White Snake

"The fires grow stronger," Lillian whispered. "I do not like this."

"I concur," a strong voice responded. "but, you are too weak to understand. There are many further dangers that lie ahead. You must believe in yourself and the path that you walk. If lives are lost, and you do not possess that faith, you will turn to madness."

She glanced up. The fright in her eyes was stark against the looming shadows.

"Do not fear," her companion urged. "There is no need for that as of yet. Your eyes should remain upon the girl that walks in your midst. She is a threat to all - even to the humans."

Lillian protested. "She is not evil!"

The turn of her companion's gaze struck her. Lillian lowered her head until it came near the ground. A sudden pain seized her legs.

"She is not evil," her companion uttered softly. "She loves. That is where the danger lies. That is where the seeds of our failure are sown. Watch her, Lillian, watch her as you have not watched before. The monk you may forget."

Lillian's arms trembled. She almost fell in her attempt to rise. Her voice quivered as she obliged. When her eyes rose they found shadows. Her companion was gone. They were not likely to meet soon.

"There is a festival soon," Reina whispered.

Hiro squirmed. There was no distance between them. The stair that they were squeezed together on had no room to give. His shoulder moved and she jolted. She winced.

"Sorry," he said, equally as quiet. "Is there a festival soon? Why haven't I heard of it? Kana would've been here announcing plans."

She shook her head. "The festival isn't here. There's a small village in the South of the great mountain. There are barely five houses there, if even. They're having a festival, a traditional one, soon,"

He looked at her. "Do you want to go?"

Reina stiffened. She seemed to try and lean away from him. An emotion flickered behind her eyes. She pursed her lips for a moment.

"No," she murmured. "That wasn't what I meant. They want to ensure the survival of their customs. They don't like company, but… They don't have medicines, Hiro. I'm worried. I want to make sure they're okay."

He nodded. "I think it's a great idea, Reina,"

She shook her head. "I can't go. I have a lot of work. Please, Hiro, go and see them for me. I have to know,"

"All right," he sighed. "I'm still going to try and sneak you out with me, okay?"

She smiled. "Okay,"

He squirmed a little more and the old staircase creaked. Reina nudged his foot in a silent warning. Hiro grinned and reached over to her with an open hand. She took it: intertwining their smallest fingers and pressing their thumbs together.

The sound of chairs scraping against the floor rushed out from under the door. Reina tried to jump to her feet but faltered. Her hands shot out. One grasped the balustrade and the other pressed against the wall. A sharp breath filled the tired old building.

Hiro tensed. "Reina?"

"I'm stuck," she hissed.

"I thought so," he replied softly. "Don't worry. I'll get you out."

He inched forward against the creaking stairs. Slowly, centimetre by centimetre, he eased away from the tightness of the space. Reina, too, tried to ease away. She pressed against the wall on her right and used her feet to force herself away.

Just as the creaking halted at the door the voices rose a little. Neither Hiro nor Reina paid it any heed. Their spying was finished. Hiro scrunched his nose and pushed, successfully getting free. Reina thunked back down with the suddenness of her freedom.

Step by step, Hiro came clattering to the ground floor. His arms were stretched out for balance. He hadn't fallen. He turned, winked at Reina and jogged out of the front door. She raced back up to her room. The door opened just as Hiro escaped.

"I understand," Nathan said lowly. "However, the danger is imminent. I warn you now to heed my words. You alone of Konohana will allow me. I trust that you will use my wisdom as needed."

Mako frowned. "I understand what you mean, Nathan, but demons? Demons haven't made any trace of their presence known here in decades. There are many who would laugh in my face and continue with their lives. I think all would,"

The monk turned. "Does this mean that you have nothing to say to them?"

"I will tell them," he assured. "I want you to understand how futile this effort is. I doubt anyone would be spared if they did choose to come. Those in Bluebell would have no words for us no matter the situation in their land. I trust you, Nathan, I do, but this world has moved on from ghosts and demons."

"If only the ghosts and demons had moved on as well," Nathan responded.

The door closed a moment later. Both Mako and Nathan had left. The house was left in its old, crippled state, echoing the last sound of the outer world in melancholic whispers. For Reina, the sound was of metal against metal, booming down gargantuan vaults.

"Oh, good girl," said the rat, swinging its long tail back and forth. "Oh, now, let me see, what was I to say? Oh, yes. Oh, yes, now I recall. Oh, girl, please pay heed, for this shall be uttered but once only. Oh, long in the days where men were few and the giants plagued the skies, there were ten suns, one true Lady and all was as devised. Oh, but time was dreaming differently and it was ill advised. Oh, the world was to crumble in all of their eyes."

Reina's hand knocked a small porcelain shell from the cabinet. "What do you want?"

The rat's eyes brightened at the sudden surge of fear. "Oh, why, I want to see Lady Ying well. Oh, that means, that means… Oh, yes, that means the article. Oh, may I have it, girl? Oh, I must have it. Oh, if I do not, oh, the pain you will endure… Oh, yes,"

Author's Note: This was finished the day after I uploaded chapter nine! I am so happy to be so far ahead! Of course, I do worry for the health of my laptop, and thus the life of these documents, however, I do feel that all should be well in the end. I hope that you will understand if I choose to make such grave changes as the one I have in mind.