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: One thing I would like to say before we continue. I do NOT in any form, accept flames. They are hurtful, degrading, and pointless. You know who you are. Being the generous person I am, the only course of action I took up was to delete your last few 'comments' on a couple of my stories. Next time I will inform the site administrators.

I love to hear comments, and advice about what I write; even the hard to bite truths about some of my flaws because they better me as a writer. However, saying nastythings about how much you hate what I've written is no way in any form appropriate, or considerate.

Now…lets move on.

Shout it outs!

Katsy Kat: Well, I can't say this chapter won't get a little crazy as well. Any questions, I'm your answer woman. So feel free to ask, well...at least I'll answer all the questionsI know or can, unless I don't know then I'll make up something,or if it will ruin part of the story.

But yes, my story is slowly coming to its climax and winding down. Sad really, but all good things must come to an end at some point, ne?

Aharah Musici: Is that a good reaction?

Shitza: Actually, Iceland is quite grassy and rocky in places,and stays at an average of 50 Degrees, (maybe more? Something like that.)During the summer. But being as my knowledge of iceland is only so vast, I don't know much beyond what I wrote.

On the road again...Just can't wait to get on the road again...

lol. Completely understandable. No need to appologize. And, no prob. I love to review stories I read and like.

Chelsea: If length is what you want, my next few chapters should leave you quite pleased. Thanx 4 the review!

Velf: I'm so glad that you're not confused. I worry sometimes that I over or under explain things and loose my readers completely. Though, I will try to wrap things up without too many life threatening questions. But I must admit that they are kinda fun to have hanging over people's minds...

Yes...life is like a road with many roads. There are many to choose from, many dead ends, and very many twists, but you can't help enjoying the scenery while you're on the way...well unles you find yourself on the path leading to a primal camp of hungry canibals. LOL.

And Thanx. :) your reviews are an enlightning spring that refresh me in my time of thirst. (sorry, couldn't help but go metaphorical) :)

Chapter 37

Gambling With Fate

Chihiro's POV
I sat up quickly, my body feeling loose like a weightless string that's been disconnected. My head spun a thousand circles and my breath came in short gasps. I felt something on my shoulders but didn't think about it.

"You shouldn't move like that."

Who…who…I can't think…I can't…

I tried to move, but everything seemed heavy and like lead.

"I wouldn't do that either Dove. You might hurt yourself even more." My tongue felt dry, my throat sore, and my eyes seemed to be sewed shut. I was slowly lifted down in a laying position.

"Beast." I whispered. A cool hand touched my fore head, but I shook it away.

"No. I want to know…where is beast?" Fighting against everything in my body, I sat up and opened my eyes. My skin was slick and wet. But what my hands touched when I leaned forward to catch my breath, was something that was definitely not ground.

I touched the brown earthen scales and it felt warm. A breeze tangled my hair. I looked at my hazy surroundings, feeling nauseated at the constant motion.

I'm…Beast is…but it's…a huge Dragon…how…its so wonderful…just everything…but…its too much to grasp…

"We're just fine Dove."

"Where?"

"Would you believe we're riding a dragon? The very one you traveled with." The fox's words were smooth, but a worried undertone was carried in it.

"What's wrong?" My voice cracked from exhaustion.

"Nothing at all. Everything is as bright as the sun above. You should have seen this dragon here though, he startled Aikia…"

"You're rambling."

Something's wrong…why won't he tell me…my body hurts so badly…all I want to do is rest…

"No." My anger got the better of me and I glared at him over my shoulder. I went to hit him as I turned. He grabbed my arm as I nearly lost my balance and rolled off.

"Dove, before you go flying off I suggest you get a pair of wings." I was startled.

That's the first time I've seen him angry...wel...there was Aikia..but...it was different...not..like this…I know something is wrong...and he's hiding it form me...

"Tell me what's wrong." I demanded. His eyes softened and he let my arm drop, making sure I had some sort of balance. He mumbled something as he looked away.

"Fox, I demand you tell me, or I will fly off, wings or no."His eyes snapped to mine and he looked sorrowful. It hurt to see him like this. He swallowed as if his mouth were dry.

"You are dieing. Both you and the Dragon. Both of you are dieing. That is what is wrong." I had to blink a few times before my thick skull could comprehend a word he had just said.

"Was it those shards? Are they the ones that hurt Beast?" Fox looked at me in surprise and shook his head solomly.

"He sent you into a healing comatose like state. A few moments later Aikia sent a storm of glass shards like a broken mirror. Beast knocked away any that went for us, but too many cut him. Then they melted away and so did his gnashes. But he's weaker. I can feel it. With every pulse and beating of his wings, he gets more tired and it's unnatural."

"But, if I was healing, why am I dieing?"

"Magic can only heal the inside of a body so much my little Dove-let."

So what I saw…wasn't just a dream…oh…how I wish it was…why can't there be a happily ever after without so much pain…Kamikakushi…and the human world are both so much alike…its scary…when I first came here…it was like a fairy tale…a scary one…but so many things happened…and everything became real…I just…I want it all to end…I want Kohaku…and every one else to be safe…I don't want anyone to die…why…why does it have to be like this…it hurts so much…

"Where…where are we going?" I choked out as tears covered my face. The Fox wrapped me in a hug, but unlike his touch before, this one had not foul play involved. It was just a hug from a friend to give comfort.

"I don't quite know Dove, but where ever it is, I'm sure it will be safe. Your Dragon friend wouldn't let any harm come to you."

I can't fight it any more…I'm so sore…so tired…

My eyes drooped and my body seemed to wilt like a flower. I felt disconnected from everything and slowly fell into a deep sleep.

Katsu's POV
I breathed deeply, only to choke, and choke, and choke.

Air…I need air…where am I…I can't…I can't breath…

I opened my eyes and could only see dark hazy blue.

Water…oh no…I can't swim…please…someone…I…I can't breath…

I struggled against the force of the rivers beating heart.

Which way is up…I'm…I'm really going to die…

I felt something around my waist jerk the last force of air in me and sadly watched the essential key of life float away. I closed my eyes and suddenly felt sharp air hit my face.

Air…I can feel…

I tried to breath, but could only cough and choke until at last a fist, powerfully bit into my stomach, causing me to choke and eventually hurl every last drop of water from my stomach.

I shamefully shook and trembled. Scared, confused, alive, weak, sick and breathing.

"Stupid. Can't even swim." I looked slowly up at Master Aikia. A flicker moved past his eyes, but not before I caught it.

He was…he was actually…but…I must have just imagined it…lack of oxygen does tha'…I mean…he's cold…I ain't seen him feel nothin'…let alone…worry…

I glanced at his soaking clothes. Unexpectedly they dried in an instant, and I too found myself as dry as if I had been sittin in the sun for a whole day.

Feeling shaky I stood up and looked at our surroundings. A long plane of uneven and strange, spiky, grass stood out. Behind me was a wide and deep river. In the distance were tall mountains. I looked up at the sun and blue sky. The small breeze felt cool to the touch. It was nice, in its baren ways.

"Where are we?"

"We are on the continent Iceland in the human realm."

"What happened? It looked like everything was dieing or somethin'." My nose twitched as I smelled his fowl mood turn sour.

"I had to completely rearrange a few elements."

He's obviously avoidin the question…there's something he don't want to tell me…

"I don't get it."

"A large lake was there long before his but had dried up. There's a toxin in the ground that caused the previous to dry and stagnate. That's why they moved his river there, to fill up the empty space. In order to move him, I had to heal his water completely and switch his lake in exchange for another's place in life."

"I'm confuzzled."

"Confused."

"Sorry." I wanted to stop asking questions. His manner was cool, and aggravated. His sentences though extended and detailed, were clipped in tone.

"Cause and Effect. Every aspect of life has a cause and effect. He was supposed to die so another body of water could be reborn. It's the will of this earth. It and Kamikakushi are connected. I think it knew if it killed the boy, both would have been saved, until Ahrima found a more powerful spirit and used it. Then that spirit would have died and another would have been reborn in its stead. All to protect the worlds."

"But how can a big ball o' dirt think?"

"It's living."

Okay…that is just…too weird…but…wait a minute…most spirits go to Kamiakakushi when their element is dead…so…

"That Haku came to Kamikakushi, but his river didn't fully disappear."

"Not all spirits must loose their element to gain a livable form in Kakmikakushi. In his case his river was lost and changed, thus changing him as a being. It's quite amazing how much of his true essence he kept through the transferel."

"So, no one dies?"

"Yes, spirits do die, but Kamikakushi is not the after life. It is another world of a different dimension. Think of it as transferring to a new world. They never actually die. Some go through a coma. Their whole body has to stop in order to make it to Kamikakushi."

"Oh. So spirits just sorta stop? Okay, so then why are they all in Kamikakushi? Why not in the human place?"

"To create balance."

"Why?"

"To create a balance between the two dimensions. The two worlds are connected and if one becomes imbalanced so does the other. I would teach you more thoroughly in this field, ubfortunately I do not have all of the information required for that."

Oh my head…this is so hard…I mean seriously…how the heck does he remember all of this stuff…okay...maybe if I jus say what I know first an' make surethat is right...

"So, when some spirits are disconnected from their element or whatever, they go into a coma and have to go to Kamikakushi, so, what about the others?"

"They crossed at the beginning of Kamikakushi's creation."

"And the humans?"

"There are certain places in which both worlds are aligned. They create a portal of sorts, but under certain conditions can they be crossed. Many times the human goes into a coma before crossing. Quite complex. In order to teach you properly, I would need all of my material and notes present."

"Okay, so back to Haku. He is taking the birth place of another being?"

"Yes."

"Is this river his?"

"No. The Boy's river will be created in a few hours time. It will be created by a quake. The body of water that should be created will fade and condense into the Boy's former place."

"Why a quake?"

"I am not so well versed in the makings of the bodies of water, quakes and their relations. Especially those of the human realm."

"Haku will live and the other being will go to Kamikakushi as its pond dies?"

"The other being may very well go to Kamikakushi even as it is being born."

"Why"

"Because its destined place to live in, is being changed completely. It shouldn't affect that spirit much, being as it has yet to retain memories to loose, nor has it had a place to loose."

So…what we're really doing…is making a muck of destiny…and gambling with fate…assuming we'll get the best cards…or at least a winning hand…

"This is a lot."

"It is important."

"Why?" He didn't bother to answer. Instead the ground faded, and I found myself looking past Aikia and at Haku.

"He doesn't look any better."

"He will. He is about to be reborn, so to speak."