Kids Will Be Kids by kingfishers_game

Chapter 10: When in Rome, Do as the Germanic Tribes Did [pt. i]

"-and concerning the spike in petty crime in the Northern Precinct, I think an increased patrol presence would raise more issues than it would solve. The citizens will feel more pressure and opposition to the expansion of the main force. What would you do in this situation, Captain Okita? Oh— Everyone, Captain Okita is the representative for the Earth police force, the Shinsengumi. What are your thoughts on the matter? Captain Okita? Are you...sleeping?"

Sougo pushed up his sleeping mask and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. Juurou, the Amanto leader of Oukoku's royal guard heading the interplanetary police panel, was staring at him curiously. "No."

"...I see. Well, what do you think?" Juurou motioned to the diagrams on the wall behind him, hoping to help the Earth police officer save face. He'd been sleeping. He'd been sleeping, hadn't he? He'd definitely been sleeping. A drop of sweat appeared on Juurou's brow.

Sougo eyed the information they'd been discussing. What had they been saying? This panel was so boring that (aided by his sleepless night on Umibouzu's ship) he'd fallen into a restless nap almost immediately. This was why he hated 'diplomatic' missions like this. It was always such a drag to have to sit through these stupid discussions. At least if he was alone, he'd be able to have fun enjoying Oukoku's nightlife once work was done—although 'nightlife' was a bit of a misnomer on this planet.

The sun of the Oukoku solar system was more intense than the one on Earth, and the planet was orbited by four impressive moons that lit up its nights. During the hot season it was a custom for people to start work at nightfall and sleep or enjoy leisure activities during the day. And if there was one thing Sougo was looking forward to, it was the leisure activities Oukoku was renowned for.

It was well known throughout the galaxy that the capital city of the Oukoku monarchy valued beauty in in more ways than one. Sure, the architecture of the palace in the center of the city was a universe-wide marvel. Yes, the mountains that framed the city at its southern border were quite the interplanetary tourist attraction, what with their masterful carvings of the rulers of Oukoku throughout history. But the real reason foreigners hailed the capital city as one of the most beautiful places in the galaxy was that it boasted the finest pleasure houses known to man—or Amanto, as it were.

Sougo wouldn't mind testing those claims for himself, but there was a better-than-decent chance that it would be a moot point with Kagura hanging around. She'd find some way to ruin his fun. At least playing around with her—well, fighting her—was always its own kind of entertainment.

Speaking of Kagura, he should probably figure out where she'd gone off to. After Umibouzu dropped the two of them (three, including Sadaharu) off at the Oukoku terminal, Juurou had come to greet Sougo and take him to the police convention. The head of the Oukoku royal guard had been delighted by the appearance of the little girl. He's somehow assumed she was Sougo's kid (seriously? how old did these people think Sougo was, that he'd have a 5-year-old daughter?) and Juurou had absolutely doted on her, offering her candy and gifts like a grade A white-van type. Apparently kids were a big deal in this culture.

Sougo had let Kagura stew in the discomfort of being fawned over by an adult man for a short while before explaining that the 5-year-old was, in fact, a teenager inside. Juurou had referred her to a doctor in town who promised to take care of the problem—apparently it wasn't uncommon for foreigners to experience odd side effects when they got on the wrong side of artifacts and animals from Oukoku. The next time Sougo saw Kagura, she'd be back to normal.

Good. He'd sort of...missed...messing with her. Not that he'd actually missed her.

Oh, right. Juurou'd asked him something. Sougo had been silent long enough that some of the representatives from the other planets were trading looks and whispering. Juurou was still pointing at one of the diagrams, waiting for Sougo to answer.