Thundering Blade: Adventuring Heroine In Another World

Next to her waking gaze were strands of pale blonde hair, sprawled out on a soft pillow. Slow breathing brushed against her collarbone, where a girl comfortably had nestled her face into.

’...’ She just waited; she sniffed her head idly and noticed her arm was under the blonde, stretched across the bed. A pair of soft breasts were pressed up against her bare skin, moving barely with every inhale.

She faced the ceiling; her left hand came to pinch and knead the bridge of her nose, as she let out a sigh. Memories of the moments before slumber came back—the lust, the tension, the release and relief.

No bad dreams haunted her mind, and for once, she felt rested. ’The fuck am I doing...’ With an almost disappointed frown, she delicately withdrew her arm and let the blonde continue her sleep.

She sat on the side of the bed, scanning the bedroom for wherever the heck all her garments were. Fortunately, the locked room gave enough privacy for her to walk around and pick it all up.

Except one of course, which was trapped under Tiffany’s thigh—the last garment that got removed presumably. Rolling her eyes, she gave up on it and left the room dressed in everything else.

Her walk of shame continued into her own room, and then back out into the bathroom. In the early hours of the morning, merely the settling pipes made a racquet for her to notice.

She brushed and washed away last night’s encounter, and looked at herself in the mirror... The lines that would cement themselves in half a decade’s time—the glaring eyes with a darkness beneath them.

For the girl who scowled and sneered, every triumphant look and laugh, every determined expression, and every loud declaration and scream. It was as if some glamour was instantly lifted. Every minute she stared, the older she seemed to look.

Eventually, piecing together the fact that it was probably because a reflection is not meant to be stared at for that long, she left the bathroom and headed downstairs.

In the time of her routine, someone was already awake and moving about. Said person glanced up with furrowed together brows, "Good morning. You’re up early."

’Insightful observation.’ "Morning. Did you get up early so you could try to make breakfast?"

Hotaru shook her head, and then checked her watch, "I’m usually awake at this time. I was going to go out and get the paper."

"What’ve you been doing for the past few days?"

"Not much. Although I was trying to ask around town yesterday to find somewhere to buy mana tea to help with your condition. But no luck."

"As long as you’re waiting till Tiffy’s down for breakfast."

The redhead’s arms folded to hold herself; her ears pressed down. "You’re all talking about me behind my back, doing these plans as if I’m oblivious."

Fumeko pursed her lips and continued down the stairs.

Hotaru looked away, "I’m not dumb. It’d be nice to just tell me the precautions you’re all taking. I understand Jotou’s not here... But I don’t appreciate being treated like a," she simply ended with a huff.

"Can you really blame us?" Fumeko walked past her towards the kitchen. "For what it’s worth, it’s all Sobi’s doing. ...And we’re only doing it because we care."

...

Fumeko filled a glass with water and quenched her thirst. "You’re supposed to be the doctor."

"Not a psychiatrist," Hotaru’s ears perked up. "Not a doctor either—just a lawyer. Though, I’m sure that would’ve been a good career choice. I would’ve excelled at it all the same, I am quite smart you know—me and my beautiful brain~" she smirked and gave a little pose.

The brunette side-eyed her.

"Come on, you can crack a smile Meko. Otherwise, this is all too depressing," her smile faded away.

Fumeko sighed. Her eyes waned whilst she opened up the fridge to take a peek.

...

"...What were you doing in Tiffany’s room?"

The brunette froze.

"I thought you two were... Are you seeing her again?"

...

...

"Sorry, it’s none of my business, I-"

"No," the fridge door shut. "Last night was," Fumeko glanced around, but the floors and walls gave her no answer. "I don’t know. It just happened; I don’t know how to feel about it—not sure if I feel anything at all."

"I see."

"Do you?" she cocked a brow.

"I do," Hotaru faced her. "I’m not judging you."

"You should."

"I won’t. I can’t help but think that you once, said something to me," her brilliant blue eyes darted away.

’...?’ "I’ve said a lot of things to you Hotaru."

"I know, but this one came back to me when you said you all care, that’s all," she held a smile.

"I have no clue what you’re talking about."

"You’re supposed to be the detective," her tail swished. "Never mind. But if you’re not feeling- ...You can talk to me, whatever it is."

’I think you have enough on your plate to handle wolfy; I’ll be fine.’ "I’m going with Tiffy to the orphanage. It could lead to where the cult might be hiding."

Hotaru was taken aback for a second, "That’s a leap. Why?"

"The current orphanage was most likely bought in an auction four years ago. The auction that sold off the previous base of operations of the Deuctus Cult."

"Oh..." Hotaru took a moment to collect her memories. "I remember we learned something about that. But a property auction seems, legitimate? Why do you feel so strongly about it?"

_

"It’s simple. Dad didn’t figure it out, because it was his blind spot. Kineko being rescued from that fire was no accident or some ex-cultists trying to build a family—it was all staged.

Staged so that it reminded him of saving me all those years ago. They knew it’d be a distraction. What I don’t understand is why it would’ve worked. My dad found the Unknown while looking after me, so adding in Kineko as a variable seems, pointless.

Then again, maybe it served no purpose at all. Maybe it was just a sick game, a little taunt. The fact that dad didn’t put together that says enough," Fumeko explained.

However, this explanation was for Tiffany as they arrived at the orphanage. The carriage departed behind the two. By the edge of the heart of Orchid Borough, a vast compound encompassed a red-brick building of several stories high.

It stretched across their view from one side to the other. A group of boys were out on the field playing a game of football. A belltower flew the Burntish flag, and a few dogs ran around the grass.

"Isn’t a school day?" Fumeko questioned, glancing at the children roaming around.

"This is school. Some kids don’t get into a traditional school, so the teachers come here," Tiffany replied. "It’s probably break time."

"Perfect time then. Where’re the archives of the orphanage?"

"You cannot be serious. You don’t have magic, and we can’t just waltz into wherever we want," Tiffany came to a stop a few steps from the large open doors.

"Just tell me where it is Tiffy," Fumeko looked up at the dozens of windows and possible rooms.

The blonde pouted. "Fine you perilous twit, it’s most likely on the upper floors."

"Can’t you narrow it down further?"

"It’s not a place I go to!"

"Shut up," Fumeko took the side of the door and eyed the reception at the front. Several pathways divided into different halls with no stairway in sight. She grabbed Tiffany’s hand and led her in, "How do we get upstairs?"

"That way," she pointed to the left.

Fumeko crouched down, prompting Tiffany to do the same. Although several children ran or walked by, the few adults in the front room were the ones they were trying to avoid.

The brunette crept across the open space, and hid behind a row of bolted down chairs. Until the gaze of the staff was decisively away, Fumeko did not make a move.

Tiffany stared at her hand, which was being clutched so very tightly... "Fumeko... About last night."

"Let’s go," she whispered and pulled the blonde along. They moved past a few halls, but Tiffany took the lead and took the brunette into the one directly next to the reception.

They both were in the clear. Fumeko glanced down the hallway where it split in two, and ran her hands along the rough wallpaper of dark greens and faint whites. The two arrived at the junction.

Tiffany glanced over to her left, where doors went down the hall and turned the corner. Her eye softened and she lingered her gaze down that hall...

"Left?"

Fumeko’s voice brought her back. She shook her head, "Right; the stairs are around that corner."

Just then, four kids ran down the corridor, squabbling and chittering while they carried some large paper contraption over their heads. Fumeko and Tiffany stuck to the walls.

"Looks like they’re not gonna bother us," the brunette stated.

"Well, I’m from here. Also, consider the fact that you don’t look out of place," Tiffany blinked.

Fumeko glared.

"What? You look older than most of them."

"Is that supposed to be a compliment? Whatever. Let’s get to the stairs," Fumeko continued.

Tiffany continued looking at everything while on her way. Everything she said goodbye to was back in her gaze. "Third floor are where most of the offices are. It’s most likely in that row."

They ended up on the third floor and immediately were about to bump into someone, before they stumbled to a stop.

A woman in her late forties adjusted her glasses and clicked her tongue, "What’s the rule about running?" she took a ruler from atop the papers she carried. "Hands. Both of you, now," she ordered.

"S-s-sorry, ma’am, we won’t do it again," Tiffany stuttered.

"I said-!" the woman squinted. "You. I thought you left?"

Tiffany cleared her throat, "I-I just left something upstairs and came to get it ma’am."

The woman shook her head and stowed away the ruler like it was her weapon. "Can’t exactly punish ya. Who’s this twerp?"

"A f-friend?"

The woman squinted at the brunette, "Do I know you...?"

"No," Fumeko furrowed her brows.

"What’s your name?"

"Sable Beckett."

"...Huh." The woman backed off and continued to walk past them. "No running in the halls. Get out as soon as you got what you came for."

"Who’s that?" Fumeko hushed.

"I don’t know," she said in frustration. "They know me around here; I caused a scene a while ago..." her eye darted down the hall. "Let’s do what she said, shall we?"

"Fine." ’No wonder this place feels like a prison. Guess I’d do a lot to get out of here too.’ Fumeko continued down the corridor. "Mind checking around?"

"Sure," Tiffany let out soft echoes in every direction, allowing Fumeko to move and examine the doors. Eventually, the brunette came across a locked door, and called the eccentric blonde over.

’Can’t pick this one.’ The padlock required six numbers to be unlocked. "Any ideas?"

"Try one, two, three, four, five, six? Or zeros across," Tiffany sassed and crossed her arms.

Fumeko unsheathed her dagger, and cut the lock. She still however, needed to pick the lock to the door itself. Tiffany let her soft echoes fly left and right for a minute or so-

"RING! RING! RING!"

"-Ah!" One of her echoes came out a lot louder as the bell rang, and she jumped.

Fumeko stared back.

"S-sorry, I thought we got found out."

The brunette groaned and yanked Tiffany into the newly unlocked room, before shutting it behind her. The lock clicked again.

’Looks like the right place.’ They stood in a small room, stuffed with filing cabinets and loose folders on the floor. "This could be exam papers and report cards though."

"No, that’s down the other hall. There’s been a lot of people that tried to sneak in to change their test results," the blonde corrected.

"Figures. Alright, you check that side and I’ll check this side," Fumeko began examining the right.

Tiffany nodded and walked over the files to the left. She scanned the spines to find any sort of title or descriptor. They seemed old at the very least. She took one of the higher ones labelled ’Schooling Forms 973’.

It detailed some orphanage residents being accepted into schools in Dolpool and their recommendation letters—much too old to be of any relevance.

"You know, maybe my dad wasn’t as good a detective as I thought he was. He quite possibly never figured out Kineko was planted there on purpose for him..."

Tiffany exhaled. She turned, "Perhaps- F-f-f-fumeko!? W-w-what are y-you doing!?" she shouted as quietly as she could. The file in her hands clattered to the floor.

A bronze-gold pistol was aimed at the blonde’s head, with the faint purple glow illuminating the hands of Fumeko who had her finger on the trigger.

"F-fumeko! P-please, where did t-that come from!? P-p-put it down, y-w-w-you’re scaring me!" Tiffany’s widened eye never left the barrel pointed right at her face as she stepped back. Her hands went up.

"Thump!"

"NgH!" Tiffany fell back into the cabinets and landed on the floor as Fumeko kicked her in the gut. The blonde looked up as the pistol came down aiming at her; tears formed in her eye and rolled down her cheek.

She panted every breath and raised her hands and waved them desperately, "Ss-s-top it, please!" her whispering voice could only be so loud.

Fumeko stared down with a half-lidded gaze, "I realized I have a pretty big blind spot too."

"W-w-what!?" the utter confusion in her voice was followed by tears that came down her eyepatch.

The brunette’s nose twitched, "The night Tilly died in Dolpool Academy, what were you doing there?"

"H-huh!?"

"That night was odd, and a lot of things were still brand new to me. Even then, the timing felt off. But the meticulous, calculating Deuctus Cult, just happened not to notice the sparkling blonde that can scream so loud it could reach the heavens?

The one who was a couple of rooms away from the murder? The one who was bullied by the victim and would’ve loved to help?"

"W-w-wait!" Tiffany’s eye somehow got wider.

"I was so stupid. Even when you spelled out how guilty you felt. What a grand performance Stella, even my dad didn’t figure it out," she said through gritted teeth.

Tiffany whimpered and cried; nothing made sense, her vision was a panicked blur.

"How long?" Fumeko aimed the pistol lower, at the blonde’s heart. A tear streaked down the detective’s eye, "Did you think you could hide the truth till you died? Everything. Everything you did with me.

All the feelings you made me feel, all the time we spent. Everything was a lie. You’ve been just keeping an eye on me; your little toy you could throw away, and I fell for it all you fucking cunt."

"N-n-no-!"

"BLAST!"