Chapter 6

"We're out of supplies. We have to get into the nearest town and re-stock." Luka said to the group after they had just finished their dinner.

Marvelous took out a map and studied it for a while before he finally spoke. "The nearest town is about 30 minutes by foot. We'll move by daybreak tomorrow." He looked over to Joe and Luka for which they replied to his unspoken question with a brief nod.

"Alright. I'll take the first watch. The rest… can just do whatever you want." Marvelous said as he climbed onto one of the trees, before finally resting on one of the bigger branches.

"I still don't get his logic of keeping watch from the trees." Luka sighed.

"Because if we are ambushed yet again, having me literally flying into action to save the day just looks cool!" Marvelous hollered from the trees whilst Luka simply rolled her eyes at the idiocrasy of the man's answer.

"Come on Princess. We can start off our training session now." Luka said as she stride over the bushes, beckoning Ahim to follow. The princess simply nodded as she makes sure that Don's bandages were tight enough to make sure that the medicine would be able to work to its' full potential. After being fully certain that it was tight as it should be, she flashed a smile to the sleepy Don and looked at Gai who was frowning in distress and concern etched on his face.

"I'll be fine. Rest up." was all she said before she trailed after Luka.

They were at it for 2 hours before Luka finally called it quits. "Alright princess, I think that should be all for today. Take a short break while I go and get Joe for your next lesson."

Ahim nodded a little whilst trying to catch a breath but before Luka was able to take off, she was stopped by Ahim's sudden statement. "Luka-san, you can simply call me Ahim. There's no need for you to call me with the title."

Luka simply stared at the young woman for a few moments before she said. "I guess it is weird and conspicuous for me to keep calling you 'princess'. All right, I'll drop it while we're in town."

"No… um… I mean you can just drop calling me that."

"Why?"

"I don't know… I just felt it kinda makes our relationship sounds too cold?"

Crossing her arms as she tilted her head to one side. "Tell me princess, what kind of relationship do we have? As far as I am concerned, you are an employer and I'm just your hired help."

Ahim exerted much force to make sure her facial expression remained neutral but she can't help to wince a little as the statement did sting a bit. After regaining her composure, Ahim carved out a small smile as she replied. "You're right. I'm sorry if I was out of line Miss Luka."

Luka nodded as she turned around once again and started walking towards the campsite. Halfway through, a voice from behind one of the trees surprised her from her train of thoughts. "A bit harsh Luka?"

"God damn it Joe! Stop popping up from thin air like that!" she said with a murderous glare.

"That never bothered you before."

"Shut it. How much did you hear?" Luka asked to which Joe choose to maintain his silence.

The women sighed in response. "I'm guessing, everything then?"

Joe who had his back and his left leg leaning over a tree with his arms crossed the whole time finally pushed his body forward using his left leg as he faced Luka. "You know, you can't keep blaming yourself over what happened in the past."

Luka frowned in response. "This is a job. She's a paying customer. Those are the only things that are worth to be kept in mind."

Joe shrugged. "Alright then." was all that he said as he head towards the clearing, being fully aware of the stabbing glare that was directed in his direction by Luka.

Luka clicked her tongue as she watched Joe slowly making his way to Ahim. "Urgh. I hate it when he does that."

"Why the sudden request princess?" Joe asked as they were done with the training session.

Ahim simply carved a pained smile. "You heard everything I presume?"

"More or less."

Joe's ambiguous answer made Ahim shook her head in disbelief. She said nothing for a few short moments as she walked over to a tree stump and sat down.

"I just miss being called by my given name rather than being referred to by my title."

The answer made Joe flashed and incredulous look. "You have Don who calls you that with no restrictions princess. And then there's your knight."

Ahim nodded slowly. "True. But it's… different." Joe was utterly confused but he didn't voice it out loud and kept his peace, giving both time and space for Ahim herself to explain things at her own pace.

"She… reminds me of my sister a little."

The answer made Joe quirked his eyebrow, questioning. Ahim have talked a little about her older sister in the past and from what Joe was able to derive was that her older sister sounds like a person with a gentle temperament. Luka was… not really known as such.

As if she could actually heard Joe's thoughts, she let out a little chuckle.

"Luka-san might have a shorter temper than my sister. But, she reminds me of her all the same. The way she looks after the people who she cares about and how defensive she is when it comes to your crew."

Joe have to admit that those things that Ahim had said about Luka's character was indeed true and a part of him was a bit impressed that she was able to deduce Luka's character as fast as Ahim did. Given the short time they have spent with each other.

"And I guess I just want to get closer with her so I was sort of hoping that if she were to call me with my given name, we may be able to close the distance between us a little bit."

Joe slowly nodded to himself and said. "Luka just need some time."

"I know."

"Don't be so disheartened. She's by far, the easiest nut to crack." Joe said with a smirk.

"I seriously doubt that, Joe-san."

"No. She is the easiest. You shouldn't have counted Doc." Joe said with a shrug.

The response only widens Ahim's smile. "And may I know who's the toughest one to crack?" she asked.

"Who knows." was Joe's short answer and although a part of Ahim wanted to push further, she decided against it. It was neither the place nor the time for it. So the conversation ended there, with both of them being fully content with the comfortable silence that shrouded their midst.

"We'll split into teams of three. Can't exactly be going around everywhere inside the town with all six of us stuck to each other like glue. One team will go into town while the other team will remain here and guard the rest of our things." Marvelous said.

But before he could even start on who that will be those going into town, Luka interjected him. "I'm going hands down. And I'm taking the princess and Joe with me." Her tone was final as if challenging anyone to question or deny her.

The only one foolish enough to go against her demand was Marvelous who was very unhappy over the fact that he had to stay. "Who are you to make this decision? I'm the captain of this ship remember?" his response was met with an eye roll from Luka.

"We all know who actually run things around here so sit down." With a simple glare, it was enough to make Marvelous back down but he was certainly not happy with that decision and he showed it well enough.

"We all know that with Doc not fully capable of walking on his own, I'm the best one that actually knows what we actually need and I'm not easily sidetracked by some stupid things unlike someone." Luka said as she looked at Marvelous. "I need an extra sets of hands to carry things around and Joe is my best option and as for the princess…"

Ahim only waited as the woman analyzed her from the bottom up trying to find the right word to be made as an excuse for her. "I guess better her than the knight." Luka huffed.

"Hey-"

"Oh shut it down. We don't have the time for this. Your precious princess will be back in one piece if that's what you are worried about." Luka said as she headed to the direction of the town.

"Come on lazy butts, the faster we get into town and get the things we need, the faster we can get out and start moving again."

Flashing a reassuring smile to Gai, Ahim nodded at Joe as the two of them trailed after Luka into town.

"And… I'm pretty sure that's everything." said Luka as she paid the merchant for the pile of fruits that was handed to Joe to carry.

Currently, both Joe and Ahim got their hands full for holding all of the items that had been purchased while Luka was simply dilly-dallying around, both of her arms free from any burden. "Hey Luka? Maybe a little help here?"

"I can't believe you Joe. You can't possibly expect someone as feeble as me to carry all of those heavy things?"

Joe rolled his eyes. "Saying that you are feeble is the same as saying being mauled by a bear feels like being tickled by a cat. It makes no sense."

Luka ignored the sarcasm of course as she bounced off to the next vendor that was selling some accessories. Ahim who had been observing quietly from the side only chuckled at the banter between the two.

She had come to realize that although Joe was not the most talkative out of the four, he does have moments where his wits and sarcasm comes through and she was able to see a different side of the Joe that she had first encountered. Ahim likes to think that the change may be a sign that Joe was warming up to her and him being less wary towards her. It is wistful thinking on her part, she knows.

Whilst Ahim was lost in her own thoughts, Joe on the other hand was observing the princess from the corner of his eyes. Unknowingly, a small smile escaped his restraints as he was particularly amused at how much Ahim was scrunching her face.

Meanwhile, Luka who was watching everything from the sidelines was feeling rather conflicted. A part of her really approves of whatever it was that was happening between the lost princess and the swordsman but the other logical part of her brain is genuinely concerned. For both of them.

It was the sudden cry for help that eventually pulled all three out of their own heads as they immediately notice that the cry came from a woman that was dressed in a simple pale pink yukata, looking panicked and she was cradling another woman that was dressed in a yellow yukata.

Because of how close they are, Joe and Luka was not able to stop Ahim who immediately dashed to the two women's side.

"That idiot." Luka cursed as she and Joe trailed after Ahim.

A/N: And here is the latest chapter I'm so sorry it took forever! I'll try to finish the next chapter as fast as I can! Comments and criticism are very much welcomed!