Velf- thanks for the review, heehee, this chappy is more suspense, haha.

Kurenoharu- Who Chihiro is should be revealed at the ending chapters, suspense is good, lol

Micrll-thanks for the encouragement.

A/N: This chapter was again not meant to be, blame it all on my own sudden inspirations, so sorry to those who can't stand suspense, haha, well, heres the next chapter in Saving the Spirit World.

Greed and Betrayal

Feeling the sun on her face, Chihiro swatted the air in front of her face and shouted, "Mum! Get the car! I'm late!!!" Sitting up in a frenzy, Chihiro looked around her and noticed the surroundings. This place is wonderful, with Haku... but, I'm starting to miss home.

Noticing that the sun was high in the sky, Chihiro presumed that it was already late morning, and she had just overslept. Shrugging the guilt off her shoulders, she rubbed her face vigorously, attempting to get the sleep out of her eyes.

Exiting the room, she found Haku and Zeniiba seated at the table with No-face, eating their breakfast. Reaching for his third helping, No-face put the biscuit in his invisible mouth below his mask.

"Is there anymore breakfast for me?" Chihiro asked softly from the room door.

"There won't be if you don't hurry." Haku said jokingly as he turned around to look at her. Rushing to the table, Chihiro begin tucking into the remainder of food that had been left on the table.

Minutes later, they were standing at the door, waving goodbye to Zeniiba. Surprisingly, No-face went out of the door with them.

"Uh... Kaonashi? Why are you following us?" Chihiro said uncertainly.

"He's going with you." Zeniiba said from the doorway.

"Why?" Haku asked, "I doubt I can fly both of them together on my back."

"You can, and you must. He is a native of that land, long time ago, they were banished from the Spirit World, and they sought refuge in the sky, together, they grouped together and founded Avalon, City of Greed in the sky. They are known as the Kaelhidori, in English it means the greedy ones. You will need his help locating the third shrine within the city."

"But... I don't have the strength to fly both of them." Haku said squarely.

"Here's a strength pill, 2 of it, just in case you need to bring him back, that is... if he wants to, eh, No-face? You've been an excellent helper." Zeniiba said, smiling widely.

"Uh-uh-eh." No-face replied, bowing slightly.

Popping on of the pills into his mouth, Haku waited for the effects to take place before he transformed into the dragon and allowed both Chihiro and No-face to get onto him. After they were secure, Haku lifted off, surprised at his strength. However, knowing that it would not last long, he flew off quickly, asking, "So... where do we go? Kaonashi."

Pointing upwards at an angle, No-face said, "Uh... eh!" (The city is there, up in the sky behind the 3rd cloud at the edge of the sun.)

"Then theres where we go..." Haku said, his voice clearly strained from the effort of flying both Chihiro and No-face.

"Haku... if you can't take the weight of both of us, don't overstrain yourself..." Chihiro said, concerned.

"I'm... alright, we're nearly there..." Haku said as he felt his muscles in his dragon body pulling and twisting. Arriving at Avalon, he dropped on the pavement of cloud, transforming back into his own self. "Well... that was the hard part, now just lemme catch my breath..."

"I'll go take a look... uh, around." No-face said uneasily.

"Kaonashi's been acting strange... do you think anythings wrong with him?" Chihiro asked softly.

"No... I don't think so, maybe he's just excited about returning here.

"If he is... I can understand why..." Chihiro said as she stood up and caught her first glance of Avalon.

A mighty citadel emerged from the edge of the clouds and branched off into great roads with magnificent buildings all exquisitely made and filled with bright colours. Spirits walked in the streets, though hovering would be a better description.

"I don't understand why Kaonashi wanted to leave this place, its... its beautiful..." Chihiro murmured as Haku stood up after resting.

"I agree..." Haku said as he took in the sight of the city. We're here in one of the most secluded and beautiful places in the Spirit World, almost finding the key to the third gate, what could go wrong?

"Uh-eh!" came a gruff voice from a corner. Haku spun around with Chihiro to find themselves surrounded by spirits resembling Kaonashi. Chihiro jumped to Haku's side and clung to him, wondering what was happening. Placing one arm around Chihiro, Haku raised the other in disappointment, there were too many to fight.

Pointing a halberd at them, the chief leader of the patrol motioned for them to move. Slowly, Haku whispered to Chihiro, "Whatever you do, don't agitate them, they are the best soldiers and mercenaries in the whole of the Spirit World."

Nodding silently, Chihiro moved off, frightened, with Haku holding her hand tightly. As they were escorted into a carriage, they failed to notice Kaonashi hiding behind a wall, holding his mask with his hands and staring at the floor.

A/N: the natives of Avalon, which are no-faces, have a different language from Kaonashi's, and I put them talking here in English, but try to imagine them grunting and all, k? D
"Speak human and river spirit... What are you doing here in Avalon, when you should have remained in the rest of the Spirit World." The ruler of the Kaelhidori said loudly, his voice echoing throughout the throne room where the duo were standing.

"With all due respect, King Doloron, we are here, to find the third gate to the human world, and seal it shut forever." Haku said loudly and slowly, pronouncing each word clearly.

"What arrogance! The gate which we guard is a source of our strength and power, you will not be the one to seal it away!" Doloron shouted.

"If you don't, the Spirit world is doomed, as is your kingdom which you have worked to build." Haku replied.

"Continue." Doloron said coldly.

"The humans are coming, the magic of the gates is weakening as time passes as the magic is dissipated to hold the barrier for the gate. The humans are coming to this world soon."

"Then why, have you brought one into our very midst?" Doloron hissed.

"She is one who is different, she is different from those humans who kill and plunder."

"Your situation is pitiful, but if the humans come to my kingdom... we will be ready." Doloron said, before standing up and leaving the throne room.

Grabbing them roughly by the hand, 2 soldiers led them to a dungeon and locked them in, pushing in 2 trays of food and water, staring at them with its mask for a while, it left.

Sinking down, Chihiro started to cry. Haku moved over and put his arm around her shoulder, "Chi... don't cry, I'll find a way to get out..."

"I'm... I'm afraid... I'm scared Haku, I'm so useless... I can't do anything much, do you find me an extra person?" Chihiro sobbed as she looked up into his eyes.

"No. I have never thought of you as useless, and you should not too, you are special in your own way." Haku whispered as he stared down into her eyes. Kiss her now! C'mon Haku, you love her right?

Moving his face gently towards hers, Chihiro closed her eyes and waited expectantly.

"Kaonashi! You have orders to talk to them?" the guard said suspiciously.

Breaking away, Haku and Chihiro both blushed a deep crimson as he stared out of the bars, hoping to catch a glimpse of kaonashi.

"Haku... Chihiro, are you both alright? I'm so sorry that this is happening..."

"We're fine... but I understand..."

"No! you don't understand at all..." Kaonashi gripped the bars with his small hands. Surprised by his outburst, Kaonashi said, "I think it's time I told you the truth, why I was sent down to the Spirit World."

Shock on his face, Haku nodded as he called Chihiro over.

Sighing loudly, Kaonashi began, "This place, this city, Avalon, was founded when we, the Kaelhidori, were banished by Nimokushi and the rest of the gods at the Spirit world. We were greedy and were creating gold for others. We also were the best soldiers in the land, and were helping greedy spirits with their bad deeds. After a while, open war broke out, we fought, and we lost to the magic of Nimokushi. Running away, we found a way to go to the skies and we founded this city. That period of war, it was the darkest point in the Spirit World's history. It was at least 60 years ago."

"There was a war in the human world then too, it was a period where the whole world fought against each other, maybe... events in the Spirit World are linked to the human world, what we do in either side hurts or help each other..." Chihiro interrupted.

"After we built this place, Doloron swore revenge against the gods of the Spirit World, and he started preparing for another war, sending down a... a spy to assassinate the major gods of the Spirit World." Kaonashi broke off abruptly at the end to allow Haku and Chihiro to absorb what he had just said.

"That spy... that spy was you?" Chihiro asked, horrified.

"Yes... At first, my target was Yu-baba, followed by the gods who would visit the bath-house. But... I learnt that revenge is not good, thanks to you, Chihiro. It's thanks to you that Yu-baba is still alive and the rest of the Gods are still alive, and that Doloron has not launched his war."

"Why are you telling us all this?" Haku said suspiciously.

"Because... because I now know that Doloron is wrong, and we have to seal the gate and end all wars." Kaonashi replied simply.

"How can we..."

"Haku! I trust him, he's different from the rest of the Kaelhidori, he has learnt one thing they will never learn, that is love." Chihiro smiled.

His mouth opening into what was obviously a wide smile, Kaonashi held the bars and twisted hard, bending the metal instantly. Moving quickly with Haku and Chihiro behind him, he shot forward and stunned the guard before he could shout.

"Lets go!" he shouted as they ran to the wall at the side and Haku blew a hole using the magic of ice. Dashing through, they made their escape, for the moment...

Not trying to be proud or anything, but i think this is my best chapter yet, wad d'ya think? RNR!