ROSES HAVE THORNS-Chapter 39 - New Home

*Gasp!* "Is that the place Mr. Prefecky?! We play there every Sunday!" Rupee pointed at the many children she saw playing at the church’s playground.

"No, not that silly. It’s that place over there." Dominik instead pointed at the orphanage across the street from it. "But, if you get accepted, you’ll be able to play with all of them every day!"

"Really?! Yaay! I have some friends who stay there too! I can see them playing over there by the church! Can I go see them Mr. Prefecky?"

"R-Rupee behave yourself. You’re making a scene..." Tristan nudged at her.

"This is actually the perfect chance for me to ask those kids a few questions." Kurt suggested. "Tristan, why don’t you go with Dominik and see if you can get yourselves registered. In the meantime, I’ll take Rupee with me to the playground to see her friends since I doubt, she’d be able to sit still."

"S-sure. Is that alright Mr. Prefect?"

"Totally." Dominik threw a thumbs up, "I’ll explain the situation and sign off on any paperwork they give."

"Yippee! Come on Uncle Kurt!" Rupee pulled on his hand.

"Alright alright, ha ha! You’ve got some major ants in your pants, don’t you?"

Once they crossed the road and made it to the playground, all the children stared in their direction as they suddenly stopped playing.

’Whoa. That’s creepy...’

"... Hey it’s Rupee..."

"... You’re right! It is Rupee!

"Hey Rupee, you’re here!"

""""Rupee!!!"""" All the children gathered up and ran towards them.

’Holy shit! Just how popular is this girl!’

"Hi! Guys!" Rupee waved at them.

When they arrived at the two, the nonstop questions barrage came swinging in full force.

"Rupee! What are you doing here!?"

"Yeah! And where’s Tristan!?"

"Who’s this uncle you’re with!?"

"Whoa! He has an eyepatch! Can I see what’s under!?"

"Please kids, one at a time, ok? We’ll answer all your questions but first you gotta answer mine. Deal?" Kurt tried to negotiate with them.

"Eeehhh?! But we asked first!"

"And I’m the adult here. We adults always get priority."

""""Booooo!""""

"Hey! You better listen to Uncle Kurt or else I’m going home!" Rupee scolded them. "Tristan’s here too but I’ll take him with me if you don’t coomputate!"

"You mean cooperate?" one of her friends asked.

"Yes! That!"

"B-but... I want to see Tristan," an asian shy girl said as she stepped forward. "Okay Uncle Kurt, I’ll answer your questions."

"Me too!"

"Also me!"

"Me as well, desu wa."

"Wow. So eager all of a sudden? You all must really like Rupee and Tristan, huh?"

"W-what!? I don’t particularly l-l-like Rupee or anything." A boy with short red hair and a plaster on his nose kicked the dirt as he misunderstood Kurt.

"I-I mean if you’re asking whether I like or hate Tristan, then I definitely like him... desu wa." A girl with blue swirly hair chimed in as well.

’I guess Rupee’s not the only popular one here.’

"Alright first question. Do you like being here at the orphanage?"

""""Yeeesss!""""

"And do the people that work here treat you all nicely?"

""""Yeeesss!""""

"Are you lying?"

""""Noooooo!""""

"That’s good to hear." Kurt smiled. "Alright next question. Do some of you guys get adopted? Or do you all stay here until you’re old enough to leave?"

"We get adopted!"

"Yeah, but only if the mommy and daddy likes us..."

"Oof, that’s just how it is sometimes. Don’t worry, I’m sure a nice couple will take you all in one day." Kurt reassured them.

’Hmm, everything seems normal so far.’

"Ok last string of questions then I’m finished. Do you see Rupee’s hair and eye colour?" Kurt asked as he held her head.

""""Yeeesss!""""

"I-it’s very nice..." The red-haired boy mumbled.

"Yes, it is very nice." Kurt said as he rubbed her head.

"Hehehe." Rupee giggled.

"The next question is, do any other kids here at the orphanage have a similar eye and hair colour as her?"

""""Nooooooo!""""

"Okay, was there any kid who had the same eye and hair colour as her but left the orphanage?"

""""Nooooooo!""""

’So she’s the first? I can’t tell if that’s a good or bad thing...’

"Last question. Now this is an important one, so you have to answer honestly, okay? When you guys go to church for your lessons, have any of the priests been acting weird around you?"

"Weird how? Desu wa."

"Basically, in any way that made you feel uncomfortable."

""""Nooooooo!""""

"They just teach us about how to do spells and about Goddess Bula and her scriptures." The asian girl added.

"... Great! That’s all the questions I have."

"Oh! Oh! Now me!"

"No, I have a question!"

"Hey R-Rupee, you wanna play on the swings?"

"I was here first!"

"W-Where’s Tristan?"

"I believe I have the most important questions, desu wa"

"Hey Kurt! We’re back!" Dominik called from across the street. With him was Tristan and another woman.

’Oh thank goodness he’s back...’ Kurt managed to untangle himself from the kids and escape their clutches.

"Good morning." The woman greeted Kurt. "You must be the person that saved these kids. On the behalf of their deceased parents as well as Goddess Bula, I thank you." She bowed deeply.

"Please, there’s no need for that. I only did what was right."

"Humble and handsome. I’d imagine you’re popular with the ladies, hehe."

"Uh oh, has another woman fallen for your devilish charms?" Dominik snickered. "You best give up now Manager; he’s already got his eyes on someone."

"Well, I guess that it’s a good thing I have a husband then. That must be Rupee?" She looked over the street, "I see she’s very well liked already."

"Yeah. Apparently, her and Tristan are very popular among them. They all play together on Sundays, she said."

"Oh my is that so. That means there’s no need to worry about them fitting in."

"You didn’t know? Are you not part of the church?"

’That’s weird. The church and the orphanage are practically neighbours. Are they not affiliated with each other?’

"No. We’re an independent organisation who so happens to be located next to each other. Because of that, the church has offered us a helping hand on some matters. Such as teaching them about religion and building a playground for them to enjoy."

"That’s... great, actually. Excuse me Manager, but do you mind if I ask you for a favor?" Kurt asked seriously.

"Yes. What is it?"

"Do not. I repeat, Do. Not. Let the church get their hands on Rupee or Tristan. For any reason, it doesn’t matter what it is. Don’t let them go to those lessons and, especially, don’t let the members of the church take those kids in the name of serving the Holy Child."

"...Why? Is there something I should know?"

"I’ll take it from here, Kurt."

Dominik then began to explain to her about how they believe the cult and church are working together for some unknown reason, and that they are actually kidnapping children that matches Rupee’s description. Golden blonde hair and crystal-clear blue eyes.

He also told her about how they became orphans with the recent event that has happened and how Bishop Tobias could not be trusted.

"Has Tobias ever visited this orphanage?" Kurt asked.

"Only ever once. But now that I think of it, he did seem a little strange and it did look like he was searching for something. Listening to your story has now made me realise what that something was..."

"The kids... Mrs. Manager! Do you mind giving a testimony at the station whenever you have a moment? This will surely help us nail down on Tobias when the time comes."

"Yes. I’ll do anything to protect those kids."

"Can you defend yourself well? In case of an emergency?"

"Dude, Kurt! What are you asking the gentlewoman!?"

"Yes, I can. I was a former silver ranked adventurer after all, hehe."

"Great. That’s good to hear. You never know when they might come in with force. Actually, extra security for this place doesn’t sound too bad. Dominik, are there any agencies that offer security services?"

"Oh no, Mr. Kurt, there’s really no need to–"

"Please. I insist. I’ll even pay it out of my own pocket."

"Kurt... That’s a lot of money." Dominik sounded worried.

"It’s fine. I have lots to spare. In fact, since those two won’t be going to those church lessons I’ll even offer to pay for their school fees. They were going to school before all this, right?" He looked at Dominik."

"Well yes. We got their information down while you were at their house, but..."

"Then it’s settled. I’ll pay for security as well as their school fees. This is important to me so please let me do this."

After seeing how Kurt wasn’t going to give in, the manager accepted his offer.

"Very well. Thank you, Kurt."

"You’re welcome. Now if that’s all we need to leave. We’re on a tight schedule, you see."

"Of course. Don’t forget to say goodbye to those kids."

"Will do."

Kurt and Dominik crossed the road again in order to say their farewells to Rupee and Tristan.

"Aww but do you have to leave already?" Rupee clung to Kurt with teary eyes

"Yeah. But don’t be sad. This is your new home now. You’ll also be able to go back to school. And I promise to visit at least whenever I can. Once a month minimum guaranteed."

"O-ok... You promised so you have to keep it."

".... Here. Give me your pinky."

Kurt interlocked his and Rupee’s pinky together and swore under an oath.

"If I break my promise, I’ll swallow a thousand needles."

"Ha ha! *sniff* Now you have to keep it."

"Exactly." He stood up and went to Tristan.

"See you around little man."

"Hm. S-see you later. Thank you, Uncle Kurt."

After they finished saying their goodbyes, Kurt and Dominik left for their next destination. Future Academy.