Hi dear and fearless readers!
No, I am not dead, life just does what life does and get crazy.
A special thanks to : Smile Back; Jinxxs; yashatsuki; chimera-writes,picklesisadeadcat
your reviews got me back to writing again. Thanks guys!
Without further rambling, I hope you enjoy:
Chapter 21- The stupidness of confused humans
Night had fallen and Chihiro felt her body naturally wake up. How long had she been here in the Spirit World? Long enough for her body to adjust obviously. Silently getting out of the bed she had chosen, she wandered over to large open window. Despite all that she had to to still figure out about the Spirit World, she was grateful that she had sent Dean back to report to her. She wasn't sure when she would be able to leave, but she knew deep within her soul, that she wasn't ready to remain here on this side indefinitely.
"Mom? Where are you?"
Chihiro turned as she heard Aki's panicky voice.
"Aki, I'm right here. You can go back to sleep if you want to sleep a little longer."
Instead, Aki immediately got out of bed and ran over to her. When his arms finally released their grip and Chihiro was able to convince him to get dressed, her mind went to what would his psychiatrist think of all of this. And here she had been thinking that they had made some progress. Silly her. They would definitely have some more issues to work through when they got back.
If they both were able to return. She really didn't know if she could trust Tatsuo.
Chihiro quickly pushed down that fear. She wouldn't show it and upset Aki.
Aki, immediately sensing something was wrong, ran back to Chihiro, his kimono still untied and flopping about him. "Mom, is everything ok?"
Chihiro looked down into his golden brown eyes so full of love, while she instinctively played with his hair. Her words unthinkingly tumbled out of her mouth.
"When did you start calling me Mom?"
Aki flinched as if she had hit him. His eyes looked away and refused to meet hers.
"Sorry, Chihiro...I'm ready lets get breakfast…" He mumbled as he removed himself from Chihiro's arms to finish tying his kimono.
The emptiness between then felt worse then the separation from when he had been kidnapped. Chihiro wanted to slap herself from her stupid words. Dr. Osaka, Aki's psychiatrist had tried multiple times to get Chihiro to accept that Aki needed to be able to call her "Mom" or "Mother". It was something about the instinctive need in all of us. The need to know that we have someone who loved us unconditionally; someone who would take of us, kiss our booboos, and chase the bad guys away. In short, a mother like figure.
In all actuality, Chihiro knew that she was the only "mother figure" Aki had ever really known. But Chihiro couldn't ...even after meeting Rei again in the Spirit World... having Aki call her "Mom" still felt like another one of her betrayals to Rei. She didn't deserve that title from Aki. She would still refer to Aki as her son, because that was what he was. But she didn't know if she could be his Mother.
"Please take care of Him" Whispered again in her memory.
Did Rei mean for her to take care of both Tatsuo and Aki?
It would be so Rei to ask the impossible of her. And of course she would do it. Not out of guilt, but because by Rei asking, of course she could do it.
Did that make any sense?
Maybe.
Maybe not.
Whatever.
But now she had to try to find a way to fix the harm she had caused Aki...not to mention helping him deal with/ come to terms with being kidnapped for weeks by his maternal grandfather, who happened to be a black spirit dragon, and who thought he had been protecting Aki from an evil woman who had been apart of the death of his daughter. Chihiro felt her head start to pound. Did anyone have the training to help her heal with this? Did Dr. Osaka? She really hoped so.
"Aki…" She tried to reach out to him.
Aki turned to her, his eyes shielded. She had hurt him. Badly.
Chihiro bit her lip and dropped her eyes. She didn't have the words to apologize to him. Sorry didn't cut it to the fragile boy in front of her who had been through so much. Much too much.
Chihiro looked away, hiding her tears. "Wanna get me some clothes to change into?" He hoped her voice was gruff enough to hide that she was on the verge of tears.
Aki silently went to the wardrobe in the corner and bought her something to wear.
"Here you go Chihiro. I'm hungry. I am going to head down first."
Chihiro nodded and Aki left.
Chihiro dressed as tears escaped from the corner of her eyes. It wasn't until she was about to leave the room that she noticed in the mirror across from her that she had been dressed in a kimono that shared a similar pattern to Lord Tatsuo's.
Hmmm. Was this another territorial thing? Or were the clothes left over from when Tatsuo ruled the bathhouse? How would Haku take this, she wondered. Thinking about Haku and the scene she had come across with his ex-girlfriend the other day was a nice distraction. Somehow the tangled issues of her own romantic heart took a far second to Aki and the damage she had done to his frail one.
Is this what parenthood was all about?
Chihiro shook her head to free herself from these mindless thoughts and went after Aki.
In the mostly repaired dining room, Chihiro's eyes scanned the enormous room to find the only other human boy present; er..mostly human boy…. Aki was seated next to Lin and Michio. Both appeared at easy talking to Aki and keeping him entertained. As Chihiro got closer, she could hear that they were both sharing embarrassing stories about her and what she had done the past few weeks. Oh brother.
Aki's eyes grew large as Michio enchanted him with tales about how Chihiro and No-Face stormed the Western Tower to rescue Kohaku, who as far as she knew, was being held captive in the Western Tower.
"Little did Lady Chihiro know, that Kohaku did not want to leave the tower and had sworn an oath to eat all who disturbed his solitude."
Chihiro internally shrugged. Whatever it took to bring a smile back it his precious face; that was all that mattered. She was pretty sure that Michio was exaggerating about Kohaku's "oath" but considering how Kohaku had treated her when he first met her… maybe there was some truth hidden in his storytelling. Chihiro dropped a kiss on Aki's forehead, nodded to her friends, and went to grab some food before rejoining them.
Before she could sit down Aki was already asking her questions.
"Chihiro, did you really jump in the middle of Kohaku and my grandfather when they were in dragon form and yell at them?" Aki asked with his eyes wide in disbelief.
Chihiro ignored the glance exchanged by both Lin and Michio who heard Aki now call Chihiro by her name, and instead focused on Aki and his brilliant smile.
"I love you" Chihiro gathered Aki in her arms, he looked up at her, and for a second, she could see his hesitation. Chihiro pulled him in harder. "I love you so much. I would do anything for you. Move mountains, fight dragons, whatever it took. You are my everything. Yes. I did jump in between Kohaku and Tatsuo while they were in dragon form to make sure that you would be safe."
Hearing her words, Aki relaxed in her arms and hugged her back. " I love you too." He whispered.
Chihiro held him tighter. Dropping her mouth to his ear she continued, "I love you and your real Mother Rei so much and I promised her that I would take care of you and your grandfather and...and I …."
"It's okay Chihiro. I get it. It's okay." Aki whispered back when Chihiro was on the verge of becoming a blubbering mass.
She looked at him; Aki allowed her to look at him in his eyes. He forgave her for her clumsiness earlier. He forgave her for all. He was an incredible kid.
Chihiro didn't even try to hide her tears of gratitude.
Aki ignored her tearful thank yous, reverting again to a ten year old boy, who had not experienced what he had, gave her his bright smile and began to dig into his food with the gusto typical of a growing boy.
Chihiro shook away the questioning glances from both Michio and Lin. She would deal with them later. Or never. Right now all that mattered was that Aki was okay and that he had forgiven her.
Before Chihiro finished her last bite of breakfast, Yubaba sat down next to her.
"Do you continue to play ignorant about the meaning of this?" She poked out the necklace at Chihiro's neck.
Chihiro felt the bit of her delicious grilled fish fall to the wayside. Oh yeah, she had meant to ask Dean about Haku's gift. Too bad he had already gone back home….
By her expression Yubaba correctly guessed that Chihiro was ignorant.
Rolling her eyes, Yubaba picked up her exaggerated frame and walked out. Chihiro watched Yubaba leave and before she could get back to what she had been doing, she felt herself being picked up and carried by invisible arms after the bathhouse witch. Lin just laughed and waved after her telling her her not to worry she would look after Aki. Michio looked as if he wanted to charge to Chihiro's rescue, but Lin stopped him and led both him and Aki out of the dining room. Chihiro wondered if Lin would have been so successful with Michio if he hadn't been secretly in love with Lin.
But that was the least of her worries.
Yubaba carried Chihiro outside the bathhouse and farther still. Finally Yubaba stopped in section that Chihiro had never been to before, as a child or as an adult. They were now in a valley on the opposite side of the river and to the east of the railroad tracks. Yubaba silently watched as Chihiro picked herself up after being dropped by Yubaba.
"What are you trying to tell me me that you don't want Haku to over hear?"
"Ha! Do you really think I am afraid of Kohaku?"
When Chihiro didn't answer. Yubaba did.
"Damn right I am. You should be too."
Chihiro felt her heart drop as she looked up at Yubaba. Did Yubaba know that Giselle had returned?
Yubaba interpreted Chihiro's expression and continued. "Tell me, did Lord Senka tell you he was performing a betrothal seal on you and Kohaku as Kohaku's adopted father? That he intended you to be the Lady of the West if Kohaku consented to his choice?
Chihiro felt her world collapsed around her. How could Lord Senka do something like that to her? Had she been wrong to trust him? To feel sorry for him?
His words of bonding resignsted in her mind. "I am ignoring your rejection from earlier. He is yours," Chihiro felt the world around her crash, "and you now are his."
What exactly had Lord Senka done to her?
Did he really?
No fucking way!
Yubaba, again, correctly interpreted Chihiro's expressions.
"It's about time you realized the games they are trying to play with you. Wake up girl or you are going to find yourself with no options. Lord Senka is very powerful. Best not let your guard down around him. He already started the betrothal bond between you and Kohaku, and by you wearing that -"
She pointed at the necklace against Chihiro's neck-
Chihiro's wide eyes looked up at Yubaba not quite believing the severity of her actions.
"Yes." Yubaba answered. "By consenting to wearing that, you have accepted Kohaku's suit."
Chihiro felt the true repercussions of Lord Senka's actions amd her own ignorance crash around her. What the hell was she going to do to free herself from her own stupidity.
"Phef, I knew my stupid sister would fail to explain everything to you. She believes in "true love" agh." the disgust was not hidden from Yubaba's voice.
Before Chihiro could ask how she could escape the fate she had not chosen for herself, Yubaba placed her hand in front to silence Chihiro.
"To be fair. I don't think a betrothal was what Lord Senka had in mind when he cast his protection bond." Zeniba's broke through. "Trust me, Haku was pissed when he had realised what Lord Senka had done and what it would lead to."
"There you are, the little "good witch" trying to see the good in all. " Yubaba scoffed. "What are you doing here? I did not invite you."
Zeniba ignored Yubaba and instead asked "What do you think you are doing here?"
Yubaba rolled her giant blue eyes. "Informing her of what her actions have created. " Yubaba snapped her mouth shut fast and turned to the west. " We don't have much time. You can sense it too sister, he is coming."
"Would someone explain to me what is going on?" Chihiro jumped in all of her fear and aggravation colored her voice.
The sisters exchanged a glance.
"Sen, do you remember the first time you met Kohaku?" Yubaba asked.
Chihiro looked hard at both of them before replying. "Yes, I was young, maybe 5 or 6? Kohaku rescued me when I feel into his river because I had been trying to reach my shoe that had fallen in."
There was a collective gasp. Neither woman had known that story.
Zeniba, recovered faster and continued questioning where Yubaba left off.
"You saved his life from my curse by your act of love right?"
Chihiro just nodded. If she remembered correctly, that was what Kamaji had said.
Yubaba scoffed and answered for Zeniba. "It was pure unselfish love."
Chihiro looked back at Yubaba. She was confused. Wasn't all love pure and unselfish?
Yubaba continued ignoring Chihiro's questioning glance. "The protection bond was sealed then. To protect her and himself, Kohaku must have put a memory blocking spell on her. Undoubtedly for he was concerned the strain would be too much when she returned home. The rumors of what had happened to the last human woman to bond with a spirit were still freshly circulating."
"I sensed nothing of that spell." Zeniba was affronted.
Yubaba grabbed Chihiro, her withered hand was held over her head. Chihiro felt Yubaba's magic flow into her. "Hmm. Just as I suspected. The traces of his old spell has mostly dissipated, but if you know what to look for, it's still there."
Zeniba huffed over, held out her hand and did the same. Chihiro felt the familiar flow of magic. Zeniba gasped and dropped her hand and looked wide eyed at her twin.
"Of course you missed it. " Yubaba replied to Zeniba's unasked question. "His spells, even when he was younger and just starting out were always so elegant and therefore easy to overlook and escape detection. He was such a good henchman helping me accumulate my wealth back in the old days"
Chihiro rolled her eyes. The greed of Yubaba. That was something she had not forgotten.
So that was one mystery solved. Haku again. Of course.
"Why does that make you convinced that Haku and I have a betrothal bond between us?' Chihiro asked.
"You want to tell her, or should I?" Yubaba asked with her eyebrow cocked.
Zeniba rolled her eyes at the theatrics of her sister. Sometimes she wondered how the two of them could be related. "Sen, darling, I don't think that was the intention."
Chihiro looked up at her, she wasn't sure if she bought Zeniba's explanation so far.
Zeniba sighed, "Let me explain, I am pretty sure that when Haku saved your life when you were a child and fell into his river, he might have had to restart your heart. That in itself was enough to create a protection bond between the two of you. That was probably all it was. He wanted to save an innocent human child from dying in his river."
Chihiro nodded. That felt right. That explanation made sense with the Haku she knew.
"Later, when you came here as an older child, I am sure he remembered you right away. Bonds are like that. Even under the control of Yubaba, he would have done everything in his power to help you."
Chihiro's memories flooded back. He had been shocked when he saw her on the bridge. She remembered that. He had tried to help her. He showed her her parents. Told her her real name...Yes. He had been her protector even though when others where around he couldn't show it.. Zeniba's explanation made sense.
"What happened to change everything?" Chihiro asked.
Zeniba sighed and looked at her sister for help.
Yubaba obliged. "Lord Senka interfered and added his own protection bond on top. Tell me Sen, how many times have you and Kohaku saved each other's lives?"
Chihiro bit her lip, too many times to count it felt. She knew that Haku had not only saved her life, but also her sanity when she had returned to the human world. And she.. Well the only time she knew that she had really saved his life was in the mountains when she had thought he had died… But what did this mean? Friends did that for each other. Friends would do what they could to save one another. Right?
Zeniba, sensing Chihiro's unease, interrupted. " I think that it is fair to say that the two of you became closer during your travels in the human world."
Chihiro nodded her assent.
"What I suspect happened when we were getting ready for the final show battle against the Black Dragon, Kohaku realized the potential harm that could come to you and because he was honor bound to fight the Black Dragon and help you save your son and not to protect you, he did the only thing he could to make sure you survived…. Well to cut to the quick, he accepted you as a potential bride presented to him by his adopted father."
"Potential bride? What? How does this…. The necklace…" Chihiro trailed off her thoughts were whirling around her..
"Yes. He gifted you a necklace filled with the essence of his river to show the world that you are his chosen. His betrothal."
Chihiro felt herself fall to the ground. This was not the way she had planned to find out she was engaged to be married. Wait a second! Chihiro raised her head. Maybe this was a translation issue. "What does betrothal mean here?"
Both Zeniba and Yubaba looked at her with varying degrees of disgust and exasperation.
" Intent to create a mating bond with the chosen…Marriage, children and agreeing to die with each other." Yubaba answered sarcastically.
"More importantly, a betrothal allows both partners access to the sources of power and protection given to one or the other. It is a very sacred honor. Sometimes a full mating bond does not come from a betrothal, but they are never made lightly."
Chihiro gulped. So much for that. Shit. The problem was that she really didn't think that Haku wanted to marry her. He was just too noble for his own good. But wait.. What had Zeniba said? There was a way out?
Chihiro asked and both Yubaba and Zeniba answered her questions.
20 minutes later, Chihiro felt her arms tingle. Someone powerful but familiar had arrived.
Yubaba nodde to Chihiro's unasked question. "Yes, your future father-in-law has arrived. Lord Senka of the Western Providence has come to the Western Bathhouse."
Chihiro remained behind as she watched as the raven forms of Yubaba and Zeniba disappeared into the chaos greeting Lord Senka at the bath house front entrance. The sisters had given her a lot to think about-
The snapping of a branch pulled Chihiro's attention back to her surroundings. Giselle was there beckoning to Chihiro.
Oh that's right. Giselle was here too. Chihiro cussed at the gods responsible for her fate, rolled her eyes, and decided to face this next obstacle straight one.
Chihiro silently walked over to the beautiful spirit woman. Keeping a tight lid on her insecurities, she looked up at a woman too impossibly beautiful and graceful to ever be mistaken for a human, the woman who had at one time captured Haku's heart, and not because of any preconditioned bonds created by a heroic boy who had just wanted to save the life a little girl.
Chihiro looked up expectantly waiting for an other shoe to drop. What could possibly come next?
"So you are Chihiro, the human girl who befriended and saved Kohaku during your childhood?"
Chihiro made no response. If this was supposed to be one of those chick fights over a man, Chihiro had more important things to do. She refused to fall into a cliche.
When Chihiro refused to engage and allowed the silence to stretch between them, Gisele laughed nervously.
"This is not going the way I imagined. "
The honest self-reproaching tone made Chihiro take a second look at Giselle. Past the obvious physical perfection, well proportioned face, and general otherworldly beauty, there was a strain around her eyes. A tightness in her neck and jaw. The space between her eyebrows seemed to have a permanent furrow. Furthermore, the energy coming from her pulsated a bone weary tiredness. This was a woman who was so tired of fighting.
This was something Chihiro could relate to.
"What is it you want to ask me?"
Giselle smiled gratefully at her. "What do you know about Kohaku's destiny?"
"Nothing. And I am not the one to be speaking about it. Haku is his own man. He makes his own decisions and makes his own choices. I will not be used to dictate his movements. Not anymore."
Giselle opened her mouth to protest...but then she closed it and seemed to actually listen to what Chihiro had spoken.
Giselle sighed, but decided to continue. "The world needs him. Your world needs him too. We need him to fulfill his destiny and defeat-"
Chihiro interrupted Giselle. "Look, I don't know what you want from Haku nor do I care. In my experience, everyone wanted something from him, including me. Haku is his own person and he has the ability to decide for himself what he wants. I am not going to be involved anymore. I refused to be used as a pawn to make him behave how others want him too. I'm done. I will not be used to hurt Haku."
Giselle opened her mouth to argue with Chihiro again. "The future of both our worlds depend on it!" she shrieked.
Chihiro refused to allow herself to be drawn into Giselle's trap. That was what it was. Giselle wanted Chihiro to use her influence ad Kohaku's "betrothed" to convince him to continue to fight alongside Giselle to further her unknown plan. Chihiro was done. She was not going to be a pawn nor would she allow herself to be used against Haku. She would free him from the betrothal. It was the right thing to do. Neither of them needed to be held captive by the other. It wasn't right. Friends didn't do that to each other. When you loved someone, you made sure that their best interests were met regardless of what you may have wanted.
"Look Giselle, that's your name right?"
Giselle nodded.
"You will have to talk to Haku yourself. I will not be involved." Chihiro turned her back and started to move back toward the bathhouse.
A flurry of wind and striking of flesh came from behind her. Chihiro turned around and saw that Giselle was being restrained by Tatsuo. She instinctively knew that Tatsuo had just saved her life.
Giselle struggled in vain. Tatsuo raised an eyebrow at Chihiro silently asking her what she wanted him to do to the spirit woman. Chihiro shook her head. She was not going to allow him to kill her. " Just let her go."
"You hear that woman? You owe your life to her. Don't ever forget it." Tatsuo threw her on the ground. Giselle got up, shook off her clothes, and with a shaky glance between the two of them, disappeared.
Chihiro looked up at Tatsuo. She didn't know all that had happened... Something about the desperation in Giselle's eyes left Chihiro feeling cold.
Tatuso did not misinterpret Chihiro's need for comfort. He walked up to her and placed his hand on her shoulder giving it a comforting squeeze.
"You did well, Chihiro. You did well."
Chihiro nodded and fought against the tears the were once again trying to creep out. Damn it! She was so sick of crying! This was stupid! Just some stupid ex- girlfriend of the man she was had become mistakenly betrothed to was trying to influence Chihiro so that she could control Haku….oh and she had just tried to kill her when she would bend to her will. Oh this situation was so frustrating and did not need her useless tears!
That was it. Chihiro wanted to go home. She wanted to take Aki and leave this place and all of its craziness behind her.
Tatsuo read all the emotions and thoughts as they flew across the not quite human woman's face. He felt for her. He really did. He had wanted to keep the nature of Rei's gift secret to protect Chihiro a little longer, but in order to remain close to her and keep the other dragon from completing his mating bond with her while she was still unaware, he had to make his claim known. With Lord Senka's arrival he was glad he had done so ..but still...looking down at the human woman who kept being pushed to her breaking point, he wished that he had more time before he asked of her what he need to to ensure her protection.
"Thank you, Tatsuo. I should have never dropped my guard around her….Thank you for saving me."
Tatsuo nodded. Now was not the time to rub in the poor choice Chihiro had made.
Chihiro ducked her head and winced. She could read his silence. She was berating herself for her foolish actions.
"I never seem to do anything right."
"Hush child, you are not being fair to yourself. It is not your fault that those you look to for help are using you to reach their own advantage. I believe the same thing happens in your world too."
Chihiro nodded and looked up at Tatsuo without guile.
'What do you want me for?"
Tatsuo felt the breath leave his chest. He cursed the selfishness of all of his kind. Of course she would expect the worse from him. But on the other hand, she had great courage to to come up front and ask him.
"Chihiro, my greatest wish and only desire is that you will allow me to protect you and Aki. I would like to be allowed in both of your lives. There is much I can teach both of you especially as it relates to the dragon essence in both of you."
Chihiro looked away and nibbled her bottom lip. A gesture he was becoming familiar with whenever Chihiro was in deep thought.
"How do you propose doing that?"
"With your permission," Tatsuo began tentatively, this was new ground form him. "I would like to adopt you and Aki into my house and name Aki as my heir."
Chihiro wrinkled her brow. "Aki is your grandson, right? Why do you have to adopt Aki to name him as your heir?"
She did not instantly object to him adopting her. Tatsuo noted before answering. "It's simple really, Aki has claimed you as his Mother, and yes I can technically name him as my heir without adopting the two of of you, but by his claim, he has broken linerael the chain with Rei and in order to reestablish it, I need to claim at least him as my heir…"
"I sense a but there-"
Tatsuo nodded, grateful for how intelligent and quick she was on the uptake. "Yes. A big one. But first let me explain something to you that no one but, well the two of us will know. My daughter, Rei, as she was dying, she gifter her essence to you. Do you know what that means?"
Chihiro shook her head.
"But her gift doesn't surprise you?"
Chihiro shrugged. After everything… it kinda made sense.
Tatsuo nodded. He had expected as much. "It means that she gifted you with her spirit dragon essence. You, Chihiro Ogino, are not the human woman you thought you were."
Her eyes widen as she looked up at him.
"Has anyone mentioned that you feel different from other humans?"
Chihiro thought back...not that she remembered...She shook her head no.
"That you smell different?" Tatsuo pressed.
Chihiro went to shake her head no...but then stopped. Didn't Michio say something about that when they had first met?
Tatsuo nodded at her shocked expression. "I want to adopt you so I can protect you and train you. No one, not even Lord Senka would be able to force a mating bond between you and that white dragon upstart if you did not wish it."
Chihiro poured through Tatsuo's eyes to see if he was telling the truth.
"Yes, in a battle of pure strength Kohaku has the upper hand, but I am politically connected and I have powerful allegiances that can keep Lord Senka at bay."
Chihiro's mind was going a thousand miles a minute. If she accepted Tatsuo's adoption proposal, then Haku wouldn't be forced to mate with her, he could make his own choices, and she wouldn't be a helpless pawn anymore...But what did Tatsuo gain from this and what was she giving up?
Tatsuo knew where Chihiro's thoughts were taking her. He needed more time to make his case and he wasn't sure if this valley was the appropriate place. "Please, come with me. I would like to speak with you somewhere we don't have to worry about being overheard or being interrupted."
Chihiro cocked her head...what exactly was Tatsuo proposing...He didn't actually think that she would let him carry her away in dragon form did he?
With a flurry of wind and black dragon scales, in front of her stood a very impressive, very large black dragon.
Oh shit. Not this again.
"No Tatsuo. No."
Chihiro stood firm. She was not going to be dragged across the spirit world by another dragon. No siree. Not to mention that the last time she had been carried by this dragon he had been actively trying to kill her.
Tatsuo in his dragon form sighed dropped his head down low. Chihiro could tell that he wanted her to climb on his back and ride him.
Chihiro immediately shut up her inner Dean, she felt her cheeks turn bright red. Now was so not the time. She would NOT think or internally make inappropriate comments about a man/ spirit who was old enough to be her father. Hell, he was probably old enough to be her great grandfather's father. What did she know about the lifespan of dragons?
"The answer is still no." Chihiro stubbornly held firm. She ignored the blush that felt to permanently be burned onto her cheeks.
Tatsuo rolled his eyes and gestured to an oncoming envoy dressed in Lord Senka's colors. Now was not the time for her to be stubborn. They didn't have much time!
Chihiro felt her stomach drop. If even half of what Yubaba had said was true, she did not want see Lord Senka right now.
Chihiro groaned and let out her favorite stream of cuss words. Better to tangle with the devil you know right?
Those were her thoughts and she flew through the sky with Tatsuo carrying her away.
Please review & let me know what you think. Hopefully it will not take me as long to update. I was inspired to keep this story going for about 10 more chapters... maybe more who knows.
XXOO Thyme