The Other World

Chapter 11 - The Nature of Dragons

A/N: Hi everyone, I have a huge favor to ask! In return, you get this chapter two days early! :)

One of you suggested that I enter the fanfic novel context over at inkitt dot com (inkitt dot com slash fandom2). If you've read this far, I hope you'll consider voting for The Other World in that contest. You may have to scroll a bit to find it, but I hope that you think this story is worth your support. As the deadline for the contest is Dec. 22, you can also expect chapters to be posted more often, if we can get enough votes on the story to make the top 10%. Thank you again for reading, and for all of your comments and love through these past few years!

-Swansae

Part 3: Walking Alone

The road you lit up,

Right now, I'm walking alone.

Let's turn straight ahead

and never stop.

Reprise l. 9-12

Chapter 11 - The Nature of Dragons

Haku rose up through the leaves and above the clouds, sighting through the gaps the line of the railroad on the ground. Wind streamed through his mane and along his sinuous body. The soft disturbances in the air currents from the flapping of giant wings told him the exact location of the tengu far below, trailing him just beneath the thick canopy of the trees. Haku ground his teeth. He wanted to turn around, to confront the bird that dare hunt him, to fight. It didn't feel right to do nothing.

Still, he maintained the facade of ignorance. It was frustrating, but if the illusion on his back had been the real Chihiro, he would never fly her head on into danger. Haku mentally shook his head at the clumsiness of the creature following him. Whoever had sent it clearly had not done his research. Even if Haku could not feel its presence on the eddies in the air, he could hear the birds in the canopy below gossiping loudly as it passed.

The trees below gradually thinned into plains. Aburaya appeared on the horizon. The tengu lagged behind, trying to stay in the cover of the trees, and when that became impossible, flew close to the ground, keep the clouds between it and its prey. Haku found its efforts painfully futile. He wondered briefly how a man with such blundering fools as servants managed to get anything done.

By the time they reached the bathhouse, the tengu had become confident that the white dragon above him was either blind and deaf or an idiot. It hid behind a tree as Haku descended toward the bridge to cries of "Welcome back, Master Haku!" He transformed into human form, wearing his full royal regalia, and helped the illusion land gently before the double doors. He made a show of escorting the fake Chihiro inside. As he entered the bathhouse, he saw the dark shadow hurrying through the streets of the town toward. them.

Chihiro's illusion dissolved as soon as they stepped into the bathhouse. Yubaba did not take kindly to foreign magics in her territory. Haku acted as if nothing was amiss. He called for a bath, pretending to be a guest. As the yuna servicewomen bustled about fetching perfumes and bath oils, he beckoned to Lin, who was watching from a corner with a bemused smile.

"I'm being followed," he said as an explanation. "Distract him, will you, when he comes." He touched her wrist, transmitting to her the image of the large black bird with the hooked beak.

Lin raised her eyebrows skeptically. "You don't need to involve me in this," she said.

At that moment, a horde of yuna came to proclaim his bath ready, and pulled him away from Lin toward the tub with much chatter. Haku did not bother to undress. He simply stepped into the tub and melted into the water. Seeing that the tub might as well have been empty, the yuna expressed their disappointment, then gradually wandered away to tend to other tasks.