Disclaimer – As long as that big "D" word is here…I'm fine, rite?? '' See last chappie for disclaimer pls!

Note – As in my other Spirited Away fic, the characters' thoughts are done in BOLD…the "haunting voice from the space of non-existence" is gunna be in italics for as long as they decide to actually upload for me(")…hopefully, you'll enjoy this newest pop of idea in my head!

Across Time and Worlds / Within the Shadows

"It was never meant to be…" a haunting voice whispered from the darkness, its heavy voice echoing in that nameless space between the two worlds. "It was never meant to be…and thus it must not be allowed…not anymore…"

From within the depths of the shadows a single figure could be seen, sitting on his lonely throne cloaked in a robe of darkness. With one hand he held the Staff of Time, the clock-like structure adorning it ticking rhythmically, echoing in that surreal place.

With his other hand he removed the hood of his cloak, revealing his features to the empty darkness—the face of a young man who looked no more than one of eighteen human years. The shadow spirit's eyes hid beneath his longish bangs, his hair as dark as the shadows that consumed his heart. His eyes were completely unreadable; his face completely devoid of emotion.

Suddenly, his eyes glowed a blood red as he called upon his powers. The great staff in his hand once again blazed out, the rhythmical ticking speeding up as the light faded slowly. Before him, a pool of shifting shadows began to appear, its glass-like surface revealing blue skies and white clouds the color of untainted snow. The scene within the pool began to shift, reveal trees, flowers, slides and humans. The shadow spirit's eyes flashed in impatience and annoyance at the sight of the innocent playing children.

Where…

The view of the shadow pool shifted quickly, revealing the people and places of Chihiro's adequately-sized town. At last, the high school building where Chihiro currently was came into view. A pink aura, accompanied by a silver glow of magic, could be seen emitting from the school, unseen and unknown to the humans residing in the town. The combined brilliance of the light emitted by the two magics made the shadow spirit close his eyes to shield them from the unaccustomed light. A soft hiss escaped from his lips as his eyes snapped shut on their own. He forced them opened once again, his pupils retreating from the intruding light.

I've found you.

His lips curled into a cold smirk as he looked at Chihiro from within his shadowy confines. Watching her smiling face as she chatted with her friends over their bentos, he noted that one would not be able to tell this girl's memories were slowly fleeing her. Satisfied that his servant had done a sufficient job, he sat back and relaxed in his throne, watching her. His eyes were once again emotionless as he gazed at her, his entire person unfeeling of the situation. However, his mind was working quickly, thinking of everything and nothing at once as he gazed at her face.

It wasn't that he wished particularly to bring her pain and suffering, nor was it that he hated her personally. However, he was the Gatekeeper—the one who was supposed to guard the Border of Time separating the world of humans and the world of spirits. To allow a trespasser go freely after seeing the Majou no Sekai was not acceptable; to allow a trespasser go with their memories intact was never even considered to be a possibility.

To allow a trespasser to treasure feelings for a spirit—to allow a trespasser capture the heart of a fellow spirit—to allow a trespasser to distort their world with their emotional influence…

It is completely unacceptable.

And he would have to put a stop to it.

His eyes lit up in unholy light as his smirk turned into a sneer. He would fulfill his duties—he would get rid of this little human girl's distortion to their world.

And he would fulfill his duties at whatever consequence—even at her destruction.

"Ne, Chihiro-chan?" Shinobo Yumi said as she poked her friend lightly in the ribs, "Chihiro-chan"

Startled out of her muddled thoughts, Chihiro jumped at the tickling sensation at her ribs, bumping her knees on her desk in the process.

"Ow…" She muttered under her breath. Turning to glare at her friend, she realized that Yumi wore a quizzical expression on her usually carefree face. Worried at what could possibly be puzzling her friend, Chihiro's eyebrows knit together in concern, turning her playful glare into a look of concern. "Yumi-chan? What's wrong?"

Tilting her head to one side but still wearing that quizzical expression, Yumi smiled at her friend.

"Oh no, I'm all right." She said smilingly, correctly interpretation Chihiro's worried face. "It's just that—you've been so quiet lately, and just now you completely zoned out. You don't realize it, do you?" she asked softly. When the girl failed to answer her, she went on, her worried sapphire eyes not leaving her friend's face. "Since the last week or so…you'd just be sitting there sometimes, staring into open space. It's as if you…you're lost, or something. Like you're trying to remember something that you forgot, but you don't even realize you're doing it. Are you all right, Chihiro? Is there something you're not telling me? Please…you know that no mat—"

Sensing the genuine concern in her friend's voice, Chihiro couldn't help but smile warmly at the other girl as she sat up again, shaking her head.

"Gomen nasai ne, for worrying you, Yumi-chan," Chihiro began, her eyes bright as she spoke. "Demo ne…there's nothing wrong with me. It's just that…lately I've been feeling so tired all the time. I think that's why I've been 'spacing out', as you would so charmingly put it. I probably just need to catch some more shut-eye, and I'll be okay again. And…" Turning so that she was completely facing her friend, who sat next to her in class, Chihiro continued, her voice serious. "I know that you're always here for me…so please, don't worry about me—if anything does go wrong, I'd let you know, for sure. So now would you stop looking so worried? You're making meworried for you too!"

Seeing that Chihiro meant what she was saying, Yumi finally smiled with relief and nodded, believing her. The two girls turned back around to face the front as their sensei entered and class began again. However, a slight frown made itself visible on Chihiro's face as the lesson began. What her friend said to her worried her, in ways that she could not begin to tell anyone else.

What she told Yumi wasn't a lie: she has been feeling more tired than usual lately. However, it wasn't because of a lack of sleep like she had suggested. Even though she herself doesn't know the cause of her tiredness, she knew…somehow…that it has nothing to do with her physically—but rather, it was connected somehow to her mind.

The constant headaches…the times when I catch myself staring into empty air…the times I find myself trying to recall something that I don't have any memories of…or the times when I find myself trying to remember something…when I don't even know what I'm trying to remember. They must all be connected…somehow. My memories…

My memories must be the cause for all these.

But…

Just…what memories?

Unnoticed by the girl, the young man with the softly spiked, snow-white colored hair sitting on her other side was smiling at her disorientated expression—a quiet, cold smile.

Everything…is working according to plans.

It's only a matter of time now, Master, before this girl completely forgets about the Majou no Sekai…about everything…

Perhaps even about herself.

The shadows which had crept in on his heart at the mountains began to consume his heart once again. The very shadows which he served under.

The very shadows which had captured and enslaved him.

::wide grin:: Wow…anther chappie!! ::blushes:: Demo ne…hahha…::nervous laughter:: Looks like I've played "disappear" on you guys for a bit eh?? Heh… " Gomen nasai!! School got in the way, ya know?? ::wimpering at disappearing readers:: Guys?? Still here??

::sighs:: Hopefully, SOME of you are still here! Hahaha…again, I'm so sorry! But it couldn't be helped, you know?? Now that summer is here (even though I still have the summer term to take! Aiyou…beware of first year university…! Kekeke…) I'll try to update as quickly as possible, I promise! No guarantees when, but as often as I can, alritez?? Hehe…but….what did you think? Did some of my rust wear off from not writing for so long yet, or do I still need LOTZ more polishing…??? "

::squint:: I tried to add some Jap vocab in this ficcy to make it more Japanese-ish, remember? Well…apparently that hadn't been working so well for the last two chappies, since I'm getting lazy… oO Hehhee…but I did put some in this one…although I think everyone knows them. I'll still explain thou, just in case. Gomen nasai (wow…where have we heard that one before eh? sarcasm) means "I'm sorry"…gomen ne would mean the same thing, just less formal. Demo ne means "but"...really, only "demo" means but…the "ne" just kinda adds to it… ::scratches head:: Kinda hard to explain…but you know what I'm trying to say?? Hehehe…anyhow…that was it, I think. Pretty pathetic…but I think I'll just be using what I've used in this chappie and whatever else I've already used from now on…I wanna spend more time trying to develop the plot rather than finding out how you "spell" the Jap word correctly so I can put it in here…hopefully you guys won't mind!

Anywayzzz…as yawns me tired now, so probably am not making much sense. But hopefully you've enjoyed this chappie!

As usual, crits and comments are most welcomed, so please fire away!!

Aqua Sunshine XD