By: jaded image
AN: Last day of summer...how very depressing. My summer was quite eventful, and I managed to get this chapter done. Though it may be crap, I hope this moves the story along.
Wispers Sound Like Screams- One of my favoritest reviewers! ....Why am I so influenced by sweets...darn you .
Moezy-chan- Thank you. I tried with the details. I really did.
Fukari- Whee!! I'm glad you think so! ::squeals as well::
HmgirlKristi- Well I hope I live up to your expectations of stories like this ;)
Kagome Sengoku- Yes, I have watched Castle in the Sky and it really is good. Along with Princess Mononoke and Kiki's Delivery Service. All Miyazaki's brilliant creations.
Yanling- Thank you thank you. Glad to hear you liked it.
Bridget- I really suck at updating...buuut thank you. I shall try my best.
Blazingsunstar- Awesome.
Baka-onna2003- Waaaaai! A dragon! ::huggles:: ...I mean, yes ma'am...
Disclaimer: If I owned it, I wouldn't be writing cheesy clichéd fanfictions...even if I happen to like cheesiness and cliché-ness.
Scrambling up the grassy hill as fast as her damp uniform allowed, Chihiro made it back to the bathhouse in record time, the though of Rin's unlimited anger fueling her. She paused to catch her breath and wiped her face with the newly cleaned cloths.
She should really try to work out more.
The calming breeze that had accompanied her died down as she strode across the sturdy bridge. Her eyes cast around for fellow workers, but all was quiet. Not even the annoying amphibian was there to get in her face.
Where was everybody?
She tiptoed into the bathhouse, her body tensed as if expecting an ambush. When no toad like creatures or powerful sorceresses flew out at her, she relaxed and guided herself to the foreman's desk. She looked around taking in the little details missed the day before.
Her little tour was interrupted as Rin shot through a doorway, her arms waving frantically in unexplainable directions. Spotting Chihiro, her face split into a wide and relieved smile.
"You have no idea how impatient Yubaba has been. She's looking all over for you!"
"What...me?!"
Ignoring her younger friend's confused look, Rin took hold of Chihiro's arm and dragged her back the way she had come. Frowning at the bunch of cloth in her hand, she mused. "You were washing this whole time? You even got yourself wet! Geez..."
Chihiro didn't reply as she was dragged along, her cheeks flushed from all the walking she had done that day.
Rin continued merrily, unaware that her companion might've been in need of a desperate rest. "There's a new customer, a nature god or something. All I know is he must be one hell of a being to order Yubaba around like that!"
Chihiro stared at the side of the older woman's head, just what was she talking about?
Rin dragged her into the tubs area and past many stalls. Chihiro craned her neck and peered into every stall wanting a glimpse of the kind of customers a bathhouse in the spirit world received. All she managed to see were blurs of colors meshed together.
Rin trudged tirelessly onward, dragging a princess who looked like she just escaped a madhouse. She suddenly jerked to a stop and huffed in frustration.
Chihiro could hear Yubaba's voice drifting over the heads of a crowd of bathhouse workers. Low and raspy, she tried to sound as sweet and caring as she was capable of.
"Please Mister Kai. Won't you take Tae instead? She's much more skilled than any human could ever be." Chihiro heard a familiar giggle and she guessed that to be Tae.
Rin was still gripping her arm with one hand, with the other she tried to swat people aside. The older woman tapped her foot impatiently before diving straight into the mob, bringing a still not fully recuperated Chihiro.
Disgruntled yelps and curses were heard as they cut straight to the front, just in time to hear whoever Yubaba was talking to reply.
"No, I have made up my mind. I would like the service of this...human." Chihiro gazed at this stranger.
A few inches taller than her with a lean frame and authority radiating off him in waves. His hair was a deep shade of mahogany tied back with a leather band and his eyes an odd tint of blue that seemed to change as one watched. He wore a simple robe made of the softest silks and Chihiro recognized it as the robe the bathhouse provided for their guests.
Her breath caught in her throat as his gaze landed on her. "This must be the human."
Yubaba favored Chihiro with a glare before gliding over and placing two wrinkled hands on her shoulder. "Yes, this is Sen. She was...out...doing errands for me." The witch wasn't about to admit she couldn't keep track of her own workers. Especially not to a god of such high class.
The stranger offered a flattering smile, "of course. Your workers are very dedicated to you."
Eyeing Chihiro's dirty uniform and crumpled rags, he gestured to the large tub, amazingly clean. Rin must've worked her butt off for the stall to be so tidy.
"I'd like to have my bath now."
"Right, of course. I...Tae would you get Kai-sama settled. Sen will be right with you." The forest god nodded and entered the stall, ignoring Tae's obvious flirtatious attempts.
Yubaba whirled around and dismissed everybody with a wave of her heavily jeweled hand. As frogs and spirits dispersed, Yubaba leaned in close to Chihiro's face. Her eyes glaring openly at her and oversized nose nearly touching Chihiro's own.
"You better not mess this one up human. Shinrin Kaisuke has to be among the top customers to this bathhouse. I don't want to lose business for some careless mistake. Understood?" The underlying threat was not lost on Chihiro. If she messed this up...her chances of surviving this experience was dangerously slim.
Gulping down the fear, she nodded.
The sorceress, satisfied that her message was received, placed a bundle in her hands. "Clothes," she explained. "You absolutely cannot tend to the god of Shinrin forest in that outfit. Now hurry up!" Yubaba flew up to a balcony and left Chihiro with Rin.
The princess turned to her friend and Rin saw the anxiety flooding her wide eyes. It was understandable, the poor girl hadn't been here for more than a day and she was already made to take care of customers.
She patted Chihiro assuringly on the shoulder in what she hoped was a comforting manner. "Don't worry 'bout it. Taking care of powerful gods isn't difficult..." She completely disregarded the snobs and perverted requests she had encountered when she served such powerful gods. She didn't want to alarm Sen.
Chihiro nodded as if she agreed. Just then, the girl Tae came out of the stall calling back to the customer inside. "I'll be right back Mister Kai."
She turned to Chihiro ands smirked as the look of recognition passed across the latter's features. "Well, well. The puny human finally got fished out of the river. Hope you had a nice swim."
Chihiro bristled as the girl let out a high-pitched giggle. Nobody dared to speak to her like that back at the castle. She was the princess after all.
"Yes, it was very nice. Maybe you'll care to join me next time."
Tae's pretty face took on an arrogant look. "I don't like to associate with inferior people such as yourself. Kai-sama on the other hand..." She trailed off and glanced hungrily back into the stall.
Tearing her gaze away from the god soaking in the tub, she sent a piercing glare towards Chihiro. "You better leave this one alone, human. Don't try anything like you did with Haku."
Rin arched an eyebrow at Chihiro as if to ask what exactly did she "try" with the river god. Chihiro flushed and shook her head desperately.
"I didn't do anything!"
Tae's face twisted into a look of disgust. "Don't try to deny it, you little—"
"Hey! You better watch what you say." Rin had been unable to endure the abuse her friend was receiving. Her own anger had heightened with the constant spats between the two. "Not everybody is as loose as certain others."
The girl's face reddened with anger at the insulting reference. Meanwhile, Chihiro had gotten tired of all the bickering and went off to find a place to change out of her muddy clothes and into the cleaner pair.
After tying the last string on her pink uniform, she hurried back towards the big tub, hoping that the important customer hadn't become too irritated. Rin and Tae had broken up their fight before any physical advances were required and Chihiro could hear Tae's ultra-sweet voice asking the forest god if he needed help scrubbing his back.
The way that girl sucked up to him was revolting and Chihiro had a fleeting sense of pity for the man.
She quietly entered the stall, trying to avoid attracting any attention by sticking near to the paneled walls. Her efforts didn't seem to be enough as Shinrin Kaisuke ignored the rambling girl at his side and turned his dark head to face her. He smiled warmly and his eyes locked with her dark brown ones.
Chihiro flushed visibly. "Ah, you must be the human."
She nodded and flushed deeper at the emphasis on the last word. Mister Kaisuke rose out of the large tub, a fleece towel wrapped around his waist, and ambled over to stand next to her.
He was completely ignoring Tae and it was irritating her to no end. She had told the girl to back off!
Chihiro kept her glance on the polished wooden floor, trying to avoid looking at the bared chest of a god and suppressing her blush at the same time. Kaisuke saw the effect he had on her and smiled.
"What's your name? Human is too inferior for a being such as yourself." And he bowed as a charming prince would to a beautiful princess.
The actual princess was surprised to say the least. This young man was charming, good-looking, and a powerful god. He reminded her of a certain someone...
"I...I'm..." She cleared her throat nervously, trying to rid herself of the imaginary hairball.
Tae decided this would be a good time to cut in and perhaps humiliate the stupid human. "She's Sen. A boring name really, I don't know who thought of it. No sensible person would name their child—"
"A charming name for a charming person." Kaisuke interrupted, bowing again.
Chihiro was completely bewildered now and tried not to roll her eyes. This guy was obviously coming on to her; and being inexperienced as she was, she had no idea what to do.
Instead she said, "your name is nice too.."
By now, Tae's maroon eyes were flashing angrily and jagged bolts of lightning could be seen. She was convinced this human had done something to attract the mighty god. The force of her glare made Chihiro shiver and she nodded her head towards the tub.
"Mister Kaisuke...perhaps you should get back to relaxing or else the water might get cold."
The truth was she couldn't stand the other girl's constant envious glares and the odd flattering this man kept dishing out.
"Of course, if you would please assist me." He grabbed her hand and led her to the side of the bowl-like structure. The raven-haired girl immediately attached herself to his other arm. "I'll help you too Mister Kai."
It was obvious Kaisuke didn't need help. Heck he could've floated himself back into the steaming herbal water if he wanted to. Chihiro had no idea why he grabbed her. The warmth from his hand clasped tightly to hers sent a warm feeling up her arm and consequently up her neck and face, making her look beet red.
Kaisuke glanced at her, a worried expression adorning his handsome features. Pulling his had out of Tae's death grip, he felt her hot forehead. "Are you feeling well, Sen? Maybe you need to soak in the tub too. There's plenty of room." Whether or not there was a separate meaning behind his statement was unclear.
Seeing Tae give her an I'll-kill-you glare, Chihiro declined quickly. Not like she was going to accept in the first place.
"N-no thank you Mister Kaisuke. I'm fine." She slipped her hand out of his grasp and backed up against the wall again, having missed the god's frown of disappointment.
"Well, feel free to slip in any time." He called to her, still ignoring a now desperate Tae who looked like her head might explode.
All the touching and flattering had creeped Chihiro out and she was in no hurry to get anywhere near him. Still, she managed a polite nod before retreating to a corner and letting Tae take charge.
:::Haku:::
Haku opened one bleary jade eye and glanced around the room, trying to remember where he was. As images of what had happened replayed in his mind, his sleep-laden body began to awake to every searing pain from every cut that he had.
He could barely move and so, settled himself with growling and shooting vicious glares at nothing in particular.
A breeze drifted into the room, although all doors and windows were locked, and Haku was immediately aware of another presence in the room. He couldn't move to investigate and instead, growled ferociously at whoever was there.
An all too familiar cackle was heard and the river god's heart seized to beat for a moment.
A certain cold fear clenched his stomach. Haku's eyes searched wildly around the room for the owner of the cackle.
A raspy voice uncomfortably close said critically, "well, don't you just look like something the cat dragged in."
Although he couldn't get up, the hurt dragon was still capable of using his tail; it unfurled from around his body and pierced through the air where he thought the presence was.
"There's really no need to be so violent," said the voice, "and might I just add that you have horrible aim."
Haku growled deep in his throat. That damned Yubaba, he thought scathingly.
The voice cackled again in amusement. "You're mistaken young man. My sister is safely back at the bathhouse brooding to herself about that new human charge of hers. I..."
There was a gust of wind and the voice was accompanied by a misty figure, "I am Zeniba. Twin sister of Yubaba and I do believe you need my help."
:::Chihiro:::
This was a bit uncomfortable.
Chihiro scrubbed rhythmically on the forest god's nicely toned back and tried not to tip right into the tub every time her fingers brushed against his smooth skin.
She concentrated on her task and ignored the soft hisses coming from Tae's end, which sounded remarkably like an angry cat.
Kaisuke leaned back against her touch, his eyes closed and the look of pure enjoyment on his face. "Hmm...you know you're very good at bathing people." He said it like she bathed delicious looking spirit gods everyday.
Chihiro, her face glowing with embarrassment, decidedly took that as a compliment and whispered thanks in return. He interrupted her in mid-scrub and stretched, showing off his muscles as they rippled beneath his skin.
Chihiro occupied herself with staring at the brightly decorated ceiling while Tae stared to her heart's content.
Mister Kaisuke didn't seem to notice the effect he had on either of them and continued to loosen his back muscles from all that sitting.
He groaned, "Would somebody please massage my shoulders a bit? I feel slightly stiff." He looked purposefully at Chihiro who blushed at the thought of closer contact.
Tae stepped in and unwittingly saved her. "Oh, let me Kai-sama. I know how to give wonderful shoulder massages, guaranteed to make you come back asking for more." Her coy smiles and subliminal messages weren't lost on either of her companions.
Kaisuke gave her a lazy smile and agreed. "Sen, could you please add more herbal water?"
An easy task. Chihiro agreed heartily and grabbed a red herbal token from a pile on the floor. Turning around, she blushed at what lay before her.
Tae had taken up a position behind the forest god and was giving what could only be described as a sensuous feel over. Kaisuke leant back with a pleasant smiles on his lips.
Chihiro couldn't help thinking that he was quite beautiful, in a dark, mysterious way.
Like Haku? Her mind asked teasingly. Speaking of which, how is he anyway?
She cleared her mind of her previous rescuer and clipped the token into place with a tug. The red token flew through the chute to the boiler room where, as Rin described, a spider-man lived.
Moments later, one panel from the wall disconnected and rose above the tub, waiting for somebody to release the water. Chihiro scrambled clumsily up the slippery side and grabbed a hold of the rope there.
She should've known something bad was about to happen as she tugged hard on the rope and still no water came. Sweating from her efforts, she used her whole weight to pull down the wooden chute.
The water shot out in such a hurried stream it caught her unaware. Before she knew it, she had slipped and fallen...landing with perfect accuracy, right into Shinrin Kaisuke's lap.
Wheeee! Whoa...tons of typing there. I wrote this in wee hours of morning, so if there's something wrong...it's not my fault. Muahahha.
Feel free to tell me how much this story has lowered your IQ in a review.
jaded image