Rain turned to snow as Chihiro sped northward into the mountains.
Earlier that day, after Satoshi had left for work, she had caught a shinkansen to Nagoya. After another hour on the train north to Gifu, Chihiro continued her journey to Tochinoki in a hire car. She had refused all offers from her mother and father to collect her from Gifu. She had not driven for years and craved the freedom of her own car.
With a glance at the storm clouds pressing down on the mountains, Chihiro wondered if she had made the right decision. Regardless, she was almost home.
She raced along the back roads in her red hatchback, rock music blaring through the speakers. Her eyes were red and sore: Chihiro had cried the night away and now there was nothing left. She wanted to feel rage or panic or anguish. Anything to cut through the numbness.
At 3 p.m. she reached the main street. It was empty, save for one desperate person who hurried from their car into the 7-Eleven. She passed the elementary school, the windows glowing through the storm. The children had already left for the day.
She had hated this place as a teenager. She had hated living in the countryside when Nagoya and Tokyo promised so much more. But in the snow, with colourful lights adorning the shops and lamp posts, Chihiro realised that she had missed it. The town did have a certain charm.
The wind picked up, whipping the snowflakes into a blizzard. The residents of Tochinoki ensconced themselves in shops and homes, and Chihiro drove on. Her parents' house was just a few minutes away. They already knew what had transpired between her and Satoshi. Chihiro had sent them a few texts that morning, but ignored all phone calls. She knew that if her parents questioned her about it, she would break down into tears.
Her red hatchback climbed the hill towards her parents' house, until she reached a T-junction in the road. Turning right would lead home: to her parents, her old bedroom, a hot meal, and sympathy.
Chihiro did not know what was going through her head when she turned left.
The road sloped downhill and veered to the right. The old forest towered before her. In the snowstorm and the encroaching night, the car headlights barely illuminated the way. The yellow lights pooled only a few meters ahead of her car, so she slowed to a crawl.
Chihiro stopped beside the old cedar. What a magnificent tree. Her eyes swept up the hill towards the blue house, and tears brimmed once more in her tired eyes. She was not ready to face her parents yet.
A gust of wind pressed against the car with a disconsolate howl, and snowflakes formed a whirlwind around her. When her windscreen cleared Chihiro drove off the asphalt and onto mud. Her car fishtailed before regaining traction on the ancient stone road. This near-accident did nothing to deter her. Rather, it strengthened Chihiro's resolve to reach the end.
Despite the exhaustion dulling her senses, she had enough sense to drive carefully. The road was not icy and the tyres gripped the cobble stones.
After a few minutes of driving she slowed to another stop. The road ahead was rapidly disappearing beneath snow. Chihiro blinked slowly, and checked the rear view mirror. Behind her, the path was almost clear. She felt a faint magic pulse in her chest. It definitely had something to do with the warding spells cooked up by Zeniba and Yubaba!
Chihiro pressed the accelerator and ploughed into the snow. Her little hatchback handled it brilliantly, and she patted the steering wheel in relief.
The blizzard was so thick now that Chihiro fancied that she could see the snowflakes forming into shapes. In the corner of her eye, giant creatures appeared to run alongside her. She dared not take her eyes from the road.
Ahead, the snow clotted into three massive animals. Their eyes reflected the car headlights with a menacing glare.
Wolves.
Unsure if she was hallucinating at this point, Chihiro trusted her car and pressed forward. The horse-sized wolves bared their teeth and the wind howled a warning.
Stop now! Turn back!
When Chihiro did not comply they launched at her car, their yellow eyes burning into hers. There was something familiar about them. Each of the wolf guardians hit the hatchback in quick succession, bursting into snow.
Chihiro lost control. The car spun around and only stopped when it smacked into something solid. The airbags deployed instantly and Chihiro groaned. How would she explain this to the hire company?
The engine continued to hum as Chihiro gingerly tested her limbs and checked her body for injury. At least she was fine, but would she still be able to drive the car?
Chihiro pulled on gloves and a scarf. Despite her warm clothes, she was unprepared for the ferocity of the blizzard. The freezing wind stole her breath away. Chihiro hurried around the car to check the damage, her boots crunching through the fresh snow.
Before her loomed the building that led to the spirit world. Her car had crashed into the stone statue that guarded the entrance. The grinning man was undamaged, her hatchback crumpling around it. Chihiro shivered in cold and fear.
She turned on her heel to check if the snow wolves had re-formed. Fortunately, there was nothing lurking in the trees nearby. What was it about them that seemed so familiar? The last one to crash into her car tugged at her mind. He wasn't a wolf at all, but an old friend that had died many years ago.
Hachikō.
Chihiro stumbled into the tunnel to shelter from the blizzard. The air was quiet and still, and she pressed her back against a wall as the wind howled outside. There was no horrible shrieking laughter this time.
A rational voice in her head told her to go back to the car, and stay warm until the storm subsided. Chihiro ignored it. She could feel magic from the spirit world radiating from behind the barrier. It felt different this time, pushing against her. Chihiro was unwelcome.
Head down, she walked into the darkness. She trailed a gloved hand against the wall, with the other one out in front. She flinched when her fingertips touched the barrier. Her hands balled into fists, and she thudded on the wooden planks that barred the way.
"Open up!" she demanded. "Get rid of this stupid barrier and let me in!"
Something hissed at her feet - another letter! When she ignored it, the letter began to glow brilliant white. Even after Chihiro screwed her eyes shut the glow seared through her eyelids.
"I'm not leaving until you let me in! I hate this! I hate my life! I don't want to be in the human world anymore!"
She thumped on the door savagely, even kicking it. The glowing letter from Zeniba and Yubaba galvanised her anger and resolve. She stepped on the letter and pushed it beneath the barrier with her boot.
She waited for a retaliatory noise or another letter, but nothing happened. She resumed kicking at the door. If only she had an axe!
After fifteen minutes it was obvious that she was being ignored. With a huff of agitation Chihiro sat down, her back resting against the wooden planks. She was determined to win in this battle of wills. They were going to let her in.
But as the minutes dragged past, Chihiro felt exhaustion creep up on her again. Hugging her knees to stay warm, she rested her head against them. She closed her eyes for a moment. She was so tired…
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