It's me again! I would've posted sooner, but my power was out. I hope everyone enjoys this chapter!
I dont own Spirited Away, just my characters
Chapter 4: An Accident or Fate?
"Yes, it's an honor to have you visit our bathhouse." Haku said, bowing down to the giant river spirit above him. The same one that Chihiro helped when she first arrived. "And the same goes for you. I take it Chihiro is also here?" He smiled with his old teeth. "Chihiro?" He questioned, not knowing how he knew her or her real name. "Ah, there she is now!" He turned his head towards the human. Chihiro walked towards them, the brightest smile Haku had ever seen. He gulped, trying to control himself from not melting. "Ah, Chihiro!" The river spirit chimed as he made his way to the human. "I have not seen you since you have helped me. I give you a million thanks to your hardwork." He said, bowing down to her. Haku watched, feeling a but eased by the sight. "No, thank you! I greatly appreciate your gift of the medicine." "A heart of gold I see in you. Never let it die..." His words glided smoothly in the wind and he was off to enjoy himself.
Chihiro then turned to Haku, feeling her cheeks flush a red color. "So," "You look lovely..."
She covered her mouth with her hand, "And you look very handsome. I hope you're not busy. I was wondering if you could show me around." She said, brushing her outfit down with her hands nervously. She noticed Haku was always talking to someone before she finally has th encourage to walk up to him. It gave her an upsetting feeling that dragged her heart down. She saw the way everyone looked at him, with pride and trust in their eyes. Glitters formed in the females' eyes as they giggled around him. Her showing up probably made him look like a joke.
"Not at all, I've been waiting for you."
A few minutes have passed with silence between the two. Haku's mind raced with conversation starters or at least anything to make her think he was impressive. With each step, more spirits greeted and smiled at him. "Do you like these festivals, Haku?" Chihiro started, not looking at him as the two walked around. "They're fun for the customers. I see no reason to not like it."
"But, do you find them fun?"
Haku looked at her, trying to get where she was going with this. He thought about it, no he didn't. He waited, that's what he would do. But, the waiting was over. He had her now. "Now I do." Chihiro looked at him with her eyes sparkling, then looked away. She didn't say anything, but he could tell she was satisfied and happy with the answer.
"What's it like to meet these spirits?" She asked, really curious how they were. "Well, some talk a lot." Haku answered as she laughed. "But, in all seriousness, it's good to have them trust me. You never know when you need an allie in a fight. Now, I ask you a question." He said, looking at her confused face. "How did you know that river spirit?" "Oh, well. When I first got here, he was my first customer and I helped him get better. He gave me a herbal medicine, saving you and No Face."
"And the holidays in your world?"
"Holidays?"
"Chihiro, I plan to make some touches here. I can add celebrations your world celebrates here."
"You really want to do that? Haku, that seems like a lot of work-" "Chihiro, I'd be happy to. I feel like it would really bring spirits closer together. You changed us in a good way, I want to keep it like that." Chihiro could see from the corner of her eye spirits eyeing the two, giving Chihiro a bad feeling. It reminded her the cold reality. Haku could not share the same feelings as she did with him. The two were from different worlds. Spirits do not care about humans. If only she could transfer into one, but that wasn't possible.
"Just ignore them, Chihiro." Haku said, wrapping an arm around her waist, pulling her to him closer. "You're more welcomed than anyone else here." As much as Haku's words soothed her worries, they didn't seem true. But, that didn't mean Haku didn't just say it for her sake. "Haku, I..." She started, grabbing his hand. He was stunned first, a blush appearing across his pale face. "Ch-chihiro?" He turned to her, seeing her face burn with a red color. He didn't know what to expect. "I..."
"Is that my granddaughter that never visits me?"
Chihiro turned to the voice that suddenly bursted behind them. It was Zeniba. And, by her side, was No Face.
"Grandma! No Face!" She cheered, running towards and hugging the witch dearly, then No Face. The witch was dressed in her usual blue dress. No Face jumped up and down in glee as he hugged the human. "Ah! Ah! Ah?" "Yes, I missed you so much!" "It's good to see you, my dear. And, how much you've changed. But, you're still the same Chihiro I met before." She said with her smile growing. "We have a lot to catch up, but first you should enjoy yourself at this festival." "But, I just reunited with-" "Nonsense, Haku needed to pay me a visit anyway. I'm sure he wouldn't have mind taking you later." She said as she eyed Haku, who was behind Chihiro.
"Chihiro!" Rin suddenly called walking towards the human. "Go, my child! And No Face hopes you don't mind he tags along with you" Zeniba said. Chihiro looked at No Face and smiled. "Of course!" She said as the two were shooed towards Rin and walked around the stands. Zeniba then turned to the river spirit who had been waiting to gain Chihiro's attention again, but she was now gone. "I didn't mean to ruin your date but," She started, ignoring Haku's words of saying other, "You need to be watching a bit more. I can sense a spirit, a spirit that's not like us. Can't you?" "... I can't..." "That's because you're being distracted." She grinned.
He got what the witch was saying and felt heat from his chest. "We were just talking." He said through his teeth, hiding his embarrassment of Zeniba fingering him out. "Now, now, Haku. I don't care what you and Chihiro do together, I actually think you make a cute couple, but I will have to but in like earlier if it means not protecting her. That moment was vulnerable, they could've easily taken her off just like that. You should wait until we can at least figure out what it is."
Haku was silent for a moment. He couldn't and wouldn't let anyone like that thing lurking in the shadows go near his Chihiro. But, with what Zeniba had just said, he needed to watch after her, and not be with her. He sighed, disappointed with the situation. "Understood." He said in a low voice, as his eyes followed Chihiro with Rin dragging her around. He smiled slightly, soon he would be able to hold her again.
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"So," Rin started as the three beings walked around. No Face was busy eating a roasted chicken as the two girls talked. "How is this festival treating you? Everything you hoped?" Rin asked, looking at Chihiro. The human smiled, nodding. Rin returned it. "Have you seen any spirits that might help with that rose?" She asked. Chihiro's smile soon dropped, her eyes seeming to lose their color. "No, I was hoping to see that fox spirit." She answered, looking down at her feet. "I'm sure someone will figure it out. Zeniba can definently help out." Rin reassured her as she patted Chihiro's back.
No Face suddenly dropped what he had been eating, making a loud sound that made Chihiro jumped. She turned to see a terrified No Face, shaking. "Ah...ah...ah..." He mumbled with fear, facing Chihiro. Chihiro put her hands on No Face's arms gently, trying to sooth the frighten spirit. "No Face, what's...!" She soon stopped, looking behind her. She saw a reflection of them on the window that belonged to a stand. Everything seemed normal, but something caught her eye.
A giant shadow was staring at her with white eyes. The shadow chanted, "soul, soul, soul..." Suddenly, the shadow shifted form, gaining a long tongue with mouth filled with sharp teeth and a massive body shape. It jumped out, aiming for Chihiro.
"Chihiro!"
She jumped and shut her eyes tightly. She put her arms in front of her for protection. She felt a sharp pain from both of her arms, and liquid started to flow out.
She flinched and opened her eyes quickly from the pain. She looked around and saw nothing but white. She looked down to her feet and saw rose petals around her. She gasped, backing away slightly. Blood dripped to the floor and she raised her arm up to see her wound. A slash from a creature.
"Chihiro." A voice called out and a spirit appeared. It was pitch black and their face was covered with a paper mask. "Do not fear me, Chihiro. There was a shadow spirit wanting to kill you, but I stopped him."
"What... where am I?" She asked, trying to keep her focus. She couldn't help, but look at the liquid dripping from his body. Either he was covered in it or he was made of it. "Do not worry about it now. First, I need you to trust me. I am Ankoku. I needed your blood in order to save you. That rose, is a message sent from my master, Ryo. She and other spirits will help you fulfill your destiny. Time is running out and I cannot take you with me now. But, remember one thing. I am a friend."
.
.
.
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"This is all my fault. I should've been watching closely! I'm such an idiot!"
"Calm down, Haku! I don't want to hear your mushy blames. She's fine for now. She'll be in some pain though. Keep an eye on her while I deal with No Face."
Chihiro slowly opened her eyes, trying to adjust her vision from the light in the room. She moved her hand slowly, gaining the feeling of the rest of her body. She sat up, looking around her surroundings. Haku closed the door and turned back around. His eyes lit up as he saw Chihiro up.
"Chihiro!" He raced back to her side, wrapping his arms around her. "Haku," She mumbled in his shirt, feeling his warmth and safety. He pulled away, looking at her wounds. "Are you okay? Do you need some food?" He asked, using his thumbs to massage her arms.
Chihiro shook her head. "Can you... tell me what happened?" His eyes seemed to lose their color as her words slipped out. He couldn't look into her eyes and just aimed his sight at her arms. "A shadow spirit jumped out of that window and on you. But, something went through it, and killed it. You fell down, unconscious, with these slashes. I took you back in the bathhouse and Rin, No Face, and Zeniba came to see you." He thought for a moment. "That shadow spirit was killed, but I don't know who did it."
Chihiro looked down to Haku's hands and thought for a moment. "You scared me, Chihiro. Are you sure you're all right?" He asked, finally looking at her. She thought about telling him everything. She didn't know if it was a good idea. Ankoku... said he was a friend. Other spirits were trying to help. That rose really was a message. If he was losing it by this, then it didn't seem like he could handle what was going on. She should wait until she was ready to face this situation. "I'm okay."
Haku sighed, feeling a bit nauseous. That spirit almost killed her. He wasn't there to protect her. And, someone else was. Although he was grateful, he didn't know who did it. He didn't think Chihiro would either, making her scared about her this whole scenario. He had to admit, he was too.
"Kamaji brought in a herbal drink. He figured you might have a headache." Haku reached to the table beside the bed, grabbing a cup. He gave it to Chihiro, whose fingertips touched his, making him feel chills by her warm touch against his cold skin. She sniffed it, making a face.
"Come on, you can do it. It'll make you feel better." He said with a smile on his face. Chihiro sighed. "Well, Kamaji did make it for me." She took a deep breath and chugged the liquid, trying not to spit it out, and finally exhaled. Haku took the cup away from her, and examined her arms.
"I can give you some relief from your wound." He said, looking down at it again. She smiled. "It'll hurt a little. Breath in." She did so as he mumbled something under his breath, pressing his thumb against the skin. She clenched her teeth and tried her best not to let out a painful sound. Quickly, the pain went away with a cold touch to it.
"Who's room is this?" "It's mine."
Chihiro's face burned red, she was in his bed! "I feel better now. I should go so-"
"Rest now, Chihiro." He whispered, pushing her back slowly until she laid completely down. "But-" "No nothing. I don't mind you being here and you need to rest." I want you to be here... "I'll be in my office, next door, when you wake up. Zeniba said she has some medicine for you." He said, tucking her in. "Maybe we can do something together later." He said almost too softly for Chihiro to hear. His face was slightly red. He had to tell her about her situation soon, but first she should have some time to relax. "I'd like that, Haku." She said with flushed cheeks, finally falling asleep.
He did not leave her side, only watching the girl sleep soundly. He had to protect her, he loved her. But, now was not the time to tell her, and he didn't know if there even was a good time. For now, he could only say it to himself, "I love you, Chihiro..."
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"Any word from Ankoku?" Yuki asked, releasing her hand from the door and closing it. She spotted Ryo and The Lady with a bunch of books around them. In the room, a rectangular shaped pool was in the middle of the room. In it was a black liquid, rose petals floating above it. Yuki tip toed and stepped up to the edge. "Nothing?" She frowned.
Ryo shook her head. "Actually, he'll be here soon."
Suddenly, the liquid began to stir, creating ripples along the surface. The petals soon moved faster in a circle. A hand broke through and soon a coyote beast climbed out. It was Ankoku.
The Lady placed her book to the side and went up to him as well as Ryo. "Ankoku! How do you feel?" Ryo asked, lending a hand to the coyote. Black liquid dripped from his body as he let out a breath. It felt good to be out of that form. He removed the paper mask that had not been stained from the liquid, and set it down. "I'm fine. How's everything here?" He asked, using his hand to try and scrape the liquid off a part of his face, and fling it back at the pool. "We have met the others, they're willing to be a part of it." The Lady said, handing him a towel.
"So, have you told Chihiro?" Yuki asked, a bit anxious about the answer. He turned to the fox spirit, smiling. "I did. Hopefully, She trusts me to bring her here next time." He answered, wrapping the towel around his body. Ryo looked at his claws, blood had stained them. So, he did do his job. "Good, you should clean up and get some rest. We're almost done securing the castle anyway." Ryo smiled at the coyote, who nodded and went his way out.
The Lady looked at Ryo once Ankoku left. "How do you feel about this, Ryo?" She asked as Yuki also looked at her. Her smile fell off her face, knowing what The Lady meant. This Chihiro is about to walk into the same path she did.
"I just hope Chihiro will understand. It's not easy turning into a spirit."
Okay, that's it for this chapter ! Are the spirits really going to help Chihiro? Are there more spirits wanting to kill her and what for? Wait til the next one!
