Disclaimer: I don't own Spirited Away

So sorry for the delay of this story and thank you so much everyone for your encourangement. I am glad to know that there are still readers who are interested in the rest of this story.

Happy reading!

Chapter 10: Like the Old Days

It was a beautiful morning with clear sky. Birds were flying high in the sky and the trees swayed gently in the morning breeze.

Chihiro was out the yard with Kenta and the shrine Kodama, Kaede, Karin and Kanna. Now that she had gained sight they were so happy to be able to talk to Chihiro again.

Kenta was showing off how well he could transfigure. He amused Chihiro who knelt outside watching him and cheering him on.

Haku and Toshihiro sat by the Shrine porch watching them in a distance.

"We still do not know how much spiritual power she gained." Toshihiro said.

"All I know is that she loses her sight whenever I touch her." Haku sighed.

"It could be that your Qi level is high that causes a seal to her sight." Toshihiro smiled slightly. "It is also a good thing. You come as a protective charm to her."

Haku remained silent and continued watching her. Is that good news? He didn't know what to expect.

Not long later, Kenshin came out yawning and stretching from the back of the shrine where their house was. He raised an eyebrow and scratched his head when he saw Chihiro near the Torii talking to nobody.

"What is she doing?" Kenshin asked when he walked up to Toshihiro and Haku.

Both of them just looked at one another in silence.

Chihiro who noticed Kenshin stood up and waved happily not bothered that he saw her doing something strange.

"Ohayo Ken!"

"Whom are you talking to?" Kenshin asked walking up to her.

Haku placed a hand over his forehead and shut his eyes shaking his head slightly.

Toshihiro just smiled.

"She got to learn all over again that no one else could see and be careful." Toshihiro chuckled.

"I will talk to her about it." Haku sighed.

"It reminded me when she was younger, spirits tend to annoy her and she couldn't ignore them." Toshihiro smiled. "It came with years of practice. When you came to meet her. She had mastered how to ignore and pretend that they are not there when they appear. Also how to talk to them without people noticing."

Haku watched the both them talking in a distance while Kenta and the tree spirits moved away. Since he was a youkai he could pick up their conversation easily not meaning to eavesdrop.

"I was practicing on my speech ability." Chihiro just said without hesitation and a big smile on her face. It didn't bother her that Kenshin caught her doing something strange.

Haku could see Kenshin rolled his eyes.

"So have you got a theme for what you want to do for your project?"

"Sort of…" Kenshin just shrugged.

"Are you gonna tell me what that 'sort of' is?" Chihiro raised her eyebrows.

"I am going for a walk." Kenshin sighed.

"Eh?" Chihiro frowned at him as he headed to the Torii. "Oi… you asked me to be your project partner and you are leaving me in the dark?"

Kenshin just walked on without a word.

Chihiro turned back to the Shrine.

"Kohaku, Toshihiro-san!" She called. "We are going for a walk!"

Haku got up.

"I'm going with them." He said and walked over to Chihiro who waited for him when she saw him coming over.

Toshihiro watched them walked down the stairs together and Kaede came up to him.

"Do you think its wise for Chihiro to go out?" She asked. "She just gained her sight. Who knows what she will meet out there and she is still not use to seeing strange looking youkai."

"It's going to be alright." Toshihiro smiled. "Haku is with her."

Chihiro was half skipping as she walked next to Kenshin while Haku followed behind her quietly. Her attitude was so childlike that Haku was still unable to accustom with. Can person change so much after losing their memory? Haku sighed inwardly.

"Ne… Ken lets go somewhere!"

"Not interested."

"Come on, we are on a holiday now!"

"Where else can we go in such a boring place?" Kenshin stopped walking abruptly and Chihiro almost knocked into him. However she stopped in time and still looked cheerfully at him.

"I was thinking…." Chihiro grinned cheekily.

It was after all summer, the crowd at the beach was huge. There were cheers and laughter and people playing volleyball on the soft sand. Chihiro and her friends manage to get a good spot near the shore with an umbrella.

Kenshin sat under the umbrella looking extremely annoyed. He had no idea how Chihiro got to drag him here, to the beach of all places. This was one of the spots that he hated most. He frowned when girls in bikini walked by were throwing him seductive looks.

"This is why I hate this place so much…." He muttered under his breath.

Chihiro then came and sat down next to him with a huge grin on her face.

"Come on Ken…. It's summer…"

"It is not my thing…" Kenshin said softly still frowning.

"You wanted to know my hometown so this is how it is."

"I don't see you like wearing a swimsuit why do you even like to come here?"

"I don't know…" Chihiro shrugged.

"All the girls just know how to parade in bikinis and walked around the beach… why would they even find it interesting I don't understand."

"It's just mindless fun Ken…" Chihiro sighed. "Just try to relax…"

She placed Eiji's sunglasses over Kenchin's eyes gently.

"Here maybe with this you can try to relax more." Chihiro told him before standing up. "I'm going to go look for Kohaku. I think I saw him going over the hills."

Before waiting for Kenshin to reply Chihiro was already walking away.

"Just great…" He muttered angrily before lying back on the picnic mat.

Haku looked around the quiet cove. He remembered this place so well when he came with Chihiro the last time. It was also the place where Chihiro was abducted by the dragons. This beach brought back many memories he had with Chihiro.

He looked out the horizon quietly watching the blue gentle waves wash up towards shore. The breeze was slightly cool even though it was summer. It was still perfect like before. He needed this peace. After witnessing how close Chihiro was with Kenshin his heart was in turmoil.

Haku closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"Kohaku?"

Haku opened his eyes immediately and turned towards Chihiro. He didn't expect Chihiro to come looking for him. She was smiling gently at him with her head inclined. He almost reached out to hug her.

"Why are you here?" Chihiro asked.

"I like the peace…" Haku told her.

Chihiro chuckled. "Somehow sometimes I think you and Ken seemed similar in some ways."

Haku raised an eyebrow but kept his gentle smile

Chihiro turned towards the horizon and took a deep breath.

"But it is sure really pretty here." She said softly. "It is amazing how you manage to find it."

Haku's smile faded and a small frowned formed on his face. He blinked.

"What did you say again Chihiro?"

Chihiro turned to Haku with surprise.

"Huh?"

"You don't remember this place?" Haku asked.

He recalled Chihiro was the one who brought him to this cove.

Chihiro looked back at him inquiringly.

"I have never been here before." Chihiro told him.

Haku stared at her wide-eyed. Why did she lose this part of the memory? She could remember all the places she had been, it was only the memories of him were removed.

"But somehow this place seemed familiar." Chihiro said turning back to the sea. "I had been here before haven't I?"

She asked Haku looking rather sad.

Haku sighed softly and reached out to brush her hair away from her face gently.

Chihiro turned to him slowly and looked at him shyly.

Haku smiled. "Yes we share a pretty amazing memory here."

Chihiro blushed.

"You were abducted by the dragons here at this cove…" Haku smiled widened. He knew that Chihiro was thinking about something else to blush so red.

Chihiro sucked in her breath and almost hit Haku.

"Moh…." She cried angrily. "You did that on purpose."

"What were you thinking?" Haku teased her.

"Nothing!" Chihiro turned away and walked towards the shore.

Haku followed her smiling.

"Whao seashells!" Chihiro cried and knelt down and reach out towards a pretty pink seashell near the shore. "They are so pretty."

"They are home of small sea spirits." Haku told her. "Be careful not to pick those that are occupied."

Chihiro stalled in her movement when she heard Haku's voice vividly in her head.

"Every seashell lives a spirit… taking them away from here is like stealing their homes."

"I know… But I made sure I picked those that are abandoned! I'm not that cruel to take their homes away." That was her own voice echoing in her mind.

It was so sudden the words of the past came into her head. She placed her hand over her mouth in shock as she stared into sea.

What was that?

She was so sure that voice belonged to Haku. She turned around to him slowly her eyes filled with uncertainty.

"What's wrong Chihiro?" Haku asked worriedly when he noticed a drastic change in mood.

"We did come here before." Chihiro said softly. "You told me about the seashells too…"

Haku's eyes widened.

"Oh my…" Chihiro had her both her hands covering her mouth. "I am remembering something…"

She took a step back because she was staggering. She suddenly felt her feet were about to give way. That was when one of her feet step into the waters by the shore. Haku who saw her about to fall was going to reach out for her when the sky turned dark and a shadow loomed before them.

"I never thought that she would come here since this memory was taken." A dark and eerie voice said behind them.

"The siren…" Haku muttered under his breath filled with shock.

They never ventured close to shore before. They were always in deep sea.

Chihiro turned around before she could see who it was she was engulfed into a human size seashell. Haku had no time to react either and both the siren and Chihiro was towed back into sea.

"No…" Haku said softly his fangs were appearing.

His eyes turning bright green that shone in the light and he transformed diving into sea after them.

The only thing Chihiro remembered a shadow loomed over them and she was cast into total darkness. She had no idea where she was. The space she was in was cramped cold and no matter how she pushed the lid above her it wouldn't budge. She could feel movement like she was being transported. Was she being kidnapped again and at the same place?

Finally when she could feel stillness outside she decided to try opening the lid again. She pushed and it gave a creak. She stalled momentarily. Is this a good idea? She had no idea what was outside and who she will come to face. But she can't stay in this confide area forever.

Slowly she pushed open the lid and realised she was in a very big shell. She scanned the surroundings. She could feel herself under water again. But this place was different from the palace. It gloomy and dark, there weren't a single fishes around and it was rather lonely.

She climbed out the shell slowly and placed her feet on the cold wet stone ground. The darkness of the around the area was illuminated by a glow not far from the room she was in. Even though it was dangerous to roam around an unfamiliar and scary place Chihiro decided to check out that light. Somehow it seemed like it was calling to her.

She walked over to it slowly.

As she came closer she saw balls of light bouncing in what look like a huge glass urn. Those light… where did she see it before?

Chihiro frowned and raised her hand towards the urn.

"You are really brave." The male voice she heard earlier by the beach said behind her.

Chihiro whirled around quickly.

"You were exactly how I hear you would be… sadly you lost your memories and abilities."

A male siren? She heard Haku called him that. His hair was dark and long. He looked like human only with scales around his arms and the side of his face. Chihiro could see a deep scar over his left eye and it was shut. Besides the gruesome scar he doesn't seem too bad looking.

"Aren't siren female?" Chihiro asked curiously.

He raised his eyebrows and smirked.

"We have both female and male in our species." He answered. "You seemed pretty calm despite the fact I abducted you."

"If you wanted to hurt me you wouldn't have left me unattended in that shell and most probably you would have done it already."

He started laughing.

"So you are confident that I wouldn't hurt you."

Chihiro shrugged.

"But I don't understand why you brought me here." Chihiro said and turned back to the urn. The light was still calling out to her. She feel a chilled when she watched them dancing gently in the glass urn.

"Because your memories are here"

Chihiro turned to him in surprise.

"As soon as you step close to the cove one of your memories escaped."

Chihiro's eyes widened. Is that why she recalled the time with Haku? Every time she did she will lose it again.

"You are breaking the spell on you soon." He told her.

"Spell?"

"There is a spell cast on you so that your memories couldn't find their way back to you." He explained. "But memories with such spiritual powers are usually a lot stronger than any binding spell."

"Why are you telling me this?" Chihiro narrowed her eyes at him.

"I want you to help me."

"I don't even know who you are."

"Aozora Yuudai" He told her. "Hero under the blue sky."

Chihiro raised one of her eyebrows.

"Leader of the sirens."

"What is it you what me to do?" Chihiro asked still feeling a little worried and suspicious.

"I want you to bring my mate back to me."

"Mate?"

"She was taken one night during the storm. I tried to save her but they were stronger…"

"Who took your mate?"

"Fishermen."

Chihiro almost choked. Humans?

"But I thought human can't see you."

"They see us but only in a form of a fish."

Chihiro pale… wouldn't that mean his mate was already dead.

"Ano Aozora –san…" Chihiro started nervously. "Did you say fisherman took your mate when she was in a form of a fish?"

"You don't look so good suddenly." He saw how pale Chihiro had become.

"Well, do you believe that your mate is still alive?"

"I want a closure. Anything to know that she is no longer around or if she is alive and suffering."

"What you want me to do." Chihiro asked in an uncertain way. She had no idea if her spiritual abilities are back and even if it was she had no clue how to control it. She wouldn't know what to do.

"I will return you this memories but it's a contract to look for my mate."

Chihiro turned to the urn filled with light.

"Are this all my memories?"

"No… some where stolen from me when something broke into my palace to steal a potion."

"Potion?"

"It's a very potent potion to manipulate and control anything human or youkai only sirens can make them. "

Chihiro blinked and remembered about the girls in the woods. So that was what happened. It wasn't the siren who did it willingly it was stolen.

"But why are you holding my memories?"

"I was only keeping it when they came to my palace. I didn't know what it was until I caught everyone one of it and place it in this urn. Siren doesn't like light. We are sensitive to it. I can't have it floating around here freely."

"Well, I …." Chihiro started but was cut short when the whole place started to shake.

Chihiro tried to grab onto anything nearby so she wouldn't fall over. She caught hold of some seaweeds daggling from the ceiling. It was like a severe earthquake under the sea. What was going on?

"Ah he has arrive…" Aozora said looking upwards.

"What… what? Chihiro still looked confused.

"Your guardian…"

" Guardian?" Chihiro frowned and when it dawn to her who came, face cleared. "Oh…"

"Or used to be your guardian." He smirked slightly

Chihiro looked up to see a white dragon entered the atmosphere. She took in a deep breath and her eyes widened. She had never seen Haku in this form before. Since she had no memories of him she had no idea how he looked like even though she knew he was a dragon.

He looks amazing…. Chihiro thought in admiration.

His scales were white but shone in silvery light. Were his eyes so bright green before?

Haku came down next to Chihiro had transform into his human form immediately. Even in the state of anger he did notice how Chihiro had looked at him that kind of made his temper simmer slightly.

"Its an honour to meet you Kokahu-ouji." Aozora bowed.

Haku narrowed his eyes slightly at him and turned to Chihiro. She smiled at him like nothing was wrong. She didn't look hurt and she seemed fine. He turned back to Aozora furiously.

"You shouldn't have done that."

"It's the only way to make her listen to my request." Aozora smiled without remorse of what he did. "When she stepped into the waters her memories were in havoc."

Aozora turned towards the urn. " That is when I know she had returned to that cove."

Haku looked over and his eyes widened. It was Chihiro's memories. It was here all along. He turned back to Aozora angrily.

"You…" Haku stared but Chihiro stopped him.

"He was only save keeping it when it came to his palace." Chihiro explained to Haku. "However some were stolen…"

"Stolen?" Haku frowned.

"It happened like a week or so ago when my potions was stolen too. Ayatsurimasu potion was taken."

"I think that is what happened to my friends when we were camping." Chihiro told Haku.

Just to hurt Chihiro, they got as low as steal from siren. Haku thought furiously.

"If you had Chihiro's memories all this time you should have told me." Haku said suspiciously. "Everyone knows I had been always trying to look for Chihiro."

"You must know Sirens don't leave their haven." Aozora told him. "We are sensitive to light and we can't go near your palace and nobody will come near our haven or will delivery a message to you. It was a great risk for me to go up to shore earlier too. But knowing Chihiro was so nearby I didn't want to miss the chance to get her."

"What is it you want?" Haku still couldn't trust him.

"I need her help."

"What?" Haku frowned deepened.

"She can take her memories." Aozora said walking over to the urn and place his hand on it. The urn disappeared then the ball of lights rushed out forming into a huge ball and speed towards Chihiro.

Chihiro gasped and staggered slightly when a huge ball of light collided with her. The sensation was warm and the memories that she lost came rushing passed her eyes like a fast forward movie. It started to hurt her head.

She clutched the sides of her head with both hands with her eyes shut and head bowed. When everything ended she gasped and looked up with her eyes wide open with a tear slid down her eyes.

"Memories that shouldn't to be forgotten…" She whispered.

With that everything went dark and she collapsed.

"Chihiro!" Haku cried and quickly grabbed her when she was crumpling towards the floor. Haku managed to grab her before she hit the ground.

to be continued...

Ayatsurimasu (あやつる) to Control, manipulate

aozora (青空), Blue skies

Kodama: spirit