Thanks for reviewing, AkaMizu-chan, vampireizzy, meki~! xD

Well, of course, continued from scene 59. :] Have fun reading~! Oh- and please review too!!

O0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Kaia halted once she got past the gate. Gokudera just strolled casually along, hands deep in his pockets, and he looked back.

"Aren't you coming?" he raised an eyebrow. Kaia looked down both paths of the road.

"I'm not that familiar with Namimori yet…" she walked out onto the road and looked both ways. "I heard you came from Italy, right? Do you know much about Namimori?"

"I know where they sell food," suggested Gokudera, and he set off in that direction. Kaia looked down the roads again a little dubiously, but ran up to Gokudera, blindly following where he was going, automatically assuming that was the direction the shopping district was. The last time she got anywhere at all was by guesswork, observing what the people around her held [ex. People with shopping bags walking in one direction means the shopping district would likely be in the other way.] and what points in the path she could remember [ex. A random stop sign, then go straight and there would be another stop sign would probably mean she was going towards the school.].

"Ehhhh…Where are we?!" Kaia looked around, completely confused. She had never been down this road before.

"It's a short-cut, okay? Just…be quiet and follow me," said Bomber-man, without a glance behind him.

"Hmmmm…okay…" Kaia wasn't sure, but she decided to trust her classmate just this once – if she didn't she'd be completely lost and probably wouldn't find her way back home. They traveled a little longer along the narrow, dirty trail between looming buildings. Kaia looked up, and thought it faintly reminded her of pictures she had seen of Europe… Was it how this Italian person dealt with his homesickness?

"What do you want to buy?" Gokudera suddenly asked. Kaia jumped.

"Eh?"

"What do you want to buy??" he repeated. Kaia was silent for a second.

"Why are you asking me right now…?" blinked Kaia. "I'm still not that sure, 'cause I don't know what they sell…"

"The shopping district has sections to it, like the aisles you find in supermarkets. What do you want then?" Gokudera walked on without pausing. Kaia half-ran to keep up, as she was getting a little tired.

"Umm… I'll… I'll get…I'll just get ice cream then. A sundae, yeah. I'll get a sundae," Kaia beamed with her decision, but it was to Gokudera's back. Gokudera knew she was doing that, and kept his back to her so he could at least maintain his cool.

"Okay then. This way," he muttered, before turning off of the little road and out into the open again.

"Woahhh…" gaped Kaia, looking around. They were suddenly immersed in a crowd of people. "This is the shopping district?!"

"Yeah," answered Gokudera. He grimaced. "But not for ice cream." He knew it was the place Dr. Shamal hung out all the time – he claimed it was the place where all the cute and hot girls flocked, so he was probably in the crowd somewhere. He had to get out of the place as fast as possible, or ditch Kaia if Shamal comes around. The problem with the latter plan was if Kaia came back, complaining about the ice cream she didn't get. That would spring into a problem, and Dr. Shamal would forevermore tease him about getting a girl… Yeah, Gokudera would love to keep that from turning to reality. On the other hand, if Gokudera told Kaia about Shamal, she'd probably do something stupid.

According to Gokudera, all girls had at least one defective gear. Haru, the stupid woman, screams too much, and she sticks around too much. Kyoko is just… Well, Gokudera doesn't have anything against her, since Juudaime likes her. But Hana actually likes the stupid cow. And Kaia, well, she runs into too much trouble with Hibari. If you were with her, you might run into some trouble with Hibari, and probably end up beat up all over. And of course, his sister – Bianchi. Gokudera would just curse her and her poison cooking, and just plain avoid all that.

"Come on, hurry. I want to get this over with quickly," said Gokudera, and taking a huge risk by grabbing hold of Kaia's hand and literally dragging her through the crowd.

"AHHH!! Gokudera-san, what's the big hurry?! You're pulling on my arm…" cried Kaia. Gokudera cursed to himself – Dr. Shamal probably heard Kaia.

"Just- come on, hurry!!" Gokudera dragged Kaia down the street and around the bend. He gradually stopped, and let go of Kaia's hand. Kaia was panting hard, and sat down on the ground in exhaustion. She rubbed her wrist.

"Owww…" she complained. "Why…why do you have to pull so hard?! There's…there's no…rush…" She was breathing hard. Gokudera sighed. Girls get tired easily, too…

"Then," Gokudera looked away, closed his eyes, and muttered, "sorry…" Kaia looked up, her breathing becoming laborious. She blinked and looked away, feeling a fit of coughs to break out. After she coughed a little bit, she looked curiously back at Gokudera.

"You…said…sorry…" the corner of her mouth twitched and turned upwards into a smile. "Thanks…" She leaned forward, to pull herself up to her feet but sat back down forlornly.

She pulled on the nearest thing to her – Gokudera's sleeve. Leaning on that, she shakily pulled herself up, and gave him an apologetic smile.

"Sorry…I'm…a little…tired…" She straightened herself up and put her weight on her feet. One hand let go of his sleeve, and then the other followed. "Thanks…" She closed her eyes and stood up by herself. "I…still…want…my…ice…cream…please…" Her legs suddenly felt limp, and she sat back down again.

So this must be her negative dying will condition…? Or is it that…energy leeching…?

"Sorry," Kaia laughed to herself in embarrassment. "I'm just feeling…so…tired…" She looked up. "Pull…me…up…?" She held out a hand. Gokudera regarded the hand for a moment, then gave his reply.

O0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Heh. That was interesting. :]

And I bet you guys know what Gokudera's answer was, right? Of course, he does have a crush on Kaia. [so far… wonder where that'll go xD]

Thanks for reading, and now please review! Or alert or fave or something like that…but at least let me know that you liked it or didn't like it or wanted to vote or would like me to change something or might like me to improve in some aspect or something like that. It'll help. xD

Have an awesome break, everyone, and try not to get bored…! :D