Disclaimers Notice: Yes...n-n-no...maybe?
Authors Beginning Note: Whew! Finally back from vacation. Tired, but in good humor!
Shout it outs!
White-Angel1215- I hurried as fast as possible, so here it is! My brand new chapter.
Aharah Musici- The last was in Chihiro's POV. It's significance? Well, to get things interesting to lead to discovery o newer things, and probably more subtly than liked, point out the earthquakes.
Shitza- Blush The best Spirited Away Writer on ? Wow, that's quite a compliment. Thank you!
Micrll- Glad you liked my stories. Sorry the POV isn't exactly clear. I'll try and make that more defineable from here on out.
Velf- Thank you!
Meyojojo- I've finally updated!
Chapter 20
Connections and Travels
Chihiro's POV-
"Get up you human filth!" I winced as something sharp struck my back. Opening my eyes I looked at the angry red monster holding a small whip.
No...it wasn't just a dream...what to do...think Chihiro...
Crack!
I winced again as the whips tail struck my shoulder.
"I said get up!" I shakily stood up, my stomach flipping, my head spinning, and body aching.
"There now. That's better." I looked around.
Nothing but forest...it's...a huge thick jungle...a dense...hot...dark...jungle...
Thick sinewy smooth trunks rose sky wards, huge branches layered upon each other in thick greenness, blocking most sunlight from above. Orange vines dangled from limbs. Soft lush fern like plants raised from the ground everywhere. Dank star shaped leaves littered the jungle floor. The air, dense with heat, making you sweat without effort. Every so often a small breeze brushed by, bringing a welcome relief from the suffocating atmosphere, only to leave quickly, leaving you longing for more. Enough to drive a person mad.
I stared at the rough trail we had made in the moist dirt. Then at the carts contents. Weapons.
But...can I use them...it's one thing to pick it up...but another to actually use it...I don't know if I can fight...I can barely stand as it is...
Crack!
A small trickle of blood ran down my cheek.
"Don't even think about it human. We will have you struck dead faster than you could touch anything that might be of use to you." I grimaced.
You know...he probably isn't exaggerating...
"Do you suppose we should kill her now?" I looked at ...um...what's his name again...oh...Yukio...that's really pathetic...they're talking about my death...and all I can think about is what one of my kidnapper's, soon to be murder's name is.
"Well I suppose we could..." Yukio grinned, making my stomach flip twice over, causing me to bend and almost heave.
Crack!
"Stand up straight! I'll have no sneaky business. Wouldn't want Aikia and Ahrima to find that their garbage was lost." He said sardonically.
Who is Ahrima...
Yukio pulled out a long blade that shined, even though it had no light from the sun to flicker upon it. I gulped. For the second time in a not such a distant period between, I found a blade holding it's breath in anticipation, just so it could swing at me and feel my blood drip down it's long metal body.
"Or..." Yukio grunted, which sounds quite funny, like someone who just choked on the water they were gargling. I how ever chewed my lip to keep from laughing.
"We could keep her alive."
"And what good will that do us?"
"Its likely Aikia will pay even more with her alive. After all, a dead man tells no tales, and no doubt she has at least a few interesting things to say." Yukio seemed to think this over.
Oh yah...I definitely have a few...interesting...things to say...just wait till I get my hands on his neck...I will twist it so much that...
Crack!
I jumped, snapped out of reverie.
"Get down off the cart, now!" I stared stupidly at him.
I'm...not going to die...um...yet...
Crack!
My arms rose over my head on instinct, only to be slashed deeply in a smooth line. I bit my lip.
"I said down! Now move it!" I nodded my head and jumped down. Bad idea. I fell to my knees, unable to fully support my weight yet. My elbows barely caught me before my face hit the ground. My vision blurred for a few seconds, but the leaves that were mere inches from my face came back into focus.
"Tie her up. She can walk." The red thing said disgustedly, throwing a long, neatly wound wad of rough textured rope at Yukio.
I was pushed into the ground; face first, as a foot plodded on my back. None too carefully my arms were jerked away and tied.
Air...air is good...I lack oxygen...as...'nice'...as mud is...I need air...
Finally, almost mercifully, I was jerked back and on my feet, by my now securely fastened hands. The other end of the rope tied to the cart. I inhaled a few deep breaths.
"Um...am I supposed to walk backwards?"
"Walk however you like. We don't care. Just don't lag behind, or else Hiroshi will have to punish you."
Oh....how I'd just love to spit in that stupid single eye of yours...
I looked over at Hiroshi, as he cut the rope that harnessed a weird looking spirit. Like a cross between a mini elephant and an anteater. After snapping his whip in the air, the thing took off like the hounds of hates were after him. I believe this is one of the few times I've actually envied a spirit animal before.
Yukio loaded the large bags from the cart onto his back, and Hiroshi untied the end of my new 'leash' and tugged. I stumbled forward, catching my balance before I fell.
"We walk from here on out." He grunted.
Well...I'll say one thing for him...at least he has somewhat of a brain...no way a cart would have been able to be tugged all over this place...
"Move it!" He yelled pulling me forward, and I did the only thing I could with his demand, and move.
"If you're working with Aikia, than why doesn't he come here himself?" I said stumbling over a root. Not sure if I should hate Aikia, these barbarians, or the rough jungle terrain more.
"Ha ha ha." Hiroshi wheezed out as he laughed.
"Aikia is far too busy to waste time and energy to come get a homely thing like you." He began to laugh some more.
"And who is Ahrima?"
Hey...if they're willing to talk...why not find answers...
Hiroshi smirked and looked over his shoulder at me.
"Ahrima is Aikia's older sister. She is the power behind the operation. I can't say much for brains."
"Shut up Hiroshi, she could very well be listening."
"Listening? How?" Yukio kicked me hard, and I ended up falling on my face. Getting up without the aid of hands is a near impossible task. In which case it's always pleasant to have your handiest enslaver pull you up by your ponytail and jerk you on your feet and forward.
I grunted vehemently, pulling back a scream.
"Ahrima is a powerful sorceress. Not someone you want to cross with. Very powerful indeed. Stronger than Aikia him self." Was my only response, but secrets of the untold loomed in the air, dangling in front of my face.
Well...okay...go over what I know...Ahrima is Aikia's older sister...and is more powerful...Aikia is a pain in the...kidnapped Kohaku...can command large dangerous spirits some how...not to mention is arrogant...and powerful...these two spirits...Yukio and Hiroshi...were hired by Aikia...or Ahrima...or was it both...to capture me...but why...haven't I been killed already...if they are so mighty and powerful...why Kohaku...and...who is the brains behind everything...maybe Aikia...Hiroshi did say Ahrima wasn't much for brains...so...all power and no brains...but Aikia...seems kind of like the under dog...I doubt they both work together...so...is there another higher being to fight...or am I overestimating them...are they the cause of these sudden earth quakes....and...what is it that they want to accomplish so badly...
"Pick up the pace, slacker!" I mumbled a few things as the rope tugged.
My wrists are already starting to hurt...oh well...can't do much about it right now...
"Bweee!" I jumped at the sudden intrusive noise.
"What is that?"
"Is the little girl afraid?"
Me...afraid...ha...as if...but I bet you would love to have the satisfaction of seeing me course I'm not afraid...well...okay...I'm slightly afraid...I mean...I'm in the middle of a jungle...my only companions are spirits bent on either killing me...or delivering me to someone who will kill me...tied up...bleeding from cuts... bruised...tired...sore...and...ug...I'm hungry...and thirsty too...not to mention hot...dirty...and there is a really strange sound coming from who knows where...I bet they don't even know what it is...
"Bweee!" They both stopped. Yukio laughed and jeered in my face.
"A little girl. That's all you are, a little sniveling girl. A dirty wench who can't even take care of herself. I bet you don't even know how to wipe your own nose."
"Ptuh." I had had enough. And yes. I did it. I spat in his eye. Smack in the middle.
"Why you little wench!" He roared. Hiroshi laughed even harder at this display.
"You do that again and I shall have your head, you rotten, sniveling..."
"Ptuh." Um...maybe I went a little too far...but...dang does it feel good...
He wiped the spit off his face and raised his arm.
"Bweee!"
"What the mphh lithfle argmph." He muttered as a strange little creature flew at his face. He tried to pull it off, but the thing stayed on, and so he spun and turned, tugging, and pulling. I looked over at Hiroshi who was laughing.
"Tuff luck, ay Yukio." I looked back and watched Yukio fall to the ground and the small thing fly toward me.
"Eep!" I squealed trying to shake it off of my head, which caused Hiroshi to laugh a tremendous deal.
"Look at you two, both screaming and wailing like little sissies, and over a harmless thing like a foozler!" I yelped feeling hair being pulled as the thing was yanked off of my head. I looked behind me and saw the tiny creature in Yukio's hands.
"You rotten thing. Scram!" He threw it at the base of the tree trunk.
"Bweee." It said in a sad, almost confused way, like a dog whose owner suddenly doesn't want it any more. It made no movement to leave.
"I guess I'll take care of it then." Yukio said loosing his already shortened temper.
"NO! Don't!" I said and ran in front of it.
"Move little girl, or I'll cut you down." My lower lip curled stubbornly.
"No."
"Humph. Your head be it then." He raised his sword and brought it down. I closed my eyes waiting for it to hit, but when it didn't, I peeped one open, then the other, only to see a red claw grasping the swords sharp edge in its clasp.
"Hiroshi..." He rumbled dangerously.
"The girl stays alive. For now." Hiroshi said quite seriously.
"I never really wanted the girl anyway, it's that thing behind her I'm after."
"You waste your time and energy. It's just a mangy Foozler. Wait for when the real predators come out, than I'll let you kill them all you want." Yukio cast me a dirty look, before seeming satisfied with that agreement, sheathing his sword. I let out a small breath.
"As for you..." Hiroshi's hand met my cheek, throwing me to the ground with a harsh impact.
"Pull another stunt like that, and I won't be there to stop Yukio. Got it?" I glared at him but wouldn't answer. He turned his head away in disgust.
"Lets make camp here. No sense in moving farther." I sat up, my head drooping, and crawled to the little pink body that was shaking on the ground.
"Um...hello. It's all right now. I won't hurt you." I said, the little thing uncurled itself, and I found myself staring into two huge black eyes that took up most of the space of the creatures fur-less monkey shaped head. Two satellite like ears protruded on both sides of its skull. It sat holding it's three toes that had round suction cups on the padding of its feet, and it's hand was small with three suction cup fingers. It even had a long flexible tail that swung happily and had three suction cups on the end. For being so freaky looking, it's really cute.
"Bweee." I hummed pleasantly, cocking its head to the side to examine me.
"You know, you should really be going back to your home. It would be much safer there." The thing seemed to ignore me and continued to stare. I sighed and shook my head.
"I bet you don't even understand what I am saying, do you."
"Bwee." I stood up on its tail, and then bounced onto my shoulder.
"Getting friendly I see." Hiroshi laughed in a way that made me feel uncomfortable.
"Stand up." The little thing coward on my shoulder, not making me feel any more confident as I rose.
"Turn around."
Turn around...what for...
Crack!
Foozler jumped into the tree above and my arm started to bleed.
"I said turn around!" still, I did not budge.
Crack!
My dress seemed to slide down my hip and inch, as it was torn. My side began to bleed as well.
"I suggest you turn around." I bit my lip. He grew fed up and threw his whip on the ground. Throwing me to my stomach in the ground, he took my arms and bent them, making me scream.
"I would shut up if I were you. You'll attract every killing thing out. Yukio and I won't save you know. Even Ahrima's wrath is safer than some things that you can come across here in this area." I felt the ropes slide down from my wrist, freeing my arms to move, but in return, my left ankle was double knotted and I was tied to a tree.
One last look, he turned around and set about making a large bon fire. I leaned against the tree exhausted, and in defeat, my eyes looking up at the darkened canopy.
Oh Kohaku...what am I going to do...when will I ever see you again...It's been...oh...I don't know...I've lost track of days...who knows what's happening to you...some rescue team...I don't know what me and the others were thinking...I mean...realistically...One human...one powerless spirit...one spirit who can wield a magic sword...which I might add...I was never told about...and a water halfling with a magical flute...who can talk to me...in my head...wait...I wonder...
I closed my eyes and concentrated, hard and furiously.
Come on...the buzzing...where is it...I hope...that distance doesn't effect it too on...
I dug into my head, long and hard, and just when I was about to give up I felt it.
Ah...there it is...faint...but I bet...
"Hey, you, wake up." I jumped, loosing the contact that I had fought my head so hard to find.
"Here. Eat." I looked at the plain rice soup served in a wooden bowl. I took it, my arms feeling like lead.
"Aren't you even going to say a 'thank you so much for feeding me, even though I am so unworthy'" I glared at him.
"Ungrateful witch." He sneered and sat back down by the fire. Starved, I scarfed the whole thing down. My stomach rumbled, still hungry, but I ignored it and leaned back.
"Bwee." I looked up to the nearest branch and saw the foozler hanging by his tail; it almost made me want to laugh. He slowly suction cupped his way down and landed gingerly in my lap. I set my hand on the top of its head.
"I guess if you're going to stick with me, I had better call you something." He curled up in my lap comfortably, his ear pinned back so they wouldn't get in the way.
"Or I can wait till morning."
I leaned back, closing my eyes, once more planning on finding the buzzing, but found myself drifting away into the world of lullabies and dreams.
Authors Ending Note: All things important that are needed to say are said at the beggining note.