“I’m back”

Helgi said while walking through green bushes lush enough that they completely hid the view behind them.

“Finally! It’s been so boring just waiting here”

Yuri got up from where she had been sitting with Hikaru, leaned up in the same tight corner of their small airship.

They were currently parking their stolen ship on a tiny floating island just next to the city. The lush green fauna worked well to completely hide their ship from every angle.

“It took a bit longer than i expected, i had to make sure no one saw my face. But my captain’s uniform did the job, and i managed to get enough for everyone, hope they’re the right sizes”

Helgi handed Yuri a sack filled with military uniforms.

“Finally, i get to wear something cool for once!”

Yuri was visibly excited to get some new clothes.

“There some for me too i hope?”

Ahab appeared from behind Yuri and began rummaging through the sack.

“I’m going to go change in the bushes, you put on your new clothes in the meantime”

She said, while taking the uniform that was small enough to be her size and jumping into the nearby bushes.

“...What the hell is this.” After a couple rustles of the bushes, Yuri walked out towards them, wearing something that pushed the definition of a uniform.

“...As i thought, it suits you!” Helgi leaned out of the way of a flying rock aimed at his face.

“Not funny Helgi! Here i thought i was finally going to wear something cool for once..”

Yuri sighed in irritation, straightening the skirt of her uniform.

Her new attire consisted of a skirt, a blouse and some boots. At least..they loosely fit into that category of clothing.

Her skirt was a military green, looking convincingly military. That is if it weren’t for the fact that it was short enough to almost show her behind. Letting out her bare legs on full display.

Her new boots only helped to worsen the situation, by having fairly high heels that Yuri felt completely unbalanced on. They forced her to push her body up in such a manner that her behind was on even more display than it was with the already short skirt.

The only saving grace of this uniform was the green blouse. Which was a simple military blouse. Except it was a sleeveless version, for whatever reason.

“...Lass that is very immodest.” Ahab commented on her appearance with a shake of his head. Although his eyes never left her.

“Yuri..your clothes are..” Hikaru furrowed his brow slightly while looking at her.

“I know! I look like..like..those girls that tell you the numbers at a lottery!!!”

She cried out while tottering uncomfortably on her high heels. Ignoring the loud laughing of Helgi.

“This sucks..I’ll just go change back..this outfit looks ridiculous.”

Sighing softly, Yuri tried to walk back to the bushes again, but ended up missing a step on her high heeled boots, falling sideways.

Her waist was suddenly grabbed by Hikaru in an attempt to save her from the fall. The force of his reflexive grab pushing Yuri closely against his chest for a few seconds, while he gently held her up onto her feet.

“Thanks..” She breathed out in relief while being held around the waist by Hikaru for support.

“You know Yuri.” Hikaru looked at her.

“Mm..?” She looked over at him while stretching her legs.

“I think your outfit fits you well.” He nodded while deep in thought.

“H-huh? What’s that supposed to mean..are you making fun of me..” She looked away while pouting, still being held by Hikaru.

“I would not do that. I simply think…” He seemed to struggle with his words “It flatters you?”

Hikaru was unsure himself about why he seemed to like seeing Yuri wear that outfit, but he felt he should be honest. After all, she seemed insecure about it.

“W-what..? What..how..?” She pouted slightly more, but glanced back at Hikaru’s thoughtful gaze.

“Hm..” (How indeed..) He thought to himself. “It shows off your beauty that is normally hidden beneath your dress.”

He nodded, satisfied with his answer. Her new blouse seemed a perfect fit for her adventurous character, and it was true that her legs and some of her arms were always covered by clothes. It was good to wear something short to let the skin have some natural sun.

His thoughts were of an innocent nature.

Yet Yuri saw it in a different manner,

“I-i see..um..i guess..i can wear it..if you think it looks good..”

Despite his encouraging words, she clutched her skirt in worry while pulling it down slightly. Making sure it was covering her lower body.

Ahab looked over at Helgi and whispered.

“Hey. Are they..always this..embarassin?”

Ahab noted how Yuri was fidgeting with her skirt slightly while still being held by Hikaru.

“Not always..but always when it’s the perfect chance to show off”

Helgi raised an eyebrow.

“Yuri, is everything alright, you are quite hot to the touch and you keep touching your skirt. Are the clothes too warm?”

Hikaru titled his head at Yuri.

“N-no, it’s fine really..” She mumbled while looking down.

(Why did the prospect of him liking these revealing clothes appeal to me so much..i feel so happy..not like i’m fond of dressing like this..am i..?)

She kept looking down while trying to determine the cause for her joy.

“Yuri what is wrong. Really. Are you feeling sickly..?”

Kneeling down, Hikaru looked up into her downcast eyes. Trying to determine if she looked sickly or not, and ending up looking directly into her eyes.

Yuri’s face lit up like a firework. A bright red that almost emitted light.

“I’m fine..!”

She took a step back, once again her heeled boots betraying her. She flew backwards, falling on her behind.

“Be careful Yuri, your clothes look good but i will have to fix these troublesome shoes of yours.”

He said when he caught her from falling, his hand naturally holding her waist just above her behind.

“Eek..!”  She let out a small involuntary sound.

“Did you hurt yourself!?” Hikaru looked at her in worry.

“No. No. I’m fine. I can stand. Just let go.”

She waved her arms around in panic.

“Very well. but stand still. i can’t have you tripping.”

Kneeling down again, Hikaru gently lifted one of her feet.

Putting her hands on his shoulders for support, she watched him silently. Her cheeks were warm and her heart was beating fast. One of her hands slowly drifted to his hair. She thought it was different seeing him from above for once. His hair looked very comfortable to the touch, and she had to hold back from touching it, for fear of more awkward situations.

Taking her boot in one hand, he broke off the long heel with the other hand. He did the same with the other boot.

“This should make your movement easier.” Hikaru stood up and waited for Yuri to do something.

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“Huh?” Yuri blinked repeatedly, still slightly confused with herself.

“Is it easier to walk now?”

“Oh. Walking. yeah, it's fine now..”

She took a few steps, confirming that her steps now felt unhindered.

“So..go wear your uniforms, Hikaru, Ahab..Helgi go make sure they put it on correctly”

Yuri shooed them away into the bushes.

Slowly breathing out while they were far enough away, Yuri looked down at her feet.

(...It was a nice feeling..being touched like that..gently..without running around from enemies..)

She moved her feet around while looking at them thoughtfully. Her hand moved to just above her behind, where Hikaru had caught her earlier.

“...Mmmm..”

She felt some strange need well up inside her. Yet it wasn’t the usual need for riches and fame. It was an equally greedy need, but it was anything but materialistic.

“I’m..probably just in need of a massage. That’s r-right..being a famous master thief is tiring work! Of course i would feel like that! After we are done here, i’m going to find the spa and rest for a week! A good massage will make these strange feelings go away..! and Helgi said i was bad at reading emotions..obviously i’m better than him, since i am the great Yuri! Muahahaha!”

She laughed loudly, loud enough to wash away her insecurities.

“..Whats the lass laughin a storm bout?” Ahab asked while taking off his clothes, a distance away from the airship.

“Who knows. Just ignore her, she tends to weird everyone out. I’ve known Yuri for years, and she still manages to weird me out..” Helgi chuckled.

“I do not find her particularly weird, as you say it?”

Hikaru raised an eyebrow curiously while buttoning his new shirt.

“...Seriously?” Helgi was slightly shocked at first, but the shock quickly changed into simple realization accompanied by a sigh.

“Guess you wouldn’t think that no. Considering..” Helgi paused. “Anyway. You missed a button! How are you idiots so useless at buttoning a simple shirt!”

Helgi walked over to Ahab and Hikaru, fixing their shirts for them.

“During my many years, i have only ever found the need to wear armour. Buttoned clothes tend to get tangled with chainmail.” Hikaru explained.

“Aye. Same reason with meh. Cept instead of amour, i usually wear a raincoat. Comes in real handy, when a customer aint happy with what i ask in payment and throw their drinks at meh.”

Ahab grumbled at the unfairness of the world, where an honest man like himself has to endure such hardships.

“I’m sure you deserved it” Helgi commented.

“Oi! I did nothin to deserve that sort of treatment, all i did was ask em to pay double or i would leave em on an empty island waitin to get lucky enough for another airship to pass by”

“Oh sorry, my bad. Maybe you should have actually worn armour instead. Since that usually ends up with having rocks thrown at you, not just a drink or two”

Helgi finished fixing their shirts.

“Nah,  i reckon they didn't want to anger me so much that i’d leave em, it’s the perfect scam- I mean business deal!”

Ahab laughed.

“I believe my attire is in order, what are your thoughts?”

Hikaru made sure by asking the other two.

“You look spiffin, lad”

“Hm. Not great, but passable. “ Helgi nodded.

“ I will see what Yuri thinks of it” Hikaru walked back to the airship.

“Yeah you do that.” Helgi waved at him “Her opinion is the only one he cares about anyway, so why ask us” He shook his head.

“So, those two..are one and not two, right?” Ahab asked.

“What..? Oh you’re asking if they? Oh no no. No way. Not Yuri. Yuri has the experience of a child in these things. And Hikaru seems awfully stiff about it..”

“Ah youth..wait..that’s a bit strange if yah ask me. Ain’t he older than my pappy. What’s he doin hangin round a gal that compares to an infant next to him. Or wait. She said she used to be 29..? And the lad does look young himself…”

Ahab was getting more confused by the second.

“Don’t think about it too hard. They both obviously has something going on. Even if they aren’t aware of it.  Just don’t mention anything about it. They should go at their own pace.” Helgi nodded wisely, gaining respect from the aged man before him.

“With me to supervise of course…” He added before looking away, immediately losing the gained respect from Ahab.

Meanwhile, while Yuri was walking around, trying to convince herself that she was fine. Hikaru jumped onto the airship, his new clothes fluttering in the breeze.

“Yuri. i would appreciate your opinion on whether these clothes fit me not.”

He spoke up right behind her, while she was mumbling to herself.

“Wah!” She jumped away “Oh Hikaru it’s you..you’re wearing the new clothes...huh..”

Yuri paused, staring at the uniformed Hikaru.

He wore a uniform that was extremely tight fitting. Whether that was by design or due to it being slightly too small was difficult to perceive. Although Yuri didn’t seem to have much thought about that when she stared at Hikaru.

His pants were a similar green, like her skirt. Like her skirt, the lower body part of the uniform, tightly hugged the wearers body, not leaving much to the imagination. Revealing to Yuri the slightly bulging tight muscles of his calves and thighs. Each step he took strained the cloth with the moving muscles. She figured they were likely strong enough for him to support wearing any kind of armor, or lifting any kind of person, with ease.

His upper body wasn’t much different. A tight green shirt, with buttons aching to be ripped out from their cloth due to how much Hikaru’s body was pushed outwards. He did not have impressive huge structure. However, all his muscles truly showed their capacity whenever he made a small movement. The cloth tightening due to the movement of his muscles, showing just how much power each muscle packed. It was a miracle his clothes hadn’t ripped to shreds simply by him walking.

“This is why i prefer to wear armour myself. Clothes made exclusively of soft materials tend to rip easily whenever i make large movements. Especially if they are tight fitting.”

Hikaru moved his shoulders slightly, making shis shirt slip up slightly during the movement, revealing his tight abdominal muscles.

“Yuri..? Are you listening?”

He waved his hand in front of the eyes of the transfixed Yuri.

“Ah? Huh? Um! yes!”

Yuri slapped her cheeks with enough force to make them red. Although she was sure they were red already.

“Um. yes! It looks very um..good. It...suits you..” She looked away, trying to regain her calm, occasionally not being able to help glancing back.

Luckily for Yuri, she didn’t have to endure her awkward situation for much longer. Ahab and Helgi slowly appeared from the rustling bushes.

“Well? what did the lass think of yah new dressings?”

Ahab asked loudly.

“Hm? She said they suited me.”

Hikaru said with a slight pride in his voice.

“Great great, but i doubt yeh can get anywhere near close to lookin as good as this!”

Showing his new clothes, Ahab puffed out his chest.

Like with Hikaru, his uniform was also incredibly tight fitting.

It hugged his contours in a most unflattering manner, as he was an older man with a somewhat out of shape body.

“....” Yuri blinked.

“Hikaru. my eyes. stab them them please.”

“I don’t think you need to go that far…” Hikaru turned sideways so his sword was facing away from Yuri.

“Hikaru. Please. I’ve seen plenty of amazing things in my life already. I can live the rest of my life blind.”

She insisted.

“Oi! Are yah mockin my great style! I haven’t looked this good in years!”

Slightly upset with how Yuri was reacting, Ahab complained loudly.

“I’m not mocking you!” She denied.

“But compared to..” Her gaze naturally shifted to Hikaru’s body.

It took all her strength to look away again, once she did, her gaze landed on Ahab again.

She reached for her dagger.

“Yuri stop it!”

Hikaru held her arms to stop her from committing a stupid act.

“Noooo! let me do it! Please!”

She continued to struggle until Ahab finally relented.

“Fine! I’ll wear a raincoat on top, since yer makin a fuss bout it! Good now?”

He put on a spare raincoat that was laying in the airship, which still showed his uniform but covered most of his body.

“...I guess..”

Giving up, Yuri ceased trying to stab her own eyes out.

“Let’s just..go get that ship. I feel really..emotionally exhausted right now..”

Sighing, Yuri motioned for Ahab to get to the steering wheel, while still not looking at him.

“Indeed. we should get moving. The faster we get there, the less likely they are to realise that the ship we are using is stolen.”

Hikaru agreed.

“Despite them not having instant communication. There’s still a big chance they might have received that sort of information already, their ships are fairly fast after all”

Nodding, Helgi covered his eyes with his hat in preparation.

Ahab flew the ship over to the far side of the large city, where another smaller island, floated just beside it.

It was an island used as a hangar for all the guards ships. A building that extended above and below the island, housing countless quick small ships.

Their airship slowly flew in from the top of the building, with Ahab attempting to steer it as confidently as he was able, despite him sweating buckets.

“Everyone should stay quiet and just follow behind me. I will talk since i’m the one with the captain's uniform..and Hikaru, cover that sword. Our cover will be blown if they find out it’s metal!”

Helgi pointed at Hikaru’s obviously shiny sword.

“Of course.” Hikaru gave the ribbon on his sword a little poke.

Shaking slightly, the little ribbon seemed to attempt to gesture a headnod. Hikaru’s sword quickly became tightly bound in the cloth of the ribbon, covering it completely.

“Useful..i should get me one of those”

Helgi seemed impressed.

“Alright, be quiet now!”

Their ship slowly landed, a few guards quickly running over to greet them.

“Good day captain! how did the hunt for the terrorists go?”

One of them asked while saluting.

“Terribly.” Helgi made an annoyed expression.

“They managed to get away. I’m going to need a little talk with someone around here about the state of the ships we received. They were inadequate in every way. It was the reason why they managed to get away.”

Helgi and the rest slowly got off the ship.

“..Blame your mistakes on others, that’s high rankers for you..” One of the guards whispered to the other.

“What was that.”

Helgi glared at them.

“Nothing sir! Please come this way, i will show you inside!”

Helgi was quickly led inside by a panicking soldier.

One of the other guards walked behind them with Yuri and the rest, as he assumed they were of the same rank.

“Tough dealing with a snob like that everyday huh?”

He asked them.

“Ah, i guess?” Yuri answered plainly.

“It sure be a troublesome experience, i’ll tell yah that lad!” Ahab laughed a bit too loud and a bit too awkwardly, his nerves not doing much to help him.

“...Right” The guard completely disregarded Ahab, focusing his attention on Yuri. His eyes never leaving her. Although they weren’t looking at her face.

“So, how long have you been working as a guard?”

He asked her while walking.

“Uh.. i don't remember? Time flies when you have fun..!” She smiled as best she could.

“Of course, it’s a tough job this! So you know..if you’re ever having some sort of trouble, i’d be glad to offer some help”

The guard slowly rested his hand on her back in a friendly manner.

“Right..Sure. We’ll see” Yuri answered awkwardly.

“Oh we will” The guards hand slowly slid further down Yuri’s back.

“Um..” She felt incredibly awkward. She didn’t want to say anything that would get their cover blown so soon.

“She is fine. She has me to help her when she needs it.”

Grabbing the guard’s arm, Hikaru pulled it away from Yuri and glared at the guard.

“What the! Hey let go man! Geez..”  Pulling his arm away from Hikaru’s grip, he quickly walked away.

“If you had a boyfriend then you should have said something!”

The upset guard walked ahead and went inside.

“Hey! he’s not my-!”

Yuri protested.

“Leave it be, lass, yuh don’t want more trouble do yah?”

Ahab warned her.

She nodded, glancing at Hikaru to see how he reacted. She felt slightly silly since she was the only one feeling flustered over the guard’s use of that word.

Once they were inside, they were met with a giant open space. Airships. Too many to count, hanged from various places inside. They were kept in place by simple ropes, keeping them suspended in mid air, so they filled every available free space inside this gigantic empty parking space.

There was however, a single ship that wasn’t strapped in mid air. In fact it seemed too heavy to do so.

Sitting at the deep faraway bottom of the building. Was a giant battleship. Whatever wood it was made from wasn’t visible due to all the metal plating it was covered in. It was so large and covered in metal, that Yuri felt it looked more like a tank with a balloon attached to it, than an elegant airship meant to fly freely.

It was a robust tank that could only move while plastered onto the ground. Yet it had a balloon attached above it, as if to argue that it infact could fly, despite how ridiculous it looked.

“I believe that is the ship we are looking for.” Hikaru muttered next to Yuri.

“That is the ship..but believing it..that is something i can’t do..” She kept looking down at the strange ship that didn’t look like it could fly.