"It can't be…" Chihiro stared down at Nagi with hidden incredulous eyes, although somewhere deep inside, she had felt she heard this nagging realisation.

"But why? What for?" Nagi didn't answer as he continued to growl in the direction where Haku stood, his long green hair glistening as magnificently as Nagi's silver one.

"What are you scheming Haku." Nagi growled in an undertone.

He inclined his head amusedly as he regarded his furious friend and responded flatly. "Nothing in particular. I've just made a promise with Sen that I'll reveal everything to her, and I've decided to start with you. How about you take off that mask for starters?"

"What if I refuse?"

"Then I'll take it off for you." Haku raised his hands and with a simple sweep, and a sudden gust of wind erupted from his palms and seemed to slice at the air. Chihiro barely had time to brace herself, although the wind was targeted at Nagi, the effect of it was immense.

Nagi tried to counteract by pulling out his fan, but before he could even utter his spell, Haku sent the next attack flying as the fan flew out of Nagi's hand.

"A wind spell, how on earth did a river god like you attain this!? And it feels so familiar…" Nagi gasped as immediate recognition hit him. "You bastard! This is the wind god's! What did you do to Fuujin?"

Before Haku could respond, however, there was a cry as both turned around from their battle at the familiar voice.

"SEN!" They both cried simultaneously, just in time to see Chihiro as she fell off the edge of the castle roof.

Chihiro braced herself as she plummeted downwards through the crisp night air, not even daring to look down at the rapidly approaching ground.

"SEN!" She felt someone grab her as her fall was suddenly slowed. She closed her eyes, hoping that it was Haku that had caught her; the Haku that she knew from so long ago, the one with the kind eyes and heart. Instead she smiled sadly, as she felt her feet connect to the ground.

"Nagi…" She whispered, as she held out the object that was the cause of her fall. Nagi took one look at the fan in Chihiro's hands, taking it with shaky hands.

"This…why would you go so far for such a thing?"

"It's something precious to you isn't it?"

"You-" Nagi started, however was cut off as there was a huge flurry of wind, and Haku landed not too far away from them.

"He's fast.." Nagi muttered under his breath as Haku approached the two. Nagi looked back towards Chihiro who stood lifelessly behind the mask, and back at Haku who's wind power seemed to be getting more and more powerful with every step. He had one chance, he might as well take it before it became none at all.

"Sen! Don't take your eyes off me!" Nagi shouted, as he reached towards his mask. Chihiro however, had already held her breath as she realised what was about to come.

In a swift movement, Nagi ripped off his mask, throwing it to the side as he simultaneously opened his fan. Chihiro gasped as she took in her friend's face for the first time, through the narrow slits of her own mask. His face was as beautiful as she could've imagined, being as white as a porcelain doll, and his sharp eyes glowing a violet-blue. On his head sat two fluffy yet gracefully looking, cat-like ears.

With a large gesture of his fan, a majestic wave of blue fire burst from it, surrounding the tunnel of wind and hiding Haku from view momentarily. Nagi seized this opportunity to rush over to speechless Chihiro, grabbing her shoulders and staring at her eyes through her mask.

"I know you can hear me Sen. For now, since you've signed the contract, I cannot protect you any longer; you must fend for yourself. It's completely up to you, what to believe. My real name is Nagihiko - Sougetsu Nagihiko, and I am none other than Haku and your friend. And yes, i'm the one that bought you here into this world. For now, it Is up to you, who and what to beli-" Nagi swung around as he felt his fire getting distinguished, and truly enough, he found Haku emerging from the smoke and rapidly approaching them.

"There's no time!" Nagi cursed. "You should know by now, Haku isn't who he used to be, he's just an empty outer shell! The things he perceives as truths are in fact lies that he himself does not even realize! Sen, you must distinguish them for yourself, and only then can you save him!"

There was another burst of wind, as Nagi seemed to disperse into thin air, revealed Haku closely behind where Nagi once stood as he sliced through the air.

"I'm sure Sen…if it's you, you can be able to free us from our curses…"

The voice was so small that Chihiro wasn't sure if Haku had been able to hear it, but something in her heart told her that Nagi was fine. Despite that however, she couldn't stop her tears escaping her eyes as tried her best to remain impassive, acting continuously as if she was under the contract of her loved one that stood before her with more and more empty-looking eyes.

"He's gone now, you don't need to worry." Haku said softly as he reached out his hands towards Chihiro as she took it, trying to hide her hesitation and calm her breathing. Since when was his hands as cold as his voice? Clenching her free hand tightly into a ball, she tried to steady her shaking self as the two returned back into the castle. The night around them shrouded into darkness as the sinking moon hid itself deeper behind the gathering grey clouds.