Disclaimer: ahem I look at the lawyers here on behalf of Hayao Miyazaki, "how much would it cost to buy exclusive rights to Spirited Away?" They look at each other, write a figure on a piece of paper and push it across the table to me. I look at it and slump in my chair. I put on a puppy-eyed expression and ask one more question... "would you settle for my soul instead?" Okay the only way I'll ever be able to claim that I own Spirited Away is in my wildest dreams, and as I'm pretty sure I'm not dreaming slap forehead to make sure its not the case
I just wanted to clear that up now here is another chapter for all you to read.... Ta da!
Ps: before I actually begin (I'm procrastinating I know) just wanted again to say a hearty thankyou to those who reviewed and to those who have simple read this story and enjoyed it...
Meeting Again
Chapter 5: My will is my strength; I pray it does not fail....
It was morning and Chihiro sat outside her room swinging her legs off the balcony watching the sun touch an unfamiliar horizon, its ray's illuminating a place she had given up on seeing again. Below she could see the ripples in the water the train had caused as it rushed off into the horizon. It had rained recently and like last time the view was of a sparkling blue sea, going for miles. 'So different from home' she thought. 'What am I doing here?' Chihiro asked.
"Rescuing Haku aren't you?" Lin's voice penetrated her thoughts until Chihiro realized she had spoken that last comment out loud.
"Yes but I'm not sure why I'm doing this, umm...working for Yubaba?
"To rescue Haku, that's why, he is your friend?" Lin sounded confused.
"Yeah well..." Chihiro blushed thinking perhaps that when they had meet she was young, but if she was the adult she is now back then maybe things would have been different. Chihiro sighed pensively, this caused Lin took look at her and taking in the faraway look and faint pink cheeks something dawned on her.
"You like him? Haku!?" Chihiro gasped at the words coming out of her lips.
"Lin...its not...we never....I'm mean...its been years...um we're just friends!" Lin just laughed.
"You and him huh? Well that's why you agreed to work for Yubaba."
"I guess..."
"You guess!? Chihiro you can't be that indecisive, don't worry bout Yubaba, you've got much more problems to worry about."
"I do?"
"Of course you do you dope, one thing considering your going to be travelling beyond the railway do you know how to defend yourself?" Chihiro just looked out over the sea thinking how she had taken up training but she had fell out of practise.
"A little, I took up Bo training but I'm out of practise"* (this means see bottom for an little interruption from the author)
"Rokushakabo training! Why didn't you say so earlier! I used to train, but Yubaba forbade it!" (Surprised?)
"You!?"
"Yep, no one can clean those bathtubs better than me see cos' I have muscles but..."
"-but what?" Chihiro asked in apprehension.
"I'm out of practised too." Suddenly in the silence there was a loud thud that could only come from someone falling over in shock.
"-"
***
Some time later...
Chihiro looked at the weapons rack, it had been such a long time since she had trained with a weapon. 'Years' she thought with a wry shake of her head. 'I started learning just after I left the Spirit World I was good but....
"I'm so out of practise" she wailed out loud. 'Well' she though determination, 'I'm going to train.' She picked up a 5 foot long Bo stick and lifted it experimentally in her hands. It was unlike any other weapon she had trained with. It was the wood, she could feel in the wood an unbelievable amount of flexibility but it was strong as well. She held it horizontally, by the moto (means - centre, balance point of the bo) one third of its length on either side of her grip. 'Well balanced...hmm I wonder how much I remember...?' She walked out of the room and shut the door.
Lin watched Chihiro emerge from her closet where she kept some of her weapons. She wasn't surprised to see her with a bo in hand.
"Lin?"
"Hai?"
"Where can I practise?"
"Well...how about on the hill near the lake, do you know the place?"
"Hai"
"Well go now, while its still day and train, see what you remember, I'll be there soon."
***
'I can do this' Chihiro thought with determination. She was standing on the hill, the wind blowing through her long brown hair making it dance before her eyes. It fluttered around her bo staff which was extended horizontally before her. She twirled and brought it to her side, one saki (tip of the bo) facing her unseen opponent while her hand was on her hip facing inward, her right hand was facing upwards on the staff allowing her wrist to twist the bo easily. Her stance was steady and alert with her right foot place slightly forward and the left behind.
Taking a depth breath she started counting to ten out loud to steady her breathing and help her concentrate.
"Ichi, ni, san, shi, go, roku, shichi, hachi, kyu, juu!" Chirhiro jabbed the tip of her staff forward directly into her opponents midriff, her front right foot stepped out following the movement of the staff, after jabbing she swung it downward to bring it so it was directly parallel with her right leg. Her left hand was palm up, ready to block an opponent she then spun around on her back foot, kicking with her right foot which was at a straight right angle from her body, her bo following her movements... all the while she counted under her breath everything forgotten
"Ichi, ni..." Chihiro finished the spinning kick and was now in opposite stance, her left in front, right behind. She opened her palm on the staff and thrusted it behind, jabbing the enemy from behind.
"san, shi, go..." She then turned as she thrusted it behind so that she was facing the enemy that was attacking from behind, she then placed her left hand on the bo inches apart from her right and brought it up over her head and flipped forward. Unknown to her Lin had arrived and was watching.
'Wow, she is much better than I thought...amazing, her speed, her form, I hope Yubaba knows what she is doing though. I've never seen her style though its so different, human. She seems to be so tuned with her environment and the way she holds her bo makes it seem as if its an extension of her body.' Lin watched her perform a perfect flip; she could see her body twisting gracefully, never an awkward move.
Chihiro flipped her body over as if she was avoiding another attack from behind.
"..roku, shichi, hachi,.." Because it was slightly longer than 5 feet and strong she ran forward her lithe form gaining speed and she jabbed her bo into the earth vertically in front of her, using the momentum she used it as a pole to do a kick in a semi circle. Landing after 180-degree kick she planted her feet on the ground and grasped the bo properly and twirled it so that it the bottom was resting just to the side of her left foot behind her ankle and the other behind her back appearing behind her right shoulder, her feet were planted firmly and her stance was defensive.
"...kyu, juu! Done" Chihiro relaxed and tried to regain her breathing. It wasn't until she calmed down that she realized that she had an audience. The sound of clapping filled her ears.
"Hey your good! What style is that, I've never seen that Kata before?" Chihiro realized that Lin had watched her and started blushing.
"I'm not that good, it's the Isshin-Ryu style, that was the Tokomine No Kun kata but I made a view adjustments, see it's normally yielded on the left but I use both."
"What are the main principles?"
"Oh, it focuses on force and power, knowing when to strike, hard and soft, fast and slow, light and dark. The key elements are staying centred, balanced, awareness and being in touch with what is natural."
"Well, want to train with me?" She nodded and Lin and Chihiro faced each other,
"Rei" (bow) they both called out at the same time and then stepped backwards into an alert posture.
"Hajime" Chihiro took a depth breath and swung her bo forward, it whistled in the air, she was aiming for Lin's head. Her bo meet hers with a sharp slap as Lin deflected downwards so that for a moment Chihiro was holding it horizontally her position unbalanced. Lin brought the other end of the staff to jab her in the midriff but Chihiro seeing the muscle flex on her should simply spun her staff in a clockwise motion and deflected the blow. Woosh, Chihiro ducked to the side to avoid a blow to the head. All that could be heard was the shape crack of bo meeting bo resonating through the air as both fighters weapons were merely a blur as the sought to find a weakness in their opponent. They moved with a graceful but deadly speed. Lin began to do a technique called yori ashi, shifting her feet at an unbelievable pace and it drew Chihiro's attention. Lin moved her weapon into a position that Chihiro only recognised until to late to be a broom sweep, before she knew it she was lying on the ground her bo out of her hands. Lin brought the saki down to rest at the tip of her throat.
"Hai, I win."
"Not yet."
"What!?" Chihiro took advantage of her confusion and rolled to the left out from underneath Lin's Bo, she grabbed hers and swiftly stood up. She settled into an attack position and waited for Lin to regain her wits.
"Oh, I'm going to get you, that was not far!" Chihiro giggled
"Well, I guess you did win but if it was real life and if you had stopped there I would of kept fighting until the end-"
"-but this is just training, beside you know that the purpose of this weapon is to defend."
"Hai, but I have a feeling that the principle doesn't apply here does it?" Chihiro grinned at the wisdom pouring out of her mouth; she was the last person who could ever claim to have moments of enlightenment and wisdom. Lin looked at the girl, 'no' Lin corrected herself with a shake of her head, 'she's not a girl and she is right...' Lin saw Sen as an adult for the first time, standing their defiantly before her in some foreign clothes that she had told her earlier where jeans and a red tank top.
"You right but don't be a dope and get yourself into trouble, like you did last time!"
"Last time! That wasn't my fault Lin!"
"Oh really?" Lin said grinning mischievously.
"That's it!"
"What you're going to do? Attempt to beat me?"
"Going to? Oh no definitely will this time."
"Well go ahead your move."
***
After training with Lin she went down into the depth of the bathhouse to see Kamaji
"Kamaji?"
"Eh?"
"I'm leaving tomorrow, I'm going to search for Haku."
"For Yubaba huh?"
"Hai."
"I also wanted to think you for something that I didn't do last time I was here." Kamaji stopped working and turned around to face her, surprise showing on his face.
"When Haku needed help and I went to see Zambia you gave me those tickets and you helped me, arigatou." Chihiro bowed down low.
Kamaji stared in wonder at the human before him; he had never known someone like her. Graceful yet clumsy, thoughtful but somehow managed to get herself in a variety of situations. 'She'll find him, no one else can, if Yubaba sends her off on a hopeless quest or fools her...so help her when I'm finished with her.' Chihiro felt his hand on her head patting it in a fatherly way. She was amazed, it was the first time he had made any kind of physical contact.
"You'll find him Sen, I know you will." Grateful for his words more then he could imagine she stood up properly and ran over and gave him a hug.
"Thanks Kamaji." Kamaji had a look of abject horror on his face, no one had ever hugged him before, in all these centuries. He looked down at the human in his arms. Tentatively he wound his arms around her small form and hugged her back.
The Susuwatari all stopped working and stood in silence staring at their master, their small magical bodies quivering in the silence, they made an unanimous decision and all ran up to Chihiro. Chihiro became aware that something was on her foot; she looked down and saw the little Susuwatari hugging her shoes, shoelaces, socks and legs. She began to laugh at their display of affection. Kamaji looked down also and saw that his workers were not working.
"Get back to work." He said with gruff affection. Chihiro stepped back from him and smiled, it was small and sad.
"Bye Kamaji"
"Goodbye Sen. Good luck I'll see you again" Carefully disengaging the few soot balls still attached to her leg and left.
***
Chihiro had one last person to see today and that was her lest favourite of all, Yubaba. She knocked on the door to her office.
"Come in."
"Yubaba, I'm here to get the map of you."
"Ahh I see so you are going after all." Taking in a drag of cigarette she exhaled.
"Knew you would." Chihiro said nothing, she had nothing left to say, she was determined and wanted to save Haku.
"Well here you go then." She waved a bejewelled hand in the air and a map sitting on her desk floated over towards Chihiro, when she raised her hands palm up it settled there.
"It'll contain all the information you need, its spelled to stay near you and won't get damaged. Money, a train ticket and food are in the bag near the door, same goes for the bag it will not get damaged. It should only take you a week or so to get there. Provided you find Haku you can fly back here. Remember, I need the object he was sent to get, without it he nor you will leave this place."
"I know."
"Well Chihiro, have an interesting trip." Yubaba laughed or more cackled at some private joke that eluded her.
"Go on child, your wasting time." With that she returned to her work. Chihiro went to the door and picked up the green backpack surprised at its lightness and left without a word.
***
"Chihiro." Lin said quietly with a little apprehension later as Chihiro was packing. Chihiro looked up from where she was transferring all the stuff from the bag she took with her originally to the spirit world into her new bag.
"Hmm?" Lin looked at the shirts and jeans in Chihiro's hand and shuddered in distaste.
"Are you going to be wearing clothes like your wearing now all the time?"
"Hai, why." Chihiro held up a shirt and turned it this way and that trying to see what was so wrong with it.
"Its just that you look...we'll you kinda look..."
"...kinda look like?"
"Well you look funny." Chihiro sweat dropped and glanced up at Lin who had a determined look on her face she started laughing.
"What's so funny?"
"Well" she said between laughs. "Your worried that I look funny?"
"Well you don't want to draw attention to yourself more than you already do because you're human." With that she made a slight face, Chihiro just stuck out her tongue.
"You won't draw as much attention if your dressed more like us." She stood up and held out her hand to Chihiro who was still lying down.
"Come with me, I might have an outfit that you will like." She pulled her up and began to rummage through her closet.
"I know it's in here somewhere" came Lin's muffled voice. Dodging various items that Lin was throwing over her shoulders Chihiro tried to see inside the cupboard.
"Ahh to small, I had this same problem last time except the other way around." She chucked the shirt she had examined over her shoulder right into Chihiro's face. Her hands went up to remove it but got tangled in the ties. Stumbling backwards she began to loose her balance, unfortunately because she couldn't see where her feet were she got tangled up with something on the floor and before she knew it she felt a slight amount of vertigo as her feet left the floor and with a muffled shriek she fell.
"Found it!" Lin straightened up and triumphantly held the garment up in the air in front of her looking at it with pride.
"Chihiro, come look."
"Chihiro?"
Thump! She turned around in surprise to see Chihiro lying on the bed with her hands on her face trying to remove a shirt.
"What are you doing?"
***
A few minutes later...
Chihiro was pushed behind a thin rice paper dressing screen with some clothes in her hands. She placed them on the floor and looked down at them. They were traditional to say the least. She picked up the black slippers and white socks and put them to the side. Taking off her clothes and standing there in her underwear she began to get dressed. The pants were and pale ice blue with an elastic waist so it fit her hips. The bottoms also were elastic so they wouldn't drag in the dirt or get caught when she fought. She then put on the black slippers with socks. The top was just a simple peasant style the same colour as the pants, it had medium size straps and the cut at the front was square shaped. Over the top came an overcoat. It was black with red bordering on the panels. The neck was v-shaped and it had long splits on both sides up to her waist. Around her waist went a red ribbon. On the back she noticed was the picture of flying dragon, stitched with the same ice blue colour as that of her shirt. 'Looks like Haku' she thought admiringly.
"We'll what do you think?" Chihiro stepped out from behind the screen and looked at Lin for her approval. Lin looked at her 'she looks good' she thought.
"Looks good, but better on me of course." Chihiro sweat dropped. Lin rushed over to help her up.
"Are you okay, are you sick or something? That's the fourth time you've done that today."
Chihiro just groaned.
***
Ice, fire and shadows, she was trapped! She was surrounded in ice but it was not cold though, unable to move but aware of everything around her. She didn't know who she was but what she could see were flames, two slits of flames boring into her. From deep inside her welled an emotion, a need, she had to warn someone, there was danger and this person was unaware of the trap that she was walking into.
"Haku, there is nothing you can do..." 'I'm Haku?' she thought with confusion.
"I'm interested in meeting this human of yours, it should be amusing." Chihiro felt a swell of rage at what he was saying, the emotion wasn't hers though. The creature laughed and it echoed through her head, confused and not sure what was going on she tried moving. Surprisingly it worked this time. She looked down at her body; it was pale and ethereal, like the time when she almost disappeared. Looking around all she could see was darkness. Turning around she stiffened with shock. There hanging in the darkness trapped in a block of ice shaped like flames was Haku trapped, his body was still as if dead but his eyes burning with emotion told her part of him was alive.
"Haku!" she cried. Chihiro floated to the ice beating her hands on it. Looking into his eyes she saw that he was trying to tell her something. She turned around and all she could see was darkness but the eyes that were staring into her were flames that made her skin tingle and her mind fill with fear. It was getting closer; she could feel the heat caressing her face.
"Ah so you must be Chihiro, welcome indeed, I'm looking forward to meeting you." Chihiro though she could see nothing but pale darkness in all directions could sense him reaching out for her. Pressing her body back into the ice in an attempt to get away she closed her eyes and wished it all away.
Chihiro woke up shivering from a dream she couldn't remember. Fire, ice, shadows and the feeling of being trapped was all that she could dredge up, the rest eluded her. Sitting up she shook off the remnants of her dream. Not pondering on it she reached for a hairbrush. Dragging it through her long hair she finally finished. Tying it up into its usually style Chihiro quietly got ready to leave.
Standing on the railroad platform she could see the train coming in the distance, Lin who was already paddling back to the bathhouse called out.
"Take care Chihiro you dope!" Smiling she lifted her hand and waved. She looked at the train coming with determination; she would find him, wherever he was.
To be continued...
*Sorry about turning Chihiro into something of a warrior but she couldn't be completely wimpy or it wouldn't be that much of an adventure with her running away from everything. Besides if this story heads where I want it too there will be many adventures and near misses before she is re-united with her "friend" he he
Authors note: Sighs Well done another chapter reluctantly dragged out of my brain. Sorry it took so long but I've been very busy but I'm on holidays soon so there will be no more excuses left.
Please update and inspire me to continue ^^
Below are the translations for the terms I used. The style Isshin- Ryu is an actual form practice I did not make it up though I have made a few changes. If anyone actually does practise Bo I would welcome any advice about techniques or terms
Hajime: begin
Rei: bows
Yori ashi: feet shifting
Saki: tip of the bow
Moto: middle
Tokomine No Kun: a bo style of Kata, usually used on the left side
Rokushakabo: proper name for Bo but its a mouthful so I'll stick to the shorter version
I just wanted to clear that up now here is another chapter for all you to read.... Ta da!
Ps: before I actually begin (I'm procrastinating I know) just wanted again to say a hearty thankyou to those who reviewed and to those who have simple read this story and enjoyed it...
Meeting Again
Chapter 5: My will is my strength; I pray it does not fail....
It was morning and Chihiro sat outside her room swinging her legs off the balcony watching the sun touch an unfamiliar horizon, its ray's illuminating a place she had given up on seeing again. Below she could see the ripples in the water the train had caused as it rushed off into the horizon. It had rained recently and like last time the view was of a sparkling blue sea, going for miles. 'So different from home' she thought. 'What am I doing here?' Chihiro asked.
"Rescuing Haku aren't you?" Lin's voice penetrated her thoughts until Chihiro realized she had spoken that last comment out loud.
"Yes but I'm not sure why I'm doing this, umm...working for Yubaba?
"To rescue Haku, that's why, he is your friend?" Lin sounded confused.
"Yeah well..." Chihiro blushed thinking perhaps that when they had meet she was young, but if she was the adult she is now back then maybe things would have been different. Chihiro sighed pensively, this caused Lin took look at her and taking in the faraway look and faint pink cheeks something dawned on her.
"You like him? Haku!?" Chihiro gasped at the words coming out of her lips.
"Lin...its not...we never....I'm mean...its been years...um we're just friends!" Lin just laughed.
"You and him huh? Well that's why you agreed to work for Yubaba."
"I guess..."
"You guess!? Chihiro you can't be that indecisive, don't worry bout Yubaba, you've got much more problems to worry about."
"I do?"
"Of course you do you dope, one thing considering your going to be travelling beyond the railway do you know how to defend yourself?" Chihiro just looked out over the sea thinking how she had taken up training but she had fell out of practise.
"A little, I took up Bo training but I'm out of practise"* (this means see bottom for an little interruption from the author)
"Rokushakabo training! Why didn't you say so earlier! I used to train, but Yubaba forbade it!" (Surprised?)
"You!?"
"Yep, no one can clean those bathtubs better than me see cos' I have muscles but..."
"-but what?" Chihiro asked in apprehension.
"I'm out of practised too." Suddenly in the silence there was a loud thud that could only come from someone falling over in shock.
"-"
***
Some time later...
Chihiro looked at the weapons rack, it had been such a long time since she had trained with a weapon. 'Years' she thought with a wry shake of her head. 'I started learning just after I left the Spirit World I was good but....
"I'm so out of practise" she wailed out loud. 'Well' she though determination, 'I'm going to train.' She picked up a 5 foot long Bo stick and lifted it experimentally in her hands. It was unlike any other weapon she had trained with. It was the wood, she could feel in the wood an unbelievable amount of flexibility but it was strong as well. She held it horizontally, by the moto (means - centre, balance point of the bo) one third of its length on either side of her grip. 'Well balanced...hmm I wonder how much I remember...?' She walked out of the room and shut the door.
Lin watched Chihiro emerge from her closet where she kept some of her weapons. She wasn't surprised to see her with a bo in hand.
"Lin?"
"Hai?"
"Where can I practise?"
"Well...how about on the hill near the lake, do you know the place?"
"Hai"
"Well go now, while its still day and train, see what you remember, I'll be there soon."
***
'I can do this' Chihiro thought with determination. She was standing on the hill, the wind blowing through her long brown hair making it dance before her eyes. It fluttered around her bo staff which was extended horizontally before her. She twirled and brought it to her side, one saki (tip of the bo) facing her unseen opponent while her hand was on her hip facing inward, her right hand was facing upwards on the staff allowing her wrist to twist the bo easily. Her stance was steady and alert with her right foot place slightly forward and the left behind.
Taking a depth breath she started counting to ten out loud to steady her breathing and help her concentrate.
"Ichi, ni, san, shi, go, roku, shichi, hachi, kyu, juu!" Chirhiro jabbed the tip of her staff forward directly into her opponents midriff, her front right foot stepped out following the movement of the staff, after jabbing she swung it downward to bring it so it was directly parallel with her right leg. Her left hand was palm up, ready to block an opponent she then spun around on her back foot, kicking with her right foot which was at a straight right angle from her body, her bo following her movements... all the while she counted under her breath everything forgotten
"Ichi, ni..." Chihiro finished the spinning kick and was now in opposite stance, her left in front, right behind. She opened her palm on the staff and thrusted it behind, jabbing the enemy from behind.
"san, shi, go..." She then turned as she thrusted it behind so that she was facing the enemy that was attacking from behind, she then placed her left hand on the bo inches apart from her right and brought it up over her head and flipped forward. Unknown to her Lin had arrived and was watching.
'Wow, she is much better than I thought...amazing, her speed, her form, I hope Yubaba knows what she is doing though. I've never seen her style though its so different, human. She seems to be so tuned with her environment and the way she holds her bo makes it seem as if its an extension of her body.' Lin watched her perform a perfect flip; she could see her body twisting gracefully, never an awkward move.
Chihiro flipped her body over as if she was avoiding another attack from behind.
"..roku, shichi, hachi,.." Because it was slightly longer than 5 feet and strong she ran forward her lithe form gaining speed and she jabbed her bo into the earth vertically in front of her, using the momentum she used it as a pole to do a kick in a semi circle. Landing after 180-degree kick she planted her feet on the ground and grasped the bo properly and twirled it so that it the bottom was resting just to the side of her left foot behind her ankle and the other behind her back appearing behind her right shoulder, her feet were planted firmly and her stance was defensive.
"...kyu, juu! Done" Chihiro relaxed and tried to regain her breathing. It wasn't until she calmed down that she realized that she had an audience. The sound of clapping filled her ears.
"Hey your good! What style is that, I've never seen that Kata before?" Chihiro realized that Lin had watched her and started blushing.
"I'm not that good, it's the Isshin-Ryu style, that was the Tokomine No Kun kata but I made a view adjustments, see it's normally yielded on the left but I use both."
"What are the main principles?"
"Oh, it focuses on force and power, knowing when to strike, hard and soft, fast and slow, light and dark. The key elements are staying centred, balanced, awareness and being in touch with what is natural."
"Well, want to train with me?" She nodded and Lin and Chihiro faced each other,
"Rei" (bow) they both called out at the same time and then stepped backwards into an alert posture.
"Hajime" Chihiro took a depth breath and swung her bo forward, it whistled in the air, she was aiming for Lin's head. Her bo meet hers with a sharp slap as Lin deflected downwards so that for a moment Chihiro was holding it horizontally her position unbalanced. Lin brought the other end of the staff to jab her in the midriff but Chihiro seeing the muscle flex on her should simply spun her staff in a clockwise motion and deflected the blow. Woosh, Chihiro ducked to the side to avoid a blow to the head. All that could be heard was the shape crack of bo meeting bo resonating through the air as both fighters weapons were merely a blur as the sought to find a weakness in their opponent. They moved with a graceful but deadly speed. Lin began to do a technique called yori ashi, shifting her feet at an unbelievable pace and it drew Chihiro's attention. Lin moved her weapon into a position that Chihiro only recognised until to late to be a broom sweep, before she knew it she was lying on the ground her bo out of her hands. Lin brought the saki down to rest at the tip of her throat.
"Hai, I win."
"Not yet."
"What!?" Chihiro took advantage of her confusion and rolled to the left out from underneath Lin's Bo, she grabbed hers and swiftly stood up. She settled into an attack position and waited for Lin to regain her wits.
"Oh, I'm going to get you, that was not far!" Chihiro giggled
"Well, I guess you did win but if it was real life and if you had stopped there I would of kept fighting until the end-"
"-but this is just training, beside you know that the purpose of this weapon is to defend."
"Hai, but I have a feeling that the principle doesn't apply here does it?" Chihiro grinned at the wisdom pouring out of her mouth; she was the last person who could ever claim to have moments of enlightenment and wisdom. Lin looked at the girl, 'no' Lin corrected herself with a shake of her head, 'she's not a girl and she is right...' Lin saw Sen as an adult for the first time, standing their defiantly before her in some foreign clothes that she had told her earlier where jeans and a red tank top.
"You right but don't be a dope and get yourself into trouble, like you did last time!"
"Last time! That wasn't my fault Lin!"
"Oh really?" Lin said grinning mischievously.
"That's it!"
"What you're going to do? Attempt to beat me?"
"Going to? Oh no definitely will this time."
"Well go ahead your move."
***
After training with Lin she went down into the depth of the bathhouse to see Kamaji
"Kamaji?"
"Eh?"
"I'm leaving tomorrow, I'm going to search for Haku."
"For Yubaba huh?"
"Hai."
"I also wanted to think you for something that I didn't do last time I was here." Kamaji stopped working and turned around to face her, surprise showing on his face.
"When Haku needed help and I went to see Zambia you gave me those tickets and you helped me, arigatou." Chihiro bowed down low.
Kamaji stared in wonder at the human before him; he had never known someone like her. Graceful yet clumsy, thoughtful but somehow managed to get herself in a variety of situations. 'She'll find him, no one else can, if Yubaba sends her off on a hopeless quest or fools her...so help her when I'm finished with her.' Chihiro felt his hand on her head patting it in a fatherly way. She was amazed, it was the first time he had made any kind of physical contact.
"You'll find him Sen, I know you will." Grateful for his words more then he could imagine she stood up properly and ran over and gave him a hug.
"Thanks Kamaji." Kamaji had a look of abject horror on his face, no one had ever hugged him before, in all these centuries. He looked down at the human in his arms. Tentatively he wound his arms around her small form and hugged her back.
The Susuwatari all stopped working and stood in silence staring at their master, their small magical bodies quivering in the silence, they made an unanimous decision and all ran up to Chihiro. Chihiro became aware that something was on her foot; she looked down and saw the little Susuwatari hugging her shoes, shoelaces, socks and legs. She began to laugh at their display of affection. Kamaji looked down also and saw that his workers were not working.
"Get back to work." He said with gruff affection. Chihiro stepped back from him and smiled, it was small and sad.
"Bye Kamaji"
"Goodbye Sen. Good luck I'll see you again" Carefully disengaging the few soot balls still attached to her leg and left.
***
Chihiro had one last person to see today and that was her lest favourite of all, Yubaba. She knocked on the door to her office.
"Come in."
"Yubaba, I'm here to get the map of you."
"Ahh I see so you are going after all." Taking in a drag of cigarette she exhaled.
"Knew you would." Chihiro said nothing, she had nothing left to say, she was determined and wanted to save Haku.
"Well here you go then." She waved a bejewelled hand in the air and a map sitting on her desk floated over towards Chihiro, when she raised her hands palm up it settled there.
"It'll contain all the information you need, its spelled to stay near you and won't get damaged. Money, a train ticket and food are in the bag near the door, same goes for the bag it will not get damaged. It should only take you a week or so to get there. Provided you find Haku you can fly back here. Remember, I need the object he was sent to get, without it he nor you will leave this place."
"I know."
"Well Chihiro, have an interesting trip." Yubaba laughed or more cackled at some private joke that eluded her.
"Go on child, your wasting time." With that she returned to her work. Chihiro went to the door and picked up the green backpack surprised at its lightness and left without a word.
***
"Chihiro." Lin said quietly with a little apprehension later as Chihiro was packing. Chihiro looked up from where she was transferring all the stuff from the bag she took with her originally to the spirit world into her new bag.
"Hmm?" Lin looked at the shirts and jeans in Chihiro's hand and shuddered in distaste.
"Are you going to be wearing clothes like your wearing now all the time?"
"Hai, why." Chihiro held up a shirt and turned it this way and that trying to see what was so wrong with it.
"Its just that you look...we'll you kinda look..."
"...kinda look like?"
"Well you look funny." Chihiro sweat dropped and glanced up at Lin who had a determined look on her face she started laughing.
"What's so funny?"
"Well" she said between laughs. "Your worried that I look funny?"
"Well you don't want to draw attention to yourself more than you already do because you're human." With that she made a slight face, Chihiro just stuck out her tongue.
"You won't draw as much attention if your dressed more like us." She stood up and held out her hand to Chihiro who was still lying down.
"Come with me, I might have an outfit that you will like." She pulled her up and began to rummage through her closet.
"I know it's in here somewhere" came Lin's muffled voice. Dodging various items that Lin was throwing over her shoulders Chihiro tried to see inside the cupboard.
"Ahh to small, I had this same problem last time except the other way around." She chucked the shirt she had examined over her shoulder right into Chihiro's face. Her hands went up to remove it but got tangled in the ties. Stumbling backwards she began to loose her balance, unfortunately because she couldn't see where her feet were she got tangled up with something on the floor and before she knew it she felt a slight amount of vertigo as her feet left the floor and with a muffled shriek she fell.
"Found it!" Lin straightened up and triumphantly held the garment up in the air in front of her looking at it with pride.
"Chihiro, come look."
"Chihiro?"
Thump! She turned around in surprise to see Chihiro lying on the bed with her hands on her face trying to remove a shirt.
"What are you doing?"
***
A few minutes later...
Chihiro was pushed behind a thin rice paper dressing screen with some clothes in her hands. She placed them on the floor and looked down at them. They were traditional to say the least. She picked up the black slippers and white socks and put them to the side. Taking off her clothes and standing there in her underwear she began to get dressed. The pants were and pale ice blue with an elastic waist so it fit her hips. The bottoms also were elastic so they wouldn't drag in the dirt or get caught when she fought. She then put on the black slippers with socks. The top was just a simple peasant style the same colour as the pants, it had medium size straps and the cut at the front was square shaped. Over the top came an overcoat. It was black with red bordering on the panels. The neck was v-shaped and it had long splits on both sides up to her waist. Around her waist went a red ribbon. On the back she noticed was the picture of flying dragon, stitched with the same ice blue colour as that of her shirt. 'Looks like Haku' she thought admiringly.
"We'll what do you think?" Chihiro stepped out from behind the screen and looked at Lin for her approval. Lin looked at her 'she looks good' she thought.
"Looks good, but better on me of course." Chihiro sweat dropped. Lin rushed over to help her up.
"Are you okay, are you sick or something? That's the fourth time you've done that today."
Chihiro just groaned.
***
Ice, fire and shadows, she was trapped! She was surrounded in ice but it was not cold though, unable to move but aware of everything around her. She didn't know who she was but what she could see were flames, two slits of flames boring into her. From deep inside her welled an emotion, a need, she had to warn someone, there was danger and this person was unaware of the trap that she was walking into.
"Haku, there is nothing you can do..." 'I'm Haku?' she thought with confusion.
"I'm interested in meeting this human of yours, it should be amusing." Chihiro felt a swell of rage at what he was saying, the emotion wasn't hers though. The creature laughed and it echoed through her head, confused and not sure what was going on she tried moving. Surprisingly it worked this time. She looked down at her body; it was pale and ethereal, like the time when she almost disappeared. Looking around all she could see was darkness. Turning around she stiffened with shock. There hanging in the darkness trapped in a block of ice shaped like flames was Haku trapped, his body was still as if dead but his eyes burning with emotion told her part of him was alive.
"Haku!" she cried. Chihiro floated to the ice beating her hands on it. Looking into his eyes she saw that he was trying to tell her something. She turned around and all she could see was darkness but the eyes that were staring into her were flames that made her skin tingle and her mind fill with fear. It was getting closer; she could feel the heat caressing her face.
"Ah so you must be Chihiro, welcome indeed, I'm looking forward to meeting you." Chihiro though she could see nothing but pale darkness in all directions could sense him reaching out for her. Pressing her body back into the ice in an attempt to get away she closed her eyes and wished it all away.
Chihiro woke up shivering from a dream she couldn't remember. Fire, ice, shadows and the feeling of being trapped was all that she could dredge up, the rest eluded her. Sitting up she shook off the remnants of her dream. Not pondering on it she reached for a hairbrush. Dragging it through her long hair she finally finished. Tying it up into its usually style Chihiro quietly got ready to leave.
Standing on the railroad platform she could see the train coming in the distance, Lin who was already paddling back to the bathhouse called out.
"Take care Chihiro you dope!" Smiling she lifted her hand and waved. She looked at the train coming with determination; she would find him, wherever he was.
To be continued...
*Sorry about turning Chihiro into something of a warrior but she couldn't be completely wimpy or it wouldn't be that much of an adventure with her running away from everything. Besides if this story heads where I want it too there will be many adventures and near misses before she is re-united with her "friend" he he
Authors note: Sighs Well done another chapter reluctantly dragged out of my brain. Sorry it took so long but I've been very busy but I'm on holidays soon so there will be no more excuses left.
Please update and inspire me to continue ^^
Below are the translations for the terms I used. The style Isshin- Ryu is an actual form practice I did not make it up though I have made a few changes. If anyone actually does practise Bo I would welcome any advice about techniques or terms
Hajime: begin
Rei: bows
Yori ashi: feet shifting
Saki: tip of the bow
Moto: middle
Tokomine No Kun: a bo style of Kata, usually used on the left side
Rokushakabo: proper name for Bo but its a mouthful so I'll stick to the shorter version