A Memory Not Forgotten
By: Merayna
Disclaimer: Why do you have to bring this up?! DO YOU KNOW THAT I REALLY WANT SPIRITED AWAY?! BUT THAT DOESN'T HELP ANY!! GOD!!! IF I COULD, I WOULD BUY IT, BUT I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY!! NOOO!!!! ::sobs:: Why? Why?! Why can't I own it!! ::crickets chirp::
A/N: Yo, me here! ::sobs:: I had to delete some of my reviews!! NOOO!!! Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter. ^_^ I have no idea what's going to happen. I never really plan out my stories. I only have a vague idea of what's going to happen. I'm pretty much as anxious of what's going to happen as you are. I only know a blurred outline of the future chapters, to tell the truth. It's much more fun that way.
Chapter 5 Facts Unknown
@~*@~*@~*@~*@~*@~*
~Chihiro~
Darkness surrounded her.
Nothing was there.
She wanted it to stay that way.
Memories flashed through her head of her laughing, staring at Haku, not caring if she killed him.
She had actually wanted to kill.
A tear slid across her cheek as she tried to push away the images.
But they wouldn't go away. They just wouldn't.
They replayed in her mind, over and over again; stopping and then starting over again, like some kind of movie stuck on rewind.
How could she do those things? Where did that familiar but unknown presence that had controlled her come from?
Agony and guilt seared through her mind as she dropped further into the darkness that was her mind. How could she have done all those things? How could she?
Suddenly warmth surrounded her and the images began to come slower.
Until they finally stopped.
A soothing heartbeat rang through the darkness.
She stopped falling.
And she sank into the welcome relief of unconsciousness.
@~*@~*@~*@~*@~*@~*@~*
Haku held the small form in his arms gently, almost afraid she would break. So much had happened to her, he didn't want anything more to happen to her. He hadn't protected her. Anger at his incompetence sped throughout his being and he shook his head in guilt. If only he was stronger. If only he was more prepared.
He was jolted out of his thoughts when Chihiro gave a small moan, stirring restlessly. Bending down over her face, he looked at her fearfully. Was she okay?
Eyes fluttering, Chihiro awoke with the tip of a dragon nose on top of hers, jade eyes staring into hers. Jumping slightly, she blinked in surprise, mouth opening into an 'O'.
Blushing, Haku withdrew from her face and looked away, if that was possible for a dragon.
Nervously smiling, he spoke softly, "Are you okay?"
Chihiro looked him in the face and smiled softly before nodding. Suddenly looking hesitant, she began to fiddle with a strand of hair.
Cocking his head in amusement, Haku asked, "What is it?"
Blushing slightly, Chihiro stammered out, "Um...how were you able to get to my world if you didn't have any place to come to? I mean, you weren't able to do that before."
Haku chuckled without humor, eyes darkening slightly, "It took me ten straight years of grueling training to become powerful enough to be able to solidify in your world. During that training, it aged me like a human. Otherwise, I would be the same looking boy. It was..horrible. But I had a promise to keep and I wouldn't have been able to fulfill it any other way. The training consisted of things called nymph tests. They were made to test the capabilities of a spirit. Many died going through those tests, and the ones who do pass, usually take a few centuries or so. There are four hundred tests in all. I couldn't have any kind of help at all and had to be completely alone while I completed the tests. Pain became second nature to me, but I don't regret it."
Chihiro looked at him, eyes wide. "So in that time, you met Sorezu?" she asked.
Haku's lips curled in a sneer and his eyes glittered dangerously. "I remember that day very well," he spoke quietly.
~Flashback~
Haku screamed in pain as he underwent another of the nymph tests. Poison and spirit acid mixed with toxins hurt. He was a river spirit, and pollution hurt him every bit as much as a river, added with spirit acid, which could burn through the toughest spirit, was painful.
Plunging himself in the bubble again and again, he didn't stop until his skin sizzled red and pain lanced through every fiber of his being. Collapsing in an exhausted heap, he lay in a pool of water, panting.
Powerful flaps shattered his rest and a high-pitched shriek cackled through the air. Blazing eye staring into his, Haku felt his mind being sorted through. Clutching his head in resistance, he screamed, "NO!"
The phoenix flew back, saving himself with a flap of the wings at the last moment. It grinned victoriously, though. "So little spirit, there is a thing of great power in the mortal world?" It grinned viciously, eyes glinting with greed. Leaning in his head, so that his feathers touched his Haku's face slightly, he whispered dangerously, "Where is it?"
Sneering in disgust, Haku shook his head violently. He hissed as a searing pain blossomed in his chest. Looking down, he saw more blood coating his chest. A sharp talon crushed against his chest and two flaming eyes looked into his.
"Tell me," the phoenix demanded quietly and viciously. Digging his talon deeper, Haku screamed in pain.
Two Bloody Hours Later.
Haku laid on the ground, in a puddle of his own blood, eyes fluttering and passing in and out of consciousness.
Sorezu looked at him with disgust. The stupid spirit hadn't told him anything. Sneering, he flapped and soared into the sky. He just had to take matters into his own hands, then.
~End Flashback~
Chihiro looked at him in shock and then anger.
"Sorezu, that basta*d," she spat.
Haku smiled wryly and shook his head.
"Chihiro, it's fine, that happened years ago."
Chihiro continued to rant and curse the phoenix until, if words could hurt, Sorezu would be dead about fifty times over.
Haku closed his eyes. The pain of that meeting was of no importance, but he remembered how close he was to telling. The pain of guilt blazoned in his mind. The cool breeze and soft warmth of the sun couldn't divert his mind from that day. It still haunted him.
Opening his eyes, he whispered, "Chihiro, after we pass this cloud, we'll be at the bathhouse."
The said girl blinked and nodded, interrupted from a particularly gruesome way on how she was going to kill Sorezu.
As they soared over the crest of clouds, Haku's heart dropped and his stomach clenched. The sight that greeted his eyes horrified and terrified him at the same time. He heard the strangled gasp of Chihiro behind him and felt drops of water fall lightly on his skin.
"No," Chihiro sobbed, voice full of disbelief and shock.
Below them were the smoking remains of the bathhouse. It had been torn and rent and burned until all that was left were charred boards and ash. In the place of the majestic and regal Bathhouse of the Spirits were the strangled remains. Bodies littered the black stump of the bathhouse. Birds and Spirits were everywhere, their charred and bleeding bodies oozing onto the ground.
Chihiro and Haku stared at the destruction with grief, guilt and dismay in their hearts and minds. For only one could have done this.
"Sorezu," Chihiro choked out in pain. Her fist clenched as she threw back her head in a heartbroken screech. Tears poured unbidden down her face and glittered in the sun. Landing lightly, Haku set Chihiro onto the ground in a daze, emerald eyes darting back and forth, searching and searching for any signs of movement, any signs of life.
Sniffing, Chihiro dried her tears on the back of her hand, teardrops falling off of her hand and glittering. The softest of moans sounded out and Haku and Chihiro turned their heads toward the almost inaudible sound. A pale hand, smudged with soot, wavered.
Chihiro gasped in shock.
"R-rin?"
A/N: Don't you hate me for what I did in this chapter? ::insert insane cackling:: Well, ::restrains rabid Haku fans:: Don't worry, I have something planned for that doomed bird. Oh, yes, hehehehehehe. ::rubs hands in glee:: Well, aren't you glad I updated? ^_^ Well, leave a comment or two, if you will. It really makes my day. ^_^
By: Merayna
Disclaimer: Why do you have to bring this up?! DO YOU KNOW THAT I REALLY WANT SPIRITED AWAY?! BUT THAT DOESN'T HELP ANY!! GOD!!! IF I COULD, I WOULD BUY IT, BUT I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY!! NOOO!!!! ::sobs:: Why? Why?! Why can't I own it!! ::crickets chirp::
A/N: Yo, me here! ::sobs:: I had to delete some of my reviews!! NOOO!!! Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter. ^_^ I have no idea what's going to happen. I never really plan out my stories. I only have a vague idea of what's going to happen. I'm pretty much as anxious of what's going to happen as you are. I only know a blurred outline of the future chapters, to tell the truth. It's much more fun that way.
Chapter 5 Facts Unknown
@~*@~*@~*@~*@~*@~*
~Chihiro~
Darkness surrounded her.
Nothing was there.
She wanted it to stay that way.
Memories flashed through her head of her laughing, staring at Haku, not caring if she killed him.
She had actually wanted to kill.
A tear slid across her cheek as she tried to push away the images.
But they wouldn't go away. They just wouldn't.
They replayed in her mind, over and over again; stopping and then starting over again, like some kind of movie stuck on rewind.
How could she do those things? Where did that familiar but unknown presence that had controlled her come from?
Agony and guilt seared through her mind as she dropped further into the darkness that was her mind. How could she have done all those things? How could she?
Suddenly warmth surrounded her and the images began to come slower.
Until they finally stopped.
A soothing heartbeat rang through the darkness.
She stopped falling.
And she sank into the welcome relief of unconsciousness.
@~*@~*@~*@~*@~*@~*@~*
Haku held the small form in his arms gently, almost afraid she would break. So much had happened to her, he didn't want anything more to happen to her. He hadn't protected her. Anger at his incompetence sped throughout his being and he shook his head in guilt. If only he was stronger. If only he was more prepared.
He was jolted out of his thoughts when Chihiro gave a small moan, stirring restlessly. Bending down over her face, he looked at her fearfully. Was she okay?
Eyes fluttering, Chihiro awoke with the tip of a dragon nose on top of hers, jade eyes staring into hers. Jumping slightly, she blinked in surprise, mouth opening into an 'O'.
Blushing, Haku withdrew from her face and looked away, if that was possible for a dragon.
Nervously smiling, he spoke softly, "Are you okay?"
Chihiro looked him in the face and smiled softly before nodding. Suddenly looking hesitant, she began to fiddle with a strand of hair.
Cocking his head in amusement, Haku asked, "What is it?"
Blushing slightly, Chihiro stammered out, "Um...how were you able to get to my world if you didn't have any place to come to? I mean, you weren't able to do that before."
Haku chuckled without humor, eyes darkening slightly, "It took me ten straight years of grueling training to become powerful enough to be able to solidify in your world. During that training, it aged me like a human. Otherwise, I would be the same looking boy. It was..horrible. But I had a promise to keep and I wouldn't have been able to fulfill it any other way. The training consisted of things called nymph tests. They were made to test the capabilities of a spirit. Many died going through those tests, and the ones who do pass, usually take a few centuries or so. There are four hundred tests in all. I couldn't have any kind of help at all and had to be completely alone while I completed the tests. Pain became second nature to me, but I don't regret it."
Chihiro looked at him, eyes wide. "So in that time, you met Sorezu?" she asked.
Haku's lips curled in a sneer and his eyes glittered dangerously. "I remember that day very well," he spoke quietly.
~Flashback~
Haku screamed in pain as he underwent another of the nymph tests. Poison and spirit acid mixed with toxins hurt. He was a river spirit, and pollution hurt him every bit as much as a river, added with spirit acid, which could burn through the toughest spirit, was painful.
Plunging himself in the bubble again and again, he didn't stop until his skin sizzled red and pain lanced through every fiber of his being. Collapsing in an exhausted heap, he lay in a pool of water, panting.
Powerful flaps shattered his rest and a high-pitched shriek cackled through the air. Blazing eye staring into his, Haku felt his mind being sorted through. Clutching his head in resistance, he screamed, "NO!"
The phoenix flew back, saving himself with a flap of the wings at the last moment. It grinned victoriously, though. "So little spirit, there is a thing of great power in the mortal world?" It grinned viciously, eyes glinting with greed. Leaning in his head, so that his feathers touched his Haku's face slightly, he whispered dangerously, "Where is it?"
Sneering in disgust, Haku shook his head violently. He hissed as a searing pain blossomed in his chest. Looking down, he saw more blood coating his chest. A sharp talon crushed against his chest and two flaming eyes looked into his.
"Tell me," the phoenix demanded quietly and viciously. Digging his talon deeper, Haku screamed in pain.
Two Bloody Hours Later.
Haku laid on the ground, in a puddle of his own blood, eyes fluttering and passing in and out of consciousness.
Sorezu looked at him with disgust. The stupid spirit hadn't told him anything. Sneering, he flapped and soared into the sky. He just had to take matters into his own hands, then.
~End Flashback~
Chihiro looked at him in shock and then anger.
"Sorezu, that basta*d," she spat.
Haku smiled wryly and shook his head.
"Chihiro, it's fine, that happened years ago."
Chihiro continued to rant and curse the phoenix until, if words could hurt, Sorezu would be dead about fifty times over.
Haku closed his eyes. The pain of that meeting was of no importance, but he remembered how close he was to telling. The pain of guilt blazoned in his mind. The cool breeze and soft warmth of the sun couldn't divert his mind from that day. It still haunted him.
Opening his eyes, he whispered, "Chihiro, after we pass this cloud, we'll be at the bathhouse."
The said girl blinked and nodded, interrupted from a particularly gruesome way on how she was going to kill Sorezu.
As they soared over the crest of clouds, Haku's heart dropped and his stomach clenched. The sight that greeted his eyes horrified and terrified him at the same time. He heard the strangled gasp of Chihiro behind him and felt drops of water fall lightly on his skin.
"No," Chihiro sobbed, voice full of disbelief and shock.
Below them were the smoking remains of the bathhouse. It had been torn and rent and burned until all that was left were charred boards and ash. In the place of the majestic and regal Bathhouse of the Spirits were the strangled remains. Bodies littered the black stump of the bathhouse. Birds and Spirits were everywhere, their charred and bleeding bodies oozing onto the ground.
Chihiro and Haku stared at the destruction with grief, guilt and dismay in their hearts and minds. For only one could have done this.
"Sorezu," Chihiro choked out in pain. Her fist clenched as she threw back her head in a heartbroken screech. Tears poured unbidden down her face and glittered in the sun. Landing lightly, Haku set Chihiro onto the ground in a daze, emerald eyes darting back and forth, searching and searching for any signs of movement, any signs of life.
Sniffing, Chihiro dried her tears on the back of her hand, teardrops falling off of her hand and glittering. The softest of moans sounded out and Haku and Chihiro turned their heads toward the almost inaudible sound. A pale hand, smudged with soot, wavered.
Chihiro gasped in shock.
"R-rin?"
A/N: Don't you hate me for what I did in this chapter? ::insert insane cackling:: Well, ::restrains rabid Haku fans:: Don't worry, I have something planned for that doomed bird. Oh, yes, hehehehehehe. ::rubs hands in glee:: Well, aren't you glad I updated? ^_^ Well, leave a comment or two, if you will. It really makes my day. ^_^
