Chapter 3: Incomplete Reunion

By, azngurlenluv

A/N: I would have uploaded this sooner, but something was either wrong with my computer or my account… Ff.net wouldn't let me load… Anyways… Woo!!! I actually got Chapter 3 done!!! I've surprised myself, hehe… Halfway through this, I really got some momentum, so it turned out better than I thought it would. I actually sort of have this whole thing planned out!!! That still won't save me from writer's block, though… Thanks very much to those who took the time to review! Much appreciation from me!

ElvenPrincessOfLegolas: The wait was cut short! Thanks for your review! I'm very flattered… //^_^// -(supposed to be a blush…)

Jadae Boyd: The reason that I made Chihiro so "pathetic" was because I like to think that the love that she shares with Haku is a strong and everlasting bond. Maybe I should have warned you that I myself am a hopeless romantic, and like I said before, unfulfilled love is a sad thing and can move people to tears despite the fact that they have been apart in terms of distance and a lot of time. About the Lin/Rin thing, the only way I can even watch Spirited Away is in Japanese with subtitles on it. But the thing is, you probably watched it with the 1st set of subtitles that comes up when you turn them on if you have the same kind of DVD that I do. These subtitles follow the English script and have the sound effects shown because they are for the hearing impaired. The subtitles I read when I watch it is the 2nd set that pops up when you push the subtitle button a second time. These subtitles follow the original Japanese script and don't show any of the sound effects, and it is from that script that I based my story. Plus, I checked the spelling with ElvenPrincessOfLegolas, and she confirmed that I had it right.

Raye-Rei: Sorry, but you're going to have to wait on the Haku/Chihiro seeing each other again thing… =(

ennovymoon: The lemon chapter? Hmmm… It all depends on where this story goes. If I decide to keep it short, then the lemon chapter will be towards the end, short meaning

about 5 or 6 chapters. If I figure that I want to extend it, I'd add a chapter that contains lots of fluff or add another lemon chapter… **returns perverted smile** But then again, I'm starting to get the most-feared disease that we call writer's block, so it's still all up to my mind and when it decides to get its creative juices flowing…

GundamNymph: This is another chapter, and it's a bit longer than usual, so hah! I'm saved from your plot bunnies! For now… Wait, what's a plot bunny??? ?_?

TeaRoses: Well, you didn't have to wait as long as I thought, and Lin is in this chapter!

Silenceisnotanoption: I've read your story, and although I haven't seen all of Cowboy Bebop, I think it's very good. I haven't reviewed yet, but I will!!!

Robin, Harpie138, Adam 'Sexy Boy' Laurent, Blue, YueMichiruNaragisawaMiko, Kitty Sweetheart, Joan Mistress of Magic, accursed-angel:  Woo!!! I posted!!! Here's an update!!! **backs away from Harpie138** Put away that butcher knife! You could hurt someone! =P

And to those of you who want to know when Haku is going to show up, well, let's just say that I'm getting impatient as well and leave it at that. I have long Author's Notes, ne? Please R&R!!! =)

Disclaimer: I do not own Spirited Away. It belongs to Miyazaki-san and Studio Ghibli. I am not making any money from this. I am only writing for my own enjoyment and for the enjoyment of people who take the time to read my writings. Please do not sue as I am under 18 and do not, by law, own anything.

Enjoy yourself. =)

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Images floated through her mind as Chihiro slipped in and out of her dreamworld. The heavenly illusion of her parents hugging her once more was interrupted occasionally by the voice that had saved her. 'Lin...' she remembered. There were times when she knew what went on around her, and yet, she could not bring herself to open her eyes. She saw fleeting visions of Lin's face and the face of what looked like an elderly man. There was an occasional kind hand that fed her and poured some water into her parched throat, and she allowed tears to slip out of her closed eyes as a way of expressing her thanks for being looked after with such care.

~*~*~

Chihiro's eyes fluttered open as she woke up to the sound of grinding and to heat that was almost unbearable. She felt a thick comforter over her and moved to kick it off to relieve herself of some of the heat that seemed to stifle her. As her vision began to focus on her surroundings, she lifted her head a bit and saw a wall that reached all the way up to the ceiling which hovered high above the ground. She blinked as she noticed notches and cracks in the wall, and she suddenly realized that the thing she was looking at was more than just a wall. It was a wall that had drawers inserted into it, and she was more than sure about what the drawers contained.

She sat up and stretched as the grinding noise in the background continued. She twisted her upper body around to the right to be greeted by the familiar sight of the back of the boiler man who had stuck his neck out for her so many years ago. Turning back a bit, she noticed the susuwatari hard at work as they trudged to and fro from their little homes, bearing coal that weighed many times more than they did. She couldn't help but smile at the cuteness that they displayed when they waved and squeaked at her on their way back to get more coal.

There was a sudden dinging sound and a metallic clanking as she turned again to see Kamaji pound a hammer against the metal crank that rested at his side. The susuwatari scurried back to their homes to rid themselves of their workload and all but trampled each other in an effort to get near Chihiro. They all gathered around her and squeaked in excitement at the prospect of one of their favorite people feeling better than when she first arrived. All she could do was look around and smile at the loveable and selfless soot balls.

Upon hearing Kamaji clear his throat, Chihiro turned to her left to face the wise old boiler man with the 6 arms. She smiled gratefully at him, for she knew that this was the elderly man that she had seen taking care of her whenever she was somewhat conscious. His bushy mustache was now peppered with strands of gray hairs that had found their own place among the brown hairs of his youth. There were a number of wrinkles that had made a new home on his forehead, but when he spoke to her, his voice carried the same grandpa-like quality and warmth that she remembered from 10 years ago.

"I see that you're better now, Chihiro," he mused with a slight nod. "Lin and I were worried, and as you can see, they were worried about you too," he said as he pointed to the susuwatari. He reached up onto the platform on which he worked and brought down the teakettle that held his water supply. He took a cup that was situated on a tray next to them and poured some water into it. He offered it to Chihiro who took it and sipped it until it was all gone. She handed the cup back to him with a hushed "Thank you," and they all sat there for awhile in silence as the fire in the boiler continued to roar. With a sudden movement, Chihiro turned and hugged the old spirit around his neck as she would have if he were actually her grandfather. She felt him return the hug, and she smiled. Despite her best efforts to contain it, a tear slipped out of her eyes and soaked into the old one's shoulder. She finally felt like she had returned home.

There was a sudden dinging and clacking sound, and both turned to see that several bath tokens had been sent down at the same time. Growling, Kamaji rushed over and got on his platform. He was about to beat his hammer against the crank again, but the susuwatari were already hard at work bringing coal to feed the raging fire that was contained within the boiler. This was all routine for them now. Chihiro sat on the bedding and watched as the little soot balls and their master worked to prepare bath water for the numerous guests that visited the bathhouse. Kamaji's 6 arms went in all directions, opening drawers, taking different herbs out, closing them, and moving on without so much as a glance behind him. It was amazing how he remembered what each of the numerous drawers contained and how to use them to make the different types of bath water for each specific bath token. As Chihiro pondered over how Kamaji kept all of this information in his head, she heard the small door in the wall slide open.

"Chow time!" called a familiar voice.

Chihiro turned her head to see Lin miraculously make her way through the small doorway with her arms full of food for the occupants of the boiler room. Chihiro got up to rush over to help relieve the burden, but Lin just shook her head at her and told her to sit down. Chihiro obeyed and sat back down as Lin straightened up and made her way over to where she sat. Setting down all of the food she carried, she crouched down in front of Chihiro and gave the young woman a hug.

"We were really worried about you, Sen," she said as she pulled away, "Don't you ever do that to us again!"

"I won't," Chihiro said with a smile, "As long as you promise to call me Chihiro."

"Ah, so that's your real name," Lin said, returning the smile, "It suits you very well."

Just then, they both heard the sound of Kamaji pulling on the last few bath tokens to send them back up along with the bath water that they each called for. Telling the susuwatari to take a break, he picked up an empty bowl from the platform and made his way down to join Chihiro as Lin got up to feed the little soot balls their sugar stars. Kamaji put his empty bowl from the night before on one of the trays that Lin brought in and picked up one that actually contained food. As he was about to take his first bite of food, he heard Lin yell at him from where she was squatting to feed the susuwatari.

"Not yet, old man!" she scolded, "Don't you at least have the decency to wait for the person who brought you the food to join you?"

Grumbling, the old boiler man brought his chopsticks down from his open mouth and set them on his bowl to wait impatiently for Lin to hurry up. But right then, food was the last thing on Chihiro's mind as she stared at Lin's back.

"Hey Lin! What's that thing on your back?" she called.

Lin stood up from her squatting position as she dumped the rest of the sugar stars on the susuwatari and returned to Chihiro's side.  She put down the bucket that had held the sugar stars and sat down beside Chihiro, telling the grumbling Kamaji to start on his dinner if he was really all that hungry. Not wasting even a second, Kamaji picked up his bowl and began to hungrily gobble down his food. Chihiro didn't blame him one bit; it was hard work to take care of another person. She turned her attention back to Lin, who was taking off the bundle that she had been carrying on her back. Chihiro's eyes grew big as she saw a tiny little hand reach out from the folds. Her eyes grew even bigger as Lin unwrapped the bundle to reveal an adorable little baby boy who was sound asleep.

"Lin!" Chihiro breathed, "You're a mother!"

"Sure am!" Lin said proudly, "He's the light of my life." She bent down to place a soft kiss on her son's head and straightened up to smile at Chihiro's shocked face. "His name is Aki," Lin said in answer to the question that glittered in Chihiro's eyes, "You want to hold him?"

Chihiro nodded wordlessly and took the little one into her arms and just stared at his peaceful sleeping face. It was hard to believe that things could change so much even though 10 years had passed.

"Let's eat!" she heard Lin say, "You must be awfully hungry."

Chihiro's stomach growled in response, and she set Aki down gently on the bedding as she felt her face turn red. Lin gave her a bowl filled with food and took one that she had brought for herself. The 3 of them talked as they ate to catch up on the 10 years that had gone by and to reminisce about the time when Chihiro had first arrived. They continued to talk long after their meal was finished, interrupted occasionally by a bath token that was sent down by someone who needed water for a customer. Chihiro had Aki in her arms again and was lightly stroking his cherubic face when a question made its way into her head.

"Hey Lin?" she started in a small voice.

"What?"

"Who's his father?"

Lin remained quiet for awhile. As she began to give an answer, a pained look made its way across her face.

"His father," she said quietly, "is a minor god who came to the bathhouse over 2 years ago. He stayed here for quite a long time, saying that he needed to recuperate from the effect humans were having on him, and I fell in love with him." Lin's eyes began to get a misty haze in them as she told her story to Chihiro. "He was charming and very, very handsome. I'm not saying that looks do it for me because they don't, but he was different than all of those superficial humanoid spirits that tried to hit on me. Imagine my surprise when I found out that he, a powerful deity, felt the same way about me, a lowly servant spirit.

"We were always together from then on. He'd always ask for my company and paid off those who objected and tried to get me to go do something else. He told me one night that he had to leave the next day, but that he would come back to get me one day because he loved me more than anything in the world. He made love to me that night, and it was the happiest night that I could ever hope to have. When I woke up the next morning, all that was left was this ring…"

Lin pulled out a small chain from under her clothes that had a ring strung on it and stared at the small gem that it contained. "That was over a year ago. Aki was born less than a year later," she continued as she stared at the ring in her hand, "I named Aki after his father, just so that he'll always know that his father is in him somewhere." A small tear escaped from her eye and she wiped it away hastily. Tucking the ring back into her clothes, she gave Chihiro a happy, yet teary-eyed smile. "He'll come back someday," she said quietly, "And I'll wait here with our child until that day comes…"

Chihiro sat and pondered over what Lin had just told her while the sounds of Kamaji and the susuwatari working continued in a dull roar in the background. The moment was shattered as she felt Aki stir in her arms and start to cry. Not knowing what to do because she'd always been an only child, she gave him to Lin and watched as she calmed him and eventually stopped his crying. The love that can only be shared between a mother and her child shined in Lin's eyes as she sang to her little one, and Chihiro felt her eyes tear up as she remembered her own mother and how she used to hold Chihiro in her arms whenever she had a nightmare.

Pushing her tears back, she crawled over and settled next to Lin to get a look at little Aki doing something other than sleeping. He was gurgling happily as his mother tickled him gently but stopped to stare at the strange lady that sat next to his mother. Chihiro smiled at the look of curiosity that was etched on his face and waved her hand in front of him. She put her finger on his tummy and gently tickled him, making him squeal in delight.

"He looks just his father," Lin chuckled, "There was no need to even name him after his father to see that he's in him somewhere."

Chihiro took Aki into her arms once again and held him in the crook of her arm to look him over. Indeed, he hardly looked like Lin at all. The fuzz that grew on top of his head was a blondish-brown color, but as she looked closer, Chihiro noticed how his little face curved gently, just like his mother's did. His eyes were definitely not his mother's brown ones. Although they shared the same intensity, they were of a mysterious shade of green that definitely wasn't common in the human world, or the Spirit World for that matter. Green eyes…

Chihiro finally realized what had been bothering her throughout the evening and voiced the question that had finally surfaced in her mind.

"Hey you guys, where's Haku?" she asked, looking at Lin and Kamaji who had settled himself next to them again.

The whole boiler room was suddenly quiet, save the sound of the fire in the boiler. Kamaji and Lin had both looked away from Chihiro to stare at something interesting that only they could see. The susuwatari blinked simultaneously and quieted down as well. Aki began to gurgle, causing Lin to look at him, and then up at Chihiro with a look that showed worry, sadness, and pity all at once.

"What?" Chihiro asked, her voice rising with apprehension, "What happened to him?"

"I don't know how to explain this," Lin started in a hushed tone, "But… he disappeared on the same day that you left to return to your own world…"

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A/N: DON'T KILL MEEE~~~!!! **runs into a titanium bomb shelter with 4 inch thick walls and a window made of bulletproof glass 3 inches thick** **peers out cautiously through window** In compensation, I'll make sure that Haku appears in the next chapter!!! Where is Haku you ask? He's in here with me!!! **Haku appears beside her and waves** Eek!!! Put that rocket launcher away!!! It's just a cardboard cut-out!!! **turns cut-out around so that everyone can see** Do you think I have enough air in here for two people? Wait, how much air is in here…? …………**passes out** x_x