Aftermath (five years later...)

A fanfic about Spirited Away

Written by: ZimXGir

Disclaimer: I do not own Spirited Away.....although I do own Pernaki. X3

A/N: Well it's time now for the fourth chapter of this crazy thing of a fanfic. I hope you guys have liked it so far….But here's one piece of advice… when writing a fanfic don't EVER ask one of your friends that has no idea what the movie/series/book/whatever your writing about is about…trust me they start throwing all these good ideas at you that soon your margins are filled (wink thanks kelli and kalian!) Yeah that is just one of those spur of the moment type things…..and it's kindda like you had to be there…; so yeah. ON WITH THE FIC!

Chapter Four: In which Yubaba admits she's wrong

Sen had finished her bath when she got out she started to dry herself off when she descovered a purple bag with a note. She read the note and found the bag was from Lin and it was a "welcome back" present.

Sen smiled and was finishing getting dressed when she heard Haku call "Madam, Yubaba wishes to speck with you." As Sen watched Haku bow she walked over to him then stopped; turned and scooped up the small pile of pearls and placed them in the light lavender bag that Lin had giving her a 'welcome back Sen' present.

Haku stood up straight and gave her a puzzling look but didn't say anything as he lead the way through the maze of hallways. He stopped as he stood in front of a glorious looking elevator door.

"I was told to bring you here and let you continue on your own…but may I accompany you until Yubaba's door?"

Chihiro looked upon his hard face and nodded "Yes you may…but I get the feeling that it's not just to make sure I do not get lost. What is on your mind master Haku?"

Haku looked down and shifted his weight on his feet. "Um…"just then the elevator doors opened to reveal Yubaba's three bouncing heads with in the elevator. "Oh it looks as if Yubaba has provided guides to her room (office)….I guess you must be going." He looked as if he felt there was something holding him there to that spot.

"Would you like to come?" Chihiro asked as a little shiver of hope waved over her body.

"Um…I must go talk to Yuiki…we still are planning our wed-"

"OH! ALRIGHT!" Chihiro's out burst shocked Haku into silence. She then quickly stepped into the elevator and pushed the top button. As the doors closed she saw Haku staring at her and muttered something that was inaudible to her. But she thought she heard him call her Chihiro.

'I must have heard him wrong.' She told herself. She pondered what he had said until the elevator doors opened again and the three heads rolled out of the elevator. Chihiro drew a deep breath and stepped out beside the heads. She followed the heads as they turned right and went down the hall. At the end of the short hallway were the doors to Yubaba's office.

Chihiro confidently knocked on the great golden doors. Without warning the doors flung open and Yubaba stepped out into the hallway smiling. "Ah, the Spirit of the Clouds! Welcome, welcome! Please come in."

Yubaba waved her hand as to show that Chihiro could come in. When the three heads rolled in after Chihiro and Yubaba the doors closed tightly shut; as if they would never let another soul pass through them ever again. Yubaba lead her guest to a sitting room that Chihiro did not see when she was there five years ago….

Its walls were lavender and had many pictures of the random rooms in the bathhouse. There were three couches and two love seats in the room. There were also a few plants arranged in the room.

Also in the center of the room was a glass coffee table, with a pot of hot tea, two tea cups with hot herbal tea residing in them, and a small platter of assorted cookies and other sweet things.

Yubaba stood facing the table and waved her hand. A love seat soon moved to where she stood and stopped behind her. She sat down and commented "Shall I get you a chair or would you prefer to provide your own?"

Yubaba then picked up her tea cup and sipped its contents as a look like she was testing Chihiro fell upon her face. Chihiro shook her head and made her way towards the glass table. 'What am I going to do/' She thought to herself.

When she had stopped in front of the table facing Yubaba; a chair made out of soft white fluffy clouds appeared. Surprised Chihiro sat down, expecting to fall right through it. But even though the chair was made from clouds it was as firm and soft as a newly fluffed pillow.

Chihiro looked up to find Yubaba had a surprised look upon her face as well. Smiling Chihiro asked "What? Were you expecting a chair of gold? Or were you just thinking that I would not be able to produce a chair, in showing I am not who you think I am." Even though she thought she wasn't…she was getting a kick out of being "the Spirit of the Clouds."

Yubaba put down her tea cup on the table with a soft clank and bowed. "I am sorry madam! It's just there was a little girl a few years ago….she looked a little like….though she was human! I'm sorry I didn't mean to insult you so!"

Chihiro, who had been sipping her tea since the time that Yubaba had bowed, choked on her tea. "A-a girl? H-how long ago?" 'This is getting TOO revealing!' she thought.

"Five years ago…why?" Yubaba was now sitting up looking…studying Chihiro's face and outfit.

"J-just curious…..she was human hmmm? Interesting….I'm surprised that she even got here!" Chihiro commented as she picked up her tea cup and started to sip the contents once more. 'Act cool! Act cool!'

"Yes, she was human. She snuck into our world and tricked me into not devouring her parents….I turned them into pigs you see." She then proceeded to explain how Sen had come, about no face, the river god and about Haku.

"Oh this young lady sounds very cleaver and brave!" she smirked; flattered that Yubaba had remembered her clearly. Even though it had been five years since her last visit (as Sen of course).

"MOMMY!!!!" called a booming voice.

"Oh dear my baby!" Yubaba stood and rushed to see him and then turned the corner and was gone. Sen was left sitting there alone nibbling on a sweet roll that she had selected. She was sitting there surveying her surrounding when a flapping noise was heard.

A bird flew into the room and landed on the table next to the platter of treats. Sen realize it was Yubaba's bird (the one that looked like a crow but had the head of Yubaba.)

"Well hello there!" Sen smiled. The bird looked at her for a long time then glanced over at the door way that Yubaba had disappeared through. It then bent down snatched up a sweet roll and flew off; all in one motion.

Soon after that Yubaba reappeared a little out of breath. "I apologize for that….my son…"

"You don't have to explain" she answered yawning.

"Oh you must be tired! It's almost dawn after all!" she clapped her hands as the door opened and Haku stepped into the room. "Haku take madam to her sleeping quarters please. She needs her rest!"

"Yes Yubaba" he bowed then slowly turned. "This way" Sen stood and stepped towards the door. The chair disappeared as Sen reached the door. She followed Haku in silence then at once they both began to speck at once.

"Oh I am sorry…please, what did you say?" Sen asked slightly pink in the cheeks.

"Oh….it can wait…" Haku replied in a slightly out-of-character tone.

"No please…..what was it?"

"Oh…" Haku began to turn a shade of violet red as he carefully selected his words. Sen thought this was cute as a giggle escaped from her lips. Haku looked at her a little surprised then calmed his face and looked down the slightly lit hallway ahead.

"I was wondering madam spirit…would it be too much to ask……um…"

'He's stalling….tell him who you are NOW! Before you get hurt!' said the little voice inside Sen. "Um….your stalling master Haku" she said ignoring the little voice.

"Oh I apologize!" Haku bowed low. Sen placed her hand below his chin and raised his head gently.

"Please don't apologize….for I do not deserve it….after all I am only an h-"'TELL HIM DAMNIT!'

"Please what were you saying?" she looked away and slowly walked down the hall. 'I can not! I must not! Haku would hate me for sure if he found out who I truly am! Besides even though I still love him….he loves another.'

As she thought to herself a blue pearl fell to the floor and rolled over to Haku's foot. "Oh…" he muttered as he picked it up gently and held it in his hand carefully. As if it was a piece of priceless crystal.

"Keep it" she said not turning to see his face.

"Thank you great spi-"

"DON'T!"

Haku looked startled as Sen quickly turned.

"Please don't call me that. My name is…" she thought as one name came to mind. "….Chi…..ro.....Chiro! My name is Chiro…." Haku had a look about his face that showed he was making a mental note never to forget.

"I will never make that mistake again…..madam Chiro….shall we continue?" he asked as he continued to walk down to her quarters.

A few moments later 'Chiro' gathered up enough nerve to ask. "Um… master Haku? …When I had stepped into that elevator you said something; what was it? I could not hear you."

Haku's body tensed as he thought "Oh…I was just thinking that Yubaba would be worrying about where you were…that's all."

"Your lying.....you said something about that Chihiro girl…didn't you?"

Haku tensed even more but did not answer. She was growing tired of this little game and very irritably she demanded "What the hell did you say….Kohaku! And don't give me that shocked look! I know of you! You're the spirit of the Kohaku River! Your river was filled in and there are apartments there now. THAT'S why you remain here after all that shit Yubaba put you through! You have no where else to go!" She drew a breath and started to continue but stopped when she saw Haku's hurt face.

She sighed and looked of and added"….I'm sorry…I didn't mean to yell…it's just…." Her voice trailed of as her eyes began to blur.

'It's just I hate to see you like this…I love you to much to see you like this…your not the Haku I know! You're her Haku…no longer mine…Oh God why did I come here?' She thought to herself as a mirror (that only she could see) appeared in front of her and hovered there. It then proceeded to show her the past five years…how she couldn't sleep, eat, or do ANYTHING without thinking about him.

When it was finished it vanished. 'Chiro' looked down at the five new pearls on the ground. She looked to her left and saw two servants greedily eyeing her tears.

"Have them….I have no need for them." The servants raced over and snatched them up, one had two and the other three.

"Here" 'Chiro' said as she handed one pearl from her bag to the servant with only two. She passed them…and Haku as she went down the hall. Haku soon ran to her side.

"What did you say for real? When I was in the elevator?" 'Chiro' asked looking forward.

Haku looked down then muttered so quietly 'Chiro' hardly could her him.

"I said…"

A/N (part 2): Mwahahahahaha! Yes I'm evil! Leaving off at a dramatic part! Mwahahahahaha! But seriously now… I hope you liked this chapter! Haku was soo out of character! ; but I must admit that in the next chapter Haku will (yet again) come out of character and ramble! shock hehe anyways thanks to all the people that read this! You are truly my motivation! Bows and I thank ye! JA!