Rana

Something was wrong.

Rana sent to Lea, :Trouble in the guestroom, meet you there.: She leaped from the straw mat carrying them and ran ahead.

She landed from a long jump, startled the doors open, and entered the bedroom. Kenta hadn’t been woken by the disturbance, but to be fair, it started a few seconds ago. The twelve bobbing sisters, now tiny straw dolls with thimble skirts, perched on his body, watching the commotion. Cassie lay asleep on the floor, surrounded by dozens upon dozens of Tsukumogami.

Tarō the scarecrow scolded the futon rolled up beside her, “I don’t care if you were scared; that’s no reason to jerk yourself out from under a body!”

The situation frustrated Rana. She couldn’t tell what was wrong—nobody was bleeding or dying, Cassie slept peacefully despite the hardwood floor she’d been dropped on, and Kenta was oblivious. She needed to know the problem but couldn’t ask and reveal her inability to recognize the danger.

She minimized her presence with Camouflage to avoid the drama of her entry as an older-sounding scarf Tsukumogami spoke, “Calm yourselves; there’s no need for alarm. I’ll take responsibility for this. Everyone, return to your posts and families.”

:What is it?: Lea asked as she, Momen, and Akachochin arrived moments later. Lea’s concern and the guardians’ mission kept them from forgetting Rana’s presence.

Rana composed a natural-sounding and factually accurate reply. :Tsukumogami problems.: She had a bad feeling about this. :Call the others in case they’re needed.:

The commotion finally woke Kenta, and Rana dropped her Camouflage. Now she wouldn’t attract much attention. The young Kaminoke saw the Tsukumogami scattering and Cassie on the bare floor. “What happened? Is Cass alright?”

Kenta cradled Cassie with his hair as a replacement bed. Some bobbing sisters clung to him or inspected the bat girl, while others returned to hairpin form.

The scarf Tsukumogami gave a hesitant reply, “It’s not that something in particular happened…”

Kenta’s face hardened. “Tell me what the Hell is going on.”

“Of course, of course,” the scarf reassured.

Tarō’s similar endeavor proved far less effective, “Don’t worry, it’s not like she has wood rot or the—” The last word he spoke came through untranslated as a foreign concept. “There was too much white noise for us to enter her dream, is all. It’s not that serious.”

The scarf Tsukumogami shook his head. “I’m afraid it could be quite serious indeed.”

“That doesn’t mean anything to me. I want answers!” Kenta demanded, and the two flinched under his gaze. Then the Kaminoke turned to Rana. “Where have you been?”

“Bite me,” Rana shot back. Tarō looked back and forth between frog and Kaminoke as if afraid Kenta might literally bite her.

Then Paul arrived with Daniel, Wendi, and their guards. The scarf gave an explanation before things got more complicated. “I have some experience with organics’ languages; perhaps I can put this in words you’ll understand.

“We attempted to enter Cassandra’s dream, at her request, of course. However, a wall of white noise blocked us from crossing her Threshold. I believe she has an infection of the mind. The white noise is the pus of a festering wound, a sign her Inner World is rejecting a foreign substance. A dangerous substance.”

The others were in shock. “Your friend is very ill,” the Tsukumogami continued. “There is nothing we can do. As with a fever, in time, either it breaks, or she will.”

They had precious few seconds to process this catastrophic news before a colorful ribbon of cloth flew into the room, landed before them, and transformed. Biwa, one of the three leaders of the Tsukumogami, surveyed the scene with anger ingrained on her wooden face. “Who is responsible for this?”

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The scarf Tsukumogami humbly slid forward. “I am, ma’am. Sukāfu at your service.”

“You exposed dozens of our people to an unknown Spirit Disease? What if it’d been contagious?” Her condemnation staggered the scarf man.

“I realize now I should’ve asked for the Council’s approval,” he mollified, but she wouldn’t hear it.

“No! You know as well as everyone else the damage that boy’s ‘kindness’ did to the Colony.” She flicked a finger at Tarō. “Yet, you’d follow his example? You are more fool than he.”

She looked at the remaining four futons and asked, “Does anyone intend to Nightwalk the strangers’ dreams, knowing one of them diseased?” Abashed looks were her response. “Fools, the lot of you, for your stupidity. We’re lucky no one was harmed by whatever contagions they carry.”

The scarf Tsukumogami defended the others. “We were working in groups.”

Biwa scoffed. “That didn’t help the Chiropteran.”

Sukāfu had an idea. “Perhaps Koto Furunushi could help her through the infection. I’m certain he has the skills and power—”

“—You dare suggest Koto should dirty his hands by touching one of them? If he hasn’t already, you can be certain he won’t.” She was right. None of the other officials had made an appearance. They’d have no help from the Tsukumogami.

“I meant no disrespect. I have my duty to return to, if I may,” Sukāfu said.

She nodded, and he departed. Rana doubted they’d see him again.

As Biwa left, she said, “Those who are wise will let the strangers sleep on the floor.” The futons, pillows, fusuma, and blankets flattened into tatami and scattered, leaving nothing in the bedroom but naked wooden planks.

Six children and their guardians stood alone. They crowded around Cassie to form their own diagnosis. The bat girl sweated and shook, her eyes wild under closed lids.

Rana lowered her forehead to touch Cassie’s burning brow. “She has a fever.”

Strange. Cassie never had these symptoms before, awake or in nightmares. What had changed?

“The fever means she’s fighting it, right?” Paul said. “Isn’t that a good thing?” The others considered his logic.

Lea sighed. “It would be better if she were not sick.”

“Tarō, the Tsukumogami may be unwilling, but can you send me into her dream?” Kenta volunteered.

“I’ve entered her Inner World before,” Paul added, optimism building. “Maybe I could help?”

The scarecrow boy slumped and frowned as he admitted his shortcomings, deflating their expectations before the others could join in. “It’s not a matter of bravery. I already tried my hardest to get in! Her innate mental defenses are rejecting any foreign bodies until she’s cured. Only someone like Koto has the power to force their way inside.”

“Let’s schedule a watch,” Daniel said after a moment of silence. “Someone stays by her side at all times.”

“I’ll go first,” Wendi volunteered.

Rana shook her head. “Not necessary. Do whatever you need to; I’m not going anywhere.” The others agreed to that, in theory. In practice, no one went to sleep. Lea paced, Paul sat sentinel, and Wendi was just miserable, though Daniel comforted the devil girl with a hug.

“What’s a Spirit Disease?” Daniel asked later.

The others looked to each other, and Lea answered, “It is when something goes wrong with your mind or magic. Some classify a monster’s insanity as a Spirit Disease.”

Paul gave another example. “Wasn’t there one that completely stops your magic?”

“Blocked Nadi,” Rana confirmed. “Many things can go wrong in a body or mind. It’s possible for a buildup of emotions to clog the nāḍi and even cause something like a magic heart attack. Second Blind, the inability to sense auras. Lost Ego. Eternal Slumber. Aberrant Mind, which disables the body’s natural failsafe for magic overuse. Instead of falling unconscious like Daniel when you push past your limits, you just Break.”

“Scary,” Paul said.

“I’ve heard of one that makes you unable to control the flow of magic until you pass out,” Tarō added.

“I’d hate to see you vomiting slime all over the place,” Kenta said to Rana.

“And I’d hate to be around if your hair went nuts.”

Wendi tilted her head in contemplation. “Cassie caught something while traveling the Wilderness?”

“I think we all know perfectly well where Cassie caught this ‘Spirit Disease,’” Paul said in a bitter tone that shocked the others. Daniel and Wendi had no idea what he meant, but Kenta and Lea took on looks of deep introspection. Rana knew, too. She simply refused to acknowledge it.

Tarō became a thick comforter and tucked Cassie in to ward against chills.

The morose air festered as they watched the sick girl perspire until Daniel put his head in his hands. “This is my fault. I made her do this.”

“Daniel! No,” Paul shook his helmet.

“I can’t fault you,” Kenta said. “You encouraged her to face her fears like a Kaminoke.”

“It seemed like she was making progress,” Daniel mumbled.

Rana nodded. “I wouldn’t have let you push her if I knew this would happen.”

Wendi hugged Daniel and patted Rana on the back.

“I believe we should put this blame taking to bed and get some rest,” Lea said.

The conversation died, and the others fell asleep, one by one. Not that she blamed them. They slept because there was nothing they could do. For Rana, that very thought kept her awake. Staring at the bat girl’s lost, anxious expression, Rana couldn’t rest without finding some way to help her friend.

Though she couldn’t sleep, that didn’t stop Rana’s mind from wandering.