Shitza: (hides) So sorry I didn't post the next chapter until now, I know I promised as soon as I had gotten more then five reviews for the chapter. Hope you don't flame me for waiting. You have all rights to…

Anyway, here's the continuing chapter. Hope you'll enjoy!

Shitza

Chapter 27 Servant of the River

(Last time)

The older fox smiled. "You can call me Tseyo"

(Present)

Tseyo… Tseyo… it sounded so familiar. From where could he have heard the name, he knew that name, almost feared it too.

Kohaku closed his eyes for a moment and tried to concentrate deeply. Images flew through his mind, one of them came from his river, from over a hundred years back.

(Memory)

The Kohaku River had two realities, it existed in both worlds. There was a small stream in Kamikakushi, were young spirits used to play when they were tired or bored. The big river existed in the Mortal world were villages counted on him to support him with what they needed. Kohaku had enjoyed those days, in the spirit world he was everyone's friend and in the mortal world he was a god. Ever since he had become to life, after his father's decision that he wanted one more son, he had been in full harmony and a god you could count on.

But as the years went, the mortals grew in number and found other ways to get water for their plants and soon his river wasn't needed. They decided to dry it; he had tried to protest by flowing the place. But it only made them angrier, only a little girl had protested, saying how a white dragon had saved her life from it. Yet that time she hadn't had time to thank him. But no matter what she did no one listened and the river disappeared, soon from all knowing. In Kamikakushi the other smaller river continued flowing, but as the years passed its water became murkier and colder. Kohaku, or Haku as he was called, was slowly dying.

It was like this Yubaba had taken him as an apprentice and used all her experiments on him. She controlled him to do all her dirty work, making it sound as it was only his fault. It all continued like this until Chihiro arrived at the gates of this world, and freed him.

Chihiro, his beloved Chihiro. He would die for her here, thank her for giving him back a life he could just as much have lost forever.

(End Memory)

Tseyo transformed into a huge fox spirit with a spiky tail. From the tail you could see the electric sparks fly as he jumped down from the cloud. Kohaku too transformed into the white dragon, and tried to push this beast back. But no matter all his efforts the older spirit was stronger and forced him back, towards the water.

With a sigh Kohaku fell into the water, and smirking the fox sent large bolts of electricity down. Chihiro remembered from her lessons at school how dangerous these things could be, and she prayed the gods that Kohaku would be all right.

Chip looked up, his eyes shiny with tears. He had never believed that a battle between two spirits could be as fierce and he hoped that the younger spirit ho had been scarifying enough to take his battle still was alive. But as the minutes passed, they began doubting it. Chihiro cried silently at Lin's shoulder. Chip was as pale as ever and when he turned to face the other two spirits his courage sank. The old Earth Spirit looked as if he could have killed him on the spot.

Tseyo laughed evilly, seeing that his opponent was dead. Instead he turned to their hiding and called his son's name. "If you want to spare their life you better come over here."

Chip sighed and stood up, but as he did so did everyone else. Lin stringed her bow with an arrow and yelled: "If you touch that boy you can see this as you new decoration because there is no way in hell we are going to leave him with a monster like you!"

The other two spirits, Deko and Xing nodded. Chip looked confused on their faces, the older fox simply laughed.

"You do really think you stand a chance against me, I cannot believe why you have taken my son's side when you could just leave him to me and then continue living." He took up a large, black sword with his right hand. Chip stared at it. He didn't know how, but his father had come in the possession of a sword so evil that the aura around it made the moonless night looks like broad daylight.

Lin shot her arrow, but it missed with several inches. She stringed her bow again, but it was too late. For that thing had already arrived before them, and was now picking up Chihiro from her feet.

"Interesting, I haven't been playing with mortals for centuries. You can see yourself as the first to fall you lady."

Chihiro tried to escape, but it was no use. Lin dropped her bow in shock. It all looked like the end. Unless…

'Kohaku!'

The river rose, and from it Kohaku walked up. He had a large gash on his left arm, but in other way he looked completely fine. His eyes were burning with hate. To everyone's amazement he was carrying a white sword.

"Let Chihiro go, you devil!" He said.. "Or else you will have to die right here, on this spot, on this day. I will not ket you slip away for this. Murderer!"

TBC

To Reviewers: Another cliffhanger, somehow I have gotten quite used to these. Review, I will update soon enough.

big book worm: Oh, he will have his reasons for this, don't you worry, he isn't finished for long. More will be explained in next chapter, which probably will come up soon. Thanks for reviewing.

Storm Maker: Thanks for the compliments, I've noticed sometimes when you want to describe something really big, with a lot of suspense the short chapters are the killers. Hope you liked this chapter.

Dagorwen of Ithilien: Okay, I've been lazy lately, so sorry. But I hope you all liked this chapter, I will update soon

Winter –iel –o burzum: Sorry for the late update, hope you enjoyed!

Lost-and-Lonely-Phoenix: Here's the next chapter, hope you enjoyed. I will try to update before Friday. So see you then.

Jean: Oh, now you are making me blush. Thanks so much for the compliment and I really hope I can write up to your expectations. Sorry for the late chapter, I was so lazy updating this time.

End Notes: As mentioned I will probably have next chapter up before Friday, at least before this week is over. So until then, have a great time and hope you're not suffering from the huge snowfall I am. It's so bad I wont stick my head outside the door unless necessary, yet I am known for being a bear at winter.

Shitza