Note: I wanted to name this chapter something gushy, but then, that's not what it's all about. But certainly there will be gushiness…lol. It's one of MY stories, for heaven's sake. Thanks a bundle to those who cared enough to review my writing. (Sorry didn't make it for someone's birthday…lol, I get nervous under time pressures…) But I see that the audience is growing! Yay!
Agreed, Haku is just awesome, isn't he? I promise to stop making fun of his haircut. Aargh, but I did have a lot of problems conveying their feelings in writing. I mean, we all know what they feel, but it's subtle. It's hard to encompass a more Miyazaki-like notion of subtlety. Tell me what you think in the meantime.
--Kero. (3/1/06)
Chapter 9: Chihiro's Decision
Chihiro was beside herself with emotions tumbling inside of her. She hadn't expected him to find her so soon. Couldn't have asked for better timing, really. Body already feeling a bit worn after having exerted herself so much without really recuperating from her near drowning experience in the river, Chihiro was nearly spent. Reaching into her pocket, she also realized that she was down to her last talisman. Chihiro wasn't afraid, though. Now that he was here, she didn't care how it would turn out, really. Seeing him again was all she wanted.
Kohaku stood before her as still as stone, his long sleeves billowing out behind him the wind. His deep, green eyes moved from one side to the next to survey the situation. None of the demons dared breathe too loudly, let alone move. Their leader had only told them to locate the relic; there was never any mention of fighting a god. No one dared to strike first.
"M-move forward!" stammered the leader. "Kill them all!" The demons, really uncertain now, murmured some words of dissent and started to back away.
"This is pathetic," said Kohaku in a low voice. "You dare strike against a girl, but dare not make me your opponent?" He crouched low and gathered a glowing orb of blue fire hovering between his hands. The energy gave off wispy swirls of smoke as it hovered in mid-air. For a second, there was no sound, as if the air had been sucked out of the forest, and then, a gust of wind out of nowhere propelled itself around the trees like a serpent, picking up debris from the ground and making it difficult to maneuver or see. As if his feet were propelled by lightning, Kohaku charged them all at once, before they had time to dodge.
"Unforgiveable," Kohaku said under his breath. The blue orb shot out like a spear of light and pierced through several of the demons all at once. They barely had time to cry out before dissipating into dusty swirls of ash carried off by the force of wind from Kohaku's lightning quick movements. Others tried to run, but Kohaku, his form spiraling out in varied attacks, appearing and disappearing several places at once, managed a punch here, a blast there, and left a trail of bodies moaning in pain on the floor. The leader rained down sheets of fire at him, but Kohaku leapt out of the way in a graceful one-handed double back flip. His whole body moved as weightless as the wind and with as much force as a propelling comet. Kicking off from a tree, he hurled himself forward in ninety degree angle armed with another power orb in his hand. He fixed his eyes on the leader, now the last demon standing.
"No, w-wait!" stammered the demon. "I was only following orders! I wasn't—" But before he could finish Kohaku thrust his hand towards the demon's chest. He stopped short of touching the demon, but the blue orb of fire injected itself into the demon's body and shot out through his back without creating a wound. The demon's eyes bulged and his body went limp before it scattered into a thousand pieces of ash. Upon seeing their leader vanquished, the remaining demons, severely wounded, fled into the forest for their lives.
Kohaku… Chihiro's hand reached out to touch him to make sure he was real and she wanted to call out his name, but her arm numbly fell back to her side. She could hear her heart pounding in her chest.
When the fight was over, the wind died down and Kohaku took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. He turned around to face her. The severe expression on his face previously displayed while fighting melted away; all of the ferocity had retreated and he was gentle Kohaku once more.
Kohaku… She couldn't find the words. Chihiro could feel wet, hot tears starting to blur her vision.
"Chihiro, are you all right?" he asked softly. She thought her heart stopped as he approached her. He gazed down at her tenderly and touched her cheek ever so slightly with his fingers. Chihiro felt the blood rush to her face.
"K-Kohaku," she stammered, barely making out a whisper from her throat. "I…," she began, but again the words wouldn't come. What did she want to communicate to him at this very moment, exactly? Her heart was bursting with a thousand phrases unsaid.
I can't believe you just left me behind, again! I missed you! I can't believe I skipped school and followed you all the way here! I almost got myself killed! I was so scared! I don't want you to leave my side ever again. I love you….
Her thoughts swirled around in her head at a dizzying pace. All of these things she wanted to say, and was afraid of uttering. Chihiro was anxious of the words stumbling over one another if she opened her mouth. Wasn't there a way for him to know what she was thinking even without her having to say it?
Chihiro's body was already weak from both physical and emotional exertion and it trembled as she took a tiny step closer. Her hand found its way to his fingers, still softly touching her face, and Chihiro covered his hand with hers, and leaned into his gentle touch. She closed her eyes and her tears glistened down her face.
"I wanted to see you," she said finally. As soon as she uttered it, her whole body went limp as if those five words had taken all the strength she had left. Her vision went dark and with her last step, she fell into him and fainted. Kohaku's sturdy arms wrapped around her and held her up against his warm body.
"I've missed you as well," he whispered into her ear, holding her closer still.
At that moment, Kaonashi decided to vomit up the demons he had swallowed previously. Each unfortunate wretch rolled out of his mouth, covered in sticky, acidic gastric film, moaning as if they too were about to be severely nauseous. The demons were too worn out from struggling and from being nearly digested to raise a finger against them.
"You must be Kaonashi," smiled Kohaku. Kaonashi nodded.
"Thank you," said Kohaku, "for protecting her." Kaonashi gave a little bow.
"Chihiro's right, though," added Kohaku as he lifted Chihiro effortlessly and carried her in his arms. "That really is kind of gross."
The shadowy spirit shrugged sheepishly as if to say, Whatever works.
000
Chihiro woke up in a cool room decorated with soft green moss along its stone walls and beautiful flowers she had never seen before clinging to its high vaulted ceilings. The entire room had a calming effect. The sound of trickling water was coming from somewhere close. She sat up and found herself lying on a mossy green stone slab that was firm, but comfortable. All around her were pale green blankets that were not made from any material she had ever seen. They were thick and somewhat furry, and almost seemed alive, like seaweed.
There were pretty blue orbs floating around the ceiling that dimly lit the entire chamber. Shelves had been carved along some of the walls, and on these shelves were various boxes, containers and vases made of precious metals and covered in semiprecious stones. One very large chest on the floor in the corner was half open, and from Chihiro's viewpoint it looked to be nearly overflowing with gold bullion, crested with the seal of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Pretty jewels were randomly scattered on the floor around the chest.
Next to the chest was a running fountain with cups and a ladle along the rim of a semi-circle basin of marble that caught the water like a bowl. The sound of the water was calming, and the water smelled somewhat fragrant. She looked around the floor for her socks and shoes but they were nowhere to be found. Chihiro stepped barefoot onto the green mossy carpet of sorts that seemed to keep the chill from her body. Beyond the green moss was an elegant gray marble floor with veins of gold and silver running through each slab.
Chihiro looked down and discovered that she was wearing a long white shift, with a thick, extremely soft silk kimono robe draped casually over her shoulders. She had never worn anything so fine. She spun around once to admire how it gracefully draped down her legs and trailed onto the floor.
Walking over to the other side of the room where the light from outside was coming in, Chihiro noticed it was almost like a window. It was lined with vines from which small white flowers flourished. There was a veil of rushing water that covered the opening like a waterfall, but it made no noise. Chihiro touched the water and it slowly parted a little where her fingers intercepted the flow of the water. Outside she saw a vast and blue world. It looked like an underwater adventure she had often seen on nature programs on television. Fish swam by so close to her fingers that Chihiro thought she had touched a fin. She jerked her hand back and the opening closed.
"You should be resting, Chihiro," said Kohaku from behind her. Her heart fluttered at the sound of his voice and her body went rigid. Chihiro turned to see the one she most wanted to see. He was dressed in complete godly attire, accented by a beautiful deep blue kimono that reminded her of the color of the sea, decorated with shiny, almost luminescent gold patterns and light green embroidered dragons. A deep red sash and gold cord tied around his waist and draped down to his feet. Kohaku wore a tall, black netted hat with wing-like extentions on either side, a headpiece often associated with high ranking officials in ancient Japan.
"Kohaku," she said involuntarily as her body moved of its own accord, and her legs rushed her closer to him. In one swift movement and one more step she opened out her arms to wrap them around his waist and buried her face in his chest. Chihiro let her actions speak for her, all the things she couldn't say at that moment.
"Chihiro," he sighed as one hand gently touched her hair. "I can't believe you came."
"How could I stay behind and do nothing?" she said, her voice muffled against his kimono.
"This is not your fight. You aren't safe here," he said. Chihiro looked up and met his glistening dark green gaze.
"I don't want to be anywhere else," she said quietly.
"Chihiro," he said diffidently, moving his forehead down to touch hers. "You're really unbelievable; you know that, don't you?"
"I couldn't stand the thought of you battling your enemies alone, and the fact that I could do nothing to help you," she replied. "So when the relic came to me, I wanted it safely delivered to you. So I decided to bring it myself."
"And at nearly what cost?" asked Kohaku. "You've risked everything, including your life when you almost drowned in my father's river. How can I protect you if you're always so impulsive?"
"Are you angry?" she asked timidly. Kohaku gave her a warm smile and gently shook his head.
"I could never be angry with you," he said somewhat exasperated at how helpless he was when she looked at him like that. He looked down at her lips and leaned forward.
He's going to kiss me, thought Chihiro to herself, half closing her eyes, feeling her temperature rise and her heart drumming in her ears. For the brief moment in which she held her breath, she wondered what consequences would come from kissing a god. She almost braced herself for the lightning strike condemning the blasphemy of her first kiss. But just before their lips touched, they heard the small patter of tiny paws and claws against the marble floor beyond the chamber.
"Ahem," said the little rat, looking away at anything but the nearly kissing couple as if his eyes were too innocent to see. Mechanically, Chihiro bolted upright and backed away.
"Bo!" she exclaimed as she saw her friend again.
"Here I thought you might be worried about me so I came around to show you I was still among the living, but I can see you're kinda busy…" grinned the little rat.
"I—" she began, feeling the flush in her cheeks. "Don't be ridiculous, I wasn't….N-nothing of the sort, Bo," she stammered. Chihiro realized that her mouth and her brain were not entirely in synch and refrained from saying anything further that would make her sound like an idiot. Unknown to Chihiro, Kohaku found her quite endearing at that moment.
"His lordship's older brother would like a word," warned Bo, nervously glancing behind him. Chihiro realized that Bo had scurried in first to give her fair warning; just in case she was doing something…indecent….Which I was not! insisted Chihiro to herself.
"Kohaku," said a firm voice from the chamber doorway. All three looked up to see Kohaku's second brother Sihohirutama, also dressed in fine, godly attire, looking rather sternly at Kohaku and Chihiro. "Our high brother, the Lord Sihomitutama, acting regent for our father the king, requests our presence in the throne hall."
"I'll come directly, honorable brother," Kohaku responded formally. Chihiro wondered if all gods spoke with such ceremonious language. Sihohirutama dipped his head in a partial bow towards Chihiro.
"My lady miko, your presence is also respectfully requested by my brother Sihomitutama." Chihiro's eyes went wide. What did he just call me? She stole a glance at Kohaku but he was still looking ahead. She could see the two spirits' gazes interlocked, as if they were have some subliminal godly conversation out of earshot of a mere mortal girl. Without another word, Sihohirutama left them, and Bo scurried out behind him. Chihiro marvelled at how soundlessly gods walked.
"My eldest brother," said Kohaku, turning his attention to her once again, "rules the waters in my father's absence. He has heard of the journey you made to deliver my father's relic and your actions have inspired him to name you as a miko of the river dragons. Sure enough, you are the first priestess for our family."
"Eh?" asked Chihiro, tilting her head to one side as if truly puzzled.
"He will ask you to assist us in summoning our father from wherever he is."
"What? Me? How?" asked Chihiro, unable to create conversation at that moment that was more than one syllable at a time.
"You've received additional strengths, Chihiro, since that night you and I retrieved that first relic. Your use of the talismans is proof of that. My brother wishes to utlize your power and combine strengths to locate and call my father. As we are short of all of the relics, the three of us as we are now are not enough to accomplish this. But the only real question is: do you wish to help us?"
"Why wouldn't I?" she asked stubbornly.
"Your involvement could well endanger your life, Chihiro," said Kohaku rather uncomfortably. "I'd rather you didn't get involved. I just want to take you back to your home now." His eyes were pleading with her not to say yes. Chihiro moved forward and took his hands in hers.
She shook her head in dissent, not wanting to be sent away. If she left now, there was not telling if she'd ever see him again. For Chihiro, that was an even worse fate. She wasn't going to help them in order to maintain the balance in the heavens or save the world, or anything like that. Chihiro would volunteer for selfish reasons alone. Looking up, she said firmly, "I've already decided."
Kohaku pulled her close and held her tightly against him, his long sleeves almost completely hiding her from view. She did not see the troubled expression on his face.
"It's no wonder that I love you," he said almost inaudibly.
Author's note: Ah, Kohaku anno baka! Kiss her already, fool… lol. It's really hard to convey a god's feelings. Their souls and minds are infinitely complex, moreso than humans, but how do you convey that sense of timelessness and loneliness in words that mere mortals understand? I had the same problems with Sesshomaru-sama.
But Kohaku is different from the others in his family. I always thought that maybe he had a fascination with humans, these little travelers in the real world, the place that gods only watch but seldom participate in, which made him capable of falling in love with Chihiro.
–Kero.