Rivers Never Die
by LadyRainStarDragon
Chapter 19: Time to Talk
I don't own Spirited Away, or any brand names that may pop up. There is no excuse for BlowingWind, Ryu, Ten or Haku's lost spirit piece. That's all me. As for Koji, well . . . everybody needs a grandpa to fuss over them sometimes.
This chapter has been edited to include a rewrite of a scense that was formerly edited out. The original chapter (the way it was intended to be read) can still be found on adult fan fiction, under the story of this same name (Even got the same pen name set up there, yay me).
Now, on with the story. I'm escaping while I can.
Kohakunushi sat alone in his room, banging the back of his head gently against the wall. There wasn't much for him to do, and since Lin had decided she wanted to see when the river was released, it was safer to hide. She had decided she liked his hair long, and had developed an obsession with playing with it. She said it reminded her of someone she knew long ago. Being pawed at disturbed him very much though.
To his right, he heard a click and the door opened. He had set a locking spell on it so that only himself and Chihiro could enter. He had thought briefly about allowing Koji in, then reconsidered when he heard Ryu trying to bribe him into setting up something called a spy camera. Currently, this was the only place the two of them could hide in the building from severe teasing.
"Hungry?"
Kohaku eyed the plate his miko offered. Sushi actually sounded good right now. He patted the ground next to him.
"Only if you eat too."
"Deal."
Chihiro settled down next to her Kami and popped a small tuna roll in her mouth. He chewed thoughtfully on a piece of calamari.
"This is good. Did you make it?"
Chihiro nodded.
"Why are you hiding this time?"
"Would you want somebody to start playing with your hair? I don't understand what she finds so amusing about my hair."
"We girls tend to like shiny, soft, or fuzzy things. Long, soft, shiny hair is just hard for us to resist. Mainly though, she does it to annoy you. Would you feel so uncomfortable if it was me playing with your hair?"
Kohaku eyed her nervously. He'd already dealt with Lin's questioning of why Yubaba had ever made him cut his hair. He was beginning to understand why. Not only would it curb his power a bit, long hair would have been hazardous to his health. He could picture being mauled by the yunas, they had flirted with him enough as it was, even when he was in that kid-stage.
Chihiro snickered. "I'm not going to invade your personal space, don't worry. I'm more attracted by what's on the inside anyway."
Silence fell again as the couple continued to eat some more. Soon enough, the plate was empty save for a rice ball. Absorbed in their own thoughts and not paying attention, both reached for it. Their hands touched, Kohaku's covering Chihiro's. Both looked up in shock, then at their joined hands. Tension filled the air.
"Just two more days, then hopefully your river will be running again. What will you do then?"
"I don't know. I'll have to learn the river's course again, and there will be other Kami that I will have to greet. I once had a home below the river, and that I will need to rebuild as well gather my treasures from where I had hidden them. I'll be very busy for a while. Then I'll guard the river and Shrine, just like I used to. What about you?"
"I'm done with most of my training, in a couple years I'll be eligible to move to the next position. I'm almost done with University, so I'll be applying to some consulting firms after that to supplement what little it is projected the Shrine will bring in. Grandfather started asking me if I was considering a family in my future, so he'll probably start harping on finding me a husband."
"What do you want to do? It sounds like you feel pressured to me."
"I don't know anymore. I thought I did but the future is so far away. I just want to take things one day at a time."
Kohakunushi raised an eyebrow and moved the plate out of the way. Chihiro had begun shaking. It would hardly be noticeable unless you were looking for it, but he knew his friend well. He drew her into his arms and laid her head on his chest, waiting for her to continue.
"I'm scared Haku. I'm afraid of losing you. The other Shrine Kami are seen so rarely now I hear, even by priests. I'm afraid that after the river runs, I'll never see you again. In all the legends that I have been taught, either the mortal is killed or the Kami never comes to her again."
Was she really so attached to him? He was afraid of losing her too, but for other reasons. Being truthful with himself, he didn't want to see her get married and have a family with someone other than him. However, he was a Kami, with responsibilities. What place was there for her in his world? Or was there a place for her that he was not admitting?
"I'm also scared because, I think I'm in love with you Nigihayami Kohakunushi. You have always been my friend, and no other has come even close to where you are in my heart. No one can."
Something broke inside him when he heard that. He couldn't bear to see her so hurt. He would never leave her and not return. She was his friend, the Miko of his Shrine and something even more than that. She had his heart. He loved her.
"I would never leave you and not return Chihiro. I may not be able to spend all of my time in this world, but I will always come when you call. I will always return to you because you are my miko and I value your friendship. Most importantly though, I will come because I love you as well."
There, he had said it. The words that he had struggled with for so long had come off of his tongue. The river spirit gazed into the watery orbs that were turned toward him, which were filled with relief, love, and fear. He didn't like to see her fear. Kohakunushi would pluck off his very own scales and fashion her a crown if he could see her smile.
"I'm mortal. Eventually I will die. What will happen then?"
"Then you will join me after you die. I will allow you to live with me in my own world as long as you wish. You can stay with me until I am no more, or until you are ready to re-incarnate. You always have the option to pledge yourself to me in death as you have so done in life. There are many levels of this kind of commitment, just as there are in life."
"I don't understand."
"Friends who are very close sometimes reincarnate together and continue the friendship in another life. A loyal pet finds it owner. Spouses who loved each other deeply meet in another life and love again. A favored priest goes to the court of his Kami. Debts incurred in one life may be paid in another."
Chihiro began to understand. Death was not always an end, but merely another beginning. It was a gateway to another world, not to be feared. Life continued. She felt Kohaku move her the rest of the way into his lap. Strange how she felt like a heavy bag of water, she couldn't get away if she wanted to. It was a very good thing that she didn't want to get away.
"Then I will pledge myself to you in life and beyond. But how would you have me pledge myself?"
"Let's take things one day at a time, like you suggested."
With that, Kohakunushi leaned down and stole Chihiro's first kiss. Chihiro didn't even put up a fight, instead she kissed back. The pearl between her breasts grew warm, corresponding with other strange sensations in her body. She might have had the opportunity to find out what it was, except for the loud knocking on the door.
"Quit making out in there! If I don't get any, you don't either! Keep it PG-13!"
"Maybe you would get some if you would be subtle in your advances, you stinking R- rated scaly coyote."
"Good girl Chihiro! Go for it!"
"What! Nigihayami Kohakunushi, I thought we had an understanding that it would wait until she was at least done with her training!"
A very aggravated couple looked towards the door. Chihiro got out of Kohaku's lap before he lifted his hand to release the locking spell. As he did, the vile mood killers tumbled through the door, the four landing in a heap just inside. Kohaku couldn't hide a smirk, the picture before him was just too funny.
"I do believe that agreement pertained to her virginity. We did not agree that a kiss would be outlawed for Chihiro."
"You said that some Kami did not want their miko to receive even the most innocent of kisses."
"True. However, she serves me, and I did not say that I disagreed with her receiving kisses."
Turning away from the squished and sputtering Koji, Kohakunushi saw that Chihiro was looking very stressed and very red.
"Well, it seems that it will be a while before they manage to disentangle themselves. May I suggest that we slip out the window and indulge in a night-time flight while we wait."
Chihiro giggled. "You may indeed suggest so, my Lord. This humble miko will gladly accept the offer of a night-time flight."
Without further ado, the couple indeed slipped out said window. In a flash, a magnificent white dragon with laughing jade eyes lowered himself to allow his love to mount. He cast an invisibility spell to hide themselves from mortal eyes, and with his rumbling laughter accompanying the higher pitched human female's laughter, rose into the sky.
Inside, an old man could be heard grumbling as a human, dragon in human form and a slug smelling weasel tried to pile off of him.
"He'd better keep that form while they're gone."
Ryu and Lin began snickering. Ryu was the one who spoke first though.
"You'd be surprised at what can be done in that form too."
"Same with a river form I hear."
BlowingWind covered her head. "I'm surrounded by entities more perverted than I am!"
Chihiro and Kohakunushi flew high into the sky, enjoying the freedom inherent in the practice. It was a cool night, but for some reason, Chihiro found herself very hot. Extremely hot, and not all of it was coming from Kohaku she noticed. Shrugging it off, she made herself more comfortable, and a sigh of contentment slipped from her lips.
Kohakunushi had heard the sigh. Normally it would have been torn from her lips before he would have a chance to hear it. However, some strange kind of link had been made with her mind while they had been inside the statue. Also, flicking his ear as a warm breath unexpectedly caressed it, Chihiro seemed to have shifted close to his ear. Her breathing was becoming slightly distracting to him now that he could hear and feel it.
He chanced a look behind him to see what she was up to. She seemed to be currently enthralled with the moon. There was a lingering look in her eye though that confused him. Was it longing, or hunger? She seemed to be thinking about something very hard.
A sudden gust of wind brought his attention back to where he was going again. There was a clearing in the forest he wanted Chihiro to see. The shifting or her weight as another gust buffeted them snapped his attention back to her as he heard her gasp. He decided he would try this new link to see if he could communicate with it.
'Are you ok, Chihiro?'
Another gasp caressed his ear.
'Can you hear me?'
'Y-yes. Why can I hear you?'
'Somehow a strong link was established between us.'
'Oh.'
'Will you answer my question now? Are you ok?'
A wave of confusion swept over him, then embarrassment, then a strange warm feeling in his loins, and back to embarrassment. What on earth was going through his human's head?
'Y-yes. I'm fine.'
A wave of doubt lapped at her ankles for a moment.
"I'm fine."
She was answered by a grudging dip of his head. 'Hang on, we're almost there.'
The ground rose up to meet them, and Chihiro was amazed by watching as the small trees revealed their true size to her. Kohakunushi landed gently on the ground, but her momentum still made her move a little on his back, causing another strange jolt inside her. She felt herself heat up more. She had an idea from sex ed as to what was going on, but it embarrassed her a great deal, especially as it seemed strong emotion could be relayed through this odd new bond they had discovered.
Shaking off the feeling as inappropriate, she looked around. The clearing was small, but there was still enough room for a fully grown dragon to stretch and be comfortable. The trees that ringed it were tall, and there was one particularly attractive moss covered rock with within their guardianship. The grass of the clearing itself was long and lush, waving to her to lay down upon it. Heeding its silently beckoning, she sat upon it.
Kohakunushi was busy watching her. She was so innocent and beautiful. That woman had no idea how much power she held over him. He didn't think it was a bad thing, he was just amazed that she never realized that he would gladly do anything to make her smile. In his observations, he noticed that she was slightly flushed, and that her breasts had more of a point to them than usual. He mentally smacked himself for even looking. It would be best to keep his dragon form. He longed to touch her, but lately he just didn't trust himself. Hopefully it would prevent him from making any unwelcome advances.
Chihiro had noticed that he hadn't resumed a human shape yet. Perhaps she had done something wrong?
"Is something wrong?"
The dragon snorted and shook his head vehemently.
"Then why haven't you taken your other form yet?"
His eyes conveyed a huge sense of embarrassment.
Her eyebrow lifted and she shook her head. "However you're comfortable Kohaku." She then walked over to him and scratched behind his ear. Embarrassed, she dropped her hand and looked away. 'Sorry, couldn't resist."
His head swung around and he looked at her, disbelief in his eyes. Had she really just scratched his ear like a cat? Wait, like a cat, that was it. He could get all the contact he wanted that way, and not be tempted to do, well, other things to show her how much he cared.
Chihiro felt his nose nuzzle her hand, then slide underneath bringing her hand to the top of his head. Looking down, she caught a mischievous glint in his eye. Just what was he thinking? She watched as he gracefully laid down in the soft grass and began purring. She could only stare in disbelief of what she had just witnessed. He was acting like some giant cat or something.
'What? I'm not going to bite you Chihiro. You used to pet me whenever you could when you were little.'
She didn't know why, but that statement sounded true to her. Carefully sitting down with him, she began to rub behind his ear once more. The purring grew louder and his head twisted, placing her hand beneath his chin. Chihiro watched in amusement as a smirk curled his lip and his eyes closed. Thumping began behind her and she saw one of his rear legs twitching as his tail swished.
'Like a cat, or maybe a dog.' She giggled at the thought.
His eyes opened again and one focused on her, although it was apparently hard to. 'A cat or dog, huh?' Then he rolled onto his back. 'You made my underside itch.'
"Me? It was probably the grass Kohaku."
His legs began to twitch, showing her they were just too short to reach it.
"You could use your head you know."
The large dragon just laid there. 'Nah.'
Did dragons get lazy? Bewildered, she began to rub his belly for him. The leg began twitching again, so Chihiro knew she was in the right area. The scales were smooth, so she was having trouble understanding how he could itch from underneath. But they gave just the slightest bit as the flesh beneath also gave way to her gentle pressure. They were hard and smooth, and warm to the touch due to his body heat. Running her hand back along the scales for another stroke the rough edges stimulated the palm of her hand, making that annoying warm feeling between her legs and at her breast return yet again to bother her. What was wrong with her, this was Kohaku, a kami for crying out loud!
Something began to tickle her ear. Reaching up with the other hand, she rubbed at her ear to stop the tickling again. A couple seconds passed, and the tickling resumed. It was like her hair was curling into it, but she had her hair tied back, so there wasn't any way it could. She brushed at her ear again. As soon as she did, it started in her other ear. Suppressing a growl of irritation, she closed her eyes and rubbed both ears, hard.
Chihiro's only reward was her neck starting to tickle. It was almost like somebody was playing with a feather or something. Or maybe it was fur. Her head snapped around, and she got a face-full of green fur. Reaching out, she nabbed the offending appendage before it could make an escape and glared at Kohaku.
"You were acting lazy just so you could tickle me with your tail?"
His answer was a shrug and draconic grin. He had no idea why he felt like playing with her, he just found himself feeling frisky. Unfortunately, he now also found himself pounced on. Not like she could actually pin him down, but he'd let her think so for now. When she started scratching his chin again, he tried to fight the waves of contentment as his body betrayed him. She was playing dirty!
That last thought galvanized him into movement. He wasn't going to let her beat him! He began writhing, trying to carefully slip her off. However, her long legs had clamped firmly around his frame, unwilling to give up the power position and the movement produced some friction that he hadn't taken into account. Laughter died on Chihiro's lips as she strove to control and suppress the intense feeling that suddenly threatened to overwhelm her. After all, he was her friend, she shouldn't feel this way . . . right?
So then why did she?
The sudden silence and intense wave of feelings rolling off of Chihiro gained Kohakunushi's attention as much as the strange smell that now assaulted his nostrils. It was a salty-sweet-musky aroma, like nothing he had ever smelt before. Where a similar smell on others had driven him away, this was oddly enticing. His problem was where was it coming from. Was some creature approaching them, and if so was it a danger to his miko?
Chihiro felt his confusion, and did her best to remain still, trying not to attract his attention. His senses were much sharper in this form, and he was already obviously scenting the air. She was about ready to die of embarrassment, and he was now focusing in on her since he had already determined it was not coming from his surroundings.
Kohakunushi's confusion only grew more as he tracked the scent to Chihiro. What was she hiding from him? He couldn't remember smelling her quite like this. Carefully flipping over so that he was on top, he began sniffing her body, wondering if maybe she had a wound that she had managed to hide. It didn't smell like she was hurt, but what on earth would cause this oddly familiar scent? To his surprise, the scent only increased, and kept increasing.
It clicked. He remembered the little gift from the kitsunes now, and surmised that it had another spell on it other than the one mentioned. After all, kitsune are notorious for meddling where their cold noses just don't belong. Like his love life as a prime example. And there was only one way to get it off.
'It seems we have a problem.'
Chihiro blushed and the pearl at her breast began to glow, working its magic on the pair, the spell feeding on the nervous tension laced between the pair. She didn't understand why her body kept reacting like this. Why it seemed to warm up even if he was a dragon. She used to have dreams about Kohaku's human form that her mother would not have approved of. Those she could understand. But why was she responding in the same way to his dragon form? Was she under a spell? Was her body just a traitor? Maybe it was because she never let a man near her in the way that she could naturally cozy up to Haku.
'Y-yeah.'
'Chihiro, are you sure that you're ready? If I use my human form I won't be able to stop. If I stay in this form though I can help you without overstepping my bounds.'
'What about you? It wouldn't be fair.'
'If we don't do something about this soon Chihiro, the temptation would be too much for me. I gave your grandfather my word. I intend to keep you virgin for three more years.'
'Well, please do something to make this go away. It's getting hard to think. I'm yours already, however you want me to be.'
'Do you really mean however I want you?'
He looked in her eyes. The final mistake had been made. Unnoticed by the kami and the miko, the red string that bound their souls together grew thicker and stronger. The pearl at Chihiro's breast began to pulsate in time with her heart, and became uncomfortably warm for her, but not hot enough to burn. Her body became not her own, and she found herself nodding, their fates having been written long ago.
"However you wish me, Nigihayami Kohakunushi, I am yours. In this life, and beyond."
His maiden had already accepted the proposition that had been made, certainly much sooner than he had ever anticipated, except for in his wildest dreams. Those were all of pretty much the same genre though, and certainly not as exciting as this. He would have to be very careful though not to overstep his bounds, she still had three years to make her decision. But he could ease her discomfort for her. Carefully, so as not to harm the soft skin, he exposed where her heart lay to his view, and uttered his poposition in order to be perfectly clear.
'Then, be MINE!'
His head reared back as he roared his claim to the skies. He could feel the maiden beneath him moan and arch, responding instinctively to the claim. Turning his gaze back upon the small form beneath him, he feasted himself upon her delicate form, worshiping and treasuring her like the pure and delectable stream that she hid within herself. Each of her sacred founts received their due pilgrimage, the wandering pilgrim that had been so long without a home reluctant to leave the scenic beauty of each behind for the next.
Carefully, he employed every technique that his studies had taught him, and even improvised a few more. Slowly, he coaxed the waters of her yin to leave the crystal pool of her sacred fountain, delicately restraining her with his tail when she moved too much. The experience was even more intense than his mind had imagined it to be, and he was glad that he was already reclining with his precious prize. Fighting against his own yang, which could leave him too weak to protect her if released, especially in such an exposed location, he eagerly accepted the offered libation which had filtered through her mystic mountain. Finally, at long last her release had washed over her, and he was gifted with her liquid yin essence. He drank deeply of the magical liquid produced by all women, and felt it nourishing him, making him stronger. Perhaps it was a good thing after all that part of his training had been the study of the Kama Sutra and the Chinese love manuals. It seemed that he had done very well as she now lay spent, panting out her breath. Laying his head down beside her own he curled his body about her.
'Better?'
Chihiro's head flopped to its side in order to look at him. She was still panting, but her breath was slowly returning to her.
"Yeah. No more wrestling though, it seems to lead down strange paths. I'm not going to be able to get up for a while."
She was rewarded with a smug look from Kohakunushi. 'Ah-ah, there may very well be more wrestling matches in the future, just not for another three years.'
"Better drop the subject, or we'll be here all night Kohaku."
He swung his head up to observe the stars. Quite a bit of time had passed, and he should be taking his miko back to the Shrine now. His miko, now that phrase just had a totally new layer of meaning to it.
'When you feel like your strong enough, I'll need to get you home. Koji will have kittens otherwise.'
A few minutes later, the pair flew into the night. The ride home was uneventful, and their path was low, in order to stay closer to the warm earth. After a few minutes, they landed, and Chihiro dismounted with a large yawn, while Kohaku resumed his human shape. Offering his arm for her support, they approached the Shrine.
They were met at the door of the Shrine by the inhabitants. A very irate Koji was at the head of the group. BlowingWind, Ryu, and Lin were all snickering behind their hands.
"I trust you brought back my granddaughter with her honor intact?"
"She is still very much a virgin Koji."
"How can I be sure?"
Chihiro began to blush. Her grandfather was so confusing at times. First he wants her to get a nice boyfriend, then decides he doesn't, then decides that he'll approve of Kohaku, and now seems to be back to the no boyfriend stage.
Ryu assumed his dragon shape and went over to smell Chihiro from a respectful distance. He smelled her spent arousal, but not that of Kohaku. He glanced at his friend and gave a wink, having figured out roughly what had gone on. He then resumed his human shape.
"Definitely still very pure Koji."
"And I'm supposed to listen to the resident hentai?"
Kohakunushi merely shook his head and sighed. He remembered what Koji had been like when young. It was no wonder he thought that all men were after that once they got in Chihiro's good graces.
'Then again, if he only knew.'
Lin strode forward as she rolled her eyes. Maybe the old Priest would listen to her.
"Geeze, don't have a cow. He's right, I don't smell any mating. Besides, Dragon-boy keeps his word. Anyway, if they had, they wouldn't be standing here right now. He would have taken her and holed up with her for a few days. Come on, you're a priest to a river dragon, you should know about their mating habits."
Koji stomped back into the house, muttering something about going to bed. Lin winked at Chihiro and tapped her own nose.
"That doesn't mean that Ryu and I can't smell that you guys did 'something else.' Must have been some 'ride' Chihiro. Next time you guys need to wash off the smell of that nectar."
The remaining days slipped by quickly. The strange large rock was removed, and the river spewed forth. Geologists and hydrologists were confused as that should not have happened, even though it did. No explanation could be found scientifically. The elders believed that the Spring Kami had been holding back the water until it was safe to let go. Newspapers ran both opinions, and poor Chihiro found herself mauled by reporters again.
That night, the Shrine held a festival in honor of the river's triumphant return. Many types of spirits attended invisibly or in disguise. Humans were there too, of course. Chihiro was amazed by how they never seemed to notice the presence of any of the spirits other than those who had taken a corporeal form. Ten even attended, and teased Kohakunushi mercilessly about having been spied flying with Chihiro by himself. Kohakunushi decided to figure out a spell to make him invisible from spirits too. This festival became part of tradition and was thereafter held every year.
Recent note - 4/12/2005
Reposted newly edited chapter. I can't believe that not all of the changes had been recorded the first time. The original and more explicit chapter remains up on AFF though. You all can thank a review who goes by the handle Ellina for getting me to rewrite the hidden scene.
Old note - can't remember when
There will be two last chapters for this story. So watch for them. My focus will be switching to Underwater Savior next, which will extend from when Chihiro falls into the river until shortly after the river's demise. The sequel for this story is going to be called 'Rivers Keep Flowing.' I'm thinking about doing something for after this is over as well, sort of a snippet kind of thing. We'll see, have to catch my head hamster, or is that rescue the head hamster?
(scene switches)
"If we keep this hamster hidden, then she can't write anymore. I heard she was thinking of stating explicitly my bad idea, expanding a scene and throwing in what happened on our flight and putting this up on aff . net."
"What happens if she gives up and buys another head hamster Kohaku?"
"Then we're going to be forced to do something we aren't ready for."
"Crud."
Redweb111sakura: Fast enough for ya?
Micrll: Thanks for worrying about me. Hey, at least you still have your head hamster. Somebody let mine out of the cage I think. ;)
Redrose Moon: Danka! Good luck with that project.
Nightfall2525:Points up above to chapter: You mean like that?
I probably forgot somebody. Sowwy! If I did, I'll catch ya either on the next chapter for this or the other.
