Sorry for not updating in forever... I just thought that no one reads this fanfic anymore, so I didn't bother updating... sorry for the wait... ;-;
Chapter 26
Chihiro and Lin were laughing and being best friends again. They were chatting like there was never a fight between them.
Watching from a distance, Haku smiled. Those two finally made up... that's good... he thought. He was fighting a battle in his mind of whether or not to approach the two girls. Finally, he mustered all the courage he had and strolled towards them.
Chihiro looked surprised to see him, her eyes widening. She glanced at Lin, and, after making sure Haku couldn't see her, she winked. Go for it, she mouthed, a small, mischievous smile forming. Lin cocked her head in confusion.
"Oh yeah, Lin," Chihiro said loudly. "I just remembered that Yubaba needed me for some... errands. I'll be right back... Alright?"
Lin turned in a deep shade of red, understanding her plan immediately. You can't leave me here with him, she mouthed.
Chihiro's grin grew wider. Sure I can, she replied, and turned to Haku. "Haku, help me take care of Lin, will you? I have to do a quick errand." With that, she scurried away, leaving Haku to stare blankly at Chihiro... After all that hard work of trying to approach her... She just left... Like that...
Wait... she seemed to be in a hurry... maybe I did something wrong, and she dislikes me now?! he thought worriedly. Maybe Yubaba was just an excuse to get away from me... What exactly did I do wrong...?
"Um," Lin muttered, trying to catch Haku's attention, who was swimming in a sea of endless worries. When he didn't reply, she got a bit annoyed, and tried again: "AHEM."
Silence.
She clenched her fists and whacked him on the head. "Hey, dragon-boy, wake up, will ya?!" she yelled.
Haku snapped back to reality. "Huh...? Oh yeah, hi there... Sorry about that."
"You better be," she muttered.
"So uh... What's Chihiro doing...?" Haku asked.
Lin's heart sank. Of course... That's all he could think of... Chihiro this, Chihiro that... But no, she couldn't be angry at Chihiro, they've just made up, after all... She should be angry at...
Haku.
Lin whacked his head harder.
"Ow... What was that for?!" he demanded.
"Chihiro's fine," she snapped.
~Meanwhile...~
In a distance, Chihiro was watching the two of them, giggling. It was funny watching the tsundere (basically hate-love) love form between them... It was amusing, all right.
She glanced at Haku, staring at him... He was so mesmerizing, that hot face of his... And... WAIT, STOP THINKING THIS WAY, she thought, shaking her head and snapping from her thoughts. Haku is Lin's... We already agreed to that...
"Is Chihiro ok...?" Haku asked.
Chihiro suddenly felt a warmth in her chest when she heard Haku say her name. She shook her head again. I must control it... she thought. I have to...
~Meanwhile...~
"What is it...?" Shi muttered in annoyance. "What are you doing, dragging me out so early in the morning... I want to go back to sleep..." he moaned.
"You'll see very soon," Jinsei replied. "And what are you talking about... It's already noon... If you woke up any later you wouldn't have seen tomorrow." Jinsei thought about it... Shi was already cranky from waking up... He won't be too happy when he found out that she was taking him to Haku.
~Flashback~
Jinsei... Go to Haku... Bring Shi with you... the mysterious voice echoed. Others will be waiting... to begin...
"Begin what?" she asked. "And who are you?"
For now, that will remain unknown; until united, I shall not be shown, it rasped.
She sighed. "Not to be rude or anything... But why should I listen to you?"
That reason shall soon unfold; Until then, trust your instincts, you are the foretold.
"Foretold what? Why can't you just talk the way you used to without rhyming?"
For now, the answers to your questions shall go undefined; And the rhymes just go well with my old mind.
Jinsei sighed. "Ok then," she muttered, giving up. She turned into dragon form, and flew over to his twin's dreary castle.
~Flashback end...~
When the two arrived in the bathhouse, they found Haku, Chihiro, Lin, Itachi, and a not-so-happy Yubaba discussing in what seemed like a serious matter.
"What are you four gathering about for!? Get back to work, will ya?" Yubaba yelled. "Are you four planning to have a little 'vacation' and take a break, perhaps? Well then, it's a no. I cannot lose four workers at the same time... Not one, not two, not even three, but four. FOUR WORKERS!"
Do not mind the silly old hag; I shall deal with her later, and she will soon understand; In your hand, something shall appear – a tag; Keep it safe, for it may save your life, and travel to the lost land.
"And how do you expect us to find the lost land?" Shi demanded. He was taking all of this in surprisingly well.
The weasels have heard of this faraway place; A lost paradise that have vanished without a trace; To find it, you must seek the clever one; He is found at the north, with tons of fun.
"What?" Shi asked. "What is that supposed to mean...?"
"Tanoshi," (meaning fun) Jinsei muttered. "The Tanoshi family... Tanoshi Tonakai (meaning reindeer), Tanoshi Koinu (puppy), Tanoshi Tedibea (teddy bear)... There's so many spirits in the Tanoshi family... It's hard to keep track... Is that where we're heading?"
Jinsei, as one might say; Is pretty intelligent, not to my dismay; I have given you hints to where you must find; Remember that you might need a little help from mankind... Now begin your journey, before it's too late; someone is trying to get you all, and murder you with great hate.