Once inside the orphanage, the duo went over the receptionist counter.
Which this time there was someone to welcome them.

"Welcome to the orphanage! How may I help you today?" Said the receptionist has she give a warm smile to them. Despite having some stress in her eyes when she saw Bone.

Tristana was the first to talk since she notice from the look of the woman in front of them was trying not to be offensive by looking at Bone.

"We are here to watch the kids. Is it good to pay them a visit?" She gently ask her has she gained her attention about the children.

"Oh right! Of course miss! I'm sure they would be happy to see you again!" This time she was more than joyful.

Tristana tilt her head a little. "Really? Are they... This excited to see me again?" She seemed confused about that answer. But the receptionist was very confident on what she said. She stood up and steps around the counter so she was more face to face with the kind lady. "Of course miss. They could not stop talking about you and... Also the sir over there." She pointed out has she gave them the sign to follow her.

The two look at each other a bit surprise by that before they follow her.

When they got to the part of where the children are mostly in. They were more surprised when all of the kids jumped in excitement and happiness to see them.

"See? I told you they like you. Now if you excuse me... I have to go check on something." She said before she leave the two adult alone with the kids.

Which there was now children all around them saying lot of stuff.

"P-Please calm down everyone..." Tristana said nervously has she was kinda pulled by her arms over a set of picnic toy.

Bone watch her getting pulled away easily by kids. He found this amusing, yet he felt a tug on his pant. He look down at the four kids that was just full of excitement to play with him.

He kneel down and made a mistake by doing that. The children immediately jump at his face. Resulting on him falling on the floor with a tug sound.

The children laughed has they seem to  pull at his squishy face. He did not like for his face to be pulled like that. But he could not do anything about that. They were kids and he was an adult. He don't want to hurt them. So he did not move a inch and let them play with his face.

"Stop that!" A high pitched voice said. All the kids suddenly stop what they were doing to look at who has screamed at them.

Standing with fist down at the entrance door, looking serious and seemed to be looking at the group of kids on Bone. Was a (h/c) colored hair kid. The one that Bone notice from the time they slept on his arms.

"H-He does not like this! S-So leave him alone!" You screamed not happy.

The kids slowly stood up and got over to you. Only two step were separating them from you.

"And how can you know that?"

"Yeah, we were only playing!"

"Are you jealous because you fear he won't adopt you?"

This brought to much attention on you and them. Tristana see the tension, but she could do much. The kids around her seemed to be afraid of what was going on. She look over to Bone to see him still laying on the floor. She worry that the kids that played with him might have knock him out.

But he was actually listening to what the kids where saying to you. He seemed even to wait for a good opportunity to stand up and interrupt this.

"I-I know what I'm saying... And it's not by j-jealousy! I have read books about demons... A-And some are not hostile if you touch them at a place they don't like!" You screamed at the kids that was mostly those that bullied you.

The bullies stare at you in disbelief before one of them took a step closer with a fist up. He was going to hit you. So you closed your eyes ready for the hit to hurt your face.

Yet nothing happen. When you open your eyes, you notice to now be in the air, or more like you where taller than the bully that was going to hit you. You were confused by how you got taller than it hit you. There was a black tentacle wrapped carefully around you that was lifting you in the air. Then you were pulled over someone.

"That's enough for now... I came here to help my friend to feel better. Not to see a fight starting here." Said Bone seriously has he putted you down on his laps, in a protective way.

All the bullies glare at you then to the demon. They now seemed to just not like what was happening. They even look like they already hate the cat guy more than you.

"Sorry sir..."

"We won't do it again.."

They say together before leaving the room to go do whatever a bully would do after being scolded.

Did he protect you from them?
He did in a way. He don't wanted to see you feel scared somehow. Like what happen last time.

Tristana smiled a little has she see how her best friend had calmed everything down in a way.
She let out a sigh of relief and played with the kids she was with.

You were kinda greatful for the demon to save you from a fight with the bullies. You were going to get up but you remember that Bone was still holding you. "U-Um... Sir?" You asked a bit nervous has he look up to him. He gaze at you and raised an eye brow. "What?" You look down and tried to struggle out. "C-Can you let me go please?" You were sure to not pee yourself now, because he is staring at you before he slowly let go of you. "Of course." He seem to smile a little.

Where you dreaming? You never saw him smile before right? That small smile he just gave you seemed nice. Like it was welcoming you to not fear him.

You immediately stood up and give him a quick hug. "T-Thanks you.." then you run away to a corner of the room. You get a book out of the small library next to you and read it quickly to think of something else.

Bone was in a shock somehow. A child thanks him. His heart give a squeeze sensation inside his chest. He look over to you and could not help but found you interesting. You were reading a book right after what just happen. Mostly kids would not stay in the room after they saw him. Normal kid run away from him when they know who he truly is.

He look around him, at the other kids. They were all busy by playing a game they like. Some playing at the pic nic with Tristana, some playing tag, or some playing with some toys. You were the only kid that read book.

He stood up and stir his back that made a small crack noise from his back bones. He let out a satisfied sigh from this.

He took some steps over the small library shelf and knelt down to watch at all the book there is in it. There is sure not much, but at least there was some fairytale for the children. There is also some books about legends, that's kinda not a book for kids to be here. He grab one of those and open it. Inside it was full of kids drawing version of demons. Now this was more like for kids.

He turn the pages and read the small paragraph description on each of them about all kind of species. He found those amusing to see. "That's a lot of lies there..." He mumble out.

He keep reading the book, regardless of you just hearing him and also watching him read a book for kid.
You looked curious to what he mean by 'lies'? So you crawl over to him with the book you were reading still in your hands.

Bone's ears twitch a little. He knows you were getting close to him. Which he understand now that you were only curious about him and the demons.

He keep pretending to read the book. He made small comment about each pages, which only you can hear.
Then he close the book and put it back where he took it.

You get your book close to your face when he closed the book. You did not dare to take a peek at him. But you could hear him sit down properly next to you. You froze and stare at the picture of the drawing of a dragon.

"The dragon tale... Mmh.. I never knew there was a story about him."he said has he tap a finger on the picture. Which made you flinch. His hands was almost close to your face. You quickly put down your book and look away.

Bone look at you has he retract his hand away. "Do you want to know... About demons?" He asked you not sure if you really were curious about that. "Because when you acted like a brave one in front of the others about me... I could not believe a child around your age would be interest about us." He softly said.

You hesitate to say something. You held your hands together in stress.
You did not know he could read you that easily. You have planned to go slow on him when you see him again.
Guess it won't work anymore.

You figet a little your fingers has you sweat. "I-I um... T-That's because I have read lots of books about demons.. from the adult library." You explain has you did not dare to look at him.

He hummed to that answer you gave him. "So there is a library here? I never though an orphanage has such a thing here.." he said has he rub under his chin.

You felt more nervous has the silent got awkward. The tension made you want to just run away right now.

"Can you lead me there?"He suddenly asked you, which made you flinch. You are not allow to go there. The last you did was only because you were very silent and not noticed by the adult at the night time.

He stare at you, waiting for an answer. But then he saw you stood up and go out of the room with no words about this. He stood up and goes walk after you. He seemed to not be in a rush.

While in the other hand you were mostly walking very fast, even running I must say. You took a glance behind you in a panic that he might follow you. But you notice you were to fast for him. So you slow your speed until you came to a stop. You stare at the end of the hallway, waiting to see his silhouette.

Until a hand was put on your left shoulder. You froze in fear has you did not dare to move.

"You have to think better if you want to flee from a demon." He said to you in a tone that sounded like he was mocking you.

You decided to slap his hand away and look up at him. You seemed pissed by this. Why was he so much clingy with you than any other kid? And wasn't he here only for his friend?

Question keep flooding in your mind. When you got out of your trance when a finger snapped in front of your face. "Earth to you kid. I know you are curious to know why a demon like me could... Follow you, and that's because your interesting to interact. But right now I do wish that you lead me to that library." He said interrupting you.

You gulped has you open your shaking mouth. "T-The library is this way..." You said in a whisper has you pointed over a door.

The demon look over there and he seem to be satisfied by that answer you gave him. "Great. You come with me now." He said has he pick you up.

You were surprised by that and got in very much stress. "W-What? B-But I'm not allow to go there! If they see me inside it, they will punish me.." you explain stutering a lot.

Bone don't seem to mind your stressed attitude. You mostly hugged him, hiding your face in hope no one was inside the library. When the door was open, you took a small glance to see that the library was empty.

The cat guy seems to know where to go has he kept holding you in his arms. "So you read those books that came from here? Yet you were not allowed to be here... Pretty interesting to see." He said has he took some turns in the alley of books from different categories that pass through your eyes.

Then everything stop to a door that was very strange. On it there was a sign panel that say 'secrets not allowed'. Hand on the door knob the demon twist it and open it.
Letting go of the knob, the wooden door made a creak noise that would give shivers down your spine in a horror movie.

Inside there was some books. But what give the most attention was a big book. A grimoire to be precise.

The demon put you down on the floor has he walk over to it with curiosity. You just stood there, afraid of what will happen if he touch it.

"How come they have this here? I knew this was not normal..."He mumble out has he was able to open the grimoire without no problem. He flipped the pages and stop to one in particular. You decide to steps closer to see what was wrong. You go on the tip of your toes, trying to see the page but you could not. This was to high for you.

So you wait there, desperate to know.
Bone ears goes down has he keep reading the page he stop on. His eyes even widen from frighten of what he just discover. "This place is... No. I.. I need to get everyone outside now before it's too late."He said has he close the grimoire in a fast and strong move. He pick it up and snapped his fingers. The book immediately disappear in red smokes. That was something amazing to see for you.

The demon pick you up again and speed run to the exit of the library.
Once out of it, there seem to be a strange tension. Like too calm and cold. "What's going on sir?" You ask curious despite the feeling of being watch by someone or something.
The man walked fast over where the kids and Tristana where playing in.
"I'll explain later... Right now your friends must be out."He only said has he got to the play room pretty quick.

Tristana look over to them when she heard her friend panting. "Mh? What is going on Bone?" She ask in concern for him. He steps inside the room, looking serious while panting. "We need to get everyone outside. Now." He ordered. Tristana kind face turned seriously suddenly. She nodded and stood up. She call all the kids to let go of the toys they were holding and to come with her. The children were mostly confused on what was going on.

You somehow knew what was going to happen. You look up to Bone with worries in your (e/c) colored eyes.
He look down at you and gave you a pat on the head. He even ruffle your hair.

Seems like he saved you and the other from the danger.... Or maybe not fully?

To be continue...