notice: this chapter is revamped

Chapter 10 – Part 1: Sleepless night

I flip from one side to the other under the blanket, no position feels comfortable. It's dark and silent, only Zeniba's snores resound between the walls. It's too silent, too different from the buzzing City noise that I'm used to. Only the dim moonlight slipping through the window light up the otherwise dark room.

My mind can't seem to relax, I'm tired of rolling around, waiting for sleep to take me. I sit and place my feet on the floor, dragging the blanket with me as I stand up. On the couch No face whips his head in my direction, and I gesture for him to remain quiet. I snag my shoes and pull them on, then head through the door, trying to open it silently despite its creaks.

Outside the air is cool and pleasant, goosebumps spread over my skin from the temperature difference. I head towards the back of the cabin, into the forest, through the trees and up along a steep hill. Branches and leaves crunch beneath my feet as I stumble through the undergrowth. The track is fairly simple, except the few bushes and rocks obstructing my way.

The ground slowly evens out as I approach the top of the Hill. Far below, the wild plain spreads out for miles until reaching the horizon.

I wrap the blanket around my shoulders and settle down on a large stone sitting a few feet before the cliff's edge. The moonlight and soft glow of the stars casts a silver glimmer over the surroundings. I close my eyes and breathe in the freedom. Crickets, frogs, and late-night birds sing their way through the growth, granting color to the silence.

The sound of a twig snaps behind me and I whip in its direction. A shadow slowly emerges between the trees. He steps out below the moonlight and his features are illuminated by its soft glow. My breath hitches in my throat, I'm unsure whether it's from surprise, or because he's simply too beautiful. He wanders toward me surefooted and graceful, a steady gaze locking my eyes. Despite my attempts to avoid him, despite running all the way here, he still found me. I didn't want to face him, at least not until the chaos in my mind had settled down.

"Can I join you?"

"Of course…"

My heart flutters more violently the close he gets, a nervous tremble spreading through my skin. When he settles down beside me I have to bite my lips to keep myself from twitching.

"How did you know I was here?"

"I saw you leaving the cabin, so I followed…"

"I couldn't sleep… but how did you know I was with Zeniba?"

"Well, I wasn't sure where you'd go, so I searched many places and came back here again, hoping that you'd turn up eventually…"

"When was that?"

"A few hours ago…"

"Then… why didn't you come inside?"

"Because it's late… and I didn't want to disturb…"

"You stayed outside?... this whole time?"

"Yes…"

Even though the season is warm, the nights are still cold. I remove the blanket from my shoulders and offer it to him without looking.

"Thanks for the offer… but I can't accept it…"

"Why not?"

"Because…"

"I've been inside a hot cabin for hours and managed to warm up plenty walking here… I can see that you're cold, so don't argue and just take the darn blanket"

"You should keep it"

Stubbornness overwhelms my nervousness and I whip toward him, shoving the blanket against his chest.

"I won't accept a no, so we can either sit here, throwing the blanket back and forth. Or… you can simply take it right now and the matter will be over with…"

I scowl and press the blanket more firmly, leaving him no room for refusal. He grins amused and grabs the fabric, throwing it over his shoulder.

"Now, that wasn't so hard, was it?"

"I should have resigned from the start, battling against you is pointless… you're the stubbornest person there ever was…"

"It's good that you know, it'll save us both some trouble"

"I'll make sure to remember"

Far in the distance a train clacks along its railway, the low thumps spreading through the air. Clouds drift through the sky, now and then blocking out the glow of the moon.

"What happened before, where did you go?"

"I was kidnapped by a creepy old dude…"

"Really?"

"Yup"

"What did he want?"

"Mostly annoy me to no end…"

"Was that all?"

"Nah, I punched him in the face and ran…"

He glances my way with a skeptical smirk "Really?"

"Nope"

"Thought so… "

"At least you can tell when I'm being sarcastic…"

"It's not that, I just know how you work…"

It shouldn't surprise me, he's been with me through every moment in the human world, I've told him things that I'd refuse anyone else. Still, pain stabs at my heart by the notion that I know nothing of him in return. The only response I ever got were his calm or turbulent waves.

"What did the old man want from you?"

"He wanted to give me information…"

"What kind?"

"I don't want to talk about it right now…"

"So, what do you want to talk about?"

"Well… you've been listening to my ranting for fifteen years, why don't you tell me something in return?"

I'm surprised at my own bitter tone; it was meant to sound humorous. It's like my emotions have run wild ever since he strolled up here. Maybe the restrained part of me evaporated and left only formless mush behind.

"That's fair… what do you wish to know?"

"Everything"

"That's a pretty broad spectrum…"

I chuckle softly, hoping to release the tension from my recent blunder. This thick atmosphere between us feels like the lid on a boiling pot, threatening to explode unless the pressure is released. My mind scrambles rapidly after something, anything that can remove this anxious anticipation.

"True… so, let's begin with what happened after I left, did you manage to escape Yubaba?"

"Yes, I left the bathhouse almost immediately"

"So, what did you do then? Built a house, grazed the steppes?"

My skin shivers as he laughs, it's soothing, like trickling water.

"Not really, I went on a journey…"

"What for?"

"To find information…"

"What kind?"

"Anything that could be helpful…"

"Did you find what you were looking for?"

"Mostly…"

"Do I have to dig everything out of you, can't you just talk to me like a normal person?"

"I'm sorry… it's just… difficult…"

"What's difficult?"

"Everything…"

"Why?"

I cuddle up on the rock, placing my heels against the edge and lean my chin on my knees. I sneak a peek from the corner of my eyes, watching him stare into the distant horizon. His sleek hair shines like those commercials on TV where they sell conditioner. Maybe I should be glad that we didn't meet in the human world, I'd have to mow away every girl within his proximity to stand a chance.

"Ever since you left, I've done my best to become a better person, to learn, to progress… but…"

"But?"

"I'd rather not talk about it…"

"Is this how we will go on? None of us speaking… just glaring at the view?"

"Is that such a bad thing?"

"Maybe not…"

We may sit side by side, but there's a wall built between us spanning from all the years we've lost.

Every time I look at him, I'm struck by just how wonderful of a man he is, and I'm just a broken mess with too many wounds to count.

It's at this moment the lid finally decides to fling off the pot and my anxiety soars. I push off from the rock and approach the edge with violent strides, halting just as my toes breach the boundary. A few stones clinks against the mountainside as they tumble down. The ground is so far below that my head spins from the vertigo.

"What are you doing! Get back!" He's at my side faster than I'd thought possible, grabbing my arm, pulling me back "It's dangerous!"

I rip my arm from his grip and hug myself tightly, refusing to meet his eyes.

"Don't worry… it's not like I'd die anyway…"

"What are you rambling about?! Just get back"

He grabs my shoulder, trying to haul me back.

"Let me go!"

I push away from him, the cliffs edge just a few inches behind.

"I won't touch you… so please just get back from there…"

"Why are you so worried anyway?"

"Are you kidding?! You're about to jump off a cliff!"

I raise my head, fixing my eyes to his, disregarding the panic written within them.

"I'll show you…"

I take a step back, his eyes widen, then another, his hand reaches for me. Then I fall backwards, stretching my arms wide, closing my eyes. The wind whistles in my ears, the air resistance forcing itself against the gravity pulling me down. It's like freedom has me within its grasp, being surrounded by nothing but air, it's thrilling, exciting. It's like nothing I've ever felt before, except the time when I flew on his back.

He must've jumped after me because I can hear him from above. I fling my eyes open and watch as he soars towards me. When he's a second away, I transform and the cloud of butterfly's shatters as he flies straight through them.

We halt from the steep dive, and I head for the top, landing a few feet from the cliffs edge waiting for him. When I hear his steps behind me there's this ominous feeling, and for a moment I don't want to turn around. But I can't understand why and force myself to face him. The fury within his gaze is so palpable that I'm startled into taking a step back.

"What's wrong? …"

He inhales deeply, shaking his head "You…"

"What?"

"I can't believe you did that…"

He breezes past me with deft strides, throwing himself onto the rock. I shuffle towards him and halt before his feet. His eyes are planted on the ground, avoiding me.

"Are you angry? …"

"Of course I am!"

"Why?"

"Why?! how would you react if I threw myself off a cliff?!"

"Well… I wouldn't worry… because you can fly…"

"And I didn't know that you could!"

"I didn't think about that…"

He whips toward me, shoulders tense "Well you should've!"

I scrape my toes against the ground, fiddling my thumbs "You're right… I'm sorry…"

"Why would you do something like that?"

"I just wanted to clear my head; it's so awkward between us… I'm not good with awkward…"

"'Clear your head', jeeze, could you try acting like a normal human for once?"

"Well, excuse me for not handling the situation as you'd like! It seems I'm the only one here out of her depth!"

"You're not! But throwing yourself off a cliff is definitely not the answer! You should've just said something!"

"You're not speaking so why should I?!"

"Because I can't…"

"Why?"

"Because I don't want you to hate me!"

"How could I possibly hate you?!"

His eyes snaps to mine and I'm overcome by the fright and tension he's displaying. Maybe it's lingering anxiety from just now, but I'm not convinced.

"Why wouldn't after the things I've done? ..."

"What are you talking about? … "

Sorry for the wait everyone, it's been really busy lately and I barely get enough time to settle down and relax enough to write. I'm hoping that I'll be able to set aside more time from now on. Finally Haku and our precious Chihiro will have some time for each other! it's been a long journey and it will continue on. I decided to split this chapter in two like chapter 5. Otherwise it could have spanned on for ages, not much goes according to plan for me!

Thanks for reading, following and favoring this story! Hope you enjoyed this story so far and this chapter.