"Oh, Chihiro, must you always have your face stuck in a book?" Yuko softly asked her daughter in a playful manner. Currently, Chihiro was sitting at their dining room table next to a large window. It was her usual study space since the large window provided natural light for reading and writing.
Chihiro nuzzled into her mother's hand as Yuko caressed her daughter's long, chocolate colored hair. "I know you're just trying to keep your mind busy, darling. I'm only teasing, is all!" Her mother stated as she left to grab a pot of tea. She set two tea cups down for both her and her daughter and poured some Chamomile tea.
'If only she knew how right she was.' Chihiro thought ruefully. Although her mother always hit the nail on why she acts the way she does, her mother never really knew the actual reason for why she always stayed busy. Of course she was dedicated to her studies! Of course she wanted to help people and do a great job! But, most of all, she wanted to forget, even for just a moment, that her heart was left somewhere else 10 years ago. Chihiro pushed the thought out of her head and took a small sip of the delicious liquid.
"Why haven't you gone down the hill in a few days, Chihiro? I thought you loved that place?" Chihiro's eyes enlarged. Leave it to her mother to ask the deep questions.
Chihiro struggled to come up with a response. "I…It's just been too hot and I have this to do." She stated before pointing at her book, which had figures and diagrams that made it seem like it was written by aliens. Her mother gave her a playfully incredulous look. "Mmhm." Her mom stated. Chihiro buried her face back into her book as Yuko went to the sink.
Her mother was too inquisitive! But, she supposed it was out of her normal routine. Whenever Chihiro had free time when she came home, she always went down to the train station. A sharp pang resonated in her chest. She was tired of being let down every single time. She had to move on! For her own sake. Sitting around waiting for something to happen was getting old and—
"Chihiro! Did you just hear what I said, honey?" Yuko asked. Chihiro's eyes broke from the window and snapped to her mother who was drying dishes. She shook her head lightly, trying to clear her thoughts.
"Sorry, mom. What did you say?" She asked. Yuko gave another knowing smile. She placed a bowl into its respective cabinet before resting on the kitchen counter.
"The Obon festival is coming up next week. We have to start planning on what we're going to do. Do you want to make bouquets again this year? Or would you rather buy them?" Chihiro leaned back in her chair and pondered. 'That's right…Obon is next week and we haven't even started the preparations.'
Tochinoki, the city where her parents resided, was especially into celebrating during Obon week. Almost all of the residents went out of their way to get ready for the coming of their ancestors. It was a huge deal. Each family cleaned their houses and offered food to the spirits in front of an altar. If they were feeling even more dedicated, the family could put bouquets of flowers and chochin lanterns around the altar as well. More lanterns were put outside of the house to lead the spirits home. Moreover, the townspeople gathered in the town park for celebrating Obon. Luckily for her family, the park lay right down the hill near the pathway to the crumbling train station. Trying to travel during the festival time was a near disaster. Despite the large amount of people traveling, the park was large enough to house all of the townspeople. It also was next to a flowing river where people could send off lanterns dedicated to the spirits, which was another huge aspect of celebrating Obon.
"I'd like to make bouquets, we could do them together. Are we going to decorate the chochin lanterns too?" Chihiro asked her mom. Yuki cocked her head to the side.
"We haven't done it in a few years, but of course we can. You can draw on them so you can take a break from studying so hard!" Her mother laughed. Chihiro giggled before turning back towards her book.
.-x-.
Chihiro groaned inwardly. The Obon festival was already halfway through, but she was so tired. Before the start of the week, Chihiro had been cleaning furiously with her mother. Since her father worked long hours, the two women took it upon themselves to do more than their part. At least the house was clean after the intense cleaning session. The cleaning wasn't done for Chihiro, though. The Ogino's next door neighbor was an elderly woman who was nearing her 90's. Chihiro saw the ancient woman attempting to beat the dust out of a carpet one day while collecting the mail. Being who she was, she immediately took on the task to help the lady out. She ended up cleaning the small house for the grandmotherly woman.
Chihiro straightened her slumped back and winced as the bones of her spine popped. She stretched her tight muscles and turned a vase full of flowers so that its prettiest side was facing the front. Since she and her mother completed their own house, Chihiro offered to help clean Ms. Goto's house for her.
The young woman completed cleaning the small house a few hours ago and had just finished decorating for Ms. Goto. Chihiro smiled softly at the pristine altar in front of her. 'I'm sure she'll love it. I'll have to go find her and show her.' Chihiro thought happily. She left the common area room and went in search for the older woman.
A shuffling noise from Ms. Goto's bedroom got Chihiro's attention. "Ms. Goto, I just finished the decorations for the altar, do you want to see if it is to your liking?" Chihiro asked quietly as she stood in the doorway.
The hunched woman turned her still youthful eyes to the young woman. "Of course, Chihiro-chan! I'm sure you did a beautiful job. Oh, do be a dear and come here please." Ms. Goto waved Chihiro in with gnarled hands.
Chihiro stood next to the short woman and saw that Ms. Goto was going through her jewelry box. Chihiro barely managed to hold back a gasp at how beautiful all of her baubles were. She had everything from gold rings to intricate Kanzashi.
"Chihiro-chan, I know the Obon festival at the park is tomorrow, and I want to give you something in return for doing such a great job in this old dump. But first, I have to find the darn thing!" Ms. Goto stated happily, while continuing to rummage through her large jewelry case.
A blush crept onto Chihiro's face. "Ms. Goto, I really don't think I deserve something in—" Chihiro begged. Ms. Goto held her leathery hand up to Chihiro to silence her before turning to the young woman wither wise eyes sparkling. "I found it!" She breathed happily.
In her hand was a ball-style Kanzashi. It was fashioned out of dark wood. The decoration was a small ball of Opal, which glittered in the light. It seemed as if it was giving off its own light rather than reflecting off the light of the room. Despite its simplicity, it was breathtaking.
"I don't deserve such a beautiful token, Ms. Goto," Chihiro stated bashfully. Ms. Goto smiled. "Nonsense, child! If there is anyone who deserves this, it is you. I never had any girls—I was blessed with 5 rambunctious boys! And besides, the spirits are roaming around during this time. This will keep you safe from the evil ones, love! My mother said that is was fashioned many, many years ago when the spirits still inhabited the earth with humans. The kanzashi will keep you safe." Ms. Goto gushed as she placed it in Chihiro's hand, and wrapped her worn hands around the young woman's.
"I couldn't thank you enough…I will definitely wear it tomorrow. Thank you, Ms. Goto!" Chihiro thanked the elderly woman profusely before enveloping her in a hug.
Chihiro snapped out of her thoughts as she noticed her brush smeared black ink all over one of the chochin lanterns she was decorating. "Oh sh…." Chihiro stated, almost cussing loudly as she hurriedly attempted to blot the opaque ink. Her shoulders drooped as she looked at the blotched paper of the lantern. It was completely ruined.
"Miss Clumsy." Her father's deep voice chuckled as he entered the kitchen area to join her. He was already dressed in a simple, black yukata. She gave her father a playful glare before a sweat drop appeared on her forehead. "What am I going to do with this, dad? I don't want to waste it, but I don't have time to find another lantern."
Her father came to her side and gave a thoughtful humming noise. "Make it a cloud." He said seriously. She turned to him. "A cloud, dad?" She asked, unsure of his decision. Akio gave her a funny look before sitting down in front of his own lantern.
"Yes, baby. Just put one of those dragons you like so much on there for more decoration. Your mom won't stop gushing about your drawings. I'm sure she'll be pleased." Akio stated, while putting a heavy handed brush in the ink. He looked up momentarily to give his daughter his "you know your crazy mother" look that usually ended up with him receiving an elbow to the arm. Chihiro laughed and went back to her lantern. She smudged the ink to resemble a cloud and started to create more. Chihiro quickly grabbed a finely tipped brush and started outlining a snake like body on the paper. Soon, she was adding details and finalizing her painting.
A dragon was twirling through the sky and the clouds, with what seemed a grin on its face. Chihiro stood back from the lantern and smiled happily. It would do for the celebration later that night. Suddenly, her mother called her name from upstairs.
"Coming mom! See ya, dad!" Chihiro stated before running to the stairs of her house. She took them two at a time and went to her mother's bedroom.
"Yes, mom?" Chihiro asked. Her mother was standing in the bathroom applying a light layer of makeup. She was already in her subtle indigo blue yukata.
"Chihiro, we only have an hour, go get your undergarments on so I can help you with your yukata!" Her mother instructed.
The young woman ran to her room and tore her regular clothes off. She slipped on her lace yukata that went on underneath. She tied the lace yukata tightly just as her mother shuffled in.
"When did you get so curvy? You'll look beautiful in this old thing." Yuko teased her daughter as she placed towels around her daughter's midsection and tied them tightly in place. A blush crept onto Chihiro's face. "It's beautiful mom. It still looks new. Thank you for letting me wear it." Yuko's mirthful laughter filled the room as she slipped the light blue yukata on her daughter. She quickly set about putting it together nicely. Yuko's nimble fingers moved over the knots she made swiftly. Soon, she was wrapping the silver obi around her daughter's midsection.
"So beautiful, and you're welcome. What about your hair and makeup?" Yuko asked. Chihiro gave her mother a funny look. She was not used to pampering herself or putting herself together beautifully. She was a college student after all.
Yuko gave an exasperated sigh before shuffling out of Chihiro's room to get her makeup. "Ah! The Kanzashi!" Chihiro exclaimed. She went to her dresser and pulled it out of a small jewelry box.
"What's that? It's gorgeous!" Yuko stated, while she set her toiletries down. Chihiro smiled. "Ms. Goto gave it to me for helping her with her house. I tried to refuse, but she gave it to me. I'm very thankful." She explained happily.
The two women chatted happily as Yuko pulled her daughter's long, chocolate-colored hair into a simple bun. She left a few strands to accentuate her daughter's face. Yuko then slipped the kanzashi into Chihiro's hair in order to keep the bun in place.
Akio's voice was heard downstairs. He was calling for the two women, stating that they had to leave soon or they would miss the beginning of the festival. Yuko bit her lip as she smiled at her daughter. She applied a light dusting of eye shadow and blush.
"Let's go before your father has a fit!" Yuko smiled to her only daughter.
.-x-.
"You look positively lovely, young one!" Ms. Goto smiled happily. Chihiro gave the elderly woman a bow. "Thank you. And, thank you for the kanzashi," Chihiro said respectfully.
"Oh, stand up dear!" Ms. Goto told the young woman. Chihiro did as she was told and walked with the old woman through the throngs of people that were in the park.
"Where do you want to go, Ms. Goto?" Chihiro asked the elderly lady, who looked around at the many people. "Just to the riverside, dear. At that point, I'll have to tell you to go find people your own age! What kind of young woman hangs around an old hag?" Ms. Goto laughed. Chihiro blushed furiously and argued with the old lady. In truth, Chihiro preferred the older population. At Ms. Goto's age, the seniors seemed more open and carefree. Most of them often spoke of ghosts and spirits…and when they did, Chihiro didn't feel as insane. It was almost if the elderly were the closest she could relate to. That was an interesting concept.
Chihiro helped the ancient woman sit down on a park bench near the water. "Do you need anything, ma'am?" Chihiro asked kindly. Ms. Goto swatted at Chihiro. "Go have fun! Stop being a nurse and be a young woman! I'll be fine. I'll see you atop the hill tomorrow," Ms. Goto laughed at the young woman who gave her a kind goodbye. As Chihiro turned and walked away, the kanzashi twinkled in the dim light of the chochin lanterns. Ms. Goto's smiled broadened as she turned her old eyes back to the river.
Chihiro moved through the crowd in hopes of finding either her parents or someone she knew before everyone was prompted to set their lit lanterns on the rushing river. Finally, she spotted two of her good friends standing near the river.
"Hey guys!" Chihiro greeted brightly. They turned to Chihiro and responded with a big grin. "Hey Chihiro-chan! When did you get back into town?" The two responded simultaneously. Sumiko and Shuichi were twins that Chihiro spent a lot of time with before they all went their separate ways for college.
"I just got back a few days ago! How are you guys?" Chihiro asked amiably. Shuichi opened his mouth to answer, but a bell rang signaling the lighting of the lanterns.
"It seems you got here just in time, they're about to tell us to send our lanterns off!" Sumiko said instead. She lit both hers and her brother's lantern and then handed Chihiro a small lighter, which she took thankfully. As soon as the lighter was put into her hand, the trio heard the prompt signaling the time to start putting the lanterns in the water. Chihiro quickly lit her chochin lantern and they put their lanterns in the water together.
"Hopefully the spirits will like our lanterns this year and bless us!" Sumiko stated happily, while clasping her small hands together. Chihiro suddenly cried out in pain and grasped her wrist. "What's wrong?!" Shuichi asked the brunette girl, who was hunched over.
'My wrist, it hurts…" Chihiro gasped. The purple band around her wrist grew hot, as if it was set in a fire for an hour before being placed on her skin. It glittered more than usual as Chihiro stared down at it in disbelief.
"Did you burn it? Is your band too tight?" The twins asked in union, placing comforting hands on Chihiro's back.
The heat did not go away like it usually did. It was customary that the band would give her a warm reminder of her past…but this was different. It was a searing, almost yearning pain. "I have to go guys, I'm so sorry." Chihiro stated before taking off down the pathway and towards her house.
As Chihiro ran, she attempted to pull the strand off of her arm, but to no avail. Tears stung her eyes as she made it to the edge of the park, where the heat lessened. Chihiro gripped her arm tightly and continued running to the edge of the forest where the path lay. The pain on her arm continued to decrease as she moved closer to the path. It was dark and foreboding. Slowly, Chihiro moved to the pathway and started walking to the train station.
"This has to be a dream…" Chihiro stated in disbelief. The young woman moved past the weird statue in front of the entrance. She hadn't come back to the train station since her coming home from college. The last time she came to the station, she left more disappointed than usual…
She was nervous and scared as she moved through the tunnel. Like the first time she came to the train station, a rush of wind blew into the tunnel and pushed Chihiro farther along when she faltered in her steps.
"I'm definitely dreaming." Chihiro said again when she moved through the main part of the station. The only light was from the last rays of sunlight entering through the large windows at the top of the building. The purple band began to pulse on her wrist.
Chihiro's eyes studied the band carefully. Chihiro closed her eyes before she finally took a tentative step outside of the dilapidated building. When she opened her worried eyes, they were greeted with the twinkling lights of food shop signs in the far distance.
.-x-.
(A/N): She's baaaccckkk! Thank you to all of the readers and reviewers. You are greatly appreciated.
Guest: I hope the "wow" is a good one! :3
Bloophearts: Hehehehe, not quite! He is coming soon, though!
Jeanne: Just this chapter before things really start to get rolling. Sorry if it seems long, I just wanted to have a little bit more backstory before she finally makes it home. Sorry for the wait!