I have seen it! Howl's Moving Castle! Sooo good! I loved it! (prances around grinning) Howl is hott! Just like a grown up Haku except his eyes are bluer. They didn't follow the book very much, but it was still amazingly cute. Go see if you haven't!
Anyways! lol Wow! Lots of reviews…thank you! Responses on the bottom. This one's a big swing forward in the plot. By the way the Daitengu is an actual figure in Japanese mythology, so I don't own it.
>>>>>>>
Drama in the house
Sei stepped in front to the iron door and took a deep breath. He knocked politely three times.
"Come in Seigi."
He opened the door. Kizuna was already standing tense, her back turned to him. Sei walked up beside her and laid a hand on her shoulder. She sighed and relaxed a little in response, but her eyes kept gazing at her feet..
"Master." Sei mumbled, bowing
The Daitengu sighed and flicked the coarse brown hood of his robe back. It revealed a mass of long, straight, almost metallic silver hair, a grotesquely protruding nose, and calm, determined yellow eyes with fierce black pupils. All features were set in the bold red skin.
The red tengu stared steadily at the glowing amber eyes and spoke with firm authority.
"As you know, a human girl has possession of the ring which we must get at all costs. For our revival, for our revenge." The two stood mute. "We can't risk the girl realizing that it was stolen and reporting it to the other side. Therefore we will…borrow her." Kizuna felt Sei's hand unconsciously grip her shoulder painfully. "Kizuna will go to the bathhouse in disguise and scout out the girl and her friends to distract them. Sei will be standing by and scouting out the bathhouse for possible escape routs. There will not be that much time to get her out of the building before they realize our plan. The girl is usually surrounded by powerful magic wielders. You two will have to work as a team to lure the girl away." They stood dead still.
"Seigi, it is crucial that you are not seen by the enemy."
"Yes master." Sei whispered.
"You will bring her to these headquarters while Kizuna plays her part for as long as she can. Take as long as you need. Secrecy is the most important factor."
"Yes master." Kizuna mumbled.
"Kizuna you may go get some rest. You will need you strength." She bit her lip, as she heard stomping footsteps and loud slurring in the hallway. The tengu watched calmly. "You leave tomorrow at dawn." Silently, she gave a quick bow of gratitude and walked out the door. Sei was close behind her.
"Seigi."
He turned around. "Yes master?" the two gazed steadily at each other.
His voice turned harsh. "Do no be seen by the enemy. This is an order." Sei's jaw tightened and a darker shade entered his eyes.
"I understand." Sei whispered, his hands in white knuckled fists.
The tengu flicked his hood up and a shadow hid his face. "You will be getting further orders later on."
Hegrinned bitterly and closed the door behind him.
>>>>>
A few days passed and Mayu got back from her trip to Zeniba's cottage. She and Chihiro sat in a huddle in a corner of the boiler room.
"Wow…so you like telepathically connected with him?" Chihiro whispered.
Mayu shrugged. "Yeah, I guess. It was really weird!" She smirked. "So how was your date?"
Chihiro blushed and made a face. "It wasn't a date!" she retorted indignantly. Mayu laughed.
Chihiro sighed. "It was fun. Haven't seen him since though." Mayu patted her shoulder sympathetically. "Oh yeah! Did you hear from Rin? Apparently a new spirit's been hired." she looked over at the spider spirit hard at work. "Right Kamaji?"
"It had been a while since a new face has shown here for work." he mumbled, reaching into a high drawer. "Actually she is the first since you, Chihiro."
Mayu gasped. "But that was 8 years ago!"
Kamaji chuckled. "8 years is a moment for us spirits." Chihiro blinked. "She is causing a ruckus I hear. Between Yubaba threatening to take all food away and her willingness to work, the strike's ended too."
"Why are all the workers following her?" Chihiro asked.
Kamaji sighed. "Well its more like the male workers are following. She's quite a beauty I hear. The Yunas are simply working again so Yubaba doesn't confiscate food."
Chihiro fidgeted. Haku hasn't been down here for a few days… She shook her head. No, no use thinking about it…
"Don't worry Chi. Its probably just Yubaba keeping him busy." Mayu said softly. Chihiro looked up and gave her friend a quick hug.
"Thanks Mayu." They smiled.
>>>>>
A line of groveling frogs trailed after a single woman. She walked with a small oblivious smile on her face in confident steps, swinging a bucket and a wash cloth. Yunas rolled their eyes and made gagging faces at each other, glaring at the woman who was the center of attention.
"Who does she think she is?" one of them hissed.
"The flashy little bitch! Can't even pick a hair color." another spat.
The whole bathhouse had noticed that although she kept her stunning blue eyes, her hair seemed to turn every shade depending on her mood.
Suddenly a Yuna stuck a foot in her path and the woman fell daintily to the floor. All the Yunas exploded into muffled laughter as the aogaerus gasped.
"Miss!" A dozen frogs surrounded her. "Are you aright?"
"Hey what do you think you're doing? Stay in you own place wrench!" a frog spat at the offending Yuna.
"What did you say?" she shrieked. Soon there was a uproar. Yunas lashed out with nails and frogs kicked out with webbed feet. The woman stood blinking and perfectly calm inside the storm.
"WHAT is going on here?"
Everyone froze. Haku stood looking stern with his arms crossed. 'Why are you all not working?" he demanded harshly, green eyes glinting.
"T-terribly sorry Master!" several frogs squeaked and hurried away. The crown thinned out quickly, and only the girl was left. Haku squinted at her and raised an eyebrow. Her hair was now a fiery auburn. Blue eyes narrowed seductively and caught his own.
"You too miss. Get back to work." he said, unmoved.
She got to her feet and smiled innocently, the smoldering look gone. "I'm terribly sorry. I'm new here, and was wondering where the big tub was?"
"New girl!" Rin yelled from within the maze of baths. "Get in here!"
Haku gave the girl a half glare. "Please get to work." He said in clipped voice and strode away. The woman smiled briefly before running to an angry Rin.
>>>>>>
Yubaba cackled loudly "Yes! Yes, yes…" she crooned to herself. "A good bait for Haku indeed." She laughed again. "Ah, the smart red faced brat."
"He's older than you, you know."
Yubaba whirled around to meet ice blue eyes. "Don't do that, worker!" she spat.
"Just make sure you don't call master a brat again." She said coldly and zapped out of sight. Yubaba grumbled and paced the office. She failed to see a large eye between the two curtains.
>>>>>
"Breakfast." Haku strode in looking annoyed. He slammed the trays down.
Mayu laughed. "Not in such a good mood this morning dragon?"
Haku grumbled. "Stupid new girl's causing all hell up there."
Chihiro cleared her throat and put on her most nonchalant voice. "So I've heard. I've also heard she's pretty though?" she said, looking at the wall opposite Haku.
Haku looked at her grinned. He came over and turned her face so that he emerald eyes pierced her. Chihiro leaned back. "W-what?" Haku smiled wider and simply stuffed her mouth with some rice.
"Sorry if I haven't' been down here a while, but the only woman causing that was Yubaba." he said in a light tone. Chihiro blushed and looked away.
"I fidn't asfk you any fin!" she huffed through her full mouth. Haku back away still grinning and sat down to eat.
Suddenly without warning, Zeniba popped into the room. Everyone gave a small jump of surprise.
"Granny!" Chihiro exclaimed.
"I have something for you dear." she said in a singsong, walking up to Mayu. Chihiro blinked and unconsciously pouted. "Here."
Mayu looked at the envelope. "Is this for me?" she turned it over but there was no addressee.
"Trust me dear." Zeniba replied, seeing the blue aura surrounding it. "Open it." Mayu tore open the envelope and took out a single sheet of paper.
I'm trusting your magical friends to deliver this to you. It seems as though I didn't keep my word. But tomorrow will come soon, I promise.
PS: You looked good as a butterfly.
Sei! This is from him…Mayu blinked and reread the sentences. Tomorrow will come…? Suddenly she remembered the last time she had seen him.A hand brushed her face and bent in. Feather soft lips touching her forehead. "Till tomorrow." That was what he said. But then I didn't see him the next day on the trip…I wonder where he was? She suddenly felt the silence of the room and looked up.
Everyone looked at her with curiosity except for Zeniba who chuckled contentedly to herself.
"Maaayuuu!" Chihiro scooted over right beside her. "Who was that from, hmm?"
"Nobody!" She snapped and clutched the letter.
"Oh, I will get it out of you missy!" Mayu grinned and stuck out her tongue.
"Well my part is done darling. Good luck!" Zeniba said, winking at Mayu. She went over to Chihiro and gave her a hug. "Better get a grip on you dragon too." Chihiro stared wide eyed at her and blushed. Zeniba laughed again and zapped out of sight.
Haku raised his hand. "Uhh…what was that all about?" Chihiro burst into giggles.
With a loud stomp and a groan Rin stumbled into the room. "Ohh my head!"
Chihiro blinked. "What's wrong Rin?"
"Stupid new girl doesn't know a thing! She worse than Chihiro when she came! No offense but you were pretty pathetic." Chihiro laughed and nodded. "Idiot frogs are groveling at her, Yunas plotting to murder her. It's a disaster." she rubbed her head.
"Sit down Rin." Kamaji ushered her over to some food. "Eat." she happily obeyed.
Just then the grate crashed open and Bo fell to the floor. "Chi-chan!" he said frantically.
Chihiro looked up. "Bo! What's wrong?"
>>>>>>
Mayu walked over to the moonlight streaming through the windows and looked at the ghostly white letter. She read it over carefully, twice. A butterfly…he must have been around when Zeniba transformed me! She sighed. Where are you? She closed her eyes and leaned on the cold glass pane. She felt a wet tear roll down her cheek. Why won't you come see me then, if you're around? After a few moments she dried her face and turned around to climb back into her futon. A bird call sounded in the night.
>>>>>>
A/N: That was a bit of a cliffy…sorry! Alright, don't kill me but I'm going away to camp for 3 weeks starting next week, so updates are questionable. I will have my dad's laptop, but I doubt I will have enough time or privacy to write. So if you don't heard from me, it's not due to laziness!
Disclaimer: I don't own Spirited Away!
>>>>>>
LadyRainStarDragon: Yes, pouncing Haku…hehe. And more light for SxM?
Velf: Hehe…well I loved Howl in case you couldn't tell. I like my nosy matchmaking Zeniba..
Pyramidgirl89: Oh yeah, the plot…lol. There, was that more plotish?
Monday: Anime day/night rocked! Loved Howl. But those two episodes of Gundam Seed! (cries)
Lady-Seoh-Phoenix: Yes, he should be happy. Maybe later?
teh NEZUMI: Draw him? Wanna post it somewhere for me as fan art? lol I kinda like messy hair…but you should see my hair, its pretty frickin straight. Actually, it's fairly impossible to curl! lol
PetiteLumier: Yes, evil finals do take over your life, don't they? Thank you, I do love writing this fic, and I'm glad you enjoy reading it.
Lady Moon Dragon: Yes, I did see Howl and loved it in case you couldn't tell. lol
Kris…: Yay! Yes, Howl was wonderful! Hey, maybe you're watching it right now! Lol
BlackRosesRed: Wow, thank you I'm flattered! GO read other fics there are a ton of great ones out there.
Ce'Lyra: Howl is more than cute! Hehe x) More Chi/Haku on its way…
Sakura: If you dig around the internet, you can probably find a theater. Is you heart still whole? Lol
Misumi-san: Yes, they are the perfect couple. I liked that part too, the hair an fire part. More of Chi/Haku coming…
Jaded Illusion: Thanks! Yes, the fluff is always fun. Eyes always attract me the most to a guy, so I just naturally describe the color maybe? lol Well, eyes are other thing…x)
Lunamet: (Waves waking salts) Hellooo? lol Hope you liked it!