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Chapter Nine

Training

Kohaku and Zeniba thought me how to control my newfound magic. It was slightly easier than I would have expected. My first lesson was how to undo a spell, poor Toad waited diligently has I tried to harness the "magic" within me. Zeniba was a wonderful and patient teacher and Boh was an outstanding tutor.

Yubaba and Kohaku slowly analysed my progress. A lot of my time was spent studying ways to destroy this "Darkness" without my own future being compromised. Kohaku repeatedly kept reminding everyone that has long has there were humans there would be darkness. One day, as I was rummaging in Haku's office, I fell upon a book that shouldn't have belonged in the spirit realm, a book of no particular interest for average humans, but I was no average human. It was the Theogony and Works and Day by Hesiod. I opened it and fell unto a particular passage.

First came Chasm*; and then broad-breasted Gaia*, secure seat for ever of all immortals who occupy the peak of snowy Olympus; the misty Tartara* in a remote recess of the broad-pathed earth; and Eros* the most handsome among the immortal gods, dissolver of flesh who overcomes the reason and purpose in the breast of all gods and all men.

Out of the chasm came Erebos and Dark Night* and from Night in turn came Bright Air and Day*. Whom she bore in shared intimacy with Erebos. Gaia bore first of all one equal to herself, starry Uranus*, so that he should cover her all about, to be a secure seat for ever for the blessed gods—

I stopped reading when I felt Kohaku's soft hands caress the back of my neck. I turned my head towards him as I laid the book down on the bookshelf. I was studying English and Theology in university mostly due to my encounter with Kohaku when I was ten. I had never realized until now just how many mythologies and religions were close to truly understanding how the spirit world worked. The ancient Greeks believed in many gods and goddesses whom had particular elements or duties attributed to them, as did the Romans. There was Shintoism whish interested me the most, and even many aboriginal religions gave spirits to objects and the flora around them.

I didn't believe in one religion, but I could see the value in all of them.

"You should stop thinking about that." Haku told me silently as he kissed me passionately.

I pushed him away; fighting against my own irrepressible desires. "I need to study." I reminded him.

He raised his eyebrow and grinned as he shook his head. "The less you know the better it is for me."

I laughed knowing all about his aversion to me having the ability to control magic. "You know even if I don't study I can just go and rummage through your brain."

He moved a step closer towards me, his eyes full of desire… this was another "advantage" to mating. There was not a surface in Haku's bedchambers we hadn't consummated our union on. I smiled at him, but my thoughts were still all about this book that I found here in the spirit world. I turned to ask him my question, but he answered it before me even asking and without talking he showed me how certain human objects could make their way into the spirit world. It was an interesting process. Normal "object-spirits" could not interfere with human activity, but somehow, sometimes, an "object-spirit" could encounter human material.

When a certain item lies for a long time, unwatched and untended, a spirit could start possessing it and actually transfer the lost item into the spirit world. So some books, appliances and vehicles could actually belong to a spirit. The more land or power a spirit possesses the more chances where that he possessed human objects also. Of course, said spirit would also possess an extensive knowledge of humans themselves. Kohaku, Yubaba, Zeniba were all powerful spirits and therefore possessed this knowledge of humans, and unfortunately knowledge of the "Darkness" also.

In the time that I spent here there had been two sacrifices made; the first one on the first night of the consummation of Kohaku's and my mating, and the second just a few nights ago. Haku decided that he didn't want to go and participate in the ritual. Due to our new connection he didn't want me to see what he saw. He was trying, to the best of his extent, to not make me worry. The fact of the matter was that we're mates and whatever knowledge and power we had we shared. Haku was no longer only linked to the human world through his river, but he was now as free to walk in it has I was. He had taken that opportunity to go back to my home, reassure my parents of my safety and grab some more clothes for me. He had destroyed all my undergarments and I was in dire need of new ones.

I also reminded him to grab me some toothpaste. Even though I had magic, morning breath was still present and on cue every morning.

Not that Kohaku minded or commented about it. I was still human after all. I also asked him to bring me medicine like Gravols. The constant use of magic was draining and then I would throw up every morning. I was unable to eat anything afterwards.

'Stop with all the thinking.' Haku said seductively.

In one swift movement, he grabbed me and pushed me up against the wall. I could feel sensuality emanating from his body. He started kissing me savagely, hungrier than ever before. I could see what had aroused him. He was looking at me all pensive, a lock of hair was dangling seductively next to my cheek, and my white blouse was only slightly buttoned, thus revealing my pleasing cleavage.

He mentally moaned when I rummaged through his thoughts.

Lemons, skip if you are uncomfortable

Haku had little patience for undoing clothing, he would just make all of my clothes magically disappear before taking me, today was different only because in his lust frenzy he had ripped my clothes from off of me. My blouse and black pencil skirt were now tossed on the floor. I was standing gloriously nude in front of him. I removed his clothes. Slowly letting my hands linger over his muscled torso. I undid his pants quickly and stayed there in awe, admiring, contemplating and desiring.

Kohaku pressed me against the wall and I gladly spread my legs for him. Moaning as I felt his erection against my clitoris. He bit down on my shoulder has he supressed a moan when he started moving inside me.

He kept his mouth on my neck, kissing and moaning. He lifted me up and I wrapped my legs around his waist. We quickly made our way to his desk. He laid me on it and continued moving inside me relentlessly. I couldn't think, my body was instinctively moving and seeking more pleasure. Haku was an incredible lover, both savage and loving at the same time.

I let out a small yelp of pleasure as he penetrated me forcefully. He eyed me quickly to make sure that he hadn't hurt me, but he grinned when I urged him to continue. He started moving faster, wanting me to reach my climax. It seemed like seconds and yet it took forever before we both climaxed and he fell on top of me.

Our bodies were sweaty and I could feel all the tension that was inside of us slowly drip away. I kissed him lovingly as he closed his eyes.

"I love you." He muttered contently in my ear.

"Love you too." I replied happily. "Come on. Let's go take a nice bath."

End of Lemons

He groaned, but got off me. I took his hand and guided him to the bathroom. I opened the door slowly. He walked in the middle of the room, next to the tub, and pulled a golden lever. Warm orange scented water came pouring into the tub. He stepped in first and held out his hand. I took it and he helped me get into the tub. The warmth of the water was nice, especially after our physical activities. Haku washed me, and although we both started feeling similar urges again, we contained them. We knew I had my training with Zeniba.

Once done, we dressed quickly and made our way to Yubaba's office. Zeniba was a patient, but demanding teacher.

She thought me how to channel my magic, but today she looked at me sheepishly.

Haku sat down on the couch and looked at me with a strange hungry look. Hungrier than usual anyhow.

We started training. Zeniba attacked me with everything she had in her arsenal. Today it was easier for me to use magic. I didn't feel my manna drain has quickly has it would have usually.

Our training lasted hours, and yet I wasn't tired at all. I felt full of energy.

"This is strange." Zeniba said panting. She eyed Kohaku and turned her attention back to me. "Your bond is complete and yet I can feel something growing stronger."

She walked towards the window and looked outside.

She sighed.

I blinked confused.

In one swift movement she turned around and cast a curse on me. Haku hissed and jumped out of the couch; hoping to protect me. The black beam of magic shot towards me was moving fast and strait like an arrow.

But something stopped the curse, a beautiful pink aura surrounded me and the curse disappeared has it hit my body.

The aura acted like a shield, but disappeared once the danger had passed.

"What the Hell you old bat!" Haku screamed angrily now placing himself in front of me. He was in a half-crouch ready to pounce on Zeniba at any given moment.

"Oh, don't worry Haku." She said irritated.

He growled menacingly.

Boh and Yubaba walked into the office after hearing the entire ruckus. They looked confused at Haku's menacing demeanour.

Boh looked at his mother seeking answers to his unasked questions, but she had none to give him. She instead crossed her arms and took a long whiff of air. She smelled the curse that Zeniba had cast. Yubaba turned to her sister who by now was frowning at us.

"Chihiro is not the one will destroy the darkness." She said pensively.

"What?" Yubaba asked.

Haku growled protectively again. A warning, he was reminding them that his top priority was my security.

"Chihiro will not be strong enough on her own to destroy it." Zeniba continued.

Yubaba raised her eyebrow, she was about to speak, but then she understood what her sister was saying. A long scowl formed on her old lips.

Boh still too young and innocent didn't understand what his mother and aunt were saying. "But isn't that why Haku and Sen are mated?"

Haku hissed under his breath. He too was starting to understand what was going on. His hands balled up into fits… the constant desire, the increase in my magical ability, my vomiting. It had nothing to do with my training—

I gasped.

"I'm pregnant." I muttered.

My hands quickly went to rest on my stomach and I looked down at it. I wasn't going to be the one to destroy the darkness… my unborn hybrid child was.

I felt sick.

"This will be the first hybrid in centuries." Zeniba said, "the first not to be killed at his birth."

"I'm pregnant—" I repeated to myself in utter disbelief.

"But I wasn't desiring for a child." Haku said confused.

"Humans are highly fertile." Yubaba reminded him.

"I'm pregnant." I repeated more vigorously. I was now realizing that it was the child who had protected us from Zeniba's curse.

Tun-tun-tun

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*Chasm: Ancient Greeks described chasm has nothingness.

*Gaia: Is the personification of planet earth. She was the first goddess or titan created by chasm. She gave birth to Uranus, Tartara, Oceanus, and many others.

*Eros: God of sensual love, he is placed at the beginning of all things, although he is later associated with being the son of Aphrodite.

*Tartara: Dark and horrible region far below the earth.

*Erebos and Dark Night: Usualy associated with Tartara and Hades. It is the realm of darkness.

*Bright air and Day: The opposite of Erebos.

*Uranus: Is the personification of the sky. He was later castrated by his son Kronos and when his testicles fell into the ocean they gave birth to Aphrodite.