Disclaimers Notice: The only thing I own is the way in which I chose to use the characters and sometimes the setting (oh, and a few of my own creations...)
Authors Beginning Note: To explain my lateness of this chapter, the server has been slow, so I wasn't able to update it, however I did tweak my bio, for those of you who care to look.
I hope you enjoy!
Shout it outs!
KatsyKat: Woah! That was long. Thanx for all of the ides. I'm definately hoping to try and use them somehow in some way. It gave me good inspiration-makes me wish I knew where the off switch was. So Thanx a bunch!
Ahahrah Musici: Glad you liked :)
Chelsea: Possibly...one never knows what I'll do. :)
Velf: I'm not really sure exactly what I'm going to to with her. I have a few ideas about Shao, but...I'm not sure if/when I want to use them, so it could be a possibility she might redeem herself, then again that might be the last heard of her.
My readers are soooo ful of wonderful ideas and questions-makes me happy! :) Thank you all so much!
Chapter 30
Dreaming of What Will...
Chihiro's P.O.V.
"Chihiro" A warm wind whispered into my ear.
"Kohaku?" I breathed sharply, tears threatening to spill over. I looked over my shoulder at the glass doors that stood ajar and held nothing.
"It seems like so long ago. If only...If only I could have." They began to fall again. Shuddering as I sobbed, I didn't hear her enter my room, and so was startled by her comforting arms around my shoulders.
"Rin." I spun around to look into her pain filled eyes.
"Shhh. If you want to cry you can." I sharply brushed away the little bit of water on my face and shook my head.
"No. I have to go to work. I heard it's starting to get especially busy." I stood up and began to change into some clothes as Rin stepped out of the doors. I walked over to her when I had finished placing my ponytail in.
"Five years is a long time." The air seeped through my pores and chilled me. I managed a nod.
"Chihiro, you can't keep clinging to him like this. Kohaku is dead. There is nothing you can do anymore. It's over." I sharply drew my breath. A part of me knew this all ready, but another seemed surprised and devastated by it. Like an old wound, that has fully healed to a fine pink scar, only to be sharply stabbed into again.
"I know Rin, but I just can't. It's so hard, I..." She nodded comfortingly. She knows it's hard on me, and she is always patient when I get like this. If I could pick a different best friend and older sister, I wouldn't.
"I know Chihiro. I'm going to send you up some tea, then if you still insist, you can work, but only after you've drank every drop." I smiled gratefully to her and she left.
The tea came quickly and the worker girl didn't even look at me as she bowed and left.
"Chihiro."
"Who is it!"? I screamed. I heard a smash and looked down at the broken cup and spilled tea.
"Maybe Rin is right. Maybe I should take a holiday." I stooped down with a rag and began to clean the mess. The moon slowly moved and glistened on the spilled tea. I inhaled.
"Kohaku..." I looked at the face in the discolored water.
"No! No! Don't!" I yelled as clouds covered the moon and made the room dim. Rushing to a lantern, I quickly brought it back to the place, only to see nothing but an ordinary pool of tea.
"But I was sure..." I sobbed deeply, and curled up in the mess. Shards I hadn't cleaned up pinching into my skin, causing me to bleed.
End of Dream Sequence
Chihiro's P.O.V.
I jumped out of skin as I jerked away.
"It was only a dream." I said softly and snuggled back against the scaly source of comfort I had been lying with. I felt a warm breeze on my face. Wait a minute...I don't have anything leathery...and the only thing soft is my bag, which is over there...which means...
Screaming loudly, I jumped out of my tent and looked down at the ground. Beast yawned, opened an eye lazily and shut, continuing to breath softly.
"What do you want? Go away! Shoo! Be gone!" He rolled over onto his back like a dog begging to be pet, stretched and flicked out his tongue, before snuggling deeply in the sand, savoring the small scolding coals.
What am I going to do now...it's barely noon, and too hot to even think about walking through...I can't just find a nice spot of shade...because there is none...and I can't lay down on a new patch of sand...my skin will be burned off of my back...
I shook my head and did the only thing I could. I reset up my tent and lay back down on the only cool sand for miles till evening.
Well, I could have stayed like I was...and died of either heat, exhaustion...heat stroke...or increased my risk for dehydration...All of which guaranteeing death...of lay next to this brute...and hope he doesn't eat me...
I lay there in the sand. Hot breezes blowing in and over my body. Flakes of sand digging into my skin, hair and everywhere else when blown around. Even as insufferable as it was, I eventually fell asleep.
Aikia's POV
"Aikia, I demand you back to the castle at once!" Ahrima seethed. Her figure was blurred in the sand tunnel she had created around herself. Her hair and dress was flung in all different directions.
"May I ask as to what pleasure I owe in being commanded as so?" I bowed pleasantly, but gritted my teeth.
"The boys barrier has weakened again."
"And you want me to repair it?"
"No! I want you to rebuild it! Now!" She disappeared, the sand whipped in all directions, like a mist that covered the air. I covered my face to avoid the harsh winds that were free and rushing without her control.
"Pluh." I looked at Katsu wiggles his ears, sand pouring out. He spat out the stuff from his mouth. As he shook himself, the grains fell to the ground. His hair stuck up on end and he looked dirty, but he grinned his usual arrogant smile.
"Well, lets go back and check up on this 'boy'."
"No. I will be the one checking up on the one discussed, you will be taking a bath." He looked mortified.
"But..but...I had one."
"Weeks ago."
"I'm still clean though!" I raised an eyebrow. Ignoring the rest of his pleas and begging's I began walking back to the castle.