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Let's see where this goes eh?

Chapter 4- Tower of the West

The travel was monotonous. Who would have thought that traveling through a strange new land would be so dull?

No, dull wasn't the correct word...it was just that Chihiro had to shut herself off. There might have been beauty, but she was too terrified wondering how the hell she was going to convince a certain white dragon to help her, that the scenery became background noise to her mind. What did one say to a dragon? What language did they speak? What if he decided to eat Aki instead!

Lin had laughed at her when she told her fears.

"Trust me on this, Dragon Boy and I go way back. Kohaku is too proud to do anything like that. Once a dragon agrees to a quest, they don't double cross they're too...what's the word...honorable...no, that's not it…..Uptight. Yep. That's the word. They are too uptight."

Strangely, finding out that dragons were considered uptight did not soothe any of Chihiro's fears.

"So, since you know him so well, why don't you ask Kohaku to help me?"

Lin sighed, "When we last spoke… we didn't end on good terms. I'm kind of expecting him to try to bite off my head when he sees me again, but he won't do that infront of you."

"Why do you say that?"

"You know, I think that I am going to go run up ahead and make sure that the road ahead is safe."

With that Lin was gone. And after several more attempts, Chihiro stopped trying to get the sable spirit to tell her more about Kohuku the white dragon. She instead focused on walking. And walking. And more walking. At least the walking kept her too exhausted to cry. Soon walking kept her too exhausted to think anymore. All she did; all she existed for was walking.

They walked through villages that looked tidy and traditional with hardly any spirits, animals or people in them. Perfectly cared for houses, restaurants, and tea shops lined the clean streets. But hardly anyone was there. It didn't make sense to Chihiro; even down the main street, she could see stands set up for big market days but again, no one was there. Before she could formulate a question, Lin yelled at her to pick-up the pace.

The second village they walked through was a little bigger than the first one, but it was the same. Clean and empty. Note in the horror-apocalyptic way, but in the sleepy, held-in-time, magical kind of way.

By the time they made it through the second village, Chihiro had no energy to waste on talking. After walking none stop for over 8 hours, she didn't even have the energy to be curious. It took everything to put one foot in front of the other, ignore her sore back and shoulders from carrying her pack Zeniba gave her and her numb blistered feet.

No-Face noticed Chihiro struggling, and he came to her, with his gestures and grunts, mimed to Chihiro his offer to carry her pack. Chihiro watched with shock as her pack was absorbed into No-Face. No-Face then pointed back to the path Lin was guiding them on. With her jaw still dropped; Chihiro followed No-Face. What type of spirit was he? Would she get her pack back? Too late now for that question.

It was was great relief, hours later, when Lin took them several yards off the main road to set up camp for the night.

At the clearing, No-Face made her pack appear in both of his hands as he held it out to her respectfully with a head nod. With a strange feeling of deja vu, Chihiro took her pack back. She thanked No-Face for his help. As she moved away from No-Face, she had the strange feeling that this might have been the first time she had ever accepted one of No-Face's gifts…..Before she could ponder that more, Lin yelled at her to start gathering firewood.

The first night they gathered around a small fire and eat enchanted food from Zeniba, that consisted of hard dried bread and some sort of protein strips. The protein strips were a little rubber and had a slight smoky flavor. She had no idea what she was eating. The less Chihiro contemplated it, the better it was, she decided. With the bites she took, she could feel her injuries magically healing. Even the blisters on her feet healed. A generally feeling of tired, sore muscles and fatigue were the only lasting physical discomfort still plaguing her. Magical food was really an amazing thing.

Well, Chihiro mused to herself, she and Lin ate, but No-Face seemed to survive solely off of air. Stopping mid bite, Chihiro turned her head, and looked at No-Face. He noticed her stare and turn to look back at her. Chihiro wondered if he could see through the eyes on the mask he wore, or if his eyes were like his mouth and somewhere else on his body….No-Face didn't seem to mind Chihiro's stare, remained a silent dark comforting presence to Chihiro's left. Lin sat farther off to her right silently battling her own demons.

Chihiro brought her attention back to her food in front of her. She was struggling to keep her eyes open long enough to stay awake and eat her food.

Lin made a movement and now Chihiro found herself contemplating the mystery that was Lin and her relationship with the white dragon they were rescuing. She knew that something had happened between the two of them. Something bad. Lin was nervous about seeing him again. With a sigh, Chihiro finished the last few bites of her bread as her eyes closed.

In a half asleep state, she pulled out the blanket Zeniba had given her to sleep on, and wrapping herself in it as best she could, Chihiro became oblivious to the world. Some time during the night, or maybe she dreamed it, Chihiro could have swore she felt a comforting hand on her shoulder, but then it was gone.

That night Chihiro dreamed of being a stranger in a strange place, unknown allies, and a kind man in a boiler room. Morning came too soon, but unlike most dreams, the memories of this one stayed with her at the edge of her consciousness.

"Don't be afraid, I just want to help you"

"She's my granddaughter."

"For some reason, I can remember Haku...from a long time ago...but I thought I never met him before!"

"Oh, that's a wonderful place to start! Once you meet someone, you never really forget them."

Waking in the morning, Chihiro's eyes were crusted over. Apparently she must have cried in her sleep. She wiped them clean with her hands. Wordlessly, Lin handed her something hot to drink and some more of the hard bread. Obediently eating it, Chihiro fought to keep her cloudy mind clear and fight off her feelings of doubt. She was again struck by how the sable spirit seemed to know her so well, well enough to be comfortable to give her her the space she needed. She wished that they had been reunited under better circumstances.

The second day followed very much like the first. The main difference was that No-Face offered to carry Chihiro's pack from the start, and Chihiro let him since it seemed to give the spirit much joy, nor did it seem to burden him. The companions continued their endless walking on the fairly groomed dirt path. However, this day, the path was more strenuous taking the travellers on a path full of switchbacks, wrapping around a mountain, not quite going past the tree line, and traversed along a dusty plateau at high elevation before they slightly headed to a lower elevation. This time when they finally stopped, Chihiro's legs didn't stop quivering and she knew her blood on her feet from her new popped blisters, stained her shoes. The boat shoes she had been wearing the night she had entered the spirit world were not the best shoes for trekking up and down mountains. She was so gratefully when the sun was finally starting to set because that meant they would be stopping for the night.

This time though Lin broke their silence around the campfire.

"Tomorrow, we will be able to approach the tower by midday. I will scout around and determine the best approach. No-Face, you wait with Chihiro until I come back."

"Uh-uh." grunted No-Face in agreement.

"Won't we want to wait until night falls to approach the tower?" questioned Chihiro.

"Nope. At nightfall everyone will be awake and active."

"What?"

Lin read the confusion on Chihiro's face. "Nighttime is when we spirits are more active. The opposite of the human world I believe.

"Oh, so by traveling by day…"

"Yep, it was easier for us to avoid detection. That was why hardly anyone was up in the spirit villages we passed."

Chihiro nibbled her lips and thought about how to word her next question. "Hey Lin, how did Kohaku get captured? And, if he was captured, how would he be strong enough to help defeat the Black Dragon?"

"How long have you been waiting to ask those questions?"

Eyes purposely avoid making contact.

"Kohaku is a very powerful river spirit. Even when he was blocked off from his river, the main source of his power, Yubaba had to steal his name and place a living seal inside of him to control him."

Almost a flicker of recognition passed through Chihiro.

"Well, Kohaku, with the help of a human girl, was able to break out the spell Yubaba had him under, and at the same time, Yubaba also changed….not quite sure, but that girl left a lasting impression on all of us…."

Chihiro wonder who that girl could be. Maybe she could ask her for help too. Chihiro was realistic, she had been spoiled and bratty as a child, there was no way she could have done something that noble; she was not the valiant human girl Lin spoke of. But that meant there was another possible allie out there who could help her. That gave her hope.

"Anyway," Lin continued, "he and Yubaba came to an agreement of sorts, he would continue to apprentice under her but the rules of the agreement would change. He would no longer be under her control. In fact, he ended up with partial ownership of the bathhouse a couple years before he left. Still not quite sure how he worked that deal for himself..." Lin's eyes took on a faraway look as she was remembering.

"During that time, the bathhouse flourished, and all around it was better for all of us workers. Kohaku grew in even more power, strength, and skill. He grew more powerful than what should have been possible as the apprentice of the bathhouse witch. It was rumored that he was able to get back in contact with his river and possibly took over another. But that was just a rumor. Don't know if there was any truth to it. Kohaku was too secretive, I never got a straight answer out of him."

"What does the river stuff mean?' Chihiro interjected before she could think better of it.

"Well, it's hard to explain, but let me try…. Kohaku is a river spirit right?"

"I thought he was a dragon?"

"Well, he is... but he is also a river spirit who has the form and power of a dragon. Does that make sense?"

Chihiro nodded. But her eyes did not show comprehension.

"So, Kohaku is a river spirit, and that means he gains power from his river as well as the power he has inherently for being a dragon….But Kohaku even though he is young for a dragon spirit, he was always powerful and skilled with magic. The one main source of his power was his river. Rumor has it that his river was destroyed by humans, which let him to fall prey to Yubaba so easily. Though not many spirits can survive a living seal placed inside of them, and Kohaku did for years….He is just stupidly powerful…." Lin trailed off lost in her own thoughts.

Chihiro tried her best to follow Lin's explanation, but she felt herself becoming more and more confused. Before she could ask Lin clarifying questions; Lin continued.

"He was always hard to get close to. Always maintaining an artificial air of separation. Even when he was just a lowly worker.. But after…. Well everything, I can honestly say that we were friends." A smile entered Lin's voice. "Let me tell you, he was really impressive especially during the last few years before he left….powerful, skilled, and full of his calm bravado. He really was a sight to see. Trust me, the Kohaku I knew, was strong enough to take on the Black Dragon…" Lin trailed off lost in her memories.

"But I guess looking back, it wasn't enough for him. Its funny how hindsight makes things obvious for you huh?"

Chihiro knew that last comment was rhetorical.

"Why did he leave us?" This time, Chihiro felt that Lin was looking for a response.

Chihiro had no idea what to say. Before she come up with something; Lin continued.

"Years ago Kohaku became restless, and like many young males who are powerful, he began looking for ways to prove himself. He started getting involved in some pretty crazy stuff. Stupid dangerous. I also think that during this time he became aware of his dormant hormones. So he did what every restless, powerful male would do; he joined the war movement to prove himself and found a lover."

"War? What war?" Chihiro made sure to steer Lin away from talking about dormant dragon hormones and lovers.

"The Spirit World might not look like it from what you have seen, but we are at war. There is a war is taking place in our borderlands, a war that threatens the very existence of the Spirit World for reasons I don't really understand….

"We would argue about it a lot. I told him that he was paranoid. We have been at war since the beginning of time. Light versus dark. It just a part of our existence. He didn't agree. He was convinced that something had changed ...that something would shift the balance."

Lin stared at the fire and took another drink. Chihiro wonder if there was alcohol in it. If there wa, she wanted some too. All of a sudden her little rescue mission quest had gotten so much more complicated. She really didn't want to get involved in a war. She was selfish. She could admit that she only really cared about saving Aki… he was her priority.

"I probably shouldn't have called her a money grubbing harlot." Lin mused out loud.

"Who is the harlot?" Chihiro asked.

"Gisele. I never trusted her. She was too pretty. Too perfect. She just appeared out of nowhere and Kohaku fell for her. Hard. Right before he left us, we got into a really big fight. I might have told Kohaku what I really thought of Gisele and that he needed to stop thinking with his little head….As you can imagine, that did not end well."

Lin and Chihiro shared a grin. Both of them had experience with men in that department.

"I don't really know what happened to him after he left us. For awhile I think things were going well for him. If half those stories were tru that made it to the Bathhouse, Kohaku became even more powerful and impressive... but something happened. I am not really sure what, but the gossip was that Gisele betrayed him. She convinced him to join a sector of rebel forces, who believed that the Western Lord is not taking a strong enough stance on our enemies. The rebel forces engage in more reckless and ruthless fighting.

"Kohauku joined them, betrayed the Western Lord, and was set-up by Gisele to fight the enemy alone in a suicide mission. Again, I really don't know the details. But from what I understand, Kohaku survived, was captured by the Western Lord, and imprisoned in the Tower of the West for his actions. I think his sentence was supposed to be death….but instead he was imprisoned."

Chihiro's mind raced as she processed everything she had heard. If Lin was speaking the truth, Kohaku was a force to be reckoned with... She felt a pit in stomach grow. Just how was she supposed to get him to help her? Something tugged at her.

"Hey Lin, won't the Western Lord retaliate against us for freeing Kohaku?"

"No. Why would you think that?" Lin cocked her head in confusion.

"Because we would be freeing one of his prisoners?" Seriously. What was she missing?

"Haha Ha! Oh thats a good one! Lin laughed wiping tears from her eyes. "Honestly, I bet the Western Lord has forgotten that Kohaku in imprisoned in his Tower. Everyone was expecting him to escape by now."

Okay. Now Chihiro was really confused.

Lin took another sip of her drink before she continued.

"Kohaku had to be punished. The Western Lord could not be seen playing favorites. So Kohaku was imprisoned in the Tower of the West. But everyone knows that the Tower of the West is both an execution and pardon."

"No. Not everyone." Chihiro interjected.

Lin rolled her eyes and continued. "You are the exception. The Tower of the West is made of special stone called amariz. It has the ability to nullify spiritual power. Now for most spirits prolonged exposure would equal death. But Kohaku, as I mentioned before, he is really powerful. For him to be held in the Tower for prolonged periods wouldn't kill him. Weaken him yes. But he was only supposed to be imprisoned a year...maybe a year and a half…Though honestly we were all expecting to break out once he was healed."

"Hold on. I am trying to understand. You're telling me that the white dragon has remained in the Tower for three years.. . arguably longer than he was supposed too….why?"

"That is why I am convinced he is pouting. The Kohaku I knew, regardless of enchanted stones and life threatening wounds would be able to free himself. He just needs to stop sulking and possibly find the right motivation." Lin finished with a sideways glance at Chihiro.

Chihiro did not understand that last comment. She was also purposely ignoring the fact she did see Lin's sideways glance at her. She wasn't sure how on earth she was supposed to figure out the right motivation for a dragon. Frankly none of this was making sense to her.

When she expressed this to Lin, Lin just smiled and said something to the effect of welcome to the Spirit World.

Lin had then walked away from the fire, gathered her blankets and started snoring softly. Chihiro groaned in her hands. Apparently storytime was over; She was more confused and now it was time for her to get to sleep. Tomorrow she would have to convince a sulky, possibly embarrassed, broken-hearted dragon to help her rescue her son. Great.

Her mind kept going over everything the two of them had talked about. She sighed. She was more lost than before. Hours later, she decided to just give-up. She would meet the dragon soon, and then maybe, just maybe, after meeting him, Lin's story would make more sense to her. Rolling over she covered her head with her arms to block the light of the rising moon. Finally she succumbed to a dreamless sleep.

"So how dangerous is this tower?" Chihiro asked as she, Lin and No-Face, were laying down on a rock face overlooking the valley that housed the Tower.

"Well, it is the Tower used to houses some pretty dangerous criminals as well as political prisoners...but now, I believe that is it the closest strong hold to the borderlands I think Kohaku is the only one there in time-out."

Chihiro couldn't help the smile that crept on her face. Lin was purposely trying to get Chihiro to relax. This morning, Lin told Chihiro that the Western Lord was in his right to execute Kohaku on spot after he found him barely alive from his battle; but instead, took him in and gave him a place to heal. What was left unspoken was that Chihiro's main problem once they figured out how to get into the Tower, would be convincing Kohaku to leave.

Oh joy.

Lin made the signal, and everyone backed away from the rock face out of sight of the Tower.

"Okay, this is the plan. I am going to set up a distraction over by the main entrance. No-Face, you are going to transport Chihiro into the tower. And help her find Kohaku. My guess is that Kohaku is being held in the top of the tower or in the very bottom or maybe the middle.. No that doesn't make sense. Definately the top. If he were to escape, they wouldn't want him to take down the whole tower with him." Lin smiled at Chihiro.

"Okay, so you will have to figure out where the best place is to hold a captured dragon. I am pretty sure that he will be the only dragon you will come across. But just in case, he is kind of a luminescent white with green eyes and a green mane. Oh, and he has really sharp teeth."

Chihiro swallowed hard and nodded. She had expected Lin to come in with her. She didn't like that she would have to leave the sable spirit behind.

"Hey, what's with that face? You will be fine. No-Face has some great skills that will be more helpful for you in there then me. Plus, trust me on this, Kohaku seeing me will not help you get him to join us. I wish I was joking."

"Okay Lin, I believe you. How dangerous are the guards? What happens to us if we get captured?"

"Don't get captured." The joking tone had left Lin's voice.

She held up her hand stopping Chihiro from interjecting.

"I am serious Sen, Don't get captured. I am not sure what will happen to you since you are a human, but the guards will probably eat you. No-Face," Lin turned to contemplated the tall dark spirit. "No-Face will be fine. They won't want to mess with him."

No-Face nodded at Lin. Both spirits seemed to have a silent conversation purposely keeping Chihiro in the dark.

"No-Face will keep you safe. Nothing will happen to you." Lin's face was set firm. And No-Face nodded solemnly. How a creature made up of inky black shadows could portray confidence and security, was a mystery to Chihiro, but she couldn't help the fact that she felt safe with him. A creature of nightmares.

"Okay." Chihiro agreed. "What's your plan? When do we need to move out?"

"Let me check one more thing and then I will tell you." Lin moved back up the rock formation to look below. "Alright, I still need to get a closer look. I should be back in about an hour no more than two. While I am gone, keep watching the guards below, try to get a feel for when and how the move in rotation."

Before Chihiro could verbally agree to Lin's command, she was gone.

Chihiro looked back at No-Face after she finished looking for where Lin had disappeared to. He made a shrugging gesture. Chihiro smiled up at him. Yes. He was a creature of nightmares, but he was keeping her safe and somehow she knew that he was one of her staunch allies.

"Is she always like that?"

"Uh-uh"

The smile on her face grew. "That's what I thought. I still have no idea what I am doing. What does she mean by "move in rotation"?"

No-Face gestured and Chihiro shook her head in response. "Nope. I still don't understand. But I will climb back up and watch the guards and the Tower, and maybe it will make sense."

Two hours past in companionable mostly silence. Chihiro would speak every now and them and No-Face would respond with grunting or gestures. Chihiro was getting better at interpreting them.

"Wait, what do you mean that someone is coming?"

Not waiting for Chihiro to respond, No-Face gathered her up and jumped into the tall trees above them.

Of course being gathered up by No-Face, meant that she was being absorbed into his inky blackness. Damn. She hope it wasn't permanent. But it beat the alternative. Three humanoid spirits dressed in the tower guard uniform entered the clearing with nasty looking weapons drawn.

"No one else is here. Maybe it was a false alarm."

"I'm not sure, the commander said the sable spirit smelled like a human." The guard took a couple deep breaths through his nose. "I can smell one too. Female. She is close too."

Chihiro felt herself being sucked further into No-Face, only her head remained out.

"No." one of the other guards replied. "I can't smell any humans here. Their stench is pretty recognizable. I think you and the commander might just be in need of a vacation. Too much time in the Tower will do that to you."

"Strange though… I'm not sure what a bathhouse spirit is doing so far away. Pity that we had to give her to General Michio. She was a pretty one."

The guards laughed and moved on.

Chihiro noticed that No-Face had covered her mouth with his hand to keep her gasp of surprise muffled.

Once No-Face deemed it was safe, he removed his hand.

"They have capture Lin! What are we going to do?"

No-Face didn't respond; he looked to the base of the tower, and seemed to be making some sort of mental calculations. Chihiro felt his body bunch up and coil. The he placed his hand on the top of his head and pushed her completely into himself.

Chihiro was surprised to find herself in a state of suspended animation, where she didn't need to breathe, but she was perfectly aware of what was going on around her. She could see shadows and figures that were outside of No-Face. She also suspected, that somehow, by bing inside of him, he was able to neutralize her existence in the Spirit World.

No-Face shot off the tree top and headed towards the tower. They now had to rescue Lin and a dragon.