One Fine Day
Author: Chaos Valkyrie
First Conceptualized: March 2005
Posted Chapter 04: February 10, 2006
Updated: March 31, 2006
Author's Notes: Hello peoples! Since this appears to be my most popular story (by stats) I worked like a fiend to bring this next chapter to you! I've re-outlined this story somewhat, worked out some of my kinks, and so I hope to be a lot quicker with the old updates. Also, you'll see (after mucho demand) some Kohaku this chapter! I actually hadn't had him come in until chapter five on the original outline, but I decided to skip the original plan for this chapter, because it was redundant and really not too important to the plot. So rejoice! Here is Chapter Four!
Chapter Four: Past the Floodgates
Many more sleepless weeks passed. Only through her stern resolve was Chihiro able to study for her approaching exams, work on the excavation, and continue to periodically baby-sit for Yumi-san. She looked forward to the end of the term and the few sweet weeks of inertia it would provide. She hoped that spending some time at her parents' home and off with her friends would help to drown the memories that were continuing to overwhelm her.
The Ecology class had stopped its work on the excavation when the first snows hit, a month before term ended. There was no more that could be done by hand regardless – the removal of the massive chunks of concrete and rubble was left to the heavy machines. After the remaining garbage was removed, a rededication ceremony would be held for the river, and the dam gates would be opened to flood the now-clean riverbed.
Chihiro welcomed the end of her classes' involvement. Her dreams had taken a turn for the better, but still left her restless. Images of Kohaku, Kamaji, Lin, Zeniba, Noh-Face… they still haunted her dreams, swirling through her subconscious like divine messengers. So while she was able to sleep through the nights once again, the rampant workings of her mind continued to leave her exhausted by morning.
The weeks passed, and the end of term came quickly. After fervent studying and the completion of several papers and projects, a very sleepy Chihiro stumbled out of the sciences building, yawning widely.
"That's simply beautiful, darling," a sexy voice told her. She grinned at Shigure, who was leaning against a pillar nearby.
"Aren't you cold?" she asked him, eyeing his threadbare flannel shirt and jeans. She was bundled up in her winter coat and still shivering.
"Nah," he shrugged, falling into step beside her. "I'm too hot to be bothered… by the cold, that is," he said, smirking. Chihiro rolled her eyes.
"Man-whore," she told him, and he laughed.
"But of course! Anyway, what's left on your agenda? I still have to sit the Lit exam tomorrow." He paused, thinking. "And I promised I'd actually turn my paper in on time, for a change. Mii-san was so very strict this time, I don't know what came over me." He smirked. Chihiro shook her head.
"I don't know why any of your professors tolerate you."
"Why, it's because I'm so utterly charming and full of talent," he grinned, "And you didn't answer my question."
"I just turned in my last paper to Hiro-sama a few minutes ago. We didn't have an exam – I assume that turning us into Ecology slaves for a semester was torture enough." Shigure looked at her curiously.
"How did that go, by the way? Have they flooded the river yet? I'd like to know that you haven't been denied the pleasure of my company for nothing."
"Actually, Hiro-sama told me that the rededication ceremony is this weekend. Care to go? Kagura's coming," Chihiro offered.
"Love to, darling," Shigure drawled. "Oh, this is my stop," he motioned to the humanities building. He took Chihiro's hand and kissed it, quirking one eyebrow at her. "I know you'll be thinking about me after I'm gone."
"Oh yes, Shigure, I'll go drown myself in sorrow, waiting for your return," she replied completely deadpan. Shigure winked and almost skipped into the building.
"You know, if I didn't know better, I'd think he was gay," Kagura's voice came from over Chihiro's shoulder. Chihiro grinned.
"I could see that," she admitted. "Wanna go for some lunch?"
"Sure thing. Let's go turn my paper in, then we can head to the WacDonald's over on 3rd street," Kagura suggested. Chihiro nodded, retracing her footsteps through the snow.
"So, when are you going home?" Kagura asked once they reached the relative warmth of the science building's lobby.
"I leave the day after the ceremony, and I'll spend a week there before I come back," she said, scuffing the snow off her feet. The two women made their way up the stairs to Hiro's office.
"I leave next week, so I'll be back about a week before next term. Wanna go shopping when I get back?" Kagura asked.
"Sure thing. Just give me a call when you get back into town." Chihiro waited patiently as Kagura walked into Hiro's office. She was surprised, however, at the speed with which her friend left the office.
"Was he not in?" Chihiro asked. She had barely gotten away from Hiro before.
"Oh, no, he was there. Nushi-san was visiting with him," Kagura giggled. "Isn't he handsome in that creepy kind of way?"
"Um, I guess," Chihiro mumbled. Kagura grinned.
"Oh, not your type, eh?" she teased. Chihiro blushed.
"Anyway, lunch?" she reminded, hoping to change the subject. Kagura laughed and fortunately remained silent on the subject as she led the way back out into the cold.
Perhaps Chihiro had, in all her naïveté, imagined that Kohaku would come rising out of the river at the dedication ceremony, powers fully restored and proclaiming his undying love for her. And perhaps she had dwelt so much on that daydream that she had spent several ridiculous days putting together the perfect being-swept-off-my-feet outfit. And so even though she doubted that anything would in fact happen, at least Chihiro looked good.
Unfortunately, her heavy winter dress coat hid the results of several days' worth of tearing her winter wardrobe to shreds. So no one was actually able to see all of the long, flowing skirt, nor the soft pink blouse, nor her coordinating make-up. But she figured for Kohaku she could throw off the coat before he gathered her in his arms…
"Ahem, Earth calling Chihiro? Are the aliens taking advantage of you? And if so, can I watch?" Shigure's voice interrupted her thoughts. Chihiro smiled weakly at her laughing friends.
"No, Shigure, some moments are better left to the imagination," she retorted. He grinned rakishly.
"Too true," he sighed dreamily, and Kagura elbowed him in the stomach before Chihiro could reach him.
The three friends were standing huddled against the cold in a massive group of onlookers. They had taken the bus from the University to this river-side park, and then had to squirm their way through the assorted mess of Shinano workers, environmentalists, classmates, and reporters to even see the podium erected by the river-side.
"Look, there's Mogami-san!" Kagura pointed out to Chihiro. She eyed the man, who was looking bored as he conversed with several of the other Shinano executives. Her attention was then torn as Shigure whistled.
"And there's sex-kitten herself," he growled appreciatively. Chihiro rolled her eyes as she looked over at Sakura, who was oddly dressed in a heavy winter kimono. Sakura tossed her hair over her shoulder, laughing at something her new flavour of the week was saying.
"Whatever happened to Shiro or whatever his name was?" Kagura mused as Chihiro shrugged. Shigure snorted.
"She's just biding time till it's my turn," he told them confidently. Both women turned to him and smirked.
"Oh, so she's into the ever snazzy flannel?" Kagura muttered sarcastically, eyeing Shigure's ever-present tribute to the grunge period. He was one of the few present at this gathering who was not dressed up, for even Kagura had made an effort to wear a long skirt.
"What woman wouldn't adore long nights of candle-lit poetry and alternative rock?" he asked mock-seriously. As he and Kagura continued to argue, Chihiro's attention was drawn past the snowflakes to Mogami, who was staring at the oblivious Sakura with a strange recognition. The expression was masked so quickly that Chihiro almost doubted that it had happened as he stepped to the microphone and cleared his throat.
"Welcome," he started as the crowds began to hush. "I regret to inform you that the head of the Shinano Corporation could not be with us this afternoon, as he had an important meeting elsewhere. So I, Nushi Mogami am here to take his place, along with the other board members of Shinano Corporation. Let me introduce you to…"
A lone figure stood alongside the dry riverbed, about a kilometer from the ceremony. He watched the flashing lights of the cameras with an amused eye – Mogami was no doubt bored senseless by all this heavy formality. The old man grinned, for he knew he'd get an earful later about this. But he truly did have more important things to do…
He heard applause in the distance, and he stiffened, waiting. A few lone workers approached the distant dam, and within moments the first cracks began to appear in the gates. Water spurted forth, then gushed heavily as the opening continued to widen. And the old man waited patiently as the waters barreled past him and through the carefully restored riverbed below.
It took a few moments, after the crowds had finished applauding and began to disperse for the magic to kick in. But the old man finally felt it, the slight tugging of the waters, and he smiled.
Kohaku swam through the currents, a white ribbon fluttering in an aquatic breeze. His heart was soaring… he was free. Free. He didn't know the hows or whys of how this had happened, but his river was restored, his home was found again. He had been idly walking in the meadows outside the Bathhouse when he had felt the incredible tug that pulled him into these familiar waters. And now he felt giddier than when Chihiro had told him his real name all those years ago. He was home again, he had purpose again, and now he could keep the promise that he had dwelt over for so many, many years. He knew, without a doubt, what his first task as a reborn river spirit would be. Or really, who he must find.
Kohaku leapt out of the waters, scrambling up the river bank to the shore. He shook himself off, ignorant of the cold and the snow. The air merely felt brisk to him, brisk and alive.
"It was about time you showed up, young Kohaku," a wizened voice told him. He turned to see an old man standing nearby, bent and regarding him with an amused twinkle. Kohaku was surprised but kept his face carefully schooled in a bored expression as he addressed the man.
"Greetings, elder," he said with a slight bow. "But I have business elsewhere, so if you'll pardon me…" he trailed off at the man's obvious amusement.
"How very like you, Kohaku-kun," the man said, and Haku frowned slightly.
"I'm sorry, but should I know you?" he asked. The man shook his head.
"You probably know of me, but we've never had the pleasure of meeting. I do however, am acquainted with a certain young woman of whom you are fond." The old man smirked as Kohaku's façade cracked momentarily to reveal his shock.
"Chihiro…" he whispered. "How do you know Chihiro?" he asked in a more business-like manner. The old man grinned.
"Ten years ago, a young girl helped a river spirit regain his identity." Kohaku nodded impatiently; this he already knew. The old man chuckled, watching the distant crowds. "No, you don't know, for you were not there, though you may have heard the telling," the old man corrected. Kohaku looked at him in surprise. How had he read his thoughts…
"A stink spirit had entered a certain Bathhouse, filthy, noxious, and poisoned. And one young girl, without the fear or loathing present in her coworkers, helped that stink spirit cleanse himself of the garbage that had polluted his soul. And so a creature that had been forced so low was reawakened, and the dragon within was able to take flight again," the old man met Kohaku's eyes with his own twinkling orbs. Kohaku's mouth was open in surprise, and he bowed hastily.
"Lord Shinano," he mumbled, "Please forgive –"
Shinano waved his hand indulgently. "There's no need to ask for forgiveness. I'm just repaying an old debt to a dear friend," he gestured with his hand towards the dispersing crowds. Kohaku's eyes briefly flitted to the distant site, then he gasped. He could feel her there, in the distance, and he turned, bent on finding his friend. He took a few steps before he faltered, his eyes confused by his sudden weakness.
Lord Shinano grasped the boy's arm. "Not so fast, my young river. Although the water now flows through the Kohaku River, it has not come to life yet. It will take several more months and careful work by the environmentalists I've hired to restore the natural wildlife to your habitat. No river is truly alive until there is life within it. Right now you are more shade than spirit – it will take time before you are truly restored enough to find your friend."
"How long will it take?" Kohaku asked, dizzied but determined.
"A few months, into the spring. Then you'll be able to find her again," Lord Shinano reassured the boy as he led him to his car nearby.
The dedication ceremony dispersed quickly once the waters had been released, and Chihiro now found herself staring into the depths of the restored Kohaku River. She had already sent Shigure and Kagura home after wishing them both a safe holiday and promising to visit with them before the new term. She had wanted some solitude with her river before she returned to the packing that awaited her.
As she stared in the murky depths, she couldn't really describe how she felt, for she was torn in so many directions. She felt joyous at having given this greatest gift to her dear friend. Depressed that said friend hadn't reappeared yet. And resigned because she hadn't quite expected him to. She sighed, so lost in thought that she didn't hear the footsteps approaching behind her.
"You look like you've lost your best friend," an enunciated voice asked. She turned to face Mogami, her eyebrow arched.
"Why would you say that?" she asked curiously. He shrugged nonchalantly, a smirk lighting his stern features.
"No reason. Come, let me drive you home," he said, taking her gently by the elbow. His grip was light enough that she could break away had she so wished. But she didn't.
"Thank you," she said softly as he led her to his car. He smiled.
"It's no problem. I assume you live near the university?" he asked. Chihiro nodded and gave him directions as they got into the small vehicle. The drive was silent, only the sounds of the outside world trickling through each of their thoughts. It was with a slight start that Chihiro awoke from her stupor to find herself outside her apartment complex, a smirking Mogami waiting for her to exit his car.
"Thank you again," Chihiro mumbled, embarrassed. Mogami waved off her gratitude with a negligent hand.
"It was nothing. Have a nice break from school," he said as she pulled herself out of the seat. She was about to enter the building when he called out to her.
"Oh, and Chihiro," he waited until she turned to look at him through the now-open window, "Don't give up on promises too quickly," he called to her before rolling up the window and pulling away from the curb.
Chihiro watched him leave, suddenly both chilled and warmed. How had he guessed…
End Notes: Lessee, I don't own WacDonald's (that's the fast food chain in InuYasha). And I couldn't resist the little Fruits Basket reference with Shigure and Mii. And although I did say we'd see Kohaku, I never claimed we'd see them together! Ha! Anywho, until next time! Oh, and forgive this chapter for being so choppy… like I said, I completely tossed the old Chapter Four out the window, so parts of this chapter ended up a little… random.