Capítulo 33: Spoiler (Title at the end)
After taking more than just a little nap, Ban and Laffitte decided that they would remain at the sparring grounds until they would depart in a few days. This time had been the most relaxing since they had arrived here, especially for Laffitte. Ban gladly sought refuge near Akane, unlike Laffitte.
Ban and Laffitte seemed quite at their leisure as they each took a spot to their liking to unwind from the hectic days. Seeing the sky darken, Akane bade farewell to her companions, who seemed to doze of any moment, and moved back towards the castle. She had made preparations to have dinner with Carol. The news coo had arrived not too long ago and Carol wanted to talk with her about it.
Getting near the entrance of the castle, Akane was greeted by one of the Okama inhabitants who gladly showed her the way to the dining room. Not really needing it but not declining it either, Akane followed behind them as they led the way. Akane looked around her, still amazed at the one sided color theme of this island. The paintings, furniture and even some parts of the castle itself were mostly pink. Not one to like the particular bright colour, Akane's mind began to wander as she fixated her gaze to the doors ahead. It was one of the few thing that were a bit more natural, being wide steel doors.
Opening the doors with ease, the Okama went to the side as Akane went further inside and joined Carol near the head of the table. Unlike before, the dining table was shortened to make for a more pleasant dinner at which the users could talk comfortable instead of almost having to yell at each other due to the distance.
"Carol-sama, I brought Akane-chan~"
The okama said as Carol readjusted her pink glasses.
"Thank you, my dear candy~" Carol replied, a radiant smile on her face.
Sitting down beside Carol, Akane greeted the well dressed Okama stan-in queen.
"It is my pleasure to dine with you tonight, Carol-sama." Akane said, giving a slight gentlemanly bow, earning a few squeals from the gathered okama's.
"My~ How can we not dine with you, Akane-chan? You're just so adorable." Carol replied.
Akane smiled as she poured herself a glass of cider and sipped a bit from it. Luckily it was low content, otherwise she would be smashed once the dinner was over.
Having adapted fairly well, Akane knew just how to deal with the needy okama's around her. As each of them had a maiden heart, Akane as a girl, treated each of them like the girl they wanted to be. She could imagine that a man would have a nightmare if he tried to be suave in front of them. Luckily that didn't include her, as the Okama's couldn't get enough being treated like something precious.
Putting her glass down, Akane refilled Carol's glass as they finaly got to the point of today's dinner.
"My, Akane-chan, why don't you look at this? I was really shocked to read it." Carol said as she handed the news paper to Akane.
Taking it from Carol's hand, Akane skimmed through it, finding the content anything but amusing.
"Iva seems to have been caught and taken to impel down, don't even mention Aokiji patrolling near here. If I don't know any better, I would say he knows we are here." Akane said as she put the news paper down.
"No, no, perish the thought! Here, here. You need to read here." Carol said as she pointed at a specific article.
Reading it again, Akane's lips curved up as it seems her situation had improed from before. Aokiji had been recalled ever since he was patrolling around here. Something about an attack on a celestial dragon.
"That is good news, good news indeed. Too bad Iva is stuck though."
Akane said as she resumed her dinner.
"Iva-sama can handle herself. She known what to do and this Carol knows Iva-sama will open any maidens heart, don't you agree my candies?"
All the okama replied in agreement at Carol's words.
"Let's continue dinner shall we?" Carol said as she placed all kinds of delicious food on her plate.
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Finished with her dinner, Akane stumbled back towards the training ground, pausing every now and then as the surroundings seemed to dance all around her.
"F*ck! Shtop moooving, ssshtupid treees." Akane muttered as the trees and animals seemed to swirl around her.
Carol and the others had been a bit too charitable in pouring drinks. She hadn't even noticed when the cider had been replaced by well ripened wine and sake.
Giggling every now and then, Akane made her way back to Ban and Laffitte. Her feet dragging her back, wobbling with every step.
"Ara Ara? Are you alright?"
A soft girl voice sounded right behind Akane. Akane turned around quickly, which had obviously been a wrong move as she toppled backwards to the ground.
Ah, what a beautiful sky. Too bad the stars didn't stay still.
Her thoughts wandering all about, Akane looked at the person who had spoken.
Standing not far from her was a girl with white skin, shoulder-length wavy black hair that turned into a hazy purple on the fringes. Her eyes were a gradient purple. When those purple eyes stared at her, no pupils were found. It reminded Akane a lot of the compound eyes of bugs. Her hair was tied back to the back of her head in a yakai-maki style, fasted by a white and purple butterfly ornament. Two ear length bangs framed her head, with two thinner strands going down towards her chin.
She wore a black purplish jacket with golden buttons, the same coloured hakama tucked into butterfly patterned tabby socks. A white Haori covered the black jacket, butterfly patterns adorning the Haori. The butterfly pattern faded into a turquoise and then pink sleeves. The cuffs were black and white dotted trim. On her feet were white sandals with purple straps.
The girl looked at Akane with a gentle smile on her face.
"Ihm okay. I drank a bit Thoo mush." Akane relied, her words becoming a bit slurred.
"I see. Do you know where to go?" The girl asked, the smile still on her face.
"Yessh. Want to come thoo?" Akane said as she got back to her feet, everything beneath her feet still feeling a bit unsteady.
"Why yes, if you don't mind." The girl said as she took Akane's hand and steadied her steps.
"The letsh gooo." Akane said a she pointed her finger forward, quickening her pace despite the occasional misstep.
Moving on a bit slow but not too slow, Akane and the mysterious girl arrived at the place where Ban and Laffitte were resting. Seeing her warm heater laying beneath a big pink tree, Akane dashed forward, jumping straight in Ban's embrace.
Groaning a bit from the impact, Ban looked at the clearly drunk fox on his lap. On some point during the jump, Akane had reverted to her small fox form and was snuggling against Ban's chest.
"Welcome back to you too, Little fox."
Humming happily in reply, Akane resumed her snuggling.
Turning his attention to the new girl, Ban was about to ask Akane who it might be when he noticed Akane was already long gone, soft snoring sounds audible every now and then.
Already used to this, Ban put Akane in his jacket, her head sticking out just above the zipper of his jacket.
"So, who might you be?" Ban said, the perpetual smile back on his face.
"Ara, I didn't tell you did I? I am the Insect Hashira from the demon slayer corps, Kocho Shinobu, Shinobu is fine." Shinobu said, a bright smile on her face.
"Ho? Captain brings some interesting people with her. Mm, then I guess you can call me Ban, The seven deadly sins fox sin, cook on the ship." Pointing towards Laffitte Ban continued the introductions.
"That is Laffitte, our Navigator, and this" Ban pointed towards the fluffy head of the sleeping fox, "Is our captain, Akane. She ate the Inu-Inu no mi: model Tenko. She is a Divine fox."
Done with the introductions Ban leaned back on the tree, eyeing Shinobu as she too sat down somewhere comfortably.
"So, what are you doing here?"
The smile not fading from her face, Shinobu glanced at Ban.
"Well I am not sure why I am here?" Shinonu said, a jesting tone in her voice.
"One moment I was trying to become friends with a very nice little demon, next thing I know a black vortex appeared below me and I'm here."
Finding the situation similar to his own, Ban's smile widened.
"Seems we're in the same boat then, miss fellow otherworlder."
(Title: Kocho Shinobu)
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