Chereads / A skeleton's journey / Chapter 58 - Close call

Chapter 58 - Close call

All of us are now gathered inside the meeting room including Cassandra who wanted more insight of the situation after she tucked the girls in. Chouri was pouring Sheele and Sayo some coffee since it's rather late while Spear and Ieyasu still seem fine with their hyperactive behavior. Cassandra was used to this thanks to her training and instead got some tea.

Me: Great job people, thanks to your effort, countless lives have been saved from the mutants.

Chouri: Mutants, are you saying...

Me: Yes, that's right, those used to be human beings.

Spear/Sayo: WHAT!

Ieyasu: The fuck?

Me: Remember that gay piece of shit Stylish we killed? He is responsible for the creation of these things.

Spear: Grr now i wish i had taken longer to make him suffer.

Me: What's done is done Spear, that said though...He wasn't the one responsible for their appearance. It is instead an even bigger scumbag who did it for fun called Syura, the son of that pig Honest.

Ieyasu: *slams table* UTTERLY DESPICABLE!

Me: There will come a time where we decimate him and the rest of his friends but not yet. Besides, i already killed 2 of them.

Chouri: Hmm leaving someone like that alive is dangerous for the people Yosif.

Me: Oh i'm well aware of that alright, i already know their future plans and have made countermeasures against it. The time when we kill him will be in front of Honest himself so hold your horses.

Cassandra: Humiliation and execution, i like the sound of that. *gets poked by Sayo* Oi what do you want?

Sayo: Nothing it's just, i haven't seen someone unique like you. Is this why you wear that maid outfit since you can multitask with ease?

Cassandra: Sort of, i was the helper back in the clan and this was also a gift from our leader Merraid.

Me: Ahem back to the matters at hand. We have eradicated most of the danger beasts but more of them still linger. I have also received news that both Night Raid and Jaegers will actively hunt them so be careful not to run into the groups on your hunt. Chouri are you free for the next couple of days?

Chouri: Yes, since it's going to be the weekends the girls don't need to study and i have also made extra work before hand in case requests like this comes up.

Me: Good, i need you to gather intel on some of the imperial fist masters, one of them is going to be Syura's target and we would be stopping them. Sayo, Spear find me the location of Utamora theatre and its troupe, they too will be targeted. Ieyasu, take Cassandra to meet up with Victor and Sergei for training. No offense but the others have their teigus including Sheele who has gotten Extase back so you need extra skills to compensate. Speaking of which, Sheele i know how you've been wanting to spend time with the kids so why not take them outside for some treats?

[Jaegers meeting room]

Wave: Psst hey guys we need to do something about Bols *points to Bols making tea in the kitchen*

Tsukushi: What happened on your end?

Wave: We saved some merchants from the humanoid danger beasts but everybody was still terrified of Bols. He kept blaming himself as a bad man for executing all those people in the past.

Run: While regret is the first step to redemption, it seems he can't move on.

Seryu: Anybody have any advice?

Remus: Hmmm...maybe his family can help him? He does have one right?

Wave: Yeah, surprisingly Bols is married and has a daughter though i don't know where his family migh-

The door slams open revealing Kije holding Logue walking to Bols.

Kije: Honey, we're here.

Wave: Well that's convenient.

Bols: K-Kije what are both of my angels doing here?

Kije: *giggles* You forgot your lunch you big oaf *hands Bols a lunchbox*

Logue: Can you play with me daddy?

Bols: Haha of course sweetie.

Everybody else: TOO...PURE!

Kije: How have you been lately honey?

Bols: Oh i'm just fine, how about you?

Kije: Wonderful! I also met this woman who has the same interest in books and tea like me!

Bols: Oh tell me about it.

Kije: She was slender with long purple hair and purple eyes and strangely wore a black cloak in public. I guess she is just trying to be modest. Oh and her name was Sheele.

Seryu: *spits tea out* *cough* *cough*

Wave: Seryu! Are you alright?

Seryu: I'm *cough* fine.

Poney: What was that about Seryu?

Seryu: The woman Kije described...was the Night Raid member Sheele.

Najasho: WHAT!

Seryu: That's not all, she's supposed to be in custody right now.

Kurome: She is?

Seryu: I ran into her and another Night Raid, Mine. THey quickly overpowered me but luckily captain Yosif came and subdued Sheele forcing the other to retreat.

All Elite Seven members except Remus: CAPTAIN YOSIF!

Wave: Oh my ears! You know him?

Kurome: He was the guy i told you about that made all of our meals during our missions.

Cornelia: Wait if Yosif is supposed to watching Sheele and she's out in public...

Guy: She may have already killed Yosif...

Kije and Logue were happily chatting with Bols when suddenly everybody else in the room except for Run swarms around Kije asking multiple questions at once. Eventually Bols calms the agitated group down and sits Logue down as Kurome starts questioning Kije.

Kurome: Kije, i need you to tell us everything on how you met Sheele.

Kije: Let's see, i was browsing the library for something new to read when...

[Earlier]

Kije like she said, was looking through the adventures section of the bookstore as Logue looks through a bunch of fairytales. Then she heard some childish giggling as 3 girls in colorful raincoats ran around the corner and bump into Logue. It was light and Logue just stands up while starting to giggle like them before they run around in circles playing tag. Sheele then turns the corner wearing a black cloak as Kije assumes her to be the children's mother.

Kije: Oh hey there, are those your daughters.

Sheele: O-oh, i guess you can say that...

Kije: They seem real energetic, it must be a pain to watch them right? Oh and i'm Kije, what's your name?

Sheele: It's Sheele...your daughter looks lovely Kije.

Kije: She took after her father from the hair to the eyes. Are you here browsing for books as well.

Sheele: Yes, my...employer, said that i can have the day off to take the children around town.

Kije: They all look different *gasps* Don't tell me you c-cheated!

Sheele: Huh? O-oh y-you got it wrong. They're adopted by my boss and all of us employees take our time raising them.

Kije: Phew, sorry i didn't know what came over me i've been pretty anxious lately. My husband keeps throwing himself at dangers and i worry that one day he wouldn't come back.

Sheele: Have you tried tea, it really helps you know?

Kije: I've tried peppermint but i it wasn't enough.

Sheele: How about chamomile, it always helps me settle down though sometimes i don't have quite enough energy for the day.

Kije: You should try ginger or green tea, works like a charm everytime.

Sheele: Maybe i will...Is that the "Fourth Crusade" you're holding.

Kije: Oh yes, i've heard how much people talked about it and i already read the other 3 and decides to see what's new.

Sheele: Personally, i think the story lacks character development though the plot is very detailed and descriptive *blushes lightly* even at some certain...parts.

Kije: Hehe, no need to be ashamed of reading something like that.

Sheele: Oh right, i need to go back for lunch, come on children let's go.

Air/Fal/Luna: Coming.

Logue: Bye.

[present, with the Jaegers]

Kije: After that we just went our separate ways. Why were you all so excited to hear about her.

Kurome: Oh ummm...she sounded like a person we know a lot and i thought it was her.

Kije: Oh i hope you find her soon then, come on Logue we will visit papa again later. *leaves with Logue*

Bols: Why does that name sounds familiar?

Run: She's a Night Raid Bols.

Bols: Night Raid!

Tsukushi: Does anybody know where Yosif live, we need to find him quick!

Seryu: I DO! LET'S GO!

The quiet afternoon streets are filled with people returning home from work. Everything was peaceful until the stampede of the Jaegers and Elite Seven storms through the crowd. People thought it was an emergency so they all quickly got out of the way. They eventually made it to an ordinary looking mansion completed with a perimeter 5m tall iron fence and a rather vast garden. The group carefully approaches the door and rings the bell. Footsteps were heard on the other side and the grip on their weapons tighten as the door slowly open to reveal...a knight?

Seryu: Umm...is mr Yosif home? *knight tilts its head*

Kurome: We really need to see him, it's urgent. *the knight fully open the door letting them in as it guide them to the living room now with multiple sofas*

They waited for about 15 minutes before they can hear boots clicking on the tiled floor in the hallway and someone enters the room. It was a young girl with long black hair and black eyes, she wore a white butterfly or flower hair accessory with a plain cream-colored robe.

Sayo: Oh you must be mr Yosif's friends, i'm Sayo, one of his subordinates.

Cornelia: Can we see mr Yosif?

Sayo: I'm afraid that's not possible.

Wave: Is he away at the moment?

Sayo: No...H-he's *eyes tear up a little* dead.

Remus: He's gone?

Najasho: There's no way that Yosif could die that easily!

Kurome: HOW!

Sayo: The ryuusen...he was invited there for a social party between politicians. It was attacked by those monsters and he bled out as he swam to the shore. I-I'm sorry but i think i need a minute *leaves the room sobbing softly*

Poney: I-I don't belive it-I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!

Najasho: Calm yourself Poney we all die in time, you have to let go and move on.

Kurome: H-How can you say that Najasho? This isn't anybody we're talking about, this is Yosif, the man who has saved all of us.

Seryu: Captain...

Wave: Hey guys i'm still lost here...how did Sheele escape and whose kids was she with?

Run: Hmm she did say that those were adopted by her employer but knowing Najenda that isn't something she would do on a whim. Someone has brought Sheele to their side and she's no longer Night Raid.

Seryu: So now what?

Run: I suggest we discuss it with general Esdeath, i may be good at planning but she has way more experience regarding matters such as this.

As the jaegers turn to leave the mansion, Sayo watches them leave with relief before knocking on a closet in the hallway as Yosif stumbles out.

[Earlier, Yosif's pov]

Me: Oh hey Sheele how was your trip?

Sheele: It was quite pleasant and i met this woman who had a lot in common with me.

Me: Oh that's great, you needed to socialize more anyway, did you had your hood up though?

Sheele: Umm...I think so?

Me: *sigh* You forgot to activate the concealment didn't you?

Sheele: *sheepishly rubs head* Yes...

Me: Well i guess it's fine as long as they didn't recognize you so who was she?

Sheele: Her name was Kije, had light brown hair and purple eyes and a daughter named Logue.

Me: Wait...WHAT DID YOU SAY!

Sheele: Oh...are they bad news?

Me: Very very bad news. She was Bols' wife and if she told him about meeting you then they would start getting suspicious. And Seryu doesn't know that i'm supposed to be dead and she was there when i "arrested" you. Which means...THEY ARE GOING TO COME HERE! SAYO!

Sayo: Pops head out from door* Yea?

Me: I need you to use all of your acting skills, the Jaegers are coming here and you need to act like i've been dead for a while. Sheele hide in the basement, it smells weird down there but it'll throw off Koro's sense. And since i don't particularly smell of anything but steel i should be fine.

[Present]

Me: Whew that was a close call, nice work with the crocodile tears.

Sayo: Hehe, i've been using it on Tatsumi and Ieyasu a lot during our childhood.

Me: You can come out now Sheele *Sheele walks out of the basement smelling like cabbages* *sniff* I thought i got rid of all the cabbage rolls leftovers?

Sheele: I don't think it was your leftovers...I think there are some dead rats down there somewhere.

Me: Huh i guess i need to send some knights down there for cleaning.

Sayo: Oh right, Spear stayed behind at Utamora to enjoy more plays before returning, thought you should know Yosif.

Me: Chouri is still off and Ieyasu and Cassandra will be for a while as well, any ideas on how to kill time? Our next major mission isn't due for at least another 3 days.

Sayo: Oh, there's a meteor shower coming and i know just the right spot for us.

Sheele: Sounds lovely, what do you think Yosif?

Me: I'm down, let me get the map.

Total inventory:

Grenade launcher

Venus Magnum

Ascended Wraith set

Primordial's wrath: Damascus

Almighty Five Sights: Spectator

Diadem of supreme arcane might

15 copper 53 silver 38872 gold

Current familiars:

- Sergei the Armor Demon

- Victor the Soul Of Cinder