Chapter 14: Girl, Fantasizes
Act 3: Fire Spirit
Chapter 14: Girl, Fantasizes
LARGE Aerial Vessel Whale arrived at the docks of Cherry Blossom Kingdom around the time the sun set behind the mountains. Lacking a cliff aerial port like Seaside Blue’s, Maria landed on the ocean and docked at the seaport. Mihm lowered the ramp and efficiently assisted the disembarking passengers. Nichika’s group was last to set foot on land, and Mihm flashed them a thumbs-up.
“Call me whenever you need a ride. I’ll take you for free.”
“Thanks, Mihm! Take care!”
“May you be safe on your journey,” Mihm said, saluting them. “Till we meet again!”
She winked and nimbly returned to the cockpit. Whale swiftly rose in the air and melted into the night’s indigo sky.
Watching them go, Nichika felt a warm, sincere joy coming over her. “Meet again, huh? I hope we can meet again somewhere, someday.”
“Her words were nothing more than lip service. It’s expected of her station,” Oswald pointed out.
“There you go saying stuff like that again.”
“Lip service?” Wolfie piped up, “Is that a new way of eating? A type of food?” He started to drool, imagining an all-you-can-eat lip buffet.
The group continued squabbling over trivial things as they strolled through the whimsical townscape of Cherry Blossom Kingdom’s capital city. Nostalgic déjà vu enveloped Nichika when she looked up at the rows of blossoming cherry trees.
“This kingdom reminds me of Japan,” she said.
Flames came to life inside the hanging lanterns as darkness fell, releasing a soft glow that only enhanced the red light district feel of the refined townscape dotted with brick paths and stone fences. It looked as if the scenery had been pulled straight from an old Japanese movie set. However, the contrast between the Japanese-style city and the people who populated it with their fantasy clothing and hairstyles made for an unusual spectacle, vaguely reminding Nichika that this was indeed another world.
“Oh yeah, Wolfie, is it okay for you to be in that form?” she asked, realizing he had stayed a wolf.
“Good question,” he responded, tilting his neck up as he walked on his four long, furry legs. “Say, Master, don’t I have to shapeshift?”
Oswald glanced over his shoulder at the question and shrugged. Apparently, that was his way of saying it was already too late to do anything about it anyway.
“Cherry Blossom Kingdom and the surrounding region are openly accepting of Hasse. Shouldn’t be an issue for them to have a creature like you walking around town.”
Now that Oswald pointed it out, Nichika spotted many people passing by who were clearly not human. She saw everything, from lizard people with scales to beast people with fluffy ears.
So there are some who stay half-beast and half-human? She concluded she needed to learn more about the world as soon as possible, when she fell behind Oswald and noticed he seemed to be heading on a direct course for somewhere in particular.
“Hey, where are we heading? All I see this way is the castle.”
“I’m to meet with Princess Yura whenever I come to this country.”
“Princess Yura?”
“She’s the princess of this kingdom.”
***
NICHIKA was astonished to be shown to a formal Japanese tatami room. It looked as if it had come straight out of a period drama. She was enraptured by the sweet-smell of soft rush grass and the sight of lacquered joists paired with folding screens covered in gold leaf.
“Hey,” she began, “Why do you know the princess?”
“She found the Witch’s Items I make to be of great interest to her, so I’ve had the pleasure of conducting friendly bartering with her since.”
“My claws catch on these tatami floor things,” Wolfie whined.
The kimono-clad woman who had guided them through the castle to the room excused herself by saying, “Please wait here for a short while,” and withdrew gracefully without appearing disturbed by their noisy yapping.
They each sat on the tatami mat while they waited. Nichika dutifully sat in the traditional Japanese manner, with the tops of her feet flat on the floor and her bottom resting on her soles.
She looked askance at Oswald’s slouched posture beside her. “You have bad manners, sitting crossed-leg, when you’re about to have an audience with a princess.”
“Who asked you? I have a hard time doing that seiza sitting position. How come you can do it, anyway?” he questioned.
She was about to answer him, when the sliding screen slid open and a woman elegantly entered the room.
Nichika doubted there was anyone in the world who was a more perfect fit for the word bewitching. Glamorous black hair poured down the woman’s back like a waterfall; her eyelashes swooped in a gentle curve above her downcast eyes that glistened like deep, dark pools. The layers and layers of her kimono swished and rustled softly with each step she took.
She slowly lifted her reddish gaze at a deliberate pace and blessed them with a beguiling smile.
“Welcome to my humble abode.” Even the voice cascading from her full crimson lips was sensual.
Nichika could only gape before her flawless beauty; it transcended any standards. Meanwhile, contrary to his apprentice, Oswald smoothly sat up straight with practiced ease and courteously returned her greeting.
“It has been too long since I last had the opportunity to be graced by your presence, Princess Yura. You look well.”
“I am most pleased to see you in fair health too, esteemed Witch of the West. I have longed to rest my eyes upon your visage again.” Princess Yura’s gaze slid to the still awestruck Nichika. Covering her mouth daintily, she let out a light chuckle. “I see you have brought quite the adorable companion with you this fine evening.”
“Ah!” Nichika rushed to introduce herself, “How do you do?! My name is Nichika!”
Princess Yura acknowledged her with a blossoming smile. “Oh? Miss Nichika, is it? May your name perhaps be in reference to the day flower? What a truly beautiful name you have been graced with. From where does it originate, if I may inquire?”
“U-Umm…”
“Yes?”
“…Japan? Or would you know it as ‘Nippon’?”
SLAP! A quick whack to the back from Oswald made Nichika bite her tongue. Sensing the silent pressure to avoid speaking of anything abnormal radiating from him, she obediently remained quiet.
Wolfie took the opportunity to speak, “Guess who I am? I’m Wolfie!”
“I warmly welcome you as well, Mr. Wolfie.”
Nichika’s heart throbbed in admiration of the princess and her gentle, ladylike smile. If her charm could produce this kind of effect on members of the same sex, men were surely goners.
“Now that we are all acquainted, might I ask what has brought you before me this day?”
Oswald gazed at her with a prim expression that held not even a shadow of his usual laziness. “Princess Yura, may I impose upon you to hide us for a time?” he requested humbly.
After listening to his summary about being pursued by the Witch’s Council, Princess Yura gave her consent. “Very well. Cherry Blossom Kingdom is a land of liberty, with a free people. We have no desire to seek the guidance of these councilors, and as such, you may take refuge here in peace.”
“You have my utmost gratitude.”
Nichika imitated her master’s deep bow and lowered her head.
Determining his business here was settled for the time being, Princess Yura turned a teasing smile toward Oswald as if she were about to approach him with a secret deal, and abruptly changed the topic. “Now then, will you be so kind as to introduce me to your new merchandise? Being the man that you are, I can be certain you come bearing an arsenal of goods, no?”
“Of course. I have prepared a large quantity of new items for your perusal this time as well. It is my hope that there will be items to your liking among the selection.”
She giggled behind her sleeve. “In that case, please do accompany me to our specially designated room.”
Nichika wasn’t sure what to do as the two of them stood and began to leave through the sliding door. Sensing her confusion, Oswald looked over his shoulder and flatly ordered, “I have business to discuss. You two, return to the city ahead of me and get us a room at a local inn.”
He exited the room for good with those words lingering behind him. Seeing him leave with Princess Yura leaning coquettishly on his arm formed a frazzled lump in Nichika’s throat for reasons she didn’t understand.
“Wh-What’s with them?” she mumbled restlessly.
“They’re having a private conversation. It happens often,” Wolfie answered, tugging his claws out of the tatami.
“…Hmm.”
***
WOLFIE and Nichika descended from the castle into the city and rented a fairly high-class room to rest in. The hands on the clock were already pointing past 9:30 p.m. Though they had long since finished eating dinner, Oswald remained nowhere in sight.
“Master’s late.”
“Mm-hm,” Nichika agreed halfheartedly as she leaned on the second-story window’s red banister, absently staring outside.
People boisterously walked by, chattering away as they were absorbed inside the different red-paper lantern adorned restaurants.
“Maybe he’s having a make-out session with Princess Yura.”
“Make-out?”
“Uh…never mind…” She quickly dismissed it, but she couldn’t forget the way Princess Yura had turned her passionately hot gaze on Oswald. Nichika rested her elbows on the banister and her chin on her hands. “Does he sleep with his clients as a part of his business? But Princess Yura was so gorgeous. Oswald’s personality is, well, indescribable, but his face is at least…just a tad…on the cool side. Around now, they’re probably—GAH! I need to get my head out of the gutter!”
The clock struck eleven while Nichika lost herself in making groundless guesses at what was preoccupying Oswald’s time. She stared distractedly at the antique clock face, until a dreadful realization hit her and she sharply sucked in her breath.
“Oh no! Have we not done it yet today?” Scraping together her memories of their last kiss, she recalled that she had yet to wake up from her fever this time yesterday. “Hang on, does that mean I’m in a real pinch here?”
How much time did she have before the Fake Lover seed sprung back to life inside her? Icy chills ran along her spine, and she dashed several steps in a flustered panic to where her wolf friend slept curled up on the rug.
“Wolfie! Wake up! I need to ask you something!”
“Mnn.”
She frantically shook the sound asleep wolf, but he merely rolled over to show his belly, grinning happily in his sleep without stirring. Nichika imagined the rose vine wriggling under her skin, working its way up her arm, and the blood drained from her face. Fear surging back from the memories of her near-death experience replaced her reason with an impatient rashness.
“Why haven’t you come back yet…stupid!”
Tears in her eyes, she replayed the scene of Oswald and Princess Yura walking snugly together down the castle corridor. The vision snapped something within her—getting to her feet, she furiously wiped away her tears.
“That’s right! It’s not like I can only take his body fluid! I can do something about my problem on my own!”
With her mind made up, Nichika hastily slipped on her mantle and stampeded down the stairs leading from the old room to the outdoors. Slamming the sliding door to the side, she vaulted herself into the streets with her hood pulled low over her face. But after a short spurt, she became aware she didn’t have any idea of what to do.
It’s great and all that I left in the heat of the moment, but how do I broach the subject with someone? Won’t you please kiss me? That just makes me a pervert.
Not sure what move to make next, she stopped in her tracks. In her desperation, she found herself wishing that male brothels existed for a moment, but she quickly chased the thought away.
Honestly, she didn’t want to do this. But what other option did she have? It was all that man’s fault for forgetting their deal and not getting back on time. It was absolutely impossible for a girl with a bomb inside of her, which was going to burst at any moment, to have any composure at a time like this.
I don’t have the luxury of caring about how I look. Anybody works as long as they’re male! Right, anyone at all…
Though she was disgusted by her thoughts, Nichika reached out to one of the three men crossing the street in front of her and grabbed onto his sleeve. Feeling the tug, the man stopped and looked back at her.
“Huh? Whut? Do you need something, miss?”
“What’s going on?”
The two men with him peered around him to see what was up. Feeling like she was going to explode from embarrassment, Nichika pulled her hood down lower. The sight of a small girl flushing bright-red under the dim lights aroused the men, and their eyelids peeled back.
“U-Um, won’t you…with me…” Nichika clutched the front of her shirt and glanced to the side. The voice she finally mustered came out a little hoarse, “Will you…kiss me?”
A sweet smell rose from her body. The men swallowed hard, exchanged looks, and put their arms around her shoulder with a no-good smirk.
***
AN explosive bang resounded throughout the vast dry-scape garden covered in white sand. Princess Yura stood motionless for a time before she deeply exhaled and lowered the gun she held at the ready. The sharp falcon-like glint in her eyes released their tension, softening as her expression gave way to a smile that danced upon her lips.
“Well done.”
The princess who flashed a bold smile at Oswald’s praise gave off a wholly different air than the bewitching aura she had greeted him with earlier. Now, she wore her long hair pulled tightly into a ponytail and had traded in her heavy, multilayered kimono for a hakama—loose trousers with many pleats in the front. Though many would find it hard to believe, the impressive woman standing before him was the real lady of this land. Despite being a woman, she sat at the top of her kingdom’s military as a strong commander and leader.
She loaded another bullet into the magazine. “These bullets are truly what’s splendid. They’re exquisite.” She fired another shot. Her second target followed the same fate as the first; it was blown to pieces. Convinced by the bullet’s path she had traced with her eyes, she confidently said, “The bullet breaks upon contact and shatters in four directions, slicing up the target, correct?”
“These bullets have been engraved and enchanted with wind magic, allowing them to tear the target into pieces upon contact. They are costly, but I believe their strength corresponds to the price.”
“They seem effective on soft enemies.”
Princess Yura entrusted her gun to a nearby attendant and led Oswald to the long garden arbor. They crossed over a bridge as she continued, “I will buy the blueprints at asking price. In return, don’t sell it to any other country.”
“As you command—is what I’d like to say, but upon one condition.”
Surprise flickered across her face. “Oh, now this is unexpected. What is it?”
Princess Yura turned toward him at the end of the bridge and awaited his next words. The man was renowned for his bad reputation in the underworld, and she knew well enough that he picked who he did business with very carefully.
He’s not so incompetent as to present a good customer such as myself with a recklessly greedy condition, is he? As she mused over the possibility, the witch, now slightly taller than her due to his elevated position on the bridge, voiced his request.
“I would like your permission to browse the reference rooms.”
“…I see.”
Valuable books and documents containing records on the founding of Cherry Blossom Kingdom were archived in a particular reference room that was built in the city outskirts. Though valuable, stray copies of the items in that particular collection could be found elsewhere if one searched hard enough. Books of truly immeasurable worth were safely stored inside the castle instead.
Princess Yura placed a hand on her dainty chin. After thoughtful consideration, she settled on making the witch feel partially indebted to her. “Normally, no one aside from high-ranking officials are granted access, but I will make an exception for you.”
“You have my thanks.”
A playful grin tugged at the corner of her mouth as she teasingly inquired, “Is this for that girl?”
“……”
His instant sullenness broadened her smile. She was tickled pink to have exposed even a fraction of the man’s true personality, since he rarely revealed his cards, not to mention the emotions he experienced. Giggling, she hid her mouth behind her hand.
“So my guess was right. I did think it was unusual for you to have a woman accompanying you. Do you mind me asking what the girl is to you?”
“Some trouble that I picked up. I’m in the process of working out how to discard her as soon as I can.”
“Hahaha! How rough that must be for you.” Princess Yura waltzed out from under the arbor and pulled the tie from her hair, letting it cascade down her back. Then, with a seductive air, she faced him. “Now that our business negotiations have finished and night has fallen, what would you like to do?”
“Do? Like what?”
Princess Yura coyly cast down her eyes and pulled his arm to her chest. “Where are you staying tonight?” she breathed.
Every move she made was a calculated tactic to arouse a man’s instincts—not that the deceived men ever realized. Using her charms was her favorite weapon as a military commander.
Oswald stared down in silence at her for a moment before scoffing, “Regrettably, I don’t have a cent to spend.”
“Aw, too bad. Your coldness never changes.” Princess Yura aloofly turned her head aside, but her gaze remained trained on him. Her next invitation was purely out of personal interest. “How about if we keep business out of it? I won’t bore you.”
Oswald glanced at the rising moons. “I appreciate the offer…” The face of his peacefully idiotic apprentice came to mind. He released an exaggerated sigh. “But I must decline, because it is time for me to give medicine to my water flea.”