Rivers Never Die
by LadyRainStarDragon
Chapter 8: Nushi's Vigil
Disclaimer: I don't own Spirited Away. There are some original characters in this and other stories I write. Corrected and expanded version, ffnet edition will remain in PG-13 format, R-rated for the uncut scene in chapter 19 will remain on affnet.
On with the story.
:Zips off on broom-o-doom.:
Nushi was busy peering into the mirror. He and Ten had their attention drawn back to the surface when a bunch of shouting had started up again. At first, they tried to ignore it, taking it to be due to all the adrenaline pumping in the young human bodies on the surface. They only began paying attention when Nushi had felt a stab of fear. The rose he had given Chihiro was demanding his attention, which meant that something had happened to her.
When they looked, Kohaku was performing CPR on a slightly blue Chihiro, attempting to revive her stilled breath. Two other wet bodies were talking rapidly to her grandfather. One broke off and got a little black thing from one of the dry people and was yelling into it. Nushi couldn't believe what he was seeing. Just what had happened?
Ten turned up the volume some more, trying to decipher what the youngsters were yelling about. They were speaking really fast. Something about Chihiro finding a statue behind a really big rock and trying to get it to the surface, but she ran out of air because she didn't go up soon enough. "Nushi, isn't that the statue from the old Shrine? The one that became abandoned when the families no longer farmed?"
Nushi turned his attention from Chihiro. Kohaku looked like he had everything under control as Chihiro began breathing on her own again. "I think you're right. I remember watching Koji's great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather throwing it in to keep it safe from robbers. If they put it in this new Shrine I keep hearing about, maybe it will be easier to fix whatever it was that happened 15 years ago when I was driven out."
"Sure. I think you just want to get to Chihiro easier."
Thoughtfully, Nushi digested Ten's last remark. "Yes I suppose, you're right. What is a God without someone to protect? The Ogino's are one of the last families that are of the area and still have anyone believing in us. If we can't tend the countryside, the people get sick and die. If the people get sick and die, we weaken and fade."
"Uh hum. What's the other part?" Ten knew him too well.
"There's just something about her."
"Yeah right, like her shape maybe."
In silence, Nushi and Ten watched an ambulance take an unconscious Chihiro away, accompanied by a stoic Kohaku. Koji, Ryu, and BlowingWind got into a small transport vehicle to follow the ambulance. The others that were helping cleared out too, Packing up camp and going home as there was nothing else to be done until a lifting crane was brought in to move the large rock. They followed with the mirror and watched as she was brought into the hospital. The attendants felt a presence as they monitored her vital signs.
Leaving the other Kami alone for his vigil, Ten silently moved out of the room. He thought it would be best so that Nushi could worry in peace. If he chose to rail or rant, or even lose control over himself, he would not be dishonored by a witness. Ten knew how much Nushi worried about the young maiden.
Standing a vigil of his own, Nushi even watched as Kohaku fell asleep next to Chihiro, gripping her hand to let her know that she was not alone. He heard the desperate pleas for her to return to him. Nushi heard Kohaku's curses as the Miko slipped deeper into the black waves of unconsciousness adding a few choice ones of his own. Using the connection that he had established with her earlier, he played soft music hoping to lure her away from the realm of death.
His body grew cold as he felt himself slipping closer to it himself. Continuing the notes, he watched as his hands and his flute became transparent. Still he pressed on. If he died it would be fine, as long as he kept her from that dark shadowy realm. There were still many in the living world who cherished her. Few even remembered him.
'Come back to me Chihiro. Don't stay Little Pearl. You have much yet to do.'
Slowly, he could see the aura around the one he promised to protect grow brighter. The healthy pink began to return to her. Chihiro's breathing evened out. Only when he was satisfied that she was merely sleeping and healing did he turn from the mirror. The view moved at once back to the surface of the deep spring.
The surface of the spring was calm. This contrasted greatly with the roiling emotions in Nushi's mind. He was still transparent, and he was certain that he had seen the other part of him begin to fade as well. He began to lose consciousness himself, having pushed himself to far magically at the time that he should have waited. As his eyes slid shut, he felt himself return to form again, acknowledged by the hardness of the floor as he struck it, just before fully succumbing to the siren's call of the deep.
In another cavern with the system, a dark spirit wandered, searching for his prey. Golden eyes surveyed his surroundings. The keeper of the spring was coming. Silently, the entity slipped into the shadows and waited. He would get his revenge. He would only have one chance though, but he would take that dragon with him.
