Shitza: Finally, we are getting somewhere with this. Sad to say, this fic is going for its end, which feels weird. I love this fic, but soon this story is done. Oh well, better get going then. Also, for everyone who has guessed who this mysterious phoenix could be. Do you really think I will answer that now? You will have to see for yourselves. It might come as a surprise or might not. Who knows… well I do, but isn't going to tell you.
All I can say, there is a reason for everyone in this fic to compete in this war, or at least for our travellers.
Also, please forgive me for jumping into time, but you can't expect me to write about endless amount of randomness.
Hope you enjoy!
Shitza
Ps: It's a lot warmer now thankfully, so hopefully this won't take long to write.
Notes for the Chapter: I have to admit I've never been drunk before, so the beginning of this chapter wasn't too easy to write. Please don't flame me for the lack of experiences.
Another thing, added some funny details. Won't spoil, you'll see for yourselves. But to say (giggles) it's quite cute!
Finally, after all this writing I will add the history of Kohaku's mysterious sword. Well, I did promise you all to speak, just don't flame me because off the weird introduction.
Chapter 37 Going to War
Chihiro woke up, feeling slightly dizzy and ill from the wine she had been drinking the night before. She made a mental note for herself not to drink whatsoever again. The rug she had used as blanket fell of her shoulders as she sat up. She yawned and looked over to her right side, where Kohaku still slept peacefully. There night had been quite messy, if you could describe it like that, and neither of them had fallen asleep till late hours. Chihiro heard movements outside the silk purple tent the two of them shared.
Chihiro got dressed in a violet shirt and blue pants. Her shirt was tucked with a belt and there was also a knife and a short sword. On the weeks that had passed Xing and Deko had taught her to fight properly, something she wasn't fond of. But she wanted to survive this so she had no other choice.
She sneaked out from the tent. Her hair, which was loose for once, flew around her and played in the wind. For the following weeks that had passed, the group of travellers had returned to the place where the Bathhouse had lain. Zeniba had greeted them warmly, but also been quite shocked to see all nine phoenixes outside her doorstep. Konashi smiled sweetly and offered the tired birds tea and biscuits. Most spirits and old workers hadn't dared go near them. There had to be over a hundred legends describing these magical creatures, and because of those no one dared to open their mouths when they were near.
Chihiro chuckled. She couldn't understand why, not even now weeks after their arrival, why all kinds of powerful spirits kept away from them. It was really funny to see Love's male- hunting and Ice's cold comments.
Chihiro, who through these weeks had gotten quite close to most phoenixes smiled. Even if the nine were odd in their ways all of them had a warm heart. Even Ice, even if she didn't like to admit it.
By one of the fires sat Arika, who was making breakfast. Arika was a good cook, and made really tasty bread and stews. Not to far away Xing sat together with a bunch of Earth Spirits, like him, and discussed on the tactics. But once Arika had sliced up the newly baked bread and put some more salt into the stew Chihiro saw his attention turn to his girlfriend. Chihiro was really happy for her friend. After all, in a long time Lin had been working for Yubaba, and learnt to obey others. But now as she was free, she had managed to find true happiness.
On another side of the campsite they all lived in Deko and Chip were fishing. Chip lay looking down into the water, while the big mute spirit stood by his side, catching one fish after another. Chihiro was quite sure Deko had already adopted Chip as his son now; only thing was that he hadn't told his wife. Deko had no real children of his own. The children he had had died some years ago. Deko had prayed silent prays for them to live, but nothing had happened.
Chihiro sat down on a rock, breathing the fresh air and yawning once more. Her head pounded and she felt really grumpy this morning. It didn't get any better as a bunch of still drunk spirits came up to her to ask her for a dance that had ended hours ago. Unfortunately for them Kohaku woke up from the noise, and he didn't take the offer lightly. The spirits wisely backed away and left.
"Good morning!" he said smiling at her now that her little pack of admirers had scooted off. Chihiro smiled back, even if her muscles protested.
"How are you feeling?" He asked her. She sighed.
"To admit it, I think I need some more practise drinking like that". Kohaku laughed. "Do you happen to know any good cures?"
"Not really, you should take it easy today. But we could always try this."
His lips touched hers lightly and she smiled. Unknown, they were watched by Chip, who had turned back to the campsite. Still young, and unknowing about this kind of love, his ears fell down and he pinched his nose in disgust. Not to far away though, two little pink eyes surveyed the fox as he scooted off to find something to steal for himself.
Chihiro broke the kiss, panting slightly. Kohaku still wanted to keep on, but both teens were shortly interrupted by Zeniba, who called them over for a short meeting, with the phoenixes.
Moments later the travellers, together with Zeniba, Konashi, a thunder fox family and the phoenixes sat down on the grass, talking about what would happen. The newly arrived Fox family, whom all had joined to help them mostly, listened to what everyone had to say. The family were known all around Kamikakushi for survival. Unlike Chip's father though, they never lost.
Chip yawned through the meeting. To him it was all boring talking like this, and his young mind had a hard time understanding everything that was said. He could understand taking things, but blowing things up? To him it was a waste of gold.
Suddenly something sneaked up to him. Pink tail, red ears, bright pink eyes and a wide mischievous smile. Her name was Tatia and she too was a fox like him, except for female.
Chip tried to escape, but she kept on following him. The minutes went on and she kept on following him. However soon it developed into a game with the two foxes playing a sort of cat and rat chase around the camp.
"Now we know what we are going to do, and how we are going to do it!" Arika said grinning. "Now, I only have one more question, but it's not for you!" she said looking at the phoenixes. "It's for our dear friend Haku, who still hasn't told us how or when he had gotten such a flashy sword?"
Everyone turned to the silent dragon, who had the legendary white sword in his belt. Even Chihiro had grown curious about it. After all, it had saved them all that day Chip's father had decided to slice them up. Kohaku sighed; locked between several eyes he knew this story would have to leek out. Not that he was ashamed, but he wondered if his father would forgive him for breaking the secret of the Wise old Dragon's soul.
Kurisutaru's tale
"I don't remember it myself; I guess I am still too young to even know how great my father was. All I do remember off him was how he used to ride with me, on the waves during the late summer when the trees turned auburn and the wind howled in the west. I knew in my young years as the small stream beside my father, that he was a great spirit and probably stronger then any living spirit now.
My mother was a spirit whose river ran close by. My father saw her, dancing by her own sacred waterfall and they fell in love. Some years later I was born. I remember my mother clearer then my father, for he was always out brining peace to the rivers.
Mum raised me, and our rivers grew. But one day, when my father was out there was a huge earthquake and two of the rivers dried out. It was my parents' rivers, and with their rivers gone they lost their powers… or the powers they had been born with. They never lost their powers they had gained, from loving me.
I became their hope, and they must have used a full encyclopaedia of spells to keep me safe. It has saved me countless times as you might have guessed. After all, I am still alive and mostly unhurt after loosing my own river.
My father's name was Kurisutaru, it means Crystal, and mum's was Ninfu, which means Nymph. Before my father and mother finally did pass away they fought many evil spirits. From what was left of them after their death was this sword."
Kohaku sighed as he was facing the real key to the sword. Why it was so powerful and why he was the only person ever to wield it.
"However, before they died father and mother connected their souls and forged this sword. Actually, as you may have guessed now it's not really a sword. It is their souls. They wanted to keep me safe even in death."
The whole campsite went quiet as the story ended. The tale of his parents was a myth, spoken in different words. It was hundreds of years since Ninfu and Kurisutaru died and no one had ever believed this lost spirit to be their son.
Kohaku closed his eyes and tried to see the faces of his parents, but after all these years he could see nothing. It was all blank. All he remembered of his mother was her white soft hands carrying him. And his father was simply a voice. The souls that had forged his sword could no longer talk to him, but through the love of his parents they could lighten up once he was facing real dangers. But not even it could help him getting this cursed ring off.
Some metres away Chip and Tatia's wild games turned them from the camp. They tumbled down a small cliff, making them land on dry earth. Chip was first to get up helping the female fox back to her feet. They both laughed for a while, but their laughter soon died out. Facing them was an army off spirits, more then either of them had seen during their whole life. Scared and panicking they hurried back to warn the others.
And so… the war begins
To Reviewers:
seaflames: Hi, thanks for reading. All though I won't comment the phoenix thing, but I can say either you can guess or you can know. I know, you guess…
Ps: The next phoenix will probably show up, let's say on the almost last chapter to this story. So no need to hurry.
LadyRainStarDragon: Thanks for the advice, I'll remember that. Thankfully mum put up the heat again afterwards, but right now it's pretty much warmer. Still though, it's the coldest spring ever, as far as I've experienced, and the worst pollen whirling around, achoo! That is unfortunately a lot harder to prevent, isn't it?
Storm-Maker: I hope this chapter cleared out some questions. I'll add more in later chapters, but right now I wanted to get through this. To tell you, it's a lot of things that needs to be settled.
Jean: Won't comment about the phoenix thing (sorry, but this is the second fic I've written when people guess a lot and I don't want to spoil the fun) But I can answer right away why people were scared off her. Well, wouldn't you be quite scared if you were a spirit, you have a human friend. One day, all of sudden someone comes saying that this human is a spirit as well. But as spirits have different kinds of powers, some are stronger and some are weaker and you obviously don't know anything about her. Wouldn't you be a bit scared? I surely would have, no matter how friendly she or he was. Of course they still liked her, but they were all unsure how to handle the situation. Well, except for Chip, but he is still just a child.
Winter –iel –o burzum: Thank you, thank you, thank you and thank you! Thanks for returning and reviewing all chapters, I was getting curious on where you had gone off too? I am really happy you are back!
End Notes:
By the 9th June to the 18th June I will not be able to update, sorry! I am going on holiday. Still though, even if it's a bit stressful right now I'll try to update before I'll leave, okay! So no hard feelings, school is almost over for me this year. Ten weeks of holiday to enjoy and ten weeks I can write one, hurray!
So, sayonara! See you all soon!
Shitza