Heh heh. I almost feel embarrassed showing my face around here after abandoning everyone for so long! Four months since my last update? I am a wretched, wretched member of the human race. What else can I say? I don't deserve all of the wonderful reviews you have given me. But please keep sending them! They are my joy!
I started this story over a year ago! How is it that I'm only on chapter 10!?!? Geh!
So your advice for the day: Breath in through your nose, and out through your mouth! Deep breaths! I swear you'll live longer. And sit up straight, ya shlub!
"It is an honor to serve you, my lord." Chihiro said, bowing as low as she could to the horse god. She stayed doubled over until the clipping of his hard-soled slippers faded around the corner. Chihiro straightened her spine with a small sigh. It was nearing dawn now. The buzzing of energy Chihiro had felt at sunset was fading leaving her exhausted. Half of the night had been spent prowling the bathhouse for those important clients Yubaba had ordered her to meet. The other half had been spent doing every other stupid thing Yubaba had ordered her to do. At this point the only thing she wanted to do was retire to her room where she could empty her full head onto paper and go to sleep.
"Excuse me, ma'am." A small voice squeaked behind her followed by a timid tug at the hem of her shirt.
"Yes?" Chihiro asked, turning to the young frog.
"Yubaba wishes to see you immediately." The frog said with a bow. Chihiro sighed and nodded to him.
"Thank you" she said and set off towards the elevators. What could she possibly want now? Chihiro wondered to herself. She was really getting sick of the long climb to Yubaba's suite. Chihiro didn't run into anyone as she entered Yubaba's chambers for which she was thankful. The entire night Chihiro had been afraid of running into Haku. She had no idea what she was going to say to him when she did see him and was perfectly content with that event happening later rather than sooner.
Chihiro could hear Boh singing to himself in one of the side rooms. She tiptoed passed it to Yubaba's bedroom and knocked on the door.
"Come in." Yubaba wheezed. Chihiro entered and bowed to the old witch.
"You needed something?" Chihiro asked.
"I've been monitoring you all night, I just wanted to compliment you. You have done a surprisingly exceptional job in regards to the guests." Yubaba said.
"Thank you." Chihiro said, bowing again. I came all the way up here for that? She thought ruefully to herself.
"However," Yubaba said, her voice suddenly filling with enough ice to freeze Chihiro in her bow, "however, you were given a detailed list of all the things you were supposed to do last night. Do you remember what that list said?"
Chihiro closed her eyes and ran the list through her head that Hebi had given her that evening.
"Yes, I came to you and spoke to you about the prominent guests. I memorized them and interviewed those that were here. I also gathered lists of stock and herbal inventory to memorized and foreman reviewed purchases and the money system to me. Then I toured the guest quarters of the bathhouse and back rooms, inspected the attendants' quarters, investigated the kitchens and larder, checked the gardens and the pig stables and tested the drink barrels in the basement." Chihiro said, feeling quite exhausted when putting all the events of the day on the table.
"What about the lanterns?" Yubaba asked.
"Huh?" Chihiro asked. She frowned at the old witch and ran Hebi's words back through her head. The guests, inventory, accounting, inspections…oh, crap. He had mentioned something about learning the procedure for lighting the lanterns that lined the bridge, but it had left her mind with everything else.
"I apologize. I will do that tomorrow night." Chihiro said rubbing a hand across her heavy eyes.
"No, you will not!" Yubaba hissed, "You were given a schedule for tonight. Tomorrow will be something completely different. What do you think the purpose of a schedule is? It is to keep order! If you can't do something as simple as follow a list then there is nothing awaiting you down the road but chaos. Get that into your stupid little head and don't let it happen again!" Chihiro bristled.
"The lamps shouldn't be that hard to learn! I don't-"
"Don't you dare talk back you me, human! You are dismissed!" Yubaba growled. Chihiro stood for a second, trying to put a lid on her anger.
"Yes ma'am." She managed to say with barely a quiver in her voice. She bowed and left the room. Chihiro gritted her teeth the whole way back to her quarters. The good thing about anger was that it gave her something to occupy her mind and the long walk to her room didn't seem as long. Chihiro stepped through her door only to find her room already occupied by Hebi. Chihiro would have been startled by the sight of him had she not been so exhausted.
"I've come to attend to you." He said, answering her unasked question.
"Oh." Chihiro said and collapsed face-first on her bed. The warm softness seemed to swallow her whole and her eyes fell shut as every muscle in her body seemed to let out a blissful sigh. However, the second she lay down she knew she wasn't going to be able to sleep yet. Her head was too full. She needed to write everything down and put it into some semblance of comprehensible order or else she would never fall asleep. Chihiro rolled onto her back and heaved herself into sitting position with a grunt. Her eyes protested the fact that they were open by blurring and spinning her vision. When she was finally able to focus she saw Hebi leaning against her dressing table looking amused.
"What?" Chihiro grumbled moodily.
"You're so cute." He said with a grin. Chihiro blinked at him in surprise.
"Wow, you really cut to the chase, now don't you?" She said, running a fist across her eyes. Hebi shrugged.
"I need a pen and some paper." Chihiro said, shoving herself to her feet. Hebi nodded and left the room. Chihiro shuffled over to the dressing table and plopped down on the seat. The Chihiro staring at her from the other side of the mirror had purple rings beneath her eyes and wisps of hair had fallen from her bun to float around her face in a despicable mess.
"Cute my ass." She growled, yanking her hair loose so that it fell to her shoulders. She grabbed the brush from the table and quickly ran it through her brown locks. There really wasn't much to do about the purple bags except sleep and she couldn't do that for a while longer. Chihiro sighed and stared at this worn-out shell of her former self. As she stared her eyes began filling with tears. Before she knew it she was sobbing uncontrollably. This is the pitiful state which Hebi returned to.
"Hey, what's this then?" He asked, placing a blank journal and jar of pens next to her elbow. His firm hands closed around her shoulders, his thumbs stroking small circles into the back of her neck. Chihiro hiccupped and shook her head. Hebi rubbed her back for a few more seconds as she continued to sob, then she was lifted up into the air by some invisible force only to be set down in Hebi's lap as he claimed the seat.
"Come now, tell me what it is." He said wrapping his arms round her. Chihiro buried her face into his black silk shirt and wailed.
"I can't do anything right! I have no idea what I'm doing! I feel like my brains are going to explode and no matter what I do it isn't good enough for that cow! I miss my mom and my dad and my friends and I just want to sleep but I can't and I don't know how I'm going to face Haku after what happened and you told me I was cute when I look like Hell took a dump on me, you jerk!" Chihiro gave a pitiful slap at his chest for emphasis and continued to bawl. She doubted he could understand half of what she had said, her voice muffled as it was by snot, tears and his shirt. But Hebi held her tight anyways and rocked her like a baby, hissing softly into her hair. When she had calmed down sufficiently, he began speaking.
"Alright then, boss. Let's break it apart and look at each catastrophe by itself. You don't know what you're doing? You're not supposed to. You've only been here for three days. It will take time; you just need to take it slowly. Yubaba has been hassling you? I'm very sorry about that. I'll try talking to her but you must keep in mind that she's a contemptible creature by nature, plus she's on the brink of death. Just allow her to be a bitter fool for her last few days if it makes her happy." Chihiro giggled and hiccupped. Hebi smiled into her hair and continued, "I'm also sorry that you're feeling homesick. That's something that will just have to take care of itself in time. Whatever has happened between you and the dragon, I'm sure it will work itself out. You really do look like Hell took a dump on you, I was hoping I could make you feel better by lying." Chihiro let out a small cry of anger and slapped him again, only harder. Hebi laughed and tightened his grip on her shoulders. "As for sleep, that can be taken care of immediately. Just go lie down."
"I can't. Not until I write everything down." Chihiro said pulling away from his chest. "Otherwise my brain really will explode."
"You mean it didn't just now?" Hebi asked glaring at the mess she had made of his shirt. Chihiro laughed and blew her nose into a handkerchief.
"I'm sorry about that, but it's your own fault for giving me a shoulder to cry on." She said, standing up. Hebi stood up as well and Chihiro reclaimed her seat. She opened the blank journal to the first page and tapped a pen against the pure white paper, wondering where to begin. After a moment she turned to Hebi who was raiding her armoire once more to set out her pajamas.
"You know, the first time I met you you scared the crap out of me." Chihiro said bluntly. To her surprise, Hebi laughed.
"Snakes do usually have that affect on humans." He said, taking down a crème colored nightgown. "What with being associated with evil and death from the beginning of time, I guess it can't be avoided." He set the nightgown on the foot of her bed and began sifting through the armoire once more.
"I'm sorry I thought badly of you before." Chihiro said softly. Hebi turned to her.
"Don't be sorry. I told you before that I'm glad you were wary of me. The spirit world isn't a place to be gullible in." Hebi pulled a large, black kimono from the armoire and held it up to himself. "You don't mind, do you? I don't like being soggy."
"Go ahead." Chihiro said, shaking her head. Hebi stepped behind the changing screen and Chihiro turned back to her book. She scratched down a few sentences and stopped again.
"Hebi?" She said softly.
"Hmm?"
"Thank you."
"No problem, boss." He called over the top of the screen. Chihiro smiled and began spilling her thoughts onto the blank pages.
"Hey, boss! Would you like some tea?" Hebi asked a moment later, stepping out from behind the screen fully clothed in her kimono.
"Don't call me boss! And yes, tea would be wonderful."
"Sen!" Lin called from the floor below. Chihiro leaned over the railing and squinted an eye at the Yunna.
"I've already told you! My real name is Chihiro!" she yelled back. Lin made a face and shook her head.
"Nah, that's harder to remember. I like Sen better." Chihiro chuckled and rolled her eyes.
"What do you want?" Chihiro asked.
"Just get your skinny butt down here!" Lin said, beckoning Chihiro with both arms. Chihiro rolled her eyes again and trotted down the stairs to meet her old friend.
"What?" Chihiro asked.
"How are you doing?" Lin asked.
"…huh?" Chihiro asked, raising an eyebrow.
"We never get the chance to talk! And I want to know what life is like for higher management! So, how have you been?" Lin asked again.
"You just want me to give you some juicy bit of gossip, don't you?" Chihiro laughed. Lin feigned a look of ultimate offense and scoffed.
"Is that what you truly think of me? Just a woman who does nothing but gossip?" Lin demanded.
"Well, that's not all you do, but you do like it." Chihiro pointed.
"Hmm, well, that's true. So do you have any good gossip? Is there any idea when that old hag is going to croak?" Lin asked, her dark eyes glinting.
"You're terrible." Chihiro said with a grin and turned to walk away.
"Okay okay okay!" Lin said quickly, grabbing Chihiro's shoulder, "at least tell me what you've been up to! Has dragon boy made a move on you yet?" Chihiro flinched.
"Well…" Chihiro said, looking down at the ground.
"Well….what? He did something, didn't he! What happened?" Lin demanded seeing the mournful expression on Chihiro's face.
"It was nothing, really." Chihiro said, waving her hand in front of her face. "Things are just a little awkward right now."
"Aaaah, so you kissed him!" Lin said, nodding her head knowingly.
"No I didn't!" Chihiro grumbled.
"You mean he kissed you? Wow! He's more straightforward than I expected! I'm proud of him!" Lin said. Chihiro blushed.
"But, I warned you, didn't I? You've got to watch out for those reptiles!" Lin said wagging a finger under Chihiro's nose.
"That's kind of mean lumping us all together like that!" a voice like paper whispered from a hallway to their left. Both girls jumped and turned as Hebi slipped out of the hallway, his already permanent grin wider than usual.
"Don't do that!" Chihiro growled, slapping him lightly on the shoulder.
"Geez, you hit me a lot!" Hebi said grabbing his shoulder, "I'm sorry, but I couldn't resist." Hebi shrugged and reached into his pocket pulling out a piece of paper as Lin watched him, eyes wide with shock. "I spoke to Yubaba and she has agreed to let me edit your list of chores and duties each evening so you don't 'explode'." Hebi handed the paper to Chihiro who quickly opened it and read over her list of tasks. It was less than half what she had been initially given when she woke up that evening. The relief she felt bubbled in her stomach and burst out of her mouth in joyous laughter.
"Hebi, I could kiss you!" She said, clasping the list to her chest.
"That's not necessary, boss." He said, winking one slanted yellow eye at her.
"I told you, don't call me that!" Chihiro grumbled reading the list again.
"There's something else. I've convinced Yubaba that you are ready to begin preparing your body to perform magic. I'm to take you to your teacher now. Two hours each night will be spent studying from now on." Hebi said. Chihiro stared at him.
"Studying?" Chihiro asked.
"Yes. You are to learn incantations and forms, things like that." Hebi nodded.
"Oh…okay." Chihiro said, glancing over at Lin. Hebi turned to Lin as well. He took her hand in his and kissed it regally.
"I do apologize that I must steal her away like this. Please forgive me." He said to her. Lin jumped and squeaked in surprise. Hebi let go of her and motioned for Chihiro to follow him. Chihiro waved farewell to Lin, but Lin didn't notice. She stared at Hebi's back, rubbing subconsciously at the spot he had kissed. Chihiro smirked and followed him. They walked a short ways in silence. Thoughts raced through Chihiro's mind about these 'magic lessons'. She wondered if she should send Hebi to fetch her journal so she could take notes. Then a thought struck her.
"Hebi? How much of our conversation did you hear?" She asked.
"Pretty much all of it. I'm a rather sneaky guy." Hebi said over his shoulder. Chihiro's eyes widened. Hebi chuckled.
"I was a bit curious about why you didn't want to face the dragon. I think the whole situation is rather cute." He said. Chihiro blushed.
"I'm sorry I mentioned it." She grumbled, nodding greetings to the Radish spirit as they passed him in the hallway. Chihiro took notice of where they were. She was amazed to find that there were still parts of the bathhouse she had never explored and this was apparently one of them.
"Where are we?" She asked.
"These are the quarters for the male employees." Hebi said over his shoulder. Chihiro glanced back at the Radish spirit wondering what he would be doing in a place like this when Hebi stopped at a screen door and rapped loudly on the wooden frame.
"Enter." Said a deep voice on the other side. Chihiro's insides froze. Hebi opened the door and walked in. Whether on their own or forced by magic, Chihiro's legs followed him through the opening. The room was smaller than Chihiro's and not as glamorous, but it felt comfortable and 'lived-in'. Five small lanterns wrapped in blue and green paper sparsely lit the room, casting everything in aquatic hues. A few trinkets sparkled on the surface of a dresser and writing desk, but it was the person behind the desk that shook Chihiro to the core. Haku stared back at her, eyes wide and slightly bruised with exhaustion. He had obviously not gotten much sleep lately.
"Master Haku, Yubaba has given orders for Chihiro to undergo magical training." Hebi said formally, "She has left it to me to find a suitable teacher to train her for two hours every night. Because of your knowledge and skill in this area I have chosen you to undertake this task." And with just that, Hebi turned and left giving Chihiro's glaring face and encouraging wink in passing. He closed the door behind him on a very heavy and uncomfortable silence.
A hush fell across the room as the reader though, WTF! I waited four months for that?
Please review! Please! Don't make me beg, but I will!