A/N: Things are a little hectic at the moment. I'm averting a lot of things right now. I apologize for the inconvenience. Chapter 10 will be up shortly and I hope that things will calm down soon to where I can start writing some more.
The three of them crossed back over the bridge in silence. Each pondering where to look once they reached the Osaka house. Himiko gazed at the map they'd been given from time to time as they walked, speculating how best to approach the task. Chances were that the ghost she and Ginji ran into in that house was still there and was going to be anything but helpful. It seemed to her that most of the helpful spirits only revealed themselves to Ginji, with the exception of the child and the platinum-haired boy, Itsuki. But even though she and Ban could see Itsuki as well, he only acknowledged Ginji. It didn't appear they could use these spirits to their advantage, only Ginji could, if that was even possible; so far those spirits only showed up as guides, leading him places.
Himiko sighed, lost in her own thoughts. Ban watched her as they walked, he could see her frustration, but he knew it was for reasons very different from his own. Of all the people in the world it had to be Jackal that they had to rescue. Himiko was right that he was their partner in the up-coming mission, but that didn't mean he liked it any more. Not only did he rub Ban the wrong way, but also this place did as well. This place gave him an over whelming ominous feeling that he had felt only once before in his life; when he had met Yamato and Himiko.
True his times with them were among the best in his life, but Yamato had always given him this feeling deep in his heart. And to his dismay it had come true, something Ban never wanted to have happen again. Even though this place gave him that same feeling, he felt that there was something different, like maybe this time, whatever was to come, he could change it. Ban hoped he could trust that hunch, because things were looking bleaker by the moment.
Ginji watched as the two of them walked before him, so lost in their own thoughts that they hadn't realized their pace had quickened. Both of their faces were grim and it made Ginji sad to see them that way. He wanted to say something to put them both at ease but he couldn't think of anything; this depressed Ginji. Just then Ginji heard something, he listened and it sounded like bubbles he thought. Ginji stopped and looked all around and noticed that the bridge went over a river. Ginji smiled, 'Well that makes sense then...' he thought as he continued to walk. Just then he heard it again, but this time more clearly and he thought, 'Wait, isn't that what bubbles sound like under water?' Ginji pondered this a moment as he stood.
"Hey guys," he said at last, "Do you hear anything strange? Like bubbles underwater?" Ban and Himiko stopped, "We are on a bridge over a river, Ginji..." Ban said as he turned and stared. "Wait," Himiko said as she turned as well, "Did you say un–" Himiko stopped mid-sentence, "Ginji!" they both exclaimed. Ginji stared at them, "What?" Ginji turned and found himself staring into the eyes of a woman, scared and pale, and floating above his head. "Whoa!" Ginji exclaimed as he stumbled backward avoiding her grasp as she reached for him. Ginji turned and ran toward Ban and Himiko who also turned and the three of them made a run for the opposite gate.
They slammed into it, pushing as hard as they could when they realized that the gate opened the other way. Looking back as they opened the gate they saw her almost on top of them, the layer of mist surrounding her thinning as she came in for the attack. Ban and Ginji pushed Himiko through as they pulled the gate doors shut behind them. Dropping to the ground Ban and Ginji panted to catch their breath, both from the run and the scare. Himiko stood as she caught hers, but they only received a moment's peace when they heard another scream; again from the house to their left. Ginji's eyes widened, "Kazu..?" Ban and Himiko looked at him as Ginji made a mad dash for the house. "Shit, Ginji!!" Ban yelled as he and Himiko followed suit.
Ginji ran up the stone steps and made it up the ramp before Ban and Himiko made it to the stone steps. He went inside without hesitation but stopped upon entry, 'Should I go in the door or up the stairs?' he thought in a panic, looking from one to the other. 'The doors closer' he thought and went through, "Kazuki!!!!" Ginji shouted and went to his friend's side. Ban and Himiko heard Ginji yell as they ran to catch up, "Looks like he found thread-spinner," Ban said as they reached the door.
Once inside they found Ginji cradling the seemingly lifeless Kazuki. Himiko gasped and put her hands to her mouth as Ban moved in to examine him. Ginji was too upset to comprehend much, "Is he gonna be ok, Ban-chan?" he asked, tears running down his face. "I don't know, would you quit your crying and hand him over? I can't tell anything from here!" Ban exclaimed as Ginji released his grip on his friend. Ban took Kazuki in his arms and began searching for a pulse.
He noticed Kazuki felt very cold, but not like ice, which meant one of two things; either he was still alive or died in the last few minutes. Ban hoped it was the former for both Kazuki's and Ginji's sake. Unlike himself Ban knew Ginji wouldn't be able to handle the loss of one of his own. 'There,' he thought, 'I found it.' Ban had found a pulse, a faint one.
"He's alive," Ban announced. "Really?!" Ginji breathed. "Yeah, but it's pretty serious, if we don't get him help fast he may die." Ginji began to panic, Ban hated it when Ginji did this, he made things so much more difficult when he did. Then he remembered, "Hey Ginji!!" Ban shouted at him. Ginji stopped, "Yes Ban-chan?" "Which one did you say healed more, the vile or the bottle?" "Um, pretty sure it was the bottle, Ban-chan.." Ginji said a thoughtful look on his face despite the tears that ran down it. "Then give me the bottle you found back at the mansion." Ginji reached in his pocket and gave Ban the bottle.
Ban opened the bottle with his teeth and spit out the top, he looked at Kazuki, 'It doesn't look like he'll swallow on his own, damn!' he thought to himself. Ban moved his left arm that was supporting Kazuki up to his throat then emptied the contents of the bottle into his own mouth. Tossing the empty bottle aside he took his free hand and opened Kazuki's mouth as well as tipping his head backward a little. With that Ban began feeding the water to Kazuki, mouth to mouth, while his left hand caressed his throat helping him to swallow.
Ginji blushed as he watched; he'd never seen Ban so gentle before, what's more was he'd never seen Ban do this before. Himiko was simply amazed to see Ban go through all this trouble for someone else. The Ban she knew never bothered with others when they were too weak to hold their own. Had being with Ginji softened him? Ginji and Himiko merely watched without saying anything.
Slowly color began to return to Kazuki's skin. His eyes fluttered from time to time until he finally came to. Smack! "OW!! Goddamn you, thread-spinner, what the hell was that for!!??" Ban yelled. Kazuki merely sat up on his own, his hand covering his mouth, blushing wildly. Himiko stifled herself, almost laughing out loud, but she still couldn't help smiling. "Yay! Kazu, you're ok!!!" Ginji exclaimed embracing his friend. Kazuki was still astonished; he looked at Ginji but his gaze returned to Ban.
"I'm sorry, Ban, but that's not the way..." Kazuki began. "That's not what it was!!!" Ban yelled turning bright red; Kazuki couldn't tell if it was from embarrassment or anger. "I was just giving you some holy water, geez!" Ban stood brushing himself off. Kazuki looked at him, "Holy water?" "Yeah," Ginji said, standing up. Ginji held out his hand to help his friend stand as well. Kazuki looked to Ginji now, taking his hand.
"You see Kazuki, we've found these bottles of holy water and some small viles of this herbal stuff that give you energy back after a ghost attack," Ginji said smiling. "Ghost attack?" Kazuki said, he thought back to the woman with the broken neck, 'Was that what that was? It can't be...' he thought to himself. "It's obvious that's what you were attacked by, am I right?" Ban said lighting a cigarette. Kazuki looked to him again, he was still in awe, were these really ghosts?
"It was a woman, her head was dangling to the side held on only by skin it looked like..." "Right, and how many people do you know can snap their neck like that and still walk and talk?" Ban asked side-glancing him. Kazuki bit his lip, it was true, there really was no other explanation for it, but ghosts? "Mr. Ginji, have you seen Shido!?" Ginji looked surprised, "Monkey boy's here too?" Ban asked. "Shido and I got separated within the first few minutes of waking up in this place, we were attacked by two young girls." Ginji's and Himiko's eyes widened, "Were they wearing white?" Ginji asked.
Kazuki hesitated, the question catching him by surprise, "No," he shook his head thoughtfully, then looked to Ginji again, "The color of their kimonos was faded, and it was dark, I couldn't tell you what color they were wearing, but I'm certain it wasn't white. Why?" "Because so far we've been attacked and stalked by a girl in a white kimono, stained with blood. She seems to be really bad news, her and this monster-thing that seems to tag along with her," Ban said. "Monster-thing?" Kazuki cocked his head. "Yes, I couldn't tell you what it was, but it was hideous and it captured Akabane," Himiko spoke at last. "So Dr. Jackal's here as well?" Kazuki pondered as he crossed his arms. "Yeah, this must've been a pretty big assignment if Hevn was calling all of us to it," Ban said.
"You say Dr. Jackal was captured?" Kazuki asked turning to Himiko. "Yes," Himiko replied, "And we're on our way to find the key to get him out of the cell he's trapped in inside the mansion across the river." "Mansion across the river?" Kazuki looked at her. "What are you? A parrot now?" Ban asked looking at Kazuki quizzically. Kazuki shook his head and turned to Ginji, "But Mr. Ginji, Shido's still trapped in this house somewhere, what if he was attacked as well?" "Don't worry, we'll go look for Shido," Ginji said soothingly. "But what about Akabane?" Himiko asked. "You're in a big hurry to rescue Jackal..." Ban looked at Himiko. "I just don't think we should leave him waiting..." Himiko began. "I don't think it's a good idea to leave Shido waiting either!" Kazuki exclaimed. "But that mansion is where we saw that girl, it's the only place we've seen her, we can't leave him there with her," Himiko finished returning her gaze from Kazuki to Ban.
Ban looked from one to the other, "What should we do, Ban-chan?" Ginji asked. "I think you're both right, but unfortunately there's no easy solution to this. Akabane's trapped inside that house with the girl in the bloody kimono and a rumor about some sacrificial ritual that's going to be performed on him..." Ban said. "Can they do that?" Kazuki looked at Ban in amazement. Ban looked at Kazuki, "I have no idea, but stranger things have happened so far. We also can't leave monkey boy stranded in this place if there are two malicious little girls running around and take the risk he'll end up like thread-spinner; or worse, dead."
Everyone fell silent for a moment, then Kazuki spoke, "Well then, the three of you should continue to find that key and rescue Dr. Jackal, I'll remain here and look for Shido." "No Kazuki, you shouldn't be left here alone. I'll stay with him!" Ginji said looking from Kazuki to Ban. "But Ginji, you're the only one who can fight these things, you can't leave us on our own either!" Himiko exclaimed. Ban and Ginji stared at each other in silence a moment, then Ban said, "That was the only option I could think of too. We split up."
"But Midou, how can we.." Himiko began facing him. "We're just going to have to find another way, that or be quick and avoid them altogether." Ginji nodded and turned to Kazuki, "Let's go Kazu," he looked back to Ban again, "We'll be as quick as we can, Ban-chan, thanks." Ban nodded, "Let's go, Himiko." "But Midou, what if we..." He looked at her straight, "We'll manage. Come on." She shut her mouth and followed him out, glancing backwards at Ginji and Kazuki who were turning the other way to go through the other door.
