Of Love and Magic

Chapter 1

Chihiro sat in the backseat of the car, as usual, as her parents drove her home. Five years ago, sitting at the very same spot, she had first glimpsed the entrance to the Spirit World.

Sighing, Chihiro thought about her friends back in the bathhouse, whom she still to this day considers family. Every time she thought about her stay there, the memories would carry her away like a tsunami, out of reality and back into the past. She could almost smell the herbal baths again, feel the wooden floor beneath her bare feet, and see the ugly faces of the yunas. Not just that, either. She can also be carried away by seeing Lin, Kamaji, Zeniba, Bôh and the Yû-bird again (and sometimes even Yubaba, although the old witch was quite a tyrant, Chihiro had long forgiven her). And of course, there was Haku.

She could imagine Haku flying through the air, with her on top and the shiny sea underneath them. She missed that freedom. She missed those piercing green eyes and the silken aqua mane. She missed the kindness that sparked in his eyes each time he saw her. She indeed truly loved that dragon.

Chihiro's eyes clouded over with pain as she once again returned to the question of: Did he love me? Her heart and brain began to argue:

Brain: Of course not Chihiro! You know very well that if he did, he wouldn't have let you go that easily.

Heart: Shut up, stupid brain! Didn't you feel how pained Haku was when we parted?

Brain: No I did not. All I felt was that he didn't even care whether Chihiro was there or not!

Heart: Blind pig! Even though he tried to conceal it, his love and pain was nearly gushing out of him like mad! Exactly like the way Chihiro felt for him!

At this Chihiro blushed.

Brain: Now watch who you're calling a blind pig! I know as well as you do that no SPIRIT can love a HUMAN!

Heart: …but…

Brain: Hah! You see? There is just too much of difference between them! The possibility of a spirit loving a human is so tiny, and plus it's prohibited!

Chihiro swallowed her tears and paled.

Heart: A small probability doesn't mean impossible! And who says it's prohibited?

Brain: It's common sense. Baku can live for eternity if he wants to, but Chihiro will have a maximum 85 years left. And, Chihiro will be in danger there, since so many spirits hates humans. Haku will also be hurt if he is exposes himself as a spirit who helps humans. Understand? Chihiro and Haku will never have the chance to be together, and Haku will much rather mate a powerful spirit like himself!

Chihiro sniffed.

Heart: Damn it brain! Shut up already! Say whatever you want, but you're wrong! Just keep that in mind! Chihiro loves Haku and Haku loves Chihiro. They will come together in the end, you'll see for yourself!

Brain: Watch it useless lump of coal! This is for their own good! Now look, you've got her crying!

Heart: It was you who made her cry!

At this point Chihiro had walked into her room, and began to sob quietly on her pillow. Moments later her mother walked into the room.

"What's wrong honey? Why are you crying?"

"Nothing mom, it's just…just…"

"It's that darn Haku character in your imagination again, isn't it Chihiro!? You have to forget about him! you're 15 Chihiro, you can't follow you're imagination like a ten year old again, understand? Next Monday I'm definitely taking you to a psychologist…now stop weeping and help me get some milk from the market."

SLAM. The door shut with a ferocious bang and her mother left. Chihiro just sat their glaring at the last place she stood. Even though part of her still contradicted the theory that Haku loved her, how dare her mother talk about Haku like that?

Years ago, Chihiro tried to tell her parents about her adventure in the Spirit World, but instead, her parents just thought it was her wild imagination or some sort of hallucination. They suggested taking her to a 'nut' clinic several time already, but each time Chihiro had excused herself, and her parents just let her go. This time however, Chihiro knew her mother was up for it for real.

Groaning, she hefted herself out of bed, put on a thin cloak, and walked outside.

After she was out, her feet took her off in a whole new direction, as if it had a mind of its own. Deep down, however, Chihiro told herself that her heart was at the bottom of this. Her slow walk turned into a gentle jog, then into a run, and then finally to a conjunction of running and leaping.

She was so amazed at her own speed for a second that she failed to notice where she was heading for. Just listen to your heart. she told herself. After about 45 minutes of so of running, she found herself standing a metre away from the little eerie, double faced statue she had feared 5 years ago. Chihiro gasped. This couldn't be… but how? I thought I could never find this place again… Truth be told, strangely, she really didn't remember a thing about where the entrance of the spirit world was. It's not that you can't remember, Chihiro. You never really forget anything, it's just that you took a while. Remember what Zeniba said? she asked herself.

Brain: You still believe in that old hag?

Chihiro and Heart: Oh just shut your trap.

A rush of excitement flooded her brain as Chihiro stepped closer and closer to the tunnel. Suddenly she stopped right before the tunnel. What if she sees Haku again? Will he even remember her? What should she say to him? What would he say to her? Who should she speak to first? Will she have to see Yubaba again?

After what seemed like ages of worry, Chihiro finally took a deep, resounding breath and walked in. She was met by darkness.

Darkness, darkness everywhere. Though her animalistic instincts told her to run away as fast as her legs could carry her, Chihiro was too caught up in enthusiasm to go back. Plus, she also felt magic. Intense magic. That magic seemed to draw her forward, deeper into the tunnel and into the room on the other side.

Once Chihiro reached the other side, she was surprised that nothing had changed in that room. She could still see clearly what seemed like the footprints of a ten year old and two adults walking through here. Chihiro smiled softly, remembering what a wimp she was then, slinging on to her mother's sleeve like her life depended on it. Suddenly she frowned. Her mother was probably so worried about her back home. But that frown changed into determination soon after. I didn't belong there, I had virtually no friends back at my school, and I don't want my parents either. I don't like the way they treat me and my friends and the bathhouse. Why can't they just believe me? Why do they think they're the only ones right and I'm the one that has to follow them? I belong at the bathhouse or flying with Haku, that's the only place I can truly be happy and free. At the back of her head, Chihiro told herself, And that's the only place you can love and be loved, too. With her mind set, Chihiro wanted to settle down for a bit before she ventures back into the Spirit world. She didn't want Haku and her friends to be worried about her mixed emotions. Padding over, Chihiro decided to sit on the bech near the colourful light the stained glass window gave. She felt oddly at home.

But, as soon as Chihiro sat down, a strong surge of immense power rushed into her, being poured in her like a waterfall into a tiny hole. Gasping and falling over onto her side, Chihiro world whirled and everything became black.

Chapter 2

A certain green eyed boy's voice called out to her. She was alone, stranded in the darkness, in the void. The power she was given some time ago still surged in her veins, making her feel as if she was set on fire. She stood in the void, filled with power she could no longer control. Rampaging about, she heard that distant, yet longed for noise.

Although still raging with power, she ran towards that voice. It grew louder, louder, louder by the moment.

"chihiro! chihiro! chihiro! chihiro! Chihiro! CHIHIRO!"

Suddenly, she gazed up, and saw the blurry face of the one whom the loved most.

"H…Ha…Haku?" I whispered. My eyes were wet with tears. Pain. So much pain. It was as if my soul was being torn apart by my own power. The ground was shaking uncontrollably. "Chihiro! Calm down!" I heard him shout. Baku lifter my hand and put it right in front of my face. Instantly I was blinded by immense light, a light that flickered from pure white to soft green to dangerous red and to blue. But it also turned to black, a dense, mesmerizing black. Evil. I grimaced under the pain and confusion. Was I causing the earthquake? But how…

I started, "How…"

"I'll explain later. Chihiro, listen to me! Calm down and try to control your power!"

As much as I hated the pain, I knew I had to do this. So I took on the old courage back when I rescued Haku and had to run across the pipe and reinforced it. I compressed the power and caged it, screaming at the top of my lungs as it wrenched my soul in attempt to flee.

Finally, after what seemed like hours of inexpressible suffering and screaming, I fell into unconsciousness once again. The last thing I heard was, "Hush now Chihiro, everything is under control. Sleep well…"

"Haku!" screamed Lin.

"Yes?"

"There's an earthquake at the portal!"

"What?!"

"I don't know what caused it, but it's spreading fast!"

Just then the ground started quaking, hard. I felt an immense wave of power controlling it, guiding it forth and spreading it. Impossible! How can there be an earthquake of such magnitude? There was never natural earthquakes in the Spirit world before… unless… someone was controlling it? But how? I know of no such being that possesses this amount of power…just one, the High God, the One who Controlled All Elements.

Pushing the explanations away, I morphed into my dragon form and flew out the window.

"Hop on Lin! And hang on!"

As I flew with Lin quivering with fear on my back, I glanced around me. Looking down I could see rivers overflowing rapidly, bushfires raging through forests, and black spots where lightning had struck. Looking up, the sky was a chaos. The sun was burning with the brightest light, yet soot black storm clouds was gathering in. The rain that the storm brought, however, did not quench the fire, nor did the storm clouds affect the sun, or the sun the storm clouds. The wild fluctuation had no effect on the weather whatsoever, and these completely disastrous events led to a rainbow. The rainbow was not made of seven colours as usual, however. It was black. Pure, impenetrable black. Strange enough, everything curved around us. They had zero effect on us.

"What the hell…" gasped Lin.

I grimaced, while speeding towards the portal to the human world. After Chihiro left, Zeniba and Yubaba made up again (kinda, not that they loved each other, but at least they could get along and be 'sisters' again) and the two of them and I had shared the ownership of the bathhouse ever since. I had requested the spell the Yubaba had put on the portal be removed, so that I can visit the old, red building as often as I wanted to. She did, however I could not travel to the human world, as much as I yearned for Chihiro. Spirits were forbidden to go there, it will result in immediate death or, at the least, some form of horrible torture for the rest of your lives.

Chihiro! I wondered where she was, and how she was doing. I missed her immensely, it's as if someone took my soul and never returned it. It's even worse than losing my river, and even that can be overcome, as I carved a new one for myself, with the help of the witch twins. This, this was unbearable. Chihiro. Chihiro, Chihiro, Chihiro. For a moment, I couldn't hear anything but her name, I hallucinated that she was standing in front of me, smiling. But when I tried to reach over and embrace her, she vanished.

Tears rushed out of my eyes as I flew, wanting to forever leave that wanting behind, yet being unable to. She probably forgot me. She was only ten when she first came here. She didn't love me anyways. The last thought came down hard, shattering my heart to pieces like never before. Did she love me? I certainly hoped she did, but I knew that she probably didn't and even if she did, it was impossible for a human to love a spirit. Impossible. Forbidden.

"Are you thinking about Sen again, oh lovesick dragon?" nagged Lin. Even in the most depressing and urgent times she can still be so annoying.

I didn't answer. Instead, I landed, morphed back into my human form, and ran into the room inside the building. Nothing seemed wrong, but when I turned my eyes towards the Forbidden Bench, I gasped. A human girl had collapsed on top of it.

"But how…" I whispered, "Unless…"

Both my eyes and Lin's widened as we gazed at the the crying, unconscious figure. The blinding light radiating from her hands flickered crazily.

Slowly and hesitantly, I walked over with Lin. I reached out, and turned her over. Gaping, both we stared at the wide eyes of the barely breathing human, no spirit. No. She was a goddess.

"Chihiro!"

Chapter 3

"Whaaaa…" I mumbled. I looked up at the blurry, green-black haired person looming over me. He looked familiar, but at that moment, I couldn't pinpoint who he was.

"Chihiro! You're awake!"

Suddenly, burst of realization reached me. I stared upwards and gaped, wanting so bad to hug him. But the still lingering pain held me back.

"HAKU! I….catbelifyourher…" I whispered, both slurring and spilling tears at the same time. Smiling, he embraced me tightly, crushing me slightly. I was so caught up in my own happiness and disbelief that I ignored the mind-blowing pain that trampled over me and my soul like a giant. I couldn't believe it. Baku was back, I was in the spirit world. I wanted so bad to just live in the moment and trust that he was here, by my side, yet I couldn't it. I couldn't bring myself to believe that he was here. What if I woke up and it was a dream all over again? I felt like I could commit suicide if that happened.

But I had to admit, after what seemed like seconds to being hugged that seemed like enternity, that he was here, truly. Here.

My joy escalated until I no longer cared what happened to me or how did I faint or where I was or whether my friends and family was worrying over me. All I cared about was that he, my dragon, was here. And hopefully to stay.

"Shush now, how are you feeling?" he cooed, releasing me and sending me back into spirals of seemingly endless pain and torture. And tears, of course.

"*Cough* *Sneeze* *Wimper* It hurts…like I was run over by a train," I confessed.

"Oh I'm sorry, did I hurt you when I hugged you?" He asked, concern filling his voice.

"No, I wanted to do that, but I just couldn't…" I said, suddenly blushing, managing a shrug, I continued, "Besides, it made the pain go away for a while."

"Oh thank Kami…now, are you hungry?"

At that precise moment, the door burst open with such force it shook the whole room, and I would've imagined the whole bathhouse. Lin came crashing in, hurtling herself over to my bedside. She enveloped me in her arms, practically squishing the living sh** out of me.

"OWW…need…to…breath, y'a know…"

"Sorry…" Lin replied, letting go to my HUGE relief. I fell back immediately, wincing in agony.

"NOW, DRAGON BOY, IT'S TIME FOR CONFESSIONS! WHY THE FREAKING HELL DIDN'T YOU CALL ME WHEN S…CHI WOKE UP!?"

"Calm down, Lin. I just woke up."

"I KNOW BUT HE FREAKING PROMISED, THAT LIAR! YOU COULD'VE STARVED TO DEATH IF YOU I DIDN'T COME SOONER!"

"Simmer down, Lin!" I croaked, suddenly worried that I might have slept too long, "BTW, how long have I been sleeping, er I mean, unconscious?"

"Kami, it's been like a month already! Probably even more! AND ALL BECAUSE OF THAT ASS**** OF A DRAGON YOU HADN'T EVEN EATEN!" yelled Lin, staring daggers in Haku (who was probably too caught up with staring at me he didn't even notice Lin) and shoving a GIGANTIC bowl of food into my face. Suddenly two emotions rushed up to me, one being worry and the other being pure amusement. I was worried over why I was unconscious for that long, and I was also amused at the behaviour of Lin towards Haku. Lin sure had some guts to face up to Mr. Dragon.

Ignoring my worries for a few minutes, I tried to sit up. Lin, although still fuming at Haku, noticed my struggle and helped me sit up, leaning my back against the bed post. . She pulled a chair over and sat down beside me. Feeding me spoon by spoon, she forgot (haha! if that was true i would swear that i was going mad!) about her feud with Haku and left me with some temporary peace. Feeling embarrassed from being fussed over and treated like a newborn, I glanced slightly over to the right, and caught sight of a mirror leaning against the opposite wall. The sight of myself in the mirror took my breath away, and I nearly choked and gaged on the food.

"What's wrong, Chi?"

"…"

"Huh?"

"…!"

"Oh…" she whispered, "that… I mean it's not so bad, you'll recover soon, and I mean looking striking even when you're just skin and bones with a pretty bad case of sleep deprivation isn't bad news, is it?" she joked.

Eyes wide as an octopus and chin nearly hitting the floor, I stared at myself in the mirror. I had black circles under my eyes and my cheekbones showed. I was as pale as china. But that wasn't my main concern.

I still had my regular brown hair, and although it was poorly combed and was fairly poor and thin from the lack of nutrition, it glimmered. My facial features, although they still reflected my old ones, were much more defined and looked stunningly beautiful. My chestnut eyes somehow looked much brighter, although it should have been dull from missing so many meals. Overall, I was truly eye-catching.

"What the hell…" I gasped. Suddenly Lin shoved another mouthful into my hanging mouth playfully.

"You can admire you're pretty face later, missy. Now, finish up and focus on recovering. You got me?"

"K…"

After I finished, Lin and Haku talked about some random stuff, such as what we did on our spare time, how much manga we each read, who was the best at nagging each other, etc. But I had a feeling they were both trying to avoid some unknown topic. After some time, Lin kinda spilt if a little.

"Well now, look here, Chi. I'm sure I can run further than you, but it's under one condition… you're not allowed to use magic, you powerful goddess!"

Chapter 4

Stupid Lin. I KNEW that she would be the one to spill first, I KNEW I should have kept it from her, but no. Her stupid puppy dog face got the best of me.

"Lin!" I groaned, hitting myself square in the head.

"S…s…sorry…I didn't mean to!"

"Ugh…now we'll have to tell her…" I mumbled, looking at Chihiro, who zoned out and looked like she was being shocked by 100 MV of electricity. Shaking her, I managed to get her back to reality.

"G….odess?" she whispered, disbelief filling her chestnut eyes.

"Er…yes…me and Lin was trying to keep that from you, sorry. We just didn't want you to…" I started.

"Whatthef***! I'mwhat?! Afreakinggodess?! HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO BELIEVE THAT?! COME ON! FALL UNCONCIOUS, WAKE UP, BECOME A GODESS!? U KIDDING ME?!"

"…freak out…" I finished, my voice barely a whisper. Lin gulped, and we exchanged worrying glances. The brown haired girl on the bed looked furious and dazed at the same time. Moments later, something seemed to snap inside her.

"I had this dream… there was this child…"

Chapter 5

Suddenly I remembered. The dream! The child in it told me something…like picking up a letter? Where?

Cursing by lame memory, I fell back into bed, groaning under the pain that still resided inside me.

"He told me to get this letter."

"Me and Lin received this package earlier, but none of us was able to open it."

"That must be it…*yawn*…"

"You're tired. Go back to sleep, Chi."

"No, Lin. I'm fine… *yawn**groan*…bring me the package please."

"Fine, princess. I'll do your bidding."

I turned to Haku after Lin left. Our eyes locked, and I stared into his slightly blue green eyes, mesmerized for a second. I felt safe, secure, yet free at the same time. He blushed, turned away, and I had the same reaction. A minute later, he took my hand in his. Blushing as red as a tomato, I felt the pain melt away.

Gasping, I looked down. His hand began to glow.

"You don't have to do that for me…it'll drain your energy…"

"No. I only numbed your sensitivity to the pain, not make it go away. It doesn't take much to cause that spell…although it'll wear off eventually…sorry, I'm not a healer…"

"That's fine, at least now I can move around," I replied, getting up. I lifted a small plush off the nightstand beside the bed. It was a toy dragon, white and teal exactly like Haku. I marvelled at it's fine detail.

"Who made this?"

"Lin. I added a couple of details. We made it for you."

"It's so pretty…"

"Not as pretty as you."

I blushed a deep crimson, and then Lin burst into the room.

"Awwww… you lovebirds!"

"Sh…shut up Lin!"

"Whatever here's the package."

I reached over and took the small white box, opening the top and taking the contents out. There was a letter and a river stone.

Dear Chihiro Ogino,

You may or may not have heard of me, but I am the God of all elements save evil, the God of the Spirit World. I go by many names, although you may call me Light.

I have given the powers that you have recently gained. They are yours to keep. After my death, you will be the next Queen. I have chosen you, Chihiro, and use what I have given you wisely.

I know this may be quite a large amount of information for you, but I sis not choose you randomly. I chose you for a reason. You possess a great soul and a great heart.

Know that one of the greatest elements known will save you in times of peril. It will also be your will. That element will eventually come to you and reveal itself to you, Chihiro, and do not undervalue it, or be ashamed of it.

The stone I have given you will help Kohaku revive his river, but it also contains a great power that will aid you in the current war against Yami. Fate has it that it will come in handy.

This war will be lost, Chihiro, if you do not do what is right. Trust your heart and your friends, and in the end it will lead you to good.

Haku and Lin peered over my shoulder, amazed. Assuming he had already read the letter, I handed Haku the stone. He fingered it and smiled.

"What war?"

"Oh the one that had been raging ever since two years ago."

"Against this Yami guy? Is he evil?"

"Yup. Dragon there knows better than me though."

"People say that he is, at least."

"I have a feeling that he isn't. I think he's being manipulated… so confusing."

"Dunno," frowned Lin, clearly trying to wrap her head around it. I was still shocked, of course, from the info that had just been passed on to me, but I strangely felt comfortable with my new powers, like I was born with it.

"So what am I supposed to do then? I have no idea where to start with winning the war thing."

"…"

"Haku? Dragon boy? You alright there?"

"Yes just kinda shocked Chihiro didn't freak out that bad and burn the place down."

"It's strange, but I feel comfortable, actually."

"To be honest I'm just as confused as any of you guys, really. Right now I suggest we wait and actually let them strike first, to get a better idea."

"But what if we are unprepared?"

"Well I can train you first, and the army is already battling, it's just the powerful spirits that hadn't struck yet. I wonder what they're up to. Rumour says they're trying to suck all the power out of all the powerful magicians on our side so that they may gain more."

"Ok then… *yawn*…I guess I'll just sleep now, Haku."

"Bye then you two lovebirds, I'll go back to the yuan's quarters. Night."

"Night…" I mumbled, "Wait Haku am I in your flat?" He nodded.

I laid my head back on the pillow and let sleep overtake me.

I laid in a bed, rough ropes binding me down. Somehow I couldn't sense my magic in that place. The room was dark, with only one torch that created looming shadows on the walls. The door creaked open, and a dark robed man stepped in. All I could see were his eyes, they were pure black, with no whites. It made me shiver. He stepped closer, smiling evilly.

"My love…how are you feeling?"

"I am not your love! Shut up!" I yelled. He stroked my cheeks, then tilted my chin upwards. I screamed and fought against the ropes, but couldn't move so much as a millimetre.

All of a sudden I felt as if being drained. I was losing magic, fast. It was a sucking feeling inside my chest and soul. It got to the point where it was as if a black whole was sucking myself into it. I cursed, screamed, and fought with all the energy I had. But to no avail. A dark hole seemed to pen before my eyes, pulling me into it. I spiralled downwards in the black and white swirl inside the hole, with a moaning tone in the background. The volume increased as I fell further and further in. I screamed so bad, and I was so freaked out. I felt so alone and helpless inside this infinite swirling hole.