A/N: argh…yea I actually was busy till last week. Sorry for the wait…the chapter skips around but that's because everything's happening at once. And the 6's, are pagebreakers FF decided its not gonna read any symbols today. grumble grumble

Slaps Again?

There was a great clattering of paper screens as the lithe slivery body landed heavily on the bamboo platform. As the rays of the sun peeking over the horizon hit the grey tinted scales, Haku let go of his hold and just lay there, on his stomach in human form. The night of constant flying had drained him. And yet he still could not sense her. He couldn't find her.

He heard a rustle of feathers and looked up. A gold falcon perched on the window sill, swaying a little.

"We're both a little tired. Would you like something to drink?"

Sei let go of his hold on the form and fell. He groaned, pushing himself up. "You're too kind."

Haku shrugged. "I don't want anything from you except information, and that can be easier if you're not cranky."

"Sounds logical." Sei mumbled as he dug into the steaming bowl of ramen Haku had pointed up.

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The door slammed shut.

"Get OFF me…you creeep…argh!" Chihiro kicked, bit and punched. He had an iron grip on both her wrists and her arms were pinned to the edge of a table.

"So fiesty…I love it." he snickered. Chihiro winced at the smell of stale beer on his breath and continued to struggle.

"And the skin…so soft" she nearly wretched at the feel of his greasy green nose on her neck.

"Don't touch me!" she hissed. He chuckled.

"What're you gonna do about it? Hmmm?" he taunted as he slammed her onto the table. She winced as her head hit it with a dull crack. Ouch. Before she could move metal cuffs appeared around her spread eagle limbs.

"I'll kill you." she said, giving him her best death glare.

He smiled coldly. "How nice…" he flicked his finger up and she screamed as her shirt split down the middle.

"I have people who will come find you, and kill you in the most painful way possible." she yelled, trying to take deep breaths but stay covered.

Suddenly he was inches from her face. "I'm getting sick of you yapping. Shut up!" he roughly kissed her and she felt his slimy hand start to explore her body when suddenly...

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"So where are they?"

Sei looked up and grinned. "How should I know?"

"Oh please. What do you…or rather what does the Daitengu want?" Haku raised an eyebrow and leaned back in his chair.

Sei gave him a sharp look. "Well, I underestimated you. My apologies. Its simple really, we need your power."

"For what? I will not harm the bathhouse or any of my friends…."

"No. We just need you to help open the portal."

Haku's eyes glowed a darker emerald as he gave the cool falcon a suspicious look. "Are your people still so bitter that you are trying to start open war with the humans again? There is no way I'll help."

"Then I can't give your Chihiro back."

"Well what about the other girl? Why did you need her?"

Sei's face dimmed slightly. "For this." he reached nimbly inside his shirt and pulled out then gold ring with the ice blue diamonds. "Recognize it now?"

Haku went wide eyed. "The passage stone! So it was in the human world all along."

"So everything is ready. All you need to do is come along."

"I won't help start a war."

"Then I can't tell you. Sleep on it." With that he helped himself to the extra futon in the corner of the bamboo platform and fell fast asleep.

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Mayu's stomach rumbled. She sighed. She had figured out how she could move the cage: she had tipped it over onto the side with the door on it so that she could walk while holding it off the ground a bit. She found a blackberry bush and a few edible herbs but she knew that this would never last her long. And she had no idea if anyone was going to come rescue her anytime soon. She looked down. Well there was one thing there was plenty off. She plucked a blade of grass and bit off the tip. It tasted bitter and dirty. But she could live with that.

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Haku's ears heard the unmistakable rustle of wings unfolding and jolted awake.

"Hey! Where do you think you're going?"

The falcon swooped out the window without another glance. It was dawn. Haku sighed and winced as he changed back into dragon form. He was still exhausted but soon he was airborne, following the golden tail feathers a few hundred feet ahead of him. This was the direction of the mountains, and most likely the forgotten's headquarters.

Haku inwardly sighed as the bird soared along while he felt the sun rise, then start to fall. He was so tired, every muscle strained to produce the slithering motion he needed to stay in the air. Suddenly, he felt a huge jolt go through him and everything went black…

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he jumped back with a roar. Chihiro stared in wonder as all the places he had touched on her body started to blister on his. The burns were and bright electric blue.

"Fin bitch!" he snarled and reached for her again and this time she screamed as his hand started to flame. He roared in pain and snarled at her.

"WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?" he yelled, as the emerald flame flicked up his arm.

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Mayu screamed as there was a huge boom and a cracking of many branches. What the! She stared in amazement as a full sized dragon fell to the ground, a scant 50 feet from her cage.

"Haku?"

The dragon shrank into the groaning form of the young man. "what…happened?"

Mayu scoffed. "I'd like to ask you the same thing! You look awful!"

Haku blinked. "Mayu! You're ok then."

Mayu made a face. "Define ok. I'm living off grass and berries. Can you point some water pleaaaaase?" She took the canteen that appeared and gulped the whole thing unaware of the cage being blasted to pieces around her by Haku.

"Whoa! Thanks!" she jumped up and down on her cramped feet.

"Where's Chihiro?" Mayu looked into his tired eyes.

"I'm not sure…they dropped me off here. She's probably at headquarters."

"Someone really tried to hurt her. That was my core supply of magic that just got sucked out of me…" he sighed and rustled his hair, massaging his aching head.

"So? Go after her!" Haku looked at her oddly. "…what? Stop staring at me…"

"I'm not going just yet. I have to make a deal with your little birdy."

'My lit…Sei! Where is he? That little &$)()" She went off into a now infamous sailor rant.

Haku laughed. "He's trying to help start a war. But with you as my barter chip, it might be stopped."

"Barter chip?" she sighed. "Fine. As long as I can slap some sense into him…"

"You hear that birdy? She's not happy about this!"

Mayu stared in horror as a falcon glided down and transformed into…him.

"YOU…I can't believe…the NERVE…UGH!"

slap.

"Hi there…"

Slap

He sighed. "Are you done?" She gave a last exasperated grunt before stalking off to a corner of the clearing.

'Well. Why did you bring me here really?"

Sei sighed. "I'm going to get killed for this."

"But you still decided to do it this way." Haku smirked

Freakin' lizard…" Alright. Here's the deal. Yubaba's power alone…can open the portal. But noone's suppose to know that. All I'm asking you to do is take Mayu back to the bathhouse once I let you know its safe to. You won't have anything to do with starting the war."

Haku blinked. "I have to go after Chihiro…"

"No. Then we have no deal. You have to stay with Mayu until she is safe at the bathhouse. Chihiro…will be safe. You know that your magic just protected her. There's noone powerful enough to break your protection over her. "

Haku stared down the amber eyes. "I don't trust you. But I do trust my magic. We have a deal."

"Then I'm off to distract the witch. Mayu will know when it's safe to come." and he took off in a flurry of gold…

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Kizu looked up at the gray sky, and she wondered why it always seemed to reflect her mood exactly. She had to go back and help her. Because otherwise…

Kizuna

"Sei?" she whispered into the wind.

Come to the bathhouse. I need your help.

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"What happened to Chihiro?"

Mayu sighed. "The fox girl took her away. In that direction." she pointed towards the mountains.

Haku sighed. "Their headquarters. I see."

Mayu raised an eyebrow. "You're really not going to take off after her?"

"How could I? I don't know the location, and I'm exhausted. Besides you don't think your golden birdy doesn't have a tracking spell on me?"

Mayu grinned. "My god, you might be learning."

Haku snickered. "impressed? Besides, he won't take long to call you. The summer solstice is tomorrow."

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"The dragon's stunned and magically drained. I left him under guard near the portal."

Yubaba cackled. "I'm impressed. And I don't believe you one bit."

Sei shrugged. "Fine. Miss the solstice and anger master…"

Yubaba glared. "I'm not afraid of that red nosed priss. And whats that for?" She pointed to the thin girl next to him.

The girl gave a shriek and fell to her knees on the floor. "It's the mortal. We thought you might like a nice slave."

Yubaba grinned and raised the girl's chin with a long pointed nail . "Well well…Mayu was it?" The girl just bit her lip.

"Fine, falcon. I will come." She changed into bird form. "She stays locked in a dungeon till I'm back."

Sei pointed to the girl and she disappeared with a wail. "Alright. Follow me."

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"OWW!" Mayu screamed. She looked at the brightly glowing bracelet on her list.

"Time to move." Haku changed quickly into dragon from. Get on.

Mayu slipped onto the broad back and took hold of the horn. "Ok, just don't go too FAAAAASSSTT!" And they were off.

An eternity of terrifying airborne hours later, the bathhouse was in sight. "Where do I put you?"

"The dungeon." Mayu blinked. "How did I know that?"

"Alright then, I'll drop you off at Kamaji's. door. Jump off ok?"

"What!"

"Jump off!"

Mayu screamed as she was rolled off the flying dragon's back, and crashed right through the boiler room door.

Kamaji's mouth dropped. "Dear mother of spirits! MAYU! But I thought…"

"Where do I need to go?"

"Last I heard you were…in the dungeon."

Mayu sighed. "How do I get there?"

"Through that back door there. Here take some food." She stuffed her shirt full of packets of rice balls.

"Thanks Kamaji. Chihiro's…been kidnapped. But Haku's gonna save her." And with that, she ran through the small wooden door. "I missed you!" she called out behind her. She climbed down another step ladder and ran though twisting hallways. She seemed to know exactly where to go….

When she finally got to the cell, a carbon copy of herself stared back at her. "Whaaaat the!"

Kizu assumed her normal appearance. "Well its about time. I might get killed for this you know. Get in here.' She pointed to the metal bars which bent to let her in. Mayu stepped in, unable to thing logically from the shock. She watched as the woman waved with a smirk and disappeared without a trace. The bars snapped shut.

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He strained every muscle, as hard as he could. Chihiro…He had a horrible feeling in his stomach which usually ment she was far from happy. He HAD to get her back…

Suddenly, he felt the shockwave of an enormous magical explosion. The portal…He sighed. She could take care of herself. Saving the world, he knew she would agree, came first.

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A/N: dundundunnnn! Biiig climax coming. The end. Is. In. sight!