Authors Note: Don't own Spirited Away.
Before I make excuses again for my delay I would love to thank all that had reviewed, NarutoSwagg99, Guest, illi777, Christie Wind, Cats4789, Minhui, DarkNinetales55, Kawaii-Sally, Crazygeekweirdo, Aily Ann. Also to all those who read this story. Thank you so much.
I really appreciate your supports and encouragements. It had been a few difficult months for me. My 8 year old cat was diagnose with cancer last week but she was sick for almost a year. She was always constantly having watery right eye and runny right nose. In the beginning it looked like a normal feline flu and the vet treated it as one. But it took very long to get well. After that even though she looked well, the flu will occasionally come back sometimes. This lasted for the whole year until the end of November when the meds she always took had no effect anymore. That was when everything starts to get bad. She started to get a swell in the inner corner of her right eye. At that time I was going on a holiday for 4 days. I left her at the vet where the dr can keep an eye on her. When I got home the swell on her eye is gone but she was still having the runny nose and watery eye. At the beginning of December her swell came back again. That was when I notice she started to have difficulty in breathing. I brought her in again to the vet and the dr asked to put her there for a few days so she can monitor her. She was in the vet again for about 5 days. She looked slightly better then, her breathing was better but the swell at the right eye didn't go away completely and started to get a reddish growth at the inner corner of the eye. The dr said it could be a cherry eye which is very common in dogs but rare in cats. However they do get them. I brought her home for only a week and the swell didn't get any better and half her face was already swollen. Then she started to bleed through her nose every time she sneezes and when she sneeze she would go on for dozens of times. I brought her in to the vet again when the dr told me to send her to the hospital. We booked her for a MRI scan just last Friday and confirm she had cancer. There aren't any medications anymore and the cancer she had was spreading so fast its pushing out towards her eye that was why she was blind in the right eye. We brought her home hoping to spend the last days with her but when I kept seeing her bleeding through her nose, sneezing none stop like she was about to sneeze her brains out, her face distorted and had difficulty in breathing. I was at my breaking point. I brought her to the vet to last week and put her to sleep. I couldn't bare to watch her suffering anymore. It was a difficult decision but I really didn't want her to suffer anymore. The room she was staying in was a blood bath. It looked like a serial killer murdered someone inside. The amount of blood she sneezes out was horrible. I really hope she is now in a better place and no longer suffering.
Sorry for such a sob story. But I really didn't feel like writing for the passed months when she was sick. Anyhow, finally I got over my grief and here is a new chapter
Happy reading!
Chapter 7: A Ray of Light
The atmosphere by the pond was peaceful and comforting. The couple sat together back to back as they did their own work. The pond next to them would splatter sometimes when golden Koi fishes flicked their tails to the surface. The scenery was beautiful.
Chihiro was painting a portrait of the pond while Haku was looking through a pile of scrolls. She gathered that it might be reports of everything that was happening in the spirit realm. She was amazed to see that the spirit realm worked almost the same ways like the human realm.
There were rules to abide to and punishment to spirits and demons that broke to the rules. Seeing that Haku was always busy with the reports. Chihiro gathered that he must be so busy everyday to have so many responsibilities and had to make sure everything was going the right way. She did her best not to disturb him when he was working.
However, Chihiro was getting bored. She had no idea how long she had been in this realm. She didn't even know what was day or night anymore for the light around the castle never diminishes. It would only darken in the room when she was going to bed.
Finally Chihiro placed her canvas down and leaned her head back onto the back of Haku's head. She sighed softly and looked up the barrier around the palace. Her eyes widened with shock.
"Whao…" Chihiro gasped.
There was a Blue Whale swimming across above them. She gaped.
"They are endangered species." Haku said behind her. He had heard Chihiro and looked up to see the whale. He smiled. "We had been protecting them near our palace for humans can't come close. But the whales are still free to roam whenever they want and still go to the surface sometimes."
"Sugoi…" She whispered softly. (Sugoi [すごい]: Amazing, awesome, cool, great)
They watched silently as the Blue Whale swam over them slowly. It was the most amazing sight. This was something Chihiro wouldn't see in her normal daily life. Somehow she didn't regret staying here. Haku was an amazing person… well in his case spirit? She really liked his company. But she was getting anxious about what was going on in the human realm.
"Ne Kohaku…" Chihiro finally spoke when the whale swam out of sight. "I really don't mind being here but I don't want anyone at my realm to worry about me either."
"You don't have to worry." Haku replied gently. "Toshihiro had taken care of your disappearance. I spoke to him right after you were brought here. That is how you manage to get all your clothes here. He got Shirudo to bring them over." (A/N: It was actually mentioned in chapter: 5 that Shirudo was sent to inform Toshihiro but I didn't write anything about it in detail. More will be mention as the story goes on)
"Right…" Chihiro looked down at her own clothing. She never thought about how she got a change of clothing everyday. So it was Toshihiro who had prepared everything for her. "I am surprise that he actually agreed."
"He wasn't happy but there was nothing he could do to stop me." Haku almost chuckled. "Besides, he thought that it would be nice if you do remember again. Everyone at the shrine misses you."
"Everyone?" Chihiro looked back slightly.
"Yes… the guardian spirits of the shrine and you are friends." Haku turned his head slightly to look at her too. "They are still your friends but they miss talking to you. They still see you but you no longer could see them."
"Sou…" Chihiro frowned slightly and looked away. She took a deep breath. It was not only she couldn't remember she couldn't see her friends anymore too. Her heart was beginning to feel really heavy. "What are they like?" (Sou [そう]: It's like that, it could also mean something like 'I see'…)
Haku smiled softly when he remembered the first time he met them. They were a bunch of mischievous and friendly spirits. They took care of Chihiro like she was their own kind.
"They are very nice." Haku replied softly. "They always look out for you and willing to do anything for you."
There wasn't any answer from Chihiro.
Haku could feel her feelings were beginning to dampen. He frowned slightly. He didn't want to spend his time making her feel upset. They were supposed to be building new happy memories. He turned around completely and held up his hand over to the side of Chihiro's cheek. He gently turned her head so that she looked at him.
"You told me not to dwell in the pass Chihiro." Haku told her gently. "And I am not going to anymore. So don't let the pass darken your feelings."
"Right…" Chihiro gave him a small smile. "Hai… you are right. I am so sorry. I was the one to tell you to not dwell in the pass and I…"
"Shh…" Haku put his finger on her lips softly and shook his head slightly. "There is somewhere I want to bring you."
"Eh?" Chihiro's eyes widened with surprise. "But your work…"
"Its fine." Haku smiled slightly and helped her up to her feet gently. "I will get Shirudo to help you get dress."
"Why?" Chihiro got even more surprise. "Are we going somewhere important?"
"It's not that, I can't have you wearing human clothing to that place."
Chihiro blinked looking confused.
"All right everything set." Shirudo pulled Chihiro's hair up into a loose bun with slight curls cascading down her shoulder. "I had masked your human smell so that you won't be detected. But with you eating our food for the passed days most of your human smell is disappearing."
"You talk about human smell like I am having some kind of horrible body odour." Chihiro said sniffing herself slightly. "Do I smell that bad?"
"Hmmm…" Shirudo thought hard to answer that question. "I guess it's differs for different spirits and demons. For me you always have a scent of assorted flowers."
"Sou…" Chihiro blinked. "Flowers aren't that bad…"
Shirudo laughed. "Anyways, I am sure Haku mentioned something about your scent of roses."
Chihiro blushed red.
There was a knocked on the door then and Chihiro quickly looked away. She knew it might be at the other side.
"She is ready." Shirudo called out.
Haku slid the shoji door opened.
Chihiro slowly turned to look at him. She gave him a sheepish smile. Haku was dressed in a casual blue hakama and a white kimono top. It was a first time she saw him wearing something other then his royal clothing. She stared slightly.
Haku almost trip at the sight of Chihiro. She was wearing a red kimono with small white flowers and orange maple leafs pattern on the sleeves. The lower part of the kimono had a mixture of purple, pink and white peonies embroideries. Her obi was black tied into a butterfly knot at the back.
Shirudo had lightly applied some makeup on her that brought out Chihiro's beautiful features. The cascading curls framed her lovely face.
It brought back so many memories of that night when they went for the Summer Festival. Haku almost felt his heart broke but tried his best to smile and pushed the feeling away. This night will be a new one.
"Here… you have to put this on." Shirudo passed her a half Japanese white fox mask.
Chihiro took the mask from her staring at the beautiful red carvings on the white mask. The red line around the eye area and there are red small sakura flowers around the top corners near the fox ears.
"It is beautiful." Chihiro gushed.
"This will complete your disguise." Shirudo told her as she helped her put on the mask.
The mask fit her upper face perfectly only showing her lower cheeks, chin and mouth.
"Come lets go." Haku had walked up to her and took her hand.
"Have fun!" Shirudo called to them happily as they walked out the room.
They were heading back towards the pond again hand in hand.
"So where are we going?" Chihiro asked.
"It is a surprise." Haku told her with a hidden smile.
Chihiro almost pouted.
They stopped at the edge of the pond and Haku turned to Chihiro.
"Before we go I need you to promise me that you will never let go of my hand."
Chihiro blushed again and remained silent.
"Please Chihiro."
"I promise…" Chihiro replied softly.
"Good… let's go then."
"Huh?"
Haku didn't wait for her to ask any more questions and stepped into the pond pulling her along with him.
Chihiro thought that she was going to be drench in water but to her surprise she didn't feel wet when she was suddenly standing in a mists of demons and spirits at a place that looked like a night market.
"What is this place?" Chihiro was in awe.
It almost looked like a summer festival with red lanterns hanging up in the air, assorted stalls stationed in rows. The only difference was there were small floating lights around like fireflies. But they were bigger than fireflies.
One of the lights floated across Chihiro and she almost squeaked when she realised that she was looking at very small human looking spirit with dragonfly wings and their bodies looked like it was on fire.
"They are so called Hitodama in the human term." Haku explained. "Humans believe to be the fire of the human soul. But they are actually just small light spirits from in the spirit realm."
"So there is no such thing as Hitodama?" Chihiro asked.
"Human souls are much more than this ball of light." Haku said softly. "Bigger and more beautiful. If one is not tainted."
"But they are already beautiful…" Chihiro whispered staring at the light spirits.
"You should have seen your soul then Chihiro…"
"Hah?" Chihiro looked over to Haku surprise.
"No… it's nothing." Haku shook his head. "Come let's check out the stalls."
"What is this place anyways?" Chihiro asked as they walked through the crowd, their hands together though Haku was holding onto Chihiro more firmly than before.
"It's the spirit's night market." Haku told her. "It only happens during the full moon. That is the time demons and spirits will gather when their powers are at maximum level. Wizards and witches will also gather to sell their goods and spells. They seize this opportunity when it is the time most spirits and demons roam. Besides money are always important to them and their goods are usually very expensive."
Haku was about to mention about Yubaba and her gold as an example but shook his head. This wasn't the time to be thinking about that witch. Besides Chihiro wouldn't remember her.
"It doesn't differ much from a summer festival." Chihiro said looking around at various stalls.
There were accessories, weird food, souvenirs, charms and even stalls that sell spells.
The place was buzzing with strange beings but Chihiro wasn't afraid. Haku was next to her and she knew that she was in disguise. She got really excited as she continued to look around until she found something that caught her attention.
"Haku lets go over there!" Chihiro pointed excitedly towards a stall that was selling paints.
"What did you call me?"
"Sorry?" Chihiro turned to him confused.
"No never mind." Haku shook his head.
Chihiro almost skipped over to the stall. She was so glad she finally got to get something for her art works. The paints provided at the palace were limited and she had always got to mix her own colours that took a lot of time and sometimes didn't turn out as the colour she wanted.
Haku blinked watching her slightly astonished. He definitely heard her call him Haku. Even the crowd was loud but he was positive he heard her. Very slowly a small smile appeared on his face. It wasn't a mistake to bring her here even though it could be dangerous for a human to roam the spirit night market. As long as he stayed next to her no harm will come to her.
Chihiro looked through the various colours eagerly.
"Can we get some of these Kohaku?" Chihiro asked turning to him when they were in front of the stall.
"Choose whatever you want." Haku told her but still holding onto her hand.
Chihiro knew that Haku told her not to let go for a reason even she didn't know what it was she wasn't going to complain. She felt save with him holding onto her in such a crowd of spirits and demons.
She used her other free hand to choose the colours she wanted.
Haku got the demon that was selling the paints to send them to the palace. They started roaming the around again. There were so many female accessory stores. Chihiro was looking through them without much interest but something among them caught her attention as she stared at it.
There were more female spirits and demons around that area and Haku caught most of their attention. However they didn't approach when he was holding onto Chihiro next to him. They knew better than to meddle with someone else partner or mate, not knowing that Chihiro wasn't.
"Do you want something here Chihiro?" Haku asked when he saw Chihiro looking at a chopstick hair accessory at one of the store.
"No…" Chihiro turned to him quickly and shook her head. "I don't really wear any of these."
Haku tilted his head slightly with a small smile. He did realised that Shirudo had not adorn any hair accessories for her or maybe Chihiro told her that she didn't want to wear any.
"Well I think you would look lovely in one of these." Haku told her and walked over to the store where Chihiro was staring at earlier. He picked up the chopstick hair decoration.
At the top was ornamented with very feminine pink and clear crystal like gems arranged into sakura flowers. It looked almost like blooming sakura flowers on a branch. Then there was a fine chain of tiny pearls dangling at the tip with a small violet crystal butterfly at the end.
"Here this looks really good on you." Haku told her as he placed the chopstick into her bun and slowly trace his fingers gently on the side of her face as he gradually lowered his arm.
Chihiro's heart skipped a beat but somehow she felt like she couldn't take this hairpin from him. It somehow felt like a bond that she was tied to him and she didn't want to be bounded.
"Kohaku really I can't accept this." Chihiro had raised her free hand to remove it but Haku stopped her by holding onto to that hand too.
He shook his head. "I want you to have it."
Chihiro knew that she was blushing behind the mask and she was glad that she was wearing it. Her heart was hammering again. It had always been hammering when Haku was near recently.
"This looks really expensive Kohaku! Shouldn't something like this be given to someone that you plan to be your mate for life?" Chihiro asked worriedly.
Haku remained silent. He wanted her to be his mate for life but instead he said.
"Its just a token of our friendship Chihiro so please accept it."
Chihiro still looked reluctant but finally nodded slightly when Haku made no move to let go any of her hands and besides that he looked so serious suddenly.
There was a short silent before Haku finally smiled again and released one of her hands. That was when they heard a grumbling noise.
Haku turned back to Chihiro who had her free hand over the mask she was wearing. His smile widened almost laughing.
"Let's get something to eat." Haku told her grinning.
"Oh god… that was embarrassing…" Chihiro muttered.
Haku chuckled softly.
"Shinju-sama, its time to return to the palace!"
A group of three demon maids ran breathlessly behind their master.
Their master adorned in a royalty kimono and beautiful ornaments decorated her hair swept through the crowd ignoring her retainers.
"I heard that Kohaku-ouji came to the night market." Shinju told them looking around the crowd.
"Even so if ouji came, we wouldn't be able to find him in this crowd!"
"I don't care! Find him!" Shinju cried exasperatedly.
Lately there were rumours going around that Haku had a female guest in his quarters. Who the hell was she? It had been days since all the other imperial courtesans saw him. Everything went downhill after that human girl disappeared.
The whole ordeal was suspicious. She had to get to the bottom of it.
"Shinju-sama…" One of her maid pointed through the crowd.
They all stopped walking and looked over to see Haku and a girl in red kimono wearing a fox mask. Besides that they were holding hands!
"Find out who she is." Shinju frowned. "I don't remember seeing someone like this among the courtesans."
It was a wonderful outing and finally Chihiro was back in the room sitting in front of the dressing table staring in the mirror. That dresser wasn't there before but Haku brought it in for her daily use.
She had taken off the mask finally and studied her features, turning her head left and then right. She looked like a different person with makeup and her hair done differently.
Then she stared at the hair chopstick in her bun. Gradually raising her hand towards it she took it out gently and looked at it quietly.
She couldn't understand why would Haku do so much for her. She was human after all. Even with such feelings for each other, would they ever be together?
They were different after all.
Chihiro could feel the heaviness in her heart again. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes clutching the hair chopstick to her heart.
If only she could remember. The void in her heart was getting bigger. Every time she thought she felt something for Haku only to come in a round about way because that feeling always wavered and disappears. Then she was back to square one again.
She knew deep in her heart Haku was someone very important to her. But why couldn't she hold on to the feeling. Every time she thought there was a spark it would always go away at the end of the day.
She didn't want that feeling to disappear.
A tear slid down her face without her knowledge.
"Why do humans wear such uncomfortable clothes?"
Chihiro heard Haku's voice suddenly. Her eyes snapped opened immediately. All her trouble thoughts flew away in an instant.
"Kohaku?" Chihiro turned around.
He would usually knock before he comes in. She didn't hear any knock.
She scanned the room and it was empty. She blinked.
"I know you hate it but it is only for the day!"
Again she heard a voice but this time it was her own voice!
Chihiro stood up from the dressing table and place the hair chopstick on the dresser carefully. She looked around. That was strange. She was sure she heard voices. It got stranger when more voices appeared in the room.
"Chihiro!" She then heard Kokoro's voice. "You look so cute!"
"Please… I am only doing this because everyone was begging me to. You all actually had enough maid to begin with." She heard her own voice again.
"Yeah… but I'm sure everyone wants to see you in a dress for once. And a maid's uniform no less. Besides I made arrangements for you and Haku-kun to be advertising for us.". She heard Kokoro's triumphant voice.
"Who chose this anyways? It is overly exaggerated!" Her voice again sounding rather exasperated.
"Well, it was the uniform from last year senior classes. We just borrowed it since it was already there." Kokoro's voice again.
Chihiro was wide eyed as she looked around the room. This was getting creepy!
That was when she spotted a small ball glowing in a strange blue light bobbing in the air near the shoji doors. She approached it slowly.
"So this is a School Cultural Festival. It doesn't differ much from Shrine Festivals."
Haku voice floated out from the glowing ball of light.
Chihiro reached out towards the glowing light but it drifted away and through the close shoji doors.
"NO…" Chihiro cried. "Wait…!"
Chihiro slide the shoji door opened in a hurry and ran after it. It was floating out towards the exit. In a state of confusion, Chihiro had totally forgotten never to leave the inner palace.
The globe continued to float away as Chihiro ran after it.
She stepped out towards the outer grounds of the palace without realizing where she was going.
More voice poured out of the small glowing globe. She could hear the conversation she had with Haku. She had no idea what was going on but that sounded like the final year of high school during the school festival when she was forced to dress as a maid.
She always felt that she had spent that day with someone but she couldn't remember whom. Somehow deep inside her she knew that it was Haku when he told her that she lost all her memories of him. Nevertheless she needed to know in more detail. She didn't want to keep forgetting these feelings she kept developing and always vanishes when the day comes to an end leaving her like an empty shell.
As she continued to hear those voices, images started to flash through her head suddenly!
She saw the pink cotton candy. Chihiro's gasped. More images poured in.
She fed the cotton candy to Haku with her fingers. A warm tingling feeling crept into her heart.
They were on their way to Kokoro's Romeo and Juliet play. They watched the stage drama together in the school hall! Those two tickets she kept that Kenshin asked about. The other one was for Haku!
That glowing globe she had to catch it! She reached out towards it again…
Then there was a sudden pull and she felt her back hit hard on a concrete wall.
She shut her eyes and winced slightly. When she opened them again. She realised she didn't hit a wall but a huge pillar and Masami was next to her gripping her arm tightly.
"Masami-hime… why…?"
She ignored Chihiro with her back on her, gripping her arm tightly.
"Oh look isn't this the ex-fiancé." Chihiro suddenly heard a female voice.
"Aren't you supposed to be at the night market Shinju?" Masami replied monotone.
"Do not address me without honorifics!" Shinju flared.
Masami didn't falter from her domineering stand.
Shinju hesitated slightly and then continued.
"It was boring so I decided to come back."
"These are my quarters why are you doing here?" Masami told her rather sternly.
"I lost something in here so I came to retrieve it." Shinju said in a bored voice. "Besides, since you lost your status these quarters doesn't really belong to you anymore. Remember that."
"As long as Kohaku never said I am to leave. These quarters will always be mine. Now leave."
"Hmpf."
Chihiro heard the other spirit flipped her kimono and walked off. She peered over Masami towering figure. She was after all taller than she was.
"You shouldn't leave the inner palace ever!" Masami whirled around to face her so fast Chihiro would had fell back if Masami didn't grabbed both her arms tightly in her hands. "You are lucky you wandered into my quarters! If you would have gotten caught by those courtesan. I can't imagine what they will do to you! When the courts steps in. Even Kohaku might not be able to save you even with his status and powers."
"I am sorry… I saw…" Chihiro's voice failed her and frowned suddenly.
"What is it that you saw?" Masami asked.
There was silence from Chihiro when her eyes suddenly turned glassy.
"Chihiro?" Masami shook her urgently.
Chihiro blinked and her eyes returned back to normal again.
"You said you saw something."
"I don't know…" Chihiro looked anxious. "I suddenly don't remember…"
Masami released her arms and took a deep breath. It was obviously something important for Chihiro to break her promise and ran out here. It was strange that she suddenly just forgot what she saw. It was like someone put a spell on her and a by the looks of it, a very powerful one.
"Come on, let's get back to the inner palace." Masami told her gently.
"Please don't tell Kohaku I broke the promise." Chihiro said sadly. "I really don't know what came over me."
"No… I won't." Masami said softly.
He would only worry even more if he knew. Masami sighed softly and was deep in her own thoughts.
Something was strange somehow, Shinju hardly come over to her side of the quarters but she actually went over the boundaries to invade a territory that didn't belong to her. She said she lost something but Masami didn't recall seeing anything out of the ordinary or anything that didn't belong to her lying around her quarters.
Heisei Shinju one of the most high in status and reputation in the dragon community. Due to her background she was brought up to be a spoilt rich princess. She only wanted to be Haku's mate for her own selfish purposes.
That was why Masami started to hate every courtesan for they only came here for one purpose and that was to gain more reputation and status. They only cared about themselves and no one even cared about Haku's safety.
Except for one.
She turned to Chihiro silently. Unfortunately why had she got to be human?
These would be another rocky journey for Chihiro. Masami thought silently and sadly. This time she wondered if she could survive this journey for the courtesans were more aggressive than she ever had been.
She needed to be more attentive and keep an eye on them. Especially Heisei Shinju.
Chihiro who was still confused why she left the inner palace was rather quiet while Masami guarded her back. She knew that she had forgotten something important again and her heart sank deeply.
The two of them walked back to the inner palace in silence with their own trouble thoughts.
To be continued...
Authors Note: Thank you for reading, I hope there aren't many mistakes for as usual I didn't edit. Btw, I do notice that maybe the title of the chapter might not be very suitable but they were some how building new memories/hope and light usually relates as hope... :)
Anyways, Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year!
Hitodama (Japanese 人魂; meaning "human soul")In Japanese folklore, are balls of fire that mainly float in the middle of are said to be "souls of the dead that have separated from their bodies, which is where their name comes from.
