Reincarnated Into A Dead Woman's Body In Another World-Chapter 305: Interlude - 24: Post-Party

"-That’s pretty much how the enchantment on our mind works," Jotou swirled the glass of cream liquor.

"So it’s also why I can’t get shot," Daiyu surmised with a little hiccup.

"Great, I wasted all that time explaining..."

"Hey, I’m not drunk," Daiyu retorted with a half-closed eye. "...Yet. I’ll like, remember everything you said, alright?"

The sauces had been cleared out, the popcorn chicken reduced to crumbs and fried rice leftover for a few more servings—the illusions all gone. The dogs had gone to sleep. As opposed to mixing drinks on the bar, several bottles simply sat across the table.

"The bigger question," Fumeko swallowed the slice of red cake down, before she held a hand to her chin, "is who did it? You two died—assuming the other three did too.

Some spell with specific instructions latched onto your minds as you came into this world. Then you got an affinity, which also must’ve happened with Daiyu.

It took over and completely healed a recently dead body and brought you back to the living with you in it; the previous body’s memories, for all purposes, are missing and presumably gone."

Fumeko hypothesized, slowly connected red strings in her head, "Vas... stars... Regime?" she mumbled to herself. She squinted, "Someone from one of the Regimes brought you here; it only makes sense... But why?"

"How did you come to that conclusion?" Niah’s head rested on the table as her ears pricked—her cheeks flushed.

"Lots of evidence Nini," Fumeko looked to her empty glass and pouted. "Jotou; death?"

"Huh?" Jotou turned and then realized. "Daiyu, it’s something to do with us not being killed; the theory is, if we die, something bad might happen... You remember what the Poison Feather said?"

"Uhh..." Daiyu’s eyes went higher and higher, "Oh. Yeah, I’m following."

"For those who are lost?" Arabella signed as Feyan translated.

"Feather said, if she killed either of us, then blank. All I can tell is, it was info she wasn’t supposed to have. Me and Meko assume it to be something bad and we don’t really wanna test the theory."

"We finally got a bigger piece of the puzzle to connect it and it just leads to more questions." Fumeko smirked, "More of the mystery to uncover."

"Jotou’s from the Regimes?" Asobi cocked her head.

"I... don’t think that connects," Jotou’s brows knitted.

Daiyu groaned and slid down her chair, "Save the theories for another day; it’s a fucking party, can we talk about like, anything else?"

"The champagne’s kicking in..." the blonde sighed.

"It’s naht!"

"She has a point and my glass doesn’t have anything. I need more brandy Arty," the brunette leered. Feyan searched for the bottle on the table and slid it over to Fumeko who caught it. "So, how was my cake?" she said as she popped the bottle open.

"It’s actually pretty decent," Jotou forked into another slice and ate it, "Texture’s a bit dry, but the frosting makes up for it; Six point five out of ten, would eat again."

With a smirk, Fumeko poured herself a glass of brandy.

"I’m more concerned with the other things you two told us. Are you two okay? Meeting your parents," the wolf-girl glanced to Jotou. "And seeing your past?" she looked to Asobi.

Jotou took a sip of her liquor, "It was, tough... But I think, I’ve moved past it all. I’m done letting it bother me at the very least."

Asobi raised a glass of wine, "Mhm! And as for me," she held the red liquid close to her lips as she looked into it. The two hadn’t explained every single detail, just a summary of events really.

"I’m okay. I’m just really happy that I have all my friends now—oh, and have a birthday that’s shared with Jotou!"

"Cheers to that!" Daiyu waved her glass to the centre. Glasses clinked before Daiyu downed her drink. Hotaru tried to savour the one cup of gin she poured at the start of the party and set it aside.

"Will you two be going back to work tomorrow?" Feyan translated Arabella’s hand motions.

"Mmm, I don’t know. The pets are all so cuddly and nice! The staff are nice too! But..."

"We did it for the fun of it, but I think we’ve had our fun. Having to use illusions the entire time, walking around with some customers who are just annoying or rude; I don’t think we’ll be going in tomorrow. We’ve said out goodbyes," Jotou shrugged.

"Ah yes, fun masquerading as cat-part-humans?" Niah’s ear ticked.

"Sorry," Jotou chuckled.

"I’m not taking offence, I just thought it’d be interesting to see~"

"I can do that!"

"Please don’t..." Jotou implored.

"Ohp, Jotou’s shy! It’s alright," Asobi lowered her wand.

"I think you should just do it."

"Shut it psychopath."

"I also had to decline a date," Asobi announced. Everyone turned their heads in unison.

"Really?" Daiyu grinned with pride across her lips, "That’s fucking hardcore coming from you."

The blonde narrowed her eyes, "Ohhh, Serene."

Niah looked to her, "Why though? Did you find them unattractive?"

Asobi shook her head, "No, she was pretty. But she only knew Amelia, not Asobi. It didn’t feel right to lie to her like that; so it was just better not to."

"So, if that reason wasn’t there, you would’ve?" Fumeko queried.

"Well, I did have that reason, so I don’t know—silly Meko," Asobi giggled. Fumeko’s eyes glazed over in response.

"It’s a fair reason," the redhead chuckled. "I think you said something about seeing Jotou’s old world, right? How was it?" Hotaru’s tail slowly swooshed behind her.

Asobi gasped, "There were so, so many cool things!" the glass of wine nearly spilled. Feyan sat up, Arabella and Fumeko leaned in closer and Niah’s ears bristled.

"Most importantly," Asobi flourished her wand and lights formed on the table. An image of a figure appeared in a dark grey hooded jacket, towering over them.

"Holy... HAHAHA!!" the loopy Daiyu’s eyes bubbled.

Jotou leaned on her palm and glanced up, "That’s a flattering angle..."

Asobi giggled and shrunk the overly large image to a height rivalling the bottles on the table. "I apologize, but who is that?" Feyan raised a brow.

"Jotou obviously," Fumeko examined. "So this is what you looked like," she gave a half-cocked smirk to Jotou.

"I think she looks fine," Hotaru tilted her head and admired both Jotou’s with her brilliant blue eyes. The present Jotou darted her eyes away as she blushed. Hotaru’s tail wagged a little faster.

"Well no wonder, that’s still Jotou," Fumeko pouted to the wolf-girl.

"He’s cute!" Asobi cheered.

Jotou turned her head away.

"He looks a little messy, but he still looks good," Fumeko shrugged.

"Hey loser, you hearing this? Quit looking away!"

"Shut," Jotou faced the princess.

"He never listens; I mean, sure, he’s not as pretty as he is right now, but still. A solid... seven."

The blonde glared. She sighed, "I’ll take it."

"Ooo, this too!" Asobi’s illusions shifted to another figure. Black leather jacket and tattered jeans—fluffy black hair with a green streak.

"Daiyu?" Fumeko figured.

"That’s her alright; shorter than me," Jotou mocked. Daiyu half-closed her right eye whilst Fumeko slowly turned her head to the blonde with a leer.

"Pretty too," Hotaru uttered.

Arabella peered closer with a squint, "Fits you better," Feyan translated.

"What’s that supposed to mean?" Daiyu’s half-eyed glare switched targets.

"Not my words princess!" Feyan put his hands up. Daiyu switched targets to the dark-haired woman. Arabella gave a one-shouldered shrug in response and a jerk of an eyebrow. "It is hard not to agree," Feyan muttered.

"I think they mean for your personality princess. Your past clothes and overall look makes a lot more sense with your present self’s demeanour," Niah summarized.

Daiyu gazed over... "Fair," she took a swig of her new drink.

"She looks way more awesome and less regal than everyone’s used to, that’s all," Fumeko pointed out.

"Thanks Fumes," Daiyu threw her arms out—elated.

"Regal or not, the two look just as good; just in varying ways," Feyan said without a blush.

Daiyu grinned to him in return, "That’s more like it!" Feyan gave a nod with a smile painted on himself.

"Hey Sobi, d’you remember that other Daiyu I showed you?" Jotou gave a sly smirk.

"This one?" Asobi switched the figure into the younger Daiyu she recalled. Arabella breathed a little chuckle and Niah leaned in closer with glistening fangs.

"YOU LITTLE!" "THUMP!" "Clink-Clank!" Daiyu rumbled the table in an attempt to obscure the image, clanging the utensils and bottles on it. She grabbed the neck of a bottle and aimed for Jotou’s head.

With a wink and a stuck out tongue, Jotou ducked under the table with a giggle. "My lady, my lady, please," Feyan reached an arm over and lowered the bottle in her hand... "Ms Asobi, if you could please remove the image."

Asobi did so with a little giggle. "OH! Meko-Meko-Meko!"

"Yeah, yeah, what?" Fumeko furrowed her brows to the elf.

"Based on my memories, I must be from Burnetrout! I’m Burntish, like you!"

Fumeko cocked her head, "I guess that’s a nice discovery," she looked away. "Good for you." She shook her head and looked back, "I, am glad for you," she said once more, now more sincere.

"Thank you! Oh! There’s also this place called a mall!" she continued.

"I mean yeah, I think a mall exists in Burnetrout," Fumeko replied.

"But can it play movies!?"

"...What’s that?"

_

Stood upon a balcony alone, stars above her; her birthday garments still intact—a glass of cream liquor in her hand.

Their conversations had continued throughout the night till the late hours; she couldn’t quite get the best view of the cityscape from this lower balcony, but the pretty bright lights painted enough of an image.

With a sigh into the hour coming close to midnight, she took a sip of her drink. Her gifts were not too far behind her. A bottle of deeply scented perfume from Feyan which had a scent of honey, some floral tones and spice which gave a rich, airy aroma.

Leather boots with tasteful patterns that went up the ankles in maroon hues from Arabella. Apparently, it was the latest special designer’s pair she got from a famous Burntish shoe store branch in Cravolta City.

A book Jotou recognized—the one that she learned the Webbing Lightning spell from. However, ’permanently’ borrowed from the library, as Niah put it.

"Woosh."

From the balcony the blonde turned, "Detective."

Fumeko walked forward, "Hey."

"Hey," Jotou raised a brow with a smirk.

She pulled out something from behind her and handed it—an envelope. "Happy Birthday," she gazed at the headband on the blonde’s head. Jotou took it and saw the brunette’s name written. "Only open it whenever you’re feeling down."

Jotou kept the letter to her side, "Alrighty. Thanks Meko."

Fumeko hugged the blonde from the front.

Jotou, while startled a tad, carefully held the glass of alcohol and the envelope before embracing her. She petted her head into her torso; Fumeko indulged in it just a little longer before she pulled her head back and took a deep breath.

...

Jotou giggled to her. Fumeko blushed, but made no other expression. She gave a smile back and said, "I’ll see you back inside." Her eyes looked back and with shadows she disappeared.

How curious that letter was... Better not open it as promised. Jotou downed the last bit of her drink.

"Am I too late?"

Jotou glanced to her exit, "Countess; didn’t expect you here."

"Well, I won’t bother you for long," she approached with a small wrapped gift in her hands. "Happy Birthday dear," she gave. "Open it up then."

The blonde unwrapped the flat light blue square and what she had was a hairpin with two multi-petalled flowers of pearly blue; one had a single golden petal while the centres were both yellow.

"Everlasting lotuses, nothing too grand. As the name suggests, they won’t rot till you burn them. Hopefully, it’ll be a reminder as you journey on from Tamara Palace," she gave a chuckle.

"Thank you," Jotou pinned into her hair. "Just my paranoia, but these didn’t belong to the previous princess, did they?"

"No dear," she laughed. "They’re brand new. They are quite lovely aren’t they? My son used to wear them as a very young child," she reminisced.

"Son?" her brows knitted. She fluttered her lashes, "Where is he now?"

The countess’s eyes shifted to her right and she held her own hand as she released a breath, "Let’s just say, I thank you for your efforts in the war. As difficult as a decision it was and as much as the grief may still plague you, I thank you from the bottom of my heart."

"I’m, sorry."

"Dear it’s your birthday, don’t mind me. Now, enjoy the rest of your night. Don’t drink too much and end up like our precious princess," the countess smiled.

"Thank you. Have a good night Countess Keya," Jotou wished.

The countess bowed her head and left. Perhaps being so used to her illusions, it was hard to hide what would be the start of her tears.

With that, Jotou awaited for any other surprise guests... None arrived, so she decided to spend another few minutes at the balustrade of the balcony.

’I really should tell Hotaru about that kiss...’

Right after her thought, she saw slight icy blue mist pass by her fingertips. She narrowed her eyes; behind Fumeko’s letter, in her hand appeared another note—cold to the touch.

"You’re kidding," she uttered into the night. "...It could be about what Feather said." With a heavy groan she set the glass on the balustrade and opened up the note.

’Heard it was your birthday Pretty Princely. Where and when? Guess you’ll never know. Relax, I’m not spying on you—at the moment.

Thought a good gift might be some intel. You don’t have to be worried about me anymore for the time being. You know that weather tower Trailon had to make it snow in Kria?

It’s powerful and a kilometre plus wide, but also has a massive cost. It sucks up all the mana in its vicinity; meaning, no magic or spells near it till the mana refills the area naturally.

Which apparently by my intel, could take several months to a year before it could do what it did in Kria at full capacity. So no need to be worried there either. Besides, Trailon’s already accepting its fate.

I do have some, suspicions about some Regimian movements, but that’s something for me to worry about. Anyhow, have I eased your worries down a bit? Good.

There’s nothing else you need to be concerned with for now. Just keep living your life. Oh and you don’t have to zap this letter; you can have it as a keepsake. Aren’t I generous? Happy Birthday Jotou.

-V.’

Jotou took a deep breath. Sparks fizzled at her fingertips... but they dissipated as Jotou folded back the letter and held it together with Fumeko’s.

She leaned on the balustrade and closed her eyes to the sounds of the night—frogs croaked and crickets chirped. A cold breeze against her skin and thunder roared in the distance.

The blonde beamed and opened her eyes, knowing rain was soon to come; what wonderous weather. In fact, what a wonderous day. She looked back to her friends far inside the grand ballroom.

She looked up to the stars and then to her own hands. Soft was her smile as it grew larger and livelier. As the clocks struck midnight- ’that was it. The day had come to an end; and it was the best birthday ever.’