ficbit, Sen to Chihiro, "Water Trade"
Bizarre spate of productivity continues. This was in response to another Saying Yes! prompt, but I couldn't post over there because it was insufficiently sex-positive. XD; Contrary to the title it's nearly gen.
Implied Haku/Chihiro, post-film AU, PG.
Water Trade
"My sister must be having a fit," Zeniba said.
She stood with Chihiro by the entrance to the Thousand Hot Springs, just under the painted sign. The springs themselves had been in the hills for as long as Zeniba could remember, which was a long time, but the business and its name were new. It was a real onsen, not a bathhouse, with outdoor pools where water simmered up from the ground. The buildings--changing rooms, showers for rinsing, a sauna in the European style--and the shelters around the pools were rustic, hewn roughly of wood, and there was no inn as such on the premises, not yet, though the proprietors had plans.
"Oh," said Chihiro, "she did stop by one time. She didn't stay, she just kind of snooped around and said, 'If I'd known you were going to set up as my competition, I never would've hired you or that wretched snake! Ingrates! Hmph!' And then she went poof."
Zeniba chortled. "I'm pleased to see you're doing so well for yourselves. I won't lie, at first I wasn't sure how you'd manage, what with you getting stuck on this side all over again because you didn't have the sense not to look back--"
"I couldn't help it! I was worried about Haku!"
"--and with the two of you hardly more than children. But this is all lovely." Zeniba craned her neck. "Where is he, anyway? I haven't seen hide nor hair of him."
"Probably in the water," said Chihiro. "Sometimes I have a hard time getting him out."
"Doesn't surprise me."
"But it makes him happy, and somehow the guests seem to pick up on his mood, and I go in there and it's like this great big hotpot of good vibes, or something. I don't know, it seems like it's good for business, anyway." Smiling, she turned to bow and greet the radish god who waved at her as he trundled past, toward the changing rooms. Not that radish gods had much in the way of clothing to remove.
"That doesn't surprise me, either."
"I mean, he does his share of the work. What drives me crazy is he'll be in the water for hours--hours!--and when he comes out, he still doesn't have wrinkly skin. Ever. How is that fair?"
"Dear," drawled Zeniba, "if that's the worst complaint you can muster, you're doing all right."
Just then a tall, long-faced woman--or rather a weasel in the shape of one--poked her head out from the entrance. "Hey, Sen! Towels are refilled on both sides. Should hold us through the end of the day, I hope."
"Thanks, Rin-san! Go ahead and take a break if there's nothing else."
Grinning, the weasel-woman gave a thumbs-up and disappeared.
"Cheerful staff," Zeniba observed.
"Well, Rin-san's a friend, but yeah, she wanted to come work here. I mean, our employees get days off. Plus, you know, we don't do identity theft." Chihiro huffed.
"All very admirable, I'm sure." Zeniba glanced at her companion, who was looming toward the nearest fence as if to peek at the bathers on the opposite side. "What do you say, Kaonashi, shall we go in for a dip? Think you can behave yourself?"
"Ah, ah!"
"Make yourselves at home!" said Chihiro. "None of this would be here if you hadn't helped us get started. If there's anything you need, just ask me or Haku."
Gathering up her skirts, Zeniba started toward the ladies' changing room, then paused just outside the door. "Funny," she said, "I don't see a lot of scantily-clad attendants flouncing around."
Chihiro twisted her lips. "No, and you won't, because we don't run that kind of place."
Implied Haku/Chihiro, post-film AU, PG.
Water Trade
"My sister must be having a fit," Zeniba said.
She stood with Chihiro by the entrance to the Thousand Hot Springs, just under the painted sign. The springs themselves had been in the hills for as long as Zeniba could remember, which was a long time, but the business and its name were new. It was a real onsen, not a bathhouse, with outdoor pools where water simmered up from the ground. The buildings--changing rooms, showers for rinsing, a sauna in the European style--and the shelters around the pools were rustic, hewn roughly of wood, and there was no inn as such on the premises, not yet, though the proprietors had plans.
"Oh," said Chihiro, "she did stop by one time. She didn't stay, she just kind of snooped around and said, 'If I'd known you were going to set up as my competition, I never would've hired you or that wretched snake! Ingrates! Hmph!' And then she went poof."
Zeniba chortled. "I'm pleased to see you're doing so well for yourselves. I won't lie, at first I wasn't sure how you'd manage, what with you getting stuck on this side all over again because you didn't have the sense not to look back--"
"I couldn't help it! I was worried about Haku!"
"--and with the two of you hardly more than children. But this is all lovely." Zeniba craned her neck. "Where is he, anyway? I haven't seen hide nor hair of him."
"Probably in the water," said Chihiro. "Sometimes I have a hard time getting him out."
"Doesn't surprise me."
"But it makes him happy, and somehow the guests seem to pick up on his mood, and I go in there and it's like this great big hotpot of good vibes, or something. I don't know, it seems like it's good for business, anyway." Smiling, she turned to bow and greet the radish god who waved at her as he trundled past, toward the changing rooms. Not that radish gods had much in the way of clothing to remove.
"That doesn't surprise me, either."
"I mean, he does his share of the work. What drives me crazy is he'll be in the water for hours--hours!--and when he comes out, he still doesn't have wrinkly skin. Ever. How is that fair?"
"Dear," drawled Zeniba, "if that's the worst complaint you can muster, you're doing all right."
Just then a tall, long-faced woman--or rather a weasel in the shape of one--poked her head out from the entrance. "Hey, Sen! Towels are refilled on both sides. Should hold us through the end of the day, I hope."
"Thanks, Rin-san! Go ahead and take a break if there's nothing else."
Grinning, the weasel-woman gave a thumbs-up and disappeared.
"Cheerful staff," Zeniba observed.
"Well, Rin-san's a friend, but yeah, she wanted to come work here. I mean, our employees get days off. Plus, you know, we don't do identity theft." Chihiro huffed.
"All very admirable, I'm sure." Zeniba glanced at her companion, who was looming toward the nearest fence as if to peek at the bathers on the opposite side. "What do you say, Kaonashi, shall we go in for a dip? Think you can behave yourself?"
"Ah, ah!"
"Make yourselves at home!" said Chihiro. "None of this would be here if you hadn't helped us get started. If there's anything you need, just ask me or Haku."
Gathering up her skirts, Zeniba started toward the ladies' changing room, then paused just outside the door. "Funny," she said, "I don't see a lot of scantily-clad attendants flouncing around."
Chihiro twisted her lips. "No, and you won't, because we don't run that kind of place."