Promise of a River
By: LadyRainStarDragon
I own nobody in this story, they belong to Miyazaki.
Spirited Away from Kohaku's vantage point.
::Blows away evil zombieplot bunny with .22 gaugeafter correcting the blasted thing.:: Can't believe I screwed up those scenes.
I was up early as is usual. I don't sleep much anymore, although I couldn't really remembering having slept much before. My dreams were always unrestful, filled with a little girl, whose name I knew to be Chihiro. I had known the human child for a long time, although on waking I always laughed at my fantasy. As if I, Haku, had ever known a human, much less saved one.
Yubaba, knowing my habits of not sleeping, unless I was wiped out from a hard mission, had sent me out to check out a disturbance at the border into her world. After taking care of the problem, I was to report back for tonight's mission.
I can remember clearly my walk out, as I was aggravated for a reason I could not fathom. Something was pulling at my being, urging it to race forward, as the scent of water will to a thirsty horse. This something did not seem to belong here, it's time was not yet.
"A train!"
The voice struck something deep within me as I passed through the curtain across the door. I walked out on the bridge to get a closer look at the child who ran to the other side of the bridge, hoping for a better glance of the rail snake. She was so familiar somehow, and I paused just a few steps away, stunned by the passing glimpse of a river, and the face of a child much younger than her. The Pearl in this girl was eerily similar to the child in my dreams of water and danger. Then, she turned her head.
Those eyes, brown as mud that once would squish between our toes and no longer containing the unfiltered shining light of her soul and instead hidden by her humanity, locked with mine. Surprise probably would have been an understatement of what she was feeling, I know it was for me. Although part of me was glad to see her and itching to wrap itself around her and plunge headlong into the endless depths of her eyes, another part was pained by a memory buried even deeper than those that haunted my dreams. Still another part felt the icy fingers of fear, as it whispered brokenly and barely audibly, 'I will protect and provide for her to the best of my ability.'
Hardening myself against the pain, I put on a mask of anger, drawing my brows into the scowl that would send so many servants running to their tasks. For good measure, and to partially allay the part of me that wished to touch her and see that she was real, I dashed forward, pushing her off of the bridge.
"You shouldn't be here. Get out of here. NOW!"
The stir of magic and buzz of electricity could be felt in the air, and turning about, the sight filled me with dread.
"They're lighting the lamps. You have to get across the river. Hurry! I'll distract them."
The child ran away, and I blew a few of my scales, to slow the river of time and hopefully allow her to escape. She was mine, and I had to protect her, but it must be subtle.
After giving her a good head start, I walked carefully through the town, searching for any other disturbances, hoping for something to cover up her brief presence. What I found did not give me hope, although it did fill me with annoyance. Two people were in one of the stalls, and undoubtedly were her parents, although now they held absolutely no resemblance. The large pigs in the overly tight human clothing did much to unnerve me, although I would never show it. Also, I could not believe that they had slipped up yet again in their protectorship of the child.
What confused me is how I knew they had made large mistakes before. Internally shrugging it off and placing it to the side, I took stock of the child's progress. I hoped she had made it across it time, but the river told me different. I was off again, and broke into a run once outside of the town, pausing only at the top of a hill for a quick scan. I found her huddled form quickly, cleverly hidden against a wall out of the sight of many of the approaching travelers.
I hurried to her side, and was disheartened to see that her form was already fading. Her translucence was lovely, a pinkish tone to her aura, but it was disturbing as she was still of the living. Reaching out, I put a hand on her shoulder, glad that it was still touchable to me, although it wouldn't be for long if I did not hurry.
"Don't be afraid, I just want to help you."
"No. NO."
She tried to defend herself, although I would never intentionally hurt her, she was too precious for that. Her hands passed right through my face, a very odd feeling. Apparently I could touch her, but not vice verse. When she calmed a bit, I began forcing a berry through her tightly closed lips. Even in great fear, she still had a strong will for a child.
"You have to eat some food from this world, or else you'll disappear. Now open your mouth, and eat this."
Seeing her reluctance, I tried to make a joke. That's what humans did to break the ice and feel at ease if memory served.
"Don't worry. It's not going to turn you into a pig."
Bad joke. Even I at times, could be totally tasteless. That had been one of my bigger slips. Maybe I would be lucky, and she hadn't seen the species confused humans. As she swallowed, I admired the workings of her throat, muscles undulating in turns downward like a wave. The magnificent pearlescense was fading, and she was again solid.
"My parents, they didn't really turn into pigs did they?"
So, I was right, this was all her parent's fault. I decided not to answer that completely.
"You can't see them now, but you will."
When I stood, I could feel eyes scanning the area. Apparently, my mistress had grown impatient and sent her familiar spirit out looking for me. Shielding the child's body with my own, I held still, the two of us concealed in the blanket of shadow, daring not to use an invisibility spell as it could feel magic. I could only hope as its eyes looked our way that it could not see through the shadows.
It passed, and I stood again, trying to pull the child with me. She didn't follow though, and I gave an experimental tug as she began to panic. I hated hearing it, it didn't suit what I knew was inside of her.
"Calm down. Take a deep breath."
She did, and I was proud of her then. You could keep a child from a shrine, but you couldn't take away the call. Pushing away the intruding thought, wishing my mind could be like a box and just stay locked at times, I muttered the releasing spell, breaking the lonely earth's hold on my child.
I stood again, letting her know she was free now, and I escorted her to the bridge, cautioning her that when we were crossing it, that she must hold her breath. Kaonashi was standing on the bridge, and I hoped that he would not see the little pearl I was defending. If he followed her, things could get ugly. Finally, we were almost across it when the little frog spirit became overly-exited that I had returned. He jumped at me, and I think he was going to plaster himself to me. Chihiro was surprised, and gasped, becoming visible again to the spirits.
Throwing a time-bubble to hold him, I grabbed Chihiro's hand and flew close to the ground, appearing as but a stiff breeze to the women whose skirts were ruffled by my passing. A few of them giggled in delight, thinking that I was merely showing off and sneaking a peek, and as I shut the hidden door, I was struck how gross and thick their legs were. They could just keep their gross thoughts in their heads where those things belonged.
We dashed through various areas, the human doing her best to keep up with my speed born of wind, wave, and current. At last, we reached my goal, the garden, where I hoped the scents of the blooms would overpower and hide the scent of eventual death and decay that cloaked her natural scent of cherries and a river long gone.
I told her what she needed to do, and was getting ready to go, when she grabbed my shirt to stop me. It surprised me, but somehow, I knew little hands had done much the same before. It was frustrating, half remembered memories calling to me, but always blacked out. She didn't want to be alone, and I couldn't blame her. Children were no longer as capable of caring for themselves, parents doing too much for them.
"How do you know my name?"
"I've known you since you were very small."
I had to go now. She needed a diversion to cover her until she got to Kamaji. I just hoped that she didn't fall for any of the old spider's tricks. Heading inside, I spun a story about how there were more humans out in the village. At least the story was true, and I couldn't very well leave her parents to fend for themselves. My problem now was figuring out a way to get them all home.
I answered Yubaba's summons, emerging from my hidden spot just outside the office. Carefully, I kept my face an empty mask as I was ordered to show her where she was to be. I asked her name, hoping that it hadn't been changed as mine had been. She started to say her true name, then caught herself. I could not tell if at this point it was the effect of a spell, or her desire to please the mistress.
"Chihi- oh. It's Sen."
Ok, well, at least it was close enough to her name that I could help her remember it instead of giving her a huge shock later. I wanted her away from here, where it would be safe.
"Come on."
She tried to ask me a question in the elevator, but I couldn't risk it looking like I already knew her. That would put her in more danger, and probably give the old witch some new ammunition to keep me in line if I started slacking off again or tried to escape.
"Don't talk to me, and address me as Master Haku."
It sounded cold and uncaring, but I had to keep her safe. Yubaba could be listening, this one was bugged.
I was relieved when I got her down to the worker's area. She was placed in the cleaner's department, under the care and tutelage of Lin, a spirit I knew that had nothing against humans. She was a bit of a prankster, but I couldn't really tell you what kind of spirit she was. Lin smelled too much of salt and the slug-women, and she may even have been masking her own smell. Nobody knew too much about the woman.
Yubaba kept me in the bath house that night, running inventory. The suspicious old witch probably just wanted to keep an eye on me. The slug she had tricked me into eating so long ago was very active that night. At dawn, she took off on some errand, but not before assigning my task. After she was gone, I shut off the light and went back downstairs. I would be able to get Chihiro to her parents sooner than I had thought.
I gave her a few hours, time to rest from her rough night (I heard later from Lin that a bad case of nerves had made her sick the first night) and then snuck into the women's dormitory where she would be. Beneath my fingers the shoji slid aside to reveal a sleeping room, and saw her shivering form pretending to be asleep beneath her blanket.
Making my way through the rivulets of empty spaces between sleeping female bodies, I realized I was seeing something many of the male workers would only dream of seeing. I saw no reason why they would pursue the stupid dream, it wasn't anything impressive. Finally, I was beside her, and laid my hand on where I thought her shoulder was, hoping to allay her fear.
"Meet me at the Bridge. I'll take you to your parents."
I shut the shoji behind me, and went to wait. I would hide myself, and keep an eye on Kaonashi while there. He could only go where invited, and if he accidentally got into the bath house, the greed that filled the halls like smoke would surely awaken something dark in him. For some reason, I feared greed taking its hold on him.
Chihiro soon appeared at the bridge, bowing cautious greetings to the faceless and forgotten Noh-Dancer as she passed him by. He watched her with interest, and I felt the strange emotion flare in my heart once more. It grew a little as she looked back to see if he was still there, and I realized that I did not like how other males looked at her. She was mine, my territory, my past and all that I had left that mattered.
She must have felt my presence as I came beside her, since she looked quickly to me, eyes wide and confused as a deer's, warming in that way that threatened to cause me to lose myself. Seeing her eyes made me smile, and I wanted to take her into some deep water and keep her with me, safe always. It was strange to me. I don't think I wanted to protect anyone since coming here. Perhaps it was only because she was a connection to my mostly forgotten past.
"Follow me."
We went through the gardens where our food was grown, fighting against barriers of plants. Once we were out, I warned her about what would happen if we were caught and if she were here alone. I could only pray she took it to heart. Quietly, I lead the way.
Outside of the pigpens, she hesitated to go into the shed. I wondered if she could sense the magic, or if she was merely afraid. Looking into the deep and yet depthless eyes of this mystery, I could see a grey light struggling to burst forth, her soul searching desperately for its true path. I nodded, and then she went in.
She was disturbed to see them sleeping so deeply that the only hint they lived was a flick and a breath, and I was glad she was facing them. Not even I could hide my displeasure with them. They had placed my possession into harm's way yet again, choosing instead to glut themselves like the pigs they now were. It would be a fitting end for them, but even they had some redeeming qualities somewhere. After all, they had brought Chihiro into her world, even though they had just quite effectively taken her out of it. I watched as she fled from the sight that caused her such distress.
'They had better take better care of her when they get home. If I see so much as one flaw develop on her soul, I don't think I'll be able to keep from eating them.'
Letting the emotion flow away, I followed the human child. I needed to comfort her.
I found her sitting beneath the bean flowers, trying not to cry. I put my arm around her, lending my strength, and allowing her to cry if she needed. It was unhealthy to stop your emotions, they had to flow. Offering her some onigiri, I was glad that I had the foresight to make some and place a strength spell on them. She would need it tonight. As she ate, the tears came.
It only lasted a few moments, and when she was done, her whole being smiled at me. Once more, the pathway to her soul lay clear, the grey mixed with brown that I remembered from my dreams covered with the sheen of cleansing water. Smiling, I drew her up, and rubbed her back a little as we walked. I opened the gate for her, and when I too was out, she looked at me.
"You're a good friend, Haku."
"Stay out of trouble, ok?"
Why did I want to say more? A bowed good-bye and she was off, back to bed if there was enough time before her shift. I took on my dragon form, and leapt into the sky. It was time to go on my mission. Yubaba wished to have her sister Zeniba's seal. Her goal was to control her sister, the feud started far before my arrival over some hidden slight.
I had to hurry, if I didn't have it back here before her arrival, it could be trouble for Chihiro. Somehow, I knew that Yubaba knew I was the one who had helped her. Distantly, I wondered if she was the reason I did not remember most of my life.
I heard that the night I was gone, we had a very important River God come, so polluted by litter, oil and the debris swept up in floods that he was mistaken at first for a stink spirit. It had happened during while I was gone on my 'secret mission', but somehow, I had vague impressions of what had happened, of nausea, muck, debris, and water.
When she fell in, no doubt slipping in the muck, I felt the oddest emotion I had ever felt, like someone was trying to steal what was mine. Even when he encased her in the bubble of water to prevent her from being swept away in the rush when all the pollutants were out I could feel it. The softly surprised and completely trusting expression as she stood wrapped in the Kami's water as it pressed a prize into her delicate rosebud hands did nothing to allay the situation.
'I should be the only one to elicit that look. Wait! What am I thinking? And why won't she stay out of my thoughts!'
I pushed the supposed fantasy away.
The waters that I flew over soothed my soul, and this short time I was able to escape, to be free. At least until I remembered what I was supposed to be doing. I knew of the curse upon the seal, but I didn't know what the curse was. This would require all my concentration, and my wiles. Unfortunately, I also knew it wasn't going to be a grab and run job, as Zeniba kept her seal in a pocket hidden somewhere in her skirts. I would have to talk to her and get her to bring it out.
Soon enough, I saw the cottage of SwampBottom. I passed under the gate, and landed in her yard. It was very nice, totally different from Yubaba's stronghold. I could see a simple garden, and the stone cottage looked very warm. Granite made fine homes.
The door opened, and I heard a voice.
"Come in, come in."
By this time, I was on two legs again instead of four, and I found them taking me into the den of the infamous witch. Den was a harsh description though. English country charm with just a hint of my native Japanese decor mixed in, hidden in hard to spot places and causing the raging storm of nervousness within me to fade to a peaceful stream of content. Looking around for the source of the voice, I found her behind the door.
"Sit down, I'll make us some tea. You can tell me what would bring my sister's assistant so far out here."
"I have heard many stories about you, and wished to see for myself if they were true."
"I see."
The witch looked at me, and I had the odd sensation of my own soul being drawn out and inspected. I hated the feeling, and felt dirty, as though I had failed at something and sought to hide it. Concentrating, I allowed the picture of a flowing river to hide the deep secret that had to remain buried. Zeniba smelled like she was annoyed at having been thwarted, but she hid it well.
"It seems there is a spell on you."
"In this world, it is rare to not have a spell on one."
"This is true."
"I have heard that your magic talisman takes the form of a seal you sign your papers with, as opposed to having your magic come from within. Is this true?"
"Only nature spirits or those closely aligned with nature have their powers come from within. Those of us who once were human and practiced magic have to focus it with the aid of objects or risk our consciousness being overrun by nature herself."
"I have never met someone who channels their power in that way. Would it be too much trouble to see this strange object?"
The woman seemed to find that funny. I hadn't lied though, I never have, at least to my knowledge.
"In this respect my sister and I are the same. I can't believe that you have trained so long with her and not noticed. Then again, she hides her seal just as carefully as I do. Here, but I want it back."
Trustingly, with the virtue that even her name meant, she handed it across the table for me to see. I held it and inspected it, truly puzzled as to why any being would need to channel power through an object. This was something my mistress had never taught me about. Then, through the window behind Zeniba, I saw her sister. Alarmed at being caught fraternizing with her enemy, I swallowed the seal, without a word of explanation to Zeniba for my rude departure. I knew I was in deeper danger than usual as I heard the grating voice of my mistress.
"There you are Haku! Give me and my sister our seals back!"
As I took to the skies, riding the air currents as if they were the waters of my mostly forgotten yet still longed for home, I wondered what she was talking about. I had only just swallowed Zeniba's seal in a severely botched robbery. Why would I take her magic anyway, I had only just learned she kept it outside herself.
It began to grow dark and cold, though I could still see. Nightfall wasn't close yet though. Then I realized, I had been set up. Yubaba's plan had been to kill me and get the seal, and I had played right into it. Suddenly, surrounded by sharp objects, that I thought were paper shikigami. I had to get home. If I died, who would protect Chihiro from remaining Sen forever.
The flight was long and hard, with several dives into the sweet water trying to lose the papers, hoping they were like the bloodhounds I had heard about. Each time was a disappointment as they found me again quickly. I even tried doubling back a few times, hoping to confuse them and make them uncertain of my direction of travel.
Eventually, when I was just about to give up, I heard the engines run by the boiler. By this time, I felt rather like a hair ribbon that had been worn and trimmed out so many times that it was ready to dissolve in the very fibers itself. I had just about given up hope of having the energy to escape these pests, when I heard her voice. I thought for a moment that I was already dead and in some mistake granted passage into Paradise.
"Haku! Fight 'em! You can do it!"
I plunged into the water again, rushing through the waters and flashing back to another time I was racing towards the strange child who somehow had my thoughts captive. Then, the waters themselves pushed me towards her, answering my call with the little they could do.
"Over here!"
Blindly, I headed towards the cherubic voice, and rammed right into a wall, effectively stopping myself, although now I had a headache to complement my abused hide and internal injuries from the damned seal trying to burrow its way out of my innards. The doors were closing, but one sounded like it was stuck. I saw her then, flailing blindly at the birds, trying to protect her head at the same time. This was wrong, I was the dominant male here and supposed to protect her!
Looking around to see if there was something I could use, I discovered myself in the women's dormitory yet again. The beds were all empty and seemed to have been hastily abandoned, and I hoped that it had not been because of me. Chihiro had gotten rid of the creatures, and turned to me in all of my currently blood covered glory. Surely she would be furious with me for disturbing their rest and sullying the room with my wretched thief's blood. Thanks to the things Yubaba had me do for her, that's all I was. I did not deserve to protect a being a pure as her.
Surprisingly, she tried to make her way toward me, worried that I was bleeding, and making it obvious she only wanted to help me. Then I remembered. I, Haku, had been cursed. What if I should spread it to her by merely associating with her. By allowing her to help me further, would it rub off on her. With my current state, I doubted very much if she had the guts to perform enkoujo, those claws would slice her hand to ribbons.
I did the only thing I could think of. I flung myself out of the window, and clumsily made my way to Yubaba's quarters. At least I could bleed all over that precious carpet of hers if she wanted me dead so bad.
After a few not so friendly encounters with the wall, I finally made it inside, making my way to her office and collapsing, making sure to land right on her favorite rug. It was gaudy anyway, and soft. She owed me something after that.
It was then that I realized just how bad this job was, and how underpaid I was. Assistants should get hazard pay for missions like that. Too bad I had nobody to leave my pay to. If I left it to Chihiro, Yubaba would get it anyway, she'd find some excuse.
I heard Yubaba come in, and she put something down on her desk. What it was, I did not have the strength to care.
"Very clever Haku. My last apprentice didn't even make it that far. Too bad you are going to die. You just had to swallow it though, didn't you. With all the acid in your stomach, there will be no way it will be safe for me to retrieve it, even after you are dead. At least my sister no longer has her amulet."
The phone rang, and I hoped it would be bad news for her. Maybe something like dying of some condition involving that large wart in the middle of her forehead. Something where the cells became damaged and spread the damage throughout her body.
Sadly enough for me, it was just about a bad customer. Then I heard that it was the monster, Kaonashi, wanting Sen. He had tricked her into letting him in somehow, and I was too far gone to protect her. My eyes slid shut.
'Some guardian.'
"Get rid of him. He's just about dead anyway."
Grumbling, she left to deal with the 'customer', leaving the heads to push me into the chute for lost souls. However, something warm wrapped itself around me, preventing me from falling, lashing out at the heads.
"No. Get away from him."
'Chihiro.'
Consciousness was now something very hard to hold onto, but I had to. Something else was in the room, something dangerous that could hurt her. It was talking, but I couldn't make it out now. Then I felt it coming towards us.
"I want my seal back, and anyone who steals it must die!"
'Stay away from my Chihiro.'
Ignoring the pain, my tail lashed out at the menace, and I was satisfied to feel it be sliced. Blackness claimed me, but I was called back.
"Haku! We're falling!"
I knew, but I had nothing left to give. Just when despair was about to claim me, I felt a surge, and a tug at my heart. A power I had never known before coursed through my veins, and I later found out from her that my normally green eyes had glowed white as I caught a faint breeze and mastered it, riding it to a place I knew she would be safe. Going through the ventilation shafts, I could feel scales being pulled off, exposing more flesh to cut and bleed. At last, the fan was ahead of us, and I braced to take the impact.
Chihiro landed in the arms of Kamaji, while I hit something twice. I think it was both the wall and the ceiling. Dazed,, I sat up, and Chihiro scrambled to me.
"He's hurt!"
I told her to stay back, to keep away, but I guess she didn't speak Dragon, as she just kept coming. When she was in my face, I tried again.
'You idiot! You could have been hurt or killed! What were you thinking?'
"Roar!"
Nope. Definitely doesn't speak Dragon. The stubborn face gave it away.
The next thing I knew, she was trying to get me to take something that smelled absolutely horrible! She said it was medicine from the river spirit, and that it would make me better. It smelled more like somebody hadn't washed their socks in about six years though. There was no way I was going to eat that, medicine or not.
My human forced my mouth open, shoved the pill way into the back of my mouth, and held my snout shut. It actually felt rather nice, having her there, except for the fact that I had just swallowed the most horrible tasting medicine in her world or mine. It was so bad, and worked so well, that I absolutely could not hold back.
'Vile! I'm going to throw UP!'
"Growl. Snort. RAWR!"
Her Dragon must have gotten better, since she understood that one. Luckily, I hadn't eaten anything, or even managed to get any of Zeniba's famous tea. All that came out was the seal (don't ever swallow a magic seal) and the slug Yubaba tried to control me with.
Kamaji says Chihiro squished the nasty little thing. I don't know, I'd already passed out from the pain that was coming back, and the sheer odiousness of the Elder river god's medicine. Let's just say that if I ever wore socks, I would have burned them in the furnace first thing when I woke up.
"Where's Sen? Can you tell me what's going on?"
Ok. So burning socks would be the second thing on my list.
"You blacked out. Remember?"
"I remember being in darkness, then Sen calling my name. When I woke up, I felt better than ever."
"Pure love. It broke Zeniba's curse."
'Ne? Pure love?'
"Where is Sen?"
"She took the seal back to Zeniba's. She did it to save you."
Something must have been wrong with the boiler man, maybe too much time in the heat. Why would she save me, nothing but a pesky little thief. Thieves didn't deserve love or saving. However, Yubaba would be furious she had gone. If I just left she'd fry both of us when we returned.
So I went to get permission.
When I got to her office, I found the little frog and the foremen groveling before the old witch. They were at least trying to save Chihiro and her parents, telling how she had saved them. She must either be really brave, or really stupid to put herself in so much danger. My vote would be on bravery.
"They must be ready to eat by now."
"Wait a minute."
"You're still alive."
Over amongst a wagon-load of presents and sweets sat the three heads, one on top of the other and shoveling themselves full of junk food. I now knew why Bou was so fat, but I couldn't believe that she had been taken in by a simple illusion.
"You still haven't noticed something precious to you has been replaced."
Then I noticed the dirt masquerading as gold. She did too, and looked at it, but was still taken by the illusion. Then she looked at her son, noticing that he was actually out of his room. Unzipping the illusion, she saw the sight that I saw. It was rather satisfying to see her unravel. She wanted her baby back, and I wanted to have Chihiro and her family freed. We came to a deal, even though Chihiro had to take a test in order for her to go home.
It was a lot easier and more amusing than I thought it would be. Normally, I would have pitied her, but the sneaky plan to kill me still had me a little angry to put this politely. On my way out, I was sorely tempted to break her pipes, except for the fact I would have to pay for them. She'd probably even make me fix them myself, knowing her.
I danced upon the winds the whole way to Zeniba's, lightened by my joy that my young friend's parents would be going home, and Chihiro as well with any luck. Lady Moon's light shone off of my scales, which quickly grew back thanks to my healing abilities. I could not see them, but I knew that waves of green trailed behind me, a sight that would hopefully lift the heart of the only person that I could truly say I felt bonded to.
It seemed to take forever, but finally I was there, the winds rattling Zeniba's windows as they set me down and knocked for me. Then, it hit me.
'I hope she's not still mad. It's not like I truly wanted the thing, it was my assignment.'
Creaking filled the air, a mourning of wood and mountains sacrificed long ago to birth the door. A tiny face peeked out around the door, cautious as a rabbit peeking out of its warren. Then, all caution was thrown aside, light shining from her face as the little white pearl within her span and danced, winking its welcome to me.
She was on my snout again, nuzzling me as if she would never move from that spot again. I wondered if she realized that she was kissing me, or if in my absence it had become more accepted to do that kind of thing. I just knew that I was relieved she was there, alive and well.
Then I smelt Zeniba from the door. I wondered if she was going to zap me in front of my little one. Even though she, uh, wasn't so little any more. I bowed as best I could in this form, although it only consists of a lowering of the head.
"Haku. I will forgive you for stealing my seal. In return, you must take good care of Chihiro for me. Understand?"
I nodded my approval, and then felt the silk of skin beneath my chin, caressing my fur. I was going to miss the contact later, and so enjoyed it while I could. As she then ran back for one last hug, I noticed a purple gleam anointing her head, gracing her hair in the form of a hairband. The magic in it seemed to be an extension of Zeniba's, mixed in with that of Bou, the bath bird, and even Kaonashi had leant her his protection. I saw him glaring at me from the doorway.
'Don't worry, I'll take care of her.'
With our two little charges perched on her shoulder, she mounted my neck, her body again finding its proper place. Legs that were nowhere near as spindly as when she arrived gripped me tightly, warming me. Hands found my horns, perfect grips for her, though I did wish to again feel the soft petals of her hands.
Soon, I was snaking our way through the currents. At first, her legs squeezed the very blood from my sides, but then loosened again slightly as she grew used to the sensation. My blood circulated again freely. Moving gently as a wavelet on a lake, she leaned forwards, closer to my ears. I suppressed a shiver as her breath tickled the sensitive hairs therein.
"Haku, listen, I think I may have remembered something that may help you."
I felt my eyes slit, as I concentrated on hearing what my angel had to say.
"When I was little I fell into a river. I thought the water carried me to shore. I think that was you, and that your name is Kohaku."
In surprise, my eyes widened again and I lost my form in the need to talk to her.
"You did it Chihiro! I remember! I remember you and your little pink shoe. I was the spirit of the Kohaku River. My name is Nigihayami Kohakunushi."
"So it was you. You saved me. I knew you were good!"
Tears of joy leaked from her eyes as Bou and bird goofed around in our free fall, trying to swim through the air as I had done. Using my magic, I carried the four of us back to Aburaya. Chihiro would be going home. I just knew it.
When we arrived, Yubaba was just as cranky as ever, probably due to a combination of too much meat in her diet and worry over her son.
"I see you failed to bring my baby back."
Yu-bird dropped Bou, who transformed in mid drop, landing on his feet and standing strong as a mountain.
"My baby! Did they do terrible things to you? You're standing by yourself! When did that happen?"
Like I would ever hurt a child. Honestly, had anyone ever see me be mean to a kid, even the occasional and usually extremely troublesome ones that came from time to time?
"We had a really good time."
I had to stop this. As glad as I was to see Bou back were he belonged, Chihiro had to go where she belonged.
"Don't forget your promise! Send Chihiro and her parent's home."
"Not so fast Haku! I get to give Sen one final test first."
It turned out that the test was choosing her parents from among a bunch of pigs. She'd get it, She memorized what her parents looked like, and the connection to her intuition was crystal now.
"There must be some mistake. None of them are my mom OR dad."
"None of them? Is that your final answer?"
The workers and guests all held their breaths. Chihiro nodded, then there was an eruption. With all of the noise, Mount Fuji could have erupted and none of us would be the wiser for it. After she said her goodbyes, I reached for her.
As her hand grasped mine, the currents of my blood flowed faster and harder. Drums sounded in my head as the scent of cherries and a long lost river swept me away. Together, we ran for the border, two children heading for home. But for me, the barrier stayed firm, stone versus the thin veil for my dear friend.
"I can go no further."
"Will I ever see you again?"
Flashes of walking with a child and a man in priest robes flickered before my eyes.
"I'm sure you will."
"Promise?"
"Promise. Now go, and don't look back."
I let that living river slip through my fingers, releasing her waters to flow as she would through life. The waves of her hair crashed as she bounded down the steps towards her life. As she went down the hill, there was a moment I thought she would trip, and hurt herself, but she corrected, with more grace that she had before. She gave me one last fright, pausing before the exit as if she was going to look back.
Copper filled my mouth, then she carried on.
"I remember who I am Chihiro. We share a deeper connection than either of us can remember, and we will meet again. This Nigihayami Kohakunushi promised to see you again, and it shall be so."
The young dragon rolled up the scroll of his diary, having written down the memories incase someone tried to wipe his mind again. He could not get out of his contract just yet, but he would train hard, and hopefully, someday be strong enough to return to the human that had helped him so much, and taught him a lesson many spirits had not learned.
Words
Shikigami - magic paper puppets, similar to voodoo dolls in some aspects, but still way different.
Vile - utterly, supremely, nasty and unbelievably bad.
Onigiri - rice balls.
Enkoujo - quick cleansing ritual to ward off bad luck and curses.
