Written Rivers
A Home Amongst Rivers
Chapter 25: The Prophecy
After her brief encounter with the god of the sea, Ryujin, Chihiro hunted down Rin and they made their way back up to her and Rumi's room. It was still early but the weasel spirit was very much awake and alert, especially after Ryujin coming through.
"I don't know how Haku gets along so well with that guy. He's so boisterous and obnoxious. I can hardly stand being in the same room with him for more than a few minutes. Haku has known him for centuries and he is somehow able to tolerate him. I don't know how he does it!" Rin fumed.
Chihiro chuckled lightly. "I find it amusing. Especially since they're such opposites in terms of personality."
"You know who that is right?" Rin lifted a brow.
"Um, should I?" Ryujin did sound familiar, but she wasn't quite sure where to place it.
She looked at Chihiro in disbelief. "C'mon, Sen. Ryujin? The god of the sea? One of the original children of the creation gods?"
Chihiro's eyes widened. Yeah. She definitely knew that name. "Are you serious? How?!" She had spoken to one of the original gods, she was kind of shocked. "How did Haku get him as a mentor?"
The weasel shrugged. "Who knows. Maybe you can ask him sometime." Rin looked at her from the corner of her eye and smirked. "On another note." She nudged Chihiro with her elbow. "It's good to have you back officially! I had a feeling that the dumb dragon would let you come back, it was just a matter of when." A smug look procured on her face, causing Chihiro to roll her eyes and laugh.
"Oh really, now?" She chuckled. "Well I'm glad to be back. It's nice to see everyone again, especially after only seeing Haku for the last year."
Rin frowned and crossed her arms. "I know! What's the deal! The almighty Haku thinks he can keep you to himself all this time!"
"It's not like there was a choice, was there?" Chihiro asked, holding back a laugh.
Rin paused in the hallway that led to Chihiro and Rumi's room. "I don't think there is?" She wrinkled her nose, perplexed, but then shrugged it off. "Ah well! What matters is that you're here now!"
"Right!" Chihiro smiled as she opened the door to her room.
She led Rin into the main living room space and nearly jumped out of her skin when she was met with the scene of Rumi reaching to put a book on a high shelf and fall. The strange thing about the scene was that from the corner of the room a shadow raced across the room and took the form of a young girl to catch her. Rephrase that, ATTEPMTED to catch her. The result of the scene was Rumi groaning on top of the little girl who was face planted into the floor. Chihiro honestly didn't know how to respond. Was it appropriate to laugh?
Rumi suddenly scrambled to her feet. "I'm sooo sorry! I didn't realize-! I'm okay, thank you! I'm sorry! Are you okay? I'm sorry!" She paused as she helped the girl up. "Who… who exactly are you?"
"Uuuh…" The girl laughed hesitantly. She looked about and met Chihiro's eyes, who was thinking the same question about then. Something about her seemed familiar. The girl looked around the age of twelve or fourteen, but judging she was probably a native spirit world resident, appearance didn't mean age. She had long black hair with bangs and dark purple eyes, wearing a simple black and blue kimono. Her eyes were what caught Chihiro's attention. They were familiar, innocent and sad.
Rin interrupted her thoughts. "You telling me you've know these two for over five years and they don't know that you can take the shape of a human?" She sounded bewildered. Obviously, she knew who the spirit was.
The girl blinked, sheepishly. "… Yes…"
"That doesn't answer my-" Rumi stopped. "Yuuka?"
"The one and only." The girl waved.
Chihiro stood there for a moment before she turned around and walked down the hall, then returned, getting strange looks from the remaining parties. "Wow… Yup, I'm done."
"Sorry, girls." Yuuka said. "It's not something that was meant to be a secret, it just never really came up so…"
"No, it's fine…" Chihiro said. "I just never expected you to be a child."
Yuuka winced in a bit of reluctance. "I mean, I guess."
"Haku mentioned once that spirit's appearance is based off the mental state or something, right?" Rumi finally said.
"Allegedly, yeah." Yuuka shrugged.
Rumi eyed the younger girl for a moment before smirking. "This actually explains a few more things."
Yuuka gapped and turned a shade of red. "Sh-shut up!"
Rumi laughed. "It's fine."
"I can only take this form here in the Spirit World though. I'd disappear in the Human World, especially without an anchor…" Yuuka averted her eyes from Rumi. "Or host…"
"Hm." Rumi shrugged, not commenting.
"Well, then." Rin clasped her hands together. "Now that that's cleared, who wants sake?" She then seemed to procure a fresh bottle of sake out of thin air.
"It's still morning!" Chihiro protested. "Who drinks during the day? And weren't you tired?"
"Nonsense! It's never too early for sake!" Rin claimed.
"Wait!" Rumi exclaimed, which confused Chihiro since Rumi never turned down alcohol. "Since she's like, twelve, can she consume alcohol? Is she still legal?" She pointed at Yuuka.
Yuuka puffed up like a pufferfish. "I'll have you know that I can hold my liquor better than you, even in this form!" She exclaimed. "How do you think you made it through college?"
Rumi blushed and put her hand down. "I think she'll be fine."
Chihiro started. "But-"
"Then let's drink!" Rin interrupted, raising the sake bottle to the air.
Once the girls settled at the chabudai in the lounge area and had a few cups of sake, Chihiro ended the small talk and gossip. "So, I was thinking that tomorrow, I'll get Haku and Makoto to get us tickets to take the train to see Obaa-San."
"Sounds good to me." Rumi said, tipping back a cup of sake.
"Man, what I'd give to take that train." Rin sighed blissfully, as she lounged comfortably on her cushion at the low baring table.
"What are you talking about?" Chihiro asked, leaning back. "You're coming."
Rin almost choked on the sake she had just swallowed. "What? Are you serious?"
"Of course. I know how much you've wanted to leave, and I'm sure Haku wouldn't have a problem with it." Chihiro replied in a matter-a-fact tone. "It's not like the contract holds you to this place. If I could leave under contract, so can you."
"True." Rin answered, excitement dancing in her eyes. "Wow! Way to get a gal excited!" She looked like a child that was just given their favorite new toy or something, causing the others to chuckle.
"I can go too, right?" The small, mature voice of the young girl said. Everyone looked at her and for some reason, she looked scared, despite her defiant posture.
"Of course, Yuuka." Rumi answered, placing a hand on the girl's shoulder. "Why wouldn't we take you along to see your auntie?"
Yuuka smiled. "Great. I need to properly catch up with her…"
Chihiro smiled at her two friends. She didn't know the whole story of what was going on with the two of them, but they had begun acting like sisters again, so that left her reassured that things were getting better.
"Wohoo!" Rin suddenly shouted, just tipping back another cup of sake, red dusting her cheeks. "I can't wait to get out of here!"
Chihiro chuckled, sipping her own cup of sake. Yeah, things were getting better.
The following night Chihiro wandered onto the Bathing floor, a tub of supplies in hand as she took it to one of the closets in a side hall. It was late into her busy shift in the Bathhouse and she was ready to get some sort of break. It would be a couple of days until their trip to Swamp Bottom since Makoto would have to get the tickets for the train and they weren't all that easy to come by. Rin was more than excited to get a chance to leave the Bathhouse since… well, she didn't really know. Out of the many staff that did get their name returned to them, Rin was one of the few that didn't received hers. While she would never admit it, Chihiro knew that Rin was pretty upset over the fact. Chihiro always tried to reassure her that the rest of the names were somewhere in the Bathhouse, just needed to be sought out.
Chihiro unloaded the tub and wiped sweat from her brow. The Bathhouse was pretty busy that night and it was only about midnight. She placed a few new needed supplies in the tub and left the room, turning to head back to the main floor when she ran into a wall of blue and white. She grunted and stumbled back, apologizing when she realized that she ran into a person.
"Ah! I'm sorry, I didn't realize there was-" She looked up and she was met with stormy grey eyes. She dropped her tub and almost screamed, suppressing it to a squeak. "Ry-Ryujin-Sama…"
Ryujin was tall, especially up close, even taller than Haku. He had long navy almost black hair that met his mid back and was partly up in a topknot. His skin was a pale alabaster, his facial features all slim and angular, mini storm like grey orbs in his eyes. He wore a blue and white, duo-toned kimono, with the kanji for sea and lightning written on parts of it. Chihiro didn't quit know what to do. She didn't really process who he was when they first met until after Haku had taken him to his office. Chihiro was now face to face with one of the oldest gods out there, child of the creation gods. It left her unsure how to react, bowing didn't seem like it would do justice.
"Dear, dear." Ryujin shook his head. "Formalities aren't necessary."
"I…" Chihiro's mind was in a panic. Where did she start?
"You know." He said, briefly snapping Chihiro out of her daze. "You're not quite what I expected."
She blinked. "Well, you're not quite what I expected either. Especially with all the stories that surround you."
"Half of which are myth." Ryujin added, nonchalantly. "And you're not what I expected because you are more than I suspected." He circled her.
"You hardly know me." Chihiro said, watching him circle around her. "How would you know that I am more?"
A storm danced in his grey eyes, she could almost see lightning. "I know a lot about you, Chihiro, and I'm sorry you've had to go through so much." His hand patted the top of her head. "But great growth comes from the greatest trials. And you've grown quite a lot recently, haven't you? When was the last time you had an attack?"
Chihiro paused. The last time she had an attack? She couldn't quite remember. They had become few and far between over the last year. She had become so focused on her book and work that she didn't have the time to be anxious. While the initial return from the Spirit World the first time had been stressful, since then, her focus had shifted. "Maybe once a month ago?" She wasn't even sure if that was right.
Ryujin smiled. "Things are changing for you, Chihiro. Your role is unfolding, and I can only hope that you chose the right path."
"People keep telling me that and yet I'm still unsure of what that means." Chihiro crossed her arms. "Will someone just be straight forward with me about this? Haku also mentioned a shift and a decision. He's being prompted to be a part of it?"
The god examined her, as if gauging how well she'd take any information he'd give her. "I've known Kohaku for a long time, over a millennium now…" He tapped his chin, as if pondering if it were correct. Meanwhile Chihiro pondered how Haku was over a thousand years old. "Yes, something like that. He used to be so impulsive and arrogant. He was a bit of a free spirit, no pun intended, with the aggression of, well, a stereotypical dragon. It wasn't the way I mentored him to be…"
"Wow… I never expected that from Haku…" Chihiro breathed.
"But recently," Ryujin continued. "He's had a change of heart. Something I was never able to mentor him in. He's found things to be passionate about and keep him anchored."
Chihiro tilted her head, eager to hear more. "Yeah, he got his river now?"
His eyes glinted, and he chuckled. "It goes much further than that." He smirked. "But I don't think you're ready for-"
Chihiro promptly stomped her foot. "Ryujin-Sama! With all due respect, I'd appreciate if you didn't keep up the same cryptic attitude everyone else I've known here does. Either tell me what's going on or stop beating around the bush with hints!" She then caught herself, realizing who she said it to.
A storm lit up in Ryujin's eyes, excitement causing his smirk to widen. "I like your fire!" His head tilted back, and he laughed, a good hearty laugh. "I knew I liked you for a reason!"
A few yuna walked by, blushing as they took in the scene. Chihiro remembered that she should be working but was far too consumed with her own curiosity to return at the moment. She'd take any consequences later.
"So then." Chihiro began. "The shift?"
"Ah, yes." Ryujin nodded. "This shift he's speaking of is a prophecy that dear old Chimon brought about in the last century."
"I'm sorry, Chimon?"
"Ah. Genbu. I forget, you don't know him by name." Ryujin explained then brushed it off. "Anyway, I'm sure you've heard of the Four Holy Beasts, correct?"
"Yes, Obaa-San explained them to me."
"Obaa-San? Ah! Zeniba! Oh, dear old Zeniba. I love that lady! Her sister… not so much… Her brother…" He lingered on the thought. "Anyway, the prophecy predicts that our current Seiryu, Naoyuki-San, is soon to pass on and that a new dragon is to take his place."
"Wait, this prophecy is different from what Genbu-San told me?"
"Hm? Oh, right. Old man Chimon, gave a prophecy over fifty years ago now, announcing the next Seiryu." Ryujin said. "They've been looking at potential dragons to take his place ever since."
"And?" Chihiro coaxed. "What was the prophecy?"
He grinned, like he had waited his whole life to tell her. "Of course." Then he continued to recite:
"The end of an era draws near, as the sun sets upon the Dragon of the East
The lost dragon shall rise with the sun, the scorch of the serpent bared on their skin
The innocent shall make a final say, marking the path set before them
Draw near, draw close, time shall pass like the water's tide, the thread shall rive in the flow
The final sacrifice will bind the tides that sway, marking the beginning of a constant tide."
Chihiro stood frozen, taking in the information. Who…?
"I tell you this, but really, it shouldn't have anything to do with you." Ryujin theorized, but the way he said it didn't fully convince Chihiro that he believed that or that she should believe it.
"Hey Chihiro!"
Chihiro spun around toward the voice of Rumi, before she could inquire further. "What?" She asked, distracted.
"You better not be socializing or slacking! I'm gonna beat you in our guest log contest tonight!" Rumi teased as she carried a tub of supplies down the hall, Yuuka as a young girl tailing after her. Wait a minute, that wasn't fair, she had help!
"Ah!" Chihiro looked back at Ryujin, but he was already walking away, waving.
"Don't forget our conversation, dear." He incited. "I'll be around."
"But…" Before she could ask further, he disappeared down the hall and Rumi's pestering called her attention elsewhere. She picked up the tub she dropped before and went after Rumi, claiming her a cheater and continuing with her work for the night.
A/N:
Hey, look! A prophecy! \OoO/
If you check out my deviantArt page, you'll find a picture of Ryujin that I drew. My username is CraftyNessi. Just a reminder, you can also find the pictures of Rumi, Makoto, Ame, and future characters there too. I'll always let you guys know when I've posted a new picture. :D
I love how even though Ryujin is thousands of years old and should be a total old geezer speaking formally like Genbu or Haku, he is completely and totally with the modern times. He is very involved and super casual and chill. He is such a fun character to write about.
And then there is human Yuuka… Yup, that's a thing. :)
Thanks for reading and don't forget to review! And for those that do review, I thank you a bunches!
Thank you for the reviews from: Amidstsnow, Firetail Finch, Prismae, RSBCS, Sofrick16, Rosettaxfantasy, SpiritedRanger, Luin-fanel, Picklesisadeadcat, If I Could Begin to Be, James Birdsong, WyldClaw, chimera-writes, and Jiji!
God bless! KawaChou
