Thank you so much for the awesome reviews! I had a great time reading them!
Cha, that's right…back away in fear…
Disclaimer: I don't own anyone or anything. So meh!
XXX
Sakura soon realized that the path she had chosen was the wrong one. She quickly swerved and cut through a thicket of trees.
She couldn't keep on chasing that person. I mean, what would happen if he turned around and attacked her or something?
She continued on the other path until she reached a brown house hidden deep within the forest.
She slid open the door and walked inside. Dumping her bag onto the ground she called out, "Mom! I'm home!"
"Sakura," came the soft reply.
"Where are you?" called said cherry blossom climbing the stairs.
"Up here," Chihiro called to her only daughter.
Sakura sprinted up the rest of the stairs and into her mother's room.
"Wha-?" Sakura started.
She was cut off when a teacup flew towards her. Sakura shrieked and ducked just in time.
"Why did you do that!" she yelled angrily.
"It is the price for being late," Chihiro shrugged. "Now tell me, child, how was your day?"
"Um…it was okay," Sakura stated still shocked at her mother's reaction.
"Sit down child," her mother ordered softly, indicating to the pillow beside her own.
Sakura obeyed without hesitation.
"I am sorry Sakura. I don't know what came over me," Chihiro apologized.
"It is alright. So today when I was walking home the strangest thing happe-Mom?" Sakura stopped abruptly and stared at her mother.
She seemed to be having what looked like a vision. Her eyes were glazed over and she was staring at the wall. She nodded several times and blinked.
"They need me," she told her daughter.
"Who?" asked Sakura, almost frightened.
"Haku…" she whispered. "Come on Sakura. We have to go."
"Where Mamma? Where are we going?" she asked, repeating things like a child.
"We're going to the spirit world." Her mother said, looking directly into her daughter's green orbs.
Ronin jumped into the house through a window. Why? Because he could. And because he felt like it.
"Father?" Ronin shouted into the house.
"Up here, Ronin," Haku called back to his son.
Ronin raced up the stairs and skidded into the room.
"Father, I am so sorry that I am late," Ronin said.
Haku just looked up at his son. Ronin noticed the deep sadness in his green eyes.
"Father, I- Father!" Ronin started and then became startled as he saw Haku go as rigid as a board.
"They…she…her…the spirits…" Haku muttered half to himself.
"Father…?" Ronin asked, worried about his father's insanity.
"Ronin, I must return," he stated simply, getting up from the floor.
He strode over to the closet. He took out a long black coat that would go down to his ankles.
He got out a similar, smaller coat for Ronin.
"You are coming…right?" Haku asked his son.
"Where father?" Ronin asked, almost afraid of the answer.
"To the spirit world, Ronin. To see the spirits…and…her…" Haku said, his voice trailing off.
Sakura and Chihiro raced through the woods.
I really hope mother isn't losing it. Sakura thought.
They took the path that Chihiro had failed to go down.
They ran all the faster until Chihiro stopped suddenly, causing Sakura to slam into her.
"Look."
Sakura peered out from behind her mother and saw a stone entrance with a long tunnel following it.
Chihiro raced through the tunnel with Sakura barely hanging on. They raced through a hall with benches and windows in it.
Suddenly, they were outside again.
There was a market place or something.
Sakura clung to her mother like a lost child.
Chihiro strode right past the appealing markets and stands.
They stepped out and suddenly there was a vast field ahead of them.
Sakura and Chihiro both heard footsteps and turned around in unison.
Ronin and Haku both bolted out of the house like it was on fire.
Haku ran with as much speed and grace as his son.
Suddenly, both boys stopped and looked at the archway for a minute.
Haku felt a flood of memories coming back to him. Good and bad. Being Yubaba's apprentice. Meeting Chihiro. Being set free. Getting married. Having Ronin.
Ronin noticed his father looked over at him affectionately. He shot a curious look at his only remaining relative.
"What?"
"Oh…uh…nothing. Come on. We have a long journey ahead of us," was the reply.
They raced through the same halls only seconds behind the girls.
When they came out, they were shocked to see Chihiro and Sakura standing there, looking just as shocked as they felt.
"H-Haku…?" Chihiro whispered.
"Chihiro."
They ran to each other and embraced. The kids stayed behind and looked blankly at each other.
"Come," said Chihiro, breaking apart, "We must be going. It is getting dark."
Little did they know that they were about to have the adventure of their lives.
I know, it's short. Sue me.
Rachel Rivas: Thank you. Considering I got a C in Math, I need that A+ to keep my spirits up!
Muddbuny: Thank you for the tip. Let's see if it works this time!
Chapter Three might not be posted for a while because I really need to focus on my studies.
-ZK