Chapter Seven: A Meeting with Yubaba
Disclaimer: I do not own Spirited Away or Frozen.
Ís lifted her chin belligerently at Kamaji's words. "No," she proclaimed, startling the Spider Spirit beside her. The girl he'd just met hadn't had that poise, nor the steely glint of determination in her eyes. "I refuse to accept that. I refuse to let a stupid lizard ruin my life."
Kamaji nodded, but asked skeptically, "How are you going to stop him? He is Yubaba's apprentice. It is forbidden face him."
"I'm an apprentice, too, Kamaji. I'll be reminding Yubaba of that when I pay her a visit." At the witch's name, the two spirits shrank back. "She can order Haku to leave me alone. This needs to be done now, before the rumor is spread further and does more damage. Lin, will you come with me?"
Lin sighed. "Fine, I guess," she replied. "I'm not letting my little sister run off on a hare-brained scheme alone."
Ís smiled; she'd known Lin would come. And her silent support would be welcome when she faced down Yubaba.
Together the two of them journeyed through the bathhouse, ignoring the strange glances thrown their way. Clearly, Haku had already been at work sowing the seeds of Ís' demise — it was a good thing that she was going now to Yubaba to snuff out these pernicious rumors.
When Ís knocked on the witch's door, it slowly opened its eyes, yawned, and said sleepily, "Girl, why are you here? I'm about to go to bed."
Ís hid her feelings, allowing her face to become blank. She replied smoothly, "Master, I am here to talk about Haku."
"Yes, yes, the dragon-boy's also my apprentice. Now go away. I need my beauty rest."
"Master, Haku has been spreading vile rumors about my background. How I am human."
"Deal with it yourself," the knocker grouched. "It's not my problem."
Ís felt the laughter bubbling up inside of her, and a calculating smile almost slipped through her defenses. "Master, the knowledge that you have a human apprentice will tarnish your reputation and the bathhouse's."
Soft snoring emanated from the locker.
"Master? " Ís asked cautiously. "Did you hear me?"
"Whuzzat?" Yubaba snorted. "No, I didn't. Say it again."
"If other spirits know I am human, it will destroy the reputations of both yourself and the bathhouse's. Therefore, you must stop Haku from spreading rumours immediately, before more damage is done."
The knocker yawned. "Fine," it said, grudging respect in its voice. "You're a clever one, Ís. I'll call him up." Then its eyes swiveled toward Lin, who was staring, awestruck, at Ís. "Well? Don't stand here all day. Don't you have training to do and tubs to wash?"
Bowing deeply, both left.
When the elevator doors shut, and the two were once again in private, Lin turned to Ís and said, "That was amazing! The way you stood up to her and convinced her…..wow."
Ís blushed and cast her eyes downward. "Yeah," she replied. I can't believe it either. It was remarkably easy. And, for some reason, that unsettles me."
….
The following evening, when Ís was eating breakfast, someone knocked on her door. "Come in!" Ís called, a slight smile gracing her lips. Perhaps Lin had snuck away from her job and decided to spend the stolen minutes with her. It had happened before. However, when the door flew open and revealed the silhouette of a young boy, the smile became a frown, and the frown became a grimace when the spirit-boy threw out his arm, sending a cascade of sparks at the human girl.
"Haku," Ís breathed, dodging the sparks easily. No doubt Yubaba had neglected to order that he leave her in peace, and the control slug's ugly side had appeared. But she would not pay for the witch's oversight. She was done paying for other's mistakes.
Ís straightened and assumed a battle stance. Haku would learn his place. She lunged forward and, flicking her fingers outward, threw ice at the boy. He would pay for threatening her.
However, Ís dreams of revenge were dashed when Haku evaded the icicles Ís had tossed at him with ease, shouting, "Is that all you've got, human? After four years of training with Yubaba? Pathetic."
Ís snarled, twisting her pretty features with rage. With a stamp of her foot, ice blossomed on the ground, creeping over the ground. Haku jumped back —- this was a powerful charm the girl was casting. In a flash he leapt into the air, high above the frost, which had already coated the floor around Ís, and shouted, "Kuninaka". A glowing ball of energy rocketed toward Ís, but she held her ground. She was determined to win. It drew close to her and Haku smirked triumphantly. The human wouldn't be able to survive. Yet when it were only a hair's-breadth away from her face, Ís exhaled sharply, coating the pulsing energy in a sheen of frost. It dropped like a rock. Shock showed plainly on Haku's face, and Ís knew it was time to end this battle.
With a flick of her fingers, ice exploded outward. Haku froze in shock at the human girl's raw power and, because of his hesitation, Ís was able to pin his clothing to the wall behind him, immobilizing him. Her sessions with Kagwi had paid off — he had not a scratch on him, courtesy to her precise aim.
Chest heaving, Ís advanced on Haku. He glared at her in defiance, loathing in his eyes, and spat, "Human. Useless human."
Ís' eyes narrowed. "I won't take your insults any longer," she said quietly, her voice dripping with venom. She gently placed a hand on his leg and, closing her eyes in concentration, whispered, "Ískristallar". Ice began to grow around him, encasing the spirit boy's body. When only his head was free Ís removed her hand. Running her nails along his cheek, she whispered, "You're going to need to hold still here, love. The spell I'm about to attempt is dangerous; meddling with the mind always is. An interruption may prove fatal." Ís placed her hands on either side of the boy's head and stared into his jade eyes, about to tinker with his memories, about to erase her human status. It was a spell she'd come across in Yubaba's library and never had the occasion to use before. Frost crept across his forehead, dimming the light in his eyes. His head fell forward. Ís was just beginning to invade his mind when Yubaba stepped out of thin air and shrieked "Stop!"
Ís turned to glare at her, remembering at the last moment she was to play the part of a loyal apprentice, a mindless puppet. So she smoothed the lines in her face, burying her emotions. Conceal, don't feel. "Yes, master?"
"Leave the boy alone, Ís."
Ís did so, seething at the injustice of it all. Just because Haku was a spirit he got special treatment. She protested,"But master, he—"
"Leave him be." Yubaba interrupted. "And bring him to my room. I have an assignment for the two of you."
Ís bowed her head, traitorous tears pricking the corner of her eyes. One day she'd be the one giving orders. One day she'd be powerful.
She thawed the ice around Haku with a muttered word and, groaning, lifted him up. Yesterday's bruises still hadn't healed, but it wasn't like the witch would care. Throwing him over her shoulder, she carried him to Yubaba's room, grateful that the boy was slim and light.
When she arrived, Yubaba was already there, digging through her stack of papers. The witch was filing her paperwork when Ís entered, still dragging Haku behind her. At some point in the elevator, her arms had given out and she'd resorted to pulling him behind her like a sack of potatoes. At Yubaba's raised eyebrow, she defiantly dropped him with a thud, and stood at attention.
"Master, what was the assignment you wished to give me?" Ís asked, hoping it wouldn't involve dragon boy.
However, Yubaba's next words crushed the girl's hopes. "Ís," the witch said slowly, as if she were caressing her name, "you and Haku shall be completing a dangerous mission together."
Ís flushed with rage and, throwing caution aside, she retorted, "Haku just tried to kill me. I'm not going on a mission with him."
The witch froze, her eyes bulging to epic proportions. "What did you just say?" she thundered. Yubaba flew over her desk and hovered before Ís. In a tone laden with suspicion she asked, "Has my slug disappeared so quickly?"
Caught, Ís froze. The owl amulet against her skin grew warm and, instinctively, Ís allowed it to guide her. "No," she answered coldly, a cruel light entering her eyes, "I remain yours alone, Master." The talisman hummed with pleasure against her skin, and Ís got the feeling she had narrowly avoided losing herself yet again to the witch.
Yubaba began muttering to herself and Ís discretely eavesdropped, storing the information to peruse at a later date. "The girl is beginning to overcome the slug's direct commands. That bodes ill. But it has been four years. I'm surprised it even lasted that long. Control slugs are expensive too….. I spent over a year's income on Haku's! Humans are weak-willed. And it's not like the girl has anywhere to go. I own her name, and her family is at best a distant memory. Slugs are so expensive….." Finally, the witch stopped muttering and focused on the human girl standing before her. Ís' back as beginning to ache from holding so rigidly still.
"Ís", the witch said, waving a plush armchair over and plopping herself down on it. "You'll be the death of me." A cigar floated to her and, after taking a deep draw, Yubaba blew smoke rings out of her nose like a dragon. "I'll tell you why you're going with Haku. Sit down, child." A wave of her hand, and a pressure pushed Ís to the floor, kneeling before the witch. "This is going to be a long story."
Ís nodded, the pain in her back forgotten.
"When you came to me all those years ago, you were a young girl, abandoned by her parents and alone in the world. And a human girl at that: weak, emotional, childish." Yubaba took a long draw from her cigar, not noticing the tensing of Ís' shoulders. "I was worried about you Ís. I didn't think you could survive here. But I watched, amazed, as you befriended your servant and adapted to this place, so different from your old home. It couldn't have been an easy childhood, but you survived. Most in your place wouldn't have.
"You've trained long and hard. Haven't you ever wondered why I insisted you train with Kagwi, practice your Elemental powers and study the Spirit World's hierarchy, instead of working like the rest of the bathhouse?
"Well, you've been preparing for your unique job. And because your training has been progressing well, I felt the time had drawn near to talk about what this job entails.
"The world outside the bathhouse is cruel." Yubaba took a long draw from her glowing cigar, a smirk on her lips. The human child had to believe she only had her best interests at heart. "They'll hold anything against you, and exploit it mercilessly.
"Haku was a test, Ís, a test you passed. I ordered him to tease you, to taunt you and, after you came to me for help, to fight you. You surpassed all my expectations by being clever, bloodthirsty, and loyal. You have grown into your job — you are going to help me 'collect' magical items."
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The next update, Chapter Eight: A Mission for the Witch, won't be until November 26th. (That's four weeks). Sorry, but I'm going to be quite busy, and I don't want to post a chapter that's not as close to perfect as I can make it.
Now for the guest reviews:
Screw Dull Canon: I think Hans is a fascinating character, too.
I love Ingrid: I don't have time right now to watch OUAT. If I did, there would be no updates for months, and I would end up failing my classes since I'd neglect my homework to watch TV XD
Love Cultures: I like to think the Spirit World exists everywhere, overlaying over our world in a separate dimension. That way, characters from all over space and time can somehow find each other there. Which is a useful trait for crossovers.
Love Elsa a Lot: I think if Elsa had practiced her powers in the movie she wouldn't have been a damsel in distress. But it's okay. I can now explore a powerful!Elsa and make it up as I go :)
Frozen OAUT: This is going to be a long story. The eleventh chapter is the last I have rough drafted. Again, with a solid plot-plan, I'm certain that I'm going to finish. I'm guessing there'll end up being around 35 chapters, total.
Best Crossovers: I'm glad you like the Lin and Ís interaction :)
Love AnimeManga: Don't worry about it. Kagwi eventually got a name (and one that I like, too). And believe me, if I had the time, I'd be watching all the anime the world could offer.
Love Crossovers: Again, I promise nothing. Characters introduced have already been decided and will not, I repeat, will not change.
