~Vaster than the Sea, Wider than the Sky~

Disclaimer: The characters in this fanfiction belong to Studio Ghibli. Copyright infringement is not intended.

The morning dawned bright and clear. A mild breeze blew off from the sea, bringing with it a fresh tang of salt. A bird, concealed in the trees chirped musically. It was a pleasant start to the weekend and Risa leaned back into her chair, enjoying a simple cup of coffee. She looked at her son fondly. "Hey. Shall we give Chihiro a proper welcome today? We can picnic in the mountains overlooking the sea."

Sousuke, who had so far been nibbling quietly on a piece of jam toast lowered it and regarded her thoughtfully. "Ok," he answered, keeping his voice carefully neutral. "Can Ponyo come too?" His mother ruffled his hair fondly. "Of course. Besides, you'll only sulk if I say no." Sousuke grinned finally. "I'll call her then," he said, eagerly abandoning breakfast for the telephone. Risa rolled her eyes and then chuckled as Chihiro entered the kitchen, smiling bemusedly.

"Ohaiyo. Sousuke seems happy," she commented. The older woman chuckled again.

"He's just excited by the prospect of going up to the mountains today with us," she explained as she unfolded a map.

"Plus," Risa added, cracking her knuckles, "It's about time we got the temporary staff. I need the fresh air. I haven't had a proper break in weeks."

Chihiro nodded sympathetically. "Yeah," she said feelingly. There was a dull ache in her bones from all the running about at the nursing home. It wasn't unpleasant, but she needed the rest too. Risa grinned. "I only hope old Mrs Fuji won't kill the new girl." Chihiro laughed. The old woman had looked as though she had swallowed a lemon when informed that the new help had the same family name. The new girl, who had introduced herself only as Fuji-san hadn't been too thrilled either, especially after she'd been sent back to the kitchen with a lukewarm bowl of soup. As Chihiro helped herself to a second piece of toast, Sousuke burst in again. "She said ok!" he said. His mother smiled.

"I guess we're all set then."

Meanwhile, at Fujimoto's the alarm clock in the wizard's room had been blaring steadily for fifteen minutes and counting. Haku sat up, his head literally ringing with the noise. As a dragon, he didn't need such contraptions to wake up – he simply did. Besides, he was a light sleeper and last night had not been the best of nights. Someone or possibly some people had been prodding around the fringes of the barrier he and his host had co-raised and Haku had no doubt that if he went out this morning, he'd find the vicinity pockmarked with spy wards. He rolled over blearily on the bed and sighed softly as Fujimoto's alarm continued ringing. Someone was going to have to wake him up. Once dressed, he encountered a sleepy looking Ponyo in a fluffy nightdress stumbling outside her door; a jellyfish stuff toy tucked under one arm as she rubbed her eyes. "Daddy put his ear plugs on again," she muttered while shuffling robot-like towards her father's door. Haku watched her go, mildly worried that she might hit the banister on the way.

"Careful –," he started to say, and then smiled when she veered sharply away from it and reached her father's door unharmed. While Haku was wondering why anyone would deliberately set the alarm and then ear plug themselves so they couldn't hear it, a loud yell from within Fujimoto's room claimed his attention. Rushing in, he found the wizard pulling on a shirt while simultaneously snatching up several scrolls of parchment. "Daddy's late for a big meeting with Granmamare," Ponyo explained before dropping back to sleep on her father's bed.

"Am I needed?" Haku asked as Fujimoto dashed madly about. It was not immediately clear what it was all in aid of because the wizard would snatch up one item before tossing it aside for another before rushing round the bed to pick up the item he'd thrown aside. Haku crooked a smile. What a mess. If Zeniba saw this, she'd throw a fit.

"Scales and waves! Where have I put my seal?" Fujimoto muttered and then seemed to suddenly notice Haku. "I ache all over! Did something happen last night? I thought I sensed something."

"I'll check over the barrier," Haku offered.

"Yes-yes," Fujimoto replied hastily. "Let's hope it doesn't mean anything."

The telephone rang. Fujimoto, who had one foot in his trousers swore and then looked appealingly in the dragon's direction. Haku, efficient as always, had by then gone to intercept the call. There was a moment, and then his voice came up the stairs. "Ponyo? It's for you."

Before he could take one step however, Ponyo had suddenly bolted awake. "It's Sousuke," she squeaked and dashed out. Left by himself, the wizard sighed heavily and dropped onto his bed. He'd barely settled onto it when Ponyo came flying back up. "We're going to the mountains!" she yelled.

Fujimoto snorted. Whatever happened to the days when his daughter actually asked him for permission first? Not that he'd say no. "Yes, very well. But do exactly as Risa tells you and behave yourself."

"Uhuh!" With a sudden lack of lethargy, the young girl dashed off back to her room. Fujimoto watched his daughter go with a long-suffering look. "I have a feeling something's going to happen," he admitted. "Do you think you can watch her for me, as a favour?"

Haku, who in fact had several pressing reports to write, nodded politely. "Of course," he said.

Risa's timely arrival was heralded by the loud honk her car made while they were having breakfast – or rather, Haku and Ponyo were while Fuimoto made hasty corrections to his conference paper. "Drat that woman. She's always early," he muttered and promptly dipped his pen into the coffee. Fujimoto cursed under his breath. "See. And where is the dish towel? I left it here not five minutes ago."

Haku, who never had any issue with punctuality, helpfully unearthed the dish towel from under the fruit bowl which Fujimoto had placed on top not three minutes before. "I've got to fly," the wizard said, ignoring the dish towel in favour for rising from the table. "Get the door, Ponyo."

"Hai!"

In the end, it was Haku who opened it, precipitated by a minor crisis when Ponyo's hand had become stuck inside a jam jar.

"Hello," he said to Sousuke.

Sousuke stared up at him solemnly. "Ohaiyo," he returned with schooled politeness. Haku smiled. "Would you like to wait inside? Ponyo… is still getting ready."

"It's ok, I'll wait here," he answered. Haku stared as the younger boy gave a wave to the occupants in the car and then settled on the front kerb. He was definitely not imagining it. This young man (for it was unfair to describe this serious-eyed child as anything less than that) was exuding an aura of suspicious hostility towards him.

"Pardon me if I seem rude, but have I done something to offend you?" he asked mildly. Sousuke turned to him in surprise but before he could answer, Ponyo came flying out of the door.

"I'm ready! I'm ready!" she squeaked, her extricated hand still showing sticky remnants of boysenberry jam and waving.

Risa honked again and leaned out of her window. "Come on guys!"

For a moment, Haku stiffened, eyes widening. A familiar brown head was revealed for a moment before being obscured by Risa settling back into her seat. Chihiro? He had to be imagining things. He'd checked on her the day before he settled here. She had been at home, listening to a CD. He took an unconscious step forward, only to have his attention usurped by Fujimoto bursting out of the door next. "I'm late!" he muttered and gave a hurried wave in the general direction of the car before disappearing down the road. By the time he turned, the car was already backing onto the road. He stared after it, feeling a sense of frustration when three heads poked out to wave – Ponyo, Sousuke and –

"Chihiro!"

Sousuke frowned. "What did he say?"

"I think he said to have a nice trip," Ponyo said, before sinking back onto her seat comfortably.

"I don't think so," he disagreed. It'd been too short for that and he appealed to the other sensible person in vicinity. "Chihiro-san, did you hear what he said?"

"Who? Er – no." She patted the white ferret-thing she'd picked up as a pet abstractedly. She'd been busy discussing the map with Risa and hadn't noticed when the door of the house they were waiting outside had opened. She had noticed a glimpse of dark hair and a loose white shirt when Risa commented that Fujimoto-sensei's student was good-looking but then he'd stooped to sit on the kerb, obscured by large flowering rhododendrons. She ran a hand through her loose hair uneasily as they drove down the small tree-lined road. Something didn't feel right. Sen must have sensed her discomfiture because she woke up, nose twitching worriedly and Chihiro found herself smiling reassuringly at the small creature before going back to gazing out of the passenger seat window.

They followed the shore line all the way up, the excited chatter in the back gradually dying down as Ponyo snored faintly and Sousuke buried himself in a tattered manga. It wasn't one Chihiro had seen before though she saw why it might appeal to him – a young girl with a red bow, a cat and an oversized besom decorated the cover. She understood the appeal of flying – whether on a broom – or a dragon, a voice whispered within her. She massaged her temple wearily and re-tied her hair in its customary ponytail. Goodness. If she was even thinking that, she must need sleep too. Her eyes had barely closed when she was almost jolted out of her seat. Risa had turned into a small rutted path and the small car bounced on the uneven road as Chihiro clutched at the door handle. She turned back to look – Sousuke looked slightly pale and he'd stowed his graphic novel. Ponyo hadn't woken up. Did everyone in the village drive like her father?

"Alright people," Risa said as she stepped on the pedal. "Prepare for a bumpy ride." They rumbled under tall deciduous trees for what seemed to Chihiro like eternity – though Sousuke who had clearly come this way before with his parents seemed comparatively calm, even when Risa parked right in front of a no parking sign and they all got out. Standing apart from the rest, Chihiro felt a light nip on her arm.

"I don't like it. There's something here," Sen whispered.

"Like what?" She remembered that the children had been whispering about a bad person. A rapist? Murderer? Robbers?

"Like something hiding. You all should stick together."

Chihiro didn't need anyone telling her that. All the forest paths looked the same to her. Still, it wasn't hard, once they had reached the plateau that was their destination, to enjoy the clean, still air and the small woodland sounds. Ponyo was clearly enchanted, rambling among the roots of the nearest camphor trees while they dined on home-made salad and grape juice. Risa yawned, stretching pleasantly. "Feels nice, doesn't it?"

Chihiro stretched out on the grass and rolled over comfortably. "Yes…" The air seemed to have a soft golden haze about it – a trick of the light perhaps? She saw Sousuke rub his eyes sleepily, his salad forgotten. Sen had already curled up tightly, a small furry mound that could hardly be discerned from the surrounding ground. The grass rustled dreamily and then stopped. The clearing was suddenly minus one person.

Haku had been more than willing to fulfil his promise to Fujimoto. For one, it coincided with the direction which Chihiro had gone. The Granmamare's words came with thundering clarity into his mind –you were meant to be here. For another, the sense of dread he'd vaguely felt since the previous night had grown exponentially with each passing minute the car drove away from him. This was no time for discretion and he transformed into his true form. With a flick of his tail, he lifted up into the air and veered out to the sea, where he nearly collided with a blaze of red flames. Manoeuvring with expert grace, Haku glided sideways until he was facing Akihi. The flame elemental's eyes were wide. "Thank goodness. I was on my way to get you. You need to come with me."

Haku wanted to scream. Why did everything always come together? What is it, he projected into Akihi's mind.

"Dragons. What else? I met them on the way here. They won't enter Fujimoto's field of control but they won't leave either."

Every second of delay was putting that purple car further away from him. Although Haku was someone who knew where his priorities lay, his heart couldn't help leaping up, bursting with internal joy. She was here! Outwardly, he nodded briefly, efficient as always and joined Akihi as he sped over the tossing blue waves and around the scrub studded cliffs.

Here, the weather was completely different. Outside of Fujimoto's jurisdiction, the dragons had been wrecking havoc with the environment. Akihi looked angrily at the iron appearance of the sea and the overcast sky. "Look what they've done," he said. "The bullies."

You should stay close to me. I can't do much, but I can nullify some of their impact and give you some space.

"Thanks," the fire mage muttered as they faced off with the three dragons before them.

This is neutral ground, Haku pointed out.

"How arrogant," Master Yamazaki sneered from behind an outspread fan of ebony-dyed peacock feathers. "Are you spoiling for a fight in that form?"

"I have no quarrel with you," Haku answered tersely as soon as he had shifted into his human form. The wind increased, whipping his black hair about his face. "Did you seek an audience with me? I have Council matters to answer to at the moment."

The female dragon slowly lowered her fan. "You would do to curb that uncivil tongue of yours."

"That depends on who I am conversing with," Haku replied shortly. A buzz was forming at the back of his head. Something was going to happen, and very quickly. Master Yamazaki flinched as though slapped. "Why you -," she burst out and then calmed down just as quickly. "Perhaps we have gotten off on the wrong foot. I simply demand a tour of Lord Fujimoto's place. As a fellow dragon and my inferior in rank, you are obliged to serve me."

A person of less mental astuteness couldn't have failed to miss the rude insinuations the dragon was making and Haku drew a deep breath before answering firmly.

"Unfortunately, I am not. I have operated outside of the Ryu-shi's court for decades. As an exile, I am exempt from the rules of your court and am not therefore obliged to adhere to your demands."

"What he means," Akihi added in what he considered to be a helpful tone, "is that he doesn't have to help you."

"I can understand, you fool!" Master Yamazaki snapped. "So be it. If that is your answer, you wouldn't mind if I show what a renegade like yourself deserves!"

"I'll say she's the one spoiling for a fight," Akihi grumbled as they were rapidly surrounded by the three dragons. Haku couldn't agree more as he stared down the cold sapphire eyes and gold scales of the Yamazaki-gawa spirit. He dodged her attack and then looked back to check on Akihi. The spirit was holding his own against the other two lesser dragons despite the clear disadvantage of his element powers. As expected of a Council member, Haku thought, before returning a blast of air at Yamazaki. The fire spirit whizzed past cheekily, chased by his two attackers and Haku, distracted, was forced to make a weak dive when Yamazaki launched a series of curving wind blades at him. "Don't worry! Concentrate on yourself!" Akihi shouted and then whipped sideways, leaving a trail of flames that hissed and steamed in the rain. Right. Haku redirected his attention to the dragon before him, but he couldn't shake of his unease as he launched a retaliatory attack at Yamazaki. How had she found this place?

The rain had been steadily increasing all the while Chihiro was clambering among the trees. When Ponyo had disappeared seemingly without a trace, they had all split up to search for her. The weather had been clear minutes before, but now, the sky was dark, and though it was only midafternoon, it felt more like evening. Chihiro pushed her heavy hair out of her eyes, panting as she scrambled down the slippery hill side, trying not to think about what would happen if she fell. Some of those ledges were almost out of reach. Her feet had barely touched the bottom when, Sen, who had bounded ahead, came dashing back.

"I found her," the white creature said. "Your combined desires to find her have allowed me to pinpoint where she is."

"Good," Chihiro said. "Where?"

"You've to hurry," the Enabler of a Thousand Desires urged. "She's in danger." Chihiro turned back to look and had to bite back her fear. Sousuke was attempting to scrabble down the way she came.

"Sousuke! No! Stay up there!" she shouted above the noise of the rain and trees.

"No, I'm coming with you!" he shouted back. "I heard it. Ponyo's there!"

"I'll get her back, I promise. You have to tell Risa where I'm going!"

For a moment, it looked as though the little boy might protest but then he nodded curtly. "Please," he said and then began making his way up again. Chihiro watched for a moment and then after making sure that he could handle it, ran towards Ponyo.

The trees thickened inexorably and Chihiro found herself fighting branches that whipped into her face and uneven, mossy ground. Sen, who was small enough to slip under most of the undergrowth kept turning round anxiously. There was an odd clicking sound all around them, and the very air seemed to be laden with antagonistic whispers. Ignoring them, she pushed forward determinedly and then suddenly, the trees parted easily and she fell forward into a sloped cliff edge. Ponyo was there, but she wasn't alone. A stag was standing stock still between her and the frightened girl. She gaped softly. This was no ordinary animal. The creature turned, it's majestic, heavy, multi-tined antlers glistening in the rain until it faced her, confirming her suspicions. It had an oddly human face, slanted eyes gazing unblinking at her. Its appearance told her that she was intruding.

"Chi-Chihiro!"

"Don't worry! Umm…" Every instinct in her was telling her to panic. Sen's back was arched and her dark eyes wary.

"This creature is god level. There's nothing any of us can do."

"What do you mean by god level?" Chihiro whispered, her eyes never leaving the solemn stag.

"It's a guardian spirit, and it's angry."

"At us?"

"Not exactly. More like generally angry."

The stag's attention on them had never wavered, but then a gust of wind blew in from the sea and it lifted its face to it. A storm was gathering over the sea, bringing with it roiling gray clouds. Chihiro squinted. There seemed to be something funny about those clouds. A dreadful shriek filled the air and she clapped her hands over her ears. The stag had bellowed; a terrifying sound. Then, it angled its attention back to Ponyo, who stared at it defiantly. "It wasn't me! I didn't cause the storm this time! I can't!"

The stag-god lowered its head threateningly. Ponyo took a step back nervously and then squeaked when the cliff edge crumbled.

"Damnit!" Sen bounded forward suddenly, and it wasn't halfway there when instead of a white ferret, a boy was cannoning towards Ponyo. "Stupid crab-eating goldfish girl!" he yelled, reaching for her. "Grab on!"

But, instead of taking Sen's hand, Ponyo slapped him away, frightened. "Go away! You're not Sousuke! Stupid cat!"

"I'm not a cat! Idiot girl! Take my hand or you'll fall!"

"I want Sousuke!" Ponyo was sobbing now. Chihiro knew that if she wanted to do something, it would have to be now, or they were all lost. The stag was watching impassively and setting her mouth in a grim line, she approached it.

"Excuse me, Kami-sama," she said, bowing politely to it. Not waiting for it to react, she marched past it, speaking rapidly. "I'm sorry for our rudeness We'll be going once I've taken everybody with me."

She hadn't put much faith into her explanation but to her surprise, the stag shifted further back to allow her space to reach her friends.

"Ponyo, it's alright. Take my hand."

"Where's Sousuke? The cat didn't eat him, did he?"

"No," Chihiro smiled, extending her hand as far as she could without standing on the crumbling edge. "I promise you he is safe and sound. Now, it's your safety I'm concerned about, so how about you come over here?"

"Uhuh," the pacified girl nodded when the edge gave way finally and Ponyo tumbled over the cliff.

Notes: I know I said Chihiro and Haku would meet this chapter - but it didn't make the cut as the chapter got too long and I had to break it up. X( I'm sorry! Next chapter! I promise!