Promise of a River

By: LadyRainStarDragon

Chapter 9: The Dragon's Council and A Familiar Face

Rain owneth not ye Spirited Away.

Moving out of Comedy for a bit . . .


I stood before the Oriental Dragon Council, heart racing in my chest. Deep within Earth's vast terrestrial womb this Council sat to test and deliberate over a dragon spirit's readiness to be a guardian. Here, there was no light from sun or torch, only that electricity from pure quartz crystals aligned just so was used, as Earth's synapses processed whatever a planet thinks. Behind and above the natural dias that the floor had formed eons ago, was a single crystal fully as big as the bath house. Therein rested the imprint of past trials and other dealings within the room, similar to what was becoming known as a holograph in the human world.

No breeze stirred the thick air, save for the deep breathing of us six, and the heartbeat of Earth itself thrummed through the vast cavern, the molten core warming the perfectly smooth floor. Columns spanned the heights in here, fantastic works of wonder created by no tool, no living hand, merely nature itself. Precious jewels mimicked the stars in the Heavens, spangles of light and color that only grew on these sacred grounds. Here, one would wear their draconic form alone, for it was here that our legends told us the first dragons of Asia came to be.

Sometimes, the great criminals of my race would be brought here for justice, reckoning for treasonous breaches of draconic pacts millennia old. Usually though, this council was convened for the displaced ones exiled from their body of birth and seeking transfer to another body of similar element. Very few of us dragons wished to be specifically assigned to humans any more. Humans, having their own free will, were a much more difficult task than a body of water, even though they were mostly water themselves.

Today, five dragons sat in Judgement as I waited for my test of readiness. The Black, White, Red, Gold, and Blue were all of similar size and configuration, and almost all solid in their coloring. The exception was the White one, who was looking at me as if he were seeing a ghost. He was curiously familiar, scales gleaming sharply as sun reflecting from snow contrasting the brilliant solar gold of his mane, forested eyes shining in the darkened room. His scent, so like high craggy peaks and freshly fallen powder, co-mingled with the spring thaw, was sharply familiar, though I was not able to place why.

The Gold coiled himself as he sat, reaching nearly 50 loops in all, careful not to catch a horn on any of his brethren. I was so small compared to him, as I only reached a meager 25. The Most August Dragon of the Perfect Moment fixed a ruby eye upon me as he spoke. The deep rumbles danced rhythmically with higher notes, the music of our ancient language echoing throughout this Sacred Precinct.

"State your name for the Records Son of Water."

"Nigihayami Kohakunushi, Mighty Ones."

"What do you wish to submit application for guardianship of?"

"Ogino Chihiro, a human woman-child."

"For the Record, why are you applying for a new guardianship?"

"I have lost my river, and I have a special relationship with Chihiro. Her parents led her into our world, putting her in danger and I do not trust them to not do something similar. Before that, I had saved her from drowning on a day she had fallen into me due to her parent's negligence."

The stone flashed and began to glow, and in the depths I saw a copy of myself, replaying the scene. The White and Gold one lay himself heavily upon the ground, coiling about the great pillar near to him. The others turned their heads curiously at the sound, armor hissing and clinking against itself. The Black, being the nearest, nudged his side with his nose in a silent gesture of calming. Calming from rage or grief though? Some combination? After a moment's silence and exchanged looks between the five, they turned back to me. Curious eyes blazed at me, a pair each of garnet, obsidian, emerald, sapphire and amethyst.

"How is it that you lost your river, only pup of Nigihayami Tatsu?"

Lowering my head in shame, I studied the floor as I gave my answer.

"I do not remember my Lords and Ladies. I was informed that it had been filled in and built over, but how that happened I don't know. One day I was in the river, fighting for my water. The next that I remember was a month later, I was in the Boiler Room of Aburaya, bandaged. I tried to find Kohakugawa and Chihiro again, but I couldn't."

"In order to go further, Kohakunushi, we need to know what happened. Close your eyes."

Shamed at the loss of my home and the use of my first name by a stranger, I meekly bowed and closed my eyes, waiting for the death blow that I felt was sure to come. Why such a tender tone for one who had failed their guardianship and could not remember how? Behind my closed lids there was a flash of a white dog, then I lost consciousness.

In the depths of this magical coma, I must have relived what had to be the most traumatic period of my life. The pain was intense, but my self was not awake to feel it.

I awoke some time later, sprawled on the floor, underbelly up and vulnerable to any of the Council. Blood oozed from numerous wounds, particularly in the area of the chest that my heart resided in. My fur and mane were matted, while scales coated the floor like snow, seemingly ripped from their very cuticles. The exhaustion and the pain must have been playing tricks with my mind, and I could swear I heard one of them keening in the high notes we reserve for mourning.

The only animal sound that can even come close to our songs were the whale and dolphin. The song was the mourning of the passing of a warrior or wise ruler. Who had it been that deserved the Song of Eight Million Sorrows?

Catching my breath in great gasps, I noticed that my heart felt lighter, as if some secret burden had been worked through and lifted. The coldness had been taken away, although guilt could still be found if I were to swim deep enough. Rolling to my stomach I managed to regain my feet, shaky and weak as a new hatchling only minutes old. Waves of nausea tossed my stomachs to and fro, boats lost on a sea of storm.

Gaining control at last, my head rose up to meet the gazes of my elders. Their eyes were wet with unshed tears, threatening to flood with the mere blink of an eyelid. Had they done this to me? The Gold spoke again in his deep subterranean rumble.

"This Council sorrows that such as happened to you, that such happenings lie buried so deep. We will discuss the matter, and inform you six human months before the termination of your contract with Yubaba as to where your placement will be. Go now."

Making my final obeisance to the Council, my vision swam with the lowering of my head. Uncertainly, but with as much firm conviction as I could muster in such a state, I climbed through the various catacombs, ever closer to the sweet air of the above world.

I don't know how I made it to the bath house, but I awoke in my room cleansed and bandaged. Apparently, I had fallen out of the sky on my way, flattening a goodly portion of the crops and scaring our harvesters. Even Yubaba had been scared by the state I was in, if the whispers outside my door could be trusted.

"Hey, Dragon-Boy, you're awake! Sit up so I can change your bandage."

'Well, there is worse to wake up to.'

With Lin's help, I managed to sit up. It took awhile, my muscles still felt torn and pulled in places, and I was unsure if that was from the beating I must have taken in the Chamber, or the flight back. As she unwrapped my bandages, I could see that I only had one wound left, so I must have been out for a long time.

"So, what did you do to the Council to warrant getting your chest run through with a sword Kohaku?"

"I don't know. They told me to close my eyes, when I opened them, it was like I'd been in a fight. They had said they needed to see what happened."

"Well, when you first came here, you were pretty messed up. Every wound was the same exact thing as back then."

I winced as she put some balm on the wound and tightly encased my chest with a fresh bandage.

"How do you know it's a sword wound? We are not allowed a human form in the Chamber, and a dragon can not wield a sword in our other form."

"I was a fighter before I came here Haku. I was a Naginata guard for Itachi-hime. Wounds from blades I'm familiar with."

"I didn't know that."

"You're the only one besides Kamaji now who knows it. Don't spread it around."

"Hai. We all have our secrets."

"Thanks. I'll leave yours alone too."

"Arigato."


From his place on his futon, Kohaku let out a sigh as he finally finished writing these most recent events in his scroll. His lucky quill found its proper spot on the desk as he levitated the scroll back to its hiding spot.

Headaches had been common for him lately, and he was getting another one as he struggled to remember what had really happened in the time he had lost his river. All he could truly say he remembered was Chihiro falling into him, taking her to the bank. There were times he was with her, he could remember playing a few times,and he could remember telling Maiden Snake to watch her when he couldn't. Why? Why had he even needed to? Where is the rest?

Why did he feel like passing out every time he tried to unravel that dark blot? Where had the memory gone? Was it truly that bad that he didn't want to remember?


Meanwhile, back in the Council Chamber, the Black dragon was still poking at the White/Gold one.

"He won't speak!"

"Would you speak if you saw a re-play of your son being run through with a sword, 'killed', and somehow revived only to be split apart? Then, to find out that he doesn't remember most of his life, only happiness revolving around the girl? That he doesn't even remember his father's face?"

"Well, we kind of need his vote here."

"He's in shock, let him be."

"Yah, but his Mate tried to hide this from him!"

"For good reason, look at him!"

Blue blew in his ear, which normally would have earned her a death glare as the dragon had very clear personal boundaries. There was no reaction whatsoever.

"Will the three of you be quiet for just a moment!"

The Gold glared at the Black, Blue, and Red. One of Blue's whiskers started to smoke from the intensity of the gaze. Red rubbed her muzzle nervously. Black fell to picking at one of his scales.

"And we're the wisest of our race other than the Four Kings. Tatsu, are you in there?"

Silence.

"Tatsu?"

More silence.

"Tatsu! Your mate's in heat!"

A grunt. The four other dragons were amazed, as it was well known Tatsu would never refuse his mate for any reason.

"Tatsu, you're scaring us. We need your vote."

The glassy green eyes finally cleared as the dragon came out of his mind. He wasn't really ready to come back, the gory images that played before his eyes refusing to leave.

"He's my son. What do you think my vote is? The prophecy said his river would be returned, but if he wants the child too, who am I to deny it when she is the one to bring it back?"

Black put a paw on Tatsu's shoulder in sympathy. It had to have been hard to see that done to the only child the dragon had.

"For the Record, Nigihayami Tatsu has voted to give Nigihayami Kohakunushi guardianship of this Ogino Chihiro upon terminations of his work contract with Yubaba."

"Arigato Fujiyama."

The four dragons watched silently as Tatsu began his silent trek through the winding passages to his own home within his mountain.


Words

Naginata - a Bo (staff weapon) with a curved blade (think mini katana) attached to the top, called a halberd in English. These were used by female warriors who served as guards for the female nobility outside their private chambers. The wives of the Samurai were expected to be able to defend the home in time of war. If anybody doesn't believe there were female warriors skilled in the use of weapons, just Google 'Ancient Japanese Female Warriors' and you'll find some interesting stuff.

Itachi - Weasel

Hime - Princess

Reviewer Corner

Fyraga: Yes. This is in between 'Underwater Savior' and 'Rivers Never Die.' I think chapter 1 is the only one that didn't end up with an original character in it. Then again, that one was supposed to be about the movie itself, so . . . ya.

Shamanbabe: I have a twisted mind, with lots of little side passages not even I know what's in there. I think that's how I do it.

Nitengale: Arrgh! It ate those words! I'll fix it, because yes, that is what I had written.

Katsy Kat: Things will come and go for him, but only as they relate to Chihiro. He won't remember how the river was lost, or what he was protecting her from. He'll just get vague impressions of feelings from time to time.

Red-sakura-wolf: She knows about what Chihiro is up to, finds it funny that the description Lin gave of Sen matched what Chihiro looked like around the same time, but doesn't connect that it was really Chihiro. Since she can't follow her when Chihiro leaves Kohakugawa district, she can only watch Chihiro when she is staying with her grandfather. Of course, during the summers is now when she is doing manual labor with the excavation crews in 'Rivers Never Die'.