Disclaimer: I don't own Spirited Away or any of it's characters.

Chapter 21: Return (home?) a.k.a Chihiro's 18th Birthday

Kohaku woke up to banging on the door, Chihiro was still fast asleep she was used to full day's sleep unlike Kohaku. Kohaku got up and opened the door it was Raki and Saki.

Kohaku yawned, "Hey haven't seen you two for a couple weeks." Since the wedding Raki and Saki came to Aburaya many times to see Kohaku and Chihiro, they considered Raki and Saki to be there nephew and niece. "Well come on in Chihiro is still sleeping."

"I'm still what?" said Chihiro walking up from behind Kohaku. "Hey how are my kids?"

"Good!"

"Good!"

"Can we go to the human world with you guys, only until your second wedding...Please?" asked both Saki and Raki together.

"Well I don't see why not do you Kohaku?" replied Chihiro

"Not at all, well come in relax, we've got to get ready," answered Kohaku.

Kohaku and Chihiro got dressed in their uniforms they didn't have any other clothes they could wear. Chihiro finally removed her school books from her backpack, they were in there for the past seven years. Chihiro put a couple extra pairs of clothes for her and Kohaku in the bag. And they left for Yu- Baaba's.

When they walked in Yu-Baaba's room they all saw that she was impatiently waiting for them. "What took you guys so long I figured you would be bugging me at 12 am, but no, not you two. Well what are you waiting for go! I want you back no later then three days after your second wedding. Ok?"

"Ok Yu-Baaba, could you please grant Saki and Raki passage as well, they would like to come too?" asked Chihiro.

Yu-Baaba seemed to soften up a little, "Well of course they can go. Don't you four look like just the perfect family." Yu-Baaba gave Chihiro a hug, much to Chihiro's surprise, "Oh... I mean five.... In this case I don't want you back for another six to nine months. But I advise that Saki and Raki return earlier." Yu-Baaba then hugged Kohaku, Saki, and Raki.

After Saki had closed Yu-Baaba's door behind them Kohaku said, "That was odd, very odd and disturbing."

"Yes I agree," agreed Chihiro.

"I melted her heart!" added Saki.

"It seems like you did," said Chihiro as she picked up Saki and carried him on her hip. Raki motioned to Kohaku who bent down, Raki climbed up on his back. "we must say good-bye to Kamajii," said Chihiro as they turned towards the boiler room.

When they walked in the boiler room Kamajii was awake waiting for them. "So all four of you are going? I wish you the best, Happy Birthday Chihiro! So when are you coming back," Kamajii yawned, he needed sleep.

"Yu-Baaba doesn't want us back for another six to nine months, and yeah all four of us are going," Replied Kohaku.

"What are you pregnant Chihiro? I mean nine months?" asked Kamajii.

Chihiro laughed, "I don't think so," then she frowned a little, but she was only 18 she had a few years before she had to start thinking of children. Right now Saki and Raki were enough. It was amazing how child like the two actually acted, they were hundreds of years old and still treated Chihiro, and Kohaku like parents.

"Well bye Kamajii," said Kohaku.

"Yes bye," chimmed in Raki and Saki.

Kamajii hugged Chihiro, "Bye my beautiful granddaughter."

Chihiro smiled, "Bye." They walked out of the boiler room . Saki and Raki had run ahead playing a game of tag.

"So you want a child? I mean I saw your face in the boiler room," asked Kohaku.

"Well yeah some day and you?" answered Chihiro

"Yeah someday, but for now these two are enough," Kohaku said with a laugh.

They were at the edge of town, Chihiro said nothing she just walked to the other side gripping Kohaku's hand This time, she thought, we don't have to separate.

In the tunnel Chihiro said, "Now there are some rules 1. Saki and Raki you must listen to us and anyone else who looks older then you. 2. be polite. 3. all three of you no using powers. 4. All of our friends, everyone we know in Spirit World, are Humans only when we talk about them to humans. And 5. Kohaku I'm going to call you Haku till we go home, my parents might remember the name Kohaku. Ok?" Everyone agreed as they stepped out of the tunnel.

It was almost noon when Chihiro walked up to the door of the little blue house and knocked. Kohaku was still holding Chihiro's hand but out of sight of anyone looking out of the door, Saki and Raki were behind him.

A lady opened the door. Chihiro recognized her in an instant It was her mom looking the same way she did seven years before. "Mom!"

Yuuko looked at Chihiro for a second and then said, "Oh Chihiro my baby your home!" Yuuko was just about to hug Chihiro when she noticed the hand Chihiro was holding. "Who's that?"

"This is Haku my...." Said Chihiro as she pulled Kohaku into view.

Yuuko interrupted, "Your kidnapper?!"

"No mom my fiancé, I ran away I never was kidnapped." Replied Chihiro.

"Well I'm not happy you ran away but I am happy your back." Said Yuuko as she hugged Chihiro, but she pulled away quickly, "Your Pregnant! Your at least three months pregnant! Your not married and your only 17 I can't believe you Chihiro!"

It was very bad timing on Saki and Raki's part, but they jumped out and asked, "Sen's pregnant?"

"Chihiro! You already have two children!" exclaimed Yuuko.

"No mom these are my Nephew and Niece Saki he is 5 years old and Raki is 6. And mom today is my 18th birthday." Replied Chihiro.

Yuuko was just about to yell more at Chihiro, when a little 5 year old boy walked up from behind Yuuko and asked, "Mom when is Lunch?"

Chihiro looked a little shocked, Yuuko replied, "In a minute dear, Takashi this is your older sister Chihiro, her boyfriend Haku, and these two are Raki and Saki. Come in you four it's lunch time."

They walked into the house it looked just the same as Chihiro remembered it. They all sat down at the table while Yuuko served lunch.

"Why are we eating now? The sun is up," asked Raki. Chihiro looked at all three she realized that they were all used to eating at night and 'Sleeping' (Chihiro was the only one who really slept) during the day.

Chihiro answered, "Here they sleep when the moon is up and eat and are awake when the sun is up." Chihiro could tell this visit was going to be harder then she had thought for all four of them. No one spoke, during the meal.

When lunch was finished Takashi asked, "Can we go play?"

"Can we?"

"Yeah can we?"

"Sen, Haku Please," asked both Saki and Raki.

Chihiro smiled, "If it is ok with Mom," they all looked at Yuuko, she nodded, "Have fun you three and be nice to Raki boys!" Chihiro yelled as the three ran off.

Yuuko didn't waist anytime, "Now Chihiro I don't approve of any of this, I mean your pregnant, 18, and not married."

Chihiro reached into her pocket and pulled out a poorly written marriage license Yu-Baaba wrote up for them knowing they might need it in the real world. Chihiro handed it to her mom, "Look mom we are already married, see we just wanted to have a second wedding with my family that's why I said Haku was only my fiancé, do you understand?"

"Yeah, yeah...but why did you run away? Why don't Saki and Raki eat lunch normally? And why did you wait so long to return?"

"I ran away because I overheard you and dad saying that I was crazy and you were going to take me to a clinic. Where we live and work, we sleep during the day and work at night though all three of them don't sleep much especially Haku. And I waited to return on my 18th birthday because you could no longer control my life and send me to a clinic, and it was in my contract. So where is dad?" Chihiro said.

"On business in Tokyo he'll be back in a month. So are you two happy, in love? And Chihiro how could you not know that you are pregnant I mean not having your period for three months should be a big hint?" asked Yuuko.

"My what..." Chihiro began but then she remembered what her mother was talking about, "Yes mom we are very happy and we love each other very much, but I never had a period in my life so that's why I didn't know I was pregnant, if I'm pregnant, earlier."

"Oh that is strange, well then I'll call the doctor and you'll go see him today. Now you do have money right this job of yours does pay right?" said Yuuko.

Chihiro thought a minute, "Money I don't have any, I don't think it is in my contract. Haku?"

"Well I've been paid semi-regularly but I think I only brought five or so gold pieces. And I know the details of your contract you only get paid what Yu-Baaba owes you if you leave Aburaya forever." Replied Kohaku.

"Chihiro...." Yuuko began.

"Mom don't start we have housing and food, I'm married and very happy I don't need money." Chihiro quickly interrupted, "Let's go for a walk Haku. Mom can you watch Saki and Raki? We'll be back before dinner."

Yuuko nodded as Haku yelled to Saki and Raki, "We're going out Saki, Raki! You two stay here with Granny!"

As Chihiro and Kohaku walked out the door they got an answering yell, "OK!"

Chihiro and Kohaku walked down the road heading towards town, "Your Mom's not very happy," said Kohaku.

"Yeah I know," replied Chihiro, "You'd think she would be happy."

"You would think that," He said, "Why is everyone looking at us?"

Chihiro smiled, "It's our clothes I think." There uniforms looked the same as when they were younger.

Kohaku pulled Chihiro into a small clothing store, "Then come on, I still owe you a birthday present."

"I'm beginning to think I owe you Kohaku, you did save my life when I was four." Chihiro replied.

About ten minutes later both Kohaku and Chihiro were trying on clothes, "Hey Kohaku do you know what size my pants are?"

"Size?" asked Kohaku confused.

"Kohaku these don't fit me.....I'm pregnant!" answered Chihiro. They went up to the cash register with two pairs of pants, and three shirts each, and also the same for Raki and Saki. There was a pre-spring sale so it didn't add up to, too much money. Kohaku handed the lady a gold piece.

"I'm sorry sir you can't pay with this." Said the lady.

"But it's gold," replied Kohaku.

"Well then you can exchange it at the bank across the street," said the lady.

"I'll go Kohaku, give me the gold," said Chihiro as Kohaku handed her a gold piece. Chihiro ran across to the bank and came back a half an hour later with $625.

"Every gram is $25 and that piece was 25 grams," Chihiro said walking back into the store. Chihiro handed the lady the $216 that they owed for the clothes. Chihiro and Kohaku left the store and walked back to Chihiro's house.

Chihiro stopped on a small bridge that went over grass. "I used to sit on these banks, on these banks of a dying river. Now I know what Mishu-Kapi meant when he said I would never return to his banks. Oh Kohaku this is going all wrong!" Chihiro said starring at the old river bed.

Kohaku held Chihiro, "I know, I know but look at the good side, someday came fast."

Chihiro smiled, "Yeah it did come fast didn't it. Let's go back to my mom's ok."

Kohaku nodded, they walked back up the hill to the little blue house. Chihiro opened the door, "We're home!"

Raki and Saki came running followed by Takashi, "Did you get us something?" They asked.

"I'm telling you Haku, they read minds," said Chihiro.

"Yes we did," said Kohaku handing them each a pile of clothes.

"They're beautiful, Thank You," Raki said as she hugged Chihiro and Kohaku.

"They're weird," said Saki holding up the clothes.

Raki elbowed him, "Be polite."

Kohaku laughed, "I know they are weird," Chihiro elbowed him, "Owe!... weird but that's what people here wear, so all of us will be wearing them till we return home."

"Yes so come on, lets go put on our new clothes," Said Chihiro leading the way to her old bedroom. Chihiro opened the door and stared at the room, "It's the exact same well that extra bigger bed wasn't in her but that's the only difference."

"We always hoped you would come back, eventually we used it as a temporary guest room, hence the big bed, till your returned," said Yuuko from behind them.

"Thanks Mom," replied Chihiro.

"No problem, when you four are dressed dinner is ready," Yuuko said as she grabbed Takashi's hand and went downstairs.

Ten minutes later Saki, Raki, Kohaku and Chihiro walked down the stairs and sat at the table. "I called your father after you left, he is coming home early, he should be here tomorrow night," Said Yuuko between bites of her dinner.

"That's good, I've missed him too," replied Chihiro.

"After dinner can I watch TV Mom?" asked Takashi.

"Yes but only one hour, school tomorrow remember," replied Yuuko

"Ok," said Takashi.

"TV?" asked Raki.

"What's TV?" asked Saki.

"You'll see after dinner, now do you two want to go to school?" replied Chihiro.

"School?" Raki, and Saki asked.

"Umm....." started Chihiro.

"It is a place were children learn, and spend time with other children," answered Yuuko.

"Umm...Ok," said Saki, with encouragement from Takashi

"Other girls?" asked Raki.

"Yes," said Kohaku with a glance at Chihiro. Chihiro nodded.

"Ok then," said Raki.

After dinner Raki, Saki, and Takashi sat on the floor in front of the TV, Takashi turned on a children's movie. Chihiro and Kohaku were sitting against a wall. Everyone except Takashi was amazed at the TV, including Chihiro, she hadn't seen TV for seven years.

When the hour was up Yuuko came in to pull all of them away from the TV. "Time for bed, Saki you will sleep in Takashi's room and Raki you can sleep in Chihiro's room with Chihiro and Haku, is that ok?"

"Ok," said everyone. Takashi, Saki, and Raki got up and walked out of the room. Saki and Raki gave Chihiro and Kohaku hugs.

Before Raki left the room she turned around and asked, "Schools not when the moon is up?"

Chihiro and Kohaku shook their heads. While Yuuko shooed them up the stairs. Kohaku held Chihiro close to him, and kissed her. After a minute he said, "So this is the Human world?"

"Yeah it is, not very nice is it?" replied Chihiro

"Looked better when I was a river spirit."

"I know what you mean before we moved here, it looked better. I'm very glad I went back, I don't think I could last here."

"I'm glad you came back to. But I would have come for you."

"I know, I know you would have."

"Let's go to bed, ok?"

"Your tired?"

"This world takes something out of you."

"Yeah your right, I never noticed it before." Said Chihiro as she pulled Kohaku up the stairs.