Seasons of the Heart
Disclaimer: I don't own Spirited Away, just the OC and the plot.
Chapter Seven: A Dark Turn For The Worst
Chihiro buried her face on Kohaku's mane, soft aqua mane tickled her cheeks. She breathed in
deeply, those eyes made her dizzy. Kohaku grumbled beneath her, clearly he knew something was wrong.
Correction, he always knew when something was wrong and she was greatful for that. It was nice to
find a man like Kohaku who was understanding, yet manly at the same time. She smiled, someone up
there must really like her. She looked down and saw Zeneba's cottege, still the same humble little
home. It was amazing, this world of magic and unknown. Though, sometimes she could not comprehend to
it, somehow the words just seem to come to her.
She felt the familiar beckoning of Zeneba's home, she smiled. The days worries melted away,
Kohaku was back to his other form, he held out his hand for her to take. She gladly accepted. Both
of them walked hand and hand towards Zeneba's house.
Completely unaware of the cat-like eyes that watched them with interest.
~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~
"Rin?...Rin?!" Jengo hollered through the hallway, it seemed Rin has been missing for some
time now, the foreman as well. Yubaba was looking for Rin to attend to some customers.
There, she saw a small figure huddled in the corner near the broom closet. "Rin, is that you?"
No answer. She walked closer, she was probably seeing things, but she was sure it was Rin. Splash!
the sound of her footsteps against liquid. She looked down, barely seeing anything. 'Must be water.'
She heard sobbing, a terrified cry. 'Rin!' Jengo ran to her feeble figure hidden against the
wall, darkness almost swallowing her body. Rin was shaking uncontrolably, eyes wide and pale face.
Completely unRin-like. Jengo held Rin's face between her face shaking her lightly, just to acknoledge
her presence. Rin looked at her, eyes unfocused. "He's dead, he's dead..." she mumbled repetetively.
Jengo frowned, "Rin, who's dead?" she asked softly so as not to scare Rin.
"He's dead... the foreman... nails gone, bones broken..." she rocked herself back and forth,
small and afraid. Jengo looked around. There. She saw him the horrible sight that was unbelievably
real. She looked down to her feet. 'They were blood all along.' she slowly thought. She crawled
closer. It was the foreman. And he was dead.
A shiver ran down her spine, she suddenly felt alone. She looked at Rin, "Rin..." her voice
sounded hoarse and dry. "Rin, let's get out of here." she panicked. "Let's get out of here. Now."
not waiting for a sound, she grabbed Rin by the hand and ran out. Away from the cold presence of the
dead. Not caring what they looked like, all bloody and afraid. Yubaba needed to be alerted of this.
~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~
"Chihiro, Kohaku. What a nice surprise!" Chihiro smiled. Kohaku smirked, no doubt Zeneba knew
they were coming. Zeneba welcomed her in her arms. "Granny, I missed you!" she murmured. "As do I."
Zeneba replied.
"Kaonashi!" Chihiro exclaimed. "Uh..uh!" She wasn't sure what that meant, but she smiled.
Kohaku frowned, his eyes cast downward. Chihiro snorted; dragons, such jealous creatures. She put
a hand to his shoulder to reassure him that she was his and only his. Kohaku relaxed.
"Now to what do I owe this visit for?" Zeneba asked, prepairing hot tea with Kaonashi's help.
Kohaku turned to look at her, he'd like to know too. Chihiro swallowed, not really sure how to begin.
"Well, it was about this morning. I was busy helping Rin with chores and suddenly I saw..." she
paused, thinking of a way to describe what she saw.
"You saw what dear?" Zeneba urged. Chihiro closed her eyes, reminiscing steel blue wings and
dizzying eyes. "I saw these blue eyes, cold like, like they saw right through me." she saw once more.
"I couldn't see the face, just the eyes. I felt dizzy for some reason, and I wanted to follow
it. And, I'm not sure if I was seeing things, but I saw butterfly wings. Deep, deep blue..."
"And then?" Kohaku looked at her worried, Chihiro had a hazy expression.
"And then it was, gone." Chihiro snapped from her trance.
"Gone like vanished?" Zeneba...
Chihiro nodded. Zeneba's face was suddenly concerned. "Oh dear..." she mumbled. Zeneba stood
up from her chair, opening a chest full of ancient, dusty books. She grabbed a green one, or was it
blue? it was hard to tell, the book was too dusty. She flipped the pages open, almost hurried.
'Hurried, about what?' Chihiro thought. She frowned, Zeneba continued to flip the pages,
abruptly stopping on one. She moved closer to see. Kohaku leaned in.
"Granny, what is it?" she asked. Something was troubling her, she knew.
"The rise of Chronos' power has begun..." Zeneba whispered, a slight tremble in her voice.
~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~
"What the hell is going on?!" Yubaba roared. She glared at everyone, she was not in a good mood
at all. There was mischief in the air, someone or something was in the bathhouse. 'It had better not
be Kaonashi.' she thought.
The yunas shrieked, there was blood all over Rin and Jengo. Yubaba's eyes widened, Rin looked
paranoid and Jengo looked frightened. "What happened?!"
"We-we found the foreman..." Jengo stuttered. "And?" as head of the bathhouse, she needed to
know what was going on. "He's dead..." Rin whispered. Had she heard that right?... or did she say...
"Dead?... what do you mean dead?" The foreman can't be dead, she was just talking to him an
hour ago. She frowned, "Dead as in murdered." Gasps and worried glances were all over the crowd.
"Calm down everyone." Yubaba hushed. "Where is he?" she said.
"I don't want to go back... no... no please I dont want to see it..." Rin cried.
"Take Rin to bed and feed her." Yubaba ordered Hana, who was shocked. 'Wasn't this supposed
to be a fun trip?' she thought. Everything seemed to take a dark turn for the worst. Where is Chihiro?
she prayed she was safe. She led Rin upstairs to the yuna's room.
"Show him to me?" Yubaba ordered Jengo who gave a feeble nod. "He's by the broom closet." she
murmured. Images of blood and spilled guts filled her mind once more. It was bad enough she had to
see him, now she had to see it all over again. The two of them walked in the damned hallway, followed
by curious workers.
The stench of rotting body and blood filled the air. Yubaba covered her nose, the downside of
having such a huge nose... Splish! Splash! blood splatters... Yubaba glowered, the culprit shall be
caught, no matter what.
Her thought were interrupted by the human girl, Jengo. "There, there he is."
Yubaba groaned, the sight was horrible. This wasn't a murder, this was a blood bath. She neared
to the body inspecting it for some clues. She gasped, a sickened gasp.
The foreman's bones were broken to dust... which could only mean one thing.
"Byakko..." As long as he was here, no one was safe. Her past came back in seconds.
~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~
"Chronos?" Chihiro wondered. What an odd name. Zeneba looked at them with pity. Pity them for
their future was covered with a dark cloud. "Those you saw were Ehnshi's... one of Chronos' loyal
followers. Ehnshi is from the Briavathian Dynasty. Born of the high ruler of a once powerful clan,
beauty and power they were. A powerful combination, a dangerous one too. Beware of her butterfly wings
for they hide the steel blades, sharp enough to cut a 100 ogres in a single flap. She is treacherous
bitch. Stay away from her." Zeneba warned.
"She will lead you to your death." Kohaku glared at the book she was holding.
"What about Chronos?" he asked. He protectively slipped his arm around Chihiro's waist.
"Chronos..." Zeneba murmured. "To make it simple, to him your pain is his pleasure. Death is
his joy. The fall of his enemy is a celebration to him. Death is his friend, a snap of his fingers
and Death would obey whatever he commanded." Chihiro paled. If this Chronos was really after her,
what chance does she have against him if the man had Death within his commands. Kohaku held her hand.
So this was why Zeneba and Yubaba gave him a concerned look whenever he spoke of Chihiro.
He closed his eyes. Until death do us part...
~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~
"Shit... I should have killed that old crone Zeneba when I had the chance to. Now the girl and
the dragon know about us." Ehnshi hissed.
"What do you mean us? She doesn't know about me..." Huntrell smirked.
"Shut the hell up! I should go and kill her now before she gives out more information."
"Don't! this would make the fight more interesting. Bloodier, you can kill the hag and her twin
when the time is right." Huntrell spoke, a glimer of mischief was in her eyes. "Besides, so what if
they know about Chronos? there's not much they could do about him. Their defenses are open."
"Are you sure about this?" Ehnshi asked.
"Very sure."
Huntrell smirked, Ehnshi was much more dense than she thought she was. Unknown to all, she
was making plans of her own. She spread out her wings, soft and feathery.
'Like an angels...' she snorted.
~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~
The road's blurry,
the skies dark.
An unknown future
in the palm of my hands.
A dark mist in my eyes,
I'm blind.
And so, I take a turn for the worst.
~Shibahime Hibiya
~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~
REVIEW RESPONSE:
Kawaii Sakura-chan: About the whole how Chihiro stays, would be talked in the later chaps. Thanks
for reviewing^_^ have read my new stories? I hope you're happy with
how I wrote it.
Moezy-chan: Thanks, I already posted my stories. Actually, I just updated new chaps.
Arrow-card: Ah yes, the children... I've been waiting for someone to ask about that. Hehe, that
part will also come in later chaps. It's one of the main cores of the story. Thanks.
Aysen: A new reviewer! thank you!^_^
Shards-Of-Ice: Hope your teacher didn't kill ya... thank you for reviewing!
Shadow39: LOL! Hope you liked this chapter as well.^_^
~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~
A/N: I'm so proud of myself! I updated all my stories in the same day. ^_^ I feel so mysterious,
you know, with the whole evil plot of the story not quite yet unveiled. But don't worry you
will know soon enough.
Sam: Review!
Disclaimer: I don't own Spirited Away, just the OC and the plot.
Chapter Seven: A Dark Turn For The Worst
Chihiro buried her face on Kohaku's mane, soft aqua mane tickled her cheeks. She breathed in
deeply, those eyes made her dizzy. Kohaku grumbled beneath her, clearly he knew something was wrong.
Correction, he always knew when something was wrong and she was greatful for that. It was nice to
find a man like Kohaku who was understanding, yet manly at the same time. She smiled, someone up
there must really like her. She looked down and saw Zeneba's cottege, still the same humble little
home. It was amazing, this world of magic and unknown. Though, sometimes she could not comprehend to
it, somehow the words just seem to come to her.
She felt the familiar beckoning of Zeneba's home, she smiled. The days worries melted away,
Kohaku was back to his other form, he held out his hand for her to take. She gladly accepted. Both
of them walked hand and hand towards Zeneba's house.
Completely unaware of the cat-like eyes that watched them with interest.
~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~
"Rin?...Rin?!" Jengo hollered through the hallway, it seemed Rin has been missing for some
time now, the foreman as well. Yubaba was looking for Rin to attend to some customers.
There, she saw a small figure huddled in the corner near the broom closet. "Rin, is that you?"
No answer. She walked closer, she was probably seeing things, but she was sure it was Rin. Splash!
the sound of her footsteps against liquid. She looked down, barely seeing anything. 'Must be water.'
She heard sobbing, a terrified cry. 'Rin!' Jengo ran to her feeble figure hidden against the
wall, darkness almost swallowing her body. Rin was shaking uncontrolably, eyes wide and pale face.
Completely unRin-like. Jengo held Rin's face between her face shaking her lightly, just to acknoledge
her presence. Rin looked at her, eyes unfocused. "He's dead, he's dead..." she mumbled repetetively.
Jengo frowned, "Rin, who's dead?" she asked softly so as not to scare Rin.
"He's dead... the foreman... nails gone, bones broken..." she rocked herself back and forth,
small and afraid. Jengo looked around. There. She saw him the horrible sight that was unbelievably
real. She looked down to her feet. 'They were blood all along.' she slowly thought. She crawled
closer. It was the foreman. And he was dead.
A shiver ran down her spine, she suddenly felt alone. She looked at Rin, "Rin..." her voice
sounded hoarse and dry. "Rin, let's get out of here." she panicked. "Let's get out of here. Now."
not waiting for a sound, she grabbed Rin by the hand and ran out. Away from the cold presence of the
dead. Not caring what they looked like, all bloody and afraid. Yubaba needed to be alerted of this.
~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~
"Chihiro, Kohaku. What a nice surprise!" Chihiro smiled. Kohaku smirked, no doubt Zeneba knew
they were coming. Zeneba welcomed her in her arms. "Granny, I missed you!" she murmured. "As do I."
Zeneba replied.
"Kaonashi!" Chihiro exclaimed. "Uh..uh!" She wasn't sure what that meant, but she smiled.
Kohaku frowned, his eyes cast downward. Chihiro snorted; dragons, such jealous creatures. She put
a hand to his shoulder to reassure him that she was his and only his. Kohaku relaxed.
"Now to what do I owe this visit for?" Zeneba asked, prepairing hot tea with Kaonashi's help.
Kohaku turned to look at her, he'd like to know too. Chihiro swallowed, not really sure how to begin.
"Well, it was about this morning. I was busy helping Rin with chores and suddenly I saw..." she
paused, thinking of a way to describe what she saw.
"You saw what dear?" Zeneba urged. Chihiro closed her eyes, reminiscing steel blue wings and
dizzying eyes. "I saw these blue eyes, cold like, like they saw right through me." she saw once more.
"I couldn't see the face, just the eyes. I felt dizzy for some reason, and I wanted to follow
it. And, I'm not sure if I was seeing things, but I saw butterfly wings. Deep, deep blue..."
"And then?" Kohaku looked at her worried, Chihiro had a hazy expression.
"And then it was, gone." Chihiro snapped from her trance.
"Gone like vanished?" Zeneba...
Chihiro nodded. Zeneba's face was suddenly concerned. "Oh dear..." she mumbled. Zeneba stood
up from her chair, opening a chest full of ancient, dusty books. She grabbed a green one, or was it
blue? it was hard to tell, the book was too dusty. She flipped the pages open, almost hurried.
'Hurried, about what?' Chihiro thought. She frowned, Zeneba continued to flip the pages,
abruptly stopping on one. She moved closer to see. Kohaku leaned in.
"Granny, what is it?" she asked. Something was troubling her, she knew.
"The rise of Chronos' power has begun..." Zeneba whispered, a slight tremble in her voice.
~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~
"What the hell is going on?!" Yubaba roared. She glared at everyone, she was not in a good mood
at all. There was mischief in the air, someone or something was in the bathhouse. 'It had better not
be Kaonashi.' she thought.
The yunas shrieked, there was blood all over Rin and Jengo. Yubaba's eyes widened, Rin looked
paranoid and Jengo looked frightened. "What happened?!"
"We-we found the foreman..." Jengo stuttered. "And?" as head of the bathhouse, she needed to
know what was going on. "He's dead..." Rin whispered. Had she heard that right?... or did she say...
"Dead?... what do you mean dead?" The foreman can't be dead, she was just talking to him an
hour ago. She frowned, "Dead as in murdered." Gasps and worried glances were all over the crowd.
"Calm down everyone." Yubaba hushed. "Where is he?" she said.
"I don't want to go back... no... no please I dont want to see it..." Rin cried.
"Take Rin to bed and feed her." Yubaba ordered Hana, who was shocked. 'Wasn't this supposed
to be a fun trip?' she thought. Everything seemed to take a dark turn for the worst. Where is Chihiro?
she prayed she was safe. She led Rin upstairs to the yuna's room.
"Show him to me?" Yubaba ordered Jengo who gave a feeble nod. "He's by the broom closet." she
murmured. Images of blood and spilled guts filled her mind once more. It was bad enough she had to
see him, now she had to see it all over again. The two of them walked in the damned hallway, followed
by curious workers.
The stench of rotting body and blood filled the air. Yubaba covered her nose, the downside of
having such a huge nose... Splish! Splash! blood splatters... Yubaba glowered, the culprit shall be
caught, no matter what.
Her thought were interrupted by the human girl, Jengo. "There, there he is."
Yubaba groaned, the sight was horrible. This wasn't a murder, this was a blood bath. She neared
to the body inspecting it for some clues. She gasped, a sickened gasp.
The foreman's bones were broken to dust... which could only mean one thing.
"Byakko..." As long as he was here, no one was safe. Her past came back in seconds.
~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~
"Chronos?" Chihiro wondered. What an odd name. Zeneba looked at them with pity. Pity them for
their future was covered with a dark cloud. "Those you saw were Ehnshi's... one of Chronos' loyal
followers. Ehnshi is from the Briavathian Dynasty. Born of the high ruler of a once powerful clan,
beauty and power they were. A powerful combination, a dangerous one too. Beware of her butterfly wings
for they hide the steel blades, sharp enough to cut a 100 ogres in a single flap. She is treacherous
bitch. Stay away from her." Zeneba warned.
"She will lead you to your death." Kohaku glared at the book she was holding.
"What about Chronos?" he asked. He protectively slipped his arm around Chihiro's waist.
"Chronos..." Zeneba murmured. "To make it simple, to him your pain is his pleasure. Death is
his joy. The fall of his enemy is a celebration to him. Death is his friend, a snap of his fingers
and Death would obey whatever he commanded." Chihiro paled. If this Chronos was really after her,
what chance does she have against him if the man had Death within his commands. Kohaku held her hand.
So this was why Zeneba and Yubaba gave him a concerned look whenever he spoke of Chihiro.
He closed his eyes. Until death do us part...
~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~
"Shit... I should have killed that old crone Zeneba when I had the chance to. Now the girl and
the dragon know about us." Ehnshi hissed.
"What do you mean us? She doesn't know about me..." Huntrell smirked.
"Shut the hell up! I should go and kill her now before she gives out more information."
"Don't! this would make the fight more interesting. Bloodier, you can kill the hag and her twin
when the time is right." Huntrell spoke, a glimer of mischief was in her eyes. "Besides, so what if
they know about Chronos? there's not much they could do about him. Their defenses are open."
"Are you sure about this?" Ehnshi asked.
"Very sure."
Huntrell smirked, Ehnshi was much more dense than she thought she was. Unknown to all, she
was making plans of her own. She spread out her wings, soft and feathery.
'Like an angels...' she snorted.
~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~
The road's blurry,
the skies dark.
An unknown future
in the palm of my hands.
A dark mist in my eyes,
I'm blind.
And so, I take a turn for the worst.
~Shibahime Hibiya
~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~
REVIEW RESPONSE:
Kawaii Sakura-chan: About the whole how Chihiro stays, would be talked in the later chaps. Thanks
for reviewing^_^ have read my new stories? I hope you're happy with
how I wrote it.
Moezy-chan: Thanks, I already posted my stories. Actually, I just updated new chaps.
Arrow-card: Ah yes, the children... I've been waiting for someone to ask about that. Hehe, that
part will also come in later chaps. It's one of the main cores of the story. Thanks.
Aysen: A new reviewer! thank you!^_^
Shards-Of-Ice: Hope your teacher didn't kill ya... thank you for reviewing!
Shadow39: LOL! Hope you liked this chapter as well.^_^
~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~:*:~
A/N: I'm so proud of myself! I updated all my stories in the same day. ^_^ I feel so mysterious,
you know, with the whole evil plot of the story not quite yet unveiled. But don't worry you
will know soon enough.
Sam: Review!