I really need some reviews to cheer me up...
sorry for the wait. I was going to update...but things have been difficult......
personal stuff, nothing to worry about
"Relax! She's one of us!"
"No, she's the one who-"
"This is her twin sister." He carefully handed Chihiro to the woman and spoke to her. "Zeniba, we need to get back to headquarters." The woman nodded and took off. Haku grabbed Karin's hand and pulled her away from the battle. Just as she turned away, a human sized green frog was impaled. She moaned quietly and felt her stomach spinning.
"Where are we going?" She asked. "I'm not going any further until you tell me!"
"If you don't go any further, you'll be killed!" He shot back, silencing her. Karin shut her mouth and followed him. She trusted him, he had saved her life after all. But something about this just screamed 'dream'.
"This can't be real. This is some kind of dream. I'm still in the school, passed out. That's it!" She smiled. Haku shoved her behind a large, human looking statue. There were tons of them, and there was apparently a small town just ahead. Haku pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed.
"Karin, I don't know what kind of things you Americans believe, but this is all real. I'll explain everything once we're at headquarters, alright?" His voice was dangerously low, and she felt actually afraid of him. She nodded. He peeked around the statue and sighed.
"Finally. Ok, just follow me, understand?" He took off at a brisk walk, with Karin close behind him. Up ahead she could see the woman whom he had given Chihiro to. He ran to catch up, leaving her behind. When she caught up, she could hear them arguing.
"-but she'll be fine Haku, honestly!"
"I don't care, I want to see her the instant she wakes up." Haku groaned quietly and shook his head. Karin put a hand on his shoulder.
"She'll be fine. She's strong." Haku gave her a small smile and a nod.
"You're right." He started walking forward, hesitating a moment for her. She caught up with him and they walked together towards a large building.
"So... you're the exchange student that Chihiro is sponsering?"
"Yes. And, i'm sorry, but I have no idea who the heck you are."
"I'm an old friend of Chihiro's. I've known her since she was very young." He said with a small smile.
"You aren't human," She started slowly, "are you?" He stopped a moment and looked at her.
"No, I'm not." He gave her a comforting smile. "Most people here aren't." Just as he said that, a large frog-woman and a little frog baby walked past, greeting Haku excitedly.
"Where are we going?" She asked as they walked over a bridge towards the largest building in the area.
"The Bathhouse. There's some people you need to meet if you're to stay here." He bowed to the small frog at the entrance of the Bathhouse and walked through the doors. She followed him cautiously. 'How hard did I hit my head?'
Chihiro woke up just as the sun began to set in the west. She was laying in a small bed in a small, plain looking room. She sat up slowly, holding her head. It was crudely bandaged.
"So, you're awake." A familiar voice said nearby. She followed the sound to see Zeniba standing in the doorway, holding a bowl.
"Yeah..." She smiled and sat up straight, her joints cracking as she did so. "Zeniba, why is it always me who gets hurt?" She asked smiling.
The witch laughed. "Because you're such a threat." She said, one hundred percent serious. She sat on the edge of the bed and handed the bowl to Chihiro. She took it gratefully.
"So, where's Haku?" She asked, blowing off a spoon of the hot soup before trying it. It was savory and rich and really good. Her stomach growled for more.
"He's at the Bathhouse, he'll be here soon." She smiled and kissed the girl's head. "You try and rest." She said with a smile.
"Ok Granny." She smiled and nestled deeper into the warm blankets, allowing the darkness to take her over once more.
Haku walked through the halls of the Bathhouse, Karin close at his heels.
"Is this headquarters?" She asked. He shook his head.
"Sort of. There's headquarters for the fighters, here, and headquarters for Chihiro, myself, Zeniba, Kamajii, and Rin." He explained. She was confused.
"Kamajii? Rin?"
"You've met Kamajii. He was the one who was asking about Chihiro during the battle." She remembered the kind person who she had met: the one who was part spider.
"Rin?"
"Chihiro's aunt. Long story. I'll explain later. Right now, we need to find her and all of us will go to headquarters together." He opened a door and peered inside. He swore violently and grabbed a young woman by the arm.
"Becka, do you know where Rin is?" He asked. She nodded and pointed forward.
"Show us." He said, running after her. Karin followed, still confused. After a few minutes of running, they arrived at a door. Haku opened it. A young woman was sleeping on the floor.
"Rin." He said quietly, shaking her shoulder. She shot awake, yelling inchoherently.
"We need to go back to headquarters. We have a problem." She rubbed her eyes and regarded in blearily.
"We're in the middle of a war Dragon boy, and you're just realizing that we have a problem?" She said sarcastically. Her eyes passed over Karin and gave Becka a warm smile. Her eyes snapped back to the American girl and she gasped.
"Haku, another human? What is it with you and bringing humans here?" She groaned exasperatedly. Haku gave her a wry smile that Karin didn't see.
"Long story. She was attacked with us." He said as she stood up and searched the messy room.
"Attacked?" She turned and dropped the kimono she held and looked at them in shock. "You were attacked?"
"Yes. Everything's fine." He said quietly. She turned back to the pile of clothes and dug through it. She pulled out a cloak and clasped it around her neck. She then kicked the pile of clothes.
"My roommates are such slobs." She shook her head with a small smile. She then walked over to Karin, her hand extended. "My name's Rin."
"I'm Karin." She shook the woman's hand and gave her a small smile.
"Wow Rin, I don't think I've ever seen you this friendly before." Haku smirked. Rin stuck out her tongue while Becka silently laughed. Karin looked at the young teenager and at Haku.
"Becka's mute." He explained. Karin felt bad. She gave the young teen a warm smile, which she returned.
"Ok, let's get going." Rin said, walking out of the room. Haku followed after Karin. Becka waved goodbye to the ground. Karin had just enough time to give her a quick wave before they turned the corner.
They followed Rin to an elevator. She pressed a button and the doors opened with a small ding. The group stepped inside silently. As the doors shut, Rin pulled a lever. The elevator started to descend.
"So, where's Chihiro?" She asked Haku. He shook his head.
"She's already at headquarters." He replied quietly after a moment. She stared at him for a moment, pondering his words.
"What happened?"
He turned to her. "What makes you think that something happened?"
"Well, first you said earlier that you were attacked," She said ticking off fingers, "you've been quiet, she's at headquarters without you, and I've known you for almost a hundred years kid. I know when something's wrong."
"A hundred years?" Karin asked, her voice cracking.
"Time moves faster here than it does in the Human World." Haku said to her. He then turned back to Rin. "She was unconscious. I gave her to Zeniba to take back to headquarters. She's going to be fine, maybe a slight concussion." They reached the ground floor and walked out of the Bathhouse.
"General Haku, I need to speak to you." A voice said. Karin turned to see a green man with webbed hands and feet walking towards them.
'General?' She thought, amazed.
"Take Karin back to headquarters, I'll meet up with you later." He said to Rin. She nodded and he walked off with the man, talking in hushed tones.
"General?" She asked Rin incredulously. Rin smiled.
"Yeah. See, back before Chihiro came here..." As they headed for headquarters, Rin told Karin everything. She listened attentively, not wanting to miss anything. When Rin was done, they had reached a small house.
Sorry the ending isn't that good. I'm tired, and I don't feel that good. Please review :D *huggs*