Rin
I can't believe you Haku, how dense are you? You have no excuse to be that dumb!
Yubaba...? Are Haku's secrets really worth your Bathhouse?
Chihiro? I asked trying to reach her telepathically. I felt something, but decided she wasn't available. I tried to sleep, but finally gave up and went to the practice courts.
With no surprise, I found Randa there, waiting with her staff and my dagger; wooden practice weapons.
"Don't you sleep at all?"
"Not really. Waste. I sleep two weeks every five years, unless things push that."
"And you practice with the time everyone else sleeps?"
"Yep." she said, and attacked.
Armed with a dagger, she had reach over me, bound as she was, she had power over me, and old as she was, she had experience over me. It was fun to spar with her, but of course she took it easy on me. On the other side of that binding, especially when we sparred, I felt the power she suppressed.
Why do you work here, Randa? I can feel the power you have, you could shatter Yubaba's control over you, why don't you?
The older you get, the more time you find on your hands. Lacking purpose doesn't mean lacking position, just means you become bored. Might be my Grandmothers influence. Besides, we all have a role to play in the upcoming tournament. Unless I am here, I can't fulfill my role.
You didn't answer my question.
I did, it just doesn't make sense from the perspective of that question... find the right question and it will make sense.
All the while we sparred, round after round, until She sent me away to sleep with a promise she'd wake me for my shift.
I thought I'd be up for a bit yet, but I suspected she put a spell in that last smack she gave me, because I was out once my head touched the pillow.
Sha're
That night, Chihiro fell asleep in her bath. Robin retrieved her, and put her in her bed.
She had worked and worked hard today, spells until three o'clock, and then staves until an hour ago. I learned what that passive spell of hers did, though I'm not sure she noticed. it was a shield that hovered magically, several inches above her arm. I imagine that if it is like Blizzard, what she named her staff, it's probably limitless in its local defensive capabilities.
If we continue to work on her control of her magic, and her understanding of her staff... she'll be a force to be reckoned with by the time the tournament rolls around. having as much time as we need in a day helps too.
I really think we can pull this off. and not without too much trouble. but Haku needs to take some time away from the Bathhouse. Different teams are allowed to fight in different ways, each round decides how the winner is declared; one on one, two on one, five on one, tournament format, whatever is agreed upon.
Kason said they were taking applications until the last moment, so he was going to wait til the moment before that to register. Two humans, a Master and a river spirit. The most shocking one on the team is not the youngest. I thought with a bit of triumph. as I drifted away, I wondered how Ebony had managed to orchestrate this from outside my perceptions.
Today would be a day off, and then, another long day, strictly physical, and the day after that would be magical. We would cycle like that, every three days, apart from meditation, that we had to do every day. Once Haku got here things would move on well. Today, we were going to a nearby lake while Kason got some work done.
Haku
Before I left the Bathhouse, I stopped Yubaba to speak with her.
"What is it, Haku? I'm very busy."
"I accept the bet. If your team wins, I'll sign under contract with you. If Kason's team wins, I'll claim ownership of the Bathhouse, and all of it's spells and employees. Deal?"
A sheet of paper floated over to me, I read it, and nodded. I signed it, and handed her the copy I signed, and accepted the copy she had signed. "I also am officially informing you that I won't be here for the next month. I'll see you at the tournament."
"Indeed, Haku. I'll be looking foreword to it."
I put the contract she had signed in my sleeve, and changed to Dragon form, and flew to Lord Kason's Palace.
I did not transform when I got there, so Chihiro came over to hug my head as she had on Zaniba's front yard so long ago. She and Sha're got on me, Sha're holding the picnic basket, and we were off. In my mind Sha're displayed directions.
When the three of us were relaxing on the lake, I took out the contract and showed it to Chihiro; Sha're read it over her shoulder.
"Her Bathhouse?"
"Or your name, Nigi Hayami KoHakunushi. You took the bet." Chihiro said, worried.
"If a third party team wins, no harm, no foul, things stay as they are. If we win, we have a business and a place to stay. If we lose-"
"Chihiro goes back to the Real world, and you go back into slavery."
"I wouldn't have put it that way."
"That's because you like to mince words. I, however, like to be blunt. There is always the chance that Chihiro could be granted a life here if we lose, but Yubaba will not let that happen. If you lose the Bet, she's not going to allow someone who knows your name remain this close to you. Chihiro is mortal, but Kason doesn't have the authority to punish anyone outside of his lands, and the tournament takes place on Lady Megma's.
"Lady Megma's a down to earth sort, if you'll pardon the pun. People like her, and trust her, but as a result, her hand is not as heavy as it could be." she stopped suddenly, and smiled. "What am I thinking, she's protected from assassins. Never mind, ignore me. This could work."
I frowned looking at her.
"Don't worry Haku, we've got a lot of people helping us, it'll be ok." Chihiro said, and smiled. I returned the smile, as our hands found each other.
"You gonna help me with this or not?" Chihiro let go of my hand, and went to spread out the picnic. I laid back in the grass and felt the sun beat down on me... it reminded me of my river.
Yubaba
Randa and Rin, Arachane... and I don't have anyone else in the Bathhouse who might be worth Losing at this tournament. With Haku back under contract, I won't need Rin in a place of authority anymore. That'll be a relief. Rin... Well, she serves her purpose I suppose.
Haku too... Just you wait Haku, once you are mine again... This spell won't be thrown up at all, not if I lay it along your spine with acupuncture. It will be expensive, but you will never betray me again.
As per Ebony... Throw enough at her, and she will fall, like any other human. Lord Kason is a flawed being, as attached as he is to that mere wisp of a spirit. And what about Haku's guest... whoever it was wasn't anywhere near the Bathhouse while I was gone. I trust Haku to do his job, but it annoyed me to find out he had left the Bathhouse to meet, who I must assume to be Ebony and his guest.
Ebony...? I shook my head slightly. There is no way Haku would consider Ebony a guest of his, she belonged to Lord Kason... someone else came in with her... Lord Kason's team would be a four man team... two people came to the spirit world... Haku was going to be gone for the next month... NO! No, that's impossible. She couldn't be stupid enough to come back!
I summoned both Rin and Randa
"Haku had a guest while I was gone. Who was it?" Rin stood up straight, and looked out the window, Randa just smirked.
"Does it matter, Yubaba?" Randa asked. "Will knowing the identity of his guest help you in some form?"
"I won't know that until I know who it was."
"Knowing weather or not it was Lady Chihiro will not help you in any form. His guest is not within the the boundaries of the Bathhouse, as you well know."
Lady Chihiro.
I dismissed the two, and went over to the window. Haku and Chihiro would join Ebony and Kason in the tournament. Randa only gives titles to those who have earned them, had she never met the human, she would only have referred to her as Chihiro, if that even. Lady Chihiro however... she could be dealt with, if she isn't under contract, she must be Judged. But Kason will put the Judgment off to the other side of the tournament.
That will work.
Rin
"Why did you tell her that? Now she knows Sen is here!"
"Let us rather say that she heavily suspects. She suspected beforehand, however, or she would not have requested an interview of the two of us."
"And you confirmed it."
"Yep."
"Why?"
"Because it doesn't matter." I growled. "I am a storm spirit with a fire affinity. Who does that mean I am descended of?"
"Um... storm; wind and water, So Lord Kason and Lady Nile, Lord Pyrate for the fire affinity."
"Yep. Chihiro is something else. Ebony would tell you, she is a turning point. Master Dakota is a Life Elemental, who ranks, on a scale of one to ten, as a fifty.
"Lady Chihiro ranks higher, and aside from that, she has a lot of eyes watching her, protecting her. Believe me, this plan is almost complete. It will all come together at Lady Megma's tournament. Her awareness of Lady Chihiro's presence, if anything at all, helps our plans unquestioningly."
"Our plans?"
"Me and some of my friends."
"Randa, can you promise me she will survive this?"
"This? Rin, if the plans in motion bear fruit, you will be shocked at how things turn out. The Master and the Lady will be the rulers of the named... and I... will have a new world to explore." she said, and then turned and walked away.
I stood there watching, and realized she had pierced the fog of Yubaba's spell to put together her ancestry, and without an obvious effort. Could it have been logic?
Somehow I got the feeling she didn't break the spell just now.
Descended of Lord Kason, Lady Nile and Lord Pyrate. Within five generations, as a guess.
Haku? I asked as I made my way back to my room.
What is it Rin?
Randa has informed Yubaba of Sen's presence in the Spirit world.
Why didn't Randa tell her sooner, when Yubaba first got back?
Yubaba only has us tell her where you send us, rarely, does she care why, ever since you sent Kara to Yotoka for sushi. I smiled at that memory.
Good, I'm glad that worked, he chuckled.
Also, I had a rather unsettling conversation with Randa just now. she said that if the plans of she and her friends bear fruit; 'The Master and the Lady will be the rulers of the named.'
So she's set this up? Not on her own, surely...
Hey Haku, do you know Randa's lineage?
Yes. Why, does she?
I think so. Where does she stand?
She does what she wants. She doesn't have a single home, nor anyplace she calls home. You already know she's strong enough to shatter the bonds Yubaba holds over her, I've just been waiting to see why she chooses to stay on there. She's tipping her hand. Overall, I'm not worried by her. Let her do as she likes, don't watch her.
Right. He left as surely as if he had closed a door.
Zaniba
About a week after she left, I contacted Kason to ask him about her magical training, and then contacted Chihiro directly.
Granny!
Oh, so I'm still alive?
I'm sorry Granny, it's been one day after another, and Haku's here too, and it's been training in a moment almost every single day!
A moment? How many days of training have you had so far?
I've lost count, but it might be more than three weeks. We only train two of every three days, and we alternate between physical and magical.
Speaking of magic, what did Kason find in you?
Ummm... Life Elemental, Healing and Sixth sense, all three un-chartable by a general test. Lord Kason believes only Master Dakota could accurately gauge my elemental affinity, and he knows of no one who can gauge the other two well.
Master Dakota? How interesting. What else?
A good dose of defense and a little bit of home making spells.
You might be better off sticking to the manual way though, especially with a life affinity.
Yeah, Kason and Sha're was saying that... I wish I could meet Master Dakota.
Well, win the Tournament, and then you will, all of the Five. Lord Pyrate won't like you, don't try to make him, he dislikes humans in general. Show him the respect he deserves as a member of the Five, and ignore him. Lady Nile will like you, Lady Megma likes everyone, and you're a friend of Lady Sha're, which has endeared you to Lord Kason. Master Dakota... He's old. If he likes you, you have nothing to worry about... but the tournament is still the best way to keep you here. well, maybe not the best, but the most reliable.
What do you think our chances of winning this tournament are?
Lady Sha're and Lord Kason alone have before triumphed in such tournaments. You and Haku are not fighters yet, and to be honest, I don't know if you ever will be, not the way Lady Ebony is. Bear in mind also, the Spirits you face in the tournament will automatically assume you are weak because you are human. With a life affinity, you have no attack spells... but your Blizzard is a powerful spell, and the training you get between now and then will determine how well you can wield it. Your chances of winning this tournament are good as they stand. Not outstanding, but good. To improve them, you might get a fifth fighter for your team.
I don't know about that... I'll see what everyone else thinks.
You do that Chihiro, and please, talk to me on occasion.
I will Granny. talk to you later.
For a while afterwards, I sat in my living room, thinking about what I had told her. With the exception of Pyrate, all of the Five would love Chihiro. The only reason Master Dakota would have to dislike the girl is her elemental affinity. But he knows how rare it is to have more than a drop of Life inside a person. As much as she has... I wonder why... What does this world hold in store for a Lady of Life?
Sha're
Today was supposed to be another training day, but when I attended the table, and neither Haku nor Chihiro were at the table, I cast my senses into their rooms. We had packed almost four days of training into yesterday, physical training, so, since they weren't planning on getting up anytime soon, I decided to call another rest day. I looked over the calendar in my mind as was astounded at how long we had been here. Three weeks. My parents must be worried sick.
If you would like, I could always send them a letter?
That's an idea. Thanks. How about Chihiro?
You want to know what astounds me about Haku?
What's that?
Haku was told, by Chihiro, that his river was filled in by her people. While true, that her people filled over the path that it ran... that can't mean they stopped the source of the river... it's heart. His heart.
His power?
Exactly. Now, imagine for a moment, if Haku could find his river. Powerful wouldn't do to describe him. He would stand on par with us younger members of the five with no trouble of any form.
His river... in order to look it up, Chihiro would have to go to the Real World. But we only have a week 'til the tournament. An image came from Kason, a ring. Could work. Dangerous though. She won't have been there since she was four, and that section she fell into is probably gone. once there though...
I heard a clunk and looked at the table next to me. It took me a moment to recognize it, but when I did... a second ring appeared next to it, which also made me gasp.
Oh Kason..! I said picking up mine, and placing it on my hand.
That ring should give you the power to cast all the spells you need to, tracking, time, whatever, it draws power from the wind around you, drawn directly from me. The second one is obviously for Haku.
Haku had stumbled around for six years looking for the strength to exist to the real world. Kason had it in a ring. You'll go tomorrow.
Kason?
Yes?
How can I thank you?
By this point in time, Sha're, we don't owe each other anything. We've helped each other so much, that all either of us require is a word or two of thanks, which you have already given me. Haku on the other hand; what's this bet he's got riding on the tournament?
If we win, he gets Yubaba's Bathhouse, if her team wins, she reclaims his name.
Well, for now; call it a favor to them, one they can return at their leisure. I'll see you off tomorrow. He then turned his mind elsewhere.
I love you, I thought at a level he couldn't hear me.
"Robin?"
"Yes Milady?"
"Can you check on my friends, just make sure all they are is tired."
"Yes. They'll be sleeping 'til noon at best, if allowed to their rest."
"That's fine. We've trained more than is good for us in the past three weeks... We're ready for the tournament, more or less. Now, it's time for a practical application of our skills. We'll be returning to our world for a short time. We'll be back for the tournament. This is at Kason's prompting, so you can see he isn't worried."
Chihiro
We took the train to the Clock Tower, this time it was daylight. Haku wearing the ring Kason had loaned to him, a spell to make him exist in the real world.
As we approached the tower, there was a figure waiting for us next to Valaire.
"Randa, what are you doing here?" Haku asked.
She looked at us and smiled. "Taking a vacation day. Shall we?" she asked, gesturing down the tunnel. Sha're turned to Kason, and gave him a hug and a lingering kiss. For some reason, the silence between Lord Kason and Randa struck me as odd, but I had no reason to dwell on it. Kason released Sha're, and the four of us; two humans, an unbound river spirit augmented by a spell, and a storm spirit with no obvious augmentation, walked through the link between worlds.
Every step we took, my staff seemed to change state into a solid blue crystal. Sha're's Talon seemed to change into a physical weapon as well. "Will they still act properly?" I asked her.
"They'll be fine," Sha're said when she realized I was referring to their weapons, and kept putting one foot in front of the other.
We looked out across the sky of the real world, returned after three weeks. I stood there, braced against Blizzard, laboring to breathe.
"It's all right Lady Chihiro, take your time, breathe as normal as possible," Randa told me.
"Is she ok?" Haku asked.
"It happens to some people, the Real World is a much harder place to live than the Spirit one, it takes an effort to live here. Most people aren't aware of the effort... remember, Chihiro, is not most people."
I looked at Randa, confused.
"Don't worry Lady Chihiro, you'll be fine." Randa reached out to my two wrists, and did something. I felt better suddenly. not a lot, but definitely better. I nodded to her. She looked to Sha're. "Shall we then?"
Sha're still looked worried, but nodded.
At my house, both my parents cars were gone, probably work. The four of us went up to the door, and I had the ridiculous urge to knock. Sha're walked around me and just opened the door; "You live here remember?"
"Oh yeah..." I was still weak, but I went in and made my way to the computer to wait for my parent's return, and to research the Kalaku River.
It took me some time to find a map of the path the Kalaku River had once coursed it's way down. I found the park I had fallen into his river at, and back tracked him further from that.
"Sha're?" I asked. she came over, and looked at the map.
"Yeah, we can get there no problem."
Just then the door opened, and in came my parents.
Haku was sitting on a couch, paging through an English text book. Randa stood next to a window, looking out, out of my parent's immediate view, and Sha're and I were looking over the computer.
For a moment, I just sat there, looking at them, I finally stood up and walked over to them.
"Hello Mom, Hi Dad."
"Chihiro!" Mom called, and stepped foreword to embrace me. "Where have you been, we've been worried sick about you!"
"It's all right Mom. It's ok. Dad?"
"Chihiro," he said, hugging me in his turn. "You've got some explaining to do."
"I know I have, and I will. I will explain it all." I said, and then noticed I was breathing heavily again. "Can we sit down though?"
"Sure," Dad said. I sat next to Haku, and mom sat next to me while Dad took his chair.
"All right, first introductions. Sha're you know," she waved at the two, "This is Haku, that is Randa." I gasped again. Haku set his hand on my shoulder, and I could breathe easier.
"Six years ago, we somehow lost three days of our life, which you wrote off as a prank. But it wasn't. When you found that abandoned theme park, you found much more than you bargained for. I met Haku there, and he promised I'd see him again. Three weeks ago, Sha're woke from a dream that showed her how to get back there, and so we went.
"For the last three weeks, I've been learning how to fight, so I can participate in a tournament which will allow me to stay on that side."
"What are you saying Chihiro?" Mom asked me.
I looked at her. "I've lived there for three weeks mom, and already the real world is almost too much for me... The easiest way to explain this, Mom, may be too much to ask of you both. There is a file on my computer called Spirit Bathhouse. When you open that file, you have to take everything you know about the Real World and set it off to the side, accept everything I have written in that file as the truth."
"When you accept that story," Haku said, "Go to the Guardian and ask it to see your daughter. It will allow you through the tunnel. You'll be able to do this only once at the moment, but it will open the tunnel for you."
"Now, if you'll excuse us, I need to go explain this to my parents," Sha're said.
"Chihiro!"
I looked at my father, and spoke again; "Set aside all you know, all you assume, all you are aware is true, and read my diary of those days. Then come find me... please." I said.
Randa walked over to stand by us, and Sha're used Lord Kason's power to take us to her own home. Her parents wern't home either, but she wrote them a letter instead of waiting.
Mom and Dad;
I've found what I'm looking for. I've found my home.
I love you both, but don't worry about me, I'm happy.
Lots of love;
Sha're Lanza,
AKA Lady Ebony.