Spirited Away and The Cat Returns both belong to Studio Ghibli. My most humble thanks to Miyazaki-sama for not minding us fanatics borrowing.
--
"Good evening, Baron," A soft voice said some time later. Baron looked up from his writing and smiled at the catbird sitting on Toto's perch.
"Good evening, Gna. I hope you and your mistress are well?" He said, dusting his paper with sand. Gna fluttered her wings in a shrug.
"As well as can be expected, so far from home."
"Is Madame Bifrost not enjoying Japan?" The Creation asked, coming around the desk. He rolled the paper in his hands into a tight cylinder.
"She enjoys it, but it is not home. However, she is not one to dwell on her own sadnesses. You need our assistance?"
"Yes. Please take this to Madame. It explains everything." Gna flew down to the chalk circle, now missing the brazier, and held out her right leg. Baron knelt and tucked the paper into the silver cylinder attached to the catbird. He latched it closed, stepped back and bowed.
"Please inform Madame that a speedy reply would be greatly appreciated." Gna spread her wings and bowed.
"For the Cat Bureau, our meager assitance is at your disposal. I shall return before the Sun Goddess reaches her peak tomorrow." Gna spun gracefully, flapped her wings twice, and flew out the window. Baron dusted his hands.
"You can come out now, Muta!"
--
Somewhere in the mountain regions of Japan, there is a small village. In this village, there is a woman. While she is gaijin, a foreigner, she has been accepted by this village, for her knowledge is vast and her skills remarkable. Up in the mountains, away from the cities, the old ways still hold sway. Madame Bifrost understood the old ways, not only of Japan, but of her native Norway, and had found the two meshed together well. Of course, it was the height of arrogance to name herself after the Rainbow Bridge that joined Midgard to Asgard, but arrogance was important here. Besides, she WAS a bridge, if only of cultures. If her adopted homeland was so fascinated with Ragnarok and Loki, it was better for everyone to show them there was more to the mythology then the End of the Gods and the Master Trickster.
Madame Bifrost sat in front of the central firepit, legs comfortably folded under her as she meditated before the flames. Gna flew in through her special entrance, a small hole cut in one of the shoji screens near the roof. She landed on her preferred perch, Bifrost's shoulder, and waited. After a few moments, the blonde sighed and blinked open sky-blue eyes.
"How is Baron, Gna?" She asked softly, holding out her arm. Gna hopped down the sleeve to curl her toes around Bifrost's index finger.
"Very busy and in serious need," The catbird extended her leg. Bifrost gently opened the cylinder and took out the message. Gna flew back to her shoudler as the Norsewoman fished a magnifying glass out of a pocket to read the tiny handwriting. After a few minutes, she chuckled.
"He never does things by halves, does he?" Unfolding her legs, she stretched and padded over to a large cupboard. Gna flew to a dead bonsai that had been carefully polished into a perch.
"I promised him I would return tomorrow morning," Gna chirped. Bifrost nodded as she rummaged through a drawer.
"We will need to ask Huginn for assistance. Silver is too heavy for you, my little messenger."
"I will speak with him now, Mistress." Gna flew away. Bifrost hummed to herself as she retrieved a handful of gleaming metal from the drawer.
"Let's see, just how big are you, Toto?"
--
Chihiro was not surprised when her roommates dragged her out of bed the following morning, claiming her bodyguard was pacing the hallway waiting for her. Haru was a very nice person and a good friend, but when she had a cause or someone who Needed Her Help, she was relentless. Chihiro understood the reasoning behind the attitude. She had had to be relentless to save her parents from Yubaba's menu plans, although at the time, she didn't realize it. Somehow, somewhere, Haru had gone through a similar experience and the lesson learned had manifested in her willingness to help anyone with anything and a large dose of self-confidence. Chihiro's lesson had manifested in being more aware of her environment and doing everything possible to preserve, restore and renew Japan's limited natural resources, along with a very clear sense of self and the power of names.
None of this, however, prepared Chihiro for the shock of seeing Haru in the hallway with her bokken swinging by her side and a large crow perched on her shoulder. The dorm room door slammed behind her, her roommates clearly glad to have done with the two women.
"Wh...wha?" Chihiro stammered, clutching her bag to her chest and staring at the crow. Yubaba's messenger bird had been a falcon with a woman's head, but Chihiro had developed a healthy respect for any large bird. Haru grinned.
"Chihiro, this is Toto. Toto, Ogino Chihiro," Haru introduced them. Toto looked right at Chihiro and bowed. The young woman blushed and bowed back.
"It's...an honor to meet you, Toto," She murmured. Glancing up, Chihiro could swear the bird winked at her. Haru grabbed her hand, peeling it free from the bag leather.
"Come on, I'm STARVING. I ran all the way here this morning,"
"Um, Haru? Is this going to be a regular occurance?" Chihiro asked hesitantly. Haru's grin turned suspicious.
"Until the cops catch the perv or you meet my dapper hero, whichever comes first!"
"Wait, what?" Chihiro cried as she was dragged outside and towards the cafeteria. Toto took off from Haru's shoulder. Chihiro's eyes followed the black bird, noticing how he stayed with them. Haru simply waved to the crow, who landed in a maple tree nearby, settled his wings and nodded to them. Chihiro's suspicions grew tenfold. Something Was Going On.