LIN

Lin tried not to scream as the guest chatted her ear off.

"I just love it here, don't you?" The human tittered, "There's nothing like this back in Sakai. Its way too industrial. I suppose we could've gone across to Kyushu, but it's too touristy over there and there's way too many people. There's hardly anyone at all out here, the quiet it such a nice change. My boys would love it here. The stream out front is full of frogs!"

Flitting from side to side of the covered hall between the bath wing and the main house, the wide-eyed human would not shut up. The vapid woman was the fourth of a group of middle aged mothers on a girl's trip away from their families and husbands. None of them seemed to know what to do with themselves. For some unfathomable reason this one had taken a liking to her. Wearing a yellow yukata printed with lanterns, the round faced mortal stood right in her way; blocking the rest of the veranda she had every intention of scrubbing.

Suddenly Lin was reminded of how much she hated yellow.

But she could not yell at the woman.

She could not frighten her away like she did the frogs.

The human was a guest.

"Where are you from? Did you grow up around here? Honestly, you're so much taller than everyone I can't say you're from here."

"Yana!" One of the human's companions called from the bath wing.

"It's the woman's shift for the rotenburo!" Another chimed in, "Get over here before the men come back!"(1)

"Coming!" She shouted, making Lin wince, "Bye, then. It was nice talking."

Heaving a sigh of relief at the sound of the human's retreating steps, Lin glared out of the sliding doors into the garden as she heard a familiar chuckle. Yoshi was on top of his ladder as usual, pruning globes out of reaching arms of pine. Beneath him Little Green Frog was raking the mosses clean of leaves and clippings. Both were wearing their mortal guises, but she saw through their

"What's so funny, frogmen?" She muttered irritably.

Yoshi hastily picked up his pace, "N-n-nothing, Miss Lin."

Far more fearless than his best friend, L.G. beamed up at her, showing the gap between his front teeth as he happily leaned on his rake.

"I think it's nice that she likes you."

"Hmph!" Hooking the edge of the paper slider with her toe, Lin slammed it shut.

Quickly finishing the hallway, she gathered up her bucket and brush and headed for the entryway, hoping to finish scrubbing the kitchen floor before it was her turn to sit at the welcome desk. Amano was working on the noon meal, but she could clean around him. The human was surprisingly good at working around other people in close quarters, a skill no doubt learned after working so many years on fishing boats. Amano didn't feel the need to chatter the way most humans did. His quiet presence was a much needed respite at the moment.

"Um… Lin?"

Another voice caught her before she could retreat back into the kitchen.

"Yeah, what is it now!?"

Turning, she found Kiri hiding behind the welcome station. Wearing the Onsen's indigo yukata, the human was absolutely white faced. Lin scowled before realizing she'd scared Kiri. She wilted, dropping her bucket so she could pinch the bridge of her nose.

"Didn't mean to scare you."

"S'okay," Kiri swallowed a bit shakily as she climbed back up onto the stool, "You move really, um… quick sometimes."

Lin looked her up and down with a long considering stare. She wasn't far enough along to be getting ill, but by the Gods she was skinny! Amano'd have to fatten her up some more before the morning sickness set in. Humans took far longer to have their babies then Kami. How they could stand to waddle around for months upon months of pregnancy Lin could not fathom! Again, it took her a moment to realize Kiri was shaking, gripping the edge of the welcome station as she glared back furiously.

"H-how…!?" Kiri demanded hoarsely, "How do you know!?"

Lin blinked as something occurred to her.

"You haven't told him yet."

Kiri's face wiped with surprise as her eyes brimmed. At once Lin was waving her only hand like a fool as if she could scare away the human's tears.

"No, no! Don't cry!" She hissed in exasperation.

Too late.

Grabbing Kiri by the arm Lin hauling her out front of the Onsen; hastily checking for guests and finding none present. Pulling the human behind her, they skirted the fence line and pushed into the dense foliage of the rhododendron forest growing in the shade of the wall. Inside the shrubs were almost hollow and springy moss tickled between her toes as dappled green light filtered from above. Lazily fleeing their presence, mushi uncurled from the top branches and floated upwards like plankton seeking out the light of the surface. It smelled good here, like wet clean dirt and the sharp green smell that came from the breathing leaves.

It was a good place to cry.

Until recently the fox's feet were riddled with bruises due to the house's ire. Onsen had stopped picking on Suzume so mercilessly since Lin discovered this place. It was a bad habit to indulge tears. They were sacred things not to be waste. But Lin would never be a sacred thing so she could waste all she wanted.

Kiri put her back to Lin and quaked with shuddering sobs. Normally this kind of thing would've put Lin into a rage. Perhaps she was getting soft, but she couldn't very well threaten to throw the human into the river. The poor thing might faint from fear. She couldn't expect Sen's strength from this mortal. Kiri was still too new to this world and on her way over she had suffered much. She sounded so wretched Lin sighed gustily.

"Cry all you want here," Awkwardly she patted the human's shoulder, "No one can hear you."

"D-d-does anyone else k-k-know!?" Kiri stammered, sounding like Yoshi.

"No," Lin hardened a bit, taking back her hand as Kiri dried her face on her trussed up sleeve, "You haven't told anyone at all, have you?"

"I wasn't sure," Her whisper was terrified, "I wanted to wait until I was sure."

"You are," Lin pronounced definitively, "And it's nothing to be afraid of."

"What t'fuck do you know!?" Kiri snapped back.

Lin filled with indignation, towering up until if felt like her head broke through the top of the bush. Grinding her teeth, she rooted herself in place to keep from hitting the Kiri. Instead she glowered until the color drained from the human's cheeks. Unconsciously Kiri's hands went to her stomach, covering it. It was such a subtle movement. Anyone else would have missed it. But Lin saw. And it took the fight right out of her.

"Girl…" Lin growled in exasperation, "You've gotta watch your mouth!"

"S-s-sorry!"

Kiri sank onto her heels, staring at the dirt as she wiped her face.

"Why haven't you told him?" Lin blurted into the awkward quiet.

"Because I wanted him t'marry me for me."

Lin blinked rapidly, "That doesn't make any sense."

"He married Manami 'cause she got pregnant and 'cause he felt obligated… I don't want him t'marry me for t'same reasons he married her."

"Reasons don't matter when it comes to the heart," Lin muttered, "You need to tell him."

"Why?!" Kiri seethed quietly, "Can't I just wait till we get married? It's not that long, just another month. Then it'll be a happy thing. Then nobody will judge us like they did with Manami. Maybe then everyone in town'll stop lookin' at me like I'm some kinda whore 'cause we're livin' together!"

Welll… She certainly had a chip on her shoulder. Not knowing what to say, Lin chewed on her nails as the former temple maiden dropped her head until the fringe of her hair hid her face. She sounded close to tears again.

"Kei won't talk to me… He won't even let me see Granddad!"

"You're brother's an idiot," Lin chewed the irony, not liking the taste, "He doesn't understand and that makes him afraid."

"Huh?" Utterly lost, Kiri looked up her searchingly.

As she did her eerie miss-matched eye glimmered like a shell catching the light. Lin frowned, because the human was still saturated with the touch of the Spirit World. Just being near Kiri would give any sensitive human the creeps. That was another reason was why she belonged at the Onsen and not in the village. What better place for a haunted human than a haunted house? How she had managed to survive was still beyond Lin's comprehension. O-Inari-sama must have intervened, there was no other explanation. But that didn't change the fact that no one had told Kiri what was wrong with her. She needed someone to help her make sense of what had happened and Reika certainly wasn't stepping up to the job.

Mrs. Nikkou hadn't even held a funeral.

Then again, Hidé wasn't dead.

But funerals were for the living. It would at least give the village a chance to say good bye. It would bring closure to people like Nani and the rest of the village. Kumomi grieved the same loss that the old woman did. But as if she was the one who had died, Mrs. Nikkou seemed content to fade away beneath the power of her grief heedless to what else she was dragging with her. That was until Kiri and Amano revived her. Lin owed Kiri for that. All the same, anger sent a bitter taste through Lin's mouth as she was forced to hold her tongue over the old woman refusal to talk. Suzume certainly wasn't about to force her. Her silence wasn't helping anyone!

If Sen was here this wouldn't be a problem. But Sen wasn't here and Lin tried not to think about it, tried not to remember that it had almost been a full month now. A month and still there was nothing! Lin's heart went tight and heavy as the thought weighted her down. Lin's insides sank with dismay until she was crouching beside Kiri.

"Sorry to be blunt, girl, but you should be dead. I'm glad you're not, but that doesn't change the fact that you're unclean."

Stunned by her words, Kiri blinked as red came flooding back into her face.

"I had a shower this morning!"

"Not that kinda unclean!" (2)

Lin sighed in exasperation. Gods above, this girl had been a temple maiden!?

"Look… You've still got a touch of death about you. That dumb priest brother of yours probably doesn't know what to think of it. It'll probably take a couple months to fade completely, but until then some people are gonna look at you funny. Being here with us will help. You'll seem normal when we're around. Take as many baths here as you can. The camphor tree water will help wash away whatever got left behind."

Suddenly Kiri caught hold of Lin's empty sleeve, startling her upright. She yanked the human with her, forcing her to catch her as the girl nearly flew to pieces.

"It's gone, right?! It's not still in me, is it!? It can't come back, can it?!"

Blind with panic,Kiri was close to ripping off Lin's sleeve.

Several stitches gave with jarring pops.

"It's gone! Now let go of me!"

More than unnerved, Lin forced the Kiri at arm's length. The former temple maiden was strong for a human, even if she was an idiot to match her brother. And Lin stared at the quaking human, at a loss as the stricken girl turned inward. There was still a shadow about her, a wildness that was out of place. She'd have to tell Suzume about this.

As if summoned by her thoughts, the fox called her name, making her jump.

"Hiyashimi!"

He was at the front of the house. Gravel crunched as he drew closer.

"Confound it, woman! Where are you?!"

Not knowing what else to do, Lin shoved Kiri out of the opposite side of the rhododendron hedge, through the gap in the fence, and into the narrow emptiness between the shrub and the fence. Silently willing her to keep her mouth shut, Lin retreated back into the hedge, coming up short as Suzume pushed his way into the hollow at the heart of the vegetation. His face was a black as his mood. He wore the robes of the old mountain man he often pretended. That explained it. Suzume had been to see Keiichi again. Like his sister, the priest had an uncanny knack for pissing people off.

"What in the name of Holy Inari are you doing in here!?"

"Uh… Hiding."

Lin blurted the truth before she could think to answer with a question.

"Hiding from whom!?" He fought to disentangle his long hair from the bare branches at the heart of the plant.

"The chatty human with the yellow yukata," Lin wilted, "She gives me no peace."

It wasn't the real truth but at least it was true. Intuition told her now was not the time to talk to Suzume about Ikiri. He was prone to rash decisions when he was wound up like this. The fox might do something hasty like rescinding his welcome if he found out a shadow might still be clinging to Kiri. Lin couldn't risk it.

Suzume snorted, "She is lonely, Hiyashimi."

"Lonely!? She's got four other humans to chat up! Why's she picking on me!?

"Because you reminder her of her mother," Suzume replied quietly, "You may not see it, but being here and talking to you has helped a great deal. She will leave at peace."

Without further explanation of how he knew these things he was back to pulling on his hair. Lin batted his hands away and deftly freed the long tail from the thicket.

"I'm no good with people," she muttered beneath her breath, yanking him down so she could pick twigs from his hair. Heat climbed into her cheeks as the fox complied only to rest his head on her shoulder, surprising her as he pulled her close.

"To the contrary, beloved; I have learned much from your kindnesses."

Lin blinked as her knees trembled beneath the power of his scent. And it was impossibly not to tighten her only arm around his neck, breathing him in. Never in her life had she wanted something so much as she wanted him. Stupid, stupid fox...

Lin went bolt still as a branch behind her snapped.

"What is it?" Suzume's attention pricked, "Do they kick?"

He was more than excited as he drew back to flatten his hands over her stomach. She couldn't push him away when he was touching her this way. She lost all her thorns when he spoke of the kits. He was such a young father and easily enchanted by any movement. As if having twins inside her belly wasn't enough, the fox had spent most of their evenings with his head pillowed on her stomach, listening to their children grow.

"No," Lin smiled in spite of herself, "They sleep this morning."

"What is it then?" He was peering at her intently with solemn gold eyes, "Are you ill again? Have you eaten enough?"

In truth she was ravenously hungry. And by the time the leaves began to turn she was going to be showing. Luckily she could hide under a haori as the weather turned cold, but she would not be able to explain away her suddenly voracious appetite.

"Enough!" Lin pushed him away, trying not to smile, "What do you want?"

He blinked, staring at her in confusion as if baffled that she couldn't guess. Abruptly the fox turned away and was pacing round the thick trunk of the rhododendron. As if he wanted to hide, his kimono mimicked dusky browns, tea stain yellows, and the gentle overlapping lines of the wide waxy leaves.

"Need I a reason to see you?" He was defensive, "I thought perhaps you might take the noon meal in my company."

Lin found her mouth hanging open. In spite of his usual infuriatingly self-centered way of phrasing things, this was the first time she could recall the fox wanting to spend time with her during the day. Between cleaning duties, reservations, guests, and accounting, she barely had a moment to herself all day. She saw the fox at meals, but he sat beside Mrs. Nikkou. She sat at the end of the table closest to the door, opposite from Amano, Kiri, and Kai. Lin only saw Suzume at night in the privacy of her room and only after Reika had gone to sleep. He would sneak back to the foot of the old woman's bed sometime before dawn. The first time she'd woken alone Lin was embarrassed to admit she had cried. But she was used to it now. This, however, was a complete departure from the fox's usual agenda.

"Is that a good idea?" She murmured anxiously even though the old woman was no where in hearing range, "What about Reika?"

He bristled, obviously put out as he crossed his arms and pouted like a child.

"She has chosen to forego the noon meal to watch the box that makes noise with that intolerable frog. Apparently there is a much coveted story they cannot bear to miss."

By intolerable frog he meant Aniyaku. And by box-that-makes-noise he referred to the mortal thing known as a television.

Amano had brought a replacement from the village to replace the black and white picture box that only worked when you fed it small rectangles of tangy smelling plastic. Lin did not like the electricity that made the thing run. It made her hair stand on end whenever she went near it. Against her wishes the frogmen had brought it into the kami wing and placed it like a God on the shelf opposite the great table. Aniyaku was in love with the thing. Sometimes she could hear it humming through the floor boards well into the night, punctuated from time to time by a gasp or chuckle.

Lin should have been happy to have this chance for time with Suzume.

But she wasn't. It was too bitter a reminder of the fact that he always took his meals with Reika.

Now that the she had abandoned him of course he came seeking her company.

Lin was out of the hedge and striding away trying to outrun her own anger.

"Hiyashimi! Hiyashimi, wait!"

As she knew he would, Suzume chased. She let him catch her, forced to come up short as he appeared with his burned hands holding shoulders.

"I do not understand why you are angry!"

Lin could have shoved him aside. Better yet, she could have tossed him into the laughing brook. Again Lin struggled not to yell, because like many of the things in this world, the fox was a fragile thing. Not looking at him helped. Instead she scowled at the stones under his feet to avoid looking at his helpless expression. Taking several steadying breathes, she managed to keep her voice low if not calm.

"It is difficult to come second, Suzume."

She felt the revelation hit him in a flash like lightning. At once the hem of his kimono drained of color as quietly he withdrew his hands, turning away towards the hushing rush of the stream. Looking up at him she found the fox's face pulled into deeply conflicted lines as his gold eyes stared off into nowhere. They closed as he bowed his head as if in prayer. She could barely hear him over the water's incessant voice.

"Words must seem empty beside my actions, but know there are no firsts in my heart. Were I able to cut myself in two gladly I would, beloved."

Lin realized then he hadn't meant his offer the way she'd taken it. And she was sorry; sorry to the bottom of her heart. Seizing him by the back of his kimono Lin yanked him into a rough embrace, hugging him tightly as she turned her face into his shoulder. Though they could only speak the truth to each other but sometimes it seemed like they were speaking different languages. How easy it was to misunderstand.

Clasping her only hand in his, Suzume leaned on her heavily.

Lin was sure he would have fallen had she moved.

The same was true in reverse.

Standing together silently, they held each other up.

Then in the distance Natsumi shouted, giving them both a fright.

"Lin!?"

The old yuna appeared out the front of the Onsen. Hastily they separated as the cleaning woman caught sight of them. With uncanny speed Natsumi caught Lin's only arm, pulling her towards the house.

"You must come at once!"

The old yuna pulled with a strength she could not ignore. In a blink they passed the confused guests in the sitting room, pushing through the curtain down into the empty kitchen. Amano was nowhere to be seen in spite of the great earthenware pots bubbling away on the stove stop and skewered mochi charring over the hearth coals. Lin didn't want to think about what could have made the human leave the kitchen unattended.

Gods, no! Please not yet! Not yet!

Silently Lin prayed as she broke ahead of Natsumi, running now. Onsen met her on the bridge, crowding around her head like an anxious flock of moths. But a voice brought Lin to a halt in the middle of the covered walkway so abruptly her feet skidded with hot biting friction on the slick boards. As she opened her mouth to call for the old woman Suzume ran into her from behind. He caught her before she could sprawl on the floor. Bent above her he fell still, obviously hearing what she heard.

Sen's voice coming from the God wing. She was laughing.

Blurring through the open slider Lin and Suzume came up short. The Bath House kami were gathered in the sitting area beyond the enormous table. So was Reika. The old woman was clutching Amano's hand. The mortal cook still wore his apron, holding a long pair of cooking chopsticks in his other. Beside them sat the trio of gaping frogmen. With eerily huge eyes Hiko and Ginka looked back as Natsumi pushed by, pale as her gray hair as the little yuna pointed.

"Lady Sen's on the TV."

Again Sen's laughter filed the room.

Lin knees folded. She would have sat on the floor right there had Suzume's not held her up.

Sen's voice was tinny over the speakers of the television, but it was still her voice. It had been so long since Lin heard that voice. Then Sen's face filled the box like some kind of magic trick, like she was about to climb free and join them. She looked different; it was more unnerving, because she had changed somehow. She seemed more confident, not at all timid as she'd sometimes been at the Onsen. Her hair was pulled up in a twist and she wore lipstick that made her look like her mother. For a moment Lin didn't recognize her. But around her neck; hanging on a silver chain, was Haku's scale. Tearing herself from Suzume's hands, Lin was across the room, sitting on the floor between Hiko and Ginka, reaching towards the screen without realizing it. With a gasp she recoiled from an electric shock as her fingers made contact with the hot glass of the box's face. The picture flickered as the speakers fizzled.

"Don't touch it, Miss Lin." Hika counseled.

Ginka nodded and nodded like Aniyaku, "It bites."

All fell perfectly still as Sen spoke as if from another world.

I didn't know what I was doing, you know? I tried school and that didn't work. You remember, I hardly made it through your class. It took me a while, but then I figured it out. I don't care how; I just want to help people.

Another familiar voice cut in as the image shifted. At once Professor Saito was sitting in a chair in the bland, non-descript room. He was gazing over his steepled fingers with searching dark eyes looking both impressed and baffled by the changes in Sen; as if he didn't know what to make of her. Because she didn't mention the Onsen; she didn't mention the accident. And Lin could see the questions brimming inside the human male. Somehow the professor held himself in check and asked an entirely different question.

Is that why you've come to Tokyo and taken up your current project?

Lin didn't want to see Saito-san. He practically lived at the Onsen.

"Go back! I want to see Sen!" Lin snapped, waving at the TV until it did.

It is. Sen announced with another beaming smile. Kodansha publishing is working with me on a new special edition of Spirited Away. Whatever profits are generated beyond the costs of producing the book will go to the Japanese National Children's Hospital. It'll be fully illustrated by the patients at the Tokyo branch and it'll also have a brand new forward written by one of the foremost authorities on Japanese folklore, Professor Saito Kanda. I believe you've heard of him.

The image flicked back to the professor who was grinning widely.

I have heard of that scoundrel. Why you picked him I'll never understand. Many of our viewers are probably curious, Miss Ogino. Why Children's Hospital.

Again she laughed and this time seemed a bit overwhelmed and pink in the cheeks.

I get a lot of letters from all around the world. My favorites are the ones from kids. Just the other day I got a drawing from a little girl at Children's Hospital. I should have brought it but I forgot! Ha-ha! Oh, you should have seen it, Saito-sensei. I'm sure Miyazaki-san would give her a job on the spot and she's only 11. That got me thinking, you know? My book is for them. It's about time that I start giving back what they've already given me.

Well said. Saito shuffled the papers in his hands as the screen flicked back to him. And it brings me back to something important. You said earlier that you think people need something to believe in. I've been dying to ask you this question ever since I saw the interview you gave almost ten years ago. Suddenly he sobered. Do you still believe that Kami exist?

The picture closed in on Sen's face. With an unwavering smile she looked out of the television. Her endless brown eyes no longer belonged to the child Lin once knew. As if bespelled by the power in those eyes; Lin couldn't look away.

There's nothing like the power of belief, Saito-sensei. People need it. It doesn't really matter what I believe. What does matter is people need to believe in each other and the good that's inside all of us.

She hadn't answered his question and Lin found herself wishing she had. If Sen said she still believed in the Gods then there would at least have been hope she might remember something, anything that might lead her home.

Indeed, Ogino-san. I couldn't agree more.

Professor Saito steepled his hands again like a Sumo wrestler squaring off for another round. Lin frowned as his dark eyes glinted mischievously.

Unfortunately our time is almost up. Before we go I hope you'll forgive me for asking about a little rumor that's going 'round the publishing world. I hear from a very reputable source that you're writing again.

Chihiro jerked upright in her chair, loosing all her calm. Lin's eyes narrowed as Sen laughed. It was forced and false. And she had gone pale. She did not want to talk about this. Only someone who knew her would see this. Lin squirmed with frustration because she had no way of knowing why? What was she writing that troubled her so?

Ha-ha! Sen fiddled with one of her earrings. Who told you that?

I can't say. Now the professor was outright baiting. Is there any truth to that, Ms. Ogino? Any hope for a sequel?

M'afraid I can't say either. She answered just as archly, regaining her composure.

Lin found herself grinning as once again Sen evaded his question. She was getting as good as kami at avoiding telling truths. More than startled, Lin leapt to her feet as the box blared loudly, making all the kami jump as the screen faded into a series of loudly rushing words and nonsense about future interviews. Hastily Aniyaku scrambled up and switched off the set.

"Awwww!" Hiko and Ginka called in mournful unison.

"The story's over," He answered sharply, "That's the credits."

"What's that mean?" They demanded.

"They mean Lady Sen is gone!" He huffed back, straightening his cap.

Natsumi was looking at the dark box with a frown. "Where did she go?"

"When's she coming back on?" L.G. piped hopefully, standing to peer behind the box as if he could somehow find some hidden way through to wherever she'd been.

"S-s-she'll be b-b-back, r-r-right?" Yoshi appealed to Aniyaku.

"No," Mrs. Nikkou answered with a quiet that had nothing to do with calm, "These kinds of interviews are usually a one time thing. They might repeat it later, but it's nothing serialized."

The Gods stared at her in utter confusion as she stood with difficulty, patting Amano's hand before shuffling from the room as if pulling a great weight behind her. White with worry, Suzume watched the old woman go from where he stood at the foot of the stairs. His disquieted gold eyes flashed across the room seeking permission. What else could Lin do but nod? Silently she watched him melted after the old woman, making Amano start back against the wall as he went with all the swiftness of his race.

It was only after Suzume had gone that Kiri slipped through the doorway to the God Wing. Sidling up to Amano as if afraid of the very room, Kiri punched him in the meat part of his arm a little less than gently, earning herself a sharp frown. But Amano's scowl quickly melted as Kiri ignored his look, picking at the stitching of her apron while leaning into him as if seeking solace. Slinging his arm around her shoulder, he pulled her close, once again looking after the fox as if on the edge of following.

Aniyaku stood all too quickly, giving both humans a fright as he sniffed the air with a quizzical expression, "Do you smell something burning?"

"S-shit!" Amano stood bolt upright as he looked at the chopsticks in his hands.

Hiko and Ginka gasped and slapped hands over their ears as Natsumi looked back with a glare. Kiri shrank with an apologetic bow as if on fire himself Amano sprinted for the kitchen. But the human female hesitated on the threshold to the God Wing, once again shadowed by something almost unperceivable. Whatever it was made Lin extremely nervous. It made her want to get up and chase the woman from the house. But there was nowhere else Kiri could go. She belonged here with them.

Suddenly the former temple maiden was looking at her with such a look of sympathy Lin didn't know what to think. The human brought a hand to her stomach almost unconsciously. Again, it took Lin a second to understand. From her hiding spot in the rhododendrons Kiri heard everything.


CHIHIRO

"Chihiro!?" Michio called in exasperation, "Chihiro, wait!"

But Chihiro didn't wait.

Storming ahead she made her way through the back halls of the Tokyo Today's filming studio, cutting a path through the communications zoo. Well, limped was more like it. You couldn't really storm around after wearing a boot splint for nearly a month. At least the cursed thing had finally come off. In spite of the physical therapy her ankle still ached. So did the scar on her thigh; not all the time, but sometimes.

Thankfully, right now Chihiro was too pissed to feel the gnawing twinge.

Hordes of suits and skirts milled between blinding lights like antennaed insects, trying to capture better signal from their head seats as they read their lines over and over. The cacophony of their mulling voices sounded like a hive hum in the cavernous hot rooms as she shrank and darted around beetle-like film crews laden with booms and equipment as they trundled by. The place was such a maze she had no idea where she was going! As she passed through an empty back hall finally she saw the green room in the distance, caught a glimpse through the madness of the door with her name spelled out in big black kana.

It was just a door.

But to Chihiro it felt like the portal back to a saner, quieter world.

Then she saw her parents.

Her dad was standing in front of her dressing room awkwardly holding at arms length an enormous bouquet of pink roses as if afraid they might bite. Yuko was fussing with the ribbons and pale tissue wrapping the forest of flowers, glancing back and forth as if trying to find her in the crowds. Already she could see the questions humming in her mother. And all around them chattering like a flock of sandpipers was a group of barely teenaged girls. They were half hidden in the botanical garden comprised from the ridiculously large confetti colored bouquets they were carrying. Their Totoro backpacks, kodama key chains, and Ponyo t-shirts gave them away.

Oh, no…

Chihiro came up short so swiftly her heels actually skidded on the tiled floor. She wasn't prepared for this! She didn't have any cards to autograph or anything to give away. She barely had the strength to put on a good face after what happened during the interview, especially since she had to take her parents out to lunch after this. She did not want to be alone with her parents right now. Then Michio tackled her from behind, grabbing her around the middle and anchoring her in place as if afraid she was going to take off again.

Michi looked like Alice in Wonderland on the way to a medieval funeral all done up in black petticoats, stripes, spikes and bows. In a few hours The Goth had to be at work in Akihabara. She's managed to get a part time job at some famous cosplay shop Chihiro'd never heard of. The fact that the Goth was awake before noon was a miracle in itself. Chihiro was still surprised she didn't have to bribe or beg to get her come to the interview. Patiently, as if she was used to such things, Michio endured a purse search from the security guard in the station lobby. Then she had to put up with the strange looks from the cast, studio crew, and especially Yuko as Michi watched from the sidelines. Ignoring all of them, she sent a silent stream of encouragement in the form of inappropriate eye-crossing. Chihiro'd almost lost it a few times during the interview.

And it wasn't so bad this time. It wasn't her first interview and she was learning to deal with TV people. Usually she could deal with fans too, but what she couldn't do right now was her parents. Luckily Michio agreed to come to lunch even though she didn't get along with Yuko. Michi seemed like the only thing she could count on. But now all of that seemed so very far away.

More than roughly Chihiro shrugged Michio off.

Whirling around, she came face to face with the fact that her friend betrayed her.

"What the fuck's your problem!?" Michio hissed, stamping her foot.

Chihiro was so furious she could hardly speak. As if she didn't know!

Her insides filled with what felt like crackling cinders until she was brimming with seething heat. Once again seemed like she could breathe fire; the hair on the backs of her arms stood up as a shudder went surging down her spine. With a tinny pop the fluorescent light overhead burst, plunging the windowless hall into dark. More than startled, the Goth backpedaled into the wall as Chihiro advanced on her. She put up her lace gloved hands. The polish on her fingers was already chipped from chewing. At once she was paler than pale, if that was even possible for one who shunned the sun.

"You told Kataama didn't you!? You told him I was writing again!"

She spat the word in a whisper as if afraid who else might hear. Genuinely afraid, Michi was looking at her askance like she was seeing someone else.

"H-he brought over some papers when you were at the doctor's. We got to talkin' an' he asked me what you were doing an' it just slipped out! I didn't mean to; honestly, I didn't!" Michio's face lined with as her darkly painted eyes looked away guiltily. "All you do all day is write! I didn't think it was such a big secret."

At first Chihiro was unmoved and she coldly glared at Michio. But her resentment eroded away as she realized Kaatama had used her best friend. He was as bad as Karou sometimes. Perhaps that's why she had a hard time telling him no.

Her agent was a horrible charmer when he wanted something. Kataama probably wheedled the truth from Michio the same way he convinced Professor Saito to do the interview. She could just picture the gregarious bastard spinning the situation to make it seem like a good idea. She could hear him saying things like 'they were challenging her to return to her craft' or some other 'opportunity-for-growth' bullshit that Saito would drink up like wine. Kaatama probably pulled a similar trick when it came to convincing Saito to write the series of articles about Kumomi and the Hakuyro Onsen. It was all publicity. The bottom line in Kaatama's world was money: push the product and make a profit.

They did not agree at all about the project.

Pro bono was not in Kaatama's vocabulary.

For the first time she could remember with Kaatama Chihiro stood her ground. What a terrifying day that had been. Squared off in the quiet confines of the Ginza office, surrounded by piles of Spirited Away merchandise, they sat drinking tea like war generals. Chihiro had spent nearly a week researching the terms of her existing agreements, and so she more than calmly explained that she was only under contract with Kodansha for the current manifestation of her book. The new edition would be a different manifestation, new intellectual property, and they couldn't sue her for infringement or the breaking of contractual terms. She could bring the project to another publishing house, if necessary of course.

Apparently Chihiro surprised Kaatama enough to catch him off guard, or so Lydia told her after the meeting when she came by the Aoyama house to explain the paperwork. It was rare to see her personal assistant so amused. She was having trouble keeping hidden her wide congratulatory smirk. Though she worked for Kaatama's office and was an employee of Kodansha, apparently she enjoyed seeing her boss unseated. The fact that Kaatama wasted no time in pulling together the resources to make the new edition happen made it clear he wasn't about to loose her project to another house. Even if it the new edition wouldn't generate any profit, it would still boost subsidiary sales. And since publicity was worth its weight in gold he'd set up the interview on Japan Today. Naturally she accepted, especially after hearing Saito-san would be interviewing her.

She'd taken the bait hook-line-and-sinker.

Chihiro's insides emptied out only to fill with cold as she realized the interview was Kaatama's way of exacting restitution for the Children's Hospital Project. Through his machinations he loosed a rumor on public television that was watched by millions. It would be almost impossible for her to resist the resulting pressures. Kaatama was a businessman after all, an incomparable businessman.

He had won the second round.

Cool and composed in her perfect purple-gray suit, Lydia appeared behind Michio. Her personal assistant was beautiful, trim, poised, she spoke several languages, was taller than most men, and had a naturally pleasant demeanor that was slyly persuasive. But for all of her success, she was the exact opposite of what the Japanese found attractive in a woman: too tall, too smart, and too capable. Hence she wasn't married; even though she was well into her thirties. For all these reasons and more Chihiro loved Lydia.

Shrinking from the stranger, Michio frowned awkwardly and fidgeted as she found herself trapped. Giving them a moment to collect themselves, Lydia discretely looked at the burned out light with a subtle frown. Michio glanced at the woman with a similar expression. Chihiro did not make use of the woman's graciousness. She was not in the mood to put on a good face, nor was she happy to see Lydia

"I don't want to talk to you if he sent you!" She muttered sullenly.

"He didn't send me and I didn't know what he was planning."

Chihiro believed her on that account.

"Do you have any idea what this means?!" She hissed on the verge of tears.

"It means is the ball is in your court," Lydia returned calmly.

Her personal assistant's meaningful gaze brought Chihiro up short, loosing all of her previous peevishness. Kaatama hadn't won, at least not yet. He'd simply placed an obstacle in her path that was seemingly insurmountable. It was up to her to decide how to face the challenge. Chihiro wasn't about to sit around and do nothing.

Lydia was looking at her watch now, "I don't mean to rush us, but we need to get going if we're going to make our reservations. Have you ever been to Le Pichet?"

"Le-wha'?" Michio snorted dubiously.

"It's a French restaurant in Ueno Park by the Inari Temple," Lydia gave the Goth an even smile, "You'll love it, I promise."

"Um…" Chihiro glanced in the distance and found Yuko fussing over one of the waiting little girl's hair, "Will you come with us for lunch?"

The more people the better.

And if anyone could wrangle her parent is was Lydia.


Notes:

(1) A rotenburo is an outdoor hot springs bath. Because there's often only one of these Onsen usually offer separate bathing times for men and women. Some just allow both sexes to co-bathe.

(2) Kiri is spiritually unclean because of her brush with death. There are four ways to become unclean spiritually: (a) childbirth/menstruation; (b) death; (c) evil deeds, a.k.a. murder, etc., and (d) the association with the outside world (i.e. the mortal world) or any thing/person in the prior states. There are lots of ways to purify ones self but hot/cold water bathing is most common.