Chihiro felt like time had stopped still; the sound of Eto putting down his book snapped everyone out of their trance in the silence. "Now, why would kids be looking for those two?" The tone of his voice sent shivers up Chihiro's spine and when she glanced at her companions they seemed to have felt the same. Although it didn't necessarily feel threatening or dangerous, the thought still pricked at the back of her mind. She knew that the pair wouldn't have helped in the first place if they worked for Nomura, but… it was still possible, wasn't it?
The doubt was chased out of the human's head as Ida gave her a very sympathetic look, "They took something - no - someone very important to you, didn't they?"
Chihiro sucked in a deep breath and bit her lip. She was still pretty annoyed with Haku, but she did feel indebted to him. After all, she would definitely die if she didn't help. After a moment she nodded, "Yeah, they did."
Chihiro swore tears pricked the corner of Ida's eyes and she stepped closer to give her a gentle hug. The action reminded her of her mom and she felt her eyes get wet. As Ida's arms wrapped around her, she went to return the hug before letting out a soft yell and stepping back. The second of comfort from the motherly horse-woman had made her forget about her side.
Ida gasped in surprise and her eyes widened in concern. She gently touched Chihiro's side, blood having managed to seep through the multiple layers, "Sit and let me see, dear." Ida was already shoving Chihiro into an overstuffed lounge chair and beginning to expose the wound before Chihiro could respond.
Ida gasped again as her hand-hooves flew up to her mouth. Chihiro knew it didn't look pleasant, but really? She glanced at Lin and Aogaeru who were both just staring wide-eyed in horror. Chihiro looked down and felt her eyes get wet again as she saw what the problem was.
The wound had grown to a point where it was difficult to tell what had caused it in the first place. The edges showed disturbingly obvious signs of infection, and the smell was unbelievable. How had she not noticed before? Her whole side was turning a nauseating grey; tentacle-like markings were reaching to her other side, as well as down to her lower body and up towards her neck. Since when had it gotten this bad?!
Ida had a flash of recognition in her eyes, "This was Hisashi's doing, wasn't it?" Chihiro wasn't quite sure, but she had assumed so she nodded. Ida and Eto's gazes became grief-stricken, "I… We... have seen a wound like this before."
Chihiro felt her blood boil. Was that why the village was so quiet? Lin spoke up before Chihiro could, "What the hell do you mean?"
Ida let out a soft sob and Eto walked over to comfort his wife, "This village was much larger, a long time ago. At first, we didn't care much about that wish and snake god, but they didn't like us ignoring them. They didn't show up very often, but if they did and someone didn't comply they would be cursed. Nomura's curse also looks similar, just without that initial wound. We also recognize the smell of what the venom does to someone."
Lin clenched her fist, "Don't tell me… They did it to kids too, right?" Eto and Ida nodded silently.
Aogaeru spoke in a voice that was loud enough to fill the home, "Well, what are we waiting for! Let's get rid of those guys and then go back home!"
Lin nodded and leaned down next to Ida, "Do you have supplies to wrap up Chihiro's wound? As best as you can, I know you can't cure it."
Ida's eyes widened and she violently shook her head, "No! I can not allow this young girl to travel like this!" Eto was silent but he nodded in agreement with his wife.
Chihiro smiled softly and placed a hand on Ida's shoulder, who now had massive tears streaming down her cheeks, "I'll be ok. The one they took knows how to heal me and he can take us back home." She could tell if that was a lie or not. The getting back home was true, but could he really heal her? She inwardly shook her head so the others wouldn't see her fighting with herself. If he was strong enough to defeat Nomura and Hisashi, then surely he would know how to heal her or get her to someone who could. The question was whether she was going to die before that was possible. The thought made Chihiro sit up.
Ida's eyes were filled with doubt but she could see the determination in the trio's eyes. She quietly stood, moving into another room, and quickly came back with lavender-smelling cream and bandages. Chihiro decided not to question the former, staying as still as she could despite the pain. She felt the pain dim and she saw Ida stand back up, so Chihiro also stood, "Thank you."
Ida was still crying and Eto seemed to be fighting back tears. Chihiro didn't give a fuck about her pain and pulled them both into a hug, "We're going to make sure Nomura and Hisashi pay. I promise." Chihiro let them both cry into her shoulders for a moment before they stepped back, nodding.
"Although we can not go with you physically, we will be there in spirit. Please be careful."
Chihiro smiled brightly, "We will." Chihiro had no idea what was going to happen, but she didn't want to make the couple any more upset than they already were.
A few more moments of tears and Ida insisting they take more food before they stepped out into the cold. Ida and Eto stood in their doorway waving goodbye to the trio, Chihiro turning and waving back until she could no longer see them.
Despite the heavy snow, they could see a path that led higher into the mountains. Eventually, they were able to spot a large black shape in the distance, resting just shy of a cliff. Chihiro couldn't help but roll her eyes at such a stereotypical place to have an evil castle. Although, she would have much preferred the tropical island with a skull-shaped cave over the cold. It didn't take long for the black shape to take a more distinct shape, after a couple of hours getting close enough for details to be visible. Chihiro felt herself reaching and clutching onto the emeralds. The one that had been weak had turned into shards and she swore she felt a small crack in one of the ones still intact. She was thoroughly out of time; she only hoped she made it in time to save Haku so he could get rid of those evil pests.