Chapter 36 - Plans

“So, one month?”

Tetsuo and Bianca stared out of the second story opening of the inn, sitting on the ledge, watching the sky. The crowd had dispersed, the only proof left were the wooden sticks left littered over the ground. Tetsuo looked at Bianca, she had a wistful look, the same one she’d get when she’s deep in thought.

“Not really. I lied.”

She whipped her head back angrily at him. “You what?! I trusted you!”

Tetsuo raised his hands defensively. He had meant to tease her, but maybe it was best to wait till more time passed. “Don’t worry, I meant what I said when I said decisive blow. In one week, we’ll be changing the history of Alvania.”

Bianca sighed with relief. “Don’t do that… I was about to push you off.” She gently pushed him on the back imitating her threat.

“Haha, sorry. But yeah. There had to have been spies, insiders, that sort of thing. I couldn’t just tell them the plan.” Tetsuo leaned back onto the floor. “A mob isn’t going to defeat Alvania. What we need is one calculated strike that’ll shake everything the kingdom is built on.”

Bianca laid down beside him staring up at the ceiling. “What is this big strike going to be?”

Tetsuo sighed. “To be honest, I still don’t know. The kingdom’s hiding something. I don’t know what it is, but I know where they’re keeping it. And I’m pretty sure I know who's behind it.”

“Well, it’s a start. So what’s next?”

“I’ve got a friend in the knights, surprisingly capable guy.” Tetsuo winced as he loosely recalled some of what happened the last time they had met. “I think I’ll have to apologize to him first.”

“Are you talking about that Alvanian knight?” She spoke with disdain, which prompted Tetsuo to turn over to look at her. Genuine rage furrowed in her brow before she quickly turned away.

“I meant to ask.” Tetsuo sat back up trying to try to have a better look at her reaction. “What’s your deal with Alvanians?

“No idea what you’re talking about…”

“Well with you, and your rebellion. It was all very ‘them versus us.’ Normally, I’d trust you, but even that made me feel kind of gross.”

Bianca angrily sat up and turned to face Tetsuo. “When I got here I felt gross! I wake up and I’m alone in the middle of a forest. Then I’m being chased by wolves, only to be saved by some monster knight who freezes everything around her. I find out the husband I thought was de–... I find out my husband had been here the whole time. And that despite being one of their precious knights, they had you holed up in some dinky little room in the slums where they dump everyone like us! They have the tools to make our lives easier but they won’t give them to us! And to top it all off, they hide why all of this is even happening! So god forbid, I don’t find every single Alvanian just as guilty as the ones who started it.” She had clenched her fist, her hand trembling in anger.

Tetsuo quietly reached out, and tapped her hand. She complied, lifting it. Carefully, he pulled her fingers open, before laying her hand flatly onto the ground. She took a few deep breaths and began to unknit her frown. “Sorry. I hate this place. The city was way better compared to Alvania. There’s dirt and bugs everywhere, and you have to talk to so many people while acting all friendly, I can’t stand it...”

Tetsuo couldn’t help but laugh a bit. “I knew you’d say that.”

Bianca raised her nose in a haughty way. “Well, forgive me for having standards!”

They both failed to contain their laughter, the sound echoing out into the street. They both tried to calm each other down with limited success. Tetsuo tried to recall the last time he had felt so relaxed around her. Not trying to hide anything, not worrying about what she was thinking, just enjoying each other's company. It made him sad to admit he couldn’t remember the last time she had laughed like this with him. He looked back at her; she was busy admiring the stars with a smile on her face. “You know, if you’re with me, it’s not so bad.”

Scared to ruin the moment, Tetsuo decided to stay seated silently. The two of them looked out to the night sky together again.

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Tetsuo could feel himself starting to doze off beside her. He had a feeling she was probably going through the same.

“Bianca, we should get to bed.”

She yawned as she began to speak. “Yeah, I guess so.” She stood up, stretching upwards while leaning forwards. She let out an exaggerated yawn before relaxing.

“So where are we sleeping?”

Bianca looked at him skeptically. “There are plenty of empty rooms on the third floor that you can use for tonight.”

Tetsuo seemed to have pushed his expectations a bit too far considering everything that’s happened. “I see. I kinda thought we–”

“If you want me to stop my rebels, the least you could do is sleep like one.”

“Is that really the only reason?”

“Guess.”

Tetsuo sighed and relinquished himself to exiting the room. He didn’t expect it to be that easy to win her over again, but the mood seemed good, so maybe… Regardless, standing in the doorway he remembered one last thing he had wanted to say before the night was over.

“Oh um… Bianca. About earlier. I’m sorry about hitting you.”

“Huh?!” She seemed annoyed by this apology, which confused Tetsuo further. She walked up to him at the doorway, and pulled his chin down so he’d be looking right at her.

“Tetsuo.” Bianca looked at him with complete seriousness in her eyes. “We met on a mat. We’re both fifth Dan in Hapkido. We pretty much made beating the crap out of each other into a love language.”

“Yeah, but even so…”

“Please, that’s some of the most fun I’ve had fighting you in a while. It was nice to see you let loose again the way you used to."

“I’m sorry?”

“Kinda hot too…”

“Huh?”

“Let’s try to make a habit out of it again.”

Puzzled by how much she seemed to have enjoyed their match, Tetsuo was dazed as she shut the door behind him. He began to wonder where his obsession with protecting her even began, considering her bizarre tastes in flirting.