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: I had a virus and it took a while to get it fixed-apparently I wasn't the only one. So it was a little out of my control, as far as finished editing and updates.

I think there is still anywhere from 1-2 chapter left so, I'll be working extra hard on it.

Shout it outs!

KatsyKat- Yes. And I am sorry for rushing those two parts in particular as well. Especially the confrontation between Ahrima, Aikia, and the others. I kinda had writers block and I felt rushed to get it updated, and for that it turned out rushed. I guess it is an occurance in which to learn by for future refrences.

I blush at your compliments however. I'm flattered that you think so highly of me. Eloquent-theres a word I rarely ever get described by. So thank you. I appreciate it.

Yessika- A fourth? No-actually I don't think I will. I was however working on a Nutcracker based story using the characters for Spirited away, and I never got to far, so I'm thinkin gof reposting that and furhtering it. 2 storied to maintain is hard, but four his quite a task I learned I wasn't up to which is why that one and another was placed on Hiatus. after that, I think it will be my last SP fics. But who knows what the future may bring, ne?

Aharah Musici- Still more chapters to come so please hang in there! lol. You were in Japan! Wow! That sounds sooo exciting! I've always wanted to go there, especially during the Cherry Blossom season. I dunno if I'll ever actually get there...but...I still have a lot of life ahead of me before that door is closed.

Shitza- Than again-English is my first language, while it is not yours. So grammerwise, I think you did farely well. To tell the truth, I'm a bit chicken to write anything in any of the other languages I speak. lol. >blush So that in itself makes you a bit more accomplished than me I think.

And thank you for returning the favor. :)

Chapter 51

Then and There

Aikia's POV
We stood in the shadows and waited. Something was about to happen, but what exactly was no concern. We just needed to make sure that our tasks could be completed with absolutely no interferance.

Katsu disappeared and came back with a loaf of steaming bread. I caught the warm baked dough as he tossed it to me.

"Hey Master Aki?" I waited for him to finish his question as I scanned the premesis.

"Do you think-do you think I could make the next delivery?" I looked down.

"Why?" He shrugged.

"It's not a big deal, its just…"

just something you gotta do…that could probably be the motto of our whole being here…if it weren't so cliche'...

"When the time is right." He nodded with a light tweak to his ear and a smirk on his face.

Chihiro's POV
I stood, giving Haku a nod as I inhaled deeply. He hid himself farther in the shadows, so as to draw as little attention to himself as possible. He smiled encouragingly. A round clear disk appeared and I stepped on it. It slowly elevated into a position where I could be seen by all. A sharp twist jumped in my stomach as I looked at all the eyes that would soon be on me. The lights dimmed to a soft tone, to the objection of many as the bathhouse still ran out of control. I could hear Rin barking orders and sweet necessities.

"Now it's up to me." I whispered, clutching the flute close to my breast. I held it up to my lips as Vai had done.

I do this…for you Vai…I don't know how to play…but I know…this is something I have to at least try…

I let a single clear note play and my mind seemed to drift in the feeling of it.

"I'll see you again someday."

"You promise?"

"I promise." A nightmare. A dream. A faded promise brought to the surface of muddled water.

The voices that seemed to slide through my brain, mixing with the notes startled me. I stopped playing and the world oddly came back into focus. The swishing of water in a glass could be heard, and that was how quiet it was.

"Is that where the story is to start?" A smile tugged my lips and I again prepared to play, standing up straight and dignified.

"Then let the tale begin." I whispered, as more notes came with liquid fluidity.

The feeling of doubt. Did Kamikakushi really exist?

"Koanashi!" The hope of their existence rejoined to my heart.

"Sen, what's wrong! Sen you have to calm down…" The fear of not knowing If I'd exist, the relief of being in a place I felt to be my home. Among friends. The overwhelming pain and confusion in my breast.

"Come on Jin! We have work to do." The joy, surprise, and cozy feeling of doing something I hadn't done forever. In a place of fond memories that began it all. And with Rin no less.

"It's Master Haku." He said darkly, still showing any emotion. "You were just telling me why you were stealing." The fear and worry that jolted through my spine. The sniff of danger to come.

"Hopeless" A retched password meant to deter the souls of trespassers.

"Tut, tut. Such a curiouse worthless brat." The slithering snake of fear and anger in my boiling heart. Pain bit my heart as I was forced to look into demon eyes imbedded in the body of the one I cared for most.

"In Times like these, nowhere is safe anymore. Yubaaba's anger has reached it's peak, and she will do unspeakable evil things. You must somehow save Kohaku, maybe somehow he will be able to save us." A realization struck me then. That even the wise figures you look up to get scared and sometimes don't know what to do.

"A war has been started. The black dragon was about to fly down after you jumped, but Nushi stuck him with one of his swords. Now you must get on his back and get as far away from here as possible." Fear. Chaos. Panic. Only the beginning. And I was willing to run away.

"Chihiro! You're not supposed to be here!" Rin had said, she was furious.

"Rin, this is just as much my fight as yours..." I felt that passion rekindle inside of me.

"Kohaku…I'm so glad…after all…of this…I was able to keep my promise…I was able…to free you…" I said. I could feel more blood rise in my chest. It felt like acid. I lifted my hand up in the air. I shivered as the phantom feeling of cold silver through my stomach reappeared and deaths doors opened.

"Please." I whispered. She turned yet once more to me. Her blue skirt swishing making the sound like water. The shells in her hair clicked. Her pearl earrings swayed. I looked into her deep blue-green eyes.

' I cannot help you, but maybe my brother can' The feeling of being lost. Completely confused. And a new realization that had barely touched me. I was alone amongst this maze with only a friendly face to guide me.

"That's me. I am Arelinita. That's my name. My real name" Freedom.

"Kohaku?" I whispered. The hooded figure stopped. Slowly he began to look up and our gaze met. I felt my heart raise at the swelling of hope.

I poured the feelings I had into the notes I played. Haku made the lights match the mood. For a second I stumbled, but the notes came back sweetly. The world seemed to fade around me. I gave my heart up to the memories.
"Are you still human?" Surprise. What else could I be?

"Yes, and apparently, he had a pet Spirit with a tale that had whips and spikes." Amusement.

"No, about loosing you. I was so scared that I did something wrong and that I would loose you forever." Hiccups and tears. Remebering the feel of strong arms wrapped around me as I was pulled into Kohaku's warm chest.

"What, you two are going to have children aren't you!" Rin's voice reverberated through me.

'In A city deep, where the drink is cheep

There is a Tavern called

The Drunkards Inn. …' Soprano lilts echoed throughout the bathhouse.

'The Drunkards Inn…' A lower alto harmony joined the fading echoes. Joy. Merriment. Excitement. Love.

I opened my eyes only to find everything in complete darkness, the last of Haku's illusion lights fading. The flute in my hand still hummed.

"So. You want to tell more." It seemed to have a life of its own, and I was possessed to play more. I lifted it again to my lips, and smooth teal light poured through and reflected about in the lighthouse as It matched the mood of what I was playing next.

"Kohaku is seriously sick. He has a fever and he looks pale. He's not doing the best Chihiro." Worry.

"Say, that reminds me O' the one time a young feller came and tried to steal my cave." Good old Sammeth Tilderby and his endless entertainment.

"Well, well, well. We finally meet. You must be the infamous troublemaker, Chihiro. A Pleasure. Though I'm sure not for you." Anger. The arrogant man whom I would come to hate.

"I said, I'm coming with you. It's too dangerous for you to go alone."

"Oh don't worry, Arelinita will be going with me too. So you have no reason to go."The annoyance and relief of unexpected help.

"Chihiro!" Her anguished voice shakes me know. Fear grips me. In that instant, an unbearable calmness and numbing, as timbers fell all around me. Pain of the death that I had to discover.

'I am called Vainamoinen, but you may call me Vai if it pleases you, for it is much shorter and simpler to remember.' A hitch in my breath as I remembered the wild and gentle water halfling.

"Get up you human filth!" A whips crack sounded as the flute trilled high and slashed down in notes. I felt the harshness of being trapped like a roped animal yet once again.

"Bwee!" I smiled remembering my unexpected savior. Foozler was brave and sweet.

"I am Toshi, the forest changeling, and I am here to make sure you receive safe travels out of this forest." Not everything she seemed to be.

"What a rude little creature! To think I, the Desert Sheba would be accused of such a thing!…I am Karumi, the Desert Sheba. I rule all grains of sand that touch one another in this region, and you are here, in my home, underneath the Jin-Ho Oasis" Fear. Relief. Frustration. Responsibility.

"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 every morning he wakes up by your side."

"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."

"I hope my appearance doesn't offend you." Her sweetness, lack of confidence, but world-weary demeaner.

"I don't know! As queen, I wish I knew everything, maybe then I could save all in my race and heal all peoples and worlds. The God has a plan in mind, of that I am sure and you are the one he wants! You are the one to save these two worlds." Dizzmal despair and agonizing sorrow. Disconnection from the world that harbored me.

"But, King Alastar, she is a human." The indignity of judgement.

"We're--in the Human world." Disbelief.

"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." Ah. The throbbing headaches.

Authors Ending Note: If its hard to read I'm sorry. Basically the italisized is the words of people in Chihiro's life, and the bolder font next to them, the feelings that she had and that she is reliving as she plays the flute. Kind of like actually going through her life. all of the adventures that have lead her up until now.

And yes, a reappearing of a a couple characters we had thought we would not see again. For better...or for worse.