This is starting to read like a never ending and self-perpetuating script! And there's a fight scene everywhere! Lol. Aren't you dying to know what happens next? I'm dying to know how it will end. These things always tend to write themselves. Again, I make no claim to Miyazaki's characters or his movie.

I was imagining all sorts of situations for this chapter. I always had this notion that their fates were intertwined. I think that's my favorite romantic theme in the movie. A god and a mortal with intertwining fates…sigh… Kohaku really is just too cool. I should get him back into to story, somehow… -- Kero. (6/25/06)

Chapter 8: Again

There was an old woman singing an ancient Okinawan island song in her head. Or at least that's what she thought it sounded like. She couldn't remember where or when she had heard such a sad, melancholy tune. Layered into the singing, Chihiro thought she could hear other voices as well. They were very faint at first, but then started to get louder and more clear. There were apparently having a dispute about some topic in their conversation. What were they talking about? Chihiro strained her ears to hear what they were saying above the old woman's singing.

A vision of three young men standing in front of a dais in a throne hall came to mind. They were all dressed in several layers of rather classical style courtly noble robes glittering with finely stitched embroidery. Their sleeves almost touched the ground. Tall hats sat atop their heads, making two of them look like ancient officials of high rank, with their hair bound tightly in buns tied in flowing ribbons. These two looked like twins. The third one, the youngest, had his hair cut short in a funny style. That's really outdated, she thought to herself. Even moreso than the clothing…

At first, she thought she was watching an old TV drama of the Tale of Genji or something, but she didn't recognize the actors. Then, it came to her that one of them was a younger version of Kohaku.

"Father," said Kohaku. "Why have you done this?" His voice carried out into the stone throne hall. Chihiro thought she had seen this exact hall once before, in a dream.

"Calm youself, brother," said a slightly older boy in a warning tone. There were three of them standing in front of tall silver chair with an old man sitting in it. This old man wore a crown of coral and his greenish beard went nearly to the floor. He was neither young nor old. There was a timeless look in his deep blue eyes.

That must be his father, thought Chihiro. The king of the river gods. He really didn't look all that nice. Not at all like Kohaku.

"It is for the best," said one of his brothers as the the old king watched them, stroking his long beard with a gnarly hand.

"But her memories have been completely hidden," said Kohaku rather crossly. "She won't remember anything she did, nor the spirits she befriended, and she won't…," he paused suddenly, as if trying to choose his words more carefully.

"Remember you?" asked his eldest brother. He wore a gold emblem on his tall hat denoting his rank. "Her life is fleeting, like all humans. In the tiny breath that is her entire life, she will not miss you. It is not important that she remembers you. Humans and gods are of two different worlds."

"Why is it so important to you, Kohaku? These are the same humans that pollute our waters, who deplete our power by damming our rivers, who hunt our subjects relentlessly and hide their toxic wastes in our seas? She is of a kind that cares not for nature or our sacred father. He grows weaker each day because of them. Surely you had no intention to continue to befriend one of them?" asked his second brother.

"She saved me," said Kohaku stubbornly.

"You were always too kind, Kohaku," said his older brother. "She is better off not remembering as she will not be able to find you again. Would you rather her grow old with regret always in her heart?"

"No," responded Kohaku. "But I made her a promise." There was a steely gleam in his eyes. He knew he wasn't going to win this argument. But behind the steely gaze was a look Chihiro had seen before in another dream. The look of longing and lonliness.

"I can sense that you and this child have a deeper connection than you would lead us to believe, Nihiyagami Kohaku Nushi," said their father. At the sound of his low, rumbling voice, all three sons bowed in respect. Chihiro thought his voice sounded like thunder in a stormy night. "In that case, I am glad that what is done is done. The role of spirits and gods is to only watch. We do not interfere in the fates of mortals. You are forbidden, my son, to go seek her out ever again. Go now, and tend to your domains until I have need to call you," said the old king.

"Yes, honorable Father," they responded in unison. The old woman's sad song faded into silence.

Chihiro's mind was hurled back into the present and she opened her eyes. It was dusk and the air was cold around her. Her chest felt as if it was going to burst. In a violent fit of coughing, she rolled over and painfully coughed out the rest of the water in her lungs. She felt a gentle hand pat her on the back to help her breathe. Chihiro looked up and saw the friendly mask of Kaonashi.

"Thanks. Did you help me out of the river?" she asked. She had absolutely no recollection of how she had gotten out of what could have been her final, watery resting place. Kaonashi nodded.

"Where are we?" Chihiro looked around and saw the river and behind her, the forest. "Do you remember being shot at?" she asked, not really remembering what had happened before. Bits and pieces were coming back to her. Again, her friend nodded.

"What was that about?" she asked. "Who would shoot us down?" Then she looked around again as if searching for something she just realized was missing. "Where are the others?"

Kaonashi shrugged his shoulders.

"I hope they're okay. Bo can't swim," she said worriedly, afraid for her friend's well being. Kaonashi patted her shoulder reassuringly, as if to say that Bo was a resourceful young wizard, being the son of Yubaba. He would think of something. Besides, Yu Bird was with him.

"I guess you're right," she replied. "It's getting dark and we shouldn't stay out here in the open. Heaven knows if more fireballs will come raining down on us. We better get someplace drier. And safer," she added. Somewhere out there was an enemy and Chihiro shuddered at the thought of them searching for her.

With the help of Kaonashi, they found a dry spot along the flat side of a tall cliff. There was some water there trickling down the side of the rock, falling neatly into a clean pool. It was good enough to drink and they filled their canteens with new water. Chihiro had used up the last of the temple water given to her by Radish to wash clean a painful wound on her elbow; an injury that must have occurred while she was in the river. Kaonashi pitched tent and then prepared a small meal for the two of them. He insisted that she rest and recuperate, considering she had swallowed a lot of river water and nearly drowned. As she watched her friend busy himself against the light of the heating lamp, she wondered about her vision. Why had she dreamt about that? Chihiro looked down at the bookbag at her side. Was it the magic relic inside the statuette? Had that really happened in the past?

"Maybe his father will like me better if I return this thing to them," she sighed. Before they had met at the onsen, she wondered if he had ever tried to see her without her recognizing or acknowledging him. How many times had they passed on the street like two complete strangers? She wondered why it was so taboo for a god and a mortal to be friends. But something else stirred dangerously close to realization within Chihiro. It was not just a feeling of strong friendship towards Kohaku, but it was also something else; something she felt only when he was close to her and it made her insides do somersaults.

Chihiro wondered that her heart had not forgotten Kohaku despite her memory lapse. Subconsciously, it may have prevented her from thinking about other boys as she grew up. She had never met a gentler, kinder person. He was brave and true, something she rarely found in people nowadays. Chihiro could just stare into his eyes, those dark green pools of water drawing her in, be lost forever and content to pass an eternity like that.

She pulled out a handkerchief from her book bag. Something shiny had fallen onto the carpet. She picked it up and examined it a little closer. It was the shell-like, pearly dragon scale she had taken off one of the wall carvings at the temple during her summer trip.

Another sigh escaped her lips.

Kohaku….

000

He swatted a loose strand of hair away from his face. Having suffered a few scrapes and bruises at the hands of demons, and having fought for hours on end, the youngest river dragon prince was too tired to care about appearances. His robes were a bit dusty and there was a tear in one of his sleeves. Kohaku was limping a little from when a demon had almost pierced his foot with its claws. But, he walked onward, towards the pearly double doors of his father's throne room. He could hear his brothers Sihomitutama and Sihohirutama discussing something very loudly in the throne hall, their voices echoing. With both arms he raised his hands against the huge doors and they swung open with barely a creak.

There, in the dimly lit ancient throne hall he saw his brothers, dressed in full battle armor, sitting at a table the servants had brought for their meal. It wasn't until he got closer that he saw a small purple rat and a tiny bird nibbling away at some cakes and leaving crumbs all over the immaculate white tablecloth.

"You?" exclaimed Kohaku stepping up closer to see if his eyes were deceiving him.

"We found them wandering at the side of our father's river. They said someone had shot fire at them," said his oldest brother, Sihomitutama.

"Master Kohaku," said Bo with a slight bow. "It's been a while," he said cheerfully.

"After our meal, they will take us to where they were attacked. I think the demons are closing in on us, brother," said his second brother, Sihohirutama.

"Fear not. They have much to learn if they wish to storm our father's palace," said Sihomitutama with a grim look in his eye. "If only we could locate our sire, the king…"

Ignoring both of his brothers, Kohaku asked, "What are you doing here, so far away from Yubaba's domain and protection?"

"We came on a quest!" exclaimed Bo excitedly. Yu Bird nodded firecely in agreement.

"A quest?" he asked, not really comprehending what they were trying to tell him.

"We were trying to return one of the relics to you…but…" said Bo. His expression changed and he looked as though he were going to cry. "But we lost it in the river! And we lost CHIHIRO!" The little rat finally succumbed to violent sobbing. However, he managed to continue to eat fistfulls of cake through his sobs.

"Chihiro!" exclaimed Kohaku incredulously. "She's here?"

Bo nodded. "She said it was her first day of the eleventh grade, whatever that is. And she was on her way to school when she caught sight of a demon on something called a 'sub way.' She followed him to a place called Ueno Temple. The Radish spirit lived there and helped her vanquish that demon who was looking for the relic. Chihiro was the only one who could hold the relic, so Radish told her to go find help. We were supposed to help her deliver the relic here. But, we fell off a really big waterfall that wasn't even marked on the stupid map! Yu Bird saved us but then someone shot fire balls at us! Kaonashi and Chihiro fell into the water. Yu Bird flew me safely to the bank. I was too confused to save them!" said Bo distressfully. "They just disappeared under the water. It went by so quickly… I DIDN'T EVEN GET A CHANCE TO SAY GOODBYE!" A new wave of crying and sobbing and very loud nose blowing overtook the small frame of the little purple rat. Kohaku didn't care to stay and hear the rest of it, as he was already headed back the way he came.

"Brother, where are you going?" asked Sihomitutama. "You must eat something to replenish your strength before you go out to fight again." This advice was completely ignored.

"Kohaku?"

"Don't wait for me," was Kohaku's only reply. His voice was steely and his purpose already set in stone. Yu Bird watched Kohaku leave the throne hall and then looked curiously as Bo as his crying completely stopped as suddenly as it had come and the rat continued to eat heartily from his piece of cake.

Bo just smiled secretly and gave his friend a little wink as if saying, That oughtta do it.

000

Chihiro had just snuggled into her sleeping bag in their tent when she thought she heard something. Or perhaps it was nothing? She listened hard and noticed that the crickets' song had stopped. That could only mean one thing: someone or something was approaching.

She tapped Kaonashi on the shoulder lightly and and gentured to him to be silent, and that something was outside. Kaonashi soundlessly went to the tent door and slowly unzipped it, trying to be as quiet as possible. He peeked outside. Then, he turned to Chihiro and nodded as if to say, yes, I see something. She could feel her heart thumping in her chest.

What to do?

She pulled out the paper talismans Radish had given her from her book bag. Chihiro motioned for Kaonashi to get back as she crouched down, facing the tent door.

At first, nothing happened. But then she could hear approaching footsteps getting closer. In the dim light provided by the sliver of a moon in the sky, she saw the silouette of a clawed hand trace over the fabric of the tent. Without even thinking, she reached into her bookbag and clutched the shell-like dragon scale in her hand. Chihiro took a gulp and a deep breath, and held it. She then recalled something that Kohaku had said to her once, about spirits being able to detect human breath. Chihiro wondered if it was the same for demons. The clawed hand slowly moved the zipper down further to open the tent and the tent door was pulled back. Chihiro saw an ugly, hairy face with glowing red eyes staring back at her.

Out of fear or desperation, Chihiro leapt forward armed with a talisman in her oustretched hand.

"Don't come near us!" she shouted as she affixed the talisman to the demon's forehead. The demon froze. Then, Kaonashi also leapt forward and pushed the demon out of the way. Chihiro followed behind, tumbling out of the tent. When she landed, she realized that there were others coming out of the shadowy undergrowth. They were surrounded.

"Kaonashi! Don't get anywhere near the talismans!" Chihiro called out. She took another talisman and held it between her forefinger and middle finger. She took aim at an approaching demon. At that point she felt just like a miko, like Kikyo or Rei in the TV anime. She then realized that anything was possible in this spirit world and her potential unlimited. Her other hand clutched the pearly scale tightly in a fist. Give me strength, she thought silently. At that point, the talisman went rigid and she let it fly.

"Be gone!" cried Chihiro. Like an arrow shot from a bow, the talisman flew through the air and landed on the chest of another demon. Instantly, the demon froze and broke down into a million pieces of ash, swirling down to the ground. The demons stopped to marvel at this mortal girl's powers.

"Don't just stand there gawking; ATTACK! Get the relic!" cried their demon leader, raining down fireballs upon their target. The group converged upon Kaonashi and Chihiro once more. The pair dodged out of the way of the fireballs in opposite directions. Then, Kaonashi, being a shadowy bottomless pit of a spirit that he was, rushed forward, opened up his mouth and swallowed up a large group of them. He let out a little burp as the demons faint voices were heard from inside his belly. Kaonashi's stomach bulged a bit, moving around in awkward angles indicating that the demons inside were still trying to get out, but to no avail.

"That was a little gross, Kaonashi," grimaced Chihiro, feeling her stomach turn.

With her guard down, she suddenly became a target for the leader. He leapt up into the air and came bearing down on her with a blaze of power rushing forth from his hands. Kaonashi could not get to her in time, having suddenly added so much weight to himself. Chihiro clutched the pearly scale tightly and winced as she expected to feel herself catch fire. But nothing happened. She opened her eyes and realized that the shiny scale in her hand had worked as a charm, forming a translucent green barrier around her. The stream of fire engulfed the barrier, swirled around as if trying to break through, and then disappeared after it lost momentum.

"She is protected by the dragon lords!" exclaimed the demons. They realized that Chihiro was no ordinary mortal and started backing away, unsure of their next move. The girl was blessed by the gods. Their leader, astonished that a mere mortal should possess such a charm, was still undeterred in his purpose.

"There are no dragon lords here, fools!" their leader shouted angrily.

"Wrong," came a stern voice out of the wind. A strong gale rushed through the forest, picking up leaves and twigs high into the air. When the dust had settled, the figure of a young man in fine robes stood between Chihiro and the demons. Kohaku raised one of his arms to the side, protectively in front of her, his long sleeve flying out in a sweeping motion.

"This dragon lord has come to protect her," he said with firey eyes and a dangerous tone.

Author's notes:

You ever wonder why Chihiro carries so many things in her pockets? Lol. I wondered that too when I read this over again. It's like a role-playing game. You keep picking up those darn little magical items,more than you know what to do with! I wanted Chihiro to be a normal, slightly jaded teenager. A sort of 'every girl' character. I had no idea what I was going to do with the pearly scale Chihiro had pilfered from the temple during her summer break. It was a completely natural thing for her to do at the time. But it came in handy as I was writing the fight scene in this chapter.

The Okinawan island song idea comes from the soundtrack of Samurai Champloo. For some reason, it reminds me of ancient things--things long past that cannot return. I have no idea what the old woman's singing, but it almost sounds like a sad, religous chant.

The only un-anime related reference is the title of the previous chapter, which came from the refrain of a song in Enya's CD Amarantine. The song has a feel for Chihiro's journey.

"Through the darkness and the shadow

I will still go on;

Long long journey through the darkness,

Long long way to go

But what are miles across the ocean

To the heart that's coming home?"

Sihomitutama and his brother Sihohirutama are names I took out of Japanese myth. According to legend, these were the names of two bells that controlled the ebb and flow of the tides.

--Kero.