By: jaded image
AN: HAPPY NEW YEAR'S EVE!!! Isn't it exciting? A new beginning…a new chance for me to move my lazy butt along…not that it's gonna happen :)
Baka-onna2003- Bwahahahha…I'm being threatened again… .
Fufa- Thank you so much. I'm glad you enjoy it.
Elfin Kagome- Bum bum BOM! I like that…and I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter
Kataan- I know, the story is finally starting to get good and I don't update it. Don't you hate that?
Blazingsunstar- :)
Fire Kitsune Goddess- Wheee, I'm bringing more grief to Chihiro. The poor dear…
Random Reviewer- Thank you thank you I'm not sure if there's going to be anything going on at the rate I'm updating…
Ceres- . Too much praise…over-inflated ego…explodes
HmgirlKristi- Thank you very much. I'm glad you're enjoying it so far. Hopefully I can make it better.
SA is so Nice- Weeeell…let's just say I'm a HUGE C/H fan…
Dark Angel – The Doom- Poor Chi-chan's about to get poor-er…more poor…same thing.
Disclaimer: Pshaw.
:::Riku:::
A low and vicious growl swept past her lips as she held the emerald gem up to the light.
"Why the hell won't you work?" She groaned and tossed the Dragon's Eye into the air only to catch it again. "Master said there's an inconceivable amount of power, all I have to do is use the key…"
With a frustrated snarl she flung the precious jewel into the massive trunk of a nearby tree. The Dragon's Eye rolled unharmed into the shadows, glittering at her as if to taunt her with the power concealed deep within. A power that only the key will unlock…
:::Haku:::
Haku stared at the Yubaba look alike. An exact duplicate if she had been solid. The misty figure stared shamelessly back, taking in his reaction.
Another witch…wait…Yubaba has a twin?! What the hell…Zeniba seemed to have read his mind and smirked. "Hard to believe, isn't it? Alas, Yubaba and I aren't all that close."
"As a matter of fact, you can say there's almost hatred between us. And we constantly fight." She gestured at her see through form. "Consequently, this is what resulted from our last interaction."
Haku's mind was slowly taking all that in. He was still trying to grasp the fact that Yubaba had a sister. The old woman in front of him gave a sigh as she sensed his thoughts.
"Give it a rest already. It's not that unusual. And if you think I'm anything like my dear sister, you'd be terribly wrong."
Haku growled in annoyance, having had his thoughts so easily laid out made him feel vulnerable. Zeniba ignored him and kneeled next to his serpentine body, examining his multiple wounds. He heard her wince and mutter sympathetic phrases at particularly deep gashes and wondered just how pathetic he must look.
The old woman snorted. "Extremely pathetic if you really want to know." She continued in a softer voice. "I was there, you know. The whole time that little sprite was badgering you; I saw it all…"
Haku's serpent-like body stiffened as he recollected those painful moments.
She had been there while Riku hurt him. If she had been there, why hadn't she stopped her? Why didn't she help him? The pain in the river god's heart was too much to tolerate and he let out a sorrowful roar. His Riku…
Zeniba shook her great head slowly, her large eyes showed grief and regret. "There was nothing I could do Haku…not in this form." She waved a thick misty hand.
"I am but an image. I can do no harm nor be of any physical help." Haku growled deep within his throat and blinked furiously as a slightly unfamiliar sensation washed over his being.
Tears…crying…that's what it was.
The old sorceress looked at him with understanding eyes and said in a hopeful tone. "But I can help you, might river god. I can show you the way to defeat this simple forest sprite and her malicious master. You have been given a blessing."
The aforementioned might river god was still going through his new wave of emotions and could not quite comprehend what the old woman was talking about.
"Focus, Haku. The human, Chihiro, she will help you execute their downfall."
Haku curved his sleek dragonhead around to look at her, confusion clear in the jade orbs. Chihiro? Has there been another human stumbling into the spirit realm?
Zeniba's expression mirrored his own. "You didn't know? The little human girl who stumbled into our world not a day ago. She is the key to their destruction."
:::Chihiro:::
She couldn't say it was uncomfortable or anything. As a matter of fact, it was quite the opposite. The water was warm enough to loosen her sore muscles and seep through her skin. Lord Kaisuke's lap was a comfortable support and the arms encircling her waist made her feel…wait! What?!
Chihiro shot up in the tub, breaking the intimate hold Shinrin Kaisuke had been in the middle of initiating. Her wide eyes displayed a series of emotions, from bewilderment to embarrassment to anger and back again. Almost like a slide show…
She heard a furious shrieking through her torrents of confused thoughts and saw Tae in the middle of scrambling up the slippery side of the tub. No doubt coming to wring her neck.
Her embarrassed glance jerked to Lord Kaisuke as he placed a warm hand on her arm.
"Are you okay?" He asked, ignoring Tae's attempts at reaching the two.
Chihiro's face felt unbearable hot and she hurriedly bowed. "Y-yes, Lord Kaisuke. I-I'mhorriblysorry,sir.Ididn'tmeantoslipandfallrightintoyour…thatis,itwasacompleteaccidentandI'lltakecompleteresponsibilityformyactionsforcrashingrightinto…Imean…!"
(Translation: "I-I'm horribly sorry, sir. I didn't mean to slip and fall right into your…that is, it was a complete accident and I'll take complete responsibility for my actions for crashing right into…I mean…!")
She was rambling and she knew it. Bad habit, yes. But bad habits were hard to change. Somehow "falling into your lap" just sounded so awkward.
She had never sat in any man's lap other than her father's, and that was back when she was eight and still small enough to balance and not embarrass herself.
How would the whole kingdom react if they saw her now, curled up in a strange man's arms?! It was outrageous! An unmarried woman, a princess no less!, cuddling with a man is forbidden. And here she was, sitting in a half-naked lap of a GOD (no less!) and she had enjoyed it?!
Poor Chihiro's mind was on the verge of exploding when the forest god spoke. "Ah, it's alright Sen."
A chuckle, and Chihiro's face darkened a few shades. "I actually quite enjoyed it. It's not everyday that a pretty human girl would willingly drop into my arms." He made it sound as if she flung herself into the tub and aimed to land precisely in his waiting arms.
He chuckled again at the idea and Chihiro thought that she could think of a couple hundred girls who would "fall" into his arms. Unsure of what to say, Chihiro was saved the trouble of answering as Tae's furious screech pierced the moist atmosphere.
Workers from all over the bathhouse came rushing. The balconies were crowded with workers and customers alike. Frogmen peered over the separating walls between the tubs. Girls in pink uniforms peered cautiously around the corner of the entrance to the big tub.
"There! That little brat is taking advantage of Kai-sama's kindness for her own evil purposes!!"
Chihiro whirled around in the tub, her wet hair flinging water droplets in every direction, and she came face to face with none other than Yubaba.
Her big eyes glittering in the dim lights, Yubaba surveyed the scene. Everybody was quiet as the sorceress mentally weighed the pros and cons of the situation. Shinrin Kaisuke was a big customer…if he was insulted by this human…
Her nostrils flared in anger as she took in the harassed looking girl in the tub with a nonchalant, half-naked god lounging in the steaming herbal water.
Taking a deep bow so that her nose was mere inches from the ground, Yubaba focused her attention on Kaisuke. Customers first, insolent workers can be dealt with later.
"Ah…Lord Kai, I deeply regret allowing this amateur to have served you. I sincerely hope that her mistake has not tainted your impression of this bathhouse." The witch smoothed over her scratchy voice with a deep coating of sincerity and apology.
Kaisuke smiled and brushed a hand across his forehead, wiping what moisture might have condensed. "It's nothing like whatever you might be thinking, Yubaba. Sen was just doing her best to assist me with my bath. She is quite a hard worker, despite her slight clumsiness."
Yubaba had not expected such a response. She plastered a fake smile across her face while her forehead scrunched in a deep frown.
"Perhaps it is best that I let Tae do the job. She has much more experience and will surely…assist you much better." Tae bowed eagerly, her maroon eyes glittering with confidence that her skill reign far superior to Chihiro's measly abilities.
The handsome god chuckled humorlessly, "No really, I think I prefer little Sen here. As a matter of fact, I have a special request of you Yubaba."
Stepping carefully out of the big tub, he left Chihiro stranded by herself in what could be considered a small pool.
Chihiro shifted uncomfortably, she stuck out like a beggar amongst the rich. Or a human amongst spirits. All eyes were on the scene, and her own were on the forest god as he took his time walking over to Yubaba.
Somehow her thoughts wandered to how he had an unusual hair color. (AN:…this is just an author's attempt at a little more character description…)
A dark steely brown, to the point of black at a certain angle. Unusual cut too. His bangs were grown out and parted to either side. His hair slanted upwards as it traveled along his head so that the strands were shortest at his nape.
"Give her to me." Chihiro blinked, confused. Who knew hair could be so distracting. Apparently Yubaba wasn't quite following either. "…Excuse me?"
"I said, give her to me. To serve me personally during my stay at the bathhouse."
Yubaba's already overly large eyes grew bigger and Tae felt a surprised squeak escape her parted lips.
"But..but Lord Kai…"
"Think of it as compensation. She'll be working off the damage she did here."
Yubaba threw a glance at Chihiro and found the human with her mouth wide open. A look of pure shock.
Kaisuke smiled as a way to seal the deal. "Don't look so worried, Yubaba. I'll take good care of her. I promise, I don't bite."
A loud splash and splatter of water made everyone rush to the tub. The human of debate had fainted.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Ohohoho…what has Chihiro gotten herself into?? And fainting in a tub? She could drown! Tsk…
I hope all you dear readers enjoyed this long awaited chapter. Took me long enough, eh? Please feel free to review or send me an e-mail.
jaded image