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

Authors Beginning Note: Laziness + extreme tiredness+ updating + minor virus one really late chapter.

On the bright side, I did get a new bed and I'm going to completely redecorate my room!

On an even brighter side, Some action will develop before long.

Shout it outs!

Aharah Musici:Becasue he had to protect his river. Aikia could very well have diluted it w/ poison to kill him or some other such devius plot.

WhiteWolf125: I'll say, she don't even know he's alive! Well anyhoo, Chihiro is going to be thrown in a bit more of a tift come next chapter

MaNgA-bOy-LoVeR: Ah, but the bad guys we love to hate are the best kind!

Katsy Kat: Yes, Chihiro will be taking charge, but you won't see the bigger leap until the next chapter. This one is a slight motivating jump.

Velf: I agree, Haku does need a little freedom to kick some tush. But not quite yet.And yes, asking Chihiro to bounce right back to normalcy is a bit much, but when you think about it,she has a lot on her shoulders that she needs toget going on.

Shitza: LOL! I loved your 1st sentance. I'm glad that I got such a loud reaction out of you.

Keetra: Oh but cliffhangers are so evily wonderful! I absolutely love writing them!

Chapter 44

The Fey Folk

Katsu's POV
Holy sand guzzlers…

I watched as sparks flew and tempests rose and water jumped. It looked like the apocalypse itself were happening. Finally, the dude fell to the ground and Aikia stood over him.

"What the…" Master Aikia held a clear bottle with water.

"Water from his river. If used properly, it can be turned against him, since it is apart of him." I looked as the river seemed to rise and gain strength. Almost like a dam letting loose.

"Master Aikia" My voice squeeked, and if I hadn't been so throngin worried about the water, I would have hid myself in shame.

Soon enough, I felt the sickening feeling of being brought back home.

We stood in the middle of the Crystal room. I saw themean lookin water guyagain strung to the ceiling and floor. Only this time, flashes of white and green flooded into almost every crystal.

"What's going on?"

"He's more powerful than before. Not long now and both worlds will collide into coexistence."

"What are you going to do with that?" I motioned to the bottle of water. He tossed it in the air and caught it nonchalantly.

"I have my plans." He disappeared, leaving me to the bright room. I changed my attention to the 'guest of honor'.

You know…he looks really different…I mean…like…well…its not like he's turned into a yellow skinned freak over night…but…he seems changed…

I walked up and peered at him. His eyes slid open and met mine. I jumped, nearly havin a heart attack.

"Dude! You gotta warn a guy when your just gonna wake up like that!" His hair slid to the corner of his eyes, which were slitted in a deadly glower.

"Don't look at me like that! It's not like I did anything!" His look didn't leesen.

Okay…now I'M getting ticked off…

"Okay Mr. High and mighty! Who gave you the right to treat me like that! Huh? If it weren't for me, you would died a long time ago while Master Aikia was off trying to…"

Insert foot…right now…telling him…that I was trying to help him…while Master Aikia was off killin his girlfriend…might not be a good idea…okay…slowly take your foot out…

He shut his eyes and for a moment looked quite peaceful.

"With the wind and water within thee, let the rain guide her." He opened his eyes and glared, though a little less deadly.

"What was that about?" His lips were sealed tight. I shrugged.

You know…I really don't care…I mean…nothing happened…I think it was a spell…or maybe just lunacy setting in…either way…

"See ya around." I walked out to leave him. Spots covered my vision for quite some time.

Chihiro's POV
"Selena!" Selena looked quickly at one of the ladies who walked in. I stared at the beautiful, if not slightly distressed,woman. She looked older even though she stood a few inches short of Selena. Her flaxen hair tied in a crown of braids with simple ruby pins illustriously provided. Ruby droplets also fell from her lobes. She wore a red gown similar to Selena's, with a metal broach fitted perfectly on her clavical bone. She bore a grand resembalance to Queen Aleesandra.

"Maeve, what's wrong?"

"The fey folk of the Northern Woodlands have come and they bare disturbing news." Selena nodded. I stood up and she frowned at me. However the other woman nodded.

"Hello. You are the child who came with the fox and dragon, are you not?"

"Why does everyone insist on calling me child?"

"Because you are at heart. You have not found yourself."

That…was…weird…

I didn't even bother trying to make sense of it.

"Come with us. I have a feeling this may concern your quest." I nodded and walked besides Selena, who followed one step behind the other woman.

We came to the doors to the court room, which were already opened by the time we got there. The guards nodded curtly.

"Your majesties, this is not a one time occurance. Perhaps you may have not noticed, but this has been happening quite frequently…" Selena grabbed my hand in my uncertainty.

Oh my goodness…what next…a unicorn…

I glanced over my shoulder at the guests.

Three elves, and eight faeries. The tiny three inch fairies had wild untamed hair, with luminescent wings and wore either leaves or flowers for clothing, well those that bothered.

The three elves stood tall and graceful, all well groomed and their pointed ears being a prominent feature. A quiver of arrows were on the one's back as well as a long sinowy looking bow. I shook my head in wonder.

Looking in front of me I saw that there were a few more thrones being inhabited.

Two guys sat in two of the three thrones on King Alastar's left hand side leaving one throne empty. Two young ladies, and a young man (who looked no older than Selena, with the same ebony hair, fair skin, and pointed ears as she) sat in the throne by Queen Aleesandra. The older boy being positioned closest to Aleesandra. All of them sitting in ranking order of throne inheritance. Oddly, the oldest boy being before one of the girls in a throne line where the inheritance falls to the woman.

Looking the royalties over again, I noticed even more. All of them excepting the oldest boy and Selena,bore the closest resemblance to the queen.

I can see why Selena feels so out of place…she looks so different than her other siblings…except for him…but…despite what she said earlier…I still think she is the prettiest…especially in heart…

I briefly studied the two princess's flawless Grecian faces, golden hair, and bronze skin.

We walked along the wall and behind a curtain. Selena grasped my hand firmly and we popped out next to the last throne on King Alastar's side.

What is she doing…there is no place for me to sit…oh…this is embarrassing…

"As my guest, you will sit in my throne." Selena whispered to me.

"What?" I squeeked a little too loudly. The guests looked up and gasped, noticing my presence.

"A human!" I saw the fairest looking elf, the one with the bow, frown slightly. He looked in the least, insulted.

"Yes. She is a guest to our kingdom. Now if you will please continue." The King looked sidelong with an amused looked at me, winked, andturned his attentionback towards the fey folk.

"But, King Alastar, she is a human."

Yes…I am a human…get over it…

I felt like growling in frustration.

"Can she be trusted?" I heard a small bell voice question.

"I refuse to speak another word in her presence." A woman elf folded her arms across her gifted chest. Her dark hair curved on her shoulders and tumbled to her waist.

"And why not?" I crossed my arms and spoke out.

Of all the lousy…

"Chihiro…" Selena hissed.

"You have no right to speak to lady Ciara in such a manner." The other elf man moved in front of her.

"And lady Ciara has no right judging me in such a manner." I said tersely enough as to almost be rude.

Murmers slithered in the room and buzzed like angry bees in a hive among the court guests and generals who were hearing the news brought by the fey folk.

"It was the humans who drove us from our homeland! It was all your fault!" The little menacing faeries flew right up to my face. The one who spoke gave off a pink shimmer. With her hands on her naked hips she glared at me. I blew a gentle breath that threw the lot of them a few feet from my face.

"Please, don't argue…" Selena pleaded.

"You say it was the humans who drove you from earth?"

"Why do you ask us? You're one of them!" Lady Ciara spat.

Okay…I am sick of this…you little…prissy…judgemental…pointy eared…pain in the butt…

I strode over, ignoring the arrow being pointed at my head by the elvin archer, and the obviously sharp blade held by his warrior companion.

"You know what, lady Ciara? I may be human, but I had no part in driving you away from earth…"

"But you would have…"

"Do not tell me what I would, and would not have done. I can't deny that humans drove you away from your home nor can it be justified as fairness, but that was a long time ago! Your life here can't be all that bad!"

"Enough!" Queen Aleesandra stood and strode over to us. Placing one hand on each of our shoulder's she looked the both of us in the eyes.

"This is no time to argue. Lady Ciara, I know that your people still hold a grudge against the human race, but this one is different." Her eyes bore into mine. I would not back down. She finally looked up at Aleesandra.

"As far as I'm concerned, a human is a human. They will not change their ways." She whirled around, thefairies and the elf with the sword following like guards.

"Ronan, if you will please lower your weapon while in our court." He eyed me warily and slowly did so.

"If there are no more intrusions, I would like to hear more of this news you bring." Alastar said gently. Instantly the room let out a calm breath.

It's funny…Aleesandra seems to be the tempest…while Alastar is the exact opposite…and yet…they fit together just…wonderfully…

"Chihiro, if you would?" I nodded and gingerly walked back to Selena and sat in her throne. She stood with her wings folded. She seemed nervouse and slightly distracted.

"You could have gotten yourself in a lot of trouble." She whispered. I smiled at her worried look.

"…the quakes are now more forth coming than before. In certain places there is no telling when one stops and another begins."

"Is this the heighest matter of your worries?" Aleesandra raised her eyebrow.

"No. What is even more disturbing is the constant reports of human sightings. Flashes of human cities, huge tall and glassy. But as soon as they come, they disappear. Like mirages. They appear more constantly around areas with the most quake activity." The room was quiet.

"What does this mean?" Ronan turned to me and though his features showed no hint of it, the ice in his voice stated his disrespect for me quite clearly.

"We think that the humans are trying to take over our world."

Humans…take over…take over Kamikakushi…is he serious…

I couldn't stop the risinggiggles that intruded up into my throat.

"Chihiro!" Selena gasped in shock. I stopped, not wanting to seem more rude than I already was. Queen Aleesandra seemed to be a mixture of embarrassment and anger.

Ronans lips had thinned into a sharp line. I stared straight at him.

"That, is highly unlikely."

"And why is that, they have done it before. They could do it again."

"Before, they knew you existed. Now, elves, fairies, and much everything else here in Kamikakushi is nothing more than a story to entertain kids with. In fact, if I hadn't seen you and your companions here, I wouldn't have believed elves existed." For a moment, I almost felt bad as his eyes lost their luster and his shoulders sagged a little.

"Ronan, we believe that the true demons at work here are indeed Aikia and Ahrima." His face paled at Alastars deep voice.

"What sources have supplied you with that information?"

"This child here." He swallowed hard.

"And you…you believe her?"

"Yes. I have complete faith in the words she speaks."

"And, do you have any others who have…"

"There have been five others that have been in some way have encountered Aikia himself. All of whom are our current guests. One, a Dragon whom has been called Beast as of late, is in critical condition."

"And have any plans been arranged?"

"Many are being formulated but nothing has been absolute as of yet."

"And this girl. What role is she to play?"

"She was the wife of the Ambassador of the Bathhouse and former spirit of the river Nigihayami Kohaku Nushi." Aleesandrareplied.

"Was?"

I swallowed.

Please don't say it…please don't say it…

"He is dead." I felt my body swoon, but gentle hands on my shoulder kept me steady. I let out a deep breath, fighting down nausea at the same time.

"She also seems to be a target of Aikia's. Weather by chance or instinct, she has made her way to us without too much bodily harm." He nodded.

"Than she shall play no further parts?"

"I did not say that." He frowned a little but it disappeared.

"You must be tired. If you would like, I will have our servants escort you to your room." He nodded gratefully at King Alastar.

"I thank you. Your gracious kindness will not be forgotten." Bowing low, he walked backwards and out of the doors where an Arielo met him. The doors closed silently and the room of spectators and royalty was quiet.

"First thing is first. We must meet with the counsel." Aleesandra nodded.

"I just wish we knew more. It would help." Alastar squeezed her hand.

I looked up as I felt a light tap on my shoulder.

"Come." I nodded. Selena and I slipped away unnoticed.

Authors Ending Note: Arg! I must say, this wasn't one of my favorite chapters. I wanted to make Chihiro seem strong in the face of politics-nya. I think she seemed more rude and short tempered than anything.