Spirited Away Fan Fiction ❯ The Reign of the Elements ❯ Walking on Water ( Chapter 7 )

Chapter 7: Walking on Water

 

IMPORTANT A/N!!!!: Alright, so this very exhausted author is going on a much needed vacation. Why has this prompted an important A/N? Well, I won't have internet where I'm going so I can't update! So sry to all my loyal readers!! I just wanted to tell you guys that the next update will be around July 20th. Two whole weeks without Reign!! Oh the suspense!!

 

P.S. Still on a writing frenzy!! Finally the mission starts in this chapter and I can't wait to start writing it. This is going to be fun! Fight scenes, secret spilling, suspense, angst, and jealousy. Oooo! I just get excited thinking about it!

 

P.S.S. Thank you Staryphoenix for beta-ing my stuff!

 

Disclaimer: I do not own Spirited Away or its characters. Spirited Away is the property of Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli so please don't sue me, I don't get any profit from this!

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The water sloshed over my bare feet, shoes stuffed into the bag at my back. It was funny to see how the water almost came up to Gina's mid thighs, soaking her hakama. Her eyes glared daggers at the truant water.

 

“You're a water spirit right?” I asked. She looked up at me then looked back and nodded. “So why don't you push the water away from you?”

 

“Sounds simple doesn't it?” she asked in an airy voice. Her eyes shifted to the sky, “It would be so easy to do just that…” Oh. I had hit a nerve, a big one or so it seemed. Those black eyes of hers went misty with some memory or other.

 

“Gina-san?” I called snapping her back to earth when she seemed to be planning on staying permanently on whatever world she was in.

 

“Hmm?” she turned to me, before starting and waving her arms in the air. “It would draw too much attention to us if I kept up a water spell for so long.”

 

“But how will you walk?” I asked. She looked down at the water again and sighed.

 

“I know not,” she clenched her fists into her pants.

 

“Can't you swim?” I asked. From my peripheral, Akihiko stood up from his statue-like stance a little ways off.

 

“Hai, I can but not in this form…” she trailed off and craned her head back and back and back and back to look up at me.

 

Suddenly a thin form appeared behind her and reached down. Akihiko picked up Gina's tiny body with ease causing her to screech like she'd been bitten. Her miniscule appendages flailed helplessly as Akihiko sat her on his shoulder. It was amazing that her entire body fit on his shoulder! Good Kami, she was tiny! Maybe she had some genetic defect or something?

 

“Put me down, bird-brain!”

 

“Sen-san is right,” he said, nodding his head to me seeing as though he couldn't bow with the load on his shoulder. “You cannot walk in this water.”

 

“I do not want your help!” she snapped. He looked up at her, those green eyes shifting from light to dark. There was a forest in his eyes for sure. The colors swayed like they were alive and left all those whose glance he bestowed hypnotized.

 

“Well, you need it, Catfish,” he spoke as he began into the water.

 

“I don't need it either!” Her nostrils were flared wide.

 

“Please, this isn't an act of pity, Gina-san.”

 

Just one word and she clicked her jaw shut. Her eyes still glared heatedly at him but her muscles relaxed and her fingers that had become little claws retreated until they were their normal size. There was something to this interaction. My eyes shifted from one to the other until they became a blur, not Gina or Akihiko but oddly melded, together not separate.

 

A snap jolted us into action. Sora had signaled us and when we turned to look towards her, we saw Kamaji and Daisuke coming towards us, the rest of the healthy inhabitants of the bathhouse waiting silently on the bridge behind them.

 

“Sen-chan,” Kamaji bowed to me then the others, “this is for you.” He held out a bundle wrapped in a soft cloth bag. Taking it from his hand, the weight surprised me.

 

“What is this?” My voice wavered as my fingers tugged at the knot, pulling open the convoluted twists with ease. Pushing back the cloth revealed two gleaming hilts and pulling back even more revealed twin ebony hilts etched with dragon designs and straps to hang them from my back.

 

“These are double swords.” Kamaji explained. Akihiko peaked over my shoulder and a slosh of water from my right told me even Sora had come to look at the swords.

 

“Hai, I figured that one out.” My fingers ran across the hilts and sheaths lovingly. “Maybe the better question would be whose are they?”

 

“Well,” Kamaji shifted his eyes to Sora then back to me, “they're yours but they were, originally, Haku-sama's swords.”

 

“Haku had swords?” I asked. Sora breathed in sharply and then pivoted away to look out to the horizon.

 

“Hai, they were given to him as a present by a river spirit that took pity on him long before you came to us,” Kamaji explained.

 

“Why didn't he take them with him?”

 

“That's the thing: he left them here with instructions.” Kamaji paused and again looked at Sora. She was too busy glowering at me from a distance to notice Kamaji's eyes.

 

“What instructions?” A knot was growing in my belly as worrying suspicions grew about Sora.

 

“If you came back to the Spirit Realm without him having come to get you, then you were to receive these as protection.”

 

“This was his way to protect me?”

 

“And his way to remind you that he hadn't forgotten you.” Kamaji smiled as Sora again huffed. Akihiko was watching the display with a smile. When he noticed me glancing up at him he waggled his eyebrows in Sora's direction causing a short giggle from Gina.

 

“Arigato, Kamaji-san.” I bowed to him and, in a fit of longing, ran up and hugged him. It was like hugging a tree with lots and lots of branches. He stiffened at first stuttering a bit until, after a few seconds, he patted my back.

 

“I know you'll do your best.” He pushed me a bit away to look down into my eyes. I smiled at him, my eyes starting to water.

 

“Thanks for believing in me,” I whispered before stepping completely away and bowing to a silent Daisuke in farewell.

 

Akihiko stood there staring at me with a small smirk on his lips as he watched me fumble trying to put on the swords and fight a losing battle with the tears in my eyes. Did he have to stare at me like that? Damn it! It made me nervous! Did the swords even go on like this? And how was my bag supposed to go on my back too? It's not like I know how to handle them so I hope I don't need to use them. Ever. Please don't let them notice that I'm clueless!

 

“Do you know how to handle those swords?” Akihiko asked. Of course he'd notice. Stupid, stupid bird-man.

 

“No.” I murmured. Akihiko chuckled and came over moving things around. He pulled the bag off and pulled the swords on then placing my bag back on my back.

 

“Thought so. Some protection, ne?” he glanced at me with those exotic eyes, my mouth turning into a frown. “I'll teach you,” he said nonchalantly as he motioned for us to follow.

 

“Okay, just don't rub it in!” I ceded. He laughed roughly as I turned to wave good bye to everyone. “BYE!” I yelled. A chorus of goodbyes answered me back, falling silent quickly.

 

We began to walk away from the bathhouse and out towards the horizon. Our steps sounded loudly against the semi-quiet of the landscape. The spirits behind us weren't cheering us on. To me, it felt like an omen of our failings.

 

“Sen-chan!” A voice yelled out from the silence. We halted our steps and turned towards the voice. “Sen-chan!” It was coming from the top floors of the bathhouse.

 

My eyes squinted to see who was screaming my name. There, way up high in the bath house, was Lin. She was gripping the railing tightly and leaning forward. An attendant was trying to get her back inside but she fought him all the way.

 

“Sen-chan, you can do it! Don't give up hope!” she shouted. “Some on you guys!” she turned to yell at the solemn spirits. “Cheer them on! Don't let them leave without encouragement!” Her diseased hands flailed in fists across the air.

 

For a few minutes, no one moved, no one spoke. The silence kept going on and on as the spirits shifted from side to side up on the bridge, unsure of what to do. It was disheartening for them to have such little faith in us. My heart dropped and even Lin's assurance didn't boost it.

 

“You can do it!” one small voice yelled from the crowd. A commotion ricocheted through the crowd. A small green body climbed up on the railing, hanging on precariously to the edge.

 

Aogaeru. My mouth pulled into a huge smile as he yelled encouragements at us. He was so small but his voice echoed through the whole area.

 

“Man, he's got lungs,” Akihiko chuckled.

 

“He's a frog,” Gina huffed and then paused. “Do frogs even have lungs?” she asked no one in particular, tapping her lip in concentration, “Or are they gills?”

 

Sora scoffed loudly and glared at her. Gina just stuck her tongue out and flipped her hair over her shoulder.

 

The crowd slowly grew more supportive. First only a few spirits yelled some `go get him!' or `good luck!' then it became chants like `beat Boh!' and then it was an all out screaming match with `kick his ass!' and `beat him up!'.

 

“Now that's what I call support!” Gina giggled before blowing a kiss at the crowd making them go even wilder.

 

I was speechless. My throat was rough with emotion and my fingers trembled. This is what I needed: to be able to feel like we could win. Finally, the tears streamed down my face as my body bent into a respectful bow. My hand shook as it waved goodbye to my supporters, and my friends. Lin was yelling from her place up on the balcony. Our eyes met; teary pupils connecting. We bowed slightly to each other and then stood there for a minute before I turned away.

 

“You ready?” Akihiko asked.

 

“Hai.” My voice was still hoarse.

 

“Let's go” and we were off.

 

The voices of the crowd didn't waver and we kept walking with our heads held up high. Akihiko led us with Gina on his shoulder and Sora trailing right behind him. I was farther behind, feeling oddly exhausted already even with the cheers at my back.

 

“You alright, Sen-chan? It's okay if I call you Sen-chan right?” Gina asked in a quick breath. I looked up at her and nodded.

 

“Sure,” I cracked at her. She beamed back at me and turned to look forward.

 

“Why can't I call you Gina-chan?” Akihiko whined. Gina whacked him hard on the head making him flinch in pain. This was going to become predictable, I just knew it.

 

“Because you haven't earned the privilege!” she snapped. He frowned at her and then looked at me.

 

“What did you do to earn it, huh?” he muttered.

 

“Dunno,” I said turning to peek at Sora. She kept glancing from side to side and her hand was permanently attached to some weapon on her belt. It didn't look like a sword, too short but it wasn't a knife, too long.

 

“Hey, Akihiko-san!” I said as something popped into my mind.

 

“Akihiko-kun, if you don't mind,” he said with a smile. I blinked and nodded.

 

“Why not chan?” Gina pouted her lips.

 

“Chan is for girls or haven't you heard?” he frowned at her.

 

“It's for little boys too! Oh, I got it! Your name should be Aki-chan!” She clapped her hands at his horrified face.

 

“No!” he yelled. Gina was too busy laughing to notice his growl. Her whole body shook in mirth causing me to chuckle and even Sora to break out into a demure smile.

 

“It's hysterical!” she guffawed loudly, holding her belly.

 

“You were saying something before the catfish opened her mouth to speak?” Akihiko asked me, ignoring Gina.

 

“Hey!” she exclaimed.

 

“Yes, Sen-chan?” he asked again.

 

“Well, do you have any sort of weapon?” My eyes scanned his form. He had tighter fitting hakama then the loose ones that I had on and a kimono like top without sleeves. On top of that he had on a haori that was left open and fell to below his knees, just barely brushing the top of the water. A huge bag was slung over the shoulder that wasn't carrying Gina. Maybe he had his weapon in there?

 

“Hai,” he pulled back his haori and on his right hip, a little behind the actual hip bone was a long sword that reached his knee. “I just keep it hidden so the enemy doesn't see.”

 

“Oh, that's a good idea.” I reached back and fingered the visible hilts of my swords.

 

“Wish I could carry a sword,” Gina mumbled. Akihiko turned to look at her before turning and looking towards the horizon to hide his smile.

 

“Remind me to give you one of my knives,” he mused out loud.

 

“I don't need your charity,” Gina snapped immediately. That was predictable too, just like the slapping.

 

“It's not charity, it's for the protection of the group.” Akihiko said. A snap came from our left and we turned to look at Sora hiding her hands into the billowing sleeves of her outfit. She nodded at Akihiko.

 

“You agree with what I said?” he asked. Again, she nodded. “So, you're going to talk to us through nods and snaps?” Sora smiled for the first time, flashing us a true look at her fangs. It was amazing how her face transformed from the constipated mask into a beautiful painting with just a smile.

 

“Don't forget the smiles,” I added. Sora looked back at me and her smile fell to be replaced with that constipated face she got when I spoke.

 

“And the faces,” Gina giggled, “you need to go to the bathroom?” She laughed at Sora's outraged face. A laugh burst from within me. Oh boy! Gina and I were going to have a ball baiting Sora!

 

“We think alike!” I laughed as Gina giggled and nodded. Sora breathed deeply from her nostrils and looked away towards the bright midday sky. It looked like she was counting in her head.

 

“You're going to have to lighten up, Sora-san,” Akihiko said with a smile. Sora just narrowed her eyes and humphed.

 

“Suit yourself.” And with that we kept on walking away from the safety of the bathhouse toward the unknown, the cheers of the spirits fading into the background

 

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So, did you like it? I'd like to know so please do tell!

 

Okay! So my characters kept bugging to be able to talk to the readers directly and after much debating I have decided to give them a chance. If they go nuts then I'll just cut them off…

 

Chihiro: Hi everyone! I'm Chihiro! Nice to meet you.

 

Akihiko: Hey! I'm Akihiko: the most important character in the story.

 

Gina: You are not!

 

Akihiko: I am too! I'm a phoenix for Kami's sake! `Sides I'm dedicated to Kikyo's beta *grins* so I get more points.

 

Gina: *bonking Akihiko on the head* I get more points for being cute!

 

Chihiro: Guys…Kikyo is threatening to shut us up if you don't stop bickering…

 

Akihiko: You cute? Come on! You're a catfish! It's like something out of attack Frankestein.

 

Gina: (to chihiro) is that an insult?

 

Chihiro: (sighing) yeah .

 

Gina: (to Akihiko) You're a dead man, bird-man! (Running at him with her claws)

 

Sora: (Snaps fingers twice)

 

Akihiko: (side stepping Gina and keeping her away with his hand against her forehead) Oh! Yeah, I'm her designated translator so…hmmm…oh! She's saying, “I hate you guys so go away!”

 

Sora: (smiles and nods, snaps again)

 

Akihiko: That means that she loves me so much she wants to marry me. Aw, that's so sweet Sora-chan (a huge grin breaking out over his face.)

 

Sora: (shakes head violently and snaps again)

 

Akihiko: No what she really said was that she has constipation issues.

 

Sora: (does her wind trick) Get lost you jerk! (seeing that everyone is blown away) Until next time dear readers!

 

This is why I can't let them loose outside of my brain…

 

~~Go-chan