(A/N: Hello, how are you guys doing? I'm fine. Sorry for the late update, but here you go.)

Disclaimer: I only own the OC's

Chapter 12: The Snow Woman

''How long have I been here? Hours, days, weeks. I don't know,'' said Haku aloud, he was in a dark empty void, sitting on the ground and surrounded with a white glow. He looked down at his feet and sighed.

''Am I dead?'' asked Haku to himself, he looked around, there was nothing. The only thing he could sense was the noise of dripping water, it was an echo of his river.

''I wonder how Chihiro is doing? Wait Chihiro! Is she alright?,'' said Haku. ''Oh no, I will never forgive myself if she's hurt.'' His voice echoed into the black void.

Haku was empty, depressed and he hated to sit here, trapped in the dark, doing nothing at all. Chihiro might be in danger or maybe she's dead. Haku didn't want to think about that. Suddenly a blurry image appeared in front of him, Haku narrowed his eyes when the memory that shone began to get more and more clear. It was the time at the flower gardens after Chihiro had her emotional breakdown.

''I've got to go now. I'll be back to help you soon just stay out of trouble,'' Haku reassured Chihiro.

''Thank you Haku. You're a good friend,'' replied Chihiro. She ran towards the bathhouse and Haku was watching her before he turned into his dragon form and flew away.

Then image began to fade away and it disappeared.

Haku hung his head ''I couldn't protect her. I have failed. I'm not a good friend.''

''You haven't failed!'' called a voice in the distance, Haku looked up, trying to find what the source of the voice was. He turned around and saw Mr. Jiangshi standing next to him.

''Mr. Jiangshi?'' said Haku confused.

''Sorry I couldn't contact you earlier,'' said Mr. Jiangshi. he looked around at the empty dark void. He sighed sadly.

''How is Chihiro? Is she okay?'' asked Haku worried.

''Have no worries Kohaku. Chihiro is fine she is going to awaken you from your deep slumber,'' answered Mr. Jiangshi.

His answer didn't help Haku at all, he is glad that Chihiro is safe, but for how long. She wandered around into the Spirit World, unprotected.

''You did what?'' snapped Haku. ''You sent Chihiro out all alone into the Spirit World?!" He could not contain his anger and worry.

''I'm aware of the dangers, that's why I've sent my most loyal apprentice along with her.'' Mr. Jiangshi sat down besides Haku in the void. The jiangshi glowed with a blue aura.

''So you sent one of your guards, like the one who tried to kill Chihiro?'' said Haku with disgust.

Mr. Jiangshi lifted an eyebrow. ''She is different, I trust her so there is really nothing to worry about.''

''So how is Chihiro's contract?'' asked Haku. ''Have you found a way to break it? A loophole perhaps? That's why you're here right?''

''Yes about that, that's why I'm here I have a few questions about the contract,'' answered the Lord. ''You see I've heard that Chihiro took some sort of test three years ago, but she failed the test, but in the contract there was nothing about a test. Can you explain it?''

Haku nodded. ''Yes. Chihiro went to Zeniba at the time with Boh and Yu-bird, to receive the Golden Seal, I have stolen on behalf by Yubaba. When I woke up I went to Yubaba. I made a deal with her: Bring her son back and in exchange Yubaba would tear up Sen's contract.''

''But she never did,'' interrupted Mr. Jiangshi.

Haku released a sad sighed. ''Yubaba had one condition,'' He continued. ''In order to break the spell around the contract, Chihiro had to take a test. A test which she will remember her parents. Chihiro was a lucky one, because most of the bathhouse workers came here with nothing at all and they are trapped forever in Yubaba's grip, but she failed the test and therefore she can't go home with her parents.''

Mr. Jiangshi rubbed his chin. ''A test of remembering you say?" Mr. Jiangshi's experssion hardened into one of concentration. "Hmmm...did you asked Yubaba for another deal?''

Haku looked up into the void ''Yes I did, several times, I tried everything to break her contract. I even went to Zeniba. But Yubaba adamantly did not want to show Chihiro's contract to me and my requests for another test were also declined,'' explained Haku. ''Yubaba only seeks money and she assigned the most despicable and disparaging tasks to Chihiro.''

''I see. I've read her contract several times, but I couldn't find an escape clause in it so far, that's why I was asking you,'' said Mr. Jiangshi. ''So the test was her only chance of freedom?''

''Yes I believe so. It was her only chance and she blew it,'' answered Haku. There was a small pause between the two spirits. Mr. Jiangshi was waiting for Haku to continue his talk.

''It's not I am angry at Chihiro for failing the test, but I feel sorry of her. I saw her suffer and it made me suffer. I hate myself, I hated that I couldn't protect her, I hated that I couldn't do anything to give Chihiro her freedom back. Chihiro wasn't the one who failed, I was the one who really failed. I failed to protect my best and only good friend.''

Mr. Jiangshi closed his eyes. ''As I said before you haven't failed. It was just fate, you can't change the things that already happened.''

Haku sat there he didn't said a single word towards the lord. He was listening to the sound of dripping water, the echoes of his river. Chihiro told him that the humans built an apartment building on top of his river and that it flowed underground. He never attempted to find his river; he was busy with protecting Chihiro

''She is really special to you. Am I right?'' asked Mr. Jiangshi.

Haku nodded ''Yes Chihiro means everything for me. I don't know why I saved her that day. The day she fell into my river. I didn't know the little girl I saved would repay me by returning my name someday." Or the girl he would love someday.

''Even the tiniest of choices we make snowball into something beautiful, dangerous, or both. The way you jumped into Kamin's beam to absorb most of its energy without you Chihiro could have died, but she didn't. Chihiro is willing to do everything to save the people who she cares the most and that is including you, the one she loves the most.'' Mr. Jiangshi explained.

Haku was speechless. The jiangshi was right. She was willing to risk her life to save his and he would do the same, maybe she shared the same feelings towards him. Lin was right. She always said that Chihiro loved him, but he denied the silliness of it.

''But we can't be together, when all of this is over she will go to the human world where she belongs and I remain in this world, where I belong. Chihiro is a human and I'm a spirit. She will grow old and die and I will go on with life. Do I even want us to be together? It can ruin our friendship.'' It was a complicated, heartbreaking ordeal.

Mr. Jiangshi shook his head. ''You know Kohaku, it's taboo to fall in love with a human, it was almost forbidden by the Spirit Council, but the votes must be unanimous. There was only one who disagreed with the new law of the Spirit World and that person was me. You see it's taboo, but not illegal. It's very important that if she goes back to the human world you will probably never be able to see her again,'' explained the vampire lord. ''So is it worth it?''

Haku nodded in agreement. ''I want the best for her. If she goes back to the human world with her parents she will be free. She'll be happy and free and that's all that matters.''

''All right then, but what will you do when Chihiro found her way to the human world?'' asked Mr. Jiangshi.

Haku never thought about that, he was always busy with Chihiro and her contract that he didn't make any future plans.

''Maybe I'm going to find my river, then I'm a little bit closer to the human world,'' answered Haku. ''But the chance is small that I should ever find it.''

Mr. Jiangshi began to chuckle. ''Nonsense Kohaku, you are bounded to your river I'm sure you can find it and one thing about rivers, rivers can't be destroyed there will be always water of the river flowing underground or in small streams. If your river is destroyed you shouldn't be here now.''

There was a small pause between their conversation, until Mr. Jiangshi broke the silence.

''Look I'm going to look into the contract a few more times, you don't have to worry. Just have faith in her. I know she can do it and you know it, too.'' Mr. Jiangshi stood up from the ground and walked a few steps away then he turned around.

''Goodbye Kohaku I really enjoyed our little talk.'' He bowed towards the river god who bowed back, then in a bright flash he disappeared leaving Haku behind. The void in his mind wasn't empty anymore, but filled with the images of Chihiro.

(-)(-)(-)(-)

Chihiro opened her eyes, she suddenly felt a cold wind through her entire body. Chihiro looked around and saw the entire landscape covered in light snow and mist. She looked over to Akane and No-Face, who are still asleep, but they were partly covered in the snow. The fire jar is out and it didn't even smoke anymore.

''What is this? Why is there snow everywhere?'' wondered Chihiro in her mind.

Akane opened her eyes and she quickly stood up from the ground. No-Face did the same. He stood up and looked around.

''Snow!'' exclaimed Akane, surprised.

Chihiro looked around and saw a white figure in the distance, it was foggy, so she couldn't see clearly, but then she blinked her eyes. The silhouette began to get closer. Chihiro rubbed her eyes and the figure began to get closer, but in a different pose, Chihiro blinked again and again, till the figure was only a few meters away . Chihiro could now clearly see who that figure really was. It was a woman with long black hair and dressed in a white kimono, her skin was pale, even paler than Akane.

''Chihiro get behind me,'' said Akane.

Chihiro took a few steps back, but she saw that the spirit was hurt, one of her sleeves was covered in a mix of water and blood.

''But she's hurt, she needs help,'' protested Chihiro.

Akane shook violently her head. ''Chihiro, do you understand? That woman over there is a yuki-onna!''

The yuki-onna grunted from the pain ''Who are you? What are you doing here in my land?''

''We are just travelers. Are you okay?'' Chihiro replied.

''Do I look okay?'' shrieked the yuki-onna ''Travelers you say, what is a human doing in the Spirit World?''

''It doesn't matter if a human is in this world, we are looking for the seeds of the snow flower,'' answered Akane.

''You mean these,'' said the yuki-onna. She stuck her hand towards the group and unfolded her fist. Inside in her hands were some seeds and white leaves.

''Ah ah ah,'' said No-Face, while he pointed at the seeds in the hands of the Snow Woman.

''These are the last ones and no you can't have them. You must wait for the next season.''

''Next season? We don't have that much time!'' exclaimed Chihiro.

The yuki-onna shook her head ''Too bad.'' Suddenly she began to hyperventilate and she coughed heavily.

''You are wounded, can we help?'' Chihiro offered. Akane stayed sharp and focused, she touched her sword in case of an attack.

The yuki-onna brutally declined it ''I don't need help from a human!'' with her last strength the snow woman blew a storm of ice towards Chihiro. She dodge the attack several times, making the Snow Woman even more angrier than before.

''All right, enough. No more dodging this time, human!'' bellowed the Snow Woman, she grunted from the pain of her arm, while she tried to lift it up. A wave of air mixed with ice came out of her hand. There was no dodging this time for Chihiro. She was preparing for it, but then the wave got stopped by Akane, who blocked it with her own hand.

The yuki-onna realized that she no longer had strength left and she collapsed into the snow she created. Without hesitation Chihiro ran towards the fallen Snow Woman.

''Chihiro!'' cried Akane. No-Face tried to grab her, but he failed.

''Be careful. The yuki-onna are false creatures,'' warned Akane.

Chihiro looked at the body of the Snow Woman, then she notice the wound on her arm.

''That's odd, I thought the yuki-onna would have the ability to heal their own wounds,'' said Chihiro.

''The wound on her arm was caused by dark magic,'' replied Akane.

''So can you help her?'' asked Chihiro.

Akane was surprised. She wondered why Chihiro tried to help a spirit who tried to kill her.

''I can try,'' answered the jiangshi. She pressed her hand on the wound and murmured something inaudible. The wound slowly closed in, not even a scar was visible.

''There, all done.''

The yuki-onna opened her eyes and she quickly stood. She took a step away from the group, who were watching her.

The yuki-onna was surprised that they helped her. ''Why….Why did you help me?'' she asked. ''You could have grabbed these seeds and ran away leaving me here for dead, but you did not. I do not understand.'

Chihiro held up her shoulders. ''Why would I do that? I know humans are not the most trustworthy at times but that doesn't mean all humans are heinous. Look I'm sorry for what my kind did to you.'' Chihiro bowed towards the now surprised Snow Woman.

''And you should be apologizing, too,'' said Akane, while she crossed her arms.

''for what?' asked the Snow Woman irritated.

''For attacking Chihiro for no reason,'' replied Akane cold.

The yuki-onna rubbed her head in embarrassment. ''I am not the kind of spirit who apologize, but I can offer you a favor.'' She stuck out her hand and unfolded it front of Chihiro.

''Here you go human, you crossed my land to look for these don't you? I don't need them anymore,'' said the yuki-onna.

''Wait, how do we know it's not a trick, why are you suddenly so nice to us?'' interrupted Akane.

''A trick?'' said the yuki-onna sarcastic. ''Why would I trick you. Look I know was mad that you came across the land. I thought you were with the one who cause me the wound on my arm. I thought it was a human.''

Akane didn't response. She kindly accepted the seeds from the yuki-onna and she put it away into her robe.

''Do you know how he looked like?'' asked Chihiro.

The yuki-onna rubbed her chin. ''I don't really remember I was still in shock, because my wound wouldn't heal. But I could remember him, he was pale, large and he had a mustache.''

''Kamin!'' Akane growled.

''So you know him, are you friends?'' asked the Snow Woman. Chihiro and Akane shook both their heads.

''He hurt my best friend and we are now trying to find him in order to cure my friend,'' answered Chihiro.

The yuki-onna nodded. ''Okay I won't bother you and your friends, you have permission to travel further in my land.'' Just the Snow Woman was about to leave the spot, she heard a grunt coming towards the group.

''Ah ah,'' grunted No-Face.

The yuki-onna turned around as she began to speak. ''Oh call me Shinda Yuki.''

Then she melted and disappeared, along with the snow she created. The mist faded away and the clouds flowed away. The sun was at its highest.

''So we got the seeds, now there is only one ingredient-,'' said Chihiro.

''Kamin,'' added Akane.

Chihiro nodded. As they walked away, Chihiro looked behind her, she saw the large tree getting smaller and smaller, until it disappeared into the grassy hills.

''Are you nervous?'' asked Akane.

Chihiro shook her head. ''No, actually I'm probably kind of used to it. Too bad I'm going to miss all of this once I get home.'' Chihiro pulled the dagger out of her pocket. She was walking while looking at it.

''You should keep it hidden until we arrive,'' said Akane while she looked at Chihiro's dagger.

Chihiro nodded and she put the dagger away. Can she really do it? Fight a powerful dark spirit, sure she faced dangerous creatures and yokai before, the Three Spirits, a Mountain Spirit and even a hungry Kappa, but she never dealt with a jiangshi soccer before. Will she survive? Of course she will, she must survive, otherwise everything will be in vain. Haku will fade away, her parents will be stuck there forever and she will disappoint all of her friends, even Yubaba, that old hag.

Chihiro sighed, while she walked further in the fields, with much convenience, but also some uncertainty of what she might expect at the Mr. Jiangshi's lair.

(-)(-)(-)(-)

Meanwhile in a room, filled with sheets, scrolls and books. Sat an irritated jiangshi on a large throne, reading a book about dark magic and how to bring the dead to life. He grinned, while he was watching the bodies of the guards, lying across the room. It was filled with smoke and fog. Outside the room he heard voices of the servants and guards, shouting and wispering.

''Soon…Soon I will get my revenge.''

(A/N: You probably wonder why the Snow Woman wasn't mad at Chihiro anymore, she hated humans first, but she never saw or spoke to one of them untill she came across Chihiro. The Snow Woman was also mad, because she was just trying to protect her land against the one who wounded her.

foreign word list:

Yuki-Onna (you-key-oh-nah): Literally meaning snow woman. They are part of Japanese folklore.

Youkai (yoooo-kah-ee): means (evil) spirit, are a class of monsters and spirits.

So I hope you liked this chapter, please fav, follow or leave a review and I will see you next time in another chapter.)