Shitza: Hi again, thanks for all wonderful reviews! Now I am happy again! Thank you so much, now I!

One thing before disclaimer and the chapter. This chapter may seem confusing, but it's only a part of the big mystery. And soon, very soon we will find out more about Kohaku's sword.

Disclaimer: Easy enough, I don't own the story, only this puny little fic, which is only my own. The characters and original plot all belongs to Miyazaki.

Chapter 35 Unwelcome guests

"Such fools, such incredible stupid spirits. They think they can hide from me forever, they don't know what will hit them."

Yubaba sat by her desk, her desk close to overcrowded by these iron rings. She had close to five hundred used ones and her magic was more powerful then ever. Now it wasn't simply smoke and fireballs. Now it would be raging storms and deadly waves. She smiled for herself; she was powerful now. She was more potent then any living witch before her. She was even more powerful then the witch who had owned these rings the first time.

Yubaba smiled evilly. Outside as many as twenty spirits sat, all wearing rings like these. Soon they two would be a part of her special little collection.

Yubaba rose from the desk, picked up her precious rings and put them into a small pouch she carried with her. Done with that she walked away from her office. Her age was getting irritating and she sorrowed thinking of those days she'd been young and slim. Those days would now be easy to relive as the powers of all those innocent spirits circulated in her blood. She walked up to stand on the top of her roof, getting ready and prepared for her new life.

Huge black evil shaped clouds closed in upon her as she stood there waiting. The small rumbling grew steadier louder and the lightnings became thicker and thicker. The stroke and hit all in their way, stealing life as they went. Yubaba inhaled for the last time as an old hag. She closed her eyes, the lightning stroke her. There was a blinding white light before everyone in whole Kamikakushi heard this evil laughter. Animals fled in fear at this day of doom.

Yubaba opened her eyes once again. She looked at her hands, seeing no more skinny claws. She put them on her face, where all wrinkles had disappeared. She laughed again.

Now all she needed was his spiritual powers and then all would be perfect. That stupid half god had no idea what true powers he possessed and neither did that wench of human he had taken to love.

Walking back to her office she called upon a new challenge for her little rodents. This time, they would not have the same luck escaping as they used to have.

The buzzing grew louder and louder and soon Chip stopped in his tracks. Having pointy ears with a very good hearing he heard something strange and unpleasant. Chihiro wondered what was wrong and Arika asked:

"What is it, what do you stop for?"

Chip didn't answer at first, but then three seconds later he jumped back again.

Reaching back to the entrance his suspicions were confirmed as a cloud of black and shadowy wasps flew towards them. Now the other too saw, but was it too late or not?

Chip concentrated before sending what looked like sparks of white lightning back at them. The wasps scattered into different directions attacks coming from everywhere. Xing smashed them with his staff, letting them hit the walls around. Deko cut the once in his way in halves. Chip sent some flying using sparks. Arika had drawn her bow hitting them as well as she could. But the more the fought the more the noticed how impossible this seemed.

Kohaku once more had the white sword with him, how he had gotten it was outside her knowledge. The good thing with this was that at least, though his weakness, he managed to keep the wasps at a fair distance. Chihiro wished she had some way she could fight, but as far as she knew she had none. She was simply a human, nothing more. How could she help?

Suddenly Arika screamed as one of the wasps had stung her, sinking a two inches long sting into her arm. She suddenly froze unable to move. Xing fought his way towards her, afraid that the worst possible could have happened.

'She's paralysed' Chihiro thought understanding the dangers. The wasps left the limp body and all of them seemed to turn their attention towards Kohaku. Chihiro panicked. Looking around she saw that Arika wasn't the only one who had been defeated. Xing had been hit by the head, Deko too had been stung. Chip had been tied by what looked like web to the wall. Only she and Kohaku were left and she had a feeling they would ignore her being human. Slowly she walked forward shielding the man she loved from the upcoming dangers. Kohaku stared at her, not sure of what to say.

The wasps looked confused, but they didn't hesitate to attack. Chihiro closed her eyes, she knew what would come, but what could she really do? She couldn't let these things attack them.

She passed out, not knowing what would happen. But as she fainted a white light erupted and what could seem out from nowhere the Phoenix of fire arrived. Her body looked as if it was burning, her red hair indicating that her senses were on its guard as the wasps quickly fled. Kohaku could do no more then stare at her before his whole world went into flames and smoke.

Chihiro woke, up. Her head ached and she was wrapped all in blankets. She slowly sat up, her head feeling dizzy. Images flew through her mind and disappeared swiftly. She didn't seem to be able to keep them into her mind. She looked around. She was in a bed, beside Kohaku. The room was kind of small, with enough room for the bed and a small woven rug. The room had red curtains hanging as draperies around. She had no idea where she was, or how she had gotten there.

"You are finally awake?" a female voice asked. "That's good, after all I was getting worried."

Chihiro now tried to find the source of the voice, but failed since there was no one there.

"Who are you?" she asked.

The voice laughed silently. "That is not the question. Can you answer this then, who really are you?"

Chihiro was about to answer human, but she stopped in the middle of the word. Somehow, suddenly the word didn't want to come out, and it didn't feel right.

"Listen to me, you are a spirit just like us. You might as well accept that. Now return to sleep, I will talk with all of you tomorrow."

Chihiro didn't know why but somehow she lay down again and closed her eyes. Then she fell back into a dreamless sleep.

TBC

LadyRainStarDragon: Okay, the really stressful days are soon over, so there will hopefully be loads of rest soon. I hope you liked this chapter, thanks for reviewing.

Dagorwen of Ithilien: Is this soon enough? Sorry, couldn't resist. Yes, I will try and update this story more often then I've done lately. I really want to finish it soon.

Velf: Well, this story needs more evil cliffhangers or people might loose interest. Thanks for reviewing.

Jean: Hope this is sooner, and like I said I will try and update more often now that schoolwork loosens a bit. Anyway, just so you know. This was my first SA fic, but not my debut at fanfiction. I wrote a HP story for that, which is quite popular on its own. I tried Spirited Away after an idea and it looks like it worked. At least you guys like it! Lol, next update will hopefully come soon.

Storm-Maker: Last time I was really tired updating, felt like I messed a bit with the chapters. I'm tired still, it's late but I wanted to post this so hopefully no hurry in this. I hope you enjoyed!

End Notes: Yawn, going to bed now, it's getting really late. Hope you guys liked this, see yah soon!

Shitza