The bottom dropped out of Chihiro's world.
"Who knows what you are?!" She whispered as her voice failed.
Hiko was all eyes, looking strange and otherworldly as they reflected the light like a cat's. In moments like this it was obvious they were not human children. All the same the little creature was shaking with fear and Chihiro held her tightly. The little God child took a shuddery breath as she struggled to stay calm.
"Satako! She can see me! She saw Aniyaku too!"
The bell in Chihiro's chest rang a single knell at the name.
"It's okay, Hiko. It's okay. Here, let's sit down," Chihiro steered the girls to a seat in the nook. She was more than confused, because the foreman frog hadn't come by to let her know anything was amiss, "Was Aniyaku upset?"
"N-no...?" It was more question than answer, "Um, I don't think he noticed."
That calmed Hiko enough to make her mask and cloak disappear. Being back with Ginka seemed to help too. The sisters were hugging each other closely. Gone were their pretty illusions and they were once again dressed in the tatters of their bath house uniforms.
"W-what do you mean he didn't notice?"
"Because the girl wasn't upset or anything. She just looked at us like we were normal. So I don't think Uncle Frog knew she could see."
"Then how do you know she saw you?"
Hiko frowned and put a hand on her head."She said she liked my mask. She said it was pretty."
It took Chihiro a second to understand. Even Chihiro couldn't see these unless the God showed them willingly. She'd only caught glimpses here and there. Gods had many faces and one of their truest was their mask. These, however, they kept hidden. Seeing a God's mask was like looking at the bare cloth of their soul. Calmly Chihiro stood and turned to the stove, talking as if nothing was wrong, pronouncing the next words firmly. As far as should could tell nothing was wrong. She hadn't received any warnings from the Onsen, nor had the bell in her chest gone clamorous with alarm. Taking a steadying breath she smiled over her shoulder.
"You girls have worked enough for tonight. Let me get you something to eat then you can go back to the God House. How about dessert first?"
"Plum jelly!?" Hiko squealed in excitement. "I love plum jelly!"
"Me too!" Ginka cut in worriedly.
Up until now the pink twin had been intensely quiet. But her fear broke at the promise of dessert for dinner.
Chihiro opened the freezer and spooned the remaining jelly into two bowls before offering them to the girls. The cold air felt good on her face. Even though night was creeping across the sky it was still terribly humid. The kitchen was full to the brim with dense hot air laden with smoke and herby smells. Sweat was pouring down her back in spite of the thinness of her yukata. Beyond the windows cicadas were screaming, singing the harsh song of late summer.
"You can have all of this right now," she held out the bowls, "Just don't mention Satako to anyone else until I say so, okay?"
The eyes of the little kami went big as the moon as they nodded solemnly.
"There's nothing to be afraid of," Chihiro assured them, "She'd supposed to be here."
"Y-yes, Lady Sen."
"Now eat your dessert."
"Yes, Lady Sen!"
As the girls devoured their treats, Chihiro fixed several bowls with the grilled herring feast Mrs. Nikkou prepared. Along side each went rice, pickles, and soup. Then she filled a huge tea pot and worried whether or not the girls could carry it. But she'd seem them carry suit cases their size if not larger! Their strength was just as uncanny as their speed and grace, so there was little to worry about. Turning back to dinner, Chihiro realized the jelly was gone. Going to the fridge she got out a package of pink mochi and put these on a plate for the other kami. Glancing around the ice box she frowned in dismay. It was already almost empty.
Gods the Gods could eat! She'd have to go shopping again.
"Could I ask you to bring dinner to the God House for everyone?" Chihiro called back to the girls as she pawed around inside the drawers, taking stock of what was left.
"Of course, Lady Sen!" They answered in unison, already licking their spoons.
Awkwardly Chihiro turned to the hearth, bowing hesitantly before waving at the floating kettles and pots.
"T-thank you," She stammered, "That's enough for now."
At once the cookware shuddered and sank into their various roosts, returning the kitchen to a mundane state. She'd need to be extra careful when guests were around. The last thing they wanted was to have someone walking into a haunted kitchen.
Looking over her sister Ginka made a quick count of the dinner bowls and frowned, "Aren't you gonna eat with us, Lady Sen?"
She waved off the little yuna's worry as she hurried up the stairs, "I'm going to give Aniyaku a break from the welcome station so he can go eat."
It wasn't entirely true but it wasn't a complete lie. In truth she wanted to grill the frogman about their newest arrivals.
"B-but Miss Lin told us to make sure you eat," Ginka piped like a little bird.
Chihiro came up short halfway through the curtains, frowning sharply. "When did you see Lin?"
Hiko glared at her sister, making her twin turn absolutely red as she hid in her sleeves. "Miss Lin said not to say!"
"Sorry! I forgot!" Ginka all but wailed.
As the little yuna exchanged hesitant glances Hiko drew herself up timidly as she explained. "Miss Lin's here when you're not, Lady Sen. I think she's hiding from you," Her face fell into lines of worry a child shouldn't carry as her owlish eyes appealed to for reassurance, "Is everything okay, Lady Sen?"
Chihiro forced a false smile, lying through her teeth to soothe their fears, "It's okay. We're just playing a game."
"Really?" Ginka emerged from her sleeves, "Can we play too?"
"Maybe tomorrow. Right now will you bring dinner over before it gets cold?"
Already they were on their feet and carrying the trays out the back door. With a sigh Chihiro pushed through the curtains and paused as the swallowing dark pressed in on her. Lin was such a piece of work; but then again, wasn't that why she loved her so much?Chihiro would call her out later because the Onsen was full of mysteries tonight. And she could only take on one at a time.
Creeping down the dim hallway Chihiro hesitated by the fusuma to the great room. The edges of the sliders were glowing as the light from within seeped through into the dark. She would have hurried by, but something in the conversation made her pause and listen.
"So you must tell me the history of this Matsuri of your." Saito wheedled the priest. She could hear that winning smile of his widening with every word, "No doubt you are the master of such tales, Keiichi-san."
Chihiro grinned. Oh, but the professor was good.
Leaning closer to the crack she was able to look inside, watching as Keiichi preened.
"Well, I do happen to hold the tale and would be glad to share it." He began with gusto.
"Long ago a fisherman and his wife lived next to the harbor. She was a good woman even if her husband was not. They were poor but she was happy. But spite of her happiness there was one thing she wanted: a child. But they couldn't conceive no matter how hard she prayed to O-Inari-sama."
"I thought the village shrine was dedicated to O-Sengen-sama?" Saito-san cut in curiously. "She is your local ocean deity, yes?"
Through the crack in the sliders Chihiro watched Suzume pull a sagely expression in keeping with his old-man disguise.
"In actuality there are two shrines, Saito-san; one for each of the goddess. The shrine to O-Inari-sama still stands on the back of this property." He bowed shortly to Reika, "We keep it still thought not many visit."
"How fantastic!" The professor effused, "Tell me, are there many fox statues?"
"Only one," Mrs. Nikkou put in with a wide smile, "But it is my favorite."
Suzume pinked in the cheeks, falling silent as Saito laughed and bowed to her with a gregarious smile.
"Well then, dear lady, I should very much like to see it!"
"There is a trail to the old shrine. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to find. And the kitsune do love their games," With an equally charming smile Mrs. Nikkou flashed knowing gray eyes to Suzume before deferring to the priest, "But you should hear the rest of Keiichi-san's story. I'm sure you all will find it most intriguing."
The rest of the table agreed heartily and Keiichi smoothed his kimono as he waved towards the ocean.
"Back to the fisherman's wife. After a huge storm the woman found a fish washed up on shore while her husband was out with the fishing fleets. She took it home to cook only to find a mirror inside its gut! The woman had never seen anything like it before. It wasn't like any of those she'd seen for sale at the big markets. It was more beautiful than anything she'd ever seen in her entire life. It was carved out of a pure white shell that was so hard she couldn't scratch it with steel."
Keiichi made a cutting motion with his hand, making his sleeves billow like waves as he gestured.
Chihiro was entranced, because as it turned out, the priest was an excellent storyteller.
"By the woman's estimations it was more expensive than any of the brass or silver mirrors she'd seen. It was probably worth a fortune. But looking at her wide-eyed reflection in the polished side, watching it iridescent colors swirl, the fisherman's wife realized it was magic. It had to belong to a God. And in spite of the money to be made, she stole down to the harbor and threw it back into the bay without telling her husband what she'd done."
"The next day while her husband was once again out at sea the woman found another fish on the harbor sands! Pleased with her luck, she took it home to cook only to find a beautiful blue jewel in its belly. It must have been worth a fortune as the woman had never in her life seen a blue stone so clear and shining. It cast a sea of rainbows inside her tiny house, flooding it with magic light. But again, she knew it to be magic and the property of a God, so she threw it back into the sea."
"This time when her husband came home from the harbor she told him everything. Instead of being awed and glad he grew angry calling her a fool. Revealing that he was indeed a cruel man, her husband cast her out in the middle of the night without so much as a jacket to keep her warm. Despairing, the woman went down to the sea intending to drown herself. But every time she tried to push into the deep water, a wave carried her back to shore."
"As she wandered along the beach trying to think of what to do, the woman found another fish. Something was caught in its throat. Pulling the thing from its mouth she found it to be a sword made of the same pearlescent material as the mirror. Again it was harder than steal. Indeed the sword could cut rocks right in two! Opening the fish's gut, inside she found the mirror and the jewel."
"Staring at the magical items, the woman went to throw them back into the harbor thinking some God was probably beside themselves having lost all their fantastic treasures. Then she heard the temple bells ring, marking the turn of midnight. As if possessed, she followed the bells, carrying the gifts from the sea to the temple."
"On her arrival the priests took fright of the woman. Dripping with sea water and kelp, she looked like a ghost! But the heard priest was not afraid and he approached the woman. He told her how very recently bandits had robbed the temple only to escape by boat. The thieves had been lost in the storm, but so too had the treasures of the Goddess O-Sengen-sama."
"Then he had said to the woman he had seen her in a dream sent by O-Sengen-sama. The Goddess told the priest that she would return their relics by one who would speak in her place. Then the fisherman's wife pulled the relics from her sleeves, holding them out to the priest. And he bowed at her feet as if she was a Goddess herself. And so the fisherman's wife became O-Sengen-sama's first Miko, a mortal representative of the Goddess' will. In gratitude for her honesty the goddess granted her wish and the woman discovered herself to be pregnant."
Here Keiichi drew himself up with pride, "Her son became one of O-Sengen Jinja's head priest. He was my great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather. Our family has kept the temple every generation since and under their care the grounds have expanded more than five times. I hope you will visit us tomorrow to make prayers and to enjoy the Matsuri festivities. One of you ladies might have the honor of participating in our most delightful of events."
"And what's that?" Ms. Kobayashi put in warily.
Again Chihiro grinned to herself. Because assisting at a Shinto ceremony usually consisted of sweeping and raking.
"It's actually a lot of fun." Mrs. Nikkou assure her with a brilliant smile. "You get to dress up in a beautiful historic kimono. You'll ride on the traveling shrine down the hill to the beach. And you get to throw the mirror into the harbor."
"Wait…" Mr. Hiyashi cut in, "The mirror!? The relic from the story!?"
"No, no, no." Keiichi waved that off with a laugh, "Not the mirror. We have a replica that the chosen throws into the harbor."
Mrs. Abe frowned, "Why throw it in the first place?"
"Its tradition," Keiichi explained, "The chosen carries the real mirror down to the harbor and shows it to the crowd. Then she throws the fake one into the bay. Everyone jumps in after it. It's quite a sight."
It was hard not to laugh at that and the floor vibrated with communal mirth.
"Tell me, I must know! Why does everyone jump in after it?" Saito-san implored of the priest as he wiped his smiling eyes.
"Because O-Sengen-sama grants one wish to whomever finds it." Suzume's answer rang with truth, bringing an awed hush over the room as he continued mysteriously, "It is not often found. Mirrors wash up on shore from time to time. Those are worth a wish too."
"Oh, come on!" Mr. Mori was more than skeptical, "You're pulling my leg."
The fox in hiding frowned as he crossed his arms, "I assure you I am not."
"It's true!" Keiichi waved his hand in excitement, acting very un-priestly for a moment, "My cousin's a great swimmer and the year he found the mirror he won the local lottery! He was able to buy a boat with the money."
Chihiro's interest pricked up at that. Was he talking about Hidé?
"Neh-neh," Mrs. Mori put in with excitement, obviously buying into the story, "How is the chosen selected?"
As Keiichi opened his mouth to continue Suzume put up his hand with a sly smile, "You will have to come to the matsuri tomorrow and discover that for yourself."
"Oh, don't be like that, Suzume-san," Ms. Kobayashi laughed.
"No, I insist on a bit of mystery," The fox's grin widened, "It will make the matsuri that much more enjoyable."
"You're so mean, Suzume-san," Reika teased as the table burst into laughter.
Chihiro was glad she eaves dropped. She'd wondered about the origins of the matsuri but never thought to ask. But Reika was right, Suzume was mean. Chihiro wanted to know the rest of the story!
Leaning back from the crack in the fusuma she nearly jumped out of her skin as she encountered something cold and hard.
She almost kicked the door in her surprise.
Because Haku was standing right behind her.
Chihiro was practically sitting on his feet!
The God was leaning forward over her, peering between the sliders with such rapt attention . One of his sea-green eyes was bathed in mortal light, while the other glowed in the dark like a candle, casting an otherworldly shadows into the gloom. She hadn't noticed until now but a gentle breeze was rising off of him, smelling strongly of night and rain. It pleasantly stirred her hair and clothes, both of which were heavy and damp in the pressing humidity.
She stared up at him.
Stared at how the light cut out hard angles of his face, turning his handsome features eerie and unfamiliar.
It was like he was a statue carved from the brilliant shell Keiichi described. Nothing could cut him.
Finally he looked down at her with his firefly eyes, putting a single finger to his beautiful lips. Chihiro found herself holding her breath so she couldn't make a noise even if she wanted to. Haku offered his hands, lifting her up like she was nothing. And her insides twisted giddily as he kept her hand, drawing her down the hall to the welcome station. But the good feeling faded as here he paused, dropping her fingers so he could point.
Because the lanterns in the entryway had guttered low.
Aniyaku was listing in his stool, fast asleep.
He was back in his God-form, webbed toes and all.
"Aniyaku!" Chihiro shook him with a sharp whisper, "Your frog's showing!"
The frogman jolted awake with a startled ribbet!
Realizing what had happened he reverting to his human guise in a shadowy swirl, patting his face worriedly.
"Did anyone see!?"
"No," Chihiro assured him, glancing about with a relieved sigh.
Haku loomed up beside her as his eyes went piercing.
"Be more careful, frogman," he pronounced frostily. "Many, many apologies, Master Haku!"
At once Aniyaku yanked off his hat, going scarlet to match as he shrank into a low bow, trembling bow as if afraid he was about to be eaten. Chihiro interjected herself between them, shielding the frogman from the dragon's disapproving frown.
"Don't be so hard on him. It's not easy to keep up normal appearances," Quickly she changed the subject, "Did someone check in recently?"
"Y-yes, Lady Sen," Aniyaku straightened, standing on his tippy-toes to flip a page in the reservation book, "Ms. Tanaka and her daughter."
Chihiro stood bolt upright as the bell in her chest rang with a single strong peel.
The Tanaka's: Satako and her mother.
Out of all the guests they were the ones that need to be here most.
Haku was looking at her now, his sideways glance was intent.
She ignored him, pouring questions over the frogman instead.
"How long have they been here? Are they all settle in? Do they not like their room?"
Choking on another ribbet, Aniyaku put up his hands as she advanced on him.
"T-they were more than happy with their accommodations. We p-put them at the end of the hall in the room with the private balcony. The view is quiet lovely. You can see all the back fields, a-and the moon!"
"I didn't see them at dinner. Is everything alright?" She continued sharply.
"They were q-quiet tired, Lady Sen," The foreman frog answered quickly as beads of sweat broke out on his bow, "M-ms. Tanaka did not wish to take a meal this evening."
"Oh…" Chihiro took a step back, realizing she's backed the fellow right into the wall behind the desk. Readjusting her head scarf she waved her hand in awkward apology, "Um, thanks for settling them in."
Finding himself off the hook Aniyaku wilted with a relieved sigh. "M-my pleasure, Lady Sen."
"Get something to eat. I'll watch the station for a while."
At the mention of food the frogman's eyes went big as dinner plates.
"T-thank you, Lady Sen! Oh, pardon me! Since you are here, may I please turn over tonight's register?"
Aniyaku depressed a hidden notch in the wood grain, revealing a hidden compartment under the desk top. From within he produced a red lacquered box and a packet of papers, scooting it towards her with a deferential bow. With another deep retiring bow for Haku the frogman slid off the stool and hurried down the hall as if chased.
Chihiro came forward timidly, looking the box as if afraid it would bite. "W-what's this?"
Opening the lid Haku glanced inside with a frown, "It is strange paper."
Peeking inside, Chihiro found a whole stack of money. A lot of it too.
"Oh. That's, um, human money."
"You hold paper of value?" He was curious now.
"Um… Yeah. The numbers tell you how much its worth."
Reaching inside she took out a thin slip of paper resting on top o the pile, jumping as it unfolded into a huge chart. It was covered in names, numbers, hatch marks and other symbols scrawled in blotted scratchy writing she could barely decipher. Lamely she stared at it, feeling her insides sink with dismay because she had no idea what any of it meant.
"What's this?"
Haku's eyes sharpened with recognition as they fell upon the translucent sheet.
"It is a receipt for today's earnings." He held out his hands, "May I?"
Chihiro gladly gave it over, moving aside as Haku replaced her at the welcome station. Gracefully gliding up onto the stool, he plucked an abacus from his kimono sleeve, ticking beads back and forth with smooth flicks, moving at such speed she couldn't keep up. All the while his burning green eyes darted back and forth over the page. With a curl of his fingers the dragon conjured an pearlescent brush complete with an equally resplendent grinding stone. He paused to blow over the surface until condensation gathered in rounded beads, dripping into the basin to create a rich indigo ink.
With elegant motions Haku held back his sleeve to dip the brush, making notes in tiny crisp kanji along each column of scrawls. The brush continued to write even after he'd let go, leaving him frowning at another clot of the frogman's script.
She never got tired of watching Kami, especially Haku.
Their unfettered movement for a symphony for the eyes.
Entranced by the simple act of writing, all Chihiro could do was stare.
"Aniyaku's writing is atrocious. It took me months before I could read it." Haku explained as he waved a hand over the page, "He is using the same tracking method used at the old bath house."
The dragon's eyes narrowed as they fixed on something and the brush darted in, making corrections in ink that suddenly turned red.
"His math is just as poor as his penmanship."
Plucking up the stacks of money, Haku's fingers blurred as he counted through each bill three times, making notes in an important looking box at the bottom of the page.
"Among the other drudgery Yubaba assigned me, accounting was my chief task. At the end of every day I would spend long hours beneath the roof rafters in the dusty attic that was the records room. It was my quiet place in that den of noise and deception."
Haku paused while grinding more of the ink stick into the water. And his face softened with memory as he stared through the page at something she couldn't see.
"Here on this sheet is the story of each days passing. Here is a record of who enjoys the sulfur bath, who has taken tea and cake, and whom does not enjoy the head cook's fish stew. It pleases me to know who has come and gone. It pleases me to know these people whom I will never meet."
Chihiro's chest squeezed at the wistfulness in his tone, especially as his jade eyes followed the sound of laughter down the hall. In that moment he looked so very lonely.
"You could've hung out with us today," She offered.
But he shook his head, going back to his work. "I am no good among mortals. I have not the fox's talent."
It was true.
Chihiro couldn't placed him at the table.
He'd probably make everyone extremely nervous, especially Keiichi. She imagined Kiri's brother hiding behind Mrs. Nikkou, all eyes like a little boy as he stared at the dragon. She smirked at her mental image of the timid priest.
"That's okay, I'm not too good with strangers either, but that's not what I meant."
"What is it that you mean?"
Slowly the writing brush came to a halt, lifting up from the page. At once she had his full attention. Feeling the pinch of heat come into her cheeks, Chihiro dipped her head, awkwardly fussing with her apron.
"The kitchen's pretty much a part of the God House."
"No," Haku cut her off with his firm answer.
Chihiro's brow crumpled in confusion, "W-why not?"
"The others enjoy the kitchen." At once he was too busy with abacus calculations to look up. "I will not make them ill at ease in their place of comfort."
It was hard not to remember the look of fear on Aniyaku's face when he woke up to find Haku at the welcome station. But who's fault was that? If he just loosened up and was a little nicer to everyone they'd warm up to him in no time. But she held her tongue on that matter, pressed on to what she was really wanted to ask.
"But don't you get lonely?"
For a moment Haku's face tightened with such an intense she didn't know what to think. But it faded, hidden as that unfeeling mask of his clamped over his face before she could interpret the emotion.
"Yes… And I tire of it." He closed his eyes as a resigned expression composed his handsome features, "Just as I tire of having to share you; even though I know I must."
His honesty caught her off guard. So did his cryptic reply.
At a loss Chihiro looked out the entryway at the darkening sky as Haku went back to work. Fireflies drew circles in the dark as moths clotted around the lanterns that stood at either side of the bridge. As if loathe to be out-staged the laughing brook muffled the shrill song of the screaming cicadas . It seemed like years had passed since she first walked through those doors, like her life before that moment had been a dream. Leaning on her folded arms she scowled at the telephone perched on the edge of the desk. It was still unplugged and would remain so until she was ready to deal with more reservations. But as she stared at it she found herself thinking about her mom and dad. Was dad still mad at her? Was mom worrying because she wasn't returning calls? How long had it been since she talked to them? She couldn't keep mortal days straight anymore. So much had happened. What day was it anyway? Where would she start? Where could she start?
"You should call your parents."
The break in silence startled her and instantly she was defensive. "H-how did you…!?"
He didn't so much as flinch, "You stare at the telephone."
No secrets from Kami.
With a heavy sigh Chihiro wilted forward, hiding in the crook of her elbows as she perched on the edge of the desk.
"I should call them," she grumbled, "But I don't want to. Not even Michi."
A streak of remorse ran through her at that and she cringed into her sleeves.
"She's probably so pissed at me by now!"
Haku's ink brush lifted from the page as his abacus fell silent, "Who is Michi?"
"My best friend." Chihiro lifted her face, staring at the shadows cast by moth buzzing around the lamp overhead, "We met in Osaka when I was really, really little. That's where I lived before I moved to Mizunami City. That was before I came to the bath house. She's still my best friend. We used to talk on the phone every day," Chihiro fell silent for a moment, "But that was before I came here."
After a moment of silence Haku spoke. "Will I ever meet them? Your parents and your friend?"
Chihiro's elbow slid off the edge of the desk, making her lurch upright.
Where did that come from!?
Going absolutely red in the face she stared in shock. "D-do you want to?"
"Yes. Very much so." At once he was writing again, eyes intent on the page.
That was it. No explanation of why. Just his usually God-ish reply.
Already she found herself frowning.
Michi would be a breeze, she talked so much you couldn't get a word in edgewise anyway. Yuko wouldn't be a problem. Haku was so pretty he could just dazzle her into submission. Akio was the real problem. They would not get along and he was sure to be a jerk around Haku. A cold knot of terror tightened in her heart as she had to consider it was a possibility that Haku might eat her dad.
"S-sure." She flinched, looking away as her mind went blank, "Maybe after the festival we can go for a visit. I need to go to Nagoya anyways to get the rest of my stuff. Mizunami City's on the way back. But Michi still lives in Osaka so it might be a while before you meet her."
The words poured out of her in a she was finished Haku had gone very still.
"Chihiro…" He began with difficulty, "Are you lying to me?"
"I…" She cringed into her whisper. "I don't know."
Haku's voice was quiet and calm. "Are you afraid that I should meet them?"
"Um… A little. You and my dad won't get along…" Here she trailed off, not trusting herself to finish.
Because she didn't want Haku to know that she was afraid of him; afraid of what he might do. Not all the time; but sometimes. And she didn't like having to admit that.
Chihiro jumped as the ink brush fell over.
Rolling off the desktop it clattered to the floor.
Although Haku's face was blank as squall crackled in his eerie green eyes. And she shrank, because he was gripping the abacus so tightly the metal frame bent and warped in his hands with a plaintiff creak.
"If I was human…" He choked on the word and all the hurt trapped inside it, "Would you still hesitate as you do now?"
"Please, Haku…" Covering her face she pleaded wearily, "Don't start that again…"
"You will answer me, Chihiro!" Haku bit back harshly.
She went completely still because it was the same commanding tone the dragon used to order around the other kami. What was worse, it was the same Karou used to order her; like she was his servant. And she was not anyone's servant. Furious anger boiled up in a great tangled mess from where she'd bottled it up earlier, breaking free in a rush.
"What difference does it make, Master Haku!?" She hissed back, throwing the word at him like a stone, "You're not human. And you never will be!"
Thunder boomed directly overhead.
So ferociously the floors beneath her feet trembled and shook.
She gasped, slamming back against the opposite wall as the abacus shrieked like a living thing as he crushed it between his fingers. As it rent apart with a metallic twang the beads exploded outward, pelting the entryway in a cascading rain. She shrieked as the light bulb overhead pulsed blindingly then burst. Falling to her knees as the wind hit the rafters, making the ceiling groan as papers and money ripped up into the air. They battered around her, cutting with their sharp edges as the gale surged out the front doors. In the midst of the angry morass the fox resolved like a spinning top.
Light filled the dark entryway as his robe climbed with angry red and gold foxfire. As his inky hair flew in the gale Suzume planted his feet firmly. And then he clapped. The sound hit the storm like a physical force. Chihiro felt the hollow echo inside her lungs! Like the eye of a hurricane, stillness struck the room in its wake. For silvers of a second it held the storm in place. Then as if yanked on strings everything yanked back into place.
At once the entryway was still. Except for the swinging lanterns.
They creaked and shrilled, swaying back and forth, casting monstrous shadows crawling and darting through every corner and nook. And Chihiro couldn't breathe. Terror gripped her insides till her gritted teeth felt like they might shatter. Because the scar on her thigh was burning with that horrible paralyzing cold. It started up the moment he'd gotten angry. Trembling in the swallowing silence, Chihiro started violently as Mrs. Nikkou laughed in the distance.
"Goodness!" Reika's cheer was as forced. "We're going to have a storm."
Again Chihiro jerked back, cringing away as Suzume put a hand on her shoulder. The fox was kneeling beside her. His fingers were like ice but for once the steady gaze of his golden eyes was saturated with worry.
"Child," He began gently, as if trying not to frighten her, "Are you alright?"
Chihiro stared at him, trying to remember how to speak.
"Y-yeah…" She lied automatically, "M'f-fine."