Kai was still awake when Lulu and the others got into the room with their belongings.

Vi face palmed. "I thought you were going to sleep."

"I can't make you all put all our things away," Kai said.

Alice put her hands on her hips. "You've gotten two hours of sleep. Don't be like our mother."

Kai furrowed his eyebrows. "It didn't take us four hours to get into town?"

Vi rubbed her husband's shoulders. "Still, honey. People should really get more than four hours of sleep."

"Listen to your wife," Mrs. Edna said.

When Lulu looked around the room, the young men had already finished putting their belongings away.

The one with blue eyes smiled at Lulu. "Just doing our job, Miss. We do this every day."

Kai pushed a coin into his friend's hand. "Thank you."

Vi kissed her husband before she, his siblings, and the staff left the room.

"Vi, did they do that the last time you and Kai were here?" Lulu asked.

"Your brother had me on his back and all of our belongings strapped to his chest when we got the gate. One of the guys took it from us and ran ahead to Mrs. Edna's inn." Vi smiled as she shook her head. "Jack led us there, and by the time we got there, they had already unpacked everything for us."

Sky's eyes widened. "Are they like magicians or something?"

"I don't think so." Vi giggled. "They're probably just really good at their jobs."

Jack smiled as he strolled up to them. "You're planning on heading into town, right?"

"Yes..." Vi raised her eyebrows. "Don't you have work to do?"

"Mrs. Edna asked my boss if I could take you around town. She figured it'd be nice for you since you weren't able to do that the first time."

"Did you have something specific in mind?" she asked.

Jack shook his head. "You can pick a direction. I'm happy to go with the flow. This is your trip, not mine."

"Could you point out any historically significant things we happen to come across?" Alice asked.

Jack bowed to Alice. "I would love to."

"I'm sorry to ask this now." Vi's cheeks reddened. "Would you happen to know a place where my sisters and I can bathe?"

"I do." Jack turned his back to them. "Will you be able to find your way back to the inn if I lead you there? I'd rather not leave room for people to accuse me of doing unsavory things to pretty girls."

Vi nodded. "Understandable. We can do that."

Sky scrunched his nose. "I don't want to take a bath. I'll go back to the room and keep an eye on Kai."

Alice pinched her nose. "Suit yourself."

"Would you like me to get your wagon, or do you not mind walking?" Jack asked.

"We don't mind walking." Vi smiled. "I actually have legs that work this time."

Jack sighed. "A gentleman offers."

Alice rubbed her arms. "We're going to have to take cold baths, aren't we?"

"I don't care." Lulu gave her big sister a sweet smile. "I love to take cold baths."

"And I would assume you have ice coursing through your veins if I didn't know you."

Lulu shrugged. "Thanks for the compliment."

Vi squeezed Alice's shoulder. "Lead the way, Jack."

"If you do want to see any historical sights, you'll have to do that later," Jack said as he began to walk.

"That's fine." Vi rubbed Alice's back. "I think my husband would like to be able to join us for that."

Alice said, "And I rather enjoy not smelling."

"Maybe you'll find a nice perfume before you all leave. There are a few stalls that sell them."

"Maybe," Alice said.

"Alice, please try to exercise some restraint if we do happen on one of those stalls," Vi said.

"Do you really think I'd blow all our money when we've just begun our journey? When Lulu has hardly begun her task?"

Jack had led the girls to a nearby pond. "I'll be taking my leave now. Please enjoy your bath."

Vi smiled. "Thanks for everything, Jack. Take care."

"You girls take care, too. Your brother and husband will probably have a fit if anything happens to you."

"We'll be fine, but I'm grateful for your concern, Jack."

"I'll be going before anyone gets any ideas then." Jack turned his back to them. "See you girls later."

Alice folded her arms. "Should we wait a few minutes before we strip?"

"I would. It's not like we know most of these people especially well. It would be better to not give them any easy shot."

"Come to think of it, what are we going to wash with?" Alice asked.

Vi pulled a box of soap out of a pocket in her dress. "We can use this."

Alice raised her eyebrows. "Violet, just when did you have time to grab that?"

"This morning. I've learned it's very important to be prepared in life." Vi smiled. "I think it's safe to undress now."

Lulu kicked her shoes off. "You don't need to tell me twice!"

Alice face palmed as she shook her head. "You would walk around in the winter with no clothes on if we let you, wouldn't you?"

"I would not!" Lulu's cheeks reddened. "I do happen to have some manners!"

"She would probably prefer to be in short sleeves and shorts or a skirt year-round. Unfortunately, society tends to frown on people who do that sort of thing."

Alice kicked her shoes off. "Indeed. I don't get it, but that doesn't change the fact that I love my little sister."

Vi took off her dress. "That might be a thought that's better for you to keep to yourself."

Lulu took off her own dress. "It's fine. I know Allie isn't trying to be mean to me."

Vi removed her undergarments. "I know, but other people would probably be upset if they heard that."

Alice sat at the edge of the bank and dipped her feet into the water. "What do you think we should do after we finish with our bath?"

"Go back to the inn and check on your brothers. If my husband is awake, I'm sure he'll want to spend time with us, because he hasn't gotten to do that much today."

Once Lulu removed her undergarments, she got straight into the water. "At least Sky will be there when he wakes up."

Vi began to wade into the water. "And Sky will take good care of him for us. Just like he did with your mom."

"Since you're the one who packed it for us, would you like to use the soap first?" Alice asked.

Vi shook her head. "You can go first. I know you like the cold less than Lulu and I do."

"Thank you."

Lulu smiled. "Can I wash your back for you?"

Alice smiled back. "I'd like that, Lulu."

Alice splashed some water on her legs before she began to wade into the water. "It is beyond me how you were both able to get into this water so quickly."

"Sometimes, it's better to just take the dive, even if it can be rather unpleasant."

Alice rubbed her arms with the soap. "If you say so..."

Once she was done, Alice held the soap out to her little sister. "Thanks for this, Lulu."

"Of course, Allie. I love you."

Vi folded her arms. "Lulu will go next since she's already holding the soap."

"Would you wash my back then, Vi?"

Vi cracked a smile. "I would love to."

Vi's eyes kept drifting away from them. What was she looking at?

Vi quickly washed her body before she put the soap away. She shook the water off her hands before reaching into a pocket in her dress.

She pointed her weapon at the point she was looking at. "Show yourselves before I get angry!"

Four young men approached them with their hands up. "No way! It really is Violet the Valiant!"

"You better believe it." Violet glared at them. "You will regret it if you hurt me or my sisters."

Three of the young men exchanged glances. "Let's scram."

"Do you really think I'm going to let you off so easily?" Violet's voice was ice cold.

"Violet." Alice's voice shook. "What are you planning to do?"

"Don't worry about me. Take Lulu back to the inn."

"But."

Vi glared at her. "I said to take Lulu back to the inn. Now."

Lulu glanced behind her as Alice pulled her away. "Do you think Vi will be okay?"

"I'm more worried about those poor souls. Let's go. I don't particularly want to watch her punish them."

***

Thoughts? Theories? Predictions?

~Shino out!