Arata Barret's Story

Yamato

Yamato stood just outside the bathhouse, greeting the people who crossed the bridge to the building with a dull tone. He puffed a small cloud of smoke from his mouth, which puffed into a costumer's face by accident. The spirit slapped him across the face, leaving a mark before stomping off, angry with how she was being treated.

Yamato grumbled tiredly and said to himself, "I don't want to chase after someone again..." He murmured, but one of the people near him nudged him to go on and do his job as he sighed and went walking for the spirit he angered. But while walking through the dark night and smoking from his pipe, his ears twitched a bit as he turned to face the gate, or the train station that separated their world from the human world.

"It makes me wonder..." He said, talking to himself again, "If anyone humans are going to come to this place again... It's been quite a while now that I think about it...Ah, that's unlikely though. They haven't come in such a long time, popping up out of no where would just be unusual and abnormal. Also really suspicious." Yamato nodded, confirming with himself before continuing to walk.

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Mami

"Ugh! What's with all this!" She shoved a pile of papers at one of the spirits kneeling down in front of her, "Didn't you take care of this yesterday! I ordered you to do this specifically, and perfectly, so why can't you hold up to my expectations! It was so easy! All you needed to do was fetch a message and bring it back without meeting the sender!"

"I-I'm sorry Ma'am..." The young spirit apologized, sweat drops slowly running down his neck and hitting the floor from how nervous he was. He was a new worker, but on his first day, he messed up his first job, and that led to trouble with the headmistress, and out of all the past ones before, she was the most strict, hated, and feared, "I-it won't happen again, j-just give me a-another chance, p-please!"

"Begging for forgiveness? Hah! You think I'd accept such a stupid thing!" Mami growled, "What a lame excuse! Just leave! You're not worthy to live underneath this roof! I don't want to see your face again!" She yelled, and pointed towards the door, "Out!" She demanded harshly.

Quickly, the young spirit scrambled onto his feet and dashed out the door, crying like a child and pushing through a few servants who were eavesdropping on their conversation. Mami sighed tiredly and sat back down into her chair, "Such disappointments...."

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Izumo

Izumo was working in one of the baths that needed to be cleaned. Sadly though, she was by herself since rarely anyone wanted to work with a human. The duck spirit she was friends with was already working on the second floor of the bathhouse, serving guests their food like she was told to, but that left Izumo alone.

She scooped up another batch of the clumps of grass on the floor, and tossed it into a bin she was going to have to throw away later. With an angry sigh, she glanced behind her and sent a sort of glare at the spirits who were watching her and laughing at her, probably feeling pity for such a low life form.

"What a pain..." She grumbled to herself before finishing gathering all the grass off the floor. But that wasn't all she had to do. Next, she grabbed a sponge from the ground, a dirty one since that was all she was given, and hopped into the tub after pulling up her sleeves and shortening the skirt of the kimono so neither would get soaked in the water.

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Arata Barret

"Where... where the hell am I..." Arata asked no one, since there was no one to say his words to. At first, he was sent to go fetch something in an old ruinous place by his gang. Though, he forgot and instead decided to work at night, but that was quite the mistake because once he passed through the green fields, when he tried to get away after seeing these dark spirits rise, he was stuck between a whole entire body of water.

He hid behind a building, covering his mouth as a group of spirits passed him by, and he caught a gasp of air afterwards, "T-these aren't people, are they?" He looked at each and every one of them that went by, studying the way they looked and trying to compare them to a human in a costume, but it didn't work out the least bit.

"No... no... not humans... T-then... what the hell are they... and where the hell am I!" Arata growled and looked around, hoping to find another person, or another human that could be in the same situation as he was in, 'What am I kidding... What nerdy idiot would flock to this place! Especially at night! I'm probably alone here, damn it!'

Yomi watched a wailing servant run past her and she could only sigh. 'The headmistress must be angry..' But when wasn't she? The miko could only feel lucky that the headmistress didnt treat her as bad.. Though it was a thin and a breakable string that she was balancing on..

Walking off, she bothered not to move and maneuver as all the spirits and youkai backed off themselves, fearing to be purified to the dust. Besides No one really trusted her because of her relations with Mami.. But she was respected nevertheless by status.
"Siyoki." Yomi ordered calmly, causing a young female worker to arrive at her feet.
"Yes?" The servant asked, and Yomi began to list off a few things from a list from Mami-Sama.
"You must clean stall 17 as a radish party is coming in tonight... all the other big tubs are filled.. and.." Yomi went on and on, before stopping short on breath. "That would be all." The girl nodded and ran off obediently to fulfill her orders.
It was only then that the miko went to work on something else. She must clean and purify all mineral water of any pollution that may cause upset spirits.

'To them, these bath houses are their haven.." The water helps their spirit and life, maybe even more, but it depends on the race. "hmm.." Yomi began to go down the hall, bowing to customers as she passed the entrance only to stop in sudden shock. What was this? This familiar spiritual energy. It wasn't one of a youkai..neither a spirit. More calm..and- She gasped. 'a human?'
How..? Yomi turned to look at the entrance and felt the energy father away. 'Good.' The human wasn't exactly near, but he or she wouldn't be safe out their either. The miko looked around making sure no one noticed her expression, and was reassured to see no one looking directly at her. Covering her face with the calm facade, Yomi made her way near the exit, passing by the wolf spirit, yamato. She said nothing but she merely gave him a glance. He wasn't going to say anything would he? 'No..' Yomi thought. 'He's a bit strange..but..' She lingered off, and felt assured.. She trusted him.

Making her way across the bridge, she ignored cautious looks as she held calm composure. However within, she felt inner turmoil. The amount of human spirit energy isnt just little, not just one! But a few.. She resisted a scream. Why were they here? Curiosity? Or plain stupidity?!
The miko couldn't help but feel mad. She was in the same situation but still.. Yomi felt like she can prevent these humans hardship.
Trying to look normal and not to arouse suspicious, she felt her ki jump at the familiar energy. 'A human.' She brightened, looking around before walking towards an old building. She finally found one. Someone around her age, and looked rather irritated..?
Trying not to scare him, she made her steps noticeable and she came to his view.. "hmm." Yomi hummed, examining the human with the utmost joy. She hasnt seen another one of herself in such a long time.. It made her happy just to see another.. Made her feel comfortable..
'Focus..' The pure women told herself sternly and she looked at the human, giving him a rare and happy smile. "Your hu-" Yomi tensed and felt a large mass of spirits and youkai passing by and she can only back herself upon the wall that he was near, hiding his person. Making her aura flare to distract the creatures, they quickly went off, afraid of her powers. "...we need to get moving.." The miko backed off. "Come on.." She began to walk off, but she stopped. These human wasn't going to trust her.. Not like that, especially with all these.. nonhuman "things" around. But. Her eyes narrowed. He had no choice. But neither did she.

"..Trust me" She looked back at him and smiled reassuringly. Tugging at his hand, the servant of god walked off quickly in the shadowed part of the paths. While they were at it, Yomi watched out for anymore humans who needed help.. Yomi however, couldnt take them all on, even if she wanted to save them from the fate of a pig...Turning back at the human as she lead them off, she asked quietly and concerned. "Did you come with anyone else, or did you see anyone else human?"

[OOC: Any human can come along and join the miko express. But not all XD It'll literally be a field trip.. btw this is kinda..crappy but it was quick :D Ill promise better!]

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"Interesting."

He couldn't really say much more, and that's pretty much all it took to sum up his current situation. He was in a field, a field that hadn't been there a couple seconds prior. A field in the place of a shrine. He didn't have much with him when he passed through whatever it was he passed through, fortunately, just a collapsible easel on his back and a small bag full of paints and brushes at his side. He turned slightly on his heel to look around him, and made note of various statues along with what appeared to be traditional Japanese homes abandoned. He licked his thumb before removing a brush from the bag at his side and holding it up, his arm now outstretched. He closed one eye and looked down his arm past the brush, moving it across the horizon in his field of view. His first instinct, of course, was to paint. But he hesitated upon seeing a dim glow in the distance.

He let out a small sigh before twirling the brush between his fingers and placing it back into the bag, beginning the short trek towards the glow. It wasn't long before he reached another cluster of buildings; a plaza. It also seemed abandoned, but Icarus could make out shapes and noises, shadowy figures, and a single building that Icarus confirmed was the source of the glow he had seen before. He wasn't sure what exactly it was inside that was causing this, but he assumed that it was a fire or oven of some sorts of a very pleasant scent wafted towards him. It was a wonderful smell... but it didn't make Icarus hungry. It made him curious.

He was about to investigate before he noticed another shadowy figure out of his peripheral. He turned to look closer, and made note that whatever the figure was, it seemed to be hiding from something. Maybe out of distress, or fear. Maybe it was some elaborate ruse, something to lure him into the shadows. But he was captivated by the wonderment of wherever he had arrived, and because he was so caught up in it; He threw caution to the wind and approached this figure. As he got closer, he realized that it was a man, but stopped when this man was in turn approached by another figure. He was too far away to hear any words exchanged, but the other figure extended their hand to the man's and began to drag him off further into the shadows.

He had no other choice but to follow, attempting to be quiet enough so he could tail them and find out wherever they were going. As he got closer, he determined that the other figure at least appeared to be female, and he seemed to relax. He kept following until they stopped abruptly, and he found himself stumbling out of surprise, losing balance, and landing face first in front of the two figures.

"Of course." He mumbled, the words being muffled by the ground, along with the short sigh that followed after.

Mami

"I have good news and bad news ma'am."

Mami heard a voice from behind her say, most likely on the balcony, but she knew each one of her workers since she studied the way they acted very closely. She didn't have to turn around to know that the person speaking was Raphael, one of the people she did have high expectations about, but was at least glad he kept up unlike most Youkai that lived under her roof.

"Go on then." She said, filling out more paper work for the bathhouse and setting the first paper to the side. She always had a lot of paperwork to fill out, but she had amazing skills after working there so long, so she went through it all fast, seeing how the next second she had already gotten three more sheets filled out and read.

"Loki so far has behaved.... However a commotion below distracted me...and he disappeared on me."

Now usually, Mami would probably toss something at the spirit who would have failed to hold up her expectations, but she knew that this spirit often did so, so she simply said in her regular, bored sounding tone, "Well go find him." She put down the pen and turned her chair around to face him, and then glanced outside, "If you can do that and come back, you'll be fine. But I don't want that idiot brother of yours causing trouble. I hear rumors about humans crossing as well, after all these years... Is this true?"

Izumo

"Izumo-san, would you like help?"

"E-eh?" Izumo looked up from inside the bath and saw someone looking down on her, and apparently offering to help, "W-would you?" The young woman asked, "I'd be very grateful... although you may spread rumors about being near a human. I wouldn't want to damage your reputation..."

Izumo did want some help, but she didn't want to cause someone else damage, whether it be physical or mental, or just something like reputation. She was far too kind for that, especially after knowing the spirits at the bathhouse weren't all very mean and angry like the ones who were laughing at her, who also backed off after seeing Sumiko's threat. But it wasn't only Sumiko's threat that scared them off; another person shoved them aside which was the water spirit Mizu, "Do you ladies need some help?"

"If you're alright with helping though." Izumo tried her best to put on a smile, "Helping a human, or even being near a human isn't much of a simple matter really... You know how we're shunned for being another inferior race. That might make you have people like them," She referred to the spirits who were teasing her, "doing the same thing to you one day."

Arata

Arata saw that a group of Youkai were coming very close, and he couldn't back out anymore into the shadows without running past them, which would only cause more commotions, before someone came in front of him, blocking him out of the picture and glared at the other spirits as they moved away.

"...We need to get moving.. Come on...Trust me."

"H-huh? Wait, who the hell are you-" Arata cut himself off when the girl grabbed his hand and began to walk off. He probably would have planted his feet into the around, and stopped her and him from moving, but for some reason, he had a feeling she was going to help in, in some strange way, and followed, but slightly reluctantly.

"Did you come with anyone else, or did you see anyone else human?"

"S-someone else?" He asked, and tried to think before thinking he may have seen someone else, "Maybe... I can't recall very well though... Its the middle of the night, what would you expect? I can't recognize what's human, and what's... What's something like them..." He said, seeming to be glaring at the Youkai that didn't realize his presence.

Again, while walking behind her, he asked, in a lower voice, "Who are you, where am I, what are those things, and where the hell are we going?"

Yamato

Yamato walked around, the smoking pipe in his mouth before letting out another puff of smoke from his mouth as it rose into the night sky. He stopped when he noticed a very, very small change in his altitude, since he was aware of everything, and anything. When he lifted his foot, he noticed what appeared to be a mold of a shoe in the dust, and this wasn't a sandal like most the spirits wore, if they wore any shoes.

He looked up, and traced the footsteps until he reached another area were there wasn't only one trail of footsteps, but two more, and one he recognized, "Ah... Yomi's helping out the humans then hmm... Well... I suppose it wouldn't be bad to allow them to get away... And while she's leading one, another one's following in their footsteps hmm... Interesting. I think I'll let this one slide. I didn't see anything here." Yamato chuckled and walked away as if he saw nothing.

"S-someone else?" He asked, and tried to think before thinking he may have seen someone else, "Maybe... I can't recall very well though... Its the middle of the night, what would you expect? I can't recognize what's human, and what's... What's something like them..." He said, seeming to be glaring at the Youkai that didn't realize his presence.

Yomi sighed at the little information, but she didn't blame the human male. She too was scared and unsure when she arrived.. They both were the same..Only, she never had anyone to help her back then. 'So thats why I'm going to change that.' She thought firmly. 'I will.' The miko flared with determination as she led through the area secretly and in the most discreet way possiable. She even allowed her ki to travel so she can detect anyone.. and scare them off. But she Suddenly tensed, and her pace slowed down. Someone- Wait. 'Its Yamato..' Despite her trust, She grew wary and focused her energy on him mainly, wondering how he will react. Will he tell..?

'A few steps forward.. a aura of curiousity and-' She calmed, smiling softly. 'He's gone.. I owe you baka wolf.'-"Who are you, where am I, what are those things, and where the hell are we going?"

"..!" She snaps out of thought, "..My name is.." She faltered. "Yomi." The miko looked over her shoulder, slowing down to explain. "Your in an area where wondering spirits, and youkai come to bath, and replenish..- and Im taking you to the safiest place you can possiable be." ''The only place.' Yomi thought to herself. "So you must listen to me."

Without waiting for a reply, she turned on her heels when she felt a new aura. She blinks and saw no one- well at least at eye view. "Of course."
"hm?" Looking down, she tilted her head, feeling slightly reliefed. It was only a human. Before she can evaluate Icarus, she froze-

"Lady Yomi!" he exclaimed giving his best expression of his brother. "Mami is waiting for you, she has need that you take care of something immediately!" he then pretended to notice the Arata and give her a disapproving nod. "A human? What would Mami think if you made her wait because you were busy with other matters?" he then grabbed Arata by the arm. "How about I help him get a job from her, and you rush to go see what Mami needs before she gets angry?"

The miko stared, almost scared but was no fool. Especially with her miko powers. "You can't fool me, Loki." She shook her head, not feeling any temper. Loki was the trouble maker. He never could trick her- still, he could worry her. This twin was a beacon for something more concerning. 'If loki is out and about, the real Rapael is soon to follow.' Yomi resisted to spout unpure words, frustrated by her luck. She glanced at Loki, laying a hand on his arm. Should she trust him? But before she can even consider the possibilities she found some more trouble. "Rapheal.." Her aura flared, and she felt her mind race. Will Loki actually take care of the human? 'I have no time..'

Looking at Loki seriously, she nodded her head, giving him permission to go. "Go with him alright?" She looked at the two humans with a smile of sorry. "Ill be back." Without another word, she ran off and slowed down when she reached rapheals area.

"Rapheal." Her voice calm and serious. "What are you doing, aren't you supposed to assist the headmistress?"

Mami

"Thank you very much ma'am. I'm sorry that my brother causes so much trouble."

"Tch. Just don't fail me, and you'll be forgiven." She said, though her language towards him was much more gentle towards him compared to other Youkai. Mostly it was because he never failed to finish a job perfectly as she expects it to be, 'If only more people were as responsible as him... And not like that no for good brother of his. She sighed and looked down at the paperwork on her desk again, but just tossed it to the side, literally, and stood up from her chair, "Those idiots downstairs must be messing something up again."

She said this because she heard a lot of commotion outside her window in her working room and glanced down. Apparently people were leaving the bridge that no one could cross unrecognized, and were swarming around something else that caught their interest, 'The human perhaps...?' Mami sighed tiredly and leaned back into her chair, "I'll let Raphael handle it, and Yamato if that stupid wolf still knows his job after all these damn years."

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Izumo

"Izumo, even if you are a human, that doesn't mean you should be treated with any less respect then the rest of us."

Izumo let a gentle smile pass her face before she said to Sumiko, "Thank you dear... Really, you're too kind. But I am a completely different type of race, and person from most of the Youkai here. Poverty is actually quite normal, I just wish it didn't happen so often, but I suppose I could get used to it! Kind people like you two help a lot of humans carry on underneath this roof you know."

"She does have a point. I was human once."

"Hmm? You too?" Izumo wondered, but then felt a little bad for Mizu, wondering how hard it must have been for her as a human back then. A while back, humans got treated even worse since not that many worked for Mami, and things were probably much more strict for them while now, humans got a little more respect. She wanted to ask how it was like, but didn't want to sound imposing, so she kept silent about it.

"I think we may even get a few more human workers to join us. I smelt them not to long ago outside. I can just tell the bathhouse is going to get a lot more exciting from here on out!"

"H-Huh? More humans?" Izumo exclaimed with amazement. She was waiting to find another human because of how lonely it was, despite how kind a mere few Youkai were to her, "D-do you know where they are? If they're on their way here?" She was a little too excited that she slipped in the water that covered up to their knees inside the dirty bath, a bunch of Youkai just outside the room laughing quietly, even with the threatening looks they got from the other two girls a moment ago.

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Yamato

Yamato, a moment later, was on top of the second floor's roof of the bathhouse, being able to see everything in their small town, the ferry crossing the water that once was a field during the day, the people gathering around the center of the town after hearing about the news of new humans, and the other few Youkai he personally knew who were trying to figure out what to do with the two.

He took a deep breath of fresh air instead of through his smoking pipe, and looked up at the sky, thinking to himself, 'That girl... Yomi owes me something for letting them pass. If I didn't, they'd all lose their heads along with her being fired, and perhaps others if they were seen in the process of helping the humans. I'd better get something good like a new bottle of sake or another smoking pipe... This one's getting quite old...' He sighed.

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Arata

"..My name is..Yomi."

Arata heard her answer hesitantly, 'Is saying your name hard to do? Sure, I'm a strange, but she's the one who grabbed me first.' Arata thought to himself, probably sounding very rude if he were to say his thoughts out loud, but instead, decided to say what he would always say to a normal stranger, despite his current situation being a little... different than usual, "Well then, nice to meet you, Ms. Yomi."


Your in an area where wondering spirits, and youkai come to bath, and replenish..- and Im taking you to the safiest place you can possiable be. So you must listen to me."

"S-spirits? Youkai?" Arata laughed, thinking it was a joke, though, it was a very anxious and nervous laugh, "H-Ha... O-oi, stop kidding around... The costumes are cool and all... but going this far to scare tourists is a little too much, w-wouldn't you say? And isn't everywhere safe? Isn't that right?" He asked, but he already knew the answer to that from what the Yomi told him.

Go with him alright? I'll be back."

"H-Hey!" Arata said, feeling a little more comfortable with someone he knew, even though it was a very, very short introduction, than with another stranger. But before he could tell her anything else, she was already gone. He turned to the young man in front of him and sighed, "Then... I guess I'm following you, am I right? Come on kid." He grabbed the other human's arm and began to follow, still keeping and eye out for the so called Youaki and Spirits.

Her eyes narrow and she whipped her hand away from him. She felt like an idiot. How can she forget about the undeniable smell of a human.. She bit her lower lip and felt her mind race- but she was immediatly relived by the twins many flaw. His hate for his brother. It seemed to be so strong that he forgot about her and- 'The humans.' Quickly taking action, she slipped right past the two. Though as she did, she gave a small glance at Loki. she had to give it to him.. Even if he was an idiot.

Slipping away, she followed the trail of human energy and saw them near the hidden entrance. 'Seems like Loki led them..' But she wasnt going to leave them alone just yet. A couple of newts wont stop all those workers. Defiantly not the headmistress.

"I guess Im back sooner then I expected." She smiled, before waving them along. "Lets hurry.."

She was sure the headmistress knew of the human whereabouts. Hiding them would only add more problems.. "I assume L-" The miko stopped, and sighed. "Rapheal, told you to get a job. Well that is exactly what you have to do... Even if you dont want too.." Other words your pig meat. She mused dryly to herself, and made her way into the entrance.

"Now.. I hope you guys can work.."