Okaeri: Part 33: Behind Bars

Part 33, Written by Choco Soong
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Wolf comes to "restore order".
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Wolf popped up from thin air, and everyone stopped celebrating. Yuri felt his breath hitched onto his throat. I forgot about her… He thought nervously.

Eien’s eyes narrowed.
‘What do you want, Wolf?’

Wolf’s orange eyes enlarged as she saw Eien.
‘I merely wanted to see what all this fuss was about. After all…’ She stopped dramatically. ‘I am Head Witch.’

Yuri felt anger bubbling inside him. Who was she to talk like that?
‘You don’t deserve to be.’ A voice called out.

Everyone turned their heads. Gump had spoken.
‘Excuse me…?’ Wolf asked with that icy glare in her eyes.
‘You don’t deserve to be Head Witch.’ Gump said. ‘In fact, you don’t deserve to be a leader at all!’
‘And what makes you say that… Dwarf?’
‘Where were you when all of us were busting our arses, trying to save lives? A leader isn’t supposed to sit down, and drink tea while looking at her people work. A leader, a respectable one, may I add, leads the people into battle.’

Himitsu walked towards Gump. She looked at him.
‘He’s right.’ Himitsu whispered. ‘Where… were you?’

For a small moment, Yuri saw Wolf’s eyes flash in distress.
‘I was plotting a punishment for the human. He brought this trouble to us. Which means…’ She stopped as dramatically as before. ‘You, brought trouble to us.’

Wolf pointed at Himitsu. Himitsu was unfazed. She had a small, mocking smile. Yuri realized she was holding Hikari’s hand, and she was holding… Eien’s.

They know something. Yuri pursed his lips and walked forwards.
‘Punish me all you want, Wolf. Don’t touch Himitsu.’ Yuri said.
‘All about chivalry, are you, Human?’
‘I have a name, and it’s Yuri.’

Eien stepped forward.
‘Actually, Yuri. Even if she wanted to punish you, she can’t.’
‘I am Head Witch. I can do whatever I want.’
‘Wrong thing to say, Wolf.’ Eien sneered. ‘Didn’t you read that little booklet on the rules of being Head Witch?’

Wolf’s heart started beating at rapid speed. They’re using the law against me?!
‘Rule 2.0: Do not be too arrogant when you get the post. This may cause uproar from citizens and the Main Department has rites to sack you.’

Himitsu smiled slightly. Slowly break it to her, Ma… Just the way she deserves it.

Suddenly, an idea flashed across Yuri’s head. He stuck his hand into his pocket and took out the “Head Witch Guide”.
‘Oh, and it’s also prohibited to punish anyone other than your race. That’s stated in Rule 12.4, Punishment of Citizens.’ Eien continued.
‘Well, then I may punish Himitsu. She was the one who brought us this mess.’ Wolf said, still in that grand, icy voice. ‘It was written in Rule 12.1 that any Citizen who causes trouble must have rightful punishment.’

Himitsu and Eien looked slightly doubtful. My turn to help… Yuri thought.
‘Now, that’s not right, Wolf. She hasn’t caused trouble.’ Yuri said as he flipped through the pages.
‘She brought the human, and the Zombies were after the human, thus endangering us.’ Wolf said, disregarding Yuri.
‘But Rule 12.3 clearly states that a Citizen is excused of punishment if he or she has brought slight hiccups to the area in order to save someone else.’ Yuri said.

‘Define “slight hiccups”.’ Wolf’s voice still remained cold and icy, even though Yuri saw a few beads of sweat on her forehead.
‘Pleasured.’ Eien smiled as Yuri passed her the book. ‘In the last page, there is a small column in small print entitled “Definitions”, “Slight Hiccups” is defined as “No lives claimed (Not counting lives of enemies) in the situation.”. Himitsu is very lucky to have no lives claimed in the trouble she has caused.’

Wolf hesitated.
‘The zombies. The human’s parents. They were killed.’ Wolf said, clearly out of things to support her argument.
‘That is easily cleared off, because of that sentence “Not counting lives of enemies”. The zombies were clearly trying to kill Yuri and Himitsu, leaving them no choice but to kill the zombies.’

Wolf took a deep breath.
‘Someone grab the Head Witch Necklace off of that unworthy neck of hers!’ A witch called out from the crowd. It sounded curiously like Hikari’s voice…

A group of witches and wizards charged up front, and one of them managed to snatch the necklace.

Yuri realized the colour of the jewel on the necklace had faded. The original red jewel had turned blue.
‘The necklace has chosen its successor!’ Hikari exclaimed.

Eien glowed. She was smiling as she saw the necklace turning blue.
‘I know who it is! I know who it is!’ Hikari screamed frantically.
‘We must let the necklace go. The person’s power will attract the necklace!’ An older witch exclaimed knowingly.

The person who was holding the necklace set the necklace on her palm, slowly detaching her fingers around the jewel.

No surprise, the jewel immediately flew off from the witch’s hand and found its way to Eien’s neck.

Wolf looked dumbstruck. Yuri looked at her as everyone cheered for Eien.
‘Now this is a Head Witch I can count on!’ Yuri heard someone yell happily.

Himitsu was grinning widely. She was clutching Eien’s arm, grinning as if there was no second chance for her to smile again.

Wolf was still shocked in her normal elegant, grand sort of way.

Yuri saw the smiling Himitsu pushing away from the crowd, trying to reach him. When she was right in front of him, she immediately flung her arms around his neck and hugged him.

Yuri smiled as he threw his arms around her as he hugged her back.

Wolf took a deep breath and turned away, ready for a quick escape when suddenly, a hand grasped her wrist. She turned around and saw Gump. Hikari was also beside him holding his metal rod, threatening to hit her.
‘You’re not going anywhere, Wolf.’ Hikari said smugly.
‘You can’t put me in jail. I haven’t done anything wrong.’ Wolf said, matching Hikari’s smug tone.

Yuri detached his arms from Himitsu.
‘That’s where you’re wrong, Wolf.’ Yuri said. ‘When was the last time you actually read the “Head Witch Guide”?’

Wolf remained silent as she glared at him.
‘Already, forgetting your own law is crime. Especially, since you’re the Head Witch. I mean, how do you expect to lead them, or anyone for this matter, if you don’t remember your own rules?’ Yuri said.

Eien flipped open a few pages and passed the booklet to Yuri.
‘It states in Rule 20.1, Wrongdoings of Head Witch, that if you press false charges, you will be sacked and have a lifelong punishment.’
‘I didn’t even press any charges, damn it!’ Wolf said frantically.
‘Oh, I forgot to read the fine print. This rule also applies to “false accusations, inappropriate punishment etc.”.’

Eien, who was now wearing the necklace (which looked better on her than it did on Wolf), walked towards them.
‘I don’t think we should give her a lifelong punishment. I think 50 years or so ought to do it?’
‘But, Ma, that’s going a bit tame on her, wouldn’t you think?’
‘I think she would’ve learned her lesson in 50 years time.’

Wolf’s orange eyes enlarged.
‘50 years… I’d be a freaking 100 years old by then!’
‘At least you won’t be dead.’ Eien said. She gestured to a few brawny men. They came forward and traded places with Gump and Hikari. ‘Take her away, please.’

And the two men, along with Wolf, vanished. Eien threw her arms around Yuri and Himitsu.
‘Now that that is settled. How’re we going to celebrate?’ Eien asked.
Yuri and Himitsu grinned at each other.
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Written by Choco Soong
www.goddofthenewworld.blogspot.com
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Okaeri is a fantasy written by two students.
Okaeri rightfully belongs to K and Choco
No copying or distributing to public without written permission from owners listed above