Summary: All Chihiro wanted was a nice nineteenth birthday, now mixed up in wizards, witches, missing bath tokens, and did some one say dragon mating season? Next time she's sticking to dinner and a movie.

Disclaimer: Spirited away does belongs to Hayao Miyazaki and any other producers or writers. And 'my hands' is owned by Leona Lewis.

My hands

Don't wanna start again

My hands

No they don't wanna understand

My hands

They just shake and try to break

whatever peace I may find

Leona Lewis, my hands.

Coming Home

Chihiro woke with an empty feeling pressing down on her. She knew that she had dreamed of Haku, though she had not remembered the dream, she had awoke with his voice whispering in her ear. And her hand was throbbing, a burning sensation that the dream had left. It was a mark that Haku had left on her as her hand slipped from his and his fingers slid across her skin. It was a pain that Chihiro hated and loved at the same time. It was a pain that told her that she was close to him since she had left the green eyed boy on the steps and it was a pain that she wish would leave. Clenching her throbbing hand Chihiro closed her eyes, willing the pain to go.

After a few seconds Chihiro yawned and stretched her hands above her head and glanced at the alarm clock sitting atop the messy night table beside her bed. The young teen froze as she stared, blinking a couple of times at the clock trying to make sense of what she was looking at. Slowly Chihiro rubbed her eyes and looked again at the big blue butterfly gently flapping its wings on top of the clock. She frowned and slowly sat up, noting the Miyukie was gone. Cocking her head Chihiro was about to stand when she notice the blue insect turn with her as she scooted down to the edge of the bed.

Though it was ridiculous, Chihiro felt as if the butterfly was watching her. And the light from the clock was not helping the situation since it gave the blue wings an unearthly glow. "Alright you," Chihiro cleared her throat when her voice came out sounding hoarse, "Its time to fly away." She made a shooing motion with her hands. Dimly aware that she looked quite stupid in her crumpled nightshirt talking to a butterfly.

Sucking in her breath, Chihiro watched as the bug took to the air and drifted between the space between the two of them. She tensed as it landed on her nose. Cross eyed, Chihiro held her breath as she looked at the blurred butterfly. Its antennae ran across her forehead. A shiver ran down her back, and for a moment she thought of yesterdays paranoia feeling. As quick as it bug had landed it was gone fluttering through the air to the open window.

Chihiro sagged a little as she stared at the open window. Here she was, an eighteen year old almost nineteen, acting like a small little butterfly was a murder out to get her. A smile spread across her face as her thoughts lingered on the innocent insect and her reaction. Her hand covered her smile as she started to laugh. She laughed so hard little tears pricked at the corners of her eyes.

Wiping the liquid from her eyes, Chihiro stood and walked across the room to close the window. She places her hands on the handle of the window and started to tug it down. As it started to slide a breeze drifted threw the window.

Chihiro. It seem to whisper, brushing against her skin.

Frozen in place she glanced around the side of the house looking for who it was that called her name, but all she saw was her mother's hydrangeas and the blue wings.

"CHIHRO!" Her mothers voice called from below startling the Teen.

Jerking, Chihiro slammed her head on the window. Howling from the sharp pain she stumbled back tripping on her feet and fell. The loud thump was heard all threw the house as Chihiro tried to regained her senses as she rubbed her throbbing head.

"Yes!" Chihro yelled from her spot on the floor after a few moments. Cradling her head she listened to her mother yell that breakfast was ready, and after a moment she called out saying she was sorry for startling her.

Rubbing her head she stood. Glancing out the window on last time she quickly closed it and donned her clothing for the day. Rushing down the steps she speed off to the kitchen where her stomach gurgled at the smell of food drifting in the air.

Stretching her legs under the table Chihiro smiled over at Miyukie who was shoving pancakes into her mouth like there was no tomorrow. She wasn't even chewing she just swallowed and popped another slice in her mouth, some times she didn't even get to swallow the previous piece of buttery pancake before cramming another in her already full mouth. Chihiro still thinks that this was a side effect of Mrs. Ogino begin a pig and pregnant at the same time.

Coughing into her hand she glanced down at her plate as her mother placed it in front of her. Raising an eyebrow at the smiley face looking up at her. Chihiro looked at her parents as her mother sat down.

"So honey," Mrs. Ogino started cutting a piece of pancake. "tomorrow's the big day." Miyukie made a small noise that made everyone turn to look at her, she exclaimed excitedly something with her full mouth. "Miyukie, slow down and swallow your food before you speak." Yuko scolded her daughter.

Chihiro watched with both amazement and slight disgusted as Miyukie swallowed the food in her mouth. Taking a gulp of water Miyukie stated again. "Its her birthday!" Chihiro rolled her eyed and took a bite of food.

She listened as the conversation floated around her, not really listening to it as she looked out the window, but her mother rested her hand atop Chihiro's and pulled her from her dazed thoughts.

"So honey what do you want for your birthday?"

A thousand answers popped in her head, just like they do every year her mother asks her the question, though for the last nine years one yearning had been stronger then the most. A greened eyed boy popped up in Chihiro's mind making her blush at the very thought of having him close again.

Chihiro glanced over at Miyukie as she giggled and mouthed the very name that she had thought of. Frowning Chihiro opened her mouth to answer her mothers question when the phone rang. Being the closest Chihiro slipped out of the chair and answered with a polite, 'Ogino residents.' On the other end Chihiro hears the voice of her boss, Aoi Airi, she wants her to come in today, they need her. Being as Chihiro needed the money she agreed readily and told her she would be there in two hours.

Hanging up she smiled over at her family. "I want a nice birthday." It was her traditional answer for the past nine years. She was a girl who only wanted something that she could never have. She was a girl who spent time cleaning up trash of the side of the street, recycled, and yearned for a boy who had promised to see her again. And as she thought about it she realized that she was one boring girl.

Smiling at her own thoughts she headed for the stair needing to grab her clothes for work seeing as she was going in on her day off. At least she didn't have to go to school today as well. Nine hours of school then a six hour shift was killer on her feet. Chihiro only had one last thing to do before heading out. Grabbing her small phone Chihiro dialed the number she had memorize, her fingers just glided across the keypad pressing down on some buttons and skimming across others.

"Hello." Azul's tired voice answered.

"Sorry, were you sleeping?" Chihiro glanced at the clock in her room to see that it was already past twelve. She knew that Azule was a late raiser, she could sleep most the day away before even getting up once.

"Nah," Sarcasm dripped from her voice. "I was just in bed resting my eyes."

Chihiro heard another yawn and some rustling across the phone's connection. She waited till Azul was situated before talking again. "You know it can't be good to sleep over twelve hours."

"Whatever." Came Azul's dismissive tone. "What do'ya need Chi? You never call me this early…unless you want to go do some major environmental cleaning. I still haven't forgiven you for that time you woke me up at three, three in the damn morning, to go clean a fucking river."

Chihiro coughed in her hand as she thought about that little stunt. As she was heading to bed that night she happened to glance at the News her father was watching. She took the image of the badly polluted river with her to bed. She had tossed and turned all night long and ended up calling Azul to help her at 3. It wasn't her fault she kept thinking of Kohaku River, or the water spirit she had helped at the bathhouse. Though she and Azul still find it rather funny that the next night the river was on the News again, this time much cleaner, the report talked about the mysterious river cleaner.

"I need a favor." Chihiro chuckled as she heard a groan on the other side. She silently laughed as she heard Azul talk about how she was going to murder Chihiro with her own intestine if she wanted to clean another 'stupid, damn, fucking, retarded river.' "Could you watch Miyukie today? I was called in and both my parents are working."

"Sure, but you're going to owe me for this."

Chihiro stuffed her work clothes into her backpack and moved to pull on her shoes. "Consider it an early birthday present to me. Plus I know the only thing you do here is watch tv with her and eat all our food. And Mi doesn't get bored easily so you don't really have to entertain her."

"Ya and if she does I'll just entertain her with the bathhouse stories." Chihiro sighed, she still was unsure if Azul believed her when she had told her about the spirit world, though Azul claims she does. Still when Chihiro had told her it was like a great weight was lifted from her, to have at least on person not to judge her. Though the two rarely ever talked about it now, there were times, such like this, it would slip into a conversation. "I was going to bring my stuff over and just spend the night anyway. You need a ride?"

Chihiro scrunched up her nose as she thought of gas expenses "Nah, I'm good."

"Right I'll see you when I see you then."

She briefly considered telling Azul all about the feeling of being watched, and the odd butterfly she had awoke to, but decided she would just tell her tonight. She said her goodbye and headed down stairs. She pulled the sparkling pink band off her wrist and pulled her hair into the signature messy pony tail that didn't have all strands of hair pulled up. She gave a tug at her hair band with an affectionate smile on her face, the little accessory never left her person. If it wasn't on her wrist it was in her hair.

She stopped in the kitchen to tell her parents the change of plans and gave them a kiss before heading for the door. Though she stopped when Miyukie stood in her way.

Chihiro raised her brow at her sisters goofy grin. "Why you smiling like a poor man who just ran across gold?"

Miyukie puffed up and said. "I just thought of your birthday present!" she seemed rather proud of herself.

"Oh?" Chihiro leaned closer to Miyukie's face. "Do tell my dear little sister."

Miyukie shook her head vigorously. "Noooooooo. Its uh surprise! You will have to wait till tomorrow!"

Chihiro straightened up and laughed at Miyukie's excited expression. "Alright then, Mi." she kissed the top of her head and grabbed the door. "I'll see you when I get back." She headed out into the sunny day.

The bike ride to work was much faster then the ride back to the house seeing as Chihiro only went down hill on the way to work. Closing her eyes she coasted down the first hill enjoying the wind blowing in her face. But her eyes soon opened when she came to a slow stop at the intersection. She looked to the side road, fighting the urge to go down the road opposite to her work.

But an oh so creepy breeze blew gently threw her hair, urging her forward, and before the teen realized what she was doing she was already putting her kick stand down and heading towards the edge of the forest and the hidden path. Chihiro was dimly aware that this was not normal behavior, even for an odd ball like her. She almost never stopped here.

Standing at the very edge of the trail Chihiro stopped her feet glued to the ground, refusing to move further. It wasn't magic that held Chihiro there frozen on at the edge, no it was her own mind that held her body prisoner. It was fear of what lay at the end where the red building that was hidden behind the thick forest. Fear that there might not be a red building. Fear that there was no Haku. And no matter how much the wind tugged at her, called her, or the urge to keep going she was to afraid to go any further. Chihiro closed her eyes and took a deep breath before she started to take a step back.

The hairs on her arms and neck started to stand up and from Chihiro's peripheral she saw something blue, whirling around Chihiro stared in amazement at the blue butterfly resting atop her bicycle seat. "Weird," she mumble stumbling towards the bike and the occupant resting on the seat.

She shooed the little bug with her hands again and watched as it took to the air and danced around Chihiro's head before heading into the forest. It was taunting her. Chihiro frowned at it and turned back to her bike. Thanks to this little detour she didn't get to take her time on the way to work like she usually did.

Chihiro walked into the Aio Airi Café after chaining up her bike. It was a small tucked away Café that had a large window as the front of the store. It was old building that had be designed as traditional Japanese culture, unlike the western café's. In the middle of the store was a little fountain that had large Koi fish swimming around. The store was small and perfect, in Chihiro's opinion. It also reminded her a lot of Yubaba's bathhouse. That might have been the only reason Chihiro had been so animated about working here.

Chihiro headed for the bathroom to slip into her uniform, which was a red button up short sleeved shirt and a black skirt, that was short, to short for Chihiro standards, then again she would take a pair of jeans over a skirt any day. The black skirt hung approximately four inches above her knees. Lastly she slipped on the black apron that had the café's name on it. Tying it she headed for the back to clock in and start her day.

As it turns out work wasn't that bad, or even that busy. Of course the small café store Chihiro worked at didn't get busy, it was always the same people ordering the same things, like clock work. You could already tell what your day was going to be like depending on the day of the week. Being assigned to only two table wasn't half bad either. But it was boring. It wasn't till her shift was almost done that things started to get interest.

"Chihiro," Mini called, she was a sixteen year old who liked to dye her hair a different color each week. 'Spices things up' was her answer when you asked her why. She was one of Chihiro's favorite co-workers. Her hair just happened to be a dark green this week that reminded Chihiro of a certain spirit. Holding out a pad she asked. "Take table eight for me? I just got on my break."

Chihiro glanced at the table then at the pad and sighed she took it and made her way towards the table hoping that she could make this as quick and painless as possible.

"Zukie," Chihiro said as politely as she could, holding the notepad in front, pen hovering over the paper prepare to take the order. "how are you this afternoon?"

"I didn't come here to chat," The young teen with her bleach blond her, fake tan, and beautiful brown eyes snapped at Chihiro. Tossing her over blond locks over her shoulder she stuck her nose in the air and glared at Chihiro. "Bring me a latte, extra hot." She snapped her fingers dismissing the girl and turned down to look at the menu clenched between her manicure nails.

Chihiro scribbled down the order and walked off, she made sure to write extra extra hot, hoping that the coffee would burn off the witches tongue. Handing the order to the cook, Chihiro tapped her fingers against the steel counter top as she waited for the Latte. Her lips twisted into a frown as she watched a young man walk threw the door.

Her eyes roamed over his well fitted shirt and jeans, to the brown hair and equally brown eyes. He was the type of person that made woman swoon, and just one smile would send any woman into instant fertility. He was also a heart breaker, that Chihiro knew as she watch him take a seat across from Zukie.

Taking her gaze away from the couple she looked at the latte that was placed on the steel counter next to her tapping fingers. Smiling at the cook, who was a portly man with a kind heart. He was also Aoi Airi's husband. They were complete opposites, where he was kind she was cold, where she was pretty he was plain. So on and so forth. And every one that worked with him called him Cook, though his real name was Steve. Thanking him for the drink she made her way back to table eight.

Zukie was laughing at something when Chihiro made her appearance at the table again. "Oh look Ikuto," she purred before dropping from a sweet syrupy voice to a disgusted tone. "the twig has come to see us."

Chihiro spared the man a glance as she placed the latte on the table in front of Zukie. "Need anything else?" forcing on a smile she asked politely, pointedly ignoring the nickname. It was a name that had stuck with Chihiro threw middle school and junior high. Not that she really was a twig, when she was younger she might have been, and now she still had the remnants of a skinny girl. But her chest had filled out, though her backside left much to desire. All in all Chihiro was a plain Jane, which she was just fine with, she didn't want to date any one. Though at one point she had tried. That thought made her glance over at Ikuto who was looking at the menu very intently.

She frowned as she thought about the earlier this year, shortly after her eighteenth birthday, Chihiro had suddenly sunk into a deep depression. One that ate away at her very soul, for she had just realized that it had been eight years. Eight long and lonely years with out any sign of Haku. And her teen mind had turned on itself, telling her that his promise was not a promise but a choice of words to get ten year old Chihiro moving. She spent a better part of a month mopping around in self pity, crying herself asleep, even closing out her family who became increasingly worried. But weeks of sorrow and self pity turned into anger, anger at herself and Haku for lying to her. So with a new stubbornness she was determined to move on.

And as it were Ikuto asked her out, the very next day, and what better way to get over someone then replace them. At first things were nice, but then her hand, her damn hand started to burn and throb every time the young male tried to hold her hand. Then it turned into if he tried to touch her, her hand hurt. Then it wasn't only her hand that started to hurt, her heart started too. And then the guilt the ever plaguing guilt. She would close her eyes and there behind her lids would be his eyes, his emerald green eyes. As ikuto's attention increased so did Chihiro's pain. So with her mind made up Chihiro made a plan to break off the relationship.

As it turns out, Ikuto had been paid by Zukie to date Chihiro then embarrass her in front of the entire school. Which he had manage to do before she broke off the relationship. In the middle of lunch right in the center of the cafeteria Ikuto had told every male with in the school how 'nasty' she was in bed, and what a freak she was, and that he had broke off the relationship a week ago and she still called him telling him how much she still needed him. And for his final act he had yelled at her telling her to leave him be.

Chihiro had took the performance in stride, not managing to cry till she was well away from everyone. Though before she had left she did mange to see Azul punch that pretty face of his, before she had chased after Chihiro. When She had found Chihiro, standing at the very edge of the forest with tears streaming down her face, she was laughing. For the pain was gone.

"Ugh!" Zukie sneered looking at the menu then over at Chihiro. "Is there anything on this menu that doesn't have more the a hundred calories."

She raised her brow a Zukie and resisted the urge to sarcastically state that water was the only thing. Plastering a smile on her face said. "I believe our salads have low calories."

Zukie's pretty face twisted into rage as she slammed her menu on the table nearly knocking over her steaming cup of coffee that she had yet to touch. "Are you calling me fat!" she hissed.

Chihiro blinked and started to shake her head. "No, I was-" Chihiro gasped as she felt something wet and hot, very hot, hit her apron. She swallowed the cry of pain as she stumbled back. one minute her stomach was on fire and the next Chihiro was being splashed with a cup of cold water. She blinked and looked up to see that Ikuto had taken the cup from the table behind him and threw it on her.

His brown eyes were darker then usual as he turned to glare at Zukie who seemed shocked at what she had just done. She glanced between Chihiro and her empty cup that once held her latte.

"Chihiro!" Mini had come running over followed Mrs. Airi who looked rather furious at the fact that her well paying customers were being disturbed. 'drama' she liked to say 'is bad for business.'

"Are you okay?" Mini grabbed Chihiro's arms looking at her flushed face.

"Y-ya, I'm fine." She glanced down at her soaked uniform and winced as she felt the sting of her burning stomach. "The apron protected me." She looked over at Zukie and Ikuto who were now arguing.

"What the hell Zukie!" He snapped. "She could have been seriously injured."

Zukie, who had recovered from her initial shock was looking at Chihiro with a worry expression that was suddenly covered up by her neutral snooty look. "It was an accident. She looks fine to me!"

"Of course it was." Mrs. Airi cooed waving a rag at Chihiro but looking at Zukie. "If you'll excuse us." Mrs. Airi grabbed Chihiro's arm and pulled her to the back, Mini followed behind shooting nasty glares at Zukie as the left. "My goodness!" Aio Airi exclaimed. "What a terrible accident, Chihiro my dear why don't you head home, I think you've caused enough trouble for the day." She thrusted the rag into Chihiro's hands and rushed to the front.

"My goodness," Mini mimicked Airi's voice as she watched Chihiro dry her face and pull off her soaked apron. "What a terrible accident. AH!" She took the rag from Chihiro and glanced worriedly at her as she moved gingerly around the back room gathering her stuff. "She knows that was no accident." She paused for a moment. "Nor was it your fault. Everyone knows that Zukie's got it out for you." Mini moved closer to Chihiro and yanked up her shirt to reveal her very red and irritated skin of Chihiro's stomach. "Oh no Chihiro! That has got to hurt!"

Hiding her wince Chihiro shrugged. "The apron protected most of it. It doesn't hurt to bad." She hissed when Mini pocked at the red skin. "Except for when you do that! Ow!"

Mini gave her a sheepish look and pulled away dropping her shirt. "Are you sure your alright? My mom can take you home if you like I get off in another hour she wouldn't mind I mean she li-."

"Its fine Mini, I'm fine." She gave her the best smile she could muster and hoped that she had not detected the lie. Her stomach hurt, it felt like some one had lit it on fire, and her soaked shirt was not helping as it rubbed against it every time she moved, making it throb more intensely.

Mini gave her a doubtful look but agreed. By the time she was clocked out and heading for the door, Zukie and Ikuto were both gone. Not bothering to change back into her normal cloths, Chihiro moved with steady cautious steps, wishing to get home and rub some ice on her burned stomach.

With her bike and gear on her shoulder, Chirhiro stated a torturous journey home. She glanced at the sky as she pedaled her way home when there was a loud roaring sound off in the distance. The clouds hovering over the horizon were dark and fluffy, heavy with the seasonal rain that was heading towards the town. It looked like a storm was brewing.

It was then, with her attention on the weather, that her bike hit a pot hole. As the front tire got stuck Chihiro lost grip on the handles and flew over the front of her pink bike. Everything seemed to blur as her cry of surprise echoed in the mostly empty streets. With a crack her back hit the ground followed by the back of her head. She lay dazed on the ground, adrenaline pumping threw her veins that slowed the register of pain that flared up from her back to her stomach and then her pounding head. Tears of frustration pricked at her eyes as she cautiously moved into a sitting position.

"This couldn't get any worse." She muttered darkly as she rubbed the back of her head to make sure she wasn't bleeding. Climbing slowly to her feet Chihiro grabbed the handles of her transportation and pulled. It became very clear however that the bike was stuck.

Chihiro yanked on the bike, trying to remove the front tire from the hole, but the more she yank the more obvious it became that the bike wasn't going to move. Screaming a few obscenities, she kicked the bike. She howled in pain when the pink contraption fell towards her retreating leg, leaving a long gash.

It was when she leaned over to yank the bike up that she noticed one there was an old lady staring, rather gaping, at Chihiro. And two the front tire was flat. Grinding her teeth she sent the old woman a strained smile and started her long limp home.

The gray haired woman shook her head. "Young people." She muttered watching the poor brunette walk away.

Each step sent pain shooting up her leg, across her bruised back, through her burning stomach, and finally to stopped to throbbed with the headache, that might be turning into a migraine. "Damn, damn, damn." It was her chant she said with each step, it was what kept her going, it was what kept her from crying. Though the tears were pricking at her eyes, threatening to spill over her eyelashes any moment.

There was a thick trickle of blood running down her leg. By the time she got home, her leg was a complete mess, the whole front of her shin was covered in blood. Groaning as she dropped her bike on the ground not even caring about it at this point she limped to the door. "Home sweet home."

Before she could open the door however it flew open revealing a tear stained Azul. Her black her lay limp around her pale face and tears leaked from the corners of her black eyes. "I've lost Miyukie!"

"What!" Chihiro cried shoving her way into the how. All the pain was pushed to the back of her mind as she stormed into the house "MIYUKIE!" She yelled running through the house looking for her little sister.

"I don't know how this happened." Azul cried, rubbing her eyes as she followed behind Chihiro. "I had to go to the b-bathroom and and and…" she hiccuped an sank to the steps as Chihiro ran up them then down, she looked all over the house calling for her sister. Finally she stopped in front of the steps where Azul was sobbing. I wasn't until Chihiro took a moment to hear what Azul was say that it dawned on Chihiro.

"She said she wanted to get your present," Azul's head was tucked between her knees as she rocked back and forth. "She said he would be happy to see you too."

Chihiro's knees almost buckled as she realized where her precious little sister had gone. "No." Chihiro clutched her shirt, making a fist just over her rapid beating heart. Suddenly all the panic was replaced by an eerie calm, and the feeling of being watched swarmed over Chihiro.

Chihiro the haunting voice called to her. Chihiro.

Suddenly it was clear what she had to do, and she was pissed. She was mad at her day, mad at the stupid voices, mad at the pain, mad a Zukie, and Ikuto, she was mad at the damn stalker butterfly, but mostly she was mad a Miyukie for doing this to her. This was not what she wanted, and at the same time it was everything she wanted.

"Azule," Chihiro patted her shacking shoulders. "everything's going to be all right. I know where she is." She smiled and wiped away some tears from her friend before standing straight. "I need you to wait here and call my mom." She grabbed her backpack and walked to the door.

"Wait Chihiro where are you going!" She followed her to the door chasing after Chihiro. "Chihiro!" Azul exclaimed, finally noticing her friends leg. "Your leg!"

"Its fine!" Chihiro snapped as she limped across the street to the stone wall that separated the road and the steep hill below.

"Where are you going!" Azul yelled following after Chihiro thinking she finally lost her mind.

"To go get my sister, and wring that pretty little neck of hers." And just like that she vaulted the wall praying that her leg didn't give out until she had her sister safe and sound. Because Miyukie Ogino was in danger, whether it was from the spirits or her sister Chihiro had yet to decide. All Chihiro did know was in the next hours she was going to return to a place she hadn't seen in nine years. She was going to the old theme park.

Some people just have 'those' days. I know it do. Anyway the lyrics at the top are some that inspired me during this chapter, I don't own the song that belongs to Leona Lewis, I can't sing anyway. I want to also thank my Reviewers:

Jess2709 and WhiteTiger246

Thank you guys for your awesome reviews! And my readers, I appreciate you guys too. Sorry for any grammar and spelling mistakes, I go over my story's twice if not three times to make sure there are non, but I'm only human. The next chapter should be out with in the next week. So thanks for reading and see you then! ~Gizmo's_toys