Spirit of Nature

I do not own Spirited Away or in any shape, way, or form releated to the creator of Spirited Away.

Chapter One: The Evil One

Haku found himself shivering from an unexpected cold breeze, it was after all, mid-summer and he didn't expect such a chilly wind to be blowing through Spirit World at this time of year. Several other spirits were also shivering and Haku was glad to see that he was not the only one who felt it. Rin was running past him and stopped for a second to comment on the cold, "It sure is cold in here, and I don't like it. I wonder what could have caused it; it shouldn't be cold, especially at this time of year."

"Yes it is strange," Haku told her, "such a breeze usually doesn't come until autumn or winter." He shivered again and Rin nodded. The sudden breeze seemed to turn colder and stronger until the weather outside became windy and cold. In some places frost and snow had begun to cover the ground, all of the windows and doors in the bathhouse were shut, yet the cold seem to remain. Haku looked out the window in astonishment; this didn't happen unless an especially powerful spirit was coming.

As he was now master of the bathhouse, Haku ordered a room to be prepared for their guest. A dark spirit was soon seen walking along the bridge towards the bathhouse. The wind and cold did not seem to bother him; the earth seemed to tremble in fear below his feet. The spirit was muttering under his breath, "He lives here I know he does, I can sense his presence from within. Try to not hide from me Kohaku for I know you are there." An evil grin spread slowly across his shadowed face.

Trying not to cower in fear a few brave bath attendants quickly opened to door to let the spirit enter, Rin herself was among them. "Where is he? Where is Kohaku? I demand to see him." The spirit called out. His voice sent a chill running down Rin's spine; she didn't like this spirit whoever he was.

"Master Haku is not here at the moment." A brave frog stepped forward. The spirit glanced at him, fiery red eyes starred straight into his soul, determining how weak this frog was.

"Do you dare defy me?" He shouted. "Then you will face the consequences! Wind and snow, ice and rain, bid my call to you today, let this spirit cry in vain. Let his soul freeze in pain!" A sudden gust of wind and snow encircled the frog; his doomed scream frightened everyone there. Finally the miniature tornado stopped and left a frozen frog in its place. He was not breathing his eyes in a frozen stare of pain and suffering, it was soon apparent that he was in pain. A few female bath attendants screamed in horror and alarm, they too were frozen to death by the evil spirit. "I demand to see Kohaku now!" he screamed in frustration. Freezing a few more attendants until only Rin was left, looking up at him in horror.

Rin, fearful for her life, quickly sprinted away from the spirit before he noticed her running down the hall. Angry he roared and sent a mystical ball of wind at her, dodging the ball before it had the chance to hit her, she ran into Haku who was walking toward the entrance, alarmed at the sound of the screaming. "Rin," He cried his eyes fearful, "what happened?"

Rin looked at Haku and started to sob. It was a while before she could recover her voice and talk, "The spirit, he froze the bath attendants looking for you. I don't know what got into him, but he started to demand that he see you as soon as he got here, I am afraid. Don't go Haku; I don't know what he wants with you, whatever it is it isn't good."

Haku sighed, "I must Rin, even if I am afraid. He is a powerful spirit and must be treated with respect. You never know, perhaps he came in peace and killed those bath attendants because he is frustrated." Rin shook her head no and begged him not to leave. He shook his head and walked away, summoning all of her courage, she trailed him and hid in a dark corner, listening to the conversation.

Haku looked at the stranger his jade eyes gleaming, "Why do you demand to see me sir? What is it that you want?"

"Ah there are many things I want," the spirit told him, "but there is one thing that intrigues me the most. Lord Kohaku, spirit of a river that now does not exist; I am asking you a favor. Lead me to the girl Chihiro, also known as Sen, for I wish to speak to her."

Chihiro, what does he want with her, I better find out before anything bad happens to her.

Thoughts of all the bad things that could happen to Chihiro raced around in his mind. Willing himself not to think about them he replied, "Chihiro is not here, now if you'll excuse me. I have more important matters to see too." Haku turned around to walk away, but the strange spirit's icy stare made him shudder in fear and he found the he could not move. His jade eyes desperate for a solution as the spirit looked at him, amused.

"I am not stupid Kohaku," the spirit spook in a harsh manner that Haku was not used to, "or Haku, as you seem to be more commonly referred to here. I know that she is human and currently here at the moment, that is why I asked you lead me to her. Now I am asking you one more time, lead me to her."

His glare intense and disapproving Haku thundered, "I will not! If you seem so intent as to meeting her why not go to the human world yourself? I do not know where she is; even if I did I would not tell you!" The spirit looked at him with disapproving eyes, though they glittered at the thought of something, something evil that he was planning.

"You have used up all your chances." The spirit said menacingly. "I have asked kindly and you have refused now I will ask you again, and this time if you do not answer I will drain your powers! Lead me to the girl Chihiro!"

"I will not!" Haku roared. "I told you she is not here, and I am not in the mood to lead you to her."

"I warned you what would happen if you refused!" The spirit laughed and a grabbed a sword that had laid on the ground for some time. Muttering a few phrases over the blade, it glittered and silvery shine passed over it. He touched the flat part of the blade on Haku and watched as he screamed at the searing pain that was caused by it. He struggled to get the blade off of him, but it was no use. All of his spells failed and his energy was slowly draining. His body soon lay limp, and the spirit laughed finally removing the sword from Haku's body. He was too weak to talk, much less move, but a single tear fell out of his green eyes. Rin watched the scene in horror as the spirit laughed at his deed.

"I have warned you of the consequences Haku," the spirit said, "yet you still refused. It would be fair to tell you that I want many things and I usually get what I want. Do you know why that is? Because I am the Evil One, the one that sends shivers running down the spines of many spirits and dragons. I suppose you have heard of me through stories of my evil deeds. True I was captured by a great and powerful dragon and imprisoned so that I may never do harm again, but I have since broke free from my imprisonment. You should have done what I asked you too, but you choose not to and instead paid the consequences. You are weak Haku, a weak dragon nothing that I couldn't handle and I will get to Chihiro even if it means killing you." Another dark spirit suddenly appeared and the Evil One stopped to talk to him. Nether one noticed a female bath attendant walking towards the injured spirit.

"Oh Haku," Rin whispered, "Is there anything I can do to help you."

Summoning the last of his strength he replied, "Go to the human world, and find Chihiro. Tell her what has happened, go you must hurry."

"But Haku you are injured."

"Go, I will be fine. Tell her what has happened…" Haku fainted before he could finish and Rin silently wept for him. Glancing out into the darkness, she knew what had to be done. She ran, and the Evil One did not notice until she almost reached the gate between the Spirit World and the Human World.

"After her," he cried to one of his henchmen, "before she gets too far." The henchman nodded and silently followed Rin, but she did not notice him.

The Evil One starred in frustration at the race. He then looked down at Haku who seemed to be murmuring something. "Chihiro, where are you? I need your help…" Haku whispered into the ground. The Evil One looked at him and tried to listen to what he was saying, but Haku had stopped. He looked at the boy in disgust and ordered that he be put into an empty guest room where no one would find him. He did not notice a spy, a water spirit starring at the scene before her.

Her eyes widened at the sight of her friend Haku lying on the ground, week and helpless. "I will help you with your quest." She whispered. "I will protect your Chihiro." Her sapphire eyes intense, she changed into her dragon form. That of a silvery dragon with sapphire mane and silvery horns, her crystal blue eyes starred up into the sky and she flew away in the direction of the gate. Rin noticed the dragon flying towards her and stopped to wait.

"Natsuko," Rin cried in joy as the dragon landed, "I am so glad to see you my friend." Natsuko impatiently motioned to Rin and grunted Rin nodded understanding that she wanted her to mount. Quickly climbing onto the dragon, they flew away into the darkness. The dark spirit in the shadows smiled, demonic wings slowly unfolded from his back and he flew into the air following them in the shadows.

While this was happening, Haku was stuck in an empty guest room, weak and bleeding. The Evil One had arrived moments before and demanded that he lead him to Chihiro, when he refused he used to sword to attack him. He did not have enough strength to change into his dragon form, at least not yet. Though it was hard, he had heard Natsuko and the promise that she had made to him.

Chihiro, where are you? I need you, I miss you. Chihiro!

He thought, a single tear fell out of his eyes at the thought of his beloved Chihiro and he fell unconscious. A dark cloud covered the glowing light of the moon, it was a symbol that evil had taken over a peaceful world and more darkness was soon to follow.