Spirited Away - Part II

Sorry guys, please don't hate me. I've been trying really really hard to shorten the fanfic but I just can't seem to stop. :( I've written some more and it is far from the ending. If Paul let me, maybe he can grade the unfinish product as I suspect I will take much longer than Week 15 to finish this. *stresssss*
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A quick recap: In the previous chapter, Chihiro is a twenty year old apprentice working in a bathhouse, recently approached by her childhood friend (Haku) from the spirit world. Her happy reunion with Haku was ended abruptly when Chihiro's jealous boyfriend discovered them having a moment in the hallway. Chihiro, frustrated with her boyfriend's unwillingness to listen to her explanation, decided to take the plunge and accept Haku's offer to visit the Spirit World once more despite her fear for Yubaba, the witch.

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Chihiro paced back and forth beneath the face of the giant building. The black tunnel gaped before her and a slight breeze pulled at her clothes as though insisting she enter. Haku was leaning against the ugly shrine and he watched her thoughtfully. They had made it this far without problem. But now the reality of it struck Chihiro; that she was just a few steps away from going back.

I must be out of my mind! I can’t go through there! I can’t go through there! She thought desperately to herself, running her fingers through her frazzled hair.

“Tell me exactly what Yubaba said to you!” Chihiro said for the eighteenth time. Haku took it patiently and answered with a small nod.

“She said, ‘Haku, bring me the brat. The one that caused all that trouble a few years ago.’” Chihiro bit her lip and resumed her pacing. She couldn’t help but wonder if Yubaba had decided to punish her after all these years. And if so, why wait so long? I can’t go through there!

“Chihiro, I don’t want to push you, but the time that the spirit and mortal worlds are merged is about over. We have to go now or else I’ll have to come back for you tomorrow night.” Haku said softly. Chihiro glanced up and noticed that dawn was coming quickly. They had gotten to the tunnel at midnight, had she really been battling with herself for the last four hours? She took a deep breath and nodded. It was now or never.

They stepped into the tunnel. Chihiro reached instinctively for Haku’s hand. Haku squeezed her fingers gently and they continued on to the pinpoint of light at the end. The chapel opened before them and Chihiro stopped. The water basin stood in front of her; she could feel the power of the spirit world focused on the item.

“I can’t do this! Haku, I can’t! Don’t make me do this!” She said suddenly, tears welling up in her eyes. She stared at the water basin whose surface had begun rippling as though disturbed by an invisible force. Chihiro took a few steps backward towards the tunnel, but Haku’s grip on her hand stopped her from bolting completely.

“Chihiro, look at me!” He said softly. Chihiro finally managed to rip her eyes from the basin and looked into his face. He reached out and touched her cheek. She had noticed before that his skin wasn’t like anything she was used to. It was cool, and the feel of his hands were like menthol. Each touch brought a shock to her system. She stared into his green eyes, and her fear began to dissolve. She took a deep breath and nodded. He pulled her after him out the door and onto the grassy field. Mist was hanging like a thin curtain around the meadow. Haku glanced over to the east where the sky was beginning to tinge pink.

“Come on, we need to hurry.” He said and quickened his pace, forcing Chihiro to jog in order to keep up. They made it across the river just as the sun peeked over the distant mountains. Everything was ripped from Chihiro at once and turned upside down. The mortal world was gone completely, it wasn’t the gradual transition like last time. Her knees gave way and Haku’s hand slipped through hers as she suddenly lost all tangibility.

“Chihiro!” He cried and knelt down beside her. She felt suddenly weak and her eyes began to lose focus. She could not even lift her hands in front of her face. She stared in wonder at her transparency and barely registered that this wasn’t a good thing until she noticed Haku was trying to shove a hard round ball into her mouth. She opened her mouth and allowed the ball entrance. It was a hard lolly! She almost laughed at the thought of Haku carrying around a pocket full of lollies. She sucked intently on it and things began to come into focus once more.

“I’m sorry! I didn’t realize it would have that kind of affect on you. I should have brought you here a little sooner so you could make the adjustment.” Haku was blundering. Chihiro smiled. She had never heard him blunder before.

“It’s okay.” She said hoarsely and tried to get to her feet. She sighed when her body didn’t comply and nodded down at her knees. Haku placed his hand on her thigh and warmth immediately spread through the frozen limbs. Chihiro stood up and stared up the steps at the deserted market place. At the end of the square towered the monstrosity of a building. Steam billowed from pipes and vents, mingling with the residual morning haze, giving the impression of a brooding dragon lying in wait. Chihiro didn’t wait for Haku to prod her on. She walked forward. Everything in the square was still. No shadow spirits stirred at all in the light, the only sign of activity were the food vending stalls that steamed and prepared food by invisible hands for the night to come. Haku stopped when they reached the bridge.

“Chihiro, before we go inside I must warn you. Nobody is to know that Yubaba is fading. If they find out there will be absolute chaos. As far as any of them are concerned, Yubaba is shut away in her office settling accounts. Do you understand?”
“Uh…yeah.” She said hoarsely. Haku nodded and led the rest of the way.

Chihiro stayed two steps behind Haku at all times, her head bowed to avoid the gazes and whispers of the bathhouse occupants. As before, she did not belong here, and they all knew it. After what seemed like an eternity, they reached the final elevator and Chihiro leaned heavily against the wall.

“I don’t know, Haku. This is too much! I’m not a gullible little girl anymore! None of this makes any sense!” She said. Something was welling up inside her and she had the irrepressible urge to scream or laugh or rip open the elevator door and jump. Haku grabbed her shoulders and stared into her face.

“Look at me!” Reluctantly, Chihiro turned her gaze into his deep, hazel eyes and calmness washed over her.

“Everything is going to be fine, alright? You are just going to talk to Yubaba and I’ll be right beside you the whole time. If you don’t like what she says, then we’ll leave then and there. There are no tricks and no strings. You can leave the bathhouse whenever you want to.” Haku said levelly. His eyes never shifted from hers and she nodded just as the elevator stopped with a cheerful ‘ding’!

Yubaba’s suite, just like the rest of the bathhouse, hadn’t changed at all. The same tapestries and vases towered along the dark hall, meant to make you feel small and insignificant.

It sure is working. Chihiro thought to herself. Haku led her to the grand door and burst through without invitation.

“Everything is going to be fine.” He murmured when they reached the office door. He reached down and squeezed her hand lightly before opening the door and walking through. The office was empty.

“Wait here. I’ll go see if she’s ready to see you.” Haku said and disappeared through a side door. A clock ticked loudly from above the monstrosity of a fireplace. Chihiro shifted uneasily from foot to foot as she waited. A fly began buzzing around her head and she swatted at it with her hand. She missed and the insect whizzed indignantly in front of her eyes. It was then that she noticed that the bug sported a small, orange beak.

“Oh my goodness! I’m sorry!” Chihior said and held out a finger for it to land. The bug…bird…whatever it was buzzed it’s wings in irritation, then nuzzled her fingertip. Chihiro smiled at it, feeling a little lighter from the warm gesture. She stroked its head lightly with her pinkie and didn’t even notice Haku’s return until he placed a hand lightly on her shoulder.

“She’s ready to see you now.” He murmured. The bug flew away and Chihiro fell into step behind Haku once more. Haku led her to an extravagant bedroom where a large face with an even larger nose peeped over the edge of the covers. A raspy voice chuckled harshly.

“Haku, you may leave us now.” Yubaba growled from the depths of the quilts. Haku scowled, but didn’t move.

“NOW HAKU!” Yubaba yelled. Haku doubled over with a short cry of pain, grasping at his head. Then, an invisible hand shoved him backward through the door and it slammed shut. Chihiro turned to face Yubaba, eyes wide with fear.

“I’m sorry you had to see that, dear. But he’s been quite rebellious these past few years and that’s all I can seem to do to control him anymore. Now. Down to business. Come into the light where I can get a good look at you.” Yubaba purred. Chihiro took in a calming breath and walked over the bedside.

“Well, would you look at what a beautiful young woman you’ve become! No wonder Haku aged his form!”

“Thank you.” Chihiro said uncertainly. “I don’t mean to sound rude, but…why the hell am I here?” The statement was supposed to sound bold and confident, but her voice cracked and wavered causing Yubaba to begin cackling. Chihiro mentally cursed her failing nerves as a blush worked its way up her cheeks and Yubaba’s laughter turned into a coughing fit. Yubaba finally reached for a decanter and took a healthy swig of an amber liquid, which seemed to restore her composure. She took a deep breath and stared into Chihiro’s eyes.

“What? You don’t think I would ask you to come here just to see how you’re doing? That hurts deep down.” Yubaba said. With a mighty effort she managed to heave herself into a sitting position against her pillows.

“It’s an awful lot of trouble to go through for just that.” Chihiro said with a shrug.

“You’re right. Let me just get to the point then and save us both a lot of energy. I’m dying.” She stated. Chihiro pursed her lips and nodded. “I need someone to hand over the bathhouse to, along with everything in it, all my possessions, all my employees and most importantly, my son.” The breath caught in Chihiro’s chest. This was the last thing she had expected. Her voice was lost in her throat as she tried to even come up with an answer to something like that.

“Well! Say something you ungrateful little brat!” Yubaba hissed.

“Why me?” Chihiro finally managed to ask.

“Well, don’t ask me! You weren’t the first on my list. In fact, you weren’t even on my list. It was all my little honeypoo’s idea. He decided whom he wanted to be his caregiver and I have no choice but to do as he wishes.”

“But…what about Haku? Haven’t you been training him as your apprentice? Or even Foreman! I don’t know the first thing about running a bathhouse for the spirits! And Zeniba loves Boh like a son! Surely she would take him in…!” Yubaba cut off any further exclamation with a harsh laugh.

“The foreman? That imbecile couldn’t manage the soot balls in the boiler room. And Haku would burn this place to the ground if given the chance. As for Zeniba. No. As sister spirits, we share the same fate. When one dies, both die.”

Chihiro lowered her eyes and ran this all through her head. Yubaba dying was one thing, but Zeniba! Chihiro’s heart wrenched at the thought of losing her kind old adopted grandmother.

“But I’m a human! I’m mortal! This wouldn’t work! None of the employees would listen to me! Not to mention the amount of power it takes just to keep order! How could you even think I could take this job?” Chihiro sputtered.

“You couldn’t. It would be impossible for a human to even begin to understand the deep-rooted ways of my bathhouse. Not even mentioning the other factors of the spirit world you would have to face daily. No mortal with a lifespan as short as yours could take this responsibility.” Yubaba said.

“Then why even offer it to me if it’s impossible?” Chihiro asked.

“I said it was impossible for a human.” Yubaba said. Chihiro frowned and ran this through her head.

“Aren’t I a human?” She asked uncertainly. She didn’t think she could handle surprise that big. Yubaba began to laugh.

“Of course you’re a human! What else would make that god-awful smell?” Yubaba wheezed.

“I’m afraid I don’t understand what you’re talking about then.”

“There are ways.” Yubaba said, pouring liquid from her decanter into two crystal glasses. She offered one to Chihiro who immediately drained it. “You see, there is a certain ceremony. It’s a very tricky one to pull off. When a spirit fades, their power is released to just float around in the atmosphere until it is recycled into a newborn spirit. I personally think it’s a waste of a lifetime of hard work. But with this ceremony, my sister and I would be able to transfer our power into another. If you accept my offer, you will give up your mortality and your human life. You will be the recipient of a lot of power and a lot of money to live on for centuries as you wish.” Yubaba took a sip from her glass to wet her throat. Chihiro refilled her own glass and drained it again.

“But if you don’t accept, you will be returned to the mortal world. Your memories will fade once again and you will go on with your meager existence: Throwing yourself at a job in that poor excuse of a bathhouse, trying to fill the empty void of the lost part of you, looking for comfort in the insufficient arms of that human boy. Even without your memories, you know you are an outcast of your own world and you will live your life very much alone. You would haunt the tunnel as you’ve always done, but never go through. Over time, your body will begin to decay around you and you will die. But you won’t receive comfort in death because the veil will be lifted. You will remember my offer and you will not be content in the plane of death, as you should. You will be a miserable little shadow until the end of time.” Chihiro glared down into her glass.

“What makes you think you know so much about me?” She asked.

“I’m a witch! It isn’t too hard to spy on you and read the desires of your heart.”

“That certainly is quite the argument.” She said weakly. Yubaba laughed and drained her cup.

“It’s the truth, girl. Take it as you will.” Yubaba said. “I really don’t see why it should be a hard decision. In my place you will have anything you could hope to want. You’ve wanted to manage a bathhouse of your own? Well here you go! You want a handsome young man to dote upon you? Haku is bound by magic and contract to do anything you say, but it doesn’t look like it will take much to convince him. He would be very willing to do anything you ask of him.” Yubaba said with a wink. “Absolutely anything.” Chihiro frowned.

“Haku is my friend! I would never take advantage of him or... Wait, what will happen to him if somebody else accepts your offer?” She asked. She cursed herself inside immediately after asking it as Yubaba’s face split into a grin. Chihiro had just played right into the old witch hands.

“He will be their slave. He would have to do everything he’s told and be punished harshly if he doesn’t comply. And as I’ve said before, he’s quite rebellious. He probably won’t survive another fifty years with that thick head of his.” Yubaba said thoughtfully. Chihiro glared at her.

“I can see that you’ll need some time to think this over.” Yubaba said and the door sprang open at a wave from her hand. Haku stood on the other side looking vehement. “Haku, show the girl to her room and make sure you bring her back here at sunset.” Haku bowed and nodded for Chihiro to follow him. They both remained silent until they reached the elevator.

“What did she do to you?” Chihiro asked nervously.

“Don’t worry about it.” He murmured. They climbed out of the elevator and Chihiro found herself immediately engulfed in a cloud of pink linen.

“They said you’d come back but I didn’t believe them! Now here you are! Oh man, look at how much you’ve grown! I can’t believe this!”

“Lin!” Chihiro cried and thumped happily on her old friend’s back. The pretty spirit hadn’t changed a bit. Lin pulled back and cupped her hands around Chihiro’s face.

“What are you doing here?” She asked.

“I-” Chihiro began but Haku placed a hand on her shoulder to stop her.

“Yubaba wanted to talk to her. I’m afraid we can’t tell you any more than that.” He said. Lin gave him an irritated glance then did a double take.

“What the heck happened to you?” She asked. Haku didn’t answer her but turned to Chihiro.

“Come on Chihiro. We have a lot to do today.” Chihiro gave Lin another hug and promised to look for her later, then she followed Haku into the bustling passages. Chihiro had never been in the guest wings before. In fact, she discovered that she could only navigate a small fraction of the bathhouse on her own and was now almost completely lost. The rooms were separated by elaborately painted screens. As they passed some, Chihiro could hear whispers and see shadows moving around on the other side as the spirits prepared to sleep until nightfall. Haku stopped at one sliding door and opened it for her to walk in. The room was simply furnished, with only a bed and small wardrobe, but the walls were breathtaking. The screens were all richly painted to resemble mountains dotted with ruins. Across from the sliding door was another door which led out to a balcony. Chihiro stepped through this and gazed out across the fields of soft green grasses and wildflowers. The boards beneath her feet were warm from the midmorning sun and she could smell the mixed aroma of the flowers beneath her and the incense from the room behind. For a moment, she felt truly at peace.

“Do you like it?” Haku asked.

“It’s great.” Chihiro said, propping her elbows on the railing.

“I’m glad.” Haku smiled and pointed at another door at the end of her balcony. “I’ve put a spell on that door. If you ever need me, all you need to do is step through and it will take you right to me.”

“Really?” Chihiro asked. Haku smiled and nodded. Chihiro cocked an eyebrow and walked over to the door. She pulled it open, but all she could see was a black curtain. She glanced back at Haku who was leaning casually against the railing.

“Go ahead. Try it.” He said. Chihiro turned back to the curtain, closed her eyes and stepped through. Her first thought was that it felt much like going through a screen of water. It was cold, and it almost felt wet, but when she was on the other side she was completely dry. She opened her eyes and found herself nose to chest with Haku who was still in the same spot against the railing. Chihiro glanced over her shoulder, but there was nothing there but the bathhouse wall.

“Whoa.” She said softly. Haku smiled.

“There are some more people I’m sure you want to see. Come on.” Chihiro began walking back towards the room, but Haku took her hand and pulled her tight against his chest. Before she could say anything, he tipped backwards over the railing and both of them began plummeting. The ground rushed towards them and Chihiro couldn’t even muster the breath to scream.

Chihiro became lost in the feeling of the cool air whipping around her. She held tight to Haku’s hand as she had done ten years ago, the vast expanse of fields and woods rushing by below her. She knew they must have been flying for a number of hours, but time didn’t really seem to matter. They passed small communities every now and then, sometimes Haku would drop them low enough to brush their toes in the long grass of meadows or cast ripples in the water of the flooded rice fields. Then the air started to thicken and lying before them was the edge of Swamp Bottom. Haku touched them down gently at the front door of the small cottage. White bubbles of smoke drifted from the chimney and even from outside they could smell the pleasant aroma cooking food. Chihiro knocked softly on the door and No-face opened it a few seconds later.

“Uh?” he grunted gently. Chihiro smiled and bowed to him.


“It’s so good to see you!” She said, unsure of whether to touch him or not.

“Come in, Chihiro dear.” A raspy yet soft voice called from the house. No-face stepped aside and allowed them entrance. The room was softly lit and very warm. Zeniba was sitting in a rocking chair with a blanket over her lap. She set her embroidery aside and held out her hands to Chihiro. Chihiro rushed forward and knelt down in front of the old witch.

“Granny! How are you feeling?” She asked anxiously. Zeniba laughed and touched Chihiro’s cheek.

“I’m feeling fine dear. You have no doubt spoken to Yubaba.” Zeniba said.

“Yes.” Chihiro said, staring into Zeniba’s face in search of the same deadly pallor Yubaba had. But other than a slight look of exhaustion, she was the picture of health.

“I am still dying, Chihiro,” Zeniba said as though reading her mind, “But I have accepted it, unlike Yubaba who is wasting all her energy trying to prolong her life.” Chihiro cast her eyes downward, trying her hardest to suck back the impending tears.

“Now now dear. There is no need for that. Come, you two must be hungry! I have a batch of dumplings in the oven which will do you a world of good.” Zeniba stood up and shuffled over to the oven. No-face helped her take the dumplings from the oven and they all settled around the table. Zeniba chatted lightly, asking Chihiro to recount nearly every detail of her life for the past ten years. And so Chihiro told them of school, her family, her job. She felt herself opening up and telling them everything. She didn’t know if it was a result of magic or stress or the three glasses of Yubaba’s whisky. Or perhaps a combination of all three. In any case, by the end of her tale she was sobbing at the memory of her argument with Taka. Zeniba handed a handkerchief to Chihiro and she hastily wiped her eyes with it.

“I didn’t mean to cause you that much trouble. I’m sorry.” Haku murmured. Chihiro sniffed and shook her head.

“It’s not your fault he overreacted. It probably wouldn’t have worked out between us anyway.” Chihiro sighed and picked at her food.

“You sound as though you’ve given up on this boy!” Zeniba said. Chihiro shrugged.

“I was never actually sure of ‘us’ to begin with.” She muttered. Zeniba glanced at Haku whose face was carefully blank.

“Well, you never know. Perhaps things will sort themselves out when you return to the physical world.” Zeniba said, keeping Haku in her peripheral vision. There was the faintest twitch of his eyebrow and she knew. With a smug smile she turned all her attention back on Chihiro who was fiddling with the handkerchief in her hands.

“Yeah, maybe.” Chihiro said uncertainly. She really didn’t know what to think of anything at the moment. Haku grunted softly and stood.

“I’ll be right back.” He muttered and stepped out the door.

“Chihiro, I know what my sister asked you.” Zeniba said. Chihiro looked down at her hands.

“What should I do?” She asked.

“That is only for you to decide my dear. Although I do admit that I would trust no one else with this responsibility. It is, however, very important to me that you don’t let the feelings of others govern your decision. The life of a spirit is very different from what you know. I want you to be absolutely certain about what you want before you accept or deny anything. Because if not, it is a long and miserable road ahead of you.” Zeniba said, her eyes boring into Chihiro’s. Chihiro moaned and buried her face into her hands.

“I don’t know what I want!” she mumbled. Zeniba rubbed a large soft hand on Chihiro’s back.

“Just take some time. You don’t have to make the decision now, but when you do make it, make it for yourself.” She said.

“Thanks Granny.” Chihiro said, wiping the last traces of tears from her cheek. Haku knocked gently on the door and walked back in.

“I’m sorry Chihiro. Yubaba is calling me back to the bathhouse. Would you like to stay here or…” He trailed off with a small shrug. Chihiro glanced up at Zeniba.

“Go ahead dear, you only have a few days to be here and I’m sure you want to see all your friends as much as possible before you have to leave.” Zeniba said with a kind smile.

“Thank you Granny.” Chihiro said with a small bow of the head. She hugged Zeniba tightly and took a step away. “Oh! Here’s your handkerchief!” Chihiro held the white square of fabric out to Zeniba who shook her head.

“No, you go ahead and keep it!” She said. Chihiro smiled and bowed again. Haku bowed low to Zeniba, then opened the door for Chihiro. With a small farewell wave to No-face, they were airborne once more. The flight back to the bathhouse was even more peaceful than before. The sun was just preparing to set as they landed at the bridge. Everything was still but there was a certain stirring of energy as the spirits prepared to begin their twilight roaming. Haku let go of Chihiro’s hand and glanced at the bathhouse.

“I have duties to take care of. Will you be alright on your own, or would you like me to escort you back to your room?” He asked.

“I’ll be fine.” Chihiro said. Haku nodded and sidestepped through a small gate, leaving Chihiro completely alone. Chihiro glanced up at the monstrous building and began her crossing over the bridge. She couldn’t help but try and hold her breath the entire distance. Halfway across the red paper lanterns began springing to life so suddenly that she let in an involuntary gasp. She laughed nervously to herself, shoved her bangs out of her eyes and hurried over the bridge. A few toads began crawling from side doors, each bearing an identical lantern to welcome guests. They paused to glance curiously at Chihiro, but hustled about their business without a word towards her. Chihiro entered the bathhouse and began wandering the floors. She thought of retiring to her room since she hadn’t slept at all in thirty-six hours, but quickly abandoned it as she breathed in the familiar scents and listened to the frantic sounds of business.

“Chihiro! There you are!” Lin yelled from a floor below. Chihiro peered over the railing and waved. Lin had a bucket filled with rags dangling from one arm and an assortment of brooms and mops tucked under the other. Lin beckoned Chihiro down and she was only too happy to comply. Lin didn’t ask Chihiro for her help, but it just seemed so natural that she didn’t need to. When they reached one of the remaining tubs that needed cleaning, Chihiro immediately stripped down to her undershirt and femme boxers and began scrubbing the wood floors. Lin chatted amiably with her the whole time, making her recount once more the story of her life. Within thirty minutes they were both soaked through and flush faced and the tub was spotless. So they moved onto the next one.

“You are so lucky!” Lin said, listening to Chihiro speak of the horrors of highschool. “I have been stuck in this pit for the last four hundred years! There hasn’t been any kind of change in that entire time except when you showed up. You can’t imagine how boring it is being an immortal.” She grunted, scraping at the inside of their current tub.

“I don’t know. I think drama is overrated. I rather like drudgery myself, thankyouverymuch.” Chihiro said, wiping a wrist across her eyes, then regreted it at the powerful smell of the lye soap on her fingers. Lin grunted and grabbed a heavy duty brush from the bucket.

“You don’t know what you’ve got, pal. But hey, I only have forty-seven more years on my contract! After that I’m free to go as I please!” She said and attacked an offending spot with new fervor.

“Really? What are you going to do after you leave?” Chihiro asked. Lin stopped scrubbing and frowned.

“I hadn’t really thought about it. I’ll probably wander around for a while until I find something else to do with myself.” She said with a shrug. “That’s only if Yubaba doesn’t creep around and have a whole new contract drawn up for me. She’s been known to do that with some spirits. I just hope I’m not important enough for her to want to keep.” Chihiro frowned and crawled out of the tub to get fresh water. On the way back she ran right into a spirit. She glanced up at it and a chill shot down her spine.

“My apologies sir!” She said and tried to sidle past him but he reached down and grabbed her wrist, nearly causing her to drop her steaming bucket.

“No harm done my dear human.” He breathed. His skin was pale and dry and held a deep coldness. It took all her restraint not to rip her arm from his grasp. He was a very handsome spirit, resembling a tall, muscular young man and Chihiro was very conscious that he was wearing nothing beneath his complimentary robe. There was something about his face that uneased her. He had a small nose and a wide mouth that seemed set in a permanent grin. His head was so clean shaven that it glistened under the warm red lanterns. But what was really offsetting were his lidless yellow eyes. Chihiro seemed both captivated and repulsed by those eyes. The spirit leaned close and breathed in Chihiro’s scent. She could feel his cool breath on her face. That alone was enough to send shocks of fear through her system. There was no smell to the spirit, but more of a sense of decay about him. Chihiro shuddered and tried to pull away.

“If you’ll excuse me then, I really should get back to work.” She said firmly. The spirit stared at her face for a moment before finally releasing her arm. Chihiro could feel his eyes on her back as she walked back to Lin’s tub with measured steps and she gave a thankful sigh when she finally ducked through the screen and hastily wiped a fist under her nose, trying to get the strange phantom smell of the creature away.

“Hey, you okay?” Lin asked. She relieved Chihiro of the bucket and placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Yeah! I’m fine.” She said. She peered cautiously out of the stall, but the spirit was gone. “I’m fine.” She said again and climbed back into the tub. Lin shrugged and joined her, starting a fresh conversation. Soon the strange spirit had left Chihiro’s mind completely.

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After the tubs had all been cleaned, Chihiro began roaming through the bathhouse like a phantom. She recognized a few faces every now and then and even ran into the Radish spirit at one point. He grumbled kindly at her before lumbering on to the bath awaiting him. She found herself mentally calculating the cost of housing guests and fulfilling their dietary needs which seemed extreme at times. In the space of ten minutes she witnessed one spirit that could only eat the tongue of predatory fish and another who didn’t eat food, but rather needed to sit in a room which remained at precisely six hundred degrees at all times. There were others who weren’t particular about what they ate, so much as they had a lot of it. With this in mind, Chihiro drifted down to the kitchen. She only recognized a small percentage of the food being served, but it all smelled wonderful. She realized that Zeniba’s dumplings had been hours away, but she felt uneasy about eating anything the cooks set in front of her. It might have been a subconscious fear of being turned into a pig. The only time she had eaten anything her last time in the spirit world had been when either Haku or Lin had given it to her. As Chihiro readied herself to swallow her fear along with a bowl of steaming noodles, she felt a hand on her shoulder. The hand was cool and the memory of the strange spirit she’d met earlier immediately sprang to mind. Chihiro whirled around and knocked her bowl to the ground with a crash. She sighed in relief to see Haku behind her, his face pinched with a slight frown.

“What are you doing here? And where are your clothes?” he asked, casting an involuntary glance at her gray and black underclothing.

“I’m eating.” She said, waving at the broken bowl on the floor, which was already being cleared away by a frog “and I left my clothes with Lin. I didn’t want them to get ruined while I worked!” Haku’s frown deepened.

“Work? Did Yubaba put you on contract?” He demanded.

“No. I just wanted to help…for old times sake.” His expression eased slightly.

“That’s very kind of you Chihiro, but it is dangerous for you to just wander the bathhouse when you have no connection to it. I’ll get you something to eat, but you should really be up in your room.” He pulled her arm gently towards the hall, but Chihiro planted her feet.

“Haku, it’s really important for me to see the bathhouse before I have to go back to the human world.” She said firmly. Haku glanced at her curiously, then pursed his lips in thought.

“Alright.” He said a moment later, “But promise me you’ll stay with Lin at all times. There are some…undesirable …spirits wandering around here.” The face of the spirit resurfaced in Chihiro’s mind and she nodded whole-heartedly. “And for gods sake, would you please put on some clothes?” He muttered. Chihiro frowned and glanced downward. She was way more modestly dressed than half the yunna’s, not to mention the guests who wandered around in nothing more than a loincloth.

“Um…okay.” She said. Haku took her into one of the back hallways and summoned a pink uniform with a wave of his hand, then turned his back as she pulled it over her underclothes. Chihiro would have laughed openly at this had she not been touched by his concern and sense of honor. Haku then led her down to the floor Lin was working and left Chihiro to help guide and serve guests. He reappeared once a few minutes later with a fresh bowl of noodles, but Chihiro saw no more of him for the rest of the evening.
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“Come on!” Lin begged, keeping a firm grip on Chihiro’s arm to keep her from taking the hall to her room.

“Lin, I’m exhausted!” Chihiro laughed.

“You can sleep later! How often do you think it is that we get the chance to throw a party?” Lin asked.

“Knowing you…”

“All right, so we had a party three days ago. But not a ‘welcome back’ party so you’re coming whether you like it or not.” Lin said and began dragging Chihiro towards the familiar shinshitsu. Apparently one of the women had a bit of magical ability, because colorful banners had been summoned which read ‘WELCOME HOME SEN’ There was one hanging outside the room and Chihiro could see the shadows of more draped from the ceiling inside. As her eyes scanned the characters an uncomfortable lurch went through her stomach. But it was shoved aside at the sounds of giggles and cheers when she stepped inside and Lin yanked her hand up as though she had just won a boxing match. Chihiro stared stupidly as a sake was shoved into her hand. With another glance at the signs, she shrugged and took a deep drink from the bottle with the cheers of old friends ringing in her ears.
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Chihiro tripped over her feet and fell against the wall where she then collapsed in a giggling heap. She tried to stand back up, but her legs didn’t seem to want to cooperate. She crawled over to where a tapestry was swaying with the slight breeze from the window. She grabbed the coarse fabric and pulled herself up to her feet. The tapestry itself was half ripped from the wall from the assault. Chihiro focused on a window at the end of the hall and made for this, all of her concentration spent on putting one foot in front of the other in a straight line. She failed and found herself once more on the ground.

“Chihiro?” The voice was muffled and strangely distorted. Chihiro looked up and glanced around trying to figure out where the voice had come from. The first thing she saw was a painted china vase. She leaned close and peered at it suspiciously.

“Hello?” She asked, peering into the top. A hand rested on her shoulder.

“Chihiro.”

“Ssssh!” Chihiro said angrily and shoved the hand away, focusing once more on the vase.

“Chihiro, what are you doing?” It was that strange muffled voice again, but it was coming from behind her. She turned her head and blinked at the figure of Haku who was staring at her with an expression of shock on his face that Chihiro found hilarious. Haku frowned and began unwrapping the turban from around her head. Chihiro blinked in astonishment as the world suddenly regained somewhat normal sound.

“I told you not to wander around here by yourself! Are you okay?” Haku demanded. Chihiro giggled hoarsely.

“Yesss ossiffer.” She slurred. Haku frowned and pulled her to her feet.

“You’re drunk.” He said bluntly. Chihiro glared at him and ripped her arm out of his grip.

“I am not drunk!” She said indignantly, staggering slightly but remaining upright, “I’m intoximat…imoxi…I’m drunk!” She stated and glared as though daring him to contradict her.

“I believe you.” He said, taking her arm again, “Where’s Lin?” Chihiro just laughed and leaned against his chest. Her arms snaked around his waist before he could protest and she sniffed his shirt appreciatively. Haku, on the other hand, nearly choked on the reek of alcohol that emanated from the hair a mere inch below his nose.

“So that’s what a dragon smells like!” Chihiro mumbled, breathing in his faint, natural scent of salt and moss. Haku gasped and coughed from her own scent. He reached behind him and took a hold of her wrists, carefully extracting himself from her grip. Chihiro pouted at being denied his warm body and took a purposeful step towards him. Haku sighed and placed his palm against her forehead.

“This is going to be unpleasant, but you’ll thank me for it later.” He said. His hand glowed faintly and Chihiro felt a pleasant warmth spread all the way down to her toes. Then there was a rushing sensation that flowed upwards rapidly. Chihiro gasped and then cried out in pain as a clear liquid began gushing out her nose. She dropped to her knees and gagged as nearly half a cup of pure alcohol left her system with a splatter on the floor. Her sinuses burned and her head pounded. A white light blared behind her eyes and the world was spinning. She clenched at the tiled floor to keep herself from floating away. Then the spell passed and she was left gasping. A moment later, something soft touched her face. She opened her eyes and after a second it clicked in her brain that the soft thing was a handkerchief. She grabbed it and blew her nose, letting out a choked sob as she did so. When she pulled the handkerchief away she saw blood spattered against the pure white. Haku put a hand beneath her chin and tilted her face towards him. He gently stroked the bridge of her nose and the burning gradually dissipated. Chihiro glared at him.

“What did you do that for?” She asked groggily.

“It was for your own good.” He said, taking her arm and pulling her to her feet again. Her legs felt like butter. Haku wordlessly picked her up and carried her back down the hallway towards her room. He flicked his head in passing, the alcohol disappeared and the tapestry righted itself. Chihiro sighed and shook her head.

“I’m sorry.” She said, suddenly thankful for the dim lighting in the hall as her cheeks began burning with shame. “Just so you know, that’s the first time I’ve ever been completely drunk. I promise it isn’t a regular occurrence.” She said hastily. Haku nodded and the rest of the walk to her room was spent in silence. The covers of her bed pulled back by themselves. Haku set Chihiro down gently and the quilts drifted back up, tucking around her. Then Haku turned to leave.

“Haku, wait.” Chihiro said softly. Haku paused at the door.

“Yes?” He asked. Chihiro bit her lip and sat up.

“Yubaba wants me to take over the bathhouse.” She blurted. Haku watched her thoughtfully for a moment then slid the screen door shut with a sigh.

“I had figured it was something like that.” He murmured, walking back over to he bed and sitting on the edge. Chihiro shifted her gaze down to the patterned quilt across her knees. She traced the curve of a flower with her fingertip.

“I’m scared.” She whispered. Haku looked up at her and reached for her hand. He stroked her knuckle with his thumb and flashed her one of his rare smiles.

“There’s nothing to be scared about. Yubaba can’t force you to do anything you don’t want to.” He said softly. Chihiro sighed.

“But I don’t know for sure if it is something I don’t want to do…I mean, I might actually want it a little, but what happens if I do take her offer?” She asked. Haku pursed his lips and shrugged.

“Everything would sort itself out if you did choose to stay. You would learn. It would be tricky, but you would learn.”

“But then what about my family? What would they think if I just disappeared? And what about Taka? I couldn’t do that to him!” Chihiro said, burying her face into her knees.

“Staying with them would be a good decision too.” Haku said awkwardly. Chihiro grumbled incomprehensibly into the quilt. They sat in silence for a while, the question of her future hanging heavily around them. Chihiro sighed and raised her face. It was late in the afternoon. She could see the daylight outside, but from some kind of magic it was dark inside her room. In five hours the sun would set and the bathhouse would spring into life once more. And Yubaba would be waiting for Chihiro’s answer.

“If I were to take over the bathhouse…would I be able to annul contracts?” Chihiro asked hesitantly.

“No. Only Yubaba would be able to do that since the contracts are under her seal.” Haku said, glancing back at her. Chihiro pursed her lips.

“What would a different master make you do? You and everyone else?” She asked.

“Chihiro, this is a decision you need to make for yourself, not for any of us. Before a new master could take over the bathhouse they would have to sign a binding contract themselves. This would keep them from mistreating or manipulating any of the workers. So you don’t have to worry. Everything would be fine if you choose not to stay.” Haku said, squeezing her hand gently.

“Now get to sleep. You must be exhausted.” Haku said, standing up. He placed a hand on her shoulder and gently pushed her back down onto the pillow.

“Thanks Haku.” Chihiro mumbled. Haku touched her forehead lightly and warmth spread behind her eyes, causing them to droop. Chihiro managed to stay awake long enough to watch Haku leave the room, but she was sound asleep as the screen slid closed.

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Chihiro sat nervously in a very hard chair in Yubaba’s office. Lin had brought her up that morning since Haku was on an ‘errand’ but then Lin left the office hastily right after. Chihiro couldn’t blame her. The room was extremely foreboding in its own tacky, cluttered sort of way. Plus the spirit was suffering from a massive hangover. Chihiro shook her head in sympathy and glanced around the room. It was the same as it had been ten years ago, with clashing furniture and gaudy crystalline ornaments. It still smelled the same as well. Stale cigarette smoke and cheap perfume. There was also the underlying whiff of old woman. Chihiro couldn’t help but wonder just how old Yubaba was? And how long had the witch been fading? She seemed very powerful and very lively the last time she had seen her. But then a memory flashed behind Chihiro’s eyes of standing in front of the large desk, watching Yubaba as she grumbled to herself and righted the contents of the room with a wave of her hand. Yubaba had struggled with fixing the lamp. Chihiro hadn’t thought anything of it at the time, but now she wondered if that was one of the first signs of Yubaba’s digression? Chihiro was snapped out of her musings as an eight foot tall baby toddled into the room.

“Sen!” He cried and waddled up to her with surprising speed for one so big.

“Hello Boh!” Chihiro said as she stood up. Any further dialogue was cut off as the huge toddler wrapped his spongy arms around her and lifted her clean off the floor in a rib-cracking hug.

“I’m so glad Mama decided to see you!” Boh said, setting Chihiro back on the ground. Chihiro only smiled and nodded as she tried to regain her breath.

“So has Mama told you the surprise, Sen?” Boh asked.

“Yes. And I was very surprised. I’m waiting to see her again right now.” Chihiro said, waving a hand towards Yubaba’s bedroom door.

“So are you going to stay here?” Boh asked. Chihiro opened her mouth and paused. There was such a look of innocence and hope in his chubby eyes that she couldn’t bring herself to give him her answer. She just smiled weakly and shrugged. Boh took this as affirment and clapped his hands.

“Oh it’s going to be so much fun! We’ll be able to play all the time!” he giggled. Chihiro nodded sadly. The side door to Yubaba’s bedroom opened with a crash. Chihiro took this as a summon for entrance and squeezed Boh’s hand for confidence. It was only when Chihiro had stepped through the doorframe that she noticed someone was already in the room with Yubaba. The tall, pale spirit that Chihiro had met the day before was standing at the foot of Yubaba’s bed. He was dressed completely in black, with a floor length velvet trench coat despite the warmth of the room and the sight of him left Chihiro slightly breathless. He turned his startling yellow gaze on her and the corner of his wide mouth twitched in a phantom smile. Chihiro bowed quickly to him, then turned to Yubaba. She could feel his eyes still on her as she waited for the old witch to overcome the most recent coughing fit. Her skin seemed to burn under his intense gaze.

“Hebi, you are dismissed now.” Yubaba wheezed. ‘Hebi’ bowed gracefully to Yubaba, then to Chihiro. He held her face in his eyes for slightly longer than occasion called for, then glided out of the room with a flourish of his coat. Chihiro stared at his retreating back stupidly until the bedroom door slammed shut, cutting off her view. Chihiro turned quickly back to Yubaba, ignoring the slight blush on her cheeks. Yubaba pretended not to notice.

“So then. Have you made your decision?” Yubaba asked, her voice even raspier than usual. Chihiro hesitated, then nodded.

“I have.”

“And?” Yubaba hissed impatiently.

“And…” Chihiro paused. Boh’s face flashed into her mind, his eyes twinkling with trust. Then Lin’s face came, smiling and laughing as she danced around the room. Then came Kamaji’s face. Chihiro hadn’t had a chance to see him and she felt a slight pang of regret for forgetting about him. Several other faces flashed, each of them with it a dear memory. Then came the face of Haku, the corner of his mouth upturned in the faintest of smiles, his eyes deep and understanding. Chihiro sighed.

“And I’ve decided that I’ll think about it.” She said softly, casting her eyes to the marble floor.

“WHAT?” Yubaba roared. Chihiro jumped back as wind filled the room, swirling papers and doilies around her in a whirlwind. The tantrum only lasted a few seconds as Yubaba’s energy drained, leaving her gasping and limp.

“I’ll think about it.” Chihiro said firmly. “I’ll need more time and…I’ll think about it.”

“You don’t…have time…you little brat!” Yubaba wheezed.

“If I don’t have the time I need, then my answer is no!” Chihiro said, glaring at the witch. Yubaba matched her glare and added some ice.

“You have three days. I can’t give you any more than that.” Yubaba finally growled, “Now get out of my bathhouse.” Chihiro bowed and dodged out the door as quickly as she could. Haku was in Yubaba’s office, Chihiro was both surprised and happy to see him. He looked up and nodded to her in greeting.

“Is there any way I can get back to the human world right now?” Chihiro demanded. Haku’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. He glanced out the window where the daylight was quickly fading.

“If we move now we should make it in time.” He said softly. He grabbed her hand and pulled her to the window where he leapt over the railing without further adieu. By flying they made it to the river’s edge within a minute. He touched them down gently on the grass and nodded towards the distant church.

“Thank you Haku.” Chihiro said, squeezing his hand before letting go. She ran down a couple of steps, then stopped. She turned back and hugged Haku tightly. He jerked in surprise, then wrapped his arms around her shoulders and held her close for a moment.

“Tell everyone goodbye for me.” Chihiro mumbled. Haku nodded and pulled away.


“You should go now or you won’t make the link.” He said. Chihiro nodded.

“I guess I’ll see you in three days then.” She said. Haku’s eyes widened slightly. Chihiro took a deep breath and turned towards the church.

“Don’t look back. Right?” She asked.

“Actually, you might want to look back this time.” He said. Chihiro opened her mouth to ask what he meant, but he cut her off. “Go!”

Chihiro was running, the soft grass swayed around her feet. She didn’t have her shoes; there had been no time to grab them. She made it to the rise of a hill and stopped. She turned back and stared at the buildings where lights had began coming to life. Haku was still standing at the top of the steps, his clothes blowing around him in the breeze. Chihiro clenched her teeth and began running again until she got to the tunnel. She turned then as well, but she couldn’t see the bathhouse any longer. She couldn’t even see the glow of the lights against the sky. She had made it back. She walked backwards through the tunnel.
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Okay, I can feel evil stares burning into the back of my head now. But, guys, this will be my last ever post on S.A. I will not write anymore since Paul said it will be Okay for me to left it unfinish. Sowie, guys, don't be mad, ok? xoxo