A Different Current of the River
Chapter 5: Audience with the Mountain Lord
By LadyRainStarDragon
Disclaimer: Miyazaki owns Spirited Away.

After a long hiatus, I have an update for this story as well. If you want to know what's taking so long with the stories and shorts, I am publishing a novel, working on a sequel to it, and formatting a poetry book for publishing. So that and my kids (and the dreaded housework) are where my time is going.

Without further ado...

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The forest gave way around her, passing by quickly as she darted through the trees and up the small and disused trail. At last the trees cleared, and a gaping maw waited patiently to swallow those who dared to trespass. Ferns and moss softened the blow with their green mantles and a small hot spring bubbled up to fill a small pool.

Exhausted and in pain from her retreat, Chihiro collapsed in the clearing, her tears watering the grass.

"Here now? What brings you running to a place like this and a hermit such as myself Little Pearl, instead of my son?"

Looking up from her place on her knees in surprise, Chihiro eyed the man sitting calmly by the spring. Warm emerald eyes curiously swept her and long dark hair lapped languidly down his back to contrast with snow-white silks gleaming in the morning sun. She tried to answer, as he had surely been some sort of Kami, but all she could manage were fish gulps as she strove for air.

"I'll have a talk with that boy it seems. He shouldn't let you run unescorted through the forest at your age. It is highly dangerous in more ways than one."

The Kami kept a jovial tone in his voice, but sparks in his eyes glinted all the same. Finally, Chihiro's breath caught up to her, although the stitch in her side had decided it was very comfortable where it was.

"I ran away. As far as Haku knows, I have gone to school. I don't want to move away."

The Kami frowned and patted the rock beside him. Obeying his silent suggestion, Chihiro joined him after brushing off grass and dirt. When she was situated, he motioned her to continue.

"Mother said that because Father's job is going to take so long that his company is relocating the entire family. But it's going to be far away, and I don't want to leave Ojisan or Haku. Ojisan needs my help, my training isn't complete yet."

The man sighed.

"A child's place is with her family, and though your duty calls you to be here, this is a different age than what my son has grown up in, or even that of my own youth. Perhaps, in days such as these, it would be better for a young priestess to have a pause until her family's business is either complete or she herself is an adult."

Chihiro's face crumpled again in agony.

"You think I should go, since it is already well known that Mother would never even dream of letting me stay with Ji-san for so long. What about him? What about Haku?"

Tatsu frowned slightly, then carefully gathered the young woman in his arms even though she reeked of a woman's blood. Purification was something he could attend to later before entering the presence of another kami, the human needed him now.

"Ogino Koji will be fine. I sincerely doubt that there will be enough people needing his services to overwhelm him in the time that you will not be able to assist him. As for Nigihayami Kohakunushi, my son has lived a thousand and more years, Little Pearl. People come and go for us, even our most treasured. He will also survive."

He tucked Chihiro into himself gently and rocked back and forth like he would have if she were a small child, stifling the urge to hum or croon. It had been a long time since he had had a child. Whispering softly in her mind, he lulled the young woman into sleep.

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Haku and Ten stormed through the forest, the river guardian moving so fast that it was a little difficult for his thicker and more sedentary best friend to keep up.

"Why are you running so fast?" Ten panted. "We both know that she is probably going to the cave to convince the 'hermit' to let her stay with him a while."

"That's why!" Haku growled. "Do you think that I want to look like an incompetent in front of my father, simply because Chihiro had the bright idea to run away from her parents?"

Ten snorted as he ran after the white and teal ryu in front of him, winding through the forest blindly. Soon, their progress slowed down, the resistance of the air think enough to cause Kohakunushi to stop.

"She's found him, otherwise we would be there by now."

Ten leaned against a large tree, taking his human form.

"So then we have to wait until his audience with her is over, ne? That's not so bad, he's always had a soft spot for the same kind of kids that you have."

"Have you forgotten she isn't a kid anymore?" Nigihayami Kohakunushi's normally perfect long hair waved carelessly in the wind as he imagined who knew what for his young charge. "He's sure to smell the blood! You know what that means!"

"Getting jealous and territorial are we?"

"Ten!" Kohaku picked up a palm-sized rock as he took his own human form, lobbing it at his friend. "Wash your brain."

"You like her, don't you Nushi? And you think that your father is going to run off with her even though he is happily mated. Then again, he hardly ever gets to see your mother… so I suppose maybe that is a founded fear…"

Kohakunushi was about to roar out a denial when the last of Ten's statement hit him.

"He would never!"

"No, but if she were a little older you might."

All movement of Kohakunushi's hair and robes stopped in shock. The silence of the forest around them was deafening, but was broken after a moment by a soft admission.

"Maybe. It gets lonely."

The heavy pressure in the air lifted, granting them passage through the invisible barrier that had been holding them back. In silence the friends walked on, ascending the mountain respectfully, unwilling to annoy the elder dragon who's territory they now visited. Soon, the Sacred Clearing around the cave came into view, where the elder Nigihayami, keeper of the Sacred Mountain and Feeder of the Springs sat holding the young priestess closely.

"Welcome Izumi Ten, Nigihayami Kohakunushi…"

The young dragons bowed reverently to Tatsu. The kami continued.

"It seems you are slipping my son. Is there something happening that the affairs of your family have been called elsewhere?"

Kohakunushi kept his bow as he replied to the representative of Water for the Dragon Council.

"The firm that Akio works for is temporarily relocating him for one of their projects. I have confirmed this with Ni Tsukaimono-san. My charge seems to have not taken the news very well."

"Indeed."

The elder Nigihayami looked at his son with a sad understanding, then turned his head to the accompanying compatriot.

"Izumi-san."

"Hai, Tatsu-sama?"

"You will watch his affairs for a short while when this Pearl takes her leave of my son's territory. It seems that he is in need of a break of his own, and I will be sending him to the Aburaya for a week, or until he feels me call him home."

"Hai, Tatsu-sama."

"Hai, Otou-sama."

Tatsu carefully stood and carried the sleeping woman-child in his arms to the last speaker, depositing her gently in Kohakunushi's arms.

"Ko-chan… surely you didn't think that I was going to kidnap your favorite human. Now, take her home."