I looked around and was almost pushed back underwater when Chihiro's body came crashing into me in a suffocating hug.
"Ahhh why do you keep getting into trouble, sheesh are you okay what was that it looked like a woman underwater?" she asked looking at me and over to Haku in exasperation.
"She's a spirit of light, Emberlyne is her name. This is her home I guess, she said we could stay though." I said smiling at Chihiro.
"Making more friends I see. How is your back?" Haku asked letting his feet skim and dip into the water.
"Not really, she tolerates me, I don't think she and I are pals yet, just acquaintances. My back is much better, thanks." I said laughing as Chihiro began trying to tickle me.
Haku nodded and smiled as he watched us swim around trying to evade and tackle each other.
Chihiro moved forward grabbing my arm while whispering a sneaky plan to pull Haku into the water.
We both began giggling uncontrollably as we concocted our plan. Chihiro moved forward giving me a quick smile before setting off to distract Haku.
Acting as nonchalant as I could I swam about and finally ducked my head underwater diving down to skim along the bottom.
I looked up to the surface as I came up to the drop below the rock that Haku was sitting on.
He was looking off to his right at Chihiro who was waving her hands around animatedly and jumping up and down in the water.
Hopefully she was actually saying something and not just acting crazy, I thought smiling.
Taking a ready stance I held onto the steep rock face in front of me and gauged my timing.
His left foot touched the water… then his right foot, and his left foot dipped in deeper this time. I seized the moment and pushed myself upward moving as quickly as I could.
My hand snaked out of the water and grabbed his ankle tightly as I shot up from the water, grabbing the hand that was on his lap before pushing backwards on the rocks and dragging a shocked Haku with me into the water.
Surprisingly he didn't put up a fight and let me drag him down with me. Either he wanted to come swimming or he was too shocked, I wasn't sure.
Sinking into the water I opened my eyes finding Haku sinking just above me getting closer and closer.
I gulped as his body rested just above me and his face remained level with mine.
His green eyes seemed even livelier under water and his lips were turned up with amusement as he watched me.
I smiled shyly back.
Sneaky Lena very sneaky.
I heard his voice and laughter in my head. My cheeks began burning up at his statement and how close his body was to me.
His hair moved freely in the water, the glowing lights below us making it shine as we floated.
Moving forward he quickly pressed his lips to my cheek this time. I became stiff, unsure of what to do. His lips were so soft and lovely against my skin.
As he pulled away I subconsciously put my hand on the spot where he had kissed me, a questioning look forming on my features.
Thank you for being so willing to come and help someone you have only heard about. Thank you for trusting me.
His voice echoed in my head softly before he turned quickly and propelled himself to the surface.
My heart was beating so loudly it seemed to be competing with the rocks below me.
I pushed upward and came to the surface as well.
Chihiro caught my eye as I looked around and she smiled knowingly, she must have seen.
I blushed slightly and looked about to find Haku already getting out of the water.
"Well that didn't last very long, darn." Chihiro stated pouting slightly and giving me a wink that seemed to just cause my face to become redder.
As he stepped out of the water he stopped suddenly stiffening as he listened.
I listened to and although I couldn't hear anything I felt as if someone or something was watching us.
"We need to leave quickly, this place is no longer safe." He said turning around sternly, motioning for us to come quickly.
He picked up my box from it's hiding place and I felt the hair on my arms raise as I noticed the shadows in the trees seemed to be moving on there own. I'd seen this before, but back then I thought I was just seeing things, this time it seemed much more real and dangerous.
Haku's eyes searched the trees as he held out his hand to Chihiro who had already made it to the bank.
I began to swim faster now fear rising in my throat.
Just before I reached the bank a hand wrapped itself around my ankle and pulled me beneath the surface.
Turning quickly to see who had grabbed me my eyes widened when I saw Emberlyne her eyes glaring at me angrily and her hand wrapped like a vice around my ankle tightly.
"You have brought danger to my home, you have brought the shadows here. How dare you!" She screamed her eyes turning dark as she looked at me and pulled me farther down.
I tried to swim upwards, to release myself from her grasp, but it was no use.
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. I thought we would be safe here.
I said beginning to panic, I hadn't taken a breath before she pulled me down and I was running out of air far too quickly.
"You will pay, I warned you." Her voice screeched through the water, and I winced as it reached my ears.
I felt the water move about me and suddenly Haku's strong arm wrapped itself around my waste pulling me against him.
Without a word, he pushed forcefully against the water, creating a small whirlpool that pushed the spirit back and away.
She shrieked as she let go, the beauty and light that had been there was long gone, replaced by anger.
Circling around us she came at us again, and again Haku forcefully shoved her backwards with his magic.
He pulled me closer to him as he kicked upwards, pulling us both quickly to the surface.
A gasped as we emerged and he pushed me in front of him so he could keep Emberlyne at bay. I swam to the bank furiously, and reached it quickly.
Haku came up behind me only a moment later as Chihiro handed me my box. He grabbed my hand with his left and Chihiro's with his right and ran.
I felt my feet lift off the ground slightly as he ran, the trees swayed with the force of his strides and we flew by as shadow, hundreds of shadows, came out of the trees.
Each one was ghastly, without texture or shape.
No eyes stood on their forms, no mouths opened or closed as they watched us reaching out their forms to try and grab hold.
I thought that something with definition, with horns and sharp teeth would scare the skin off of me, but this somehow these creatures without faces held an unnamed and untamed fear in my heart.
We ran with Haku for a while and then all of a sudden we stopped, not too far from the pond.
I panicked, watching as the shapes came to a stop as well eyeing us as we stood there.
"What…why have we stopped, won't they get us?" I asked my voice trembling slightly.
Haku shook his head next to me, ushering myself and Chihiro to walk.
"No, we are on Zeniba's property now, they can't come here, her magic stops them." He said, and I finally noticed that we were on a long dirt road surrounded by trees and green hills on either side.
"I remember this road, I told you about it Lena, where No Face and my new friends walked after the train to get to Granny's house?" She said looking around Haku to see my reaction.
I nodded smiling slightly, it did sound familiar.
The shadows soon disappeared as we walked, and my nerves eventually eased.
Chihiro kept talking about how good it would be to see Zeniba and how much she had helped her.
I found myself lost in my own thoughts as we walked, the half hour playing over in my head.
It was so strange to think that something so beautiful could turn so hideous so quickly. I mean Emberlyne didn't seem dangerous but my last conversation with her terrified me.
I had a feeling that I would meet many more spirits like that, ones that would test my judgment and challenge my sanity.
At least I have Chihiro and Haku to help me weed through all of this, I thought smiling slightly as we enjoyed the long walk to Zeniba's.