PAS here, posting solo again... Wow! We've finally updated! Actually...its more like I've finally updated since KK has not been writing. Geez...how long has it been? Oh yeah! We finally decided on a name! This is the unedited version. Well, enjoy!

Shades of Lilac

Chapter 3

Last time:

Masaki watched, soaking up the pleasure she felt when she saw Chihiro stumble and stammer at her question. She observed with great delight; that is until Chihiro, in all her clumsiness, tripped over an upraised root and tumbled down the hillside that the path was located on.

"Chihirooo!!!!!"

~*~

Masaki shrieked in shock as she watched her friend tumble down the hill. She started to pelt after Chihiro when something caught her eye. What was that flash of purple? Masaki paused but shook it off as she to the side of the path to check on her friend's condition, who currently lay at the bottom of the slope, next to the stream they had been searching headed towards.

"...hiro! Chihiro! Are you okay? Chihiro!"

Chihiro never heard Masaki's cries as she was lost in her thoughts. "What...what just happened? I was falling...I thought I was going to die, and then I'm on the ground, unharmed. I thought I was a feather...or like I was...flying..."

A vision suddenly hit her like a train, its potency so strong she curled up, trying to protect herself from it, but it kept its barrage.

Flying...she was flying...her hair whipping around her face...she could smell the blood in the air, its intensity only becoming stronger as she and her steed crashed into a wall, then falling through the fan in the air vent. She was tossed roughly as the dragon fell onto the floor. She could hear the voice of an old man cry out in shock.

The vision shifted violently and Chihiro heard a boy's voice.

In the name of the wind and water within thee...Unbind her.

She could then feel herself running....running so fast it seem almost as if she was flying...she was fleeing from something, with someone...but she couldn't remember what or who...

The vision ended as abruptly as it began. Chihiro slowly began to uncurl, afraid that another would suddenly hit her without her knowing. As she began to right herself, she noticed her surroundings. All she could see was purple. It was as if a barrier had formed around her as she fell, and it vibrated with different shades of purple. She could see magenta, violet, mauve, indigo, and lavender swirling around in one main color that reminded her of the lilacs that grew outside her window at home. The shades of lilacs swirling around her seemed to offer her comfort and protection, and now that she was safe, it was slowing fading. The magenta bleed into the mauve, then mixed with the indigo and lavender, and all the colors slowly fade into the lilac until it was the only color left. Then the lilac faded until it all seemed like an evanescent dream.

"What...what was that? Where am I?" All that answered her was the sound of rushing water.

~*~

"Chihiro! Chihiro, are you okay?! You better be okay! Answer me! Chihiro!"

Masaki yelled down the steep hill, hoping that her friend was not serious injured. She paused waiting for an answer, but none came.

"Oh my god, what if something happened? Chihiro!!!"

Masaki sprang to her feet and whirled around, screaming in hysteria for help. "Someone! Help! Please! Help me! Anyone! Oh my god, oh my god. Someone help!!!!"

"What's wrong?"

Masaki whirled in the direction of the voice. A boy and his friend came running up to her, their faces filled with concern. "What's wrong? What happened?"

"It...it Chihiro! Oh my god, she's hurt! I...we...we...Help...I..."

"Calm down!" one of the boys said, shaking her shoulder gently. "Calm down and tell me what happened!"

Masaki took a deep breath and then said, "We were walking down the path and Chihiro tripped and fell down the hill! I can't see if she's ok and she won't answer me! What...what if something happened to her?! What if she's unconscious?! I...It...what if she..." Masaki broke off sobbing as she sank to her knees.

The first boy turned to his companion. "Go back and get a teacher! I'll stay here and wait for you."

His companion nodded and sprinted back to camp. The other boy turned and knelt by Masaki. "Hey, it'll be okay. I'm sure your friends okay."

"But what...what if she broke her neck? Its...its all my fault!" Masaki wailed in between sobs.

The boy could do nothing but comfort the devastated girl. He didn't want to say anything because he wasn't sure if her friend was actually okay. The hill was steep, and the fall would be a violent one.

~*~

Chihiro stood, slowly taking in her surroundings. "Where am I?" she muttered to herself. "What happened?"

Chihiro racked her brain as she continued to look around. When she tilted her head up to examine the sky, she remembered. "Oh yeah! I tripped on that stupid root and then I fell..." Chihiro trailed off, shocked as she examined the steep hill she fell from. It wasn't possible to survive a fall like that unscathed, but she somehow managed to.

Sen!

Chihiro gasped when she heard that name because it triggered another forgotten memory.

From now on, you will be called Sen. You got that? You're Sen. Answer me Sen!

"Sen...that's me! I'm Sen. But why did I forget that?" Chihiro exclaimed.

Sen!

Chihiro spun around as she heard the voice begin to fade. "Chotto! Dare?"

No one answered her question. "Who's there?! What's going on? Is this someone's idea of a trick? Masaki? This isn't funny!"

And still no one answered her questions. She glared at the trees surrounding her, silently asking them if they had been the ones to talk to her. But, like any other tree, they remained silent. The only sound reaching her ears now was the sound of rushing water.

Sen!

Chihiro straitened in shock as she realized that the voice seem like rushing water. It was as if the river was talking. She could her the voice fading, drifting further into the forest, and before she knew what she was doing, she was running after the mysterious voice, moving deeper into the forest.

Chihiro didn't know what was happening. Was it her, or did it seem like the branches were parting for her as she race by?

She kept running, even when she was swept up into another memory.

She could feel someone's hand clutching her wrist, tugging her along and they ran. She was running from something, a bird. And he was trying to help her. She didn't know who he was but he seemed familiar. And he was trying to help her...

They approached a bridge. "Hold your breath while we're on the bridge." It was that voice again, not the old lady's raspy voice but the smooth voice of that boy. "Even a tiny breath, the spell will break and the attendants will see you."

"I'm scared."

"Be calm...a deep breath."

Chihiro held her breath and stepped onto the bridge.

Suddenly her vision shifted and it became daylight.

She was on the bridge again. Someone cloaked in black stood in the middle and she gave them a quick bow as she passed by.

When she turned back to look for him, he was gone.

Someone materialized behind her.

"Follow me." And she obeyed.

She was walking through bushes of flowers of all colors. Orange, pink, yellow, white...lilac...

Chihiro is shaken out of her dreams as she stopped. She found herself facing a giant river. It was large in width, and the water rushed by violently. Water spilled over the edges, drenching the bank, creating a muddy mixture. Chihiro stared entranced at the river, watching the current splash against rocks.

Suddenly, the current calmed and the water stopped flowing altogether. "What...What's going on?" Chihiro asked the forest as she approached the river. She kneeled on the banks, and cautiously, peered into the water.

Chihiro sighed in relief. She only saw herself in the water, not a mysterious spirit like she thought she would. Her reflection blurred as a leaf fell right in front of her face, causing ripples to vibrate through the water. When the water cleared, her reflection stared back at her, but something was different. It took her a moment to notice, but her reflection was wearing pink work clothes. "How..."

Chihiro never finished her question, for suddenly the water erupted in front of her. Chihiro flung herself back, her mouth open in a voiceless scream. Her eyes grew wider at the sight in front of her.

The face of an old man floated in the air, staring straight at her.

"I...I must be dreaming!" Chihiro exclaimed as she rubbed her eyes in disbelief. After she cleared her eyes, she gaped when she found that the face didn't' disappear.

Sen...

Chihiro shrieked when she heard the voice in her head. "Kyaa!! Bakemono!!!"

Sen...Bakemono ja nai...Don't you remember me?

"Wah...what do you mean!? I'm dreaming!"

Chihiro froze. Those words seemed familiar.

She was running as fast as she could. She had to get out of this creepy world. Her parents hadn't turned into pigs and there weren't spirits walking around the abandoned amusement park. Suddenly, she ran into an ocean. Shrieking, she scrambled back, only to find the river she thought was supposed to be there had turned a sea and city lights twinkled across the body of water. A ship slowly headed toward her.

"I'm dreaming," she said as she crouched down, wishing it would all go away. "I'm dreaming and it will all go away."

Disappear...and she did...

"Ahh! What going on!" Chihiro cried as she recovered from another memory. Chihiro stared at the floating face and squinted at the air around it which seemed to ripple every once in a while.

Sen...

"Sen? Who's Sen?" Chihiro asked the spirited, fear and anguish evident in her voice. "Who are you?"

Sen...I see you don't remember me...

"Remember you?" Chihiro echoed, puzzled.

Let me revive you memories...

And with that statement, the river exploded and reached out to grab Chihiro.

"Kyaaaa!!"

The feeling of the water surrounding her body sent her mind into another flashback.

"Heave! Heave!"

She pulled with all her might, following the orders barked at her. She sensed someone next to her, helping her pull the rope.

Suddenly, the pulling succeeded as mud gushed out and garbage flowed out.

She still continued to pull on a piece of fishing line and then it gave way with a small "pop," and she was immersed in water.

As she floated in the water, she felt something make her way into her hands and someone faintly cry, "Sen! Daijoubu ka?!"  

The water flooded down and the voice of an elderly man said, "Good job..."

Someone yelled at her to get out of the way and she climbed down the side of the tub. The water in the tub rippled as a brown wrinkled face of an elderly man rose, then suddenly it exploded and a stream of water led by the face. Laughter filled the air and the stream of water headed out into the rain.

Chihiro stiffened in shock as she realized this river spirit and the one from her dream were one in the same. Then, she fainted.

~*~

Masaki franticly searched the forest for Chihiro. Her teachers had wanted her to stay on higher ground while they looked for Chihiro, but Masaki insisted on looking for her friend.

All of a sudden, a scream filled the air.

"Chihiro," Masaki whispered in shock. Then in a louder, more frantic voice, she cried, "Chihiro!!!"

Masaki pelted off in the direction of the cry, and subconsciously she noticed the teacher and the other students who were helping search for Chihiro follow her. She ran through the trees, wincing every once in a while as the branches reached out to scratch her face. The trees opened into a clearing and Masaki froze at what she saw.

On the ground by the rushing river, Chihiro's dragon pendant lay, with drops of water clinging to it. 

Masaki moved forward and knelt to pick up the necklace. She grasped it closed her heart and whispered, "Masaka...Chihiro..."

Tears fell from her eyes and blended with the river as it rushed up and lapped at her feet. A gentle hand fell on her shoulder.

"You better move back. We don't want you to fall into the river too."

Masaki peered blurrily into the face of the speaker and allowed him to pull her away gently. Faintly she heard the teachers discussing what they found and spread out to search the riverbank, but all she could think of was Chihiro. She tightened her hands around the necklace and as the same boy who helped her before wrapped his arms around her in comfort, she wept.

~*~ Elsewhere ~*~

A figure observed the surrounding buildings. Finally. The person's lips moved and softly, a voice said, "I'm here to keep my promise."

Ooh...what happened to Chihiro? Who's the mysterious person at the end? Can you guess? Oh yeah, Bakemono is ghost, Bakemono ja nai means I'm not a ghost, Daijoubu ka means Are you okay?; Masaka = it can't be...and that's all my limited Japanese...I'll have to check w/ KK about my accuracy.

PAS: Blah...well I guess I should warn everyone that it'll probably be another 3 months before I update again...since its been a while since I've watched the movie. Need to rewatch it... Oh yeah...the last two flashback scenes were done without consulting the movie, so they will be inaccurate. After I force KK to edit this chapter, I'll try and post a final edition of the chapter and maybe the part of the chapter that I had to cut out and rewrite.

If ya want me to write faster, guilt me into it in your reviews!! So Review!! Press the button! Make my day! Yes PAS is insane!!! If you haven't noticed this by now, you've been very unobservant.

Advertisement: Review and then go and reread the story! Also check out other stories by members of the EASPOA! Check out EASPOA's Digimon story! Silly fun w/ a homicidal Jyou! Also, Yu-gi-oh fans check out Pikachumaniac's stories and CCS fans read Pinkangelsakura's story Finding Him!

Posted 3/12/03 by PAS; Unedited chapter