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: SO sorry for the lateness of this chapter. I've been finding it hard to fit in living with everything I have to do! Gah! In my defense, I have never not updated this long before, so hey, no pitchforks...please?
Shout it outs!
LadyRainStarDragon: If you thought that was intense, keep reading.
Chelsea: Information is always good.
KatsyKat: Woah. That was definately a wonderful descrition. I like it. You flatter me though. I might get spoiled!
Velf: Yes, though I think I've made Rin a bit too tender hearted as of late. And Enuresis seemes to take place of how I'd like Rin. Hmm...well I'm good you like the story behind Rin's past. It was more or so a spur of the moment leap >blushes
Aharah Musici: Rin is complex. But great. No big about late reviews, I love themall the same!
Shitza: Keep reading. You're going to love this. Yes, Haku's death was necessary to the story, though it does complicate things for me. lol. Anyhoo...
Chapter 43
Strength
Chihiro's POV
"Chihiro, you're not dressed. Are you okay?" I jumped at Rin's voice.
"Oh Rin." I whimpered.
I couldn't help the trembling sobs that escaped, or the steady rainfall down my cheeks. My legs weakened and she caught me before my knees hit the hard wood and held me, caressing my hair gently.
"Chihiro. My sweet sister."
"Rin, it's so hard. I don't feel like I can go on…"
"Chihiro. It's all right."
"But Rin, I…" She cupped my head between her hands and stared me right in the eyes. I could see her soft skin gleaming and her mahagony eyes soft and tender, her rough attitude swept aside for the moment.
"Chihiro. Even the strongest of all spirits fall, but it takes true courage to get up. Can you get up? Will you?"
"I don't know if I can Rin. I don't feel strong. I don't feel courageous. I'm just a simple person. I have no magic, or anything."
"Where is that little girl I knew so well?"
"I've grown up."
"And you've lost your way." She rocked me back and forth.
"Remember when you were a little girl and you first came here? You worked so hard. You didn't complain out loud but you were a spit-firing dragon if I ever saw one. You held many captive, and amazed. Everyone wondered 'How does she keep going? She's just a human, she should be too weak to do all of this.' Even though you were a weak human, you were stronger than even the great Yubaaba. You conquered all obstacles. Why?"
"Well I had to save my parents and…"
"No. You didn't, and yet you chose to. Think about why you chose to. Why you went through all of that."
"Rin, I don't understand, I…"
"I have to leave. But I want you to stay here and think about what I said, okay Chihiro?"
"Rin, I…" She pulled me onto my feet and held my hands at arms length.
"Remember, Chihiro. That's all you have to do. Kohaku may be dead, but you still have friends who care about you here." She let my hands drop.
… But I…still don't understand…what is the answer…what is the question…I am so confused…I feel so lost…
"Wait Rin!" She stopped and I hugged my self, lip trembling. She patiently waited for me to say what I had to say.
"Rin, how did you find the courage to…to continue living?" She looked almost puzzled.
"I mean…after Akiko and Aki and…"
"Search your heart. I know you will find the answer." She left quietly and I stared out the window.
"Nigihayami Kohaku Nushi." I whispered. I felt my heart swell with hope.
If…if he answers…than I know…I'll know he's alive…so please…please answer…I held my breath, but nothing came.
"Nigihayami Kohaku Nushi!" I yelled. I did it over and over, each time getting louder. I stopped when I couldn't breath from the sobs being caught in my sore throat.
"Then…you're really gone?" I stared at the twinkling clear twighlight. No drop of rain was there to tell me the sweet secrets I longed to hear.
End of Dream Sequence
Katsu's P.O.V.
"Wait, wait wait. I must be hearin things. With all the ringing and screamin and what ever. It's understandable. I mean, for a moment there I thought you said…"
"I killed him."
"Yah exactly, so…wait, you really?" He glared down at me and I flinched. Then an angry curiosity burned its voice to my lips before I could stop it.
"What in Galgifith's name are you thinking! I mean, didn't you have this big macho plan? Really? What kinda evil dude are you? You just killed off your main source of…"
"Technically speaking, I saved him."
"Okay, now I'm lost."
I think he got hit in the head with one too many flying watchya majigs…cause…he's talking crazy talk…and I've heard some of the stuff Ahrima has said…
"He was what is called a lost spirit. Still connected to his element, but torn away from it. Having been reborn in a sort of sense into this world, he made a connection here as well."
"So, he was livin in two worlds at once?"
"In a manner of speaking. The subject of lost spirits is very complex and controversial in itself. There are scholars who have studied the matter since they were young and are still learning new things of lost spirits. The information and limitations are boundless."
Whoa…back up…too many big words…I am lost…"So, that means?" His eyes flashed icy amber at my incomprehension.
Chihiro's P.O.V.
I looked up into the world-weary eyes of Selena with dulled surprise. Her smile was small and she looked ready to cry. She looks exactly how I feel…
"So you have awakened. That is good." She stepped back and I sat up and looked at the white walls of nothing.
So…he's really gone…and there's nothing I can do about it…
"Chihiro. Even the strongest of all spirits fall, but it takes true courage to get up. Can you get up? Will you?"
What did she mean…
"Where is that little girl I knew so well?"
What does it matter…what is so important about who I was…"Even though you were a weak human, you were stronger than even the great Yubaaba. You conquered all obstacles. Why?"
What good did it do me…I may have conquered Yubaaba…but I didn't save Kohaku…what good did that do for me now…but why did I do it…guilt…pride…
"Think about why you chose to. Why you went through all of that."
Why did I…I could have gone back…was I afraid…yes…I was terrified…I was terrified of almost everything…
"Kohaku may be dead, but you still have friends who care about you here."
What did I have…that everyone else seemed to miss…was it…could it be…"Love." I whispered. Selena looked at me as if she had been patiently waiting for me to answer her un asked question.
"So then you know."
"It was because I loved, that I gained so much, but…"
"It is better to have loved and lost, than not at all, do you know why?" I thought about it. A new light shining through me.
"Because then I would have been sad and alone. I would have been like Yubaaba, with an unfathomable void." Selena nodded.
"Now that you know this, what will you do with it?"
"Chihiro. Even the strongest of all spirits fall, but it takes true courage to get up. Can you get up? Will you?"
"Child, you have close companions. You are never truly alone."
"Even though you were a weak human, you were stronger than even the great Yubaaba. You conquered all obstacles."
"All we ask is for you to save out loved ones."
"Think about why you chose to. Why you went through all of that."
"I promise."
"I-I will have to get up and try to help." I swallowed a hard lump.
"You don't have to help."
"No, but even though Kohaku isn't here, I still love this world. And there are parts of this world that loves me. I may not be completely happy without Kohaku, and I may never love another again, but…"
"Yes?"
"But…if I don't do this, than I'll loose everything that I loved. And worse yet, there will be others like me who will loose the ones they love." Selena smiled.
"You have learned a lot." Even though pain still caged my heart, I felt the steely bars warm just a little.
Katsu's POV
"That means, that my spell took proper effect, though in a more dramatic way than anticipated."
"Which spell was that?"
"The boy lives. He was reborn as a new river in the human world." He growled with impatience.
You know…I almost wish he was icy cold around me as he is with everyone else…I dunno…cause all of his venting and what ever…he can be quite scary…I wonder if its inherited…
I watched as Master Aikia touched the forehead of the body on the floor. He shut his eyes in concentration and I stood there with my mouth open tryin to catch flies as the guy just suddenly seemed to be healed.
Aikia let out a breath of air and I saw beads of sweat drip onto the floor. He slowly rose, as if he were a rusty tin can.
"Why did you heal him?" He didn't answer for a moment.
"So that I can bring him back." Before I had time to think about it even farther, we were back in the human world, in an area almost exactly like the one we were at.
"Back in Iceland?" He nodded. I looked at a steady stream that seemed to pour out of a craggy rocked mountain. The water reflected the sun and looked almost pure white with shimmers of emerald.
"That is the new born river."
"That's the guy?" He strode over to the river and I ran on all fours to keep up. He kneeled down to the water and looked into in. A light mist appeared around the river and shrouded all else from their view.
"Aikia, what's happening?" I was torn between moving away from the water, or closer to Aikia who was next to the water, but also very powerful.
Aikia's POV
I stared at the image of the man who appeared from the mist. He had a strong, lean, masculine build to him. He stood tall with his hair short to his shoulders and a dark green. His eyes were sharp. He glared at me and for a moment I almost felt a flicker of fear.
So…he has even become more powerful…and not only that…but retains his memories…how…delightful…
My thoughts sourly brooded over this.
"Greetings Nigihayami Kohaku Nushi. Well, than again, you are a new river, so your name is a bit of a mystery. Unless you know it." I taunted. His canine teeth seemed to shine with a wish to be used.
"You." He said coldly.
"Yes me."
"What have you done."? His voice was as sharp as mountain water is cold.
"I saved you. To state it simply." He growled a feral growl. More traits of his dragon manner showing with each word spoken. His eyes being his true outlet of emotion.
"You see, your river was dieing, so you were dieing. Being as you were apart of Kamikakushi as you are here, you were being torn in half, I killed you therein order foryouto be reborn here. Now I've come to take you back there, so well…I suppose you can get killed again." I laughed.
In movements faster than even I could follow, his hands were at my throat and his eyes pinned mine with glass needles.
"I will not be apart of your twisted joke." He coolly stated.
Oh…he's definitely amusing…I'm half tempted to give him a fighting chance…if only for the challenge…
"I'm afraid, that is not up to you." I snapped my fingers a multitude of my tasks happened at once.
I watched as he was caught in my webs. He couldn't free himself. He did, however, put up a good fight, but with every counter spell he had, I was ready with something even bigger.
He fell to the ground. His form solidified by force of my spell, and was unconscious. I held a teardrop shaped vial of liquid in my palm.