CHAPTER 393: ARC 6, CHAPTER 9: HARDER CONVERSATION

’Is it Hotaru’s fault or mine? At the end of the day, the decision was made by me, but who’s really to blame...? I say as if we could’ve done something if we were there, but it’s hard not to think that we could’ve tried.’

"You’re telling us it’s all gone?" Fumeko queried.

"Well I said destroyed not gone. Half the building’s gone and the other half’s a wreck, I’ve spent all day moving beams and trying to piece anything together," he replied.

"They must’ve attacked for a reason so what or who went missing?" Jotou got off the sofa.

"Feather?" Fumeko uttered.

Kazuo sighed and turned on the light in the living room, "The Poison Feather is declared missing. As well as a few other criminals that were detained with affinity-locks. Best guess? Possible indoctrination for freeing them."

"What exactly happened? A dragon, again?" Jotou knitted her brows.

"They say dragon, but it was already destroyed when I got there."

"There might be some clues left in the rubble," Fumeko held a hand to her chin.

"It’s a big place and in a mess; even more so, it’s police territory. The cult’s goal was clear, I’m not sure what evidence might help, but if I go looking I’m gonna pass out in debris so," he held back a yawn.

"I’ll go," Fumeko stated.

Jotou turned to her.

Kazuo tightened his lips for a moment and dusted off any leftover remains of wreckage off his arms. He looked to his daughter defeatedly, "Careful kid, the police don’t like people meddling in their business, even private detectives.

If you go past their authority they have the rights to arrest you on sight."

"That’s just their pride," Jotou scoffed.

"Are you asking me not to go?" Fumeko stared at her father.

"I’m saying if you wanna go, don’t get spotted kiddo."

The brunette furrowed her brows and her eyes blinked a few times. "Okay then... Jotou?"

"I’m with you detective," Jotou took a deep breath.

Kazuo squinted at the two now under lighting, "You two don’t look alright, something happen?"

"No..." Fumeko’s eyes darted away.

"You two were just unable to sleep for no reason?" doubt heavily hung in his voice. "It’s not my business, but Jotou, you’ve been crying and Fumeko, you’re tangled up in knots.

I’m sure something emotionally troubling’s happened, I’m not sure with what or who; are you sure you want to go tackling something when your heads’ aren’t focused?"

Jotou patted down the discolouring and puffiness under her eyes as soon as he said and Fumeko eased up and corrected her posture. "We’re fine dad."

"Alright, it’s fine if you want a distraction, but please don’t get arrested, it’ll be a hassle for everyone."

"With their broken police precinct? I’d like to seem them try," Jotou mocked as her eyes slightly sparked.

"We won’t dad, promise."

Kazuo raised his brows and eyes grew weary in an instant, before he headed upstairs.

"Should we wake Asobi up? Invisibility’s the best cover."

"Maybe," Jotou glanced away.

Fumeko pursed her lips, "Hotaru...?"

Jotou inhaled. "That’s a terrible idea for now." ’Especially when she got mad about this exact thing too.’ "Let’s go get changed and get Sobi..." Jotou shut her eyes immediately.

Fumeko pondered for a moment... "All your clothes and your sword are in your room aren’t they."

Jotou audibly groaned.

_

Fumeko opened up the door to Jotou and Hotaru’s room, only to notice the redhead passed out on the bed. Her ears twitched at the sound, but the brunette then took a more silent approach.

Eventually equipping Jotou back with her adventuring attire and waking a magician up, they made it through the cold early, early morning of Burnetrout in a carriage.

Invisible figures made it around the corner towards the police department, only to see, "Woah..." Asobi’s voice escaped. The entire building was slashed in half, diagonally from top floor to bottom.

Stone and broken concrete jetted out of the floor, angled upwards as if something broke out from below—something the size of the building itself.

Police tape cordoned off the entire street, while one or two desperate reporters remained, trying to get past, there were medical units and horsedrawn ambulances that still helped around the scene. The Dolpool Fire Department was also present, working on removing rubble.

"Are we sure we can sneak in? They’re everywhere," Asobi hushed.

"That’s a question for you," Fumeko replied.

"I can’t stop noise or us bumping into anything. Also, I know we don’t wanna bother a sleeping Hotaru, but isn’t this kinda important?"

Jotou sighed out, "She just wants to sleep Sobi, I’m sure she doesn’t mind. Besides, she’s the most likely one to bump into something," her footsteps went towards the building.

"I suppose... Why do you, sound sad?" Asobi queried, but Jotou already made it across the street. "Meko?"

"...Jotou and Hotaru are uhm, nothing. It’s their business."

"Oh, okay."

"Let’s go find what we can find."

There was however, precious little to find. Bloodstains, broken furniture and empty cells that looked exploded open; it all painted a picture of what happened, but nothing to lead into what was to come.

It was hard to traverse, especially sneaking onto the platform that led them down while firefighters and police used it. Eventually, with Asobi’s yawn and the three’s tired eyes, the dawn came along to signal their retreat...

_

Footfalls on the staircase travelled up the steps. The creaking of a door the one going upstairs could hear. Jotou’s eyeline made it up to the handrail, enough to see Hotaru who had just left the room to meet her gaze. Both took a pause.

...

...

Jotou continued up the stairs and Hotaru stood still. The redhead had her hands clasped at the front and arms down, her shoulders upright and broad. While the blonde walked up to her sluggishly and her head low.

"Can I go inside?" Jotou looked to the wall as she quietly said.

"It’s your room too, I’m not gonna stop you," her resting face and spiked up ears did not at all match her soft tone. There were no marks of tears or even a sign of tiredness on her expression.

Jotou’s chest rose and fell while she walked past Hotaru and into the room. Hotaru continued to look at the stairs for a few more seconds, before turning with a few more blinks. The blonde unsheathed her sword and set it aside.

"I hear Dolpool Police Department got destroyed," the wolf-woman broke the silence.

"Yeah," the blonde eyed the floor as she began disrobing her attire. "Not that I could’ve done something about it, but I wish I could’ve been there to help," she raised her shoulders and let them go.

Hotaru shut her eyes and exhaled audibly through her nose.

"What’s done is done, it’s nobody’s fault other than the cult. I can’t pretend things would’ve gone differently if any of us were there."

"So, you went without telling me," she did well to hide any kind of anger in her voice.

With a breath from her lips, she threw her yellow coat to the side and stopped undoing her clothing. She looked the redhead in the eye, "Listen, I apologize for the things I said; I didn’t need to say them and I let my emotions get the better of me.

I know you’re right, that I might be taking this case too personally. And I hope to all hells that we can work through this and talk it out.

But when people are dying and a city’s falling apart around me, I can’t listen to you about not getting involved. I get that I’m getting in over my head and this is dangerous. So, you don’t have to heal me anymore, I’ll take care of myself."

She listened intently till her eyes rolled, "Sure, frame it from your perspective and I have to listen to you being dramatic," she muttered under her breath; even so, Jotou could still hear it.

Jotou looked to the vanity.

Hotaru clenched her fist and glowing blue water formed before it was absorbed into her skin; she breathed a little easier, "That’s not happening.

Whatever’s going on between us at the moment? I understand how to prioritize things Jotou, I’m not an idiot, I’m aware the city’s crumbling."

"I didn’t say you were," Jotou sealed her lips shut right after.

"I’m not gonna deny you healing out of pettiness. So we had an argument, it doesn’t mean I’ve lost all care and love for you all of a sudden," she said with furrowed brows.

"Sorry," Jotou sat on the bed and propped herself up with her arms. "Can we just, have some time to talk about it and sort it out? It’s not like I’m in a hurry to get anywhere right now."

"I don’t understand what you think there is to have a conversation about," her words were stern. Her ears fell, "Look, I’m sorry I said the things I said too. And you’re right, I may be a bit too possessive with you, I understand that."

"But?"

"There’s not much to talk about; at least, none that I can think of right now, just give it some time. Meanwhile, I’ll try to be less overbearing on you; I’m sorry I made you uncomfortable."

Jotou’s gaze fell to the side, "I don’t know about ’uncomfortable’..."

"Then you wouldn’t’ve argued with me about it."

"..."

"Sorry," Hotaru pursed her lips shut. "As I said, I’m trying not to... You always try and improve so, I doubt this won’t eat away at you. All I’m saying is, don’t overstress yourself. I love you," she uttered sombrely.

"Love you too," Jotou hushed.

There was the faintest hint of a smile on the redhead’s expression. "I’m sure everything will be fine again. But, if me being overcontrolling continues to be an issue for you, then we’ll have a much different conversation..."

"I... understand."

Hotaru took a deep breath, "There’s a city, a case—our party needs to remain stable through this, so let’s not get our little problem involved with all of that, agreed?"

"Agreed."

"Then all will be well," she exhaled and left the room with a sharp turn.

Jotou held her face in her palm. ’Leave it to her to be diplomatic.’