A/N:
woo! My third Sen To Chihiro No Kamikakushi ficlet! Go me!
Disclaimer:
I do NOT own Spirited Away (a.k.a. Sen To Chihiro No Kamikakushi). Kapiche?
Summery:
Yuuko, Chihiro's mother, has a secret. She never really gave thought to it until after the entire Spirited Away adventure, when Chihiro became distant and dreamy. More dreamy than usual. And Yuuko noticed Chihiro began to look like her real father. THAT'S RIGHT, Yuuko Ogino went against all laws and behind Akio's back to Get It On with some other guy! Then a messenger comes to the Ogino family's house, and announces that The Family is dead, and the sole living heir is to take hold.
Basically, Chihiro is the Princess of the Spirit World (you can tell this is an AU) and the rest of her family on her father's side is murdered. (murder mystery? You bet!). she gets taken back (against her will and she wants to at the same time) to be greeted by her Kingdom. Nobody knows the true identity of the soon-to-be-Queen. The Royal Advisors make sure of that. Yes, Haku IS in this. It's a C/H!
OKAY, now that I've completely given the story away, do you still want to read it?
You do?
Wow! *passes out dragon-shaped chocolates* I like you!
Warnings:
AU/Chihiro to Haku/blood/gore/death/screams/fluff/tears/light swearing/rating may go up for... "reasons." ~_^ Chihiro is eleven in the movie (this is MY AU) and has turned Twelve in this ficlet. So Chihiro is aged differently. Now, this has blood in it - I won't stop there, and the asterisk (*) all on its own, that's where I'm going to go four months ahead of the movie. That's when this actually takes place. and the beginning paragraphs are really boring, but they explain the base of this. I'm sorry. If you lose interest halfway through this chapter, then keep reading! It'll get better, I promise!
Genre:
action/adventure/angst/drama/pitiful excuse for horror/romance/fluff/confusion/AU/death/
Length:
around five-thirteen chapters, though for some reason I always go overboard... this particular Chapter is approximately nine document pages.
Rating:
PG13 to R, haven't decided yet.
Started: 4/28/03
Finished: 4/29/03
.
Third Person POV
From before Chihiro was born to three or four months after the movie
.
.
.
The Ruling of the Spirit World is a complicated matter; it dances on the blade of a knife, so, must be handled lightly.
At first, sorcerers and sorceresses ran rampant, fighting for control of the World. Finally, in what Human Scientists might call the Big Bang, a Sorcerer split the worlds apart; one became Earth, and the other became Kamikakushi - its original name lost. Hence, Kamikakushi. On Earth lived the Matters themselves; Humans, Animals, rocks, living and nonliving things. And their spirits lived in Kamikakushi, the spirits to everything.
Now, at first it was thought that the Humans had no spirits; then that the sorcerers and sorceresses were; and finally they settled on the fact that Humans had their own spirits, and would never actually "live" on Kamikakushi. Three generations later, The Sorcerer's grandson decided that it had to stop; even though at least 78% of the fighting and chaos was gone with the Splitting of the Worlds, there was still plenty.
After many wars, battles, it became decided at last. A family of Humans would be tested, and the most worthy would be taught, and would rule Kamikakushi. Spirits would be free to live in Earth, living in and on what they were the spirits of. A few never even saw Kamikakushi, though all spirits know it exists. Duh. Certain spirits - spirits of rivers, babies, and emotions, could take human-like forms; these were breeded into the Royal Family, giving them magic, though the Human gene was very strong.
At last, everything stopped under the rule of a Human Queen Miai, and her Husband - the actual ruler - a Curiosity spirit named Eishuro. All was calm, peaceful, and any few sorcerers and sorceresses went off to do their own thing. Whenever an heir was crowned, they ALL came and tested him or her for magic. If s/he had none, they would give them magic, then resume their normal lives. All of the Royal Family Members had a mark - a magic birth mark that proved their lineage. It looked something like a flower (rose) etched in white on the bottom of their left foot, hardly visible. For this, they were sometimes referred to as the "rooze chisa."
Billions of years later, something happened; the Last King and his sister, visited the Human world. However, something that nobody expected to happen... happened. The King fell in love with a Human girl, and she ended up with his one and only heir. The laws could not be changed. But the girl, named Yuuko, would not stay and be his wife nor Queen. She was engaged, and struck a deal with Kamikakushi: she would live like a normal Human, on Earth, and raise the Heir herself. Should the King and his sister die, leaving no other successors to the throne, they could come and take their heir.
The King agreed. Eleven years passed before something happened.
A young rock spirit came to deliver a message to the King, but found instead that he, along with every other one of his sister and her family, were dead. Their were signs of a struggle. The Royal Advisors (they played regents, viziers, government, etc.) kept it quiet for a while, though everyone/thing on Earth and Kamikakushi was told. Spirits only, of course. None of the Humans remembered or knew anything about Kamikakushi.
Then, it became decided to get the King's one and only heir. They had it planned out - should the heir be male, they would match him up with the only woman Royal Adviser, and things would smooth out from there. Should the heir be female - they would find a match for her, and he would be given control.
Perfect.
Still, they waited four more Human months, so that the Heir would be Twelve Human years of age. *
The news that the Heir would be returning sparked joy in all, and the portal to take the Heir was chosen; just a little south of Aburaya, THE spirit bathhouse where spirits came from Earth to rest and relax and bathe. Everybody there was excited, and the sorceress in charge agreed. Of course.
So Three of the Royal Advisors went through while the others prepared things like clothes and whatnot - a bath was already prepared inside Aburaya , and all of the staff and spirits were shooed away home or into their rooms. Still, curious faces appeared and stared in expectation.
Yubaba was among those who got to greet the Heir up close, and Haku got stuck with her. Though he was technically not *hers* he was still her apprentice. As in, no slug, no control, she actually *teaches him* bleh blah et al.
.
.
.
.
.
.
"Where is Atotori, again?" asked Niou, one of the three R. A.'s going to fetch the heir. All of the Royal Advisors and every other spirit/sorcerer/sorceress called the heir "Atotori". His/her Royal name - that is, his/her true name from the very first Royal Family member, would be either Miai - should the heir be female, or Eishuro should the heir be male.
However, since nobody knew if the heir was male or female, everybody referred to him/her as one of the above. Most commonly, "Atotori".
"Very close," Roku, the second one, murmured. He frowned.
"Will the two of you stop?" suggested Ukon, the third. These three were the tops. Better social statuses. "There, that house there!" he pointed.
"Ah," Niou said, and started towards the blue building at a fast-paced run, reaching it in thirty seconds. "Yotsugi, here we come!" Roku agreed, following suit. Ukon came at a walk.
With an impatient sigh, Roku slammed his fist on the door. It would not be wise to make a bad first impression on Miai/Eishuro.
.
.
.
.
Yuuko tapped her daughter's shoulder lightly. "Hey, Chihiro-chan," she said. "you seem distant. Genki desu ne?"
"I'm fine, Okaasan." Chihiro said, offering her mother a smile. Yuuko didn't buy it.
for the longest time, her daughter had been so distant. And her eyes - Yuuko always moaned inside when she looked directly into her daughter's brown eyes. Brown like *his*, he who had seduced her.
Akio looked up from where he was reading. "you sound tired," he offered.
Chihiro shrugged, and got up from where she had been staring out the window. "I'm fine," she repeated. "but you're right too, I'm a bit sleepy. I think I'll go to bed."
"Without any supper?" Akio asked blankly.
"Yeah, sure. Friday, big lunch at school, you know?" Chihiro stretched.
"But it's only seven!" Yuuko insisted. "why not watch a movie?"
"No thanks. I'll go to bed." Chihiro went up the stairs. "G'night!" she shouted over her shoulder.
Yuuko sighed. "Do you think that she's been taking this move a little too hard?"
"Nah. Only a bit maladjusted." Akio replied, returned to his book.
BAM!!! Both Yuuko and Akio jumped as the door to their house was almost slammed off of its hinges. BAMBAM!!! Oh. Somebody was knocking.
"Yuuko-sama!" shouted a voice. "we are the Royal Advisors, and you have something that we own!"
"Excuse me?" Yuuko asked through her teeth, opening the door. Three men flurried in.
"Who are you?" Akio asked. one stared at him. Otherwise, he was ignored. Yuuko swallowed as she took in the form - and crest - of the three men.
"Akio, would you go upstairs, please?"
"But, Yuuko-san, what's going on?"
"This is important. An aspect of my past that I haven't confronted yet, Akio, please, go."
Akio frowned, and retreated upstairs. He went directly to Chihiro's room. A paternal instinct inside of him told him to. She was laying on her bed, over on top of the covers, staring blankly at the ceiling. She was wearing a large white shirt that came to her knees and had green lining on it. her hair was taken out of its usual pony tail - something very strange to see - and braided instead, tied with the usual never taken off sparkly purple hair band. She turned her head slightly as Akio came in, closing the door behind him.
"What are you doing here?" she asked curiously.
"Worried. Your mother is dealing with some men downstairs."
"Oh."
Meanwhile, downstairs, Yuuko was wringing her hands nervously as she took in her visitors.
The first, said to be named Roku, was watching her with steely eyes. "we've come for the Heir, for his or her family has been murdered, and she or he is the last."
Yuuko glanced at the clock on the wall. "Look, I don't know who you are or what you're talking about," she said slowly, cautiously.
"You knew very well who we are, and why we are here." Answered another, called Niou. "give us our ruler, and we'll leave you in peace."
"NO!" Yuuko shouted suddenly, tightening her hands into balled fists. "If it's Chihiro you're after, then you can't have her! She is MY daughter and- "
"And also, apparently, Miai, last living ruler of Kamikakushi. We will take good care of her, though her next few years will be terrible since she hasn't been trained the right way." his face twisted into a smile. "since you seem to love her so much, we'll make another deal with you."
"No!" Yuuko repeated. "and her name is Chihiro!"
"You made a promise!"
"I was nineteen! A stupid idiotic weak child! Your moron king seduced and raped me, and now that he's finally left me alone - my daughter and I in peace - he goes and dies, and YOU come and try to take her away! well guess what, it's NOT going to happen!" she was nearing hysterics.
The first stood up and walked forward a step. "Yuuko-sama," he warned. "I understand your pain; the man you loved is dead, and you never even got to meet him properly. I understand that it is a bit of a shock now that your young daughter is now a queen, well, as soon as we get her married off." He smirked again. "you can come and see her off in Kamikakushi, if you don't give a struggle. She is ours. Let her go."
"NO!" Yuuko screamed once more, backing up and tripping on the stairs. She jumped to her feet. "I do (and did) NOT love your stupid king! You are NOT taking my Chihiro, and even if you did, I would never allow you to marry her at the age of TWELVE!"
"You are right, most queens wait until they are thirteen or fourteen years of age before conceiving, but I am certain that Princess Miai will be a lovely exception."
"WHAT?!?!?? AND WHAT ABOUT HER PHYSICAL, STATE, HUH? GIRLS THAT AGE CAN'T!" Yuuko took a deep breath, forcing herself to remain calm. "look here, mister," she hissed harshly. "even if I did give you Chihiro - which I won't - and did let you marry her right away - which I won't, I'm not letting you even see her - she is NOT physically ready for something such as that. And this," Yuuko motioned around, "this would be traumatic for her. So you'd end up with a dead queen that suffered mind problems." Satisfied, Yuuko smirked herself and crossed her arms. "besides, what makes you think that she'd *want* to rule some place she's never been before? It'd be disaster."
By now, all three were standing around her, towering over her. She held her place.
"If you so much as lay a hand on my daughter, then I will kill you." She snarled. The three reacted quickly.
The first grabbed her and twisted her around, sending a blow to her stomach along the way. Her held her fast with her arms tightly behind her back while the other two hurried upstairs to get their Princess. Yuuko would have none of that - she knew that they might kill her and/or her husband, but she had to save Chihiro.
"Akio!" she screamed. "AKIO, TAKE CHIHIRO AND RUN! OUT A WINDOW, GO, HURRY! RUUUUUUUUUUUUN!!!!!!" another blow to her stomach silenced her.
However, both Chihiro and her father heard, and jumped to her feet.
"GO!!!!!!! DON'T WORRY ABOUT ME, GET CHIHIRO OUT OF HERE, DON'T LET THEM TOUCH HER!!!!!!!"
Akio turned back to a scared Chihiro. "Come on, sweetheart," he said, feeling sick. He was NOT going to leave his wife behind. "Go out your window, and run to a safe hiding place, okay?" he kissed her forehead and pushed open her window, removing the screen. "hurry. Your mother and I will follow you."
"Are you going to leave her behind?"
"No, Chihiro-san. I'm going to get her. Run." He pushed her gently to the window, and Chihiro scrambled out in her nightshirt onto the roof. Scouting quickly, she hopped around to the other end of the house and landed smoothly onto the garage roof. From there, she looked down uncertainly at the gravel road in front and her bare feet.
"RUN, CHIHIRO!" Yuuko's shout was laced with Akio's. Chihiro swallowed, and prepared to jump and land on the car, but a crash just as she was unfixing her muscles from inside startled her, and she slipped and screamed, landing hard on her shoulder.
There was a scream from inside that belonged to Yuuko. "AKIOOOOOOOOO!!!" she was cut off abruptly. Then she screamed again, "CHIHIRO, IF YOU CAN STILL HEAR ME, RUN! GET AWAY, GO! DON'T LOOK BACK, INTO TOWN, GET! GO!!!!!"
Chihiro burst into tears as another crash cut Yuuko off, and cradling her throbbing shoulder, she picked her way out of the gravel, then onto the paved road and began running top speed. The neighbors hadn't even woken up. Strange. They were already asleep, at seven o'clock?
Chihiro ran harder than before, and people outside stared at her as she passed. She blushed a little, knowing what she must look like. She hoped her parents were all right. 'they are,' she thought, and slammed into a closed store, where Yuuko worked. Yuuko's boss looked up quickly an came out of the back when she heard Chihiro's sobs and shouts for help.
"Chihiro! What's happened, young one? Where are your parents?"
Chihiro was almost incoherent, but forced herself to think rationally. "They're coming," she said after the manager, Yugi, had rushed her back and put her in a blanket, wiped her tears away, given her a mug of hot cocoa, and was currently inspecting her shoulder. "First my mommy waas screaming 'run, runn, Akio get Chihiro out of here!' but daddy wouldn't leave her behind, and I was on the garage roof when they both shouted, and my mommy said 'Akio' and then shouted for me to run again." Chihiro started and grimaced as Yugi popped her shoulder back into place.
"Your shoulder will be sore for a while," she said. "and do you know why Yuuko was shouting like that?"
"No. this could be a joke, and I'd think it if I didn't know better." She shivered. "I hope they hurry and come here soon."
"So do I. In fact, I'm going to head over to your house with the police and see what's going on. You stay here, alright?"
"Hai Yugi-sama."
"Good." Yugi smiled and went to make a few phone calls. Ten minutes later, she was driving off with an accompaniment of two police cars and three of the local sheriffs.
When she left, Chihiro reflected on what had just happened.
Except one problem - she didn't know what had happened. She had absolutely no idea.
After a while, her thoughts turned from thirty minutes ago to four months and two weeks ago. She had kept count. Just when they had been moving here, they had taken a wrong turn, and ended up in the Spirit World. There she had met many friends - and one more. More than a friend. Somehow. She couldn't explain it. Haku. Did he remember her? Maybe. Maybe he did. She wished she could go and visit him.
After close to an hour had passed, Chihiro's chin met her chest and her eyes closed.
It was another hour before she was jerked awake again, and stood sluggishly on her bare (and sore) feet, looking around the dark office, trying to remember where she was.
Oh, yeah.
She glanced at a clock on the far wall. Nine fifteen. Where was Yugi-sama? Shouldn't she be back by now with the police? After a moment, Chihiro let curiosity get hold of her, and she let the blanket drop and walked slowly out into the main floor. Moonlight spilled in from the windows, and there was nothing - nobody - outside. "that's weird," she noted, placing her palms on the cool glass of the door. She forced herself to wait around fifteen minutes, then pushed it open. Warm air greeted her, so she didn't think to go back and get the blanket. Nobody was awake anyway.
Maybe Yugi had gone home? No, that didn't seem likely.
She wandered up the streets, and sat down to rest a few times, unsure as to if she should go back. No. she had to know. Where were her parents? She had to know. Standing up again, she walked the rest of the way, but stopped as she neared the gravel front-way of her home. The lights were all on, and there was... Chihiro sniffed and coughed, clapping a hand over her mouth. Blood. She could smell it. tears came unbidden as voices - three of them - began to speak at the ajar door. Stumbling, Chihiro fell and managed to scramble under their car, peering up from her hiding place.
"You go. Tell them that..." the man's voice paused. "tell them that the Princess Miai has been brainwashed by her Human mother, and hurt by the human man that adopted her. So she will be slightly emotionally unstable. And the death of the King has grieved her so, she is unsure as to who is who and what is what.."
"Interesting," replied the other. "and you and Roku will stay here and wait for Princess Miai to return?"
"Too much force might be a bad first impression, Ukon." Replied a third. "go. Hurry, we'll join you shortly with the Princess. Start plans to find her the right betrothal. It's too bad that it's against the law to marry one of the Royal Advisors into the Royal Family."
All three of them laughed, and one, Ukon it seemed, took off at such a fast- paced run Chihiro's didn't see him as he passed.
Roku and the other man went back inside, leaving the lights on and door open. The stench of blood was too much. She had to know. Wiping the tears away, she crawled as quietly as she could out and dusted herself off, gripping her shirt in her fists and biting her lip.
"Niou, we have company," Roku whispered when he heard the sounds of muffled breathing.
"Indeed. Shall we surprise her?"
"Let's." they both stood and retreated into the shadows, just as Chihiro peered cautiously in. she dropped to her hands and knees at the sight she saw.
Blood. Everywhere. It splattered the walls, ceiling, and pooled on the floor. Bodies - all still, dead, mauled. Blood came from each - police, were the most. A few had their guns drawn. One severed hand had a gun gripped tightly in its fingers was three feet in front of Chihiro. Her eyes lifted to the shredded (and bloody) couch, and she let out a sob. Caution told her to clap her hands to her nose and mouth, though. Those two men were still there, somewhere. Everything was broken and tossed around - it looked like a tornado had hit. A tornado of blood.
It was Yugi, on the "couch." Her lifeless eyes stared through Chihiro quietly, hauntingly, beggingly. She looked to have been gutted, and her insides spilled out in a pool of redness. Her blood red lips were agape, from which still ketchup-colored liquid pooled and spilled. They had all been gutted, body parts chopped off, and Chihiro stumbled away. she made a coughing sound, then fled as far as the front yard before she tripped to her knees and vomited violently.
From that position she did not move. For a while, Chihiro just sat there and cried before she had enough courage to get up and run away. her parents had gotten away. she hadn't seen any mangled bodies in there that might resemble them in any way, so they must have escaped. they had to have escaped.
She started to stand, but couldn't move. "my legs!" they were locked in the position they were in. she couldn't move. Becoming frantic, Chihiro yanked herself every which way, until she finally fell backwards. She landed hard on her behind, and heard a ripping sound. No. she jumped to her feet, and prepared to dash away. but a shadow was moving, on the ground, towards her. It had red eyes. Chihiro couldn't help it. she screamed, and stumbled backwards. She didn't realize she was in the blood-house until she tripped over the gun-in-hand and fell directly next to two police. Once they were police. She screamed again, and stumbled for a second, then became disoriented. Her stomach heaved and tried to spill its contents again, and after a moment, it did. Her entire backside, and her hands, were covered with blood. Red, sticky, thick blood that dripped and sparkled.
Chihiro was half an inch away from hysterics, and for a second she thought she might pass out.
Instead, she jumped to her feet, splatting some of the stuff up her legs, when a scream from upstairs.
Willing anything to get away from the carnage, she stumbled upstairs, but came to a halt at her bedroom door. It was open, and blood and glass et al were splattered along the carpet and up the hallway wall from where the door was open. She felt even more disoriented as she pushed herself into her room. Chihiro froze, and felt her chest constrict.
Her father.
Her daddy.
The man who had raised her.
Lay there in pieces.
Literally.
His body and blood were everywhere. Everywhere.
Chihiro backed away into the wall, not wanting to go in. she opened her mouth and for a second no sound came out. She stood there rigid, unmoving, making no sound whatsoever. Then...
"DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADDYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY YYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" with a lurch that almost banged her bedroom door off its hinges, she threw herself into her room, skidding on her knees, a small wave of blood speckling her face. His head. She couldn't bring herself to reach out and touch it, pinch herself to wake up from this nightmare. All she could do was sob, nerve racking sobs that shook her body like a dog would a bone. BLOOD. It was everywhere. Its stench and feeling encased her, and she could almost taste it. vomitus in her mouth - she could taste that. And her muscles everywhere were sore and screamed out at her, especially her shoulder, and tears coursed down her face, never- ending, a stream of salting liquid that mixed with the red spots that had splattered up and glued to her face. And all she could do was stare in wide eyes at what was left of him. And cry. And scream.
She felt a hand on her shoulder, and screamed even louder, throwing herself violently to the side. her hand fell on his. She screamed louder, and choked. For the third time, her body rid itself of her contents. This time she really *did* taste blood. She hacked, and looked at the man who had touched her.
She recognized him somewhat as Roku. He looked sad, sympathetic, worried, caring, warm, honorable. And everything in between. Some inward force compelled her to throw her arms around his neck and sob, and cry, and scream until she finally passed out.
woo! My third Sen To Chihiro No Kamikakushi ficlet! Go me!
Disclaimer:
I do NOT own Spirited Away (a.k.a. Sen To Chihiro No Kamikakushi). Kapiche?
Summery:
Yuuko, Chihiro's mother, has a secret. She never really gave thought to it until after the entire Spirited Away adventure, when Chihiro became distant and dreamy. More dreamy than usual. And Yuuko noticed Chihiro began to look like her real father. THAT'S RIGHT, Yuuko Ogino went against all laws and behind Akio's back to Get It On with some other guy! Then a messenger comes to the Ogino family's house, and announces that The Family is dead, and the sole living heir is to take hold.
Basically, Chihiro is the Princess of the Spirit World (you can tell this is an AU) and the rest of her family on her father's side is murdered. (murder mystery? You bet!). she gets taken back (against her will and she wants to at the same time) to be greeted by her Kingdom. Nobody knows the true identity of the soon-to-be-Queen. The Royal Advisors make sure of that. Yes, Haku IS in this. It's a C/H!
OKAY, now that I've completely given the story away, do you still want to read it?
You do?
Wow! *passes out dragon-shaped chocolates* I like you!
Warnings:
AU/Chihiro to Haku/blood/gore/death/screams/fluff/tears/light swearing/rating may go up for... "reasons." ~_^ Chihiro is eleven in the movie (this is MY AU) and has turned Twelve in this ficlet. So Chihiro is aged differently. Now, this has blood in it - I won't stop there, and the asterisk (*) all on its own, that's where I'm going to go four months ahead of the movie. That's when this actually takes place. and the beginning paragraphs are really boring, but they explain the base of this. I'm sorry. If you lose interest halfway through this chapter, then keep reading! It'll get better, I promise!
Genre:
action/adventure/angst/drama/pitiful excuse for horror/romance/fluff/confusion/AU/death/
Length:
around five-thirteen chapters, though for some reason I always go overboard... this particular Chapter is approximately nine document pages.
Rating:
PG13 to R, haven't decided yet.
Started: 4/28/03
Finished: 4/29/03
.
Third Person POV
From before Chihiro was born to three or four months after the movie
.
.
.
The Ruling of the Spirit World is a complicated matter; it dances on the blade of a knife, so, must be handled lightly.
At first, sorcerers and sorceresses ran rampant, fighting for control of the World. Finally, in what Human Scientists might call the Big Bang, a Sorcerer split the worlds apart; one became Earth, and the other became Kamikakushi - its original name lost. Hence, Kamikakushi. On Earth lived the Matters themselves; Humans, Animals, rocks, living and nonliving things. And their spirits lived in Kamikakushi, the spirits to everything.
Now, at first it was thought that the Humans had no spirits; then that the sorcerers and sorceresses were; and finally they settled on the fact that Humans had their own spirits, and would never actually "live" on Kamikakushi. Three generations later, The Sorcerer's grandson decided that it had to stop; even though at least 78% of the fighting and chaos was gone with the Splitting of the Worlds, there was still plenty.
After many wars, battles, it became decided at last. A family of Humans would be tested, and the most worthy would be taught, and would rule Kamikakushi. Spirits would be free to live in Earth, living in and on what they were the spirits of. A few never even saw Kamikakushi, though all spirits know it exists. Duh. Certain spirits - spirits of rivers, babies, and emotions, could take human-like forms; these were breeded into the Royal Family, giving them magic, though the Human gene was very strong.
At last, everything stopped under the rule of a Human Queen Miai, and her Husband - the actual ruler - a Curiosity spirit named Eishuro. All was calm, peaceful, and any few sorcerers and sorceresses went off to do their own thing. Whenever an heir was crowned, they ALL came and tested him or her for magic. If s/he had none, they would give them magic, then resume their normal lives. All of the Royal Family Members had a mark - a magic birth mark that proved their lineage. It looked something like a flower (rose) etched in white on the bottom of their left foot, hardly visible. For this, they were sometimes referred to as the "rooze chisa."
Billions of years later, something happened; the Last King and his sister, visited the Human world. However, something that nobody expected to happen... happened. The King fell in love with a Human girl, and she ended up with his one and only heir. The laws could not be changed. But the girl, named Yuuko, would not stay and be his wife nor Queen. She was engaged, and struck a deal with Kamikakushi: she would live like a normal Human, on Earth, and raise the Heir herself. Should the King and his sister die, leaving no other successors to the throne, they could come and take their heir.
The King agreed. Eleven years passed before something happened.
A young rock spirit came to deliver a message to the King, but found instead that he, along with every other one of his sister and her family, were dead. Their were signs of a struggle. The Royal Advisors (they played regents, viziers, government, etc.) kept it quiet for a while, though everyone/thing on Earth and Kamikakushi was told. Spirits only, of course. None of the Humans remembered or knew anything about Kamikakushi.
Then, it became decided to get the King's one and only heir. They had it planned out - should the heir be male, they would match him up with the only woman Royal Adviser, and things would smooth out from there. Should the heir be female - they would find a match for her, and he would be given control.
Perfect.
Still, they waited four more Human months, so that the Heir would be Twelve Human years of age. *
The news that the Heir would be returning sparked joy in all, and the portal to take the Heir was chosen; just a little south of Aburaya, THE spirit bathhouse where spirits came from Earth to rest and relax and bathe. Everybody there was excited, and the sorceress in charge agreed. Of course.
So Three of the Royal Advisors went through while the others prepared things like clothes and whatnot - a bath was already prepared inside Aburaya , and all of the staff and spirits were shooed away home or into their rooms. Still, curious faces appeared and stared in expectation.
Yubaba was among those who got to greet the Heir up close, and Haku got stuck with her. Though he was technically not *hers* he was still her apprentice. As in, no slug, no control, she actually *teaches him* bleh blah et al.
.
.
.
.
.
.
"Where is Atotori, again?" asked Niou, one of the three R. A.'s going to fetch the heir. All of the Royal Advisors and every other spirit/sorcerer/sorceress called the heir "Atotori". His/her Royal name - that is, his/her true name from the very first Royal Family member, would be either Miai - should the heir be female, or Eishuro should the heir be male.
However, since nobody knew if the heir was male or female, everybody referred to him/her as one of the above. Most commonly, "Atotori".
"Very close," Roku, the second one, murmured. He frowned.
"Will the two of you stop?" suggested Ukon, the third. These three were the tops. Better social statuses. "There, that house there!" he pointed.
"Ah," Niou said, and started towards the blue building at a fast-paced run, reaching it in thirty seconds. "Yotsugi, here we come!" Roku agreed, following suit. Ukon came at a walk.
With an impatient sigh, Roku slammed his fist on the door. It would not be wise to make a bad first impression on Miai/Eishuro.
.
.
.
.
Yuuko tapped her daughter's shoulder lightly. "Hey, Chihiro-chan," she said. "you seem distant. Genki desu ne?"
"I'm fine, Okaasan." Chihiro said, offering her mother a smile. Yuuko didn't buy it.
for the longest time, her daughter had been so distant. And her eyes - Yuuko always moaned inside when she looked directly into her daughter's brown eyes. Brown like *his*, he who had seduced her.
Akio looked up from where he was reading. "you sound tired," he offered.
Chihiro shrugged, and got up from where she had been staring out the window. "I'm fine," she repeated. "but you're right too, I'm a bit sleepy. I think I'll go to bed."
"Without any supper?" Akio asked blankly.
"Yeah, sure. Friday, big lunch at school, you know?" Chihiro stretched.
"But it's only seven!" Yuuko insisted. "why not watch a movie?"
"No thanks. I'll go to bed." Chihiro went up the stairs. "G'night!" she shouted over her shoulder.
Yuuko sighed. "Do you think that she's been taking this move a little too hard?"
"Nah. Only a bit maladjusted." Akio replied, returned to his book.
BAM!!! Both Yuuko and Akio jumped as the door to their house was almost slammed off of its hinges. BAMBAM!!! Oh. Somebody was knocking.
"Yuuko-sama!" shouted a voice. "we are the Royal Advisors, and you have something that we own!"
"Excuse me?" Yuuko asked through her teeth, opening the door. Three men flurried in.
"Who are you?" Akio asked. one stared at him. Otherwise, he was ignored. Yuuko swallowed as she took in the form - and crest - of the three men.
"Akio, would you go upstairs, please?"
"But, Yuuko-san, what's going on?"
"This is important. An aspect of my past that I haven't confronted yet, Akio, please, go."
Akio frowned, and retreated upstairs. He went directly to Chihiro's room. A paternal instinct inside of him told him to. She was laying on her bed, over on top of the covers, staring blankly at the ceiling. She was wearing a large white shirt that came to her knees and had green lining on it. her hair was taken out of its usual pony tail - something very strange to see - and braided instead, tied with the usual never taken off sparkly purple hair band. She turned her head slightly as Akio came in, closing the door behind him.
"What are you doing here?" she asked curiously.
"Worried. Your mother is dealing with some men downstairs."
"Oh."
Meanwhile, downstairs, Yuuko was wringing her hands nervously as she took in her visitors.
The first, said to be named Roku, was watching her with steely eyes. "we've come for the Heir, for his or her family has been murdered, and she or he is the last."
Yuuko glanced at the clock on the wall. "Look, I don't know who you are or what you're talking about," she said slowly, cautiously.
"You knew very well who we are, and why we are here." Answered another, called Niou. "give us our ruler, and we'll leave you in peace."
"NO!" Yuuko shouted suddenly, tightening her hands into balled fists. "If it's Chihiro you're after, then you can't have her! She is MY daughter and- "
"And also, apparently, Miai, last living ruler of Kamikakushi. We will take good care of her, though her next few years will be terrible since she hasn't been trained the right way." his face twisted into a smile. "since you seem to love her so much, we'll make another deal with you."
"No!" Yuuko repeated. "and her name is Chihiro!"
"You made a promise!"
"I was nineteen! A stupid idiotic weak child! Your moron king seduced and raped me, and now that he's finally left me alone - my daughter and I in peace - he goes and dies, and YOU come and try to take her away! well guess what, it's NOT going to happen!" she was nearing hysterics.
The first stood up and walked forward a step. "Yuuko-sama," he warned. "I understand your pain; the man you loved is dead, and you never even got to meet him properly. I understand that it is a bit of a shock now that your young daughter is now a queen, well, as soon as we get her married off." He smirked again. "you can come and see her off in Kamikakushi, if you don't give a struggle. She is ours. Let her go."
"NO!" Yuuko screamed once more, backing up and tripping on the stairs. She jumped to her feet. "I do (and did) NOT love your stupid king! You are NOT taking my Chihiro, and even if you did, I would never allow you to marry her at the age of TWELVE!"
"You are right, most queens wait until they are thirteen or fourteen years of age before conceiving, but I am certain that Princess Miai will be a lovely exception."
"WHAT?!?!?? AND WHAT ABOUT HER PHYSICAL, STATE, HUH? GIRLS THAT AGE CAN'T!" Yuuko took a deep breath, forcing herself to remain calm. "look here, mister," she hissed harshly. "even if I did give you Chihiro - which I won't - and did let you marry her right away - which I won't, I'm not letting you even see her - she is NOT physically ready for something such as that. And this," Yuuko motioned around, "this would be traumatic for her. So you'd end up with a dead queen that suffered mind problems." Satisfied, Yuuko smirked herself and crossed her arms. "besides, what makes you think that she'd *want* to rule some place she's never been before? It'd be disaster."
By now, all three were standing around her, towering over her. She held her place.
"If you so much as lay a hand on my daughter, then I will kill you." She snarled. The three reacted quickly.
The first grabbed her and twisted her around, sending a blow to her stomach along the way. Her held her fast with her arms tightly behind her back while the other two hurried upstairs to get their Princess. Yuuko would have none of that - she knew that they might kill her and/or her husband, but she had to save Chihiro.
"Akio!" she screamed. "AKIO, TAKE CHIHIRO AND RUN! OUT A WINDOW, GO, HURRY! RUUUUUUUUUUUUN!!!!!!" another blow to her stomach silenced her.
However, both Chihiro and her father heard, and jumped to her feet.
"GO!!!!!!! DON'T WORRY ABOUT ME, GET CHIHIRO OUT OF HERE, DON'T LET THEM TOUCH HER!!!!!!!"
Akio turned back to a scared Chihiro. "Come on, sweetheart," he said, feeling sick. He was NOT going to leave his wife behind. "Go out your window, and run to a safe hiding place, okay?" he kissed her forehead and pushed open her window, removing the screen. "hurry. Your mother and I will follow you."
"Are you going to leave her behind?"
"No, Chihiro-san. I'm going to get her. Run." He pushed her gently to the window, and Chihiro scrambled out in her nightshirt onto the roof. Scouting quickly, she hopped around to the other end of the house and landed smoothly onto the garage roof. From there, she looked down uncertainly at the gravel road in front and her bare feet.
"RUN, CHIHIRO!" Yuuko's shout was laced with Akio's. Chihiro swallowed, and prepared to jump and land on the car, but a crash just as she was unfixing her muscles from inside startled her, and she slipped and screamed, landing hard on her shoulder.
There was a scream from inside that belonged to Yuuko. "AKIOOOOOOOOO!!!" she was cut off abruptly. Then she screamed again, "CHIHIRO, IF YOU CAN STILL HEAR ME, RUN! GET AWAY, GO! DON'T LOOK BACK, INTO TOWN, GET! GO!!!!!"
Chihiro burst into tears as another crash cut Yuuko off, and cradling her throbbing shoulder, she picked her way out of the gravel, then onto the paved road and began running top speed. The neighbors hadn't even woken up. Strange. They were already asleep, at seven o'clock?
Chihiro ran harder than before, and people outside stared at her as she passed. She blushed a little, knowing what she must look like. She hoped her parents were all right. 'they are,' she thought, and slammed into a closed store, where Yuuko worked. Yuuko's boss looked up quickly an came out of the back when she heard Chihiro's sobs and shouts for help.
"Chihiro! What's happened, young one? Where are your parents?"
Chihiro was almost incoherent, but forced herself to think rationally. "They're coming," she said after the manager, Yugi, had rushed her back and put her in a blanket, wiped her tears away, given her a mug of hot cocoa, and was currently inspecting her shoulder. "First my mommy waas screaming 'run, runn, Akio get Chihiro out of here!' but daddy wouldn't leave her behind, and I was on the garage roof when they both shouted, and my mommy said 'Akio' and then shouted for me to run again." Chihiro started and grimaced as Yugi popped her shoulder back into place.
"Your shoulder will be sore for a while," she said. "and do you know why Yuuko was shouting like that?"
"No. this could be a joke, and I'd think it if I didn't know better." She shivered. "I hope they hurry and come here soon."
"So do I. In fact, I'm going to head over to your house with the police and see what's going on. You stay here, alright?"
"Hai Yugi-sama."
"Good." Yugi smiled and went to make a few phone calls. Ten minutes later, she was driving off with an accompaniment of two police cars and three of the local sheriffs.
When she left, Chihiro reflected on what had just happened.
Except one problem - she didn't know what had happened. She had absolutely no idea.
After a while, her thoughts turned from thirty minutes ago to four months and two weeks ago. She had kept count. Just when they had been moving here, they had taken a wrong turn, and ended up in the Spirit World. There she had met many friends - and one more. More than a friend. Somehow. She couldn't explain it. Haku. Did he remember her? Maybe. Maybe he did. She wished she could go and visit him.
After close to an hour had passed, Chihiro's chin met her chest and her eyes closed.
It was another hour before she was jerked awake again, and stood sluggishly on her bare (and sore) feet, looking around the dark office, trying to remember where she was.
Oh, yeah.
She glanced at a clock on the far wall. Nine fifteen. Where was Yugi-sama? Shouldn't she be back by now with the police? After a moment, Chihiro let curiosity get hold of her, and she let the blanket drop and walked slowly out into the main floor. Moonlight spilled in from the windows, and there was nothing - nobody - outside. "that's weird," she noted, placing her palms on the cool glass of the door. She forced herself to wait around fifteen minutes, then pushed it open. Warm air greeted her, so she didn't think to go back and get the blanket. Nobody was awake anyway.
Maybe Yugi had gone home? No, that didn't seem likely.
She wandered up the streets, and sat down to rest a few times, unsure as to if she should go back. No. she had to know. Where were her parents? She had to know. Standing up again, she walked the rest of the way, but stopped as she neared the gravel front-way of her home. The lights were all on, and there was... Chihiro sniffed and coughed, clapping a hand over her mouth. Blood. She could smell it. tears came unbidden as voices - three of them - began to speak at the ajar door. Stumbling, Chihiro fell and managed to scramble under their car, peering up from her hiding place.
"You go. Tell them that..." the man's voice paused. "tell them that the Princess Miai has been brainwashed by her Human mother, and hurt by the human man that adopted her. So she will be slightly emotionally unstable. And the death of the King has grieved her so, she is unsure as to who is who and what is what.."
"Interesting," replied the other. "and you and Roku will stay here and wait for Princess Miai to return?"
"Too much force might be a bad first impression, Ukon." Replied a third. "go. Hurry, we'll join you shortly with the Princess. Start plans to find her the right betrothal. It's too bad that it's against the law to marry one of the Royal Advisors into the Royal Family."
All three of them laughed, and one, Ukon it seemed, took off at such a fast- paced run Chihiro's didn't see him as he passed.
Roku and the other man went back inside, leaving the lights on and door open. The stench of blood was too much. She had to know. Wiping the tears away, she crawled as quietly as she could out and dusted herself off, gripping her shirt in her fists and biting her lip.
"Niou, we have company," Roku whispered when he heard the sounds of muffled breathing.
"Indeed. Shall we surprise her?"
"Let's." they both stood and retreated into the shadows, just as Chihiro peered cautiously in. she dropped to her hands and knees at the sight she saw.
Blood. Everywhere. It splattered the walls, ceiling, and pooled on the floor. Bodies - all still, dead, mauled. Blood came from each - police, were the most. A few had their guns drawn. One severed hand had a gun gripped tightly in its fingers was three feet in front of Chihiro. Her eyes lifted to the shredded (and bloody) couch, and she let out a sob. Caution told her to clap her hands to her nose and mouth, though. Those two men were still there, somewhere. Everything was broken and tossed around - it looked like a tornado had hit. A tornado of blood.
It was Yugi, on the "couch." Her lifeless eyes stared through Chihiro quietly, hauntingly, beggingly. She looked to have been gutted, and her insides spilled out in a pool of redness. Her blood red lips were agape, from which still ketchup-colored liquid pooled and spilled. They had all been gutted, body parts chopped off, and Chihiro stumbled away. she made a coughing sound, then fled as far as the front yard before she tripped to her knees and vomited violently.
From that position she did not move. For a while, Chihiro just sat there and cried before she had enough courage to get up and run away. her parents had gotten away. she hadn't seen any mangled bodies in there that might resemble them in any way, so they must have escaped. they had to have escaped.
She started to stand, but couldn't move. "my legs!" they were locked in the position they were in. she couldn't move. Becoming frantic, Chihiro yanked herself every which way, until she finally fell backwards. She landed hard on her behind, and heard a ripping sound. No. she jumped to her feet, and prepared to dash away. but a shadow was moving, on the ground, towards her. It had red eyes. Chihiro couldn't help it. she screamed, and stumbled backwards. She didn't realize she was in the blood-house until she tripped over the gun-in-hand and fell directly next to two police. Once they were police. She screamed again, and stumbled for a second, then became disoriented. Her stomach heaved and tried to spill its contents again, and after a moment, it did. Her entire backside, and her hands, were covered with blood. Red, sticky, thick blood that dripped and sparkled.
Chihiro was half an inch away from hysterics, and for a second she thought she might pass out.
Instead, she jumped to her feet, splatting some of the stuff up her legs, when a scream from upstairs.
Willing anything to get away from the carnage, she stumbled upstairs, but came to a halt at her bedroom door. It was open, and blood and glass et al were splattered along the carpet and up the hallway wall from where the door was open. She felt even more disoriented as she pushed herself into her room. Chihiro froze, and felt her chest constrict.
Her father.
Her daddy.
The man who had raised her.
Lay there in pieces.
Literally.
His body and blood were everywhere. Everywhere.
Chihiro backed away into the wall, not wanting to go in. she opened her mouth and for a second no sound came out. She stood there rigid, unmoving, making no sound whatsoever. Then...
"DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADDYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY YYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" with a lurch that almost banged her bedroom door off its hinges, she threw herself into her room, skidding on her knees, a small wave of blood speckling her face. His head. She couldn't bring herself to reach out and touch it, pinch herself to wake up from this nightmare. All she could do was sob, nerve racking sobs that shook her body like a dog would a bone. BLOOD. It was everywhere. Its stench and feeling encased her, and she could almost taste it. vomitus in her mouth - she could taste that. And her muscles everywhere were sore and screamed out at her, especially her shoulder, and tears coursed down her face, never- ending, a stream of salting liquid that mixed with the red spots that had splattered up and glued to her face. And all she could do was stare in wide eyes at what was left of him. And cry. And scream.
She felt a hand on her shoulder, and screamed even louder, throwing herself violently to the side. her hand fell on his. She screamed louder, and choked. For the third time, her body rid itself of her contents. This time she really *did* taste blood. She hacked, and looked at the man who had touched her.
She recognized him somewhat as Roku. He looked sad, sympathetic, worried, caring, warm, honorable. And everything in between. Some inward force compelled her to throw her arms around his neck and sob, and cry, and scream until she finally passed out.