Chapter 8:
Lin looked at Chihiro's peacefully sleeping face and smiled sadly. Things would have been so much easier if Haku had been honest right from the start, but now everyone was caught up in his web of lies. Everyone involved truly had Chihiro's best interests at heart, but eventually everything would be revealed and the cost might be greater than anyone could have imagined. It was almost funny how the person who insisted that Chihiro be left in the dark for her safety was also the person compromising it. Lin flashed back to hours before when she had gone up to Haku's flat to fetch Chihiro for a sleepover, the perfect cover so they could slip away unnoticed from the bathhouse first thing in the morning…
"Lin," Chihiro exclaimed as she had pushed Haku off of her. Somehow he had gotten the upper hand over her and had most of her body pinned with his own. Her nightgown had pooled high enough in their wrestle for dominance to be scandalous and Haku felt a blush cross his cheeks at being caught in such a position. Especially by the spirit who considered Chihiro her sister.
"Get your things Chihiro. I can't believe you forgot we were having a sleepover tonight," Lin spoke harshly and Chihiro muttered her apologies before scampering off to her room. Turning a glare to Haku, Lin nearly hissed at his sheepish look.
"I can't believe you. You know what's at stake and this is what you do? You should be ashamed of yourself." Turning away, Lin bit her tongue to keep herself from giving him the tongue lashing he deserved. Leaving him there to drown in his thoughts, Lin waited patiently for Chihiro to throw together a small handful of clothes before dragging her away. Calling goodnight to Haku on her way out, Chihiro felt the tension around Lin. As they stepped into the lift together, Lin offered her a small smile.
"Sorry if I scared you back there. I needed to make Haku believe I was mad at him so he would not come looking for us tomorrow. He always avoids me the day after we fight," Lin clumsily lied. Though it was true that he did always avoid her the day after an argument, she had not been faking her irritation with him. Deciding that disciplining the dragon could wait until after their little adventure, Lin hit the elevator switches for the lowest floor. "Why don't we go raid the kitchen for dango and green tea before bed? We can't have much of a sleepover tonight since we have to be out before they light the lanterns tomorrow, but at least we can eat some snacks."
Perking up at the offer, Chihiro smiled back at Lin, "Won't the chefs be quite mad with us?"
"Only if they catch us," Lin replied with a mischievous smirk.
Chihiro tightened the straps of her sandals and followed quickly after Lin. The sun was nearly faded, calling forth the beginning of the day. The summer breeze spread the blue fabric of her day dress behind her and she clutched her shawl tighter to prevent it from meeting a similar fate. Her small sling bag, courtesy of Lin, waited emptily for the profits of the shopping day. Slipping through the side garden and the old servant's hatch, they walked silently towards the bridge. As they crossed over, Chihiro could hear the rattling call of the train below and she was tempted to look over the side to see its daily passing. Lin however gently grasped her hand and kept her moving into the small town that was beginning to fill with moving shadows.
"What's happening," Chihiro asked nervously as they began to move down the main road. Looking back over her shoulder, she could see the bathhouse light up in welcome and the lanterns throughout town flame up with light.
"The awakening. Throughout the spirit world, there are areas near the portals to the human world that essentially overlap realms. Within these areas, the structures and geography in one world melt into that of the other to some degree at certain times of day. The towns on either side of the river and the river itself in this region are prime examples of this. For example, while the sun is up the river becomes grass because in the human world that is what is actually there, however once the sun disappears the river returns to its full form. Unbound spirits that remain in these areas when the connection between the worlds is made lose their form and will disappear until the connection is broken again. Same goes for any humans that wander through a portal and haven't grounded themselves to the spirit world by the time of the changeover. Except if humans disappear, they won't reappear. What you see now is what we call the awakening- the time of day when spirits regain their forms as the connection between the worlds dissipates and the spirit world fully awakens from its slumber."
"Why don't the spirits at the bathhouse disappear during the day," Chihiro asked as they boarded the ferry to the town on the other side of the river.
"The overlap area ends at the foot of the bridge. The bathhouse is located solely in the spirit world." Looking around Chihiro tried not to stare at all the different kinds of spirits taking form around her. Focusing on the bright lights of the city ahead and the rippling dark gleam of the water below, Chihiro nearly missed the sight of small bird spirits soaring above them. Docking at the town, Lin and Chihiro stepped off at the edge of a brightly lit street market. Chihiro gasped at the site of the beautiful colored lanterns floating around the set up booths, and Lin couldn't help but smile at the sight. Drawing her aside, Lin put a hand over the top of Chihiro's head and leaned close.
"Listen here, the market is nothing to fool around with. Haku's barrier only protects our side of the river so all sorts of dangerous people could be over here. Be on your guard, and if you see anyone staring at you, tell me. It's better to be too safe than sorry."
"Of course everyone would stare. I'm a human," Chihiro remarked sarcastically.
"As long as you keep that sling bag on you, you will smell like a weasel spirit. Only strong magic users should be able to smell through it. Here, in case you want to buy something," Lin handed her a small pouch and curled Chihiro's fingers around it, "there is two thousand yen in here. It's just a little spending money until you get paid on Sunday."
Chihiro tried to hand it back to her and voice her refusal, but Lin bonked her on the head.
"Take it ya dope. It's a gift and ain't it rude to turn away someone's gift?" Muttering her apologies and pocketing the pouch in her sling bag, Chihiro tailed after Lin as they joined the swarm of spirits entering the market. Vendors called their wares from each side and the wafting smells of foods and spices filled the air. Chihiro had never been in a market like this before. Strange foods that she had never seen before were roasting in plain view, while other vendors chose to advertise their food in giant platters atop a bar. Though she wanted to ask who would eat something like roasted newt, the look on Lin's face at the sight of it was enough of an answer. Moving out of the food section despite Lin's backward glances, they entered into the rest of the market. Red oni displayed their tasteful leather works and weapons, cranes flaunted colorful bolts of fabric and mujina silently watched over their glittering gems. Chihiro did not recognize some of the kinds of spirits around them, and the wide range of available goods spoke of their far travels. A spider merchant selling potions had the nerve to step in front of Lin and try to corral her back towards the stand.
"Come young miss, I have a bottle here that will have your mate raring for you as if it were mating season!"
"I'm recently widowed, now please move out of the way," Lin shouted at her over the noise and stepped around her. The spider moved to approach Chihiro, but Lin grabbed her hand and tugged her along.
"Recently widowed, eh?"
"You think she would of let me go otherwise? Look she already got herself another victim already," Lin said with a backward glance. Looking back, Chihiro saw a small cat spirit being dragged into the spider's tent. Lin guided them further down the market towards an elderly owl spirit selling unusual antiques. As Lin talked familiarly with the owl, Chihiro wandered through his wares. Most of his goods consisted of old leather bound books on the spirit world, knick knacks, and a few curious oddities. One such oddity caught her eye and she walked over to examine them closer. A pair of antique silver dragon hair sticks gleamed from an old box lined in crushed blue velvet. Taking one out of the box to examine it closer, Chihiro admired the beautiful craftsmanship. Each roaring dragon was clutching an identical clear crystal sphere between its claws, along with a single invisible string. These strings each held a small silver circle detailed in flowers and from those, dangled tiny slivers of silver bells. She was so caught up in admiring the hair sticks that she startled at the owl clearing his throat behind her.
"I see you have great tastes, young lady. Might I be able to interest you in trying them on?" Chihiro considered it for a moment before shaking her head no. There would be no way she could afford them even if she liked them. Besides, it's not like she could bring them back with her to the human world, right?
"Thank you sir, but I will have to pass this time."
"Are you sure, Chihiro? I think they would look great on you," Lin added as she set aside the stacked bento box that she had apparently been haggling the owl over earlier.
"I'm sure. No point in buying something that I can't bring home with me," Chihiro said with a small smile and put the hair stick back into its box. Lin gave her an understanding nod and distracted the owl spirit once again to discuss the latest gossip he had heard since her last visit. It seemed that she always made a point to stop by his tent every time she had a day off. Slipping to the door of the tent, Chihiro looked out at the busy street. Watching the spirits walk by, she missed the person standing stock still across the street staring at her. His red eyes focused in on her and a nasty smile spread across his face revealing sharp canines. Interrupting Chihiro's people watching, Lin returned triumphant with an aged bottle of wine for her efforts.
"Takashi-san always has a smuggled bottle of aged wine from the Capital laying around somewhere. Hey Chihiro, we aren't too far from the train station. Would you like to stop by and a take a peek around?"
"Yes, of course," Chihiro replied as her eyes focused in on the empty spot across the street from her and the slight nagging sensation that they were being watched. Shaking her head, they set off up the gentle slope to the train station.
The train station's two platforms jutted out from the side of the building towards them and the clock tower busily chimed the hour. Stark electric light lit the building and there seemed to be no spirits nearby. Walking up to the front entrance, Chihiro pushed open the door to see the empty train station within. Despite the struggle that had only happened days before, there was no sign of anything wrong or that anyone had been there in several years. Both platforms that went out towards the town were clean under the moonlight. Three open black archways along the opposite wall had a breeze pulling towards them, but she couldn't be sure which it was that she had come from originally. Noting the lack of footsteps behind her, Chihiro looked back towards the door. Lin leaned against the frame watching her.
"Aren't you going to come in," she asked curiously as Lin shook her head no.
"I'm not a bound spirit, Chihiro. This is as close as I can get to the portal. One of those arches will lead back to the human world, but unless you have on the same clothes you were wearing when you passed through, you will simply keep coming out back here." Nodding her head, Chihiro returned back to Lin and closed the door to the station.
"Thanks for showing me where it is. Why don't we go grab something to eat before we take care of the errands on your list?"
"Sounds like a plan," Lin replied as they set off again, "and I know just the place!"
Chihiro gratefully sat down on the barstool and breathed a sigh of relief. After have a quick lunch at the food stalls Lin had been eyeing earlier, they shopped through the remainder of the market. Lin talked regularly with several merchants along the way, collecting rumors and gossip of other lands. They had also dropped off some kimono for dry cleaning, purchased a new hinge to fix her broken closet door, and delivered some mail from a frog spirit working at the bathhouse to his lover. After running all over town, they took the ferry back to the bathhouse side of the river and began to run more errands. Chihiro was exhausted and when Lin finally admitted that everything was done and they could go to dinner, she was ecstatic. They went to the bar called "End of the Line" which was the last building on the street before the river and only a few feet away from the large stone frog pouring out water down the steps. As they walked in, the staff called out in welcome and they took seats at the end of the bar.
"Welcome to End of the Line, ladies. What can I fix you tonight," the bartender asked in a quiet baritone voice as he walked over. Chihiro could see rippling muscle bulging from his cream and orange robes as he leaned against the counter in front of them. If it weren't for the beak in place of a mouth and the presence of black wings protruding from his back, he would look almost entirely human. Chihiro couldn't recall any previous times that she had seen a tengu around town or the bathhouse.
"Two of my usual, Taka, my friend here has never had a Heaven's Fire before," Lin said with a smile. Nodding his head, he began to grab liquors off the shelf and pour into two glasses.
"It is unusual to see a human in these parts. What is your name," he asked. Chihiro gave Lin a quick look of worry, but Lin reassured her with a pat.
"My name is Chihiro." The way Taka spiraled the alcohol into the glasses was like an art form. The drink was rapidly turning a bright red color inside of the glasses. She was tempted to ask what exactly he was putting in their but decided better of it. Placing the glasses in front of them, Lin happily slurped it down while Chihiro hesitantly took a sip. The drink was rather sweet for her tastes and there was almost no burn to it. For the amount of alcohol he put in she was rather hoping for something more biting.
"Taka here makes the best drinks in town," Lin boasted happily as she continued on her drink.
"You spoil me mistress," he said with a smile to Lin, "Please let me know if either of you need anything." Bowing to them, he returned to fix drinks for the other side of the bar.
"He is one of the few surviving holy tengu warriors from Mt. Kurama. They lost the shrine to the Tainted about a year ago and he arrived here shortly after. We met while he was in the bathhouse infirmary, but surprisingly he stuck around after being released. Isn't it funny how a holy man who does not drink alcohol mixes the best drinks around?" Chihiro muttered her agreement and took a good look at the bartender again. Usually Chihiro preferred bartenders who had more excitement and life in them, but something about Taka's refreshing, relaxed charisma charmed her.
Six different drinks and several hours later, Chihiro was indeed impressed with Taka's bartending skills as well as Lin's nonexistent tolerance for alcohol. She was basically done after her second glass and was happily snoozing at the counter as Chihiro drank onward. Most of the other patrons had called it quits for the night and Taka was wiping down the bar for the night.
"Well it seems you drank your friend here under the table. She usually only has one, but I think she outdid herself since you were here," he replied with a smile, "Will you be alright getting home tonight? I can walk you wherever you need to go after we drag her back to the bathhouse."
"I'm staying at the bathhouse as well, but I'd appreciate any help you can give me in carrying her."
"Not a problem. Just out of curiosity, when did you arrive?"
"A few days ago, why," Chihiro said before taking another long draught of her drink. She was finally beginning to feel a buzz.
"You must be the one whom the dragon has been waiting for."
"Excuse me," Chihiro asked confused.
"Every morning for the past year, I've watched the dragon of the bathhouse walk to the stone frog over there before the awakening. He always looks out over the meadow, as if he were waiting for someone. Then like clockwork, he returns to the bathhouse without saying a word to anyone as soon as the river begins to fill in. However just a few days ago, he stopped coming out."
"He's been busy dealing with stuff. It has nothing to do with my arrival," Chihiro said as she finished her drink, "Got anything stronger? I want one last drink." Nodding his head, Taka set about making a different kind of drink. Chihiro mentally added that Haku was too busy trying to find a way to send her home.
"But this isn't your first time to the spirit world, is it? You have been here before."
"What makes you say that?"
"There is a tale passed around among the locals here that some time back a human girl came through the portal and performed two miracles- defeated the witch Yubaba and returned the name of a contracted spirit who had lost his name. That wouldn't happen to be you, now would it? Not that you would remember thanks to the void magic… Why don't we say my guess draws from my observation of you tonight. For someone who only arrived a few days ago, you are surprisingly calm and accepting of the things you are seeing around you. Also I have known Lin for almost a year now and not once has she ever been so excited about having a friend along."
"You are insightful, but I can't tell you if you are correct. I have no memories of visiting this place prior."
"Ah yes, the void magic. My brothers and I helped repair the void magic around Mt. Kurama portal many centuries back," he replied thoughtfully as his hands froze over the half-filled glass. Looking up to her with piercing brown eyes, he continued, "If you had the option to regain those lost memories, if they were even there in the first place, would you take it?"
Chihiro thought hard about it for a few moments as he resumed pouring.
"Yes, I think I would. I'm going back home any day now and will forget all over again, but it would be nice to have the complete story for a while." Handing her the drink, she reached into her sling bag for the small pouch of money Lin had given her earlier. As she took out the coins, Taka tried to waved off her money away, but she insisted. Finally taking the money, he returned with her change.
"Thanks," Chihiro said as she drank the new mixture. This one seemed to burn considerably and was much closer to something she would drink at home. "I like this one, what is it called?"
"Raven's Breath. It is one of the stronger cocktails we serve here." Going around the corner of the bar, Taka turned off the lights in the dining area and hung up his black waiter's apron. Coming back around, he started digging around through storage under the bar. Muttering under his breath, Taka stood up with a tiny ivory ceramic vial that reminded Chihiro of a miniscule ash urn. Walking back to her, he set it on the counter in front of her.
"A welcome gift from me. I don't know if it will do you any good, but there's no harm in trying. If nothing else it will give you some interesting dreams. Take it right before sleeping sometime when you haven't spent the night drinking."
"What is it?"
"A memory stimulant. I bought it on a whim some time back, but all its doing is collecting dust. It's meant to be taken within a year of the memory loss, so it will probably do nothing now, but it's the thought that counts." Taking it carefully, Chihiro examined it before slipping it into her bag.
"Thanks," she started, but he cut her off with a wave of his hand. "Don't mention it. If you are done with that drink now, let's get Lin home." Chihiro nodded her head yes and stood up from the bar stool. Slipping an arm under Lin, she slipped her off the barstool before hands reached past her. Having come around the bar to them, Taka lifted Lin into his arms with ease. Holding her tightly against his chest with a small smile, he motioned for her to go.
"When I mentioned I could use some help carrying her, I didn't mean you had to do it for me," Chihiro remarked as they exited the bar. Flipping the lights off on his way out, he readjusted her carefully in his arms. They started on a reasonable pace up the hill towards the bathhouse.
"It's easier this way," he replied stoically and pulled Lin a little closer. If Chihiro wasn't certain that he didn't have a small sweet spot for the weasel in his arms, she was sure now. They walked up in silence to the bathhouse entrance and Taka hesitated.
"I can take her from here, Taka. It's not far," Chihiro reassured him and he carefully released his hold on her. Setting her down carefully on the floor, he removed Lin's shoes and put on her indoor slippers gently. Chihiro slipped an arm around Lin and with a quick bob of a bow goodnight, she dragged her inside. Taka watched the curtains they went through for a few moments before taking his leave.
Haku was not surprised when the small paper bird flew in the window and landed in the chair across from his desk. Gracefully unfolding and transforming into the old witch, the paper bird hid beneath the folds of her blue dress. Warmly greeting her, he set aside his work and waited for her to get to the point of their meeting.
"Haku, I talked with as many of the ancients I could find and scoured the recesses of the archives. There is no magic recorded in our history that could keep her safe and hidden outside of the Spirit World. I know this isn't the answer you want to hear, but trust me when I tell you that keeping her here is for the best." Haku frowned and got up to pace in front of the massive fireplace. Zeniba stood up and walked closer to him, but stopped short of touching him. His brow was furrowed in deep thought and his green eyes made rivets upon the floor.
"What makes you think that she would be safe here? Every day countless spirits come through the bathhouse doors and with the borders no longer holding back the Shadow forces... Who says that the border I created here will be enough should we be attacked? What if she stayed with you in Swamp Bottom? Isn't that where you heading now?"
"Yes, but sending her to the backwoods of the Eastern lands is far more dangerous. Don't you see? She will be safer there at your side. You can protect her, just as you have always done. I saw the way you looked at her! You still love her. Show her what you two had before and let the power of your love fuel your magic."
"I do love her that is why I'm trying to protect her! If the Elders catch wind that she has returned to the bathhouse to stay, they would use her and send me to the front lines. There would be nothing I could do for her then. She has to return to the human world." Haku reassumed his pacing.
"Haku, if you send her back you will be signing her life away. Do you truly want to see her resting in the Ocean of Souls alongside her parents?"
"Hell I don't even know if she would go there after what I've done," Haku muttered darkly before grabbing the mantle firmly with both hands. "How am I supposed to tell her that she needs to stay here? That she has to give up everything she had before…"
"Tell her the truth, Haku. Tell her everything and I'm sure she will come around. She will understand."
"She doesn't love me anymore, Zeniba," Haku spoke quietly, but his words rang loudly around them in their sadness. His shoulders sagged under the heavy admittance and he let his head hang between his arms. Closing the distance between them, Zeniba put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed.
"How could she love someone she doesn't know? Give her a chance to get to know you again and start over fresh. Love is the strongest magic of all, that's why a mating bond founded in love is irreversible. I got a feeling that the void magic could not erase away her love for you, and that somewhere deep within her those feelings lay suppressed in waiting."
The ting of the lift bell reaching his flat level interrupted their talk. Hearing the familiar soft footsteps of Chihiro approaching the door, Haku thrust out his leg and kicked the paper bird into the fire. Zeniba gasped as she disappeared in flames. Lifting his head, Haku looked towards the door as it rattled open.
"Hey Haku, I wanted to let you know that I kinda drank Lin under the table tonight so I am going to spend another night with her. Don't want her to throw up in her sleep and choke on it or something." Haku muttered his consent, but didn't release his grip on the mantle. Noting his tension, Chihiro stepped a little further into the room.
"Is something wrong?"
"No, it's just been a long day. Look after Lin for me."
"Will do," Chihiro chirped back and started to close the door to leave again. Stopping the door and sticking her head back in Chihiro asked the question that had been flipping around in the back of her mind as she had been drinking. "Oh and has Zeniba gotten back to you yet?"
"She sent a note saying she needs more time to search. The royal archives are not exactly well organized or small for that matter," Haku lied with ease. Nodding her head in understanding, Chihiro smiled at him.
"I'm sure she will find something. No worries. I gotta get back to Lin. Goodnight Haku!" Closing the door firmly behind her, Chihiro hummed quietly to herself as she got into the lift to go downstairs.
Haku paced in front of the fireplace for quite some time after Chihiro left, her smile replaying through his mind. Reaching a conclusion in his mind, Haku walked slowly back to his desk and opened up the right drawer. Picking up the letter Chihiro had entrusted to him, Haku walked back to the fireplace. Staring hard at the pale white envelope, he frowned and felt the letter grow in weight. Throwing the letter into the fire, he watched it burn with a mask of regret.