Ch. 22

I knew by that first night that my new companions already cared deeply for James. But... I was surprised to learn that they also cared about me.
~

"That should do it."

Rin set the bucket down as the last of the water was strained through the thickly woven web Miss Spider had strung up. Directly underneath, the large metal tub that had previously held peach juice now caught the pails of sea water Rin had retrieved. Only the young half-demon had the strength and endurance to not just clean out the metal tub and fly it back to the peach, but also to collect the numerous pails of sea water to fill it. Under Rin's instruction, Miss Spider had spun a finely woven pouch and attached it to the walls. The improvised filter had worked and the metal tub held reasonably clean water. Too salty to drink, true, but it would do for a quick wash.

"How in the world did you learn to do this, Rin?" Mrs. Ladybug asked, washing her four hands clean of peach juice.

"My uncle and cousins taught me."

"When you went to Japan, right?" James asked, using one of Mrs. Ladybug's handkerchiefs to wash his face and neck.

"Hai. We can go without food and water longer than humans, but being able to strain salt water is handy if you can't find a river or spring. Though normally, we make do with a piece of cloth and sand to purify salt water."

"Ugh, I'm not a fan of the sea smell." Earthworm shuddered as the water sluiced down his body.

"Quit whining. A rinse in salt water can do a lot more good than harm." To prove her point, the half-demon dunked her head into the water and then tossed it back before splashing water over her arms and wings.

"Hey, easy there!"

Rin glanced at Centipede before crouching down and shaking herself as hard as she could.

"HEY!" Centipede swiped at his soaked face. "Geez, what are you, a bat or a dog?"

Rin's reply was cut off by Mrs. Ladybug draping a towel over her head. The half-demon growled and jerked away before the maternal insect could start drying her hair.

"Now now, I doubt you went around with sopping wet hair in the wild."

"If we had to. Sometimes, letting the sun dry you off was the only option."

"Well, thankfully, we are travelling in semi-luxury, so we won't have to worry about that." Mr. Grasshopper gratefully accepted a towel from Mrs. Ladybug, who was now gently fussing over James.

"Better than tromping through a forest, I'm sure," Earthworm added.

Rin snorted. "Speak for yourself. I learned a lot more hunting upstart demons with my family than I ever could in town or at school."

James (who had no qualms about Mrs. Ladybug drying his head and face), suddenly looked up at his sister. "Rin! We forgot!"

"Forgot what?"

"The school books! We never returned them."

"Oh. Right." Rin flicked a few drops of water from her ears and chuckled. "Their loss!"

"You stole books from a school?"

Rin cast a baleful glance in Mr. Grasshopper's direction. "I didn't steal them. I borrowed them. And like I said, James-chan, that school owed me a favor. Several, actually. I'll simply consider part of the debt paid."

Mr. Grasshopper sighed. "As long as you don't make robbing schools a regular occurrence."

"I prefer to stay out of them and they feel the same way about me."

Rin rubbed the last of her hair dry, but she noted the looks the adults shared amongst themselves. Unwilling to get into a discussion regarding her education, the young half-demon cast aside the towel and ran her claws through her hair.

"I can take care of the water."

"Thank you, Rin. We should... settle for the night." By the way the others nodded, Rin knew Mr. Grasshopper and Mrs. Ladybug had informed Miss Spider, Centipede and Earthworm about needing to discuss the situation regarding Spiker and Sponge.

"Will you come right back?" James asked as Rin easily hefted the half-full tub.

"Of course I will."

"Come, James, I think you will be comfortable in my web tonight."

James took Miss Spider's offered hand, the way he had often done to his and Rin's mother at bedtime. Rin nodded at her brother as the others also wished James goodnight. Carrying the metal tub up the ladder, Rin strode to the edge of the peach and jumped off. Halfway to the sea, she dumped the contents out, looped one of the handles around her ankles and flapped her wings hard. Once she was level with the deck, Rin kicked her leg slightly and the metal tub fell to the fuzzy surface.

"Perfect shot." Rin grinned to herself and, spreading her arms, allowed herself to free fall. The wind rushed through her hair and ears and the half-demon easily turned herself over and shot upward right before she could hit the water. Extending her wings to their full length, Rin hovered in mid-air, bare feet dangling, as she surveyed the night sky and inky black ocean. Aside from the moonlight, all was dark and there wasn't a hint of any demons nearby.

Satisfied, Rin glided back down to the peach and wrapped her wings around her. Sliding down the ladder, Rin made her way to Miss Spider's web. Her ears twitched as she heard her brother's voice.

"Rin told me that Auntie Sponge and Auntie Spiker won't be able to get on a plane or boat, but I know they're going to try and find us."

"They may at that, James," Miss Spider agreed. "But they are never going to hurt you or your sister again. That I promise. But do not let them trouble you now."

"But what if they do find us?"

"I'll deal with them then."

James, who had been laying on a large leaf in the center of Miss Spider's web, sat up as his sister approached. Grabbing onto the wall, Rin swung herself onto a small ledge just beside her younger brother. Miss Spider, who was putting the finishing touches on a thickly woven blanket she had spun, nodded at the half-demon's words.

"We will deal with them," she clarified. Placing her hands on James's shoulders, she gently laid him back onto the leaf. "But you are safe here. Nothing to be afraid of, James." As she spoke, Miss Spider covered James with the warm blanket and carefully tucked around his shoulders.

"Miss Spider's right. I just checked outside; no one's following us."

"There, you see?" Miss Spider ran her fingers through James's brown hair, smiling lovingly at him. "And now it is time for sleep."

James stifled a yawn and rubbed at his eyes. "Are you going to sleep too, Rin?"

"Soon. But I'll be close by, if you need me."

The little boy smiled, too exhausted to fight sleep any longer. "Goodnight, Rin. Goodnight, Miss Spider."

To Rin's mild surprise, Miss Spider leaned down and kissed James's forehead. " Sleep well, my brave boy," she murmured. James's eyes closed fully and within minutes, he was fast asleep. Rin sat perched on the ledge as Miss Spider stayed by the little boy's side, still caressing his hair.

"Now we just have to hope we won't have a nightmare."

Miss Spider looked up at the half-demon's words. "I am hoping he is too exhausted to be troubled tonight, but I think it will be some time before he will stop having bad dreams."

"Hai. I know." Rin watched her little brother sleep. His face was peaceful in the small stripe of moonlight shining in from the open ceiling hatch, but the half-demon knew how quickly James's sweet dreams could turn sour. Still, perhaps Miss Spider was right and the eventful day would keep bad memories at bay. Rin could only hope.

"Come, Rin, we should let him sleep." Miss Spider carefully stepped away from James's makeshift bed and slid back to the floor. Rin jumped down from her perch, following the striped spider further into the peach.

"Miss Spider?"

"Hmm? Yes?"

Rin stopped walking. "If you knew about James and I, why didn't you mention to the others I had wings?"

Miss Spider turned to meet Rin's inquisitive stare. "James did say you needed to keep that a secret. It was not my place to tell."

Rin nodded. "Arigato desu."

Miss Spider smiled. "That means 'thank you,' yes?"

"Hai, it does. And... thank you for taking care of James."

"Of course." Miss Spider paused, frowning slightly. "You are sixteen?"

Rin averted her eyes from Miss Spider's. "Seventeen."

"I am sorry." Rin started as Miss Spider laid a hand on the half-demon's arm. "You have been through much."

"I can deal with it."

"I know." Miss Spider favored Rin with a small smile before heading into the center of the peach pit. Rin watched her go, feeling her own lips twitch upwards.

At least someone here does. Still, the young half-demon had to admit it was rather nice to have someone show some form of concern for her. And while she hated to admit it, being around the group of human-like bugs did remind Rin of her parents.

She missed them.

Upon entering the roomy cavern at the center of the pit, Rin sat against the craggy peach wall, next to Mr. Grasshopper and Mrs. Ladybug. Centipede sat across from her with Miss Spider and Earthworm flanking him. Above them, Glowworm kept her light shining, but Rin could tell from the older bug's breathing that she was more or less asleep. Oh well; likely someone else would enlighten her regarding the situation. The half-demon looked up as Mr. Grasshopper addressed her.

"Best start at the beginning, Rin. You mentioned a lawyer Spiker and Sponge were retaining?"

"Hai. Fred Sanders. I don't know how he got involved with Spiker and Sponge, but he was the one who sent James and I to live with them." Rin growled and clenched her fists. "James and I didn't even know we had aunts and the kusoyaro didn't even bother making sure they were going to treat us well."

"Surprised you didn't just bare your fangs and send him scurrying, Rin."

"Earthworm!"

"It's true!" Earthworm straightened up indignantly at Mrs. Ladybug's protest. "Who in their right mind would get on the wrong side of a half-demon? Huh, it's a wonder to me that you even let him walk away, Rin."

"If it was just me, there wouldn't have been a problem."

"Yes, you said Mr. Sanders also threatened to separate you from James."

Rin nodded, both at Mr. Grasshopper's words and at Centipede, Miss Spider and Earthworm's shocked expressions. "When my mother and step-father died, I offered to take James to Japan to stay with my father's family. I usually spend the summers there and they occasionally came to visit us." Rin shook her head. "But no. Everyone- Sanders, my old neighbors- they were convinced that James would be better off with Spiker and Sponge and if I was going to go to Japan, I would go alone. As if I was going to leave James!"

"Of course you would not, but why did your uncle not come to help you?" Miss Spider asked.

"If he had known about this, he would have," Rin explained. "Normally, Takashi Oji-san comes to get me because he always made it a point to see my mother every summer. If he didn't come, that meant trouble, usually an invasion of some kind."

"Oh, is that all?"

"Hai, it is," Rin responded, scowling at Centipede. "Yokai challenge each other for territory often. Of course, only idiots would challenge the Lord of the Southern Bat Demons, but there are plenty of those!"

"So there may have been trouble in your uncle's territory?" Mrs. Ladybug was clearly hoping to defuse any arguments before they started.

"There was. I came across a tanuki- a raccoon demon- who lived on my uncle's land while I was out today. He said my uncle's land was invaded last summer, not long after my mother and step-father died. Though, it was likely Takashi Oji-san was aware of the impending attack, which is why he stayed in Japan past the beginning of summer."

"You met a racoon demon over the ocean?"

"Believe it or not, they can fly. Though you might not want to know how."

"We'll take your word for it, my dear." Mr. Grasshopper gave his monocle a quick polish before setting it back over his eye. "But I presume this raccoon demon is going to alert your uncle to the current situation?"

"Hai. Minoru- that's his name- said he could get to Japan in about two days. My uncle will likely be able to travel to New York in about half of that time."

"How long will it take to get to New York?" Mrs. Ladybug asked Centipede.

The many-armed bug shrugged. "A coupla days, probably. Guess it depends on the seagulls."

"They'll probably need a rest at some point," Mr. Grasshopper agreed. He folded his upper arms, deep in thought. "Though, from what you said earlier, Rin, it may be best to hold off reaching our destination until your uncle and the rest of your kin can meet us in New York."

"What? Why? What's goin' on?" Centipede asked.

"Is it Spiker and Sponge?" Miss Spider sighed as everyone looked over at her. "James is scared they will come after him and you as well, Rin."

Rin growled. "They can try."

"Yes, we know you won't hesitate to defend your brother, but you should let everyone else know what happened to them since our departure," Mr. Grasshopper replied, gesturing for Rin to elaborate.

The half-demon sighed, folding her clawed hands and resting her chin atop them. "When I went out earlier, I came across some kind of commercial ship. The people on board were listening to the radio and that's how I learned Spiker and Sponge were missing, along with all the money they earned from showing the peach off. No doubt they ran for it and not surprising, really. According to the broadcast, the peach did a ton of damage to the countryside."

"Told you there'd be trouble!" Earthworm scowled at Centipede.

"And like I told you-"

"Hush or you will wake James." Miss Spider narrowed her eyes at both Centipede and Earthworm. That, coupled with Rin's warning growl, immediately silenced the bickering pair.

"Were you and James mentioned in the broadcast?" Mr. Grasshopper asked. "Surely, with Spiker and Sponge being your legal guardians, there must be people looking for the two of you."

Rin shook her head. "If there was a mention of us, I didn't hear it. Not that it matters. If I know Spiker and Sponge, they've already got a story worked out." Rin paused and added,

"And a perfect scapegoat to pin all the blame on."

"Not necessarily." Mr. Grasshopper held up a hand, forestalling Rin's protests. "I know, Rin, but Spiker and Sponge may have overplayed their hand. From what James told us, neither one of you were permitted to be present during the first showing of the peach, correct?"

"No, we weren't. Spiker and Sponge also made it very clear that they were responsible for their "miracle of Nature," as they called it."

"I figured as much. Right away, they claimed responsibility for the peach. Now, they could get away with blaming the carpenters who built the fence, stating it wasn't secure enough, but the minute they bring you into this, they also open themselves up to questions I don't think they're prepared to answer."

"Like what?"

"Like if they thought you were a danger to them or to James, why didn't they keep you locked away and keep James with them? Or, why didn't they send James to school where he could be safer from his so-called dangerous sister? Obviously, we know why, but if Spiker and Sponge want to present themselves as caring women who were in over their heads, they're going to have to come up with a convincing story as to why they didn't try to keep their little nephew away from his wild demon sister."

Rin sat up a little straighter, meeting Mr. Grasshopper's eyes. The half-demon was surprised to feel a tiny flower of hope blooming inside her, but she dug her claws into the wooden floor, not wanting to get ahead of herself. "I don't know, but I'm guessing their stupid lawyer had a hand in it."

"Maybe he did. But if he was getting calls from his clients stating you were a danger, he would have been obligated to report it. By not doing so, Mr. Sanders could face questioning as well. For all we know, he may already be, given his connections to your aunts. And, remind me, Rin, this Mr. Sanders settled your parents' affairs?"

"Hai, he did."

"Hmmm. Then I find it odd that this lawyer didn't also try and reach out to Lord Kurosaki to inform him of the awful news."

"Communicating with yokai can be tricky, even without a war."

"Yeah, but I heard that humans who work with demons can do it."

"There are ways," Rin admitted, nodding at Centipede. "The Kurosaki name is well-known in London and messages have been sent to my family during other wars. So, yeah, difficult, but not impossible."

"Do you think then, that this Mr. Sanders simply did not inform your uncle of what had happened?" Miss Spider asked.

"I'd be willing to bet on that," Rin replied. "Sanders treated me and anything I said like a joke. He considered taking James and I to Spiker and Sponge as the only thing he had to do. After that, we weren't his problem any longer."

"If that's true, then Mr. Fred Sanders is likely going to face some form of repercussion, to say nothing of what should befall Spiker and Sponge." Mr. Grasshopper sighed. "But I for one recommend we cross that bridge when we come to it. For now, it's late and we've had a long day."

"Yes, I think it's time we retire for the evening," Mrs. Ladybug agreed.

"Yeah, well, I'll go keep watch." Centipede rose and headed for the ladder leading to the roof. "Gotta make sure we're goin' the right way."

"Do you wish to sleep close by James?" Miss Spider asked Rin as the half-demon stood up.

"Not right now. I think it would be a better idea if I helped Centipede."

"I second that," Earthworm grumbled as he slid off to a dark corner. "At least you know what you're doing."

"All the same, you should get some rest, Rin," Mrs. Ladybug insisted. "Goodness, I don't know how you're still awake."

"One of the many advantages to being half-demon."

"All the same, promise me you'll get some sleep."

Rin sighed. "I'll do my best."

"Thank you, dear."

Mr. Grasshopper chuckled as he followed Mrs. Ladybug deeper into the peach. "Goodnight, Rin. I too hope you won't insist on running yourself ragged. Half-demon you may be, but you're still a young girl."

"Humph, you'd think I was made of glass," Rin muttered as she followed Miss Spider back to her web.

"Glass can be dangerous," Miss Spider replied. "But Mr. Grasshopper is correct; you are far stronger than any human, but you are only seventeen."

"Big difference from six."

"So it is. But still young. For a half-demon, I am sure."

You have no idea. "Let me know if James needs me."

Miss Spider nodded. "I will go check on him now. And Rin?"

"Hai?"

"You matter to us as much as James does."

Miss Spider retreated to her web, leaving behind a silent and slightly stunned half-demon.
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The night air was blissfully cool on Rin's skin as she carefully patrolled the edge of the peach. Satisfied that nothing was amiss, the half-demon seated herself just ahead of Centipede, who stood at the stem.

"Shouldn't you be sleepin'?"

"No."

Centipede shrugged. "Ok then." The arthropod pulled on a few of the silk strings and edged the stem to the right.

"So, you can keep us on course?"

"Hey, I told you I'll get us to New York!"

"Really?" Rin turned to face Centipede. "I suppose we're heading north because it'll save us time, then?"

"Eh?" Centipede blinked in confusion and looked up at the seagulls. "What're you talkin' about?"

"You're headed north. We should be going west."

"Yeah, yeah, I know. Just got distracted." Centipede spun the stem. The seagulls turned to the right, making the peach sway slightly. "There."

"Well done, baka-san. We're headed back the way we came!"

"What?"

"Oh for the love of-" Rin stood up and grabbed the stem away from Centipede. Giving it a harsh yank, she sent the seagulls in the opposite direction, causing the birds to squawk in annoyance. Peering upwards at the stars, Rin twitched her ears a few times to feel the direction of the wind. "Right, that should do it. Think you can keep them on course now, baka-san?"

"Yeah, yeah." Centipede glowered slightly as Rin flopped back down on the fuzzy floor. The half-demon had her back to the arthropod, but she clearly heard his sigh.

"Alright, look, I mighta exaggerated a bit when I said I've been all over..."

"A bit?"

Centipede groaned and let his upper body sag against the peach stem. "Alright, fine. So I lived between two pages of a National Geographic! But hey, I learned plenty!"

"Like how there are five seas?" Rin asked, glancing back at Centipede over her shoulder.

Centipede shrugged. "Eh, I'm more of a hands-on guy. I learn by doing. Never been one for reading much."

Rin wrapped her wings around herself. "Yeah, well, me either."

Silence fell between the two. Rin kept her gaze on the stars, her ears cocked for any sound of danger. Thankfully, aside from the caw of a seagull above and the soft lap of water below, there was nothing. No ship horn blared in the distance, no rumbling engines broke the restless movement of the waves. Indeed, it was as though the peach and its unusual group if travelers were the only ones alive over the Atlantic Ocean.

"So, that why you got kicked outta school? Bad marks or somethin'?"

Rin looked over at Centipede. He was leaning against the peach stem, watching her with wary curiosity. The half-demon snorted in contempt.

"I was never in school long enough to earn a mark. In the words of the school officials, I was 'encouraged to be home-educated because my presence made people uncomfortable.'" Rin sighed. "Every year, it was the same. I'd go to the first day of school, people would complain and before the week was over, my mother was asked to look into tutoring me at home."

"Were they allowed do that?"

"Who was going to protest?"

"Your ma?"

"Okaa-san?" Rin paused, then shook her head. "She was only twenty-three when my father died. And when you have to deal with rocks thrown through your window and rude letters stuffed under your door day in and day out, being asked to tutor your half-demon daughter at home wasn't all that bad an option."

"What?" Centipede's brow furrowed. "Just because you-"

"Hai. Because I'm half-demon." Rin shrugged. "Just the way it was. Just the way it is, actually. I would get used to that, if I were you."

Centipede was silent, but Rin could feel his gaze. Ignoring him, the half-demon turned her attention to the night sky, which was heavily dotted with twinkling stars. The moon wasn't full yet, but it would be in a day or two. Rin wondered if the peach would still be in the air at the time or if they would be in New York already. She hoped she was right in guessing the seagulls wouldn't be fast fliers; a full moon over nothing but ocean would be a truly amazing sight.

"Uh, hey, Rin?"

"Nande desuka?"

"I... uh... you wanna stay out here for a bit?"

Rin titled her head, a bit confused. "I was planning on doing just that."

"Oh, okay. It's just... I wasn't gonna force you to go to bed or anything like that; you're old enough to know when you're tired and all. And, you're pretty good company."

Rin shook her head, but couldn't stop herself from chuckling as she turned to look at the sky again. "Arigato desu. I guess you're not so bad either."

"I'll take it."

"Good, 'cause that's all I'm gonna say."

"Fair enough. At least we can take turns keeping watch."

"Hai, that we can. Let's just hope it's a peaceful night."

And while the morning would bring a new set of challenges for the new companions, the first night on the giant peach was indeed a peaceful one.
~

Yes, I know what Centipede was trying to say. Like I said, he's an idiot, but I do appreciate his efforts.