Disclaimers Notice: The only thing I own is the way in which I chose to use the characters, sometimes the setting, and a few of my own creations.

Authors Beginning Note: This will be my last official update till January, however, (that is a key word) I will be doing a little mini Christmas story during this time. It shouldn't be more than 10 chapters long.

I am suffering from writers block, so, this is also a contributing factor to the lateness of my next chapter. If anyone would like to suggest something (especially on the Wolf Youkai segments) or just tell me what you like about my story so far and what you would like to see more of, I would be joyful to hear!

I hope you enjoy!

Shout it outs!

LadyRainStarDragon: Breath! Or else you won't be able to read more!

Velf: I'm glad to hear it. Thanx! :)

Ahahra Musici: If I die, I can't finidh this story, or unhurt her. Beast, well, you'll know later.

KatsyKat: Wow. (blinkBlink) Such great in depth detail on what you like. It's so inspirational!

Chelsea: Lizard is Beast, and I'm glad you like him. Always gotta have little side characters at least one point in a story. And Thanx!

Chapter 33

Changes

Chihiro's P.O.V.
As quickly as we stepped into the village is how quickly as I was lost. Being pushed, tugged, and ultimately shoved into the dancing circlets of people, I was more than forced to join.

"Um, excuse but…" The music was too loud. Tambourines, flutes, lyres, drums, and above all shouts of celebration drowned me out completely, even when I was screaming my loudest.

"Ouch!" I fell to the ground and felt a pair of arms grab my waist and hoist me over their shoulders. It was the guy I'd met in the desert to begin with.

"Hey! Put me down! I have legs you know!" Weather he heard me or not, I couldn't tell. He didn't set me down until we had entered a building.

"But…It looked like…"

"A wooden house?" I nodded stunned. Then was bombarded by Beast who knocked me over onto my back and landed on my chest.

There the little devil is…even if he is a slight pest…I was beginning to worry…well…not that I'd had too much time to worry…but still…in any case…what is up with this house…

"So why doesn't it look like a wooden hut on the inside too?" He grinned arrogantly.

"Because it isn't a wooden house at all." I raised an eyebrow.

Jeez…thank you ever so much…for clearing up all of the confusion…I swear he is worse than how I imagined a Ken doll… in real life…would be like…

"So, you care to explain?"

"Hmm, no. Fruit?" He handed me a bowl of fruit while he casually relaxed into a pile of cusions. I shook my head, but took the bowl and set it besides me. I shook my head in wonder as I looked at the vast area.

It's like…a huge tent…well not too big…but big enough for a tall man to walk through…and white…and colorfull with thousands of pillows, bowls of fruit…and…water…

Following my gaze, he quickly jumped up.

"Oh dear. How rude of me, I was so intrigued by…well…that I completely forgot your immediate needs. I apologize." He said humbly as he walked over and brought a large bowl filled with water. Suspiciously I looked up at him, then at beast, who was sleeping soundly by my side. Shrugging, I gulped it down greedily.

It feels so nice…like…like small liquid crystals going down my throat…

When I was finished I put the bowl aside by the grapes.

"Thank you. I drank it all though. I'm sorry, maybe if you need me to, I can go and get some from a nearby well…"

"No. I have brought you here to rest, not to work. A meer bowl of water for such a lady is but a simple thing I can give. I wish there was more I can do."

He is so weird…he acts…like…well…as if I were a princess or something…that is…creepy by any standards…well…unless I were an actual princess…but I don't come close…

"If you do not mind my asking, why should such a beautiful flower such as yourself wonder around these deserts?"

"I'm on a mission to find my husband." I said matter of factly.

"A mission?"

"Yes."

"Then your husband has left you?" He asked confused, maybe, happy?

"Um, no. He was kidnapped by a spirit. I'm on my way to save him."

"And you travel with only this spirit?" He said indicating Beast.

"I was traveling with three other companions. I was kidnapped and thus separated from them. I met a few spirits on the way, and now I'm here." I was being hostile. I didn't mean to be rude, but as kind as he is, he puts me on the edge.

"I am sorry to hear that. May I ask how far your journey will be?"

"Who knows. I just go where my heart says to. Hopefully I'll find Kohaku in time."

"So, you are on a journey to find this Kohaku of yours, to somewhere, you don't know where, and you don't even know if you stand a chance."

"That sums it up." I shrugged and picked off a cluster of grapes. I noticed him looking at me inquiringly, like a fascinating new specimen to be studied. I looked away trying to avoid his gaze. When he didn't stop, I began to get frustrated.

"Will you stop that?" He blinked.

"What am I dong that offends you so obviously?"

"You're staring. It's rude." He blinked once, twice, and smiled.

"Can you blame a man of any form, especially one as me for staring? You look like a glamourous spirit of great power, one of divine beauty. I can only begin to imagine how this Kohaku must feel." I blushed but stood up.

"I'm sorry, but, I think I should be going." I looked down at Beast who was still asleep and began to shake him awake.

"Nonesense. I am sorry, I have made you feel uncomfortable. Please, you should stay. At least until you have rested. In the next evening I will make sure you are ready and prepared, then you may go." I felt my body began to relax, but I still felt edgy.

"You promise?" He crossed his arms and grinned like a little boy.

"Promise." I nodded. Still kneeling, I kept a hand on Beast's warm scaly back. A small comfort.

"Come. I will show you to the room you will sleep in." I hesitantly followed and stepped through a doorway made of white sheets. I stopped to catch my breath.

"Wow…I mean." My eyes swept the room and drank it in. Beautiful small fountains of magic water, gorgeous green plants, and a bed made from a real living tree, with a canopy of drooping soft branches.

"If you wish to change, I can go and…" I shook my head.

"Everything is just fine, but are you sure I should, I mean it's just so…"

"It is nothing. I am humbled that such a one as yourself will accept my meager generousity."

You know…he can be quite generous…and egotistical…it makes it hard to tell what kind of person…or spirit he is…

I yawned and he bowed.

"Sleep, rest. Come evening everything will be set. Just as promised." I nodded and he left. I went to the bed, removing my boots, cape, and a few other things still leaving me almost completely dressed.

I snuggled deeply into the warm blankets and fell into a deep slumber.

Dream Sequence
"Chihiro." I felt his breath against my neck. So close as to… It's happening…it's happening again…

The sensation was less shocking, but I still felt sick.

"Kohaku?" I breathed sharply, tears threatening to spill over. I looked over my shoulder at the glass doors that stood ajar and held nothing.

No…not again…something has to change…Kohaku isn't dead…not if I have any thing to say about it…so quit crying…He isn't dead…

I berated myself. Something seemed to get burried deep within me and I found myself completely here. As if I wasn't dreaming. I could move my body and think too.

Rin is coming…

I whipped away my tears and waited patiently. Perfectly composed.

"Chihiro, you're not dressed. Are you okay?" I smiled and nodded.

"Sorry Rin. I was just thinking a moment. I'll get ready for work now." I went behind the screen and quickly put on the workers clothes. I stepped out and watched Rin as she walked onto the balcony.

"Chihiro, are you sure that, I mean, just the other day?"

"I'm fine Rin. There's nothing to worry about. If it will make you feel better, I can stay back from work, but that will only mean more work for you and the others." She looked out into the sky.

"If you're sure you're okay, than, I suppose you should come to work, but if you're not, I want you to tell me now." I kissed her on the cheek like a sister and smiled.

"I am fine. You go ahead, and I'll be down in a minute." She smiled and walked out, taking one last look at me before shutting the door. I dropped the cheery façade and looked out to the sky.

"Nigihayami Kohaku Nushi." I whispered and his name was carried off into the wind. Like last time, a gentl rain began to pour down. I closed my eyes.

"Chihiro." They flashed open and I looked at my side, where a phantom stood. A tall figure, blurred in the rain and completely see throughable, but also recognizeable.

"Kohaku." I stared at him and felt tears begin to fall and a lump form in my throat.

"Chihiro, please don't cry." He reached out to touch my face, but it went through like mine had when I had first hadcome to Kamikakushi.

"Kohaku, where are you? I'm trying…I'm looking…" A breath came in harshly and I had to stop talking.

"Chihiro, if you turn back where it's safe, I'll understand. I'll find a way…"

"No! I won't go back unless you're there with me!" I yelled.

"It isn't safe. I don't want…"

"No. You are in danger and I am going to save you. I highly doubt you can stop me either." I crossed my arms and stared evenly at him. He looked lost. And sick. All I wanted right at that moment was to be in his arms and comfort him as he comforted me.

He sharply looked off out into the distance.

"Chihiro. You are going to have to run. Something is coming."

"What is coming? Kohaku, what is it?" He turned back to me.

"I don't think the fox will hurt you, but don't trust him too much."

"What do you mean? Kohaku, what is coming? What is so dangerous?Who is this fox?" He looked back at me, like he wanted to scream at me, tell me something important but couldn't.

"It's…" He muttered but then faded completely.

"Kohaku!"

End of Dream Sequence
Aikia's P.O.V.
We had just begun to follow the remnants of the Nigihayami Kohaku Nushi, when the whole time sequence began to shake and become unstable.

"Master Aikia, what is happening?"

"My spell is being warped."

"Which means?"

"Something's changing. Either a power source is coming in, or a power source is going out. Possibly both, but unlikely."

Now who in their right minds would dare…even think…of attempting to tamper with a spell as delicate as this…too many things can go wrong…the worst being death to everyone who'd traveled…and to the one who'd done the tampering…but then again…loosing one's mind in the transferel process…does sound quite…disgracefull…

A small image began to appear in a misted cloud and then disappeared.

"Ahrima, you little…"

"Shut your trap. I have no patience for dealing with your stupidity. I have found the girl and I want you to go get her."

"Can't you see I'm in the middle of…"

"I don't care! I want that wench here and now! So I can kill her personally. The boy can wait. He isn't going too far." The image of her disappeared slowly in a thickhaze that also went away.

"Why doesn't she go get her?" I smiled wickedly.

"Because, my dearest sister can't leave the castle."

"Can't, or won't?"I raised my eyebrow at his show of promised intellect.

In time...he may become almost as powerful as I...almost...and in time...

"Can't. That's especially why she is on this egotistical power trip. I on the other hand am not bound to any one or anything."

"But how is she…and to what is she?" I held up my hand as I began the reverse incantation. In a matter of moments we were back where webegan. Standing in front of the stupid boy. I raised my hand and effortlessly a sufficient, though temporary barrier was set into place around him.

"Come. We must go visit a sweet desert flower and bring her to her new home." I said.

"How do you know she is in the desert?"

"Never reveal one's sources." We quickly left and walked out into the open.

Authors Ending Note: Blame it on the writers block.

Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas!

Felice Navidad!