Spirited Away Fan Fiction ❯ The Reign of the Elements ❯ Warriors and Catfish ( Chapter 6 )

Chapter 6: Warriors and Catfish

 

A/N: I'm on what I would like to call a writing frenzy. This usually happens when I'm writing something that I love so…it seems that I really love Reign. It's funny, this hasn't happened to me since I wrote my first novel (don't look for it in bookstores, it's not published unfortunately). Just for the record, I finished my 1st novel in a month or so! (My beta's gonna kill me from how many chapters I'm dumping on her! Hee! Hee! Now to go hide from Stray!)

 

Enjoy the story and reviews, as always, are extremely appreciated!

 

Disclaimer: I do not own Spirited Away or any of its characters. Spirited Away is the property of Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli. Also, I'm not making a profit from this fic so please don't sue this very poor writer!

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Mmmm, this dream was definitely odd. A soft fuzzy ball kept swishing at my nose. It felt weird; like the fur was hard? That didn't make any sense. The odd sensations made me begin to wake up from the warmth of slumber. Still the sensation persisted. Odd. Wasn't that supposed to leave with the dream?

 

My eyes blinked open and all I saw was white. After blinking a few times it didn't change.

 

And then, suddenly, it moved and instead of looking at white I was looking at a small, black eyed face.

 

“You awake?” she asked in an angelic voice.

 

It spoke. Oh. My. Kami! That did it.

 

I screamed and staggered back managing to hit every appendage on the floor and on the wall beside me as I struggled to stand up. She followed me with her eyes as a small smile spread across her face.

 

What was she?! The thing couldn't be more than four feet tall with massive amounts of white hair and black, pupiless eyes. Her skin gleamed like diamonds and was covered with a fine sheen of translucent fur. She looked like a weird cat-human. Am I sure I'm not still dreaming?

 

“The human is awake!” she called in her little kid voice, “but I do not understand why she is screaming.”

 

Who was she talking to? Me? Was she nuts or did she have that disease? Oh please tell me she was the former and not the late! I could deal with lunacy: just not that disease again!

 

“Well, she's probably afraid of you,” a deep voice echoed from outside.

 

My muscles froze as I turned to stare out the glass doors to stare at a red haired boy sitting on the balcony railing outside. His hair wasn't just red, it was fire red with what looked like feathers sticking out from within its tangled masses. His slanted green jade eyes stared at me as my own eyes locked with his. Long feathered arms that ended with long bony fingers were crossed in a defiant look.

 

And his legs were wrong. They bent the wrong way, I mean, like a bird. Were those claws on his feet as well? Oh, yes they were! My eyes snapped back to his face as he smirked at me.

 

“Yo,” he intoned.

 

That did it. Again.

 

“KAMAJI!”

 

I picked up my over kimono and ran from the room screaming. My feet pounded against the floor muffling the outraged cries from the two creatures in the room. The stairs seemed faster so my brain led my body instinctively down the steps. My arms pushed through the kimono's arms and then tied it shut without a thought.

 

Had to get to Kamaji, had to get to his boiler before the creatures got me! Tripping, sliding, and running down the stairs almost killed me. The bottom reached my face before my feet could touch it and there I was, laying, face flat on the floor, in pain and humiliation.

 

“Sen-chan!” Kamaji's voice called in surprise and worry as I groaned pitifully and struggled to get on my.

 

“Never mind that!” That wasn't the problem. Those people in my room were!

 

“What is it?” he asked, pulling me gently to my feet.

 

“Th-th-there are t-two people in my room!” My voice stuttered as a hundred different thoughts tried to come out at the same time.

 

“Ah!” Kamaji nodded wisely, “so they found your room”

 

What? What did he mean they found my room! This was not a good thing! Furry creatures and bird men were not supposed to be popping into my room or into my bed for that matter! If Kamaji had anything to do with this he was going to die a slow, painful death! How dare he!

 

“What?!” I yelled. He patted my shoulder as my muscles sprung up. And throbbed. Ow…

 

“I'm sorry they might have scared you but when you didn't come downstairs they decided to go up and wake you.”

 

“Why…what…I still don't understand.” My shoulders drooped as the large dose of adrenaline started to wear off.

 

Kamaji frowned and then looked behind him motioning for someone to come forward. My eyes moved to look at a tall long, black haired man. He bowed to me and then turned slightly to look at the other person coming forward.

 

My heart stopped as I saw evenly chopped blue hair and bangs. The uniform was the same, the stance was the same, he was the same.

 

“Haku?” I breathed. The person froze and lifted his head and…

 

It turns out that the he was a she. And she had bright violet eyes instead of Haku's ever shifting hazel eyes. She narrowed these same eyes at me and turned to look meaningfully at the man.

 

“Ohaiyo-gozaimsu, Sen-san.” The man bowed to me as I bowed back formally.

 

“Ohaiyo-gozaimsu.” My eyes flicked between the girl and the man standing before me.

 

“My name is Daisuke and the lovely lady at my side.” He motioned to the girl who stepped forward with a slight smile, “her name is Lady Sora of the wind clan.” The girl bowed slightly, not even looking at me. She kept her gaze somewhere behind me.

 

A ruckus was heard from the stairs and two voices squabbled childishly. The two creatures in my room burst down the stairs, the bird man crouching down to bicker with the tiny fur ball that tried to jump up to the his height.

 

“…and it was you're idea to disturb her sleep!”

 

“Well, you were all for it until she started screaming!”

 

“My ears are sensitive! You got a—?”

 

“A-hem!” Kamaji cleared his throat causing the fight to stop abruptly. The two of them turned to stare at the old spider with a frown.

 

“We should introduce ourselves, shouldn't we?” the little girl spoke softly. Kamaji nodded as the girl stepped forward about to speak.

 

“Why should you speak first, shrimp?” The bird man grumbled. The girl turned, flashing gleaming fangs at the man.

 

“Because I'm stronger and smarter, feather brain.”

 

“Fur ball!” he retorted.

 

“Feather brain!” She shrieked, turning to stare him down. Er, up.

 

“SILENCE!” Kamaji's voiced boomed through the room bringing everyone to order.

 

“Excuse the feather brain,” the girl said with a smile, “he's an idiot.” The man was about to retort but the girl cut him off, “my name is Gina! It is a pleasure to meet the great Sen-san!”

 

A scoffing sound echoed behind me. Turning around, Sora was staring at me with hard, hateful eyes. What did I do? Really, haven't said two words to the girl and she hates me. Great, just great. Good thing I wouldn't have to see her after today.

 

“Have something to say?” I asked, annoyed.

 

“Sora-sama does not speak.” Daisuke said.

 

“What? Why?” I asked looking at the girl who pointedly ignored me.

 

“Even I do not know the reason.” Well, if she wanted to be a mute then that was her prerogative. The little girl, Gina, was still waiting for me to speak to her.

 

“It is a big pleasure to meet you.” I bowed to her and she squealed running up to hug my legs. It shocked me to no end as she burrowed her tiny body around my legs.

 

“You're scaring her again, Gina-chan.” The bird man said in a sing song voice. Gina let my legs go and turned to glare at the man.

 

“Gina-san! Don't call me so informally!” she shrieked.

 

“Calm down, catfish,” he chuckled.

 

“Catfish?” I asked. The girl frowned and sniffed, refusing to answer. Kamaji burst into great guffaws.

 

“Gina-san's parents are a neko youkai and water youkai.” Kamaji explained.

 

“You don't have to make fun of me, Akihiko-kun!” She emphasized the kun part like a jab.

 

“Aw man! Now you ruined my introduction!” He sighed and then turned to look at my wide eyes, “Still want me to introduce myself?” His green eyes twinkled in anticipation.

 

“S-sure.” Weird and weirder!

 

“Name's Akihiko, like catfish here said, I'm a fire youkai, a phoenix bird if you will.” He bowed slowly to me, bending awkwardly on his backward knees.

 

Silence seemed to settle around us as the…creatures stare at me expectantly. Were the waiting for me to speak? Maybe they wanted an introduction? It seemed like they knew a lot about me so why would they be waiting for me to talk? I twitched nervously under the combined gazes, hoping the ground would swallow me.

 

“Sen-chan,” Kamaji broke the silence and the tension left my body easily.

 

“Hai?” I asked.

 

“You better go change into your other clothes,” he said, nodded up the stairs.

 

“What, those weird miko clothes?”

 

“Hai! I picked them out for you!” Gina chirped happily. She reminded me of a kitten and it made me chuckle when she talked.

 

“Okay.” I said going back up the stairs.

 

“Be back here in a few minutes! We need to talk!” Kamaji called as I climbed the stairs. Oh great, it was never a good thing when some said `we need to talk'.

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“We're going on a what?” I asked, standing up from the table. The rest of the group looked up at my outrage.

 

We had been here for just a few minutes discussing this mission that I had been, unknowingly, signed up for. Gina, Akihiko, and Sora were coming with me and what were we going to do? We were going to go defeat an army and a demented, magically empowered baby with only four people; of which one didn't have any powers: yours truly.

 

“Calm down, Sen-chan,” Gina soothed as she tugged me to sit back down on the chair. She had to reach up on her toes to grasp the knees of my trousers.

 

“But, we're out numbered!” I cried. Sora sniffed and looked away.

 

“I wish you would just talk!” I yelled, a small smirk crossed her face, which looked so out of place considering that Haku would never have that smirk on his face.

 

“Sora-sama does not believe that we are outnumbered.” Daisuke said with an assured nod.

 

“Yeah, well I don't really trust a mute snob,” Akihiko muttered. It was like he'd read my mind. Probably literally. I had no idea what powers they had in their arsenal. Sora turned to glare at him with eyes like hardened amethysts.

 

“You should treat Sora-sama with more respect!” Daisuke tutted.

 

“When she does the same for me, I'll be sure to return the favor,” Akihiko smirked rudely at Sora while she just narrowed her eyes and picked up the tea in front of her. For a moment, it looked like she was going to throw it on him but, at the last second, she drank from it demurely.

 

“So,” I brought them back to order, “what does this mission entail?” My clothing crinkled as my arms crossed over my chest.

 

“You must go to Boh's castle and infiltrate it. Then, you must make Boh take away the spell at any cost. After that, you're free to go,” Kamaji stated simply. Oh sure, if it were that easy I would have arrived on a thriving land of the spirits and not this shadow of its former self.

 

“Any hazards along the way?” I asked.

 

“Everything and anything imaginable,” Gina fiddled with her fingers, letting her hair slid forward until her face was hidden; her voice shrouded in mystery.

 

“I know for one that he has a flock of bird spirits at his disposal,” Akihiko murmured quietly. There was something about his voice, like he was leaving something out but this wasn't the perfect time to ask.

 

“What else?” I asked instead of asking about the birds.

 

“Horrible ninja shadow youkai, poison youkai, every type of danger,” Gina began to shiver as she spoke.

 

A soft knock sounded against the table. Five pairs of eyes turned to look at Sora who was looking back at us. Her eyes slid shut and for long moments, nothing happened.

 

Then the wind blew around us like a tornado. Daisuke and Kamaji didn't seem fazed. Gina squeaked and gripped the table as Akihiko ducked down to avoid being whipped up by the wind. Of course, he would know what to do considering he probably spent his time flying! I, on the other hand, wasn't so knowledgeable so my head was knocked back by the force of the wind.

 

A voice echoed through the wind, winding into my ears.

 

“Zombies created from his disease” the voice hissed, “telepathic torturers, hell demons, horrors beyond any mere mortal's imagination”

 

And with that the wind died down as quick as it came. We turned to stare at Sora who was just starting to open her violet eyes

 

“Sora-sama uses this technique to make the wind speak for her. She is very talented, ne?” Daisuke smiled slightly at us as we gave him a withering look.

 

My hair was a mess! Well for that matter Gina's silver locks were tussled as well. Akihiko's hair was always wild and Kamaji's…well Kamaji's hair was like wires.

 

“Don't do that again,” I growled staring at a superior looking Sora.

 

“You do not command what Sora-sama does!” Daisuke stated in outrage.

 

“Do me a favor, Daisuke-san,” I said with a sweet voice.

 

“Within moderation.”

 

“Shut up.” My voice came out in a monotone. He was really getting on my nerves. Daisuke's jaw clicked shut as Akihiko snorted rudely.

 

“Can we please get back to business?” Kamaji sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

 

“With pleasure!” Akihiko stated, crossing his legs as we turned back to the boiler man. I tried not to look at the way the bird-legs bent to save my stomach.

 

“You will have to leave in a few hours.” Kamaji stood and we stood with him.

 

“Why so soon?” Gina whined in a tiny voice.

 

“Because,” Daisuke interrupted, “the sooner you leave, the quicker you can get there and save more lives.”

 

“Right,” Kamaji turned to us and clapped two of his spider legs together, “we meet back in three hours.”

 

And with that we were dismissed to idle away the time until this doomed mission.

 

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Well, it has come to my attention that I really should explain a bit about honorifics for those that don't really know about them. In Japan, honorifics are as important as names. Each one has a different meaning depending on formality. The highest and most formal honorific is dono, this means something close to master or some one that you respect very much. The next is sama, this means lord or lady and is used for people that are owed a lot of respect and to nobility. San is the next one, this is used for men and women and the translation is Mr., Mrs., or Ms. Chan is the informal honorific used between friends and it can also be used for a little boy. Kun is the informal version of chan for boys.

 

Now, if some one doesn't use an honorific with another person it can mean one of two things: one, that the two people are very close as in best friends, lovers, engaged, or married; two, it could mean that one person does not respect the other person and wants to be rude. Using an informal honorific when a more respectful one is needed can be just as rude as using no honorific.

 

So…if any one remembers back in chapter 2, Chihiro gets ticked off when Akihiro, her ex-boyfriend that is not to be confused with Akihiko the bird man, calls her `Chihiro' without an honorific, this is because she finds it rude that he is so familiar with her when they are not “an item” any more. Look back at that part, her comment should make more sense!

 

Usually, most people call each other by their last names but because that would become way to confusing, I just let them all call each other by their first names. Also, I don't think spirits have last names…

 

Wow, long note but I just wanted to clarify some things that might be confusing. Anyways, how'd you like the chapter? I really like to hear what you think!

 

~~Go-chan

 

P.S. this is my beta's favorite chapter because Akihiko is introduced!! We both love Akihiko!!

 

P.S.S. Swear I'll shut up after this…but I do have to remind you guys, reviews are extremely appreciated!!