I have decided I will try to post biweekly going forward or earlier if I finish the chapter early (i'm nearly done with chapter 7 already). For those of you seeking romance, it is on the way (i promise next chapter you will get something again). I have been having some trouble writing romance right now because I'm in rough spot in my life so it's easier for me to get in the mood to write tense/dark scenes. Thanks for your patience and continued support.
Chapter 5:
Opening her eyes, Chihiro frowned at the sight of an unfamiliar wooden ceiling above her. Freeing her arms from the tangled sheets, she rubbed her hands across her eyes and looked up again. The same unfamiliar ceiling stared back at her. Wondering where the heck she had gotten off to this time, Chihiro sat up and took a glance around the room. Her memories of the night/day before began to filter back to her. Part of her wanted to believe that all of this had been some strange alcohol induced dream that she would wake up from, but the fact that she was still here in the bathhouse reminded her that this was reality. Crawling out of bed, Chihiro sleepily slunk to the bathroom to start preparing for the day. As she fell into her usual morning wakeup routine, thoughts of her life began floating about her mind. She needed to send word to her work to let them know that she would need more time off. Hopefully Zeniba could get this mess fixed by the end of the week, but what happens if she doesn't? She couldn't keep staying with Haku, that's for sure, but where else could she go if not home to Tokyo? Without any thought, Chihiro got into the uniform as if it were her normal attire. Pulling her long brown hair into a ponytail, she froze as she realized that she had put on the entire uniform without even thinking about it. Obviously she had a past here, and didn't that need exploring? Didn't she deserve to know what happened here eleven years ago? Ignoring the tart after thought that she would forget it all again if she went home, Chihiro finished putting her hair up before setting off to find Lin in the kitchens.
Puffs of flour took to the air as Chihiro happily pounded on the dough atop the kitchen counter. Handing the flattened dough to Lin, she took the next rounded batch from the pile and began to meld it into the flat square shape that she had been instructed to create. Lin took the beaten dough and transformed it into multiple perfectly-sized rolls. Organizing the rolls into neat rows on a cooking sheet, she hummed quietly to herself. When the sheet was full, it would be placed in a special drawer to rest until the bakers retrieved it for baking the following morning. Chihiro finished beating the last mound of dough into submission and stood back to admire her work. Her flour smeared apron and her aching arms reminded her of the hours that she had spent with Lin preparing bread for tomorrow's breakfast. Removing the apron and hanging it up on a rung upon the wall, Chihiro watched Lin form more of the rolls.
"Why don't you take Kamaji and the Susuwatari their lunch? The basket by the door should have a bowl of lunch and a bucket of kompeitō set aside for them. Go down the hall to the right and take the stairs to the boiler room. You can't miss it. I should be finished by the time you return and we can go straight into department rounds." Nodding her head yes, Chihiro grabbed the basket by the door and head out.
"How long are you going to stand outside the doorway, Haku," Lin called over her shoulder. Stepping out of the other kitchen entrance, Haku walked carefully around all of the flour to take a seat on a barstool across from her.
"How did you know I was there?"
"Let's just say that I know you too well. If you wanted to see her so bad, why not just walk in like a normal spirit? She was in a good mood this morning." Haku sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
"I just wanted to see how she was doing without disrupting her work. She has had a lot to deal with these past few days so I was worried, but she seems to be coping rather well with all of the changes."
"Work is a good way to distract her from thinking about recent events," Lin exclaimed, "and I promise I won't work her to death."
"If I had even the slightest impression that you were going to damage her in any way, I would have kept her locked in my flat. Will you let her know that I would like to have dinner with her tonight when she is done with work?" Shaking her head yes and muttering about how Haku owed her so much that even she couldn't keep track anymore, Lin continued onto the last square of dough. Smiling at her, Haku swiped a bowl of lunch on his way out of the kitchen and headed back to his office.
Chihiro felt a wave of heat wash over her as she stepped into the boiler room and lifted the basket in. Tiny, furry black soot spirits were busy at work carrying coal to the furnace. The multi-handed spirit at the helm busily grabbed different herbs and was preparing a special herbal soak.
"Excuse me, Kamaji? I have brought lunch."
"Eh? Chihiro, is that you? My how you've grown!" Kamaji sent up the herbal order he was working on and got down to give her hug. Feeling his arms around her, Chihiro felt her surprise melt away into a sense of familiarity. She knew this spirit, and he was obviously very fond of her. This room also felt familiar, as if she had been here regularly before.
"I brought you lunch. Should I put it up by your breakfast bowl?"
"Yes of course. I know you must be busy with work right now, but we should find some time to talk. I want to hear all about your adventures since you left us last." Chihiro smiled warmly at him as she switched out the bowls. Walking over to the clamoring Susuwatari, she started tossing out the kompeitō.
"It's kinda hard to tell you when I don't even know where to start. I don't know when I visited this place eleven years ago or even what happened."
"That's ok dear. Haku told me that you didn't remember us." Chihiro felt a little pang of guilt stab her at his words. He reminded her of an affectionate grandfather and she felt sorry that she didn't remember him.
"You seem very familiar to me," Chihiro replied sheepishly as she up ended the basket over the Susuwatari. "All of this seems so familiar to me…like a bad case of déjà vu."
"I would offeryou someherbs known to restore memory, but I doubt it would do you any good. The magic that spans the void is simply too strong to be undone by any magic or medicine I know of."
"It's the thought that counts," Chihiro chirped back as she placed the dirty breakfast bowl into the basket. The sound of a ringing bell interrupted them and Chihiro looked around for the sound. Kamaji frowned and began to quickly yank out drawers from the wall. Grabbing fistfuls of herbs, he quickly started wrapping them into bundles.
"That is the wounded bell. It means that wounded spirits have been spotted across the river and are being ferried across in the buckets as we speak. All staff assigned to emergency infirmary duty will be heading to the back port to receive the injured and take them to the infirmary wing for treatment. Know this sound Chihiro, it is the sound of great suffering and pray that you never have to hear the siren for an incoming attack. Take these herbs and bring them to the main infirmary. They will be needing them shortly." Thrusting the large bundles of herbs into her arms and into her basket, Kamaji began mixing up several mixtures for baths in preparation of the flood of tickets to come. Bowing to Kamaji, Chihiro slipped out the door and ran back to the kitchen. The sound of running footsteps in the distance mirrored her own as she slid into the empty kitchen. Dropping the dirty bowl in the sink and taking off again, she began to run to the main infirmary.
The infirmary was one of the areas of the bathhouse that did not strike her with a sense of familiarity. Located on the same floor as the boiler room, the main infirmary wasonly accessible through a maze of staff back hallways designed to trap those unfamiliar with the layout in containment. The smaller infirmaries were hidden within the maze as well, but Haku had warned her against coming into this area of the bathhouse when they were touring. Quickly navigating the maze, Chihiro came out before the large wooden doors that led to the main infirmary. Pushing the doors open, a wave of heat, steam, and incense poured over her. Stepping inside and quickly closing the doors behind her, Chihiro examined the chaos around her. White cots stood at the ready in neat rows along the walls of the room. A large fire burned in a fireplace at the end of the room, but the light near it seemed to fade away into darkness. While the cots close to the door were bright and warm, the cots closer to the fireplace were dark and stifling with steam. Bustling about in ordered chaos, yunas, frogs, and other staff prepared different mixtures on the carts placed every few cots. Giving instructions to several yuna, a crane spirit calmly presided over the others. The white and red purification robes the crane wore spoke of her status apart from the rest of the staff. Carrying her delivery to her, Chihiro waited to be addressed and bowed low once acknowledged.
"You must be the human girl everyone has been talking about. I am Yui Watari, matron of the infirmary and purification priestess of the nearby Shintōshrine. It is a pleasure to meet you, Chihiro," the crane spoke with a soft chortling voice.
"It is a pleasure to meet you Watari-san. I have brought herbs for the wounded. Where would you like me to put them?"
"Give them to me and I will see that they are properly distributed. Your sister is down on the dock already waiting for the new arrivals. Hurry now to her side." Handing over her basket and bundles, Chihiro followed the other staff members as they hurried through the maze to the back port. The sound of muffled screaming grew louder. Chihiro couldn't help but wonder what mirage of horrors would await her from the sounds drawing nearer. As they approached the exit, Lin came barreling through the entranceway supporting a wounded tanuki spirit. His armor lay askew revealing a crooked right leg and several small red gashes across the other. Running quickly to support his other side, Chihiro startled Lin with the sudden shift in weight. After a momentary pause to look at her, they continued towards the infirmary.
"You shouldn't be here. If Haku knew you were anywhere near here right now, he would never forgive me."
"What Haku doesn't know, can't hurt him. Let's get our guest to the infirmary. If you wish to send me away then that's fine, but it looks like you could use all the hands you can get." Lin grimaced at her, but kept her mouth shut. Glancing at the tanuki between them, Chihiro noticed how his eyelids flickered slightly open as if trying wake. "Honored guest, we are almost to the infirmary. Thank you for your patience."
"A human bathhouse worker...and here I thought this day could not get any stranger. Tell me little one, what is it that you are called here," he asked as his eyes dragged open to stare at her. Chihiro could see the infirmary door up ahead as they rounded the corner.
"I am called Chihiro, sir."
"Ah, well thank you for your assistance. You may call me Okita," he started but cut off with a groan, "Is it as bad as it looks?" He looked down as his damaged legs as they neared the door.
"Nothing a week or two in good care couldn't fix," Lin answered as she reached to open the doors. As the doors swung open and the steam rolled over them, Okita cried out in pain. Pulling them forward, Lin answered Chihiro's unspoken question. "The incense and steamed medicinal water create a burning sensation as it purifies infected wounds caused by the Tainted. The infections must be purified, otherwise the wounds will not heal and the flesh will rot."
Chihiro and Lin helped Okita lay down in one of the fresh cots by the door, as per Watari's orders. Allowing the scurrying infirmary workers to take over, Chihiro gave him a grim smile and wished him well.
"Feel free to come visit me sometime. I'm sure it will get lonely being stuck here for a few weeks." Nodding her head, Chihiro felt Lin take her arm and pull her away. Silently, Lin walked Chihiro through the maze back into the rest of the bathhouse. Finally coming to a stop, she turned and gave a quick glance over Chihiro to check for any blood or signs that she had been near the wounded. Seemingly satisfied, Lin began leading her towards the main entryway.
"With most of the staff down on the back port or in the infirmary, we are extremely short staffed in our front of house operations. I need you to check in with the foreman and help pick up some of the slack, but don't let anyone talk you into taking a yuna's position. You are better than that. I'll check in on you if I can, but if the bathhouse closes for the night and you don't see me around then head back to your room. Haku will have dinner waiting for you," Lin explained as they rounded the corner to the foreman's post.
"Ah, good afternoon Lady Sen," the foreman greeted with a short bow before continuing, "and to you Mistress Lin."
"Good afternoon, foreman. Where are you short staffed right now? Chihiro will be running things while I continue to help in the infirmary." Stopping in front of his stand, he rubbed his chubby fingers over his chin.
"Frankly, the better question is where I am not short staffed. Tubs three and five need washing, the floors on the third floor need polishing, and there are new guests in the locker rooms preparing for their baths." Cutting him off, Chihiro took charge. Stepping up to the platform, she put her hands on the edge.
"I will start the guests in the proper bath if you tell me where to take them. Once they are settled, I will grab a yuna to take over and head over to tubs three and five to clean. If we aren't careful, we will run late on the distribution of the evening meal since most of the kitchen staff is in the infirmary. Shifting three or four workers from polishing duty to food delivery could prevent that delay, but we will have to make it up afterwards before closing down for the night. I'll check back in once we are closer to the dinner rush and go from there." Nodding his head, the foreman gave her a smile in approval and she even saw Lin give her an approving look before she hurried back towards where they came. Taking the challenges in stride, Chihiro got down to business.
Chihiro watched the five massive chicks continue splashing in their pond bath soak. Deciding that more water was necessary, she took a few steps back before running towards the tub edge. Swiftly getting up the sides, Chihiro launched herself for the high floating cord. They had had to move it considerably higher to keep it out of the chick's reach since they had little restraint when it came to water. Barely grasping the cord, she let her body weight be the driving force yanking the cord downward. Fresh water began to pour into the tubs and the chicks chirped happily at her offering. Carefully swinging to the side, Chihiro dropped down outside the tub and took up a broom to sweep some of the excess spilled water towards the grates. Stopping for a moment of air, her eyes drifted back to the happily playing chicks and she felt a smile grace her features.
"Lady Sen, I am here to relieve you of your duties. The foreman is waiting for you," a yuna approached casually taking the broom from her hands. Too tired to correct her, Chihiro gave her a quick nod before bowing to the guests and leaving. The foreman looked worn down, but pleased as he dismissed most of the staff members for the night. Spotting Chihiro, he gave her a large smile.
"Your plans served us well tonight, my lady. Everything ran on time and we caught up with all of the cleaning by closing time. Almost everyone has been dismissed now for the night so there is no need for you to remain. Have a good evening."
"Thanks for your hard work today," Chihiro replied as she took off to look for Lin. True to his word, most of the staff were already done for the day and gathering dinner to bring back to their rooms or the staff lounges on each floor. Unable to find Lin, Chihiro gave up and headed back to Haku's flat.