A/N: Oh my gosh! Someone reviewed my attempt! Thankyou! Smiles gratefully at BEAutiful reviewer Okay, this is my second chapter which I've worked pretty hard on. Sadly, I think I've given a little too much away, but never fear! The good stuff is coming! Please review, you have no idea how happy it makes me! If you review I will dance around my office like a crazy bumble bee! Okay, read!
Silver (IN) Sanity
Chapter 2 – A Spy
A soft glow emanated from the windows of the cottage. Unlike the semi palace that was home to Yubaba, Zeniba cared more for life than for lavish. Her cottage was homely, with a large area of well cared for land surrounding it, but it was very simple.
Zeniba was Haku's last chance. It had been three months since Chihiro had returned to her world. Haku missed her terribly. Every heartbeat, every cloud in the seemingly perfect blue skies, every ripple in the endless sea that separated them, reminded Haku of her. His love.
As he had told her he would do, he had gone to speak with Yubaba. She had deflated his dreams. She couldn't use another spell to control him, but he was still under contract and now she had something more powerful to manipulate him with. She held the key to him going into the human world.
Haku was apprehensive. Doubts of him ever escaping the bathhouse lurked in the back of his mind. With a deep breath, he raised his fist and knocked upon the door. A moment later it was thrown open and Haku was greeted by the sight of a large, but kindly looking old witch. Zeniba, the sister of his captor.
"Haku!" she cried, pulling him into a bear hug, before letting him go and looking at him closely. "What brings you hear? Not business of my sisters', I hope!"
Haku sighed, miserably. She looked concerned at his disdain, her smile vanishing as she ushered him inside and into a chair at the table. Lamps were glittering with warm welcome and a heavenly aroma drifted from the pot upon the stove. Haku looked up and noticed No Face watching him, curiously.
"No Face, could you make us some tea, please?" Zeniba requested, gently.
As No Face turned his attention to the teapot, Zeniba sat down beside the troubled young river spirit.
"What is the matter, Haku? I thought Chihiro had escaped successfully?" Zeniba questioned, anxiously.
"She did."
Zeniba peered into his eyes, noticing the sorrow and loneliness that dwelt there.
"Ah, you wanted to go with her?"
Haku looked up, sharply, shocked by how easily she had read him. As she raised an eyebrow, expectantly, he nodded.
Zeniba bit her lip. "I was afraid of this. Still, it was only to be expected," she said as No face pulled the teapot off the stove, summoning cups before him.
"You mean," Haku's heart ached at her tone, "there's nothing you can do?"
"Have you spoken with my sister?" Haku nodded again, knowing suddenly that she could not help him.
"And what did she say?"
"I'm under contract, it's as simple as that," Haku answered, his whole body writhing with grief.
This was it. His last hope. Dashed. Zeniba could not help him. No one could help him. He would never see her again.
"Yes, you are under contract. Until you are eighteen as least," Zeniba agreed, calmly.
"You mean, I'm free once I reach eighteen?"
A smile flickered across the old witch's face.
"I didn't think she would've told you that one. Yes, as you are in human form you will age. Once you reach eighteen, you require to sign another contract or you are free," Zeniba explained, her forehead creased in thought as No Face placed the tray on the table before them. She nodded in thanks and the eerie spirit slinked away.
As quickly as the flame of hope was ignited within Haku, it was extinguished. Eighteen. That was seven years away. Who knows where she might be by then? The human world was a huge and dangerous place. He might never find her even if he did escape the clutches of Yubaba. Zeniba mirrored his thoughts without a word.
"I'm afraid I can think of nothing else, Haku. You must wait until you can be freed. Once the time is right, you will go into the human world."
Haku thrust his hand through his dark hair in frustration.
"Anything could happen in seven years! What if she moves? What if she is harmed?" Haku demanded, desperately, aware that Zeniba was not the one to blame.
Zeniba grinned. "That is why we must make sure she does not wander far."
Haku's mind buzzed with confusion.
"How?"
"A spy my dear, a spy to keep watch over her until the time is right."
Now Haku's whole brain was reeling. A spy? Who? Zeniba was clearly not thinking straight.
"Zeniba, you cannot just send a spirit into the human world!" Haku retorted, obviously.
Zeniba snorted. "I know that. You assume so much Haku! Honestly! I'm not going to send a Spirit into the human world," she paused with a breezy laugh, "I'm going to send a human."
"Cain?"
Cain pushed the door of Chihiro's room open. She was leaning out of the open window, her mane of silky chestnut hair cascading over her shoulders. As he entered, he became the focus of her chocolate gaze.
"Hi," he greeted, softly.
She attempted a smile in return, but failed to fool either of them.
"Is everything okay?"
"Hmm."
Her eyes returned to the view out of the window. She had been very distant today at school. It was probably why Cain had stopped by. As moments of intense silence passed by, she decided to apologise.
"Sorry I was so out of it today. I just got a lot on my mind."
Cain sat down on her bed, wishing she would turn around and smile. He hated to see her so obviously miserable.
"Like what?" he pushed, curiously.
"Nothing interesting."
Cain laughed. "Chihiro, I'm your friend, I'm here to listen, whether interesting or not."
She moved from the window to her bed, throwing herself down beside him with a graceful jump. As she landed, Cain noticed something glitter that was clutched in her fist. For some unknown reason, his heat skipped a beat and a stranger wave of fear washed over him.
"Have you ever had a déjà vu?" She asked, gazing up at him, propping her chin upon her elbows.
"Yeah, why?"
Chihiro took in his confused expression. She was making a big deal out of nothing, she knew that, but somehow she just didn't want to let go of this strange feeling.
"It's just, this morning I was looking in my closet for my red sketchers and I found this," she opened her fist, revealing a purple hair tie that glittered as the sunlight hit it.
Cain's eyebrows furrowed. It was just a hair tie, but he suddenly had a terrible feeling. It was only his curiosity that kept him from snatching the hair tie from her and hurling it out the window.
"Yeah, so?" he asked, reminding himself to appear nonchalant.
"Well," she paused, considering what to say. "Oh never mind. Forget it."
She went to sit up, but Cain laid his hand upon her arm.
"No, tell me. It's obviously important to you."
She sighed, looking down at the hair tie.
"This'll sound stupid, but when I saw it I felt weird. Like I was having a déjà vu. And now, the more I look at it, the stranger I feel," she attempted to explain, her cheeks burning with embarrassment at how she sounded.
"Oh."
Chihiro felt stupid. It was stupid and Cain obviously thought she was going mad. She pushed her hair out of her face and dropped the hair tie on her bedside table.
"Oh, please forget I just said that," she mumbled with a nervous giggle. "Do you want to go get some ice cream?"
Cain smiled. "Sure."
Chihiro got up, walking to the door.
"Cool. I'll grab my sneakers."
Cain glanced at the hair tie as they reached the door.
"Uh, you go ahead, I'm just gonna use the bathroom. Only be a second," he lied, with a smile.
"Okay," Chihiro answered, lightly, jogging down the stairs.
With a conspicuous glance to check the coast was clear, Cain backtracked into the bedroom, stopping at the bedside table. He knelt down and picked up the hair tie, inspecting it with disgust. He grinned, his lips curling evilly.
"Nice try Haku, very clever," he stuffed the hair tie in his pocket and stood up straight, "but she's mine now."
With that he exited the room, Chihiro's only clue of Haku's existence, crammed in his pocket.