Sixth crossing: To Zeniba
And the four fell in the pit, Chidori keeping the mouse and the fledgling against her with one arm around Haku's unconscious form. After being enclosed in the stone walls, there was that huge round chamber. She let the little ones tightly grab the back of her kimono while, as she was on the back of the dragon's neck, she took hold of his horns.
"Haku, Haku! Wake up, Haku!" The girl called before she gasped, for a second, she had had the impression that she was underwater, though still on his back, gripping his horns. Then, just before they fall on these black evil and forlon shapes that were reaching out for them, as if to eat them away, or bury them in their wretchedness to make them as they were, Haku awoke and flew back up and through what looked like an exit, there was a narrow corridor, which was indeed an airway, and destroyed the ventilator ahead of them to fall from above in Kamaji's room.
Chidori fell on Kamaji, the mouse carrying birdie landed normally on the ground while Haku was hanging vertically on the wall of drawers. The human quickly apologised before scurrying to the dragon who had fallen on the floor. Blood was flowing from his mouth, but his eyes were so cold, so sharp, so vicious, he was just a dangerous beast, driven mad with pain. Seeing her as a possible threat, he raised himself at the girl's height and bared his fangs at her when she tried to touch him. Yet she wouldn't let his instincts on her way, she had to calm him down and convince him she was there to help him. So she slowly lifted her arms and took a step toward him, she barely winced as she felt the fangs pierced her right shoulder and she ever so tenderly and lovingly embraced him. She fought back the tears, that the gentle Haku had been driven to this, that he would suffer even more if he were to remember he had hurt her, these were more grievous to her than the throbbing pain in her own shoulder. This shoulder was nothing. She coaxed, and gently called to him with all her heart, passing her hands through his blood clotted mane until she felt him relax and go limp in her arms. Completely limp...
Kamaji and the two small ones on his back were amazed, amazed and worried, for the both of them. That this girl had that kind of power... She called Haku's name again and tried to shake him a little, but he was unconscious again.
"This is serious," Kamaji said, "There's something inside him that's killing him."
"Inside him?!"
Killing him?! Her heart almost stopped. She never thought she could be so distressed, that her chest could so heavy it was hard to breath, that she could feel so helpless, so weak, at the thought that this boy, whom she had only known for so little time, and yet for who she felt so much, might die before her very eyes.
"It's a good spell, nothing I can do." The old man added, sadly. Then she remembered.
"Haku, eat this, the River God gave it to me. It should help, now eat, Haku!" Still despite her begging, he wouldn't wake up or open his mouth, and she had to force it open. She moistened the ball in her own mouth, bearing the horrible taste, before shoving it deep inside his throat and keeping his jaws as closed as she could with her arms so he would not spit it back out. The dragon struggled and wriggled, clawing at the ground, its tail lashing around, hitting the concrete and the wooden drawers, blood splattering everywhere. Kamaji was staying at a safe distance, observing. Then the young girl saw the lump forming in its throat, she loosened her grip a little and Haku spat a round, black and squishy thing.
"He spat it out! That's it!" Kamaji exclaimed, pointing as the black melted and went into the earth, leaving only a worm-like thing with eyes on the seal. Having been discovered and being in the open it got scared and tried to ran away, Chidori went after it, taking the seal as she passed by. It was quite fast, crawling and jumping around, when it tried to seek refuge in the holes, the soot balls scared it away, and she squashed it. It felt cold, slimy and disgusting. The man used a spell and she was all clean.
"Kamaji, Haku took this seal from Yubaba's sister!" The human explained, talking rapidly.
"From Zeniba? A witch's seal! Precious loot I'd say." He sounded surprised. The girl hurried back to Haku, whose dragon form was disappearing to reveal his human self. He was lying on his belly, face against the bloody ground. She quickly but gently turned him around, pulling him closer, her left hand around his shoulders, supporting his torso, her right arm across his waist, blood trickling down her own shoulder, to her hand and onto his white haori, his head resting against her left arm. She had forgotten about the stabbing pain in her shoulder. She called to him, still no response, and the heart filled with dread, she leaned in, her cheek right above his nose. Yes, she could still feel his breath, he was still alive! She fought back her tears of joy, she could not get careless now, he was still in danger. Kamaji prepared some medicine, and while she was holding Haku up, he gave it to him, and she laid him back down, ever so gently and carefully.
"That should calm him some." The old man reassured her, "Now it's your turn."
"I'm fine. Don't worry about me." She replied, still gazing worriedly at the sleeping form before her, her hands tightly folded on her lap.
"That won't do! You're bleeding all over too, at this rate you'll die before he wakes up, and I'd rather not face him when he will!" Kamaji then managed to convince her, and as he tended to her, he told her about Haku. Her blue eyes still locked on his pale sleeping face. That he had turned up one day here, just like her and the kid. Said he wanted to learn magic. The old man didn't approve, becoming a sorcerer's apprentice... he warned him but he wouldn't listen. Said he had nowhere left to go and signed up to become Yubaba's apprentice. As time went by, he had turned increasingly pale, and his eyes had taken on a sharp gleam. His tone was a little sad. "But since you've come here, he seemed to have brightened up a little..." There was a pause, Chidori closed her eyes for a time and then looked straight at Kamaji, the fire and the determination were back, though behind them, fear and doubt could still be detected.
"Kamaji, I'm going to Yubaba's sister, I'm going to give the seal back to her, I will apologize and ask her to save Haku. Please, tell me where she lives."
"Go to Zeniba's? She's one scary sorceress." He hesitated.
"Please, I must save Haku no matter what! Haku helped me and my sister, now it's my turn to help him."
"You can get there all right but getting back... wait here." He said and went to rummage through the drawers of his chest. Meantime, Chidori, her decision taken, covered the boy with the blanket, and asked the soot balls to give her her clothes and shoes, which they did. The wooden panel slid open and Lin and Chihiro entered.
"Chou! We searched for you everywhere!" Lin scolded.
"Nee-chan!" The young one cried running to her sister to hug her tightly.
"Sen, Lin." Chou hugged her back and rubbing her head.
"That's Haku! What happened here? And who are these guys?" She asked looking at the girl's left shoulder where the little mouse and fledgling were. Chihiro was also surprised, she hadn't noticed them, glad as she had been that her sister was alright,but nonetheless found them really cute.
Right, Kamaji had used a spell, and the blood had disappeared from the kimono and the holes had been filled with the fabric from the hem. Now it looked exactly like a newly made one, just a few centimetres shorter.
"Ah, these... these are my friends, as for what happened it would be too long." She smiled. She didn't want to be questioned further. Lin understood.
"Anyway, Yubaba's tearing the place apart looking for you! The big tipper turned out to be a horrible monster, No Face. Yubaba says you led him here."
"Errr well, I guess I did, yeah." She laughed a bit sheepishly.
"It's no laughing matter, he's already swallowed two frogs and a slug!" At this, Chidori frowned, her features serious again.
"Found it! Here it is Chou!" The old man exclaimed going to her.
"We're busy, gramps." Lin scolded but Kamaji didn't heed her.
"You can use this." He said handing the young girl train tickets. Lin was surprised, Chihiro hugged her sister tighter.
"Train tickets? Where are you going, nee-chan?" The little one cried, worried.
"To Yubaba's older sister, to save Haku."
"Listen, it's the 6th stop, called Swamp Bottom."
"6th stop, Swamp Bottom." The older human repeated.
"That's right. Make sure you get it right. There used to be a return train but these days it's a one-way ride. Still interested?" He warned. Chidori nodded gravely.
"I'll walk back along the tracks, I'll be alright so don't worry about me." She smiled gratefully, "But more importantly..." She turned her head toward the sleeping boy, concern filling her large blue eyes, almost fogging them. Kamaji, nodded.
"We'll take good care of him." He said, reassuringly.
"But what about Yubaba?" Lin asked. As Chidori went and knelt next to Haku, Chihiro let go of her and observed her carefully and wonderingly. It was her sister but not really her sister, like something had changed within her and was subtly showing in her countenance. She had never seen her like that. The deep love and concern in her eyes, this air of frailty, almost helplessness when she would look at him, her infinite gentleness when she would lightly brush his forehead and cheek, Yet, at that time, she became stronger and more determined than anyone else.
"I'll go to Yubaba. I was the one who brought No Face in, so I'll be the one to take care of him. Haku, I promise I'll be back soon so you better not die until then, okay?" Chidori leant in to plant a butterfly kiss on the boy's forehead. He slightly stirred but didn't wake up.
"What's going on here?" Lin whispered to Kamaji.
"Don't you see? It's love, LOVE."
"Sen, Kamaji, you'll take good care of Haku when I'll be away, right?" They nodded and reassured her, the young girl smiled. "And Sen, I'm sorry. You're a big girl. And I know you'll be able to hold it on your own, even without me." Sen looked at her only sibling with the same look Chou had once she had realised her responsibilities as the 'older sister'. "Lin, do you know how to go to then station?"
Chidori was now calmly but resolutely walking toward the bath where the "big tipper" was. Against the walls a line of slugs and another of frogs were waiting to give him the dished they were carrying. At the corner the foreman appeared, he was glad she was there, Yubaba couldn't control the customer. Then there were noises of breaking plates that had been thrown.
"There's no need to be so upset, I'm sure Chou will turn up." The old owner tried to coax, but another plate was thrown.
"Where's Chou? I want Chou!"
"Go, hurry." The foreman pushed her. He let go, and once against the door, he whispered, "Yubaba-sama, it's Chou."
"You're late!" She said angrily, violently sliding the doors open, then she turned to the customer, "Chou has come, dear guest, we'll be right with you." She turned back and closed the doors behind her. "What took you so long?! This is a complete disaster! I should turn your sister into piglet! Now go and squeeze all his gold out of him!" She then noticed the two little ones on the girl's shoulder. "What's that filthy rat?" She asked a bit disgusted. The rat looked really sad before its expression turned to anger.
"You mean you don't recognize him?"
"Of course not, how disgusting." She pushed the girl.
Oooh, for a witch who thinks herself oh so powerful and says she loves her baby very much, that she can't even see this spell and recognize him... how pitiful. But she had said something she shouldn't have. Chidori stopped the doors from opening and looked backward at Yubaba.
"I'll go and handle him, but if any harm comes to my sister... " Her tone was cold and threatening, her eyes sharper and more piercing than any blade of ice, from her whole being emanated so much power and authority, that even Yubaba felt fear and yielded to the menace that girl represented, instinctively letting go, backing a step. Her blood had frozen in her veins for a few seconds. The girl had been like an entirely different being. The young human opened the doors, entered, and formally sat down on her heels. The place was all dirty, full of food spilt and still in their plates. No Face had gotten bigger again. His mouth under his mask was drooling.
"Wanna try this? It's yummy." He said showing her a dish. He put it back. "Want some gold? I'm not giving it to anybody else."
The girl looked straight at him.
"Come over here, Chou. What do you want? You can tell me." Chou sighed, closing her eyes before looking at him again, her eyes full of pity and sadness.
"What have you become... and it's all my fault." She murmured. "This place has corrupted you, that's why you should leave, for your own sake. Where do you come from? Do you have family, or people you care for? Well, I do have both and to save them I need to go to somewhere right away, and you can't help me for what I want. Sorry."
"I-I don't wanna, I'm lonely, lonely. I want Chou, I want Chou."
"But the fact that you've become like this is still my responsibility." She said after a time, sighing and getting up. Yet No Face didn't seem to have heard and wanted to give her gold again and big gold nuggets appeared on his hand and he reached out to her, his hand deforming to enclose her head, she was a little surprised at this. The mouse bit it and the hand withdrew with the mouse still attached to it and the bird to the mouse. So when the other hand tried to smash it, the bird took the rodent back to the girl. A plan had taken shape in her mind to save the No Face.
"I will pay for the wrong I've done, I would even let you eat me. But if you're going to do this then I believe you should have this first. It was for my parents, it should have saved them, but I'm giving it to you. Here." She threw the herbal cake in the mouth, and he ate it. She had asked Chihiro to give it to her, sensing that she would need it. She would find another way to save their parents.
As predicted, No Face began to throw up. But now he was angry. Chidori had her back against the door, her hands ready to open it, she just watched him, her eyes like those of a fighter gauging an opponent and trying to know when and how he would strike.
"Chou, you damn girl, what did you feed me?!" And he lunged at her. She opened the door and ran. The monster chasing after her. She made sure not to run at full speed and lose him. She'd rather not have him go berserk in the bathhouse. And neither did Yubaba who appeared just before her. With her reflexes she quickly jumped sideways as to avoid a collision and kept on running. Yubaba threw a fireball at him but it had no effect except angering him more and he threw up again, using his vomit as a weapon to bury the sorceress. He went past her and leant over the railings. From the floor below on his left, Chou called out to him, and he went after her. The girl ran down stairs after stairs with him ever following her, even after he had crashed against the wall of an elevator and threw up the frogs and slug. He wouldn't forgive her. But then she slowed down considerably and even stopped from time to time, he had taken back his original form but was still a little "ill". Chidori exited the building and went down other stairs, metallic this time, and jumped down until she was on a small wooden pier. Lin had been waiting for her in some kind of small round wooden craft. No Face was on the huge pipe running between the building and the other "island". She called out to him again, to Lin's damn. But the young one explained that he was only bad in the bathhouse but otherwise he's really nice, that's why he just need to get out of here.
"But take him where?"
"No idea." Chidori replied with a smile, taking off and folding her working clothes.
"No idea?! Ah, he's following us. Geez you're so laid back at times." The older one complained. The human girl just laughed as No Face jumped and then walked after them, completely back to normal after having spat the frog back out too.
"From here you'll walk." Lin said, stopping the boat.
"Ok." Chou answered jumping and landing on the submerged railroad. She had water up to the middle of her shins.
"You'll find the station."
"Thank you." Chidori smiled. She began to walk, her shoes in hand and the little ones on her shoulder. She had wanted them to stay with Chihiro but they had refused.
"You better come back!"
"Dun worry!" She waved at her.
"Chou! I've always thought humans weak but you changed my mind!"
Chidori waved again, without looking back. Her path was going straight ahead now, she could see it clearly.
Then they reached the station, it was just a platform with a sign. The train arrived a few minutes after she had put on her shoes. She ran a little, the door of the last car opened, the inspector was waiting. She gave him the tickets, saying she was riding to Swamp Bottom. He counted the tickets and the number of people. He pointed her, the mouse, the fledgling, and someone behind them. It was No Face. The three were a bit surprised.
"You want to come too?" The girl asked. No Face nodded. "Then him too, please." She smiled a little. He destroyed the tickets and went back to the conductor's room. The four were allowed in. The engine started. They were going to Zeniba.