A Day Of Work

The night seemed endless; we had no windows down in the basement of the manor. Satsu lived next door; his room was substantial than mine but not excessively. He gave me a wardrobe and many other useful items and furniture. I felt sardonic, and told him no thanks until he persisted.He told me that since he was Utmas son she would be sure to get him new furniture. Although I sensed that Utma didn't have much earnings saved, since before the spirits were slacking off. I wondered if that was one of the reasons why the head cook who was cooking dims sum and sweet buns next door was bellowing so much. Utma must have told them off. Eventually later in the day servants sent from Utma gave me a femininely work outfit that was still pleasing. It was the finest silk Samue. Satsu was white with a blue undershirt, while mine was Maroon with a white undershirt. They were comfortable, although Satsu informed me not to be too ecstatic.

"These Samues are comfortable but the work is tough. At least we don't have to wear clothes made out of straw and overly dispatched cloth as we work. I would feel worse than ever." Satsu groaned, informing about the workforce of Utmas Home of the spirits.

We walked upstairs once we were both ready. I asked him why we had to work around a manor for spirits and for Utma, since why couldn't everyone buy a parish of their own?

"That was an odd question to ask." Satsu thought it out for a brief moment, and then went on. "It's probably because the spirits believe in living one big space would help them figure out life I guess. And enlightment. I don't get it either but that's what Utma says." Satsu continued to walk as I followed him by his side. We went within a room where workers had to take their wooden name tag and write a mark on their own scroll. They were hung on the wall.

"Your scroll is right next to mine," Satsu pointed at the names that were engraved in small name tags. They were like plaques, but you had to hang them against the wall. Again my name was spelled different, so I couldn't understand. But Satsu explained briefly of all I needed to know.

"Behind each name tag there is a scroll," He took my plaque and turned It down, and unrolled the scroll behind. "Write a mark. Just one mark, to count the times you worked during the time of the spirit world. It's kind of lame, but this is how Utma knows if you're working hard or not." After I wrote a mark with Satsus pen, I hung it back on the wall.

"Okay-good. Now let's get going." Satsu pulled me into a large room. Workers worked all together, some looked like us. Some were spirits, but almost looked human. Some had animal ears, some had just tails. It was interesting to see.

"Who here wants to clean the rooms? Ach- nothing special of course you fool." Called out a spirit who leaned against the podium.

"That spirit is the head golden worker. He's the big guy." Satsu explained as all of the spirits raised their hands for position, and the golden worker pointed them off. Some groaned while others looked miserable while some didn't even care. Satsu didn't look like he cared either.

After everyone was gone for position, the golden worker came to us specifically. Satsu looked at him closely.

"You know me Quintoine." Satsu looked down at his feet, and then shifted his eyes at the golden worker.

"Of course Satsu. The prince of worn down houses of Empress Utma." The golden worker winced sarcastically. Satsu rolled his eyes.

"Keep your mouth quiet." Satsu hissed under his teeth. The golden worker jolted nervously, scared by the sudden moon swing of Satsu. He looked as if he realized that he was playing with fire and with a mantle over a pit of gasoline.

"Yeah- yeah okay. Okay." The golden worker stuttered, and then proceeded to his job of assigning positions and work. "The two of you will first go shine the floors. And then you will stack mats. And then Utma had ordered for both of you to go into the main room and the 49th floor, just above the Sand spirits head washroom. Got that?" The golden worker ordered. Satsu sighed and grabbed my hand, and we walked off.

It was a land spirit- whose room he had rented, was full of grime and dirt. Satsu explained that this spirit must have been in charge of keeping the lands green and fresh of dirt and soil, and he happened to come and rent a room. Satsu explained that only certain spirits could come and go through houses, if it was their duty to travel. Satsu grabbed a wet towel from the straw bucket I made, and gave one to me. First we crawled and washed the floor across, sideways, back ways, everywhere. Our calves and thighs started to burn as if we tried to act like crouching tigers within a tall patch of grass. After we were almost done, Satsus towel smacked me against the front of my face.

"Gah!" I screeched, and sat straight up. Satsu crawled toward me to make sure I was okay.

"Are you okay? What happened?" He kept asking me multiple questions as I looked down into my lap until I grabbed my towel from the bucket and smacked him back playfully.

"Haha- ow." He chuffed, and then rubbed his arm. "It was an accident!"

"That's what all of the spirits say. They don't know what hit em'." I joked, trying to use a western accent.

"Well humans are too tough that's why!" Satsu took his towel and folded it on top of my head. "Queen human. You are much too great for us spirits. You are too enlightened for us. What shall we do?" Satsu bowed, acting like a lost spirit coming to a human for guidance.

I thought for a moment, and then came up with the silliest answer I could have ever come up with.

"Twirl around, walk back, and then squawk like a bird that has a worm coming out from his eye." I ordered.

Satsu did it. First he twirled, walked back, and squawked.

After a brief moment of awkward silence, the both of us had fallen over and busted out laughing. The room felt like it was shaking again, and we couldn't stop. Our faces where turning into a darker shade of crimson each time we couldn't stop giggling influenced by madness. I poked his cheek. He tugged my ponytail, and then we got into a play fight.

Suddenly the door slid open.

Satsu sat still, completely frozen. It was as if he had been caught and looked into a spirit god and had turned into stone. I just lied there.

It was Utma, and another spirit.

Satsu looked down gravely.

"Satsu, and Eyra." Utma called out. "Can you describe to our guest about proper behavior of our house?" She cleared her throat.

"It's alright, I'll let it slide just this time." The spirit called out. He could possibly be a land spirit. His snout was long, and he had a long neck. His hair was loose, and his eyes were very demonic, but kind. Satsu was relived.

"Are you sure? I'm sorry to have this happen." Utma said to him apologetically.

The spirit looked at me, and then at Satsu and then Utma.

"Just leave me be, and let me inside my room. That's all I ask." He ordered. Utma quickly grabbed us and pulled us outside of our room. We were lucky enough to get the room cleaned and finished in time before we started to play around.

"The both of you lost some of my trust." Said Utma. She fixed her hair, and then fixed the belt over her Yukata.

"If anything happens like this again, I promise the both of you that you will forever work alone. Eyra will work with the women and Satsu you will work with the grown men. But for now I will let you be. I am being much too kind."

Utma ordered us to go back to our rooms, and we didn't come out until the next day.