A/N: Plot is just speeding along now…and I'm kind of winging it. Not really I have a general plan, but making decisions is getting hard now that it will affect the big climaxes. Some dark moments and a cliffy (of course). heehee

And for you Miyazaki fans, there's one aspect of this chappy that might ring bells…think castle in the sky…:)

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A bitter wind

There was a soft thud as she fell to her knees. The cloud of dust colored her hair a dun brown as the loose waves hid her face.

"Take them away"

Sei sighed, running a hand through his tousled hair. "Will you be alright?"

She looked up at him, eyes dry but clouded. "You must get them back to headquarters as soon as you can. They are sure to see through my act almost immediately."

"Then I better head out" She looked away until she heard a slightly metallic rustle of feathers. A familiar golden falcon bowed its head slightly then flapped its wings just enough to perch on the wooden crate. There was a long horizontal branch across the top just for his convince it seemed.

"Goodbye." she said, smiling wanly. The bird looked back with sharp auburn eyes once then flew off into the stars.

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"Chihiro! Chihiro!"

She turned over grumpily. "Kamaji its too early…"

"Wake up! It's Mayu! She's GONE!"

"What!" She shot up, rubbing her eyes.

Kamaji held his head in two shaky hands, clearly in panic mode. "Where did she go! She wouldn't run away, but I was sleeping, and then I-Oh! Perhaps Zeniba sent for her!"

He closed his eyes and suddenly she felt the wave of power that he was using to call her. She gasped. Her disguise was shifting under the pressure, ripples of energy tearing at the mask. No…

"Chihiro! Are you alright?" Kamaji looked slightly alarmed.

"Yeah! I'm fine." She laughed a bit uneasily and took a deep breath.

"Alright." Kamaji scratched his head distractedly. "Where is she?"

There was a loud pop. "Here." She appeared, fluffing up her hair. "What did you do that for? I was just barely out of bed and-" she froze.

"Kamaji"

"Yes?"

"Where are the girls?" she asked quietly.

"Girls? Chihiro's right…" Kamaji turned to Kizu and frowned, a faint glow coming to his eyes. He gasped. "What the…!"

Kizuna dropped the disguise. "Very good. That was quicker then I expected."

Zeniba was instantaneously inches from the girl's beautiful expressionless face. "Where are they?" she hissed.

"I have no idea. My only orders were to imitate Chihiro."

"Orders from Yubaba?" Kamaji raged.

"Of course." She smiled, face still unreadable.

Zeniba turned to Kamaji. "They are not within the bathhouse. Were they here last night?"

"Yes, at least until 10 or so…"

"Then they couldn't have gotten too far.." she turned to the girl. "I'm not through with you dearie, but go back to your mistress." she pointed and with a small shriek, vanished.

She turned to the fidgeting Kamaji. "Stop that. Alarm Rin of our present situation, do not disappear and especially," she said, hair smoking slightly, "do NOT tell Haku. DO you understand?" Kamaji nodded frantically afraid the blue flames starting to flicker near her dress would catch it on fire. "Good." She gave a grim smile and disappeared with an angry crackle.

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Chihiro couldn't remember when she had felt so peaceful in a dream. She felt like she was soaring through the sky, the sun just basking her face, wind blowing through her hair…

She woke with a jolt. She saw golden wings, the room was gently rocking and above that was a very blue sky. A very blue, real sky. She heard a creaking noise and looked down…

"AHHH!" Her eyes went wide as she saw the dot sized trees and mountains spread beneath her toes through two planks of the wooden crate. She also felt a bit queasy.

"Wha…" Mayu stirred and Chihiro jumped at the sound.

"Mayu!" she gasped.

"Chihiro! Where are we? And how are we…" She looked up and saw the bird and stared. It couldn't be….she looked away, biting her lip. Her stomach give a painful turn.

Sei…

The falcon didn't respond. It kept its eyes straight ahead and glided through the crisp morning air.

Sei!

"Are you alright Mayu?"

Mayu remembered that Chihiro had no idea how she had gotten into the spirit world. She smiled. "Sorry, yes I'm fine."

Chihiro cradled her knees and sighed. "We're being kidnapped."

"I figured. But by who? To where?"

"Yubaba's ally, and I have no idea. I can't recognize anything…this is the opposite direction from granny's house I think."

"Chihiro I'm hungry…"

"Me too…Ahh! What the-" They yelped as a mug full of tea appeared in front of them, along with a large tray of rice balls.

Mayu glanced up at the great wings shielding her from the bright sun, but didn't say a word.

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"I was afraid of this." he sighed.

Zeniba sighed, unthinkingly patting her still smoking hair. "This is very bad."

"You say you can not sense them. They could not have gotten that far on foot?" the man dusted a piece of cloud off which was almost invisible on his white robe.

She gasped. "They flew!"

His eye brows shot up. "The falcon. Well well…the Daitengu has not lost his cunning"

"If they started at midnight or so, they would already be well on their way." she sighed. "We have to figure out what to do and keep Haku-"

They winced as a dull roar upset the rolling clouds around them.

"Too late." he said.

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"Haku! STOP!" Rin yelled, trying to pin his arms down. Kamaji grunted and lifted him into the air.

"She's GONE? WHY ARE YOU KEEPING ME HERE THEN!"

"Haku…" Kamaji started, "we have to plan, and-"

"Don't talk to me. How could you let them get taken away from right under your nose?" he spat.

Kamaji frowned. "Haku, I-"

"You what? Were just snoring away without a care in the world and-"

"You know," he cut in. "that I would give my life up for them." Kamaji said softly.

Haku stopped mid sentence and looked down. A pang of guilt mixed into the blinding anger and desperation he could feel churning inside him. "I'm upset. I'm sorry." His eyes dimmed to a forest green and he gave a deep sigh.

Rin patted his shoulder. "Its alright. I'm sure Zeniba will be here to tell you what the plan is-"

Zeniba popped into the room. "Thank you Rin dear. Here is my plan: Haku is going to go."

He blinked. "What?"

"Do I need to say it again?"

Rin tried to regain her balance as a white and green wind almost knocked her off her feet. "Zeniba! But why?"

"I thought it couldn't hurt to let the dragon go after his prize." she smiled. "I think they're underestimating him."

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Mayu watched as the forest floor swayed nearer and clutched the side planks tighter.

"Why are we landing?" Chihiro munched on the last rice ball as the crate gently touched solid ground.

"I don't know…" The side latch opened and Chihiro wandered out onto the forest floor. The ground was soft and the area was shaded well.

"There's nothing but woods for a mile around…"

Mayu glanced up at preening flacon still perched above her head and clambered to the open door. As soon as her foot touched the ground, a searing pain shot through her body from a point on her wrist. "OWW!"

Chihiro ran over. "What happened!"

"I…the bracelet burned me." She touched the still hot stones and they glowed their true aqua color. "He's not letting me out."

"He?"

Mayu pointed to the falcon. "Sei. I didn't tell you before…but he's the one that brought us through the portal."

"What!" Chihiro tried to absorb the information. Then she frowned. "But why isn't he letting you out of the cage?"

"I don't…" she gasped. A blinding blue light struck her eyes and she squinted down. IT came from her father's ring. The chain holding it on her neck came undone and it floated, through the planks above her right into a murderously sharp beak.

Mayu scowled. "If that's what you wanted, why didn't you just take it? Why did you give it back?"

The falcon flew down from its perch and awkwardly waddled over so that he stood in the doorway of the crate. It was uncanny to see the sharp amber eyes blink in such plain apology.

Mayu felt confusion make her eyes sting. He turned away and a pile of food and several blankets and buckets appeared inside. The girls yelped as the earth shook and split, creating a small stream within reach of her. The water was translucent and clean.

"You know this is just like you." She said, trying to sound bitter but only half heartedly. The falcon gave a soft call, gently nudged her hand with its soft tuft of hair on the top of its head. Then it took off, with one giant flap of its glittering wings, catching the warm current perfectly.

Mayu turned to Chihiro, a silent plead in her eyes. "Will you stay with me?"

Chihiro smiled. "That's what friends are for."

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"You are a horrible spy. It only took my idiotic sister half a second to see right through you!" Yubaba spat.

"Now now. Have confidence, that bird's faster than you think." she smirked. "Now all we have to do is send that handsome lizard on his way."

"Both of them better be shredded all crimson by the time my part kicks in." Yubaba drawled. "that was my only request."

"I will gladly take care of the girl. I need to get back to master anyway." she opened the balcony door. "We'll notify you when you are needed." Yubaba snorted at the formalities as she vanished into thin air.

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"There you are, girls."

"You!" Chihiro spat. "I knew you were on their side. What are you doing here?" she glared

"My, my so fiesty. Though Haku does like that." Kizu winked her long lashes and licked her lip suggestively..

Chihiro turned a bright shade of magenta. "You little…!" She slapped her, and gasped as the girl just stood there, smiling. Suddenly all the anger bubbled up inside her. "Bitch!" She slapped her again. Then a push, then her hand was flying toward her face again when a golden shield appeared. Chihiro gave a short scream before falling unconscious to the ground.

"Chihiro!" Mayu yelled, wide-eyed. 'What did you do to her!"

"She's not dead. That would be too kind." she smirked.

Mayu growled. "You're despicable."

Kizuna snickered, "Why thank you. You're too kind." then she noticed the packets of food, the stream. "…Did he do this?"

Mayu stuck out her chin. "Yeah."

"Well look at that; he's chained you in. Well starvation and loneliness is just as bad as what you friend's going to get." she waved her hand and the stream, all the food, even the roof disappeared.

"Have a nice last few days, mortal girl." She put her hand on the unconscious Chihiro and vanished without a sound. .

Mayu froze. Suddenly, reality hit her. She was alone. Very alone.

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He couldn't sense her. At all. Which was impossible, since no freaking bird could have EVER flown that fast. She must be here somewhere, but he didn't even know what direction they went. Was she too weak to even call? Does she not trust him enough? Or was she…He gave a roar that rippled through the sky. Not a trace of her warm sent.

How could this happen?

I can't lose her again

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He landed, gently on a branch in a tall pine. Exhausted. A slight crackling sound and he lay there, in human form now. He could feel the sobs wanting to come out. But, he didn't have the energy to produce them. He felt himself lose balance on the branch, face scraping on the bark. And then he was flying, flying to the ground…he winced. Pain. He opened his eyes. He landed in a wild rose bush and as he sank through the dense vines, he felt each scratch and knew that he had made her feel every one of them, ten times worse. It was so selfish to strand her there alone. But he could not bear the thought of not knowing where she was. Or what would happen if she ended up in headquarters. He damned Haku for his strong anti bonding spell on Chihiro. She would have been better off with his…his girl? He had betrayed her. And she knew it. He heard himself sobbing. So this what letting his pain show was like? It didn't feel any better. Because she wasn't here. Because he left her. Because he betrayed her. And now he couldn't stop the tears anymore.

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Chihiro blinked to adjust to the dim lighting. "What is this place?"

"Our headquarters." they stopped in front of a large door. "Oh here we are."

Loud slurring from inside "Kizuu! Get ur fine ass in 'ere!"

Chihiro felt the grip on her wrist tighten.

"KIZUU!"

Chihiro opened her eyes wide in shock as she was pulled into a tender embrace. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." she heard her whisper frantically. She felt a tear on her cheek, trickling hotly down her neck.

Chihiro pulled back and gave a melancholy smile. "You are a great actress."

Kizu hastily wiped away the tears. "No, I mean it, noone deserves this bastard, I mean-."

The door slammed open. "Well, well. So I do get rewarded for good behavior." Chihiro screamed as she was violently yanked through the door. It closed seconds after her with a thunderous slam.

Kizu banged on the door. "I'm sorry Chihiro! I'm sorry!"

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Disclaimer: I don't own miyazaki

A/N: I feel so evil. The lengths I go to to make this thing dramatic…sighs at self Hope it was agood read. Thanksto all the reviewers 3u really keep me going.Till next time!