Disclaimer: I do not own Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakumeshi (aka Spirited Away). And I do not have any money. This fan fiction is for the sole purpose of putting my idea(s) out into the public and sharing them with those who are interested. I am not making money off of this fan fiction.

But this fan fiction still belongs to me.

Out the Window and Through the Tunnel

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There is a Good Side to Everything


Chihiro stood up, half tired and half afraid. All the excitement had gone out like a snuffled candle when she realized, fully, what staying here past nightfall meant. At least she was not disappearing. It was probably because of that thing Haku made her eat last time, she decided. Then, maybe she could assume that she didn't 'reek' of human either? But Chihiro couldn't tell what humans smelt like, so all she could do was hope for the best.

Hadn't she always hoped for the best?

The lights were on in the town. Forms made of shadows wavered from this side of the restaurant to the other, preparing for the guests that were about to come. As Chihiro turned a corner, she realized that she was going to the restaurant her parents ate from. People would always go for what was familiar, and not necessarily what was good for them.

Still there. And it still had the big plates piled with food.

Since Chihiro has already been there, she might as well go to the bathhouse. After all, didn't she stay there for some days?

A step, and then another. This time, Chihiro looked around curiously, but her stride remained constant and purposeful. She was going to try meet somebody from her past, or as some refer to it (i.e. her parents), her dream.

Now she could see the bath house glowing, and the people outside bustling around to welcome the customers. She continued forward.

Chihiro looked down at her feet. Last time, she had Haku cover up for her. This time? She hoped that... never mind, she always hoped for something. She just ... didn't want somebody to shoo her out, or turn her into a pig. One foot in front of the other. And the other foot in front of the first.

"Sen! It's Sen!" Chihiro was startled. Then, she looked around. An empty bridge. There was a frog, and Yubaba and Boh. Wasn't this like some other time? Chihiro remembered, the 'stink' spirit.

"Sen!" The one yelling out her name was the 'baby', Boh. He looked like he was a bit more grown up, but still as chubby as ever. And obviously Yubaba stopped treating him like a complete baby as Boh was standing by himself, on his own.

Chihiro stopped and bowed. "Sorry, am I intruding?" Noticing that all commotion had stopped since she came near the bath house, she already knew the answer, but she didn't know what else to say. Wouldn't running away look even more suspicious?

Pause.

Boh wailed his arms and, in an attempt to run, started stomping towards Chihiro. "Sen!"

Chihiro smiled as she gave Boh the hug, and falling down in the process. Yubaba simply stared.  Yubaba had always been after the money.

At that moment, Rin rushed out, with a bowl of rice in each hand. First, she looked at Yubaba, still staring, and then she looked at Boh standing there. It was only after Boh finally let go that Rin saw Chihiro.

Then Rin ran over to Chihiro to greet her as well.  Rin resorted to hugging Chihiro with the bowls of rice still in her hands.

But Rin had to stop in mid sentence when both she and Chihiro finally noticed that Yubaba was staring. "What are you doing here, Sen?"

"Um, well," Chihiro fiddled with her loose shirt. "I thought I'd visit..." she trailed off. What was she doing here? Certainly not to find Haku, he had already left... Then, she remembered what Yubaba did to her parents. "If I'm bothering your business, I'll leave."

Rin started to answer, "Where would you go? You're not going to swim across the river, are-"

"No, you are not 'bothering my business'," Yubaba informed Chihiro, putting emphasis on Chihiro's words. "However, if you are not going to be paying us, then there's no reason for you to be here. Now, shoo before I turn you into a piglet!"

Chihiro realized that Yubaba was being nice, and started to turn around. She'd contemplate about how to get back to her world later, when she had time. Then, Rin told her, "Haku has been here every night, and he should've been here already... Anyway, thought you should know that you don't stink like a human anymore." With that, Rin gave Chihiro a wink. Chihiro forced a smile as she walked away, waving to Rin and Boh. She was given something else to contemplate about.

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a/n: This is actually my first fan fiction... so I don't really know all that about the 'do's' and 'don'ts'. I'd be glad for any sort of help that people are willing to offer...

Thanks to Chibi Moony, Kida Greenleaf, Blitz Babe, and Shaylee fka scifisarah for helping with the names. ^^