Bathing with Kali
Hot and lukewarm water soaked my body. The bathroom filled with transparent steam rising from the evaporating water. I turned my head away. No way... I never thought I'd see a woman's naked body for the first time in my life. Wait, is this really the first time? I whipped my head around, avoiding Kali's gaze. She was rinsing off with something like a shower hose, while I soaked deep in the tub. Once she'd roughly scrubbed herself clean, Kali slipped into the tub with me.
"Oof..."
With two women in the steaming hot bath, water overflowed, spilling across the bathroom floor. Why the hell is this tub so damn small? Kali was right next to me—stark naked, her body muscular... no, at this point, it was more like a perfectly honed physique. Her abs formed sharp elevens, and scars dotted every inch of her skin. Kali turned her head and looked at me. I flinched, my heart skipping, and quickly looked away. She pondered for a moment, then threw her arm around my shoulders in a buddy hug.
"Wh-what... what the hell are you doing!?"
"Hey... you into girls or something?"
"Girls...?"
"Yeah. You know, do you like women?"
My face turned beet red at Kali's words, like a ripe tomato. "Sorry, but that's a problem for me. I'm still into guys."
"No, I'm into guys too... (?) anyway."
As I yelped like I'd been pricked, Kali grinned mischievously. "You said still, though. Who knows? Maybe you'll like girls later."
I looked utterly defeated by her words. "Kidding. Obviously you're straight too. I was just messing with you 'cause it's boring. You're surprisingly fun to tease."
Am I seriously getting pranked by the future Red Mist...?
Kali chuckled and pulled me tight against her side. "But seriously, why are you so short? You're really a year older than me?"
Kali was at least 174 cm tall, while I was around 168. The difference wasn't huge, and I wasn't exactly short anywhere. "You're the one who's freakishly tall."
"Maybe. Guess I wouldn't know—I don't really hang with kids my age."
For the first time, Kali seemed fascinated by having a peer her age as a friend. Her eyes sparkled like she'd just made her first buddy ever. Her stare was so intense I had to look away. "Anyway... this is a back alley. How do you even have hot water here?"
I asked Kali curiously, and she answered with a shrug. "I've been doing some fixer work on the side, and it pays pretty well. I use the money—earned or otherwise—to share with the neighbors and the mansion folks. They've all helped me out when times were tough. If you're human, you owe it to them not to act like a beast—repay the favor, you know?"
My expression darkened in an instant at her words. fiddling with my short bob, I replied, "You're... way kinder than I thought. I didn't expect someone this good-hearted."
"So what'd you think I was like?"
I couldn't answer Kali's question and just dunked my face in the water. "Eh, if my image improved in your head, that's not bad for me."
She said that and snuggled me even closer. "Gonna soak up this warmth for a bit. First time hugging someone my age like this."
I could only murmur softly in response. "Yeah..."
The bath steamed up even more, and we decided to linger a little longer.
....
BAM!! A man slammed his fist on the desk.
"Karo... I told you, gather all our forces at the L Corp branch right now."
"Morrison, you're always too hot-headed—that's your problem. Rushing into everything so impulsively and emotionally. Don't you know you need to think rationally?"
"So you're saying, as an Underboss, we just wait until every Thumb soldier in the L Corp branch is dead?"
"You're not even the Underboss there. Are you really losing it over your subordinate who's out scouting?"
"Karo!! Francois Rosetia appeared in that exact same spot from twenty years ago! Do you have any idea what that means?"
The black-haired man with the stern face stared blankly at the one yelling in front of him.
"Morrison, I don't see the issue with this Blood Fiend named Francois Rosetia. She doesn't threaten Thumb at all."
"Do you know what ring she took?"
"What does that have to do with me?"
"Jekyll & Hyde."
"That's the name of the relic she stole."
"So what?"
"Karo, you have no clue how serious this is! You don't realize how dangerous that thing is!"
"It's just some extra personality—what's the threat? Don't be ridiculous."
"No one should have that thing, but a Blood Fiend absolutely shouldn't—especially a dangerous one like Francois Rosetia. It's a catastrophe!"
"Shut up. Get out. As fellow Underbosses, just handle your own district properly, yeah?"
Irritation crept onto Karo's face. "Morrison, you've always loved meddling in others' business. You only got to Underboss because the Don noticed you—not your skill. Keep that in mind."
BAM!!!!
Morrison stormed out. "Tch. Pathetic guy. If the Don graced you, just be grateful and do your job."
Outside, Morrison spat curses. "Damn it... nothing's going right. Of all places, why'd Francois show up in Valentina's sector..."
He thought of his friend Valentina and the family head. "Please... stay out of L Corp until I get there."
Morrison dashed down the hallway.