Chapter the sixteenth; Hot and springy.
Think nothing of it. I'm honored that my strenght was of use to you. If you like, I could -
Oh, no, I'm fine. But you were really fast, you know.
That's because you were so light, Princess. But, well...
He was looking at me very intently, and I started to feel awkward. Was there something on my face?
Wh-what is it?
Here. Let me whisper in your ear. If I were to guess your weight in kilograms, I'd say...
Huh? W-what? How do you know that?
Ha! Bull's eye! Very good, very good.
Stop this and forget that number at once!
The great mystery of this age is how come Sayori knows Hatsuhime's weight, or how does Mon-Mon knows of Sayori's weight. Or both.
That would be difficult for me to do.
Then... at least don't tell anybody, okay?
That would be even more difficult. Hahah.
Aargh!
Chirp, chirp, chirp...
The sound of our footsteps broke through the droning of the insects.
Ah! Hot springs! I would certainly appreciate that. Eh, Princess?
Yes! That sounds great.
Hey, that cheered you up. You ladies like your personal hygiene, don't you?
Darn straight! How many days had it been since I'd last taken a bath? Maybe I was starting to smell...
May I ask one question, Muneshige?
What is it?
Are the baths at this hot spring... co-ed?
What? What!
C-c-co-ed?
There aren't separate baths for men and women... But we will obviously bathe at different times!
But it would be dangerous for the princess to be by herself... and won't she be lonely?
What do you think you're saying?
This isn't working, is it?
And it's not going to work! If the princess needs a bodyguard... then I will go with her.
That's not going to happen with me here, Muneshige.
What! Where did that come from?
Hmm. That is a good idea, but I have occasionally been called "androgynous," what with my long hair. Perhaps the princess would feel more at ease around me?
Well in that case, I'm the little boy around here. The lady wouldn't be bothered by me. Right, miss?
Uh... totally wrong there, Yo.
C-c-co-ed?
Let's think about this for a moment, everyone. I threw away wordly pleasures to follow the path of Buddha, which means that the princess could relax, and -
Relax, and then?
And then fwoosh! She takes off all her clothes.
"Fwoosh"? What's wrong with you, you perverted monk?
"Perverted monk"? If you mock a priest, you'll find yourself in the pits of Hell.
Which one of us is going to Hell?
Co-ed...
Jin really has no coolness. At all.
This was bad. At this rate...
Um, I appreciate everybody's concern...
[Hatsu bo] But I'll take a bath by myself!
...Well, then.
Muneshige. You almost look disappointed.
Well... it's just that I'd gotten used to the princess coming up to me and saying, "Muneshige, let's take a bath! Let's take a bath!"
Oh?
But that was when she - when I was little, right?
And your little bottom was so round and white and bouncy...
... That's really creepy.
Oh.
But this was when I was little, right? Muneshige!
She had a birthmark shaped just like an elephant... The two of us used to sing "Mr.Elephant, Mr.Elephant..."
You are very close to being veto'ed by the ruling house of Neko.
Shall we relive old times and try that again tonight in the bath? You know, "Mr.Elephant, Mr.Elephant..."
Yes. We should put our hearts into it!
"Mr.Elephant"? Huh?
Out of idle curiousity... would you perhaps like to see my "Mr.Elephant"?
That was too easy, Bo.
*facepalm*
Ah, but...
I, I think I'll pass on that...
Whew...
Yes. Well, we may yet have another opportunity.
... What sort of opportunity?
Jin, are you disappointed that there's no co-ed bathing?
What! No, not at all! That has nothing to do with anything!
It's okay, I'll take a bath with you.
What's okay about that? Don't say stupid stuff like that!
What? You could have participated in the conversation instead of just standing there and scowling.
I have no need to involve myself in your ridiculous chatter.
One ridiculous chatterbox, right over here!
Why are you pointing at me?
People have been known to joke themselves to death. Well, if you people die, that only means more prey for me. I would have no objection. On the other hand -
You scum! You can finish that sentence after I kill you! Draw your sword, Ittosai!
...Interesting.
Stop it, both of you.
Hey, everybody! It looks like we've made it to the hot springs.
Oh, this is going to feel wonderful!
What a wonderful hot spring, and all the way up in these mountains, too.
Indeed.
Those who behave virtuously will find rewards in unexpected places. The hand of Buddha has guided us here.
It just doesn't sound convincing coming from you, Mon-Mon.
Buddha will punish you for that! Besides, if I don't say it, who will?
By the way, how is it that such a nice hot spring isn't being used anymore?
In the Warring States period, this spring was prized for its ability to cure sword wounds, but in these peaceful times, well... Also, the path here is very steep.
True. But how did you find out about this place?
I have a weakness for hot springs. The truth is, it was hearing that Kitahama Castle had hot springs that lured me there. It was inexcusable, I should
Commit sepukku? :3
have stopped -
Nya.
No, that was because Hatsu - I mean, because I was a glutton. I'm sorry.
Princess! You're covering for one of your vassals? If you were your usual self, I would certainly be getting beaten with a shoe right now!
I... I do horrible things like that?
You can't judge people by appearances, I guess.
She does seem to have a certain fighting spirit.
Indeed she does. Ow! More! Please, Mistress!
What? ...Are you into SM?
The only size I fit into is XL.
You know I'm not talking about clothes!
Ah, that was the first good straight line you've given me. Have you gotten used to this a little?
Well, I... what is this, clown college?
Because I could never have imagined that you would cover for one of your vassals, I was so very happy that I seem to have exaggerated somewhat. Please forgive me.
So the shoe-hitting thing was a lie, right? That's a relief.
Anyway, let's hurry up and get in the hot springs.
Yes, yes. I want to get in the bath as soon as possible. So let's get naked!
What? Were they going to undress... in front of me?
Think of it as inspecting the merchandise, Princess.
You! If you undress in front of the princess, I will cut you down!
No good then?
Well, that's as may be. But if we're talking abount an innocent young boy like me -
Hey, wait! It was a joke! A joke! What? Jin, Bo, you're undressed already?
[Jinnosuke, Tainojo] Huh?
Yaaa!
Ahh! I - I saw them! Why are they naked?
For one second I let down my guard, and... At least cover yourselves.
[Jinnosuke, Tainojo] Right.
"Right"? There was nothing right about this! I had no idea where I was supposed to look.
I'm not getting in. I have no desire to socialize with you people.
Oh, don't be so stiff, Ittosai. Taking a group bath once in a while facilitates communication. Or is there some other reason you don't want to get in?
What, do you think we're little boys on a field trip? Ha. I just don't want to surprise you too much.
"Surprise" us? What was it now?
Slow princess.
Ooh, what's the surprise? What is it?
Jinnosuke: You're not talking about your floppily-doppilies, are you?
... Floppily-doppilies?
Maybe, maybe not.
Was Ittosai looking at Jin's crotch?
[Jinnosuke] What's with that attitude? Wait... did you just laugh when you looked at me? You jerk!
[Tainojo] Jin, cut it out.
You people! Your fronts! Cover your fronts!
Aaah, aaah, aahh! One plus one is two, and two plus two is six...! I'm not seeing anything... I'm not hearing anything...
Let's leave those two alone and get in.
Excellent idea.
Rustle, rustle...
Huh? This is... No way! Hey, everybody! Come here, come here!
Huh? What? Everybody's gathered around.
[Jinnosuke, Tainojo, Muneshige] Um... uh... Hahahaha!
What? What is it? What happened? WHy is everybody laughing?
I had a feeling that I'd just seen something I shouldn't have. Now I'd probably never be able to get married.
Splash...
Ahhh... It was good to take a bath. After spending all that time hidden under the floor... how many days had it been?
Although I got a little nervous when I thought about how everybody else was just on the other side of that big rock. But still, it should be fine. They were all gentlemen... probably... maybe...
It was a bit lonely being by myself, but it wasn't like I could go over there with the rest of them. I needed to just relax and enjoy myself.
Ah, I'd been so shocked back then, though. All of them taking off their clothes in front of me... It was the first time I'd seen a naked man up close. And there had been so many of them!
Great, now I was remembering it... How embarrassing.
Bubble, bubble...
I submerged my face in the hot spring to stop my blushing.
Chirp, chirp, chirp...
It was so quiet... The mountains had an air of autumn about them. The night wind was pleasantly cool.
[Sayori] Aaahhh...
During my long soak, I was enjoying the pleasant sensation of being able to completely stretch out my legs. Normally, I would never pay attention to it, but now it fel unbelievably good.
[Sayori] I wonder what's happening back at home?
I had become Hatsuhime, and I was now in the distant past. It had already been three days. What had happened to my real self during that time?
If I had just disappeared... My mom and dad would be so worried.
[Sayori] Mom... Dad...
Maybe it was because I was relaxing in the hot spring... But all of a sudden, all sorts of thoughts floated through my mind. It was hard to believe that it had been all I could do to stay alive these past three days.
I wanted to go back. Back to the world where the real me was. Killing people or getting killed... I was sick of it. I wanted to go home...
[Sayori] But it will all work out... somehow.
All I could do was have faith. We would get away safely, and then I would get back to my own world, probably... no, definitely.
[Sayori] I should get out soon... Ah, I can stretch out...
I wondered if Ittosai had ended up not getting in after all. That would be a waste - this was such a nice hot spring.
Was everybody else still in the water?
@ hanssolo
Kanji? On mah KKKodex? I'm... so happy.
:tearofaneko:
...Uh...
The update was hilarious.
