Chihiro noticed Okami and Hana still hadn't returned inside. It seemed that twenty minutes had passed since that incident and there was no sign of either of them. She didn't hate Hana at all, but that outburst just confused her even more. Chihiro could sense the aura around Hana slightly, and it was filled with something like jealously and angst. Was it because Hana was jealous of her power? She she do something years ago, so that Hana still hates her now? Chihiro knew that she, herself, wasn't the type to make others angry easily. These thoughts kept banging around in her mind, but soon she drifted back into the room where everyone was surrounding her.
They had set her up at the table, sitting in a chair, while the Winds of Memories gracefully floated over the table. The Winds of Memories had explained the process in a few simple sentences. The turnout of relieving her memories wasn't something to be determined yet because it was different for each spirit; however, removing that nasty barrier the God' placed upon her was another subject.
The Winds of Memories explained that the process would be uncomfortable because it was something placed upon her by heavenly beings. The removal of it was not going to be easy and it would cause Chihiro some discomfort. Once the barrier was removed, her memories would flow back into her head. It would be like a waterfall overflowing into a tiny hole. It would pour through her mind, and all of them didn't know if it was going to be to much for Chihiro.
No matter what spirit this was, this kind of process was dangerous. The outcome was truly unknown, but everyone was willing to aid in this. Zeniba was obviously willing to help her granddaughter as well, since she agreed to use her powers to lessen the pain and the speed of which her memories would flow into Chihiro's mind.
Chihiro looked around the room to see Haku with a gentle smile kneeling next to her, Zeniba on the other side of her flexing her old bony fingers, Chirashi smiling at her, Kokatsuna with the same goofy smile, and No Face on the other side of the room just lightly staring. As she saw this, the thin line on her face turned upward. Chihiro was truly happy because of all the support she has, especially from Haku. She didn't know if she would be here without him. All his support and being there for her was what she needed. Also the way he explained her past through his eyes, helped greatly as well; however, it was very detailed from her perspective. It was mostly what he felt and what Haku had gone through with her.
"Are you ready, Chihiro?" called Zeniba from Chihiro's right.
Before answering Chihiro gave one more scan of the room. Meeting each and every pair of eyes and thanking them with a big smile. She then met Zeniba's eyes and gave a slight nod.
"I am ready. I just want to thank everyone for sticking by me and whatever happens after this, my view won't change of each of you. Sure I may have new knowledge on each of you, and there may be events and tragedies I don't understand, but I know you all with help me get through it." With that everyone else nodded and Haku squeezed her shoulder lightly.
"If you need anything Chihiro, I'm right here, okay? I don't want to see you in pain, but if there is an instant where it's too much, tell me. Please promise me you will." Haku looked down on her with pleading eyes. He didn't want to see her in pain anymore. He just couldn't.
As much as Chihiro wanted to say she would tell him, she just couldn't. It was going to be painful to get these memories back but she agreed to it. This was the next step in being able to help save the Spirit World as well as the Human. Her minute pain wasn't important as the millions of people and spirits out there. It was time to let that little 10 yeard old human go, and finally accept that she was a spirit. Chihiro was here two weeks now, and drowning anymore in her useless thoughts wasn't going to get her anywhere. It was time to move forward.
"Haku I...I'm sorry, but I have to go through with this no matter what. There's others out there that will endure more then I will if I don't take a short amount of time to regain my memories. There's a bigger world out there, and I'd rather go through that pain now to protect everyone out there. You made me see there are others who care and how to look straight into fears eye. I'm ready to do this and there's nothing that's going to make me back out. I'm sorry Haku, but I'm going through with it no matter what." Chihiro looked into Haku's eyes as she said this.
Haku met Chihiro's eyes and was kind of taken aback by what she had said. He knew Chihiro was going through this, but he didn't expect a flat out answer like that. He missed the little human girl he knew that was fading away. She was being replaced by that 5,000 year old spirit they all knew to well. One thing wouldn't change though, he loved her and she loved him. He wouldn't let anything change that. With a sigh, he smiled and pulled Chihiro into a tight embrace.
"If that's what you want, then I'll be right here beside you. Although, if you start calling out in pain, or anything is too much, I will make it stop. I won't let anyone go through with hurting you, no matter what reason it is," he said whispering into Chihiro's ear as he pulled away and let her sit down. At that she solemly smiled and looked towards the Winds of Memories.
"I'm ready to get started," said Chihiro.
'Then we shall begin child.' said a lone voice.
Everything around Chihiro was black.
Just utter blackness.
She guessed she was in some sort of unconscious state, but she could clearly sense everyone else around her. Chihiro remembered the Winds of Memories coming towards her, then it landed in her hands that laid on the table. It then lit up in a soft glow and Chihiro felt some sort of essence flowing through her.
'Keep still young one. Everything is going to go black. You are still awake. and your eyes are closed, but you'll still sense everything. What you start to see in the blackness is my power working to break down that barrier.' Chihiro remembered that voice echoing in her mind before her eyes drifted closed and she slipped away from reality a bit.
Mashed up words flowed into Chihiro's ears, but she didn't pay mind to them. As the blackness continued to settle she finally saw a light essence flowing around her into some depth. She forced herself to concentrate on that flowing essence as it started to go against some purple, black mass at what seemed to be the beginning of something.
'Chihiro, what you are seeing now is the barrier I told you about. That light essence is my power flowing against. I should be able to break it, but it might be some time. As I break into it you will hear a cracking sound, or feel it through your body. The a strange sensation will flow over you. Don't push it away when it comes, accept it. Once this barrier is broken completely memories will come flowing into your mind in a rush. It will be painful to gather all of them at once, so don't concentrate on a single memory because it will hold up the others wanting to come through. Just watch, like it was a movie. Like it was short clips flashing before a screen.'
As that voice echoed through her head she tried to answer in agreement, bu she didn't know how. She tried thinking, but her thoughts weren't going through.
'Child I know you heard and understand me. Don't push any thoughts now. Just empty your mind and relax. '
As soon as that voice entered her mind, Chihiro put all he thoughts at ease. She felt her body sink a bit lower into the chair and reality seemed to sway a bit. Her conscious seemed to let go of it's handle on reality. She felt it sway between the voices calling out to her and the silence of the flowing essence in the blackness. Chihro cut that last string and let herself completely sink into that blackness, while letting go of all her thoughts.
Haku stared at Chihiro and the moment her body started to sink deeper into the chair, the more stiff his body became. His worry for her perked as he watched her body. As he continued watching he saw her body settle more and more into the chair. He realized she was relaxing and letting go. Chihiro's finally gave out completely and sank out of the chair completely, but Haku caught her as she did so. His eyes scanned over her and Haku forced himself to keep a calm composure. The Winds of Memories still floated in her hands, that were surprising still cupped together.
"How long is this going to take place, Zeniba?" Haku looked up at Zeniba was a curious and worried look.
"It depends how hard it is to break the barrier Chihiro has in her conscious. This is normal of her body to be like, but it won't be like this for long. Haku, I ask, please, just please, don't freak and fret when she starts showing pain. It's not easy for me to watch this as well," said Zeniba with Haku's same look.
"I am worried for her safety, but I'm also afraid of what she'll remember. She already thinks I killed her in her past life, and I know she still feels a bit wary towards me, but she knows there's something wrong there. I just don't want her to find out things that will hurt her mind now and what she will think in the future," Haku said quietly. The response that came next wasn't from Zeniba, it was from Chirashi.
"We're all worried about her Haku, and we know you didn't kill her. I was the others fault, but think of it like this. When Chihiro's memories are finally stabilized within her, all she'll be is the same Chihiro with more knowledge. She won't change, trust me. That little girl you used to know, and the girl Okami used to know will still be there. Chihiro will just be smarter, more powerful, and aware."
Chirashi's voice and words poked at Haku's mind.
"That's what I'm afraid of. The knowledge and power she'll obtain with it," spoke Haku.
"Then teach her you crazy dragon," said Kokatsuna with a smirk. "You love her, teach her. Okami was supposed to but it seems you would be the best for it."
At that Haku smiled and looked over at Kokatsuna.
"You always make the mood lighter, don't you?"
"That's my job isn't it?" Kokatsuna's cheerful voice sang.
"You are s-" Haku stopped himself when he felt a twitch from below him. Chihiro's body had shifted a bit and her face had tightened. Haku knew the barrier was starting to break a bit, and his arms held her tighter. "Please stay strong," he whispered into her ear.
Everything around Chihiro just kept getting blacker and blacker by the second. The light flowing essence was growing stronger and she felt something cracking from within her. It felt like her conscious was breaking, just like her soul was falling apart. She wanted to push it away, but she knew she couldn't. That pain started to increase every few minutes and Chihiro just let her mind float like the Winds of Memories said.
She continued to watch the barrier in her subconscious, the essence then made a noticeable crack and a wave lashed out. Her insides cringed, her thoughts tried to push it away, but she took the wave with open hands as best she could. Suddenly she lost sight of the essence and the barrier, to reveal flashing images. Some were too brief for her to catch, while others Chihiro saw and gazed at in wonder. All Chihiro could do was watch, and that's all she planned on doing. It was painful enough to let them rush into her mind.
(I normally don't do this, write in the middle of chapters like this, but the next few breaks will be memories. They will be in seperate breaks and in italics.)
The wind caressed her face. The sun lit her skin and sent a comforting wave across her body. The young spirit looked out off the cliff. It was a perfect day and the sky was without clouds for miles around. She sat there in peace; her light brown hair wavering in the wind and her emerald eyes staring away at a different world. Her hands fiddled with a flame that flickered in her left palm. She washed her right hand back and forth over it in comfort.
Nothing comforted her like a flame did. After that fight with the others, she just wanted to be alone. They were preparing for a war she didn't want to be a part of. So what if she had all the power in the world? It didn't mean she had to use it. Couldn't she just push it away? Sure, it was great being able to fly or summon towers of water, but a times like this, she didn't want it. She didn't want to see blood spill across green pastures anymore. She had seen enough if it over the past three thousand years. It hurt to look at blood anymore.
She quickly closed her fist and the flame dissipated. She then stood and sighed looking over the edge. She just wanted to get away, get away from all of this for a single day.
"Rapisu," a voice called from behind her.
As she heard that voice her ears perked and her eyes cast over the figure from behind her. There he was. The one that never ceased to leave her. She wondered how she would keep sane without him, but she didn't want to see him now, it was too much. That fight a few days ago left him battered and cut up. Of course he healed up like nohting happened, but just looking at him reminded her of blood.
Blood.
She didn't want to see it anymore.
Blood.
It was causing her pain.
Blood.
Could she even look at others anymore?
Blood.
It was breaking her down.
A swift move of her claw sent the spirit flying backwards. The female dragon stood there with piercing red eyes. Her crimson fur showed greatly in the setting sun and her golden horns reflected the last of the glorious rays. She stood there snarling at a spirit with flowing green hair. Her green, flower covered dress covered her body, but cuts were cleanly through it. The spirit that was not laying in the ground, trying to crawl away, was looking at the female dragon in fear.
'Please...' she croaked. 'Just stop. It's me. I'm not them. Come back to your senses!'
That voice clicked in the female dragon's mind and she tiled her head to the side. Her ears turned in the direction of the spirit. The dragon slowly walked up to the spirit, still with blank eyes, and stared at her.
'It's me...I can't take it...It hurts...all over. Please you have to recognize me.' The spirit pleaded once again.
The female dragon kept eyeing the spirit below her. Blood was slowly seeping out of her cuts. Her hair was thrown in different direction, but what got through to the dragon was those deep green eyes.
Green eyes...Green hair...Green dress...flowers...
"Hana?"
"You won't win!" called called a young spiky brown haired spirit. His laughter roared through the sky as he flew.
"Kokatsuna that's the last thing you're going to be doing today!" called the young elemental spirit flying right beside him.
"You wanna make a bet Rapisu? I'll beat you fair and square. I'll beat the one resound, all powerful Rapisu."
"Yeah right," said the young elemental spirit with a laugh.
They both glided over the water with ease, one trying to push in front of the other. Both of the spirits had decided to race and argued who would win. They smiled as they glanced over at one another every few seconds as their speed increased. They were only about two miles away from the end of the race. It was only a matter of minutes before they reached their destination.
Suddenly something disturbed their flight. The water five hundred feet ahead of them burst up in a funnel. The rose quickly then sprayed out in all directions causing the two young spirits eyes to go wide. They were to astounded to notice that they were still flying.
"What the!"
"We're dead!" screamed Kokatsuna as he tried swerving out of the way at the last second.
But before he could completely evade the funnel it crashed right into him. soaking him to the brim. It moved quickly past him leaving him wide eyed and confused. On the other hand Rapisu easily dodged and kept flying. What she noticed was that a figure was behind the funnel and a smile spread across her face.
"Thanks Mizutohi!" she called out to the spirit controlling the funnel.
"No problem! Anything to keep Kokatsuna's mouth shut!" she yelled back.
With that the young elemental spirt kept smiling and raised off towards the finish line.
"It's not fair," she sobbed into the young emerald, eyed spirit's chest.
She curled up beside him and tears streamed down her face. As she did this, the emerald eyed spirit kept his arm wrapped around her body protectively.
"I know it's not," he whispered.
"It's hurting so bad." she cried.
"I'm here for you," he cooed to her. "I know it hurts, but you have to keep on fighting. Don't give up Rapisu. Please don't give up."
"Haku," she whispered as she looked up into his eyes. "I'm sorry, but I can't. It hurts too much. It hurts other people too much. It hurts you too much. I can't do it."
With that the emerald eyed spirit stared into her eyes. All he could do was continue to stare because his words were running out. He then grasped her face and brought his down to hers, kissing her like there was no tomorrow.
The scene before the teenage spirit frightened her. Her eyes were wide as her sword just dangled by her side. She couldn't force body to move, as a voice called for her to run. The emerald haired boy fought against a demon with a golden sword. Sparks flew off both blades and clanging sounds echoed through the air.
"Rapisu run!" the boy called, but at that moment the sword flew out of his hand onto the ground. The girl then tried running but her body stayed put.
"You're dying now Kohaku. I'm sick of you. Ready to die?" the older spirit asked with an evil grin.
"I die with honor."
"Then your honor shall go with you," said the older spirit as he raised his sword and brought it down/
"No!" cried the girl teenage spirit, throwing herself forward. The next thing she knew a piercing pain came from her stomach and her world started to fade.
"Hi, I'm Rapisu. What's your name?" said the little girl. She walked around the little boy and played with pieces of his hair. "Your hair is long for a boy," she said with a smirk.
"My name is Haku and would you mind letting go of my hair?"
"But it's long. Can I braid it?"
"Absolutely not!" he whined as he ripped the hair away from her.
"You're mean," the girl said with a frown.
"I know I am."
"Protect the innocent and repair the evil. You are given this gift and power for a reason, young one. The road ahead of you will be great and tough, but we trust these heavenly powers to you. Each is special and your journey will be unclear, but others will guide you. Protect the world you are going into. We know you can do it." said a being who lightly rubbed the little girl's head.
There were five other beings sitting around besides the one in front of this one. The little girl let her eyes glance back and forth between the heavenly beings. She then looked back to the towering woman in front of her. She them put on a big smile and gave the god a nod.
"I'll protect everyone," she said. "You can trust me. I won't let you down mommy." The girl continued to stare into the god's eyes, and the woman stared into the child's. For a second her eyes flickered and looked like they were going to shed tears, but the great god embraced the child.
"Rapisu, please stay safe. Don't injure yourself." the god whispered into the child's ear. "I love you little one."
"I love you too mommy." the child replied back and at that the world started to fade around her.
(This is the end of the memories and flashbacks. Next continues with Haku and Zeniba.)
Her body was thrashing around now. It had been more then fifteen minutes in and Chihiro was already filled with pain. Haku held her tightly and whispered words he knew she couldn't hear. Zeniba stood beside him working her magic, trying to relieve Chihiro of as much pain as she could. Her old fingers cast magic as he cracked lips whispered an ancient language. As for Chirashi and Kokatsuna, they watched with concerned faces as their friend endured a pin they couldn't imagine.
Chihiro's body suddenly tensed up and Haku felt a ripple run through her. Suddenly Chihiro's body gave out and she let out a scream he wished he hadn't heard. He kept his composure under control, but he just wanted the Winds of Memories to stop. Haku couldn't stand hearing this and seeing Chihiro like this. Chihiro continued to scream and the Winds of Memories glowed brightly.
"I love you Chihiro," he whispered into her ear over and over again.
The memories were crashing against her head like tidal waves. She couldn't sort or watch them anymore. They were just blurred images of her past. Chihiro heard quick voices and harsh screams from them. As it all built up, the last of the memories rushed past her and everything in her conscious fell silent. There was no echo, there was no noise, but one memory emerged out of the blackness that made her wonder. It made her wonder with so much curiosity. It was a memory that sparked a question she hadn't thought of.
Where she had come from
She watched the memory play over and over again in front of her. Chihiro realized that each time the memory played it was fading away. Chihiro realized she was coming back to reality, but she didn't want to leave yet. Before a bright light enveloped her back to reality. A few lines ran through her head.
"Rapisu, please stay safe. Don't injure yourself." the god whispered into the child's ear. "I love you little one."
"I love you too mommy." the child replied back and at that the world started to fade around her.
Her mother was a god?
*takes the biggest breath ever and lets it out* I have finally finished this chapter! Probably longest chapter chapter I have ever written! I am truly hoping this satisfies you guys! I had fun writing this chapter and hope you enjoyed reading it! I would like to thank...
-Nora the Northern Neko
-ludin (Guest)
-Lucy (Guest)
for reviewing the last chapter! Thank you guys so much and leave some reviews for this chapter as well ;) Well next update should be Sunday, since I'm pretty busy over the next few days. Don't be surprised though if it pops up Saturday night :P Well review button is one the bottom and tell me how I did! Well off to watch the Olympics. Go TEAM USA! *coughs a few times and regains composure* Well bye for now guys and see ya soon!