Reincarnated Into A Dead Woman's Body In Another World-Chapter 120: Arc 3, - 30: No Longer In Control

Hazy were the eyes of the blonde, waking up to bricks of brown to her side, the voices of dozens echoing down the hall as a—"Clink, clink, clink, clink..."—continued down every bar down the hall from a short spear.

She squinted—like it was an alarm clock waking her up for school. Oh how she hated that noise. Jotou groaned awake, the solid board of wood creaking as she lifted her head from the rock-hard pillow.

Inside of a cell was the last place she imagined to be in her life; then again this is how it all would’ve started if not for Hotaru... Who wouldn’t be there if not for the meddling of Moren and Trailon.

The thought of how much control her new life had then and now, to be meddled with again by the same forces. ’Today’s the day. Should I get some warmup exercises?’

Jotou felt her neck—"Pop!"—as she twisted it. ’Maybe I should conserve what energy I have for the fight. Some stretches will be fine.’

Jotou watched out the cell, to another bleak wall with scratches from handcuffs and a stain of blood—must be a story there. ’Fumeko, Hotaru and Asobi; they’re alive. They’re alive.

Rashaad is mad at me... He knew me before I knew him every time. I guess he knew me this time too; he just didn’t think he’d meet me like this. Then again, neither did I.

Whatever; they’re alive. And the first day has passed. The fated day is today; I’ll kill Eli Frye, destroy whatever device that’s causing all of this and.’ Jotou sighed.

’I’ll deal with all the consequences after this. I don’t care. I can explain everything once this is all over. It’ll all make sense to everyone once this is all over why I did what I did.

...All those guards. Nobody wants to hear that your son, daughter, husband, wife, sister, brother, died for a greater good by my hands. People are all narcissistic every now and again...

It doesn’t matter, I need to focus. What I did was right and there’s nobody that can prove me otherwise... other than me by that standard I set myself...

Did I do right? Does it not matter? It doesn’t... Nothing truly matters... Doesn’t it? If I approach everything like that, why does my reason matter?

Shut up. Having regrets is stupid, you’ve done what you’ve done. Keep going. End this hell-damned cycle and then you can worry about everything else. I’ll figure it out.’

"Jotou?" A soft voice took her attention. Oh, right; she shared the cell with one other. The magician with her legs crossed on the wooden ’bed’, observed.

"Morning Sobi."

"Good morning," her head tilted hatless, "What were you thinking about?" even her resting face smiled a little.

"Nothing much; just things we have to do today," Jotou scanned the magician’s attire, wrinkles, a dry stain near her collar. Her hair, normally parted to the right with a shine, had fallen down to cover some of her face.

"I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this messy," Jotou raised a brow.

Asobi’s hands twiddled with each other, an object missing in her grasp, "I didn’t sleep much. None of the guards wanted to see my tricks either... They told me to not use magic..."

"We’re all not allowed to do magic right now. We’ll get your wand back and you can do whatever trick you want."

A faint smile, "Thank you," though her gaze never left Jotou. Observing the blonde’s every stretch, eyes bouncing as she sat silently, something on the tip of her tongue.

_

Hands cuffed behind her, she walked with the elf, police on either side as another cell opened; the redhead walked out with her hands behind her back.

"Jotou," her ears finally bristled from being down all night.

"I’m fine. You?"

"Too. Sobi?"

"I’m okay," Asobi squeaked.

A familiar face approached them as they walked out the hallway. Brown hair, broad shoulders and tanned skin, "Good morning. I’m First Lieutenant Cayson Knox. I will be escorting you three for the day."

’Speaking of unexpected...’

"You know the deal. I will be taking you back to your lodging and you may procure whatever items or materials you need. We’ve already thoroughly searched your belongings.

After that, we will be escorting you to the headquarters of Hartamat’s Defence Force where you’ll await for our departure and be informed of the circumstances."

"If I find any missing valuables, I will be asking you then," Hotaru glared.

"I assure you, nothing was stolen."

"Well then lieutenant, let’s not dillydally," Jotou replied.

_

The public watched as the three of them were uncuffed near where they stayed. Police kept citizens and onlookers away, whilst they were released.

"Ms Kinoshita’s belongings should be in this home alongside Ms Namora who’s already taken her things. Ms Howllett and Ms Asobi’s are in the right. Things may have been misplaced in between," he directed.

Jotou rubbed her wrist, looking to the house she grew more familiar with each day and each night. "When can I get my wand back?" Asobi looked back to the lieutenant as an officer uncuffed her.

"We will return your weapons before departure to the battle," he affirmed.

"Oh, okay..." Asobi pouted to Jotou.

She leered from under her blonde bangs to the lieutenant, "I don’t need my sword to use my magic. I could spark myself up and end all of you where you stand.

Though, I think you’re well aware of who I am and what I’m capable of lieutenant. So, keep in mind that I’m doing this out of my own volition and you have no control here."

Knox furrowed his brows, "I... do not envy what you’ve seen in your time in Kria Thundering Blade, but it would do you best to not make such threats."

"It wasn’t about what would do me best. That was a promise if you mistreat any of my friends," Jotou walked off into the house behind Asobi. Hotaru and Jotou shared a glance before separating.

Jotou shuffled through her luggage, nothing amiss, but everything was strewn in different places—a plush puppy with a grey stain on its body?

Jotou sighed, her bottle of conditioner not closed tightly and clearly opened during the search. Jotou stood up, "I don’t need to change," she pushed her bangs behind her ear, "What about you?"

"We can go shower first, yes?" Asobi held her garments and folded them over Fumeko’s bed.

"Yeah." ’A shower for this headache sounds nice.’

"So, this is where you and Fumeko stayed? It’s very similar to mine and Hotaru’s," Asobi looked at the ceilings.

"I think that’s the point of any hotel service."

"Really? We just had these tents that would go, Poof!, and we bring in a nice warm sleeping bag left in the Sun and a puffy pillow."

Jotou tilted her head to the elf. The melancholy in her tone, her shoulders slumped the entire trip here and her stare once again directed at Jotou—like the stare of a lost child.

Her descriptions lacked vigour and her emotions were... normal. "I rarely see you like this. What’s wrong?" Jotou knitted her brows.

The jade-green eyes blinked, "I rarely see you like this. What’s wrong?" Asobi repeated, mimicking Jotou’s voice.

Jotou shook her head with a squint, "What?"

"I, I’ve seen you, sad and angry before. But... it looks different, now. Y-you... You’re not acting like Jotou. You, killed all those people; were they bad...?" her own voice squeaked—an endless stare.

’...If even she’s noticed...’

"You and Hotaru, seem like you two know what you’re doing... Is it a secret? Could you please tell me too? Does Meko know?" every word felt it like it was going to end in sobs.

Jotou scrunched her eyes, searching for an answer, "Sobi... it’s complicated. No. They weren’t... ’bad’, but they were just, following orders and got in our way, can’t do much for that. They hit me first anyhow."

Asobi looked to the floor, "So, this is like, a grey moment. When everything’s not, black and white?"

Jotou exhaled, "Yeah. Grey area."

Asobi hugged herself, "Jotou... I don’t know if I’m happy with that. They, ran away and, and you chased them. And, and you were smiling-"

"Asobi, of all the times for you to decide to think for yourself you think now’s the time? I thought you just ignored the problem and moved on, living in your illusory fantasy," Jotou scowled.

"I! I don’t ignore problems!" Asobi’s pupils darted all over the floor. "Do I...?"

"Listen, I’ll explain everything later. I get that the emotions that trigger your affinity is joy and entertainment; so if you’re suddenly feeling out of the mood, then stay back.

You don’t need to fight with us. I’d rather you be safe, than running around unable to cast or end up like me when I fail my spells.

And I don’t need you freezing in place once something bad happens and you can’t fully ignore it immediately. You can’t always be a blank slate waiting for orders Asobi."

"I- I... what does that mean Jotou...?"

"Ugh, just do what comes natural to you in the moment and please stay out of the line of fire," Jotou rubbed her forehead.

"O-okay..." Asobi looked to the blonde, "You seem sad Jotou... would you like, a head pat? A hug maybe...? Why are you so angry?"

"I’m fine," Jotou looked to the door, when would this day turn to night so that it can finally be over. "Save that hug for another time. Let’s go."

Asobi on her knees, on the darkest day of her circus. A warm light from a smile, a reassuring hand on her shoulder under the breeze of moonlight...

That smile lingered not one bit on the blonde from her view now; she truly wondered what had bothered her companion to this state... "Right behind you Jotou..."