Underwater Savior
Chapter 19: Call the Healer!
By: LadyRainStarDragon
Not mine. I can only wish. If you've seen the movie, then you know which characters aren't in it. Hey, at least the plots in my stories are mine!
Nyuuhakushoku flew as fast as she could, assuming her dragon form once more with her son carefully cradled in her forepaws. One of the best spirit healers in Japan was working as the herbalist and boiler-tender at the Aburaya bath house. If there was anyone who could help her offspring, Kamaji would be it.
The sudden storm sweeping upon the bath house took all of its denizens by surprise, many still outside as the first drops began to bomb the ground. The customers increased their speed, hoping to get in before they were completely soaked. Almost no one noticed the battered form in his abused formal robes laid out near the bridge.
A rotund and jolly radish spirit ambled towards the bridge. He and the carrot spirit were the last in the procession, enjoying the rain as plant spirits are wont to do. The dynamic duo were in the middle of a spritely conversation about growing conditions in the gardens they had finished visiting, when their eyes fell upon something strange.
"What have we here, brother Radish?"
"Judging by the clothing, I believe he is a young water lord of some kind brother Carrot. Look here at the waves on what survives of his trim. Probably either from the sea or a river."
"So badly hurt, and his clothing so torn . . . I wonder if he is another that has had his home ripped away."
"We can find out later, for now, let us take him inside and acquire the services of the healer."
The radish spirit carefully hefted the boy, doing his best not to aggravate the many wounds, which seemed to have been tended to in the rough fashion one would in the field. Astounded greeters watched with wide eyes as the spirit, never before seen to carry much of anything, tenderly transported the child out of the rain.
Tatsu had found the hospital quickly, legs rolling him in through the doors in the manner only one of great authority can achieve. The woman behind the front desk stood quickly.
"What happened?"
"I found this child near an old home in the woods. She is in need of medical attention."
"Do you know her name?"
"I think it is Chihiro."
The doors were swung open and he was escorted to the emergency room. Chihiro was deposited on one of the beds. When the attendant turned around to get any details from the mysterious man in the snowy, airy old robes, all that greeted him was the empty space where the man had been. A faint air current ghosted out of the door, leaving the man to wonder if perhaps the stories his mother had once told him about guardian spirits were real.
Koji had managed to exorcize the site finally. It had been difficult for him, as the monster had soaked up negative emotions for several generations. His hands had a few burns on them now, but it was done.
He was just glad that this demon was currently distracted, otherwise he would probably have had many more injuries than just some measly burns.
Kohaku had re-engaged Greed near the spring, the men having already quit for the day. Here, he would be a bit stronger, but not much now. It seemed that Greed, too, was a bit weaker, placing them fairly evenly matched now.
The two had been slicing and dodging for a while now, neither gaining any real advantage over the other. No advantage until Greed tripped that is. He found himself impaled on the dragon's sword, body already shutting down around him. Using almost the last of his strength, Kohakunushi slid his sword form the pitiful creature, watching as the glow left its haunted eyes.
The dog's physical form blew away, so much dust in the wind. The remainder of it's animating energy was left standing, a shadowy form that none could truly sense the shape of. Then it sank into the ground, seeking rest in the arms of the earth, only having enough energy left for one last attempt, but that would not be for years.
The sound of metal being torn from new hinges filled the ears of the river lord as he fell to the ground. Being at the very last of his strength, he collapsed into hibernation, disappearing to sight for a moment, then fading back in slowly.
The storm that had been raging, abated, and the river, only half-filled, flowed tiredly to the sea. This would be the last storm waters that the once proud river would drain in a long time to come.
Once Ten had extracted himself from the wreckage of what once capped his spring, he paused to survey any damage done to his pool. Noting nothing that really would harm him, he gave a silent thanks to whatever lightning kami had heard his cries.
Turning about to survey everything else to see what mischief he could wreak as his revenge, his eyes fell on the most disheartening sight he thought he would ever see.
His best friend lay as he had fell, drops of the rains still clinging to his face. Kohakunushi would need some serious healing, and a spare set of robes. Lucky for 'Nushi that Ten had his spare set of robes, and that he was decent with healing. Sure, 'Nushi had paid more attention when the healer taught them as pups, but Ten had sort of paid attention. Enough at least to help.
"'Nushi, you'd better tell me someday what just happened to you."
Far too exhausted to carry his friend, Ten instead settled for dragging the dragon in human form. Nushi had lost quite a bit of blood, but still was fairly heavy. With some difficulty, the pair made it into the waters of the spring. As the dragons went through the tunnel into Ten's realm, the water level in the spring dropped a bit, waters that once would flow through the above ground river turning to flow underground, or to pool in a special room to sustain the injured master of the now lost Kohaku river.