Paths of the Heart
Thanks to those who reviewed chapter 1. Here's the next chapter.
Disclaimer- short and sweet- NOT MINE!
Chapter 2-Spirits Are For Children
It was later that night, and she was seated at her window, looking out at the snow blanketing the ground. Across the street she could see some of the neighbor children running around, having snowball fights and making snow angels. On impulse, she grabbed her jacket from the back of her chair and slipped on her boots. As she walked through the kitchen she called "I'm going out for a bit of a walk, I need some fresh air. Won't be long."
Her mothers voice called back from the living room. "Do you have your coat? What about your hat and your gloves?"
Chihiro rolled her eyes. "Yes, no and no. Don't worry, I won't get too cold. I don't plan to be gone for long." And closed the door behind her on whatever her mother was saying next.
Not even bothering to look both ways as she crossed the sleepy street, Chihiro soon drew close enough to hear what the children were playing as they skidded and tumbled in the snow. "Look at me, I'm a snow spirit!"
"Yah, well I'm a fire spirit, and I'm gonna melt you right into a puddle of water, and then you'll be nothing but a melt spirit!"
"Not if the water spirit puts you out first!"
"Huh? Hey, you can't do that!"
"Can to!"
"Can not!"
"TOO!"
"NOT!"
A smile creased Chihiro's lips as she walked past the squabbling group. Spirits were the playthings of all children. She could recall playing similar games when she was their age, especially before they moved. Hours had been wasted being one spirit or another, and her best friend from before the move, Amaya, had indulged in the game as shamelessly as she. Actually, now that she though about it, that was probably who had given her the hair tie and why she associated it with spirits. It all made sense. Of course it did. Didn't it...?
The impact of the snowball colliding with the back of her head shoved her violently off balance, and she had to hold back tears of pain as she turned on the culprits. They were giggling helplessly, but upon seeing the expression on her face, backed off a bit, and one girl, the oldest one in sight, offered hesitantly, "Sorry about that. Would you like to play with us?"
All of the kids eyes lit up hopefully, but Chihiro focused her scornful gaze on the girl who had spoken. "Play? Play what? Spirits?" At their eager nods she allowed herself a sneer. "Why would I want to do that? I have better things to do than play. And anyway, aren't you a bit old for that sort of thing? Spirits are for children."
She turned away, ignoring the tears that sprang into the girls soft blue eyes, and the sobs that grew fainter as she ran in another direction. Inside, Chihiro admitted to herself that her words had been more the result of wounded pride than anything else, and that she might have been a little more harsh than the situation had really called for. Truthfully, a lot more harsh.
Then rationalization kicked in. She had done the girl a favor. The kid really was getting too old for such silly things like that, and if Chihiro had really made an impression on her, she would get over it and move on, maybe get herself a nice boyfriend or something. Because anyway...
...Spirits were for Children, after all...
Like usual, all feedback is appreciated. Thanks. Kat.