Disclaimer – "Default Chapter" saids it all ^^*

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~*~ The Day the Dream Ended ~*~

Chapter 6 – Reunion?

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Well…here I am.

Feet subconsciously stopping on their own, Ogino Chihiro found herself standing before the same dusky tunnel which her family had ventured uninvited into seven years ago. Panting slightly from the effort it has taken her to get there so quickly, Chihiro found herself hesitating—and her heart racing wildly. It was not so much from the toll of the pace she had taken to race there, but because of the mind-wobbling swirl of thoughts that seemed to be attacking her right then.

What am I doing here? I did everything I could to leave here seven years ago, didn't I? Yet now, here I am, standing before the very place which had taken so long for me to escape from.

It took me so long to get over them…to make myself forget about them…to make myself stop thinking of them every day and night, wondering if they're all right.

It took so long to convince myself to not think of him with every breath I take.

What if I see them again…what am I going to do? How am I going to act? Damnit all! I can't even show my emotions with the people I grew up with…I'll just end up hurting them like I did everyone else.

Like I'm hurting myself.

Taking a deep breath, Chihiro found her feet once again steadily moving toward the entrance of the dusky opening, eyes and mind lacking the confidence that her sure strides seemed to portray.

And smacked head-on with an invisible yet solid wall.

Damn. I should have known better.

Time and again, over the course of the seven years, Chihiro had tried to venture into the magical lands again, if only for a day…if only to say hello. But every time she tried to enter the Majou no Sekai she had been stopped by an invisible barrier, as if someone had forbidden her from ever setting foot in the Majou no Sekai.

Maybe they don't want to see me again…

The unmistakable roar of thunder came from beyond the tunnel, startling the girl out of her despairing thoughts. Chihiro gasped sharply, as if in pain, as a single streak of blue-colored lightening could be seem from beyond the darkened yonder. Grasping her chest, Chihiro stood with a stunned look on her face as the tearing pain slowly died down, along with the far away yet familiar feeling of…of him. A look of alarm overtook her features and overshadowed her doubts. For a moment, when the lightening had struck, it was as if…

Haku…I'm sure that was him! He's…he's hurt…

Thoughts of the gentle boy who had taken care of her seven years ago swarmed her mind…it was as though he was there with her—as if Haku was there by her side. The warm, comforting feeling radiating from him, the gentle smile that his illusion cast upon her…it was enough for her to make up her mind.

I have to get to him, no matter what. I have to help him.

I can't let him get hurt like this.

Pushing against the barrier with renewed resolve and with all her might, Chihiro felt as though her heart was awakening within her. Working with heart and mind as one, towards one single goal, Chihiro gasped in surprise as her hairtie began to glow a bright pink on her wrist, almost blinding her, pulsing as though it too was in tune with her whole being. Somewhere beyond the dark tunnel an equally bright light seemed to explode and a streak of green began making its way towards her at an alarming pace. Chihiro closed her eyes and braced herself for the impact as everything around her seemed to glow in the bright pink of her aura.

Haku…I'm sorry…I tried…

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Argh… Growling softly, his dragon instincts almost taking the better of him, Haku wanted to yell in pain and frustration. As the magic-ladened lightening faded from the skies, he took a moment to close his eyes in attempt to calm his threatening anger, not wanting to injure any innocence in case he looses his grip on his temper by accident like he often did long ago, the days when he had been Yu-Baaba's apprentice.

And who'd be here for me to hurt, anyways? This place is completely deserted. Looking around, indeed the area around where the barrier stood was completely barren from all forms of being…other than himself, of course. Only a fool would come here at a time like this.

Sighing in defeat, Haku felt the corners of his mouth tugging at him in a tiny smile as he recalled images of the girl who somehow, probably unknown to herself, had a strange calming effect on the water spirit. When he had first met her in the Majou no Sekai, so alone and frightened, he had found himself with only one thought in mind—to protect her. Spending time with her, being gentle and kind to her, had made him realize that his frustration often didn't get him anywhere. After all, if he had not learned control over his temper and had lashed out at her or hurt her feelings, he wouldn't have had the experience of holding her complete and absolute trust—an experience that he had found most enjoyable, and had brought him a strange sense of comfort.

Mind calmed, Haku returned his focus on the situation at hand. He had been trying for hours now to find a way into the other world, to get to her…to find her and protect her once again. However, as much as he desired to be with her right now, the barrier seemed to have other ideas in mind…such as not letting him succeed.

Taking a deep breath, Haku prepared himself for making another attack on the barrier…and the aftereffect of having the barrier bounce his magic right back at him.

It might be painful, he thought as he grimly readied himself, but if I don't try, I might not get the chance to see her again.

Focusing all his energy on the barrier, Haku summoned all the power he had left in him for one full-out attack.

I do not wish to live a life of regret—or even a day of regret—wondering if anything would have been different if I was there with her…if I was there for her.

For a moment, a nagging feeling at the back of his mind seemed to itch; a tiny voice in his head asked him why he was doing this…why he, who once thought of no one but himself, was ready to sacrifice so much for so small a person…for so little in return, if anything at all.

But the moment of doubt did not last for him—pushing the sidetracking thoughts to the back of his mind, Haku felt himself being strengthened by his newly reinforced resolve…his mind overcoming with an emotion he himself could not define.

I am doing this for her…because…

Because she is the most important person to me in the entire world…

And because I will give up everything for her.

Eyes and body glowing with his power, Haku let loose his blast and continued to do so as the green of his magic streaked towards the wall.

As the glow seemed to turn the eternal darkness momentarily into day; all that could be seen was the powerful blast of green clashing with the red of the barrier, the two magics trying to swallow up one another.

Then nothing.

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"Let your heart guide you on…"

Chihiro opened her eyes slowly into absolute darkness; panic seized her whole body. What's going on? Am…am I blind? Or dead?

Where…where am I?

The world around her was completely engulfed in the darkness, like it was the dead of the night. No starts shone in the sky; no moonlight illuminated the lands on which she stood. All was dark. Black. Nothingness. Blinking rapidly, she let out a relieved breath as her eyes caught sight of something in the darkness around her. If it weren't for the brightly glowing fire-like wall glowing near her, she would have thought that she was truly blind.

Alright…so I'm not blind. She thought, trying to calm herself down. But that doesn't explain where I am, or how I got here.

Frowning in thought, Chihiro walked up to the wall of fire. Using its light to try to see what's around her, Chihiro found herself more lost than before, if that's possible. Nothing in her surrounding seemed familiar to her—there was nothing but barren wastelands around for her to see, anyhow. No sign of life anywhere, nor was there any sign that creatures, no matter what they are, lived there. The land seemed devoid of any inhabitants—the land itself was dead.

What is going on here? Chihiro thought frantically. The last thing I remember, I outside the tunnel, trying to get in…and then…that…that light that came towards me.

Gasping, Chihiro felt her wrist for her hairtie in the dim light provided by the fire-like magical wall…and found it still warm.

That light emitting from it…it must have protected me, somehow, and send me here. But where exactly is here?

Sitting down before the wall, defeated, Chihiro noticed for the first time that it was raining. No…pouring was a more fitting term to describe the raging storm which had drenched her without her noticing. Overhead, thick clouds covered the entire sky and occasionally, thunder could be heard amid the howling winds of the storm.

Well…at least that explains the darkne…

Without warning, blinding pain seized her entire being—so much that she could barely breathe. Falling over, clutching her chest in pain, Chihiro squinted one eye open to meet another flash of blue-colored thunder…bringing with it another wave of pain.

It's the same as before. Closing her eyes as she tried to hold herself together through the wave of pain, Chihiro's mind seemed to slow to a trickle as she recalled events which had happened earlier that day. Back at school, and then later at the tunnel, when the blue-lightening flashed…it's the same pain…that same pain that I felt Haku had felt…! But how's that possible?! Except…except…

In her surprise, Chihiro jumped up: all of a sudden, everything seemed to fall into place.

I'm in the Majou no Sekai…

Before she could complete her train of thought, however, another flash of blue-lightening caught her eye, and another wave of pain overtook her entire body.

Feeling her mind blank out and everything before her going black, Chihiro prepared herself for hitting the hard ground, mentally scolding herself for standing up so tall in the first place. However, the awaited impact was shortened by an arm gently supporting her, keeping her from falling. With much effort, Chihiro tried to open her eyes but only succeed in opening them to tiny slits. What she saw surprised her so much that she momentarily forgot about her tearing pain.

Dark hair and familiar yet different looking mossy green eyes met her vision. A smile so gentle and alike to the one held by the boy in her memories, yet so dissimilar at the same time took her breath away as she passed into the darkness once again.

Haku…?

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*Drumrolls* Wow…this is actually getting somewhere…finally~! *breathes a sigh of relief* I thought I'd never get past all the talking heads!!! Well…did anyone notice how the 'title' has a question mark at the end?? LoL…Gotcha! You thought I was going to have them meet this them, eh?? *looking sheepish*…actually, so did I ^^;; *Tohru-style constant bowing…Fruits Basket, anyone?* Gomen gomen!! I didn't know they didn't wanna meet until later! But wait…maybe they *did* meet! You know…Chihiro's "rescuer" at the end?? Mahahaha… *evil laughter continues* Ahem…alrite, I'll leave that alone…until next time, that is :D Honestly, you'll have to wait and see what happens with that…mebbe Chihiro *is* with Haku right now, because I didn't really describe how much Haku has changed physically over the years…

But enough of this…Bahhh…I started 2 other fics at the same time…!! Yeah yeah, I know, me crazie…I'm having enough trouble keeping up wiv this one fic already XD But hey, if they all turn out, then wunt you read them?? I just hope that I can finish this fic up quickly before I forget what I was going to write!! As it stands right now…I *think* we're about halfway thru, if not more…so dunt quit on me! Wait until you find out the ending before you stop reading it!!

Criticisms & Comments most welcomed…especially now, when I'm so close to the finish!! Bubai~!

~Aqua Sunshine ^^*