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: Hola!

Shout it outs!

Keetra: My first reviewer for this chapter:) I'm glad my explanation helped you out a lot. I know I hate being confused when reading a story.

Yes, Haku's future does look a little bit grim. Especially at the rate things are deteriorating.

My next update may be a while...hmm...I'll try to aim for Thursday or maybe this weekend. For sure by next tuesday (not tomorrow tuesday)

Chapter 46

Falling Water

Chihiro's POV
I heard a 'chink' and looked at Rin who had barely unsheathed her sword. She looked serious. A scowl on her brow, a flush in her cheeks, and her lips drawn thin.

A sound came from the bushes beyond and she disappeared with stealthy grace. Minutes passed.

She yelped and I heard strange noises. I rushed in to the brush and beyond the tree only to find Rin being dragged on the ground. She grasped a rope tightly, and on the other end was a strange looking pony thing with a scaly tail. Fox fell over laughing.

"It's not everyday you see someone wrestling a Shinzy!" He howled, offering a meek excuse for his outburst. I felt my lips twitch and a desire to laugh as well, but I held it back. If only for Rin's already battered pride. Finally she was in control and tied the rope to the nearest, sturdiest tree. Passing him by, she punched Fox in the stomach. He doubled over somewhat and Rin stood towering over him. She shook a mock pain from her hand.

"Rin!"

"What?" she drawled out innocently. Vai snickered a little.

"Watch it mermaid boy." Fox whispered.

"Is that a threat?" I crossed my arms and raised an eyebrow.

"I am shocked that you would think I would ever do such a…ouch!" He jumped up and down as Rin stepped on his foot.

"Give it a rest. Unless you want to look like a bruised piece of fruit."

"Hey guys! I found it!" Enuresis landed with a loop-de-loop.

Show off…

"What did you find?"

"A huge castle!"

"Just a castle? Well, I guess it's better than nothing." Flames seemed to shoot out of Enuresis's nostrils.

"It's not just a castle! I mean, it looks like the perfect place that that creepy guy, Aikia would be! Besides, there's nothing else around for miles!"

"You're so young."

"And what does that mean?"

"What do you mean, 'what does that mean'"

"What does what mean?"

"Stop doing that!"

"I'm not doing anything."

"The both of you stop!" They turned their backs to each other and refused to talk. Just like two toddlers. I shook my head.

Though it is nice to have a little bit of normalcy…a head ache would be something I would greatly enjoy avoiding…

"Maybe we should rest here a bit and then send someone ahead to scout out everything

Oh…my head…why do they have to be so loud…what if someone else hears…thannot only will I have a head ache...assuming I still had my head...

I felt my ears drum loudly in time with my heartbeat and the headache I had been suppressing was coming on with a vengeance.

"I'm telling yah. Aikia's there."

"And what makes you so sure?"

"I just know!"

"It looks scary and you automatically assume…"

"No! Don't put words in my mouth!"

"I wasn't doing…"

"Stop!" Vai said loudly in distress. The shock of his voice brought both of their arguing to a halt. He looked nervous and I sent him a grateful encouraging nod. He seemed to become a little more confident then.

"I'll scout ahead." Fox said and disappeared into the forest. Rin scowled as she took up the position of our look out a simple ways away, and Enuresis climbed a tree to take a nap.

Vai and I sat leaning against a tree, looking at the distorted sky. A cross between how it should be, and the human realm's. A clear blue with scattered black clouds. Rain fell but never far enough to touch the trees, and lightning matched the shining suns light.

A soft constant rumble in the ground never let me forget the danger ahead enough to relax. My nerves felt fried.

Vai gently played something calming on his flute and I took to watching. His long womanly fingers glided over the luminescent pearl treasure. He stopped and smiled at me.

'Here…you try…'

'Me?…' he nodded and handed it to me. I looked at it as I held it in my hands. It felt invitingly cool to the touch and a ripple of magic kissed the pads of my fingers. I put it to my lips like Vai had and tried to play a note. But nothing came out.

I looked at his pained face, as if I had played a sharp squeaky note.

'Nothing came out…' I said put out and confused. He shook his head and showed me where to place my fingers. I tried again with no sound to come of my efforts.

'Chi…play with…your feelings…use them…project them into your…breath to play…' he seemed confused at his own words, unable to explain them how he wanted. I tried and tried again.

It went on like that for quite a while. Vai would constantly stop me and show me this or that,giving me tips on how to play. He was slightly frustrated I could tell, weather with me or himself, or both. Finally we both gave up.

'I guess I'm just not cut out for that kind of thing.' I sighed depressed. My first obstacle on this whole adventure to have completely failed at, and it was something as simple as playing the flute.

How pathetic…I can't play a single darn note…you would think I could at least play 'Mary had a little lamb' by now…

'Chi…you will learn…much patient it takes…'

'I dunno…I think it will take more patience than either of us has…' he laughed and looked at his flute at a long length.

'When you learn how to play…Chi…I will give you…this flute…it will be yours…' I shook my head. Before I could say anything, Fox landed right in front of us looking quite pleased with himself. He put a finger to his lips a sighn that he was up to mischeif and that he didn't want us to warn his next vitim. Heflewup the tree branches until he was level with Enuresis. Vai and I looked at each other in wonder and looked back to watch the surprise.

"The sky is falling!" He yelled. She snapped instantly awake, but had sat up to quickly, causing her to loose her balance. Fox caught her and set her on the ground, before laughing himself silly. She knocked him on the head, leaving him disoriented before setting herself quite comfortably next to me, making sure he didn't leave her sight. Rin came back looking annoyed.

"What are you guys thinking? Making all of that noise!"

"Don't blame me. I haven't said a word." Enuresis said looking the ever-indignant victim. I shrugged in a helpless gesture. Rin glared at Fox and he just gave her a pretty boy smile.

"And what do you have to say for yourself?"

"You will all be pleased to know, that as I scouted the premises, I found no evidence of guards or immediate danger." Rin scowled.

"No guards?" She questioned.

"He must be more arrogant than Arelinita." Enuresis snorted, still in a mood. Rin looked ticked off.

"So assuming that there aren't any enchantments, spells, or traps we should be able to at least get there fairly easy." I interrupted.

"That's right Love, but what are the chances of that happening?"

"Well, if they're arrogant as Enuresis suggested, than a good one. I mean, if they think they're powerful enough to take over two worlds, why would they bother wasting power and energy guarding their castle when they could just do away with trespassers at their leisure?" The thought wasn't a comforting one but the truth of it did lessen the possibility of being killed before reaching the darn block of a castle.

"So Kitsune, you ready to fly, or are your poor wings feeling tuckered out?" Rin mocked. I must say that she is taking to him quite warmly. From what I heard of the servants, she didn't so much as speak to Kohaku unless it was demanded of her. So her giving fox a nickname and insulting him is quite the major step.

"I'm ready when you are. The sooner the better." He flexed his wings to prove his point. Something occurred to me as I watched the supple leathery expanse widen.

"How are Vai and I supposed to get to the castle once we get that far? Neither of us has our wings left." Rin grinned.

"You both are going to ride a Shinzy." I paled.

"Ride?" If I thought I was bad, Vai looked as if he was already getting motion sick. Fox looked a little nervous at the idea.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"They're a smart dependable animal. Once you know what you're doing, it would take a whole lot for you to get in an accident. Now Chihiro, since you will be driving…"

"No. I will lead." Vai said. I heard him audibly gulp.

"In water, there is…water shinzys. I not good, but I know." Rin cocked her head and smiled in admiration.

Aikia's POV
'I give this to you.'

'It's…beautiful." She held the katana at length. It shined and reflected in the glittering moonlight.

'It's my best work so far. Use it skillfully and she'll serve you purposefully.'

'How beautiful. A moon and a willow tree. But why go to all of that trouble? Why not something more simple?'

'The willow symbolizes blessings and beauty, but the moon is the most important image of the picture. It s a symbol of our love.' She frowned ever so slightly.

'Our love, like the moon? You mean the one that is constantly changing and sometimes disappears? The very one in the sky?' her words held a venom that stung.

'The very one. For our love will change over time. It will grow and change as we grow and change, only to become stronger. But you are mistaken that the moon disappears. There will be times when sometimes, in anger or fear, or doubt, our love will seem to disappear, but really it was merely hidden and will soon shine brightly once again.

She looked up.

The image of her brown sweet eyes was branded to the back of my eyes. They stung and burned as sweat rolled into them and wiped her orbs away.

Using the best tools possible, I made intricate swirls and designs into the metal. Enhancing its beauty.

Chihiro's POV
I felt the wind rush past us. My arms were circled around Vai's waist as he controlled the beast. He was concentrating very hard, determined that nothing would go wrong. I looked up every so often, catching a fleeting glance of the others. The woods began to thin out to dead trees and sickly shrubs scratched the ground.

"It's so huge!" Vai merely nodded. I looked at the many turrets, balconies, dead gardens, windows, and everything else about it. It was beautiful in a horrifying way. It felt cold though. Like a dagger. Beautiful and shiny, made with great skill and precision, but frigid as death.

The ground Shook. Vai looked worried. The Shinzy stopped and snorted. It looked as if Vai had calmed it down until the earthquake become more violent and a branch landed on the side of us. I gripped Vai's waist tightly as the shinzy swung its tail and reared. I fell off and watched in horror as the hooves danced dangerously close to me.

Vai tried to control the beast, but it would not be commanded to do anything. Vai purposefully slid off and landed next to me. The Shinzy's barbed tail swung at me. I closed my eyes, waiting for the spikes. Instead I was merely thrown. I hit the trunk of a tree and saw spots. Adrenaline rushed into me, thinking of the present danger, and my vision cleared more quickly than I thought made sense.

"Oh no!" I whispered in horror. Tears fell and I screamed words of unbelief. The Shinzy whacked its tail and I shuddered at the unearthly crack. The body fell loose and the Shinzy bolted.

"Vai! Vai! Vai!" I screamed and I crawled to his body. Rudy syrup stained his garments. I tried to apply as much pressure as possible in desperation, unable to stop any of the bleeding. Holes led from his neck all the way down the middle of his body. His neck was bent at an odd angle, as were many of his other limbs. His eyes were open in shock, but did not blink.

'Vai!' I screamed in my mind, but when I reached out there was a cold void that made me throw myself back with sharpness.

"Vai! Get up! Please! You have to!" Something caught my eye. I saw his flute at his waist, amazingly in one piece, and pulled out the white pride and joy of his.

"Come on Vai. Play your flute for me please! I don't care what it is. Anything!" My throat was tight and my voice squeaky and cracked.

The ground began to shake again, with a sickening crack and moan. Like and old man whose joints had rusted together being forced to move the almost crippled body of his. I held Vai's hand in one of mine.

The ground split open beneath me and before I knew it, the similar stomach tumbling, mind retching feeling of free falling hit.

I grasped his hand tightly. I dug my nails into him feeling him slip through my blood covered fingers.

"No!" I screamed. I saw his body slowly drift into infinity. Leaving me to fall alone.

Aikia's POV
'You will return him! Return me my brother or your queen's head will roll!' I felt the familiarity of the voice roll over me in dread. Silence filled my chest. Eyes avoided me. I felt the clinging presence of a woman. I saw her crying, but could not see her face, which was buried in it. I looked at the warriors besides me. Their fists clenched and knew that this dilemma was killing them inside.

'I will go.' I said. The woman's nails dug into my arm and she wept. I stroke her hair and feathers fell down from her beautiful wings. I stood up but she threatened to pull me down.

'You have to let go.' I whispered. She fainted as I handed her to her off to another trusted being

I dropped to my knees, pushing the Orn Spirits aside. Catching my breath I stood up.

"Get out of here if you cherish your lives." I whispered darkly. My voice spread to every ear by magic. Many panicked, for there was no escape entrance. In anger I raised my arm and a grand hole was made in the big wall.

The ground shook vehemently and in panic, non-bothered with hesitation. My eyes briefly met with that of the arrogant young Orn. I scowled at him, and he merely nodded, no other indication of recognition to him. I made my way through the thick escaping crowd, a small parting made out of fear. Soon I was walking alone and left the putrid mines.