A/N: 3rd chapter! Enjoy! (Don't have much to say so yeah xD)
Spirited Away belongs to Hayao Miyazaki, so thank him or else SA won't be existing!
Haku
"Master Haku!" A frog dressed in a simple blue yukata hopped towards me.
"What is it this time Aogaeru?" I asked.
"Yubaba is asking for your presence in her office," Aogaeru replied.
I sighed and quickly made my way to the witch's office. I stopped in front of the two large doors. The knocker in the form of Yubaba's face spoke in a harsh voice.
"You may come in."
The doors automatically opened I calmly walked to her office, entering and passing by numerous corridors through multiple doors with expensive vases decorating the halls. Finally making it to her office, I pushed the two large doors with ease and entered. In her desk sat Yubaba, organizing and signing documents. The strong smell of cigarette smoke and perfume filled the room, but I kept a the stern look on my face, trying not to make a face of disgust from the stench.
"Ah, Haku. I see you got my message," Yubaba said, not looking up from the stack of documents.
"What do you need?" Yubaba didn't reply, and kept signing the paperwork laid out on her desk.
I continued to watch her go through each piece of paper, waiting patiently for her to finish. Signing the last document, Yubaba sighed and looked up as the last sheet joined the huge stack of completed documents.
"I have summoned you here for something very important."
I raised my brow in slight confusion. Yubaba took a large inhale of the cigarette she was holding and exhaled, and the smoke escaped through her large nostrils. My lips slightly tugged downwards, which Yubaba noticed. The witch cackled, but once again turned serious after.
"You may have noticed that lately I've been slacking off a little." I kept quiet. A little was an understatement. More like a lot. Seeing her do the paperwork was a rare sight nowadays, and it was usually me who did them.
'This witch . . .'
"However this time, I intend to leave my work. I feel my body slowly deteriorating from all the stress and such. I also wish to expand Boh's view of the world, for he's been desperate to leave his room and travel ever since his adventure with that human girl seven years ago. So, I've decided to help him with his travels and dedicate more of my time and to be more of a mother to him. Although it's such a shame I'd be leaving all the glorious money and fame, but hopefully it's all worth it."
She couldn't be possibly thinking of retiring. There are too much things going on right now!
Yubaba sighed and said, "What I'm saying is, I'm retiring, and I trust you enough as my current apprentice to be the new ruler of the bathhouse."
Her final sentence had hit me like a ton of bricks. I might never fulfill my promise to Chihiro this time, but I probably was never able to to begin with due to the destruction of my river. I was so close to finally ending my contract. So close.
"You made a promise to release me after working seven extra years for you!" I snapped, letting my concealed emotions loose.
Promise, huh. Even with Yubaba breaking hers I couldn't keep mine. Chihiro . . .
If only my river wasn't built over. If only Yubaba hadn't retired the week of my release. Then maybe, just maybe, I could keep the promise I had so easily made. All the if's and maybes, all these thoughts. They're starting to pester me down to my core.
"If you're thinking what I'm thinking, I didn't break the promise. Other than your extra seven years of servitude, there were some other terms and conditions to it as well," Yubaba replied.
I looked down. I must've forgotten what the other ones were, probably because I agreed out of desperation. Yubaba waited for my reply, every now and then taking a puff of smoke, but her attention was directed straight at me. I sighed exasperatedly and contemplated my thoughts, thinking of the pros and cons, and how it could possibly help me reunite with the human that managed to save me and return my name.
By the higher gods, please let me at least just get a single glimpse of her one day.
"Alright. I accept the position." Yubaba smiled.
"But, you must let me pay a visit to your sister's cottage first. I am to also take a three day break." Yubaba scowled, but agreed to my terms and conditions anyway.
I must attend to my duties, or else the bathhouse will fall into ruin without me keeping things in control. Maybe being in this position will somehow help me reunite with Chihiro.
'Please be patient Chihiro . . .' But this one thought slipped, which made my heart skip a beat at the possibility, '. . . If you're still waiting.'
A/N: And done! This chapter introduces a new POV, to know that Chihiro's POV is not the only one in this story, and to also introduce Haku into the story. We gotta wonder what Haku has been doing sometimes you know? (Even if this chapter is basically just about Haku's situation with Yubaba.) Although this chapter is rather short, and I apologize if you're one who is into lengthy and progressive chapters!
