CHAPTER 391: ARC 6, CHAPTER 7: TROUBLE IN PARADISE

Jotou looked up at the ceiling as her yellow nightgown drifted around her knees with every step she took. Up on the third floor, the blonde paused, noticing another standing in the middle of the hall. "Detective?"

Fumeko turned, "I saw you coming up." Her eyes were waned and her arms crossed. "Can’t sleep? Stressed about what’s going on with the cult and why my dad hasn’t been home yet?"

"Mayyybe, but night’s still young," Jotou sighed. "Not like this is the first time your dad’s not been home for the night."

"Probably means something’s going on."

"Something out of our control that we should probably be patient about."

"For once, I agree."

"Tired of the cult detective?" Jotou leaned on the handrail.

"Hardly. We just don’t have a lot we can do about it. But I’m sure I’ll figure something out."

"We’ll figure something out," Jotou smiled.

Fumeko flashed a weary smirk. The two stood in unawkward silence for a while. "Hey, can I try saying something?"

Jotou raised a brow, "Depends on what it is, but alright..."

Fumeko stared for a bit, "You’ve managed to always cheer me up. Or at least, help me back up in a lot of ways."

The blonde closed her eyes and smirked, "I try~"

"Probably wouldn’t have gotten this far without you you know."

Jotou absentmindedly pondered as she gave a shrug, "I’m sure you could’ve gone far without me detective." Then a smug grin grew, "But yeah, I’m probably your biggest reason that you did."

The other rolled her eyes, trying to prevent the corner of her lip from rising up. Through a half-lidded gaze she glanced at Jotou—a slight frown she wore. "I have no reason to say this to you, but I’m... seeing someone else now," she said meekly.

Jotou’s peart expression turned more reserved as she met the brunette’s eyes, "Tiffany, I know. It’s kinda obvious really."

"I know it’s kinda stupid to tell you for no reason, but... I just wanted to say it," Fumeko’s gaze faltered away.

Her blonde brows knitted. ’What is she getting at...? Is she hoping I say something? What though?’ Jotou looked to the side and put on a half-smile, "Finally gotten over me huh?"

"Yeah," Fumeko replied with her brows crinkling upwards.

’Why is she so sad about it then? This doesn’t feel like she’s bragging. Is she sad she can’t date me? No, that doesn’t sound right.’ "Well, I’m happy for you detective; I hope everything works out well."

...

In trying to avoid the other’s gaze somewhat, their eyelines inadvertently met... and both their faces dropped a bit. ’She said she wanted to try saying it. Is she just trying to gauge what it’d feel like saying that to me?’

Fumeko parted her lips to break the silence, "Tiffany and I aren’t gonna work out and it’s not her, it’s me; I’m planning to break it off soon," she said sombrely.

"Oh," Jotou’s eyes blinked a few times. "I’m sorry to hear that. Were you just, trying to see what I’d say?"

"Sorry," Fumeko replied. "For a lot of things I did. It must’ve been uncomfortable dealing with me... always, treating you like some, achievement," she struggled to get out. "Thank you for being somewhat tolerant about it too," her gaze was to the floor.

’What the hell brought this on?’ Jotou relaxed and gave a soft chuckle, "It’s not that deep Meko. It wasn’t uncomfortable or anything, you were just very persistent; at the very least, I didn’t mind it all that much."

"Doesn’t mean I feel any greater about it," her soft fragile voice continued.

"Oh look up will you?" Jotou spoke a little louder till Fumeko paid her attention. "I was having fun teasing you about it all the same and it doesn’t mean I enjoyed or will enjoy your company any less.

Literally nothing’s changed and you don’t have to apologize, you’re fine. Seriously, the hell brought this on?" Jotou laughed a little. "Thanks for being honest, but if I’m a source of your worry, don’t worry about it.

You’re my detective. And most of all," Jotou walked closer and gave a small hug, "You’re my friend; you’ll always be someone I care about. Unless you turn evil or something, so don’t."

Fumeko melted slowly into her embrace. Regardless, it felt nice to relax and apologize. "Thanks..."

Jotou exhaled and let go, "Sorry about the breakup." She laid a hand on the brunette’s shoulder, "I’ll be here for you, whatever you need. You got this, alright? Tiffany’ll understand. If she doesn’t, I’ll have a word," her eyes sparked.

Fumeko let herself smile, "I don’t think that’ll be necessary."

"Good." Jotou let go. "Only that thing bothering you?"

"Only thing I can do something about."

"Better than nothing."

"Is it?"

"Is life really life if there isn’t some problem gnawing on your mind?"

Fumeko’s eyes glazed over, "Alright paranoiac, I think the stars are calling."

"You know me well~" Jotou hummed. "Not joining me? Might clear your head."

"I think I wanna be alone to think for a while."

"Fair enough. Night detective," Jotou lingered for a moment.

"Night," Fumeko stood still.

Both their eyes met, before the two split apart; one to her room and the other to the roof.

_

The thin wispy clouds made a painting in the sky with the stars about. It was a certainly a change from Cravolta City’s near-constant presence of dense clouding.

Two crimson ears poked up the ladder, two blue eyes following to see blonde hair drifting in the nightly breeze. "There you are," the redhead folded her arms on the edge of the trapdoor.

Jotou beamed, gazing at the waning moon that blanketed her in its light, no longer pink. "Not tired firefly?"

"More than you," Hotaru got up onto the roof. "Not coming to bed?"

"Need me that badly do you?"

"Whatever gets you there," Hotaru walked up and stood next to the blonde.

"In a bit," Jotou continued to look up. "The thought of the cult randomly popping up out of nowhere’s on my mind. Maybe we couldn’t do much, but we can at least interfere.

If a security-heavy courthouse can come crashing down, this house isn’t much of a bastion is it?"

Hotaru took a seat next to her, "Stop that. It’s why I think we should keep our heads low. The more of a nuisance we become to the cult, the more likely that becomes. For now, we’re nothing more than pawns to them."

"Hey, I already listened, you don’t have to repeat it," Jotou chuckled. "Saying stop isn’t gonna help my brain though."

"I’d be surprised if it did." Hotaru inhaled, "Meko’s dad isn’t back yet, Kineko’s fast asleep; her and Sobi don’t have school for a little while because of the incident and that has them slightly happier."

Jotou giggled, "Any excuse for a school holiday’s a good one." She started toying with her blonde strands, "If only the kid knew why. Has anyone told her?"

"Radio’s been kept at a low volume, though I’m not sure how she would take that story of a dragon. She’s clever though, she might figure it out," Hotaru let out a laugh.

The blonde sighed. ’Is this what it’ll be like living with her? Permanently? If all this magic and strife didn’t exist, but just you did; what would it be like living day-to-day with you Aru?

Does a normal life even suit us? Or does there have to be all this magic and danger? ... I don’t think I mind either way~’

"I’m the Thundering Blade and I shall slay the drake! It shall bring a grand tale for the young princess’s amusement!" Jotou proclaimed with a beam.

"In due time my golden knight," Hotaru watched her with half-lidded eyes and a smile. "Speaking of which, don’t you think you were throwing your weight around a bit much? With the Grand Alderman and all."

"I know. I’m just sick of all these people in high positions making stupid barricades and decisions."

"Oh come on, you didn’t have people in high positions in your old world that made stupid decisions?"

"Hardly the point. It doesn’t mean I can’t be annoyed at them. I have some authority, might as well throw it around a little—see if anything works," Jotou gave a one-sided shrug.

"It might just- Yeesh this a little high!" Hotaru squeamishly backed away from the roof’s edge with her feet.

Jotou dangled her feet off of the edge in response, "Forgot we were on the roof?" she uttered with a teasing smirk.

"Well, looking three stories down gives a different perspective," Hotaru huffed. She got up and patted her backside to get rid of the dirt off her nightgown. "There’s not even a handrail, get your legs away from there and at least sit further in," she scolded.

Jotou swung her legs and propped up her arms behind her; she looked to the redhead and stuck her tongue out.

Hotaru folded her arms and glared.

"Scaredy-cat~ Scaredy-cat~" she bobbed her head.

"You spiteful little... Wait till you get to bed, hmph," though she turned with her brows creased and ears spiked, Hotaru grinned as she began walking back.

Jotou giggled, "See you there~" ’I never thought I’d be this committed. Hell, I never thought I’d even be in a relationship. All it took was being a girl.’ Jotou gazed at her own fingers. ’Please—that’s a lie. Hotaru loves me, cause I’m me.’

The blonde smiled, but then her shoulders fell—so did her lips. ’Because I’m me... The one she trusts with her love... I’ve been so scared of what she might think. Trust is the literal foundation of a... How could I- Enough. Just do it.’

"Hotaru." ’Why the hell is my heart beating this fast?’

The redhead turned, "Hm? Little late to say sorry now housecat."

"No," Jotou shook her head. "I need to tell you something." Her throat choked up, but she gulped it down, "It’s important." She laid a hand on her chest.

Hotaru’s brows furrowed, "O-okay, are you alright? Breathe; you can talk to me," she soothed while she stood a few steps away.

Jotou took a deep breath and let it all out. With a more calmed expression, "On my birthday, when I was out... Asobi, kissed me; after I said she and I could share a birthday."

...

...

Hotaru cocked her head to the side and smiled, "Don’t scare me like that. I kissed Meko on her forehead for her birthday, it’s not-"

"On the lips," Jotou painfully uttered and closed her eyes for a second.

...

...

...

Hotaru fluttered her lashes and stood still; her blank face simply stared at the information.

"Yeah..." Jotou faced her. "I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner."

"It’s fine," her fangs glistened and Hotaru took a large inhale. Her chest rose and she turned with daggers in her eyes, her fists clenched. "It’s about time someone taught that elf what things like that mean," she snarled and stormed towards the trapdoor.

The blonde reached a hand out, "W-wait, it’s not her fault-"

"Not her fault!?" the redhead turned with a growl.

Jotou recoiled slightly.

"Did you initiate it!?"

"No..."

"Was there a moment you read wrong!?" Hotaru’s eyes widened in rage.

"No, it came out of nowhere, I was caught off guard and didn’t what to do. I think she was just happy-"

"That’s not an excuse! Did you protest it!? Did she not care!?"

"No!" Jotou had twisted her form and had her hands on the roof, "It was really brief, I didn’t even clock what had happened till she pulled away."

"Has this been a regular occurrence!?" Hotaru’s hairs stood on end.

"No, she’s never- Well," Jotou halted.

Suddenly Hotaru’s mouth shut and she seared a glare towards Jotou, "What. Spit it out."

"It technically happened, but it didn’t? In Hartamat, she kissed me on the cheek, but granted, both you and Meko were gone in that loop."

Hotaru held a fist to her mouth and closed her eyes. She muttered to herself, "Stop making excuses for her."

"You’re getting really worked up over this," Jotou’s brows knitted upwards.

She opened her eyes. "I’m getting what?" she pronounced every word with her teeth showing.

"Listen-"

Hotaru raised a finger, "No, I don’t care about Asobi, I don’t care about whatever intentions she had, you didn’t say a word of this to me in nearly TWO MONTHS!?"

"Stop yelling at me!" Jotou shouted desperately. ’Please, no, why. I don’t want this.’ "I was confused, I didn’t know what to think of it or what to say, but I did it now!"

"What to think of it? Why? Did you like it!?"

Jotou’s eyes narrowed, "Don’t twist my words, you know what I meant."

"Do I!? I," she threw her hands in the air. "I thought you knew you could talk to me? Am I that difficult for you?" she tamed her breath somewhat.

"This was the reaction I was trying to avoid..."

The redhead’s eyes widened, "Because you took two months! You’ve been keeping this from me for weeks!"

Jotou tightened her lips, "What’s a better timeframe then?"

"Don’t play games-" Hotaru sucked air in and seethed. "Instantly!? The next day at best!?"

"I thought about it, but I was genuinely confused and didn’t know what the best thing to do was," Jotou’s breath hastened. ’Keep it together.’

"WHY!?"

’Are you deaf?’ Jotou closed her eyes and opened them with a slight glare, "Because I was scared."

"Of what?" Hotaru entertained.

"Of messing things up."

"With me?"

Jotou gave no reply.

"What the hell would make you scared to tell me that!?"

"I don’t know Hotaru, maybe if you weren’t so controlling of me, I wouldn’t’ve felt that much pressure," her eyes sparked.

Hotaru’s tail spiked, "Excuse me...? What’s this about then?"

"Oh, you don’t know!?" Jotou got up and took a step inwards before pointing. "Every time you pinch me, glare at me till I say sorry, pull me by the ear! You think you’re really clever with all your manipulation?

You have to correct my actions, you have to make sure I’m proper. You HAVE to have control over me, like I’m some child that needs behavioural therapy!"

Hotaru bared her fangs, "Only because you didn’t say anything about it. I thought all this time, you were fine with it!"

Jotou’s eyes welled up, "I’ve allowed it so far, but it’s come to a point where you sway me on active decisions. I’m not your project."

"I didn’t say you were!" tears were running loose on the redhead’s face. "You, really think I treat you like some pet?"

Jotou panted, "I think you just have control freak issues alongside your anger issues. You’re happier when I’m ’obedient’ and listen to your every word without question, aren’t you!?"

’Is what I’m saying even true anymore...? Why am I arguing with her, I don’t...’ "Either way, I’m not solely to blame of why I didn’t tell you about that damn kiss! You know how many times I wanted to tell you!?

You know how many times that thought kept creeping up my mind throughout all those weeks!? Maybe I could’ve told you sooner, fine. But you’re mad cause I kept a secret from you, that I’m telling you now.

You’re telling me there isn’t a single thing you’ve kept from me? You’re telling me you don’t keep secrets from me, at all!?" ’You’re projecting...’ "I’m telling you this after taking my time and you’re mad I couldn’t just, what?

Say it sooner like it was some simple task? I’m sorry, have you just been open about everything throughout your life?" she quickly rubbed the back of her hand to clear the tears off her face.

Hotaru snarled, breathing heavily as she cried, "This isn’t about some grand truth, this about you and me. You, you’re so, stubborn that you’re right! You’re so adamant to defend your case until you make a whole narrative for yourself!

It’s like this with everything with you! What decision did I sway, huh!? Not to go after the cult today, after they keep beating us!?

I constantly, every, single, time, have YOUR BLOOD on my hands, so that you can go around and play hero! This whole new problem, with these cultists and gods and whatever, you’re doing it cause it’s completely personal!

They’ve outpowered and outplayed you at every turn; they’ve proven they’re much smarter than you, and you can’t let it go! It’s always spite with you!"

Jotou shivered slightly and said quieter, "Maybe. You know that about me; that’s who you got into. But I’m doing this for my friend and the countless lives.

Sure, I may have some selfish intentions, but what’s pointing them out to me supposed to prove? What’s this got to do with a damn kiss that was barely even a second?"

Hotaru sobbed, her brows still furrowed, "I don’t know. Since we’re just airing out our problems," she looked away.

Jotou wiped her face again and darted her eyes away, "Well, anything else you wanna say? Any of my other problems you wanna yell about?"

"As if you didn’t do the same," Hotaru shuddered. "I can’t deal with you right now—goodnight," she turned and walked off.

"Yeah, cause I’m being too much of a problem for you to control, aren’t I?" Jotou’s eyes sparked, unsure if Hotaru heard as she descended down the ladder. ’Why did I say that...?’

Jotou began to tremble and breaths quivered. She sat down, hugging herself as she began to weep silently on the roof.