...Man, I feel trrible for putting Iris through all of this. She's such a trooper for tolerating it all.
By the way, I realized it's gonna be hard to convice y'all that Waka/Iris is legit where it stands right now, considering she's still deciding whether or not she hates his guts. Suggestions on how to improve this subplot?
Oh, Tobi, you so silly. You can't put out fires by flapping paper at them!
Longest preface ever? I think yes. Happy reading!
Chapter 20: The Second Prophecy
Fire surged through the darkness and grasped Iris from everywhere, and her body jumped to life. She fell next to the basin of boiling water, gasping and blinking and dripping wet, before looking at Tobi, who might have looked confused if he'd had a real face.
"What… the heck…" she pointed at the basin, "is THAT?!"
"It's… it's a bath, Miss Iris," Tobi said, and Iris gave an exasperated sigh. "Don't humans like washing themselves in hot water?"
"Not when the water is still being boiled!" She forced herself onto her hands and knees, her body screaming in protest. "And not when we're still clothed-ow!" Her open, poorly-bandaged wounds burned and stung. "What-Tobi," she looked at him, "where did this water come from?"
"The only place I could get water," he responded, and pointed at the large body of water a few feet away.
Saltwater.
"Ow… where are we, anyway?" She looked up, and could barely make out a bridge a good distance overhead – maybe a third of a mile. The large saltwater river clearly led to the ocean, but she couldn't see it beyond the valley it curved around. Well, she could barely see anything in the moonless night.
"There was a path leading here inside the cave, and the only other option was trying to carry you up the wall, and I'm not made for heavy lifting." He held up his now un-cuffed hand, and some of the bandage floated in the breeze.
Iris somehow got herself into a sitting position, her knees screaming as she pulled her legs to her chest. "Geez…" She looked at the bridge again. "All the way up there…" she stood up, cringing as her legs stretched to full length and throbbed in pain. "I'll be right back."
"Where are you going?" Tobi started to get up when Iris took a step, but she waved a no at him.
"Looking for stairs. Do me a favor and get that basin off the fire, okay? I still need that bath. Thanks." She glanced back at Tobi, who had already gotten up and started to put the fire out by flapping at it from a safe distance with his papery arms. "No, really. Thanks for… this." She gestured to the fireplace he'd set up, the basin, and whatever demon food he'd dragged from the lair and set down. "This is the most helpful anyone's been to me in a while."
"No, Iris," he said, holding his freed wrist up, "thank you." He looked around. "The outside world… I never thought I'd see it."
"Hey, be careful not to set yourself on fire," he said, and continued walking as the demon snatched his hand from the flame before it could grasp a loose bandage.
She walked a good distance before she found a good bit of sloped ground that led up to the bridge – she could make out watchtowers and buildings on the other side of the river, but from the sound of it, they'd all been abandoned. She started to pull herself up the wooden rail lining the slope when the familiar notes filled the air, and she looked up to the top of the bridge. A groan slipped out as the prophet came into her vision, standing on the bridge rail.
"Hark! The call of-"
"Yeah, yeah, I get it," Iris said, waving her free hand dismissively, "The heavens and sea and all that jazz. Just tell me what you're here for, I'm bleeding and cranky."
"Such harsh, bitter words, ma Cherie!" Waka folded his arm across his chest, flute tapping against nothing. "And here I thought you'd be excited, having defeated Hitofuki and retrieving the blessed comb."
"Blessed?" She glanced back towards the makeshift camp, where her bag was resting along with the kitschy trinket, before turning back to Waka. "What's so special about it? It's just a fancy comb."
"Well…" Waka glanced up, seemingly contemplating something, before shrugging and returning his attention to Iris, "you've been through a lot in the past couple of days, so I'll be generous and tell you what's so important."
"You call that 'generous'?!" Iris glared.
"Yes, considering I was ordered not to tell you anything."
"Oh, cheers."
"The comb," Waka said, "is… give me a moment." He jumped towards her, and landed on the rail a few feet above. "Now I don't need to speak so loudly. The comb, when worn by the person it was made for, allows them to pass through cursed zones without being turned to stone, like everything else. Many nobles had them made when the curse began, although the magic is very particular about whom it works for… I passed by a good number of status with combs just this morning." Waka leaned to the side, the air somehow supporting him. "Although, considering the original Ayame never got to use it, maybe it'll select you." He shrugged. "That sort of magic was never truly my specialty."
"That's another thing!" Iris took a few steps up the slope, and Waka turned to face the direction she went in as she passed him. "Who in the world is "Ayame", anyway? And why are there two men insisting I'm her and trying to kidnap me?"
"Ah," Waka said, "I can see how that would bother you. Those men, I'm afraid, are largely the reason you're here in the first place, although considering that you crippled the one who practices more magic, if I remember correctly…"
"…They can't send me back." Iris finished.
"What a fast learner you are, ma Cherie! No matter; I'm sure we'll sort something out for you as soon as this is all settled." Waka stepped down from the rail. "In the meantime," he turned and started to walk away, "I must return to Sei-An City. Orders are orders, after all."
"Now wait-" Iris started to say, and Waka turned to her. "Why can't you tell me what's going on? Is that part of your order?"
"Right again, ma Cherie. I would tell you if I could, but apparently it would be safer… wait!" He jumped down in front of her. "I have another prophecy for you!"
"That reminds me, I still need to hit you for that last one."
"In due time, ma Cherie. For now: Three groups, three artifacts, nine faces of one small problem." Waka jumped off, leaving Iris glaring at the spot he'd just been in.
"…Thanks, I guess." She started back for the camp. "I hope Tobi hasn't burnt to a crisp already; he's the sanest person I've met."