"You need a job? And just when I thought you were nice folk," Yubaba got up. She threw her cigarette into the fireplace, and assembled some papers from a stack with her hand. She threw us the papers, and threw Ichigo a pen. "Sign the contract," She said dully. I looked at my contract. It read: 'By signing this document, you hereby declare that you will be enslaved to the property of the Bath-House, and are submitted to any and every use. Until your time serving is done, you shall not, by any circumstance, try to leave the premises. You are subject to any punishment viewed as suitable by the…' I couldn't keep reading.
"We're going to be enslaved?" I spoke up. "Listen, you want work, or not?" Yubaba riposted. I gulped and nodded. I looked over at Ichigo's paper, and it was the same. "Should we sign it?" I whispered into his ear. "We've got nothing to lose." He whispered back. He signed his name on the paper and handed the pen to me. I'll take my chances. I thought. I signed the paper. "Ah, you're both done?" Yubaba snatched the papers out of our hands. She read over them and looked at us. "Good job," She said in a pleased tone. "Now I have your names."
On Ichigo's paper, she lifted up the first and last syllables, leaving only the middle one. Yubaba pointed to him. "Whenever you're in the bathhouse, you are to be called 'Chi'." She looked over at my paper. With her hand, she lifted up the first and last syllables of my name, again, only leaving the middle syllable. Then… she doubled the middle syllable. I winced. She pointed at me. "Whenever you're in the bathhouse, you are to be called 'Kiki'." I nodded again. "She's renaming us…" I whispered to Ichigo. "Wow, I wonder why." He whispered sarcastically.
"Your names are Kiki and Chi. Answer me!" Yubaba demanded with a powerful voice. "Uh, yes master." Ichigo replied. "Yes, master." I said. We both bowed our heads. "Apprentice! Come here!" Yubaba called out. Sure enough, a being dressed in a cloak came by our side. "They signed the contract. Get them a job." Yubaba said. The person nodded, and motioned for us to follow. It led us to the door we entered from and back to the hallway where I yelled at Ichigo. We entered the sole elevator on the level.
"Who are you?" Ichigo asked the strange being. "I'll introduce myself later," The being responded in a high-pitched tone. I guess it was using a voice changer. The being looked at us both. "Might I ask who you both are?" It asked. "I'm… Chi." Ichigo responded. "I'm Kiki." I answered reluctantly. "Such nice names. However, I can tell they don't match your personalities at all." The being said warmly. "Someone who is named 'Chi' would be enthusiastic, and 'Kiki', naïve. But it seems to be the opposite with you two." It informed. "What's your name, then?" I asked.
"You'll find out soon." It said, as the elevator opened to another floor.
*~*~*
Enjoy! Happy Holidays! Word Count: 558