Fade Away – By Snowcloud

Chapter Three – It Begins

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Yippee! Another update! Sorry for not letting you go on the quest, Kara (Felicity). I promise to keep you in somehow and not kill you off. Best friends forever =) NOW, on to the story!

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I stumbled down the path of the bathhouse, dazed. Glancing behind my shoulder, I saw Jason, Felicity, and Lin waving to us. I waved back and continued walking.

We soon entered the forest, and I shivered at the darkness. The looming trees created shadows that seemed to move. Haku smiled reassuringly. We went deeper into the tangled undergrowth, and I felt someone watching me. Was it my imagination? I glanced nervously behind me as Kiki's ears pricked. Suddenly, a large roar filled the area. It happened so fast that I barely knew what was going on. A large green creature flung itself in my direction and bit my arm. I screamed in pain and Haku's eyes widened. He pushed me away before it could attack again. I hit the hard ground with a loud thud.

Looking up, I saw Haku standing calmly in front of a gigantic emerald snake. The reptile hissed, angry that it lost its meal. I flinched as it snapped at my friend. He easily sidestepped it. The monster tried multiple times, always tasting air. Haku danced around the attacks. He pulled a crystal sword out and stabbed the snake's throat. The beasts breathe rasped and its eyes started to glaze over. Bright purple blood gushed out of the wound as it died. It was then I realized the pain in my arm. It was burning! I gasped and yelped.

"Kiki, please do something!" Haku begged.

Kiki was already on her way over.

"Poisonous bite," She murmured to herself.

She placed one hand over my arm and said a few spells. A piercing cringe ran through me as I felt a power extract something from my body. Kiki reached in her backpack and took out a small vile. She touched it, and instantly it was filled with a silver-green liquid.

"This was the poison inside you," She explained.

The pain started to fade away, until only a small amount remained. Kiki insisted on healing everything though, and pulled out a large green leaf. She pressed it against the holes the snake had left and spoke a strange word. I watched as the herb exploded into blue dust. My skin eagerly absorbed the substance, and the magic left my bite looking weeks old. All that was left was a scar now. Kiki could do wonders!

"Thanks! I feel so much better now," I sighed in relief.

My friend grinned.

"No problem!" She replied.

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Kiki was left tired from the healing, so Haku carried us on his back. I knew that going a long distance in dragon form would drain his energy, so we couldn't use it much.

I held on to the long horns, excited. The wind blew in my face and messed up my hair. I didn't care. I was enjoying this. It also gave me time to think. I wonder how my parents were doing. Did they miss me?

I'm sorry, Mom. I thought sadly. I wasn't happy there. I hope you understand.

I'm sure she will.

Wait, wait!? That was Haku's voice! He chuckled at my reaction.

I can speak using telepathy in dragon form.

That doesn't give you an excuse to read my mind! I thought back at him.

Then close up your thoughts. He instructed.

How the heck am I supposed to do that? I asked.

Think about sealing it. He replied.

I focused on the mental barrier, scrunching my eyebrows up in the process. To my satisfaction, the words stopped. I decided to let Haku in when I wanted to speak to him.

Yay! It works! I thought happily.

I'm still here.

I'm letting you in, you dope.

He snorted.

"Will you two please stop talking in private?" Kiki whined. "I promised some gossip for Felicity!"

I laughed as Haku pushed the conversation into her mind too. Whatever I said, Kiki would hear the exact thing from him.

Wow! She exclaimed. This is cool!

Just don't get too excited that you'll lose you'll lose your balance. I teased.

I won't do that! I'm too awesome to! She mewed.

I'm awesomer! Haku thought.

I'm awesomest! Kiki objected.

So that means I'm awesomer than the awesomest! Haku replied smugly.

No! How can you me more awesome than me? I'm the awesomest, which means no one is more awesome than me! She answered.

But I already said I was more awesome, so I'm still awesomer than you!

Fine, I'm not awesome. Kiki pouted. I'm super-duper-amazing-incredible-magical-great-powerful-beautiful-awesomeness!

But I'm still more awesome! He thought stubbornly.

I smiled at their childish argument and decided to leave them to it.

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After a while, the white dragon dropped to the ground and changed to his human form. This was a good camping place, in a small island. No one could get us here.

"Nice spot, right?" Haku said cheerfully.

"Wonderful." I replied.

Kiki threw him a small box.

"What's this for?" He asked curiously.

"They're herbs. Eat them now or you'll be sore in the morning after flying long distances." She answered.

Haku took a leaf out and started chewing it. His face turned green as he prepared to spit it out.

"Swallow it." Kiki ordered.

I saw it go down his throat, and watched him gasp for air.

"That was gross." He complained.

"Deal with it." She purred.

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I found some wood and grabbed a match. Haku managed to catch a few rabbits to go along with the bread we had. I struck the stick-like thing. Nothing happened. I tried again, and got some sparks. On my fifth try, I finally got it.

"I'm glad that's over." I smiled.

"You're hopeless, Chihiro." Kiki said.

I laughed.

"I guess you're right," I replied.

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After eating, I laid down the mats. Kiki flopped on one and instantly started snoring. Haku was silent, so I guess he was asleep too. I lay awake though, and remembered the question I was thinking of before Haku interrupted earlier.

Mom…Dad…do you miss me? Do you think of me?

I imagined my parents, crying on the sofa. I couldn't bear it, even after all the pain they'd put me through. The therapists and doctors all claimed I was crazy, and they believed them over me. I remembered how angry I was, but now I realize how much I miss my parents. If I ever saw them again, I would decide to forgive them.

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I hate those nights where you can't sleep, and tonight was one of them. I looked at Kiki, who was growling. She twitched from human to cat, and back again. I wonder what she was dreaming about, and chuckled as I imagined her fantasies. I envied the small girl. She seemed so happy and careless, without a worry in the world. I pulled back the covers and got out. Walking to the shoreline, I traced figures in the sand. I realized that someone was already there, and I made out the shape of Haku in the moonlight, sitting against a tree. He must have gotten up so quietly that I didn't notice. I went to him.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"Couldn't sleep." He answered.

"Me either." I agreed.

"I'm too used to being awake at this time." He said.

"This is the normal for the human world." I replied.

"So why aren't you asleep?" He murmured.

"Don't know." I said.

"Something's bothering you." He ventured.

I bit my lip.

"You can tell me, Chihiro." Haku whispered.

"I miss my parents." I choked out.

His green eyes were sympathetic, and he was silent as I poured out my emotions. I suddenly felt his arms around me, and I sobbed into his chest. Haku stroked my hair gently.

"Sleep, Chihiro." He said quietly.

A few more shudders rippled through me, and then blackness crashed over my mind.

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