Chihiro paused as she looked at her surroundings. It was a little more
overgrown than she remembered, but it was the same place. Her parents were
complaining about the weeds and vines cluttering around their car, and the
debris everywhere. They thought they were on their way home. She felt like
she was leaving it. She looked back at the tunnel one last time before
getting in the car, willing Haku to remember her and his promise to her.
~~ 6 YEARS LATER~~
The now 17 year old Chihiro stood in the same place she stood that day, 6 years ago. This time, however, she was going in. Haku had come to visit her once. It had taken almost all of his energy to do so - spirits weren't meant to be in the mortal realm - but he had had to keep his promise to her. At that time, she had promised that eventually she would come back to visit him. Today was that day. There was one thing about this visit that Haku didn't know: She didn't plan to leave.
She had spent the last six years being teased and ridiculed for believing in the spirit realm. Even though it had taken Haku five and a half years to come to her, she had never given up on him. She had never once considered that she might have dreamt the whole thing. She knew that she had to go back. Not for her friends, not for Haku, not even for herself. She had to go because that's where she belonged.
She ran her hands through her now waist length hair and pulled it back into a ponytail. The scrunchie that her friends had made for her was still as bright and strong as it had been the day it was given to her.
Chihiro looked back one last time, checking off things on her mental checklist. Leave note to parents explaining things Bring food, brush, and change of clothes Bring ID DON'T LOOK BACK
She took the first fateful step towards the spirit realm. Then she took another, and another. She was going home. When she realized that, she ran the remaining distance, all the way to the staircase leading to the bathhouse.
At the top step, she turned and looked around her. There, next to the stairs, was a surprised looking young man. He had also grown his hair out, and it reached half-way down his back, but she still recognized him.
"Hello, Haku."
"Chihiro?" She nodded while he walked toward her. "Why do you need so much stuff for a one-day visit?"
"I - I talked to Zineba when I returned the seal you had taken. She told me that if I ever wanted to, I could come live with her. I've decided to take her up on the offer. I won't be going back to the mortal realm." And to prove her point, she grabbed a berry from the bush next to her - the same bush that Haku had gotten a berry from years ago - and ate it. "I'll be staying with Zineba."
"Forever?"
"Yes."
Haku smiled. "Welcome home."
Owari
A/N: After reading so many fics where Chihiro forgets or believes it was a dream, I had to do this. She knew what to do, and Haku changed. Why does he always look the same even though in some cases it's been years since she saw him? Oh well. Hope you enjoyed, please review.
~~ 6 YEARS LATER~~
The now 17 year old Chihiro stood in the same place she stood that day, 6 years ago. This time, however, she was going in. Haku had come to visit her once. It had taken almost all of his energy to do so - spirits weren't meant to be in the mortal realm - but he had had to keep his promise to her. At that time, she had promised that eventually she would come back to visit him. Today was that day. There was one thing about this visit that Haku didn't know: She didn't plan to leave.
She had spent the last six years being teased and ridiculed for believing in the spirit realm. Even though it had taken Haku five and a half years to come to her, she had never given up on him. She had never once considered that she might have dreamt the whole thing. She knew that she had to go back. Not for her friends, not for Haku, not even for herself. She had to go because that's where she belonged.
She ran her hands through her now waist length hair and pulled it back into a ponytail. The scrunchie that her friends had made for her was still as bright and strong as it had been the day it was given to her.
Chihiro looked back one last time, checking off things on her mental checklist. Leave note to parents explaining things Bring food, brush, and change of clothes Bring ID DON'T LOOK BACK
She took the first fateful step towards the spirit realm. Then she took another, and another. She was going home. When she realized that, she ran the remaining distance, all the way to the staircase leading to the bathhouse.
At the top step, she turned and looked around her. There, next to the stairs, was a surprised looking young man. He had also grown his hair out, and it reached half-way down his back, but she still recognized him.
"Hello, Haku."
"Chihiro?" She nodded while he walked toward her. "Why do you need so much stuff for a one-day visit?"
"I - I talked to Zineba when I returned the seal you had taken. She told me that if I ever wanted to, I could come live with her. I've decided to take her up on the offer. I won't be going back to the mortal realm." And to prove her point, she grabbed a berry from the bush next to her - the same bush that Haku had gotten a berry from years ago - and ate it. "I'll be staying with Zineba."
"Forever?"
"Yes."
Haku smiled. "Welcome home."
Owari
A/N: After reading so many fics where Chihiro forgets or believes it was a dream, I had to do this. She knew what to do, and Haku changed. Why does he always look the same even though in some cases it's been years since she saw him? Oh well. Hope you enjoyed, please review.