Ah... I just had a BAD CASE of writer's block. But now I'm BACK (in black, as Sean might say). Ok that was weird... on with chapter 10.

Disclaimer: I've told you once, I've told you a hundred times, but I might as well tell you again. I DO NOT OWN SPIRITED AWAY! I wish I did though. *Sniffle*

~~~~~~~~~~

"-----Yuki?! What are /you/ doing here?! How did you-!" Chihiro was lost for words as she stared at the girl, who smirked widely.

"Don't you worry about that, sweetie. I suggest you keep watch over Haku here." Haku, who'd barely spared a glance for the newcomer, jerked his head up sharply. Chihiro looked at him, confused at his reaction to such a simple sentence. She was surprised to see hate in his eyes, not unlike the look he had on his face whenever he saw Sean.

"You leave Chihiro and I alone, Yuki," he spat. "Before I do something about you."

Yuki laughed, an unpleasant sound that made Chihiro want to block her ears. "My, my, Haku. What's wrong? I haven't done /anything/ to your Chihiro here. And what can you do about me?" Her face turned ugly. "I knew your little secret before you'd even realized. Both of yours. How Chihiro went to the spirit world and how you helped her get back."

Chihiro was shocked. [How did she know? Was she there?] Head spinning and full of thoughts, she steadied herself and earned a helping hand from Haku, who eased his arm around her shoulders. Yuki scowled. Chihiro hid a grin.

"Well anyway, could you tell us what you're doing here now, Yuki?" she asked bluntly. Yuki looked serious as she answered.

"I'm looking for a poison. I need it, and don't ask why," she said as Haku opened his mouth. "I believe it is in the body of a certain /god/ named Sean. And there may be other sources, because I think he takes regular doses of it to keep him strong." The other two stifled gasps. Yuki narrowed her eyes. "You know this Sean?" she asked suspiciously. "I can't expect you two idiots to help me but the least you can do is to point out where he could be."

Haku shook his head. "A poison? Inside Sean?" he muttered to Chihiro, who was looking equally confused. "Is that how he got back from the shadow realm?"

"I dunno," Chihiro replied. [This Sean just keeps getting more confusing,] she mused to herself.

Yuki squinted at them, obviously annoyed at their whispering. "Speak up! If you've got something useful to say about Sean, I'd like to hear it."

"Let's just tell her," murmured Chihiro. "She wants this poison, but Sean won't give it up without a fight if it is his new life-force as we suspect. And I've seen Yuki. She doesn't just go and do something unprepared. She will have trained for combat against a god."

Haku gritted his teeth, his face set in a stubborn expression, which fell a moment later. "Alright," he said reluctantly. "We'll tell you where Sean is. But in return we want your help to defeat him and send him to the shadow realm once more."

Yuki nodded impatiently and fingered the set of small, silver ninja stars at her waist. "Alright. It's a deal."

"He's in Yubaba's office."

Yuki nodded again and took Haku's hand. "Let's go, you two," she said. "I really don't want you guys in my way, but I'll have to adjust."

Chihiro grinned. One more person was going to increase their chances of taking down Sean once and for all. And the sooner they did that, the better. She shuddered at the thought of yet /another/ stalker.

~~~~~~~~~~

Sean paced Yubaba's office, visibly frantic. His life-force was ebbing away. He felt it whenever he used his magic. He saw it whenever he looked into a mirror. He thought he looked a lot older than his 18 years. Not counting the ones he spent in the shadow realm. That last performance of dark magic had taken a lot out of him. He'd had to drink a lot more than the regular amount of the special poison that Yubaba obtained for him. And now, the bottle that once was full of the poison, was pitifully empty. A few more drinks- it'll be gone for good.

Yubaba herself watched from a distance, in case he started throwing things again. Her feeble old muscles were tensed, ready to defend herself and her office.

But Sean didn't stop pacing for a long time. And then, the door burst open, and into the room filed three people; Haku, Chihiro and another girl. Sean stopped moving and glared at his nemesis. "You again, Haku? You just don't give up do you?" he paused and eyed Yuki (as well as Chihiro, making her fidget uncomfortably). "And who's this? You brought a friend?" he jeered.

Yuki returned his stare full on. Sean shifted his feet uncomfortably when he felt her lazy gaze on him and looked away. Yuki smiled triumphantly. This was one battle she'd won. But there was still the war.

Haku was still recovering from the last battle but Chihiro's presence had speeded up the healing process. Now he felt almost refreshed, ready to take Sean on a second time.

Chihiro glanced nervously around the room, avoiding eye contact with Sean and Yubaba. She frowned. Something was out of place here in the familiar office. Then she realized it and slapped her palm. "Where are the three green heads?" she asked.

Yubaba laughed. "Unfortunately, Sen, they were kicked out the window by Sean here." She said this all in such a matter-of-fact voice that Sean couldn't resist a chuckle.

"She's right, Chihiro. I disposed of them simply because they were in my way," he said with a smile touching his lips and cracked his knuckles. "And I am going to do the same to you. Prepare to die, Haku. This time I will show no mercy like the last time." He gave a brief look at Chihiro, who stood straight proudly, anger in her eyes. "And I shall take Chihiro when you are taken care of. You will believe me."

Haku gave a bitter smile. "But Sean, I don't." The sphere of turquise-blue energy appeared again, along with the lightning. Sean sneered and looked totally relaxed, making Haku grind his teeth in frustration. He'd no doubt Sean would absorb his attack again. But still, it was worth trying.

However, before he could make a move a tiny row of whirling silver stars cut a neat line of small but deep gashes in Sean's magic-using right arm and thigh. He let out a yelp of surprise but quickly regained his cool composure as he stared at Yuki. Haku was impressed, however grudgingly he admitted it in his mind. Last time he himself hadn't scratched Sean one bit, only draining away his magic. Mortal wounds were easy to heal, but required concentration, which was one thing Sean couldn't spare right now.

Sean beared the pain and stared straight ahead as suddenly, several rapid, spinning and crackling balls of black-red energy whooshed from his hands and struck Yuki in several vital spots, her head, stomach, arms and knees. Chihiro ran to help as the other girl gave a soft whimper and fell heavily on her back.

"Now that your other friends are occupied, it is against us two alone again," Sean's voice was unpleasant. "Good luck, /friend/."

"Likewise," Haku replied. All the time, while Yuki had distracted Sean, the ball of light blue energy had grown steadily in size and power. It hadn't eaten away too much of his own personal energy, because it had been allowed time to grow naturally. Haku planned to keep Sean talking for a few moments, until it was big enough to be impossible to swallow and deflect. "Those cuts look painful."

Wrong thing to say.

Sean flared up in anger immediately. Obviously the comment stung – it was humiliating to let down his guard enough to actually be hurt by a human girl. His energy became visibly stronger as he threw spheres of them at Haku, who had to rely and trust on his invisible shield. Time and time again, the air flickered as a sphere hit the shield; it would burst and more would do the same.

A few moments later Haku was feeling weary. How long could he keep it up? Chihiro was still tending to Yuki and he was relieved that she wasn't hurt – yet. But Sean was showing no signs of tiredness; his energy seemed infinite.

Was he doomed to be defeated again?

~~~~~~~~~~

Woo, pretty long chappie! Another long chapter, to be exact... and I'd like to thank dearly all who reviewed my story so far, the reviews have helped me think and clear my writer's blocks more than once! So thank you!! Hopefully chapter 11 shall be posted soon.