Return
Chihiro sat under the great plaster arch. I was a warm sunny day. Birds chirped around. All else was silent. The disserted amusement park stood there across the stream. Chihiro sat there, chemistry notes in hand. Form four exams are terrible. She ought to be doing this at home she thought as the wind sent some of her notes swirling above her head. She caught them. Four years they've lived her and every day she came to visit this spot. She couldn't remember why. She didn't even know why she never crossed the stream and explored the amusement park or why when the sky turned red she would return home. She thought she'd come her out of habit. Chihiro sighed, the sky was turning pink and her gut instinct was telling her to leave. She began to pack her bag. She was putting in her chemistry file when a pack of notes fell out. Salt, Yuk. She went to pick them up but the wind blew them even further. She reached them again, this time the wind blew them on to the sharp rocks of the stream. She sighed again she couldn't just leave them there she needed them for her exam net week. She jumped on to the slippery rocks and made her slow way to the papers. She was about to grab them when once again they flew out of her grasp and landed on the opposite bank. She sighed and continued to follow them. At last she thought grabbing the paper. She folded them carefully and put them in her hoody's pocket. The sun now had completely set. She was going to turn back when she smelt something. Barbeque she thought how strange. She walked up the slope. She was surrounded by hundreds of deserted food stall but deserted as they might have been a sweet smell escaped each one. She walked on from the top of the slop she saw a gigantic building. Smoke was coming out of one of the chimneys.
A bath house she said out loud. Must still be in business. She was turning back when suddenly one by on the stalls around her lit up. Grey, misty figures appeared inside. All of them starring at her with large white eyes. She edged away from the stalls and bumped straight into a three. Or should have any way. She went straight through. She looked at her arms. She was see-through. She screamed and ran towards the stream. But where a stream once stood a river replaced it. Cutting through the water a giant ferry boat came towards her, her home hundreds of miles away. The ferry boat was lit in dozens of different colours, gold red yellow. The boat hit the shore silently and a plank slid out on its own accord. Chihiro ran and hid behind a nearby bush in front of a low wall. She saw the numerous passengers all masked in coloured cloaks step on to shore. It began to rain.
"Déjà a vu don't you think" said a voice above her head. She jumped back. On the wall sat a boy about her age, with green hair and shining green eyes. He looked strangely familiar." What's wrong Chihiro? Looks like you just saw a spirit"
"No" she said "but seems like I'm turning into one... how do you know my name?"
The boy looked confused." Of course I know who you are don't you remember me?"
Chihiro shook her head.
The boy looked slightly annoyed." don't worry Yubaba will take care of this." he looked at Chihiro "but first things this" he handed her a little pink ball. She looked at it suspiciously.
"I shouldn't eat things from people when I don't even know their names" she said.
"It's Haku" he said "now eat it. Trust me"
She bit it gingerly and then swallowed the whole thing. Haku nodded and grabbed her arm. It was now solid. And he pulled her up the slope towards the bath house.
"Where are you taking me" she said as they ran up the slope.
"To Yubaba" he said matter-of-factly.
"Who's Yubaba" she said
"You'll see was" his reply.
They made it to a bridge leading to the bath house.
"Last time we met I had told you to hold your breath but no use now"
And they ran through the crowd.
Chihiro heard the same word repeated. Human. Chihiro had the impression that these people weren't human. They ran into the warm bath house.
"Wow". Breathed Chihiro.
"Not the time for sightseeing "said Haku."You seriously don't remember any of this? Lin hold that elevator!"
In front of Chihiro stood a large wooden elevator. A woman with brown hair stood inside.
"What are you..." she stared at Chihiro, "Sen, I mean Chihiro, is that really you?"
Haku pulled Chihiro into the elevator and pressed the highest number. The lift moved up without closing any doors.
"It's Sen." said the lady in Pink. Looking Chihiro up and down.
"No "said Haku," its Chihiro. She can't remember anything."
"Hey my memory is perfect. Not my fault I can't wake up from this dream" she said defensively.
"That would explain why she's being so calm." said the lady. "Remember when she first came here. She kept on bumping into everything"
Then it dawned on her. "She doesn't even know who I am does she?"
Haku shook his head "can't remember a thing"
The lady gulped turned to Chihiro and said "well, I'm Lin. I was your carer last time you came."
Chihiro shook Lin's hand. "Nice meeting you. Too bad you're not real or else I think we would have been good friends."
The elevator stopped before Lin could reply. Haku grabbed her arm and led her to a large door. He knocked the knocker.
"Not so hard" said the knocker.
"Shut up and open" said Lin. The door swung open and they led Chihiro through numerous passages. At last they made it into a large study. Diamonds and gold lay scattered around the room.
"Yubaba" shouted Haku.
"Coming, coming" shouted a voice from the next door room. A moment later the ugliest lady Chihiro ever saw stood in front of her. She had a head bigger then her body and her hair looked like a giant sun hat.
"What know?" she grumbled.
"Chihiro's back" Said Lin.
"What?" yelled Yubaba.
"and she can't remember anything" said Haku."Explain"
"I'll need to get Zeniba" she said wrapping her cloak around her."Boh! Sen. is back!" and with that she spread her arms, which took the shape of wings and jumped out of the , thumb, thumb. Out of a nearby doorway a toddler the size of an elephant emerged. He wore a striped shirt and one of those hats with the fan on top.
"Sen. "he shouted thumping, very slowly, his way towards her. Chihiro looked left and right.
"Me?" she asked.
"Boh" said Haku. "Her name is Chihiro, remember? She's kind of sick. She can't remember anything."
"I beg your pardon!" she said turning to him sharply. "I am not sick just a sleep."
"Keep telling yourself that." said Lin.
"Chihiro-Sen., you don't remember me?" said Boh.
"Well" said Chihiro not wanting to hurt the big baby's feeling. "You look familiar. Actually you all look familiar."
"We should" they all turned round, beside the window sill stood what looked like two Yubabas. "See Zeniba how she has returned."
"That was fast" muttered Chihiro.
"Dear me" said Zeniba "this is bad." Poor Chihiro. She's going to need our help."
"That's why I called you" replied the other.
"Can someone tell us what's going on?" interrupted Haku.
"Chihiro's returned. That's what going on." said one of the old ladies.
"But that good isn't it" said Lin.
One of the old ladies walked up to Chihiro. "Not really. But first thing first. Yubaba get me a pair of scissors. Chihiro can I have your hair band please."
Reluctantly Chihiro took it off." What do you want it for" said Chihiro eyeing the scissors. "My old friends made me that."
"We were those friends" said Zeniba and cut the band. Chihiro bent over and put her hand on her ears. She started to scream. Haku and Lin ran to her side. Haku knelt beside her and put a hand around her shoulders.
"What did you do to her?" Yelled Haku.
"counter cursing the curse" said Zeniba." she's getting her memory back." Chihiro soon stopped screaming and looked up as if she had been hiding under a table for an earthquake that never happened. She looked around her and gasped.
"Haku, how did I get back to the bathhouse!" her eyes widened "Haku" she yelled and hugged him. After a minute she let go and Haku asked. "Can you explain now what happened?"
"Well" said Yubaba "when leaving the spirit world a spell is placed on the departing human so she or he doesn't remember what happened in the spirit world..."
"Why?" asked Chihiro.
"Because "said Zeniba "if they remembered what happened they might want to return"
"And what wrong with that?" asked Lin.
"If a human enters the spirit world twice" continued Yubaba, "they remain in the spirit world"
"What!"Said Chihiro.
"In the spirit world. They begin to forget their real life until even in this world they'll fade and become like no face"
"And there is no way of stopping this" said Haku standing besides Chihiro defensively.
"Four years and nothing has changed" murmured Zeniba.
"Non that I know of" said Yubaba.
"I, I might know" said a quiet voice.
"No face!" exclaimed Chihiro. "You can talk?"
"ac-actually it's Kaononai" he said. " And yeas. Zeniba gave me a voice box."
"Kaononai what were you saying before" said Zeniba patiently.
"What about Yukitoko" said Kaononai.
" Yuki? Why Yuki?" said Zeniba.
" Well once I heard someone say Yukitoko gave a no face a face." he said quietly.
"That's impossible" said Yubaba
"Yubaba, calm yourself our half sister uses magic unknown to us." said Zeniba.
"Yubaba." if there is the slightest chance of her being able to save Chihiro we should take it."
Yubaba sighed. "Very well do as you please but it won't be easy to convince her to help you. She's has her price."
"Sister you and I both know what she wants. It's about time to" said Zeniba.
" Lin you shall also accompany them." said Yubaba.
" Why me " said Lin.
"you have forgotten but you are an old friend of Yuki, her cousin actually" said Zeniba." you are free from your contract."
"Hey. Don't I get a say in this." said Yubaba.
Zeniba ignored her." your real name is Momoko. You live in Icepath not far from where Yuki live today. Your parents still live there till this day. You had come to the bath house to pay off your home's lawn. Now it is paid off and you are free to go." said Zeniba.
" You said Yukitoko live near Icepath " said Haku . How do we get there."
" You can't fly for sure." said Yubaba "it too cold you'll freeze. And the train doesn't stop there either. but we own a map" I'll let you find out how to get there."
" But not today" said Zeniba "let this storm pass."