A/N: Hi. I'm back. See? I'm sorry I didn't update for a really long time, I've been working on a Science project, a Social Studies project, a Math project, a Caption Contest and three other stories, not to mention trying to keep Alexis from deleting. So, my dear readers, here you are. And this chapter begins with Nagasaki, who has returned to his mountain in the Spirit World.

Reviewer's Corner

Aviella-Avuka-A-Fallen-Angel: Thankums!

Balleke: Though I am truly disappointed that your opinion is against this fanfiction, I really don't like your colorful language. And seriously, stories can't just jump up and go suck hairy llama balls.

Chaimera: This chapter's spacing is dedicated to you, then!

Haku-chan14: One of my most faithful reviewers. Let's dedicate this update to you. I'll try adding more fat and grease, but really, I'm not good at that. I'll try, though, for you.

LadyRainStarDragon: Yep, he sure is. I'm that evil. After analyzing the fact that Chihiro will continue to think Haku is her conscience if she hears him again, I'm sending Old Lady Zeniba to do it! And thank you. It's not that good. If you don't update soon I swear I won't!

Disclaimer: I no own. Got it? Well, no own except Sair, Nagasaki, Kimrae and Ledine so far.

Of Realization and Reception

Nagasaki yawned as he observed a brunette teenager through a glass ball. She awoke, sat up, and just sat there for all of ten minutes. Nagasaki, being the short-tempered spirit he was, rolled the ball off the table with a resounding 'CRASH!' that shook his office. A small wisp of smoke rose up and though the window, mumbling about the sound. "Kimrae. Come back." The smoke was jerked through the window, did a somersault and landed none to gracefully on the ground in the shape of an ebony-haired, red eyed ten-year-old. "Aww, I never get to have any fun." The young tree spirit frowned. "Neither do I, but that's the way it is. You can still go to the bathhouse, yet I've been banned. Consider that a privilege." Nagasaki stood up. "Where's Ledine?"

"WHEE!!!" Nagasaki cursed and lifted a hand, catching a green haired; yellow eyed ten-year-old right before she landed on Kimrae. "And I thought Kohaku's servants were bad." He dropped the girl and walked to the window, leaning against it casually as he observed the two before him. "Well, at least they work well together." Ledine frowned at Kimrae. "Tie up that moss bucket, it's distracting my view."

"View of what?"

"View of your face underneath that mask!"

"I'm not wearing a mask!!!"

"Oh, that's your face?"

"Why, you little!"

"I'm just as old as you are!"

"Fifteen seconds younger!"

"At least I wasn't put in a paper bag when I was three!"

"Well your face in a paper bag would've looked much better!"

"What did you say?"

"Shut up!" Nagasaki glared at them with fire in his green-blue eyes, making both spirits shut up immediately. "I could've at least chose two teenaged spirits." He sighed. "Kimrae, go fool around somewhere else. Ledine, fetch Sari." "No need. I'm here."

A young girl, about fifteen or sixteen, with bright, rose red hair and sterling blue eyes entered the room. She bore a startling resemblance to the brown haired, brown-eyed girl in the late crystal ball. She wore a long, white, flowing silk sleeveless dress. "I heard you're going to catch another human. Let her go, milord, please." The girl, who had previously been staring at the ground, lifted her blue eyes to make contact with Nagasaki's green orbs. Nagasaki, however, grew suspicious. "Her? Her? How did you know it was a her?" Ledine winced. "Uh oh." But the girl stood her ground. "It's always a 'her', milord. Unless I've guessed wrong?"

"No, Sari, it's not always a her. You cannot say that; you are the only human I've ever taken from the Human World."

This caught the redhead off, but she didn't show it (A/N: seriously, you'd think she was related to Haku or something). Nagasaki advanced. "What do you know?" When Sari didn't answer, he took her shoulders and shook her angrily. Sari's head snapped up. "Leave Chihiro alone. I demand it. This is purely a conflict between you and Kohaku-sama. But out of your spite, you decide to drag someone dear to Kohaku-sama into this. But I ask you: what if this scheme of your backfires? What if someone dear to you is taken by Kohaku-sama as you are planning to snatch Chihiro? Think of everything that might go wrong! Please, I beg of you. Leave her out of this. You can use me in her place. I'm willing to make that sacrifice." Sair looked down, than, as an afterthought, added, "Milord." Nagasaki glared. "That is not what I asked you!" he threw the girl to the ground, and in a flash turned into a dragon, flying off into the sky. Sari bit back a cry. Of all the times she'd defied him, never had he used brute strength against her. Ledine helped her up, and, with a thank you, she left for her room, her tears falling to the floor in a pearly path.

Kimrae, who had not left, shook her head. "He's lost it. He's really lost it." Ledine approached, agreeing. "He's never hurt her before. He's lost it. The new girl would not be spared, no matter how many tears Lady Sari sheds." And the two looked on.

"Kohaku. Kohaku." The latter opened his eyes to see Zeniba watching him carefully. Suddenly he remembered. After he saw Rin appear, he left the scene and had abandoned Rin to her fate at the hands of the fire-breathing Yubaba. "Kohaku. I'm going to try talking sense into that girl. You get ready to go." Kohaku sat up. "What time is it?"

"Opening time."

"I slept that long?"

"11 hours isn't that bad."

"Oh great. Well hopefully Chihiro won't freak out when she sees me."

"I'm sure she won't. A wish and a promise make presence."

"Sure. Bye."

Zeniba watched the white streak fly across the sky, and turned around. "Telepathy," she told no one in particular, "is difficult business. Especially if the receiver believes you are her consciences."

Chihiro groaned as she leaned against the window. She rubbed her eyes, looking out. Suddenly, she saw a pair of blue eyes watching her. She blinked, and they were gone. "Now I know I'm going mad!" She sat on her bed, pulling on a white t-shirt with a thick green stripe on the chest: the same, previously huge shirt she had worn six years ago. She pulled on a pair of green shorts, and began her search for socks when-

Chihiro.

"Ah! Not you again!"

Correct. It's not Kohaku.

"Am I trying to convince myself I talked to Haku?"

Listen carefully, Chihiro. Think. What did the previous voice sound like?

"Why?"

Just do it, Chihiro.

"Oh, all right. It was masculine, and smooth, and a little frustrated."

Good. Now listen to me.

"I'm listening."

Hello.

"Huh?"

Listen carefully. Hello.

"What's so-"

Chihiro's eyes widened. "Wait, you don't sound like…" She whacked her head.

"Do that again."

Hello.

"Granny?"

Yes, sweetie. It's me, Zeniba.

"So I was talking to Haku?"

Yes.

"I was so rude! And I shut him out! He doesn't think I'm…does he?"

No, Chihiro. He understands.

"So…Aki really wants to hurt me and Haku's coming?"

Yes. He should be there in about ten minutes.

"Oh my gosh! But what about my parents? My teachers and friends and all other people here?"

Once you leave the house, everyone associated with you in the human world will think you are on vacation with relatives.

"Thank you, Granny…but when will I be able to come home?"

As soon as this Nagasaki-Kohaku conflict stops. In fact-oh! Kohaku has arrived. Open the window, sweetie. I'll explain when you get here. Good-bye.

"Bye, Granny."

Doing just as Zeniba had said, she all but ripped open the window. Having no time to react before a large white streak quickly brushed past her, she stood there dumbly before closing the window. Turning around she saw Kohaku in human form, dusting off a sleeve. He looked just like Aki-wait, wasn't Aki supposed to be the one who looked just like Haku?-, still wearing the same sorts of clothes, except completely white with almost unseen gold embroidery. "Haku! I missed you!" Chihiro ran over to the river spirit, hugging his neck (or more of stangling). He laughed. "Let go, I need to breathe." "Really?" Chihiro smiled sarcastically. She removed her arms, and he looked her over. "You've changed." He remarked. "Duh."

Looking out into the darkening sky, his expression became serious again. "Come on. We're leaving."

"But what about my stuff?"

"Realx. You lived for a long time in the Aburaya without your belongings last time."

"I know but…"

"But what?"

"But I- well, what would I wear?"

"Zeniba and Yubaba have got that straight. Now come."

"O-okay."

Kohaku cast a glance around the room, grabbed her hand and jumped out the window.

"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Turing into a dragon halfway down and dragging Chihiro onto his back, he streaked into the sky.

"Won't someone see us?"

"I look like a cloud."

A few hours later, they slowed down before a cloud. " Why are we stopping?" Kohaku grinned and dived headfirst into the barrier. Chihiro laughed, as city landscaped became grassy fields. "It's beautiful!" The dragon nodded and continued flying. They passed over a lengthy, foreboding, dark area, where the sky was midnight blue, contrasting with the light tone of the rest of the skies. In the midst of this miasma was a large, dark green mountain with an enormous, sturdy-looking black castle at the top. "What's that? It looks so…dead."

It's Nagasaki's mountain and castle. It used to be green and blue too, but…

"Oh."

As she started to nod off, a roar was heard underneath them. Kohaku dove upwards, gaining height, as Chihiro hung on desperately. A ball of blue flame missed them by millimeters. As Chihiro looked down, the icy black eyes of a blue-haired dracyuel glared up at her.

It hissed menacingly, making a grab for Chihiro.

She screamed.

A/N: I'm sorry this chapter sucks so much, but…I can so picture the next chapter and I didn't know what to do with this one. Sorry.

Asami

P.S. I bothered to add the bar thingees. See?