Chapter 12: Our Eyes Shined

Hello faithful readers! Here's the next chapter! I don't know if this would be considered fluff, but okay sure….I hope you enjoy reading this chapter as much as I enjoyed imagining the scenes in my head!

Sorry if they all seem a little OOC.

DISCLAIMER: Everything is owned by Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli. Asahi and the plot, however, is MY IDEA.

KAONASHI: No Face (I am using the Japanese names in my fanfic)

HOTARU: fireflies

OI: hey


We reached Zeniba's home in due time. Asahi seemed to have cheered up a bit as we landed right in front of her door. The little lantern spirit waved at us from his perch. We were greeted by Kaonashi who, with the help of Haku and his magic, was able to tell us that Zeniba was not here at the moment. Ironically enough, she was tending to some business at Yubaba's bathhouse. Despite being invited inside for tea and cookies, I decided to stay outside and look at the stars. Haku and Asahi did the same.

We found a patch of grass close to a nearby garden and laid down in it. I had my arms folded behind my head. The stars were sparkling and I wished on all of them. For what, I don't know. It was just a mixture of hope, happiness, grief, and love sent to the sky. I sighed quietly.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" I asked breaking the silence. Haku turned his head to me and his eyes said it all. I smiled at him not feeling the slightest of blushes flame in my cheeks.

"You know Chihiro, this is the first time that I've looked at the stars like this," murmured Asahi. I gave her a sideways glance and saw her eyes glittering in amazement. I felt glad that I was able to show here something like this before she…I still couldn't bring myself to believe her fate. I vowed that I would try my best to return the favor and make Asahi as happy as I could.

I sat up suddenly in the grass. Something moved and flickered. Haku and Asahi sat up quickly and looked around carefully while holding protective stances. I was still waiting for that flicker of eerie light again and didn't notice Haku put his arm out barring me from it.

"Chihiro? What's wrong?" asked Asahi. My thoughts were on that little glowing light and I didn't hear her as if in a trance, but of my own making.

I jumped over Haku's arm leaving him in shock and sprinted to the flickering light. I finally figured out what it was. They both ran over to me worried. A big smile was plastered across my face when I walked back to the two with my hands cupped cautiously.

"Hotaru!" I exclaimed happily. The two gave me looks of disbelief and amazement. I laughed and opened my hands letting the three fireflies float out quietly. Haku caught one on his finger, while one landed on Asahi's arm. "Back in the human world, I would always catch these and make a wish before I let them go." We all stood there in silence with our eyes closed and minds deep in thought of what we wished for. When we opened our eyes, there were millions of fireflies in the air surrounding us with their faint neon lights.

"Wow…" Asahi said in amazement. "In a way, fireflies are like me. We have this light inside of us that we can show to the world, yet we only have a short time to do so." She smiled at me. I grabbed her hands and we spun around looking at up at the sky. Our loose clothes fluttered out in the wake of the small breeze we formed. Asahi let out her wings and filled the air with soft feathers. Our eyes shined in unison. Haku let loose some of his pearl scales. It was all so magical and I stared in awe at the mixture. Asahi took a scale and one of her feathers to meld a little bracelet with her magic. She slipped it on my wrist. I asked her to make one for her to wear and she did.

"We're matching!" I said holding up my wrist. She laughed and held up hers. The breeze died down and everything floated to the ground. "Where's Haku?"

Asahi looked around. "I don't know, but I have a feeling he'll be back quite soon." I trusted her because she was a guardian spirit.

Suddenly, a huge blast of air hit us and I saw something white whiz right next to me. Haku's laughter echoed in the breeze and he tapped my shoulder saying, "Tag you're it!"

Asahi and I stared at each other somehow knowing what the other was thinking. She burst out in hysterics. "Yes Chihiro, spirits know how to play tag!" Somehow I understood her through the fits of giggles.

"That's not fair you guys know magic!" I yelled. Happy tears leaked out of my eyes and I ran to the nearest tree slapping my hand on the rough bark. "This is base!"

Haku snuck up behind me, "There are no bases in spirit tag."

I turned around to tag him, but he was already gone.

Argh…can this get any harder? I thought seeing both Asahi and Haku flee from me.

"If you guys fly, that's seriously not fair. Just because I'm human," I muttered. An idea struck me and I ran away from the woods to Zeniba's cottage. Kaonashi opened the door and let me hide in the cottage while I waited for them to come out. When they did, I spoke to Kaonashi. "Hey Kaonashi. Would you like to help me catch them please? I need your invisibility."

"Ah…ah.." he responded while nodding his head. We slipped back out into the night. I saw something dart between the bushes and I ran for it. I think I was chasing Asahi because I suddenly saw Haku calmly standing next to a tree right in front of me.

"Not fair Asahi!" he exclaimed when I tagged his shoulder. I ran away laughing and saw Asahi with a smug look on her face.

"Did you see the look on his face?" she asked. I nodded while trying to catch my breath. Out of nowhere, Kaonashi came up and tagged Asahi. "Wha-?" she asked.

"Kaonashi, Haku's it right now! We have to run!" I said clearing up the confusion.

"Run where?" I heard Haku say. He turned into a dragon and was surrounding the tree we were by. Kaonashi quickly vanished. Lucky him. Then, Asahi shot up into the sky.

"Try getting out of this one Chihiro!" she said winking. I sprinted for Haku's tail hoping to be able to jump over it, but he lifted his tail and I crashed into it head on. My eyes were spinning. Whoa. I heard a little purr.

"Okay you win Asahi." I muttered placing my head on his mane.

"Oi! Zeniba's back!" Asahi declared from the sky. "We need to talk remember?"

I stood up leaning on Haku for support. "Jeez Haku, since when did you become so hard? I still can't breathe normally from that." He headbutted my back. "Okay okay I'm walking."

I felt myself getting lifted from the ground by my shirt.

"Put me down Haku! I'm not some baby animal! I can walk seriously!" The whole situation was embarassing. I just hung there awkwardly while he slowly walked towards Zeniba's house. We were farther away than I thought. I sighed loudly so Haku could hear. He "growled" and accidentally let go of me. I landed on my feet and took off towards the smoking chimney.

I heard Haku take off and fly obviously trying to beat me. I pushed myself harder because I refused to lose. Asahi had the door open for me and I hustled inside. She slammed it shut right after I went in and I was confused until I heard the BOOM! The door had a tiny dent and everyone, even Zeniba, burst out laughing. Haku came in rubbing his head with his hair a little ruffled.

He bowed to Zeniba and said, "I'll fix the door right now." Using his magic, the door became as good as new and dent-less. Haku stared down Asahi who, surprisingly, didn't back down, but stared straight back at him.

"What?" she said defensively. "Chihiro wasn't happy."

"You said her happiness wasn't guaranteed. Besides, it was a joke," he retorted.

"Well I can guarantee as much of her happiness as I can while I'm still alive!" she shot back.

Zeniba and I exchanged glances trying our best not to laugh. When we were able to control ourselves, she asked, "Would you like some tea and cake?"


Hope you liked it and had some laughs!

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