Finding You
By: Suma Susaki
Co-authored by: Kaytoko
Hiya guys. So sorry that it took so horribly long for us to finally write this chapter. You won't BELIEVE the size of the writer's block we had on it. Now, as you can tell, we have written up the next chapter. Anyways, I'm not so great with review thanks, so I'm just going to say, THANK YOU SOOO MUCH FOR THE HUGE AMOUT OF REVIEWS! gives pocky sticks
Now, I'll stop rambling.
Disclaimer: do I have to? This… Isn't…..m-m-mine… (tears)
-Chapter Nine: Tragic Reunion-
-Last time-
Chihiro's eyes went huge. They were already full of tears from Shinitzu's story, and now she was pure shocked.
"B-but that would make you my—"
"Brother."
-Now-
Haku's eyes whipped from side to side as he took in the new scenery. Everything was exactly opposite from how he imagined it to be. Even the scents were more than he expected.
"W-o-w." said Lin in amazement. She managed to pronounce the one syllable word with three. "I never thought the human world would look like this…" Haku nodded in agreement.
"But we can't let that get to our minds. We need to get going." He said, quickly turning on his heel and heading off. Lin held her hands up and mocked him. "Lin no more sight seeing!" she derided. "Stupid bossy control-freak dragon…" Haku ignored her and moved to the top of a nearby hill.
"Lin."
Lin walked up behind him. "What?" she asked in a slightly annoyed tone.
"Where –exactly- would Chihiro be?" He asked her keeping his serious attire. She stared at him dumbfounded.
"And I thought I was the one who was out of it." She muttered to herself. "You have a mental link with her. You should know at least where she is!" Haku stared at her for a moment, many things running through his mind. He couldn't place why he didn't hear Chihiro's mind. It seemed as though their link was severed when they passed the boundary between the Human world and Aburaya. "Haku?"
"I don't know…" he said slowly. She gave him a confiding look.
"We're going to find her, Haku. If not sooner, later." She said quietly. Haku glanced at him, his eyes softer.
"You're right. Thank you, Lin." He said in a gentle tone. Then a fierce look came into his eyes. "If we don't start now we're not even going to be close." And with that, he took off down the hill toward a complex of houses. Lin sighed. I still can't believe that little boy is him… and he's taller than me…
………………………………………………………………………………………………
"B-brother…?" Chihiro whispered. Shinitzu nodded.
"More like a half brother, but brother none the less."
"B-but… my-our mother…?" Chihiro's words ran dry. Nothing came into her head at all. Confusion colored her face. She didn't understand any of it. She decided that a deep breath and relaxation would probably be best for the moment.
Finally, when all of her thoughts were mostly re-collected, she spoke up. "This… is interesting news… In fact, I'm actually more confused then I was earlier… but I guess I don't have much of a choice but to believe you for the moment." Because Haku isn't here…
Shinitzu narrowed his eyes. "I don't know if you should trust me just yet… after all, I was an assassin for Yu-baaba. But I can guarantee that I'm not anymore. After what I just did, I would probably get my head chopped off if I was still loyal." Chihiro nodded idly and turned to stare out the window. Somewhere in the deep parts of her heart, she was longing to see Haku again. It didn't matter what chaos was going on around them, it only mattered that she saw him again… that she could hold him again.
Then a sudden feeling traced through her body. It was a strange, yet homing kind of warmth. It reminded her of…
"Haku…"
………………………………………………………………………………………………
Haku suddenly got a feeling that led him in the direction of a blue house. I'm sure of it… She's over there… I can feel her aura now…
………………………………………………………………………………………………
Mrs. Ogino answered the door when she heard someone knocking on it. Today was great. Her baby girl had come home! Nothing would ruin her day.
Haku and a panting Lin stood in the door way. Her eyes lingered on Haku's as he gathered up the courage to speak.
"Is Chihiro here?" he said, flipping into 'polite mode'.
"Oh, yes. She's in her room. But, not to be rude or anything, but who are you?" Yuuko asked, wearily.
"This is Lin, and I am Haku" Haku said, bowing to Chihiro's mother, who was dumbstruck, and headed up the stairs while Lin trailed after him.
"H-haku… o-m-g."
………………………………………………………………………………………………
The sound of footsteps echoed up the stairs. Chihiro and Shinitzu rose from their seats, facing the door. Then, Haku swung past the threshold.
"Chihiro!"
"Haku!"
Chihiro ran to Haku and was enveloped in his arms a second later. The dragon breathed in her scent and squeezed her tight.
"It's so good to see you again…"
"I missed you so much…"
Chihiro started to tear up, and clutched onto him tighter, Haku responding immediately by wiping them away.
"You don't have to cry… I'm not going to leave you again. You can count on that." He said, smiling, before pulling her into another tight hug.
"Well now, glad to see those two together again." said Lin, smiling to herself.
Shinitzu frowned. 'What is the dragon boy doing here? This is bad… really bad.'
Haku turned away from Chihiro long enough to glare at Shinitzu.
"Who are you?" he asked, squeezing Chihiro again. Shinitzu narrowed his eyes.
"Oh-" said Chihiro, reluctantly pulling away from Haku. "This is Shinitzu. He's… my older brother…"
Lin's jaw dropped, and Haku's eyes widened, before he breathed out a, "No way in Hell…"
Lin blinked, saying, "So- you're trying to tell me that the man that Yubaba sent with us to find Haku, is your brother?" she asked waving her hands around to emphasize her point. "Why wasn't anything said?"
"Actually, I didn't know at the time… It's a long story-"
"Which we will save for later." finished Shinitzu. His red eyes were in a stern expression. The other three looked at him, but he stared at Haku. "By coming here, you have endangered all of Aburaya, Dragon."
"What?" Haku asked, eye's narrowing.
"Why do you think that Yubaba wanted you out of the picture?" Shinitzu continued, his tone matching his eyes. "All that work just to get one man caught? She wanted you away so that she could unleash the Ultimate Evil."
The room got quiet.
"Can I ask something?" Asked Lin. Shinitzu turned to her. "What exactly is this Ultimate Evil?" Shinitzu's eyes narrowed again and his mouth formed a thin line. "The Ultimate Evil takes the place of a man. But that's only when you can see him, most of the time he can't be seen at all. His strength is enormous, and for years he has been sealed away. Now, for world domination, Yubaba is first unleashing him on Aburaya then the Human World."
"But what does he…do?" Lin asked again.
"He slaughters all that come into his path."
Chihiro gasped. The dream she had the night that Haku called her came rushing back to her. "We have to go back." She said quietly. "All of Aburaya is going to be killed in less than a day!"
Shinitzu moved for the stairs. "Hurry. There's no time to lose."
"Why should we trust you?" Challenged Haku, keeping Chihiro close to him.
"Haku?" she whispered up to him. His eyes were set on Shinitzu.
"You worked for Yubaba. We can't take any risks. This could be a trap." He growled.
Shinitzu smirked. "I'll give you credit. You do live up to your reputation. But heed my words. This is no trick." He stated.
"Listen to him, Haku." Chihiro pleaded. Haku looked down at her wearily. "You may not trust him, but at least trust me. All of Aburaya and the human world is in danger. We need to help them. You need to help them."
Haku paused, and then sighed. "You're right. I'll do it." With that, Haku took Chihiro's hand, and lead her down the stairs after Shinitzu, Lin trailing behind them.
"Bye Mom!" Chihiro yelled, before they reached the doorway.
"Where in the world are you going, Honey?"
Chihiro and Haku stopped while the rest went on out the door. "To save Aburaya and the Human World" and then they dissipated out of the house and down the hill where the others were waiting.
"Use up to much energy?" Lin asked, questioningly.
"No, I'm fine." Haku stated before turning his attention to the trail.
Soon they were running. There wasn't a second to waste. They had decided not to transport to Aburaya… for it would take to much energy and they needed it for the awaiting battle.
"Haku, is it?" asked Shinitzu as they ran. Chihiro separated the two boys. "Short for Kohaku River, I presume." Haku shot him a glare.
"What of it?"
"You're a strong dragon. You should be able to feel the Ultimate Evil's power from here."
Haku glared at him for a second more before focusing on what lay before them.
"Only faintly." He said after a few seconds. "He's strong. I can tell you that."
Shinitzu nodded. Soon they made it to the old train station.
"It's stronger here." announced Haku. "We need to hurry!" Chihiro nodded, determination in her eyes. Shinitzu stayed behind his usual expressionless façade, and Lin grumbled in the rear.
"I swear if he tells me to hurry up one more time…" she cursed under her breath.
The four of them ran quickly through the station and over the dry river to the shops. Their eyes whipped from one side to the other in search for civilization. Their pace slowed as they approached the bath house, until they were at a complete standstill. No-one. They had seen absolutely nobody as they ran past.
It was past the time that the should have all been roaming the shops. Yet, nothing was active. Everything seemed to be frozen. All of their eyes were on lookout. Lin moved closer to the group as Chihiro gripped Haku's arm.
"He's here." Shinitzu announced, his ruby eyes set ahead of him at the bathhouse. The other three looked up. Chihiro moved even closer to Haku, gripping his arm tighter as a hooded figure came into view.
"Well, well." Came a soft, but strong male voice that seemed to come from the wind itself. "All the little chickadees are here to play heroes and heroines. How thrilling."
"Who are you?" Haku demanded, his voice carrying through the empty streets.
"Who am I?" He asked in an abashed tone. "I am the Ultimate Evil." The hooded person across the bridge then pulled away the cloak, showing them all his face.
Shinitzu gasped. "D-dad…"
END CHAPTER 9: Tragic Reunion
Sooo… whatcha think? Again—so freaking sorry that this took so long to update. Been super busy with school and the such. THANK YOU KAYTOKO FOR HELPING ME WITH THIS STORY! NOW WE FINALLY KNOW THE PLOT! (sweatdrops) Yes… that's right. We had no idea until we got close to ending this chapter…
Kaytoko: Go us!
Suma: Heck yah. We rock.
Kaytoko: Bu sha!
Both: SEE YOU ALL NEXT CHAPTER! More reviews we get, faster we write and update!
R&R PEOPLE!
/Suma Susaki\
/Kaytoko\
OH! And for anyone who really cares, I, Suma Susaki, and Kaytoko are writing separate Twilight Stories. Twilight is a Book for all of you who don't know… And it's the best book your EVER going to find. Sooo… if you like Spirited Away, your going to LOVE Twilight.
Till next time,
Suma Susaki -over and out. (Runs off in the sunset)