Yuri
Nakamura Yuri was bored. She dwindle her pen between her fingers, eyes staring ahead into nothingness. It was class and the English teacher was busy scribbling things on the board. With his back to the class, as she observed with a snort, many were not paying attention and chatting among themselves. Soon the same situation would repeat itself like any day with English Class: Irritated, the teacher would turn around and bark a few comments to the class. That was the first turn. The second turn would be to scold the class for being noisy, and then the third was the final one; with the veins popping in his head and spitting words that no other teacher would dare speak in public.
She sighed loudly and dropped her pen. It made a chatter sound as it hit the desk. She stared at it for a moment before the teacher made the first turn of annoyance.
"Duh," she sighed softly. She closed her eyes.
Yuri?
Yuri's opened in surprise. This voice…a familiar presence was in the air now…she had a feeling of something from her left. A bead of sweat dripped half-way down her cheeks. This familiar presence…
Haku? She formed the word in her mind. He never sought her except when she called. And that was in her room, when she was meditating. Why the reason for now?
A sense of relief. Then a whirlpool of images hit her. A lake…set in the forest…diving forward…deep, blue depths…a signboard…houses…lots of houses…a child eating ice-cream…a street board…
It's a neighborhood! Yuri realized. I'm looking through Haku's eyes! A feeling of victory entered her; Chihiro would never have felt the same experience. But at the thought of Chihiro, her heart sank.
He must have met her by now…she thought bitterly.
But…why the houses and the neighborhood?
Another wave of images hit her. Momentarily confused, she pieced the pictures in her head one by one. She couldn't believe what she saw at first. Then she giggled, closing her hand over her mouth to muffle the voice.
"What's so funny, Nakamura-san?" a sharp voice rang out.
Heads swirled; Yuri stopped giggling and looked up. The English teacher stood half-turned from his position of writing on the board, one hand holding the chalk and glasses flashing maliciously. He scowled.
"Nothing," she answered.
"Nothing? I'll give you nothing. See me after school." He turned back to the board, muttering under his breath.
Her friend beside her nudged her in the elbow; she gave an expression that said: You're dead. .
Yuri stuck out her tongue at her friend. She stared at her desk, thinking about the truth that was just revealed to her just now.
Haku had left the lake, which mean that the spell she had given Chihiro would not work. Chihiro must be in a state of helplessness now. A grin appeared on her face, she grunted. So now Haku was looking for Chihiro, and vice-versa. I'm the go-between.
A thoughtful smile graced her face. Now that is interesting. I do believe that I can use this for my advantage. A hand came up to caress her chin.
Haku's presence was no longer felt. She could think whatever she wanted to think now.
Now…to make my plan…she smiled softly.
My plan to win Haku over…
Haku
I can't believe it.
I just can't believe what Yuri thought just now. She thought I wasn't there…I only masked my presence…
Why am I always used by other people? I pondered bitterly. First it was Yubaba…now it is Yuri…meaning to destroy my relationship with Chihiro…I thought she was a friend…
Is there no good soul in this world? Wait...there is…Chihiro's smiling face came to my mind. Somehow, she always had a knack of making me smile…
…Which is why…I reminded myself…? You have to find her as quickly as possible. Before anything bad happens…
I'll start in this neighborhood first.
