Sorry about the introduction last chapter. I know that it seems a
little impersonal, but I'm new at this, and didn't know how to go about
writing it. I figured it out though, thank goodness, so now I can get on
with the story. Actually, it's been a while since I've updated, so I should
explain.
Exams are coming
Christmas shopping
Friends and church activities
Angry mother banning me from the computer
See? It's not easy finding time to write in my own little world.
For HIS glory ALWAYS
Time's mortal enemy/Dante/ Brian Smit/Smitty
Note: This is about a week after the first 'book'. Disclaimer: I won't I won't I won't I won't!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, who do I think I'm kidding. I own many things, but not Spirited Away
Chihiro woke up with a start, breathing deeply. Her normally peaceful dreams had once again been disrupted by visions of Haku and Link in mortal danger. Ever since she had found out what Link intended to do for her, her dreams had been filled with the image of him being tortured by someone who looked very similar to her math teacher back in the real world (a/n- you ever have dreams like that? You know, where the completely evil entity in the dream resembles your least favorite teacher? I know that I do. Sorry, I'm rambling. On with the story!).
She looked around her, eyes straining against the darkness. She was in a bed that had been set up beside the usually roaring fire which was now just a bed of glowing coals, their warmth still driving the bitter cold away from her lithe body.
Another dream. Can they be visions of the future? Or are they just the simple products of a girl's overactive imagination? I hope that they aren't real. I want both Haku and Link to return safely, and I hope that Haku isn't mad that someone else is in love with me. I hope that he knows that I love him and only him.
She sat up and pulled on a robe, then slipped her bare feet into the shoes next to her bed. She made her way outside, bumping into things as she went because of the darkness.
Once she was outside, she found a nice dry spot to sit down on, located at the top of a hill a little ways behind the cottage. From there, she had a nice view of the surrounding swamp, and off in the distance, of the train tracks as they snaked their way toward the unknown northern regions. In her mind, she pictured as she had many times before Link walking along them with his head down, paying no attention to the marvelous scenery around him.
Her gaze shifted upward, and she stared at the many small diamonds lying upon the velvety black canvas of the night. The constellations here in Spirit World were different from the ones that she had known back at home, and somehow they made her feel alone, amidst a vast crowd of strangers.
I wonder if Haku and Link are looking up at those same stars even now. and pondering where the next day will find them. I hope that they're safe, although maybe it would be better for Link if he were to die before ever reaching the Dark Tower. Why on earth would he be willing to give up his well being, indeed his very future, his life back at home just for me? I only hope that someday I'll get to thank him for what he's about to do. If only I had had one last chance to see him.
Lost in thought, she didn't notice the small fox until it was right at her side.
"What are you doing out here in the bitter cold?"
She jumped at the voice, turning around and searching for its source. It never occurred to her that it might be coming from the animal at her side.
"I'm right here."
"Are you. the fox?"
"Yes. Don't be surprised, human. I've heard a lot about you and have been waiting for a chance to meet you. You are the famous Chihiro who survived Aburaya and outwitted Yubaba in order to gain both her and her parents freedom."
"I had a lot of help."
"Yes. I've also been told about your friends. I assume that that's why you made the trip here to Swamp Bottom in the first place. Would you care to tell me about it?"
"I just met you! What makes you think that I'd tear open my heart and show you it, when you'll probably just laugh at me and call me a weakling."
"Now, seriously. I've never been so insulted in all my life." The twinkle in the fox's eyes made her seriously doubt that statement. "My name is Nami. I happen to be the resident spirit of this hill. I've been so lonely recently. No Face stopped visiting me about a week ago, and since then I've had no one to keep me company on these long, cold nights."
"You don't have a mate or someone to be with you?"
"No." There was a hint of bitterness in his voice. "About a year ago, some very powerful and evil spirits came through here. I tried to get my mate and cubs away before they saw them, but to no avail. They killed them without mercy."
"I'm sorry. You haven't been able to find anyone since them?"
"No. My mate and I had something that most humans can only dream of. We've been together since the formation of this hill those thousands of years ago." As he spoke, he began to shimmer, and then changed into the form of a boy, although his ears were pointed and he had fangs, as well as a tail (think Kouga from InuYasha).
"How do you do that?" Chihiro was very impressed with the change, although she had once seen Yubaba do something similar, yet different at the same time.
"You really seem very troubled. Do you want to talk about it?"
"Well, it's just that I have this friend, and he's on his way to Jumari to ask that myself and Haku can be together."
"Jumari, eh? This is far more serious than I had thought. Tell me more."
"Well, I don't want him to go. I want him to stay safe, but if he doesn't go, then that means that I can't be with my true love. Does it seem selfish that I would want him to go so that Haku and I can be together?"
"Not at all, yet at the same time, it kind of does. It all depends on how you look at the situation. If you look at it from your side, it doesn't, but if you take a detached attitude, then yes, it does."
"So then what should I want?"
"I can't tell you that. I was really just hoping that you'd feel better after getting it off your chest. I'm still a rather young spirit, so my advice isn't really worth beans. Still, if he's going to Jumari, then I'd say that you're right not to want him to go. She's really one very evil spirit. She was in charge of the spirits that murdered my mate and my cubs. I have a real bone to pick with her. In fact, once I get up the nerve, I was planning on confronting her."
"But she'll kill you!"
"Sure, but life isn't really worth living without those I love."
"Is love really that important?"
"Sure. If you truly love someone, then they mean everything to you, and you would do anything to keep them safe. Love holds two beings together."
Chihiro looked at the boy, curious to find out more about him. "How old are you?"
"Well, I was born when this hill was, so I'm a couple of thousands of years old."
"Wow! I had no idea. I mean, you only look a little older than me."
"Yes, well, Haku is also at the very least a couple of hundred years old.
Chihiro noticed that the sky was beginning to become pale, so she stood and cracked her back, making Nami burst into laughter.
"No Face never did anything like that! What is it?"
"Well, my back was stiff, so I cracked the stiffness out of it."
"It doesn't hurt?"
"No. I'm sorry to have to cut this short, but if I don't get back soon, Zenniba will start to wonder where I am." She began to walk down the side of the hill, only to notice that the fox was following her. "What are you doing?"
"Coming with you. I'm sure that Zenniba won't mind having another guest. I get so lonely out here all by myself, and I'm interested to see how everything that's going on in your life will turn out." The fox appeared to grin at her, but Chihiro knew that this was impossible.
"Well, fine, but don't bother anybody."
"Don't worry. I won't."
*~*
Haku pulled Link to his feet, looking at the snake spirit that had just tried to make a meal out of both of them. "Whew! That was a close call!"
"Yeah, you're telling me. How many of those can there possibly be?"
"A lot, since we've been attacked by them ever since we entered the forest a week ago."
"They weren't the only things that have been attacking us. Let's see. There was that wild boar, the wolf pack, those carrion crows, a couple of unidentified spirits, a couple of unidentified animals, and a tribe of wild human-like things."
"Yeah, but they weren't humans. If they were someone would have told us by now."
"Is it me, or are the trees getting thinner and less numerous?"
It was true. They hadn't noticed it right away at first because the change had been so gradual, but now it was clear that they were leaving the main reaches of the forest behind them, and the ground began to creep slowly upward.
"We must be at the mountains. It's about time. I hope we were right on target the entire time, or we'll have a heck of a time finding those three that we were heading towards." Link looked at the ground and shuffled his feet.
"Haku?"
"Yeah? What is it?"
"Well. maybe it would be best if I was to go alone from here on out. I don't want Jumari to decide that she's going to keep you captive too."
"Thanks for your concern, but I think that I know what I'm doing."
"No, really. You don't have to stick around on my account."
"I'm not. The only reason that I'm escorting you is because I know that it's what Chihiro would want me to do." Haku looked up towards the end of the forest, then let out a gasp. "Look! Do you see that?"
"See what?"
"That!" Haku pointed at a large, snow white stag that had bounded out of a thicket and was now staring directly at them. "It's a white stag! They're very rare, and very lucky. Come on, let's follow it."
"Are you mad!!?? We can't just follow it. Remember? We're on our way to the Dark Tower"
"Sure, but I just know that it wants us to. Come on." With those words, Haku was off and running to the stag, which turned and began to bound away.
"What an idiot. He's going to get us lost, and then we'll never get to the tower." Link sighed heavily and then raced after Haku.
They bounded through the trees, then out into a vast meadow on the side of the mountain, from which they could look back and see for miles around. They raced along brooks, crossed rivers, ran through thickets, darted over snow banks, and raced through a large pass between two mountain peaks before finding themselves on a vast, flat plain at the center of which was a huge dark spire jutting into the heavens like a gigantic tooth piercing the heavens. Once they had entered the plain, the stag shifted into the form of a hawk and with a burst of speed headed toward the tower (a/n- have you guessed who the stag was?).
"I don't believe it! That stag was really a shapeshifter. I thought that they had all been hunted down and killed." Haku looked in envy as the bird disappeared off among the clouds. "You don't mind if I transform and go for a little flight, do you?"
"Suit yourself." Link didn't look as if he cared, his attention was currently riveted on the tower that lay ahead of them. It fascinated him in a rather morbid way.
So that's were I'm to spend eternity. Not bad.
Haku had taken off, and was now circling overhead. In the distance, lightning flashed and thunder crashed above the tower.
After walking for about a half hour, they seemed no closer to the tower. They had, however, reached a wall that seemed like it surrounded the tower and miles of grounds. Strangely enough, they reached it right where the gate was. On the gate was written these words.
To those who would enter, beware Of those who have lingered here Their souls mourn Their lives torn They won't hesitate to attack If you cannot handle this TURN BACK
Well. That seems ominous enough.
Lost in though, he did not notice Haku landing until he had transformed and was standing at his side.
"I tried to fly over the wall, but there seems to be a magical barrier over it. We have to go through the gate."
"So what do we do? Just enter?"
"Well, let's try and open the door." Haku reached out and took hold of the handle, then twisted. The door opened smoothly and creaked open, giving them a clear open view of the rest of the plain that lay before them. "Come on!"
They ran through, then looked back only to find that the gate had disappeared.
"That doesn't bode well."
"Why should I care? I'm not coming back anyways, so it doesn't really matter."
They began to once again walk forward, heading ever closer to Link's doom.
*~*
So tell me, are they almost here?
Yes m' lady.
Good. I can't wait. This is going to be so much fun!
M' lady.
Yes, speak up. You know that you don't have to be afraid.
Well, I was just thinking that maybe you should consider their request.
And why should I do that?
Well, I just thought that they looked like they could use a break.
So does that mean that you've got a soft spot for those boys?
NO! Of course not. I would never do anything like that.
Good. Now, come along. We've got the whole night ahead of us.
Yes m' lady.
*~*
"So, Nami, I see that you've met Chihiro."
"Yes. She made my acquaintance last night."
"Really? Well, what do you think of him?"
"He's nice, and I think he'd make a good friend."
The fox in question was curled up at the foot of Chihiro's makeshift bed, and Chihiro was sitting at the table with No Face and Zenniba.
"Ah, Ahhh"
"No Face wants to tell you that he's sorry for not coming to visit you recently, but to understand that this is the first time that he's seen Chihiro in six years."
"Oh, no. Don't worry. I understand completely. I'm just glad that you're going to let me stay here for a while. That den under the hill has been so lonely ever since my mate and cubs were killed."
"Yes. We've still got to decide just what it is that we're going to do about that."
"Well, I was kind of thinking of going to Jumari and demanding blood for blood."
"Don't be a fool. You know as well as I do that you'd never get past her outer defenses, much less past Knoma. He'd kill you before you could get anywhere near her. No, if we're going to do anything, it would have to be from a distance, so that they wouldn't know who did it. We could try to cast a spell."
"And you're calling me a fool? You're not nearly strong enough to take Jumari on in a magician's duel." Nami looked up at Chihiro with his big eyes sparkling. "However, she wouldn't be expecting a human."
"What are you talking about?" Chihiro wasn't sure that she liked the way this conversation was turning. "I can't do anything against her!"
"Actually, dear, that's not true." Zenniba was now regarding Chihiro with the same sort of glimmer in her eyes. "All humans that know true love can use the magic to a certain extent. Just how much do you love Haku?
"With all my heart."
"Good. In that case, we can probably make a witch out of you." Nami looked very pleased with himself.
"What if I don't want to become a witch?"
"Then you don't have to. Nobody's going to pressure you into this." Zenniba looked as if she was trying to take a detached attitude toward the whole thing, but the farce wasn't coming over too well.
"Please. Do this for Haku and Link, and, indirectly, me."
"What do I have to do?"
"Well, first off you have to feel the love that you have inside you. Just reach down inside yourself and draw it out the way you would draw water out of a well."
Chihiro tried this, but found that it was much easier said then done.
"I can't." Chihiro sat down heavily on the bed next to Nami and looked at Zenniba with a forlorn expression.
"So, you're just going to give up?" Nami raised his head and looked at her incredulously.
"It's so hard!"
"Well, we never promised you that it would be easy. You just have to trust us."
"Well, I'll try again." Chihiro hesitated, then began to concentrate only on one thing: her eternal and undying love for Haku. Slowly, her palms began to glow, and the air inside the cabin started to move, first slowly, then gathering with force, until she found herself in the middle of a cyclone. On the outside, Nami had once again raised his head and was now looking at her with admiration.
"Excellent." (a/n- inside joke !_! hee hee hee) Zenniba looked at her, then settled herself down in an armchair. There was much more work to be done.
Yay! Another book done. I think that there will only be one more, and then maybe a continuation in another story. I can't say for certain, as it's the characters who are writing the story, and not me (lol).
See? It's not easy finding time to write in my own little world.
For HIS glory ALWAYS
Time's mortal enemy/Dante/ Brian Smit/Smitty
Note: This is about a week after the first 'book'. Disclaimer: I won't I won't I won't I won't!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, who do I think I'm kidding. I own many things, but not Spirited Away
Chihiro woke up with a start, breathing deeply. Her normally peaceful dreams had once again been disrupted by visions of Haku and Link in mortal danger. Ever since she had found out what Link intended to do for her, her dreams had been filled with the image of him being tortured by someone who looked very similar to her math teacher back in the real world (a/n- you ever have dreams like that? You know, where the completely evil entity in the dream resembles your least favorite teacher? I know that I do. Sorry, I'm rambling. On with the story!).
She looked around her, eyes straining against the darkness. She was in a bed that had been set up beside the usually roaring fire which was now just a bed of glowing coals, their warmth still driving the bitter cold away from her lithe body.
Another dream. Can they be visions of the future? Or are they just the simple products of a girl's overactive imagination? I hope that they aren't real. I want both Haku and Link to return safely, and I hope that Haku isn't mad that someone else is in love with me. I hope that he knows that I love him and only him.
She sat up and pulled on a robe, then slipped her bare feet into the shoes next to her bed. She made her way outside, bumping into things as she went because of the darkness.
Once she was outside, she found a nice dry spot to sit down on, located at the top of a hill a little ways behind the cottage. From there, she had a nice view of the surrounding swamp, and off in the distance, of the train tracks as they snaked their way toward the unknown northern regions. In her mind, she pictured as she had many times before Link walking along them with his head down, paying no attention to the marvelous scenery around him.
Her gaze shifted upward, and she stared at the many small diamonds lying upon the velvety black canvas of the night. The constellations here in Spirit World were different from the ones that she had known back at home, and somehow they made her feel alone, amidst a vast crowd of strangers.
I wonder if Haku and Link are looking up at those same stars even now. and pondering where the next day will find them. I hope that they're safe, although maybe it would be better for Link if he were to die before ever reaching the Dark Tower. Why on earth would he be willing to give up his well being, indeed his very future, his life back at home just for me? I only hope that someday I'll get to thank him for what he's about to do. If only I had had one last chance to see him.
Lost in thought, she didn't notice the small fox until it was right at her side.
"What are you doing out here in the bitter cold?"
She jumped at the voice, turning around and searching for its source. It never occurred to her that it might be coming from the animal at her side.
"I'm right here."
"Are you. the fox?"
"Yes. Don't be surprised, human. I've heard a lot about you and have been waiting for a chance to meet you. You are the famous Chihiro who survived Aburaya and outwitted Yubaba in order to gain both her and her parents freedom."
"I had a lot of help."
"Yes. I've also been told about your friends. I assume that that's why you made the trip here to Swamp Bottom in the first place. Would you care to tell me about it?"
"I just met you! What makes you think that I'd tear open my heart and show you it, when you'll probably just laugh at me and call me a weakling."
"Now, seriously. I've never been so insulted in all my life." The twinkle in the fox's eyes made her seriously doubt that statement. "My name is Nami. I happen to be the resident spirit of this hill. I've been so lonely recently. No Face stopped visiting me about a week ago, and since then I've had no one to keep me company on these long, cold nights."
"You don't have a mate or someone to be with you?"
"No." There was a hint of bitterness in his voice. "About a year ago, some very powerful and evil spirits came through here. I tried to get my mate and cubs away before they saw them, but to no avail. They killed them without mercy."
"I'm sorry. You haven't been able to find anyone since them?"
"No. My mate and I had something that most humans can only dream of. We've been together since the formation of this hill those thousands of years ago." As he spoke, he began to shimmer, and then changed into the form of a boy, although his ears were pointed and he had fangs, as well as a tail (think Kouga from InuYasha).
"How do you do that?" Chihiro was very impressed with the change, although she had once seen Yubaba do something similar, yet different at the same time.
"You really seem very troubled. Do you want to talk about it?"
"Well, it's just that I have this friend, and he's on his way to Jumari to ask that myself and Haku can be together."
"Jumari, eh? This is far more serious than I had thought. Tell me more."
"Well, I don't want him to go. I want him to stay safe, but if he doesn't go, then that means that I can't be with my true love. Does it seem selfish that I would want him to go so that Haku and I can be together?"
"Not at all, yet at the same time, it kind of does. It all depends on how you look at the situation. If you look at it from your side, it doesn't, but if you take a detached attitude, then yes, it does."
"So then what should I want?"
"I can't tell you that. I was really just hoping that you'd feel better after getting it off your chest. I'm still a rather young spirit, so my advice isn't really worth beans. Still, if he's going to Jumari, then I'd say that you're right not to want him to go. She's really one very evil spirit. She was in charge of the spirits that murdered my mate and my cubs. I have a real bone to pick with her. In fact, once I get up the nerve, I was planning on confronting her."
"But she'll kill you!"
"Sure, but life isn't really worth living without those I love."
"Is love really that important?"
"Sure. If you truly love someone, then they mean everything to you, and you would do anything to keep them safe. Love holds two beings together."
Chihiro looked at the boy, curious to find out more about him. "How old are you?"
"Well, I was born when this hill was, so I'm a couple of thousands of years old."
"Wow! I had no idea. I mean, you only look a little older than me."
"Yes, well, Haku is also at the very least a couple of hundred years old.
Chihiro noticed that the sky was beginning to become pale, so she stood and cracked her back, making Nami burst into laughter.
"No Face never did anything like that! What is it?"
"Well, my back was stiff, so I cracked the stiffness out of it."
"It doesn't hurt?"
"No. I'm sorry to have to cut this short, but if I don't get back soon, Zenniba will start to wonder where I am." She began to walk down the side of the hill, only to notice that the fox was following her. "What are you doing?"
"Coming with you. I'm sure that Zenniba won't mind having another guest. I get so lonely out here all by myself, and I'm interested to see how everything that's going on in your life will turn out." The fox appeared to grin at her, but Chihiro knew that this was impossible.
"Well, fine, but don't bother anybody."
"Don't worry. I won't."
*~*
Haku pulled Link to his feet, looking at the snake spirit that had just tried to make a meal out of both of them. "Whew! That was a close call!"
"Yeah, you're telling me. How many of those can there possibly be?"
"A lot, since we've been attacked by them ever since we entered the forest a week ago."
"They weren't the only things that have been attacking us. Let's see. There was that wild boar, the wolf pack, those carrion crows, a couple of unidentified spirits, a couple of unidentified animals, and a tribe of wild human-like things."
"Yeah, but they weren't humans. If they were someone would have told us by now."
"Is it me, or are the trees getting thinner and less numerous?"
It was true. They hadn't noticed it right away at first because the change had been so gradual, but now it was clear that they were leaving the main reaches of the forest behind them, and the ground began to creep slowly upward.
"We must be at the mountains. It's about time. I hope we were right on target the entire time, or we'll have a heck of a time finding those three that we were heading towards." Link looked at the ground and shuffled his feet.
"Haku?"
"Yeah? What is it?"
"Well. maybe it would be best if I was to go alone from here on out. I don't want Jumari to decide that she's going to keep you captive too."
"Thanks for your concern, but I think that I know what I'm doing."
"No, really. You don't have to stick around on my account."
"I'm not. The only reason that I'm escorting you is because I know that it's what Chihiro would want me to do." Haku looked up towards the end of the forest, then let out a gasp. "Look! Do you see that?"
"See what?"
"That!" Haku pointed at a large, snow white stag that had bounded out of a thicket and was now staring directly at them. "It's a white stag! They're very rare, and very lucky. Come on, let's follow it."
"Are you mad!!?? We can't just follow it. Remember? We're on our way to the Dark Tower"
"Sure, but I just know that it wants us to. Come on." With those words, Haku was off and running to the stag, which turned and began to bound away.
"What an idiot. He's going to get us lost, and then we'll never get to the tower." Link sighed heavily and then raced after Haku.
They bounded through the trees, then out into a vast meadow on the side of the mountain, from which they could look back and see for miles around. They raced along brooks, crossed rivers, ran through thickets, darted over snow banks, and raced through a large pass between two mountain peaks before finding themselves on a vast, flat plain at the center of which was a huge dark spire jutting into the heavens like a gigantic tooth piercing the heavens. Once they had entered the plain, the stag shifted into the form of a hawk and with a burst of speed headed toward the tower (a/n- have you guessed who the stag was?).
"I don't believe it! That stag was really a shapeshifter. I thought that they had all been hunted down and killed." Haku looked in envy as the bird disappeared off among the clouds. "You don't mind if I transform and go for a little flight, do you?"
"Suit yourself." Link didn't look as if he cared, his attention was currently riveted on the tower that lay ahead of them. It fascinated him in a rather morbid way.
So that's were I'm to spend eternity. Not bad.
Haku had taken off, and was now circling overhead. In the distance, lightning flashed and thunder crashed above the tower.
After walking for about a half hour, they seemed no closer to the tower. They had, however, reached a wall that seemed like it surrounded the tower and miles of grounds. Strangely enough, they reached it right where the gate was. On the gate was written these words.
To those who would enter, beware Of those who have lingered here Their souls mourn Their lives torn They won't hesitate to attack If you cannot handle this TURN BACK
Well. That seems ominous enough.
Lost in though, he did not notice Haku landing until he had transformed and was standing at his side.
"I tried to fly over the wall, but there seems to be a magical barrier over it. We have to go through the gate."
"So what do we do? Just enter?"
"Well, let's try and open the door." Haku reached out and took hold of the handle, then twisted. The door opened smoothly and creaked open, giving them a clear open view of the rest of the plain that lay before them. "Come on!"
They ran through, then looked back only to find that the gate had disappeared.
"That doesn't bode well."
"Why should I care? I'm not coming back anyways, so it doesn't really matter."
They began to once again walk forward, heading ever closer to Link's doom.
*~*
So tell me, are they almost here?
Yes m' lady.
Good. I can't wait. This is going to be so much fun!
M' lady.
Yes, speak up. You know that you don't have to be afraid.
Well, I was just thinking that maybe you should consider their request.
And why should I do that?
Well, I just thought that they looked like they could use a break.
So does that mean that you've got a soft spot for those boys?
NO! Of course not. I would never do anything like that.
Good. Now, come along. We've got the whole night ahead of us.
Yes m' lady.
*~*
"So, Nami, I see that you've met Chihiro."
"Yes. She made my acquaintance last night."
"Really? Well, what do you think of him?"
"He's nice, and I think he'd make a good friend."
The fox in question was curled up at the foot of Chihiro's makeshift bed, and Chihiro was sitting at the table with No Face and Zenniba.
"Ah, Ahhh"
"No Face wants to tell you that he's sorry for not coming to visit you recently, but to understand that this is the first time that he's seen Chihiro in six years."
"Oh, no. Don't worry. I understand completely. I'm just glad that you're going to let me stay here for a while. That den under the hill has been so lonely ever since my mate and cubs were killed."
"Yes. We've still got to decide just what it is that we're going to do about that."
"Well, I was kind of thinking of going to Jumari and demanding blood for blood."
"Don't be a fool. You know as well as I do that you'd never get past her outer defenses, much less past Knoma. He'd kill you before you could get anywhere near her. No, if we're going to do anything, it would have to be from a distance, so that they wouldn't know who did it. We could try to cast a spell."
"And you're calling me a fool? You're not nearly strong enough to take Jumari on in a magician's duel." Nami looked up at Chihiro with his big eyes sparkling. "However, she wouldn't be expecting a human."
"What are you talking about?" Chihiro wasn't sure that she liked the way this conversation was turning. "I can't do anything against her!"
"Actually, dear, that's not true." Zenniba was now regarding Chihiro with the same sort of glimmer in her eyes. "All humans that know true love can use the magic to a certain extent. Just how much do you love Haku?
"With all my heart."
"Good. In that case, we can probably make a witch out of you." Nami looked very pleased with himself.
"What if I don't want to become a witch?"
"Then you don't have to. Nobody's going to pressure you into this." Zenniba looked as if she was trying to take a detached attitude toward the whole thing, but the farce wasn't coming over too well.
"Please. Do this for Haku and Link, and, indirectly, me."
"What do I have to do?"
"Well, first off you have to feel the love that you have inside you. Just reach down inside yourself and draw it out the way you would draw water out of a well."
Chihiro tried this, but found that it was much easier said then done.
"I can't." Chihiro sat down heavily on the bed next to Nami and looked at Zenniba with a forlorn expression.
"So, you're just going to give up?" Nami raised his head and looked at her incredulously.
"It's so hard!"
"Well, we never promised you that it would be easy. You just have to trust us."
"Well, I'll try again." Chihiro hesitated, then began to concentrate only on one thing: her eternal and undying love for Haku. Slowly, her palms began to glow, and the air inside the cabin started to move, first slowly, then gathering with force, until she found herself in the middle of a cyclone. On the outside, Nami had once again raised his head and was now looking at her with admiration.
"Excellent." (a/n- inside joke !_! hee hee hee) Zenniba looked at her, then settled herself down in an armchair. There was much more work to be done.
Yay! Another book done. I think that there will only be one more, and then maybe a continuation in another story. I can't say for certain, as it's the characters who are writing the story, and not me (lol).