Disclaimer: I do not own Spirited Away.
Thank you very, very much for reading! :) Again I apologize for my later updates—writing takes up a lot of time. Enjoy!
Forewarning: Kaito's back story is fairly dark, and is a lot different from the previous chapters.
All that emerged from Haku was a shaky, "I need to hear your story."
Kaito nodded. "I figured you'd say something along the lines of that." he exhaled, and brought a cup of tea to his lips.
He set it down, and spoke with such a normal voice, it was scary.
"One summer's day…"
…
"Aniki," a young happy light haired boy laughed and waved to his older brother as he ran up the grassy hill. He was anxious to show him the small object in his hand.
"Hey, Kyoya. Whatcha got there?" Kaito ruffled his brother's light hair as he sat down next to him, hands and knees dirty.
"I found a stone." the younger boy smiled. He was probably around twelve, and he held up a sea green rock. "Should I give it to her?"
The word stung a little, but Kaito smiled.
It was the first anniversary after his childhood friend went missing. She was a softhearted girl, didn't stand out much, average in her physical and mental capabilities, and kind. However, she had this empathy that surpassed all others, an understanding that went beyond what most eyes could see. That alone made her special, and that's what made them such good friends. Kaito was was misunderstood, and she was always stepped on by others. They'd become friends in outrageous circumstances, but in their problems, they had prevailed; much due to each other's company. But if that didn't make her special enough, all you needed to do was hear her sing.
Oh the wind blows along,
It will carry my song,
What does it say, now?
I sing of the sweetness that life allows.
Because far, far away now,
I know someone needs to be strong.
Courage needed to overcome the test,
Follow what you think is best.
What is your heart's desire today?
Don't think of the things that make it harder to stay.
We must not give up when we see the road ahead,
But what makes it easier, is a friend.
"Well," his older brother smiled, crossing his legs, to face him. "Is this that girl you were telling me about?"
The boy nodded, the blue green crystal still in his hands. "She's pretty nice. She gave me a gift for my birthday."
"I'm sure she'll like it." Kaito smiled. "Where did you find such a big crystal anyway?"
"I found it in the dried up river." He got up and motioned for his brother to follow him. "Come on, it's this way."
Kaito found himself led through a train station with a fairly large, mossy statue posted in front. As his brother led him across more grassy hills on the other side, he spied dry bedrock with gray-black stones. At the end, there were marble stairs leading to another red building, like a gateway.
By now, the sun was close to setting, and Kyoya was looking at the ground on bent knees, presumably looking for any other crystals. Kaito sighed, and looked up towards the horizon when he heard a voice.
Courage needed to overcome the test…follow what you think is best…
Kaito's eyes widened at the sweet, familiar melody, and his head jerked up. His head turned frantically, searching for the direction of the voice.
…We must not give up when we see the road ahead…
And at the top of the white marble stairs, was a girl with a flowing summer dress and long brown hair, singing.
…But what makes it easier is a friend.
Kaito stared. It was Megumi.
She smiled and waved. "Hello, Kaito. It's been so long." She began retreating into the red gateway.
"Megumi!" Kaito exclaimed in excitement, bounding up the stairs after her. "Where have you been?"
He reached the top of the stairs, but now she had her back to him, and was across the bridge. The sun was going down, and Kaito ran to catch up.
"Megumi, I'm so glad to see you," he ran after her on the bridge, a small part wondering why she led him there. "How have you—"
"You humans are so gullible."
Kaito's eyes widened and his arms dropped. In front of him was a gangly teenager. He had long, unkempt, forest green hair and sandals.
Kaito said the only thing he could think of, it sounded like it was from a movie. "Where's Megumi?"
The boy laughed hysterically. It was evil, malicious, and maniacally happy. He clutched his stomach as he doubled over; not noticing Kaito was approaching with devastating eyes.
He grabbed the boy by the neck of his blue shirt.
"Where is she?" Kaito said darkly. He wasn't thinking straight; his eyes were short-tempered, furious, and if one looked closely enough, terrified.
The boy recovered from his laughter, shrugged his shoulders, and maintained his carefree I-couldn't-care-less attitude. "What makes you think I know?"
Kaito threw him to the ground, and in a minute, the boy was pinned against the wall of a building. "Who are you? How do you know what she looks like? What was the purpose of doing that?"
His eyebrows remained steeply arched, and grip unmerciful on the boy's neck. He frantically clawed at Kaito's hands. Only a small sector of the sun remained shining against the orange sky.
The boy smiled again. That evil smile that Kaito had come to despise. "Who, my name is Sōsa Sagi. Why I did this?" he repeated. "My assignment was to bring and trap you on this side of the universe."
"…What?" Kaito's facial muscles tensed, and his grip slackened. The green haired boy uttered a low chuckle; one Kaito only recognized through vibration, and he fell to the ground.
Smack!
The boy delivered a blow to Kaito's face, obviously having acted like he was in trouble, and allowing himself to be overpowered in the minutes before. Kaito hit the ground with a thud, and he saw the glinting eyes and smiling teeth in the shadows.
"In order to lure you here, I had to take the form of someone most precious; it was almost him." He sneered, and cocked his head in the direction of the bridge.
As Kaito turned his head he saw a smaller version of him. "Aniki?" Kyoya's confused and somewhat shaky voice entered Kaito's ears.
"Kyoya, run!" Kaito let out the words in a blood-chilling cry, and the small boy's eyes also constricted as he saw the green haired teenager punch his brother in the stomach. Blood spurted from his mouth.
"Aniki!" he began shaking, and slowly began taking worried steps forward. Kaito's blurry eyes made out the retreating figure in the shadows, ready to advance on his next spied prey. Only a small sector of sun was left, and the sky had darkened. Lights began to switch on, and they saw black figures mulling about.
"Kyoya, run!"
…
"Come on, Kaito," a boy sneered. "It's not like she's going to kill her just yet. Nikushimi just wants you to fulfill her objectives. Besides, it's an honor that you're personally summoned to her in a diplomatic manner; only the colonels get to talk with her face to face, and your brain could be manipulated with enough spells and incantations."
"What do you want from me, Sagi?" Kaito growled. The bowl of rice in his hands remained untouched. His black coat rested on his shoulders on top of a black shirt, with black pants, and black shoes. His sword rested on his belt.
Two days ago, he'd been dragged to whatever hideout this was, and told their leader needed to speak with them. In the mountains and covered in snow, the hideout was often attacked by monsters of the realm. Kaito cared less about the fact he was defending the hideout; the so called monsters killed everything on sight.
"I told you, Nikushimi just wants you to get that anchor for her. Then you can go home with that girl. It's a happily ever after, what more could you ask for?" The boy said tiredly, but he had to smile evilly at that last part. He sat down on the crate next to Kaito.
"I still don't know why it has to be me." He replied curtly.
Sagi chuckled. "You're special, Kaito. You have a fire that's uncompromising. You'll do anything for those precious to you," Kaito felt the weight of his sneer next to him. "Aren't I right?"
Kaito raised his fist, and it moved at accelerating speed towards Sagi's face when the alarms roared to life. It bellowed through the den like a chainsaw, it was so much worse that the surprise fire drills he'd had at school. What had it come to that he compared two things like that together?
"Get going, deceit," Kaito said tersely. "Nikushimi will want to see you fighting."
"Nikushimi wants me to be 'Sōsa', manipulative, today," He smiled, grunting while getting up. He dusted his hands off. "I'll see you on the front lines, Colonel."
…
Kaito emerged from the top of the snowy hill, face down and sword up. Exactly one year had passed since the gateways switched, and he was trapped there. His dark eyes glinted at whatever threatened his life charging before him. He didn't want to be here. He wanted nothing to do with Nikushimi, he wanted nothing to do with the Spirit World, and never wanted to see Sagi's grin enjoying his pain.
His sword ripped through the enormous bull like animal, and its essence dissolved quickly. The only thing keeping him there was Megumi.
He grit his teeth, and his vociferate was among the most distinct on the battlefield. It carried weight, sadness, contempt, disgust, and absolute rage.
One, two, three. Four, five, six…
One hundred and one, one hundred and two…
Five hundred.
He bore into the eyes of the furry, gorilla shaped beast in front of him. His arms held tufts of white fur, and the nails glinted, bearing their sharpness. Each resembled a metal hook, and four horns protruded from the animal's chest.
This was five hundred. This was the last of his quota for the day, and he'd be one step closer to Megumi.
Sayonara, beast.
…
"Colonel, well done." The being behind the black curtain spoke, her voice was laced with approval. "I see you've developed a new technique. What is it, A Blade's Mirage?"
"Call it what you will," Kaito said thickly. "What's my next assignment?"
"Excited now, aren't we?" He could almost feel the delight in her voice.
"You wish." He glowered, his tone clearly showing he would not put up with her sarcastic comments.
The humidity of the air dropped, and her happiness was no longer tangible. She snapped her fingers. "Your next assignment is to go to the southern border of this realm and wipe out the race of Alakines residing in the hills. The breed of horses are turning to the wrong side."
He curtly nodded, and walked out of the room.
Megumi.
Wait for me; he felt salty tears pool at the corners of his eyes. He grit his teeth, his knuckles were white, and his bangs shielded his face.
Two more years and I'll be done.
"Hey, Kyoya." Chihiro grinned as she approached her newfound long-lost friend. It had been a rather large surprise, meeting him before school on her way to homeroom. It'd been ages since she'd last seen him, probably seven or eight years, and maybe nine months since his last letter. "I'd almost forgotten about you; you didn't write for so long."
"Yeah, sorry about that." He grinned, running his fingers through his jet black hair. His gray eyes were cheeky.
"You're so tall now." Chihiro said, looking up and down her friend, wondering when he'd grown. "If I remember correctly, last I saw you; you were shorter than I was. Now look at you. You're nine inches taller!"
"I know. And look at your hair. You cut it. Why?" he fingered the ends of a lock of hair.
Chihiro smoothed it back. "I thought it would be a nice change."
"Really? I liked it long. It's still pretty though." He showed no intention of touching her hair again. "Can I see your necklace?"
"What? Oh, sure." Chihiro began to take it off, but he just picked it up. Chihiro immediately felt uncomfortable, which was progressively causing her internal intuition warnings to go off. However, she let him look for a few moments before it became unbearable where she inhaled sharply, literally snatched it from his fingers, and collapsed against the wall breathing heavily.
"Chihiro," his eyes furrowed in concern. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," she grunted as she fixed her necklace. It had an immediate effect of relief, slow, slow relief, but relief nonetheless. "Don't worry." She inspected the precious charm. It looked a bit tarnished.
I'm going to put some of mom's jewelry cleaner on this. She muttered to herself. When was the last time I did anything really feminine?
Kyoya extended his hand. "Here."
"Thanks." Chihiro took it. They walked in silence when Chihiro thought it was alright to tread on a touchy subject.
"How, how's the search going?"
Kyoya stopped walking and seemed to stiffen, but he gave her a small warm smile at the turn of his head. "I've reached a dead end."
Chihiro felt horrible. It wasn't her fault or anything, but too many times had she seen her childhood friend in pain in his letters. He'd always be careful not to show her any weakness though; only that he was in pain. And she couldn't do anything about it.
"I'm sure you'll find him." Chihiro said. She knew she couldn't tack on the 'soon'. Chihiro knew if one added something that promised hope faster, the person could take it in such a way that she didn't care as much as they'd hoped. It was odd logic, and not easily explained, but Chihiro didn't want to promise false hope either. She knew that with Haku, if anyone knew her situation, she wanted no false hope. When it failed, it'd hurt a lot more since she was only deceiving herself. So much more.
"Me, too."
…
Chihiro hadn't seen Kyoya for the rest of the day, but did see him at the bus on the way home.
"Hey." She put her stuff down on the seat and stood next to him. The doors of the bus closed. The bus was virtually empty as it was around 2:30. They'd had an early day.
"Hey." He replied somewhat monotonously, staring out the window. They would pass Haku's river soon. She considered getting off at that stop, but Kyoya might wonder why. She wasn't quite ready for the possibility of him going there.
They passed the hills concealing the new largest section of Haku's river. It was surprising to Chihiro that it was so long.
Unintentionally, Chihiro let out a sigh. Kyoya raised his eyebrows, but Chihiro just gave a smile, saying it was nothing.
They would pass the bathhouse soon. Chihiro thought she knew the approximate location
It was funny, how the two landmarks linking her to the Spirit World were so close to each other.
The bus passed the area Chihiro thought the bathhouse gateway was. She closed her eyes. Next couple stops should be home. When she opened her eyes though, she saw the tip of a red gateway, shimmer briefly, and solidify. The bus zoomed past.
It's not the autumn equinox. Chihiro's eyes widened as the last of the red gateway left sight. The bus' closing doors jarred Chihiro out of her confusion.
Wait! Chihiro's mind cried as she snatched the handle of her bookbag and slammed her hand in between the doors, shoving the closing doors open. She felt a hand slam against the doors with hers as well, helping pry them open. A hand against her back pushed her out onto the station platform. She stumbled out, heard another pair of footsteps, and the bus doors slammed shut and zoomed off.
"Chihiro, what were you thinking!?" Kyoya cried, panting. "What compelled you to get off at this stop so suddenly?"
"A feeling?" Chihiro offered, collapsing on the bus stop's bench.
After a few moments' rest, Kyoya said, "Well, I suppose it's not all bad that we got off here; do you remember the crystal I gave you as a kid?"
Chihiro nodded. "Yeah, it's polished now and everything. It's sitting on my desk."
He grinned. "Want me to show you where I found it?"
Chihiro nodded and got up. However, as they crossed the street, and went up the hill to the right, she realized they were going right for the bathhouse gateway. A knot settled in the pit of her stomach, and she swallowed.
The bathhouse gateway was about to come into full sight when it suddenly vanished, and the two heard muttering.
"That Sylvia; I asked for a location not warping to a hint! I even asked the last of the Alkalines for help—"
Chihiro and Kyoya fell on the other side of the hill, heartbeats rapid, and slowly peeked over. A girl with a blue green hakama, wooden sword, and green blond hair had her back to them. Her hands rested on her hips crossly, and two long locks of hair blew with the wind.
She turned, and the two caught a glimpse of her widening, sharp sea green eyes. The two immediately ducked, and started running. Why? Chihiro didn't know; she just knew the girl was angry, and did not mean for anyone to hear that. As they bounded down the hill, a shadow overcame them, and landed in front.
Hair whipping, eyes cold, and in a fighting stance, her katana was out and pointing at their necks. The pair's hands went up.
"Who are you?" the girl demanded with a grit of her teeth. "Why are you here?"
"No offense, but shouldn't we be asking you that?" Kyoya asked briefly.
Her eyes paid no attention on him, but were instead focusing on Chihiro. First her face, and then her neck. The girl's eyes widened, and she sheathed her sword.
"You, you're Chihiro, aren't you?"
"A Chihiro, yes," she said, slightly edging away. "May I ask how you found out?"
Erin left no hesitation or care that Kyoya was there and listening. "Your necklace looks just like Haku. When he came back he described your hair as well, though it has grown a couple inches since he last saw you."
Chihiro deduced this girl was one of Haku's allies, helping out in the fight against Nikushimi, and she trusted her immediately.
"For a formal introduction," the girl held out her hand. "My name is Erin, I'm a weapons specialist."
"My name's Ogino Chihiro—friend, friend of Haku's." Chihiro shook it awkwardly.
Erin turned to Kyoya, and he shook her hand. "Kishimoto Kyoya, friend of Chihiro's."
Erin's face paled, and her firm shake slackened. If there wasn't enough surprise evident on her face, a hot, muggy wave of air passed through, and it pierced their skin. Chihiro and Kyoya clearly saw Erin's pupils contract. "If you don't mind, I need to speak with both of you in private."
Chihiro nodded, understanding immediately. She gave Kyoya a look.
It's alright, I trust her.
"We can go to my house." Chihiro said. "It's a few stops away from this bus stop." She eyed Erin's clothing. "But your attire is going to attract attention."
"It's fine. It's still around 2:30, no one will be on the bus." Kyoya said. "We should get going though."
"Alright, after you." Erin gestured, and Chihiro took large strides. Kyoya could clearly tell she was anxious to hear her news. But a more pressing question remained on his mind. Who was Haku?
…
The walk back to the bus and to Chihiro's house was all in silence. Brisk, anxious, tense, slightly discomfited silence. Until the key in the lock turned, the lights were flipped on, and the three stepped into the house did Erin collapse in a chair at the dining table.
"Now, an explanation for the two of you," Erin sat up, and Chihiro and Kyoya sat down across from her. "I will start at the beginning because I'm not sure how much Haku has told you. But first, Chihiro, I'm going over one specific anchor rule with you."
Chihiro nodded.
"Do not lose it."
This struck Chihiro by surprise. She thought she was going to learn more of an anchor's duties.
"This is critical." Erin's eyes flashed. "If you lose that anchor Haku's life goes into jeopardy; not that it already isn't; but you understand in his circumstances what it means if you lose it, right?"
Chihiro nodded again, and Erin was satisfied. "Continuing on, there's a preparation for war in the Spirit World. Races of spirits and spirit animals are taking sides, rivers, trees, and marshes are turning to evil before they're taken over by Nikushimi. Nikushimi is a spirit, an embodiment of pure hate, and her henchmen are all spirits of sin and evil things. Her main attack for some reason is on the bathhouse. She's recalled her underlings who've caused a lot of your climate change problems, and switched and shut the gateways.
"Now Yubaba is forming a border of defense; but in hopes to stop the invasion before Nikushimi unleashes it on the solstice, she's sending an attack party out. She's named Haku the leader, and he's chosen a select few to go with him. One being me. However," Erin's voice now spoke with a dark note. She turned to look specifically at Kaito. "He's chosen two girls named Kira and Feya, a boy named Seiji, and your brother, Kishimoto Kyoya."
There was absolute silence in the room.
"This is what I needed to tell you in utmost secrecy. You remember how your brother told you to run?" She looked pointedly, obviously expecting a straightforward, quick answer.
"Yes." Kyoya grit his teeth. "That was the biggest mistake of my life."
"And one of the most selfless choices your brother has made." Erin cut in. "You remember he had a childhood friend named Yuuki Megumi. While you were in the bedrock, your brother ran up the stairs, right?"
Kyoya gave a slight nod, expectant of her to quickly continue, and she did just that.
"A spirit named Sōsa Sagi posed as her, knowing fully your brother would come running. Your brother followed and was dragged off to a hideout in the blizzard stricken northern mountains of Lombard. Nikushimi required his help to launch the attack for some reason, and used Megumi as bait. These people are dangerous. They've carefully planned everything since she and your brother met when they were five. The reason she'd gone missing a year ago is because Sagi had abducted her after knowing that your brother and her relationship would surpass all odds. That's why your she and your brother were kidnapped and taken hostage by that organization—to establish an everlasting bond between the two.
"Nikushimi has been watching you, just as she watched your brother. She saw your brother's fiery spirit and strong willed loyalty, and she used it for her purposes. Once she lured him in, she shut the bathhouse gates so he couldn't get out. If you don't know already, only on the cross quarters can you exit and enter the Spirit World; but for obvious reasons Kaito was never allowed to know. Only until he joined us did he find out how deficient the half-truths he received from Nikushimi."
For once, Erin looked away, and the slight crinkle in her eyes portrayed sadness. "Even if he did, he wouldn't have left. It's why he hasn't come back yet."
Erin continued to say she was a part of the bathhouse battalion, lieutenant to a significant leader who controlled the second wave of attack or defense. Haku was at the rank of a Colonel but had no official title. Two girls named Kira and Feya were the bathhouse's task force, and a boy named Bartholomew was a part of the intelligence agency. A small girl named Aiko aided in the mental ward, Kira who helped cope with serious mental trauma, and Kaito was a combat leader who was always on the front lines.
"Anyhow," Erin continued, beginning to grow into her serious demeanor once again. "In a skirmish between incognito bathhouse forces and his battalion clashed at the southern hills. That was when I first met him," Her expression changed. "Kyoya, he was at his wits end. His fighting skills showed he'd had immense experience with a variety of enemies. His moves were virtually flawless, and he gave no openings. Kira is a mental combatant; she can pick up tiny details on someone's face, and see their mental state. But with her skills or not, you could see it in his eyes he was breaking."
Chihiro took Kyoya's wrist under the table and squeezed.
"At that point, both sides were completely exhausted but still alive and fighting. I entered a spar with your brother, and partway I said," Erin inhaled, and Chihiro noticed she was shaking. " 'You're in agony. I can see it in your eyes.'
"And then your brother stopped fighting. He didn't do anything, and it was as if we were in a listless sphere of quiet with the fight still raging around us. Then he stopped and surrendered. I don't know what he could've possibly gone through being that close to Nikushimi but," she looked up to meet Kyoya's gaze. "He surrendered. He hasn't told us the details yet, just Yubaba, and that's his prerogative, but I have a feeling that Kaito is leaving with the group because of Megumi.
"I talked with him regarding the issue, and he admitted that he's walking right into Nikushimi's hands again. But the fact that he readily admitted to me that Megumi was his absolute first priority has me worried." She sighed. "I'm sorry you have to find out this way; but I don't think you'd have ever found out otherwise."
"Is that why you came here?" Kyoya asked.
"Here?" Erin looked rather surprised. "No, but now I'm glad I did."
"Then why are you here, Erin? If you don't mind me asking." Chihiro said, getting up to get a glass of water.
"I'm looking for my anchor," She said. "I have a couple leads. I lost it the day the gateways switched and shut. It's partially the reason I joined the bathhouse actually; I could travel safer and more efficiently. Most recently, I was told by a spirit named Sylvia it's linked to you, Kaito, Megumi, and Kyoya. I asked for a location, but she ended up warping me to wherever a hint was. Do you have any ideas? It's a stone the color of my eyes."
Thank you, thank you, thank you very much for reading! :D
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