Chapter 10
The Preliminary Diagnosis
For each of the next two days, the doctor came by and pick up Aiko and Lin for the ten-minute ride to his clinic. After his analysis, he had Ms Suzuki take Lin for a walk while he discussed what he could with Aiko.
"Aiko-san, you are not Lin's guardian, so I am not able to discuss any but the most pressing matters with you. I have prepared a written diagnosis." He handed her a thick envelope and a large X-Ray. "You might need to take it back with you alone, as Suzuki-san is still against her returning."
"I hope you have good news for Yubaba."
"For the most part, it's good. I still have some DNA tests that have't come back, but I feel confident that Yubaba's fears about Lin going mad were unfounded. She's a very smart kid, but not in any danger of meltdown."
"Are there any, as you say, 'pressing matters?'"
"Absolutely. Unlike any of the previous students Yubaba has sent me in the past, this little fox had somehow become genetically human. I got suspicious when she demonstrated she wasn't color blind, so I did a chromosomal analysis. She's definitely incompatible with a fox at this time, but it seems likely she could bear human children. When I found that out, I sent her to a pediatrician for a medical checkup. She told me that Lin was physically small, but her physical development seemed to indicate she was much closer to ten or eleven years old. I've recommended that you become her teacher."
Aiko saw the reason as obvious. None of the people in Yubaba's world, except Yubaba and Zeniba themselves, were even remotely familiar with the human menstrual cycle--and it appeared Yubaba's miscalculation of Lin's age would mean she would likely start while she was still in school.
"Would she survive if she were returned to her natural self?"
"You mean if she were to refuse to work upon graduation? That's the bad news--I think. The DNA results will likely confirm this, but whatever happened to Lin is permanent. Yubaba's magic--all magic, in fact--is only temporary. She will not be able to return Lin as a fox."
"Can she live as a human in our world?"
"It seems likely that she could grow up and be a successful woman if she had a decent education, but only theoretically possible that she might find a suitable mate for a family if she wants children."
Aiko decided that returning Lin to Yubaba's world would be better. "Kitamura-sensei, If I were a human in a fox's body, I'd still be interested human guys. Even if I could have children if I mated with a fox, the very notion of it would be repulsive to me. I'm sure Lin would find the thought of human males as mates just as repulsive. If Lin's desire were to have children, the dilemma offered would be the cruellest thing nature could do. On the other hand, if it were my desire to be economically powerful or useful by having a career, I think I could do it anywhere. Yubaba's world is the only place that allows for the possibility of happiness."
"You're not thinking clearly, Aiko. Graduates from Yubaba's education system have, at best, a second-grade elementary school education. She would be at a terrible disadvantage if she had to return that way. That happens to be Suzuki-san's opinion, and I think she is probably right about it."
Aiko began to feel betrayed. She looked at her watch. It was 0630--plenty of time left. "Well, I intend to return with Lin by the appointed time. Are you going to help me or not?"
"If Suzuki-san doesn't approve, I can't help without risking my practice. I'm afraid I won't be able to help."
The doctor adjusted his blinds, signalling to Ms Suzuki that the discussion was over and she could return Lin to his office. In a few minutes, she saw the signal and told Lin it was time to get back.
Ms Suzuki got down to business the second she entered the doctor's office. "I've already discussed this with Lin on our walk. She will stay with me tonight. Aiko, you can return to your hotel and the doctor can return you to the portal, but I can't allow you to take her back."
Aiko broke into tears. "You have no right to do that. Lin belongs in Yubaba's world."
Lin started crying as well. "I thought we were all staying here. I don't want to be in this smelly place alone."
It appeared to the doctor's disgust that the caseworker was applying relative truth. "Aiko, I will take you back to your hotel."
He returned Aiko to her hotel. "Aiko-san, I won't be able to return you to the portal, so here are the directions to it. You can give this to the taxi driver. Before all this, I had already called him to pick you and one other passenger up about an hour from now."
Aiko sensed the doctor was once again exposing a devious side of himself. "Thank you," she replied, with a touch of hopefulness.
Almost as an answer to her hope, he said, "Now here is Suzuki-san's name card with her home telephone and address in case you want to say goodbye." That was a rather strong hint, he thought, but maybe a stronger hint might be needed. "Don't call too late. She'll probably not sleep well tonight with her fox-like sensitive hearing and all that."
Aiko's disposition could have lit the road in front of the hotel at that moment. She thanked, then hugged and kissed a startled doctor. Then she went straight to her room to pack...
The Preliminary Diagnosis
For each of the next two days, the doctor came by and pick up Aiko and Lin for the ten-minute ride to his clinic. After his analysis, he had Ms Suzuki take Lin for a walk while he discussed what he could with Aiko.
"Aiko-san, you are not Lin's guardian, so I am not able to discuss any but the most pressing matters with you. I have prepared a written diagnosis." He handed her a thick envelope and a large X-Ray. "You might need to take it back with you alone, as Suzuki-san is still against her returning."
"I hope you have good news for Yubaba."
"For the most part, it's good. I still have some DNA tests that have't come back, but I feel confident that Yubaba's fears about Lin going mad were unfounded. She's a very smart kid, but not in any danger of meltdown."
"Are there any, as you say, 'pressing matters?'"
"Absolutely. Unlike any of the previous students Yubaba has sent me in the past, this little fox had somehow become genetically human. I got suspicious when she demonstrated she wasn't color blind, so I did a chromosomal analysis. She's definitely incompatible with a fox at this time, but it seems likely she could bear human children. When I found that out, I sent her to a pediatrician for a medical checkup. She told me that Lin was physically small, but her physical development seemed to indicate she was much closer to ten or eleven years old. I've recommended that you become her teacher."
Aiko saw the reason as obvious. None of the people in Yubaba's world, except Yubaba and Zeniba themselves, were even remotely familiar with the human menstrual cycle--and it appeared Yubaba's miscalculation of Lin's age would mean she would likely start while she was still in school.
"Would she survive if she were returned to her natural self?"
"You mean if she were to refuse to work upon graduation? That's the bad news--I think. The DNA results will likely confirm this, but whatever happened to Lin is permanent. Yubaba's magic--all magic, in fact--is only temporary. She will not be able to return Lin as a fox."
"Can she live as a human in our world?"
"It seems likely that she could grow up and be a successful woman if she had a decent education, but only theoretically possible that she might find a suitable mate for a family if she wants children."
Aiko decided that returning Lin to Yubaba's world would be better. "Kitamura-sensei, If I were a human in a fox's body, I'd still be interested human guys. Even if I could have children if I mated with a fox, the very notion of it would be repulsive to me. I'm sure Lin would find the thought of human males as mates just as repulsive. If Lin's desire were to have children, the dilemma offered would be the cruellest thing nature could do. On the other hand, if it were my desire to be economically powerful or useful by having a career, I think I could do it anywhere. Yubaba's world is the only place that allows for the possibility of happiness."
"You're not thinking clearly, Aiko. Graduates from Yubaba's education system have, at best, a second-grade elementary school education. She would be at a terrible disadvantage if she had to return that way. That happens to be Suzuki-san's opinion, and I think she is probably right about it."
Aiko began to feel betrayed. She looked at her watch. It was 0630--plenty of time left. "Well, I intend to return with Lin by the appointed time. Are you going to help me or not?"
"If Suzuki-san doesn't approve, I can't help without risking my practice. I'm afraid I won't be able to help."
The doctor adjusted his blinds, signalling to Ms Suzuki that the discussion was over and she could return Lin to his office. In a few minutes, she saw the signal and told Lin it was time to get back.
Ms Suzuki got down to business the second she entered the doctor's office. "I've already discussed this with Lin on our walk. She will stay with me tonight. Aiko, you can return to your hotel and the doctor can return you to the portal, but I can't allow you to take her back."
Aiko broke into tears. "You have no right to do that. Lin belongs in Yubaba's world."
Lin started crying as well. "I thought we were all staying here. I don't want to be in this smelly place alone."
It appeared to the doctor's disgust that the caseworker was applying relative truth. "Aiko, I will take you back to your hotel."
He returned Aiko to her hotel. "Aiko-san, I won't be able to return you to the portal, so here are the directions to it. You can give this to the taxi driver. Before all this, I had already called him to pick you and one other passenger up about an hour from now."
Aiko sensed the doctor was once again exposing a devious side of himself. "Thank you," she replied, with a touch of hopefulness.
Almost as an answer to her hope, he said, "Now here is Suzuki-san's name card with her home telephone and address in case you want to say goodbye." That was a rather strong hint, he thought, but maybe a stronger hint might be needed. "Don't call too late. She'll probably not sleep well tonight with her fox-like sensitive hearing and all that."
Aiko's disposition could have lit the road in front of the hotel at that moment. She thanked, then hugged and kissed a startled doctor. Then she went straight to her room to pack...