Paths of the Heart

Okay everyone. Welcome to my world. Its kind of a scary place, esp. without a guide. Anyway, I wrote this because I am one of those people who is devoted to stories with happy endings that consist of two parts. 1) The story has a happy ending, and 2) the guy always gets the girl. It is just something that has to happen. And I hate those stories that end with the lovebirds always promising that they will remember each other, or that they will always be with each other, in thought (Not to mention any names- Escaflowne!) or that they will meet again some day(Such was the end of Spirited Away). Those drive me up a wall (unless the author really does plan to write a sequel where the two of them get together, and then in my opinion they need to hurry up and get it over with, for those of us devoted-to-happy-ending people). But I am attempting to write this after having seen the movie one and a half times, exactly, so bear with me. This is also my first, (and most likely pitiful) attempt to write a fan fiction. (There is a story behind that as well, but for now we'll just let that lie so that I can get on with this, agreed? And for those of you who have not figured it out already, I am one of those people who tends to ramble, your forgiveness please. If you are going to continue reading these though, I should warn you. GET USED TO IT NOTHING IS GOING TO CHANGE Well, maybe not. I guess I should explain the reason behind this whole thing. I know that there are a lot of stories about Haku and Chihiro getting back together, but all of them consist of him going into her world to stay or find her. Why the hell not the other way around for goodness sake?!! So here is my version of it.

Disclaimer: And before I get in trouble, let's get something else straight. I DO NOT own Spirited Away, or Escaflowne. I own nothing except Tanner. Zip. Zero. Zilch. And any resemblance to other characters and/or real people that may occur is purely by accident.

And just as a side note, this will probably end up rated a PG-13 due to some mild language and the mention of suicide and most likely death. It might also get a little gory toward the end. I don't know yet, seeing as I have not gotten that far. Kapeesh?

Chapter 1-Daydreams?

Chihiro stared out the window of the school, recalling the first time she had set foot in this building, recalling the first time she had set foot in this town. And recalling everything that had led up to all of it. Her hand wandered to the end of her pony tail, and she slipped the tie off, shaking the braid out of her dark chestnut hair. Bored beyond belief and completely zoned out from what ever the teacher might have to say, she stretched and pulled the shimmering scarlet tie, rolling it between her fingers as half formed memories rolled through her mind.

She vaguely remembered who had given it to her, and remembered that they had meant something to her. She could see them, hazy as they were, in her mind. A mouse, and a fly, and an old woman, rather ugly. And she could see a dragon, scales sparkling white and blue, and a boy, green eyes bright, blue black hair framing his face as he spoke words that she could no longer recall, except for the fact that they consisted of some sort of promise that she could not remember any more, and that he had obviously not kept.

Then Chihiro snorted at her own foolishness. All of those things connected to the simple hair-thing in her hands. The one thing that convinced her that it had been a dream was the thought that her parents had managed to get themselves turned into pigs somehow in the process. Like that could ever happen. Idylly she stretched the band out again, wondering at what point in her life she had had that crazy dream...

"Chihiro!"

The teachers voice cracked like a whip at the exact same moment ther tie slipped from her fingers, snapping sharply against the fingers of her other hand and prompting her to shield the offended appendages in her mouth. She looked up to meet Mr. Nakasuki stern eyes, and realized that she must have snorted just a little loud and announced the fact that she was daydreaming. Shit. Odds were he would ask her a question now that she did not know the answer to. Serves her right though. Still, it had been a nice dream, as long as it had lasted. The boy had been kind of cute...now who did she know that she might have based him off of...?

"Since you appear to already know the lesson, perhaps you would not mind telling us what effect the colonization of the Americas had on 18th century Japan?"

After school she collected her books and walked away from her locker, still absently twisting the tie in her hands. Something in the back of her mind registered the feet pounding up behind her, and another part of it dismissed them. Only the hand that appeared on her shoulder was enough to finally shake her from her thought world.

"Nakai-aki gave you the heavy end of the hammer today, didn't he?"

Tanner was an American foreign exchange student, and stood out like a sore thumb. Most of the students at school didn't like him, but Chihiro had learned to tolerate him. Unfortunately, he often saw her tolerance as acceptance, and took full advantage of it, seeking her out whenever he could, and often showing up at inconvenient or even embarrassing times. Or when she simply wanted to be alone, like right now. He seemed to posses a sixth sense for these times in particular.

Not wanting to be rude or hurt his feeling though, she sighed to herself. "Ya, he did, though I guess it sort of serves me right. I should pay attention, even if I don't want to. I need good grades if I want to get into a decent college of any sort. Wish there was an easier way though."

"Maybe there is."

The sly tone of voice used on those words was not lost on her, and she looked at him out of the corner of her eye. "O, really, and what would that be?"

For a moment something seemed to spark in his brown eyes, and the innocence that she had always associated with him was replaced by something else, something almost...sinister. It sounded as though his voice had changed too, becoming smooth and persuasive in contrast to its normal keening whine. "I could help you. With your work... give you the answers, or show you how to get them for yourself. As smart as you are, it wouldn't take you that long to catch on, and then you could have time to do other things. Like getting a boyfriend maybe? I bet with a little bit of work you could catch Masuzu's eye like you've been wanting too..."

The image of the cute senior was clear as crystal, and she grinned and blushed. He pressed on, "Or maybe someone even better?"

Then what he had said finally hit her, and she wheeled on his, enraged at what she had though was one of her private daydreams put into words that any casual passerby might hear. And what her rivals could do with that knowledge! "How on earth do you know that? And what are you talking about? Who could be better than Masuzu?" and then as an afterthought, "And why do you think that I need your help? I was doing just fine by myself before you ever came along, and I'm sure I can keep it up alone!"

He shrank away from her, the annoying whine back where it had always been. "Well, it was just a thought. I could help you, I really could. Or maybe you could help me? Please? I could really use some."

Confused, Chihiro turned and marched away. Why on earth would the smartest kid in the school need her help? Then she had to bite her tongue as the truth hit home, and all of his words made sense. He had a crush on her, and he wanted to spend time with her! That was all it was. And he just didn't know how to tell her, the poor thing. He was pretty pathetic, especially compared to Masuzu. Glancing over her shoulder to make sure that he was well out of sight and earshot, she finally gave in. She would apologize tomorrow for what she had said. After all, she really could use some help.

Well... that's the end of the first chapter.... Ummm.... I would really appreciate some feedback from somebody... anybody.... If anybody likes it I'll go ahead and post the next chapter...

Until then...

Kat