dragon 14(guest) Challenge accepted! Ha ha, thanks to all who want more from this story even though I'm not the best writer :P
As the ancient creature rose from the water, all they could do was sit and watch. "I-Incredible," Akira stammered. "Stay back," Chihiro warned, her eyes still focused on the unknown spirit. How can Haku sleep through this? she thought, wanting to punch him awake.
"Who are you?" she demanded over the sound of water crashing down. Instead of hearing a reply she wanted, an echoing chuckle answered. Ogino Chihiro, the same voice rumbled in her head. Was it not you who called out to me?
Blinking in realization, the girl tried to search for the spirit's face. "Daichi?" she called out. To her relief, the ancient spirit shrunk to her size, making it easier for her. Transforming into an image of a human, she marveled his looks.
His dark purple hair brushed the sides of his clear skin, his mysterious eyes gleaming at Chihiro. He wore a purple kimono tabard with no helmet. Floating above the water, he slowly took his time walking to the shore.
"You…" Chihiro thought. "You're so young…" The spirit smiled. "You're in the Spirit World, Chihiro. Much is possible." Finally on the shore, he was a few inches away from Chihiro. Smelling the salt from him, she suddenly felt power radiating from him.
"You've come a long way," Daichi began. He briefly looked back. Doing the same, she found Akira and Haku unconscious. "What happened?" she frowned, prepared to rush to their side.
Touching her shoulder, he assured her, "Don't worry. They're asleep. I just wanted to talk to you alone."
Still suspicious, she hesitantly walked with him. Walking back into the water, they easily swam through the sea. "It's beautiful, isn't it?" he smiled.
Quietly nodding, she looked down. Coral reefs and fish roamed around, and strangely giving a respectful nod to the ancient spirit. "I've been living for thousands of years," Daichi spoke. "Many spirits had come to me, asking for something. It was always the same thing."
"What…" Chihiro was afraid to ask. "What did they ask for?" The spirit looked at her. "Life," he answered. "Yubaba told you about me, correct? Yes, I can create and break spells. But…"
Chihiro's eyes narrowed. "But?" I'm afraid you know the answer, Chihiro, he spoke through her mind.
"It comes with a price," the girl hesitated to say. The arm around her lightly squeezed her shoulder. "You're a special one," Daichi went on. "You aren't one of those spirits who want to live because they are afraid. You are doing it for a purpose. Not just for yourself. Not many spirits have proven that to me."
Chihiro listened, feeling herself finally relax. "So… Will you help me? Will you help remove this curse?" Daichi smiled. "Of course," he replied. "But something must be taken away from you."
She tried to think of something simple. Something she had right now. "What about my hair tie?" she suggested, showing the sparkling friendship hair tie that was around her wrist.
The spirit shook his head. "Not something like that. It must be something greater than that. It varies from spirits. It could be a life, memories, a strong item-"
"Life?" she frowned, trying not to panic. There is no way I am going to give up on Haku or Akira. "Choose wisely, my dear," Daichi warned. "I do not want you to walk in the wrong future. You are a young girl who has much promise."
With his words stuck in her head, she closed her eyes. Floating in the quiet and calm sea gave her more time to relax and think. What can I give up… Chihiro pondered. Realizing what she needed to do, she opened her eyes.
"Have you thought of something?" Daichi asked. The girl turned to him. She knew he was trying to save her but protect her at the same time. He wanted her future to be happy. With a deep breath, she gazed into his eyes. "I want to-"
The sound of water dripping in the echoing cave made Haku awaken. Looking around, he found Akira dosing off beside him. Sitting up, he pushed the boy down to his lap. Chihiro had disappeared.
Someone must have taken her, he thought. It must have been from that sleeping smoke. But what is that scent? Something ancient… Could it have been Daichi? Trying to stand up, he woke Akira.
With drowsy eyes, Akira stood up with wobbly legs. "W-What happened?" he mumbled. Ruffling his hair, Haku continued to search for Chihiro around the cave.
"We need to look for you sister," he determined. "How are you holding up?" Akira looked up at the exhausted dragon. "A bit hungry, but I'm fine. What about you?" Haku just realized how is condition was. He still had a wound from one of his old missions, his hair was soaked, his clothes ragged, and since Chihiro was gone, his hands were uncontrollably shaking.
With a deep breath, the spirit took a step forward. "I'm fine. Let's go and find Chihiro." Taking the boy's hand, they dove into the sea water. Meanwhile, Chihiro and Daichi stood in the sea in silence.
Staring into her brown eyes with his, he questioned in a serious tone, "Are you sure you want to exchange that?" Swallowing slowly, she nodded, afraid that her voice would not come out from her fear. Taking her hand, he began to retreat back to the cave. "Very well," he decided.
In front of the cave swam the long eel-like spirits. As they began to approach the two, they finally recognized the ancient spirit. They cowered away, hiding themselves in the kelp. Entering the cave, Chihiro found no one by the shore.
"Where did they go?" she narrowed her eyes. Daichi finally released her hand. "They are around the cave. My spirits will make sure they will not get lost or run into trouble. Come here." Obeying him, she followed him to the center of the cave.
Instead of being rock, the center was a perfect circle. The circle was filled in with blue shimmering water, giving an ominous glow. Step inside," Daichi insisted. With a slow and calm breath, she floated above the center. Facing Daichi, she took her bandages off.
Tiger-like stripe marks covered most of her arm now, reaching up to her shoulder and down to her fingers. "Daichi," she blurted out as he touched her skin. "Will it… Will it hurt?" The ancient spirit gave her an assuring smile. "I've been living for more than a thousand years, Chihiro," he assured. Just relax. We will all be here when you come back.
"Wait, what?" she panicked. "When I come back? What do you-"
Before she could finish, she sunk into the pool of water. Instead of glowing blue, the water was tainted with black. She struggled to breathe without the help of Daichi, her arms and legs flailing to reach the surface. But there was no light.
She tried to believe in Daichi, since she trusted him in doing this. Just relax. We will all be here when you come back. His words repeated in her head over and over, reassuring her. Closing her eyes as she had done before, she allowed herself to be sucked into the darkness.
Pushed back into the cave by the spirits, Haku and Akira found Daichi standing beside someone. "Daichi," Haku demanded, not caring to respectively bow towards the spirit. "Where is Chihiro? What have you done with her?"
Turning around, his calm, focused gaze stared through Haku. Turning back, he glanced at the person whose back faced the two boys. Long chestnut hair was tied into a decorative bun with red and orange sparkles glowing throughout it. A red kimono was worn over her shoulders, black decorations adding to the kimono. Barefoot, there was an ankle tattoo. The sign of Daichi.
Gripping the dragon's sleeve nervously, Akira whispered, "C-Chihiro?" The person slowly turned around, revealing the beautiful and pure face of his sister. Haku's eyes widened, once again stunned by her appearance. "Chihiro…" he murmured.
"How do you feel, Chihiro?" Daichi asked. Glancing at her hands, she checked for each body part. "I feel fine," she finally replied. Examining her cursed arm, the marks were only moved down from her wrist to her fingertips. "I'm sorry, I cannot remove that mark," Daichi apologized. She shook her head. "It will remind me," she spoke. Remind her of what? Haku pondered.
As tears began to flow down her brother's cheeks, he quickly raced towards her, leaping into her arms. Catching him, she heard him sob silently into her red kimono.
Haku remained where he was, trying to figure out what had changed in the girl. H-Her scent, he thought. Daichi looked at him, as if the answer was all there. Turning back to Chihiro, he found her staring at him. Was it sorrow? Excitement? Surprisingly, she raised her arms up to him.
"Haku," she smiled warmly. "It's me. Chihiro." Hesitantly, he took a few steps forward. As he made it midway, he began to quicken his pace. She's… She's just like me! he thought, his mind and heart racing. We… We can be together! Chihiro!
Finally, he met her arms. Grabbing her tightly, he embraced her as tight as he could. Akira could only squirm and squeak his way out from the two. "That's love for you," Daichi chuckled, happy that Chihiro had decided what to exchange.
"Daichi," Chihiro answered. "I want to exchange removing this curse with my human life." Surprised by her deal, he blinked. "You know that you will not be able to return to the human world, Chihiro. Without your friends, your family, your brother…" Sorrow shadowed her once bright eyes. "I know," she replied. "But it's the best for me and everyone else."
Without protest, the ancient spirit nodded. "Very well." He took her hand, gently pulling her back into the cave. I've been living so long, he thought. And you were the only one to give me something no one else had given. A wise but costly choice, young human. You may be the one who saves the Human and Spirit World.