Recalling the Spirit
Chapter #13
Once again, I apologise for my last chapter. It just wouldn't COME. But this is going to get so amazingly cool. I'm not even kidding anymore. This is the ultimate coolness. Since this part #2 (It will be about 10 chapters long) is the ending of the Spirited Again/Recalling the Spirit, I felt that is should be really good. So, I sat around for a long time, thinking and improving on the plot, and I've got to say, it is really neat.
I'm actually thinking of writing other Spirited Away fanficts after this is completed, so keep in touch!
Disclaimer: I actually own quite a lot of Recalling the Spirit part #2 especially since they won't be in the bathhouse area for long. But whatever is Miyazaki's is Miyazaki's! I do not own EVERY THING or EVERYONE in this story. Mainly No-face. Or little things that my characters say that are echoes of what his characters say.
Devastation
Tamiko's shoulders shook as a tear streaked down her cheek. A soft wind blew past, making the charred, ripped flag of the bathhouse flutter sadly.
"Why?" Akira croaked, staring at the destruction before him. "How?"
Tamiko slowly reached out so her fingers just brushed Akira's hand. She closed her eyes, whispering one single word.
"How."
A breeze picked up, blowing Tamiko's hair every which way. Her eyes shot open, and they were completely black, with gold flecks.
"Show me," she murmured, her soft voice echoing with power. The deserted bath house in front of them flashed, and suddenly there were echoing screams.
...Flames, flames burning the building. One of the women had accidently knocked over a lantern in a rush to get away from...what? Something. Something terrible was happening. A scream echoed through the night in piercing agony, as one of the many fleeing flocks of bath house workers fell, victim to some horrible death. They were headed for the lake, for the train that they begged would take them away from this horrible fate. A familiar face jumped out at Tamiko. Kiku, the woman who had helped her, was being carried by two of the other bath house women. Her eyes were open wide, sightless, her teeth were chattering, her lips were blue, and blood was seeping through her shirt and splattering on the ground...
With a scream, Tamiko pulled her hand away from Akira's, breaking the connection. Sweat was pouring down her face, and she stared at the bath house with fresh horror. Akira whispered hoarsely "Is that what happened?"
Tamiko nodded. When she replied, her voice was distant, coming from far away.
"I...I can see into the past."
There was silence as both gazed at the building before them. Tamiko shivered, and Akira hesitantly put a hand on her shoulder. "I'm not afraid." she told him quietly. "It's just...so cold here." It was almost like opening the freezer door on a hot summer day. Her teeth were chattering.
Akira stood. "There's nothing we can do here. We have to find out what caused this. It does us no good just sitting here mourning."
Tamiko turned to him angrily, still kneeling. "Do you have no respect for the dead?" she cried, raging against him, wiping away fresh tears. "How could you be so...so...heartless! I bet you acted like this when your mother left you!" she burst out. "Don't you CARE in the least?"
Akira's voice, when he replied, was quiet. "I do. More them you know. That's why we have to find out why they have died, so we can stop others following the same fate."
He stood, turning his back to her and began to walk towards the railway submerged under the glistening under the water.
Tamiko stood up, sent one last look at the bathhouse, and began to run after her old friend.
"Akira! Wait! Please!"
She caught up to him. "Akira...listen. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say what I said: it came out wrong. It was really cruel and..."
"Forget it."
"But I really shouldn't have said..."
"I SAID forget it."
Tamiko bit her lip. She had only been with him for a couple of hours and already they were in a fight. Maybe she had been daydreaming about Akira and her, ignoring reality. He was probably with someone else now, someone calm and gentle...
They walked in uncomfortable silence, neither one talking to the other, until they reached the water. Akira slowly stepped on to one of the railway bars, and reached up to help Tamiko, more out of politeness then anything else. Being the independent creature she is, Tamiko shook her head, and climbed down the bank to the railway track. Once she was down, they both began to walk along the track, neither one talking to the other. Tamiko was a torrent of emotions. On the outside, she was furious with him. She had apologized, and he had refused to acknowledge it. But deep, deep down, she hated when they were fighting like this, and a small part of her wanted to burst out into tears.
"Akira..." she finally said. Fate chose that moment to make her lose her balance, and almost fall into the lake. She screamed, and Akira grabbed her arm. He gently pulled her up, grinning. "Thought you were afraid of water."
Tamiko smiled back, relieved to see she was forgiven. "Oh shut it."
They both continued to walk, a comfortable silence between them now. The small waves lapped around their feet, and the hot summer sun shone down on them. Tamiko pulled out a fan from her schoolbag, which had miraculously stayed with her in less then perfect condition throughout all she had been though, and flapped at her face. She turned to Akira, who was wearing a big baggy sweater over his T-shirt. "Aren't you boiling?" she questioned him. He was, but he would never admit it. "No, I'm fine." He assured her. Tamiko rolled her eyes, and tugged at his sweater. "Come on, it's HOT out." Akira tried to pull his arm away, succeeding only in pulling the sweater up to past his wrist.
Tamiko caught a quick glance at his wrist and gasped. Black, blue and red marks covered the skin, almost like a hand had wrapped around it. In one smooth movement, Tamiko grabbed his hand and slid the sleeve up to his elbow. Bruises marked the tanned skin, some looking like nails had punctured a long time ago. She frowned. "Akira...what happened?" she was suddenly angry. Not at him, but for him. "Were you in a fight? Why didn't you use your flames?"
Akira looked away. "I moved out finally, anyway."
"Answer the question."
"Because he's my father. He's only pulled this junk with me twice though. Once when my mother first left, and a little while ago..."
"Your..."
He pulled his arm away from her. "You're so lucky, Tamiko. To have two great parents..."
Tamiko's eyebrows came together. "Akira...I...I'm sorry."
He shook his head. "Don't worry about it. Forget it was even mentioned." He pulled off his sweater. "Oh, thank Dia! That's a relief!" He wiped his face on the back of his arm.
Tamiko smiled, stopped, and began hunting though her bag. Finally she produced a bottle. "Here." She said softly. She opened the bottle, gently took his arm, and began rubbing the cream in. "It's a balm that Nile gave me once. I kept getting bruises from martial arts." She put the lid back on the container. The bruises began to heal at once, turning from a black to a light brown. Tamiko's head snapped up suddenly. "Nile! Do you think she's all right? What if something terrible happened to her?"
Akira looked over at her, and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I'm sure she's fine. Nile's tough, remember. She'll be all right."
"But..." "Don't worry. That won't get anything done." Akira looked down at Tamiko, looking at her soft black hair. ~I wish I had just...I...She's probably with someone else now. I should just forget about it.~ But it wasn't that simple.
Tamiko smiled. "I guess you're right. I still can't help worrying though."
Akira smiled in reply, and took his hand away. "I call a break. We've been walking for an hour."
"An HOUR?" Tamiko said, surprised. The time had gone by so fast. She sat down, past caring whether she got wet, and let her legs drag in the light current that was flowing past the railway tracks.
Akira dived past her into the lake, spraying water everywhere. He surfaced, flopping back his wet hair, his black shirt clinging to his body.
"Hey, Tamiko, come on in!!!"
Tamiko rolled her eyes. "I can't swim, remember? At least, not very well."
Akira grinned. "Come on! You look boiling! I'll help you, if you want. And what do you mean, not very well? You can't swim if your life depended on it!"
Tamiko bristled. "I've been practicing!"
"Really? Show me what you've got!"
Tamiko made a face at him. "No." Akira rolled his eyes. "Don't you trust me? I won't let you drown, I promise." Tamiko closed her eyes. "All right." she agreed, knowing she would regret it. She slipped her bag off her arm, and took a deep breath, preparing to slide in the water.
With a grin, Akira grabbed her hand and pulled her in. Tamiko screamed, surprised. She surfaced, treading water. "You...IDIOT!" she screeched outrageously.
"Here." Akira said, putting his arm under hers, so she wouldn't drown. Akira stared at her, and she at him His face was so close to her own...
Tamiko brought her arm around in a wide arc, causing a torrent of water to splash Akira, who yelped.
"What was that for?" he spluttered. Tamiko grinned. "Now we're even!"
"Why you..." But Tamiko had thrust herself away from him, and grabbed the side of the railway. Hoisting herself up, she sat stubbornly on the side. "I wouldn't go back in there if you paid me!" she stated, wringing out her hair and clothes.
Akira grinned apologetically. "Sorry. Couldn't help myself."
She stuck out her tongue at him, and turned away.
He swam over to her. "Hey, are you mad at me?" he questioned her. She turned to him. "No, why would I be? You're too difficult to be angry at all the time!" He grinned, and flipped backwards into the water. Tamiko watched him swim for a time. Finally, she stood up.
"Akira! Break's over! I want to get where we're going before dark!"
Akira's head broke the surface. He swam over to the edge of the railing, and hoisted himself up, looking at the noonday sun. "Yeah, I guess you're right."
He quickly wrung himself out, and grabbed his sweater. Tamiko picked up her bag, which had one large tear on the side, and was extremely muddy, and slung it over her shoulder. Smiling and humming to herself she began to walk, only to find Akira was not walking beside her, but that he was staring out at the water.
She walked over to him. "What?" she questioned, looking out at the vast stretch of water, with the land in the distance. "It's just so..." Akira gestured, unable to find a word.
A hint of a smile appeared on Tamiko's lips. "I understand what you mean.." They stood there for some time in silence, staring out at the soft white waves. Tamiko interrupted their moment by tugging impatiently at Akira's hand.
"Come on. By the looks of it, we'll be able to view the water for another thirty minutes." She said, squinting at the distant land, sighing, and began to walk, Akira beside her.
After about ten minutes, Tamiko was bored. She began to hum, and then burst out singing an old song her 'Aunt' Satsuke had taught her.
"Hey let's go, hey let's go! We're happy as can be! Er...na, na, na, na na na na na! Ready set come on let's go! Over the hills, across the seas, ...um...na na...uh..." she drifted off, Akira chuckling. "I can't remember the rest!" she said defensively. Akira rolled his eyes. "Great way to pass the time, Tami." She stuck out her tongue at him. Akira grinned "Oh, THAT'S mature, Tamiko. How old are you now?" Tamiko made a face at him. "I'm eighteen, dolt. I was fifteen when we first met, and it's three years later. You do the math." Akira nodded. "Ahh, this throws me back into a torrent of memories. You being snobbish." Tamiko stuck her nose in the air and strode in front of him...
...only for her foot to catch on one of the wooden railway slats. She fell face first into the shallow water. She stood up, spluttering, to find Akira had walked ahead. "That wasn't funny!" she shouted at him, seeing his shoulders shaking. "It was so! It served you right for acting stuck up, too!" he shouted back.
Tamiko trailed after her friend, grumbling under her breath. "Stupid Akira thinks he's so stupid smart and he thinks that I'm being stupid stuck up, and of course the STUPID step had to go get stupid in my way, and I had to stupid fall so he could stupid tease me the stupid idiot."
Akira came back to her. "Hey come on." he said, gesturing for her to hurry up. When he caught her expression, he added kindly. "You realize I was only teasing, right?" He came over to her and offered his hand. She pulled herself up, and looked at Akira, only to find that he was staring at her, an odd expression on his face. She blushed slightly in return, noticing he was still holding her hand in his own.
Realizing what he was doing, Akira dropped her hand suddenly and muttered: "Klutz.." as he looked away.
Tamiko stuck out her tongue in reply and started to walk faster. Akira too sped up his pace to exceed hers, and soon it was an all out dash, seeing who would get to the land first. They ran; sweat sliding down their faces in little beads, previous embarrassment forgotten, muscles in their long legs working hard. The pair were breathing heavily. Akira cut in front of Tamiko, much to her outrage, speeding towards the shore.
...And stopped suddenly, sending Tamiko crashing into him. Tamiko being Tamiko was outrageously angry. "What'd you do that for!" she said loudly. "You didn't...have...to..." she drifted off, her voice quiet. What she had at first seen from the distance as a blank island appeared now as a quite large, dark, forest populated one. Tamiko stepped back. "Something doesn't feel right. Akira...Kir...I really don't want to go in there." Akira turned to her. The island DID have an overwhelming presence, almost as if something horrible had happened here. Tamiko's breath was coming sharply. She whispered an incoherent name, and began to run towards the island.
Akira ran after her. "Tamiko!!! Wait! It's too dangerous!!!!! It..." She turned back to him. "That's never stopped me before, Akira. Stay here." With that she sped up her pace, dashing as quickly as she could towards a large glittering object on the sand in the near distance. Akira ran after her, panting. "I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU TO STAY WHERE YOU WERE?" she yelled to make herself heard. "AND LET YOU GO THERE ALONE? NEVER!" he replied, just as loudly.
"Akira..." she whispered, as she sped up her pace. Her muscles were protesting every step of the way, groaning and threatening to collapse from sheer exhaustion. She forced herself on, making herself run the last few metres that stood between her and that shining figure...
Tamiko knelt beside the still, glistening, figure. The pure silver scales were marred with a dark red substance. ~Dried blood,~ Tamiko realized in horror. She had by now recognised the being that lay before her, and knew there was nothing she could do to save her.
She gulped back tears, her throat sore. "How...how did this happen?" she rasped. There was no answer.
"Taneesh, please answer me!"
The dragon stirred. =Mistress? Tamiko...is that you?= Tamiko smiled weakly. ~Yes, Taneesh, it's me. What happened to you?~
=Attack...on bathhouse...cold...so, cold...many dying...I...attacked...freezing cold...= Taneesh's thoughts were forced, and sounded as though they came from a long way away.
~Taneesh, you're going to be all right! You're not going to...~ Taneesh gave a harsh chuckle in her head. =Mistress, I am...too far gone. I am extremely...happy that I could see you again.= She looked at Akira, who had by now run over and recognised the fatally wounded figure. He was looking over Tamiko's shoulder. =Fire boy. Take care of my mistress when I am gone.= A light blush tinted Akira's cheeks, but he was more concerned for the dragon. ~Taneesh...~ he began, but Taneesh interrupted him, turning to her mistress. =You will find out who and what you are, Tamiko. And if all else fails, seek the help of your kin.= She smiled sadly. =Until I see you both in the next world.= the lids of her dragon eyes closed slowly, and never opened again.
She was gone.
Tamiko bit her lip, trying to control the urge to cry. "Taneesh..." she whispered. "What kind of monster would do this?" she questioned the world softly. Her voice was quavering slightly with grief and rage. A single tear slid from the corner of her eye and down her face. "Who...Why..." she whispered, her voice hoarse. She fought herself, telling herself not to cry. Sensing her pain and trying not to cry himself, Akira knelt down beside the grief-ridden girl and put a consoling arm around her. When he spoke, his voice shook. 'Tamiko. It's all right to feel pain for her. It's all right to cry." Tamiko brought her head up to look into his eyes, her own blurred by tears. "Akira..." she muttered, before bursting into tears. She leaned against him, burying her face in his shirt as she wept, pieces of the material clenched in her hands. Tears slid silently down Akira's face on mourning as well. He put his arms around Tamiko, comforting her while dealing silently with his own grief. The girl was sobbing openly, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably.
They stayed like this for a long time, two long lost friends clinging to each other to help comfort the horrible pain of a death. Two lost people, alone for so long, different from everyone, who had finally found each other again.
Tamiko finally sat back, wiping at her wet face. When she turned to see the shell that was once Taneesh, there was nothing, only one shining silver scale. She reached out and picked it up slowly. "She's in a better place." She whispered. "She wouldn't want s to mourn her, but for us to go on with our lives. So that's what I'll do." She stood, slipping the scale into her pocket. "That's what I'll do." She repeated, standing up a little straighter. "Akira, let's go. This clearing seems to...open for my tastes." she said, looking around for anything out of place. Akira nodded, and tried to stand, but couldn't. His eyes grew wide with panic as he looked around wildly. "I can't move my legs! A spell or something!" There was a definite feeling of being watched now. Something told the pair they had better find cover. Now. Tamiko ran over to Akira, crouching down beside him. She stuck her hand over his legs, her skin just barely brushing his. "In the name of the wind and water within thee..." she began, power woven into each word. Akira's eyes widened at the soft blue glow that was coming from Tamiko's hand. "Unbind him." She finished. The glow went out, and her voice returned to normal.
She stood offering him a hand. "Get up." He grabbed her hand and pulled himself up. "Now let's GO." She hissed, beginning to run, Akira dashed after her, until they were making a wild sprint for the cover of the trees. "Almost...there..." Tamiko panted. With a final burst of energy they entered the forest.
Tamiko leaned against a tree, breathing heavily. Akira sat on a fallen tree to catch his breath. Neither spoke for a long time. When Tamiko finally straightened, she winced at the sharp pain that shot up her leg. Akira caught her grimace, and motioned for her to sit beside him. "Where does it hurt?" he questioned her, a touch of concern entering his voice, though he tried to hide it. Tamiko frowned. "It doesn't hurt." She replied. "Stop being stubborn." He replied angrily. "Do you always have to fend off help when it's offered?!? I think you've pulled a leg muscle." Tamiko frowned. "'Fend off?' What is that supposed to mean?" Akira glared at her. "It means that you refuse help from someone who's concerned about you!" Tamiko matched his glare with hers. "Oh, yes. This is GREAT coming from you, Akira. You who wouldn't tell me about all those bruises on your skin! Don't you think I was concerned for you then? Or when I burnt your hand?!?!" she added, spotting the small white scars on his hands from when he had tried to stop her battling with No-face. "You're always hurting yourself, and you fend ME off!"
Akira stood now, furious. "And YOU told me an outright LIE! When your hands were bleeding from those ice shards. You said you 'fell'. I KNOW that's a lie, Tamiko! You NEVER told me what happened!!!" A light blush coloured Tamiko's cheeks, and she was now fuming. She turned away, searching in her mind for something to say, something that would hurt him. When she next spoke, her voice was cold and clipped. "And you have not kept secrets from me then, Akira? Are you sure? What about you being an Elemental? I am pretty sure you didn't tell me about that. And how could you be concerned about me anyway? You are always making fun of me, calling me names, teasing me about my weaknesses." She stood, wobbling slightly on her bad leg, pain crossing her face, but she stayed erect. Akira came over to support her. "Stupid, you shouldn't walk!" he said frustrated. "You shouldn't be up and around! I have to tend to your-" But she interrupted him. "I don't need your help, Akira. I don't need anyone's help. Leave me alone." She turned away from his touch. Though he wouldn't admit it, Akira was hurt. He didn't realize how much his teasing had hurt her. They had barely been together for two days, and already they were furious at each other. When he replied, his voice was quiet. "Tamiko, I didn't realize that I hurt you so much. But I can't believe that you accused me of not caring. I do."
"I did NOT accuse you!"
"You DID! I just stood here and took it from you!"
Tamiko turned on her heel, grabbing her bag, which was basically rags now (she had no idea how so many things had stayed inside. A lot of smaller items had dropped out though). "Leave me alone for a while. I have to get away from you. Sayonara." She said angrily, slipping into her secondary language. She stormed into the forest, leaving Akira behind her.
"FINE!!!" he yelled angrily. "Fine." he whispered as she disappeared, limping slightly into the darkness of the forest. He sat down on the trunk, cradling his head in his hands. Why did they have to fight so often? Akira felt horrible. He had lost his temper with her, and this was a result of that. He swore. "Why didn't I just keep my mouth shut?" he asked himself, furious. He was angrier at himself then her right now. ~How could I have acted like such an idiot? I just can't help it; she gets me angry and I react.~ He curled his hand into a fist and punched the oak bark of the log in fury. "If SHE wants to act stuck up, FINE!" There was a long moment where he stared at a small trickle of blood coming from his knuckle, and then he stood, sighing. "I guess I should go after her. It's getting dark." He began to walk, looking suspiciously at the dark forest, long, dark blades of grass waving in the wind. The trees seemed to be hiding something. To Akira, each shadow was a predator, each bush a warrior crouched, a sword ready in their hand.
Akira shivered, telling himself nothing was wrong; that he was just being paranoid. Come on, he thought bravely. It's a FOREST. How bad can it be?
And then the scream echoed through the forest.
Akira's head shot up. He KNEW that voice! "Tamiko!" he cried, forgetting about secrecy and his slight fear of the forest. He sprinted towards the scream's origin recklessly "Tamiko!" he yelled. "Tamiko, answer me!!!"
"Akira!!!!!!" she screamed. "Akira, don't! Don't come closer! It'll kill you!!!!!"
Akira found himself in a small clearing. A shadow figure towered over Tamiko, her figure looking small compared to its immensity. Tamiko was standing still, dirt spread on her face, and blood running down her arm where the dark beast had sunk it's fangs into her limb, which it still held her by.. The shadow was the shape of a great wolf.
Akira recognised it as a Nightmare Hound, a foul beast that fed on anger and fears. He shuddered inwardly. "Tamiko, stay back: I'll flame him!" he said, heat building up in his palms.
"No!" she screamed wildly. "Don't be stupid! He doesn't want me dead, or I would have been already! He's working for someone!" The hound bit down harder on her arm. Unable to stop a cry of pain, Tamiko continued, her voice trembling. "He doesn't need you! Akira, please-" she bit back another cry of pain. "Please don't get involved!"
"But I have to!" he said, taking a step forward, the fire kindled in his palms now. "Tamiko, I don't care about what happens to me!" Tamiko closed her eyes. When they opened again, they were shining with tears. "Well I do! I happen to care about what happens to you!!! Please Akira, I ...I couldn't bear it if you died!!!" she closed her eyes again as a fresh onslaught of pain drove her to her knees. "Don't die...I need you..."
The wolf had finally noticed Akira. Sniffing the air, the shadow beast howled, and was gone. Disappeared, taking Tamiko with him to his master.
Akira ran to the spot where Tamiko had been but a few seconds before. All that remained was the ribbon that must have slipped off her hair. That and blood staining the foliage covering the forest floor. His fist closed around the ribbon, as he desperately tried to stop himself crying, feeling his eyes prickle. Tamiko would say it was a waste of time.
"So, he's taken her as well."
Akira's head snapped around. A young girl, around the age of nine stepped out from behind the tree. Raven black hair framed a pale face, and clear, pupil-less blue eyes were locked on Akira. Akira took a step back, wary of this creepy child. Flames started to sizzle in his palms.
"Wait!" the girl cried out, thrusting out two upturned palms. "I won't hurt you! I'm Karma, Dragon of Britain. Please don't talk so loudly, mister. They might find me again."
"Who might find you?" Akira asked suspiciously. "The person who took Tamiko? Where did they take her!!!" he burst out.
The little girl flinched a little, but her steady gaze stayed on his face. "I...I have no idea. Please, I'll tell you all I know. Just put away those flames of yours." Akira closed his fists over the flames, and as if those had taken away the last of his strength, slumped down on the ground.
"What do you mean, you're a dragon of Britain?" he asked wearily. "What is going on?" The girl sat down next to him. Akira realized only now that she wore a white dress, ripped, torn and stained.
"Don't you know what the Dragons are?" she asked him. Feeling very ignorant, Akira shook his head. The young girl continued, her voice shaking. For all that she seemed disturbingly brilliant, Akira realized, she was just a scared little girl. "From what I can gather, there is one guardian dragon of each country with special powers. For some reason, someone is trying to collect us all. They make us put on these horrid little colourless outfits, and put us in a sealed clay pit. Then he...he..." The girl turned to show lash marks on her back, ripped cloth showing marks, some still bleeding, against her pale skin. "He makes us lose our will to fight."
Akira's hands closed into fists. "Who did this to you?" he asked gently, realizing the young girl was still in pain from the wounds.
"I don't know." she confessed. "His face is always covered. All I know is that he needs the dragons, because he won't kill us. I don't know why though. And...And...I don't want to be captured by him again!" she cried out, her voice quavering.
"You ran away." He finished for her. The girl nodded, shivering. When Akira reached out to touch the girl's arm, it was icy cold. He frowned, trying to dredge up a memory, but his exhausted brain failed him. "Look...Karma. You should leave, then. I have to find Tamiko...the girl who was just taken." The girl shook her head wildly, hair flying. "No. I want to help you. I wouldn't get far by myself, and I'd be a little lonely. You wouldn't mind if I helped you find your girlfriend, would you?"
Akira's eyes widened. "My...my..." he stammered, knowing that he was colouring, and was angry at himself for doing so.
"Well, it was just the way you were acting. I apologise. You do like her though, right?"
Akira looked away, and hastily changed the subject. "Why aren't you looking directly at me?" he asked, genuinely curious, as well as it being a drastic change in the discussion.
A smile twitched at the girl's lips. "I'm blind." She replied. "For good reason too. I can see into the future. If I saw the present as well, everything would be muddled in my head and I would probably go crazy." She stuck out her tongue in a childish way, and then looked down. "May I please stay with you? Please. I'll do anything!" Tears were in the child's sightless eyes. Akira smiled sadly, as though his thoughts were elsewhere. "Of course you can. Until we reach where they're holding Tamiko." The girl's face lit up. "Thank you so much!" She yawned. "Do you mind if I go...to..." she drifted off, her sentence cut off by her own weariness. She collapsed in a heap. She was asleep in minutes, snoring gently.
Akira leaned back against a trunk, watching as the last hours of night faded into the coming of the brilliant dawn. ~Tamiko, I wish you were here to see this with me. Where are you?~
+++
Yeah! No cliffie! What does everyone think?
Chapter #13
Once again, I apologise for my last chapter. It just wouldn't COME. But this is going to get so amazingly cool. I'm not even kidding anymore. This is the ultimate coolness. Since this part #2 (It will be about 10 chapters long) is the ending of the Spirited Again/Recalling the Spirit, I felt that is should be really good. So, I sat around for a long time, thinking and improving on the plot, and I've got to say, it is really neat.
I'm actually thinking of writing other Spirited Away fanficts after this is completed, so keep in touch!
Disclaimer: I actually own quite a lot of Recalling the Spirit part #2 especially since they won't be in the bathhouse area for long. But whatever is Miyazaki's is Miyazaki's! I do not own EVERY THING or EVERYONE in this story. Mainly No-face. Or little things that my characters say that are echoes of what his characters say.
Devastation
Tamiko's shoulders shook as a tear streaked down her cheek. A soft wind blew past, making the charred, ripped flag of the bathhouse flutter sadly.
"Why?" Akira croaked, staring at the destruction before him. "How?"
Tamiko slowly reached out so her fingers just brushed Akira's hand. She closed her eyes, whispering one single word.
"How."
A breeze picked up, blowing Tamiko's hair every which way. Her eyes shot open, and they were completely black, with gold flecks.
"Show me," she murmured, her soft voice echoing with power. The deserted bath house in front of them flashed, and suddenly there were echoing screams.
...Flames, flames burning the building. One of the women had accidently knocked over a lantern in a rush to get away from...what? Something. Something terrible was happening. A scream echoed through the night in piercing agony, as one of the many fleeing flocks of bath house workers fell, victim to some horrible death. They were headed for the lake, for the train that they begged would take them away from this horrible fate. A familiar face jumped out at Tamiko. Kiku, the woman who had helped her, was being carried by two of the other bath house women. Her eyes were open wide, sightless, her teeth were chattering, her lips were blue, and blood was seeping through her shirt and splattering on the ground...
With a scream, Tamiko pulled her hand away from Akira's, breaking the connection. Sweat was pouring down her face, and she stared at the bath house with fresh horror. Akira whispered hoarsely "Is that what happened?"
Tamiko nodded. When she replied, her voice was distant, coming from far away.
"I...I can see into the past."
There was silence as both gazed at the building before them. Tamiko shivered, and Akira hesitantly put a hand on her shoulder. "I'm not afraid." she told him quietly. "It's just...so cold here." It was almost like opening the freezer door on a hot summer day. Her teeth were chattering.
Akira stood. "There's nothing we can do here. We have to find out what caused this. It does us no good just sitting here mourning."
Tamiko turned to him angrily, still kneeling. "Do you have no respect for the dead?" she cried, raging against him, wiping away fresh tears. "How could you be so...so...heartless! I bet you acted like this when your mother left you!" she burst out. "Don't you CARE in the least?"
Akira's voice, when he replied, was quiet. "I do. More them you know. That's why we have to find out why they have died, so we can stop others following the same fate."
He stood, turning his back to her and began to walk towards the railway submerged under the glistening under the water.
Tamiko stood up, sent one last look at the bathhouse, and began to run after her old friend.
"Akira! Wait! Please!"
She caught up to him. "Akira...listen. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say what I said: it came out wrong. It was really cruel and..."
"Forget it."
"But I really shouldn't have said..."
"I SAID forget it."
Tamiko bit her lip. She had only been with him for a couple of hours and already they were in a fight. Maybe she had been daydreaming about Akira and her, ignoring reality. He was probably with someone else now, someone calm and gentle...
They walked in uncomfortable silence, neither one talking to the other, until they reached the water. Akira slowly stepped on to one of the railway bars, and reached up to help Tamiko, more out of politeness then anything else. Being the independent creature she is, Tamiko shook her head, and climbed down the bank to the railway track. Once she was down, they both began to walk along the track, neither one talking to the other. Tamiko was a torrent of emotions. On the outside, she was furious with him. She had apologized, and he had refused to acknowledge it. But deep, deep down, she hated when they were fighting like this, and a small part of her wanted to burst out into tears.
"Akira..." she finally said. Fate chose that moment to make her lose her balance, and almost fall into the lake. She screamed, and Akira grabbed her arm. He gently pulled her up, grinning. "Thought you were afraid of water."
Tamiko smiled back, relieved to see she was forgiven. "Oh shut it."
They both continued to walk, a comfortable silence between them now. The small waves lapped around their feet, and the hot summer sun shone down on them. Tamiko pulled out a fan from her schoolbag, which had miraculously stayed with her in less then perfect condition throughout all she had been though, and flapped at her face. She turned to Akira, who was wearing a big baggy sweater over his T-shirt. "Aren't you boiling?" she questioned him. He was, but he would never admit it. "No, I'm fine." He assured her. Tamiko rolled her eyes, and tugged at his sweater. "Come on, it's HOT out." Akira tried to pull his arm away, succeeding only in pulling the sweater up to past his wrist.
Tamiko caught a quick glance at his wrist and gasped. Black, blue and red marks covered the skin, almost like a hand had wrapped around it. In one smooth movement, Tamiko grabbed his hand and slid the sleeve up to his elbow. Bruises marked the tanned skin, some looking like nails had punctured a long time ago. She frowned. "Akira...what happened?" she was suddenly angry. Not at him, but for him. "Were you in a fight? Why didn't you use your flames?"
Akira looked away. "I moved out finally, anyway."
"Answer the question."
"Because he's my father. He's only pulled this junk with me twice though. Once when my mother first left, and a little while ago..."
"Your..."
He pulled his arm away from her. "You're so lucky, Tamiko. To have two great parents..."
Tamiko's eyebrows came together. "Akira...I...I'm sorry."
He shook his head. "Don't worry about it. Forget it was even mentioned." He pulled off his sweater. "Oh, thank Dia! That's a relief!" He wiped his face on the back of his arm.
Tamiko smiled, stopped, and began hunting though her bag. Finally she produced a bottle. "Here." She said softly. She opened the bottle, gently took his arm, and began rubbing the cream in. "It's a balm that Nile gave me once. I kept getting bruises from martial arts." She put the lid back on the container. The bruises began to heal at once, turning from a black to a light brown. Tamiko's head snapped up suddenly. "Nile! Do you think she's all right? What if something terrible happened to her?"
Akira looked over at her, and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I'm sure she's fine. Nile's tough, remember. She'll be all right."
"But..." "Don't worry. That won't get anything done." Akira looked down at Tamiko, looking at her soft black hair. ~I wish I had just...I...She's probably with someone else now. I should just forget about it.~ But it wasn't that simple.
Tamiko smiled. "I guess you're right. I still can't help worrying though."
Akira smiled in reply, and took his hand away. "I call a break. We've been walking for an hour."
"An HOUR?" Tamiko said, surprised. The time had gone by so fast. She sat down, past caring whether she got wet, and let her legs drag in the light current that was flowing past the railway tracks.
Akira dived past her into the lake, spraying water everywhere. He surfaced, flopping back his wet hair, his black shirt clinging to his body.
"Hey, Tamiko, come on in!!!"
Tamiko rolled her eyes. "I can't swim, remember? At least, not very well."
Akira grinned. "Come on! You look boiling! I'll help you, if you want. And what do you mean, not very well? You can't swim if your life depended on it!"
Tamiko bristled. "I've been practicing!"
"Really? Show me what you've got!"
Tamiko made a face at him. "No." Akira rolled his eyes. "Don't you trust me? I won't let you drown, I promise." Tamiko closed her eyes. "All right." she agreed, knowing she would regret it. She slipped her bag off her arm, and took a deep breath, preparing to slide in the water.
With a grin, Akira grabbed her hand and pulled her in. Tamiko screamed, surprised. She surfaced, treading water. "You...IDIOT!" she screeched outrageously.
"Here." Akira said, putting his arm under hers, so she wouldn't drown. Akira stared at her, and she at him His face was so close to her own...
Tamiko brought her arm around in a wide arc, causing a torrent of water to splash Akira, who yelped.
"What was that for?" he spluttered. Tamiko grinned. "Now we're even!"
"Why you..." But Tamiko had thrust herself away from him, and grabbed the side of the railway. Hoisting herself up, she sat stubbornly on the side. "I wouldn't go back in there if you paid me!" she stated, wringing out her hair and clothes.
Akira grinned apologetically. "Sorry. Couldn't help myself."
She stuck out her tongue at him, and turned away.
He swam over to her. "Hey, are you mad at me?" he questioned her. She turned to him. "No, why would I be? You're too difficult to be angry at all the time!" He grinned, and flipped backwards into the water. Tamiko watched him swim for a time. Finally, she stood up.
"Akira! Break's over! I want to get where we're going before dark!"
Akira's head broke the surface. He swam over to the edge of the railing, and hoisted himself up, looking at the noonday sun. "Yeah, I guess you're right."
He quickly wrung himself out, and grabbed his sweater. Tamiko picked up her bag, which had one large tear on the side, and was extremely muddy, and slung it over her shoulder. Smiling and humming to herself she began to walk, only to find Akira was not walking beside her, but that he was staring out at the water.
She walked over to him. "What?" she questioned, looking out at the vast stretch of water, with the land in the distance. "It's just so..." Akira gestured, unable to find a word.
A hint of a smile appeared on Tamiko's lips. "I understand what you mean.." They stood there for some time in silence, staring out at the soft white waves. Tamiko interrupted their moment by tugging impatiently at Akira's hand.
"Come on. By the looks of it, we'll be able to view the water for another thirty minutes." She said, squinting at the distant land, sighing, and began to walk, Akira beside her.
After about ten minutes, Tamiko was bored. She began to hum, and then burst out singing an old song her 'Aunt' Satsuke had taught her.
"Hey let's go, hey let's go! We're happy as can be! Er...na, na, na, na na na na na! Ready set come on let's go! Over the hills, across the seas, ...um...na na...uh..." she drifted off, Akira chuckling. "I can't remember the rest!" she said defensively. Akira rolled his eyes. "Great way to pass the time, Tami." She stuck out her tongue at him. Akira grinned "Oh, THAT'S mature, Tamiko. How old are you now?" Tamiko made a face at him. "I'm eighteen, dolt. I was fifteen when we first met, and it's three years later. You do the math." Akira nodded. "Ahh, this throws me back into a torrent of memories. You being snobbish." Tamiko stuck her nose in the air and strode in front of him...
...only for her foot to catch on one of the wooden railway slats. She fell face first into the shallow water. She stood up, spluttering, to find Akira had walked ahead. "That wasn't funny!" she shouted at him, seeing his shoulders shaking. "It was so! It served you right for acting stuck up, too!" he shouted back.
Tamiko trailed after her friend, grumbling under her breath. "Stupid Akira thinks he's so stupid smart and he thinks that I'm being stupid stuck up, and of course the STUPID step had to go get stupid in my way, and I had to stupid fall so he could stupid tease me the stupid idiot."
Akira came back to her. "Hey come on." he said, gesturing for her to hurry up. When he caught her expression, he added kindly. "You realize I was only teasing, right?" He came over to her and offered his hand. She pulled herself up, and looked at Akira, only to find that he was staring at her, an odd expression on his face. She blushed slightly in return, noticing he was still holding her hand in his own.
Realizing what he was doing, Akira dropped her hand suddenly and muttered: "Klutz.." as he looked away.
Tamiko stuck out her tongue in reply and started to walk faster. Akira too sped up his pace to exceed hers, and soon it was an all out dash, seeing who would get to the land first. They ran; sweat sliding down their faces in little beads, previous embarrassment forgotten, muscles in their long legs working hard. The pair were breathing heavily. Akira cut in front of Tamiko, much to her outrage, speeding towards the shore.
...And stopped suddenly, sending Tamiko crashing into him. Tamiko being Tamiko was outrageously angry. "What'd you do that for!" she said loudly. "You didn't...have...to..." she drifted off, her voice quiet. What she had at first seen from the distance as a blank island appeared now as a quite large, dark, forest populated one. Tamiko stepped back. "Something doesn't feel right. Akira...Kir...I really don't want to go in there." Akira turned to her. The island DID have an overwhelming presence, almost as if something horrible had happened here. Tamiko's breath was coming sharply. She whispered an incoherent name, and began to run towards the island.
Akira ran after her. "Tamiko!!! Wait! It's too dangerous!!!!! It..." She turned back to him. "That's never stopped me before, Akira. Stay here." With that she sped up her pace, dashing as quickly as she could towards a large glittering object on the sand in the near distance. Akira ran after her, panting. "I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU TO STAY WHERE YOU WERE?" she yelled to make herself heard. "AND LET YOU GO THERE ALONE? NEVER!" he replied, just as loudly.
"Akira..." she whispered, as she sped up her pace. Her muscles were protesting every step of the way, groaning and threatening to collapse from sheer exhaustion. She forced herself on, making herself run the last few metres that stood between her and that shining figure...
Tamiko knelt beside the still, glistening, figure. The pure silver scales were marred with a dark red substance. ~Dried blood,~ Tamiko realized in horror. She had by now recognised the being that lay before her, and knew there was nothing she could do to save her.
She gulped back tears, her throat sore. "How...how did this happen?" she rasped. There was no answer.
"Taneesh, please answer me!"
The dragon stirred. =Mistress? Tamiko...is that you?= Tamiko smiled weakly. ~Yes, Taneesh, it's me. What happened to you?~
=Attack...on bathhouse...cold...so, cold...many dying...I...attacked...freezing cold...= Taneesh's thoughts were forced, and sounded as though they came from a long way away.
~Taneesh, you're going to be all right! You're not going to...~ Taneesh gave a harsh chuckle in her head. =Mistress, I am...too far gone. I am extremely...happy that I could see you again.= She looked at Akira, who had by now run over and recognised the fatally wounded figure. He was looking over Tamiko's shoulder. =Fire boy. Take care of my mistress when I am gone.= A light blush tinted Akira's cheeks, but he was more concerned for the dragon. ~Taneesh...~ he began, but Taneesh interrupted him, turning to her mistress. =You will find out who and what you are, Tamiko. And if all else fails, seek the help of your kin.= She smiled sadly. =Until I see you both in the next world.= the lids of her dragon eyes closed slowly, and never opened again.
She was gone.
Tamiko bit her lip, trying to control the urge to cry. "Taneesh..." she whispered. "What kind of monster would do this?" she questioned the world softly. Her voice was quavering slightly with grief and rage. A single tear slid from the corner of her eye and down her face. "Who...Why..." she whispered, her voice hoarse. She fought herself, telling herself not to cry. Sensing her pain and trying not to cry himself, Akira knelt down beside the grief-ridden girl and put a consoling arm around her. When he spoke, his voice shook. 'Tamiko. It's all right to feel pain for her. It's all right to cry." Tamiko brought her head up to look into his eyes, her own blurred by tears. "Akira..." she muttered, before bursting into tears. She leaned against him, burying her face in his shirt as she wept, pieces of the material clenched in her hands. Tears slid silently down Akira's face on mourning as well. He put his arms around Tamiko, comforting her while dealing silently with his own grief. The girl was sobbing openly, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably.
They stayed like this for a long time, two long lost friends clinging to each other to help comfort the horrible pain of a death. Two lost people, alone for so long, different from everyone, who had finally found each other again.
Tamiko finally sat back, wiping at her wet face. When she turned to see the shell that was once Taneesh, there was nothing, only one shining silver scale. She reached out and picked it up slowly. "She's in a better place." She whispered. "She wouldn't want s to mourn her, but for us to go on with our lives. So that's what I'll do." She stood, slipping the scale into her pocket. "That's what I'll do." She repeated, standing up a little straighter. "Akira, let's go. This clearing seems to...open for my tastes." she said, looking around for anything out of place. Akira nodded, and tried to stand, but couldn't. His eyes grew wide with panic as he looked around wildly. "I can't move my legs! A spell or something!" There was a definite feeling of being watched now. Something told the pair they had better find cover. Now. Tamiko ran over to Akira, crouching down beside him. She stuck her hand over his legs, her skin just barely brushing his. "In the name of the wind and water within thee..." she began, power woven into each word. Akira's eyes widened at the soft blue glow that was coming from Tamiko's hand. "Unbind him." She finished. The glow went out, and her voice returned to normal.
She stood offering him a hand. "Get up." He grabbed her hand and pulled himself up. "Now let's GO." She hissed, beginning to run, Akira dashed after her, until they were making a wild sprint for the cover of the trees. "Almost...there..." Tamiko panted. With a final burst of energy they entered the forest.
Tamiko leaned against a tree, breathing heavily. Akira sat on a fallen tree to catch his breath. Neither spoke for a long time. When Tamiko finally straightened, she winced at the sharp pain that shot up her leg. Akira caught her grimace, and motioned for her to sit beside him. "Where does it hurt?" he questioned her, a touch of concern entering his voice, though he tried to hide it. Tamiko frowned. "It doesn't hurt." She replied. "Stop being stubborn." He replied angrily. "Do you always have to fend off help when it's offered?!? I think you've pulled a leg muscle." Tamiko frowned. "'Fend off?' What is that supposed to mean?" Akira glared at her. "It means that you refuse help from someone who's concerned about you!" Tamiko matched his glare with hers. "Oh, yes. This is GREAT coming from you, Akira. You who wouldn't tell me about all those bruises on your skin! Don't you think I was concerned for you then? Or when I burnt your hand?!?!" she added, spotting the small white scars on his hands from when he had tried to stop her battling with No-face. "You're always hurting yourself, and you fend ME off!"
Akira stood now, furious. "And YOU told me an outright LIE! When your hands were bleeding from those ice shards. You said you 'fell'. I KNOW that's a lie, Tamiko! You NEVER told me what happened!!!" A light blush coloured Tamiko's cheeks, and she was now fuming. She turned away, searching in her mind for something to say, something that would hurt him. When she next spoke, her voice was cold and clipped. "And you have not kept secrets from me then, Akira? Are you sure? What about you being an Elemental? I am pretty sure you didn't tell me about that. And how could you be concerned about me anyway? You are always making fun of me, calling me names, teasing me about my weaknesses." She stood, wobbling slightly on her bad leg, pain crossing her face, but she stayed erect. Akira came over to support her. "Stupid, you shouldn't walk!" he said frustrated. "You shouldn't be up and around! I have to tend to your-" But she interrupted him. "I don't need your help, Akira. I don't need anyone's help. Leave me alone." She turned away from his touch. Though he wouldn't admit it, Akira was hurt. He didn't realize how much his teasing had hurt her. They had barely been together for two days, and already they were furious at each other. When he replied, his voice was quiet. "Tamiko, I didn't realize that I hurt you so much. But I can't believe that you accused me of not caring. I do."
"I did NOT accuse you!"
"You DID! I just stood here and took it from you!"
Tamiko turned on her heel, grabbing her bag, which was basically rags now (she had no idea how so many things had stayed inside. A lot of smaller items had dropped out though). "Leave me alone for a while. I have to get away from you. Sayonara." She said angrily, slipping into her secondary language. She stormed into the forest, leaving Akira behind her.
"FINE!!!" he yelled angrily. "Fine." he whispered as she disappeared, limping slightly into the darkness of the forest. He sat down on the trunk, cradling his head in his hands. Why did they have to fight so often? Akira felt horrible. He had lost his temper with her, and this was a result of that. He swore. "Why didn't I just keep my mouth shut?" he asked himself, furious. He was angrier at himself then her right now. ~How could I have acted like such an idiot? I just can't help it; she gets me angry and I react.~ He curled his hand into a fist and punched the oak bark of the log in fury. "If SHE wants to act stuck up, FINE!" There was a long moment where he stared at a small trickle of blood coming from his knuckle, and then he stood, sighing. "I guess I should go after her. It's getting dark." He began to walk, looking suspiciously at the dark forest, long, dark blades of grass waving in the wind. The trees seemed to be hiding something. To Akira, each shadow was a predator, each bush a warrior crouched, a sword ready in their hand.
Akira shivered, telling himself nothing was wrong; that he was just being paranoid. Come on, he thought bravely. It's a FOREST. How bad can it be?
And then the scream echoed through the forest.
Akira's head shot up. He KNEW that voice! "Tamiko!" he cried, forgetting about secrecy and his slight fear of the forest. He sprinted towards the scream's origin recklessly "Tamiko!" he yelled. "Tamiko, answer me!!!"
"Akira!!!!!!" she screamed. "Akira, don't! Don't come closer! It'll kill you!!!!!"
Akira found himself in a small clearing. A shadow figure towered over Tamiko, her figure looking small compared to its immensity. Tamiko was standing still, dirt spread on her face, and blood running down her arm where the dark beast had sunk it's fangs into her limb, which it still held her by.. The shadow was the shape of a great wolf.
Akira recognised it as a Nightmare Hound, a foul beast that fed on anger and fears. He shuddered inwardly. "Tamiko, stay back: I'll flame him!" he said, heat building up in his palms.
"No!" she screamed wildly. "Don't be stupid! He doesn't want me dead, or I would have been already! He's working for someone!" The hound bit down harder on her arm. Unable to stop a cry of pain, Tamiko continued, her voice trembling. "He doesn't need you! Akira, please-" she bit back another cry of pain. "Please don't get involved!"
"But I have to!" he said, taking a step forward, the fire kindled in his palms now. "Tamiko, I don't care about what happens to me!" Tamiko closed her eyes. When they opened again, they were shining with tears. "Well I do! I happen to care about what happens to you!!! Please Akira, I ...I couldn't bear it if you died!!!" she closed her eyes again as a fresh onslaught of pain drove her to her knees. "Don't die...I need you..."
The wolf had finally noticed Akira. Sniffing the air, the shadow beast howled, and was gone. Disappeared, taking Tamiko with him to his master.
Akira ran to the spot where Tamiko had been but a few seconds before. All that remained was the ribbon that must have slipped off her hair. That and blood staining the foliage covering the forest floor. His fist closed around the ribbon, as he desperately tried to stop himself crying, feeling his eyes prickle. Tamiko would say it was a waste of time.
"So, he's taken her as well."
Akira's head snapped around. A young girl, around the age of nine stepped out from behind the tree. Raven black hair framed a pale face, and clear, pupil-less blue eyes were locked on Akira. Akira took a step back, wary of this creepy child. Flames started to sizzle in his palms.
"Wait!" the girl cried out, thrusting out two upturned palms. "I won't hurt you! I'm Karma, Dragon of Britain. Please don't talk so loudly, mister. They might find me again."
"Who might find you?" Akira asked suspiciously. "The person who took Tamiko? Where did they take her!!!" he burst out.
The little girl flinched a little, but her steady gaze stayed on his face. "I...I have no idea. Please, I'll tell you all I know. Just put away those flames of yours." Akira closed his fists over the flames, and as if those had taken away the last of his strength, slumped down on the ground.
"What do you mean, you're a dragon of Britain?" he asked wearily. "What is going on?" The girl sat down next to him. Akira realized only now that she wore a white dress, ripped, torn and stained.
"Don't you know what the Dragons are?" she asked him. Feeling very ignorant, Akira shook his head. The young girl continued, her voice shaking. For all that she seemed disturbingly brilliant, Akira realized, she was just a scared little girl. "From what I can gather, there is one guardian dragon of each country with special powers. For some reason, someone is trying to collect us all. They make us put on these horrid little colourless outfits, and put us in a sealed clay pit. Then he...he..." The girl turned to show lash marks on her back, ripped cloth showing marks, some still bleeding, against her pale skin. "He makes us lose our will to fight."
Akira's hands closed into fists. "Who did this to you?" he asked gently, realizing the young girl was still in pain from the wounds.
"I don't know." she confessed. "His face is always covered. All I know is that he needs the dragons, because he won't kill us. I don't know why though. And...And...I don't want to be captured by him again!" she cried out, her voice quavering.
"You ran away." He finished for her. The girl nodded, shivering. When Akira reached out to touch the girl's arm, it was icy cold. He frowned, trying to dredge up a memory, but his exhausted brain failed him. "Look...Karma. You should leave, then. I have to find Tamiko...the girl who was just taken." The girl shook her head wildly, hair flying. "No. I want to help you. I wouldn't get far by myself, and I'd be a little lonely. You wouldn't mind if I helped you find your girlfriend, would you?"
Akira's eyes widened. "My...my..." he stammered, knowing that he was colouring, and was angry at himself for doing so.
"Well, it was just the way you were acting. I apologise. You do like her though, right?"
Akira looked away, and hastily changed the subject. "Why aren't you looking directly at me?" he asked, genuinely curious, as well as it being a drastic change in the discussion.
A smile twitched at the girl's lips. "I'm blind." She replied. "For good reason too. I can see into the future. If I saw the present as well, everything would be muddled in my head and I would probably go crazy." She stuck out her tongue in a childish way, and then looked down. "May I please stay with you? Please. I'll do anything!" Tears were in the child's sightless eyes. Akira smiled sadly, as though his thoughts were elsewhere. "Of course you can. Until we reach where they're holding Tamiko." The girl's face lit up. "Thank you so much!" She yawned. "Do you mind if I go...to..." she drifted off, her sentence cut off by her own weariness. She collapsed in a heap. She was asleep in minutes, snoring gently.
Akira leaned back against a trunk, watching as the last hours of night faded into the coming of the brilliant dawn. ~Tamiko, I wish you were here to see this with me. Where are you?~
+++
Yeah! No cliffie! What does everyone think?
