A/N: Annyeonghaseyo ("Hello" in Korean)! I'm back! Miss me? Probably not. It's summer again so I'll be active and writing. If you do not know me, hi! By the way guys, I'm working on TWO Spirited Away fanfictions this summer so check out the other one if you'd like (: I'm so happy to be writing for you guys again!よろしくおねがいします(Yoroshiku onegaishimasu which means "Please take care of me" or "Nice to meet you" roughly).
Oh and I will be using some Japanese words because I don't really know the literal translation of like tengu and to also learn a bit for fun? Why not? You learn better when you're having fun (:
Translations:
Onigiri: rice ball
Yuna: Female bathhouse employees
Youkai: They're spirits whose powers can range from not-so-powerful to the most powerful. They can take on human forms.
Ayakashi: Simply ghosts or apparitions, lower than youkai.
Sumimasen: "Excuse me."
Tengu: bird-like youkai
Yuki Onna: Literally means "snow woman." Another type of youkai
Disclaimer: I sadly do not own Spirited Away ):
Chapter 1
"Whether I'm alive or dead
Whatever happens to me
You who loved me and then abandoned me
Will be able to answer me
Up until this place that I have ran across
If I can follow the trail of tears to return to the past
Will I be able to hear at least your explanation?"
"Trail of Tears" - Wheesung (The Moon Embracing the Sun OST)
After Haku was returned his name by Chihiro, and had to sadly watch her go into the tunnel, he turned his back to the gate and hurried back to Aburaya. There were more pressing matters than his heartache: he had to confront Yubaba.
"Oh good you're here. They need extra hands to repair all the damage that Kaonashi (No-Face, literally) and Sen have done," Yubaba spat out.
"No. You can't control me. I have my name back. My name is Nigihayami Kohaku Nushi." Haku replied with cool confidence.
Yubaba's eyes widened in realization. "Sh-she didn't. How could she possibly know your name?!"
"I've known her since she was very small," he smiled. Yubaba huffed; she did not want to go against an angry, powerful spirit right now.
She finally spoke. "What do you want?" What did he want, besides Chihiro at his side? She had been gone for less than an hour and his heart could barely take it.
"To split this place 50/50. You and I. I think I can be of assistance. I can make this the richest, most luxurious and popular bathhouse."
"NO! What if you decide to sabotage me, turn all of my employees against me, and steal all of my money, leaving me out on the streets?!" Haku noticed there was no mention of Boh.
"Well I can work for free and you can be in charge of financials 100%." Yubaba carefully thought this through. She eyed him suspiciously.
"Well, how will I know you won't dispose of me?"
"You have my word that I will not try to harm you in any way." As much as I'd like to, Haku thought.
"What does your word mean? It does not mean anything if there is no truth to it." The old witch just would not budge.
"I swear to it. Unless you dare harm any of the workers or myself, I will not harm you." Yubaba narrowed her eyes. He was a righteous spirit, after all. She sighed, defeated.
"I'll be watching every move you make and listening to every conversation you have - and who with. Until you can prove your trust, I will not allow you to be co-master. Do you understand?"
"Loud and clear."
"Good. Now just go help the toads." Yubaba turned away and flicked her hand. Haku exited with a triumphant grin.
\(^.^)/
About three years later a vengeful spirit visited the bathhouse. He was uncontrollable and attacked everything. He went after some of the workers and Yubaba herself. Haku saved them all, and Yubaba was eternally grateful. She finally decided to split Aburaya with him, except the financials. Her heart had softened a bit, but she became very strict over security: no humans, no Kaonashi spirits, and no vengeful spirits.
For the next five years, things in Aburaya were better than ever! Aburaya did become the most popular bathhouse in all of the Spirit World, and the richest to Yubaba's delight. However, the prosperity and happiness did not last.
Haku still grieved immensely over her departure. There was not a second that his heart did not call out to her. He would sit alone in the gardens, just outside the pigpens, with an onigiri. Just one. Then one day, while he was thinking of the empty promise he had made to Chihiro, the sky began to darken. There had been no signs of rain or storm. He sprinted back inside, just in case, stuffing the onigiri into his mouth.
When he entered Aburaya it was silent: a strange, deadly silence. He eyed each of the workers suspiciously. Maybe Chihiro had come back? No, impossible, he thought. He finally asked. "What's wrong?"
"Uhm…Master Haku?" one of the yuna piped up. "The Witnesses are here. For you." Haku's heart raced and for the first time the mask came off. Fear was written all over his face.
Every spirit had every right to fear The Witnesses. They were cloaked, shadowy figures that dwelt in the darkest part of the Spirit World. You never saw their bodies, but it is said there is rotting skin beneath. All you ever really saw were five pairs of red, malevolent eyes. They saw everything: every crime and wrong-doing, though they would only take action if it was reported by another spirit, or if the spirit actually turned themselves in. A spirit would be crazy to do that because they deliver eternal punishment for any wrongdoing.
The workers cleared a path for him. He saw Yubaba and The Witnesses at the end. He gulped a little.
"Hello. Why are you looking for me? Is something wrong?" Haku could barely contain his distress.
"Nigihayami Kohaku Nushi." Each pointed at him. He could see their rotting skin, which sent chills up his spine. "You are being charged for having feelings towards a human." He could hear the workers whispering and gasping. Yubaba's mouth dropped. Rin wanted to tell him "I told you so," but now wasn't the time.
"YOU A-AND SEN?!" Yubaba barked. She was surprised that a human had caught the heart of the great and powerful Nigihayami Kohaku Nushi. Yubaba saw the appeal: the little brat did wreck the bathhouse, but she also made them filthy stinking rich because of that river spirit she cleaned.
"SHE'S NEVER EVER COMING BACK AND I'M SURE BY NOW SHE DOESN'T EVEN REMEMBER ANY OF US!" The truth in Yubaba's words stung his already broken heart.
"Don't you think I know that?" He snapped. "We can't help who we care about!"
Everyone in the bathhouse just started chanting the same thing. "LET HIM GO! LET HIM GO! LET HIM GO!"
He couldn't believe it, they were on his side. They did not judge him. None of them could have ratted on him.
"SILENCE! Nigihayami Kohaku Nushi, you are coming with us." They forcibly grabbed his arms and led him out of the bathhouse. A frantic Yubaba followed behind together with many angry workers. They all watched helplessly; Haku was basically being kidnapped.
"RIN! TELL SEN TO STAY AWAY—" Haku could not finish his request, but Rin got the message.
\(^.^)/
Meanwhile, on the other side of the tunnel, Chihiro had grown up. She became taller, got some meat on her bones, and was even more beautiful. She had lost her baby fat and gained some curves. She was alone though; her parents had died a few years after their move, and she never had any real friends. Well, human friends. She socialized with youkai and ayakashi. After they had moved she had gained the ability to see youkai. It might have had something to do with that black-out incident.
At first, none of them liked her, being extremely prejudiced against humans. But many grew to like her; they realized she was different and was not destructive. She was always kind and helpful to anyone or any spirit that needed her help. She was the go-to person for them to talk to about their feelings - or just to talk to. She was now enrolled at Kyoto University studying environmental law. The time she spent with them had made her aware of how much the environment needed her help. One day, while she was visiting the town she had grown up in, she overheard some gossip between two tengu.
"Did you hear? Nigihayami Kohaku Nushi has fallen in love with a human! The Witnesses forcefully dragged him out of Aburaya, and Yubaba is fuming!" the first one chirped.
"Oh my! The Witnesses?" The other one was interested but seem very frightened.
"Yes! I saw it with my own eyes!"
Chihiro walked over to them both. She was curious, what were The Witnesses? Who was this Nigihayami Kohaku Nushi? "Sumimasen. I overheard your conversation, but why is it such a big deal?" Both tengu stared at her wide-eyed.
"Stinking human!" they both shrieked and flew away. Chihiro was used to it.
She strolled around town and heard more gossip about this Nigihayami Kohaku Nushi. She was really curious now. When she spotted an old friend near her old house who would not run away at the sight of her, she went over to the yuki onna.
"Miyuki. Nice seeing you still around!"
"Ah Chihiro, it's been awhile." They embraced in a friendly hug. Chihiro was glad to see a familiar face.
"So. All over town I've been hearing talk about a Nigihayami Kohaku Nushi. What's so great about him?"
"He's extremely handsome and he's very powerful. He has just been arrested by The Witnesses and charged with having feelings for a human. And it's true: he actually confessed to it. Sort of pathetic. He could have anyone, but he has feelings for a human. Not that I have anything against you, but it's a little stupid. I mean, humans are mortal. You don't live that long compared to us."
"I am aware of that, but there were these two tengu talking about it. One of them seemed very frightened when one mentioned The Witnesses. What's so terrifying about them?"
"They're extremely powerful. They deliver punishment in our world. They see every crime or wrongdoing. They do not deliver the punishment unless the criminal is turned in. So if the felon is not caught they're very fortunate."
"What's so bad about caring about a human? Not like he can help who he cares about. Besides, it sounds a bit ridiculous, but how did a human end up in your world?"
"There is nothing bad. It's just new and hard to accept. I've only heard rumors, so whether or not it is true I do not know. It is said that a young human girl, about eight years ago, unknowingly entered into the Spirit World with her parents. Her parents being greedy started gobbling up the spirits' food. Yubaba then cursed her parents and turned them into pigs. I'm not exactly sure how she got a job in the bathhouse though. She wreaked some havoc while she was there. I think she gave him his name back, but that's all I've really heard. Again, just rumors."
"It sounds a bit hard to believe. But then again, I can see you and I am conversing with you."
Miyuki giggled a little at her human companion's humor. "His trial is coming up and I'm going to watch. It's going to be the trial of the millennium! Everyone will be watching. Would you like to tag along?"
Chihiro thought about it carefully. She had always been curious about the Spirit World. All of her friends came from it and it seemed magical. "Are you sure it's not illegal?"
"Well it's not like you're staying forever and there's no law about it. The Witnesses punish according to the law, not what they believe."
"So there's a law against having feelings for a human, but not a law about a human coming over into the Spirit World? That doesn't make much sense. If you don't want a spirit and human to develop feelings towards each other, why would it be allowed for them to meet in the Spirit World?"
"It's just how the law works. So are you in?"
"Are spirits on trial allowed lawyers?" Chihiro wasn't going to let a spirit be punished for being in love. It wasn't right.
"Yes. Why?" Miyuki raised an eyebrow. She knew exactly what Chihiro was thinking. "And please don't tell me you're going to do what I think you're going to do." Chihiro fidgeted a bit on the spot. "I doubt they'll let a human be a lawyer? You don't even know our laws or procedures!"
"Well it's not right! You said a young human girl had entered once, and I bet she must have befriended a few spirits if one actually fell for her. I can talk to them! I'm going back to the motel and going to start packing. Just give me like two hours. I'll be back, Miyuki!"
"I'll be waiting for you here." Chihiro broke off into a run and waved good-bye to her friend. Miyuki smiled to herself. She has grown up so wonderfully. 'Time to report back to Zeniba on how her granddaughter is doing.' Miyuki dissolved into the shadows.
\(^.^)/
Chihiro came back, packed and ready. She had a few business suits, pajamas, and a few leisure clothes. Miyuki was where she said she'd be. Chihiro waved happily to her. Miyuki smiled at the child's blissful ignorance of what awaited her. She did not want to scare the child off from saving her love, whether she knew it or not.
"I'm ready! Now shall we step into the Spirit World? Is there like some sort of portal you have to open up?" Despite being eighteen years old, Chihiro was still a child inside.
"No. All we have to do is walk through a tunnel." Chihiro seemed a bit disappointed. It was so mundane. Walking through a tunnel? "There's still an hour before the sun sets which is more than enough time."
"More than enough time for what?"
"You'll see. Now let's start walking."
The two were happily chatting about their lives and catching up. They had not seen each other since Chihiro moved away about two months ago. Spring was coming to an end and the scorching summer was approaching.
As Chihiro approached the tunnel she marveled at its alluring and mysterious atmosphere. It was almost in her backyard, but she had never noticed it. She inhaled then exhaled. She really could not believe that she was getting a chance to visit the world parallel to hers!
"Chihiro, you ready?" Miyuki chimed.
"Yeah," Chihiro breathed. She placed one foot in the tunnel and the other followed. The purple hair tie glistened in her hair.
A/N: So how did you like it? Oh and I titled it "Yume to Hazakura" because well, the song talks about the end of spring, and see how I had her return at the end of spring and beginning of summer? Actually that was last minute xD I'll post the lyrics as we go through the story, if it applies to the chapter. I'm really excited to write this story because I can see the plot. I don't really know the ending, but I can see the plot. The next chapter won't have too much Haku in it ): It'll mainly be Chihiro. Of course mention of Haku. He is the biggest spectacle of the millennia after all. Please tell me your thoughts! Have a good night!
Review please~
~fandomnerd12
