm hungry, what about a restaurant?" I nodded "Then, it's set. Let's go." he threw the towel away when he finished, then he grabbed my good wrist and almost dragged me to a restaurant in front of the Navy's base. It was a small, yet elegant, place. There were few a tables on the porch, where we sat. Soon a waiter came to give us menus and glared happy to Cora-san.

"Captain Rosinante! Nice to see you again. What happened? You used to come here every day for lunch."

"It's good to see you too. Well, I'm having lunch at my house those days. As you can see, I have a guest"

"He's staying at your house?"

"Yes, but today I decided to bring him here to eat something better."

"Is he your boyfriend?" I could see Cora-san facepalming before I covered my face with the menu.

"'Course not. He's just a traveler without a place to stay."

"Oh" he blushed a bit "well, when you have decided what to order, call me" then he went away to serve another table.

"Seems that everyone likes you, Rocy-ya" I changed the subject as quickly as I could.

"As I like them all" He looked at the people in the street with a concerned glare "A few months ago I was offered a promotion, but I refused. I wanted to stay here, close the people I care, where I can protect them."

"You are a kind person" that was something I already knew, but he was proving this more and more.

"Perhaps I am" he turned his gaze to me "Unfortunately, sometimes it can harm me. Not that it would make me change, but it's something I always knew." And I didn't want him to change, even knowing that it was what had killed him. However I was there with him to ensure that his gentleness wouldn't hurt him anymore, so that way he could be himself forever. "Anyway, what you wanna eat?"

"I'll go with the same as yours" When he was making the request to the waiter, some children approached the restaurant.

"Rocy-saaaan" his name was called by a chorus of children's voices, and soon our table was surrounded by kids.

"Hello little guys, how have you been?"

"Fine, onee-sama is taking good care of us." a girl around her 8 answered.

"And where is she now?"

"We ran away from her, she is too obsessed." this time it was a boy who appeared to be the oldest, although he wasn't more than 11 years old.

"You shouldn't do that, she will be sad. I told her to look after you when I'm not around."

"There you are!" girlish voice called out behind me

"She found us, run guys!" the same boy ordered while he fled with all other children behind him, all laughing. I turned to see the girl, and I couldn't believe in my eyes. Even though she was younger than the last time I saw her, I was sure it was her. She was around 13, but was much taller than the other kids. She hugged Cora-san and started to cry.

"Calm down, Baby-5. They love you. They're just playing around."

"But.. but they don't need me."

"Yes, they need. I need"

"Really?" her expression became happy in a matter of seconds.

"Of course." he petted her head.

"And who is that strange man?" she pointed at me, smiling. In my view, she was the strange.

"He's a... kind of friend of mine. His name is Bepo."

"Oh, your boyfriend!" we both blushed hard at her innocent statement.

"Just a friend."

"C'mon, Cora-san, I'm no longer a child."

"I know, but he's still just a friend. And I know you want me to call you Baby-5, but don't call me Cora-san, I prefer Rocy-san."

"If you say so, Cora-san" she came to me, with her smiling face becoming serious, and grabbed my face with both hands "Your eyes... they are so similar to..."

"SHUT UP, BABY-5" Cora-san hit the table with his fist, calling everyone's attention and making Baby-5 cry again, this time holding me – which was odd, since I was used to being the one who made her cry, not the one who comforted her. When he realized what had done, he frowned with a hand on his forehead and sighed deeply "Sorry, I didn't mean it. I'm really sorry, Baby-5, come here" he opened his arms to embrace her as she ran toward him. "It isn't a subject that I wanna talk about and..."

"Baby-fiveeeee" a crying little boy stopped in front of Baby-5, his peculiar characteristics made it easy for me to identify him. I bet he had no more than 5 years old. "Other childs dun't wanna play with me, they say 'strange' an' 'creepy' every time I go niar."

"You are perfect the way you are, Dellinger." Cora-san was stroking Dellinger's head covered with the horn's hat while he was crying on the lap of Baby-5.

"Show me who told you those evil things, I'll teach them a lesson!" She took Dellinger in her arms and ran toward where the children were.

"Don't be too harsh, Baby-5!" Cora-san shouted at her, but she just answered with a OK sign. "Children".

"They seem very attached to you, especially those two." I couldn't help but admit that my curiosity was growing out of my control. Dellinger, Baby-5 and her talk about my eyes... Not that I didn't have a clue, but I still didn't know everything. I was sure that if I dig slowly, I would find something interesting.

"They are some orphans who live in a nearby shelter. And about those two... I kind of saved them." the waiter came to deliver our food, which ended up interrupting the talk for a while.

"She's certainly a unique girl."

"She may seem a bit strange at first sight, but I assure you she's a lovely girl with a big heart."

"I trust your words. But, you know, I'm curious about what she wanted to talk about my eyes."

"As I said before, that isn't something that I enjoy talking about."

"C'mon, don't raise my curiosity that way."

"Please, I don't want to talk about this. Don't ask this ever again."

"Okay, I give up" for now.

After the meal, between some slips, stumbles and other accidents, Cora-san showed me the city, introducing me to his friends – who were many – and showing me where were the most important places.

"There is one more place that I want to take you" he was walking beside me, still leading the way.

"What kind of place?"

"There" he pointed to a clothing store "I thought that you were tired of wearing clothes bigger than you."

"You didn't have to bother, I'm fine. I really don't want to abuse."

"You aren't abusing, I want to do it."

"Rocy-chan, welcome!" said an old woman gently behind the shop counter. "What brings you here?"

"I want to buy something that suits him." he pointed to me.

"Oh" she looked at me and then back to him "Boyfriend?"

"NO" we both shouted.


It was already dark when we were walking home, there weren't many people on the street and most of the sounds were coming from the bars. He was walking next to me slowly, carrying the shopping bags for me, because, as he said, my arm was broken. It wasn't that, even if it were true, I couldn't take them myself, but he insisted to do so.

When we come to a very lonely road where, at first, I thought that only the two of us were, I began to hear footsteps behind us. Two... no, three. It should be three people.

"Rocy-ya..." I whispered.

"I know, turn left at the next corner. I'll turn right, they are after me." he handed the bags to me.

"Like hell I'll let you alone"

"Do what I said and everything is going to be okay. Also, you can't do much with a broken arm."

"I refuse to leave you behind."

"God, have a little faith in me" my teeth were gnashing when I realized that these were the words that made me turn left at the corner. I trusted him, I really did. However, my heart hurt a lot when I saw him going in the other direction and disappearing into the darkness, with the three guys behind him.


Answers to the guests:

To Apple Bloom: Dear, you really don't need to apologize about that XD Even if I try to update as often as I can, I'm delaying it more that I wanted to... So, I'm the one to blame here hahahaha Anyway, sorry about the end of this chapter, cause... well... knowing your usual anxiety, I'm really worried about how you reacted to this hahahahaha Thanks for your support ^w^

To Guest (Adorable chapter): Oh you! . Thank you very much! I hope you enjoyed this chapter as well :3

To Guest (Aww, I wouldn't usually...): Really? Oh, you! God knows how happy I'm to read this! I'm glad that you think that way about my story, because I'm really trying hard to make a good plot here, but in the end it always seems (to me, at least) so.. I don't, poor? Maybe... The thing is, I like the idea that I had to start this fic, but I'm afraid to end up ruining everything hahahah that's why I really appreciate reviews, it is my way of knowing if I'm going in the right direction. So keep reviewing, if you feel like it, of course XD (About Cora-san and Law... Yeah, they are REALLY adorable hahahahah) Thank you for reviewing!