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Yay! It's a double date! Well… At least it is to two of the four of them. The green-eyed and two-horned ones will tell you otherwise…
Ch. 33: Only the ladies get it
"Ahhh… Finally, we're here!" Suika stretched out her aching back. Man… that was a long walk. "You know…" she turned to Yuugi standing behind her, "I've heard that this place is pretty famous now, but up till now I've never tried it out before."
"Well, I guess we get to experience it now," Yuugi rubbed her hands excitedly before the main doors of the Earth Spirits Spa. (Chirei Onsen). "Hmmm… The name's not particularly outstanding, is it?" she commented as she stared at the main door's sign board. "It's a straight rip off of Chireiden, isn't it...?"
Suika, Yuugi, Parsee and Kogasa were standing before the modest sliding, wooden sliding doors of a hot springs resort. Above the sliding doors, the traditional Japanese wooden sign board, engraved with the name of the place in kanji, featured a rough, unfinished and somehow cosy look.
But that was where the Eastern cultural influence ended, for the front façade of the building to which the wooden doors belonged to was set in imposing, rosy stone. Two storeys high and appearing to be a rectangular-ish compound, there were no windows on the first floor and the second floor windows were small, rectangular openings reminiscent of those in the keeps of Western castles.
And yet, the building looked rather welcoming, for while the walls were undecorated, they were textured, being constructed out of artistic masonry that used non-standard sized bricks that through architectural magic fit together like a simple but eye-pleasing puzzle. From within the compound, lush greenery such as bamboo and other slender plants rose out of what were evidently its gardens and outdoor baths in the courtyard. And not to mention the roof of the building featured chimneys where cheerful smoke rose, smoke which carried the delicious scent of spring water and dinner to the group standing before the main doors.
"Well, I don't know about the sign… But I like this place," Parsee said with a happy look, her face carrying one of her rarely seen warm smiles. "I'm looking forward to it, how about you?" she asked Kogasa cheerfully.
"Oh yes! I'm looking forward to it as well!" Kogasa clapped her hands together and nodded back to Parsee, smiling.
"Well, at least the ladies seem to like it," Yuugi, who had been looking at Parsee, turned back to the door with a grin.
"Aren't we all ladies?" Suika asked awkwardly.
The four continued to stand before the door for some time, just soaking in the atmosphere. "Alright then," Yuugi said, "Enough loathing around. Come on! We haven't seen anything yet!" she beckoned excitedly as she pushed open the main door.
"Hello? Is anyone there?" Yuugi called out as they stepped into the dim but cosily lit corridor perpendicular to the main door. From the ceiling hung circular dishes of brass supported by similarly brass chains, the smell they gave off just like the light they put out, subtle but pleasant. Must be scented oil… The long corridor itself was not lavish, but was decorated on either side of the door with the occasional but well placed relief, painting, vase and pedestal table with a flower pot on top, sometimes with one cushioned wooden armchair to the side, sometimes with two.
"Wow… I think this corridor itself has more articles than your house, Suika," Yuugi remarked. "Can't imagine what housekeeping must be like…"
"What do you expect? It is supposed to be a high class resort," came a quietly critical voice down the corridor, "Or do you not think that highly of me?" the voice asked in a mock irritated manner.
"Eh?" Suika and the rest of the group turned to see a short, petite girl walk briskly down the hallway, as if all business, yet not without an air of grace and command. Dressed in a child's attire of a blue frilly blouse and knee length, simple pink skirt, her hair purple hair cut short and held neatly in place by a black hair band, the otherwise smallish Komeiji Satori would have passed for a fifth grader were it not for the sharp and high manner with which she carried herself. And definitely the most sharp aspect of her was the one red eye affixed to the left side of her chest, linked to her body by long red arteries, its glare prying into the mind of whoever that looks at it. Komeiji Satori, the mind reader.
"No wonder Satori's resort is doing so poorly," Suika whispered to Yuugi, completely ignoring the fact that Satori can read her thoughts, never mind hear her not-so-subtle whispers, "With a woman that sharp-eyed, who can relax here…?" she continued as Satori pursed her lips unhappily, even more so as Yuugi nodded in agreement.
"Ahem… Hi!" Yuugi and Suika greeted Satori cheerfully, as if they had just successfully talked behind the mind-reader's back.
"… Hi…" Satori replied most unenthusiastically, "And I'll have you know that business is booming, actually," she added.
Parsee gave the Oni duo one look over of disgust, then stepped forward. "Hello Satori-san," Parsee greeted Satori politely.
"Hello Parsee," Satori greeted back warmly, "Just call me Satori, there is no need for formalities," she smiled genuinely. Satori had long since taken a preference and liking towards Parsee. She was one of the few people around that, by her judgement, had sense.
"W-Well then, if you'll excuse us-"
"Oh do not worry Parsee, you're always welcomed here," Satori gave a formal bow. "As long as you're around, I'll have no worries. Not even with those two here," she unpretentiously indicated towards the Onis.
"Hey!" Suika flared up a little. "You call this customer service? ! Me and Yuugi have only just reached here and you start insulting us with that tone already? ! Is this any way to treat a guest? ! I demand a full refund!"
"You haven't even paid yet…" the pale, thin lips of Satori's small mouth formed a perfectly Euclidean dash.
"W-Well! Then I demand an immediate refund once I have!" Suika demanded passionately and logically, then took a moment to think about what she just blurted out before continuing sheepishly, "O-Or I could just walk out right now without paying!"
"But you haven't even purchased any of our services yet…" Satori coolly deflected.
Parsee grimaced, Kogasa was a little lost and Yuugi had a look of being offended yet amused, both by Satori's attitude towards her best mate and by her best mate's own idiocy. Suika opened her mouth to add on, but apparently thought for the wiser and shut it in an annoyed silence.
Satori smiled a little before turning to the group, "Oops. I've kept you waiting in the hallway, how rude of me."
"You're damn right it is…" Mutter mutter…
"Allow me to take you up to your rooms first," Satori gestured her hand towards the bags of luggage that Suika and Yuugi had lugged for the group and almost immediately, two beautiful, large breed youkai dogs (in dog form) bearing harnesses emerged from behind Satori.
"If could just trouble you to help load the luggage on to the harnesses, Yori and Saeko will help bring up your luggage," she explained.
"O-Oh…" Yuugi and Suika helped pile the luggae onto the backs of the strong built dogs, and the two strapped the luggage in place to their backs by pulling on a cord with their teeth, automatically lashing the luggage down securely.
"This way then," Satori gestured up the stairs and led the way, followed by the group with the dogs and luggage in tow.
"W-Wow… I take it back… I guess you weren't lying about the booming business after all, huh?" Suika observed from the railings of the second floor as Satori continued to lead the way to the rooms.
"Humph. Of course not," Satori replied.
From the second floor, Suika could observe the main bath in the courtyard, a large, swimming pool sized, shallow rectangular stone basin trembling gently with steamy tonic water. Plants, bamboo, grasses and shrubs grew on the sides to form a natural sort of boundary, and nestled within relaxed quite a number of bathers. The courtyard was surrounded by a low palisade on the first floor with periodic gaps in them for bathers to come and go, and along the palisade were tables and stools where bathers, friends and families who had finished with their soak could sit and enjoy light meals and tea.
The holiday makers mumbled chattily in hushed tones so as not to disturb each other, but the sheer number of them, accompanied by the clinking of drinks, smell of food and gentle running water made for a happy din.
"Our main public bath," Satori gestured a hand over the courtyard, "Mixed bathing of course, so the whole lot of you could go in together and just relax and forget your worries," she smiled.
"… Why mention that it's mixed bathing? Aren't we all girls…?" Suika asked uncomfortably.
"Of course, it's supposed to be family friendly, so there is a strict policy that gentlemen ought to behave or they'll be thrown out," Satori informed them.
"I said we're girls didn't I? There really won't be anything happening-"
"Then you may also use our smaller, more quiet baths, or even book a suite. It'll cost more, but each suite has its own tub…"
"Th-There really is no need really-"
"Not to mention complimentary bathing robes and a large, king sized bed in each…"
"Satori!" Suika exclaimed, and Satori stopped her well calculated ramble. "Wh-Who do you think we are? Couples on a honeymoon? !"
"… I was merely describing the resort's features," Satori glanced back at Suika with a sly smile. "Besides," Satori continued before Suika could protest, "Whoever said the recommendations were for you?" she looked over Suika's shoulder, and Suika followed suit.
"Hey… Parsee?" it was Yuugi standing behind Suika, "Wanna go loan a suite-"
"No."
Suika turned back to Satori unamused. Satori mouthed "Didn't even need to read her mind". Suddenly, Suika felt a tug on her wrist. It was Kogasa, pulling at her arm to get her attention, her eyes wide open with yearning.
"Kogasa?" Suika asked, a little startled, "What is it?"
"S-Suika…" Kogasa shyly mumbled, "Want to… Want to go get a suite together?" she looked at Suika hopefully.
Suika deadpanned. Not you too…
"Well then… If it's a suite you want, this way please," Satori smiled and indicated the way, whistling for the dog youkai porters to follow her lead.
Suika glared at Satori. Why are you suddenly so compliant? ! She screamed in her head.
"You know…" Satori continued without even looking back, although one could imagine a cheeky grin on her face, "It is our policy that the customer's requests and needs come first-"
"Like HELL it is! ! !" Suika shouted after Satori.
"Ah… but well… You already have booked and paid for your rooms, so unless you're willing to upgrade," Satori said a little while more as she stopped before two adjacent doors, "You're going to have to put up with these normal guest rooms I'm afraid," she unlocked the one of the doors and pushed it open. The four vacationing youkai took a glance inside.
"It's just a modest little room," Satori said with a modest little bow.
"I-It's rather nice actually…" Suika said as she glanced about, the other three nodding in agreement. The room, identical to the next, had a beige, cream and white theme that was easy on the eyes. The room held two simple but deep and soft beds, each with a nice, puffy comforter and two rather large pillows. The floor was done in wooden paneling, and the lights were ceiling lights of simple glass crystal, looking rather like the glass portion of antique oil lamps handing from a wire. The furniture was that of light wood, like rattan and pine, the chairs with white, firm cushions and the table with a couple of artistic candle stands resembling oil lamps.
"Not bad…" Yuugi rubbed her chin in satisfaction, "Not bad at all, considering the amount we forked out… Hey Parsee!" she turned excitedly to the bridge princess, "Let's quickly dump our stuff and head downstairs! I can't wait to soak myself in the hot spring with a nice glass of sake! Ahhh… I can just imagine it now…" Yuugi took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, her eyes closed as she pretended in her mind that she was neck deep in soothing warm water.
"Easy Yuugi," Parsee said, "Let's not forget the real reason we came here," she gave a significant glance towards Kogasa.
"Now now, there will be plenty of time to get the more worrying stuff out of the way later," Satori said in response to Parsee in a rare serene manner. "After all," Satori turned to Kogasa, not unwelcomingly, "What better way is there to learn about the resort than to enjoy it from the customer's point of view? Don't you agree, Kogasa?" she smiled.
Kogasa stared back at Satori, feeling a little intimidated by the involuntarily sharp gaze of her purple eyes, but more so by the unblinking red one on her chest "… Eh… Ah… Y-You mean…?"
"Kogasa," Parsee placed an encouraging hand on the little karakasa's shoulder, "This was the friend that Yuugi, Suika and I were talking about. She's the one that will help you out."
"U-Um…" Kogasa shifted uncomfortably before Satori, the way a little child would before a stern teacher, except that both teacher and child were of the same height, the teacher maybe a little shorter… "P-Please!" Kogasa bowed, "Please take care of me!"
Satori blinked several times at the sudden display of formality, then smiled a little more warmly, "Thank you Kogasa, but that can wait." She pointed at Yuugi and Suika, "You two, help unload the luggage into your own rooms."
"H-Hey!" "Oi! We don't take orders from-"
Satori ignored them and next gestured over the railing to the large open bath one floor down, "Ladies, please kindly join me at the hot spring downstairs, won't you?" And thus, Satori, Kogasa and Parsee left Yuugi and Suika to grumbling under their breaths as they unpacked the luggage.