Chapter Seven

"So troublesome.." grumbled Yubaba.

She snapped her fingers making the levitating orb of water behind her jerk around the corner. Inside it, Aika made a series of confused bubbling noises. She squirmed uncomfortably. The water had gotten rid of the fire, but she still disliked the weird sensation of it. With another click the bubble popped, the water dissipated. She looked around.

"Come on!" Commanded the witch. Her feet followed.

"W-what is happening to me?" Aika heard herself say shakily.

The witch's eyes pulsed for a second as she agitatedly chewed at her lip. She didn't like the fact she had no answer to that question.

"Nothing to worry about. It's ended now."

Aika heard the uncertainty in the crone's voice. "Right.. sure.. so it won't happen again?"

"Not anywhere near my son at least."

She took a moment to realise her surroundings. They had left the bath house and were now stood at the edge of a pool of blue water. It surrounded a small circle of land, which contained nothing but a cavernous hole with white crystals protruding from the entrance. The grassy mound sparkled under the sun.

"Why are we here and what is this?"

A smooth voice sounded behind her. "I could ask the same thing."

Aika jumped as the same man she had seen the night she arrived brushed past.

"Yubaba, I thought I had warned you to stay away from my territory."

Yubaba shifted slightly, then stiffened. "Haku, I need you to keep an eye on the human."

"Kohaku." He smiled menacingly. "You don't own me anymore."

"I don't. But I do own her now." She snapped her fingers, forcing Aika to stand up right.

Haku sniffed the air and paused. "What on earth have you done? She's not.. normal." A flash of anger crossed his face. "You've done far more than just taking her name."

"Just a little something."

Aika shifted a little, uncomfortable under the man's unmoving stare. After what felt like a life time he turned back to the old hag. "Release her."

Yubaba smiled, half unnerved, but still daring enough to mock him: "Oh mighty dragon of the Kohaku river, I see you are as dull and foolish as ever. No." She waved her arms, sending Aika flying forwards so that she stopped right in front of his shoulder. "If you don't want me to turn her into a cockroach or pig I suggest you be more welcoming."

His eyes hardened. "And what if I don't care?"

Yubaba licked her cracked swollen lips. "Well it seems that little human girl didn't have quite the impact on you as the rumours say. I suppose I shall have to prepare for dinner. Bacon.. sounds appropriate. While it'll be a shame to lose a potential new slave, I must say she'll be a hit when served to my guests." She shot a sly look at him before pulling out and admiring a large fan. "Besides at the rate she's going, I won't even have to cook her. She'll probably burn up herself."

His brow furrowned bemusedly. "Very well I'll take her."

The witch's smile stretched disgustingly over her large pearly teeth. "Good, good.. are you sure you wouldn't be interested in working for me again?" His face said all: "Absolutely no." With an exsasperated sigh Yubaba picked up her skirts and flew away in bird form.

Aika sat on the grassy floor, her clothes coated in a layer of fine dust. She turned to the man she now even more conscious of him. He felt peculiarly familiar to her. "Umm, what was your name again?"

He looked at her almost apologetically. "I shouldn't have sent you to Yubaba. I should have known the darn hag would do something foolish like this."

Aika suddenly let out a little gasp. "You're Haku, aren't you?" She stood up. "I need to get back home."