CHAPTER EIGHT; "WHAT IF I DON'T WANNA ROLL DOWN THE HILL?!?"

Chihiro was growing increasingly fed up with being covered by a baby blanket. She would admit, It was snuggly and warm, but she was a young woman now; not a child. Haku seemed geniunely worried as they walked that treacherous walk through the forest woodlands. She wondered what it was that was so unsettling. After all, what's the worst that could happen?

However, her feet were so achy that she stopped her thoughts to do the mature thing and whinge.

"Haku, do we have to traipse around?"

"Yes. And we're not traipsing, there's a point to it." he said.

"But why can't we just fly there, wherever there actually is?"

"Because, after I helped you so much last time, Yubaba decided not only to keep me as her apprentice until I could find my own way home but to take away my power of flight as a punishment."

"Why can't you find your way home still?" Chihiro asked.

"Because I only remember my name and then I go to the tunnel, black out and then find myself back at the bathhouse."

They both went silent. Chihiro felt awkward to have upset Haku.

After many dark hours of night wandering in the woodland they finally reached Murky Village.

Although it had become the early hours of the morning, the black ghostly spirits were still skulking sadly around the town streets. Haku reached and took the parchment out of his pocket and looked at it in deep thought.

"So if we walk straight ahead and take the next right... We should end up at Ashikaga's house."

"Who is Ashikaga anyways??" Chihiro asked.

"Never you mind." Haku said.

Ashikaga resembled what Chihiro could only describe as your storybook-imp; small, mischievous and ever-so-annoying.

He had electric blue floppy hair, that he had to comically blow up and out of his eyes every so often. They all sat on the sofas. Haku tucking Chihiro up in the blanket and simpering softly to her.

Her anger built inside her. Sooner or later, mid-coo, Haku would be on the recieving end of a slap at this rate, she thought.

"What brings you two to my little house then eh?" He grimaced.

"Chihiro was touched by a nikutai slug. And we need your assitance in cleaning her."

Chihiro shuddered and her mouth fell open at the mention of nikutai. She hadn't realised the risk of Yubaba's stupid mission. How dare she put her in danger like that? Ashikaga walked up and down the room a few times, a puzzled expression spread across his round face.

He then stood in front of Chihiro and put both hands on her face. For one horrible moment, Chihiro thought that the imp was going to kiss her, then he stared into her eyes and began to chant.

"By...the...power...I...own...that...moves...water...and...bone...I...summon...the...strength."

He said this a few times and with each pause, Chihiro felt her eyelids droop. "It must be from all that walking," she thought. Haku was scared. Why was she falling asleep? Wasn't it working? The last thing Chihiro saw before falling inot that dangerous state was the anxious expression Haku was wearing. She wondered what he was so worried about...and then, there was nothing.

"YOU IDIOT!" Haku screamed in Ashikaga's face."What have you done to her?!?!"

"It was a simple spell. It should've worked." He said slowly.

"Well, why didn't it then?"

"It was too late. Chihiro is weak, as a human anyway, and the slug has really affected her body. She has twenty-four hours before she will be gone forever."

"Well, what do I do????" Haku gushed, falling to his knees.

"I believe there is a cure. you have to go to Murasaki Hill and roll down it four times with tears in your eyes and say her name."

"That's ridiculous. And why should I trust you?"

"Sir, it is the only way. You must roll down the hill."

"What if I don't wanna roll down the hill?!?!?"

"You must. For her."