Shitza: Busy, busy as ever. Whew, can't believe how much they are making us to do.

Tári: Well, at least there's the weekend to look up too.

Shitza: Oh yes! Longing already.

Chapter 14 Rumbling Clouds

Xing was overprotecting, so much everyone had found out. Whenever he thought Lin might be in trouble he was there to help. Sure enough they all noticed the sense of romance hanging in the air, and not all of it came from Chihiro or Kohaku. It was a new couple, and Deko had found this rather amusing since he couldn't stop teasing them. It was a good thing Deko didn't have a voice of his own, or else he threatened to totally make the two of them goes under the earth of embarrassment. Deko had known Xing basically their entire lives, and not all of the things he told them, by showing what he meant in the air, were that friendly. Chihiro and Kohaku had practically a good laugh during most of the ride.

"Cut that out" Xing told Deko, as the fire spirit told them of the day Xing had a run in with a couple of bearded ladies. Chihiro almost fell of her Dinkes in laughter. Kohaku had much more luck on hiding his. Xing glared at the three of them. Could they never leave them alone?

On top of it all, Lin pecked him on the cheek. Xing blushed. Lin was the woman never to care of hiding her feelings, Xing on the contrary more wanted to do that. It was either a miracle, or destiny's will to put those two together.

Finally they reached down the mountains. Amogsha, the Phoenix of Lightnings territory, was a green valley, right in the heart of the mountains they had climbed. Chihiro stared at it, in awe. She had never believed this realm would be so green. How could it be, that fairytale sweet? It didn't make much sense to her as they climbed down.

Kohaku felt uneasy. They had met so many phoenixes, three in all. This would be the fourth one. If he wouldn't be able to help him, then who would?

Chihiro felt his worries, and as the Dinkes slowly walked down, with them on top, she made Hono move closer to him.

"Don't worry. I'm sure we'll be able to do it this time." She said.

Kohaku looked at her, she clearly saw the tears that had formed at his eyes.

"I hope so too. Or else we might as well stop. We are never going to find all ten, that's impossible."

Hono shook his fiery mane as an answer. She smiled, the Dinkes were right, they would not be able to quit this. They had gone too far from quitting. She bent down and hugged it. Kohaku had a hard time too understand her. Even through all these years, she still hadn't changed. She was still the loving princess in his eyes.

At the front Lin and Xing were telling Deko of for stopping on teasing them. The fire spirit just laughed, by waving his arms frantically. He almost fell over, yet managed to pull himself back. His Dinkes surely didn't like to be pulled by the mane. It growled and staggered. Deko fell of, into the mud.

"Are you all right?" Kohaku and Chihiro asked him.

Deko smiled in return and began waving his arms again, his way of laughing. This made everyone laugh. The fire spirit sure could make everyone happy. It was too bad he couldn't talk. Chihiro wondered what his voice would be like.

Lin had an equal thought, yet she didn't say anything, just like Chihiro.

(In Yubaba's office)

She strode up and down, dead worried. Her hair was a mess, and so was the house, her old house she had lived in before the Bathhouse. Before she and her sister had broken up their friendship.

She fingered on the iron rings that hung round her neck. So many young stupid spirits had paid with their lives for her. She was strong now, yet still, she hungered for more, more power. She knew what she wanted. Kohaku was on the brim of destruction, and when she would have his powers, she would be the Queen of Kamikakushi, the Spirit world.

She laughed coldly, yet the fun was ruined by a knock on the door. She felt only to open and then fry the person outside. Yet the door opened and in stumbled a cloaked young spirit with red flaming hair and silver eyes. On his right hand was a ring, an iron ring.

"Please," he begged. "Get this thing of me. It hurts so and drives life from my flesh. Please, show me mercy and I will serve you forever."

She laughed, this was surely amusing. How all of her apprentice in the end stumbled in and begged her to release them from the pain and the weakness. She loved the humiliation they felt in their hearts. It really amused her.

"Can't you do better?" she asked.

"Please!" he begged once more.

"You'll have to train yourself up, yet I'll release you from the pain." She said, grinning evilly there was a flash of light and the iron ring burnt red on the young spirits finger, absorbing the last of strength. The spirit fell to the floor, Yubaba took the ring, forged it to the others she wore and ordered a servant nearby to throw away the body.

'They do never learn, I am the greatest.' She thought.

(The Amogsha Forest)

They rode the Dinkes through the trees, carefully not to let the forest to start burning. No one of them knew that the trees wouldn't start burning, unless they would harm them.

Chihiro yawned, the air was so thick in here, and it made her sleepy. Without noticing, she fell of. Hono too had been affected by the air, he did not notice his mistress fall. The others continued without her. Above, the sky darkened.

TBC

To reviewers: Wow, so many reviews. Thank you so much, all of you!

Velf: Well, this is getting pretty cute, don't you think? Thanks for reviewing

Shandrial: Well, I know Haku has been through a lot, yet don't you think knowing you are dying can get you down, especially since you know how the others will feel when you have passed away. I am of course talking about Chihiro in these matters.

Micrll: Well, don't you think that's sweet. Besides, Lin's such a good girl I decided she would need something else then dirty bathtubs. I do hope you will post the story you found, I'd try to update within a week.

Winter –iel –o burzum: Well, aren't we all getting busy in times like these. I've been extremely busy lately, I have a hard time to update any of my stories.

To reviewers(other chapters)

Leshyaedawnfire: Wow, I didn't expect five reviews just like that. Hope you have enjoyed everything. I'll update, as soon as my teachers gives me some time off.

End Notes:

Shitza: Well, back to everything else again. I have French homework waiting upstairs.

Tári: Au revoir! Mes amis!

Shitza: Since when did you steal my books?"

Tári: Je ne sais pas.