Haku disappeared through what seemed to be a hole in the shield. When he did, Chihiro couldn't move. She didn't understand what had just happened. When Haku walked through, she saw him. When he was on the other side of the shield, he was invisible.
"It's not going to hurt you." She heard Haku's voice from the other side.
"Where did you... I can't see you!" She said, backing off. Suddenly, Haku's hand appeared out of thin air.
"Yes, I know. That's a part of the magic. No one from the outside can see people in side the shield, including the Kioaro. At first it confused him, but it seems like he understands it now. It has only made him more eager to break through." Haku said, his hand still waiting for Chihiro. She took it, and she was sure Haku could feel the doubt in her move. He gently dragged her inside, and she could see him again.
"Woah ... I'm sorry. I'm not used to the entire magic-thing. It's been five years, you know." She smiled, and didn't let go of his hand.
Haku smiled, and started to walk. "Yes, I've missed you. I'm sure you must be very curious about all of this. Feel free to ask questions."
He's missed her. Chihiro was about to blush when she heard that. She couldn't remember Haku like a boy sharing his feelings.
"Well … I guess I have a few questions. What happens if you touch the shield?"
"It's quite simple. It's an electricity shock. A strong one. You could've got seriously injured by it, but we have to keep it at that strength. The Kioaro is much stronger than normal people, like you. If you wonder, that's why the sky is purple all the time. Because he keeps coming back. Anyway, Yubaba is the only one that doesn't feel anything if she touches the shield. I feel a slight shock, but it doesn't bother me. That shock throws the Kioaro about two metres away, so it's not as strong as it should've been, but we can't take any risks." He said thoughtfully.
"Oh… I see." She said looking back at the wall. "Speaking of Yubaba, how is she? And Lin, is she still here?"
Haku opened the door in to the bath house, and they were met by curious frogs and women.
"Is that Chihiro?" Chihiro heard some one whisper. She heard her name everywhere, and walked closer to Haku. He noticed, and stopped.
"Everyone, listen. You remember Chihiro? She's back. Yes, she knows everything, no need to keep secrets from her. I'm taking her up to Yubaba; I think she can help us."
People gasped. One of the frogs stepped forward, looking shocked. "Are you going to make her ... "He managed to say, before Haku interrupted him.
"No, of course not. Not if she doesn't approve of it." He started to walk again, and stepped in to an elevator. He suddenly became quiet, and Chihiro kept quiet as well. A million thoughts flew through her mind, but two thoughts pushed it selves forward. What did he mean by helping them? What was the frog talking about?
They walked together against the huge doors that led in to Yubaba's office.
"It's Kohaku." He said to the door. Suddenly Chihiro remembered she'd called him Haku all the time.
"Kohaku … I'm sorry I've called you Haku all this time." She looked at her feet.
"No, it's allright. I'd rather you call me Haku. It reminds me of the first time we met. Everyone else does too, you know. Except from Yubaba." He said, and squeezed her hand a little bit.
The huge doors swung open, and Chihiro took a deep breath, afraid that she would be dragged in the same way as last time. She was right. Suddenly, they flew through the hallways, through several doors, and finally in the last one. Yubaba's office hadn't changed much. It was the same colour, but one thing missed. Yubaba wasn't sitting in her desk chair as usual. She sat in a comfy chair by the fireplace, with glasses on, reading a book.
"What is it, Kohaku?" She didn't look up.
"Chihiro is back." He said simply. Yubaba shot out of her chair, and looked at them.
"Se ... Chihiro?" She said, her eyes bigger than usual.
"Yes, Yubaba. It's me." Chihiro said, trying to smile.
"Oh, I've felt awful since you left. About the way I treated you and your parents." She took Chihiro's hand, and leaded her towards the veranda. She pointed down to where the pig houses had been.
"I felt so bad I sent all of them home." She said, sounding pleased with her self.
Haku cleared his throat, and Yubaba turned.
"I came for a reason." He said, sounding formal. "I ... I think she can help us."
Yubaba's eyes got bigger, and she stared at Haku.
"Help us? With the Kioaro problem?" She sounded doubtful.
Haku, on the other hand, remained calm.
"Yes, I think so. Don't you see? She's changed the entire Bath Houses attitude. They haven't got nasty thoughts about the humans anymore. She also finished all of your assignments, she even saved me from death it selves. Don't you think she'll be able to handle your magic? I have a feeling she'll use it well."
Yubaba looked at Chihiro, then at Haku.
"Well... I guess it's worth a try. Chihiro, do you want to help us? You don't have to, not at all, if you do not want to." She said, opening a small box that contained a match, a glass, and a piece of paper.
Chihiro looked frightened. She'd never been though. How could she fight off a Kioaro, when Haku had nearly died trying?
"I … I'll do it." She said, trying to make her voice sound confident.
Yubaba's face lit up, and she placed the match from the box on a table in front of Chihiro. She walked over to her, and touched the back of her head. A sudden rush of adrenaline floated through Chihiro's body, and she felt stronger than ever.
"Allright, dear. Try to do something with that match." Yubaba said, taking a few steps back. Chihiro raised her hands, and stretched them out, against the match. Her eyebrows got closer, and she concentrated. Suddenly, the match shot up in the air. It stood there for a few seconds, until it started shooting small balls of fire in wild directions.
"Ieh!" Yubaba shouted, pointing a finger against the match. It fell to the floor quickly.
"No, definitely not." She said as she putted the glass on the table, and touched the back of Chihiro's head once again. The same kick of adrenalin floated through her body, and she once again raised her arms. The glass standing on the table started to fill up with water, and Chihiro started to smile. Maybe this was it? Suddenly, the water got out of control. It splashed everywhere, most of it landing on Yubaba's big, white hairdo. The glass flew out the window, and Yubaba shook her head.
"Maybe…" She said, as she disappeared through a door, and got back with another small box. She opened it, and in contained a small ball of … dirt.
She placed it on the table, and touched the back of Chihiro's head once again. This time, the feeling was different. Chihiro felt like she was filled up with an indescribable power that lifted her off the floor. She floated in the air for about five seconds, before she landed. This time, she walked closer to the table, before she stretched out her arms. The ball of dirt began to rise from the table, and floated in the air. Chihiro concentrated even harder, and the ball began to grow. It got bigger and bigger, until it was about the size of Yubaba's head. She moved it, still in the air, against the doors that led out to the veranda, and she threw it up in the air. Fast as the wind, she pulled back her hands, and once again shot them out. A split second later, the dirt ball exploded in to a billion different colours, like firework. Chihiro turned around, and Yubaba smiled.
"Earth." She said, and waved Chihiro back to her. She placed both her hands at the back of Chihiro's head, and concentrated. The feeling Chihiro had had two minutes ago, was now a hundred times stronger. She felt like she could do anything.
"Earth." Haku said, and smiled.
I can't find any place to put an "authors-note" in here, so I'll just put it in some of my chapters now and then.
Chapters will be about this length, 4 pages in word, and I'll post new ones pretty often.
I hope you enjoy reading this, and tell me what you think!
V.