Black Rose

New Mission

The next day...
"You look like shit, Yami," Jack commented, not bothering to sugarcoat his words.
He really couldn't take offense, he did look and feel awful. He hadn't slept a wink the night before.
"Doesn't he look like that usually?" Nozel threw in that snide remark as he passed them.
They were on their way to the captain's meeting that Julius called for.
"Shut up, you siscon jerk," Yami sneered back. "You took Noelle back with you."
Nozel took offense immediately. "There's nothing wrong with going back home after a three-year long mission."
"And make her stay there for a month? Talk about creepy."
"What did you say?!"
"What are you doing, arguing in the hallway?"
Yami felt his heart skip a beat at the sound of that voice. He was literally in physical pain he clutched his chest subconciously. That scared me. He stiffly turned around to see Charlotte walking towrads them. She wore her usual armored attire but why did she look so radiant to him?
"Y-yo, Prickly Queen," he greeted her as normally as he could despite his nerves.
She didn't even bother greeting him back, she just gave him a dirty look and walked past him and the other men into the meeting hall.
His expression froze.
"You were ignored just now, right?" Jack asked from beside him followed by his annoying laugh.
"No, he was downright snubbed," Nozel poked fun at him. And it was even more vexing coming from him.
He chose to ignore them. He couldn't believe she just did that. Why did she look so angry? He's the victim here, right?
Without much thinking, he followed her inside. He found her talking to Dorothy - who was awake for once - as she took usual her seat at the meeting table. He stopped right next her. "Oi, Charlotte."
He noticed how she sighed before turning to him. "Do you want something?"
Whatever he wanted to say flew right out of the window as soon as she looked up to him with those gorgeous blue eyes. He involuntarily stepped back. "Uh... that's... Y-yesterday.."
Charlotte frowned.
Yami was struck speechless by the mere look of displeasure on her face.
"If it's about the wedding, save it. What's done is done," she said dismissively.
The feeling of déjà vu washed over him. She's not getting back at him, right? The look in her eyes was that of annoyance - that's not how you look at someone you just kissed and confessed to, right? Not only did she forget what she did, but the last thing she remembered was her being angry with him? What the fuck?
"What are you two doing?"
Yami turned and found the other magic knight captains, Julius and Marx looking at them with bewilderment.
"It's nothing." He had no choice but begrudgingly sit down.
"What's this? A lovers' spat?" Dorothy teased.
"Who would be lovers with this.. ruffian?" Charlotte rebutted coldly.
Well, you kissed this ruffian, lady! And forgot all about it! Yami thought sullenly.
The others took their respective seat and Marx stood behind the wizard king.
"First of all, I'd like to welcome Yami back again after three long years. Not only did they manage to complete their mission but also put us in good terms with the Heart Kingdom. As thanks for their help and saving the queen's life, Queen Loropechika gave a hefty reward to the Black Bulls. The Clover Kingdom of course will show its gratitude as well."
Jack snorted. "I'm pretty sure he'd just use it all for gambling."
Yami laughed shamelessly. "Damn right I wi-"
His words trailed off as soon as he felt Charlotte's eyes on him. He broke into a cold sweat. "I.. I'm gonna settle my debts with it," he begrudgingly announced and slumped back to his chair.
"Oh? What's this? Did those three years changed you, Yami?" Julius remarked, amused.
"About time, don't you think? Sooner or later, you'd be starting a family, right?" Sir Kaiser interjected.
"I-It's nothing like that," he replied, feeling more uneasy than ever.
Julius then went on to the usual meeting but Yami wasn't listening. He just kept drumming his fingers on the table and staring at Charlotte who, on the other hand, was determined to ignore him. How could she just sit there and refuse to acknowledge his existence when he couldn't sleep a wink last night? She looked fresh and lovely while he felt shitty as he probably looked.
"We've received reports from the town of Dornröschen about the missing young women this past month. There are already ten girls missing." Julius said solemnly.
That caught Yami's attention. "Dornröschen?" he looked at Charlotte when he said that.
"Right, it's Charlotte's hometown," Julius confirmed. "That's why I want the Blue Rose to head over there and investigate and rescue those young women if needed."
"We will definitely get to the bottom of this, sir," Charlotte replied.
"Yes, but I want you to go with another squad if possible, something about this doesn't sit well with me... and you can never be too careful."
Yami automatically raised his hand.
Charlotte pretended not to notice. "It would be better to work with a familiar squad. We worked with Crimson Lions a number of times before, I think our squads work well together."
She's choosing Fuegoleon over him?
Fuegoleon looked puzzled at the sudden mention of his squad. He looked over at Yami who was glaring at him. He turned to Charlotte and pointed at Yami, "He's volunteering though."
Nice, Fuegoleon! He may be smart but he's kind of dense in situations like this.
Charlotte's cool facade faltered a little. Yami couldn't help but smile. "You just got back from a three-year mission, I'm sure you would want to take it easy for a while."
"It's just the opposite, we are so excited to go on missions within the kingdom since it's been so long. We've missed it. Very much,"Yami said with feigned passion, nodding even. He didn't even care if it sounded ridiculous coming from him, he just want to get a reaction from her. It's way better than have her ignore him.
"B-but.."
"What's this, Prickly Queen, are you
being picky? Can't handle teamwork?" Yami finally used his trump card, Charlotte hated it when her competence was being questioned.
She took the bait nicely. She immediately took exception to what he was insinuating, "Of course not!"
"Then there's no problem," he said trying to keep the triumph from his voice.
"So, that settles it?" Julius announced happily. "Actually, I also need the Crimson Lions for something, the king requested their services for his niece's safety." And he proceeded instructing Fuegoleon for mission.
Charlotte was left in a sour mood. When she spared him a glance, Yami grinned at her widely. Her face turned red in an instant but scowled  at him the next moment. God, she's cute.

That damned Fuegoleon, he's supposed to be the smartest among them, Charlotte thought grudgingly as she entered the Blue Rose headquarters. She was surprised when her entire squad greeted her when she got back from the captains' meeting.
"Well?" Risacca asked eagerly.
She and the other girls were all wide-eyed waiting for her answer when she didn't even realize what the question was. "Well what?"
"You saw each other at the meeting, right? Captain Yami that is."
"You rushed out this morning so we didn't get to ask you about last night."
She frowned, confused. "Why? What happened last night?"
The girls looked at each other.
"Captain, don't you remember what happened when we went out drinking last night?"
"I.. I don't really remember much."
"How much do you remember?"
"Uhmm.. about from the first cup?" She didn't like where the conversation was going.
They looked at each other again. They all looked guilty and worried at the same time. It was Puli who spoke up. "Actually, Captain..."
She told her how Vanessa showed up then they got drunk together and how Yami ended up taking her home and even tuck her in.
The color from Charlotte's face left her. An image of last night's "dream" flashed before her eyes. It felt like her head's about to explode. That.. That wasn't a dream? I k-k-kiss Yami??! It's true she couldn't remember how she got drunk or how she got home, but she could remember what she thought was a dream - she felt like she was lying down on a bed of clouds and when she opened her eyes and saw Yami. It didn't even occur to her that she's mad at him and did THAT. She couldn't believe how wanton she'd become. Was that what a suppressed twelve-year-old love could do?
And yet she gave him a horrible treatment earlier! He must be thinking she's a shameless woman - in addition to being crazy of course. Just thinking about made her want to crawl into a hole.
"C-Captain?" Lynn snapped her out of her self-beration.
She tried to compose herself. It's unbecoming of a captain to act like this in front of her subordinates. She's a respectable magic knight captain for God's sake! "What is it?"
"Are you okay? Did something happened with Captain Yami last night?" Wainsley popped the question straightforwardly.
"Wha-what are you talking about? Nothing happened! I did NOT do anything!" she denied vehemently. There's no way she'd admit to anyone what she did.
The women exchanged looks again. Something definitely happened. But they didn't pry any further. "So, uhmmm.. how did the captains' meeting go?" Borja tried to change the subject.
But her composure broke in an instant much to their surprise. "What am I gonna do? We're going on a mission with the Black Bulls!"
"Ehhh??!"