YAY! another wonderful chapter! Hope you're all liking it! Thank you all soooooooooooooo much for all the reviews. It means alot that you all like this! Anywho hope you all like this chapter and heres hoping I dont suddenly come down with a case of writers block! Lol naw dont worry... I've got plans for this story! ;)
Chihiro marched down the hall furiously.
"Who does Yubabba think she is that she can just take some little child and use him as a sacrifice?" She muttered to herself. She turned the corner sharply and came face to face with Nanashi; her silver hair fell down her back blending against her shiny silver robe. Her ice blue eyes looked down at Chihiro, who seemed to be frozen at the sudden encounter. Chihiro's eyes suddenly narrowed at the sight of the woman who had started all of this in the first place.
"What are you-" Nanashi cut Chihiro off by raising a slim pale finger to the girls lips.
"Come with me." She whispered, taking Chihiro's hand and leading her down the hallway. They walked down the winding hallways and stopped at a tall door Chihiro instantly recognized as the one she heard Kazuo behind. She tensed eagerly. Nanashi turned around and looked at her kindly.
"Now you cannot stay long, but I know you both need to see each other." She explained, her silvery voice gently caressed Chihiro's eardrums pleasantly. Chihiro nodded and Nanashi opened the door. They both stepped inside. It was a large circular room; the walls were covered with bright colorful children's paintings. The floors were scattered with more toys and books a child could even use. It resembled Yubabba's baby's bedroom immensely. In the very corner of the room was a round unmade bed. And there smothered in green down blankets was Kazuo. Chihiro made her way through the piles of toys that lay on the floor and sat beside Kazuo on the bed. His black hair was sticking up at odd angles as it always did. He was curled in a small fetal position, his tiny fists clenched. He was so tiny. She gently reached out a hand and stroked his hair as Nanashi stood beside her and gently spoke.
"If you like you may come back in the morning when he is awake." She offered. Chihiro looked up at the beautiful woman in front of her. The anger and resentment she had felt towards Nanashi was slowly ebbing away.
"Thank you." Chihiro whispered. Chihiro looked down at Kazuo again, fast asleep. It was such a relief to know he was safe. For the first time since she had arrived at the bathhouse she felt a small tinge of security. A sudden though dawned on her.
"Nanashi, can't I just take him now?" She asked. Nanashi looked at Chihiro sadly.
"If you did, you would be in grave danger of Yubabba, and we still need a human sacrifice." She explained. Chihiro nodded sadly.
"I know it's cruel," Nanashi sat beside Chihiro and covering her hand with her own.
"But one life seems enough to pay for all existence."
"You would think so." She said quietly to her feet. Nanashi nodded in understanding.
"Chihiro," She tilted Chihiro's chin to face her. "If I could take his place I would. But I am not human. And the Opfer Spirit calls for a human sacrifice."
"I know." Chihiro nodded. She didn't have much to say to anyone at the moment. She knew in time she would devise a plan and would soon get herself and Kazuo out of the Spirit World.
"It's time to go. Let him sleep." Nanashi placed a hand on Chihiro's shoulder. Chihiro stood up and followed her out of the room. Nanashi walked down the hall with Chihiro who was deep in thought.
"I have a question Nanashi," Chihiro finally spoke thoughtfully.
"Yes?" Nanashi asked.
"When you took Kazuo you attacked me. But you didn't seem like yourself. Haku did almost the same thing to me years ago." Nanashi nodded.
"I apologize. It's apart of Yubabba's hold over me. She controls everything she thinks she must. I expressed some reluctance in taking Kazuo and the whole idea of luring you here so she used the contract I signed and controlled me with her magic. I really couldn't stop it." She explained. Chihiro nodded.
"Thank you Nanashi." Chihiro bowed then took off to her room. Nanashi smiled as she watched Chihiro set off. She turned around and walked towards Yubabba's office.
Yubabba paced around her office in front of Nanashi who stood tall and silent, listening to every word that came out of her mouth.
"I think I've let Chihiro know too much. She's right. She has out witted me once, although you'll never hear me admit this to anyone else Nanashi!" She exclaimed almost warningly.
"Yes." Nanashi nodded.
"I have to do something," Yubabba concluded walking around to her desk. "Chihiro needs some sort of distraction or something..." Yubabba muttered. She threw open a drawer and rummaged through it as she muttered things to herself manically. She paused and looked up at her apprentice. A sudden though had struck her.
"Nanashi, get Ronin out here as soon as you can." Yubabba's lips folded into a twisted smile. Nanashi nodded but eyed Yubabba warily as she turned around and walked to Yubabba's balcony. A great gust of wind picked up around her as she overlooked the Spirit World. The sun was rising and the sky was a brilliant mix of pink purple and black all blended into each other, with only the slightest hint of the stars peeking through the remaining night sky. In a swift graceful sweep of her hair against her back she transformed into a gleaming white winged horse. She lifted herself into the air and flew off into the rosy colored sky.
When Chihiro reached her room Lin was lying on the bed looking up at the ceiling.
"Hey." She looked up as soon as the door clicked behind Chihiro, and then she saw the somber look on Chihiro's face and frowned.
"What's wrong?" She asked. Chihiro sat down beside Lin on the bed and told her everything.
"I've heard of this Opfer Spirit. I only thought it was a myth." She shrugged. Chihiro looked at Lin skeptically.
"A myth in the Spirit World..." Chihiro muttered absently.
"I've never been here to see it rise. This year is coming up on my 12th year here." Lin explained.
"I'll ask Kamaji about it tomorrow," Chihiro said thoughtfully sliding under the blankets. "Why didn't Haku tell me this though?"
"I don't know..." Lin shrugged. "Maybe he doesn't know?"
"Hmm..." Chihiro closed her eyes and the two girls soon fell into a much- needed sleep.