A/N: Well, we're almost to the last chapter folks. It'll be sad to finally
end it, but at least I won't have to deal with any more death threats
(0.0). Until I start my next fic, that is. Heh.
My next update will be a double one; The last chapter, and my reflection on writing my first chaptered story on ff.net. You guys will want to read it because I will mention all my wonderful reviewers in there. So, don't miss out on your chance to be mentioned and tell me what you think! Like it, love it , want to kill me (eep), it doesn't matter. As long as you're truthful, okay?
/Fools rush in where angels fear to tread. I rush in where fools fear to tread\
Disclaimer: Do I really think you all are morons? No. Do I really need to type this? No.
Leaving Chapter 14 Parting
They were in the woods now. Though Chihiro had had trouble finding the small road that led to the entrance, Kohaku seemed to have no problem whatsoever. Soon they were moving up the path, as it gradually got darker and darker. Finally, they came to the burgundy colored building.
As they got closer to the entrance, Chihiro noticed that the wind, which when she came here last blew into the tunnel, was now blowing gently outwards. The trio stopped. The first to speak was Kohaku.
"We have reached a parting of the ways."
He took Chihiro and kissed her again. Chihiro was fighting back the tears that threatened to fall from her eyes once again. "Come back to me." She whispered hoarsely.
"I will. I promise."
Now, he looked at Rin. "See you on the other side," He said, before releasing Chihiro and striding towards the tunnel. When he had disappeared into the inky blackness of the tunnel, Chihiro finally began to cry again. After a moment or two, Rin realized she was as well.
When, Kohaku emerged from the tunnel, it was full twilight. Where there should have been an ocean of water, there was instead the fields that should have only existed in the daylight. Quickly, he began to cross the strangely silent meadows.
As he crested one hill, the town and the bathhouse came into view. When he saw that none of the lights were on, it sent a shiver up his spine.
Nothing moved, though by now the town should have been busy and the Aburaya even more so.
Finally, he reached the river. He had come just in time, as it was now beginning to dry up. He wanted to turn back, turn around, and capture one more glance of his beloved. But instead he leaped onto a rock in the middle of the failing stream, knelt, and placed his hand on the cool surface of the water.
Kohaku began to speak, slowly at first, but soon, his voice gained speed. The language he spoke in was not one of any human, and not even one most spirits could understand. After a moment, the water began to glow, and soon, he had vanished.
After what seemed like an eternity to Chihiro, the breeze that issued from the tunnel stopped. She and Rin had waited at the entrance until this moment. Rin stood.
"I guess that means I can go back in now, huh?" Her voice was barely above a whisper and it had no amused edge to it as it always had before.
Chihiro nodded, then stopped as she realized something. "Rin, wait a minute!"
The older girl had turned to go back into the tunnel, but looked at Chihiro when she called.
"Hmm?"
"I know what your name is."
The clearing was silent for a moment, before a confused Rin turned to Chihiro completely. "What do you mean you know my name?"
"Your real name," The girl said breathlessly.
This Rin understood. "You do? Well, what is it?"
"Your name is Reiko. You used to live in this town when you were a little girl. My friend told me. Ami-chan's grandfather knew you when he was a boy."
Rin was silent for a minute, and then turned back to Chihiro with wide eyes. "By the gods," She whispered, stunned. "It's true." She smiled. "I remember!"
Grin widening, she hugged Chihiro, then turned back toward the tunnel. "See you later, kiddo. I have to go see a woman about a contract," She said before, walking into the tunnel.
Chihiro, who had smiled because of her friend's happiness, now became melancholy again. She picked up her schoolbag, and began the walk home, alone.
My next update will be a double one; The last chapter, and my reflection on writing my first chaptered story on ff.net. You guys will want to read it because I will mention all my wonderful reviewers in there. So, don't miss out on your chance to be mentioned and tell me what you think! Like it, love it , want to kill me (eep), it doesn't matter. As long as you're truthful, okay?
/Fools rush in where angels fear to tread. I rush in where fools fear to tread\
Disclaimer: Do I really think you all are morons? No. Do I really need to type this? No.
Leaving Chapter 14 Parting
They were in the woods now. Though Chihiro had had trouble finding the small road that led to the entrance, Kohaku seemed to have no problem whatsoever. Soon they were moving up the path, as it gradually got darker and darker. Finally, they came to the burgundy colored building.
As they got closer to the entrance, Chihiro noticed that the wind, which when she came here last blew into the tunnel, was now blowing gently outwards. The trio stopped. The first to speak was Kohaku.
"We have reached a parting of the ways."
He took Chihiro and kissed her again. Chihiro was fighting back the tears that threatened to fall from her eyes once again. "Come back to me." She whispered hoarsely.
"I will. I promise."
Now, he looked at Rin. "See you on the other side," He said, before releasing Chihiro and striding towards the tunnel. When he had disappeared into the inky blackness of the tunnel, Chihiro finally began to cry again. After a moment or two, Rin realized she was as well.
When, Kohaku emerged from the tunnel, it was full twilight. Where there should have been an ocean of water, there was instead the fields that should have only existed in the daylight. Quickly, he began to cross the strangely silent meadows.
As he crested one hill, the town and the bathhouse came into view. When he saw that none of the lights were on, it sent a shiver up his spine.
Nothing moved, though by now the town should have been busy and the Aburaya even more so.
Finally, he reached the river. He had come just in time, as it was now beginning to dry up. He wanted to turn back, turn around, and capture one more glance of his beloved. But instead he leaped onto a rock in the middle of the failing stream, knelt, and placed his hand on the cool surface of the water.
Kohaku began to speak, slowly at first, but soon, his voice gained speed. The language he spoke in was not one of any human, and not even one most spirits could understand. After a moment, the water began to glow, and soon, he had vanished.
After what seemed like an eternity to Chihiro, the breeze that issued from the tunnel stopped. She and Rin had waited at the entrance until this moment. Rin stood.
"I guess that means I can go back in now, huh?" Her voice was barely above a whisper and it had no amused edge to it as it always had before.
Chihiro nodded, then stopped as she realized something. "Rin, wait a minute!"
The older girl had turned to go back into the tunnel, but looked at Chihiro when she called.
"Hmm?"
"I know what your name is."
The clearing was silent for a moment, before a confused Rin turned to Chihiro completely. "What do you mean you know my name?"
"Your real name," The girl said breathlessly.
This Rin understood. "You do? Well, what is it?"
"Your name is Reiko. You used to live in this town when you were a little girl. My friend told me. Ami-chan's grandfather knew you when he was a boy."
Rin was silent for a minute, and then turned back to Chihiro with wide eyes. "By the gods," She whispered, stunned. "It's true." She smiled. "I remember!"
Grin widening, she hugged Chihiro, then turned back toward the tunnel. "See you later, kiddo. I have to go see a woman about a contract," She said before, walking into the tunnel.
Chihiro, who had smiled because of her friend's happiness, now became melancholy again. She picked up her schoolbag, and began the walk home, alone.
