Chapter Fourteen: Back Through The Tunnel
It had been two weeks since the garden, and Chihiro and Haku could not be happier. They were now spending almost every waking moment together. Chihiro would spend the morning with Haku in his office, where she would help him read over documents, and he, in turn, would walk with her around the bathhouse.
The weather was now starting to turn chilly, as winter was only a week away. Haku would not let Chihiro out of the bathhouse unless she was wearing two layers of clothes and one of his over-shirts. Chihiro couldn't complain; she was still unusually thin and was very sensitive to the cold. Haku also made her take a hot bath every night, to warm her up. She would undress, wrap a towel around her chest, hiding her, and get into the bath. Haku would sit on the tub deck and keep her company while she soaked. Sometimes he would converse with her, make her laugh, but more often, he would just sit there and watch her, glad she was with him.
One day, as Chihiro and Haku were coming in from outside, Chihiro noticed the weather. The clouds looked like they were going to snow. This made her remember something she had left behind in the human world. She brought it up during her bath.
"Haku?" she said softly, sinking a bit deeper into the water.
"Hmm?" answered Haku, opening one eye and looking at her, his head perched in his hand.
"I was wondering?"
"Yes?"
"You said that one of the conditions of you taking on the bathhouse was that we were allowed to come and go as we please?"
"Yes."
"Does that mean to the human world as well?"
"Yes. Why?"
"I just remembered. Back in the human world, when I was waiting for you to come, I made myself a stuffed animal. It was the only friend I had for those six years."
Haku did not answer. Guilt was bubbling inside him, mixing with anger. He had left her for six years, and as a result, she had undergone physical and mental abuse no being should ever be subjected to.
"Whenever it snowed, it was my only companion, so I would go out and play with it. At night, I would stand at my window and witch the snow falling, and wish that you were there. I made a promise to myself that one day, I would stand next to you and we would watch the snow fall together." Chihiro thought about what she had just said and blushed. "I'm sorry," she said, looking down at the water. "That sounded really stupid."
"No," said Haku, placing his hand under chin and lifting her head. He stared down into her innocent chocolate eyes. "Don't apologize. I'll help you keep that promise."
"Thank you," said Chihiro softly.
"Now, why did you want to know if we could go to the human world?"
"Well, I feel bad; you see, I left my stuffed animal in my room. It just seems cruel to leave it alone at a time when it helped me so much. I know it seems silly, it is just a toy, but I feel a kind of connection with it."
"I understand," said Haku. He really did not want to go to the human world that had treated his beloved so horribly, let alone back to the place that housed Chihiro's parents, the terrible offenders that they were. However, when he looked at Chihiro's eyes again, he completely caved. "Alright," he said, all ill feelings pouring out if him. "We will go tomorrow night, when no one will know we are gone."
"Thank you, Haku!" squealed Chihiro, jumping out of the water and splashing Haku. He smiled as he pushed his drenched hair out of his face.
The next night, Haku and Chihiro were in Kamajii's broiler room with Lin and Kamajii himself.
"Right," said Haku, adjusting the sling bag around his neck, "Lin, you're in charge. If anything happens, come to the bridge and yell for me; I'll hear. Kamajii, you keep an eye on things as well."
"Alright," the two answered. Chihiro waved bye to them as she and Haku left the bathhouse.
Once they had crossed the bridge, Chihiro turned to Haku and asked, "Why do we have to leave at night?"
"So no one will know I am gone."
"Why is that?"
"The workers still have old fantasies of Yubaba, and believe I will be like her. When she was in charge, the workers had all their freedoms and dignities withheld. They tried many times to rise against her. They failed of course," he said with a small smirk.
"Why?"
"Yubaba sent me to, err, disorganize them," he said, now smiling to himself. "A few of our employees still harbor thoughts that I might treat them as she did, and may be tempted to try to seize the bathhouse in my absence."
"Oh," said Chihiro, "I never thought that things were that serious."
"They are."
They had reached the tunnel that led to the human world.
"Ladies first," said Haku, bowing to her. Chihiro giggled and took his hand. They walked through together.
For FrubaForever; I meant I'm from the boondocks, but our small mall is only about 25 minutes away. But I envy you, you're up north! How lucky. Bye, guys!