Disclaimer: I do not own Spirited Away but I do own my Ocs.

I've been working on this chapter for a month now! My mocks coming up so it's slow going. Anyways, I've looked around and all fics are centred on Chihiro and Haku getting together. I wanted to see a different prospective so I've done it like this. I hope you like my style, it's quite strange. I think so anyway. Chihiro would only properly be in this chapter. She would be mentioned now and then but she won't actually be there. You'll see why. I hope you enjoy this!

A Different Time

by Mimi

Are You Who I think You Are?

''Time is different between worlds. While a year for me passes, maybe a day for you, or even 10 years. It isn't clear why, as calculations have never been made. However, those who stray into our world, find themselves in a different time when they return. Time is forever changing, as another might leave their world and return only a few minutes later. So, my only conclusion is that the time link between the two worlds speed up sometimes and slows down other times. Therefore, there is no accurate way of knowing if you will be in your own time or not when you return.''

'A Journey Through Time and Space' Philosopher Augustine, 1886 Berlin

Chihiro sat at the back of her car, thinking about the spirit world. She hoped she will see Haku again. He promised her. But as the car went back out of the woods, she found it slightly strange, how the dust can settle like that in two days. It confused her, also, she can't remember the roads being so... different, but then again, she only went through these roads once. 10 minutes from the place where she entered a new reality, she arrived at her new house. It seemed peculiar, the windows were boarded up, the weeds on the lawn had grown out of hand. The blue paint on the walls were also peeling.

''It didn't look like that in the picture!'' Chihiro's mum said, her eyes wide in shock.

Nonetheless, they stopped the car and went up to the house. Her dad fumbled for the keys and finally, after finding them, unlocked the door. A load of settled dust blew out, covering the man in clouds of dust motes. He coughed several times then looked in.

''Looks like the furniture has been placed in, the people must have covered them in a white cloth. Come on, lets check out if any things missing.'' he coughed as he stepped inside the house. His wife followed while Chihiro stared at everything in wide eyed shock. She shook her head and thought about everything she's been through. A new house is a piece of cake and it's really close to the entrance to Haku's world.

She cautiously walked into the living room and stared at a newspaper that sat on a cloth covered table. The headline shocked her, ''Mum! Dad! Look at this newspaper!''

Parents and Child go missing.

They were last seen leaving their old home. The Mover's van was ahead of them, however, they never arrived at their new home. The furniture was placed in the house and the moving van left. The family was never found and if any one has any idea where they are, please contact this number, 07728362658.

There was a picture above, showing the three of them.

Chihiro's father ran towards the television and pulled the cloth off. He pressed the on button and switched to the news channel. The corner of the screen showed a date.

Chihiro took a step back, ''But, that's two years after we left home!''

Mayu yawned. It was mid afternoon and she sat by her grandmother's grave writing an assignment on dreams. It was simple, what did you dream about during the week and what symbolism might that have. She loved the area her grandmother's grave was situated. It was under a sakura tree and the shade fell over it, mottled with patches of sunlight. It was also a very peaceful area and she couldn't help loving it.

Her grandmother had died a week ago. She was 82 and old age had claimed her soul. Upon her death bed, she asked to speak to Mayu on her own. So the lady told her about a story of when she was young, how she left her home and school and moved to another one at the age of 10. But something wonderful happened between the move, she met a dragon boy in another world and how she had to save her parents who had turned into pigs. The story confused the young teen and at first, Mayu had thought it was the words old a woman who had a few screws loose. But her grandmothers words were convincing and Mayu had settled herself down comfortably to hear the rest of the story. Her grandmother talked about how in the end, she got her parents back but in order to return to her original world, she had to leave the boy behind as his river no longer existed. She was sad to leave him but he promised to see her again soon. So her grandmother left the spirit world but when she returned, she had found that time had changed.

''I remember waiting for Haku to return but as I waited, I never saw him. I went to where the Kohaku river used to be but I still couldn't find him. His river is still there though, I did my own research and it's running through the cavernous areas underneath. The river itself has an upper surface and a lower surface. I think Haku couldn't get back because he can't remember why the upper half of his river was filled in. I couldn't find access to the lower underground half... I searched but I never found a way to see his river. By the time I was 15, I felt strong enough to go back to tunnel to go to his world. However, when I got there, I found the tunnel door was gone. I felt really upset. I waited and waited and for the next 12 years, I didn't even see him. Then I met your granddad and I finally realised that I would never see him again. I missed him lots but he's still in my memory and although your granddad is a lovely man, I still think of Haku, and I wish I can see him. All these years, I never forgot and now, even as I'm telling you this, Mayu, I'm thinking back to my time in the spirit world. Mayu, if you ever find yourself in a situation like mine, think back to this story and as a last favour, remember this story as you're the first to hear and I've made a record in my diary as I haven't told you everything. Read it, it's yours now. It would make a lovely story for your children. Never let go of those you love as you may never get to tell them how you really feel.''

Mayu closed her eyes in pain as she remembered how her grandmother had closed her eyes and how her breathing slowed down till it was barely visible and how the breathing stopped all together. Mayu knew she should have called someone sooner, a nurse or doctor, maybe there was a slight hope for her grandmother but from the smile on the old lady's face, she knew that wherever she was now, it was a better then here. So Mayu held onto the slightly warm hand and cried till a nurse came in to check up on the aged woman.

Mayu wiped away her tears and read the description on her grandma's grave, 'To a loving mother and grandmother, we will miss you lots.' and Mayu read the last bit, ''Chihiro''

She recalled a strange incident two days ago when she went over to the now empty house of her grandmas. There was a map and a purple band in her grandmother's diary and a place that was near deserted but near a main road was circle. After hearing the story, she felt sure it might be the tunnel to the spirit world. She was so sure, she knew she had to find out for sure – by going through there.

Mayu woke up, early morn. She had already packed her rucksack for her adventure. She placed her grandmothers diary and map, there was some useful things and landmarks of the spirit world that intrigued her. She packed some rope, paper, pen, a mini first aid kit and some food provisions. Better safe than sorry, she thought as she slipped her already charged phone into the front section of her bag. It was a school day and she was thinking of bunking off, it wasn't like many people would notice really, and her mum just lets her be. She was just about to leave her room when she thought of her school uniform. It wasn't appropriate wear, so she ran back, grabbed a pair of shorts and a t shirt to stuff in her bag.

She ran downstairs in her school skirt and shirt. Her mum hardly glanced up and continued to drink her coffee and breath in the horrible smell of the burning cigarette in her right hand as her left casually flicked the pages of the paper. Her dad lived in the other side of Japan so she grabbed a cookie from the biscuit tin and walked out the door without saying a word. A minute later, the window opened and her mum's head poked out, ''You better not call me today! I'm in a conference and catch a bus home, k? I don't have time to give you a lift to and fro!''

Mayu looked back and answered with a quick ''Yes'' before walking back down the road. She went to the train station, a few blocks away and got out her map. Usually, for a school day, she would take train number 28, to the local school but since that wasn't where the tunnel was, she took number 59.

The journey took around ten minutes and she arrived near a road with many junctions. Once again, she took out her maps and walked in the general direction of the entrance. Once, she stopped to ask a old man, ''Sir, where can I find this area?''

He looked at her oddly, ''Why would you want to go there of all places? Shouldn't you be in school?'' He eyed her uniform.

''School geography trip,'' she answered smoothly.

''Well, two minutes away, up this road and a sharp turn to the right. You'll see little spirit houses just by the corner.'' he said before moving on.

Mayu smiled, she read something about them in the diary. She waved goodbye before continuing. Just as the man had said, miniature houses clumped together by the gnarled roots of a big tree. She followed the slightly overgrown route towards the tunnel. As she was walking, she noticed there was a few funny statues. They were creepy looking and she can't remember learning about them in mythology lessons. Anyhow, she walked on. It felt like half an hour when she got to the end. There was much more weeds and plants then her grandma had described but anyhow, she fought her way over to the red wall.

''I wonder...'' she whispered. She brushed at some plants and a blackness seemed to reach out to her. Using both her hands, she shoved as much of the weed away and saw a rough cut of a door leading into a darkness.

Mayu stepped back in surprise, she didn't think she would really find it. Why had she found it again and her grandmother not? She thought back to what her grandma had written and made up her mind. It's not like my mum would miss me and dad doesn't get in contact with me often, she thought. She took a step in and was intermediately thrown back by the mustiness of the tunnel. It was dry and a slight breeze was blowing through. She breathed deeply and continued walking. It wasn't long before she reached the end of the tunnel. There was a big room with a dried up small bird bath like thing in the middle and a door at the end that led out to the grass. Mayu made her way to the exit and as she stepped out into the sun, she gasped.

''Wow! It's so clean here. No pollution, no bad smell and no cars!'' she looked around in amazement, miles of grass, half flattened due to the breezy wind. She traced her grandmothers steps and soon reached a small running river with random boulders across it. She nimbly stepped across, thanking her agile nature. Mayu walked calmly to the borders of what looked like a very abandoned and empty town.

''Well, I haven't read any further than this in the diary. I might as well read the next few pages before continuing. If this is really gran's spirit world, no doubt many things could happen.'' she said to herself. She sat on the grass nearer to the boulders and took out the diary. The girl brushed her long brown locks behind her head and laid back.

It was a long time before she felt a tingling sensation on the back of her neck, as if she was being watched. The sky was darkening, the lights fading and she didn't notice before but lights were turning on. She slowly closed the book and lifted herself up. There was no one in front of her so she slowly turned round.

Mayu scrambled up as a pair of catlike emerald eyes stared curiously at her. She stepped back and observed the person in front of her. He was taller than her and probably older. He wore blue trousers lined with silver at the end and a cream colour short sleeve shirt that hung loosely. Mayu found his hair strange, almost shoulder length a black brown with faint green highlights. But what she found most striking was the eyes. They bore into her with some intensity which she couldn't understand.

It was when she heard the strange trickling sound like water and his feline eyes widen that she thought to look behind her. The small river had turned into a sea, and there was no grass behind her. Just the beginning of a long stretch of water. Far across was a city of bright lights and boats were travelling from far away. She looked down at herself in bewilderment. Mayu had only read as far as her great grandparents pigging out part. Chihiro had placed a lot of description in her dairy. Her legs were transparent and she was beginning to feel very light.

The strange boy took a step over and stretched out the palm of his hand, a small round thing that reminded Mayu of chocolate sat there.

''Eat it.'' he said in a calm, but slightly icy voice.

Mayu looked at him in a puzzled way, ''Are you sure? I don't think I should be taking food off strangers, what is it an-''

Before the girl could finish the word "anyway", the guy closed the space between them with amazing speed and shoved the round thing in her mouth. She swallowed it, pulling a face.

''What was that? Drugs? What's happening?'' she asked, her eyes cast a worried look about her. She looked back at her feet and it was all solid again. Mayu looked back up, he was staring at her curiously. Almost like he was judging her.

Finally, he said something, ''Chihiro?'' he whispered, almost like it wasn't directed to Mayu.

''I'm not Chihiro...''

''Then who are you?'' He snapped, she almost stepped back but remembered that there was water behind her. He looked at her in a way that reminded her of a cat and mouse. He continued, ''You look like her, I can sense her within you but there's something that's different...''

''You think I'm her because we're actually related. My name is Hitari Mayu. What is yours?'' she asked as polite as she could.

''My name is Nigihayami Kohaku Nushi but many just call me Haku. I'll take you back to the bath house and you can sort yourself out before explaining to me where Chihiro is and what you're doing here.'' he turned and walked towards the town. Mayu, not very sure what to do followed a bit behind.

Haku? She thought to herself, isn't this the same guy who grandma fell in love with? How can I tell him she's dead? She studied her surroundings and found it odd how black transparent things served foods to strange inhabitants. Not wanting to seem rude, she turned back to the boy named Haku.

His movements were precise and powerful. She found it almost frightening, he was predator like in some movements but also human in others. It confused her.

She was so busy thinking, she didn't noticed he had stopped and walked right into him. She jumper back, ''I'm so sorry! I was thinking so didn't really not-'' Mayu stopped as she saw he was eyeing her with amusement. She gave him a slightly embarrassed look then observed her surroundings. There was a well lit bridge in which many things were crossing and a really tall house. The design was from the older periods, she thought.

''This is the bathhouse. I will take you to someone and you will get some rest. I will talk to you in the morning.'' he said before walking over the bridge. Mayu just followed and she stared in wonder at the short people who stood outside the entrance of the bath house yelling welcome.

One in particular walked up to Haku, ''Welcome back, sir. I see you've brought back one of them. Yubaba will throw a fit so please do keep her in check.'' the frog like guy said, wrinkling his nose at Mayu.

Haku answered coolly, ''Yubaba cannot do much while I'm here. You, get back to your post.'' The frog like person scrambled back to the bridge.

As they entered the bathhouse, Mayu heard a loud shriek and a flying purple thing soar down the stairs. The thing stopped and landed in front of them, Mayu stepped back in surprise when she saw it was a old woman with a face that's as big as her body.

The old woman had grey hair tied back in a massive bun. Her nose was long and hooked, her hands covered in rings looked like gnarled roots of a long dead tree. Her eyes were large and had been overdone with lilac eye shadow.

The woman shrieked again and pointed one wrinkled finger at Mayu, ''You nasty dragon! I felt some filth crawl over the borders, however, I didn't think it was a certain annoying bug! You brought her back didn't you, Haku! You brought Sen back over to our world!''

Rage filled the woman's face and her finger lighted up in a bright orange blaze. Before Mayu had time to react, a fire ball was coming right at her. It was all very fast, she felt strong hands grip hers and drag her with incredible speed pass the woman and down a lot of stairs. Mayu saw only blurs and wondered how he can move so fast, as all she could really see was Haku racing through rooms, doors opening on their own accords and shutting after them. Soon, they reached a boiler room.

He stopped, appearing to be normal, while Mayu gasped for oxygen.

She only just noticed the six legged creature. And right after that, the black things walking around. They were soot balls and they jumped around her in a gleeful manner.

Haku said, ''Kamanji, look after her and send Rin (a/n: pronounced as Lin) to take care off her. She's to stay with Rin tonight and I will send for her tomorrow. Do not let anything happen to her, she has information regarding Chihiro.'' he left as quick as he arrived, only a gust of air to remind Mayu that he was only half a metre away a second before.

''Kamanji,'' she asked, ''Who exactly is Haku?''

Haku walked up to Yubaba, who was fuming by the bathhouse entrance.

He said icily, ''That was not Chihiro. She is a relative.''

''I do not care! She has the wretch's blood!'' Yubaba screamed.

The dragon boy narrowed his eyes, ''Do not speak of Chihiro like that, or I'll rip you apart, limb from limb.''

She glared at him then flew back up to her rooms.

The spider like creature turned his kind old face towards the girl, ''Haku is many things... he changes quickly and it's a bad idea to get on his bad side.''

''I know Chihiro. Were they in love?'' Mayu asked.

Kamanji looked at her and smiled, ''Yes, it was an innocent love. In the last 4 years, Haku has been trying to get stronger. He can't contact Chihiro for some strange reason so he puts it down as being weak. How old are you anyway?''

''I'm 15, but 16 in eight months.'' she answered.

''Well, Chihiro must be a cousin. She never mentioned any sisters and she should be 14 now. Haku was 12 back then.''

Mayu looked curiously at Kamanji, she chose not to tell him about grandma's death. ''Well, does Haku own this place? I know that big lady was shooting things at me.''

''Ah, Yubaba has a personal vendetta against Chihiro. No doubt inside the witch loves the girl but she sooner shoot Chihiro down then admit it. Yubaba use to own this place. Haku challenge her when Chihiro left. He turned into a dragon and they fought with spells and strength. It lasted days of continuing fighting. They were evenly matched and both tiring. A truce was made, Haku now owns half and he gave more equal rights to workers and introduced days off. He's stronger than Yubaba now but even he has enough compassion to let her keep her share. Workers like him but also fear him because of his power.''

''Oh. I see.'' Mayu said as Rin came walking in. She had long brown hair tied loosely. Her eyes were a hazel colour and her lips red. She wore the standard bathhouse cleaner cloths, a red japanese style top and shorts.

She placed her hands on her hips and said, ''I've been hearing lots of funny things upstairs. Haku sent me down here, said I was to look after someone. He looked troubled. So who's been causing so much noise?'' she looked at Kamanji then at the girl next to him. ''Oh, my!''

she ran towards Mayu and hugged her tightly. ''Chihiro! You're back!''

Mayu slowly struggled out, ''My name is Hitari Mayu. I know Chihiro, but I'm not her.''

''Oh, I'm so sorry. You're almost the same. But, you have a more sharp face.'' Rin smiled. ''A friend of Chihiro is a friend of mine.''

Kamanji smiled, ''Well, you're to look after her till tomorrow.'' The soot balls ran up to Mayu and tugged her shoes and socks off.

Rin led Mayu out of the boiler room and towards the lift. They entered a lift and Rin held a lever down. Mayu felt herself almost fall over as the lift went up. The lift stopped outside servant's quarters. They took a left turning to where the woman, such as female lost spirits and yunas stayed. Rin led her to a room and took out a bed. She laid it on the floor. It was a thin mattress, different to those Mayu was used to. She was given a blue blanket and pillow and some pyjamas to change into.

After she was changed, many of the workers had came in and prepared for sleep. Some wrinkled their noses at her.

''Rin, who is that smelly human you brought back?'' a spirit with ice blue hair and eyes walked in.

''Kita! (a/n: Kita means north. The north is cold right? There you go, one ice spirit!) You weren't here when Chihiro was. She and Haku were close. Now her relative has came through the borders. Don't worry, a day or two and her smell would be gone. Mayu, I'm not saying you smell but humans smell... well, humanish for the first few days then they become slightly more spirit.'' Rin said.

Mayu smiled, ''I see. For a minute there, I thought you were going to accuse me for not having a bath before I go to bed or something!''

''Whatever, Rin. To tell you the truth, I don't really care about Haku. I'm going to sleep, I'm absolutely knackered.'' Kita said as she looked at Mayu in a cold way. Mayu looked back at her, not backing down.

''Hey, don't worry about it. Kita came here two years ago. Said she needed a job. Haku employed her and being the ice spirit she is, she isn't exactly social. But she's a great friend if she lets you in. So, tell me about Chihiro, any way you can get her into the spirit world? I miss her so much.'' Rin said.

Mayu glanced on the floor. ''Um, how many years have passed since Chihiro was last here?''

Rin looked surprise at the question. ''Well, four. Why?''

''Four only? Do you spirits age?''

Rin looked even more confused, ''Only if we want to. We don't die of old age, Mayu. We can't die unless we are killed through weapon, sorcery or poisons of some sort. I've looked like this for years. Before I came to the bathhouse. I'm probably over 100. Haku's a river spirit and a recent one too. In theory though, he's extremely young for a river as his river was created after an earthquake.''

Mayu looked very uneasy, ''Well, in my world, Chihiro isn't what she used to be.''

''What do you mean?''

''If Chihiro is now 82, then wouldn't it be right to say that Haku should be that old since his river is in my world?''

Rin shook her head, ''No. Because the borders between the worlds are weaker in some places and non existent in others. Because the Kohaku river is deep underground and far away from human influence, the time doesn't run there no more. It's still, things move but things don't age. If you lived there, you wouldn't grow a year.'' Rin then looked strangely at the little girl, ''Wait... did you say Chihiro is 82?!?'' she screamed.

Mayu leapt up and pushed the woman onto the floor, covering her mouth. Luckily, no one heard as they were all asleep. ''Don't say it so loud! I don't think time is the same between the two worlds. Years has gone since Chihiro left. I'm her grand daughter. She's dead now. Of old age.''

Rin looked sadly at the floor, tears sprouting from the hazel eyes.

Haku sat on the balcony outside his room. He had often looked up at those stars and wished that Chihiro would return. Are you who I think you are? He thought to himself. This girl looked so like her, only there was a fire in this girl Chihiro never had. Chihiro was gentle and soft but there was a rough edge to this newcomer even the girl herself probably didn't notice. He was so sure it was her who was reading earlier today by the the grass. He so wanted it to be her but when there was no familiar greeting, he knew it wasn't her. Even now, he was wondering if the girl downstairs is Chihiro or not. She said she wasn't but maybe she was, maybe Chihiro had some memory lost or a spell cast over her. Haku shook his head. It was pathetic to come up with excuses. Tomorrow, he will know. For now, he will wish. He stared at the stars and whispered, ''Chihiro, are you here?''

Thank you for reading! I love you soooo much! If you review with any problems, I'll sort them out. Tell me if you liked It or not, so I can change my style according to what you want to read. Is it good? Or bad? Plz tell me, my darlings! I'm going for a cereal bar now. I'll update asap. Lets see how Haku takes Chihiro's death! Don't get me wrong, I love Chihiro and Haku pairings, it's just that I wanted to see what would happen this way. I might try a ChihiroxHaku after this. Loves you lots,

Mimi xxx