Chapter II
〜Secrets〜
Author's Note:
Miko- Miko is another term for Shrine Maiden. Miko translates – child of the Gods.
Originally, miko were powerful priestesses with magical powers. Able to confer and speak for the Gods. Exorcised evil possessing spirits and laid them to rest.
For example: Kikyo and Kagome from Inuyasha.
Miko have lost much of their power, history and influence compared to the past.
As you will read later in my story, Chihiro showed many ways of being a miko in Spirited Away. (Without using magic of course)
From overhead, it sounded like a tin of nuts, bolts and nails were being dumped over the entire inn.
Sitting by herself in an authentic traditional Japanese inn, Chihiro sat at the head of an elongated table. Her shins were politely tucked under her bottom as she sank into the plump cushion beneath her. She was fairly taken aback by the inn… It was not what she expected. Or was it?
There were countless shackles absent from the roof of the two story building. It was a relatively extensive inn mostly in width. The tan plaster on the walls splintered away to white. Sliding doors all throughout had apertures in the paper. The pair of sliders adjoining the dining room to the back patio was abreast Chihiro. One shoji was ajar and stuck in place; the inn was being constantly exposed to the backyard.
This place was falling apart.
"Please pardon the horrible condition of my inn." A voice unanticipatedly emanated from behind. "I haven't had customers in quite a while." The elderly woman from before relinquished a tray of food on the table; she bestowed Chihiro a hefty bowl of rice topped with mixed vegetables and chunks of chicken. Accompanying her dinner was a cup of steaming tea settled crosswise Chihiro, it had a delectable aroma. A pair of porcelain chopsticks was then offered so Chihiro could commence in eating her meal.
"Thank you," Chihiro paused. "Itadakimasu," she announced before picking up her chopsticks.
The old woman chuckled while upcasting the back of her hand to overlay her mouth. Chihiro was too engrossed in her eating to question what was funny.
"You have such good manners, it is refreshing." Before Chihiro had the opportunity to speak, the elder continued. "I believe I haven't introduced myself yet. My name is Miss Okawa, and welcome to Yama Ryokan."
Miss Okawa's smile was contagious because Chihiro found herself smiling too. "My name is Chihiro Ogino," she bowed her head.
The wrinkled old woman's face lit up like a revelation. "The Chihiro Ogino?"
Looking up from her bow, Chihiro was a little confounded. She didn't think anyone here especially an old woman in the country would recognize her name.
"You are the author of Spirited Away." It wasn't a question.
Averting her gaze for a split second, Chihiro looked back to Miss Okawa. "Yes I am."
"Oh how delightful!" Miss Okawa sang. "I never thought I would meet you, yet here we are!"
The look on Chihiro's face read she wasn't very content about their conversation. Miss Okawa sensed the mood and stopped fussing about her reputation.
"Since you are my only customer you are welcome to anything in the inn. I'll take you to your bedroom after I show you around." Miss Okawa changed the subject and smiled down to Chihiro who started eating her dinner again.
"Thank you for being so kind, but if I may ask, how much is my stay here?" Not looking up she was preoccupied with some rice that kept falling through her chopsticks.
Finally she pinned a clump between the sticks and lifted to her mouth.
"Oh don't worry Miss Ogino; your stay will be free of charge."
The rice fell from her chopsticks.
Chihiro looked up completely flabbergasted.
"Eh, b-but why?" It didn't make since, the inn definitely needed all the money it could make. Chihiro didn't know how Miss Okawa was even surviving out here with so scanty customers to make profit from. "Please, let me pay for my stay. It doesn't-"
"Oh no, no, I won't have that. Not from you Miss Ogino." The woman raised her hands and shook her head. "I'll come back for you and show you around the inn, enjoy your meal."
Miss Okawa stepped from the room.
Chihiro stared after her until all alone. She didn't know what to think. Why wouldn't Miss Okawa let her pay? How was she affording simple necessities such as groceries?
This whole situation was perplexing.
Chihiro finished her dinner before it turned cold.
Waiting for Miss Okawa, the woman still hadn't reappeared. Chihiro kept waiting and waiting and waiting. Her legs were numb and tingly by time she finally got up. She was worried something must have happened.
Chihiro stalked over to the hall. The sliding door was already open so she peered left then right to a dead end. There wasn't a sign of life anywhere in the entire inn.
'Where is the staff?' Chihiro wondered. Then a realization occurred if Miss Okawa could even afford staff.
"Um… Hello," she called out lamely.
No response.
Vacating the dining room, Chihiro scrambled back to the table and grabbed her dirty dishes. She wasn't sure what to do with them but didn't want to leave them there. It didn't seem Miss Okawa was coming back to retrieve the tray.
"Jus' leave em'."
Almost like an echo, a female voice reverberated from somewhere around her.
Chihiro squealed and dropped the bowl! It shattered on the floor.
"Oh dear," Miss Okawa said from behind.
Squealing again, Chihiro spun around with a thumping heart.
"M-Miss Okawa, was that you?" Chihiro looked at the elderly woman as if she'd seen a ghost.
In return she received a dubious stare. "What do you mean?"
Chihiro didn't know. Someone that wasn't Miss Okawa just spoke to her but there wasn't anyone else there. "I heard a voice."
For a second Miss Okawa looked contemplating, but she smiled worry free nonetheless. "I'm sure it was just the wind."
Chihiro shifted her weight.
"Watch yourself dear; don't want to get hurt."
Chihiro seemed to just now realize she broke the dish. "Agh! I'm so sorry!" Scrambling to the floor, Chihiro went to pick up the broken pieces of ceramic.
"No need for that Miss Ogino, it will be cleaned." Looking up at Miss Okawa, she was holding out her hand. "Come, I will show you the inn now."
Hesitantly, Chihiro took Miss Okawa's hand and rose to her feet. They left the dining room but Chihiro stared out the broken sliding door before it was completely out of sight. It was still raining mercilessly; she searched for something, anything, to show she wasn't crazy and hearing things.
Nothing abnormal was amongst the garden and trees.
. . .
Chihiro was shown every room in the lower level.
The inn was much grander than it appeared from the front. The hostel was shaped like the kanji for mountain, 山 yama. The far right side were the guest rooms with greater ones just above in the upstairs. The middle section of the inn is where the entrance, kitchen, lounge and dining room are all connected in that order.
As for the far left side, Chihiro was just being exposed to.
She was amazed to find a huge communal bath in pristine shape! The bath was the shape of a long rectangle, about 3 stairs downcasted into the water. On the far end was a manmade rock waterfall like the one at the Inari shrine where water was continuously being pumped through. Just before the big bath, there was a lot of little private baths and showers. The communal tub was at the end of the bath wing.
Despite some estate damage, the whole inn was unblemished.
How in the world was a little old woman doing this all by herself?!
"Um…" After Miss Okawa had been talking for ages about the inn, Chihiro spoke up. "Miss Okawa, are you the only one here?"
They were leaving the bath wing and headed for Chihiro's room. The stairs leading to the upper level were right by the entrance crosswise the check-in counter. "No, I am not the only one here." Miss Okawa looked her way. "I may get no customers, but I often get visitors." She smiled and headed up the stairwell using the railing for support.
Her answer didn't exactly solve Chihiro's wonder on how this place kept so clean.
Nonetheless, she welcomed all the generosity.
"You may stay here as long as you like." Miss Okawa gestured her arm to the farthest room down the upstairs of the right wing. The guest room where she would be staying.
Chihiro was astonished to be privileged with such an extravagant room free of charge. It felt wrong.
"Please," Chihiro blurted. "I can't stay here unless I pay my worth."
Miss Okawa frowned, very displeased.
"Young Miss, I have no need for your money." Chihiro shrank back as she listened to Miss Okawa. "This inn will not survive much longer, the winters are harsh. I also do not know how much longer the kami will allow me to live. Taking your money is of no relevance to me now. All that I can ask is that you accept my hospitality."
Chihiro pursed her lips shut in reflection.
"Alright…" Chihiro hesitantly agreed. "But if you need any help please ask me, I don't wanna' be a bother." Chihiro bowed and rejoiced her thanks to Miss Okawa.
The old woman was smiling buoyantly with joy. She wished Chihiro a goodnight's sleep and left.
All alone in the guest room, Chihiro turned to face the window on the opposite wall. From inside her room, she could see the tree line of the forest. The inn sat atop a hill and from Chihiro's view she could see the ground as it sloped downward. The hill descended just beyond the inn's yard. On the bottom of said hill was the shrine, Miss Okawa was right. The trail she mentioned was visible from her window.
BOOM!
Startled out of her skin, Chihiro flinched as thunder clashed directly overhead. Her heart was beating rapidly from the sudden scare. Followed by the thunder was another bright flash of light and quiet rumbling of more thunder.
The whole inn seemed to shudder from the storm.
There were no curtains covering her window, she would have to be careful of that.
Chihiro looked over at a plump white futon; it lied in an isolated corner. An oil lamp was placed just beside the futon with there being no electric lights in her room, along with most of the inn.
For a city person this inn would be immensely inconvenient.
The old fashioned inn didn't bother Chihiro that much though.
She wasn't constantly being bothered by her laptop and cell phone.
The furniture in the room was a table consisting of 2 sogun chairs, a Kobe Balinese nightstand with a matching Kobe Balinese dresser. One last thing in a corner was an armoire cabinet. As for decorations, skinny bamboo sprouted from a couple pots placed in random. The floor itself was made of tatami mats. As for the door, it was a traditional fusuma sliding door. The pattern was a beautiful monochromatic design of a hillside landscape. Each bedroom fusuma had a different pattern on it.
All of Chihiro's stuff was still in her car.
She wasn't sure how long she would be staying here, but getting some clothes out seemed like a good idea.
Then Chihiro stripped of her raincoat.
It was almost nightfall; the sun was still hovering over the horizon. Chihiro having left her purse in her car like always plopped down on the cleaned futon worry free. It was mushy like a brand new cushion, Chihiro rolled around like a playful dog.
Eventually, she fell asleep in a sprawled out position.
. . .
When Chihiro woke, she was covered in a discomforting perspiration. She slept with too much clothes on and sweated from under a blanket.
Now she had to go out to her car.
It was officially dark outside.
The cicadas were up late and screaming that constant sound of theirs. Reminding Chihiro it was almost summertime.
Making her way through the inn, Chihiro was surprised by the utter silence of Yama Ryokan. She and Miss Okawa were really the only ones.
Without a sound, she found herself trying not to make a sound. She left through the main entrance's shoji sliding door and welcomed the chilly outside air.
The rain had subdued to a light sprinkle.
Rushing over to her car, Chihiro opened the passenger door. She grabbed her purse and slid the straps over her shoulder. Going to the backseat door, she quietly shut the passenger one. Chihiro remembered which box had her clothes in it and struggled to grasp it. Akio had shoved all the boxes in her car like a Jinga puzzle! Once she managed to get the box free she stumbled back and watched the others fall out of place.
Grimacing, Chihiro used her hip to close the car door. With the box in hand and purse over her shoulder, Chihiro walked back inside the inn. Careful not to collide into any walls, she managed up the stairs and luckily left her guestroom door slid open. With a delicate drop, she let her purse and box smack against the tatami mat. Ripping the tape, she grabbed out some clothes that were on top. Folding some basics into a pile, she hugged them in her arms.
Heading to the left wing, she searched for the communal bath. Before going into the bath itself, Chihiro went into the woman's room. She stripped of her clothes and put them in a shelf. Walking over to another shelf, she found a towel and wrapped it around her nude body.
The steam welcomed her.
Instantly she was warmed once inside the big bath room. It almost felt like she was in a sauna, but it wasn't that hot. The only sound in the room was the trickling waterfall on the far wall. Other than that, it was quiet and peaceful.
Not sure how long she had been relaxing, it felt like an eon. Eventually Chihiro was a prune. Honestly, she would have stayed longer if she didn't feel uncomfortable like someone was watching her. Shivering from the unpleasant vibe, Chihiro stepped out of the tub and over to her towel. She draped the cloth around her body and went back to the lady's room.
. . .
"It sure is raining a lot…"
Murmured voices sounded from somewhere. It startled Chihiro who had just left the woman's changing room. She was standing in the hall. Trying to figure out where it came from. She looked around clueless.
"It's rainin' 'cause o' him, he followed t'girl 'ere."
Cause of who? The voices were coming from outside the bath wing wall. It took Chihiro a second to realize that it was coming from the middle wing of the inn. She was able to hear them perfectly through the wall!
"Be quiet before you wake the human. There are no secrets kept from between these walls."
That time it was a male voice. Chihiro's heart skipped a beat from surprise. Who was talking? What were they talking about? From the spot Chihiro was standing on in the left wing, she was closest to the dining hall. The people talking were probably on the back patio.
"Ney, Baachan. Wha' i' she becomes t'new miko? Ya be getting' t'old t'-"
"Nao! Watch your tongue in front of Misao." The boy was scolding the girl from the sound of it.
"M'sorry. Aye was jus' lookin' out for Baachan. Said t'girl believes n'kami so aye was jus' thinkin' i' be nice t'have a helpin' hand."
"It is quite alright dear; after all you are not wrong." Chihiro knew who that voice belonged to, it was Miss Okawa.
"Misao…" The boy was interrupted. Was Misao Miss Okawa's first name?
"I am becoming too old to ward off the yōkai. This town is covered in holes which the spirit world leaks through. On top of that, the shrine is becoming a hassle to take care of along with this crumbling inn."
It sounded like Miss Okawa truly did have her hands full…but, she mentioned something about yōkai?
"Rely on us more!"
"Thas' right Baachan!"
Whoever Miss Okawa was talking to, they didn't sound happy.
"And who will take care of you two when I pass?"
Silence.
A pit in Chihiro's stomach told her it was wrong to eavesdrop like this, but she couldn't help herself.
"Don' talk like tha'."
The accented girl's voice was the one to break the silence.
"I would love to have an apprentice miko, but I would never force such responsibility onto anyone. Especially that young writer; she denies the existence of kami, but part of her still believes. She wrote about it in her book; she doesn't realize it, but she used the power of a miko while in the spirit world. She holds great potential. As you said Naoko, one of her friends followed her here. I'm sure with time she will have to believe agai-
Chihiro took a step back.
The floor creaked in disapproval to her shifted weight.
Her heart skipped a beat in anticipation.
"Ah o'."
Then the voices stopped.
Hugging her dirty clothes to her chest, Chihiro ran through the halls until she found the stairwell. Without looking back she darted upstairs before someone came looking for her. No one did.
Chihiro's breath was ragged and uneven. She felt so guilty eavesdropping but she didn't expect for Miss Okawa to have visitors at this hour. Whatever she was talking about, Chihiro didn't understand any of it. Eventually she laid back down on the futon, but it took a while for her to get sleepy again. From inside her purse, Chihiro could hear her phone vibrating. She wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone and rolled over toward the wall.
Covering herself in the blanket, Chihiro fell asleep.
。。。。
The next morning, Chihiro woke to the smell of food. It smelled like… eggs. "Mmmph," groaning from the brilliance, Chihiro squinted her eyes at the window. It looked like the rain had finally stopped.
Wobbly, Chihiro propped herself up with her arms. She sat hunched over and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. How early was it?
Not bothering to change her clothes, Chihiro stood from the futon. She didn't sweat while she slept this time, so luckily she didn't stink. Her clothes were still freshly clean but a little wrinkled.
Chihiro dug through her purse and fished out some toiletries.
Stepping out into the hall, she walked past 3 other empty guest rooms. On her way, Chihiro noticed that both outer wing hallways were on the side of the wall facing the middle wing. Whether bathing or in her room, Chihiro probably would have heard Miss Okawa's conversation yesterday either way.
Distracted from the memory, she found the restroom by the lower guest rooms. Once there, she peed, washed her hands, face and brushed her teeth and hair. Cleaning up whatever mess she made by the sink, Chihiro opened a cabinet and disposed her toiletries inside. Hopefully Miss Okawa wouldn't mind.
Now refreshed and ready to acknowledge a new day, Chihiro headed down the middle wing. The first room she came upon was the kitchen. Instantly, Chihiro was greeted by a languid smile.
"Good morning, Miss Ogino." Miss Okawa was stationed at the stove; pouring rice into a massive pot. Chihiro gaped at how much she was making… "Are you hungry?"
Looking up, Chihiro nodded her head. "…Yea, if you don't mind."
Miss Okawa laughed. "Not at all dear." She put a lid on the rice and tended to her solidifying eggs. "Go ahead and wait in the dining room, breakfast will be right there."
Chihiro continued to gape and nodded her head once. There was no shoji blocking off the kitchen to the hallway, it was just an open room. Walking down the hall stretching through the middle wing, Chihiro made it to the dining room. It was at the stub of the hall, posterior the lounge room. Chihiro didn't really know what else to call it, maybe a study?
Instantly, she shivered from the cold. The sliding door leading to the back patio was stuck open. Walking over to the shoji, the chilly morning air from outside was blowing inside. Chihiro looked out at the cascading landscape, rising and lowering like a wavering flag. Miss Okawa's yard however, was relatively flat. She took advantage of that and had the entire backyard turned into a garden! A rice patty field took up one side while another garden took up the other. It looked like she grew all kinds of things in the other garden.
How did Miss Okawa handle all of this on her own?
Footfalls echoed in the hall.
Chihiro scrambled to the table and sat on a random plush cushion. Looking to the cushions next to her, some were covered in fur, white fur. "What?" She mumbled under her breath in turmoil.
Her thoughts were interrupted as Miss Okawa entered the room, tray in hand.
"Here we are," she announced. Miss Okawa set the tray on the table and grabbed the two cups of tea. One was placed in front of Chihiro and the other in front of Miss Okawa. Then the elder presented to Chihiro her food. A bowl of eggs and a side of rice.
"Itadakimasu," Chihiro grabbed the chopsticks Miss Okawa pushed her way and began eating. Halfway through her eggs, she looked up and saw that Miss Okawa was only drinking tea, nothing else. "You're not eating?"
Wrinkled eyes shifted to look up at her. "I will eat later, please enjoy your meal."
Chihiro pursed her lips shut and gazed at her food. Finishing her eggs and going for the rice, Chihiro bet it was from the garden. Grabbing her cup of tea, Chihiro brought it to her lips and peered up at Miss Okawa. She was looking down at the table, occasionally taking a sip of her tea. The only reason she seemed to be in the dining room at all was to keep Chihiro company.
"Um…" Chihiro lamely got Miss Okawa's attention. She couldn't hold herself back anymore, she was too curious. The old woman blinked and looked at Chihiro. Swallowing first, Chihiro began. "Did you um…have some visitors last night?"
Miss Okawa didn't seem fazed by her question, she looked calm as ever. "Yes I did," she said with a smile. Chihiro was surprised by her honesty.
"Oh…" She half expected it to be a little harder to get any information. "When I got out of the bath last night I heard you talking to someone so I was just wondering."
The old woman smiled. Chihiro was a little nervous. "They come here quite often; maybe you'll get to meet them." Miss Okawa set down her tea. "Are you finished dear?"
Blinking, Chihiro realized Miss Okawa was waiting for an answer. "Oh, y-yea I'm finished, thank you." She was staring at the clean tatami mat where she had broken her bowl from yesterday.
All the dirty dishes were placed back on the tray; Miss Okawa then went to leave the dining room. "Are you going to look around town today?" She called from over her shoulder.
Chihiro hurriedly got up and walked behind Miss Okawa. "Yea, I think I'll have a look around today. This place is beautiful."
The old woman laughed.
"That is true, maybe that's why I haven't left in all my 70 years."
70 years?! Chihiro was blown away; Miss Okawa was truly an old woman. She hadn't lived anywhere else other than Maizuru her whole life! Chihiro would never be able to do that, especially in a place like Osaka.
"Amazing," Chihiro mumbled to herself.
Miss Okawa laughed again.
"You are truly a breath of fresh air dear." The tray was set next to the sink. Miss Okawa turned her attention to Chihiro. "How long will you be staying in Maizuru?"
Chihiro hadn't thought of that. As of right now, she was living toll free in an old woman's inn. She was even being fed for free! Miss Okawa is really kind to do that. "I…" Chihiro didn't know where to start with her excuse. "I haven't thought that far ahead… yet."
For some reason, Miss Okawa didn't look surprised. "If that is the case, you are welcome to stay here for as long as you like."
Instantly, Chihiro's eyes bugged. "I-I can't stay here for so long without paying!" Chihiro waved her hands and shook her head.
"Such an honest girl," Miss Okawa wasn't looking at her. "If you insist on paying, then how about doing a few favors for me instead?"
Chihiro liked that idea, Miss Okawa needed the help.
"Sure, I can do that."
Pulling out a piece of paper, Miss Okawa scratched away with a pen. Every few words she would stop to look at something in the pantry. "Ah, here we go." She handed Chihiro a list full of grocery items. "Take this as well," Miss Okawa dug in her pocket, pulling out a white pouch that jingled perpetually. Chihiro realized it was money.
"No!" She almost yelled, startling Miss Okawa. "I-I'm sorry, it's just… I can pay for these, it's no problem really." Chihiro furrowed her brow with angst at Miss Okawa's contemplating face.
"That's very kind of you." Going back to her usual smile, Miss Okawa put her pouch back into her pocket.
Chihiro just needed to go upstairs and change into something more appropriate, and then she would leave for the store. "Oh um… Miss Okawa?" Looking over her shoulder, Chihiro got the old woman's attention. "Which way from here is the store?"
The old woman laughed.
"That way," she lifted her right arm and pointed in the same direction. "Just keep following the road going away from the inn, the town is there. Signs wills help guide you."
Chihiro bowed her head and said her thanks. At least grocery shopping would be a nice way to see the town and some locals. Heading upstairs, Chihiro put the list in her purse and changed her clothes. Now she was ready to leave.
Author's Note:
Yōkai- Supernatural creatures. They hate electricity, it scares them away. That's why they are practically extinct today. In Maizuru there is little electricity due to the wide open lands, besides the town where it is populated. At Miss Okawa's inn, she barely uses electricity because she can't afford it. Hence there is yōkai in Maizuru.