Arc 3, Chapter 8: A Little Detour

"Enough sit-ups already, let's go," Fumeko pestered and poked Jotou's knees. A purple sundress, a hat and a scarf-cape that could wrap around her arms; she had a dagger taped to the side.

"Twenty-five. Till I was bothered… I need to fight Meko, I gotta warm up," Jotou stood up in their room.

"Yeah, if you do all the work then less work for me; keep going then. Wonder if they'll give me a musket," she rested a finger under her chin.

"Why don't you get some exercise in?" Jotou went for the doorknob.

"What are you trying to say?"

"I'm trying to say get some exercise to keep fit detective," Jotou leered back as the door opened.

"Hmph!" her nose went to the ceiling.

"Ready to go!?"

"It's… a bit off-putting not seeing you in your usual outfit," the blonde tilted her head.

The elf wearing the same attire as yesterday, "Oh! I have an idea!" Asobi threw her wand up, fluttering a dazzle of light across her chest till the bottom of her soles with a little kick of each leg.

The simple light spells she invented could do so much in her hands as it covered her in her usual magician's getup, complete with a bowtie and, "Ha!" she flipped an illusory hat atop her head.

Jotou watched, adding a little clap, "That was a nice show."

Asobi tipped her hat, "Only for the best Ms Jotou Howllett," one leg crossing the other, she bowed.

"Bit much," Fumeko leaned on the doorframe.

"It's spectacular, don't listen to her. You need to tell me all your spells one day."

"I can do all of that today!" Asobi leapt at the proposal.

"Where's wolfy? We should get going," Fumeko locked the door.

"She's-"

"Ready!" Hotaru jogged faster to them.

"She's right there!"

"You're the one with the address to defence HQ, can't leave without you," Jotou observed the redhead in her full adventuring attire.

"Not like you would anyway," Hotaru teased.

"Maybe," Jotou shrugged, "I do have a detective with me."

"That she does," Fumeko stepped forward with a tongue out. Hotaru smirked rolling her eyes before they all departed.

_

Horses reared up to brushing and feeding. Uniforms in brown camo, adorning the emblem of Cravolta and Galuvit, soldiers ran and tested equipment.

The fenced area could fit a dozen or so houses and have spaces for gardens for each abode; the office in the front whilst a short warehouse sat at the corner of it all.

Firearms being assembled and disassembled, canons, sandbags and artificial cover being boarded into reinforced carts. Screams resonated across from the laps of running soldiers.

In this organized circus of movements, one man oversaw it all, "Major Rashaad Schroeder?" Jotou and party had entered past the fence.

The major turned, dark skin and brown eyes, the same camo attire as the rest of the force. Short, curly black hair under the cap he took off, of which displayed a golden circle with four points.

"Yes, that's me. You must be Ms Howllett and party?" his eyebrows raised.

"That's us," Hotaru took off her sunhat.

"Do we have to do all this training?" Asobi stood on the tips of her toes, surveying the grounds.

"No," the major stepped forward, reaching his hand out, "The minister informed me of your assistance. It's a pleasure to be fighting alongside you Thundering Blade."

'To be fighting with me? I don't know if I like these high expectations…'

Jotou shook back, "Pleasure's all mine. Where can we assist? We're pretty much stuck in Hartamat till this whole thing's over."

"Can I have a musket?"

"No," the major denied Fumeko, a confused yet amused look on his face. "So, we've currently sent a scout force ahead to the location," the major waved a transceiver in his hand, "They'll check for traps, mines and the like before we move out from base.

We will be setting up camp in desert terrain, so loose footing, no cover and clear view. All we need from you is to do what you can during the fight.

If you can help distribute stock, provide offence, distractions, support, setting up base," he numbered off finger by finger, "Whatever you can do, make your plan and who's in what position and relay it to me when we head out.

We leave at dusk and will rendezvous with the scout team and set up base to prepare for a fight by late night. No Sun, less overheating and hydration of our forces are optimum.

I will brief you on everything about the enemy on our trip there. Your assistance will speed up our fight and give us a sooner victory. Is this all okay with you?"

"Works," Jotou peered around to the other three, "Just fine with us."

"Good," he put his hands together, taking one look to the soldiers training and preparing, "Be here at seven sharp and we can leave. I hope you bring your best Thundering Blade."

"I'll do my best."

_

"Hell, I was just standing there blank. Nobody decided to back me up?" Jotou walked down the near empty road.

"You are the leader," Hotaru glanced at the blonde.

"I thought this was more democratic and I just call the shots in a fight…"

"You do that really well!"

"And you're the face of the party; people are always looking at you instead of any of us, 'Thundering Blade'. Besides, that guy seemed like he had every single thing prepared," Fumeko leered to an oncoming figure.

"I would hope so for the major of one of Cravolta's defence forces," Hotaru retwisted her scarf-like sleeves that spiralled down her arms.

"Do we go train now?" Asobi hopped to walk backwards.

"We have a few hours to kill before dusk. Let's prepare properly, make up a plan and then go back-"

"HeY!" Hotaru cut Jotou off as the small hooded figure cut Hotaru's purse strap and booked it the way they came.

Shadows took her form, "Oh no you don't!" Fumeko blinked and grabbed the figure by the wrist. The purse dropped immediately, throwing his hands up, a tail behind him; the dagger in his other hand dropped with a "Tink!"

The other three ran back as Fumeko demasked the hood. Tanned skin, some black hair and under his ears were emerald green scales that went under his clothing.

The reptilian tail stood sharp in shock. Fumeko gripped his wrist, picking up Hotaru's purse, "You're coming with me kid," Fumeko glared to the part-human boy shorter than her.

Fumeko handed the purse back to Hotaru before she dragged him forward. "Where are you taking him?" Hotaru's brows furrowed.

The boy glanced back and forth, wide-eyed. "The police, obviously," Fumeko stared back. Asobi stood, eyes open and holding her wand whilst Jotou crossed her arms.

"Hang on," Hotaru approached, crouching down, "Why'd you steal my purse?" the redhead's ears stiffened.

"I, I," he squeaked, "My family's got nothing to eat, we don't even have a house."

"Likely story," Fumeko pulled him tighter as he squirmed.

"Meko…"

"What!?"

Hotaru sighed, looking back to Jotou. Jotou shrugged, "Listen kid, you want to steal, go steal from the rich people here, not people who are clearly foreign."

"Jotou…"

"What?"

Hotaru shook her head to the two, facing the boy once more. She took two gold pieces out of her purse and handed it to the kid. "That should cover a lot. Don't go stealing from people. Go find some work to do. Understand?"

The boy nodded, "I, I will Miss… Thank you very much…" he faced down.

Hotaru got up, "Let him go Meko."

"You can't be serious."

"Yes, let him go."

Fumeko pouted to the staring redhead… Her hand released and the boy scurried away in haste. "You realize he's just gonna steal again tomorrow, right?"'

"Maybe," Hotaru closed her eyes, "I can't control that but what was putting him in jail going to do? Teach him a lesson? It's better to make him think about it at least. He's just a kid."

"If we give him a second chance, he can become somebody better!" Asobi sided.

"Jotou?" Fumeko gazed to.

"I think she handled it fine and she has a point. Although, I don't think you're wrong; that kid probably didn't learn a thing. At the end of the day, our stuff's safe and we can forget about it."

"…Yeah, I guess you're right," Fumeko frowned still.

"Thank you Jotou," Hotaru smiled.

"Now we have another thing on the to-do list," Asobi held the strap of her cut purse, "Fix this!"

"Let's go then pouty-face," Jotou patted Fumeko's shoulder, "Nice job detective," Jotou smirked going ahead.

Fumeko's frown lessened, walking behind them. Succeeding in that sudden act of heroism and being commended by her crush; it was too difficult to hide the little smug smile.