The Chronicles of the Shiroi Ryuu
Sora: Well, I have returned for the third chapter of this story. This will probably be the last one I'll ever post early because band camp is right around the corner. Oh, I forgot to add some more dates and stuff. On Aug. 7 we have this weird band performance, and on the 9th - 12th we have summer band. During that whole session, I will only get one day as a break! Man....I guess it was fated for me to eventually break my laziness. (Sigh)
Well, here's chapter three. Hope you like it!
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter three: Lost in Darkness
"There you go. That should do it..."
"Kohaku, thank you. You're such a life saver!"
"Don't mention it."
Kohaku forced himself to get up off of his knees so that he could see the injured kawakami. It had been four mortal years since that time in which he made the promise to the little girl Chihiro, and he hasn't forgotten that memory. After that time, Hikari and Shiroi had began to teach him small healing spells that they had been using, and as if he grew up with his knowledge Kohaku began to physically change just a little bit with each spell he mastered. Now, in the course of four mortal years, he appears as a twelve-year-old.
He had been helping helpless kawakamis that have been injured due to heavy damage to their rivers. Most of the ones he had come across had been forced out of their rivers and they had to become visible to the humans in order to survive. They became injured somehow and Kohaku almost always found them. For the other unfortunate kami, their power had diminished along with their river, and they ultimately disappeared from existence. Modern industry had begun taking away homes from many kami.
Still, Kohaku kept hoping that one day this would all change for the better, that maybe one day the kami and the humans could live together in peace once again like they always had. Technology and industry were getting in the way of that dream. So he tried his hardest to help the kami who were being hurt in the process of human advancement. This particular one had been poisoned by car fluids being dumped in the river. He regularly checked up on him and stayed a few weeks to see if he was getting any better, but he wasn't. Everyday his health declined more and more....Kohaku felt too sad to even tell him.
A little while after staying with the sick Kami, he took off for home. He noticed that it was raining a bit. Flying across the cities in Japan to get to his river, Kohaku surveyed the condition of the other rivers that he passed over; they seemed fine from the looks of it. Things seemed to get worse and worse for the rivers. More and more kami were suffering. There just had to be a way to stop this madness! Maybe he could ask Hikari and Shiroi for advice.
After flying about fifty miles south, he landed right where the Kohaku, Masshiroi, and Hikari rivers always were, but instead he found lots of apartment buildings! Three different complexes to be exact. The kawakami looked around for his river or his parents river but he found nothing. He did recognize a few bushes and trees here and there, but could it be possible that he overlooked it? Taking off, he began to seach for the rivers.
The whole trip ended in vain; no matter where he looked, he couldn't find it at all! He asked a few kami here and there if they had seen his parents, but no one did. He felt somewhat lost! Finally, he decided to return to the spot where the apartments were...nothing. Nobody was in sight. He walked aimlessly around the apartment buildings to look for someone or something he knew.
"Mother! Father!! Where are you!?"
No matter how many times he shouted, his 'cries' were never heard. Each time he shouted for his parents, his voice sounded more and more desperate. Were his parents truly gone? Forever??
"Mother! Father!! Please answer!!! Please!! Please...Mom...Dad...answer..."
He put his hands down from around his mouth. His parents were missing. His family's rivers were missing. Everything had left without a trace.
And Kohaku's hope was lost.
----------------------------------------------------------
Walking slowly without any real place to go to now, Kohaku unwittingly walked onto a wet dirt trail that led to somewhere he didn't know. He figured that maybe he could find a little help going this way; he had never explored this area before. After walking a few minutes, he saw little stone houses on the ground.
"Spirit houses...."
The dirt path led him deeper and deeper into a lush, green forest that had large trees. There was a fresh clean scent in the air, and the rain made the forest seem more and more beautiful. It was a natural paradise! The lost kawakami enjoyed every moment that passed him by, looking at every single thing.
Getting tired of walking, he 'hovered' past the trees, following the dirt path. Ahead was a creepy, mossy statue that had a wicked smile on it, and an entrance to a dark, dark tunnel. He landed softly on his feet and walked up to the entrance. He almost couldn't see what was inside and he didn't want to go in until the wind 'pulled him in'. It looked like an old waiting room for the train stations the humans were always talking about. He saw an old water fountain still dripping water when he continued walking forward.
Reaching the end, he found himself back outside again. He inspected the area and saw little houses and more creepy mossy statues. Crossing the river and walking up the stairs, there were a bunch of empty resturaunts and signs. Instead of going for food however, he walked up more stairs and concentrated on finding someone that could help him. Besides, he had to get out of this rain...no matter how much he loved it.
Kohaku stopped and stared at the giant, colorful building that lay before him after reaching the top of more stairs. Recalling every detail as if he had seen it, he knew what this building was after hearing the countless stories from the other kawakami. It was the magical spiritual bathhouse! Maybe he could stay there until he could manage to find out where his parents and home was!
Running across the bridge, he found someone standing right there. He stopped himself from running that instant, and looked at the person right there. It was an old woman who appeared like a witch with a giant head. Kohaku bowed with one hand in front.
"Hello. It is nice to meet you. I am honored to be in your presence..." He said formally with his head still down. It was a little strange to be so formal at a time like this....
"I've heard about you and your troubles, and I have been expecting you. Follow me."
Kohaku stood straight up again and obeyed, slowly following the old woman. Together, they went inside the bath house, walking toward the large elevator. Kohaku stared in awe in how energetic the workers all appeared. The whole bath house had glistening, polished, wooden floors and beautiful decorations everywhere. He got a chance to look at everything on the first floor before the elevator doors closed.
"I hear that you can't find your river. Is that true?" She asked.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Let me tell you something....I have been looking for an apprentice for quite some time now. None of my workers here have proven themselves worthy, but I have been watching you. You seem to be the perfect person, the one that I need to learn all of my knowledge and skill. The way you mastered those spells those other two kawakami taught you...truly impressive. What do you say? With all of the magic that I'll teach you, you can use it to go home and live and peace once again."
"And what about my parents??" He asked quietly.
"With all the magic you'd learn from me, there is no limit to what you can do." The old woman hid a small, wicked smirk.
"Ok...I'll do it. I'll be happy to be your apprentice."
"Good."
The elevator stopped at the top floor. Quickly, they both left to enter the room so that other people could get on the elevator. The old woman pushed open a door with, and they both flew through the semi-maze leading to her main chamber. She opened the door and let Kohaku walk in first.
"T-thank you...ma'am."
"Call me Yu-baaba."
(A/n: I'm not sure how to spell that name! Forgive me if it is spelled wrong!)
"Okay, Yu-baaba-san."
Yu-baaba made it to her desk and she sat down. A peice of paper and a pen floated to Kohaku and he slowly grabbed them.
"Just sign your name there. Read the contract carefully."
Kohaku skimmed through the reading. He didn't like any of what he read, but he figured he had no choice in the matter. Quickly, he signed his name on the bottom of the contract and the pen and paper flew back to her. She looked at it with an evil grin on her face.
"Nigihayami Kohakunushi, eh? What a beautiful name for a handsome little boy as yourself...too bad it's mine now."
Kohaku gasped as he heard this. What did she mean by 'it was hers'? He watched as her hand went over the paper, and the neatly written kanji characters of his name being pulled into it. All but one...the kanji character meaning Haku.
"Your name is Haku now. And since you are my apprentice, you shall do everything I tell you whenever I tell you to, and if you don't you shall be severely punished. And just in case you ever decide to disobey me when my back is turned..."
She pulled out a golden box from her drawer and opened it. She pulled out a tiny little slug walked over to Kohaku's direction. He began to walk backwards to get away from her, accidentally tripping on chairs sometimes. He could only look up at her, unable to move suddenly from her magic.
"...I will insert this slug inside of you. Try to remove it and you will be cursed to the point that you can't move, and I'll just insert another one and break the curse of the last one!"
Even though Kohaku tried to get away, her magic was too strong for him. He couldn't move. He could only watch and subject to her evil plans. There was a sharp yell that could be heard throughout the bathhouse, and followed by that was a silence.
A dead silence.
--------------------------------------------------------
Sora: That's the end of chapter three. (Yawn) I should get some sleep. It's one in the morning...it's rare that I stay up this late at night. I guess it would pay off in the end somehow. Oh yeah...I forgot to thank Mircll, the person who reviewed me the day before yesterday! Thank you!! Also thanks goes to the people that even read this story. I guess wouldn't be the same without the people being there to read the stories. I don't know when chapter four will be posted. I usually take small breaks between chapters amd then I start on them again, but on Sunday I'll be moving to another house and we won't have the internet for a while. I doesn't mean I'll stop typing!
Here's the dictionary for this chapter. I'm only posting up the new ones this time. I'm sure you know the others by now.
(insert name here)-san: Mr./Ms./Miss./Mrs. (insert name here)...please note that it is also used for your enemies.
Yu-baaba (if that is how you spell it): Translates to 'bath crone'.
Haku: Translates to 'white'...but I guess that is in loose Japanese or something because that definition of 'Haku' was not in any of my JP dictionaries...But if that is the meaning, then that is the meaning I suppose.
(insert name here)-chan: I forgot this in the last chaper. In my dictionary, it said it was a term of showing recognition between children, and it is often used for children since they are not old enough to be called 'san'. However, I have heard that it is a term of affection, used from boy to girl, or from girl to girl. I use it both ways.
Well, that's all I have to say for now. I going to go to bed now...(Yawn) Please, don't forget to review, okay?
Ja, mata ne!
Sora: Well, I have returned for the third chapter of this story. This will probably be the last one I'll ever post early because band camp is right around the corner. Oh, I forgot to add some more dates and stuff. On Aug. 7 we have this weird band performance, and on the 9th - 12th we have summer band. During that whole session, I will only get one day as a break! Man....I guess it was fated for me to eventually break my laziness. (Sigh)
Well, here's chapter three. Hope you like it!
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter three: Lost in Darkness
"There you go. That should do it..."
"Kohaku, thank you. You're such a life saver!"
"Don't mention it."
Kohaku forced himself to get up off of his knees so that he could see the injured kawakami. It had been four mortal years since that time in which he made the promise to the little girl Chihiro, and he hasn't forgotten that memory. After that time, Hikari and Shiroi had began to teach him small healing spells that they had been using, and as if he grew up with his knowledge Kohaku began to physically change just a little bit with each spell he mastered. Now, in the course of four mortal years, he appears as a twelve-year-old.
He had been helping helpless kawakamis that have been injured due to heavy damage to their rivers. Most of the ones he had come across had been forced out of their rivers and they had to become visible to the humans in order to survive. They became injured somehow and Kohaku almost always found them. For the other unfortunate kami, their power had diminished along with their river, and they ultimately disappeared from existence. Modern industry had begun taking away homes from many kami.
Still, Kohaku kept hoping that one day this would all change for the better, that maybe one day the kami and the humans could live together in peace once again like they always had. Technology and industry were getting in the way of that dream. So he tried his hardest to help the kami who were being hurt in the process of human advancement. This particular one had been poisoned by car fluids being dumped in the river. He regularly checked up on him and stayed a few weeks to see if he was getting any better, but he wasn't. Everyday his health declined more and more....Kohaku felt too sad to even tell him.
A little while after staying with the sick Kami, he took off for home. He noticed that it was raining a bit. Flying across the cities in Japan to get to his river, Kohaku surveyed the condition of the other rivers that he passed over; they seemed fine from the looks of it. Things seemed to get worse and worse for the rivers. More and more kami were suffering. There just had to be a way to stop this madness! Maybe he could ask Hikari and Shiroi for advice.
After flying about fifty miles south, he landed right where the Kohaku, Masshiroi, and Hikari rivers always were, but instead he found lots of apartment buildings! Three different complexes to be exact. The kawakami looked around for his river or his parents river but he found nothing. He did recognize a few bushes and trees here and there, but could it be possible that he overlooked it? Taking off, he began to seach for the rivers.
The whole trip ended in vain; no matter where he looked, he couldn't find it at all! He asked a few kami here and there if they had seen his parents, but no one did. He felt somewhat lost! Finally, he decided to return to the spot where the apartments were...nothing. Nobody was in sight. He walked aimlessly around the apartment buildings to look for someone or something he knew.
"Mother! Father!! Where are you!?"
No matter how many times he shouted, his 'cries' were never heard. Each time he shouted for his parents, his voice sounded more and more desperate. Were his parents truly gone? Forever??
"Mother! Father!! Please answer!!! Please!! Please...Mom...Dad...answer..."
He put his hands down from around his mouth. His parents were missing. His family's rivers were missing. Everything had left without a trace.
And Kohaku's hope was lost.
----------------------------------------------------------
Walking slowly without any real place to go to now, Kohaku unwittingly walked onto a wet dirt trail that led to somewhere he didn't know. He figured that maybe he could find a little help going this way; he had never explored this area before. After walking a few minutes, he saw little stone houses on the ground.
"Spirit houses...."
The dirt path led him deeper and deeper into a lush, green forest that had large trees. There was a fresh clean scent in the air, and the rain made the forest seem more and more beautiful. It was a natural paradise! The lost kawakami enjoyed every moment that passed him by, looking at every single thing.
Getting tired of walking, he 'hovered' past the trees, following the dirt path. Ahead was a creepy, mossy statue that had a wicked smile on it, and an entrance to a dark, dark tunnel. He landed softly on his feet and walked up to the entrance. He almost couldn't see what was inside and he didn't want to go in until the wind 'pulled him in'. It looked like an old waiting room for the train stations the humans were always talking about. He saw an old water fountain still dripping water when he continued walking forward.
Reaching the end, he found himself back outside again. He inspected the area and saw little houses and more creepy mossy statues. Crossing the river and walking up the stairs, there were a bunch of empty resturaunts and signs. Instead of going for food however, he walked up more stairs and concentrated on finding someone that could help him. Besides, he had to get out of this rain...no matter how much he loved it.
Kohaku stopped and stared at the giant, colorful building that lay before him after reaching the top of more stairs. Recalling every detail as if he had seen it, he knew what this building was after hearing the countless stories from the other kawakami. It was the magical spiritual bathhouse! Maybe he could stay there until he could manage to find out where his parents and home was!
Running across the bridge, he found someone standing right there. He stopped himself from running that instant, and looked at the person right there. It was an old woman who appeared like a witch with a giant head. Kohaku bowed with one hand in front.
"Hello. It is nice to meet you. I am honored to be in your presence..." He said formally with his head still down. It was a little strange to be so formal at a time like this....
"I've heard about you and your troubles, and I have been expecting you. Follow me."
Kohaku stood straight up again and obeyed, slowly following the old woman. Together, they went inside the bath house, walking toward the large elevator. Kohaku stared in awe in how energetic the workers all appeared. The whole bath house had glistening, polished, wooden floors and beautiful decorations everywhere. He got a chance to look at everything on the first floor before the elevator doors closed.
"I hear that you can't find your river. Is that true?" She asked.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Let me tell you something....I have been looking for an apprentice for quite some time now. None of my workers here have proven themselves worthy, but I have been watching you. You seem to be the perfect person, the one that I need to learn all of my knowledge and skill. The way you mastered those spells those other two kawakami taught you...truly impressive. What do you say? With all of the magic that I'll teach you, you can use it to go home and live and peace once again."
"And what about my parents??" He asked quietly.
"With all the magic you'd learn from me, there is no limit to what you can do." The old woman hid a small, wicked smirk.
"Ok...I'll do it. I'll be happy to be your apprentice."
"Good."
The elevator stopped at the top floor. Quickly, they both left to enter the room so that other people could get on the elevator. The old woman pushed open a door with, and they both flew through the semi-maze leading to her main chamber. She opened the door and let Kohaku walk in first.
"T-thank you...ma'am."
"Call me Yu-baaba."
(A/n: I'm not sure how to spell that name! Forgive me if it is spelled wrong!)
"Okay, Yu-baaba-san."
Yu-baaba made it to her desk and she sat down. A peice of paper and a pen floated to Kohaku and he slowly grabbed them.
"Just sign your name there. Read the contract carefully."
Kohaku skimmed through the reading. He didn't like any of what he read, but he figured he had no choice in the matter. Quickly, he signed his name on the bottom of the contract and the pen and paper flew back to her. She looked at it with an evil grin on her face.
"Nigihayami Kohakunushi, eh? What a beautiful name for a handsome little boy as yourself...too bad it's mine now."
Kohaku gasped as he heard this. What did she mean by 'it was hers'? He watched as her hand went over the paper, and the neatly written kanji characters of his name being pulled into it. All but one...the kanji character meaning Haku.
"Your name is Haku now. And since you are my apprentice, you shall do everything I tell you whenever I tell you to, and if you don't you shall be severely punished. And just in case you ever decide to disobey me when my back is turned..."
She pulled out a golden box from her drawer and opened it. She pulled out a tiny little slug walked over to Kohaku's direction. He began to walk backwards to get away from her, accidentally tripping on chairs sometimes. He could only look up at her, unable to move suddenly from her magic.
"...I will insert this slug inside of you. Try to remove it and you will be cursed to the point that you can't move, and I'll just insert another one and break the curse of the last one!"
Even though Kohaku tried to get away, her magic was too strong for him. He couldn't move. He could only watch and subject to her evil plans. There was a sharp yell that could be heard throughout the bathhouse, and followed by that was a silence.
A dead silence.
--------------------------------------------------------
Sora: That's the end of chapter three. (Yawn) I should get some sleep. It's one in the morning...it's rare that I stay up this late at night. I guess it would pay off in the end somehow. Oh yeah...I forgot to thank Mircll, the person who reviewed me the day before yesterday! Thank you!! Also thanks goes to the people that even read this story. I guess wouldn't be the same without the people being there to read the stories. I don't know when chapter four will be posted. I usually take small breaks between chapters amd then I start on them again, but on Sunday I'll be moving to another house and we won't have the internet for a while. I doesn't mean I'll stop typing!
Here's the dictionary for this chapter. I'm only posting up the new ones this time. I'm sure you know the others by now.
(insert name here)-san: Mr./Ms./Miss./Mrs. (insert name here)...please note that it is also used for your enemies.
Yu-baaba (if that is how you spell it): Translates to 'bath crone'.
Haku: Translates to 'white'...but I guess that is in loose Japanese or something because that definition of 'Haku' was not in any of my JP dictionaries...But if that is the meaning, then that is the meaning I suppose.
(insert name here)-chan: I forgot this in the last chaper. In my dictionary, it said it was a term of showing recognition between children, and it is often used for children since they are not old enough to be called 'san'. However, I have heard that it is a term of affection, used from boy to girl, or from girl to girl. I use it both ways.
Well, that's all I have to say for now. I going to go to bed now...(Yawn) Please, don't forget to review, okay?
Ja, mata ne!