Shitza: Sorry for taking such a long time, with this chapter. But I wanted to finish my other story, yet I'm back again with another chapter. Hope you like this chapter, please review in the end. I really appreciate those reviews, just say something and I promise I'll never quit writing this story.

Shitza

Chapter 10 Now then?

Chihiro was breathing heavily. She and Kohaku had been dancing to what seemed like an eternity. Of course, she didn't mind, but after dancing for hours you did start to grow tired. Lin was dancing with Deko, who practically lifted her up inches above the floor. Xing sat in a corner, with a large glass of wine in his hand, talking with some charming ladies. Kohaku sat beside her, his arm resting round her waist. It was in the middle of the night and all of them had started to grow tired. Finally, Deko and Lin returned. The old worker told them, clearly, it was time for bed.

Minutes later they got the keys to their rooms. Deko and Xing had their at the end of a corridor. Lin had her own luxurious one near the roof. Chihiro and Kohaku, the two lovebirds, had their on the other side of the inn, several corridors from the others.

What they didn't know was that this night would be one of the far worst, they've ever experienced.

(In Deko and Xing's room)

Xing sat in a old chair drinking the last drops of wine. Deko shook his head, tried to ignore the singing Earth spirit and go to sleep. But he didn't have much luck, as minutes after, Xing was jumping up and down on his bed singing.

Grandma's little raven

Went out for a shaven

No one he had driving

And so he went left

And so he went right

Until he fell down the ditch

Deko growled and kicked Xing on his foot. Xing lost his balance and fell down onto the floor.

"Ruinin' the fun –hick- are you."

Deko made some signs in the air and growled.

"You are really no fun at all... -hick- My old mother was funnier than you –hick-

Deko sighed and pulled the blanket over his head. Xing continued singing like a stuck pig for partly the rest of the evening, until midnight when he finally dropped down on the floor, exhausted. The both of them, would hours later be awakened by...

(In Lin's room)

Lin sighed and yawned. She was so used to company she had forgotten how it felt to have a room of her own. Ever since Chihiro and Kohaku became a couple, she had lost her roommate. But still, she was happy for the both of them. Kohaku was a good friend, even if he didn't always understand the ways of the workers, and Chihiro was one of the closest friends she had ever had. They both had turned out to be the cutest couple ever.

She sighed and walked out on the small balcony. The stars were bright above, shimmering like a thousand candles. They so much reminded her of the jewelleries Yubaba kept. She remembered once, when she had started working at the Bathhouse, somehow managed to stumble out from the realms were dead people had come to rest. On that way she was part of a spirit, but she was a mortals spirit with no power at all. She had started working at the bathhouse, forgotten her name and identity. Now, years after, small flashes of her past life had come back, but only small pieces. She still knew nothing of her true self.

-Flashback-

She was a young girl again, plying on the fields with silk flying pictures. Another young girl was running beside her, letting her picture get caught in the wind. They both watched them circle above.

"That was fun," she had said. The other girl had nodded.

Suddenly, across the field, someone had called after her.

"Little one, it's time to go home!"

She sighed. The fun was ruined, yet she would remember this fun forever, or so she had promised herself.

-End Flashback-

Yes, it was a lost memory. She didn't remember anymore who the girl had been, or why the man calling had called her "little one". She was lost in a foggy world of memories. She wondered what her name might have been, she might never be able to find out.

Yes, yes... if only she hadn't fallen out from the world of dead. A few spirits had done so, and got lost in strange worlds. Most of those spirits had gone, she was one survivor. Now, she would never be able to turn back... she was... she was... she was lost. Did she try to turn back, she would disappear like the rest. Did she stay, then what would happen to her?

She stood there, breathing fresh air before walking back inside again, deciding to get some rest. It was early in the morning, and she was pretty certain she would need all the rest she would need. But she had barely lain down, before...

(In Chihiro and Kohaku's room)

After having danced, as long as they had, Chihiro and Kohaku both went to bed, but it took them quite a while before getting to sleep. For what seemed hours, they had been so close to each other, they barely had time to breath. When finally settled down, they were both sweaty and breathing harshly, but they were both smiling. A soft laugh escaped from Kohaku's mouth as he kissed her again. Chihiro smiled, kissing him back.

"Maybe, we'd better get to sleep." He whispered in her ear.

"Maybe," she agreed. "Just think, tomorrow we'll go to meet the second phoenix, and then..."

"... then we'll be free again. Free together."

She laughed, he knew what she thought. And what she wanted.

They slept peacefully together, close to each other. The sun slowly rose outside. The birds began singing, harmonically. Everything seemed to end up as a perfect morning, until...

"Terrible news everyone! Our previous phoenix has fallen. The phoenix of Peace has dropped from heaven to the hell of lakes itself. Terrible news..."

Everyone in Intera Malua ran out on the round square, even so Deko, Xing, Lin, Kohaku and Chihiro.

At the centre, there stood a large beefy man, holding a long roll of parchment.

"dear citizens, we have a major problem. Today, just five minutes ago, one of our habitants discovered that our precious protector was missing from her cave. Truth to be told, the worst imaginable thing have happened. The Phoenix of Peace... is dead. She died, falling into the pool without end."

The five travellers hopes fell to the bottom. 'And now what?' they asked themselves. 'Now what would happen?'

Five metres away, a blue-cloaked figure sat, tears trickling down her face. Her poor sister, what would now await them all.

To reviewers:

Winter –iel –o burzum: yeah, school started over a week ago, but still I'll try to update as often as I can. Hope you liked this chapter, thank you for reviewing.

Shandrial: I think love will be one of the major big things in this fic' so I hope you'll enjoy this story. I certainly enjoy writing it. Hope you liked this chapter.

Fufa: Hope you liked this, sorry for taking time, but I only get half of the time writing as it is.

Sakura-Hiwatari: Oh, I already have a bossy mother, but no problem at all. I won't update that late. Yet remember, I live in a different time zone, so updates may be classified as late. Don't know where you live, so I can't count things out, but don't worry, won't go to bed too late.

Storm-Maker: Hurray, glad you liked it. Sorry for making the prophecy confusing, but that's how I make them. You should see the long one I made for my other one. I don't think anyone will be able to solve it.

End notes: Thank you all wonderful reviewers. I'll try to update soon, if I don't update sometime during next week, then start consider this as an update every weekend, because that's the time I usually have time writing. Enjoy the summer, for those who still are free from school, for those, who like me are stuck in classrooms, enjoy the time you have.

The song Xing sings are a translation of a swedish folksong.

Shitza