Thundering Blade: Adventuring Heroine In Another World

In a mist, unending and thick, her lips felt a kiss, and then a playful lick. Through lashes she saw, two crimson ears like horns, and a face without a flaw. Two brilliant blue pools met her gaze, and smiled down, watching her laze.

Fingers sifted through her hair, and warmth enveloped her body laid bare. However, that kiss she had to compare, to the other one she wanted to share. Oh my, a lady of golden hair, how would this scandalous ordeal fare?

Something soft, like a bed, was underneath Fumeko. Something, or someone, else soft was on top of her—two to be exact. As the names Jotou and Hotaru rang a bell, their faces became clearer to her, as they all seemed to share their intimacy with no bounds.

There was comfort and warmth; certainty and excitement. Then the envy and the truth that was present. ’How. How do I feel what you feel?’ The jealousy of green and red spread their ire onto the figure of Hotaru.

’So, connected. So secure. So, in love. I feel it too when she’s around me.’ She raised her head up to kiss Jotou more. ’But it’s not the same... When the weight of the world starts to make me sink, she’s there. She’s there for me too, but it’s not the same...

That connection, that link, I want it too.’ She found herself kissing the redhead as well. ’Maybe then. Maybe then everything around me will feel easier—like I have something that won’t shatter the moment I stop running.’

A red string, that was tied in a knot around Jotou and Hotaru’s waists slipped past her grasp, and she reached out as it continued getting further and further away. She could not run, she could not move, she was merely frozen.

And yet, she felt still a lingering presence on her lips. ’What happens when you’re all gone? Who’ll be close to me then?’ The last kiss she felt, was of an elven figure who fluttered her eyes open and was surprised as she was that she was on top of her.

...

Fumeko opened her eyes to the morning brightness, on a bed and under a familiar ceiling. Reality filtered back in as she slowly put together the contents of the dream she just had...

She looked around, only to smell the faint hint of sea dandelions brush along. Next to her on the bed was Hotaru, lying above the blankets with her head at the very corner of the pillow the brunette was also on. Her arms were splayed out and one leg was off the bed, on the floor.

’...What the fuck happened last night...?’ She sat up whilst thin red strings connected the events of yesternight—the lighter incident, Hotaru coming in, and her brushing the redhead’s tail...

She rubbed her eyes; her pale skin was flushed as the blurry memory was all she had, paired with the odd dream that made her brows furrow. "Hotaru...?" she whispered.

The wolf-woman’s ear ticked in slumber.

"Hey, wake up, what happened?" she poked her side. Her gaze fell on the desk, which was spotless... Five different stacks of papers were organized on the right, with several paperclips and little colourful notes that poked out down the piles.

Hotaru regained consciousness and almost mechanically sat up and hummed. One ear was folded down which she quickly popped up with a thumb.

She stretched, and then peeped and froze. She put an arm behind her back to massage her spine. The redhead checked her watch in the meantime, and the strap-mark that got imprinted into her wrist.

Yawning and splashing a rejuvenate onto herself, she got up and said, "Sorry, thought I’d have a little nap for an hour before getting back to it; looks like it’s been five instead. Good morning."

Fumeko looked at her with scrunched up eyes, "I remember you helping me, then... uhm..."

"You fell asleep, so I carried you to bed," she confirmed.

"You carried me- You worked on the files all night?"

"Most of them," Hotaru brushed the hair out and wiped her own face into her hands that glowed a faint blue. "I kept to keywords and relevant information; but I haven’t touched that cabinet yet. Other than that, don’t worry about any other files."

"...There’s no chance you got through that much in a night," the brunette doubted.

"Not unless you’re as diligent and beautifully-brained as me~" her fangs glistened with a swish of her tail.

"You sure you didn’t just glance past things."

"There’s no need for me to be that thorough, that’s your work. But I promise you on my name, there’s not a chance I missed something important. I’ll take that thank you with a cup of jasmine tea you can bring up," Hotaru swayed towards the desk.

Fumeko waited a few seconds to nurse her morning stupor and reckon with the audacity in which her services were asked.

The wolf-girl fluffed up her hair and took a seat; she stretched her back and arms more, "I’m too young for this," she muttered to herself. She checked her breath, "On second thought, I might ready myself first."

"Knock, knock-knock-knock-knock, knock-knock."

"What is it?" Fumeko groaned aloud.

The door creaked open, "You’re finally awake." Asobi poked her head in towards the bed, before she glanced over at the redhead at the table. "I checked earlier and both of you were asleep, so I didn’t wanna disturb. Stella made breakfast hooours ago. Ooo! Also there’s this!"

Invisibility disappeared into a cluster of butterflies that clouded over an envelope with the Burntish seal. Fumeko reached her hand out, and felt a buzz in the back of her mind; her hand froze in place.

Watching the winced expression of the detective, Asobi crept in and placed the letter in her hand.

Fumeko seethed in silence. She opened up the seal and flipped open the letter. Her eyes scanned down the formalities, "Like I expected. There’s an opening to meet Sir Vogel today or tomorrow; or most days next week after noon."

"The public funeral’s on Friday, I don’t think tomorrow’s a good time," Hotaru advised.

"Why?"

"For you obviously," Hotaru cocked her head to the side. "Do you really want to run around collecting clues the day before your final goodbye?"

"That’s what the wake was for," Fumeko dismissed.

Hotaru pursed her lips shut.

"Regardless, I’m not in the mood to waste time. I’ll go today."

"Bring-ding-bring-ding!"

"Phone!" Tiffany hollered up from the living room.

"Pick it up!" Fumeko yelled back.

"Should I heat up breakfast? Stella made a very tasty quiche," Asobi’s eyes glittered.

"Have you ever been near a stove Asobi?" Hotaru’s ears folded down.

"Plenty of them!"

"I meant use a stove—to cook."

"I see what you mean, and I mean, that you mean that I can’t turn on a stove, and that’s very mean; you get what I mean?"

"W-what...?"

’...Good to know that it was definitely a dream that I’d ever end up with these two dumbasses.’

Meanwhile, "Greetings, Namora residence; Stella Vespertillio speaking."

"Ah, would Miss Namora happen ta be at home?"

Tiffany furrowed her brows, "Apologies, what be thy name?"

"None of yer business lass, get Namora on the line."

The blonde was taken aback.

"Who’s calling?" Fumeko came down the stairs.

Tiffany blocked part of the phone and replied to her, "Some rude gnome with a south-Burntish accent?"

"A gnome?"

"It sounds like squeaking," the pale blonde shrugged. "She wants to talk to you though."

Fumeko approached the telephone quicker, "It’s for me then." She put the phone to her mouth, "Fumeko speaking."

"Miss Namora, Diana found yer friend’s friend out ’ere—the archer."

"Out where?"

"Near the Phoenix News buildin’, border of Fleur and Mandrake."

"How is he?"

"Eh. A li’l worse fer wear; poor lad ain’t been takin’ care of himself, but he’s livin’. Are ya going ta grab that Ben feller and meet Diana ’ere?"

Fumeko looked around for a clock, and saw the hour tick closer to noon. "Give me a second," she replied to the phone and watched while Asobi descended down the stairs. "Clyde’s been found," she announced.

"That’s great!" the magician cheered.

"How fares he?" Tiffany queried.

"He’s fine. But I’m sure Scorchy’d like to go see him, and I need to bring him to Vogel with those bracers, in less than an hour."

"Any reason you cannot simply meet Clyde later in the day?" Tiffany reasoned.

Fumeko said back into the telephone, "Have you got him?"

"She’s on his tail fer now, that’s why I’m callin’ ya lass. It’s either ya get ’ere and do whatever ya need, or Diana’s going ta tie the lad up ta a chair."

"Have you tried just talking to him?"

"From what ya described, the lad ain’t in the mood fer a bloody chat, ya think someone tryin’ not ta be found wants ta be found!?"

Fumeko winced an eye, "I get it." ’How are her squeaks piercing through a phone?’

"Ya better. Ya know how much of a hassle puttin’ a bloody coin in a phone booth is fer me!? Are ya comin’ or not?"

Fumeko blocked the telephone again, "I don’t really wanna waste what time we have; I’d rather not go meet Vogel tomorrow in case I can get a lead, and I’m gonna have to go to Hotel Feldspar in both cases anyway."

"I think I understand the last part the phone said," Asobi rubbed her wand against her temple. "Meko, you should take Ben and go meet the magical government man; Stella, Aru and I can go get Clyde, and you can bring Crispy to us later."

’...I guess it’s a good plan. Splitting apart’s not always the best idea... ...! In that case, I’ve been risking myself in all regards. It’s best that I trust the evidence; Tiffy and Sobi have enough tricks to get them out of imminent danger.

While I do have Ben, the cult hasn’t attacked Palais Front-de-Mer, and with all that Lady Pinberry’s said about it, I should be fine. The only concern’s travelling to and fro, and we don’t know what Clyde’s been doing...’

Fumeko looked to Asobi, "Think you can catch him?"

"Mmm... I’m not sure, but it’s better us than a random detective that he doesn’t know. He might even kill her," the raven-haired woman shook her head.

"Fair point," Fumeko put the phone back up to her ear. All she heard was a beeping. "Shit." She set the phone back down, hoping to be called once more.

"Perhaps we should make haste," Tiffany suggested.

"I’ll get Aru out of the bathroom. You’ll meet us there Meko," Asobi nodded.

’I’ll trust your judgement.’ "Alright, let’s go. Don’t do anything stupid."

Asobi ran up the stairs, "Same to you!"

’...’