Arms of the Kohakugawa

Chapter 10: Why Do I Stay?

By LadyRainStarDragon

I do not own Spirited Away, Haku, Chihiro, or her parents. They are the intellectual property of Hayao Miyazaki. I was just inspired by his characters and so this and other works have been birthed.

Starting out with Chihiro, we move to Ryu's point of view of life at Kohakugawa Shrine.

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Last Chapter:

Chihiro had ventured timidly into the Holy of Holies after casting yet another confused eye over her guardian spirit's physical body. The waters had not risen any higher, yet they were very slow in retreating to their normal level. Once inside the darkened chamber, the presence gathered in the numinous surrounding was oppressively heavy. It was as if water had become lead and then vaporized to hang in the air, wishing only to hold the person down and hold it there forever.

"Haku, I am not going to pretend that I understand just what is going on. You are far older than I and so probably have very different notions on how I should act, dress, and think. I can't help that, I can only be who I am. If you have a problem, then you need to tell me. Perhaps I will change my ways and perhaps not. BlowingWind says that you are jealous and wish for me to dance for you like I dance for the sun in the morning. Is this so?"

Silence hung in the air like mist on a rainy morning, drifting uneasily about the room. If the room had been a little brighter, perhaps her mind would have tricked her by causing her to believe that the statue had puffed out and was slowly shrinking back to a normal size. However, her eyes had still not adjusted to the deep gloom and she was not gifted with the ability to see in the dark. Yet, there was some impression that the remarks had struck near where they needed to.

Chihiro was unused to dancing without music, and yet there was a beat that she felt in her very bones. A sad and lonely feeling bathed her, accompanied by an impression of great exasperation as if her friend had too much on his plate to worry about. As a river spirit, not only was he the river but he was responsible for its duties and adhering to protocol set out by the Great River for all other river spirits. In turn, he was also responsible to the Sea King, and who knew what else.

"Allow me to entertain you for a moment, Nigihayami Kohakunushi."

As the River Maiden allowed herself to fall into another trance, her body began to move on its own, following and expressing her soul's feelings. Prayer came in many forms, and this one was familiar to her even if she was not used to dancing for those she knew personally. This humble offering was accepted by the kami who was so near and yet so far away, and he was reminded once more of human frailty as his mind followed the dance of her body and soul.

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Slowly the world began to filter back into Chihiro's awareness. Crickets were chirping outside of the small building, and the river danced happily by once more. The air was cool, so night had to have fallen sometime after she had given herself over as the placating offering. Her clothes were damp, and it further drove in the chill.

"How long was I out? What happened? And why am I hearing crickets in winter?"

A stray bit of light from the moon reflected in the open door, giving the statue of her river dragon an almost guilty look. However it seemed quite satisfied as well, as if it had partaken of a meal for the first time in a long time.

"I wish you would tell me what's going on Haku, and come back more often."

Chihiro's thoughts drifted back to the time that she had achieved the rank of Nisou, remembering the sense of pride that she had felt that day. The pride had not been her own though, but some trickle effect from her kami.

He had not been physically present, of course. It seemed he never was anymore. Even the occasional puppet of his wandering the grounds had become rare, although the ghostly music of his flute would call to her from time to time. Once again the sounds drifted mournfully over the valley, and she abandoned the idea of leaving the simple hut for the night. Lying down at the feet of the statue, she felt someone cover her again with a blanket.

"Sleep Takara Shinju, it is too cold for you to go outside like that."

Giving up the fight, she slipped into sleep and dreams.

Summertime was all around her, and the scent of the grass was heavy as she walked hand in hand with Haku beside his river, pausing every now and then to share a short kiss as she allowed her kami to take what he would of her. Over the course of time though, things began to go very differently, and to get far more personal. It was all a dream though, and she allowed it, craving the attention she would never get from him in waking life.

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Ryu's eyes opened and he growled at the disturbance. Once more the fool he called his friend was mourning his self imposed exile and seducing his chosen bride with flute music. At first, it had been sweet, and Ryu had thought about trying something similar to further his own relationship.

"Now its just damn annoying."

A warm body stirred next to him and burrowed farther into his chest as she sought after his warmth. Looking down at her with his warm eyes, he felt the protective fire stir within him again.

"Just when did this happen? Usually you make me sleep sitting up my Wind."

He was about to ignore the melodious pollution filling the night air with its ghostly song and settle down to enjoy a much desired snuggle that he had been waiting months to get again, when he remembered the little human that had been lured to the main hall.

"I don't believe this. I doubt he has the decency to hold her and warm her on a night like this too. Still too worried about keeping her pure and virgin, although she's made her choice whether either of them know it."

Ryu's grumbling rumbled his chest, and Wind snuggled deeper into him, the top of her outfit beginning to gape open. With a blush he closed it back up, after several moments of feasting. She reacted to him in her sleep, her own blush and heavy scent nearly trapping him. He buried his nose in her neck for a few moments, savoring her smell and sorely tempted to search her clothing for the anti-conception ofuda she carried somewhere.

"I'm glad that Ten only taught you how to do an anti-conception charm, instead of the anti-fertility charm you had been begging him for. Now if only you would let me reap its benefits too."

She squirmed closer to him, although he could feel the frown on her face. Her scent was getting too strong, and his control threatened to break. The cursed music wasfloating in again, and for once, Ryu was glad of it.

"I have to go rescue Chihiro, he's sure to either be too much for her or accidentally bring her out. I'll be back as soon as I can."

He kissed the top of her head and tried to stand, but it was a feat to disentangle himself from her grasp.

"For someone who tries to kill me when I get fresh, you certainly don't want to let me go at night. I would have my ego stroked a little if it wasn't so blasted cold right now."

Wind moved in her sleep where he had been laying, snuggling with his pillow and sniffing loudly. Meanwhile, Ryu pulled on some warm pants and a long sleeved shirt showing a rather happy looking dragon licking a beautiful woman. He was expecting to loose it any day now, but if so then he would just order a new one. Besides, it helped to remind his shaman what she was supposed to do for him.

"Ok, maybe you do want me more than you are ready to admit to either of us."

Smirking at the image of BlowingWind getting cuddly with his pillow, he left their den to bring the resident Nisou back into the heated shrine home. The main hall had no heat, unless Haku was currently ravishing her like he should. Even covering her with a blanket probably wouldn't be enough for the clear and cold night.

Pausing at the linen closet, Ryu rummaged around until he found a thick down comforter to wrap the no doubt sleeping priestess in for when he carried her to her proper bed. Armed now with his fluffy weapon, he braved the winter night and made his way to the honden through the snow. The stars shone overhead, and the moon reflected off of the mirror of the river as he danced to the sea.

"Yeah, I bet I know why you're dancing. You got farther than I did, didn't you? You wet snake."

The river burbled indignantly in reply, but Ryu continued on.

"I bet you soaked her too, couldn't even remember to take her clothes completely off if you were going to eat. And then I'll bet that you just retucked and retied everything so that she wouldn't know what you did. That's pretty cowardly. At least mine knows I'm trying to get her maidenhead. Tries to maim me, but at least she knows."

The river sighed, acknowledging that Ryu was right and he was a big chicken.

"That's right. You're a super chicken Haku. Not even the chickens on chicken farms in America are as big a chicken as you, you big chicken."

Ryu shook his head after replying to the river's silent refrain, then entered the open door of the main hall. Chihiro was fast asleep at the feet of the silver statue as its eyes gleamed in the reflected light. Her dark hair hide her face, put it was probably still flushed from what she had given her dragon to drink.

"At least you covered her up. If you visited her more often, you wouldn't have your little problem. You'd feel better fed too."

Ryu quickly crossed the room and wrapped her with the blanket he had brought as well, then hefted her up and made his way back to the living quarters.

"You've got to be more careful Haku, you never know if she is going to conceive with as many spells as you've got on her, and that's she's got on herself. Probably nothing to worry about, but things could still be pretty hit and miss if you both lost concentration."

With all the skill that comes from great practice, he had tucked her into her bed, refusing to change her clothes and get himself in trouble and Chihiro embarrassed. Instead, he turned up the small space heater and went to his own room.

Sliding into his bed after the proper preparations, Ryu was again pleasantly surprised when not only was he actually allowed into their futon, but she placed her head on his chest. It was at times like this that he remembered why he did not whisk his BlowingWind away back to his hideaway in the forests of Fuji.

"You will never know what I put up with for you."

BlowingWind sighed and snuggled in deeper to her personal heater, enjoying dreams of seeing Chihiro and Haku finally married.