Disclaimer: I don't own Spirited Away or any of its characters.
Author Note: I am sorry that it took awhile for me to post. I was away for a week in a place without computers (a working camp). I also have a presentation due in two weeks so I won't get to much writing done for any of my stories. So here it is the next chapter I hope you like it, tell me what you think. Happy Reading!
Na
Chapter 6: For the Little Ones
The sorcerer was very pleased with himself and his master creation. As promised he returned for Hiyae early that morning as if to eat his soul. Hiyae once again not looking afraid of his own death and the consumption of his soul, offered a partnership.
The sorcerer who surprisingly agreed, but only when Hiyae swore allegiance on that, that was most unholy, dark, and evil, a slang term for this object is 'The Nipping Skull'. A skull of the most unlikely traitor, a holy man of some religion that in the face of death coward to the devil, saying such simple words as, 'I want to be on the prevailing side.' This person was killed in the end... killed as evil, the past forgotten. The skull of this man is hardly clean it is a dark brown color of hundreds, thousands of years of dried blood. To swear on this skull you must place a hand on it and then it will nip you, take a piece of your flesh as well as your soul binding you to the owner of the skull.
Bat monsters, in general are born with three fingers on each hand, six in all. But after this promise, this binding Hiyae was a five fingered beast. Hiyae had no time to scream in pain because the second the skull was finished the sorcerer had thrust the Soul Blade with great force into Hiyae and drawing out his soul.
With careful work and hours of quiet the sorcerer resurrected his old master with Hiyae's soul. A weak almost powerless soul that was a willing or not (more willing) expendable slave.
The sorcerer left his creation at an old unused house in Swamp Bottom and told it, 'Kill Zeniiba, Kill Haku, Kill Sen, Kill their Brat! I don't care just destroy Aburaya!' The sorcerer was sure that the beast would fail, since it was only left with minimal magick, enough to be convincing.
The sorcerer knew that the revived mind of his old master (or his new string puppet), and the intertwining soul of his slave Hiyae would plan their attack out and at the most take a week. But now that he had no more souls to eat, and that his puppet(old master) would no longer stop by to complain. The sorcerer had time to hunt. Shadow spirits came to mind but shadows where one on the very few that he could not ultimately extinguish, but he could take a few hundred of the Shadow spirit's, shadow warriors. At the time it didn't matter where his next great meal source came from, for he had a few days until the power, strength, and fullness of his string puppets soul left his stomach grumbling.
----------
Miki slunk over to the sliding door dragging a dirty water bucket as Ryu went and got breakfast. Though both were officially not under a contract at Aburaya, they were now tending their own tub. One of the smaller easier jobs, Ant spirits and what not, although they were kept under watchful eye, any of those who's eyes could be spared, normally Kaonashi.
Zeniiba's reasoning for this was, three or four people at one tub was really to much. As well as after the first few days of helping Miki got into the routine, and both children were strangely responsible enough.
As much as Miki's near week of work looked like Child Labor it wasn't. He wasn't getting paid, yes. But the children were given the choice to work or not each day, and although they acted mature and responsible at heart it was all a big game.
Miki poured out the water out and then quickly walked down to the tub that the two had that day, as usual he got to the stall and both Kaonashi and Ryu were there eating breakfast, a third bowl of rice waiting for him.
Not to long after Miki began his breakfast, an Yuna and Kohaku came in to the stall. The Yuna was obviously not happy at all she was grumbling as she picked up a broom and started to sweep the floor. Ryu looked suspiciously at her father who just smiled and ruffled Ryu's pig tails.
"You two are coming with me, I happen to be the fastest person in going to Swamp Bottom and back. Kamajii needs some herbs that only grow in the swamp," said Kohaku with a smile he knew how much his daughter enjoyed flying with him.
Without a second thought Ryu dropped her near empty bowl and went dashing off down the corridor towards the boiler room. Miki rushed off after Ryu but he had already lost sight of her and wasn't sure exactly how to get to the boiler room. So he slowed his pace and waited for Kohaku.
When Kohaku and Miki made it down to the boiler room, Ryu was sitting on the ground her feet dangling over the edge of the raised section before it is lowered for the Susuwatari. Ryu was attentively watching the Susuwatari and Kamajii work.
Kamajii glanced over his shoulder to see his new comers, "What no breakfast?" Kamajii said as a good hearty joke.
"Chihiro brought you your meal already, and how many times must she tell you to leave the dishes out for her? Now what herbs do you need?" asked Kohaku returning Kamajii's odd greeting.
"Sorrow's Bells, Bleeding Sorrow's Bells, and Bog Bain," replied Kamajii still turning the crank and grinding herbs for bath mixtures. A red and black token dropped from the ceiling and Kamajii grumbled.
(A/N: Herbs are made up, or special Spirit World herbs either way They don't exist here. And if the names do the plant doesn't.)
Kohaku being no herbiest hadn't any idea exactly what he was to be looking for. With a shy ashamed cough Kohaku asked, "What are those exactly?" Kamajii let out a big sigh and rolled his eyes.
"Dad they are the same three that we always get at Swamp Bottom," exclaimed Ryu.
"Well why didn't you just say that?" asked Kohaku laughing a little, half at himself.
"Now remember When the Sorrow's Bells flower is purple, it is poisonous and useless to me and dangerous, the blue blooms are the matured flowers that I need and the Bleeding Sorrow's Bells are when the bloom is over matured and is red," replied Kamajii.
A little uncertain Kohaku replied, "Don't worry I'm 26 years old I can figure it out, I always do don't I?"
"Yeah just no Purple flowers! They are impossible to get rid of without endangering anyone!" replied Kamajii.
"Ok, well come on you two we best be off," replied Kohaku shooing the children towards the back door that lead to the steep set of stairs.
Outside Kohaku changed into a dragon on the rather small platform just outside the boiler room door. Ryu and Miki climbed on Kohaku's back and he flew off into the sky. It wasn't that Kohaku was getting more responsible, he still jumped out of high windows with Chihiro before turning into a dragon. But he was a father, and a father of an energetic girl and he did not dare to free fall with her.
----------
The evil creation of the sorcerer sat in a low lighted kitchen that used to belong to Zeniiba. The main source of light being a roaring fire that cracked with little bits of ember flying out every few minutes or so.
The monster let out an low evil laugh as his plan was finally formulated. He would attack the next day at noon. Sneaking into Aburaya and killing Zeniiba, Bou, Kohaku, Chihiro, Ryu, and Miki well before the unknowing workers woke up and when that happened he would kill the cowering slugs and frogs, while they begged for their saviors, unless of course they saw the mutilated bodies, blood stained floors, and heads mounted on sticks for all to see. Then the monster would watch as the hope slipped from the Yuna and Aogaeru, then he would kill them.
The monster laughed again, as he set aside those evil plains and moved on to a way that he could steal the Nipping Skull from the sorcerer, and he himself could rule the Spirit World.
Unknowing to the monster, the sorcerer had anticipated this, because it was exactly what he would have done. So the sorcerer was taking extra precautions to make sure that Kohaku and Chihiro would prevail over the monster, because it was the plain from the very beginning, and like he had said, "I don't have allies."
The monster's sinister laughing was cut short when the magick from the force field surrounding the house let him know that something was approaching.
----------
Kohaku looked ahead and saw the small clearing in which Zeniiba's old house resided. The house looked the same as always except a few minor differences; the windows were only light by a dim light and not Zeniiba's bright warm welcoming light, and there was a fire going, just like Zeniiba would have had. The obvious thing troubling Kohaku was that Zeniiba no longer lived there, and to Kohaku's knowledge no one else did.
"Who's at Granny's dad?" asked Ryu, when she saw the smoke coming from chimney.
Kohaku obviously didn't answer no longer having the tongue of a human, but he was as curious as his daughter and quickly descended, landing not to far from the house in question.
As quickly as Kohaku landed on the ground was as quick as the children retreated from his back. Kohaku slowly approached the house unchanged and then a second thought that it was only a poor homeless man trickled into Kohaku's thoughts. As Kohaku walked he changed to his less ferocious human like form. Though he did remain slightly scaly looking prepared to change either way at a seconds notice.
Kohaku slowly edged himself towards the house, while Ryu and Miki stood a bit back and watched both worried and scared about not knowing what would happen next.
Kohaku's outstretched hand touched something rather warm and painful , with a small bounce to is. Red ripples appeared out of now where under the pressure of Kohaku's burning hand. Kohaku pulled his hand back it was almost burned from the energy from the force field. Kohaku turned astonished to the children, "We're going home now!"
With that Kohaku walked back quickly to Ryu and Miki, changing as he went. Ryu and Miki climbed on Kohaku's back, and they sped off into the sky.
----------
The sorcerer stabbed a small Wish Sprit in the stomach with his Soul Blade, a pure white soul seeped out and floated in the air. The sorcerer had taken a day or two to exactly chose the next race to endanger and make extinct. He had decided on the Wish Sprits because they cut themselves off from the rest of the world afraid of granting wishes that were not of pure love and more to ruthful lust, and pointless passion. The Wish Sprits would prove to be a great magickal asset and would go unnoticed of their sudden disappearance. Though they did take up rather a lot of energy to catch. The sorcerer felt that he was rather in luck and only one maybe two escaped and flew off, most likely to warn another Wish Spirit settlement. Assuming they lived long enough with the wounds the sorcerer had inflicted on every last one.
The sorcerer struggled with the soul like tuff meat or staling bread. Because the soul was a good and pure soul something a bit tougher for his evil body to digest. Between bites the sorcerer laughed all was going to plan, well the children returning was never in the plan, but it was being taken care of as he chewed. Or at least the sorcerer hoped that the beast he created would move to destroy Aburaya soon.
----------
The monster paced in the kitchen of the small cottage. His plans were being pushed back a day if he attacked the next day they could be ready for him. That and he wanted to see if they would strike first. That would have put him on the defensive, but the over confident beast believed that they would still die.
----------
A dying Wish Sprit, known none other as Gingko, plummeted to the ground she had flown as far as Kniknichmai in her desperate hope to make it to Aburaya, to call on old friends to once more save her life and her people from the thought enslavement.
In a last breath before Gingko lost consciousness she cast a wish of love for her people and the future of all, to the wind hoping against hope that it would be granted, "I wish someone could stop him before he takes another life." With these words Gingko's eyes rolled back in her head and her breathing became shallow as she laid unconscious on the ground.
----------
Miki was sitting cross legged on his sleeping pallet, Ryu was on the bed complaining that she wasn't allowed to talk to Zeniiba with her parents about whatever was at the cottage in Swamp Bottom and their plains to deal with the situation. Zeniiba was already being worn thin at trying to remove the force field and change the pigs back to humans. The pig count was now five, Miki's parents, a couple teenage boys who were trying to prove their worth with vandalisms, and an old homeless lady. The last three ignoring the sign and some how making it across the magick induced water that would have the capability the drown even Ryu. This knowledge only being known after seven Aogaeru lost their lives to the blue watery depths.
Miki tried to calm Ryu and get her mind off the pending evil that threatened to lock them here in this world and make them eat humans(pigs) for dinner. "So how is it possible for your father to be a river spirit and your mother human?" asked Miki, this particular question had been nagging him for the past few days, and he just had the piece of mind or nervousness to hold his tongue before than.
Ryu calmed down in a second and an ear to ear grin replaced the frown on her face. She was a miracle, she knew, but wasn't it just enough to everyone that she was alive?, "Well it depends on who you speak to. Kamajii and Arikii both say that it was love that my parents share, and when love is involved anything is possible. Zeniiba will tell you a story about dragons being granted one wish and my father's wish was to have a family with my mom. I even heard about old mythology where gods and humans had children and they were Demigods, so if those cultures believed in Gods and humans together why not Spirits and humans? A few people say that a new evil will come and my parents wont be able to defeat it, that only their joint force can, which is their explanation for why I am here. I just say that I'm here, don't think of why, just think of how long and what to do in the time that I grace this and the other world. Because one day I'll die and then I'll be a memory, a story, and then a myth... People who read about me, hear about me when I am a myth will except I existed with out question, because they'll believe I'm a story nothing more. We are all stories in the end and I don't want mine to be centered around the possibilities of my existence, because as you can see I do exist and if it is enough for me, shouldn't it be enough for you and the rest of the worlds?"
"Yeah I guess so. I don't want to die..." replied Miki looking down at his blanket.
"Me neither, why don't we make a deal," replied Ryu jumping off her bed and grabbed to pieces of paper and a couple pens, before she sat on the floor next to Miki.
Miki looked at her as she began to write on the paper, "What sort of deal?"
"That we will always be friends, and we will die together, so neither of us will be scared," replied Ryu jotting down the last few words on the second sheet of paper.
"Ok deal," said Miki with a smile holding out his hands to shake Ryu's and seal the deal.
Ryu signed her name on each piece of paper and handed them to Miki, "Ok but you need to sign the contract, I've seen Granny do this a few times, and you can't break the deal when it is on paper." Miki nodded and signed his name next to Ryu's. Miki handed the pen and one paper back to Ryu and each pocketed their contracts.
"I'm tired we should go to bed," yawned Miki, plopping down on his pallet.
Ryu nodded and climbed back in her bed, the sun had already rose, and they needed sleep. Ryu flicked off the bedside lamp, the rooms only source of light, as she herself lay down to sleep.
----------
Kohaku and Chihiro flew back to Zeniiba's old cottage, It was what had been decided. For the two of them to see if they could find any new information. Strangely as they flew closer to Swamp Bottom the colder it got and the ground far ahead matched the white snow cloud filled sky.
Kohaku fought the chilly winter air and flew strait towards Swamp Bottom, strait to the impending storm. The closest Kohaku could fly safely was the train stop, he landed carefully as the platform and moss covered clock were already feeling the wrath of the snow, and were covered in ice.
Chihiro climbed off of Kohaku's back and slipped on the ice, putting a hand on the newly changed Kohaku's shoulder so she wouldn't fall. Kohaku helped Chihiro walk off the platform to the less icy, snow covered path that once led to Zeniiba's cottage.
"Chihiro, I haven't seen weather like this in a long time," said Kohaku trudging through the shin deep snow.
"I know and it's concentrated only here in Swamp Bottom. Like that time at Aburaya with..." Chihiro couldn't finish her sentence, the 'child' in question was, not dead but it seemed as if he was, it was said he would never return, "But he was said to never return to go where none dwell!"
"He isn't returning, this isn't Aburaya. We never knew where he went and at the time Swamp Bottom was unoccupied," replied Kohaku picking up his pace in the raising snow.
"Ok you have a point. But then why is he doing this, and why now?" asked Chihiro fighting her way through knee deep snow. If her vision wasn't blurred then she would have still been able to see the train platform.
"I don't Kn... Who is that!?" said Kohaku pointing at a small human shaped figure, that was just a silhouette of gray surrounded by the white of snow. As the person walked closer the snow slowed its falling till it stopped.
Chihiro looked at what Kohaku was talking about just as the snow stopped and they could clearly see the approaching figure. A pale figure of a young five year old boy with pale skin of the snow and hair to match. The unchanged face was easily recognized, as the old spirit approach those he had once listened to, and obeyed.
Both Kohaku and Chihiro were overjoyed to see the spirit that had left so many years ago. They felt like crying and hugging the small boy who was older then all of them but still looked younger then Ryu. But the two stopped at the sight of the spirit's face, though he looked five they face was stripped of that age. The days of playing and merriment were over.
"Sen, Haku... The monster that has cursed and threatened this land is dead," replied the spirit somehow (though shorter then both Chihiro and Kohaku) looking down at the couple.
"But why did you kill him..." Chihiro began she still couldn't bring herself to say his name.
"Saki?" finished Kohaku.
Saki smiled, "For the little ones of course. Now go home and return the boy to his, I killed this monster but there is another, one how wants the little ones gone. Parents or not get the boy to where he belongs, and keep young Tea close to family. Fix what this monster has done, for the little ones." While Saki talked he placed two necklaces, like the raindrop necklace that Chihiro has worn since her wedding, but these two were adorn with a snowflake magickally held near the chain and as warm as your own hand. But a single large snowflake without a doubt.
Chihiro and Kohaku inspected the necklaces that were obviously for Miki and Ryu. Chihiro raised her head to thank Saki, but he was gone. The snow covered grown told the story: Saki was gone never to return here, and Swamp Bottom had seen its last snowfall, and the last drop of blood that would fall. Although he wouldn't be seen, Swamp Bottom and the good that inhabits it will fall under the protection of the magick of the old Snow Spirit Shigekazu Sawaguchi. Just like no shadow of evil (at least) can return to Aburaya for the undying magick of the wise Rain Spirit Rei Keiko Ami Sawaguchi.
----------
There was a crowd, well not so much of a crowd only Kohaku, Chihiro, Ryu, Miki, Zeniiba, Kaonashi, Kamajii, and a few brave Aogaeru who had swam the water in the night air and made it without drowning. Sadly this crowd that stood (magickally of course) on the human side of the river in front of the red building, did not include the parents of Miki.
Zeniiba assured them all that the magick was strong and will wear off in a week at the most. Miki was unconvinced and sad, he didn't want to leave without his parents. He didn't want to leave his best (and currently only) friend behind.
Kohaku and Chihiro had presented the two with Saki's gift and explained how Miki must return to his Aunt and Uncle. Miki had a sour face and held fast to his position claiming he wasn't going to move.
Both Chihiro and Kohaku slowly approached the door to the tunnel with hands outstretched, expecting to still meet the burning red force field. They almost fell as they walked with ease over the thresh hold of the red building, and they walked back through. Chihiro looked at Miki, "Ok Miki come on, I'll take you two your Aunt and Uncle's house." Chihiro held her hand out to Miki.
Miki shook his head and stomped his foot, "No! I'm not going!"
"Miki you need to go back to where you belong, with family," said Zeniiba taking a step towards Miki.
"My parents are here!" snapped Miki.
Ryu was getting very annoyed, "Your such a brat Miki!" with that Ryu charged at Miki and pushed him across the thresh hold along with herself. Miki tripped and fell. His eyes filled with tears though he tried to hold them back. Miki was glaring at Ryu, he felt betrayed. Miki got up and ran out of the tunnel.
"Miki wait!" yelled Ryu starting after Miki.
"Ryu get back here, I'll make sure Miki is alright!" said Chihiro. Ryu turned back around and walked back towards her home, towards the Spirit world.
Chihiro and Ryu stepped to the thresh hold at the same time Chihiro was thrown back and knocked unconscious as soon as she came in contact with the rippling red force field that once again blocked the door. Ryu hovered a minute in the force field before it decided she couldn't go through and lightly pushed her back.
Chihiro, who was surrounded by many concerned faces, shot strait up into a sitting position her eyes seemed to glow red and her grin was the most hideous and evil. Chihiro laughed and then spoke in a voice not her own, "Spirits can leave and Humans can come. And little halfling brats are kept on the side they stand. My minion might be dead but I still live!" Chihiro laughed once more an evil laugh and then once again fell unconscious as a black aura lifted from her.
Kohaku didn't once leave Chihiro's side, but he turned towards Ryu with eyes full of concern for her and only her, "Ryu sweetie you can't come back. Go, go to Asuko and Yoshi and live with them until you can return to us. Have them call Miki's family to make sure Miki got home. Be good sweetie, don't worry about us, and you will return home to us. Now go, and Ryu I love you."
Ryu's eyes filled with tears, Ryu never cried only when she had a flesh wound. When she was a baby she never cried, but now... now was different she could see her mother hurt and her fathers tears but a red (only when touched) wall stopped her. Stopped her from returning home. Ryu cried, then as if she was ashamed of the tears she turned quickly on her heels and ran out of the tunnel.
Author Note: I request creation credit for the monster that was the old master and Hiyae. Also in the previous story I put creation credit on Saki and Raki (although she was only mentioned in this story), so just give me the credit please. Merci! This is NOT the end of the story, but it is the end of part 1. Please tell me watcha think! Merci!
Na
Author Note: I am sorry that it took awhile for me to post. I was away for a week in a place without computers (a working camp). I also have a presentation due in two weeks so I won't get to much writing done for any of my stories. So here it is the next chapter I hope you like it, tell me what you think. Happy Reading!
Na
Chapter 6: For the Little Ones
The sorcerer was very pleased with himself and his master creation. As promised he returned for Hiyae early that morning as if to eat his soul. Hiyae once again not looking afraid of his own death and the consumption of his soul, offered a partnership.
The sorcerer who surprisingly agreed, but only when Hiyae swore allegiance on that, that was most unholy, dark, and evil, a slang term for this object is 'The Nipping Skull'. A skull of the most unlikely traitor, a holy man of some religion that in the face of death coward to the devil, saying such simple words as, 'I want to be on the prevailing side.' This person was killed in the end... killed as evil, the past forgotten. The skull of this man is hardly clean it is a dark brown color of hundreds, thousands of years of dried blood. To swear on this skull you must place a hand on it and then it will nip you, take a piece of your flesh as well as your soul binding you to the owner of the skull.
Bat monsters, in general are born with three fingers on each hand, six in all. But after this promise, this binding Hiyae was a five fingered beast. Hiyae had no time to scream in pain because the second the skull was finished the sorcerer had thrust the Soul Blade with great force into Hiyae and drawing out his soul.
With careful work and hours of quiet the sorcerer resurrected his old master with Hiyae's soul. A weak almost powerless soul that was a willing or not (more willing) expendable slave.
The sorcerer left his creation at an old unused house in Swamp Bottom and told it, 'Kill Zeniiba, Kill Haku, Kill Sen, Kill their Brat! I don't care just destroy Aburaya!' The sorcerer was sure that the beast would fail, since it was only left with minimal magick, enough to be convincing.
The sorcerer knew that the revived mind of his old master (or his new string puppet), and the intertwining soul of his slave Hiyae would plan their attack out and at the most take a week. But now that he had no more souls to eat, and that his puppet(old master) would no longer stop by to complain. The sorcerer had time to hunt. Shadow spirits came to mind but shadows where one on the very few that he could not ultimately extinguish, but he could take a few hundred of the Shadow spirit's, shadow warriors. At the time it didn't matter where his next great meal source came from, for he had a few days until the power, strength, and fullness of his string puppets soul left his stomach grumbling.
----------
Miki slunk over to the sliding door dragging a dirty water bucket as Ryu went and got breakfast. Though both were officially not under a contract at Aburaya, they were now tending their own tub. One of the smaller easier jobs, Ant spirits and what not, although they were kept under watchful eye, any of those who's eyes could be spared, normally Kaonashi.
Zeniiba's reasoning for this was, three or four people at one tub was really to much. As well as after the first few days of helping Miki got into the routine, and both children were strangely responsible enough.
As much as Miki's near week of work looked like Child Labor it wasn't. He wasn't getting paid, yes. But the children were given the choice to work or not each day, and although they acted mature and responsible at heart it was all a big game.
Miki poured out the water out and then quickly walked down to the tub that the two had that day, as usual he got to the stall and both Kaonashi and Ryu were there eating breakfast, a third bowl of rice waiting for him.
Not to long after Miki began his breakfast, an Yuna and Kohaku came in to the stall. The Yuna was obviously not happy at all she was grumbling as she picked up a broom and started to sweep the floor. Ryu looked suspiciously at her father who just smiled and ruffled Ryu's pig tails.
"You two are coming with me, I happen to be the fastest person in going to Swamp Bottom and back. Kamajii needs some herbs that only grow in the swamp," said Kohaku with a smile he knew how much his daughter enjoyed flying with him.
Without a second thought Ryu dropped her near empty bowl and went dashing off down the corridor towards the boiler room. Miki rushed off after Ryu but he had already lost sight of her and wasn't sure exactly how to get to the boiler room. So he slowed his pace and waited for Kohaku.
When Kohaku and Miki made it down to the boiler room, Ryu was sitting on the ground her feet dangling over the edge of the raised section before it is lowered for the Susuwatari. Ryu was attentively watching the Susuwatari and Kamajii work.
Kamajii glanced over his shoulder to see his new comers, "What no breakfast?" Kamajii said as a good hearty joke.
"Chihiro brought you your meal already, and how many times must she tell you to leave the dishes out for her? Now what herbs do you need?" asked Kohaku returning Kamajii's odd greeting.
"Sorrow's Bells, Bleeding Sorrow's Bells, and Bog Bain," replied Kamajii still turning the crank and grinding herbs for bath mixtures. A red and black token dropped from the ceiling and Kamajii grumbled.
(A/N: Herbs are made up, or special Spirit World herbs either way They don't exist here. And if the names do the plant doesn't.)
Kohaku being no herbiest hadn't any idea exactly what he was to be looking for. With a shy ashamed cough Kohaku asked, "What are those exactly?" Kamajii let out a big sigh and rolled his eyes.
"Dad they are the same three that we always get at Swamp Bottom," exclaimed Ryu.
"Well why didn't you just say that?" asked Kohaku laughing a little, half at himself.
"Now remember When the Sorrow's Bells flower is purple, it is poisonous and useless to me and dangerous, the blue blooms are the matured flowers that I need and the Bleeding Sorrow's Bells are when the bloom is over matured and is red," replied Kamajii.
A little uncertain Kohaku replied, "Don't worry I'm 26 years old I can figure it out, I always do don't I?"
"Yeah just no Purple flowers! They are impossible to get rid of without endangering anyone!" replied Kamajii.
"Ok, well come on you two we best be off," replied Kohaku shooing the children towards the back door that lead to the steep set of stairs.
Outside Kohaku changed into a dragon on the rather small platform just outside the boiler room door. Ryu and Miki climbed on Kohaku's back and he flew off into the sky. It wasn't that Kohaku was getting more responsible, he still jumped out of high windows with Chihiro before turning into a dragon. But he was a father, and a father of an energetic girl and he did not dare to free fall with her.
----------
The evil creation of the sorcerer sat in a low lighted kitchen that used to belong to Zeniiba. The main source of light being a roaring fire that cracked with little bits of ember flying out every few minutes or so.
The monster let out an low evil laugh as his plan was finally formulated. He would attack the next day at noon. Sneaking into Aburaya and killing Zeniiba, Bou, Kohaku, Chihiro, Ryu, and Miki well before the unknowing workers woke up and when that happened he would kill the cowering slugs and frogs, while they begged for their saviors, unless of course they saw the mutilated bodies, blood stained floors, and heads mounted on sticks for all to see. Then the monster would watch as the hope slipped from the Yuna and Aogaeru, then he would kill them.
The monster laughed again, as he set aside those evil plains and moved on to a way that he could steal the Nipping Skull from the sorcerer, and he himself could rule the Spirit World.
Unknowing to the monster, the sorcerer had anticipated this, because it was exactly what he would have done. So the sorcerer was taking extra precautions to make sure that Kohaku and Chihiro would prevail over the monster, because it was the plain from the very beginning, and like he had said, "I don't have allies."
The monster's sinister laughing was cut short when the magick from the force field surrounding the house let him know that something was approaching.
----------
Kohaku looked ahead and saw the small clearing in which Zeniiba's old house resided. The house looked the same as always except a few minor differences; the windows were only light by a dim light and not Zeniiba's bright warm welcoming light, and there was a fire going, just like Zeniiba would have had. The obvious thing troubling Kohaku was that Zeniiba no longer lived there, and to Kohaku's knowledge no one else did.
"Who's at Granny's dad?" asked Ryu, when she saw the smoke coming from chimney.
Kohaku obviously didn't answer no longer having the tongue of a human, but he was as curious as his daughter and quickly descended, landing not to far from the house in question.
As quickly as Kohaku landed on the ground was as quick as the children retreated from his back. Kohaku slowly approached the house unchanged and then a second thought that it was only a poor homeless man trickled into Kohaku's thoughts. As Kohaku walked he changed to his less ferocious human like form. Though he did remain slightly scaly looking prepared to change either way at a seconds notice.
Kohaku slowly edged himself towards the house, while Ryu and Miki stood a bit back and watched both worried and scared about not knowing what would happen next.
Kohaku's outstretched hand touched something rather warm and painful , with a small bounce to is. Red ripples appeared out of now where under the pressure of Kohaku's burning hand. Kohaku pulled his hand back it was almost burned from the energy from the force field. Kohaku turned astonished to the children, "We're going home now!"
With that Kohaku walked back quickly to Ryu and Miki, changing as he went. Ryu and Miki climbed on Kohaku's back, and they sped off into the sky.
----------
The sorcerer stabbed a small Wish Sprit in the stomach with his Soul Blade, a pure white soul seeped out and floated in the air. The sorcerer had taken a day or two to exactly chose the next race to endanger and make extinct. He had decided on the Wish Sprits because they cut themselves off from the rest of the world afraid of granting wishes that were not of pure love and more to ruthful lust, and pointless passion. The Wish Sprits would prove to be a great magickal asset and would go unnoticed of their sudden disappearance. Though they did take up rather a lot of energy to catch. The sorcerer felt that he was rather in luck and only one maybe two escaped and flew off, most likely to warn another Wish Spirit settlement. Assuming they lived long enough with the wounds the sorcerer had inflicted on every last one.
The sorcerer struggled with the soul like tuff meat or staling bread. Because the soul was a good and pure soul something a bit tougher for his evil body to digest. Between bites the sorcerer laughed all was going to plan, well the children returning was never in the plan, but it was being taken care of as he chewed. Or at least the sorcerer hoped that the beast he created would move to destroy Aburaya soon.
----------
The monster paced in the kitchen of the small cottage. His plans were being pushed back a day if he attacked the next day they could be ready for him. That and he wanted to see if they would strike first. That would have put him on the defensive, but the over confident beast believed that they would still die.
----------
A dying Wish Sprit, known none other as Gingko, plummeted to the ground she had flown as far as Kniknichmai in her desperate hope to make it to Aburaya, to call on old friends to once more save her life and her people from the thought enslavement.
In a last breath before Gingko lost consciousness she cast a wish of love for her people and the future of all, to the wind hoping against hope that it would be granted, "I wish someone could stop him before he takes another life." With these words Gingko's eyes rolled back in her head and her breathing became shallow as she laid unconscious on the ground.
----------
Miki was sitting cross legged on his sleeping pallet, Ryu was on the bed complaining that she wasn't allowed to talk to Zeniiba with her parents about whatever was at the cottage in Swamp Bottom and their plains to deal with the situation. Zeniiba was already being worn thin at trying to remove the force field and change the pigs back to humans. The pig count was now five, Miki's parents, a couple teenage boys who were trying to prove their worth with vandalisms, and an old homeless lady. The last three ignoring the sign and some how making it across the magick induced water that would have the capability the drown even Ryu. This knowledge only being known after seven Aogaeru lost their lives to the blue watery depths.
Miki tried to calm Ryu and get her mind off the pending evil that threatened to lock them here in this world and make them eat humans(pigs) for dinner. "So how is it possible for your father to be a river spirit and your mother human?" asked Miki, this particular question had been nagging him for the past few days, and he just had the piece of mind or nervousness to hold his tongue before than.
Ryu calmed down in a second and an ear to ear grin replaced the frown on her face. She was a miracle, she knew, but wasn't it just enough to everyone that she was alive?, "Well it depends on who you speak to. Kamajii and Arikii both say that it was love that my parents share, and when love is involved anything is possible. Zeniiba will tell you a story about dragons being granted one wish and my father's wish was to have a family with my mom. I even heard about old mythology where gods and humans had children and they were Demigods, so if those cultures believed in Gods and humans together why not Spirits and humans? A few people say that a new evil will come and my parents wont be able to defeat it, that only their joint force can, which is their explanation for why I am here. I just say that I'm here, don't think of why, just think of how long and what to do in the time that I grace this and the other world. Because one day I'll die and then I'll be a memory, a story, and then a myth... People who read about me, hear about me when I am a myth will except I existed with out question, because they'll believe I'm a story nothing more. We are all stories in the end and I don't want mine to be centered around the possibilities of my existence, because as you can see I do exist and if it is enough for me, shouldn't it be enough for you and the rest of the worlds?"
"Yeah I guess so. I don't want to die..." replied Miki looking down at his blanket.
"Me neither, why don't we make a deal," replied Ryu jumping off her bed and grabbed to pieces of paper and a couple pens, before she sat on the floor next to Miki.
Miki looked at her as she began to write on the paper, "What sort of deal?"
"That we will always be friends, and we will die together, so neither of us will be scared," replied Ryu jotting down the last few words on the second sheet of paper.
"Ok deal," said Miki with a smile holding out his hands to shake Ryu's and seal the deal.
Ryu signed her name on each piece of paper and handed them to Miki, "Ok but you need to sign the contract, I've seen Granny do this a few times, and you can't break the deal when it is on paper." Miki nodded and signed his name next to Ryu's. Miki handed the pen and one paper back to Ryu and each pocketed their contracts.
"I'm tired we should go to bed," yawned Miki, plopping down on his pallet.
Ryu nodded and climbed back in her bed, the sun had already rose, and they needed sleep. Ryu flicked off the bedside lamp, the rooms only source of light, as she herself lay down to sleep.
----------
Kohaku and Chihiro flew back to Zeniiba's old cottage, It was what had been decided. For the two of them to see if they could find any new information. Strangely as they flew closer to Swamp Bottom the colder it got and the ground far ahead matched the white snow cloud filled sky.
Kohaku fought the chilly winter air and flew strait towards Swamp Bottom, strait to the impending storm. The closest Kohaku could fly safely was the train stop, he landed carefully as the platform and moss covered clock were already feeling the wrath of the snow, and were covered in ice.
Chihiro climbed off of Kohaku's back and slipped on the ice, putting a hand on the newly changed Kohaku's shoulder so she wouldn't fall. Kohaku helped Chihiro walk off the platform to the less icy, snow covered path that once led to Zeniiba's cottage.
"Chihiro, I haven't seen weather like this in a long time," said Kohaku trudging through the shin deep snow.
"I know and it's concentrated only here in Swamp Bottom. Like that time at Aburaya with..." Chihiro couldn't finish her sentence, the 'child' in question was, not dead but it seemed as if he was, it was said he would never return, "But he was said to never return to go where none dwell!"
"He isn't returning, this isn't Aburaya. We never knew where he went and at the time Swamp Bottom was unoccupied," replied Kohaku picking up his pace in the raising snow.
"Ok you have a point. But then why is he doing this, and why now?" asked Chihiro fighting her way through knee deep snow. If her vision wasn't blurred then she would have still been able to see the train platform.
"I don't Kn... Who is that!?" said Kohaku pointing at a small human shaped figure, that was just a silhouette of gray surrounded by the white of snow. As the person walked closer the snow slowed its falling till it stopped.
Chihiro looked at what Kohaku was talking about just as the snow stopped and they could clearly see the approaching figure. A pale figure of a young five year old boy with pale skin of the snow and hair to match. The unchanged face was easily recognized, as the old spirit approach those he had once listened to, and obeyed.
Both Kohaku and Chihiro were overjoyed to see the spirit that had left so many years ago. They felt like crying and hugging the small boy who was older then all of them but still looked younger then Ryu. But the two stopped at the sight of the spirit's face, though he looked five they face was stripped of that age. The days of playing and merriment were over.
"Sen, Haku... The monster that has cursed and threatened this land is dead," replied the spirit somehow (though shorter then both Chihiro and Kohaku) looking down at the couple.
"But why did you kill him..." Chihiro began she still couldn't bring herself to say his name.
"Saki?" finished Kohaku.
Saki smiled, "For the little ones of course. Now go home and return the boy to his, I killed this monster but there is another, one how wants the little ones gone. Parents or not get the boy to where he belongs, and keep young Tea close to family. Fix what this monster has done, for the little ones." While Saki talked he placed two necklaces, like the raindrop necklace that Chihiro has worn since her wedding, but these two were adorn with a snowflake magickally held near the chain and as warm as your own hand. But a single large snowflake without a doubt.
Chihiro and Kohaku inspected the necklaces that were obviously for Miki and Ryu. Chihiro raised her head to thank Saki, but he was gone. The snow covered grown told the story: Saki was gone never to return here, and Swamp Bottom had seen its last snowfall, and the last drop of blood that would fall. Although he wouldn't be seen, Swamp Bottom and the good that inhabits it will fall under the protection of the magick of the old Snow Spirit Shigekazu Sawaguchi. Just like no shadow of evil (at least) can return to Aburaya for the undying magick of the wise Rain Spirit Rei Keiko Ami Sawaguchi.
----------
There was a crowd, well not so much of a crowd only Kohaku, Chihiro, Ryu, Miki, Zeniiba, Kaonashi, Kamajii, and a few brave Aogaeru who had swam the water in the night air and made it without drowning. Sadly this crowd that stood (magickally of course) on the human side of the river in front of the red building, did not include the parents of Miki.
Zeniiba assured them all that the magick was strong and will wear off in a week at the most. Miki was unconvinced and sad, he didn't want to leave without his parents. He didn't want to leave his best (and currently only) friend behind.
Kohaku and Chihiro had presented the two with Saki's gift and explained how Miki must return to his Aunt and Uncle. Miki had a sour face and held fast to his position claiming he wasn't going to move.
Both Chihiro and Kohaku slowly approached the door to the tunnel with hands outstretched, expecting to still meet the burning red force field. They almost fell as they walked with ease over the thresh hold of the red building, and they walked back through. Chihiro looked at Miki, "Ok Miki come on, I'll take you two your Aunt and Uncle's house." Chihiro held her hand out to Miki.
Miki shook his head and stomped his foot, "No! I'm not going!"
"Miki you need to go back to where you belong, with family," said Zeniiba taking a step towards Miki.
"My parents are here!" snapped Miki.
Ryu was getting very annoyed, "Your such a brat Miki!" with that Ryu charged at Miki and pushed him across the thresh hold along with herself. Miki tripped and fell. His eyes filled with tears though he tried to hold them back. Miki was glaring at Ryu, he felt betrayed. Miki got up and ran out of the tunnel.
"Miki wait!" yelled Ryu starting after Miki.
"Ryu get back here, I'll make sure Miki is alright!" said Chihiro. Ryu turned back around and walked back towards her home, towards the Spirit world.
Chihiro and Ryu stepped to the thresh hold at the same time Chihiro was thrown back and knocked unconscious as soon as she came in contact with the rippling red force field that once again blocked the door. Ryu hovered a minute in the force field before it decided she couldn't go through and lightly pushed her back.
Chihiro, who was surrounded by many concerned faces, shot strait up into a sitting position her eyes seemed to glow red and her grin was the most hideous and evil. Chihiro laughed and then spoke in a voice not her own, "Spirits can leave and Humans can come. And little halfling brats are kept on the side they stand. My minion might be dead but I still live!" Chihiro laughed once more an evil laugh and then once again fell unconscious as a black aura lifted from her.
Kohaku didn't once leave Chihiro's side, but he turned towards Ryu with eyes full of concern for her and only her, "Ryu sweetie you can't come back. Go, go to Asuko and Yoshi and live with them until you can return to us. Have them call Miki's family to make sure Miki got home. Be good sweetie, don't worry about us, and you will return home to us. Now go, and Ryu I love you."
Ryu's eyes filled with tears, Ryu never cried only when she had a flesh wound. When she was a baby she never cried, but now... now was different she could see her mother hurt and her fathers tears but a red (only when touched) wall stopped her. Stopped her from returning home. Ryu cried, then as if she was ashamed of the tears she turned quickly on her heels and ran out of the tunnel.
Author Note: I request creation credit for the monster that was the old master and Hiyae. Also in the previous story I put creation credit on Saki and Raki (although she was only mentioned in this story), so just give me the credit please. Merci! This is NOT the end of the story, but it is the end of part 1. Please tell me watcha think! Merci!
Na