Chained
Disclaimer: Miyazaki owns all
(Chihiro's POV)
It's been 5 years now. 5 years since my visit to the spirit world. 5 years since his hand slipped from mine, 5 years since the promise was made.
(Flashback)
"Will I ever see you again?"
"I'm sure of it."
"Promise?"
"Promise. Now go, and whatever you do, don't look back!"
(End Flashback)
That day, he told me I would see him again, and I believed him. There wasn't a day that went by that I didn't think of him. Every year my birthday wish was the same – for him to come back, to feel his arms around me again. But 5 years have already gone by and there's still no sign of him. I can't help but wonder if something happened, if someone else has replaced me…but he wouldn't do that…right?
"Chihiro!"
I was jerked out of my thoughts as my mother's voice rang in my ear. I turned and saw the annoyed expression that flitted across her face.
"Yeah?"
She sighed.
"I've been calling your name for the last ten minutes Chihiro."
"Oh…sorry. I was just thinking."
An eyebrow rose.
"Really. And here I was, thinking you've gone deaf and I needed to take you to the doctor" my mother teased.
I blushed. "Sorry" I mumbled again. "Did you need me for something?"
"Well I just came to tell you that we're ready to leave for the Kohaku River Resort-"
Oh. Shit. How could I have forgotten? It was summer, and my parents had planned a visit to the Kohaku River Resort. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach. Maybe today was the day-
"Chihiro!"
I snapped out of it.
"Sorry! I guess I was thinking again." I muttered sheepishly.
My mother rolled her eyes. "Yes, anyway, get your bags, we're about to leave."
"Okay"
I turned, looking for my bag. I frowned. Where was it? Then I remembered-I hadn't packed any. I could feel Mother's stare on my back.
"Well?"
"Well, um, yesterday, I was really tired and I-" I stuttered, my brain scrambling for an excuse.
"Where are your bags?" I winced and took a deep breath, bracing myself for the explosion that was sure to come.
"Iwastootiredandiforgottopackany"
I looked at my mother and then quickly returned my gaze to the floor. She looked…pissed…to say the least. Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one.
"Chihiro!" Yep, I knew it. I glanced at her face again. Judging from angry glare she was giving me, I knew I was in big trouble.
-------------------------scene change--------------------
An hour later, with me in need of a new pair of ears, we finally left for the resort. On the way, my mother was still lecturing me on "responsibility", but I blocked her out. My stomach churned nervously as we got closer to our destination. What was going to happen? Will Haku be there? Will I see him? A million thoughts ran through my head. By the time we arrived, I was a nervous wreck, although I tried to keep that hidden from my parents.
"We're here" Father announced. Wordlessly I got out of the car and took my bag from the trunk. I followed them to the Resort. I fidgeted and looked around as Father talked to the attendant at the front desk. The room was actually pretty cozy, with a couple of comfy looking armchairs and sofas scattered around. A sign was hung on the back wall Welcome to Kohaku River Resort. There were also several paintings and some carvings.
One painting of a dragon caught my eye. It wasn't spectacular or anything and it was hung on the back corner. I wandered over, and as I got closer I could make out the tiny details – the scales that winked and twinkled in the sun, the water swirling around the great beast. I gasped, gingerly touching it with my hand. It looked so much like Haku! But how could it be him?
"Ai. The great spirit of the Kohaku river. Great lad, he is, though he sure could use someone like you right now."
I whirled around, my eyes wide. A man stood before me, wearing long, black robes with a hat that tilted and covered half of his face. He wore a mischievous smile on his face. I opened my mouth to ask him what he meant, but before I could, my mother called out
"Chihiro! Come on, let's go to our room!"
"Okay!" I answered.
I turned back to the mysterious stranger, planning to ask exactly what he meant. But when I looked, he wasn't there. It was like magic-there wasn't any trace of him, no sign that he was even there in the first place. A shiver went up my spine. What was going on? Who, or what was he? And was he implying that the dragon was Haku? Sure, it looked like him, well, more like it was identical to him, but that could be purely coincidental. And also, what did he mean when he said "he sure could use someone like you"?
That night, I couldn't sleep. Our parting words echoed in my dreams. I dreamed about that day, the last time I saw him. The dream started as it normally did. Except this time, something was different.
"Will I ever see you again?"
"I'm sure of it."
"Promise?"
"Promise. Now go!"
Then the dream changed. Haku shifted into his dragon form, and with a roar, rose into the air. He soared into the sky, flying free, until suddenly chains-hundreds, thousands of them shot through the sky, wrapping them around his body. A collar clamped around his neck. The dragon gave an enraged roar. He fought tooth and nail, trying to pull away, desperately trying to break free of the chains that had captured him. But it was a wasted effort. Slowly but surely, the chains pulled him slowly down to the ground. The sky changed from a carefree blue to midnight black with shadows. Thunder rumbled and lightning split the sky.
All the while, I just stood there, paralyzed. I wanted to scream for help, to go and save him, but my legs and my mouth wasn't working. It was like something was deliberately keeping her from trying to help.
When at last, the chains had managed to pull the dragon back to Earth, the mighty beast looked at her, and for a second their eyes met.
Help me, help me Chihiro. I read in his eyes.
"I will! I will, just wait, I'll get you out of their!" I wanted to shout, to tell him I was going to help. But all of a sudden, the ground beneath us cracked and split. The chains slowly pulled the dragon down, until the blue-and-white dragon was swallowed by the darkness, and I could see him no more.
Okay, that's the first chapter. Like it, hate it, wutever, just review, k? thanks