Chapter 4
She ran through the town, all the way to the bridge and then realized that she did not have a way to get across without being noticed. She decided the only way was to climb down the steep, jagged rocks, and back up the grassy hill on the other side. After climbing back up the hill , which was somehow a lot harder than the rocks, she paused for a second, making sure that no one was in the small garden before climbing over the small fence. Then, abandoning all fear, she ran as fast as she could to the stairs leading to the boiler room, stepping quickly down the stairs as well. Finally,she reached the boiler room, pulling the heavy metal door open and slipping inside. She cautiously approached the main room, jumping when a jet of steam released from the machine next to her. Walking in, the sootballs all abandoned their work, jumping onto her, causing little black imprints on her legs. She smiled at them, giggling a little when they brushed against her legs like feathers.
"WHATS UP WITH YOU, YOU STUPID LITTLE RUNTS? I DIDN'T SAY IT WAS MEAL TIME! GET BACK TO WORK!" Looking back to get his teapot, he coughed it up when he saw Chihiro.
"Hello, Grandfather!" Chihiro said bravely, marching onto the hardwood floor.
"Grandfa- who are you?A human?! What are you doing here?"
"It's your granddaughter! Don't you remember me?"
"I don't have a- Chihiro! Is it really you? Come here so I can get a closer look." She smiled widely, approaching the old, wizened figure. He smiled.
" You've grown up quite well."
"Thanks, Kamajji" He looked at her with a warning glance.
"What are you doing here, Chihiro? This is no place for humans." He asked worriedly, ignoring the three bath tokens hanging in front of him.
" I don't actually know. I was running away from someone, and I saw some light at the end of the tunnel, and followed it."
" Curious. I've never heard of a human who found the spirit world twice when they were alive. Fate is usually more careful than that." He reached behind her to grab some herbs from the bin above her.
" I'm going to find Yubaba. Could you help me get there safely?"
"Yubaba? Why would you need to find her?"
"Well, I need to settle something with an old friend of mine, and i'll need her permission, and unfortunately, her protection."
"Yubaba barely let you go last time. You may have cost the bathhouse a fortune, but you still managed to attract rich and powerful guests."
" Well, i'm going to strike a deal with her, and she's going to agree!"
"You are either really brave or really reckless, my dear. "
"So, do you have anything to help me?"
"Well, I do have one th-"
"Good gods, Kamaji. It reeks of human in here. What are you- CHIHIRO! Oh my god! You're back!" She shoved his bowl into his hand and squeezed Chihiro tight.
Chihiro laughed giddily. "Rin! I guess you did stay behind. I've missed you so much! Come here, I have to give you another hug." Chihiro opened her arms to envelope Rin, but merely ended up hugging herself. Looking down, she saw the floor, instead of her arms. Smiling, Rin handed her a piece of shrimp that she stole from Kamajis breakfast. All the while, Kamaji was rummaging through his stores of herbs. Grinding a mixture quickly, he funneled all of it into a little bottle and handed it to Chihiro.
"Whats this?" She questioned, taking the bottle from Kamaji cautiously.
"Well, you sprinkle it on your body, and it should mask the smell of human. Just a pinch or so will do." She opened the bottle cautiously. It smelled slightly musty and very pungent. Pinching a small bit of the concoction on herself, she sniffed herself, but couldn't sense any difference. After doing so,however, Rin approached her, sitting down next to where she was standing.
" You don't smell anymore." Chihiro smiled lightly, plopping herself down. In an overly casual voice, she said " So, Haku. How's he doing? What's going on with him?"
Rin's eyes flashed dangerously, and she opened her mouth to speak, but Kamaji sent her a glance, saying " That's something he should tell you himself."
Catching this exchange, Chihiro felt the nervous ball in her stomach tighten. Was there something they weren't telling her?.
"Rin?" Someone called. Rin's eyes went wide, and she pushed Chihiro towards the door outside.
"You can't be seen here. Go to find Yubaba somehow. If you see someone approaching, hide under the bridge. DO NOT BE SEEN. Got it?"
"I-ok but-" Rin glanced backwards, hearing the footsteps getting closer and closer.
"You're going to be ok. Remember to cross the bridge with a huge pack of spirits, understand? Blend in." One more shove, and Chihiro was outside, the wind blowing her ponytail in all directions. She leaned against the stonewall, feeling the cool cement on her hands. Click- Clack. Click-Clack. The sound of heels stepping down stairs reached Chihiros ears, and she quickly looked for an escape route. Going over the bridge was no longer going to work, since that was the only way back quickly.
If you see someone approaching, hide under the bridge.
She took a deep breath, and found her way down, all the way to the bridge, going through sweet smelling bushes and climbing down large rocks. Finally reaching the underside of the bridge, she sprinkled a little bit more of the dust on herself, and sat on a big rock facing the river running beneath the water. She watched the river quietly, seeing the quicksilver fish jumping in and out of the river, occasionally flopping onto the earth, and wriggling so vigorously that they flopped right back in. It seemed like a different world down here, away from all the noise and chaos surrounding the bathhouse. Suddenly, she looked up, hearing someone softly land on the grassy bank. Jumping down from her sitting rock, she hid behind it, sprinkling herself with more powder just in case She peeked out from behind the rock, letting out an eep of surprise when she saw who it was. There was no mistaking that hair-cut and those eyes.
She was, without out a doubt, looking at Haku.
