Day #2: Ghibli Au (Spirited away)
Expectations. Dreams. Feelings. Marinette still waits for his catboy, waiting for him since forever. He promised her they would reunite again one day, he had to keep that promise. So she is waiting, and he's coming, right?
But it was so many years ago, that it makes Marinette wonder if all her magical trip and his existence were even real…
She hears the voice of her mom, calling for her from the other floor. She gets up from bed and takes a look at the hair tie that has been landing on her night desk, the only physical thing that may prove that everything did happen.
While getting herself ready for school, she wanders -as always- about their time together.
'Remember that I'm your friend, Mari' How could she forget the words that make her feel safe after all the chaos and fear of seeing her parents turn into pigs and the feeling of being hunted down by all the strange creatures.
She had been moving to that little town, the place where she now has been living for almost 7 years. When their parents considered that exploring an abandoned town would be an excellent idea, and not happy with that, they ate all the food of an abandoned restaurant without thinking of the consequences.
Then she encountered those bright green eyes, the ones that let her know what home is, her actual safe place.
Chat Noir, was how he presented himself after they were in a safe spot out of the eyes of Hawkmoth, the ruler of the place. The blond boy wasn't able to remember his real name, but he knew hers. He helped her not forget that she was Marinette, and not Ladybug; that was the name Hawkmoth gave her in their work contract for her not to be turned into a pig.
She didn't need too much interaction to fall for the catboy, with his puns and sweet words and magic spells to make her feel better -and the intuition of already knowing him from long ago-, Marinette knew she was deeply in love.
The girl still needed to save her parents, so she worked hard; that didn't stop her from risking everything to rescue him tho. The girl in pigtails was so surprised -and concerned- when she found out that the cat-like monster that could stand on the water she saw coming back to the baths while being attacked by some kind of paper birds, was no other than her Chat. Marinette didn't even need to see him transform back, she just knew.
The girl sorted out all kinds of obstacles just to get to him, to cure all his wounds. 'Aw, the young love' was what the spider-like old man said while she was trying to give Chat the herb cupcake. And while Marinette managed to keep him alive, she also decided that she needed to visit Hawkmoth's twin to returned what Chat was ordered to stole and hope for the twin to accept to cure him.
"Marinette, you're going to be late!" The call of her dad woke her up from daydreaming. The black-haired girl finishes combing her hair and in a very unlikely decision, she uses her beloved hair tie to make herself a ponytail. Maybe she is more nostalgic than other days.
After that, she goes down the first floor, says rapidly 'Hello' to her parents, takes her breakfast for the road, and runs out of the house. Since she is kinda late, she won't be able to take the road close to the magical tunnel for her regret, well, at least she will not be tempted to enter to look for his kitty.
How many times she was too close to go to the other side? To revisit that magical place just to see how he is doing, to take him back with her.
She just… Missed him so much. So much the sole thought made her head hurt and her heart cry.
And the saddest part is that no one could ever know. She just had to bury it down, like if it doesn't exist. But it does exist. That green eyes, that lovely smile, that unique personality, all of the boy she knows and hasn't heard of in years.
And they were countless the ways Marinette has imagined him here... How does he look now? Chat would not be the same kid. Where would their first encounter be? Maybe on a beautiful sunny day by the woods, or on her balcony during a rainy night. However, does he really still think of her the same way she does? Did Chat even remember her?
The thought of that made her shiver, the same boy that promised her that one day he would get rid of Hawkoth's chains and look for her, might be the same boy who had forgotten her existence?
Not wanting to go more into that fear, the girl stopped her walk and shook her head, as if it could make her forget about those intrusive ideas. More calmly, and realizing she is already one step away from entering school, Marinette forces positive things to go into her mind so she can relax.
Even with that, the girl in the pigtail feels as if someone is looking at her, strong attention to her; however, when she looks around she finds nothing so she has no other option than to go to her classroom.
After some chit-chat with her friends, she can dissipate the chat noir-related thoughts. Decides that she is going to continue with her life as she has been doing all these years. So she is waiting, and he's coming, right?
Expectations. Dreams. Feelings. This is what avalanches her mind when her teacher comes into the class and announces a new kid in their group. She feels quivering with the unknown excitement her body seems to react to.
Then she encountered those bright green eyes, the ones that let her know what home is, her actual safe place.
"Chaton..."