Aftermath (Five years later…)
A fanfic about Spirited Away
Written by: ZimXGir
Chapter Twelve: In Which Blood Runs Free
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Spirited Away although I do own Pernaki and Yuiki
A/N: Well I have to say that this was one of my all time favorite chapters to write! I dunno…I just love writing chapters filled with drama and tragedy. Puts back a hand on forehead and acts all dramatic Haha. n.n; erm…never mind. Oh! And for the few of you (or not so few) of you that don't get the whole "Scene/Time change" breaks in this fanfic…then here let me break it down for you. (If you know about them then just read the last line and go on with the chapter.) Alrighty now, a scene/time break is basically a page break. Here maybe this'll be better: you know how in a movie the main character will be one place then suddenly the scene changes and he's somewhere else? Well basically that is what "…………" means. When "………..." happens and it's in the middle of the page then that is a "scene/time break." Get it? OK then on with the chapter!!!☺
Chapter 12: In Which Blood Runs Free
Haku's eyes widened with hearing the scream. He then, at that very moment, changed into his dragon form and flew off in a sense of panic mixed with anticipation.
Lin rushed for the boiler room door and flung it open before turning to the star struck Yuiki.
"What are you waiting for?!? Come on! We have to go and help!" and with that Lin rushed into the boiler room, letting the door swing into a slam behind her.
Yuiki stood where she was left there still staring up at where the Dragon Haku disappeared when he turned the corner of the bathhouse.
"…"
"So I see" Yuiki finally said, turning her head and casting her eyes down to the left of her as the blue spark fluttered.
Telling her something, in a squeaking language that only she understood, growing larger and smaller as it spoke.
"…" again the blue spark appeared to tell her something.
"Well be careful! We don't want anyone finding out our plains! Oh…and what is this I hear about a…murder?" her eyebrow rose as she spoke.
…………
Chiro walked down the hall towards her room, pearls trailing after her. Not only because of her hurt ankle on that she was limping on…but because she knew she was deceiving Haku…and she didn't like it.
As she got closer to her rooms door, lost in her own thoughts, she began to pick up on a certain stench.
A stench that was unforgettable. SO unforgettable, that her steps quickened almost into a run.
As the space between her and her room closed quickly fear began to envelop her.
Her eyes began to fill with terror as she took her last hew steps to her door, she skidded to a halt breathing deeply in front of her door.
As she made her way towards the center of the room she stopped; her eyes taking in everything.
Blood dripping from every square inch of her room…almost.
Only her baby blue sandals; that lay beside her bed seemed to be free of the still warm blood. As if when the blood was slung about, her shoes gave off a protective 3 foot barrier to make sure that they were not tainted.
All of a sudden a sharp excruciating pain flowed through her head.
Making her head feel as if it was going to explode, and that huge monsters were feeding on it as well.
Chiro fell to her knees, the blood soaking into her light pink skirt. Her feet faced the door; blood staining the bottoms of them.
All of a sudden, Chiro leaned her head back and looked towards the ceiling. Her hands still clenching her head, clawing as if she could tear the pain out with her own fingernails. Suddenly, she let out a blood curdling scream, which seemed to echo out into the night for miles.
The room flashed to another scene.
Somewhere white, somewhere calm, somewhere…tainted.
Then flashed back to normal.
These flashes became quicker, more real feeling, more frequent, much longer. Until, the flashes finally stopped. And Chihiro was left in the world of white.
…………
Haku flew into the blood stained room. Changing his form back, a deep gasp escaped his lips.
His eyes filled with horror.
NOT because of the blood but because of the unconscious lump in the middle of the room.
Haku rushed to the unresponsive Chiro's body.
"Madam Chiro!" Haku exclaimed, picking up her body and cradling it in his arms.
For some reason a memory came to his mind…
"Where are my mom and dad?" Chihiro asked as she hurried down the steps. Hand in hand with Haku.
"When you passed the test they woke up on the human side of the river. Their there now; and their looking for you." Haku answered as they rushed down the street of restaurants.
As the two stopped by the frog statue that sat on the spirit side of the river, Chihiro commented "There's no water here, I can walk across now."
"But I can't go any farther" Haku said with a bit of sadness in his voice. Turning his head towards her, he instructed her to do something one last time…
"Just go back the way you came. You'll be fine, but you have to promise not to look back not until you pass through the tunnel."
"What about you? What'll you do?" Chihiro said with concern and worry.
Haku smiled and answered sighing "Don't worry, I'll go back and have a talk with Yubaba. I'll tell her I'm going to quit being her apprentice!"
Suddenly turning fully towards her Haku added "I'm fine I got my name back."
As Chihiro heard this, one question popped into her mind "Will we meet again sometime?"
"Sure we will."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
And with one final smile Haku moved her hand in his to indicate that it was time for her to go, saying "Now go, and don't look back." And with that Chihiro started down the last few steps towards the river.
As their hands left each others; Haku was left standing there watching her go. A terrible pain in his chest began to grow as tear after tear fell from his eyes towards the sun soaked stony walkway that held on to the steps at his feet.
As he relived this scene of his past, tears began to fill his eyes. He did not know why…but he couldn't help them from falling.
Suddenly, his heart began to beat quicker as he remembered all those nights that he had spent next to Chihiro's bed. Watching her sleep. Wishing that she's wake…but she never did.
"Chihiro…"
…………
"Yes? Did someone call my name? Hello?" Chihiro called out into the foggy whiteness.
Shrugging she began to walk, not really knowing where she'd end up, but all she knew was that her feet wouldn't stop till she got there.
As she walked a feeling began to over come her. A tear…a REAL tear rolled down her cheek.
Stopping she raised her hand to her tearing eye, surprised. Looking back from once she came, as if there was something calling her back as if she was in danger or something bad was going to happen and she needed to come back to stop it from happening. But what?
"Haku?" was all that escaped her lips before a sweet aroma found her nostrils.
Turning her head so that she faced forward once more. Chihiro found herself looking at a beautiful oasis. That includes a wonderful stream, trees and the sound of happy birds singing about love.
Blinking in disbelief and warmth filling her, Chihiro walked forward.
"He-hello?" she called out.
"Welcome" came a voice as sweet as the air.
Shocked Chihiro stopped dead in her tracks.
"Wh-who are you?" the words just seemed to spill out of her mouth.
"I am who I appear to be. Who you know me to be." The calm, warm voice replied.
"I have been a waiting for this day. Where our destinies finally collide! Finally…finally become one…Chihiro." And in hearing her name spoken by the voice, Chihiro instantly know who this voice belonged to.
"Yo-your-
…………
"Oh my gawd!" Lin exclaimed as she ran into the destroyed, blood soakened room. She seemed to skid to a halt on her knees gracefully, as she landed beside Chiro.
"Wh-what happened?" asked Lin.
"I-I…I don-don't kn-know" stammered Haku as a tear fell onto the sleeping face of Chiro's body.
Lin cast her eyes down upon Chiro's body then up at Haku.
"So…you…know?"
Haku looked up tear stricken then questioned "what do you mean?"
…………
"Yes…I am she. And you Chihiro…you are the one that I have waited for. The one that can finally free me!" the voice spoke again.
Chihiro was taken aback. She didn't know what to say.
But the vice did.
"Do you not want to help me? Chihiro?"
"I d-do! But…how?" something was wrong. Something didn't feel right! Something or someone was coming closer…someone or thing EVIL!
"You can help me by-
No! No! Not when she is here!" the voice exclaimed.
Chihiro just looked around confused as she feels the warm air envelope her.
"Go!"
"But what about you?" Chihiro asked as her eyes began to tear up again.
"Do not worry I will be fine! It is you that I am worried about! Go! Before he catches you!" the voice became panicked.
Chihiro was curious but nodded just the same.
She couldn't see but she could tell that the voice was now a little relaxed.
A warm gust of wind blew into Chihiro's face. She raised a hand so that her eyes wouldn't dry out.
Gasping quickly she saw the outline of a person.
Suddenly the gust of wind got stronger, forcing Chihiro's eyes down.
With difficulty her eyes grew wider. For her gaze was down upon, not her pink skirt and bear feet…but sneakers and shorts.
"Ah!"
…………
"Chiro!" Haku exclaimed as he leaned forward to look at the awakening Chihiro.
"Huh?" was all that she could manage to say.
Lin grinned while she leaned against the wall closest to the bed side, arms crossed and one leg resting against the wall.
"Well Chiro…" said Lin "you've been out for almost an entire night! It's breaking dawn now." She said nodding over at the brightening window.
Chiro blinked as she looked towards the window. Sitting up she just sat there staring. Then something caught her eye. It was a small gathering of purplish clouds above her.
And for some reason no matter how hard she tried she couldn't look away. As if they were calling to her.
"Madam?"
"Huh?" Chiro finally said as she looked away from the clouds. She glanced back up but by that time the clouds had cleared. Almost as if they were just a dream.
"Madam…are you alright?" Haku questioned her concerned.
"Wha-oh…oh yes I'm fine!" Chiro answered forcing a smile. In truth she was confused. She had no idea what had happened or why she had seen the clouds hovering over her head.
"What ha-happened?" she asked no one in particular.
"We were hoping that you could tell us!" exclaimed a surprised Lin.
Chiro looked at Lin with a surprised look that rivaled hers.
"Why was there all that…blood" Haku spat the last word out of his mouth as if it would defile his mouth if it lingered on his tongue for to long.
"Blood?" by this time the poor Chiro was completely confused.
"Yes blood! Why was your room covered in it?" Lin asked Chiro. Though by the look Chiro was giving Lin. It was apparent that she still had no idea what they were talking about.
…………
Yuiki walked down the hall towards Chiro's room rolling her eyes and muttering something about not wanting to go and see if Chiro was alright or something along those lines.
"EEK!"
Yuiki looked up and saw a horror struck servant staring into Chiro's room. Curious Yuiki quickened her pace and was standing next to the servant in no time.
Blood.
That was all one could see…blood.
As Yuiki's eyes passed over every inch of the room she couldn't help but smile. This, in return, freaked the servant out even more.
Noticing Yuiki stop grinning like the chesure cat and ordered her to leave and tell no one of this.
Yuiki stepped into the room and abruptly closed the door behind her. Glancing once again all around she commented "nicely done…I couldn't have done better myself!"
Suddenly a shadowy figure appeared in the corner, the same figure that had appeared in the door frame of Chiro's room once before. (In chapter nine.☻)
"Why thank you." The figure said smiling and bowing his head slightly.
Yuiki grinned and nodded her own head "I think it got our little plain in motion….or at least it got her to start thinking about her own safety. Hopefully she'll leave!" she said this last bit a little to excitedly.
Which made the figure in the corner comment "I wouldn't be to happy about that if I were you…the girls much more stronger then you think…or at least she's just to damn stubborn…you couldn't do it centuries ago when she was here before…why do you think it'll work now?"
Yuiki frowned and turned towards the door turning her back on the figure. She reached for the door knob and said "because this time he's here…and he was the only thing that I needed to make my plan work."
Yuiki looked over her shoulder and said "Don't worry Haku WILL be the one that destroys her….mark my words he'll be the one to kill her once and for all!...oh….and clean up this mess. I don't want Yubaba to get any weft of our plan." And with that Yuiki left.
The shadowy figure frowned and muttered something and the blood and all the traces of anything horrid ever being in the room was gone.
…………
"Chiro…you have blood stains on your feet." Haku pointed out.
A/N (part 2): PLEASE READ!
Dear Readers,
I apologize for my absence. I never meant to leave you all for such a long time. But things came up in my life; terrible things. For you see in March I lost my Grandmother on my mothers side. We were extremely close. So I hope you can see why my passion for writing died away a little. My Grandmother was the one that always gave me a lot of inspiration. She liked to listen to the things that I had written or were working on. She always liked to look at my artwork and stuff of that nature. I love her and miss her terribly. So I am apologizing to you, my beloved readers, of my attitude and absence for such a long time. I had considered for the longest time of just never finishing this fanfic and just posting all of what I had written for chapter twelve. But then when I reread some of chapter twelve I began to write. And I was finding all that joy that I almost forgot that I always found in writing. So once again I apologize! And don't worry chapter 12 wont be the end. But if it takes me awhile to post the next chapter, please be patient. For the plot is getting so good that it's getting hard to tell this story with out giving too much away all at once. So please be patient with me, I'm literally finishing writing a chapter in my notebook and going straight to the computer to type it out. The typing process takes about two days because of me going to school and things like that. So the majority of the long wait is me writing the next chapter. And it takes so much time because I don't want to have all these really great chapters and then post a really shitty chapter and lose you all. I love ya'll way too much for that to happen! I'll try my damnedest to get Ch.13 up a lot faster. Hopefully it'll be up by December 28th because that's when I leave for California for the Rose Parade. So if you want to "see me" then watch the parade. I'll be in one of the only high school ♫bands♪ from Texas (blue is our uniforms color). I play the flute! GO SENIOR FLUTES! So please watch and cheer for us. (We'll also be competing in a competition!) And thank you my readers! YOU all are my true muses!
Sincerely your loving author,
♥ZimXGir♥
