Chapter 6 Meeting a Phoenix
Chihiro was lost in her own thoughts when Lin entered the room. Her old friend was wearing a basket with unmistakeable contained clothes.
"Here" she said throwing a green tunic and a pair of brown pants at her.
"What are these for?" Chihiro asked eyeing the clothes suspiciously.
"We have a meeting to attend. Xing told me he met one of his old friends, and that friend knew were we could find a phoenix."
Chihiro almost fell out from her bed. Had she heard it correctly?
"I thought it would be a lot worse finding one of them."
"So did I, but the worse part will be to make it listen." Lin said as they both changed cloths.
Minutes later they went down to wait for the others, who to their surprise hadn't turned up yet. Lin was wearing an orange tunic and brown pants, very similar to her own clothing. The only real different was the short dagger in her belt.
They seated down at a small window. Put their hood up from their travelling cloaks.
After many minutes Lin was starting to get rather irritated. What took them so long?
There were many different spirits at the inn. A small group, three spirits, of hooded ones sat by another table, drinking some kind of steaming drink. Another group, six spirits or so were whispering low to each other. The innkeeper was cleaning of tables. The door opened and another spirit entered. But where were the others.
The three spirits finished their drinks. One of them, looking, like the youngest came over to their table.
"Are you ready to leave?" he asked in a low voice. Lin nodded and nodded to Chihiro to follow them outside.
Outside, it was dark. A few lamps were lit, yet there were no signs of light anywhere.
The hooded figure drew back the hood of his cloak. It was Kohaku. Chihiro's heart jumped. Why hadn't she recognised him before. Kohaku wore a black tunic and dark blue pants, which made him look almost invisible in the darkness.
Xing made a sign for them to follow. Chihiro's heart pounded. Maybe, there was still hope.
Xing led them through some of the smaller streets. Through some hidden passages between the houses and to Chihiro's fear, a solid wall. The old Earth spirit stepped right through like if there was nothing there. The others followed, yet Chihiro hesitated, but entered. She was mighty surprised when she had gone through. She looked back, but the wall had disappeared.
"An illusion" Lin explained. "It looks like a great wall to keep outsiders outside. Xing's friends have a reputation of not all ways being on the right road."
Chihiro looked suspicious at her.
"Oh, it's not like they are evil or so. But most of them are thieves or frauds. You should be careful with your gold, if you have any. They can take anything, if they are in that mood.
Chihiro nodded, but still felt uneasy.
They shortly arrived at a great oak door. Xing walked forward and knocked at the door three times. Carefully the door opened.
"Inside, quickly!" said a hushed voice. They all hurried in. the room was dark, so dark the darkness outside could have been called light.
As soon as the five of them was inside lights were put on, stinging in the eyes. Yet when they eyes slowly got used to it again Chihiro took herself a good look around.
The room's decoration could be described in one way... brown. All the furniture, the fabrics and so on was brown. It didn't seem to matter on how it looked as long as everything was brown.
She looked puzzled around. In the meantime Xing introduced them.
"Well, it looks like you found dome decent company for once. How much for the woman?" his friend asked.
"You wouldn't want her, a bit to stingy for your taste. Her name is Lin, she worked at the Spirit bathhouse before."
"And the others?"
"This is Deko, you've met him before in Onjiina."
The fire spirit bowed.
"This is Kohaku, a brave water spirit, was once one of Yubaba's workers."
He bent closer to whisper something.
"His river is destroyed, yet don't mention I said that."
"I see" the friend said. "And who's the girl. Not thinking of selling her, are you?"
"Oh, that's Chihiro. She's a human who managed to sneak into our world, this for the second time. Don't ask how she do it."
"A human?" Xing's friend looked at her with wide eyes.
"This, my friends, is Monhu. A thief, liar and the head here in this little thief nest. He's a wind spirit"
Monhu bowed. Yet when their eyes were focused on this, strange spirit Chihiro felt that someone was down looking in her pocket.
She shrieked and jumped back, falling over. The others looked at her, or at where she a second before had stood. There stood a young spirit, who had tried to steal gold from her pocket. Lin put her own hand in her pocket only to discover the little gold she had was gone.
"Why, you little!"
The spirit fled cheering, holding her gold in his hand.
"My students, I'm really proud of them. They learn very quick."
"I see that" Xing said as Lin took of to catch that thief.
Chihiro sighed. She didn't have something worth stealing so...
"Anyway, you said you've sighted one of the phoenixes." Xing said.
Monhu's face darkened.
"Yes I have, he's staying at my room by this time."
"He is? Could we see him?" Chihiro asked hopefully.
"Well, I don't know..."
"Please!!!!!" Chihiro begged giving him one of those dangerous female smiles. Kohaku looked away. Deko noticed this and smile. Even if he was a mute he wasn't stupid.
"This way!" Monhu said happily, having a interested look on Chihiro. He led them to a luxurious looking room, but when they arrived at the door, he waited outside. In the meantime Lin returned looking cross. And when Chihiro was about to enter the room, Monhu tried to hold her back. Unfortunately for him, Chihiro noticed this and dragged him aside.
On a large bed lay a man with chestnut brown hair. He was sleeping, yet when they came closer he opened his eyes.
"Who dares disturb me sleeping!" he demanded to know.
"We do, we need your help." Chihiro said.
The phoenix turned over and sat up.
"Young stupid human, do you have any idea on who I am?"
Chihiro nodded. She wasn't afraid, just irritated on his attitude.
"We need your help, are you helping us or not."
"That depends on what you can offer me."
Kohaku stepped forward. "I can offer you my services, sir. If you are able to remove this from my finger."
The phoenix looked at him, wondering if this might be a good thing. It so happened that phoenixes might be the most powerful creatures known, but they were very lazy when it came to work and a offer like this was always welcome.
"Okay, let me see then."
Kohaku showed him the ring. Chihiro felt the Earth she was standing on shiver, yet how much power the phoenix used he couldn't get it off.
"This is impossible, what kind of ring is that?"
"One that drains all my powers away to a sorceress. She tricked me into wearing this and now I can't bet it off. If it don't disappear soon, I'll die."
The phoenix of earth stared at him.
"There's nothing I can do against such a strong magic, and seeing it has been on your hand it's beyond my powers to get it off. I could still try to get one of my sisters to try, they have more powers then me and I'm sure they will be able to remove it. Peace has her territory nearby. Go to Intera, their you might find her and I'm sure she'll be able to help."
"Thank you." Kohaku said bowing.
Chihiro looked at him and then at the phoenix. Somehow the phoenix sensed her and asked.
"Is there something bothering you, young human?"
"Uhm, I was just wondering something. I've heard everywhere you are supposed to be rare to see, harder to find and impossible to convince. But for me, this don't seem to be that hard."
Oh, you wait human. We are rare to see, because we are often seen as normal spirits, not as the bright phoenixes we travel as. We are hard to find, because we never stay on the same place long enough. And we are especially hard to convince, unless for things like this. But I'm often called the stupid one of us, I'm not classified smart. But as more of my sisters and brothers you'll meet, the harder they'll probably be to convince. And if you excuse me now, but I think I'll take off to leave. It's been a long day and I have some business."
And without information he transformed into a brown phoenix and too off. What a strange meeting this had been.
To reviewers
Micrll: I know, I know, yet I think we'll spare this love story for further chapters. And Haku will loose his powers forever, if that ring is not removed. Thank you for reviewing.
IrishKitsune: Yes, isn't it sweet? Anyway, thank you for reviewing, hope you liked this chapter.
Fufa: Thank you for saying that, it makes me happy.
Velf: You don't think so, it's just me being negative. Anyway, hope you liked this chapter, I'll try to update soon.
Kira and Lacus Forever: here's the update. Be patient, I'm trying to update as fast as I can back here.
End notes:
Thank you all reviewers, I'm glad that so many like it. I'll try to update soon, in the meantime, review.
Shitza