Raiku watched the two girls disappear around the corner of the hallway in the direction of the communal baths. An aura of solemn secrecy surrounded them. In a way that was good, soon they would come to regard each other as sisters. However there was something about them that raised grave misgivings deep within her, something she couldn’t pin down. Her head throbbed with intense pain causing the wooden hallway to go dark for a moment.

“Itaiiiiiiiii.” She groaned. At the sound of her voice everything in the hallway seemed to duplicate.

Slender fingers sought and found the wall and she almost collapsed against it in relief. She had no idea how long she stood there waiting for the pain and double vision to pass. Perhaps some herbal tea would help. If that didn’t work she could always see the house doctor.

Slowly and deliberately, Raiku glided down the hallway one step at a time, her hand guided by the wall. Behind her a pale blue apparition raised a hand to its mouth and chuckled silently before fading away.