ser·en·dip·i·ty
serənˈdipitē/
noun
the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.

—

"Hope I didn't miss the turn... " Father grumbles, scratching his head.

"Stop getting us lost, Akio. We're already an hour late."

He shakes her off and grips the steering wheel firmly,''I know where we're going, honey. Relax."

"You said that half an hour ago!" Mom groans, crossing her arms over her chest. Dad chuckles lowly and slows down just a bit. He brakes a meter away from a car that's already parked in front of a dark tunnel."They're already here, I hope they don't notice we're late." Mom frets, using the rear view mirror to adjust her flowery hat. I swear, she acts more and more like an old woman everyday.

She unlocks the doors and unbuckles the seatbelt that crosses over the chest of her red sweater. Dad unbuckles himself, steps out and stretches. I lug the heavy picnic basket out of the tiny yellow car and slam the door. I wait impatiently for my parents by the two-faced stone statue and peer down at it from the corner of my eye. It grins widely as if it knows something I don't—and it probably does, considering how old it looks. I feel like it's actually alive, sentient. Breathing.

"Chihiro? You coming?" Dad asks, from within the tunnel.

"Yeah, sorry." I run into the darkness of the tunnel and look for my parents by listening to the quiet sound of their shoes against the cobblestone. I feel for a solid surface in the darkness until I clasp onto the back of dad's old pink shirt. The farther we walk into the tunnel the bigger the light at the end gets.

The air is stagnant and thick—it's getting kind of difficult to breathe. I cradle the hefty basket in my arms and wipe a drop of sweat that rolls down my tawny cheek. A ray of sunlight shines down on us from above as we exit the tunnel and enter a clock tower. I squeeze between my parents and scamper off towards our new neighbors.

The neighbors aren't waiting that far from the old clock tower. They're perched on a large boulder, holding hands and swinging their feet to n' fro. I've never seen anybody who's actually happy to be married! Amazing. I set the picnic basket down at the foundation of the boulder and bow. "Hello, Oginosan. My name is Seiko and this is my husband,Takeshi. "The woman coos, a sweet smile crossing her red lips.

"It's very nice to meet you, sir. You too, ma'am." I breathe, holding out my hand. Seiko small hand shakes mine with a firm, vice tight grip and Takeshi's grip leaves a lot to be desired. They both jump to their feet and spread an old checkered blanket over the freshly cut grass. I open the picnic basket and remove the bento boxes and place them on the blanket.

"We're sorry for being late. I kind of got us lost..." Dad says, bowing his head.

"We'll forgive you on one condition: you have to share that delicious smelling lunch with us and we'll let this little incident go, no questions asked." Takeshi jeers, jabbing dad in the gut.

"In that case, dig in!" Mom cheers, sitting by her chosen bento. I open mine and a splendid aroma wafts into my nose, I can smell the sweetness of a freshly baked Salmon. Mom and dad really outdid themselves. The rice is nice and buttery and melts in my mouth, like chocolate that's been set out in the sun too long. I stealthily mash my vegetables into the ground and throw dirt over it.

"Thank you for the food, Ryōshin." I say, closing my bento."It was delicious."

My parents smile proudly and glance over at Seiko and her husband, looking for the same approval. After we're almost all finished we just sit down an talk about things—mom talks about home decoration ideas, dad talks about work and food. I just sit there, pulling grass up out of the ground—then I see it. There's a huge amusement park not that far from here, but it looks deserted. Cool!

"Okasan, Otosan, may I go for a walk?" I ask, swiping my bangs out of my face.

"Sure—you have fun." Mom assents, resuming her enthralling conversation with Seiko about pastel colored curtains. I stand up and jog towards the gigantic amusement park. The cool wind whistles quietly through the grass, and wafts this faint smell food to my nose. I climb up the rocky stairs and enter a seemingly abandoned restaurant. Sure enough, there's mountains of fresh food sitting on the wooden counters and tables but nobody's here. I leave the restaurant and continue to explore this mysterious park.

I run all over the place but still all I see is restaurant after restaurant filled with food. There's not a soul in sight and I'm starting to wonder if this place is haunted by spirits. I'd better not eat their food then—who knows what kind of spirits they are. I climb up another set of stone steps and stare up at a tall, statuesque Bathhouse. Smoke is rising up from somewhere inside which is proof that someone, or something, is in there. But, who? Why is there a bathhouse this far into the country?

In front of the Bathhouse there's an old red bridge that stretches over a ravine. I stand on the red railing and peer over just in time to see a train chugging out of the base of the Bathhouse. Finally—something other than food! I reach into my pocket and hunt for the camera. I snap a few pictures of the large, picturesque Bathhouse and one of the water covered train tracks.

"Chi...hiro?" A boy quietly stutters. My camera falls to the ground and a gasp escapes my lips. A strange boy with forest green eyes looks me over in awed wonder.

I pick up the scratched camera and glance up at him and step back. "Who are you and how do you know my name? Have we...met?"

"Yes—yes we have, remember?" He takes a step toward me, arms wide open.

I plaster a fake smile onto my lips and shake my head."No, I don't. Would you care to jog my memory?"

The strange boy's smile falters and fades quickly,"We met when you were small; you fell into me—the Kohaku river, trying to rescue your fallen shoe and started drowning—and I saved you!"He blurts, running his hand through his shoulder length hair. My smile softens. I get it now— this strange man is probably confused. His loved one was supposed to meet him here or something and I came instead.

"Sorry, I think you're looking for someone else."

"No, I've been searching for you for a long time, Chihiro." He grins and scratches the back of the neck."Can't believe your were this close to home."

I gulp, wipe the sweat off of my forehead and blink rapidly."W-who are you?"

"I can't believe you don't remember me." He sighs and massages his temples."We met in the Kohaku River...the dragon...here five years ago. I'm Haku."

"Someone once told me that once you've met someone, it's impossible to forget them."Where am I going with this?" I haven't forgotten you, Haku. I just need a little help remembering." I turn on my heels and walk down the dusty paths. I look back and see that Haku is shuffling after me with this dazed look on his face, like I've just punched him in the stomach. I keep my eyes straight ahead and run back to my parents.

When I get back, they're just packing up their dirty bento boxes and folding up the blanket. I cower behind my mom's back and watch as Haku shuffles over to Takeshi. Haku whispers something into Takeshi's ear and his downcast eyes meet mine. "I see you've met my creepy younger brother, Haku. Hope he didn't freak you out too badly, he's just trying to be friends." Takeshi laughs, slapping Haku's back. Brother?

"He's free to come over anytime. If it's okay with my parents, that is." Just as my father opens his mouth to protest, a clap of thunder roars overhead. We all inspect the huge incoming clouds—they rolled in without any warning. I shield my head from the rain with the excessively heavy basket and sprint back to our car on the other side. The air is so cold now—as if Japan has been thrust up further into the Northern hemisphere. This is so crazy, it's the middle of summer! What could have caused the weather to change so drastically?!

I follow closely behind my mother as we dash back into the leaky tunnel. There are puddles forming in here already, but at least it's humid in here. Our footsteps echo loudly against the icy cobblestone floor of the tunnel, but I thought everyone passed me already. Then why do I hear footsteps behind me? I turn my head and see the lanky silhouette of a person shambling forward, hands in pocket. I don't want to be left alone with, Haku.

I run into the dim light at the end of the tunnel, but it isn't what I expected. Instead of an eerie statue there's just hills being pelted mercilessly by rain. Haku eventually catches up to me and I stumble back into him.

"Haku...where are we? Where's the tunnel?! I've never seen this place before..."

He shakes his downcast head and looks around,"I...don't know." Haku snarls," All we can do now is head for civilization."A thick line of smoke rises up into the darkened sky.

"Let's head over there, maybe they could tell us how to get home from...wherever we are right now." I propose, pointing toward the billowing vapor. Haku silently follows my lead and we set off down the hill, towards the smoke. It's very difficult to trudge up the muddy roads lugging something that feels like it weighs almost as much as I do. At least I have someone to keep me company, it keeps me distracted—for the most part.

I keep glancing up at Haku and thinking—am I going to be safe with him here? Probably, if he was going to try something now'd be the perfect time. Nobody's around to stop him from doing anything. '' Haku? Didn't you say that you were looking for me? Why did it take you so long to...find me? I think it'd be easier for you if we're as close as you say we are." Haku doesn't answer, he just throws his head back and let's the rain trickle down his pale face. What a strange guy...

A few minutes later, Haku removes the picnic basket from my head. I've been falling down a lot because of it, especially when we climb up hills. It just won't stop raining.A sigh of relief escapes my thin lips and I rub the back of my sore neck. I'd rather get drenched than have to cover my self with that stupid thing.

"Hey, Chihiro? You want to know why it took me so long to find you?" Haku blurts, staring straight ahead. I nod hesitantly and slick my bangs out of my face. "Four years ago I made a deal with Yubaba, the owner of the bathhouse, that if I worked for her for four years I was free to go. Her only other condition was that I'd be turned into a human until I received the kiss of true love. I know her true intention was to handicap me on my search. I didn't mind, though. Because I thought... I thought that if I found you, I could go back to the way I was. The way you remember me. And you'd forgive me for being so late." He pauses and slicks his dark hair out of his eyes.

I thrust my hands into my pocket and shake my head, in disbelief. "I...don't know how to tell you this, Haku. You're the craziest person I've ever met. Stop confusing me with this... girl of yours! If...if I truly did love you, wouldn't I have remembered you by now? You're obviously some kind of weirdo—or just hopelessly confused. Now listen, and listen good, if you're not going to stop with these shenanigans of yours...Leave. Me. Alone. You creep me out."

A strange look twists his face as if he's finally understood the punch line of a joke. Haku sets the basket on the ground and he cackles, pointing up at the thundering clouds. He's laughing so heartily that pearly tears are forming in his eyes and he can't pull himself together. "Well played, you old witch!" He screeches. The wind whips his hair around his face, making him look even more like a madman.

I run. I run far away from, Haku and never look back. I'm going to pretend this is all just a nightmare, a terrible, terrible nightmare. I'll wake up at home, in my thin blankets. I'll watch Shinchan or Princess Tutu and maybe I'll bike to the beach or something. This isn't real, this isn't real, this isn't real! Wake up, Chihiro, wake up! Tears stream down my tanned cheeks and I slide down a hill. Haku's haunting laughter still rings in my ears.

—

A few hours later I stumble into bustling little town. Night is quickly falling and I need to find shelter quickly. I-I wonder what Haku's doing...is he trying to follow me? He terrified me earlier and I think he just snapped, maybe I went too far. God, I just want to go home and find out that this is all just a dream. Since it's not a dream, I search for a safe place to stay this evening. But I can't read any of the signs or understand any of what the people are saying. Everything around me is...English?! Oh, great. Well, Totoro, we're definitely not in Japan anymore.

A/N: I've fixed this chapter, please tell me what you think! Also, don't hesitate to share, review, or favorite this story! Have a nice day!