Chapter XXXVII

〜Always With Me〜

"Sissy, where are you going?" One of many stepped out from a shack, the old rickety door barely hanging on its hinges. Standing outside and ready to depart, a girl looked over her shoulder almost scared to meet the eyes of her woken brothers and sisters. A pale slender hand pulled back the hood of her cloak, exposing deep black eyes shining like marbles.

"I'm late for my marriage meeting."

Emerging from the others, a much smaller girl came running barefoot out to her sister. "Umi, don't go!" she cried into her big sister's cloak staining it with her tears.

Smiling at the chubby-cheeked brunette, Umi knelt down. "Don't worry," she whispered. "I promise I'll be back."

Filled with hope, the little girl sniffled and wiped her face. Umi was already late and patted her sister's head lovingly. "I'm going to meet my husband, listen to your brothers' okay?"

"Okay—hurry back!"

That was the last time she'd hear that sweet voice like twinkling glass.

On her way to the marriage meeting, it was a long walk through the countryside. If she married this man she'd come into money, enough to share with her siblings. Being all they had left, Umi looked after them since the day their parents perished in a fire at the family bakery. The kids survived every day by the skin of their teeth.

Then a man proposed to her in town. She'd never heard anything about him besides his wealthy status. He took one look at Umi and bombarded her with the question despite already having a wife. No one would object to having another and neither would Umi. This was her chance to provide for her siblings, she said yes only if he agreed to help them.

Little did she know, the one light of hope in her life would become the darkest void in her past.

Not only was she to be kept a secret, but confined in a windowless stone room. The pleas for her family were left unanswered and uncared for. It felt like an eternity but only a couple days had passed. Once in his clutches was there no way out? What would happen if she never escaped? Would her family think she had abandoned them?

"I have to get out of here."

Enduring abuse night after night, that was the only way she could tell the time of day. He only appeared after nightfall. Each time he would bring with him an oil lantern. As Umi obeyed him, he lowered his guard ever so slightly. She was always watching for the best opportunity that wouldn't end with her life.

A belt with a sheathed sword attached to it lied across the room next to a glass oil lantern. Adjusting his trousers in the opposite corner, it was now or never. She had been waiting days for an opening like this. Springing from the futon, the soles of her feet slapped against stone until her hands firmly grasped the heated lantern across the room.

There was shouting and a hand reaching out for her slender wrist, Umi didn't hesitate to hurl the lamp with every muscle she could muster! It all happened so fast. The glass shattered, soaking his clothes in oil that was ravaged by flames in less than a second. The shrieks were incessant, if she didn't leave now his bodyguards throughout the mansion would come for her life any minute now.

With no time to rummage she grabbed his entire belt and ran for the unlocked door. Just outside, two men ogled at her sudden appearance and immediately shifted their attention to their combusted master in the background. Umi grabbed the sheathed sword and rammed the hilt into the nearest man's neck! It was enough to topple him over so that she could step over him and swing at the next one. He dodged her first attack but was left vulnerable as he reached for his sword.

Umi screamed, "Leave me alone!" With her adrenaline pumping, she used the aid in her strength to send the sheath down on his bald head. He fell unconscious, and despite the wailing behind her, she could hear the thudding of footfalls approaching.

Her surroundings were made of stone, a house unlike any she had been in before. Not sure how far down the ground lie, she jumped out of the nearest window carved into the wall. She would surely survive another night, as for that man – he probably would too.

On the way down she collided with twigs and branches that broke her fall but would leave considerable scrapes and bruises. Her hands were scratched each time she tried to catch herself. It felt like her arms would be torn off. Colliding with the ground she rolled away and struggled to breathe. The tumult of guards yelling and commanding came from around the corner.

Recomposing herself and internally screaming to get up, Umi stumbled to her feet and ran for the stable. She ached everywhere possible but ignored the pain in her body to return home. She had to get there first.

"I'm coming home," she told herself over and over. The horse galloped down the trail leading into town. It jumped over a small wooden barricade that blocked the entrance for carriages into the fenced property. The two men standing on the other side exclaimed in dismay at her sudden passing with one of their horses.

The hollering faded into the distance leaving only the whistle of the chill wind. In the middle of the night, the town was usually quiet. Except for this night as many stood on the street. Soon Umi saw why. Against the moon, a trail of smoke rose into the sky. Her heart sunk and she nudged the horse to run faster down a familiar trail. Behind her some townspeople approached to help put out the fire, it was already useless that much she knew.

The horse came to a stop long enough for Umi to fall off of it. As the walls of her home crumbled under the flames eating at them, it scared off the horse which ran blindly into the forest for safety. Dropping to her knees, Umi stared into the blaze until tears formed at the brim of her eyes.

"Hiroki," she whispered between her rasped breaths. Every inch of her home was enveloped in flames. "Genta." Every memory she shared with her family. "Emon." It was all gone, turned to ash. Gone like her siblings. "Tsuna…," her voice croaked.

Umi sat in the dirt choking on her sobs. It didn't take long for her to be found. The men that had set her house on fire hid in the surroundings to minimize suspicion. They had her in seconds dragged to her feet. Without a fiber left in her to fight back, she was put on a horse and eventually a carriage. That man survived being set on fire but would be horribly disfigured for the rest of his life. To fulfill his revenge, he would sell Umi to the highest bidder to do whatever they pleased.

On her way to the auction, she wasn't alone in this cruel trade. Along with other girls resembling her physique, there were even some boys mixed in the group. The wooden box for prisoners had barred windows at the top that allowed for some light into their claustrophobic vicinity. Beaten before her departure, Umi was covered in painful swells and healing split skin underneath fresh bandages.

"They really did a number on you."

It wasn't completely bad despite being the lowest moment of her life. There was one girl who took care of her on the five-day journey. Sharing her rations and checking on her injuries. It was hard to see her face, but her name and kindness would never be forgotten.

"No matter what they do to you, don't give them the satisfaction of your tears."

They had already taken everything from her but her life which was barely her own at this point. Soon she would be sold along with her friend. There was no hope left, just like she would never know if any of her siblings survived that night.

"What's your name?"

"Umi," she couldn't recognize her own pathetic voice. "What's yours?" The country dialect of her hometown slurred her speech almost incomprehensible.

"I forgot my real name a long time ago when it was taken from me."

Umi couldn't imagine forgetting the name her parents had given her. That was the last thing she'd give up to anyone. No matter how bad things escalated from this point on, she wouldn't give up the one thing that made her whole. If it wasn't for the girl on the carriage, her name would've been lost from all the witches and warlocks she eventually served under. It was thanks to that girl she could hold onto the one thing she had left. Her identity.

"You can call me Rin."

。。。。

"Can't you take a break, I'm sweltering down here."

The faint voices coalesced with never-ending dreams playing underneath closed eyelids. It was hot, very hot but endurable.

"That's the last of em'. It's lunchtime, take a break!"

There was a dull pounding of wood knocking on wood. Each hollow thud mollified the room into a lull. The voices became so much louder, invading a sleeping girl's dream. The brow on her forehead scrunched ever so slightly from the disturbance.

"Well—let's have a look-see."

"You know it's a lot of work to bring her all the way down here. If your medicine doesn't work I'll have Kohaku fire you."

"Be quiet, will you? Go over there and behave."

A loud harrumph of displeasure was followed by heavy footfalls off into a corner. The floorboards vibrated with each step, in a way the sleeping girl could sense where they were coming from. More noise invaded her forbearing mind.

"Hmm—where is it?" There was a lot of rummaging and murmurs from overhead. "Rosemary, bitter kola—now where did I put that other… oh yes can't forget the blue cypress oil!" the grandfatherly voice continued. "This is the third dose; if this doesn't work then I'm afraid I can't help."

"So much for your magic tricks," the woman bantered from across the room.

"Here we go," coaxed a voice soothing like bubbling porridge. As for the sludge that slid into her mouth and assaulted her taste buds, it definitely wasn't porridge. Seconds later and the girl's eyes snapped open! She gagged and coughed. A shiver ran up and down her spine as she forced herself to swallow the concoction stuck in her throat. Bitter and earthy, the aftertaste was nothing she ever wanted to experience again, every reminiscent taste made her gag.

"Oh-Oh shit—you're awake?!"

Relaxing back on the futon, her muscles tingled all over. It was hard to move so she didn't.

"Chihiro," a voice beckoned. Although blurry, a slim figure of a female crawled into her field of vision. Big black eyes stared down at her that was framed in a familiar cut of bangs that reminded her of everything.

It all came back to her, getting separated, being alone and afraid, and Umi's death. Right before her eyes, she became nothing as her entire life was given to Chihiro. The tears burned her eyes and slid down her cheek. Incoherent sobs made it harder than it already was to form words.

"Iza-zanami," Chihiro slurred.

The said woman showed panic in her eyes and rose to her feet. Disappearing from view, Chihiro could hear a door sliding open followed by a shrill outcry.

"You—go get Kohaku right now!"

"Haku is here?" Turning her head side-to-side, the walls were covered in drawers. She'd never seen this place before. "Where am I?"

"This is the boiler room," said the voice Chihiro heard in her dreams.

Just beside her sat a bald old man covered in untamed facial hair. Not only were his long three-fingered arms reaching out to her but they were accompanied by two more pairs! Gasping, his gruff vocals soothed away her trepidation.

"There's nothing to worry about, you're safe here." He helped her to sit up on the makeshift futon.

"The old fart is Kamajii, the boiler man who heats the baths," Izanami informed once she reemerged.

So Chihiro was in the Bathhouse, all the way down in the boiler room? The last thing she remembered was Umi's death and what she thought her own. Every nerve in her body vibrated anew, full of life that was bestowed upon her. Sitting all the way up, Kamajii lets go of her shoulders as Chihiro supported herself.

Looking down at her palms in reverence, she could feel a presence that wasn't solely her own.

"Chihiro?"

The small wooden sliding door slammed open, sending Chihiro into a startled jolt. Their eyes met, and it felt like they had been apart for an eternity. Before she could get up, Haku already out of breath rushed over and tenderly touched her shoulder as if she might disappear.

"You're awake?" he murmured disbelievingly.

There was no time to ask questions right now, she was elated to see him again. So much fear and angst from that night melted away, she had already said her goodbyes when the fatal wound became evident. It was all thanks to Umi she could feel the touch of his skin once more.

Enveloped in an embrace, the slight ache of her muscles didn't compare to the euphoria coursing through her veins. The wound on her gut still sore, it was nothing but a scar she'd bare for the rest of her life. Separating enough to look into his eyes, it was only for a brief moment until her lids fluttered closed from his advancing proximity. The soft feel of his lips enfolding her mouth tingled every nerve in her center and quivered her heartbeat.

Izanami exclaimed but the tumult of their voices was drowned away.

"Ahh—that's true love for you," sang Kamajii.

. . .

"You were asleep for a long time," Haku told Chihiro who needed help just walking across the room. He had to carry her all the way back to the temple, causing a scene the whole way. The goddess Izanami accompanied them as well and to keep the servants out of the room she provided the tea herself.

There was a lot to comprehend. She was thankful to be in a room she recognized well, one of the main waiting rooms in Haku's chamber that was always set to perfection. "What happened?" she asked dreadfully to the man crosswise herself.

"Mable turned herself in."

The name sparked familiarity. "Mable?" Chihiro exclaimed. "Why would she do that?"

Without looking at her, Haku informed that those three goons were the people Mable was looking for. The grandson included. "According to her no one was supposed to get hurt, they acted out. Mable apologizes but Fūjin will be dealing with her along with the ones they captured. The Grandson got away."

"Her Grandson… attacked us?"

Looking in her eyes, Haku could tell she wanted to cry. There was no time to console her, not with Aogaeru barging in.

"Haku-sama, they need you at the Bathhouse, a special guest has arrived." The sweaty frog kept eyeing Chihiro sniffling on her cushion. "Glad to see you're well, Miss."

Her lips curled into a smile probably for the first time toward Aogaeru. The frog blushed and returned a bow back to the once human girl as Haku sighed in disappointment off to the side.

"I'll be right there, make sure to welcome him."

Taking his time to get up from the chabudai table, Haku walked over to Chihiro. Gently kissing her forehead, he was reluctant to let go of her. His fingers slid through her hair and she he smiled reassuringly.

"If you're feeling well enough I want you to accompany me in a few days."

"Where?"

"Fūjin's temple, with the loss of the Elders he is the new ruler of this world. There's a lot he wishes to say."

Chihiro never wanted to go back to that place albeit she wasn't a trespassing human anymore. The fate of her new home also concerned her, now she wanted to go.

"Can't wait," she returned Haku's smile. A few days being more than enough time to gain her strength back. Chihiro was so hungry she could eat everything on the table until her stomach ached.

"I'll see you tonight."

With that Haku followed in pursuit of Aogaeru who had long left to welcome their wealthy guest.

"Do you like the tea?" Izanami asked with hopeful eyes. Being her own creation, she barely had anyone to share it with.

Eager to appease her restless simper, Chihiro took another sip. "It's lovely; it reminds me of the tea Umi used to make."

"Ahh—yes she loved this recipe. The leaves need to be imported so it's quite expensive to make. Adding the spiced mate was her idea, I've never left it out."

Talking about Umi made the atmosphere turn solemn. They took the moment of silence to remember her. She was a part of Haku's life since he was a boy, a precious person to most of the Bathhouse and temple. Chihiro wondered how many others knew that Umi's life saved her own.

"Izanami-sama?" Looking over at the goddess, Chihiro stared into her black orbs. If anyone could intervene in life or death, no one was better suited than the goddess herself. "Can you bring her back?"

Taken aback at first, Izanami pondered and for a moment left Chihiro without an answer. With a bittersweet smile she said, "If I could do such a thing, there would be no point in living. She chose to give you her life—use it well."

Chihiro knew Izanami was right and apologized. Instead of feeling guilty she should appreciate and cherish what was given to her. It wasn't her fault, Umi chose to save her. Chihiro would spend the remainder of her life in thanks.

"Stupid frog."

The fusuma both Haku and Aogaeru disappeared through slammed open with a crack! Startled, both girls jumped at the sight of Rin. Meeting her eyes, Chihiro's heartbeat quickened with angst. Rin's precious friend was taken from her, the very essence of her life coursing through the girl cowering before her.

"The one time I ask her to bring you down there and you wake up…," Rin rudely gestured toward the goddess who scoffed. Spreading out her arms, the smile on Rin's face melted Chihiro's apprehension. "Come here, you dunce. Do you know how long we've been waiting for you to wake up?"

Without caring that her legs barely worked. Chihiro got up from the table and rushed over to Rin. Stumbling halfway there, she was met in the middle and constricted in an embrace. "I'm sorry," she repeated until sobs replaced words.

"It's okay," Rin soothed.

Izanami sipped her tea and watched the two girls reunite. Rin knew it was Umi that saved the girl's life. And both Rin and Izanami knew it was possible to bring Umi back from the dead, but doing so would take Chihiro's. It was better to leave things as they were, to leave the dead in the cycle of life where they belong.

. . .

Days had passed since Chihiro had woken up and she was now well enough to walk on her own. Izanami and Rin saw to it that she recovered right away. Thanks to Kamajii she was provided with plenty of aliments to become her old self again.

Finally able to go outdoors, Chihiro nearly forgot the kind of world she lived in. Full of enchantments and defying everything she thought possible. This was her home.

The liquid sky sat still allowing for the sun to shine through the different layers of density. The unique rippling shadows cast across the marbled sand led all the way up to a mound bordering the sea cliff. Although exerting, Chihiro managed all the way up.

At the top lied two graves watching over Haku's parents at the bottom of the crag. Paying her respects to Yuuko, Chihiro prayed for her mother along with Haku's parents whose final resting place she couldn't reach.

Almost afraid of the next one, Chihiro knew what lied under the knoll of sand. It was nothing but Umi's favorite kimono, all that was left of her from that one night. There was no way to thank her enough, not even visiting her grave every day.

Since the day she arrived, Umi was always looking after her and Yuuko. It was never an act of duty but what she truly wished for. It took a while to get used to her absence, but just like the loss of her mother, time heals all wounds, but some may leave a scar forever.

"Chihiro," the call of her lover took her mind away from the memories. Taking a deep breath, she faced Haku. "Are you ready?" he queried.

"Yea, let's go."

Taking his hand, she unintentionally squeezed onto him. She couldn't imagine losing her childhood friend who's now the most important person in her life. For the opportunity to love him, she couldn't ask for anything more.

〜

On one of many islands, three men stood along a promontory. Hundreds of feet above the water, the wind was course and swift. The untamed grass blew with each breath of the sky. Unbothered by the strong breeze, the men stared at the world they helped to create.

Speaking up from the group, the one in the middle declared, "If it was that easy to die from just decapitation, I would've ended my life centuries ago."

"Rather crude thinking isn't it?"

There was a gruff harrumph, making his dissatisfaction clear to all. "After living for so long you start to forget what it feels like to be alive."

A third man spoke up from the rest. "All that matters to me is that boy getting punished for causing such a mess."

"I worry not about him whose wrongdoings weren't far from our foresight. We may have never retired if not for our 'deaths'."

Together they agreed. "Yes, they would have never allowed us to step down."

A moment of silence passed. The slowly changing world no longer needed them, nor did they care at this point. It was time for the gods to let the humans go. If they wished to continue and worship, so be it. Times were changing, and the change was happening now.

"I believe it's time we geezers left this place behind, let Fūjin handle things."

"Where do you plan on going first?" One of the three asked.

"Hmm—I haven't visited my hometown since I was a boy."

"Sounds refreshing," the next one added, "The Eastern Plains is my destination."

"As for myself, I think I'll take a look at the human world."

"That's peculiar."

"The damage caused by our kind must be tremendous. Humans are resilient creatures; I want to witness their recovery."

What better time to observe the humans than now? Not many spirits knew about the loopholes between worlds. After the three Elder's "demise", the enchanted torii that only worked with their magic spells, was destroyed.

"I wish you all the best my old friends." The man in the middle bid his farewell to companions that have stayed by his side for so long.

"As do I," the next concluded as the final man hummed in solemn agreement.

They turned away from the embankment and walked separately to their respective destinations. Whizzing past their backside, a white blur flitted by the island without making a sound. If they were to look, they would see a river dragon with a lone girl perched on its back.

。。。。

A lot of time passed, a young boy barely a decade old was now old enough to venture off on his own. There was only one place he wanted to go, somewhere dangerous but familiar enough that his parents' acquiesced. He'd heard so many stories about the village that his curiosity was peaked more than the idea of inheriting his father's legacy. Little Makoto wished for nothing more than to see the human world.

It wasn't anything like he imagined, just a mirror reflection of his own world. Yet it wasn't completely the same. The world his mother was born in. The colors in the sky to the smell of the air, it was different from the surface back home. There was no sea in sight, just the Nushi River splitting through an overgrown valley.

The cascading land stretched all the way out to the western mountains. The blue mounds were capped white, nearly touching the dense cumulus clouds hovering by in the sky. Reflecting on the puffy white balls of vapor, the setting sun illuminated the horizon the best it could from behind a mountain.

Makoto's father told him which way to go having done it countless time in his youth. A new kind of excitement bubbled within him, an adventure of his own. The light underbrush of the forest was easy to navigate through. Eventually, there was a break in the trees revealing civilization thriving before him.

A settlement of houses and domiciles covered a large mass of land. Connecting everything together, a dirt trail led Makoto further into the town that eventually turned to stone. Looking around. the first thing he noticed from afar was a statue of a dragon. It was his father... or maybe his grandfather? Both of them were magnificent dragons.

Moving along, all the villagers paid no mind to him as people often came and went. Merchants filled the sides of the street as the crowd thickened. Never had Makoto seen so many humans in one place, he hurried off the street as claustrophobic panic rose within him. Taking an unsettled breath, the air soon became lost to his lungs.

"Hyahahaha!"

A laugh trill and sweet, unlike anything he'd heard before in his life. Not even his little sister's laugh could compare to this. And there she was, a girl with obsidian long hair that flew gracefully with every wild step she took. Chasing her friends and tagging them with her delicate fingers covered in grime, she continued to giggle and fill the air with nothing but her voice. It resonated in Makoto's ear, sending his insides tingling in a wave that collided with his center.

Was this how his dad felt the first time he saw Makoto's mother? Such an intense swelling in your chest that it was almost painful? Makoto would come back again to see this girl, every day if he had to. To make sure she kept on smiling, and her marble-esque eyes sparkling. If he wanted to find her, there was one place to go that was her favorite, the water – his family's river.

After all, this was a girl born on the distant sea—

"Umiko! Over here, this way."

All that mattered was her happiness.

〜The End〜