Hello! This is the first time I'm posting an actual fanfiction on this site. (I did a one-shot RK parody a few days ago). I can't really say that this is my first fanfic because I've been writing these since I was ten. (Now I'm 15)

I hope you all enjoy it. Please send me a little review after you read. Say whatever you think; I don't mind flames one bit! I might learn something from them, ok?

Also I would like to know if this story is worth continuing.

Sigh...now for the hard part.

Disclaimer: I do not own... Spirited Away.

Haku: What about me?

SparklingEmeralds: With great difficulty I say this, my dear dragon: I don't even own Nigihayami Kohaku Nushi...

-Narration

-"Speech."

-Thoughts

Okay?

A new family?

"Chihiro?"

The kind-hearted young woman looked over her stylish spectacle lenses at the girl who sat huddled miserably on a chair in the corner of the room.

Chihiro hugged her knees that were drawn up against her face. She thought she had heard a voice but didn't feel like responding right away.

"Chihiro, I have good news." The brunette's grey eyes held a warm maternal glow.

Chihiro reluctantly raised her head. "Another family?"

"A good one. They seem really nice. Why don't you just have a chat with them?"

"Uh-uh." Chihiro hid her face behind her knees again and rocked herself slowly.

"Chihiro, honey, you can't stay at the orphanage forever. And you're such a good girl. Lots of families would love to adopt you."

Chihiro didn't even move.

"They have a son," the woman added brightly. "You said you've always wanted an older brother. Come on, what have you got to lose? Just talk to them."

Chihiro straightened out her slender legs that her short blue denim skirt showed off and stood up.

"You have a point," she said. "Thanks, Mrs. Mizunumi."

Mrs. Mizunumi smiled. "You're always welcome. I'll bring them in."

Several minutes later she returned, followed by three eager-looking people.

"Chihiro, this is the Kaishitun family."

Mrs. Kaishitun stepped forward. "I'm so glad to meet you, Chihiro." When she spoke, she used not only her mouth, but somehow also expressed herself with her eyes, head, shoulders, and even hands. As a result her raven black hair stirred as she talked.

"I've heard wonderful things about you," she added, her brown eyes warm as she extended her hand.

Chihiro shyly shook her hand. "I'm...happy to meet you, too."

Okay, totally screwed that one up, she thought.

Mr. Kaishitun extended his hand also. "Good to see you," he said quietly, regarding her solemnly through steely azure eyes.

Chihiro greeted him too, but she was distracted by the boy who stood beside him. From the minute the family entered the room, the teenager had not moved his gaze away from her. Now, as he approached her, Chihiro realized that it wasn't his staring that had bothered her.

It was his eyes. Chihiro looked up at them for a brief second, but not much longer than that. It almost hurt to look into his then sleepy but still shockingly blue eyes. Some of his long, uneven bangs were hanging into his face and he ran his fingers arrogantly through his hair.

"Hi," he said charmingly. "I'm Sateiku."

"I...um...oh..." Chihiro said very intelligently, at least managing to shake his hand. But after the handshake he held on to her hand and pleaded—again, with his eyes.

"Please let us take you in. I know you'll make the perfect sister," he implored in his smooth voice.

Chihiro just nodded and he released her hand. Her hand felt unbearably hot.

Mrs. Kaishitun spoke up. "How old are you, dear?"

"Sixteen," said Chihiro.

But I'll be seventeen in less than two months, she added in her head.

Mrs. Kaishitun raised her eyebrows and looked at her husband in surprise. "That's perfect. Sateiku is eighteen."

Mr. Kaishitun nodded. "Chihiro, we would be honoured to have you join our family. And you and Sateiku should get along very well."

Mrs. Mizunumi flashed a brilliant smile at them. "I'll just have a word with Chihiro, if you don't mind." She grabbed the girl's hand and they went to the other side of the room.

"So, what do you think? Want to give them a try?" she asked.

"Um..."

"Come on. You can all have a two- month trial period. If you don't want to stay with them, you can come back."

A small grin crept to Chihiro's lips. "Okay."

Mrs. Mizunumi's face lit up. "Yeah?"

Chihiro nodded.

"Oh, I'm so happy for you, sweetheart," she said hugging the girl, "you've finally found a family."

"It's a trial, remember?" Chihiro reminded her.

The woman gave her a friendly punch.

Chihiro stared blankly out of the car window, letting the cool wind rushing into the car massage her face and blow her chestnut hair into an unruly mess.

Sateiku Kaishitun sat in the back seat with her, just on the other side, and his parents were in front.

"Oh, Chihiro," said Mrs. Kaishitun dreamily, "you have no idea how happy I am to finally have a daughter."

Chihiro didn't know what to say to her.

I'm not happy. She fought back tears that threatened to ruin her façade. If my mom and dad were alive I wouldn't be here. And now I'm moving so far away from my hometown...so far away from the entrance to the spirit world. What's the use, anyway? I've tried so many times to get back but it's as if the entrance just disappeared...

As soon as I can I'll leave and go search for the spirit world again. I don't care what it takes. I miss everyone over there too much, especially...Haku...

She thought of all the lonely years she had spent up to that point—years I could have spent with you! she thought angrily. It's been six years, Haku. Why won't you come? Don't you know what I've been going through? I have no one in my world but this stupid pretentious family. Why don't you keep your promise and...

...save me?

She kept staring out the window, hoping no one would see the tears that rolled slowly down her cheeks.

"Okay, we're here," Mrs. Kaishitun announced as the car came to a halt.

Chihiro stumbled dizzily out and blinked as the orange glow of the setting sun met her eyes.

Ugh, I feel like there's sand in my eyes...

"Are you okay?"

Chihiro span around to see her 'new brother' looking at her anxiously.

"Y-yeah."

"Let me help you." He put her arm over his shoulder. "Mom, she doesn't look too well."

"Chihiro must be tired. Remember, this may not be too easy for her," Mrs. Kaishitun said as they entered the house. "Now, Sateiku, I'm going to get some dinner ready. Why don't you take Chihiro to her room and let her get some rest?"

"Okay."

"Chihiro, darling, do you want anything to eat?"

"No, thanks," Chihiro mumbled. "I'll just go to sleep."

"I understand. Have a good night's rest, dear."

Mr. Kaishitun muttered something or other to that effect as well.

Chihiro was literally sleeping on herself while Sateiku patiently managed to navigate both of them up the spiralling stairs without either one getting injured, and was completely out by the time he lifted her in his strong arms and placed her gently in her new bed and tucked her in.

And she certainly didn't hear him when he gently whispered, "Good night, sleep well, my beautiful sister."

That's it for chapter one. Hope you liked it!

It's so relieving to see the sun out now. For the past two or three days it's been overcast and gloomy, and the wind's been howling all over the place, chilling everyone to the bone. You see, this hurricane called Emily has been whirling around the Caribbean (yeah, I live in Trinidad) and it very nearly hit us. So people get paranoid anytime it gets dark and the wind blows and everybody starts scrambling to turn on their TV's and radios to find out if we're back on hurricane and tropical storm alert! Unfortunately parts of Jamaica have been devastated. My condolences to any Jamaican readers and also the people in Florida who got hit by Dennis. Oh, and also any British readers; I'm sorry about the bombings. So many tragedies are taking place these days! Do you know there was a bombing in my country on Monday 11th July, too?

Geez.

But don't let me dampen your mood now. Please send me a review or two, and tell me what you think, okay?

The next chapter will be called 'Memories.' In that one the reason for Chihiro being an orphan and all that stuff will be explained. Don't worry; things will start heating up definitely by the third chapter. Later!

SparklingEmeralds