Hellohello! Thanks for coming to read the next chapter. I must say that a lot happens in this chapter. I hope you like it…
Disclaimer: I still don't own spirited away. I'll let you know when I do.
You: in you're dreams…
Me: hehe : )!
Through the Pipes and into Her Heart
There was something cold on the girl's forehead, which was numbing to her skin. And something tucked around her body, which made her sweat. Her head throbbed in a rhythmic beating that made her severely dizzy. And she couldn't remember where she was, and why she was there. Not to mention where she was before. She felt like she was awakening from a deep sleep that threatens to pull her back under.
I'm Chihiro Jukodo and I'm 15 years old. I go to Akihiro Arakawa high school.
She could remember personal details in the back of her head. But she couldn't recall what day it was and what time of the day it might be.
Am I getting up for school? Am I late again? NO! that's not it. I remember now. I was late already
She reached under the blankets and felt her knee. A dull pain shot up her leg and she suddenly remembered.
I was in the bathroom cleaning my knee when a boy intruded into the girl's bathroom. What pervert would do such a thing? What did he do to me? I don't remember ever seeing him at our school.
What happened to me? Where am I?
The girl mustered enough strength in her pounding head to open her eyes. The light stung for a brief second and then the room came into focus. She was lying on her bed in her room and her mom was sitting in a chair beside her.
"Chihiro…Honey! You're awake! Your father and I have been so worried about you. We got a phone call from school saying that you were found unconscious in the girl's laboratory. The nurse said that you must have fainted from dehydration. Honey…what happened?"
The scene in the bathroom flashed through Chihiro head as it all came back to her. The boy with the shoulder length hair and sad features who was supposedly behind her, wasn't there when she turned around. He caused all the faucets to turn on and he didn't even move. Was he some kind of ghost or spirit? And her hair came loose and she didn't even touch it. She pulled her arms up from her sides and felt her long brown hair.
My shiny band is gone!
Ignoring her mother's question Chihiro shot out, "Mom! My hair band…where is it?"
Chihiro's mom, who was taken aback by the sudden question, shook her head,
"Chihiro… what band are you talking about?"
"The shiny one that I always use for my hair. You have to know the one that I am talking about!"
Chihiro's mother gave her a concerned look and rested a hand on her daughters head,
"Chihiro… I think you need some more rest. If you lost it at school, you can look for it tomorrow. Or I'll buy you one if you can't find it…there are plenty of them at the grocery shore."
Chihiro looked flustered as she sat up to face her mother,
"I've had that band ever since I moved here. It's special… but I'll look tomorrow."
Chihiro couldn't remember why it was so special or why she wanted it back so much. All she could recall was that important friends had given it to her before she moved into the blue house on the hill. But she also knew that she didn't have it before she moved.
All this didn't make much sense, but she had thought of it before. It had annoyed to the point of her almost throwing it away. If it was gone, then she wouldn't need to think about it. But something in the back of her mind had stopped her, it was too meaningful to throw away. And maybe one day she would find it's meaning.
Chihiro's mom had left the room and closed the door behind her. Chihiro had been really tired this pass month and decided that she would take advantage of her day off and sleep. But her mind tossed and turned like a stormy sea and sleep didn't come.
Am I crazy? Is that why I saw that figure? Or was it a spirit, or maybe a ghost.
NO! I am too old to believe in such things! Maybe I am crazy. Just in case…I won't tell anyone about the boy.
I think I have seen this boy more than once before. Are my dreams linked to him?
Then Chihiro slept. She slept for four hours when the phone next to her bed rang and she woke with a start.
"HELLO!" she shouted into the receiver.
"What's with the yelling?" said Raicho on the other end, holding the phone away from her face.
"Oh…it's you Raicho. Sorry…I was sleeping."
"Chihiro! I heard what happened! I was concerned that you didn't come back to class. Then I thought that you had taken Sonoda-sensei's advice and skipped class. Then when you missed the next class I was so worried! Then I heard that they had found you in the bathroom! Are you all right? Do you want me to come over there? Your mom said that you needed sleep." Raicho said really fast in one breath.
"It's okay Raicho. I'm fine now. Maybe I was just tired." Chihiro said sleepily.
"You don't faint from being tired, Chihiro. But I am glad you are okay. We have detention, remember? And you are with Umeka. Chihiro…I hope nothing happens…" her voice got quiet and trailed off.
"Maybe all that talk about Umeka were rumors. I'm not worried." Chihiro said, but inside she was terrified. She had forgotten about the detention.
"Well…that's good. Tomorrow is Saturday. You wanta meet up and go to school together?"
"That would be great." Chihiro felt better knowing that her friend would be just down the hall.
"You know Chihiro…I am kinda looking forward to my detention. Maybe Sonoda-Sensei will tutor me! Then I will be ahead of the class!" Raicho said in a chipper voice.
There was a long pause before Chihiro answered, "Raicho…this is detention. It's a punishment."
"I know. I know." Raicho said in a downhearted voice. "But there is hope!"
"Yeah, yeah! You and science, you've fallen in love with it this year. Well…maybe you will have a better time in detention than me with Umeka."
"You watch yourself tomorrow, okay?"
"Okay. I'll see you tomorrow. Bye."
"Night Chihiro. Rest up and get better!"
"I will."
Chihiro was not feeling very good. Now she had three things to worry about: the boy in the mirror, the thought of being crazy and Umeka.
Raicho and Chihiro stopped at the door to Umeka's office at noontime. Chihiro was brimming with fear, but she didn't show it. She was remarkebly good at hiding her fear. Raicho smiled at her and gave her a hug,
"Good luck in there. I will meet you afterward."
"Bye." Chihiro squeaked and watched her friend turn, and disappear down the hall. Then she faced the tall and looming door. This was so intimidating.
Chihiro took a long, calming breath before entering Umeka's office. Her fear was rising as a beads of sweat streamed down here face.
Don't worry Chihiro. You have nothing to worry about. You're too dull to really catch a pervert like Umeka's eyes. You're safe. Looks like my dull demeanor will come in handy today!
Chihiro took a quick step into the office and left the door open behind her. Umeka was sitting at his desk with his back facing her. It took him a little while to realize she was standing there. He spun around to reveal a round face and a wiry hair balding in the corners. His beer belly protruded over his overly done belt buckle and a tie with yellow smiley faces rested in a curve over his front. What made Chihiro most uncomfortable were his beady black eyes.
"Well, well. Lets see here." He grunted and looked down at a sheet of paper lying in his lap.
"You are miss Chihiro Jukodo…am I right?"
Chihiro hadn't realized that she was holding her breath, as she quickly took a gulp of air and let it retreat in the gap of her mouth. She stood awkwardly at the door in his steady glare,
"Em…Er …yeah…YES...I meant to say…sir."
"Well don't stand there like a coat rack. Sit down. And please close the door. Your detention will last for two hours."
He looked at the clock, which read 12:07.
"You may go home at approximately 2:07. You will help me with my mail until then. Is that clear Jukodo?"
"Yes sir." Chihiro said giving a quick bow and realized shockingly that Umeka's eyes were following her movements to catch a view of her cleavage. She quickly buttoned her skirt to the top and sat in the farthest available seat.
"Why so far miss Chihiro? I want to get comfortable."
He called me by my first name! Dirty Bastard! I don't know him.
As if reading her mind Umeka said, "I've never met you before Chihiro. That's really too bad because you seem like such the nice little lady."
Chihiro scrunched her nose, her signature move of being uncomfortable.
What does he mean by that?
But he didn't stop there, "You teens are just too cute theses days. But you, so far, are the cutest! You look like a chipmunk, if you don't mind me saying."
"NO! I'm not!" Chihiro spat. She went from fear to anger in a blink of an eye.
That's it! I won't take his pathetic lies. He must say this to all the girls! And he must terrify them. I won't let him do that to me!
Umeka reached over his desk and tugged on her wrist to pull her closer. He put both his thumbs above both of her ears and ran his sausage fingers through her fluffy hair.
"You are cute and don't you forget that!"
His fingers were sweaty and his breath was sour. Chihiro shook him off and pulled away,
"I…I…should get to work." She was shaking and Umeka chuckled, as his stomach bounced with his cackles.
"Here! You pull these letters in these envelopes. They are in order so don't mix them up. Then put the stamps in the corner, and put the finished ones in this box. Now get going, you didn't come hear to socialize with grown teachers did you?" he scolded her as if his inappropriate fondling was her fault.
Chihiro's fingers were shaking as they both started with the mail. She glanced at the clock. 12:25. The time was going so slowly.
Umeka kept on looking over at Chihiro as she worked and once his leg brushed up against hers from under the desk. Chihiro jumped and her leg shot back far under her own chair as a shiver shot up her back.
"I'm very sorry. My legs are too big for this desk." His mouth lifted in a wide grin and Chihiro dropped her letter. She bent down to pick it up while holding her shirt down, and her elbow nudged the letters and they all fell to the floor.
"Oh my! Look what you have done. Bad girl. You need to do something for me to make up for what you've done."
"Llllike…like wwwhat?" Chihiro gulped.
"Gimme 40 jumping-jacks. And stand right here in front of the desk." He said in a happy-go-lucky voice, which was another cause for a shiver to run down Chihiro body.
Why does he want me to do jumping jacks? He can't be serious. This is not fair!
"Sensei…I don't think this is what students do during a detention. I will pick up the letters and match them to the addresses. I can stay longer if you wish…you can go home and I will stay–"
"LOOK! CHIHIRO! I'M THE TEACHER!" he shouted as his face turned a violent red.
"You will do as I say until your time is up. You are mine now and I command you to jump!" He said again in a gruff and agitated voice. Chihiro fell back in surprise. This Umeka guy was such a creep!
Did he just say that I was his? Alright Chihiro. Just do what he asks and leave as fast as you can! I hope that Raicho is doing all right. Let me see…it is 12:55. Still a lot more time!
Chihiro stood and faced the door with her back facing Umeka.
"Please turn around miss Chihiro!"
She did what she was told and started jumping. Umeka started counting,
"One…two…three…four…five." He was clapping too, with a big smile played on his sweaty face. He looked like a little kid enjoying himself at the fair.
"Why did you stop?"
Chihiro stood with her arms folded stiffly at her front,
"I can't do it here. I don't want to!"
Umeka stood up with a grunt and hobbled over to Chihiro with his lips pursed and his brow knitted. He looked determined to get Chihiro to do what he asked. He wanted to play with her like a doll. Chihiro backed away until she reached the doorway. He grabbed her arms and swung them up and down.
"Like this!" he stared into her eyes. "Not so hard is it?"
Chihiro was in utter shock. She tried to pull her hands away, but his grip was too strong. He took his foot and stuck it in between Chihiro's legs and moved them farther apart,
"Like that too."
Then he stuck his whole leg in between hers.A gasping sound was emitted from Chihiro's throat. He had her trapped. She couldn't speak. Words were lost in her mouth, like a nightmare come to life.
His palms moved to the wall as he firmly pressed himself into her chest. Her arms were freed from their gasp! Chihiro lifted her right arm and sprung it forward with all her force. Her balled fist connected with Umeka's face as he fell to the floor. There was a look of pure shock as he blinked dumbfounded. They a look on anger flashed on his face as he sprung forward onto Chihiro and knocked her to the ground.
"HOW DARE YOU HIT A TEACHER!"
Umeka was straddled above her with his knees locked on both sides of her waist. Chihiro tried to get up or to push him off. But it was no good.
"Ha, ha, you will pay for what you did to me dirty scum."
"Help me! Someone please!" Chihiro suddenly found her words as terror and anger spread through her mind.
He unbuttoned his panted and started unbuttoning Chihiro's shirt.
I'm done for. It's useless. No one is coming!
There was a vibrating noise that was coming from the ceiling. Chihiro had heard it before. But from where…?
By now Chihiro's bra was exposed and Umeka was working down to her skirt. He didn't seem to notice the noise…and then…
'CRACK! CCRRRACK…CLACK! SLASH!'
The ceiling above the office had broken and the water pipe has fallen to the floor.Water was filling the office at a steady flow and the puddle on the floor was grow bigger and bigger. Umeka pulled himself off of Chihiro to look at the mess,
"SHIT! WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED!"
A familiar chill had filled the office and a misty figure was appearing in the flow of water.
"You creep! I've never met a human or a spirit as disgusting as you. And I've seen some disturbing beings in the spirit world! But you! You are trash!"
A boy had appeared. His dark hair was thrashing over his eyes, which were full of malice and disgust. His whole body was flowing with the water that rained from the ceiling, but he hung gracefully in the air like a puppet without strings.
Umeka had fallen into a puddle on the floor with a look of terror in his eyes. Chihiro was not scared anymore. She felt oddly comforted and relieved to see the boy's face again. This was strange to her because she thought that if she ever saw the boy again, shed be terrified. But he had helped her. And she wasn't crazy because Umeka could see him too.
"Don't you ever touch Chihiro again! You got that! Don't ever take what's not yours."
His face turned to Chihiro and it lightened for a second.
"Chihiro…I won't let anything happen to you. Don't give anyone want doesn't belong to them beacsue you are beautiful inside and out.And I won't let anyone spoil that beauty. I have two things that belong to you that you have forgotten. I hope we meet again."
"Wait! What are they? Pease tell me! Tell me who you are!" Chihiro stammered as she picked herself off of the wet floor.
"I can't tell you now. You need to leave this place. NOW!"
A huge force of water had fallen on the screaming Umeka as he trashed on the floor. Chihiro quickly opened the door and ran into the empty hallway.
A nightmare? No…it was to real to be a nightmare…
Besides…she wanted to see him again.
If only I could recall who he was.
He was her water spirit.
Why does the word "Spirit World" leave such an impact on me?
An imprint to her memory.
He flowed through the pipes… he flowed through her heart.
And as Chihiro walked down the shadowed hall, she stopped at the science class. She peered inside and her breath caught...
Oh my god! I can't believe this! Is that…is that…?
Cliffhanger, Cliffhanger! Haha! Sorry… : O!
Thank you for reading. To those who have reviewed and to those who might review again. You guys keep me writing : )!
Please wait for the next chapter of "Chihiro's flame."
FT
