Warning: Okay, this is were the PG-13 rating comes in...actually, it's probably a little more explicit than that, but I don't think it was rate R, so...deal. Or read at your discretion if you ain't ready for something a little more than "punch, ow! you jerk!"
Elf #1: ...you overdid the violence again didn't you?
...go ask #3...
#3: ZzzZzz...
Oh, bail out and leave the blame on me, why don't you!
Disclaimer: ...
Elf #1: ...
...I still don't own Spirited Away...
Elf #1: ...
...
Elf #1: ...nothing else?
...no...
Feedback: I would be so happy right now if my sleep deprived brain could remember what you peeps...wrote...zzzzz
Elf #4: ::poke::
Mmmhhh-but I dun wanna be the rice ball!....zzzz...
Elf #4: ::blink:: ^^; I think that's it people. She's not gonna be up for a while...
Elf #2: Which means we don't have to work! In the mean time...¬¬
Elf #4: ...I'll get in the closet...
Previously:
"Now, girrly, don't ya think ya owe us sum' thin more 'n an ap-ap-sorry fer bumpin' into us?"
/He's drunk. /
~ * ~ * ~
Slowly, Chihiro loosened her grip on Kouryuu, letting the child slowly slide down her back and land on the sidewalk. The abruptness of the fall would wake her up, this she knew, and she could only pray that she stayed quiet. If Kouryuu were to get hurt…
"Hey, whazzat behind 'er?"
"Look s'like a leeetle g—"
"Run Kouryuu!!! RUN!!"
Grabbing the little girl's wrist, Chihiro took off as fast as she could, dragging her daughter behind her. Her heart pounded in her ears as sounds of rumbling feet chased behind her.
/Please, don't let me fall. If there is a god here, don't let me /fall/! /
"Mommy!"
The tiny hand slipped from her grasp like water as the little girl stumbled to the ground, unable to keep up the fast pace of her mother. Her palms and knees stun as her mother quickly turned and ushered her up, brown eyes staring fearfully at the three shadows that got closer. Kouryuu did not understand her mother's fear, but the loud yelling of the three men scared her, and she tried not to cry out as needles of pain shot through her short legs from being pushed to the limit, though she could not stop the whimpers.
It couldn't be determined who fell first, but soon the two of them were on the ground, rolling downhill through dense foliage and trees. Chihiro tucked the crying little girl under her chin and wrapped her arms around her, rough bark and sharp rocks digging into her exposed skin, gnarly branches grabbing at her clothes and hair.
With a loud crack the two of them fell out of the forest and onto a disheveled path. Cold brick met her hands as Chihiro tried to push herself up. Kouryuu laid under her, eyes closed, and for a moment, her heart stopped.
/No…no no no no /no/! Not…I can't…not her /too/! Please—/
"M…mommy?"
"Bitch where 're you? Dun you wanna have /my/ baby too?"
"Come on, Kouryuu. We have to keep running."
The dark-haired child stood as she watched her mother slowly push herself to her feet, the loud noises getting closer. Instinctively, her small hands pressed her chest over her most important possession, a hint of a red string poking from under the collar of her shirt. The cool edge laid against her soft skin, bringing a temporary reassurance, only to have that fragile calm shattered as a crash sounded near her.
Frantic, Chihiro turned from the approaching male, panic rising as she saw her daughter still standing there, frozen.
"What are you doing? RUN!!!"
Startled by her mother's cracking voice, she bolted down the path, her feet seeming to never touch the ground she was running so fast. A fierce wind blew with her, whispering, urging her to go faster and reach her destination. She didn't know where this place was, but she would be safe. The wind told her this as the trees rustled its reassurance.
The stone quickly gave way to grass, and the only evidence of a path left was the absence of the trees to show the way. She couldn't hear the pounding footsteps anymore. Had they gotten her mother? No, so would not think that way! Her mother was strong, the strongest she had ever seen.
//The men seemed to tower over her, their eyes glazed by /something/ and it gave her shivers. The way they looked at Mommy…//
/Daddy, where are you? /
Immediately, as if on their own, her feet stopped and she almost fell over. Waving her hands, they met something hard and mossy, steadying her. A stony face was grinning at her, a layer of soft moss growing over it in patches. She couldn't help wonder what the statue was so happy about.
"LET GO OF ME!!!"
Ducking behind the ovular statue, she watched in horror as one of the men, the leader, held a tight grip on her mother's arm. One of the others quickly grabbed for her other limb, getting smacked in the process before securing his hold. Under the moonlight, she could see four red stripes on his cheek, a few starting to bead blood in the corners.
"You shouldn' 'ave dun that, li'l slut. Now s'we gotta punish you."
Kouryuu held her breath as the trio dragged her mother past her hiding place towards a building she hadn't noticed before. It was an old tunnel, worn bricks overrun with ivy and pitch black. If it had been a normal circumstance, she would have been tempted to explore; the dark entrance called to her. But the screams of her mother quickly broke the connection.
"Now why dun you be a good li'l whore an' relax? I'll make you feel good, be'er than that boyfriend who ran out on you."
She couldn't hear what her mother said, but it enraged the man, and she struggled not to cry from the sickening crack of her mother's head hitting the wall. A dying whimper was all that showed her mother was still conscious, as the larger man pinned her with his body. She watched him force himself on her mother's mouth, his hand running down her side, a slow ripping sound of fabric. She watched him put his hand under her skirt, and her mother's body froze up, something wet and glistening running down her cheeks.
/I'm sorry…/
Her body stiffened at the familiar voice, her mother's voice, that seemed to whisper around her and yet, only in her head at the same time. But before she could think, the wind suddenly picked up and /howled/. The trees lashed in anger, leaves whirling by and disappearing into the tunnel, which seemed to grow in darkness.
/…Haku…/
Chaos erupted.
~ TBC ~
Author's Note: Yeeh...this update really took a while, eh? Sorry 'bout that, but school's been a real...pain...I'm literally being crushed by homework; my backpack weighs and looks/feels like a boulder. And finals are coming up in 'bout a week (longest freakin' schoolyear in the state! !) so I probably won't be updating again for a while. Just as well, I have only 'bout two chapters left pre-written, so I gotta get moving on that...maybe...no...definately after finals. ^^ Sorry 'bout that people, but you know how it goes...
To the Reviewers: Before I get to individual replies...a lot of people have been asking 'bout the father and how Chihiro got pregnant...and all I have to say is...sore wa himitsu desu! ^__^
Elf #1: ::slaps his forehead::
Elf #2: You idiot...you've done it now...
Eh?
Elf #1: ::points at angry mob with pitchforks and torches and -gasp- sporks!::
Yeehhhh....I can explain! Everything will get explained eventually, and yes, I have an explanation in my head of how she got pregnant. It'll just be a bit...well, know that things tend to not be as they seem when I write. ^^ That's all I'm gonna say.
Morwen: Heehee...I'll keep that in mind. ^__^
KitKatGirl: Oi, looks like I kinda broke the...fast updating eh? Sorry. And as for Kouryuu...I don't really know how old she is 'cause I don't know when kids start walking and talking...but I've always thought 'round...2? I dunno, is that too young? Well anyway, she's special, so...there. And I believe I've handled the when'd-she-get-pregnant part already. ^^
Smiley: Heh. Just keep reading. In time, answers will come, yes yes? (Okay, I can't do the Yoda talk...)
Geminia: Heh, life is full of cliffies isn't it? Well, expect some more, 'cause there's still a ways to go. ^^
Anee: Heh. I've actually already written past the save-Chihiro-from-bad-people part...you'll just have to see how it plays out. ^__^
Mitsuko Maxwell: All answers will come ( ::really wants to say "my child"...-.-; ) but anyway...I believe Chihiro was 10 in the movie. And as for the El Dia de los Muertos fic...yeah, I've always wanted to do something with that holiday, and well, I think I was depressed that day. But thanks for the review. ^^
Tempus Mori: Heh. I wish I could get more reviews too. But anyway...your name..."Time of Death"? I dunno...I think that's right...but then, my mind's not really functioning right now so my Latin may be off. Just something I noticed. ^_^
JadeMoonWing: Heehee...funny. Don't worry, some of my friend's friends think I'm her imaginary friend and lives in her head. ^^ As for your questions...be patient...and uh...don't destroy your house for your sugar high, eh? ^^
Arisu (Alice): Heh. I don't mind long reviews. ^___^ I'm glad you like my story...I will convert you to worship my work!! Mwua...ha...ha...curse, I really can't do the mad laughter.
Elf #1: Dang straight.
::flick:: Anyway...^^ (I end my replies a lot with these...oi...)
Gomen, not so much elfyness this time...too tired. Inaho needs to go hibernate for a week...after finals. Dangit...no sleep = about to die student. Anyway, 'til next time!