Chapter 1: It's a Long, Long Way
Disclaimer: I do not own Spirited Away and I do not make any money from this. All rights belong to Studio Ghibli.
Chihiro lay sprawled in an airplane seat, heartily bored, wishing with all her might that her father had not been promoted. She wished he had not decided to move, and that she was not leaving everything — and everyone — that she loved behind. With a sigh, she pressed her cheek against the window, leaning into the thick plastic. The clouds called, thick and fluffy, for her to fly freely with them, as she had done before with Haku. It was her father's fault that she could never dream of doing so again. But as much as she hated him for uprooting her life, he was still her father, and she would act strong for him. She knew how much this promotion meant to him — besides, she was no longer a spoiled 10 year old.
But either way, the move was soul-crushing and patently unfair. She had searched the woods, frantically at first, for the entrance to the Spirit World. Then, at least, she hadn't needed to escape, she had just wanted the reassurance that her spirit friends were nearby. And when her 12-year-old self had realized the impossibility of finding the one statue amidst the thousands of trees, she had begun to methodically comb the woods. Now, giving a little shiver in the cold confines of the plane, she took out her map — that meticulous sketch of the woods — and Chihiro let out a muffled cry and crumpled the paper mercilessly. She had been so close. Only two or three months away from having covered the entire woods by foot. So close to finding her way back — finding her way home. But then her parents had made her abandon her quest. They could never understand. And although Chihiro couldn't completely understand why there was such a divide between them, she understood it was one which she could not bridge.
Well, at least she was free from her old life. No one would know who she was, here in the United States. No one would look at her in pity, and then in contempt as they remembered the girl from years ago, hysterically protesting that she did have friends — spirit friends. No one would whisper behind her back about "that crazy girl — what's her name? Chihiro." It had been as if everyone had known, subconsciously, that something was different about her, that something warned them to stay away. The whole school had turned against her. She was different to the rest — an outcast, as it were, and hated by her own people. Desperate, she had tried to find the Spirit World, and it had become her sanctuary, a way to escape the hatred that had surrounded her. But now, one way or another, she was leaving everything behind her. She was free from her past, but it had cost her a possibly happy future.
The Spirit World had been her motivation now for the past 6 years. What would she do now, without the familiar drive which had compelled her to complete her homework and behave well, all in order to tromp through the woods? Shaking away her sorrow, Chihiro took out her class work. The fact she was moving to the United States did not change the fact that, at the age of 16, she was only 2 years away from graduation and college. And now, especially since her return to the Spirit World was out of question, she might as well apply herself. There was no way out of this situation she would have to make do with what she had. She had a clean sheet of paper now — to write on, to draw on, and to crumple, even, should she feel the need. The fact that her life was now forever confined to the Mortal World was a rather disheartening thought, but either way she was determined not to dwell on it. Always a conscientious student, Chihiro threw herself into her work, trying to convince herself that she would have a successful life here without her friends.
The years had passed slowly, so slowly, for Haku. At first, when he had been freed from Yubaba's curse, he had been ecstatic: a fog had been lifted from his mind, and suddenly he recalled his old friends, acquaintances, and family with clarity. He had been so preoccupied with seeing them again that the past had swept him off his feet. It had almost overpowered him when his memories came rushing back, and it was in that haze he let Chihiro go, promising to see her again. And as soon as she had left, he had rushed off to reunite with everyone he had known, and had let the whole Spirit World know of the return of Kohaku N. in his full glory. But after a year of happiness, Haku soon found himself tiring of the inane reunions, and began to wish for Chihiro's presence. At this point he returned to the Bath House and attempted to cross the dry river bed. But to no avail. For an unknown reason, the way to Chihiro and her world was closed. But that wasn't important. He had promised to see her again, so he would. For months he waited, hypothesizing — perhaps the Winter Solstice, the most spiritual day in the year, would open the door. Curled on the floor he waited, his tail twitching as he tried to rest.
Slowly, slowly the days passed as Haku waited, staring emptily across the river bed. Waiting for Chihiro to return or for the winter solstice to finally unlock the gates and allow him to cross. He didn't quite know how time passed in the Mortal World. It was bound to be different, but either way it had been quite a long time. Didn't she miss him? Or had she gone on with her life? Forgotten the wondrous times she'd had here? Did she have a husband? Kids even? With a growl, he bolted upright. She'd better not. Humans were notoriously unfaithful, but Chihiro was different. She would wait for him. Just as he was waiting for her now, alone. Well, almost alone. Behind him came a smattering of footfalls, and with a deep, dangerous growl he turned on whoever was striding purposefully toward him.
"Haku! Watch yourself, dragon boy! Just 'cause you don't work for Yubaba anymore doesn't mean you can try to dismember one of her employees!" Behind him stood Lin, somehow managing to look down upon him even when he was in dragon form, about to start one of her famous-tongue lashings. And in her hands was a steaming bowl of Spicy Beef Noodle Soup. With a growl, his stomach promptly reminded him that he, too, had to eat, though it's scolding was promptly interrupted by Lin. "Haku! Why didn't you take good care of yourself! Honestly! A dragon, letting him pine away! You're such a blockhead. Honestly. You don't deserve your magical powers, you overgrown fish!.." With a playful grin, Haku transformed back into a human, snatched the bowl from Lin and scarfed it down in under a minute while the insults continued to swirl around him.
Finally, he smiled placating at her and stated calmly, "Lin, you have not changed a bit. Tell me, how did you know I was here?"
Lin stared at him, flummoxed; she obviously had not been expecting him to interrupt her. He never had before. Instead, he'd simply walk away, as if she were beneath his notice. "I….I….. Yubaba had said that there was a great power outside of the bath house, and she had suggested that an employee bring a peace offering to it and see if it was the reason why the bath house had been having less custom than usual."
"Less custom? So, Yubaba thought I was the reason why she has fewer customers than usual? Interesting."
"Easy for you to say," Lin grouched. "You weren't here last year when Yubaba threw a tremendous fit because even the Winter Solstice Celebration was a flop. She took it out on the staff too…", Lin shivered, Yubaba had been in a foul mood and had no compunctions against using magic on her staff.
Haku snarled, a disconcertingly feral expression on his human face. "Yubaba had no right", he spat. Then he fixed his piercing eyes on Lin. "Your fellow employees forced you to meet the "great power" outside the bath house? I'm not surprised- they're quite cowardly when they put their mind to it."
With a grin, Lin visibly relaxed. Then she furrowed her brows, tilting her head belligerently. "Haku, if you aren't the reason why we have fewer customers, what is?"
Haku turned to face the empty river, staring off into what he now knew was the unreachable human world. "I don't know. I would guess you have fewer customers because this path between worlds has shut, but I don't know why such a thing would have happened. And I intend to find out."
Author's Note:
This is my first Spirited Away fanfiction! Please review it! I would love some feedback. Criticism, praise, comments - all are welcome.