The young auburn-haired woman showed no sign of having noticed her enter the baths after her. She merely sat in her corner, back turned to the door, lathering soap onto her arms and body. She didn't need to acknowledge Akako's entrance though. The young witch could tell by the mere stiffness in her opponent's back, the cold aura she could feel in the room. She didn't try to strike up conversation. What was there to be said after all? Sorry for being a bitch and hey, I'm concerned about who gave you such marks? Really not the best way to get any answers worth knowing, also it was truly not her style.

Mirroring Miyano's attitude, Akako went to the other side of the washing area, her face schooled into an expression of discontent as she began her own ablutions. She hadn't planned on using the spring baths tonight, but she had acknowledged the possibility that her adversary might already have found herself there by the time she was prepared. Discreetly, as she reached for her soap, she slipped her pocket mirror from her bag and set it down, so she could unobtrusively observe the other girl. Just in time to notice the girl flinch as she tried to rub soap onto a spot on her back. The quiet hiss was clearly audible, just as the red mark on the back was visible. Akako had hoped to be wrong about that, had hoped that the marks on her adversary's neck had been all there was...

She sighed. Why the hell was she so concerned about this girl after all? Had it not been for Miyano's white face before, she would have merely assumed the red head was prone to accidents, or, more likely, considering the young woman's usual demeanour, that she liked it rough. The idea that someone could do such a thing to a woman against her will and get away with it... The young witch narrowed her eyes. She did not like the idea one bit.

As she continued to wash her own body, she pondered how best to probe Miyano on the question. She couldn't help but notice whenever the girl would flinch or hold back some form of pain. Nor could she fail to notice how pretty the other's body could have been without such blemishes. Miyano had the potential to become a worthy opponent. One to be respected as an equal. Akako continued to wash for another five minutes once Miyano had rinsed away the soap suds, picked up her towel and headed to the baths proper. Then, her mind made up and her eyes determined, she too stood and followed.

She was hit by the wall of moist, warm air hanging above the baths as she entered. The baths were fed by the part of them that was a hot spring. The sulphur rich liquid in which Miyano was already wading gave off a vapour that gave the whole scene a mystical feeling.

Closing her eyes, the young Witch allowed the moisture to work its magic on her skin, the warmth to gently rub away any tension from her own muscles... She pushed away any thoughts of scratch marks, bites, terrified young women or lost waiters. She pushed away any thought of self and pride. She liked these baths, with their open roof allowing one to peak out at the night sky, to see the stars between two swirls of steam... It was a place where she could remember the meanings of the words flow and nature. It was the perfect place to relax and ponder upon magic spells without the insistent tug of ambition.
This was also why she tended only to use them when she was really feeling down. Whenever she spent a session there meditating, she'd come out thinking nothing really mattered, feeling out of place in her elitist school environment or in the crowds of tourists along the roads.

She opened her eyes, and dipped a toe into the water. She twirled it around thoughtfully, watching the ripples form and run, reaching out further into the baths, reaching out towards the only other occupant of the waters. No, tonight was very much not the night for quiet reflection. Seating herself on the ledge of the pool, Akako dipped her foot in deeper, beginning to caress the water with her finger tips as she slowly slipped her other foot in. Yes, she was going to have to do something about Miyano. Forget about the waiter, forget her insolence. She was a woman just like her, and something was very wrong with her. If ever the person who'd given her those marks was a man...

A light red glow seemed to come from the young witch's eyes as she herself slid into the water. If there was such a man capable of hurting a woman without any other involved... She did not even want to give such a slave the pleasure of her gaze.