Disclaimer: Natsuki Takaya owns FB, not me. I also don't own anything else you recognize.
Chapter 39
As Hotohori looked outside her airplane window, the land slowly turned from green back to the familiar gray and snowy vista that dominated during winter. Two hours ago at Haresuroka Airport, just to the south of Lhasa, Hotohori had been sweating in the 70-degree weather because Asheno forced her to wear warm clothing. She'd been credulous that it could still be so cold in southern Hoth in summer, but no longer. The cities and towns had become more spread out until they disappeared altogether. Now the dividing range had petered out, and the plane cruised smoothly over the great icy flatlands, called the Ashomi Waste, that bordered the Ghobrin Ice.
"I wish we weren't going to such a cold place," sighed Hotohori. "The weather's been so nice in Lhasa during the last few weeks."
"It's hard to tell," snapped Haku next to her, "when Asheno shuts us inside all the time."
"Haku, relax, you look deranged," whispered Hatsuharu in the aisle seat, taking off his Walkman.
"It's the damn wolf. I didn't get any sleep last night," growled Haku, ripping apart a snack packet with unnecessary vigor. "I wish Asheno had left me behind."
"He'll hear," hissed Hotohori.
"No, he won't," replied Haku, "because he's getting ill. Can't you hear how he's tormenting the doctor and servants?"
From behind, they could hear Asheno hurling savage epithets at the harried family doctor. Other passengers were staring, and a fascinated child behind Asheno stood up in his seat to get a better view.
"Why couldn't we use the family's private jet?" asked Hotohori, deeply embarrassed by the unabashedly curious eyes fixed on their section.
"It needed maintenance, so I hear." Hatsuharu shrugged and put his Walkman back on.
The teenagers sat for the next minute in silence. Looking at nothing but ice depressed Hotohori, and she turned to Haku. "Why did Asheno insist on your coming?" Asheno had informed Hatsuharu and Hotohori that they would be helpful in getting the new Dzuni to come to Lhasa. It made some sense, but left both a little nervous about why Asheno thought he needed help from the other Dzuni.
Haku scoffed. "He doesn't trust me and he's frightened of Faran-Zhuku. Even if the doctor hadn't ordered me to get out of the house and breathe some fresh air, Asheno would still have dragged me along."
"Your visions are back, aren't they? Faran-Zhuku hasn't finished yet?" Hotohori didn't like seeing the dark rings around her friend's eyes, and the haunted, angry expression that had become almost perpetual during the last few weeks. Briefly she had hoped the wolf would sleep for a long time. The other night at the dinner table confirmed otherwise, unfortunately.
"Are my visions back?" mimicked Haku. "What a stupid question! Of course they are! The ghost is very good at dragging things out."
Letting the nasty tone slide, Hotohori asked gently, "What are the visions about?"
"Oh, the breaking of the old family curse."
"Faran-Zhuku's still on the same subject? It might not have been a curse to begin with."
"You're still thinking about that bookstore you found?"
"Yes," nodded Hotohori, her face becoming more animated. "Haku, I really think I might learn more in Lhose. Honestly, I was happy when Asheno ordered me to come along. The people in Lhose are superstitious and much more traditional. The old legends have always survived better in southern Hoth, especially Lhose, but they rarely reach anybody in the north. We may learn a lot about the Dzuni and their origin."
"At the rate you're going, I may end up learning everything about the Dzuni from you instead of Faran-Zhuku," groaned Haku. "He's going to take forever. Hey, Tori, do you know whether Shuro is a girl or boy?"
"Asheno didn't say. Shuro's usually a boy's name, though."
The real objective of this particular trip was to retrieve another member of the Dzuni, Dzaran Shuro. Since Hatsuharu listened to music so much, he heard that Shuro and a cousin had formed a singing duo and become local celebrities in Lhose, but that was all. Shuro, apparently, possessed an amazing singing voice, and members of the music underground expected Shuro to leave his or her mark.
Twenty minutes later, the plane landed on the single strip that served Lhose's airport. The airport was so small it had only seven gates, and the majority of those were reserved for commercial planes that carried mail and goods. Used to the bustling, rushed atmosphere of a huge transport center such as Haresuroka, the quiet efficiency of Lhose Airport came as a shock to the Shomas, except for Asheno, by then too ill to notice. As the doctor and servants made sure their head was securely wrapped in thick blankets, the teenagers retrieved the luggage and met the chauffeur Asheno had arranged for.
"I understand why nobody but the natives like Lhose," remarked Hatsuharu, watching the bare landscape crawl by the snowcar's windows. Because of the amount of ice and snow, square vehicles with tractor-like treadmills were a much wiser mode of transport than the regular four-wheeled cars favored outside of the south. In Lhose, the buildings were only one story, and devoid of any outside decoration except icicles and ice sculptures. Lhose took pride in its ice sculptors, unsurpassed anywhere else in Hoth. However, even elaborate, gorgeous sculptures could not change the fact that here was a climate only twenty thousand inhabitants, and their brave ancestors, had been able to withstand. Today, the temperature was a frigid thirty degrees, not counting the formidable wind chill.
Finally the snowcar stopped at a set of blue buildings arranged in a circular pattern. They'd arrived at their inn. Due to the necessity of effective heating, each cabin was compact and large enough for only three people to share comfortably. All of them had small fireplaces, and well-maintained heaters. What the buildings lacked in outer décor, they compensated for in their interiors. Old-fashioned, richly colored woven tapestries covered the walls, and plush carpets, made from murin fur, lent a comforting feel to cold feet. Murin were badger-like creatures with abundant, thick fur coats and strong front claws for digging. They hibernated in nests in the snow during the long winter, and came out for two months to mate and eat. At the beginning of the summer, they shed their old fur and grew it back. Murin fur provided the mainstay of the Lhose economy; it made for excellent coats and other weather-repellent items. Other villages further north in the Waste also exported murin fur, but the fur grew longer and thicker as one went south. Hence Lhose undeniably became the murin center.
The furniture, made out of wood imported from the forests of northwestern Hoth, was as skillfully carved as the ice sculptures, and the chairs were cushioned perfectly. The visiting Shomas very much appreciated the fact that Lhoseans understood how important comfort and color were in such a barren climate. Hatsuharu and Haku shared one cabin, Hotohori and the two female servants another, and lastly, Asheno, the doctor and the one male servant took up residence in the third. Immediately, all three fireplaces were lit.
Asheno decided to postpone visiting the Dzarans until the next day. Haku was grateful for the opportunity to rest as well as he could, considering it was likely visions would descend upon him that night. He looked through the thick glass window, no larger than his torso, at the hazy outlines of Lhose's "downtown." There clearly was an area where most of the buildings were concentrated, and the murin penning areas and fur processing factories spread along the periphery. In the distance, his eyes could barely make out a triangular shadow that stood far above the one-story rooftops, and he failed to recollect what it was. Oddly, Haku could not shake off a sense of recognition that somehow he'd been to Lhose before and seen that towering shadow, but he'd never traveled to Lhose until now.
Haku sank into a deep sleep, pictures of a green mountainside graced by blooming flame trees. It'd been a long time since he last saw a flame tree or its flowers in his visions, and Haku walked slowly among the trees, basking in the beauty of their fiery blossoms. Looking past the mountain, he saw vast green lands with tall grasses swaying in the cool wind. It was a far cry from the wide swath of snow and ice that covered the southern flatlands for most of the year, and surrounded Lhose.
Being the only tall feature, the mountain dominated the landscape. Stumbling, Haku recovered his balance and found himself walking on a paved pathway, winding around the mountain's side. The pathway consisted of natural gray stones, but they'd been buffered to a perfect smoothness on top. Haku continued along the pathway, admiring the scenery.
A rustling stopped him, and to his left, he saw a human. Since it wore a thick, old-fashioned hekasho, it was most likely a man. His long chestnut hair kept his face hidden as he caressed a flame tree branch. Awed by the figure's aura of regality and power, Haku instinctively bowed deeply. Before Haku could speak however, a strong gale blew and transformed the mountain and surrounding lands into the barren Waste, the mysterious man disappearing abruptly.
Slowly, the shock of the bitterly cold wind wore off, and Haku was able to comprehend his surroundings once again. The vision had whisked him back to Lhasa, to a neighborhood he'd never gone to but had heard much about. The small, artsy shops and trendy nightclubs indicated his new whereabouts were Dze-I, adjacent to Mhagenu. It had once been a fashionable hangout for the rich and upper middle-class. Nowadays it'd gone to seed, the boutiques being replaced by porn stores, and the nightclubs surrendering to shifty bars. In Haku's generation, went to Dze-I to seek reprieve from their troubles in drink and sex.
However, the storefronts now gleamed, their windows showcasing any variety of wares from resplendent clothing to dainty house accessories. A golden cast from the sunset lingered in the summer air, and a dusky purple spread in the sky. Both stores and nightclubs were quiet now, as stores began closing and nightclubs had yet to open. Haku dithered uncertainly in the middle of the half-empty street, still mildly disoriented from the rapid switch of locales.
"Hello?" Huki's voice sounded behind Haku. "Are you there, Ahame?" Haku turned around and observed the rat knocking on a door under a bright red-and-pink sign bearing the name "Ahame's Love Garden." The nature of the sign immediately made Haku wonder about its purpose, and his suspicions were confirmed when he saw how clearly mortified Huki was to be standing in front of such a store.
"My Gods," muttered Huki, knocking yet again. "I must be insane…Hello! Anyone? It's me, Huki, Ahame's younger brother."
A short, trim woman with the classic Hothan mousy brown hair finally opened the door. Her lively eyes scanned Huki with the interest of an expert, mentally taking his measurements.
"Ooh, you'd make a beautiful model. Have you ever considered a career in modeling?" she asked eagerly, causing Huki to blush and stammer.
"Mhine, who's there?" called the familiar voice of Ahame.
"I'm sorry, we've just closed, but perhaps we could accommodate you for a few minutes. Who are you?" the woman named Mhine, suddenly remembering her duties, blithely asked Huki.
"I'm Ahame's younger brother, Shoma Huki," repeated the rat nervously, just noticing that Mhine had on a rather short and revealing maid's outfit. "This is his shop, isn't it?"
"Oh, Huki!" declared Mhine. "Come in, come in! What a surprise, it's so nice to finally meet you!" She forcefully pulled him into the store, chattering happily. "Ahame talks about you so much!" Shelves of fabric rolls surrounded the two on both sides, and a small couches had been arranged for visitors in the central area of the store. Mhine led Huki to a couch, and switched on the lights.
"Who's there, Mhine?" called Ahame again, from a room in the back.
"Huki's come to visit you, Ahame!" yelled Mhine. "Would you like some tea, Huki?"
"No, thanks," Huki replied, looking around at his older brother's shop. He'd never seen it before, and didn't fully understand its purpose, though the sign and Mhine's outfit gave him clues.
"I'm Alefu Mhine, I work for your brother," Mhine said, smiling brightly and seating herself on the couch opposite Huki's. "Ahame will be here in a moment, he's working on an urgent order for a client." She smoothed her skirts. "We weren't expecting anybody."
"Um, yeah, I decided to see what kind of shop Ahame had," lied Huki.
"What, you don't know?" gasped Mhine, aghast. "This is terrible! Of course," she smiled, "I shall tell you. We help our customers live out their romantic fantasies."
"Their…romantic fantasies?" repeated Huki, crossing his leg and squirming. "You mean…like roleplay?"
"Sex is nothing to be ashamed of, especially if there's love between the people involved," chided Mhine, in the same tone used to explain the birds and bees to five-year-olds. "We do not judge anybody here, and…"
"Yes, yes, I agree!" said Huki desperately, anything to keep her from venturing into dangerous water. Huki sighed. He should've known better—this was exactly the sort of profession that fit Ahame perfectly.
Mhine chuckled bemusedly. The deep blush on Huki's face revealed all too clearly how little experience he had in such things. Thus far, Ahame's little brother fulfilled the picture she'd painted from her conversations with her flashy boss. Introverted, quiet, proper, and haunted. Yet he'd never come to the shop before, or more accurately, had never wanted to come. Instantly Mhine's mind set to work on the possible reasons for Huki's call.
Perhaps he'd fought with Ahame and come to talk? Ahame had been unusually tense and reserved since last week. Despite her best efforts, Mhine had been unable to coax the usual flowery monologues from her boss. She alone knew how much his strained relationship with Huki troubled him.
"I'll be there in five minutes!" yelled Ahame.
Mhine decided to test the fight scenario. "Did you have a good time at the spa?"
She knew a number of the Shoma teenagers, including a girl named Lhoru, had been sent to take some time off at a Shoma-owned spa in the mountains after some enormous row in the family. Ahame had been very vague about the cause.
"Oh, yes," Huki flashed a smile, revealing perfect white teeth, and relieved by the change of subject. "The attendant was overwrought as usual, and her son Rhishu was also there, so there was a lot of drama."
"I'm sure," agreed Mhine. She'd heard about Shoma Rhishu and his mother, Gera, who ran the spa. They both suffered from exceedingly nervous and anxious personalities, and shared the same lack of self-esteem. Mhine had met them before; they were perfectly nice, but their twitchiness could really grate on the nerves after a while. Rhishu worshipped Ahame, and often dropped by the store to visit. Mhine never ceased to mull over Rhishu's compulsion to dress like a woman. Unbeknownst to Mhine, of course, was the fact that Rhishu was the monkey of the Dzuni. Huki smiled as he recalled the moment Lhoru accidentally hugged Rhishu under the mistaken impression that he was a girl, and the chaos that ensued afterwards.
"I was there with Nharu, Haru, Lhoru, and Lhadoman," continued Huki. "Lhoru and Lhadoman are now dating, by the way."
"Who's Lhadoman?" frowned Mhine.
"Uh, he's the same age as me, and we go to the same high school." Huki searched for a way to explain about Lhadoman while simultaneously evading the secret of the curse. Obviously Mhine didn't know, because the name Lhadoman was usually enough to evoke whispering about the cat among those initiated into the secret. The belated arrival of Ahame came to Huki's rescue.
A whirlwind of red silk flew out of the back hallway. "Little brother!" Ahame declared joyfully, spreading his arms in a theatric gesture of welcome.
"Hello, Ahame," Huki replied automatically. His spine stiffened, and his body froze. He was still not quite comfortable dealing with Ahame's flamboyance.
"I see you and Mhine have introduced yourselves," Ahame said, gliding to the couch where Mhine sat and settling the empty seat next to her. "This is such a special occasion—Huki visits me for the first time!"
Although intimidated by his older brother's greeting, Huki experienced a momentary pang of surprise when he noticed the dark smudge under Ahame's right eye. It seemed he'd put on makeup to cover circles from sleep deprivation, but some of the makeup had begun to wear off. How strange, both Shehure and Hathori also looked exhausted when the teenagers had returned from their trip yesterday. Now, Huki thought he detected a note of strain in Ahame's voice, and wondered what had transpired among the three best friends during the teenagers' spa sojourn.
Ahame blathered on during Huki's meditations. Finally pausing, Ahame asked, "So what brings you here, to my humble little shop?"
"Well," breathed Huki, "I was actually hoping to speak to you about a private matter." Huki made his expression as serious as possible, trying to convey the gravity to Ahame clearly and to hint to Mhine that she should leave them alone. He didn't want to offend Mhine, but she showed no signs of such when she rose and announced it was long past the time for her to go home.
"I'm glad we finally met, Huki," Mhine said, giving him one last smile, and skipped towards the back door to gather her belongings. She'd sensed that whatever Huki wanted to discuss with Ahame, it was a heavy topic, and she needed to skedaddle. She would use the back door to leave.
After calling out a final good-bye to Mhine, Ahame turned back to his younger brother. Frankly, Huki's desire to speak with him so seriously caught Ahame off guard. Ahame dropped his jocund mask, and felt strangely relieved. The tiredness from the past week's agony threatened to engulf him, and he wanted nothing more than to feel his soft pillow against his cheek.
Despite his rancorous history with Ahame, the sight of his brother sagging so suddenly alarmed Huki greatly. "Ahame, are you ill?"
"No…no, fear not, Huki. I am fine," answered Ahame unconvincingly, a weak smile framing his lips. "Just a busy surge in work, that's all. You'd be shocked at what a demanding business romance is."
"Um, that's what I wanted to talk to you about."
"Romance?" Ahame's tone was shocked, expressionless. Huki nodded almost imperceptibly. So poor Huki was about to join the lengthy list of Shomas whose hearts were broken, courtesy of the curse. Ahame supposed he knew such a scenario had always been possible for him and Huki, but he'd never allowed himself to truly consider it. That ill-advised line of thinking had been haunting him for a while now, ever since his feelings for Mhine had begun to develop and he heard from Shehure that Huki seemed to have a crush on one of Lhoru's friends.
"Is it Lhoru's friend, what's-her-name?" asked Ahame wearily.
"Hanadzima. Dzima for short."
" 'Blue sea.' Nice name." Ahame's noncommittal comment gave Huki a feeling the conversation wasn't off to a good start, but what Ahame said next shocked him.
"If you want to date her, I'll support you when Asheno finds out."
"W-what?" stuttered Huki. He'd expected Ahame to start trying to persuade him not to see Hanadzima, judging from his older brother's initially tepid reaction. "Really?"
Ahame winked, some of his normal flamboyance returning. "I know I haven't been too helpful in the past, Huki, but never let it be said I stood in the way of young love."
All that time spent preparing himself for rejection came to nothing for Huki. Still, he wasn't ready to tell Ahame how invaluable the support of another Dzuni, especially his brother, was to him. The best Huki could muster was a small "Thanks."
"Well, I shall make some tea, and then you must tell me more about Hanadzima," said Ahame much more gaily than he felt. He could already feel the burden of the secret he now shared with Shehure, Hathori and Khazuma about Karan. Somehow, they'd have to conceal it from the rest of the Dzuni for a year, and Ahame desperately wished he could tell Huki, or anybody, really.
At that moment, Karan had just spent her first day in Lhose. The snow was finally melting, and the ground squished and sloshed as people walked. She'd taken residence in a small but comfortable house Hathori had rented for her. It'd been terribly difficult, saying good-bye to Hathori that morning at Haresuroka Airport. Just when they'd finally admitted their love to each other. For a moment, as Karan looked at the same massive, bluish-grey shadow in the distance as Haku would a generation later, Karan wondered if she'd been insane to agree to live in an isolated town in the Waste and give birth to a child. Or perhaps the events of the last week hadn't actually happened.
At least Hathori would visit her every so often to check on the progress of her pregnancy, and to keep her company. The plan seemed too incredible to be real—she was still trying to understand it. And she feared Asheno so much. If he found out, there would be no mercy for Hathori, Shehure, or any of the Dzuni.
Karan continued to stare at the blue outlines of Thika Mountain, which the locals made a big fuss about. She'd ask them more, but later, when she felt normal again. She sighed, turned from the window, and collapsed onto her bed, utterly exhausted.