Disclaimer: I don't own Spirited Away or any of its characters.

Chapter 35:Back to the Battle Field

Kohaku and Chihiro went directly to Zeniiba's office, they walked in and Zeniiba looked worried. "Do you two know what's going on?" asked Zeniiba.

"All we know is that Rin is in a war with the Pyccoka forest spirit and she is loosing," said Kohaku.

"That must be it, because I feel something stirring in the human world. I hope Rinako Naoko will be alright," replied Zeniiba.

"I thought it was bad enough that Rin and Shu couldn't be together and now there is war," added Chihiro.

"Well there is an old story about a cold hearted dragon who to everyone's surprise risked his life to save a good witch. The good witch cast a spell on all dragon's that will every be for when they risk their life for someone they love(not having to be love like Chihiro's and Kohaku's) then they are granted one wish, a wish of the heart. Maybe this could happen to Mishu-Kapi and then they would be together, there is always a way and two for love," said Zeniiba.

"Why have I never heard of this? I never got any wishes," said Kohaku.

"It's not a well known story, and most believe it is just a myth. Kohaku you got your wish, you've risked your life for Chihiro, and both you and Chihiro as well as your daughter are safe and sound, that was your wish," answered Zeniiba.

Kohaku nodded his head, Chihiro added, "On a happier note... sort of happier, Pyccoka knocked out Shu and kidnapped Ryu and dropped her in the river..." Zeniiba looked horrified, Chihiro quickly finished, "Ryu can breath underwater."

"Ok well that is good, next thing your going to tell me is she has scales, and can fly. Only after a mountain spirit threw her off," sarcastically said Zeniiba.

"We wont test that one," replied Kohaku.

Chihiro nodded, "Ever."

Zeniiba sat down, "Well I want you two to keep an eye on this war, return tonight and come back here after sunrise, to tell me the out come of the nights fight. I want you to do this every night until the battle is over, ok? I'll watch Ryu for you two, don't want her kidnapped again."

"That's no problem Granny," said Kohaku.

Chihiro handed Ryu to Zeniiba, "Yeah Granny I want to make sure that Rin is alright anyways."

"Yes well I hope I get some work down while Ryu is around," said Zeniiba, "I love her but baby's in general cry too much."

"What are you talking about Granny, she rarely cries only when she is hungry," replied Chihiro setting down the diaper bag, she just realized how unusually quiet Ryu always was. She was always content watching Chihiro and Kohaku scrubbing tubs, or flying with Kohaku.

"Yes well for you two she is an angle. You two better get going, the battle could end tonight," said Zeniiba shooing them out the door.

Kohaku and Chihiro quickly walked out of Aburaya, but were stopped by Chihiyaku, "Are you working with us tomorrow Sen?"

"Sorry Chihiyaku, we have to watch a forest spirit war. If the war is over tonight then yes, but I doubt it," answered Chihiro, walking out of Aburaya. Kohaku had continued out of Aburaya when Chihiyaku stopped Chihiro. Chihiro looked around for Kohaku, but all she could see were other spirits. Chihiro saw a white dragon head appear from behind a nearby building. Chihiro smiled and ran to Kohaku, she climbed on Kohaku's back and they flew off to the human world.

Kohaku flew right through the tunnel and strait to the Mishu-Kapi river, luckily it was late and no humans saw them. "What are you two doing here and right in the middle of a war?" asked Mishu-Kapi.

"Zeniiba wants us to watch the war," replied Chihiro.

Kohaku finished changing into human form, and added, "Every night till it is over."

Mishu-Kapi just nodded his head, "I think Riko, is loosing half her forest tonight."

"Why is this even allowed?" asked Chihiro.

"Actually I don't know, do you Shu?" replied Kohaku. Mishu-Kapi shook his head. They watched the fight, for the whole night. The fight was just a swirling mass of the two Forest spirits exchanging blows of their swords, but it went on till sunrise. Rinako Naoko lost half of her forest and Pyccoka walked away smiling.

Every night for the next week went the same. Every night Rinako Naoko lost a little more of her forest. The fight seemed hopeless and it looked as if Rinako Naoko would be better off if she surrendered, but Rinako Naoko kept fighting. She kept fighting all though she had many fatal wounds. The strangest thing was that in times of war, the spirit could die, or was it that they could die in the hands of another spirit? Mishu-Kapi, Kohaku, and Chihiro weren't quiet sure. The fact of the matter is Rinako Naoko was not doing well, from the beginning of the battle.

"It'll be over with tonight," said Mishu-Kapi as Kohaku landed on the banks of the river, "Riko put up a good fight though Pyccoka is very tired, she could strike me and not even break skin. So why are you two here so late it is almost sunrise?"

"Ryu, wouldn't stop crying, she wanted to come with us," replied Chihiro. They watched the fight Pyccoka had turned Rinako Naoko around. Rinako Naoko was slowly retreating into the river.

A few minutes before sunrise Rinako Naoko was wading in the knee high water of the river inches from Mishu-Kapi, Chihiro and Kohaku. Pyccoka was still slashing her sword from the river bank. Pyccoka thought she would just have to keep Rinako Naoko in the water till sunset and the war would be over, Rinako Naoko would no longer have a forest.

Rinako Naoko's hand was slit by Pyccoka's sword, Rinako Naoko's sword fell into the water and sunk to the bottom. Rinako Naoko reached down to retrieve the sword, Pyccoka laughed.

Pyccoka in her last few seconds before sunrise swung her sword, with all her might, at Rinako Naoko. A blow that would surly end Rinako Naoko's life. "No!" screamed Chihiro, Kohaku and Mishu-Kapi. Mishu-Kapi swam over Rinako Naoko taking the hit for her.

The water turned red from the blood, which couldn't be seen anymore because of the water's orange, pink tint from the risen sun.

Mishu-Kapi lay in the water hurt, Rinako Naoko soaking wet, and Pyccoka laughing. Mishu-Kapi swam to the far shore and oddly, impossibly changed into an human form. Chihiro and Kohaku were very shocked, what shocked Chihiro more was that Rinako Naoko was looking scaly, but she took a deep breath and changed back to her original form. Rinako Naoko ran to Mishu- Kapi, who was very well and alive, it ended out to be just a minor cut.

"Shu got his wish, he can change into his human form and Rin can change into a dragon," said Chihiro.

"No. Shu got his wish to be able to turn into a human form, but Rin's transformation was meant to be a punishment," said Kohaku.

"I don't understand," flustered Chihiro.

Kohaku looked at Chihiro, "Why do you think Aburaya is only open at night? From sunrise to sunset the spirits have to stay in their home. In the case of Pyccoka and Rin it was the same element so that they could take over parts of the forest, without consequences. But Rin was out of element, so as 'punishment' she belongs now to both forest and river and must watch over both. Shu wish exactly was to be with Rin, so now he belongs to both as well. What I don't understand is why Rin is still here, her forest was lost."

"See the forest on this side of the river?" asked Mishu-Kapi, Chihiro and Kohaku nodded, "Well it was Pyccoka's and it over lapped the river on one end and met with Riko's forest. That is how Pyccoka started the war, because you can't cross over elements to get to someone else's that is of your own. If Pyccoka's forest didn't cross the river she couldn't have attached Riko. Since Riko's back was to Pyccoka's forest, or the majority of it, when the sun raised, and technically that was also part of the battle field. The rules of war is whatever is behind the fighter at sunrise, is theirs. So in the end Riko's forest is now on this side of the river and Pyccoka's that side."

"And there is no more war, Pyccoka's forest is only on that side of the river, and mine is on this side. Pi stops future war," added Rinako Naoko.

"So Rin is your name changed to Pyccoka?" asked Chihiro.

"No, it doesn't change, the forest changes. The humans wont even realize I'm on the wrong side of the river. My name changes only if the forest's is renamed, not 'moved'," replied Rinako Naoko.

Mishu-Kapi stood up, he held Rinako Naoko close to him. Rinako Naoko hugged him, Mishu-Kapi kissed Rinako Naoko. An unthinkable amount of years that, that one kiss had been waiting for.

Chihiro and Kohaku walked away, "That was my wish, to see them together," smiled Chihiro holding Kohaku's hand.

"They always wanted us happy, I'm more happy that they are happy," said Kohaku.

I hoped you guys liked the chapter so please review it. I have to say that the next chapter is more on the girly, sappy side. But I think you'll like it. Happy reading! ~ Na