Disclaimers Notice: Yes...n-n-no...maybe?

Authors Beginning Note: la

Shout it outs!

Aharah Musici- LOL! I'm glad you do.:)

Meyojojo- Yah, I know, I make it a bad habit to wait a long excrutiating week before I update again (LOL ;-D)

White-Angel1215- Glad you liked it!

Velf- Just go to the deep, dark, Spirit Jungle in the Spirit World nearest you! Or order at

1-888-Foozlers (attention, this is not a real number)

Shitza- I'd love to read your story! However, it might be a while, as soon as I have plenty of time though thats the first thing I'll do!

Chapter 21

Mirror, Mirror, of myself

Chihiro's POV-

"But what about the girl?"

"Leave her!" I snapped awake at the intrusive voices. Well, it was more or so the tone in them that made me wake up so suddenly.

"Bwee!" screeched the foozler in a howl that brought tears to my eyes. I scrambled to my feet searching for it, but didn't see a thing.

Why are they running...I don't see...or hear anything...what could be so wrong...

I searched the ground for weapons, anything, and found a long stick. Backing up to a tree, I stood there, waiting, breath already in a pant from expectation, my heart threatening to stop from its painful race in my chest.

"H-hello?" I said sounding shaky. My shoulders trembling as much as my voice.

A rustling in the bushes made me turn toward the noise, my stick raised high, ready to aim.

"I'm not afraid. Come out where I can see you." And then something unexpected happened.

"I'm not afraid of you. Come out where I can see you." Wait...that's my voice...is this some sort of trick...it has to be...there is no possible way for there to be an echo...

"I said come out!" I yelled, frustrated. The bush to my other side shook and I turned.

"I said come out!" I could feel my face grow hot with anger.

"If you won't come out, than I'll just go after you."

"If you won't come out, than I'll just go after you." I felt my teeth grit.

"It's your choice." With a yell, I ran at where I though the source of the sound was. I swung my stick down in a hard thrust, only to be met with another stick; and another me.

"What the!" I cried falling back in extreme astonishment.

He...She...it...looks just like me...exactly...a heck...even the stick is the same...what is going on...

Then it smirked a happy, knowing grin. Standing over me, she extended a hand. I was way to numb to even consider what to do next.

"Well. If you're going to be rude about it, then I just won't bother." I...she said in MY voice, standing up straight and crossing her arms.

"Wh-who, what, no, who are you?" I asked, not sure which question I wanted answered first.

"Well, for the time being I am you, and since I am you, I guess I am human." I shook my head in confusion.

"That's just not possible."

"Why, sure it is."

"You said for the time being...what do you mean by that?" She cocked her head.

"Bwee." The foozler jumped onto my shoulder.

"Hmm. I guess I must have made an error. The Foozler knows the difference. Oh well. I guess I'll have to improve on it later. At any rate, we should be going." She turned and began walking. I just sat there.

"What, aren't you coming?"

"Not with you."

"Why ever not? What, don't trust me? I am after all you, so it's rather silly then not to trust yourself." I stood up then and stomped next to her, the Foozler fastened securely on my right shoulder.

"Let's get one thing straight. You are not me! I am me! I don't know who or what you are, but you are not me! And who do you think you are just barging in here, demanding I follow you! I don't even know you!"

"But I told you, I'm..."

"No! No, no no, and NO! You are not me! And I am not going anywhere, until you tell me who you really are." I said stubbornly. She sighed and shook her head, making me want to deck her.

How dare this thing take my body...that...that...thief...she can't be me...and she never will be...

"I had hoped that by taking this form, I would have more easily gained your trust. I mean, I only did untie you and scared away your slave drivers." I stopped in my thoughts of anger, but only for a moment.

"I don't care. I don't want you to look like that." She smiled a quirky smile that made me want to hit her all the more.

"Very well. Would you like me to change my appearance, first, or..."

"Yes." I said firmly.

"I thought so." She said before melting, I jumped back a pace.

It...she...it...eww...gross...it looks like...I don't know...goo...alive goo...that moves on its own...eww...that is just nasty...

Before long it shaped itself into a near human form.

She stood there, looking no older than 13 years old, with long silky black hair that grazed her knees and was tied by a band at the end, like Rin used to where her hair, with puffy bangs. Her ears, mostly hidden were pointed. Her garb was green. A short mini green dress, a brown belt on her hips with green tights. Her boots were a type of strong hide and had a very small heel. Her sea green eyes were almond shaped, and her lips were a soft peach. She was pretty, but not beautiful.

"I am Toshi, the forest changeling, and I am here to make sure you receive safe travels out of this forest."

"Is that your real form?"

"No." I shook my head.

"What is?"

"Actually, changelings have no real form, nor do we have the ability to create our own, thus forcing us to steal the shape of others."

"And your name. Is that also borrowed?"

"No. Toshi is the name I chose, and so I am." This is just...strange...

"You said you are here to take me out of this forest, why?"

"Your friend the Foozler here told me about you while you were sleeping. I decided out of the charity of my heart, I would of course help you." She said cheerfully, mockingly, and above all else and more irritating, in an all-knowing way.

Oh...how kind...and modest of you...

"This foozler does have a name you know." I snapped, glad to find a reason to yell at her.

"Is that so?" She said acting all innocent.

"Yes."

"Than what?"

"Foozler." Yes...very...smooth...and creative...but ooh...I don't like this girl...not one bit...

"Yah, I know we're talking about the foozler, but what is its name?"

"I told you! Its name is Foozler." She turned her lips and raised her eyebrow.

"I guess, call it what ever you want. At any rate, we had better be going. The sun is up, and in the jungle, it's the most dangerous time to be out and about in the open like we are."

"How do I know I can trust you?" She shrugged.

"You don't." Well...there's honesty for ya...I guess...since I have no clue...where I am going...and what I am doing next...I might as well...take her word on it for now...

So I followed her, deeper, and deeper into the forest. Where roots became more visible and gnarled. Where light shone even less. Where the ground sunk even more. Where the air became thicker. And where the hairs on my neck prickled.

Some vacation spot.

Authors Ending Note: Is Chihiro's misgivings about this new and strange Spirit really only just her strong dislike for Toshi, or is there some unforeseen danger in store for Chihiro?