The Other World

Chapter 14 - Exchanges

Zeniba materialized inside Yubaba's office.

"Granny!" Boh exclaimed. He had grown again since Zeniba had seen him last. Grown bigger, but not older. Would he ever stop? Zeniba thought.

"It's good to see you, Boh. Is your mother home?"

Boh waddled into the hallway. A minute later, Yubaba all but flew into the room.

"What's wrong, baby?" she cried in alarm. Then she caught sight of Zeniba. "What are you doing here? Get out! Leave my baby alone!"

"No, Mama," Boh assured her. "Granny just wanted to talk to you."

"About what?" Yubaba said suspiciously.

"Boh, why don't you go play? Your mother and I need to have a long chat."

Yubaba was annoyed, but she kissed Boh and waved him off to the nursery. As soon as he was out of earshot, she turned and glared at Zeniba. "All right. Talk," she said. "What is it that you want?"

"I want the same thing I've wanted all along. The thing that Mother and Father always wanted."

"I've told you I'm not going to join your crazy cause. I'm not insane enough to want to take on a god. It's bad for business."

"What if I tell you that he's got Chihiro locked up in his palace? Even if you don't want to admit you feel affection for the girl, she's Boh's friend. And what about Boh? Are you ever going to let him grow up? He's got enough human blood in him that he needs access to both worlds, or he'll end up like us. Look what you've done to him already."

"I'm his mother. How I raise him is none of your business."

"Come, sister," Zeniba sighed, "let go of your stupid pride. The spirit world needs you. I need you. I can't do this on my own."

"Tried to face him one on one, did you? Now you say you need me, when this whole time... Well, I say no. You've always gotten everything. People respect you, even though you shut yourself in that dinky little house in the middle of nowhere. You're the firstborn. You have more power, even though we're identical. Even Father liked you more. You're not getting me, too. Do you see anyone out there respecting me? No! They all think I'm running a whorehouse and it's beneath them. Even when Haku was here in plain sight, they didn't bother looking here. Because the prince couldn't possibly stoop this low..."

"I respect you," Zeniba said. She didn't mention that Yubaba was running a brothel. She knew it was just a front. "And Father would've been proud of you. I know what you're doing for your workers, and I know they appreciate it."

"I don't want your pity," Yubaba said, walking away toward her desk. A small silver object floated over to Zeniba. On one end was carved the word 'Yubaba.' "Just take it and go. Tell Chihiro she owes Boh a playdate."

"Are you frightened?" Zeniba asked.

Yubaba glared at her. "What are you waiting for? You've gotten what you want. Get out of here."

Zeniba sighed and pocketed the seal. "If you change your mind, you know where to go," she said, but Yubaba had her back turned and refused to reply. It was not Yubaba's fault that she was born the half that she was. She had done admirably with what she had. Zeniba had hoped they could resolve their differences before... She shook her head. "Thank you then, sister." Zeniba said, and left.

---

Lin waved at the dragon shooting through the air toward her. "Haku!" she shouted.

Haku hit the boiler room landing and transformed at a run, slipping through the door she held open for him. "Lin," he said. "Don't shout. Is everyone here?"