Warning: Mm...nothing that bad, actually. A little blood here and there...^^
Disclaimer: I'm sure you'll be wanting to read the story as soon as possible, so I'll make it quick. I DON'T OWN SPIRITED AWAY. Fu.
Feedback: Please don't think that you're comments didn't motivate me to update soomer, because they did! You would not believe the utter painful guilt I felt. ;_; I'm so sorry!
Elf #1: And yet, you still took...more than a month?
::sniff:: I can't help it if summer school sucks!
Elf 1: ...you're the only one who stresses so much over Driver's Ed...
>Note: I got a few complaints 'bout the elves taking up space, so they're appearances will be lessened. Gomen to those who seemed to like them, but I want to try make this enjoyable for everyone, and I'm sure you're more for the story anyway. ^^
Elf #2: ¬¬ Are you implying they won't miss us?
Uh...on with the story!!
Again, I am so sorry this took so long!!! I noticed I tend to...never finish my long stories...but I don't want that to happen! I'm really trying to break the Writer's block and I'm sorry if that may take a while. -.-; Anyway, to make up for my absence, I'm making this chapter (hopefully) longer, and am not cutting into two chapters (like originally planned, but then it would have been...really really short). Alright, on with the story, for real now!
Previously:
/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.
~ * ~ * ~
It happened so fast.
One minute ugly sweaty hands were all over her, suffocating her, violating her and she could do nothing and –/I'm sorry…Haku…/– and then, they were…gone. Opening her eyes, her breath stopped.
Two of the boys laid flat on the ground, out cold with deep scratches running along their faces. Yuno, the obnoxious punk one who constantly boasted at school of his new weekly "conquest" and who had moments before been assaulting her, sat on the ground some feet away, seeming to have been tossed aside. Advancing on him in a feral half-crouch was…
/…Kouryuu? /
Her daughter's aura was different, wild and dangerous and just like…? Her little hands were curled into claws, a bestial-like snarl on her lips. Once soulful jade eyes glowed nearly white. The wind roared, pulling at the child's hair until it flared like an angry cat or…
/…a dragon. /
Blinking her eyes slowly, Chihiro could not keep the uncertainty from her voice.
"Kouryuu?"
As if breaking the spell, the girl slowly stood upright, turning towards her voice, the tension seeming to melt away. And she saw her eyes, dark glittering emeralds; wide from confusion and shock that now ran through her tiny body.
"Mommy?"
A bright glow under the child's shirt died as she ran towards her ragged mother, not even noticing Yuno scrambling away rambling about a "demon child." Chihiro quickly sagged against the cold wall, bending down and opening her arms to receive the frightened child. Tucking her face against her shoulder where her shirt had not ripped, she placed one hand behind Kouryuu's head and thread it through her hair so the child's tears would soak into her shirt, so she would not turn around. She didn't need to see the two boys still lying on the ground.
/Her fingers are tipped in blood…/
Rocking both of them gently, Chihiro closed her eyes, trying to convince herself what had just transpired was just a dream.
// "I'm dreaming…I'm dreaming…" //
But nothing could hide the cold chill that blew through her destroyed shirt. Nothing could hide the blood on her child's hands and the injuries on the two boys. And nothing could hide the image of her little girl's face contorted into that of a savage beast.
// "Nothing is ever really forgotten…"//
/Are you going to cry? /
// 'I'll be strong…' //
/Are you going to let your little girl see you break? /
// "Take a deep breath…"//
/Are you going to stop believing? /
// "Promise." //
Slowly, the wind stilled.
~ * ~ * ~
//She hadn't noticed until she had gotten into the shower that night. It all seemed so distant to her…that it was just that morning that she was flying with Haku, just that morning that she saved both her and her parents and they left the Spirit World. It all seemed like a dream.
A shiny object fell from her hair as she ran her hands through it under the watery spray, landing with a clink in the tub. Bending down, it took a few seconds before she could find it, its pearly color nearly hiding it in the white ceramic bottom.
It was paper thin, yet so stiff and strong, and when held to the light just right, the curved edges glinted silver. She had never seen anything like it…in /this/ world.
Her face broke into a smile as her fingers curled around the precious scale, and she hurried to finish washing up.
Just before turning out her lights, she placed the scale on her bedside table, comforted by its light alien glow. She promising herself in the morning to find that red string she had seen when unpacking... //
~ * ~ * ~
Sunlight streamed down on her face as birds chirped loudly around her. She didn't remember falling asleep. Rubbing her eyes, Chihiro looked around her slowly before remembering where she was and what had happened. Goosebumps rising, she wrapped her arms around herself, trying to rub the chill away. Standing up and stretching the kinks from her back and neck, wincing occasionally from scratches and cuts given to her the night before, just now making themselves known, the teen looked around again.
Everything looked relatively like how it was when she had emerged from the tunnel. The grass was overgrown, as were the trees. And in the middle of the road stood the two-faced statue that had given her the creeps when she first saw it, though now it did not stand level height to her. To see it all again…
/I've always wanted to show Kouryuu this…/
She stopped.
"Kouryuu?"
The sudden realization of what was missing sent her mind racing as she searched through the foliage for any evidence: crushed grass, a broken branch, anything. A deep pit of dread grew in her stomach as she continued to come up with nothing, not a trace. Halting when she reached the worn statue, she instinctively looked up. The dark tunnel met her gaze.
/No…/
Despite her mind's denial, she already knew the truth. It was as bright and clear as the red plaster that now covered the tunnel wall and the stray leaves that danced into the dark mouth.
// "The wind's blowing in." //
Fear suddenly gripped her, and she found she couldn't move. She /would/ go after Kouryuu, there was no doubt of that. But would she have to face Yubaba? And Rin? Kamaji? But most of all, would she have to face Haku?
Fingernails dug into her palms as the fear threatened to swallow her.
/Could/ she face Haku?
She found herself standing just outside of the tunnel entrance, staring into the deep oblivion, where a tiny light showed at the very end, the other side. An extra burst of wind pushed behind her, whispering, urging, promising.
/I'm not ready yet…I can't…I'm not /strong/ enough! /
Almost as a warning, the light behind her began to dim, as she saw the sky start to take on an orange-ish tint. It was almost sun down. If she didn't act now, the path would be closed, and Kouryuu would be stuck in the Spirit World by herself.
/She could disappear…/
Taking a deep breath, Chihiro stepped into the tunnel.
~ * ~ * ~
The steady pat-pat-pat of her shoes echoed in the darkness, and it seemed forever until she emerged on the other side. A sense of déjà vu hit her as she viewed the rolling plains of grass, the small buildings and restaurants in the distance. And between here and there, Chihiro knew there would be a bed of rocks where a river would later flow.
/I'm really…back. /
A lone train whistle answered her.
Remembering the ever racing clock, the teen quickly sprinted across the lush grass, glad that she never really go into the style of platform shoes that all the other girls so proudly showed off at school, even though some were so ridiculously tall it was nearly impossible to walk right. She never really understood it all.
Leaping across the rock bed and up the stairs with relatively more ease than the first time, Chihiro found herself slowing as she stepped into the "amusement park." The strip of restaurants was just how she remembered it and she couldn't help pausing when she reached the one where her parents had turned into pigs, the same foods piled high on large platters and steaming deliciously. Just like the first time, the numerous meats did not tempt her, even less so now than before.
Making her way up the next set of stairs, she stared at the giant lantern, wondering how long it would be before it would light up, before slowly turning to her right. Feeling like she was 10 again, Chihiro's breath stopped as she gazed upon the vibrant house, smoke billowing from the large smoke stack behind it. It didn't matter that she had work here once, knew the contours of it just like how she knew the faces that would be inside…it still amazed her in its splendor.
Leaning against the red banister, she watched the train once against rush by below on the submerged tracks, and part of her wondered…
//Wide jade eyes stared at her and time seemed to stop as their gazes met. Something like recognition clicked behind those sharp almond-shaped eyes, and the strangest thing was something told her she knew him as well…//
"Chihiro?"
Every muscle in her body froze, and her mind was screaming even while her head turned, ever so slowly, preparing, praying, /begging/, though if she wanted it to be or not she wasn't sure gods she wasn't /ready/---
Her breath stopped.
~ TBC ~
Author's Note: A lot of you had suggested ways of how Chihiro could escape the...situation...at the top, and I must say, I was surprised at how close many of you were. But before you go thinking I'm unoriginal, I would like to say that not everything is as it seems. ^^ I hate being unoriginal, so yes, there are some small twists and stuff. I hinted a little bit 'bout it; can you find it? ^___^ But don't worry, it'll probably be explained later.
To the Reviewers: ::sniff:: Do I have any reviewers left?
Geminia: Gai...I hope this chapter was long enough for you...but I can't do anything 'bout the cliff hanger. >Irusta: Heh. Yeah, I agree. I don't much like rape either in fics, unless they're really well written and actually fit into the plot...which is very rare. ^^;
Lirawen: I'm sorry, I happened to like my imaginary friends. But I guess not everyone like listening to me talk to myself and I'm sorry. ^^ I hope you'll continue reading, and I'll try to make the chapters longer too.
kit: Ahhh...gomen gomen! I am horrible at updating, and I'm reaaaaally sorry! ::sob:: Forgive meeee!
Mizura Volphen: Aw, you no like Xelloss? Heh. I didn't at first either, but the tricky bastard grew on me. -.-;
sawdust monster: ^____^ Arigato!
noloc3: Heh. I'm sorry, but you'll have to wait for Haku to make his appearance. ^^ Thanks for your comment though.
Dirge: Ah...I'm thinking the cliffie for this chapter is even worse? ^^ Sorry, but that's how we writers are eh? CLIFF HANGERS TO THE MAX!! Fufufufu...
Anee/Arin Ross/Arain Rowan: ...::pokes Arin and Arain::...you guys dead? Did I take too long to update?
Elf #1 and #2: What do -you- think?
^^;;
Chicago: Heh...don't feel bad...late checking makes up for late updating. ^^ It all works.
Ash Lee Brodford: ^^; Uh, sorry, it took forever. I'm gonna get attacked aren't I? ::armed with...dundundun...catnip!:: Bring it on. >)
Elf #1: -.-;;;;
Elf #2: I'll prepare the funeral coffin...
CertainlyOutrageous: Whee. Can do. Thankie!
KitKatGirl: Yay! I'm glad you like Kouryuu. I was tentative on her char 'cause you know...original chars don't fly so well in fanfiction. ^___^ I'm so happy.
allison: Fuuuu! Sankyuuu!!!! (recent relapse in Gensomaden Saiyuki addiction...::drool::...and if you don't know what it is, check it out! Or just ignore Inaho's crazed fangirl ranting. ^^;;)
heartfelt: Oh good, so Kouryuu's not that...oOC. Thanks for informing me. ^^ Should probably do research more on this kinda thing, but oh well! Go poetic license!!
lynnie: Hahaha!!! #2, you softie! ::poke::
Elf #2: Grr...leave me 'lone you onna!
::pokepokepoke:: Tell me you loooove meee!!!!
Elf #2: ::snarl:: Not if you want to continue writing Angst!!!
::shrinks:: Meanie. ::catches sight of #1::
Elf #1: Don't even think 'bout it.
Puu.
Ah, done! Once again for the millionth of so time, I'm sorry for the long wait! Believe me, my friend has been bugging and guilt tripping me for the longest time! Yes, I'm talking 'bout you Y_____!!! See, I got off my butt and updated!! Now leave me aloooone!!!!!