It was deep into the night, the moon casting a pale glow over the streets of Sorbet Kingdom. Lila strolled through the town, the soft clicking of her boots echoing in the quiet. She had spent the last few hours shopping, her earlier conflict with the female pirates already forgotten after she effortlessly took them down and secured the shirt she wanted. Now, with the shopping bags swinging in her hands, she realized she hadn't seen Koby or Te in hours.
She had expected to run into them as the evening wore on, but the brothers were nowhere to be found.
"Where the hell are they?" Lila muttered to herself, peering down a dark alleyway as if she might spot them lurking in the shadows. She paused, frustrated. "Knowing them, they're probably causing trouble in some bar."
She glanced at the moon, its silvery light casting long shadows across the cobblestone streets. The town was eerily quiet, with most shops already closed and the streets empty save for a few drunks stumbling out of taverns. Lila sighed and picked up her pace, heading toward the bar district, hoping to find Te and Koby before they got themselves into another mess.
As she walked, memories of the earlier day replayed in her mind. They had come to Sorbet Kingdom for supplies and information, nothing more. It should've been a simple pit stop. But with Te and Koby, nothing ever stayed simple for long.
"Maybe they're scouting or gathering intel," she thought, trying to stay optimistic. But then she remembered Te's reckless nature and how Koby had a knack for stirring trouble when people pushed his buttons. "Or maybe they're just knocking heads together in some bar brawl," she muttered with a sigh.
After several minutes of walking, she reached the heart of the bar district. The faint sound of laughter, clinking glasses, and muffled conversations drifted through the night air. Lanterns hanging from posts illuminated the area with a warm, amber glow.
"Alright, where are you two?" Lila whispered under her breath, her eyes scanning the entrances of various establishments. She walked past a few small pubs but sensed nothing. Then, she saw a larger, rowdier tavern near the corner. The noise spilling out from it was much louder than the others, and something about the energy felt… familiar.
"This seems like their kind of place," she said with a smirk.
As Lila approached the tavern, she overheard a few men talking outside, huddled together in whispers. One of them mentioned "two teenage boys," and her ears perked up.
"...you should've seen 'em," one of the men was saying. "Curly hair, lookin' like they don't have a care in the world. But damn, they tore Razor apart like it was nothin'."
"Razor?" Lila thought, remembering the pirate captain they had crossed earlier.
She slowed her pace, pretending to adjust her shopping bags as she eavesdropped.
"Razor didn't stand a chance," the second man added, shaking his head in disbelief. "Word is, they sent him flyin' with just one punch. Now the whole crew's scared to go near them. Won't say who they are, but they must be real heavy hitters if Razor's afraid."
Lila couldn't help but chuckle quietly to herself. "Koby and Te, of course. Already making a mess."
With a resigned sigh, she approached the tavern, pushing the door open and stepping inside. The warmth of the place hit her instantly, along with the overwhelming scent of alcohol, sweat, and cheap perfume. The place was packed, filled with rowdy patrons and tired barmaids serving drinks to tables crowded with pirates and locals alike.
Lila's sharp eyes swept the room, and sure enough, in a darkened corner near the back of the bar, she spotted Te and Koby, both sitting casually at a table. Te was leaning back in his chair, grinning like a fox, while Koby looked slightly more restrained, though his arms were crossed, and there was a smug satisfaction on his face.
"You've got to be kidding me," Lila muttered as she made her way through the crowded room toward them.
Te spotted her first, his grin widening. "Hey, look who finally decided to join us!" he called out, waving.
"Decided to join you?" Lila said, raising an eyebrow as she approached the table. "I've been looking for you two idiots for hours."
Koby shrugged. "We've been right here. Nothing too wild. Just dealing with some riffraff."
"Riffraff?" Lila repeated, her eyes narrowing. "I overheard some guys outside talking about how you sent Razor flying across the room."
Te laughed, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Oh, that. Yeah, Koby handled that."
Koby gave a small nod. "He was asking for it."
Lila rolled her eyes, setting her shopping bags down on the table. "You two never change."
"We're pirates now, Lila. Gotta live up to the name," Te said, leaning forward with a wink.
"Right. And being a pirate means getting into bar fights every chance you get?" she asked, crossing her arms.
"Only when the other guy throws the first punch," Koby said defensively, a small smirk on his face.
Lila sighed, but there was an amused twinkle in her eye. "Alright, fine. But next time, try not to make such a spectacle. We don't need the whole town talking about us."
Te gave her a mock salute. "Aye, aye, captain."
Lila shook her head, unable to hide her smile. "Let's just get out of here before you two attract more attention."
As the trio stood up and gathered their things, Te and Koby exchanged a knowing glance. Lila had kept her cool, but they knew they'd be hearing about this later.
"Come on," Lila said, leading the way out of the bar. "Let's find Ronin and make sure he hasn't burned down his hotel."
"Good luck with that," Koby muttered as they followed her into the night, the cool breeze of the Sorbet Kingdom streets washing over them as they headed off to regroup with the rest of their crew.