Hey all! Thanx for all of the reviews!! I kno Syaoran is kinda annoying
rite now, but he gets better, don't worry!
Disclaimer: I.i. (cant say it!) d-d-don't own Spirited Away! (phew!) ^.^
lalala- flashbacks
'lalala'-thinking
~~~ - Dreaming
"lalala"-out loud
Chapter 3: Getting inside Aburaya
"WHAT?" If the boy turning into a dragon was incredible, what he had just told them was beyond words. At least, it was beyond words for Sakura anyway. Especially since she was deathly afraid of ghosts and spirits.
Syaoran returned Haku's level stare. "It doesn't surprise me. This world seemed different from the start. The food, the forest gone, and I could sense something different. Oh yea.and you." Still, he was surprised inside, although he wouldn't let this.Haku know that. Syaoran didn't trust him.
A new thought had come to Sakura. She approached Haku, trembling slightly. "A-are you a g-g-ghost?"
Haku smiled slightly. "My real name is Kohaku, but I'm sorta used to being called Haku." He looked at Sakura, and then to Chihiro when he said this. Sakura noticed Chihiro smile when he said his name, and a look passed between the two.
'He still didn't answer my question.wait a minute! Kohaku!' Sakura said suddenly, "Wasn't that the name of a river somewhere? You're named after a river."
After hesitating, Kohaku answered, "I was that river. I am a river spirit, or a river god. I didn't know until--" he stopped. Syaoran saw Chihiro give a slight shake of her head.
Sakura was still curious, but then she had another scary idea. She turned to Chihiro. "Are you some kind of spirit too?" Sakura dreadfully hoped not. After all of the years with her, to find out that one of her best friends was a ghost would be tragic. Maybe even life scarring. To her surprise, Chihiro laughed.
"I'm just like you are, I'm human. Nothing like Kohaku here, with his magic." She grinned. Now it was Sakura and Syaoran's turn to pass a look. Chihiro didn't know that in fact, they did have magic. On the other hand, Kohaku did, thanks to that strange voice he'd heard. He chose not to reveal he knew, although he caught their look.
Syaoran was stubborn. "But you didn't disappear!"
This time Kohaku answered. "That's because she's b--" Again, he was cut off, and both Sakura and Syaoran saw her shake her head violently. There was a silence of confusion, in which Chihiro looked at Kohaku from the corner of her eye. He looked just like when he'd left her, only taller and slightly older. 'How much older?' Chihiro thought suddenly. 'He was around 2 years older than me when I came, but he could be hundreds of years old for all I know! But right now in human years, he must be 16. That's so much older than me.I never noticed when I came here last.' She found herself blushing again, although she wasn't sure why.
Syaoran cleared his throat. "So, how do we get back?"
Kohaku paused thoughtfully. "Well you can't get across the river now, it's too far and deep. But none of you turned into pigs, so." Kohaku suddenly looked sad. "You can just go in the morning, I guess." He looked at Chihiro, who looked like Kohaku had announced the end of the world.
"I want to stay here for a while." She reached forward and took his hand. Sakura suddenly felt envious. She could tell that whatever Chihiro and Kohaku had, it was strong. She could almost sense it, almost. She could also tell it from Kohaku's eyes. Whenever he looked at Chihiro, Sakura saw a light, like a beacon from a lighthouse, in his eyes. But when he turned to her or Syaoran, it was gone and he was distant.
Kohaku forced his gaze back at Sakura and Syaoran. "There is one problem."
Syaoran knew what he was talking about. He had almost forgotten it, what with being in a new world and all. "All of the people at home disappeared. How do you know?"
Kohaku explained his dream to them, at which Chihiro clapped her hands over her mouth and exclaimed she'd had a dream with the same 'voice thingie'. After relating both tales a thoughtful silence ensued.
"Well we can't just go back. This is serious, and besides, no one is there." Sakura sighed. She would just have to stay in this weird world for another few days, until they figured out what was going on. (Little did she know.)
Kohaku nodded. "There are things going on here too.I'll have to explain later. We should get out of here. I guess you can come to Aburaya." At this, Chihiro squealed out loud while Sakura and Syaoran were wondering, what's Aburaya?
'Wow I can't believe that I'm actually back! And Kohaku's here, and I'm going to Aburaya! I bet Kamajii and the Susuwatari are still working hard.' Chihiro couldn't help the grin on her face. After four years, everything in the Spirit World had stayed the same. So what if that weird dream was real? Nothing else mattered now.
Sakura followed Kohaku and the others through the strange little restaurant town. Wherever they were going, there appeared to be no threat. Still, she kept her hand by the Sakura Cards just in case.
Syaoran tagged along behind Kohaku. He looked around a year or so older than him. Syaoran stuck by Sakura to make sure nothing happened to her. Chihiro seemed adjusted to this place, so she probably wouldn't be hurt. Anyway she had that Haku guy.
Kohaku had to keep pinching himself from dreaming. Chihiro was back! Even if he hadn't been able to keep his promise, they were together again. After all those long years of waiting.'Best friends.' he thought. Then another memory came up, that made him rethink that last thought.
"You blacked out, remember?"
"Yeah.I remember being in darkness. Then I could hear Chihiro's voice, calling out my name. I followed the sound of her voice, and the next thing I know.I was lying here, feeling better than ever."
"Pure love. It broke Zeniba's spell. She left to return the gold seal. She did it to save you."
- - -
Kohaku, Chihiro, Syaoran and Sakura were standing near the beginning of a bridge. It arched high over the water and train tracks below. It was made of honeyed wood and its railings were thick logs painted red. At the end of the bridge there was a tall building of many colors. It had a green traditional Japanese roof with gold gild on the edges, many windows, and some garden areas behind white lattice fences. On its left there was a tall chimney belching black smoke. The windows were lit up from the inside, and the soft chatter of voices ('whose voices?' Sakura thought fearfully) floated from the grand building. Across the bridge came many odd looking creatures who were greeted by men who looked like frogs. "Welcome!" they said to their customers.
The little group hid behind a nearby tree. Kohaku had told them they needed to get in unnoticed. (He didn't want the trouble that had been caused last time he'd brought a human over the bridge. Namely, Chihiro.) Sakura and Syaoran exclaimed out loud, "It's a bathhouse!" This was extremely surprising to them because they never thought of a bathhouse as looking as fancy and gaudy as this. And in a world full of spirits!
Kohaku turned around. "It's a bathhouse for the spirits. They come here to cleanse themselves. It's really just for the rich ones," he explained.
Chihiro sighed. Lately, all of the memories that she had buried to keep the pain at bay were resurfacing. All of this nostalgia! But Haku was here, her best friend, here to calm her and to take care of her like he'd always done.
"You have to hold your breath when we cross the bridge. Even the tiniest breath will break the spell.and then everyone will see you."
"I'm scared."
"Now just stay calm."
She grinned, thinking of how terrified she had been by the little frog (who caused her to take a breath and break the spell). Chihiro called to Kohaku, "Hey! You have to hold your breath when we cross!" She laughed. It felt good to laugh after a stressed night.
Kohaku smiled. He loved Chihiro's laugh; it was like the sound of bells. Syaoran and Sakura shrugged. They had a feeling it was some sort of inside joke, since Kohaku had told them they weren't going to go across the bridge. But Sakura was curious as to what it meant.
Kohaku turned and motioned for them to gather round him. "Okay." He said softly. "We're going to have to get into the boiler room without being detected. If the other spirits figure out that there are humans in the bathhouse they're all gonna panic. So I'm going to have to turn into a dragon and carry you across to the staircase that leads to the boiler room." He paused, and put his hands on Sakura's and Syaoran's foreheads. Kohaku whispered to Chihiro, "You already know the way."
He sent the images to their minds (to their ultimate surprise) of what it would look like, and told them they'd have to wait by the door. He didn't want the boiler man to get worried or surprised.
"Errr.how many of us can you carry at a time?" Syaoran questioned. He didn't want to hurt this guy, with all of his generosity. (Still, he was wary).
Kohaku hesitated, then, "One at a time."
Chihiro was perplexed. 'I thought Haku was stronger than that. Oh well, I guess three fourteen year olds are heavier than one ten year old.' She was a little uncomfortable with the thought that someone other then herself was getting to ride him. She felt.jealous.
"Okay, let's go." Kohaku transformed into the sleek dragon, and knelt by Syaoran, meaning for him to get on first. He hesitated ('I can't believe I'm doing this.') and then jumped onto him. Kohaku immediately took off, at which Syaoran gave a little gasp, as he was swiftly spirited towards the bathhouse.
Sakura laughed nervously. After seeing Syaoran's reaction, she couldn't help but be a little nervous.
- - -
Chihiro chuckled at Sakura's response as Kohaku lifted her into the air. The first time she'd been on him was when they fell through the abyss in Yubaba's office. He had been unconscious, so it had been more like plummeting through the air than flying.
She leaned against a tree and waited for him to come back. She didn't notice him land next to her (he was being extra quiet). He stood there and watched her for a few minutes. Moving forward, he changed back into his human form. This was the first time in the Spirit world that he'd gotten to be with Chihiro alone. She had been right; he could carry all of them, but he wanted to spend some time with Chihiro without the other humans there.
"Haku!" she said, surprised. "Why aren't you in your dragon form?"
"Can't I get some time alone with you?" she realized he was right; she hadn't been alone with him the whole night. She blushed inwardly at the thought that he wanted time alone with her.
She dared to ask a question. "Kohaku.how come you didn't come back after all these years? It's been so long."
He sighed, looking pained. "I would have come right away, but even getting my name back didn't stop Yubaba. She just kept me here, but I could keep control over my mind. And then." his eyes clouded.
"What? What happened?" Chihiro was worried.
"I can't explain now; I think your friends should hear it too." Kohaku looked downcast, and Chihiro couldn't stand him looking so sad. She needed to cheer him up. Chihiro moved forward and hugged him again. He looked surprised, and then smiled.
"I've missed you so much."
- - -
Sakura and Syaoran waited outside the dirty green door in the oppressing night. Sakura was infinitely conscious of how close Syaoran was sitting by her. He turned towards Sakura.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. It's just that----"
"I know. Why did everyone disappear? And what's with Chihiro?" Syaoran leaned against the wall and looked up at the sky. All of the stars were in different positions, but he could see much more of them than at home. Home. He felt a soft pang of homesickness. But there was no one there to come home to.
Sakura put her head in her hands. He put an arm around her shoulders. "I miss Touya and dad, and Tomoyo and everyone else. I hope they're doing okay." A tear escaped her eyes.
Syaoran said, "Everything will be okay. We just need to stay here for a bit until we find a way to get back all of the people. Kohaku probably knows." He hated to admit it though.
Sakura smiled bravely. "Yeah, we need to do all we can so we can make sure all of our friends and those innocents are okay!" Syaoran couldn't help smiling. Sakura was always so hopeful.
"There he is." He pointed at the silver ribbon gliding its way over. Kohaku landed soon enough, with Chihiro on his back. She grinned and dismounted gracefully. Kohaku turned back into a boy.
They all walked expectantly towards the door, Kohaku in the lead, then Chihiro, and Sakura holding Syaoran's hand anxiously. 'This is another spirit to meet,' she thought. Syaoran was glad it was dark so that no one would see how red his face was from holding Sakura's hand.
They passed through a warm hallway into a large room with a high ceiling. There was a step down onto a stone floor. The area they were standing on was made out of reddish brown wood and the walls were made of the same material, only in little boxes ('Drawers,' Syaoran noticed). The whole room smelled like different herbs and was lighted by a gigantic boiler at the end of the room. Across the lower floor, big blocks of what looked like coal were slowly moving their way towards the boiler. Sakura realized that there were tiny black fuzzy things holding up the chunks of coal, much like ants holding crumbs of food.
In front of the boiler there was a high platform made of the reddish wood. There were some large glass jars next to it, and a fan above the platform. Sitting on it was a crumpled looking person who was grinding something. Sakura and Syaoran couldn't see the figure's face. As they watched in silence (Kohaku and Chihiro were watching their reactions) another arm reached out to grab some stuff in the jars, another came out to grab some herbs from one of the drawers in the wall, and still another scratched its head, all while grinding.
Sakura was horrified. Syaoran was stupefied. Chihiro wasn't. She recognized the room, the boiler, the black fuzzies, and most of all, the six-armed figure in the platform.
"KAMAJII!" Chihiro ran forward smiling joyously.
Disclaimer: I.i. (cant say it!) d-d-don't own Spirited Away! (phew!) ^.^
lalala- flashbacks
'lalala'-thinking
~~~ - Dreaming
"lalala"-out loud
Chapter 3: Getting inside Aburaya
"WHAT?" If the boy turning into a dragon was incredible, what he had just told them was beyond words. At least, it was beyond words for Sakura anyway. Especially since she was deathly afraid of ghosts and spirits.
Syaoran returned Haku's level stare. "It doesn't surprise me. This world seemed different from the start. The food, the forest gone, and I could sense something different. Oh yea.and you." Still, he was surprised inside, although he wouldn't let this.Haku know that. Syaoran didn't trust him.
A new thought had come to Sakura. She approached Haku, trembling slightly. "A-are you a g-g-ghost?"
Haku smiled slightly. "My real name is Kohaku, but I'm sorta used to being called Haku." He looked at Sakura, and then to Chihiro when he said this. Sakura noticed Chihiro smile when he said his name, and a look passed between the two.
'He still didn't answer my question.wait a minute! Kohaku!' Sakura said suddenly, "Wasn't that the name of a river somewhere? You're named after a river."
After hesitating, Kohaku answered, "I was that river. I am a river spirit, or a river god. I didn't know until--" he stopped. Syaoran saw Chihiro give a slight shake of her head.
Sakura was still curious, but then she had another scary idea. She turned to Chihiro. "Are you some kind of spirit too?" Sakura dreadfully hoped not. After all of the years with her, to find out that one of her best friends was a ghost would be tragic. Maybe even life scarring. To her surprise, Chihiro laughed.
"I'm just like you are, I'm human. Nothing like Kohaku here, with his magic." She grinned. Now it was Sakura and Syaoran's turn to pass a look. Chihiro didn't know that in fact, they did have magic. On the other hand, Kohaku did, thanks to that strange voice he'd heard. He chose not to reveal he knew, although he caught their look.
Syaoran was stubborn. "But you didn't disappear!"
This time Kohaku answered. "That's because she's b--" Again, he was cut off, and both Sakura and Syaoran saw her shake her head violently. There was a silence of confusion, in which Chihiro looked at Kohaku from the corner of her eye. He looked just like when he'd left her, only taller and slightly older. 'How much older?' Chihiro thought suddenly. 'He was around 2 years older than me when I came, but he could be hundreds of years old for all I know! But right now in human years, he must be 16. That's so much older than me.I never noticed when I came here last.' She found herself blushing again, although she wasn't sure why.
Syaoran cleared his throat. "So, how do we get back?"
Kohaku paused thoughtfully. "Well you can't get across the river now, it's too far and deep. But none of you turned into pigs, so." Kohaku suddenly looked sad. "You can just go in the morning, I guess." He looked at Chihiro, who looked like Kohaku had announced the end of the world.
"I want to stay here for a while." She reached forward and took his hand. Sakura suddenly felt envious. She could tell that whatever Chihiro and Kohaku had, it was strong. She could almost sense it, almost. She could also tell it from Kohaku's eyes. Whenever he looked at Chihiro, Sakura saw a light, like a beacon from a lighthouse, in his eyes. But when he turned to her or Syaoran, it was gone and he was distant.
Kohaku forced his gaze back at Sakura and Syaoran. "There is one problem."
Syaoran knew what he was talking about. He had almost forgotten it, what with being in a new world and all. "All of the people at home disappeared. How do you know?"
Kohaku explained his dream to them, at which Chihiro clapped her hands over her mouth and exclaimed she'd had a dream with the same 'voice thingie'. After relating both tales a thoughtful silence ensued.
"Well we can't just go back. This is serious, and besides, no one is there." Sakura sighed. She would just have to stay in this weird world for another few days, until they figured out what was going on. (Little did she know.)
Kohaku nodded. "There are things going on here too.I'll have to explain later. We should get out of here. I guess you can come to Aburaya." At this, Chihiro squealed out loud while Sakura and Syaoran were wondering, what's Aburaya?
'Wow I can't believe that I'm actually back! And Kohaku's here, and I'm going to Aburaya! I bet Kamajii and the Susuwatari are still working hard.' Chihiro couldn't help the grin on her face. After four years, everything in the Spirit World had stayed the same. So what if that weird dream was real? Nothing else mattered now.
Sakura followed Kohaku and the others through the strange little restaurant town. Wherever they were going, there appeared to be no threat. Still, she kept her hand by the Sakura Cards just in case.
Syaoran tagged along behind Kohaku. He looked around a year or so older than him. Syaoran stuck by Sakura to make sure nothing happened to her. Chihiro seemed adjusted to this place, so she probably wouldn't be hurt. Anyway she had that Haku guy.
Kohaku had to keep pinching himself from dreaming. Chihiro was back! Even if he hadn't been able to keep his promise, they were together again. After all those long years of waiting.'Best friends.' he thought. Then another memory came up, that made him rethink that last thought.
"You blacked out, remember?"
"Yeah.I remember being in darkness. Then I could hear Chihiro's voice, calling out my name. I followed the sound of her voice, and the next thing I know.I was lying here, feeling better than ever."
"Pure love. It broke Zeniba's spell. She left to return the gold seal. She did it to save you."
- - -
Kohaku, Chihiro, Syaoran and Sakura were standing near the beginning of a bridge. It arched high over the water and train tracks below. It was made of honeyed wood and its railings were thick logs painted red. At the end of the bridge there was a tall building of many colors. It had a green traditional Japanese roof with gold gild on the edges, many windows, and some garden areas behind white lattice fences. On its left there was a tall chimney belching black smoke. The windows were lit up from the inside, and the soft chatter of voices ('whose voices?' Sakura thought fearfully) floated from the grand building. Across the bridge came many odd looking creatures who were greeted by men who looked like frogs. "Welcome!" they said to their customers.
The little group hid behind a nearby tree. Kohaku had told them they needed to get in unnoticed. (He didn't want the trouble that had been caused last time he'd brought a human over the bridge. Namely, Chihiro.) Sakura and Syaoran exclaimed out loud, "It's a bathhouse!" This was extremely surprising to them because they never thought of a bathhouse as looking as fancy and gaudy as this. And in a world full of spirits!
Kohaku turned around. "It's a bathhouse for the spirits. They come here to cleanse themselves. It's really just for the rich ones," he explained.
Chihiro sighed. Lately, all of the memories that she had buried to keep the pain at bay were resurfacing. All of this nostalgia! But Haku was here, her best friend, here to calm her and to take care of her like he'd always done.
"You have to hold your breath when we cross the bridge. Even the tiniest breath will break the spell.and then everyone will see you."
"I'm scared."
"Now just stay calm."
She grinned, thinking of how terrified she had been by the little frog (who caused her to take a breath and break the spell). Chihiro called to Kohaku, "Hey! You have to hold your breath when we cross!" She laughed. It felt good to laugh after a stressed night.
Kohaku smiled. He loved Chihiro's laugh; it was like the sound of bells. Syaoran and Sakura shrugged. They had a feeling it was some sort of inside joke, since Kohaku had told them they weren't going to go across the bridge. But Sakura was curious as to what it meant.
Kohaku turned and motioned for them to gather round him. "Okay." He said softly. "We're going to have to get into the boiler room without being detected. If the other spirits figure out that there are humans in the bathhouse they're all gonna panic. So I'm going to have to turn into a dragon and carry you across to the staircase that leads to the boiler room." He paused, and put his hands on Sakura's and Syaoran's foreheads. Kohaku whispered to Chihiro, "You already know the way."
He sent the images to their minds (to their ultimate surprise) of what it would look like, and told them they'd have to wait by the door. He didn't want the boiler man to get worried or surprised.
"Errr.how many of us can you carry at a time?" Syaoran questioned. He didn't want to hurt this guy, with all of his generosity. (Still, he was wary).
Kohaku hesitated, then, "One at a time."
Chihiro was perplexed. 'I thought Haku was stronger than that. Oh well, I guess three fourteen year olds are heavier than one ten year old.' She was a little uncomfortable with the thought that someone other then herself was getting to ride him. She felt.jealous.
"Okay, let's go." Kohaku transformed into the sleek dragon, and knelt by Syaoran, meaning for him to get on first. He hesitated ('I can't believe I'm doing this.') and then jumped onto him. Kohaku immediately took off, at which Syaoran gave a little gasp, as he was swiftly spirited towards the bathhouse.
Sakura laughed nervously. After seeing Syaoran's reaction, she couldn't help but be a little nervous.
- - -
Chihiro chuckled at Sakura's response as Kohaku lifted her into the air. The first time she'd been on him was when they fell through the abyss in Yubaba's office. He had been unconscious, so it had been more like plummeting through the air than flying.
She leaned against a tree and waited for him to come back. She didn't notice him land next to her (he was being extra quiet). He stood there and watched her for a few minutes. Moving forward, he changed back into his human form. This was the first time in the Spirit world that he'd gotten to be with Chihiro alone. She had been right; he could carry all of them, but he wanted to spend some time with Chihiro without the other humans there.
"Haku!" she said, surprised. "Why aren't you in your dragon form?"
"Can't I get some time alone with you?" she realized he was right; she hadn't been alone with him the whole night. She blushed inwardly at the thought that he wanted time alone with her.
She dared to ask a question. "Kohaku.how come you didn't come back after all these years? It's been so long."
He sighed, looking pained. "I would have come right away, but even getting my name back didn't stop Yubaba. She just kept me here, but I could keep control over my mind. And then." his eyes clouded.
"What? What happened?" Chihiro was worried.
"I can't explain now; I think your friends should hear it too." Kohaku looked downcast, and Chihiro couldn't stand him looking so sad. She needed to cheer him up. Chihiro moved forward and hugged him again. He looked surprised, and then smiled.
"I've missed you so much."
- - -
Sakura and Syaoran waited outside the dirty green door in the oppressing night. Sakura was infinitely conscious of how close Syaoran was sitting by her. He turned towards Sakura.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. It's just that----"
"I know. Why did everyone disappear? And what's with Chihiro?" Syaoran leaned against the wall and looked up at the sky. All of the stars were in different positions, but he could see much more of them than at home. Home. He felt a soft pang of homesickness. But there was no one there to come home to.
Sakura put her head in her hands. He put an arm around her shoulders. "I miss Touya and dad, and Tomoyo and everyone else. I hope they're doing okay." A tear escaped her eyes.
Syaoran said, "Everything will be okay. We just need to stay here for a bit until we find a way to get back all of the people. Kohaku probably knows." He hated to admit it though.
Sakura smiled bravely. "Yeah, we need to do all we can so we can make sure all of our friends and those innocents are okay!" Syaoran couldn't help smiling. Sakura was always so hopeful.
"There he is." He pointed at the silver ribbon gliding its way over. Kohaku landed soon enough, with Chihiro on his back. She grinned and dismounted gracefully. Kohaku turned back into a boy.
They all walked expectantly towards the door, Kohaku in the lead, then Chihiro, and Sakura holding Syaoran's hand anxiously. 'This is another spirit to meet,' she thought. Syaoran was glad it was dark so that no one would see how red his face was from holding Sakura's hand.
They passed through a warm hallway into a large room with a high ceiling. There was a step down onto a stone floor. The area they were standing on was made out of reddish brown wood and the walls were made of the same material, only in little boxes ('Drawers,' Syaoran noticed). The whole room smelled like different herbs and was lighted by a gigantic boiler at the end of the room. Across the lower floor, big blocks of what looked like coal were slowly moving their way towards the boiler. Sakura realized that there were tiny black fuzzy things holding up the chunks of coal, much like ants holding crumbs of food.
In front of the boiler there was a high platform made of the reddish wood. There were some large glass jars next to it, and a fan above the platform. Sitting on it was a crumpled looking person who was grinding something. Sakura and Syaoran couldn't see the figure's face. As they watched in silence (Kohaku and Chihiro were watching their reactions) another arm reached out to grab some stuff in the jars, another came out to grab some herbs from one of the drawers in the wall, and still another scratched its head, all while grinding.
Sakura was horrified. Syaoran was stupefied. Chihiro wasn't. She recognized the room, the boiler, the black fuzzies, and most of all, the six-armed figure in the platform.
"KAMAJII!" Chihiro ran forward smiling joyously.