Neighbors: Lightning Strikes

by Siren & SpelCastrMax

Authors Note (Yes there's 2 of us for the price of one): Everyone has

seen Spirited Away and EVERYONE wanted a longer ending, so here's our

rendition. Enjoy.

From SIREN: Hey! We're back! We are ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!

From SPELCASTRMAX: Well, you're alive. I'm only here in spirit.

SIREN: But I can see you just fine! And as a side noteI do have to appalogize to everyone! I had said I would write a reader appreciation page but unfortunately I had a lot of crap to handle. PLEASE FORGIVE ME!!!!!!

SPELCASTRMAX: And I'm sorry because I'm not apologizing for being busy.

Wait, that was an apology. Dang.

TSUNAMISIREN: Disclaimer! We do not own SPIRITED AWAY! But we are

taking writers rights! That means we are going to change things to how we

see them. Like Haku's Eye Color!

SPELCASTRMAX: So Pttttht! (sticks out tongue)

Chapter Eight: Lightning Strikes

The menacing eyes continued to push the two girls with nothing more

than an evil glare. Chihiro and Kari were forced into a clearing where

the eyes completely surrounded them, like being caught in a ring of

fire.

A voice, the same voice that had echoed in the tunnel, came from

behind them. As they turned to face a figure shadowed by the night. The

eyes faded and with them all of the light. A small moon beam provided

enough vision to tell where their enemy was.

Chihiro suddenly felt like a little girl and she wasn't standing in

the forest, but beside the Kohaku River. She could sense someone close,

someone who blocked the cheerful sunlight. Startled by the presence,

she moved a foot forward and her little pink shoe slipped off her foot.

"Daydreaming, Chihiro?" The deep voice brought the girl out of her

flashback, causing the memory to fade.

"I haven't done anything to you," Chihiro stated with a whine in her

voice, "Why are you doing this?"

The silhouette circled the girls. His attention was focused only on

Chihiro as he spouted words about time and fate. "I am a form of energy

and time. I am here because you are here and I am doing this because

you are here." Though the cliches sounded like some metaphorical means

of his existence in the world, what he was really doing was using them

as a stalling tactic. It was as if he wanted to answer her question,

but wanted to torture her a little longer with the mystery first.

'Kari was beginning to feel like she wasn't even there. She could

probably run and he wouldn't notice. The shape was far too busy studying

Chihiro as if she were a work of art. The half American made her first

step away from her friend's side.

Chihiro continued her questions, usually repeated the same one over

and over only to get the same nonsensical answers.

'Kari watched the two talk and got a small hint of annoyance as they

kept ignoring her presence. Still she mimicked Chihiro's meek

appearance. Whether she was afraid or not she knew he would expect her keep

quiet the same way his victim was. He had yet to notice that she had

moved ever so slightly. She knew that this could be her chance to get away

and find Haku!

Seeing an opportunity, her expression changed, displaying all of her

courage. She grabbed Chihiro's arm and shouted "Haku!" The shadow spun

around, expecting to see the young river spirit, but no one was there.

The two girls sped through the woods once again, feeling like they had

briefly won when there were no red eyes or shadows blocking their path.

Suddenly, a flash of lightly broke across the clear night sky and hit a

tree ahead of them. A branch broke off the burning tree and fell in

front of them. The flames licked up the path, quickly catching on

everything around them.

Trapped for the umpteenth time that night, Chihiro and 'Kari were

ready to brave the fire if they had to. Just as they prepared to jump over

the tree limb, the fire began to spread in reverse. It ran back over

the trees and collected onto the branch until there was nothing left but

a single flame. The spark of fire leapt from the wood, flying over the

girls' heads. They turned to watch where it went just in time to see

their shadowed pursuer catch the fire in his palm.

Once again in the pitch darkness, they could hear the rustle of dirt

as the unknown villain approach them. For the first time he addressed

'Kari. "Do not even attempt to believe that you can ever get the better

of me!" he shouted.

Reaching out the hand that had caught the fire, he grabbed 'Kari's

arm, tightly holding her as she screamed. It was like having a candle set

against her skin. She struggled and cried.

Chihiro almost thought about panicking herself. Instead, she reacted.

She fell forward and with the weight of her whole body, removed the

dark hand from her friend. 'Kari buckled down to the ground, passing out

from the pain. Chihiro watched her companion slip into

unconsciousness, then faced the attacker. She was alone with the evil figure.

Although she could not see it, she could sense him smiling.

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