Recalling The Spirit Chapter #8

Dedication: To Burning Fate, who supports me when I fall.

Hello. I'm going to try to make this chapter better then the last. More detailed. Truth be told, I kind of rushed the last one.

RESPONSES TO REVIEWS!

-wo-ai-ni-kai-hiwatari: Your reviews are all a lot a like. But I can remark on them all in one go. (Which is good.) I'm glad you like my mysterious writing style. Who's the stranger? You'll just have to wait and find out. I APREACIATE THE COMPLIMENT! THANK YOU SO MUCH! It means a lot that you think I'm a good writer. T_T

-Orion Kohaishu: I know. I despise cliffhangers and yet I write them all the time. Rather odd, isn't it? Oh yes, yes.....I quite enjoy making you cry bitter tears for the next chapter (^___^). Just kidding.....or am I? I'm glad you love my writing style and my story! *obsessive voice* My own..... my precious..... ^___^. You think I rock? YAY



-Aharah Musici: "This is getting scary?" is that sarcasm, or honesty? Does this mean you approve of my darker ideas? -___-;; I DON'T GET! --- (Totally clueless.) Thank you for the review



porifra: LOL. I KNOW! I can't wait for it to go up! (My website!) Hey, how would you like to enter some drawings or fanficts? I'd love to see what you thought my characters looked like! LOVE THE REVIEWS



Alcapacien: I think I update pretty fast, but hey! I'm so busy sometimes it's not even funny. In fact, it's rather quite sad, seeing me run around trying to get everything done..... Hope you like this chappie!

Okay I HAVE to tell everyone about this. I will not, however, name names. (For the sake of the person who hit themself on the temple.) In the beginning I styled Tamiko after somebody I know. But however, after I type it up, or after they read it, weird connections established.

One of my friends can't swim.

Another one of them (after I told them about Tamiko hitting herself in the temple by accident) accidently hit themselves with a wooden door from a cupboard.

And somebody else I know is afraid of heights. (Connected to Akira)

I'M RUNNING OUT OF JAPANESE NAMES! IF YOU KNOW ANY THAT I HAVEN'T USED YET, PLEASE tell me!

Also, in chapter 1 of Spirited Again, I forgot to mention I didn't own Inuyasha. Thank you Mi mi Penguin.

Disclaimer (A poem): Miyazaki is amazing, Miyazaki is cool. When I watch his movies, I feel like a fool,

For thinking that I, Could do stunning tales, Concerning his characters, Should I stick to whales?

And yet I take comfort, And honour, and pride, For making my own stories, To tell far and wide.

And I must not despair, And how could I? How would I? For I have my own characters, Some brave, and some shy.

And each is unique, I point out to you now, Akira, Nile, Tamiko, (And yet not a cow.)

Sure I may use his characters, But the plot is my own, Every movement, every word, From my little head grown.

I do not own his characters, Or setting, or plot, But still, even still, I do own a lot!

(Whew. Don't ask where the inspiration for that came from!)

Chapter #7 Alone and Yearning

Footsteps echoed. Tamiko and Akira exchanged horrified glances. Suddenly united, the pair ducked low, understanding the need to stay hidden and keep quiet.

An unknown male's voice echoed in the room. "Kiku, are you sure this is not another trick? A distraction for your friends? I will report you, this time!"

"No, Ryokuto-san. I heard noises, and became afraid. It sounded like scuffling and muttering, sir." Came a younger woman's voice respectfully, though, if listened to closely, her speech carried the tones of mockery.

Tamiko huddled in her kimono, suddenly glad she was wearing it. If she were still wearing her mortal clothing, her white shirt would have shone like a beacon in the darkness. Something struck her, and she stared at Akira, who in turn, caught her expression, and winced as realization dawned. He had shed his black jacket when saving her from No-face, and now bore a white T- shirt. He shifted his position so his shirt wouldn't be visible from the room.

Ruyokuto spotted the movement in the corner of his eye. "Hey, you there!" he strode over, picking Akira up by the front of his shirt. Akira was tall, but this man was GIANT. Akira stood up to about just under his shoulders, and was a lot less...overwhelming. Tamiko watched on in horror. ~AKIRA!~

"Boy, what are you doing here? Kiku told me she heard noises! Trying to get away from your duty?!?" Akira didn't answer. He appeared calm, and yet Tamiko knew him well enough to understand that he was scared. "What were you doing?!?!?!" Tamiko's mouth dropped, as fresh knowledge presented itself. That man couldn't see her! And Akira wasn't going to point her out either. ~And he calls ME stubborn! Akira...~

The man set Akira roughly to his feet, and one of his massive hands clamped around Akira's arm. "Come on. I'm taking you back."

"Thank you, Ryokuto-san." Once again the mockery. It was apparent that this young woman did not respect her boss in the slightest. Her footsteps left the room, and Tamiko could hear the soft shutting of the door behind her.

"Akira...what will they do to you?" Tamiko muttered, putting her head in her arms. She allowed herself to stay like this for a complete minute, before rising. She stepped cautiously into the dark room, and looked around. Deserted. She stepped over the slippery fabric of the fluffy sleeping bags, and peered into the drawers. Pink pants and tops of all different sizes greeted her. Despite the situation, Tamiko still managed to roll her eyes. Pink? Didn't they have...a navy blue or... something? ~So this is the woman's quarters.~

She slipped into a pink outfit, folding the kimono neatly. She neatened her hair, and tied the long ribbon around her sleeves (like the one Chihiro wears on her outfit in Spirited Away.) She looked into a large mirror, and was shocked by what she saw. A woman stared back at her, hair as black as a raven's wing, framing a tanned face streaked by tears. Her large brown eyes flecked with green shone with many emotions. Right now, though, the chief one was sadness. Her eyes would change, from blue-green flecks, to gold, purple, blue, silver, copper and (when she was extremely angry) almost a reddish hue.

"You new here?"

Tamiko stiffened and shrieked, startled. She turned to see a young woman with cropped almond brown hair, and bright hazel eyes, full of mischief. She grinned a wicked grin at Tamiko. "I'm Kiku. Did you hear that old grouch earlier? "Are you covering for your friends?" Just because we always cause mischief, and lazed out on our jobs last night...and the night before...and the night before that...Oh I'm sorry, where are my manners? What's your name?" Tamiko opened her mouth to speak, but something warned her to keep her name secret. "I'm...uh..." she fished for a name, thinking quickly. "Taiko."

"Well, Taiko..." Kiku did an exaggerated bow. "Welcome to the bath house. Did you know that a boy escaped from his duties? That's why Ryokuto came up here."

Tamiko tried no to look too interested. "What happened to him?"

Kiku shrugged. "Who knows? But don't worry about that, the sun's almost up. We'd better get some rest. Here, you can take the sleeping bag beside mine. Come on." She dragged the girl over to a corner, pulled the heavy curtains shut, tucked herself into a sleeping bag, motioning Tamiko to do the same, and slept.

Tamiko however, was wide awake, staring into the darkness. She heard the other woman bustle in, and all was quiet once again.

~What do I do now? There's nobody here I can trust!~

Her mind brought back memories of the past week. When she had...lost control, and Akira didn't leave. The way Akira and her had met, the way she had drowned, and the way she had mistrusted him. She had wanted to act alone. She had thought she didn't need friends, and she had been so mean towards him.

~I thought you said you wanted to act alone. That you didn't need help. Or friendship.~ her mind sneered.

Tamiko winced. Were her words really that harsh?

~I thought you said you didn't friends here. That you didn't trust anybody.~ her inner self reminded her, a little less harshly.

~That was a week ago. I'm not the same person anymore! I've changed!~

~Oh, really. And that's why you are forever fighting with Akira?~

~I'm not always angry and temperamental. I have many different sides to me! Akira just...bugs me. He only knows one side of me.~

~Only because you choose to only show him one side. Why do you hide yourself from him? You do that with your other friends too. Nobody really knows the complete you at all. Deep down, do you still not trust them? Are you scared they will leave you? That you will be all alone...again?~

~THAT'S MY BUISNESS!~ her mind had hit a nerve with that short speech.

~Maybe it will be safer to show a different side to these bath house spirits. Act calmly. Wait until you fully trust someone before informing them of who... and what you really are.~ her inner mind suggested.

~What am I?~

~I'm YOUR mind, fool! If you don't know, I certainly won't!~

~But...do I know? Deep down?~

~I dunno. Do you?~

~What kind of an answer is that?!?~

~A roughly modern philosophical one.~ her mind had a hint of a grin. ~Everybody wants to be a comedian.~ Tamiko retorted.

~You're insulting yourself, you know. Jeez, what a dope!~

~Oh yeah, now look who's talking!~ Tamiko retorted.

This continued most of the day, resulting with next to no sleep for poor Tamiko.



"Taiko. TAIKO! Wake up! We've got jobs. You can work with me. TAIKO! Are you still asleep? Jeez you must have been tired, right Tai...TAIKO!!!!!! WAKE UP!!!!!!"

"Huh...? What time is it?" Tamiko answered groggily. "The sun just set. It's time to get moving." Kiku replied, frustrated. "Jeez, you were sleeping like a log! Tired, eh?"

In truth, Tamiko had maybe an hour's sleep, and was now feeling the repercussions of a weeks worth of a messed up sleeping schedule. "A bit. Thank you very much for waking me up." She added, remembering the suggestion she had given herself yesterday. ~Act polite and calm...it would be better if I act shyly too.~ she reminded herself. ~Excuse me, Miss. Kiku, but are we to go to work now?" she smiled, unsure.

"OH YEAH! Shoot, we're going to be late!" shouted Kiku. Grabbing the girl's arm, she bolted out the door, Tamiko being dragged (literally. She tripped and fell over a sleeping bag) behind her.



"All right, Taiko, pull down that token, now see how it zipped up? NOW MOVE!" Kiku winced as the wooden board smacked the shy novice's temple. "I meant the other way." She said as she ran over. "Are you okay, Taiko?" She knelt beside the fallen girl. "TAIKO!"

Tamiko attempted to stand, fighting waves of nausea and dizziness. Sadly, she fell right back down again. "Taiko, stay down." Kiku lifted the girl's head to see the pupils of the girl's eyes. "Good, you're not concussed. You should be more careful!"

Tamiko stood, gripping onto the wall for support. "I'm fine!" She then remembered she had to be calm. (Rather hard for her, isn't it?) "Miss. Kiku."

Kiku looked worried. "Taiko, I'm taking you down the illness room. You're going to stay there for at LEAST two days." She added, stubbornly. "I don't want to see you back until that nasty bruise that's forming on your temple's gone. You hear me?"

Tamiko disliked this, but had to agree. "Yes, Miss. Kiku."

She allowed herself to be dragged to the hospital room, a large wood room with large windows facing out to the lake, and many male and female workers tending to sick or wounded people.

She was led to a soft, feather-stuffed sleeping bag, and was told to lie down. She could hear, as though from a far way away, Kiku talking to someone, about her. A middle-aged woman, tall, white hair wound into a stiff bun, came over, and inspected her.

"She won't need extreme care. Assign one of the novices to her. They'll have to slowly ease her back to health, with walks and suchlike. Get her used to the world again. We'll \50have to keep her for around three to seven days. They will be around tomorrow night."

Tamiko shut her eyes, and slept.



She sat up, blinking. Fighting off a bit of dizziness, she managed to stand. What the woman had said came back to her. ~Great. Somebody else I can't afford to trust.~ However, she waited patiently for the person to come. Slowly, still standing, her thoughts drifted off.

"You shouldn't be standing in your condition you know. According to the mistress, you're shy, but still, you're acting awfully stubborn. A lot like somebody I know, actually."

The male voice came from behind her, startling her. It was oddly familiar, that voice...

"Could you at least talk? Are you feeling any better? What happened?"

Tamiko winced, and fought to stay standing, though all her senses wanted to collapse.

"Go away. I'm fine."

"I have to tend to..."

Tamiko swung around, opening her mouth to reply. She stopped, eyes wide, when she saw exactly who was behind her.

"A...Akira?" Her voice was raspy, unbelieving.

"Tamiko? Is that you?" Akira's voice was hoarse.

She looked around, to find the room empty.

"Akira!" forgetting her dizziness, Tamiko rushed over and gave her companion a hug. "You're all right! You scared me! What did they do to you? Are you really all right?" Her eyes shone bright with tears.

"Y...yeah." Akira stuttered, taken by surprise. He stepped back, and looked her over. Holding back the comment on the pink clothes, he said: "What did you do to yourself?"

Tamiko frowned. "I'm FINE."

Catching sight of the bruise, Akira winced. "What did you manage to do to yourself, this time?"

Tamiko flushed, and looked down. "Didn't get out of the way quick enough."

"Klutz."

"HEY! I WOULDN'T BE TALKING, YOU WERE THE ONE WHO GO CAUGHT BY RYOKUTO, NOT ME!"

"You got stuck with a really moody patient, didn't you, Kir?"

A young man stepped out of the shadows, light-brown hair cut to the length of about the bottom of his ear. Bright blue eyes shone out of a pale face.

The boy strode forward. "I'm Kyu. And the charming girl is...?" he questioned, turning his full attention towards Tamiko.

She looked back warily. "I'm Taiko. I work with Kiku in the baths."

Kyu laughed. "Kiku, eh? A good pretty girl like you could get in trouble with someone like her. Watch yourself!" He winked.

Tamiko smiled a half-grin, remembering what Kiku had said the previous day. 'Just because we cause mischief...' "Yep, we're talking about the same person."

Tamiko suddenly lost all energy. Her knees folded on her, and she collapsed, Akira caught her at the last moment, and slowly lowering her onto the sleeping bag. Tamiko's eyes were blurry, but she could swear, as Akira looked up, and Kyu looked down, they were...glaring? Sizing each other up? "Wha..."

Akira looked down at her. "Tamiko, you aren't going to get better if you don't rest." His voice was matter-of-fact, and yet there was a...kindness to it she had rarely heard. "Go to sleep..." he murmured. Her eyes closed. Akira's hand lightly brushed the bruise. "Idiot." he said, without really meaning it.

He stood up. Kyu came over, slowly and deliberately. "I know what you are." Kyu said. "I could tell her, you know."

"What, that I'm human? Tam...Taiko already knows."

Kyu studied him for a moment, trying to see a smirk of humour on his rival's face. He burst out laughing, when he saw Akira was completely serious.

"You mean you really don't know?"

Akira was getting really annoyed. "Know WHAT, Kyu?"

Kyu smirked. "Kir, I challenge you to a fight. Winner gets Taiko."

"Wh...what? What do you mean? Y...You don't think I..." Akira stuttered, unbelieving. He took a step back.

"Come on. Or are you afraid?" Kyu taunted.

Akira's hands curled into fists. "Fine."

Kyu gestured to the dojo beside this room. "In there. Let's go. Kir." He said the name mockingly.

Tamiko turned over in her sleep.



Akira and Kyu stood on either end of the dojo. Both were barefoot, and glaring at each other. Kyu nodded. "Prepare yourself." He snorted. "You've struck me as a peaceful sort."

Akira raised his fists. "Oh really. You think so?"

Without warning Kyu punched with lightning speed at Akira's face. Just as quickly, Akira blocked it. Kyu frowned slightly. "You're good."

Akira didn't answer. He was...focused. Intense. Serious. He wouldn't let this...spirit...win.

"You aren't going to win. Taiko's mine! You don't know what you're up against, Kir!" Kyu shouted.

He focused, and suddenly...ice! Ice was everywhere! Akira fought the urge to shiver, and held fast. "Don't you see? I'm an elemental!" With that, Kyu swept his arm and large, SHARP icicles, each as deadly as a dagger, were heading for Akira. "ELEMENTAL OF ICE!"

Akira ducked out of the way, running towards Kyu. The icicles shattered harmlessly against the wall. He swiftly aimed and punched...

Only to hit a wall of ice.

Akira winced as blood trickled down his knuckles. Cracks spider-webbed their way across the ice shattering it. Kyu raised his eyebrows. "You broke my shield of ice!"

He raised his hand to summon more deadly ice-daggers, but Akira swiftly grabbed his wrist. "No you don't!"

...Akira's palm grew abnormally warm...

Kyu screamed with pain, trying to wrench his hand from Akira's grasp. "IT BURNS!"

Akira let go, taking an involuntary step backwards. Where he had grabbed Kyu, burns marked his opponent's wrist. Akira looked down at his own, callused hand. "How..." he said, confused.

Kyu backed away. "Fire...fire...I can't stand fire..." he said, cradling his arm, the horrible burns painful.

A noise distracted them both. At the doorway stood Tamiko. Her knuckles were white from keeping herself upright, by clutching onto the doorframe. It was evident she had just entered. "What..." her voice lacked it's normal energy. She was trembling from fatigue and illness, and her face was pale, save for the large purple and black bruise spreading from her temple to her eyebrow.

"What's going on?"

Akira looked at her, and swallowed what he was going to say. "Is there ever a moment when you're not stubborn?" he questioned her. She smiled, weakly. "I'd have to think about that. Is there ever a moment you're sweet- tempered?"

"You look horrible. Well more horrible then natural. You should get back to bed."

"Hey." But the reprimand carried no force.

She looked over at Kyu. "Are you all right? I heard you scream." She caught sight of the burn marks. "What happened? Did a candle tip on you? Are you okay?"

Kyu didn't answer. Apart from the pain, he was in a state of shock.

Waves of dizziness swept over Tamiko and she fought to stay upright. "Here." Akira walked over, still trembling. Knowing that, even in her condition, Tamiko would insist on walking, he supported her on the short distance back to the sleeping bag. Her steps were slow and uneven, but they made it.

Tamiko lay back on the pillow. "Akira, what happened?" she asked. "Never mind." Akira replied, distant.

"But..." Tamiko was about to press the subject, and realized she didn't have the strength. "Fine." She said, sighing.

Akira nodded, realizing this wasn't the time to comment on her behaviour. "The sun's rising. Sleep."

And she slept.



Tamiko stirred. She slowly (she knew from yesterday not to take things to quickly) sat up.

"You feeling any better?" She looked beside her to find Akira. She smiled. "Yeah. A bit."

"I don't know about Kyu though. He's still in the dojo." His voice...was there a bit of bitterness in it? Why?

Tamiko frowned. "Still? What were you guys doing, anyway?"

"Never mind."

"I DO mind though! Kyu got BURNED! How did he...?"

Akira looked away from her. "I...don't know."

Tamiko caught sight of a long bandage wrapped around his hand. "What's this for?" she asked, tugging at the loose end.

"Don't..."

With one swift tug, Tamiko unwound the linen, and held up the bloodstain cloth. She stared at the large deep bleeding cut that marred Akira's hand. It looked like it had been cut open, by something sharp. "Were you planning to tell me about this?" she questioned him, angry.

Akira flushed, and he looked away from her again. "Well?" she demanded. "Were you going to tell me that you got hurt too?"

He didn't reply.

Tamiko sighed. Turning away from her stubborn friend, she murmured: "Akira."

"Hmm?"

"Look, I...I've been such a jerk. I'm not always like that. In fact, I'm almost NEVER like that. It's just...I only show...how do I put this?...certain faces to certain people. Bits and pieces. I don't do it on PURPOSE. I just do. And lately I've been so mean. There are so many different sides to me, but...Look. What I'm trying to do is apologize. I'm really sorry Akira. I'll try not to be so..." she broke off, and turned so she could see his expression.

To her total surprise, Akira was smiling. "I understand. But..." he stood up, and walked to the exit to the hospital wing. "I like you the way you are. People with no spirit are BORING. I'll be back." And with that he disappeared, Tamiko staring after him, confused.

~Did he mean that? Well, of course he understands, he freaks out at me all the time."

~Oh, now that was unnecessary.~ her mind muttered.

~Oh, leave off.~ Tamiko said fiercely.



Kyu stood, staring at nothing, dazed...