Feathers of Love

Chapitre Twelve: The Bathhouse


"I guess that you had not managed to cross the river after all...I think that I am not strong enough to stop them...well, are you all right? We have to get away from here as soon as possible, as Yubaba is searching for you now." That person stepped out of the shadows and took a long hard look at Sakura.

"What is happening to me? Why am I disappearing?" Sakura cried out as she tried to grab at Haku's hand. "Tell me! Haku! Tell me the truth!" She was shocked to see that her hand passed through him, and her fear of disappearing into thin air rose.

Haku noticed this too, and he gently shushed her, squatting at the same time. "Now Sakura, I know that you do not trust the food that the Gods eat here, but you have to eat something from here, or else, you will disappear forever!"

Sakura's eyes widened. "Are you sure? Those figures that I saw were Gods? I thought that they were ghosts!" she whispered.

"Now, it won't be good when the Gods find out that you call them ghosts! Forget about them at the moment!" Haku produced something small from his pocket. It was a tiny pill. "Eat this, Sakura. Eat this and I will bring you to Kamajii so that you can get a job. All people who come here not working will be turned into pigs and this will not be good on you."

Sakura stared at him, not knowing what to do. Then, she finally opened her mouth and Haku popped the pill into Sakura's mouth. After some time, she gradually returned back to normal, and she could touch Haku when she touched his hand. "Thank you," she said.

"We do not have time to talk now, we have to leave. Can you stand?" he asked as she stood up, Sakura still next to him.

"What is happening? I can't move!" Sakura struggled.

"Yubaba!" Haku cursed. "We really have to go now, for she knows that you are here." He chanted a spell and Sakura was suddenly able to stand up. Haku half-pulled and half-ran, trying to bring Sakura to somewhere else where she would get to Kamajii easily without being caught. It was hard, for the moment they began running, something appeared in the sky. It was a gigantic bird with a smaller one flying around. Both of them had heads instead of the normal heads of birds and they were blue in colour.

"Don't look up. Yubaba is searching for you and she is the bigger bird while the other one is a pet of Yubaba's, one that usually flies with her during the days. As I have said, they are searching for you."

"So, what should I do?" Sakura asked tentatively.

"Nothing, except run and try to get to Kamajii as soon as possible. Kamajii would ask you not to bother him as he had enough workers but you must persist. He will send you to Yubaba afterwards and you have to do the same, if not, Yubaba will turn you into a pig."

"Oh."

The two of them continued running, not talking anymore to save their breaths. The two of them went down a spiral staircase made of wood, and it was dangerous, for there was not a single handle for them to hold if they lost their balance. Looking down, Sakura saw the train that she had seen earlier travel past in its railways.

They reached the bottom of the stairs safely and opened the door labeled 'The Boiler Room'. Haku opened the door for Sakura and the two of them entered the room. It was stifling hot in there and there was a gigantic furnace at the other end of the room, where some tiny creatures were lugging coal and dropping them into the mouth of the furnace. Upon closer inspection, Sakura saw that the creatures were in different sizes and were soot-black in colour, with very tiny arms and legs.

However, she could not look at the creatures for long as Haku was clearing his throat as he walked towards a man with six limbs. The man looked up from what he was doing and smiled a thin smile.

"Whatever brings you here, Master Haku?" he asked.

"Master Haku?" Sakura thought incredulously.

"And who is that young lady with you?"

Sakura heard this and immediately, asked, "Sir, could you please give me a job? I really need one, please?"

Kamajii looked surprised but he said, "No."

"Why ever not? I am very hardworking and I can do all sorts of manual labour. I can do anything, and I will be able to it! Please, can I have a job?"

"NO. Besides, a human child is useless to us. I have enough workers which can be easily replaced and they can do the work for me." Kamajii answered. "Susuwatari! Get back to work or else you will be turned back into soot! You don't want that, do you?" he barked.

Sakura glanced at Haku and he seemed speechless, shrugging that he had no idea what to do next. However, he mouthed the words, 'keep bugging him, then I can bring you to Yubaba'. Sakura nodded her head.

"Sir! Can you please give me a job? I really need one!" Sakura whined, which was what she hated but she had to do it, for fear of not getting a job. "Please? I really need one and I will do whatever you ask me to!"

Kamajii did not answer and instead looked at a place at the bottom of the room, where it had opened and a girl poked her head, looking at Kamajii before noticing the presence of Haku and Sakura.

"Rin, bring me my dinner." Kamajii said as he went back to his work.

"Why is this human girl here? She is the one Yubaba is searching for!" Rin narrowed her eyes. "Good evening, Master Haku." She greeted after saying this to Kamajii.

"She is my granddaughter. Now, can you please get her to Yubaba's room? She needs a job and I am counting on you."

"No. I will absolutely not do that!" Rin protested.

"Unless you do not want this? Rin?" Kamajii picked up something from his meal. A newt. "Do this for me and you will get this..."

"Oh, all right!" Rin grumbled as she snatched the newt from Kamajii. "You, follow me. As for Master Haku, Yubaba is searching for you too."

Haku nodded his head and made his way out of the boiler room and Sakura followed Rin to the door from where she had entered the boiler room.

"Er...Rin, what is this place?" Sakura asked.

"Are you stupid of what? This is the bathhouse called Aburaya, and Yubaba owns this place! Now, follow me and be quiet."

"Yes, Rin." Sakura said as she fingered her bracelet yet again. She followed her into the unknown new world that she, Sakura might have to call her new home...


Disclaimer: I do not own anything, just the story plot.

I will change the plot of this story gradually, so don't worry! This is just the beginning of the story! So, the plot is bound to be a little bit the same. So this answers your questions, sweet-little-girl! I know that my exams are starting in two days but I think that this is the way for me to perhaps, prepare myself for my English exam, which I hope that I will ace it, though I am not very sure. However, I will try my best! So, please do not worry if you do not see me update for more than one week! New chapters will be up almost everyday after the exams, I hope, but I also have camp for three days, which means I might not update for say, around two weeks. I will try to make up for it! Don't worry! Please review! And ja!