November 29, 2002
Tenth log: Chihiro and Masaaki

Masaaki: Hello, Chihiro.

Chihiro: Hi.
Chihiro: Nice to hear from you.

Masaaki: I'm glad you're online.
Masaaki: Do you have time to talk?

Chihiro: Hm. We're to eat soon.
Chihiro: If it's more, than I'll be back in half an hour or so.
Chihiro: You can call me on the phone, too.

Masaaki: I'll wait until then.
Masaaki: And I want you to show an internet page, so online is better.
Masaaki: Have a nice meal.

Chihiro: Thanks, see ya.

Chihiro: Hello, Masaaki?
Chihiro: I'm back.

Masaaki: Great.

Chihiro: So, what have you been up to?
Chihiro: Still thinking about Iceland?

Masaaki: Well, yes.
Masaaki: Have you?

Chihiro: Not much, apart from learning the language. I paused on learning Norwegian right now.
Chihiro: But they are pretty similar, you could say.

Masaaki: Oh, how come?

Chihiro: Old-Icelandic is an ancient language, the basis for Norwegian, Swedish and Danish.
Chihiro: But Icelandic hasn't changed much since then, I guess because it's such a small island.
Chihiro: I especially like the "tl" sound, it makes me laugh.
Chihiro: I cannot do it yet, because you have to make a knot into your tongue.
Chihiro: Actually it starts as an "n", but with no sound, just air pressure behind the tongue.
Chihiro: The tip of the tongue stays firm.
Chihiro: Then you release the air on both sides of the teeth, like a snake.
Chihiro: But only shortly.

Masaaki: I think I have to hear it.

Chihiro: Well, it sounds a bit like you want to make a horse go faster.
Chihiro: The hard part is to do that in the middle of a word.

Masaaki: I'm having enough trouble with English already.

Chihiro: I think English is a worn out language.

Masaaki: It's important, it's used everywhere.

Chihiro: That's what I mean. If so many people speak it, how can they keep track of the language?
Chihiro: Cultivate it?
Chihiro: But maybe I just have to learn more about it still.

Masaaki: Maybe.
Masaaki: But I wanted to talk about something else.

Chihiro: Which is?

Masaaki: Well, about Iceland.
Masaaki: I want to think it's important what I found, but something tells me I might just be ridiculous.
Masaaki: Like with everything, it could mean two things.

Chihiro: So it's a new sign?

Masaaki: Yes, a bigger one I think.
Masaaki: But please tell me something first.
Masaaki: As a dragon, did Haku look like in the movie.

Chihiro: Well, not exactly of course, but in a way.
Chihiro: They made him a bit smaller, but not much.

Masaaki: So he had like a long neck, and a long tail…
Masaaki: And he's always harmless, isn't he?

Chihiro: Of course he is, as far as I know, but why do you ask?

Masaaki: You say he has been a River, so did he like being in water?

Chihiro: You mean while being a dragon?
Chihiro: I haven't seen him that often as a dragon, but I know he likes water a lot.
Chihiro: I suppose he doesn't even have to breath under water.

Masaaki: So if people see him, I mean would see him in this world, in his dragon form,
Masaaki: It's possible they'd describe him as a "sea monster"?

Chihiro: He's no monster!

Masaaki: I mean a "harmless sea monster".
Masaaki: What else would they call a creature like that?
Masaaki: They're not used to River Gods.

Chihiro: I don't know how much he can change his appearance, but maybe…
Chihiro: In the water from far away, people see what they want to see.
Chihiro: But why would YOU call him a "sea monster"?

Masaaki: Because people described him that way.
Masaaki: I mean, IF Haku did return, then he has been seen.

Chihiro: Do you really think so?

Masaaki: I don't know.
Masaaki: In the western half of Iceland is the Hvita river.
Masaaki: A large river, with a famous waterfall.
Masaaki: I think the area is called "Hvita area" too.
Masaaki: And people have seen a sea monster there.

Chihiro: Are you making this up?
Chihiro: Who told you this?

Masaaki: I tried to check it, but you know,
Masaaki: There is never really proof for these kind of things.
Masaaki: So I try to keep my excitement down.

Chihiro: I'd like to believe that, I really do.
Chihiro: And I'm excited about this.
Chihiro: But in the end it's just something that only you tell me.

Masaaki: No, I'm not making it up.
Masaaki: And I can show it to you.
Masaaki: I've been checking this one page on paranormal activity from time to time.
Masaaki: I found it there today.
Masaaki: But I found it on other internet pages too, although those are in English.

Chihiro: What did you find?

Masaaki: I give you the link:
Masaaki: members.tripod.co.jp/kontic/02/0211.html

(Note: look under November 20th. The actual link mentioned was members.tripod.co.jp/kontic/ but the news went into the archive later. Please click the English link under the article, or go to www.thibros.de for working links.)

(Quote for offline readers: According to Radio One journalist Thorvaldur Fridriksson, there's been a dramatic increase in "sea monster" sightings in the Hvita area. Fridriksson says most of these mysterious creatures have long necks and tails and are "pretty harmless.")

Masaaki: The fact is, that a dragon, or River God, or sea monster, or whatever you want to call them has been seen in the Hvita River.
Masaaki: They talk of several, but who knows how many there really are.
Masaaki: There is nothing indicating that this is related to Haku, though.
Masaaki: It's just that the timing is right.

Chihiro: Let me think.
Chihiro: There's more.

Masaaki: What more.

Chihiro: I have to check it first.
Chihiro: I'm trembling.
Chihiro: You're not making fun of me, are you?

Masaaki: No, I wouldn't.

Chihiro: This is no coincidence, there it is.
Chihiro: It's right plain standing there.

Masaaki: What?

Chihiro: His name.
Chihiro: Haku.

Masaaki: I don't see it.

Chihiro: I'm dreaming.
Chihiro: It's like I can see it, but still don't believe it.
Chihiro: I'm seeing right through it.

Masaaki: What are you talking about?

Chihiro: I'm sorry, I'm very confused, but
Chihiro: My fingers don't want to write
Chihiro: What I waited for all my life.

Masaaki: You feel it that strong?

Chihiro: Once it's out there's no taking it back.
Chihiro: My eyes see it but my mind still refuses.
Chihiro: You really don't know what I'm talking about?

Masaaki: I have no idea.
Masaaki: Please tell me.
Masaaki: Is it something I've overlooked?

Chihiro: Yes it is.
Chihiro: It's his name.
Chihiro: Haku's name.
Chihiro: The short one.
Chihiro: "Hvita" is Icelandic for "White"

(Translator Note: the Japanese kanji for "white" is "haku")

Chihiro: It's related to the English *white*.
Chihiro: It's "hvit" in Norwegian.

Masaaki: Really?
Masaaki: If that's true,
Masaaki: Then that's the biggest sign, right?

Chihiro: I don't know where my thoughts are.
Chihiro: All words have left me.
Chihiro: There's only feeling.

Masaaki: You can still type.

Chihiro: But I don't know what to write.
Chihiro: I want to ignore this, say it's a coincidence.
Chihiro: But I can't.
Chihiro: My heart says otherwise.

Masaaki: People can always say it's just a coincidence.

Chihiro: From one point of view there are logical explanations, probably many.
Chihiro: Old unknown creatures living in the depth of sea.
Chihiro: People hallucinating.
Chihiro: I don't know, and much else.
Chihiro: But if you look at it from Haku's point of view,
Chihiro: If he really did return,
Chihiro: This would be the perfect thing to do.
Chihiro: The only thing.
Chihiro: The perfect sign.
Chihiro: Would else could he do to show that he's here?
Chihiro: Without attracting too much attention?

Masaaki: That might be true

Chihiro: I was so ignorant about everything.
Chihiro: Haku was calling every time.
Chihiro: But I didn't hear.
Chihiro: And what did Haku do?
Chihiro: He showed himself to people, to everyone, just plain.
Chihiro: Pointing to his name, even if it's not his river.
Chihiro: But it's his name.
Chihiro: He will have his river.
Chihiro: And I will find him and his river.
Chihiro: Soon.

Masaaki: Seems like Haku went into a lot of trouble just to call you.

Chihiro: I didn't listen to my dreams.
Chihiro: I didn't listen to my father.
Chihiro: I didn't listen to you.
Chihiro: He had to inform the whole world.

Masaaki: Well, the world doesn't believe.
Masaaki: At least not that it's Haku, the real Nigihayami Kohaku Nushi.
Masaaki: They call it a monster.
Masaaki: Most don't even read this news.

Chihiro: Do you believe it?

Masaaki: I want to, yes, I really do.
Masaaki: But inside there is always doubt.
Masaaki: The "reasonable" side.
Masaaki: I cannot trust my feelings like you do.

Chihiro: I didn't trust them myself anymore.
Chihiro: I had lost that, and part of me still only sees the facts.
Chihiro: But the fact is, what else could Haku have done to call me?
Chihiro: To proof that it's him.
Chihiro: I would have doubted it all.

Masaaki: So you do believe?

Chihiro: My heart believes, yes, my whole body.
Chihiro: I haven't felt this since,
Chihiro: Never. I've never felt this before.
Chihiro: What makes me such a lucky girl?
Chihiro: Why me? Why does MY dream come true?

Masaaki: You haven't been there yet…
Masaaki: What if you don't find him.

Chihiro: Does that matter?
Chihiro: There are always many possibilities for many different futures.
Chihiro: I don't know which path I'll go.
Chihiro: I know there will be doubts again, someday.
Chihiro: I might lose my faith again.
Chihiro: But this moment of perfect harmony, nobody can ever take it from me.
Chihiro: It's the return of the theme in a symphony.
Chihiro: Thank you.
Chihiro: Thank you.

Masaaki: You're welcome.
Masaaki: It makes me really happy to see you this way.
Masaaki: I wish I could hug you.

Chihiro: I wish it too, oh my God, how can I concentrate on anything else now?
Chihiro: Finals are in a few weeks, and I'm going crazy.
Chihiro: Again.

Masaaki: You're not going crazy.

Chihiro: Yes I am, I'm having a major relapse, a setback, in the views of others.
Chihiro: Everything they tried to teach me was in vain.
Chihiro: Like an alcoholic who doesn't stay sober.
Chihiro: But he doesn't care when he's drunk.
Chihiro: I don't care.

Masaaki: No, that's just not true.
Masaaki: I think your one of the few who know both sides of the story.
Masaaki: Everything you've ever thought will be with you, will stay with you.

Chihiro: You think so?
Chihiro: I don't know right now, maybe tomorrow I'll see it all different already.
Chihiro: And I'll be the reasonable Chihiro again.
Chihiro: Gods from a dream don't appear in real life.

Masaaki: But he did.

Chihiro: I wanted so much for Haku to show me what to do.
Chihiro: And he says "come to me", and shows himself.
Chihiro: And it's even something that I want to do.
Chihiro: I don't need anything else to know.

Masaaki: I wish I had your confidence about my career.

Chihiro: There will be signs for you, too.
Chihiro: Just look for them, I know it's not easy.
Chihiro: Not easy at all.

Masaaki: I'm so happy for you, really.

Chihiro: I think I should tell my mom.
Chihiro: And my dad.

Masaaki: What will they say?
Masaaki: What will you say?

Chihiro: I don't know, it's all so confusing.
Chihiro: I don't want them to think that I'm ten year old Chihiro again.
Chihiro: Because I'm not.
Chihiro: I'm just a girl who sees her path in life now.
Chihiro: Who wants to study languages and cultures.
Chihiro: And maybe a little of the things we don't understand yet.

Masaaki: That's good, tell them that.

Chihiro: Yeah, but how should I tell of Haku, and him telling me?

Masaaki: I don't know, I really don't know.
Masaaki: Do you have any plans in mind, yet?
Masaaki: Specific ones?

Chihiro: No, of course not.
Chihiro: I'd like to travel there first, of course, maybe this winter.

Masaaki: It'll be cold and dark in the winter there.

Chihiro: I know, I might as well get used to it.
Chihiro: I really wish it would be possible to go to school there.
Chihiro: But I have to know the language…
Chihiro: How important, or common is Danish in Iceland?
Chihiro: Did you read anything about it?

Masaaki: No, not really.

Chihiro: I think it's sort of their second official language there.
Chihiro: And Danish is really close to Norwegian.
Chihiro: I think I'll be fine.

Masaaki: I know you'll be fine.
Masaaki: I know you will go your way.

Chihiro: I'll finish Middle School first, of course.
Chihiro: But if it's possible to move there in April…

Masaaki: What would your parents say if you moved out?

Chihiro: It'd be fine with them, I know that.
Chihiro: They want me to be happy.
Chihiro: And my father has friends in Iceland, maybe I can live with them.
Chihiro: I'd need foster parents.
Chihiro: Even with all the money from the movie, I wouldn't want to live in a hotel.

Masaaki: Maybe there are boarding schools in Iceland.

Chihiro: Yeah, that would be nice too, I guess.
Chihiro: I don't have to decide now.

Masaaki: I know you'll do the right thing.

Chihiro: Thanks, I kind of know that too.
Chihiro: It'll be hard.
Chihiro: But Haku told me what to do.
Chihiro: First struggling with the strange language, which sounds like a snake.
Chihiro: Then begging to stay and study and work.
Chihiro: Maybe live together with others in a dormitory.
Chihiro: Every day the same stupid work, sometimes with monster teachers arriving, who knows.
Chihiro: But I'll have Haku from time to time.
Chihiro: I know I can do that.
Chihiro: I've done it before.

Masaaki: This is great.
Masaaki: If you write it like that it looks like a sequel from the movie, totally fake and unbelievable.
Masaaki: Like a setup.

Chihiro: I don't believe it myself.
Chihiro: Yet.
Chihiro: But like I said, the theme of the music comes back again.

Masaaki: Only this time there are no parents to save.
Masaaki: But we don't know yet, maybe there is someone to save...

Chihiro: Maybe there's a world to save.
Chihiro: But whenever Haku needs me to save him again, I'll be near.

Masaaki: I wish I could come along.
Masaaki: But I stay here.

Chihiro: You'll be part of it, whenever you want.
Chihiro: Iceland is not that far away any more.
Chihiro: They have internet and phones.
Chihiro: I should probably get a cell phone, if there's so much uninhabited area.

Masaaki: Already thinking of details?

Chihiro: I don't know what to think any more.
Chihiro: The words in my head are all over the place.
Chihiro: Like an earthquake has shaken their tree, and they just all fly around.

Masaaki: They'll settle down again.
Masaaki: I know your words will always stay with you.

Chihiro: And now there are more words coming, from Iceland.
Chihiro: How am I going to keep them all together?

Masaaki: If the words like you, and you like the words,
Masaaki: Then you'll be fine.

Chihiro: Thanks.
Chihiro: I better go downstairs and tell my mom about my decision now.

Masaaki: Do that.
Masaaki: You might want to print out that internet page.

Chihiro: Yes, I already did that.
Chihiro: I'm so excited, still.
Chihiro: What if I wake up and it's all a dream?

Masaaki: Then it was a pleasant dream.
Masaaki: Don't worry, I feel it too.
Masaaki: It's real.

Chihiro: I'll call you tomorrow,
Chihiro: Or whenever I know something.

Masaaki: I'm waiting already.
Masaaki: But please get some sleep, too.

Chihiro: I'll try.
Chihiro: See you tomorrow.
Chihiro: Bye.

Masaaki: Bye.