Hades

Chapter Nine - The Rain

Chapter Nine: The Rain

Down in the Underworld, the weather upset Uxi’s plans. She had been hoping to take Honda up to the human world and show him around; have a little fun and maybe jog his memories in the process, but no such luck it seemed. The rain came heavy and fast and showed no signs of stopping. On top of that she needed her Master’s permission to take Honda with her, and he wasn’t answering his communicator. Uxi knew his mood swings well enough by now to leave him alone when he disappeared up into the human world and not ask any questions, but she was disappointed that she couldn’t give Honda even a moment in the sunlight.

While Uxi brooded over her ever-mounting stacks of work about the miserable weather, Honda was feeling bright eyed and bushy tailed. He had taken to his new job with the eager seriousness that is only present when the innocence of youth wants desperately to prove itself. He took his first few trips on the river escorted by the ancient ferryman Charon who guided him as to what and who went where, and how to steer the boat. When Honda stepped into the creaking canoe, his heart beating madly and the floor swaying in the current of the river, he fancied that he turned into a different person – one much braver and more reliable than himself. He took to the water like a duck takes to…well, water, and within a few days he was allowed to ferry souls all by himself. He loved his work, finding it fascinating and magical and not the least bit scary, and he loved Uxi like the big sister he never had. At least, he didn’t remember ever having a sister, but then he didn’t remember much apart from his own name. He knew inside himself was the memory of something else too. Perhaps someone else? It would come and sit at the forefront of his consciousness sometimes, as though taunting his amnesia.

One day, while cleaning Hades’ office as ordered, Honda came across a large cardboard box. It was too heavy for him to lift out of the way, and it wasn’t sealed shut, so Honda peeked inside. What he saw amazed him, and he called to Uxi, who was working on the other side of the room at her desk quietly.

‘Uxi-san!’ he said, ‘I’ve found suh-something so great! You won’t believe what’s in here!’

Uxi looked up, smiling patiently. ‘What is it, love?’ When she saw the box her face brightened, and she went over to look. ‘Goodness,’ she said, ‘I thought we’d lost that. That’s the rainy day box; it’s full of things Master brought down from the human world to amuse me. It’s also got some small trinkets I collected myself, of course.’

Honda, pawing through the contents like a child on Christmas day, pulled out a pack of playing cards and a large black top hat. ‘What are these?’ he asked, his eyes huge with curiosity.

‘Ah, that’s an old magic kit. It’s just silly tricks that humans use on each other because they can’t do real magic.’

Honda’s face fell, and Uxi immediately felt guilty. ‘Still,’ she said, affectionately replacing his cap with the black hat, ‘this suits you. Maybe you could do a few tricks for me?’

She would live to regret these words when hours later, for the millionth time, Honda ran up to her, his eyes shining, and asked her to pick a card.

‘Go on then, show me your new trick,’ she said with a smile, setting down her work.

Honda held up the cards for Uxi to see, and then shuffled them.

‘No cheating,’ she said, and winked.

‘Same for you!’ He spread the cards between them. ‘Now pick one, but don’t show me, ok? Remember which card you picked and return it randomly to the pack.’ Uxi nodded and followed his instructions, slipping the card into the pack. Honda shuffled the cards again, then placed the deck face down and looked up at her.