Author's Note: yay! to everyone who has asked for longer chapters, here's the first of my attempts at long chapters (it's almost 1000 words long! O.o) ! Hope you like! pretend rice cakes to cha cha, Mokana-chan , Draechaeli and Trinity-Neo1818 (feel better! After every storm is a clear sky =] ) for your kind reviews!
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Chapter 7
"Master Zhihui, I have finished learning the seven manuscripts." Haku held a pile of worn books to his teacher.
"All right then. What is the most effective way to channel magic?" Zhihui looked sternly at his student. Over the past three years, Haku had shown amazing skill and aptitude. He has mastered the basic concepts of magic removal and absorption in a mere year – a time half that Beiju had taken.
"The most effective way to channel magic is through contact. Both physical and mental will suffice. Physical is most effective when both sides are open to the transfer of magic. Mental is most effective when there is eye contact or spirit contact. In the case where the other side is unwilling to transfer the magic, the transfer is still possible if the other is greatly weakened." Haku stopped and looked at his teacher uncertainly.
The spirit of the Zhihui river smiled fondly. "I believe you are finally ready to gather the magic you need. There will be five separate missions you have to go on. All will be difficult. You need…" Zhihui stopped at the look of continued hesitancy on his student's face. "What is the matter Kohaku?"
Haku smiled apologetically. "It's just… I still don't see how I could be able to reach Chihiro without the card…" Haku dropped off, not wanting to seem as if he didn't trust his teacher's words three years ago.
Zhihui sighed. "That, Kohaku, is something that you will learn in time."
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Haku gritted his teeth in pain as the lava burned through his clothes and left burnt skin in its wake. He fly out of the volcano and landed near the bottom of the volcano. The lava spirit followed after and the earth trembled dangerously as he landed heavily. Haku waved his hand and generated a whip of water. In one skillful flick, Haku wrapped the whip around the lava spirit. A cloud of steam was generated on contact, blocking both their views. Seizing the opportunity, Haku sent a jet of water towards the lava spirit. As the steam cleared, Haku was surprised to see that the lava spirit was gone. Before he could jump out of the way, a wave of heat seared his back and Haku collapsed from the sudden pain that pierced through his body. The lava spirit laughed triumphantly as he stood over Haku and his searing breath sizzled every last inch of Haku's body. Filled with agony, Haku watched as blood seeped through the burnt skin. With the last of his strength, he generated another jet of water high into the sky. Droplets of water fell all around him. Haku saw the flames on the lava spirit go out before he blacked out from the pain. Around him, blinding blue-white light started to glow from the droplets of blood gathering on his charred skin. The light turned into a soft mist as it surrounded Haku and his broken skin began to heal. The lava spirit started to run but the mist seemed to become viscous and his movement became slow, strained.
Haku's eyes opened slowly and he looked around him. Everywhere, there was a fine mist. Haku pushed himself up, walked tentatively up to the lava spirit and touched his hand to the spirit's forehead. The mist around them began to shine brighter and brighter as Haku drained the magic from the lava spirit. The lava spirit collapsed to the ground as his magic transferred to Haku.
"Who are you?" Fear inched every line of the lava spirit's face as he stood tentatively up and took a staggering step back from Haku.
Haku held out his hand. "I am the spirit of the Kohaku river. I am deeply sorry for taking your magic without your permission but you attacked me as soon as you saw me and I had no choice but to defend myself." Haku bowed deeply.
The lava spirit blinked, shocked. "You took my magic??"
Haku stammered as he tried to explain to the lava spirit. "No. No sir. Your magic is something I can never take away. What I did was, I guess you can say I copied your magic. Although you feel weak right now, your magic will come back within a day or two." Haku broke off. "At least, that's what I read will happen…"
Suddenly, the lava spirit burst into hearty laughter. "You channeled my magic? Why, the last time someone did that was…" He frowned slightly as he tried to remember the name. "Ah yes! It was Beiju. Such an odd kid."
It was Haku's turn to be surprised. "You know Beiju?"
The lava spirit shook his head in amusement. "Of course I know Beiju! For a whole year, he came within five hundred feet of my volcano every day and laid down a gift and then left! I was beginning to wonder when the kid will stop when, one day, he finally came right up to my volcano. Before I could greet him however, he did something funny. And when I woke up, there was a letter explaining to me what he had done. Funny kid. If he had stayed, I could have helped him out. Whatever happened to him do you know?"
Haku bowed his head. "Beiju's gone."
The lava spirit looked at Haku but decided not to ask. "So kid, what do you want so much magic for?"
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A/N: hope u liked! the next chapter is longer :) review plz!
