Disclaimer: In the fic Somber Return by Lady-Solita, one of the characters name is Sei! Lady-Solita or anyone who reads this, I solemnly swear that I did not take Sei's name from that fic! (pyramidgirl89 and guess/woah can verify) So please don't sue me! Great minds think alike I suppose…
…Thanks to all my reviewers!
Pyramidgirl89: ahh! Don't kill me…this chapter isn't too fluffy…but its coming! Soon!
Velf: Thanks for the tip! I'll try to describe characters more… I forgot that not everyone has seen the movie as recently as I have or as many times! Please tell me if you notice anything in future chappies too. Sorry about the reviewing problem but the site took a long time to putting up the chapter….
Ogoiog: thanks! Sorry about that link trouble: blame the site!
Woah: I admit it was too fast…but I also wanted Mayu to be really naïve and trusting (like me) lol Hopefully this is more believable.
OceanicGodess: No worries! The C x H pair will happen. They are just too perfect together!
red-sakura-wolf: Thanks! It will be mysterious for a little while…evil laugh
Zomego: You found it! Enjoy this chapter…
Undying-love: Thanks! Hmm…distinctive smells! You may have given me an idea…I'll credit u if it develops into anything
A/N I am soooo happy that this fic is doing so well! Sorry, no Sei yet…this chapter's all about the other handsome but green Haku. Well then on with the story…
Simmering Water
A splash of dazzling, raven, chin-length hair ran swiftly up the crumbling steps and through the boulevard of open air restaurants full of shadowy spirits.
"Master Haku! Welcome back!" several spirits called. He acknowledged them with a curt nod but kept running. Dashing across the bridge, he heard several Yunas giggle and rolled his eyes in annoyance. He soon burst through a side door and teetered on the edge of the steep wooden steps for a moment before clomping noisily down the rest and bursting through another creaking door.
"Kamaji.! Kamaji!" he called, a frantic edge in his voice. He stumbled through a row of furnaces to leap into the familiar boiler room.
Kamaji looked up with a gasp. "Haku! Thank goodness you're back!" he exclaimed, throwing two of his six hands up in the air. The remaining four clutched his bald head. "Yubaba still has those odd spirits around, Rin is sick and tired of being thrown through doors, and Zeniba's been looking for you for days!"
But the words didn't seem to register. Haku's fierce green eyes were wide in panic. "I can't sense her!"
"What? Sense who?" Kamaji frowned.
"I can't sense her! Why?"
Kamaji sighed. "Who, Haku, WHO?"
"Sen!" he said exasperated. "Yubaba never had enough power to shield me from her before. Some strong magic is blocking her out." Haku said, pacing the room, clutching his hair.
Just then Yu bird came flapping down the shaft. It perched on Haku's shoulder and gave him a knowing look. Haku sighed. "I think I'm being summoned. Tell Rin and Zeniba that I am back. I'll go try to wring the truth out of Yubaba." he said. clenching his fists.
"Alright. But Haku, don't do anything stupi-" Kamaji started.
Haku cut in. "If she did something to her…!" Kamaji saw raw anger in Haku's eyes. This could get ugly. Kamaji thought. But Haku lightened up and gave Kamaji a watery smile.
"Bye Kamaji." he said too sweetly and ran towards the door.
"Haku! Don't do anything stupid." Kamaji yelled after him. Haku gave a distracted wave in response as the door slid shut, almost catching his white sleeve. Kamaji sighed. "Welcome home."
>>>>>>>>
The elevator gave a groan and started climbing up. Haku's brows drew together in worry, anger, frustration. He paced the small lift as a thousand thoughts sped through his mind. How? How can this be? Did Yubaba find a spell powerful enough to shield me from sensing her? No, she couldn't have. I know all her tricks. Haku stomped on the elevator floor. It gave a jolt and Haku looked up surprised. He did not know his own physical strength yet. But he went right back to his thoughts. Then did she make a deal with the odd spirits that she keeps sucking up to? Yes, that was it. What spirit was powerful enough to shield him when he was channeling all his power into finding his treasure? His warm, beautifully spunky treasure…Suddenly his eyes snapped into focus, pupil's dilating. If Yubaba hurt her…Haku took at deep breath as the lift slowed to a stop. He stormed across the dark gray marbled hall to the over decorated doors of Yubaba's office. The eyes of the sleeping knocker snapped open.
"You are not expected! Go back dragon!" it sneered.
"Shut up!" Haku snarled. He knocked firmly on the door, three times.
"Come in!" said a crackling voice from within.
Haku walked coolly into the cluttered office. Yubaba was sitting at her desk, puffing on a cigarette. Every time Haku saw her, he could not believe that Zeniba was her twin. How could two beings look so alike and yet be complete opposites? Although as he looked at her now, Haku saw that the sagging, wrinkled skin on Yubaba lacked the rosy youth of her sister's and coal black eyes flickered maliciously under its blue eye shadow.
"Well, well, well? Back so soon?" she crooned. "There's lots of work waiting for you! You can start with that pile there." she said, nodding at a heap of papers..
"Yubaba," Haku said, green eyes glinting, "What have you done to her?"
Yubaba didn't move a muscle. "To whom?"
Haku walked up to the desk and slammed his fists on desk. Yubaba heard it splinter and cringed. Her poor desk. "Don't play games with me." he hissed glowering dangerously at her. "What did you do to Sen?"
Yubaba gazed steadily back at him. "I don't know what your talking about." she said blowing smoke into Haku's face.
His body quivered with held back anger. "If you've hurt her…" Yubaba could see the physical strength in Haku and tensed slightly. She silently damned herself for the hundredth time for letting Haku go to his river that first time. She had not thought that he would gain back his ability to age. Now his chest had become broad and muscled, arms strong with lean muscle, nothing like the skinny build of the easily manipulated eleven year old he once was. But there was still a boyishness in his chin length black hair, a pure innocence that was under the sly dragon-like quality of his emerald eyes.
Yubaba laughed at herself. She still held the power over this mere boy. "Haku! Relax. Why would I do such a thing? I'm sure she is safe and sound." she said, cackling.
Haku decided to change tactics. "What are you plotting then?" asked slightly calmer.
Yubaba gazed innocently at him. "Plotting? What would I be plotting?"
"Who are those guests of yours?"
Suddenly Yubaba's eyes widened defensively, but an idea occurred to her and she have a particularly malicious cackle. "They are your guests too, co-owner." Haku grimaced. "They are to be respected."
"What if I refuse?" Haku asked, eyes glittering.
She gave another evil cackle. "In that case, your girl is…" she took her hand and made a slash across her withered neck.
Haku's eyes went wide. Chihiro…killed? "Why should I believe you?" he said in a deadly whisper. Yubaba could feel the pulses of hate coming from the green slits of his eyes.
"Because you have no other option." she said smiling. Suddenly, he whirled as there was a soft creak of the balcony door opening. A breeze blew into the office and scattered some loose papers.
"What was that?" Haku asked, moving slowly towards the noise
Yubaba saw this and shrieked. "OUT! NOW!" and pointed at him. Haku found himself being blown straight through three doors and into a waiting lift. Soon it was climbing down at a sickeningly fast rate.
Haku felt the bump on his head and winced. I see how Rin feels now. Then Yubaba's words sunk him. My Chihiro, she could be attacked! Or already attacked, or kidnapped or… He gave a scream of frustration which resonated down the elevator shaft. All the worker's in the bathhouse heard it and froze in horror.
"IF THAT CONNIVING LITTLE WITCH DID SOMETHING TO MY SEN..!" There was another roar.
Rin heard the roar of fury. The familiar roar of fury. With a clatter of abandoned scrub brushes she ran to the nearest lift. Two locks of rich brown hair swung into her eyes as she ran, having slipped from her messy bun. The screams coming from the adjacent lift echoed through the thin walls and Rin listened all the way down, half smiling. Well, at least he's back. she thought, brushing the strands of hair out of her face and leaning her tall solid frame against the wall. Soon the ride ended and she slid though the boiler room door.
"Rin! Where's Haku?" Kamaji asked immediately.
"He was on the next lift coming down, so he should be here soon."
After a moment of peace, Yu-bird came zipping though the window carrying a paper bird. There was a pop and soon the mirror image of Yubaba appeared.
"Where's Haku?" Zeniba asked, panting.
Rin gave an impatient sigh. "He should be coming right…"
The door slammed open and a furious Haku stomped in. Rin could almost feel every hair on his head standing on end. She winced. There were still bits of wood and paint chips in his hair and peppered on his white robe.
"Haku?" his green eyes just kept staring coldly into nothing. "Haku!" no response. Rin shook her head and grabbed him by the shoulders.
"HAKU!" she yelled into his face.
"OK, ok!" he said, pushing her off.
That witch! I'll get her for… He felt adrenaline sink his stomach as he remembered. He turned toward Zeniba and whispered. "I can't sense Sen."
Rin gasped. "What! What do you mean you can't sense her? Is she ok? I mean…" Kamaji also started to ask questions. Soon the walls echoed with voices of panic.
"Quiet!" Zeniba interrupted. Everyone froze. "I can sense her though the hair band I gave her." Haku leaned in, eyes wide in rapt attention. The room filled with the unspoken question: Is she safe?
"She is safe." All gave a sigh of relief. "But perhaps not for long." Zeniba added slowly. The atmosphere tensed again, but not as much as before.
"Is it those spirits Yubaba's sucking up to?" Haku asked.
Zeniba sighed. "Yes, dear. But they are not the ones who do the actual work. All the spirits here are weak: they do not have much power at all. The real leaders are lurking somewhere else, I'm sure. If I know my sister, she is only sucking up to the guests here to gain the good favor of more powerful beings."
"How did she get such powerful spirits to ally with her?" Rin spat.
Zeniba sighed. "That is what is worrying me the most."
"But who are the leaders? Do you know?" Haku asked. All three stared intently at Zeniba.
For the first time, Zeniba looked nervous. Haku saw her face pale slightly and panicked. If Zeniba was nervous... Rin and Kamaji also sensed the tension and shifted uncomfortably.
Rin broke the silence "Well?"
"Their leader is called…" Three heads leaned in apprehensively. "…the Daitengu."
Rin and Kamaji gasped. Haku clenched his jaw tight. It was such a weighted name: the very master of mischief known in the Spirit realm. Then thought crossed Haku's mind to make him shudder. If that magic blocking me from Sen was the Daitengu's…Zeniba watched Haku's eyes flicker with panic then suddenly darken with complete determination.
"Haku." Zeniba said warningly.
Haku started running towards the back door without a backward glance. "I'm going to get her." he shouted as he grabbed the handle to the door.
Kamaji sighed. He reached one of his incredibly long strong arms and jerked Haku up into the air by the back of his white robe. Haku gasped at the indignity and protested loudly.
"Let go of me! I'm going to get her back here! She not safe…"
Kamaji held on until Haku stopped his protests and then he was slowly lowered to the ground.
"You mean the Daitengu might be preying on her, and I'm suppose to sit in this bloody bath house run by the enemy's accomplice and not to anything?" Haku yelled at them eyes flashing with frustration.
"Yes! Going off on your own is exactly what Yubaba wants. Then she can pick you off easier." Rin said, sitting next to him. Haku looked at her face and saw that she was right. He sighed.
Zeniba looked each of them in the eye. "Rin is right. We must stick together to keep Yubaba from succeeding in her plot, whatever it may be, and also to help Sen. That does not" she looked firmly at Haku, "…include parading out into the open on your own."
Haku yelled in frustration. Sen, Chihiro…Be safe! Be your amazingly brave self, and fight, fight them off. You must. Suddenly anger started engulfing him again. All because of that stupid…!
Another round of eloquent cursing resounded though the room. Zeniba and Rin looked at each other. They sighed dramatically and laughed.
"You can go Zeniba. Me and Kamaji will make sure he stays put." Rin said.
Zeniba smiled. "I'm sure you will dear. I will try to find out more to help Sen. Goodbye darlings. I will stay in touch." She said, and with a pop turned back into a paper bird. She fluttered off through the back door.
Rin looked at Haku, still ranting at the air. "Kamaji, make sure he stays. I better go back to work." Kamaji nodded as Rin sighed. "Tell me if Zeniba comes back." Kamaji nodded again, rubbing his temple. Rin saw this and turned to the still ranting Haku. "Haku! Will you shut up already? You're giving Kamaji a headache."
Haku glared at her. "No!" and continued with even more eloquent cursing.
Rin grinned in spite of herself . He had become like a younger brother to her after Sen had left eight long years ago. Haku was now angrily pulling out bits of wood from his glossy hair. As she looked at him she could see the youth and vibrant love in him that glowed through his aqua eyes. Rin felt a twinge of jealousy. I'm getting old she thought smiling to hereself as she slipped out the door. Haku eventually tired himself out and sighed.
He looked up at Kamaji and grinned sheepishly. "Sorry about that Kamaji."
"Yeah, yeah…that's what they all say." Kamaji grumbled.
Haku yawned. "I'm just doing to lie down for a bit…" he said, curling up in a corner of the wall full of drawers like a dragon wrapping itself in coils. Kamaji saw his eyelashes flutter sleepily and soon he was fast asleep.
Kamaji smiled. He took a blanket out of one of his many drawers and put it on the sleeping form of Haku. The silence of the room reminded him of the constant noise that had been there before and felt the pounding of his temples amplify. There was too much shouting going on these days.
"Well, I guess I better get used it. This chaos won't end that quickly!" he said, rubbing his black glasses clean. He took a long drink from the kettle of water next to him and soon was snoring happily.
A/N: Ok! Hopefully that was more descriptive than before…I tried! Anyways, I will give more detailed background about the Daitengu when the time comes. For now, just know that he is a master of trickery and mischief alluded from Japanese mythology and that his name is infamous in the spirit world. O I almost forgot…
Disclaimer: I don't own Spirited away! I do however, own Seigi. (sees multiple arms reaching through the screen) No, you can't have him! (Crazianimegirl grabs him by the arm)
Sei: But my darling author! The readers want to know more about me!
Crazianimegirl: But you're mine! And you have a whole lot of fluff coming up…so be patient!
Sei: (gives a melancholy sigh) I suppose I can keep my hypnotizing amber eyes and lithe body away for a while longer…(gives the audience a lusty wink) Till then!