Disclaimer: If I owned Spirited away I'd own an aquarium, but I don't. So I'm stuck with a fish tank.

Chapter 4

"From the spirit of holy fire burn this Ikari and Suteru as thy desire" Chihiro recited. Some of the many evil spirits lit up in flames, but not all of them.

"What?" Chihiro asked wide eyed, last time they all burned, what happened.

"We are becoming... Immune… to your… spells... human." An Ikari's evil voice whispered.

"No…" Chihiro breathed, her fear rising.

She bolted across her room to her door once again and started to bang on it, "Mother please!" She screamed helplessly.

"No is no Chihiro! I am not opening that door!" Her mother yelled, "Brat." She heard her mutter.

Chihiro turned around and leaned up against her door, the Ikari and Suteru were closing in.

"From the spirit of holy fire burn this Ikari and Suteru as thy desire" She said again helplessly. Nothing happened.

"Consume…" The Ikari seethed.

"No! You are not going to kill me! Not yet!" She screamed at the Ikari.

"We want more energy…" its voice rising as it closed in on her.

Chihiro let out a frustrated breath, set her jaw, and clenched her fists.

"Consume!" Its voice reaching its climax as it dove towards her.

"I said no!" Chihiro screamed and held up her hand, closing her eyes.

"No!" The Ikari suddenly screamed, making Chihiro open her eyes.

"No!" It screamed again as it caught on fire.

Chihiro's eyes widened as she saw the Ikari burn, "Did I do that?" She breathed looking at her hand.

"Humans…" A Suteru seethed of to her right.

Chihiro took the risk, she held out her hand again and closed her eyes trying to build up her energy again.

"No!" The Suteru screamed in pain as it too burned.

Chihiro looked around her room, her newfound ability was affective but would it work.

"Chihiro!" She heard somebody yell outside her window.

The spirits that were blocking her window were still there so nobody could get in or out, so she walked over to it and held out her hand again.

"No!" Both of the spirits that were covering her window screamed.

As they burned Chihiro opened up the window.

"Chihiro?" Haku asked stepping back- he probably saw the burning spirits.

"Ask later come help me." She said moving so he could get in.

Haku and Chihiro got rid of the rest of them within a minute, and when they did Haku turned to her.

"How did you do that?!" Haku asked amazed.

"I don't really know…" Chihiro mumbled.

"I didn't hear you say the spell I taught you… So what did you do?" Haku asked a small smile on his face. He looked proud.

"Well… One of the Ikari started to come at me, like he was gonna eat me, and I told him I didn't wanna die. But he came at me anyways so I got mad and yelled, 'no' and held out my hand and the thing caught on fire." Chihiro explained awkwardly.

Haku looked down for a second- thinking. When suddenly his eyes lit up, "Come with me, I know who we should ask about this." He said grabbing her hand.

They flew off into the night to who knows where. When they landed they were on a big hill with an old tree on it.

"What is this place?" Chihiro asked, looking at the old willow tree.

"Just watch." Haku said, and walked up to the tree. "Manabu, are you awake?"

Chihiro looked at the tree curious.

"Yes, what is it I can do for you Haku?" An old wise sounding voice called.

"Manabu, we'd like to ask a favor of you, if you don't mind." Haku requested.

"What is it you need boy?" The tree responded.

"We'd like you to figure out what this power Chihiro has is." Haku said.

"Come closer child." Manabu said to Chihiro.

Chihiro swallowed, and then walked closer to the old tree.

"Hold out your hands to me." Manabu instructed.

Chihiro placed her hands out in front of her with her palms up.

"Yes…" The tree murmured thinking.

Chihiro looked over at Haku who was looking up at the tree with a hard gaze.

"She has obtained Kasai powers it seems." The tree finally said.

"What are Kasai powers?" Chihiro asked, her voice wavering.

"Fire magic child." Manabu said.

Chihiro looked down at her hands.

"How?" Chihiro whispered shocked.

"It is very rare for a human to somehow obtain a spirits power, but when a human does they are usually caused by a buildup of emotion. This is the first time a human has obtained fire magic though; you have a very powerful soul my child." Manabu's wise voice echoed.

Chihiro blinked and looked at nothing as she thought about what that meant.

"Chihiro." She heard Haku say breathlessly.

She blinked again and looked up at him. The way he was looking at her made her heart skip, he looked so… What was the word? So… It doesn't matter, it made her blush to look at him.

"But careful child," The tree said, "These powers can be dangerous if your emotions overtake you."

"How do we make sure that doesn't happen?" Haku asked.

"I suggest seeing Noroi; she will help her keep her emotions in check." The tree advised.

"Where do we find her?" Haku asked.

"Where ever trouble lies." The tree said chuckling, his laughter fading away slowly.

"Manabu?" Haku called. After waiting a moment he looked away, "He's gone."

"Is he dead?!" Chihiro exclaimed.

"What? No, just sleeping." Haku said chuckling at Chihiro.

She let out a relieved breath, "So where is this Noroi at?" She asked.

"No clue, she's always moving around." Haku muttered thinking.

"Where would trouble be, there's plenty of trouble everywhere." Chihiro thought out loud.

Haku looked up at Chihiro, "Your mother." He said.

"What?" Chihiro asked confused at his sudden statement.

"She's trouble isn't she?" Haku asked.

"She's worse than trouble." Chihiro mumbled rubbing her cheek where she hit her.

Haku looked at her cheek a moment before walking up to her and moved her hand.

"Ah, uh. Sorry! Let's go find my mom." Chihiro said turning so Haku couldn't see that cheek. She scolded herself for letting him see that.

"Chihiro," Haku said slowly, "what happened to your cheek?" He asked.

"Ah… Nothing! I just… uh… Fell! I fell!" Chihiro stumbled with her words.

Haku lifted a hand and gently turned her cheek back to him, "She hit you didn't she…" Haku said in a soft voice.

Chihiro looked down, knowing lying wouldn't work now.

Haku took in a sharp breath, as if holding back his anger. He knew.

"It was an accident… she uh, tripped… she was walking and hit me by… uh… accident." Chihiro sighed and slowed her words, knowing she wasn't fooling him.

"Let's find somebody else who would cause trouble." He said bringing his hand back down.

"No, I wanted to talk to her anyways. If I talk to her can you call Noroi while I talk to her?" Chihiro asked.

Haku sighed and nodded reluctantly.

"Great let's get back to my house then." Chihiro said smiling.

Haku turned into a dragon and they flew back to her house, all the while Haku was trying to tame his emotions himself. Why would she hurt Chihiro? What did she do? She's such a sweet girl she doesn't deserve that.

"Ready?" Chihiro asked as she was about to knock on the door.

"Yeah." Haku said

"Alright go hide." Chihiro instructed.

Haku walked over to one of the many bushes by Chihiro's house and crouched behind it.

Chihiro took in a big breath and knocked on her door for the second time that day, preparing herself for a beating.

The door opened with a loud squeak and her mother was standing there with her eyes ablaze.

Before Chihiro got a chance to say anything she was met again with a hard slap in the face, making her fall back and steady herself on one of the pillars supporting their porch.

Haku stood quickly and almost walked over to her mother and made her stop, but he met Chihiro's gaze and tilted her head as if to say, "Go in now!" Haku let out a deep breath and then ran into her house, barely avoiding her mother.

"You are a disgrace of a daughter!" He mother screamed.

Haku flinched as Chihiro was being yelled at, "Noroi." He whispered.

Another smacking sound came from the outside, "Noroi!" He whispered frantically.

Chihiro's mother was still yelling at her when he heard the small giggle of a little girl. "Noroi." He called quietly, "Over here!"

"I know where you are." A little girl that looked to be about 7 appeared in front of him, giggling,

"I need your help, make her stop." Haku whispered, motioning to Chihiro's mother.

The little girl looked a little dismayed, but then nodded a little and waved her hand. Chihiro's mother stopped midsentence.

"What did you just do?" Haku asked amazed.

"I froze her, cool isn't it?!" The little girl giggled.

"Can you unfreeze her?" Haku asked a little worried.

"Of course I can dummy, what's up?" She asked a big smile on her face.

"Hold on." Haku said quickly holding up a finger, he ran back outside and found Chihiro lying at the bottom of the steps outside there porch. "This was a bad plan…" Haku muttered as he picked her up in his arms.

"I'm fine…" Chihiro croaked out, she was obviously not fine. She had an even bigger bruise forming on her face and her arms and legs were scraped up from falling.

"Oh, her?" Noroi asked as Haku returned with Chihiro, "What does she need?"

"Well, she needs a doctor…" Haku muttered. "But over all she needs you to figure out how to put a wall on her emotions."

"Why?" The little girl asked looking at Chihiro, "She looks like she needs a band aid."

Chihiro let out a weak laugh at their comments on her condition.

"She has emotion powered powers and we need you to help us keep them under control." Haku explained.

"Oh," The little girl said understanding, "Okay! I love using my powers!" Noroi cheered. "Kay, set her down so I can reach her."

Haku carefully put Chihiro on the ground in front of him.

"Oookay," Noroi said stretching out her hands. She placed one on Chihiro's forehead and closed her eyes.

After a moment of Noroi just standing there she furrowed her brows and then opened her eyes again, "That was hard…" She pouted, "She has a reeaally powerful mind so I couldn't tame her emotions a lot but I did the best I could."

Haku looked down at Chihiro and frowned.

"But I found something out, if you wanna hear." The little girl said smiling.

"Yes, we do." Haku said quickly in his usual stern voice.

"Her powers are going to get stronger as she faces more…" She hesitated a second before continuing "Prooobleeeemsss" She said in a fake creepy voice.

"What do you mean?" Haku asked.

Noroi let out a disappointed sigh "It means her powers are gonna grow." She said in a bored voice.

"By how much?" Chihiro asked.

"By like… as powerful as a spirit powerful. For all we know, you might become one." Noroi said smiling and raising her eyebrows excitedly at Chihiro.

Chihiro's eyes widened and Haku could've sworn she was going to pass out right there.

"Well, I gotta go screw up somebody else's life… So… Byeeee" Noroi waved as she slowly faded away.

"Wait! You have to unfreeze her mom!" Haku called.

"Poo, you totally killed my cool exit Haku." Noroi whined as she reappeared. She waved her hand and said, "She'll be unfrozen in 10 minutes, I suggest you run." Noroi then disappeared.

Haku looked over to Chihiro's mother and then back at Chihiro, "Let's go up to your room, grab anything you need because you're not staying here," Haku said as he helped her up.

"Why?" Chihiro asked confused as she stumbled to her feet.

"Chihiro, she beats you." Haku stated raising his eyebrows.

Chihiro bit her lip and looked back at her mother, she would be furious at her for leaving… But then again, she couldn't do anything if she wasn't there.

She nodded then Haku and her began walking, but she stopped abruptly when a sharp pain shot through her ankle. She grimaced but held back a yelp.

"Are you coming?" Haku asked, turning around.

"Yeah." Chihiro said, as she began walking up the stairs to her room, every step was agony and a cold sweat started to break out on her forehead.

She got up two steps before Haku's voice sounded right next to her, like in her dream, "Stop."

"S-stop what?" Chihiro asked as she stopped walking.

Haku looked at her face. She'd paled and had a slight sweat on her forehead.

"You broke your ankle." Haku said sternly.

"No I didn't see I'm fine." Chihiro insisted as she stepped up another step.

Just then her knees buckled under the pain and she couldn't take it, she began falling but felt strong arms wrap around her, catching her.

"What did I tell you?" Haku said quietly, a small amount of worry in his voice.

Chihiro swallowed, her ankle ached in pain. Her breathes were short.

"Let's go, we're getting you to a hospital." Haku said before lifting her into a cradle and running into her room, "Do you need anything from here?" He asked.

"Can I have a piece of paper?" Chihiro asked in a tight voice, filled with pain.

Haku nodded and carefully set her down at her desk chair and returned with one of her notebooks and a pencil.

Chihiro scribbled something down on the paper before handing to Haku and asking him to put it on the kitchen table.

"Ready?" Haku asked when he returned.

Chihiro nodded slightly, she was really pale.

Haku took in a sharp breathe then knelt down in front of her.

"What are you doing?" Chihiro asked.

"Hold on." Haku said hesitantly. He placed a light hand on her bruised ankle and closed his eyes.

"Haku?" Chihiro asked, bracing herself for pain.

"Hold your breath, this is going to hurt." Haku said opening his eyes.

Chihiro sucked in a breath before Haku placed his other hand on the other side of her ankle and pressed down on it.

Chihiro felt the pain instantly, she held back a scream. More sweat formed on her forehead before she completely passed out.

Haku stood from where he was kneeling then lifted her limp body again. He'd used his magic to heal the broken ankle, but he didn't have enough energy to heal it completely so it was changed into a simple sprain.

When he arrived at the hospital he walked up to the counter, still holding Chihiro's unconscious body.

"Excuse me ma'am" Haku said clearing his throat to get the lady at the counters attention.

"Oh my, what happened here?" The plump lady asked, standing up to get a better look at Chihiro.

"She fell down the stairs; I think she twisted her ankle, could you get a doctor?" Haku asked.

"Sure dearie, just hold on a second and he'll be right here, why don't you go take a seat over there." The receptionist said motioning to the chairs in the waiting room and pushing a button behind the desk.

Haku nodded and walked over to the chairs, he sat down with a sleeping Chihiro in his lap.

After a couple minutes a doctor burst through the doors by the desk and walked up to him and Chihiro.

"Can we get a roller in here?" The doctor called looking at Chihiro.

In a matter of seconds two nurses walked through the door with a rolling bed.

"If you'll just wait in here young man, we'll tell you her condition in a minute." The doctor said.

Haku nodded reluctantly, he didn't want to let Chihiro go but knew he had to if she was going to get help.

"Is there somebody out here for a… Chihiro Ogino?" A nurse called after 15 minutes.

Haku stood and walked over to her, "I am." He said.

"Alright, if you'll follow me," She said as they started walking, "She is doing okay, there's nothing serious just a sprained ankle and a couple of scratches, but we'd like to know what actually happened." The nurse said when they stopped outside of her hospital room.

"What are you talking about?" Haku asked.

"These injuries are too severe for it to be a simple tumble down the stairs, what happened?" The nurse pointed out.

Haku took in a sharp breath before looking through the window outside of Chihiro's room that viewed into it. He saw her sleeping form, with bandages on her arms and legs and a bruised face, "Her mom…" He said reluctantly.

"What did her mother do?" The nurse asked narrowing her eyes.

"She was an abusive parent…" Haku said.

"How long did you know about this?" She asked.

"I just found out when I found her." Haku said.

"Is her mother at her house?"

"I think so, yes."

"Alright," The nurse said before walking off, "You can go in."

Haku turned and went into her hospital room, and sat down in the chair by her hospital bed. She was wearing the same clothes as before, only now she had the accessories of bandages covering her arms and legs. Plus her ankle was wrapped up.

Haku sat there until his eyes began to feel heavy, and he drifted off into a sleep.

"Haku?" A small voice called waking him up from his dream.

"Hmm?" He asked straightening up.

"What happened?" Chihiro asked.

"What do you mean?" Haku asked.

"What happened when you put your hand on my ankle?" Chihiro clarified.

"Oh, I healed it a little. Sorry, I didn't know it would hurt you so much." Haku apologized looking down.

"Thank you, it doesn't hurt so much now." Chihiro said smiling. Suddenly her smile faded, "What's going to happen to my mother?"

"I told the nurse when you came in that you fell down the stairs, but she found out I was lying… She ended up finding out about your mom Chihiro, I'm sorry."

"Oh God, what's going to happen to her?" Chihiro breathed, her hand covering her mouth. "What's going to happen to me? Am I going to have to move away, be a foster child?"

"It'll all be okay." Haku calmed her.

Just then the nurse that Haku talked to earlier came in with a clip board, "She's healthy, just a couple bumps and bruises. But other than that she should be fine." She said setting down clip board, "Now… I want to ask you about your mother Chihiro." The nurse said sitting down on the end of her bed.

"What about her?" Chihiro asked looking down.

"Your friend here says that she wasn't very kind to you." The nurse said softly, a sympathetic look in her eyes.

Chihiro didn't answer.

"Is that true?" The nurse asked in a slow voice.

Chihiro did a slight nod, not wanting to talk about this.

"We called the police; they're at your house right now talking to your mother. Would you like to see her before she is taken in?"

"No." Chihiro said in a stern voice.

The nurse smiled a little and nodded, "Okay." She said patting her leg.

"We see here that your parents are separated, we'd like to know if you'd like to go live with your father or enter a foster care service." The nurse asked changing the subject a little. (Bear with me here, I have no clue how these things work)

Chihiro blinked a moment at the sudden question, "I- I don't know… I don't want to be in foster services. But I don't want to move away from this town."

"Do you want to think it over?" The nurse asked.

"Are there any other choices?" Chihiro asked.

"With your fathers consent you could live with a relative or a close family friend." The nurse offered.

"Yes! I'll do that!" Chihiro said.

"Okay, where does he live?" She asked.

"Sendai, I don't know his address though." Chihiro answered.

"We'll figure it out, I'll get to work setting something up." The nurse said standing up, "I'll send another nurse in to help you get ready to go home, we won't need you longer than this" She said giving her a smile before walking out.

"Haku, I don't want to leave you." Chihiro said the second the nurse closed the door.

"Good, we have a mutual agreement." Haku said nodding.

"Who am I going to live with though?" Chihiro asked suddenly, as if she just figured it out.

"There is Aki." Haku suggested.

"No, he doesn't have the room in his house. He has 6 older brothers, and they're on the brink of poverty." Chihiro said waving it off.

Haku raised his eyebrows slightly, yikes.

"I got it!" Chihiro exclaimed, making Haku jump, "I could live with Akira!"

"Who is Akira?" Haku asked.

"She's one of my dad's old college friends, she's a medium. She lives in town." Chihiro said enthusiastically, "I visit her all the time without my mom knowing."

"Okay, let's go see her later on." Haku said nodding.

"This is Chihiro Ogino correct?" A different nurse asked walking in.

Chihiro nodded and the nurse gave her a small kind smile, "I'm here to help you get ready." The nurse explained walking over to her and started unhooking cords. When she finished she gave her the okay and she was able to leave.

"So what now? It's like 11:00 p.m." Chihiro asked as they walked out of the hospital.

"I was about to ask the same question." Haku muttered looking around. "Are you hungry?" Haku asked.

"Yeah, but I don't have any money." Chihiro answered, dismayed.

"I forgot about you humans, and your 'money', it's really a problem." Haku groaned.

"Tell me about it, I'm broke. What am I going to do? My dad isn't anywhere near here!" Chihiro said with the same amount of enthusiasm as Haku.

"Chihiro?" A voice behind them called.

They turned around and saw Aki on the other side of the street, "Aki, what are you doing out? It's like 11:00." Chihiro asked.

"I had to run to the store, my baby sister needed medicine, what are you doing out and why do you look like you got hit by a truck?" Aki asked raising an eyebrow at Haku.

"Long story." Chihiro groaned, "Long story short I have no money and I need to sleep somewhere other than my house."

"What?! How did you manage that?" Aki asked baffled.

"Long story." Chihiro repeated exasperated.

"I know a nice hotel in town you can stay at for free." Aki offered.

"Really!? That would be amazing." Chihiro breathed.

"Yeah, follow me." Aki said, motioning with his hand to follow him.

They eventually arrived at a surprisingly nice hotel, "How is this going to be free?" Chihiro gaped.

"My older brother owns the place." Aki said raising his eyebrows, smirking.

"What?! Where's all your money at then?" Chihiro asked.

"He donates to us sometimes, but can't really spare his hotel is doing well but he has a lot of taxes to pay and stuff like that." Aki explained, "Come in, it's much warmer in here."

As the pair followed Aki into the hotel they were greeted with the smell of… well, a hotel.

"Oi, Hiro!" Aki shouted, leaning on the front desk.

"Aki? What are you doing here so late?" A deep male voice asked as they came out from one of the back rooms behind the desk.

"I have some friends here who are in desperate need of a place to sleep, could you help them out?" Aki asked his brother.

"Yeah of course, is it the two behind you?" Hiro asked.

Aki nodded and looked back at us.

"You'll be on the third floor." Hiro told them, handing them a room key.

"Thank you." Chihiro beamed, Haku nodded at the man.

As the trio started to walk away, Hiro's voice sounded again from behind them, "Aki, could I talk to you a second?" He asked.

"Of course." Aki said turning back.

"Thank you Aki." Chihiro said, as he walked away.

"Anytime for a friend." Aki smiled and waved.

When Chihiro and Haku made it to the hotel room Chihiro collapsed on the bed, "I'm so tired." She moaned.

"Then sleep." Haku advised sarcastically.

"Shut up." Chihiro laughed, throwing a pillow at him.

As Chihiro drifted off she was overcome with a sense of peace, her mom wasn't around anymore. She should've been sad, but all she could feel was complete joy she wouldn't have to face her anymore. When Chihiro finally drifted off she had a peaceful, relieving dream.