Reincarnated Into A Dead Woman's Body In Another World-Chapter 281: Arc 4, Act II, - 126: The Azure Firefly
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Her toes wriggled under the covers and her fingers shifted slightly. So soft... So comfy... Her body stretched as her eyelashes unfurled.
Walls of black panels, with golds swirling in patterns within. Curtains around the canopies that glittered black upon the white pillows. She recognized the surface above her...
A small moan escaped her lips and she sided her head on the pillows; to the right a door to the bathroom and another to a wardrobe.
To her left, an elf who had a little circus running around on her lap while she sat on a chair. Jotou parted her lips more, "...Asobi..." she hushed.
The circus disappeared and Asobi jolted her head up, "Jotou, you’re awake!" she leaned down to grab her by the shoulders and give a hug.
Jotou lifted herself up slightly as Asobi wrapped her arms around the blonde. "Ugh, sore, sore, I’m very sore..." Jotou smiled. Asobi let go and Jotou fell back into the pillows. "We’re in, Tamara Palace?"
"Mhm. We won," Asobi beamed. "We finished off Cinder and The Trailon Regime surrendered after Daiyu asked." A sigh of relief Jotou exhaled for a solid few seconds, letting her mind go. "Jotou, I do have a question I really wanted to ask."
"Go on."
"How far are you gonna go with your magic...?" in concern, the magician cocked her head. "Cinder was mad with power, right? He wanted to be strong, feared, stuff like that.
I know you want to be remembered, but... do you want to be feared too? You were really, really hurt... Fumeko told us what happened. How long before, you lose yourself?"
Jotou fluttered her lashes, looking into the jade-green eyes of Asobi. She pondered for a moment, till a bittersweet smile overtook her expression, "I think I’ve lost myself a lot of times before I even came to this world Sobi.
I somehow always have a funny way of finding myself back again. I’m not looking to be feared by good people or the people I care about.
But I understand if I keep pushing myself, there’s gonna come a point where it’s not going to work out anymore." Jotou puffed out a breath and faced Asobi completely, "If I ever do lose myself; promise you’ll bring me back?"
"Hm," with glee Asobi nodded, "It’s a promise."
Jotou took a deep breath and lifted herself off the bed, groaning as she stretched her healed up limbs. Asobi placed a hand behind to support her up.
She peered around, noticing the armite blade propped up against her nightstand. "I expected more of a welcoming party; where is everyone?"
"After the first two days, we started taking shifts watching after you. I get longer shifts, cause I’m not any good with paperwork."
"First two days... How long was I out?"
"Mmm... About five days. We reached Tamara Palace only a couple of days ago, so everyone’s been busy."
"Five days... So, it’s November 1st then?" Jotou glanced to the sunlight breaching the closed curtains.
"Should be." Asobi then gasped, "Oh yeah! You’re awake now, so that means tomorrow’s a parade!" she clapped with her wand in hand.
"A parade...?"
"Daiyu said we’d wait before doing anything like that till you wake up. We already had a mourning day for the king and all the fallen soldiers after we came back, but people also want to celebrate our victory.
Some people gave us flowers, chocolates, a whole bunch of stuff. The Trailon Regime is off the war! Yay!" she whispered the excitement.
"Yay- Wait," Jotou peered to her, "What do you mean mourning the king? Cinder’s dead, right?"
"Oh," Asobi realized. "Cinder is dead, but Cinder stabbed the king too and he, poofed... into blue fire and ash..."
"Oh..." Jotou stared to her sheets... "He was, a good king... Maybe we had a little difference in ideologies, but... he was a good king," Jotou gave a moment of silence on her own.
"I wonder how Luxinor’s taking it," Jotou uttered. All her bones were healed, sat up on her bed in a yellow nightgown as her blonde hair that ended in blacks was fanned out behind her. "What time is it?"
Asobi checked around the room for a clock, "It’s, ten thirty-five."
Jotou sighed and fell back onto the bed. "I have a nice soft bed again; and I can sleep on it all day."
"Ooo, can I join?" Asobi queried.
"Sure," Jotou patted the large mattress.
"Yay!" Asobi leapt across Jotou and bounced face first onto the bed. The two sighed and took their time to just relax...
_
’Honestly, I didn’t feel like a parade. Once everyone saw me up and running, the palace seemed no different; except of course, everyone was in a way better mood.
Staff, reporters, council members, pretty much everyone who needed to be here was here. Asobi wasn’t kidding about the paperwork, but luckily I didn’t have to do anything.
With the Trailon Regime’s treaty underway, they were gonna be out of the war officially in no time, even though that was already in effect right after they surrendered.
Fumeko was relieved to see me again, Hotaru kissed me the moment she noticed me and Daiyu punched me across the shoulder; I decided to take it.
Pretty much everyone asked about my wellbeing, including Count and Countess Keya. Seems they’re really proud of Daiyu. I’ll have to check up with Niah sometime about the spell that threw me across the plateaus like a ping-pong ball...
Feyan’s been at work, Arabella’s back to being the admiral and had to take care much of the Royal Guard while all of this was happening. To think we’d have a break after a month in the last stand... Ha...!
Other than that, interactions have been pretty minimal, even with Hotaru, who cuddled right to sleep. Oh, one interaction being the exception.’
"Hey Daiyu; remember that bet we made?"
"Yeah...?"
"I’m using it now."
’That was yesterday, before the parade today.’ Jotou stood high up on the balcony where her and Daiyu would normally be, looking over the city on the morning of November 2nd.
She wore a flowy dress of yellows and whites that skirted the balcony tiles as she leaned on the balustrade. The Undying Princess showed herself, approaching the Thundering Blade.
"Hey loser. Feelin better?"
The blonde turned, "A lot. Might even take some of the paperwork."
"Ha, ha," Daiyu in regal dressing leaned onto the balustrade and looked towards the city. In the distance, they both could see the parade going by full of floats, cars and carriages.
Thousands of citizens gathered around as balloons flew into the air and confetti littered the streets. "Wish we could be down there," Daiyu muttered.
"I’m tired and you’ve got plenty of work."
"I know smart-ass, I know." Daiyu smiled to a blue float in particular. She and Jotou could see the outline of red hair and wolf ears.
Hotaru was given a few hours off to enjoy the parade; little did she know she was one of the main attractions. The wolf-girl blushed and beamed wider than ever as she waved at the crowds after being given a new title.
"It was nice of you to do that for her," Daiyu smiled. "The Azure Firefly has a ring to it; fits Hotaru well."
"Hey, we would’ve never made it without her through every single fight in that last stand. Plus, I think she deserves it. It’s a secret, so no telling I suggested it~" Jotou gave a wink.
"I won’t... Probs."
"I’ll end you."
"Like to see you try~"
"You really don’t want to," Jotou smirked.
"Bet; we need a rematch anyway."
"My lady, I am sorry to interrupt, but there is much to do," Feyan tapped his watch from the door.
"Coming, coming," Daiyu rolled her eyes. "I’ll see ya around."
"You too."
’And so, I waited for the parade float holding the newly titled, Azure Firefly to return to the palace. It took a couple of hours, but it was nice to do nothing after everything.’
Jotou watched from the balcony as the car pulling the parade float parked past the palace gates. "Ooo! Hotaru’s back!" she could hear the elf rush out the palace doors in a sprint.
"Woosh."
"Hello detective."
"Hmph," Fumeko stood right next to Jotou, glaring to the redhead below. "I did a lot too you know, I didn’t get a title from you."
"Eavesdrop much?"
"Please, I figured it out myself a lot sooner," Fumeko’s eyes glazed over.
"You didn’t get a title from me, because you get another reward," Jotou put on an accent.
"And what’s that?"
Jotou leaned in close and kissed Fumeko on the cheek. She stood a little stunned in place, blushing red... Jotou giggled and leaned on the balcony once more.
"What sort of equal compensation is this supposed to be?" she squinted and scowled. "She gets a whole title and I get a kiss on the cheek?"
"Thanks for saving my life Fumeko. I’m glad you’re on my side; I can’t actually imagine my life without you. You mean a lot to me; I’ll be arranging a nice picnic when the weather’s cloudy," sincere were her words.
Fumeko darted her eyes away and pouted, "Well, you’re welcome... And I’ll be there for the picnic. But if you think I’m just gonna settle for just that," she faced Jotou.
Jotou stuck her tongue out in response. Fumeko jumped up to Jotou and kissed her on the cheek as well, before she disappeared into shadow.
Taken slightly aback, Jotou held the side of her cheek... and chuckled, shaking her head.
_
And so the night came along; the redhead done with all her duties as she drank a cup of jasmine tea and a few Galuvitian chocolates.
Jotou walked onto the balcony of their room. "So, how was your debut as the Azure Firefly?"
Hotaru’s smile from before had yet to fade, her fangs glistening under the moonlight, "I’m still in shock. I don’t know, I never thought I’d have a title."
Jotou walked up, standing the opposite of her.
"Look at you; you were such a mess," Hotaru shook her head, the smile finally disappearing. She flexed her cheek muscles, "I can’t believe you almost fell."
Jotou chuckled, "Luckily Fumeko didn’t give up on me."
"That girl," Hotaru’s fangs glistened. "So stubborn. She really admires you a lot," she remarked.
"What? You don’t too?" Jotou cocked a brow.
"Oh please, I’d never date someone like you."
Jotou fake gasped, "The shock—the betrayal."
Both of them laughed softly. "The stars are lovely tonight; did you want to come watch them?"
"No," Jotou sighed, "Just doing something I should’ve done a while ago."
"Oh?"
"You win our little game Hotaru Kinoshita."
Hotaru’s ears spiked up and her tail wagged slightly. A teasing grin painted itself.
Jotou walked closer and gently ran her fingers through her crimson hair. Hotaru held the blonde’s cheek and pulled her into a soft, sweet kiss.
Both of them parted, staring into each other’s eyes under the starlit night... Gazing into those brilliant blue eyes, Jotou uttered, "I love you."
