A Tale of Love

Chapter One

"The greatest Queen to live!" Mr. Sandayu bowed before his daughter, "She is the finest ruler to exist!"

"Oh daddy!" Sakuya blushed and giggled nervously, "I still have to find my husband!"

"And so we shall," responded her father.

"CHIHIRO!" he bellowed, "Get down here to see your highness' fine beauty!"

Chihiro slowly descended down the velvet steps and then stopped to look at her step sister's "fine beauty". Sakuya wore a dark purple dress that matched her eyes. It had lovely trailing sleeves and a tight waist. It showed a lovely neck and two slender pair of legs, and then the dress trailed along behind. White-silver thread had been embroidered to make a beautiful pattern of curves and waves. Sakuya's black hair trailed down her back and a purple-white flower clipped up a side of her hair. Sakuya's eyes glittered triumphantly at Chihiro, gloating at how poorly she was dressed.

Chihiro bowed before Sakuya, "You are lovely my lady." Mr. Sandayu laughed out loud, "I'm sure you envy your step sister right now! Oh! I can see it in your eyes, don't try to hide it my simple ugly child!" Mr. Sandayu bent down to cup Chihiro's chin, "Tonight is the night, and you are to call on the spirits beyond."

Chihiro bowed before her step father. Mr. Sandayu sighed, "You are excused, leave now."

Chihiro immediately walked up the steps; she ran into the laundry room and shut the door behind her. It was a small room; a huge washer took up most of the room and a dryer the rest. Somewhere, in-between was a small mattress where Chihiro slept. Chihiro collapsed on her mattress.

With trembling fingers, she slid them under her mattress where a picture of her parents lay hidden. She looked at the happy couple that had given birth to her, "Mom…dad…," tears ran down her cheeks. She closed her eyes and remembered the day six years ago. She had been ten years old then, and mom and dad had still lived.

"Chihiro! Come down and greet our visitor, Mr. Sandayu and his lovely daughter, Sakuya." Mr. Sandayu had smiled down at her with those same thin cold-looking lips and had said, "Yes, Sakuya is lovely, isn't she?" Her parents had nodded enthusiastically and exclaimed over her prettiness. Later, her parents and Sakuya's father had gone to the living room for tea. Sakuya had entered Chihiro's room without permission and said while looking around, "Wow, this is really amazing!" Chihiro had nodded briefly and said, "That's nice; now please get out of my room." Sakuya grinned and said, "I don't think so, this is now my room. I am your master, call me your highness and bow down before me." Chihiro had sighed and decided to play along with Sakuya's game. She had bowed and called her "your highness". She had acted as a slave and let Sakuya destroy her room. And then her mother's scream had killed all thoughts. Chihiro had turned around distracted, "…Mother?" A screaming voice had called out, "Chihiro! Noo!" Chihiro had ran down the stairs while Sakuya's voice screeched out, "Slave! Where are you going? I am your master! Obey me at once!" At the bottom of the stairs lay her mother's body all covered in blood. Chihiro's eyes had grown wide and then she had slowly looked up at the killer, Mr. Sandayu. He drew closer to her with a bloody knife and Chihiro backed to a wall whimpering. Mr. Sandayu had the knife drawn to Chihiro's throat, "Hmm…interesting, you may be of some use to us in the future. The spirits have marked you for some reason…"

The present Chihiro shook her head; there was no use in remembering the past and re-living the fear and hate. She sighed and shifted to her side. Her hands still lingered under the mattress, and then she felt the warm thread. Her fingers pulled the hair-tie out. It was still so beautiful. My friends made these for me, thought Chihiro happily…

A sharp voice called her out of her mixed thoughts. Time had flown by so quickly. Night was already here. Chihiro ran out of her room to Sakuya's room. At the balcony stood Sakuya, still in her beautiful purple gown and her father, dressed just as finely.

Fresh cold winds blew through the balcony and whipped around Sakuya's finery. The lovely silk curtains floated around. Mr. Sandayu sharply said to Chihiro, "Get over here, we don't have much time."

Chihiro obediently went to the balcony and was positioned at the very edge where the full moon shone it's brightest. The winds calmed down and gently breezed on her face. Her long lovely brown hair blew past her shoulders and shimmered in the moonlight. Her eyes closed against the winds, her lips curved up in a smile. She looked even more beautiful even in her rags than her step sister.

A bright purple light burst out of her hand and surrounded her and her step family. A voice whispered in her ear, "Welcome…be not afraid." Chihiro opened her eyes, in front of her lingered a huge dragon spirit. "Water god…" She whispered. Her eyes glistened with tears, and then she fiercely hugged him," You helped me so much before, I never got a chance to say thank you…" The water god laughed behind his mask and lifted the family up on his back.

Sakuya was pale and too frightened to speak. Her father however looked suspiciously at Chihiro and the spirit. But it was a satisfied suspicion. I was right, he thought…

A portal opened in front of them. And the dragon entered through with the three mortals on his back.

Sakuya trembled slightly, this is all too much! She thought angrily. Why…why had Chihiro looked so beautiful? Why had she been summoned to welcome the spirit? She glared at her father; he didn't explain everything to me! I am the rightful queen! I should be treated as one! She glanced at Chihiro who rode at the front. She sneered at her step sister, you're so ugly you make me sick, she thought. Chihiro looked normal right now, unlike back then at the balcony. I'm still prettier, thought Sakuya satisfied. I know, I'll show this spirit who I am to be and I shall be treated as one!

Sakuya stood up and carefully walked across the dragon to where Chihiro sat; talking to the dragon's masked head. Her father hissed at her, "What do you think you're doing girl? Sit down!" Sakuya ignored him and walked on thinking, I am queen, I am queen, I am queen and I shall be treated as one!

Sakuya shoved Chihiro behind her and slapped her hard across the face, "Idiot, what the hell did you think you were doing trying to take my part!" Chihiro sat stunned while holding her burning face. Then, remembering what and who she was, she bowed before her step sister and whispered to the water god before leaving, "Thank you."

Sakuya watched her walk away and then sat where Chihiro had sat. What am I supposed to say? She thought angrily, she whirled around to where her father sat, her eyes demanding for help.

Chihiro walked to the very end of the dragon, smiling happily to herself. Haku…no, Kohaku the river spirit was doing fine right now. In fact, he was something like the Spirit Prince or something like that at the moment. But that's all the information that she had gotten before being sent away by Sakuya. Haku…I'm coming, she thought, still smiling, the moonlight once again shone down on her and again she looked astonishingly beautiful.

Mr. Sandayu nodded at his daughter. She had done good, kicking the lesser out of the way to show that she was the boss. He smiled at his daughter, coughed to clear his voice and then stood up to go to the front of the dragon where Sakuya sat. It had all happened so fast. One moment they had all stood at the balcony and then a purple light had surrounded them. He knew the light had come from Chihiro and had then realized that she had kept something from him. After the purple light had surrounded them, he had woken up on the back of a spirit dragon, with Chihiro positioned at the front, talking with the dragon spirit! How long had they been talking! No matter, he would get the information out of her sooner or later.

Sakuya watched her father walk up to her, she sighed out in relief. She stood up to greet her father when the spirit said, "Please sit back down child before you get-", but it was too late, Sakuya was knocked off the dragon. She began to scream out; this could not be the end! I am the queen! I will not die here!

I will not-Sakuya stopped falling. She was being carried by someone. She looked up at her rescuer to find a handsome face with startling green eyes.

Chihiro whirled around at her step sister's screaming voice. No! Sakuya was falling! "Sakuya!" she screamed out loud. But then a familiar figure saved her. He was incredibly handsome and looked…so familiar.

The boy landed on the water god's back. Mr. Sandayu ran towards his daughter demanding to know if she was all right. But Sakuya was speechless and simply stood staring at the handsome boy as if nothing at all mattered to her except seeing him. The boy slowly looked from Sakuya and her father to where Chihiro stood.

Chihiro looked at him, and he looked at her. Tears welled up in her eyes; she clutched her heart, tears running down her face. Her ragged dress blew around and her long hair shone like silk in the moonlight. The boy straightened his back and his green eyes widened. His lovely green hair blew around his face. I…know her, he thought, and his heart began to beat quickly as he thought, I…loved her…

Note/ Hey everyone, well...whoever's reading this! If you are reading this and you like it or find it okay thank you so much! It's my firsty! I'm sorry if I totally screwed up the Spirited Away story line with my horrid writing and imagination and if you have any suggestion on making it better please reply! Thanks!