The powerful head of the council went up to his throne-like seat. Before sitting down, the sword spirit motioned for everyone to be seated.
"Let us begin then shall we?" Orrick said in a majestic voice.
"Sir," Nike, the spirit of victory rose from her seat and read aloud from a scroll she held from her hand. "The statement reads as follows,
The law forbids any human who has discovered our world to be left alone. It clearly states that if humans were to find out about the spirit world, our whole way of life may be thrown off causing an imbalance. It will cause many problems to both of our worlds.
"Chihiro, the human girl, has gained knowledge of our world and cannot be overlooked.
"Chihiro, you being a human and knowing of our world has already caused an imbalance. You will be sentenced to death if the court does not find other means. Your life is in our hands, so do take caution when you speak." Nike finished her speech and sat down.
"The crime has been laid down now for the council. Chihiro please come up to make your plead." Orrick said.
Chihiro looked at Haku in uncertainty and tenseness. "Go up there, spec." Haku whispered. Chihiro went up and took the stand.
"Please tell the council your plead." Said the strong Sword spirit, Orrick.
Chihiro took a breath and realized she couldn't mess up so she avoided stammering.
"Okay. It's like this." Chihiro started. "I think you underestimate humans."
There were some gasps in the room as she said that. "I know you may think us to be troublesome but, not all of us are the same. We are all different. You cannot judge one person by another one's actions.
"If you just get to know me, you'd realize, I have no intention of ruining the 'balance'. I don't want to cause any trouble. I just…" A dirt spirit in the audience cut her off.
"Blast the bloody human spec already! What are ye bloody spirits thinking? This one lies! She is just like the rest of those dirty, slimy sons of specs!" As soon as the dirt spirit said that, the spectators created in an uproar.
"Order, Order! I will have order in this court!" Orrick bellowed. He glared at the audience. "Continue." He said, turning towards Chihiro.
Chihiro was a bit uneasy by now. She searched the audience. She saw many spirits, just waiting to judge her. Her eyes searched until she came in sight with Haku. They made eye contact.
Her slow heart beat grew faster.
What should I do? Chihiro thought. Haku nodded his head for her to keep going. She gulped and took a breath, and thought of what she should say.
"Sir, I…I just want to see my mother again. That's all. I never meant to cause any harm…I just want to be freed. I give you my word to never speak of the spirit world. Please…I beg of you..." She sighed and looked down at her feet.
"My mom must be worried…I wish I had never walked into the forest in the first place. I'm sorry for the trouble I've cause you." Chihiro stopped there and waited for a reply.
Orrick cocked an eyebrow and thought for a moment."Hmm…Sasha, what do you make of this?" asked Orrick.
"She is genuine, sir. She has not lied. There is no malice in her soul either." The ice spirit concluded.
"Well, then the council will decide. All spirits who are not involved please leave the courtroom." Said Orrick.
The courtroom soon was emptied and left with a smaller amount of people. There were a few spirits left, Zeniba the witch, the Great Spirits Council, a few extra spectators, and Chihiro.
"I wanted to avoid any riot so I had to dismiss those bothersome instigators. Moving on," Orrick said, "Your sentence will not be of a torturous sort. That much has been decided."
Zakotso opened his big mouth and made a disagreement. "Sir, this girl is but small and innocent now, but what do you think will happen when she is corrupted by the world around her? What do you think will happen, really? Do you think she'll stay pure forever? I think not! The spec deserves nothing less than a…"
"Zakotso!" Haku jumped from his seat. He wasn't really thinking when he made this outburst. He was following a sudden impulse or urge that came straight from the heart. He couldn't stop it.
"Do not judge this girl. She is placid and kind. I know this. She may be a simple human spec but she is not a hostile little girl. Unlike some one I could mention…" Haku glared at Zakotso, suggesting the Venom spirit to be a violent little girl. Zakotso growled in a low tone at Haku and glared at him with equal intensity.
"Please, men, sit down." Nike said, trying to calm the animosity exchange between the two.
"As head of the council, I realize that a death solves nothing. It just creates a loophole for us. I will not stoop down to that level. Justice will be served!" Orrick's majestic tone gave the council some encouragement.
Jean rose from his seat and declared, "Yes! She is innocent! When it comes right down to it, she has done nothing wrong!" Jean said eagerly. "We should just send her back without any memory of this encounter. That would solve everything."
"I agree with Jean." Said another spirit from the council.
"Are you fools?!" Zakotso bellowed. "This girl is a mere spec! What has she done to deserve our mercy?"
Sasha answered, "She saved Haku and helped defeat Flare. What does that say to you?" The ice spirit raised an eyebrow.
Orrick motioned for the council to calm down. "Alright, settle down. Calm yourselves.
"Look, I am obligated to follow the laws. If I break but one law, my being head of council will go down the drain. I know Chihiro to be innocent so I will not order an immediate death or torture. That will give you some time to say good-bye to your mother, Chihiro." Orrick said, as he turned to smile at the young woman.
"This is still the law!" Zakotso raved. "She must die one way or another! We need to choose it."
Chihiro looked down and stared. She felt a little hope, knowing the council was not filled with cold-hearted spirits. She especially liked the head of the council. He was strong and powerful, but compassionate at the same time.
The talking continued for minutes. Deciding on her death wasn't easy since nobody really wanted her death. A young, innocent girl's death would surely haunt them and ask them if they really did the right thing.
Haku drew his face to Chihiro's for a second. Something inside him was telling him to make quick action before it was too late.
It was himself all right but he wasn't really aware of his true feelings just yet.
Do it before it's too late! You must speak again! She is counting on you…
Haku wondered what the heck he was just thinking. He realized what it was when Chihiro made eye contact with him. They stared for a second and Haku could not contain it.
"By my hand!" He shouted as he stood up and turned his head to the council.
"Haku, what are you talking about?" Jean asked.
"The simplest way to prolong her life, make it useful, and help her, would be by my hand. Let me keep her." Haku said.
"Haku, you are willing to take her life?" Orrick asked.
"I mean slavery, Sir Orrick. She has been for the past week or so. She would be useful to me…and the other thing sir, is Baba." Haku turned then to the whole council to explain.
"You see, I was informed that Baba will strike the human race without restraint if the girl is killed. It is its nature. It will kill no matter what. Destroying the monster is the only way to stop the killing. If she stays alive it will continue to search for her and only her. It won't hurt anyone else.
"Baba is a strong creature. I will train to defeat him, but matters will become worst if Chihiro is killed. I need time, is what I'm trying to say."
Orrick scratched his head. "Well, this is indeed new…but I am a very busy man, so until the creature is killed Chihiro will be held in Haku's custody. Until then, this case is dismissed."
After that the council moved out, crowding the courtroom, which was emptied before. While the spirits walked through, Haku came down to Chihiro.
She smiled brightly even though he had kept a stern face. She leaped up instantaneously and threw her arms around him. A look of surprise and embarrassment stretched across his face.
"Oh, thank you Haku!" She said as his cheeks turned redder by the second. "I knew you were good!"
Some members of the council gave glances and snickered. Orrick knew that this girl would be good for Haku. It would certainly brighten up his mood a little, give him something to laugh and smile about. Make him pleasant and caring, too.
"Uh, Ch-Chihiro…"Haku stammered. He was embarrassed, but somehow still liked the affection he was receiving.
He pushed her away, although wishing he hadn't for a second.
"Come on, it's not that big a deal. You're going to die anyway. As soon as Baba is killed, my hand will strike you-without hesitation." Haku warned.
"Yeah whatever. You know you just wanted to be nice for a change." Chihiro said cheerfully.
As they walked outside the court, she smiled as brightly as ever. Although he was taken aback by her happiness, he couldn't help but smile when she looked at him with her own bright ray of delight.
They returned to Haku's shrine after the trial and went back to their daily routine.
Although Haku kept his hard exterior, Chihiro could sense that he was lightening up a little. He was still cruel and merciless, but behind it he was feeling something he yearned for when he was a child…something he couldn't get from his parents.
He felt it coming from Chihiro, but he had a hard time showing it back to her. He just didn't know quite how to respond to it, so he responded in the only way he knew how: Being a spiteful and unpleasant.
What else could you expect?