Beginning note: I don't own Spirited Away, I'm not making any money off it, and this is all for the funzys.
Ablution - A ceremonial act of washing parts of the body or sacred containers
Ablution
Something about the tone of the child god had almost scared her, as Chihiro brushed the image away from the surface of the water with a rolling of her fingertips. Something about the way he spoke, and the words he weaved for her Dragon, -meaning hidden deep in riddles and omissions- held some dark edge to them that made her look more closely at the shadows that licked at the edges of her vision.
Because for the first time in a very long time, Chihiro wasn't completely sure she'd make it out alive. As she brushed a strand of dark hair over her shoulder, turning nervously toward the shrine at her back to grab hold of one of the bowls placed so perfectly within it; She wasn't sure she was supposed to.
She took a deep breath, as she turned back around to dip the bowl gently in the water; trying to calm herself with the art of ablution.
The way The Nameless one had looked at her, -with such timeless sadness- when he left her to the darkness of the cavern. I think in the next life, your soul will be a spirit again, unhindered by mortal flesh.
His voice, teasing with a dark mischief that had only been witnessed in the volatile forms of child-gods; informing Kohaku of what was to occur should he loose. Should you not, though, your suffering will not just be your own.
Cove had come as close as any god every had to begging; so that she would not see this through.
The woman shuddered softly, eyes clamping shut to fend off tears when she realized of just what was necessary for Kohaku to claim this place.
She was not meant to survive this trial.
Note: Hey. So. I got curious and started looking at my stats on this site. And Ablution, uncompleted at 106 chapters (now 107), has 603 reviews; placing it in the #9 slot of most reviews Spirited Away romance fics. I was so flabbergasted that I wrote you all a chapter.