HAKU
Shaking with a dread that was absolute Haku forced himself forward.
The light from the distant city grew thin, letting hideous shadows stretched across him from above, pressing him smaller and smaller until he feared he might snuff into nothing. With each step it grew cold, so bitter cold he could see his trembling breath because magic teemed like an electric hum beneath his feet. It was so terribly quiet he went deaf inside the sound of his furiously beating heart because overhead and all around hung an endless thicket of spindly black arms and legs.
Spinning spindly roads of silk they traversed easily on their tiny feet, the horde of spiders was frozen in place. All around him they hung motionless; dangling deadly bobbles of shiny polished jet. Their eyes were dull as carefully he wound his way between them, cringing from touching the hairy spines of their legs just as he tried not to look at their hideously beautiful faces. Haku was forced to slow, carefully picking his way through gouges in the earth as the bodies grew thick. They began clustering and clambering on top of each other in their haste to reach something.
Then he saw the centipede's carcass.
It had been torn to pieces; ripped limb from limb until the hollow segments of its body lay like haphazardly tossed rings on a ground wet with the piles of its glistening green innards. There was not enough room between the bodies to pass on foot, nor was there room in the air lest he become tangles in webs, and so through this horror he was forced to crawl. He wretched twice until there was nothing left to lose but still his stomach heaved. His skin slithered with revulsion for blood was thick on the ground. Oh, the smell! He knew this smell. He knew what it tasted like and again it smeared on his face and grew sticky on his hands.
Lifting his face to peer through the thicket of legs Haku blinked and found himself nose to nose with a severed head. It lolled in the grass ahead of him, dull red eyes faintly glowing like dwindling coals. He cried out. It was a shrill mewling sound that frightened him even more. He jerked aside, knocking back into the tangled wall of legs only to shout again as the spider he knocked into moved made room for him. Fear pitched up into his throat with such fervor it threatened him with a swoon for fear he might have broken the spell of stillness. But the sea of bodies hung over him with an immobility that was terrifyingly complete. It would have been crushing if not for the panicked beating of his heart.
All the same his mind constructed such chillingly vivid visions that he almost fled. But he did not. Stronger than his urge to run was his self-loathing; Haku hated the cowardice brewing inside him. He hated the weak trembling in his tiny frail limbs. That hate turned to determination and it sustained him as he stood. Leaning away even as he pushed feebly against the monstrous casing the blocked his path, Haku blinked in awe as again the spider moved. Docile and compliant, it stepped aside only to fall still. As it did there was a flash of light ahead of him, the thinnest flicker frozen in time. Nudging a path among the bodies Haku slide forward, sidling around a headless spider carcass out into a breech.
Here he found Aki.
Haku blinked and wavered, turning from the sight with a barely restrained moan. But he forced himself to look back because Aki was still alive. Her swords were gone. So was her helm. Her face was twisted with agony as she hauled on the spear of silk that pierced her side, pinning her to the ground. All the same her eyes burned with defiance as if she intended to pry the lance free and use it to fight. Above Aki hung a tiny fox-fire; the yellow light cast terrible shadows across the wall of shells that domed over them, reflecting back the swarm of ruby mirrored eyes.
Haku shrank from the imposing figure it illuminated. Standing over the half-fox in the bowl of bodies was an enormous spider. She was monstrous; larger than Jouma; larger even than any of her dull black sisters. Carefully Haku inched over to kneel beside Aki all the while cautiously watching the demon. She bore too familiar red and yellow markings and the great lobed crown of spinney ridges similar to antiquated hairstyles.
This was the queen of this nest.
Here was the mother of all the horror that stood immobilized around him.
Crouched there beside the stricken half-fox Haku knew that he could kill this spider. There was nothing to stop him. Standing shakily, he found himself within reach. All he had to do was to take up Hanoane and strike her head from her shoulder just as he had Jouma. But even as he shook with that truth; even as he was awed by the tiny bit of gear and metal inside his pocket; even as he stilled with astonishment over the power it had bestowed on him; Haku could not bring himself to kill again.
Turning his back to the spider he grasped the lance pinning Aki to the ground and held his breath. Shoving down the stab of nausea churning in his gut Haku wrenched it free and cast it aside. Haku hurriedly shook out his umbrella and tucked the haft into his elbow before carefully collecting Aki off the ground. The moment he touched her half-fox complied with the nearly comatose movements of the spiders. No blood welled from the wicked wound; none would so long as they remained out of time. Tucking his foot into the crook of the handle Haku slung Aki's arm over his shoulder. He grasped her round the waist already calling a wind beneath his feet and glad the half-fox was senseless; otherwise the pain would have been terrible.
As a storm built in his heart, circling this chest like a cold cloud of pain, Haku finally looked up into the spider queen's face. His insides stilled at what he saw. There was no hate in this spider's face; no blind fanaticism or vicious glee. Instead there was nothing but weary sadness. Haku glanced down as light glinted off something at her middle. Tucked into the spider's obi were two fans. Bells hung from the handles. Bells! They were beaten and worn, but remained uncannily familiar: gold and silver but backed in red just like Okesa's fans.
Haku was so shocked that the wild gale slipped through his control, he scrambled to catch it only to have it propel him upwards so swiftly his neck snapped painfully. Haku scrambled to hold onto Aki and the haft of the umbrella as the fretful storm threw them up through a latticed roof of legs and arms and out into the empty night sky. Oh how his heart sang to be free of the crushing press of bodies! Up into vast emptiness he rocketed. Higher and higher he rose until the air thinned and frosted him with cold. Still, all he could see inside his head was the queen spider's face. Because deep in the marrow of his bones Haku knew he would pay for his moment's weakness. Not now, but certainly later and slowly but surely that fact dragged him down like a stone.
Faster than was probably wise he plunged until Ueno loomed in a spangled blot of dark amidst the coursing tributaries of light. He was still wearing his glasses and quickly found a familiar roof in the sea of buildings. Haku blew guiding mistrals that turned him towards the electric lights pooling in the courtyard behind the building. These grew larger and larger until the ground swallowed the sky and his feet touched earth. It was odd that the lights made no noise; neither had any of the winds he called; neither did the stairs as he came up carrying Aki. His door was still hanging open.
Haku paused on the threshold to take in the frozen chaos inside.
In the middle of the room Karasu was hanging around Kubi's middle hugging her close even though she was covered in filth. Kubi had taken off her mask and had reeled back her fist to give the bird another black eye. The crow had lost his hat again, which Bozu eagerly claimed. Holding up the brim the goblin watched with glee as if anticipating the fight. Ignoring the others, Sumirei the rat girl was frowning into the empty refrigerator as Kitten clutched the hem of her coat with a hungry frown. Badger was kneeling at Grandpa Bean's feet with rapt wide-eyed attention. The old kami leaned over him with wide red eyes magnified by his glasses, miming claws Haku knew far too well. The kappa was peering out the bathroom curiously, soaking a puddle into the floor.
The tableau painted by the unruly Gods struck Haku.
It inspired in him such strange emotions.
Tears sprung into his eyes for it reminded him so very much of home.
Still outside of time Haku came inside and stepped around the other kami to lay Aki on his bed. Red in the face with embarrassment he unbuckled her armor glad to find she wore a short red kimono and voluminous trousers beneath. Haku peered at the deep wound that seemed to reach on into forever. Forsaking his armor he folded his cloak and reverted to his human clothes. As he producing the gourd of O-Inari-sama's spring water his glasses urged him on with such fervor he instantly had a splitting headache. He doused the wound with a careful measure of camphor smelling liquid, blinking as it hissed and frothed.
Aki flinched, loosing a low moan as her hands tightened on the sheet. Red tinged the water a slowly Haku realized time was returning. So the watch had a limit after all. Again he bathed the wound, blotting at it with the sheet for it was the cleanest thing he owned. The fabric came away stained with red but at least the wound was no longer a gaping hole. Unfortunately it was nowhere near healed. Forsaking the water he turned instead to salt as murmuring voices approached, distant as first but growing closer and closer.
Leaning over her Haku awkwardly patted the fox-woman's face.
"Aki? Aki, can you hear me?"
Movement slowly began in the peripheries of his vision.
"If you can hear me I apologize. I fear this will hurt."
Taking a handful of salt from the sack he stored with Onsen's other gifts Haku pressed the grit into the wound all the while cringing. The half-fox's yellow-green eyes flew wide at the same moment time came crashing down. Aki sat bolt upright with howl of pain. He had half been expecting this. He had not expected her to catch him by the throat and hurling him cross the room. As he hit the wall it caved behind his back. He half expected to continue straight through into Origa's dance studio. Instead he slid to a rude seat on the floor.
He had no inertia left. No strength to stir or move. With a sigh he let himself sag there between the wall and the floor. The room whirled around him as Haku lay there stunned by the ringing in his ears.
"He's dead! He's dead!"
It took him a moment to realize in the distance Sumirei was screaming.
"No, he just stinks like dead spider!" Badger decried.
Kubi was shouting now too. It seemed now that everyone was shouting.
"Put me down Karasu! Put me down or so help me…!"
A solid thwack echoed through the room as the crow uttered a truncated squawk.
"Shhh!" Bozu hissed, "Stupid dragon not dead so not kill stupid bird either!"
Blinding rapidly, Haku recoiling as Kubi filled his vision. Her naked face was aged with terror. Cold hands grasped his face, swearing blood and plaster dust as she shook him. Oh how the inside of his skull sloshed with white hot pain!
"Nigihayami!?"
"Do not shake me, Kubi-san…" Haku implored weakly all the while plucked at her hands, "Please do not shake me…"
Kubi sat back on her heels wilting with relief. Karasu sidled up to her shoulder, crouching beside her with a hand pressed to his face where she had hit him. The bird peered at him with a sober frown.
"You okay, brother?"
The bird jolted with a hoarse squawk as Aki threw herself upright only to collapse gripping her side. The half-fox produced a gleaming knife from some secret place as she spilled to the floor gracelessly. At once the God-children scattered into hiding throughout the tiny room as the Shitamachi solider pointed the blade at Kubi.
"Traitor!" Aki snarled, "This is your fault!"
Karasu uttered another startled squawk as the half-fox threw her knife. It hit the wall right next to Haku's head, sinking half-way to the hilt. Kubi wrenched it free claiming it for her own. She was on her feet in front of them pointing it back at Aki.
"Spare me your bullshit, dog! You're an idiot if you think Garuda is to blame for Shitamachi's evils!"
Haku jolted as the name rang in his ears like a deep brass bell.
It echoed inside his chest, waking him from his stupor.
Still struggling to stand the half-fox found another knife from somewhere inside her sleeve, glaring with raw hatred as she clutched her side.
"You brought him to us! You bring his poisons on us still!"
Flecks of spittle flew from her parched lips as she continued, spilling such confounding truths Haku hung on every word struggling to understand.
"Shitamachi withers beneath his shadow still! You have him bottled up somewhere in the caverns and the spiders know! They tear apart our world searching for him! You are nothing before Shurui's children, they are too many! You cannot hope to keep him from them! Garuda must be destroyed!"
Slowly Aki bent as she managed to master her fury. As she reached out to Kubi blood was wet on her fingers and a fat blot fell to the floor. Commanding with her eerie bright eyes, the half-fox's appealed in a voice tempered by conviction.
"All this can come to an end, Kubi. All you need do is give me the bell."
Kubi's naked face turned to a blank mask as she stared for a long moment, considering the God-woman's blood stained hand. Then she sneered, revealing her black teeth as such a cold smoky laugh ran an across her white lips.
"You can't destroy him, Aki. Believe me, I know. You call me a traitor but I did what none of you could." Kubi pronounced each word with cold certainty, "I will keep him until the day I die."
Aki growled like an animal deep inside her chest as a fox-fire guttered to life over her, flooding the room with crackling shadows as she bared sharp teeth.
"That can be arranged."
At once Kubi's head snaked from her shoulder, coiling up into the rafters, hanging over them like a white squall as her silver eyes flashed like lightening. Oh, such fury filled the tiny room as the God-women faced each other. It sent the hairs on Haku arms standing on end as his breath freezing on his lips. The bulb overhead pulsed and rattled before it burst, sending angry shadows chasing around the room as the walls between the worlds thinned beneath the power of their hate.
"Oh, shit! Oh, shit!" Karasu hissed between his teeth in a panic all the while shedding black feathers, "They're gonna kill each other!"
No. Kubi had the upper hand. He knew with chilling certainty that Aki would not survive this fight. Haku scrambled to stand, struggled to call them off each other, but his body was weighted by pain and exhaustion. But before they could fall upon each other the cat burst from the closet hissing and spitting with every hair standing on end. Aki straightened as all the fight went out of her. She stepped up onto the bed out of the range of the furious God-child, watching the cat with an utterly baffled expression. She was forced to tuck up the brush of her tail as the youngling swatted at it harmlessly.
"Kitten, no!" Sumirei shrilled.
Haku cringed at the raw terror in the rat's voice. Gods above! She was actually afraid that Aki might harm the kitten! All eyes in the room went to the closet as the god-girl scrambled after her charge only to come up short, dragged backwards as badger named Gohan caught her coat. The poor boy had his hands full. Crammed inside the closet with him was the old kami and Bozu. The one-eyed goblin was no help at all, peering grimly from the top shelf as he hid beneath the brim of Karasu's bowler all the while clutching something tightly. The world seemed to slow as Haku realized what the goblin was trying to hide. He remembered how Kubi had passed it to the Bozu not once but twice now. He remembered seeing the bell in the cavern below.
It was not just a bell. It was a key.
And now he knew what it contained.
As Bozu did all he could to disappear Grandpa Bean evaded Gohan, the lithe old fellow was too slippery. He ducked under Badger's arm and tottered forward wearing a dour frown. Plunging a hand into his copper kettle the yokai produced a handful of dried red bean which he threw at Aki. The half-god flinched as they bounced harmlessly. Karasu loosed a brassy squawk as Grandpa Bean turned and threw another handful of beans at Kubi. Adzuki clattered off the walls and scattered on the floor all around them. Though they were simply beans Kubi was so surprised her head shot back onto her shoulders, making her teeter and shrink from the old God. He looked like an angry wizened owl as his enormous magnified eyes blinked and peered sternly.
"Shame! Shame, I say! Fighting like fools when there are children present!"
Grandpa Bean stamped his filthy foot, scolding the bloodlust out of the God women as if they were errant children. The old kami patted Kitten on the head before he bent and busied with gathering up the beans he had thrown. The cat forgot his claws and crouched to help pick up beans, slipping them into the God's pockets.
"Shame," Grandpa Bean muttered as he scuttled about.
"Listen to you two. You throw truth back and forth but neither of you are listening. You're so caught up in being right that you've lost sight of what's best."
The wizened God had worked his way over to Aki as he scoured the floor for beans. As if he had forgotten who she was Grandpa Bean peered around her to an adzuki resting on the sheet beside her.
"Hand me that bean, would you dear?"
Setting down her knife Aki picked up the bean and held it out with shaking fingers. The old God took it with a grateful bow.
"Thank you, dear."
Continuing to prattle on he peered under the bed in search of more beans.
"God hating God; God killing God; what rot! We should all be looking after each other. Instead we're at each other's throats over purity and all that nonsense. Did you know the guards won't let these children come below because they say they're tainted?"
Shock wiped Aki's already pale face as her eyes went straight to the kitten.
"W-what?"
"You heard him," Kubi muttered darkly.
She pocketed the knife, stepping out of Kitten's way as he practically climbed between her ankles to get a bean. All the while Grandpa Bean continued muttering.
"What does it matter if we're more or less whole? A god is a god and there are so few of us left. Besides, children are always lucky. But still, the guards bar them from coming under where it's safe from the spiders."
Peeking under the sheets, the old kami wormed his way under the bed.
"Oh my… There's lots of beans under here."
Aki was once again gripping her side as a shadow of doubt dimmed her fox-fire.
"I… I wasn't told we were denying children…"
"How would you know about anything about up here," Kubi groused , "M'surprised you can even stand to deign yourself to step foot up here in all this filth."
Aki's eyes went sharp with anger, "We come to kill spiders!"
"How's that going by the way?" Kubi looked her up and down with a sniff, "Not too good from the look of it."
Aki bared sharp teeth, "And whose fault is that?!"
Her foxfire let out a guttering pop. Kitten fled with a hiss, throwing himself between Haku and Karasu as Badger dragged the rat girl back into the closet, slamming the door shut.
"I'm sorry," Aki was genuinely contrite, "I didn't mean to scare him."
All the same the bird secreted the cat into his coat, letting him hide as he stared askance at the half-fox.
"S'okay," the crow hushed tremulously, doing his best to be brave, "B-but you are seriously scary."
Tears stung Haku's eyes as the cat began to purr. If ever a sound could break his heart it was this. It forced himself to his feet even as every bone and muscle in his body shrieked. Irritably he waved off Kubi's concern, dusting off bits of plaster and splintered wood that stuck to the dried blood and filth caking his face and clothes. Put in a foul mood by all the trouble that had found him this evening Haku glared as the half-fox finally took notice of him. In a voice with far more authority than he would be able to enforce Haku addressed the soldier.
"Your wound is grave. I insist you rest here to morning. But let it be known I will not tolerate violence in my home. I want your word, Aki-san."
"I swear on O-Inari-sama's name that I shall harm no one here this night," Aki returned with quiet solemnity.
Haku glanced at Kubi only to find her seated on his kitchen counter lighting her tobacco pipe. Scandalized, he sputtered a moment.
"Kubi, I forbid you to smoke! Kubi, are you listening to me!?"
She ignored him, breathing out a long curling cloud that smelled like burning wood, filling his home with her familiar cloying stench. More than annoyed Haku blew a well aimed gust through his pinched fingers. Instantly the pipe embers extinguished. Kubi jumped before glancing at him sourly. He glared back just as surly. Looking away he found Aki staring at him askance as if seeing him for the first time. As Aki saw him the fox-fire overhead pulsed brighter, filling the room with tawny light. Clearly he saw the awe on her face. To be looked at like a God kindled in him a flame of strength. Still stiff and aching from his unexpected flight Haku limped over but hesitated out of reaching distance.
"May I see the wound?"
Aki was leaning away from him. Her nostrils flared as she looked him up and down, no doubt smelling spider blood and other terrible things. Haku could not imagine what he looked like. He did not want to know what he looked like. Oh, how he wanted a shower, wanted to be rid of the filth on his skin. Very soon he would do just that, but not yet. The half-fox might to bleed to death at this rate.
"You saved me…" Aki hushed in awe voice, "How did you save me?!"
She made it seem like an impossible thing. It was not so impossible if he had been a dragon. But now? Yes, Haku supposed it was an impossible thing he had done. Ignoring her question he inspected the stab as finally Aki moved her hand. Haku withdrew the gourd and salt from the pocket holding his folded cloak then thought twice and pulled free the pouch of camphor leaves.
"These will be of use."
Aki drew in a sharp breath as if already smelling the sacred plant. The half-fox studied his gifts as he carefully set them on the edge of the bed then lifted her shrewd yellow-green eyes to his face. Oh, how her hawk-like gaze put him on edge!
"What are you," Aki began uncertainly.
"I do not know," Haku returned truthfully, "It does not matter."
"He's a dragon, my dear," Grandpa Bean interjected from beneath the bed.
Haku shied from the yokai's words as his insides constricted with cold. Many sets of eyes turned onto him as the old kami revealed far too much as he wriggled out from under the bed.
"Shoki, shoki, shoki! Ha-ha!" Grandpa Bean shook his kettle gleeful making the adzuki inside rasp and rattle, "He smells like wind and water. What else smells like that but a dragon, eh?"
Tired of being subjected to scrutiny, Haku turned his back on them approached the shower only to recoil from the stink of kappa. He stormed away in disgust, drawing the curtain and flicking on the light in the kitchen only to find Kubi missing from the counter. At the moment he did not care where she had gone.
"Call away your fox-fire, Aki-san, the spiders will see," Haku called over his shoulder frostily, "I shall return shortly with food."
Then he closed the door on the mess of Gods inside his apartment.
LIN
Why did she always get herself into these situations? Why?!
She had enough to deal with.
Bills; babies; lazy workers; stupid humans; finding food.
The human world was supposed to be easier than the spirit world.
It wasn't; at least not here; at least not for her.
Kumomi was about as haunted as a human town could get.
Lin came up short and every hair on her body stood on end. Already her heart was pumping blood through her veins. It turned to ice along with everything else in the hallway. The floor cracked and snapped, sheeting over with ice wherever Kiri's feet touched. Bits of frost blistered the walls as Lin passed. She cringed from the snow precipitating from the air. Candles in the chandeliers guttered and extinguish in Kiri's wake, engulfed by a shadow that swelled around her to fill the entire hall. Lin could barely see any light ahead of them because of it.
Shivering in apprehension she licked her lips nervously only to find they tasted like salt water. At once she was sick to her stomach. Glancing to the side she found bits of seaweed in Keiichi's hair. She and Suzume dragged the human between them. The priest, however, didn't resists, which made their task a lot easier. The meaty male was quite heavy. Mute and pale with shock, the human's gray eyes were riveted on his sister.
Keiichi flinched and jerked backwards as the veranda doors ahead of them flew open without being touched. The moon flooded in from outside, washing over Kiri as she paused on the threshold, looking back as if to make sure they were following. Under other circumstances Lin would've run the opposite way. Possession was a terrifying thing to witness even for a kami. This human seemed especially prone to the condition.
Again the girl transformed; turned unnatural by the spirit traveling inside her. The white of her kimono turned incandescent under the moon, almost glowing as Kiri's breath lifted in a thick misty veil from the bruised blue of her lips. It billowed around her narrow shoulders, pooling at her feet and in her footsteps like smoke rising off smoldering ashes. As the seconds seemed to drag, by more and more threads of silver glinted in the shrine maiden's black hair; it had ripped free of its tail and fell around her face in wild tangles.
Keiichi's knees buckled beneath the ghost's scrutiny.
He took a rude seat at the fox's feet, nearly dragging Lin with him.
"M-Manami…?"The priest croaked.
Unconcerned by Keiichi's revelation the haunted shrine maiden turned her dead eyes back at them.
"I leave Keiichi in your care, Suzume-dono."
Lin squirmed and looked away. Worst of all were Kiri's eyes; milky white as if they'd rolled up in her head. As they stared right through her all warmth seemed to drain from the world. It took every inch of her self control not to shrink back behind Suzume. She'd faced far worse and then cut it to ribbons. Gods, she'd gotten soft over these past few months! Suzume, however, met the ghost's gaze without flinching. As he stared back his lips drew into a thin grim line.
"I have questions for you, spirit."
"I am no oracle. Ask your questions of Keiichi. He will tell far more than I.
Suzume's gold eyes burned with despair as he studied her with obvious unease. But still he reached for the ghost. As he did his confidence seemed to fracture and he hesitated, suddenly looking so very lost.
"Manami, I… I cannot welcome you…! You do Ikiri great harm! Oh, Gods above, child! What am I to tell Reika of this?! "
Kiri flinched at the thick emotions in the fox's voice. Not for the first time the ghost inside her looked ashamed, becoming something more of her old self than the cold phantom haunting the poor human girl. But then her remorse was gone, replace only by ominousness.
"It cannot be helped. I have business to attend to in this world."
With that the ghost directed Kiri down the steps, gliding off into the dark as she crossed the stone courtyard and leaving a trail of seething footsteps in her wake. Not surprisingly the fox gave chase, gritting his teeth angrily as he flowed down the steps into the courtyard. The thin smoke of the ghost's voice floated back in a bare whisper that stopped the God in his tracks.
"You are forbidden to follow, Suzume-dono. It is O-Inari-sama's will."
Lin blinked rapidly at that. O-Inari-sama's will? At once Suzume went rigid as a board as he bleached with uncertainty. But his confusion transformed as the fires in his eyes smoldered with outrage. Revealing himself in his anger the fox clenched his shaking fists all the while watching the fleeting disappear into the shadowed gardens, heading west. He raged silently, pacing back and forth and gathering a host of angry blue fox-fires that lit the courtyard in blue from above. But Suzume was forced to obey the ghost's command and couldn't take a single step more to follow.
"S-Suzume-sensei is a kistune!?"
Lin looked down as Keiichi gasped. The priest was staring stupidly at the God lights as they sputtered and flared. He shrank against her calves the way a child might hide in his mother's skirts and Lin wilted in exasperation, letting out a gusty sigh. She couldn't lie after all.
"Yes... He's kami and so am I."
The priest jerked away from her as if only now noticing who she was. Recognition lit up his face as he clambered down the steps on hands and knees, staring up at her with his eerie silver eyes. Lin gritted her teeth. It was unnerving to be seen for her exactly for what she was. She had an unsettling feeling the human would see her no matter what ruse she threw between them. Without a shred of concern for dignity, Keiichi lost his hat and clogs as he ran for the lights of his house.
Suddenly alone on the veranda Lin was painfully aware of the malevolent weight suddenly pushing on her back. Not needing any encouragement Lin hurried down the veranda steps, skittering aside as the veranda's storm sliders slammed shut behind her, leaving her feeling stupid for being afraid of doors. Turning her back on the shrine she stalked across the stone. Suzume yipped in surprise as she seized him by the sleeve and hauled him physically from the courtyard as his fox-fires hurried after them.
"Woman! Woman, slow down!"
"No!" She bit back in a vicious snarl without so much as a backward glance, "I don't want to be anywhere near that… that shrine!"
She spat the word like it was a filthy thing and as Suzume resisted she pulled harder, happy to drag him if necessary. She wanted to put as much space between them and Sengen as physically possible. Lin chewed on all the foul things she wanted to fling at the goddess and managed to just barely keep them in check. They were still on the shrine grounds and it was a very stupid idea to bad mouth a God so close to their house. Lin could still feel the gnawing spiteful pressure between her shoulders. The memory alone scared her stupid because it reminded her far too much of the crushing force the Goddess had unleashed on them at the rocks that day long ago.
Lin startled as they flushed a lesser kami from the shadows beside them; whatever it was chittered at them angrily, startling her with its shrill voice. Lin loosed a strangled gasp and whirled toward it with bared teeth. The bright blade of Umi's knife in her hand as the whole world seemed to teem with danger. Her heart flew up into her throat as terror swelled inside her chest, squeezing it to the point of pain. Then she tipped on her feet, dropping the knife as the night swam for a moment.
Suzume caught her, holding her tightly as she fought him.
"Hayashimi, be still!"
Lin sagged in his arms, struggling to catch her breath.
"It is alright beloved! Breathe! Nothing will hurt you!"
He was right. There weren't any monsters coming to get them. Gods above her heart was pounding at the inside of her head and she couldn't think. Tears pricked her eyes as the kits stirred in her stomach; probably in protest over being crushed between them. One of them kicked their father soundly, making the fox flinch. At once he was holding her even more tightly, turning his face in her shoulder as he trembled. As he did his fox-fires winked out of existence with tiny brittle pops
"Forgive me! Forgive me, beloved, that was not at all what I anticipated! Had I known I would not have had you come!"
At once her hand tightened on the back of his robe.
"I go where you go, you stupid, stupid fox!" She spat back in a growl.
He breathed a shaky laugh, easing his grip as he smoothed his hands over her hair. Damn, him… He knew she loved it when he did that. She leaned into his touch, letting the tension run out of her body as she pillowed her cheek on his shoulder, breathing in his sweet spicy scent.
"That is all I wish for, beloved," Suzume agreed in that quiet voice that belonged to only her, tickling her temple with the gentle whisper of his lips.
"You are my courage. You are my strength. I am lost without you. But selfish as I am, I cannot ask you to risk our children for my weakness."
As he kissed the crown of her head Lin ground her teeth. She tried to think of something to say to contradict him. She wanted to yell and argue and prove him wrong. But she couldn't. He was right and they both knew it. Despite the rocky road their relationship had traveled over the last few months their lives had been extremely boring compared to her past. Never once had she balked at the idea of raising her children under Onsen's roof. Keeping a bath house for humans was not nearly as dangerous an occupation as it had been at Yubaba's bath house. Now it seemed all that was about to change.
Lin frowned and nuzzled her nose into the front of Suzume's kimono, letting him continue to smooth his hands over her hair. But the tension climbed right back into her shoulders as the insides of her head churned away. Something was going to happen; Lin could feel it with certainty of the premonition deep inside her bones. Manami's appearance was proof enough of that. Still, Lin couldn't get the look out fear on Segen's face out of her head. What could possible frighten an elder goddess? What did she mean when she said their world had gone mad?
With another heavy sigh she drew back, ready to pepper Suzume with questions only to find his face was smeared with mud. Lin blinked and blinked some more. There were twigs in his hair. From the very tip of one a leaf wafted in the frigid night air. She frowned in confusion.
"Why are covered in mud and leaves?"
Suzume snorted, frowning at the thick brush beside them.
"You threw me into that hedge not more than a second ago."
Lin blinked, "I did?"
Suzume struggled to remain annoyed as the corners of his mount quirked.
"You did."
"Oh. Um. Sorry."
The fox chuckled merrily, sweeping his charcoal black hands over her face, smoothing away the frown tightening the burn scars on her face. Lin insides shivered with pleasure as the warm happy sound vibrated inside her chest. Again her heart tightened, thrilling up into her throat and making her dizzy. But this time because Suzume was gathering her against him again, leaning in to kiss her so slowly she stood on her tip toes to impatiently claim what was hers. His hands slid into her hair, cradling the back of her neck as he matched her enthusiasm.
Suddenly she was insatiable hungry and not for food. Lin tightened her hand on the front of his kimono until her knuckles ached, ready to throw him back into the brush and follow because it has been such a damned long time since last they were one! The silly human taboo against it might have rubbed off on her mate but there was no reason why they couldn't even though she was very pregnant.
"Not here, Hayashimi," the fox cautioned breathlessly.
Lin wasn't convinced.
She could tell from the firefly flicker in his eyes that here was indeed a possibility. "Why?" She rumbled sensuously. "What's wrong with here?"
The glance he sent toward the shrine was more than enough to cool her insides.
With all kinds of disappointment stamping around in the pit of her belly she let the fox tow her out of the dark gardens toward the warm yellow streaming across the pond in from of the house where the humans lived.
Firelight flickered beyond the paper shutters and a curl of wood smoke from the flue atop the roof. The smell was enticing given the bitter chill biting at her bare feet. The front door was open; probably Keiichi in his haste to get inside. Lin blinked as Suzume urging her toward the house. Planting herself like a stone on the front step, Lin glared at her mate as he rounded with a moue, tugging impatiently on her only hand.
"I want to go home," She grated between her teeth.
He blinked as an irritated frown pulled his lips down.
"Then go."
She pulled him the opposite direction, stamping her foot with authority.
"I want you to come with me. Now."
Here her mate softened, turning to put his hands on her face.
"Hayashimi, I cannot. My work is not yet done this night."
Unspoken apology was bright in his golden eyes even as his frown remained. Angrily she looked away, struggling with that truth even as he began smoothing her hair. Again she wanted to argue but couldn't find anything to refute him.
Then Keiichi choked and coughed distantly.
"Don' breathe it, y'dumbshit." Amano cautioned as if annoyed, "S'waste o' damn good sake."
Lin looked up sharply at the sound of the human's voice.
"S-s-sorry…!" The young priest rasped.
"S'alright, Kei," Amano returned mildly, sounding unusually maternal, "Just sit an' get warm. You'll stop shakin' in a second."
At once Lin pushed by Suzume, down the hall and standing on the threshold of the expansive tatami matted sitting room. Firelight glinted off the delicate cream paper on the walls, illuminating the ancient treasures that decorated the interior. Tart wood smoke rose off the blaze set into the recessed hearth at the heart of the room, lifting in heavy acrid curls up to fill the rafters. Shadows flickered in the dark nooks and crannies as intent beady black eyes stared at them from the corners. Seated in front of a sketch book with wide eyes Kai sat entirely engrossed in his work. The youngling was drawing the tiny masks of the curious lesser kami with such furious concentration. Beside him and muffled from head to toe in warm navy robes, Goshiro listed drowsily on an arm rest holding a sake cup in danger of spilling.
Sitting beside his grandfather and pale as a sheet of Kai's paper, Keiichi was holding out a sake cup anxiously waiting for it to be full. It shook so violently Amano was forced to take it from the man's hands. Calmly and without question Amano filled and put the cup on the lacquered tray between them. Keiichi knocked it back in a single sip and held it out for more. Again Amano obliged. Lin didn't miss the shrewd glance the broken nosed human shot at Keiichi, studying the obvious. As Keiichi choked again on the liquor Amano slapped him on the back, taking his cup before it could spill. The slap turned to a steady sympathetic hand as Keiichi bent over his up-tucked knees staring with a haunted expression into the brightly crackling fire.
All this Lin watched before discovering she was shaking with fury. She didn't realize until now just how angry she was at Amano for abandoning them to Maboru. He was a friend. Not only that, he knew how much they depended on him. Her anger peeked as the human didn't look up; didn't acknowledge at all that she was there; whether out of fear or shame Lin wasn't sure. But he knew she was there. She was sure of it because as she continued to glare at his back Amano's hands shook ever so slightly.
Kai was the first to see her.
He startled and dropped his colored pencil, splaying out on the floor to reach over and insistently pat his father's knee.
"Hey, dad! Dad!" The boy hissed beneath his breath even though she could hear him, "Dad, its Miss Lin. Don't you want to ask her if she's seen Kiri?"
"Oh! Hello, O-kami-sama!"
Goshiro roused, blinking up at them with foggy eyes so very different from the hawk's gaze Lin had witnessed before. The old priest held out his saucer with trembling hands, obviously making them an offering.
"Please forgive my rudeness. I am so very please at how full my house is tonight. Thank you for your blessings. Thank you for coming. Please join us."