A/N: Yes, it's been a LONG time since I've updated this story. My appologies. I've had a bit of writer's block with this one (and my Harry Potter obsession just isn't helping me any). I'll try to update again as soon as possible. Again, I'm very sorry to anyone who has been waiting for more of this story. Thanks. --EDS


Chapter 11: The Spirit Eater

"He's here, Chihiro. The Spirit Eater . . . "

Haku's words, the way he spoke them, made her terrified. She stood before him, shaking just as he did.

"You have to get out of here, Chihiro." She didn't move, "Please!" he stressed

Chihiro shook her head.

"No, I can't go. My mom and dad are in there, and their friends. A-and I don't want you to go in there alone."

He didn't seem moved by her argument. So, she took matters into her own hands, running toward the door.

"NO!" Haku yelled, following after her like a blast of wind.

He darted in front of her just as she grabbed the door. A look of determination flared at him from her hardened brown eyes matching his own. He couldn't let her get in the middle of this, but she was fighting him. Haku realized he should have known. Though she was being stubborn, he had to try to turn her away.

"Chihiro, go!"

She shook her head again then attempted to push passed him. The yelling inside the hall became louder, which made her more determined. Haku still held her back.

"Chihiro!" he yelled

Suddenly Haku was thrown through the glass door as though grabbed around the waist and tossed backwards. Chihiro reached out albeit too late screaming his name. Inside, he landed hard on the ground in the middle of the very panicked crowd.

He heard screams all around him, but nothing was as loud as the cold, shrill timbre of the Spirit Eater. Dazed, Haku stood up, swaying. The glass beneath his feet crunched as he began to move toward the dark core of the creature only he could truly see.

He watched in quiet horror as the tentacles passed through the unknowing mortals. One by one, they fell to the ground as soulless shells. Haku had to put a stop to this at once.

"Look at them, Haku. So delicious . . . " another fell to the ground as a tentacle pulled back, "It's been so long since I've had a human soul . . . " the thing said as though savoring a hearty meal.

"You'll stop at once!" Haku screamed at the Spirit Eater, who only laughed in response.

A long tentacle swung hard at Haku, catching him right in the ribs. He heard a crack as his body went flying into the nearby table. Red punch spilled all over him, not that it mattered. There was a burning pain in his chest as he struggled to breathe.

"Do you think YOU can stop me, Haku?" it laughed that cruel laugh, "You are the one who brought me to this feast."

Haku jumped up from the ground, a move he knew he'd regret later thanks to the pain. He brought his hands to his face, formed in a square. He chanted something quickly and furiously. Suddenly, a jet of water that appeared neither here nor there sprang from his boxed fingers. It seemed real . . . but not.

The watery jet hit the Spirit Eater dead on, causing it to reel back with a high-pitched scream. Its long arms flailed about as it flew into a wall then through it.

"Run!" Haku yelled to the others who were standing around watching in shock, "While you can do so! Run!" they just stood and stared

Haku moved to the nearest person, shoving him roughly toward the door. Unfortunately, it was too late. A tentacle passed through her and another person. Both dropped to the floor. That got people running and screaming again.

Suddenly, Haku felt something around his throat, lifting him from the ground. He choked and gagged as he clawed at it with his fingernails. The man couldn't even make a sound it was wrapped so tightly.

"You'd betray me after I've given you this chance!"

Haku bared his teeth almost ferally at the monster that had him in its grasp.

"All that whining. 'I must find Chihiro. I must keep my promise!' Boo hoo hoo!" the Spirit Eater mocked him

Haku had to free himself somehow. He couldn't sit here idly while the Spirit Eater continued his feast. There were so few left and it was stealing souls by the second.

There was only one solution. Only one thing he could do. His body began to glow and shift. The Spirit Eater's grasp lessened as Haku's body began to reform and elongate in its clutches. It sneered at him as Haku managed to break himself free.

Haku landed hard on the floor, shimmering like a pale river against the floor. His large green eyes focused on the Spirit Eater as he slowly moved toward it. Then, he jetted across the floor, ramming into the creature that only he could touch. The thing flew backwards through the wall, causing Haku to actually crash into it. Dazed, he fell to the ground again, but at least he'd managed to stall the Spirit Eater again.

"Haku . . . ?" he heard a gasp near the door

Haku turned his head to the soft, confused sound, only to find Chihiro staring at him. She'd obviously just walked in instead of running like he begged. Her warm brown eyes were wide and her jaw was slightly dropped. She seemed to be trembling as her eyes traveled along his dragon body.

Oh, he wanted to go to her, but he knew he couldn't. She wasn't safe. Not yet. He roared at her. It was his way of telling her to run, but she seemed stuck in place. Fear ripped through him as he kept his eyes on her. If something happened to her–

He had no time to continue the thought. Suddenly he crashed into the wall at the other side of the room. His head knocked hard against it, causing his mind to haze again. Hell!

"Haku!" Chihiro yelled

She sounded as though she was moving closer to him. Why wasn't she running away! Again, he roared in warning, but he could hear her footsteps approaching. No, no, no! His eyes opened again as the Spirit Eater laughed shrilly. Haku watched as a tentacle approached Chihiro.

Roaring yet again, he rushed to intercept the tentacle. It grazed Chihiro enough to knock her out, but the thing hadn't managed to steal her soul. Haku managed to hold the thing down for now.

There were sirens in the distance. No one had escaped enough to manage to call the police. The commotion drew them to the hall.

The Spirit Eater moved away from Haku, still laughing. He gave the young dragon one last good swing, causing Haku to fly into the ceiling. With a loud thunk, he fell to the ground again. Broken glass dug into his skin passed the scales sending sharp pangs of pain through him. It forced his shape to change back to his human form.

He looked up. His whole body shook as he moved. Haku hissed with pain while he searched the room. The Spirit Eater fled from the scene. All around Haku members of the party were strewn about. It seemed no one survived. Then he remembered Chihiro.

Haku scrambled over to her fallen body. She wasn't cold and empty like the others, simply unconscious. He brought a hand to her soft face, cupping it lovingly.

"Chihiro . . . " he whispered

She didn't move, not that he'd expected her to. Eventually, she would wake up. Haku vowed to be at her side when that happened.

The sirens got closer. Cars came to a screeching halt just outside the door. Moments later, officers charged inside of the hall.

"My God!" one of the officers uttered fearfully

It was quite the scene. Broken glass everywhere. Fallen bodies on the floor. A lone man hovering above the body of a young girl.

"Hey you! What's happened here!" another officer said, suspicion heavy in his words.

Haku looked to the officers with confusion. How could they blame him for this? No one man could do such a thing!

Before anyone could speak, the entire neighborhood seemed to be screaming. The officers visibly trembled as the sound echoed from the streets all around the hall. Haku took one last look at Chihiro, deeply wishing to look into those warm brown eyes once more, but he ran out of time. He had to find a way to help.

He stood up, wavering with each step closer to the doors.

"Wait!" one officer yelled, grabbing Haku by the arm, "You're not going anywhere! Not until you explain what happened!"

The yelling continued beyond the hall. Haku had to help. He was the only one that could.

Weakened by the earlier fight and frightened for Chihiro, Haku couldn't think of a decent cover story for himself. The truth flooded out of his mouth before he could stop himself.

"I have. To stop. Him." He mumbled weakly as he tried to remove himself from the officer's hold

"What are you talking about! What did you do to these people?"

"I didn't. Do anything. It was him!"

"You're not making any sense." Another officer growled at him

"Everyone. Is in danger. The Spirit Eater!" he yelled as others came to hold him down.

The more he struggled, the more urgent his pleas became. Of course, the officers assumed that this man had snapped. It took at least four officers to hold him down. Eventually, someone pulled out a stun gun. Haku screamed as the electricity shot through his already tired body, causing him to fall to the ground.

"We're going to have to put him 'away.' He's obviously insane." One of the police officers said as another cuffed him.

The others agreed. They carried him to the nearest squad car and tossed him in, roughly. The screaming in the streets continued while paramedics came to help the fallen party guests. No one knew what to do and the only person who could help them was being taken away.