Chapter 4
Spirited Away
A second chance for love
Elesterie
Fainting From More Than Just Exhaustion
"Lin? Where are you?" Haku called out into the dispersing crowd. He had just explained to them about the circumstances regarding about the human, Sen. Though most of the crowd disapproved of a human working in the same place as them, none of them took any further action against Sen's place in the onsen.
"What?!" Rin's voice came out clear in the noisy crowd and directed itself aggressively to Haku, "You're dumping her with me!?"
"You said you wanted help," Haku replied bluntly, "Sen, go."
"Hai!" Sen's voice said jittery as Sen obediently walked up to Lin. Haku nodded his head with approval and turned away to walk to his next mission.
"You'll pay, Haku," Lin called after him as he walked off, "and it better be good."
Sen followed Lin, who was muttering under her breath, "Just because you're master, it doesn't mean you can ditch a noob at my doorstep, Master Haku...mumble mumble..." The walk only lasted for 15 seconds, because all they had to do was walk down a corridor and make a turn. The stopped as soon as they turned, and Lin turned around to face Sen.
Sen, at first, thought that Lin was going to tell her off. Sen imagined a role play in her mind...Lin: Why did you have to make it all the way to Yubaba's? Why couldn't you stay in your own world? Why couldn't you beg Haku to let you stay with someone else? Why? Why? Why?
"Hey Sen, snap out of it! Don't space out on me!" Lin's voice filtered into her mind. Sen felt her shoulders being shook and she looked up to see a pair of sympathetic eyes.
"Huh? Oh..." Sen blushed that she had totally lost concentration.
"Well, I was saying that I can't believe...YOU DID IT!" Lin said energetically, punching her fist in the air.
Sen, apparently confused, muttered, "Huh?"
"You're so thick. I didn't think you'd have made it. From now on, if you need any help, just ask me," Lin replied, changing her attitude completely while leading the way to a small room.
Sen was glad she had made her second friend. But then it hit her – Why was Haku so cold? Is he even my friend? Gee, he isn't acting it...what IS his problem...one minute he's sweet as sugar, next minutes he's sour as spice...
Apparently, her worry must've been expressed on her face because Lin suddenly asked, "You ok?"
Covering up her worry, Sen decided to make up a story. "I feel sick," Sen said slowly, trying to emphasize the words, making them drone on and on.
"Oh, you'll be fine after a good night's sleep, it's always like that here...now to look for your clothes," Lin comforted. She opened up a cupboard and started searching for Sen's work clothes.
One by one, she handed Sen her apron and pants which were to be her size. Then it became difficult looking for a top.
"Still to big," Rin muttered as she pulled out another top twice the size as Sen.
"Lin," Sen said slowly, "are there two Hakus here?"
"Two? I sure hope not. I've had enough of one," Lin said, apparently bewildered at the thought of two Hakus. "He's Yubaba's henchman. I'd watch out for him if I were you."
As soon as Sen heard that information, she buckled her knees and crouched down.
"Aha," Lin pulled out a perfect-sized top, looking down satisfied, only to find Sen burying her head in her knees.
Sen was shivering. It was early in the morning, as mist was made by the ocean below, making it freezing cold. Just as Sen was pulling her mattress over her head, the door slid open. Footsteps could be heard and they made their way to Sen.
As they came closer, Sen closed her eyes, hoping that the person would not notice hear. Then a sweep of a hand came down and a male voice said, "Come to the bridge. I'll show you your parents."
As soon as Haku disappeared, Sen put on her top and made her way quickly to the bridge. She went via the boiler room, witnessing the sleeping Kamaji, out the back door, up the steps, through another door, under a trapdoor and to the bridge. Haku was there and he led her to the barnyard.
When they arrived, Sen saw two pigs. She raised her eyebrows at Haku. Haku nodded.
"Okaasan! Otousan! It's me...Sen," words rang out of Sen's lips, "I'll save you. Don't get too fat or they'll eat you! Don't let them eat you!" At that, she ran off, pushing past Haku.
Haku found her crouching by a nearby bush, her hands in her face and she was sobbing continuously.
"Here. Eat this," Haku offered her some food. He expected her to accept, but she refused.
She looked up at him and stared into his green eyes. He is so good-looking...pity he lives here...baka Sen, you're not meant to be fantasizing of Haku, you've got a real crisis here! Your parents...are pigs...you are working like...a spirit...and here you are, almost falling in love with your master. Sen gave herself a smack on the head, and saw Haku laugh at her behaviour. She looked into his eyes once again. She could look into those eyes forever.
Haku blushed and looked away. Sen, realizing what she did, blushed and stared at the ground.
"Well, we'd better go," Haku said, breaking the silence.
Sen was working with a group of girls, who were to look after her and teach her the basics of working in the onsen. The girls were very nice to her – but they kept getting off the topic and were continuously talking about the one and only Haku.
"That Haku is a dreamer," one girl said dreamily.
"Yeah, I know what you mean. He is so goddamn cute!" another girl squealed.
"Definitely," they all chorused.
"What do you think, Sen?"
"Well…he's nice."
The girls turned around and eyed her suspiciously.
"Is that all? He's more than that. He's…"
"Handsome, adorable, good-looking," chorused the girls.
"You forgot cute," a girl giggled shrilly.
That caused all the girls to start giggling loudly.
"What's this?" said an interested voice behind them. They all turned. Lin was behind them, "Talking about Master Haku, I see," she said. She winked at Sen and added, "They're always like that. Don't worry Sen, you're not the only mad one around here."
Haku walked down to the stairs to where Sen was working with the other girls. He was inspecting and watching them, on the orders of Yubaba. The girls, Sen noticed, kept flashing their eyes at Haku. He, however, seemed to be blind and never gave them a second glance.
"You seem to be fitting in quite well, Sen," he said. He grinned at her, the first real smile she had seen from him ever since she met him, "Well done."
When he had finished inspecting, the girls crowded around her, apparently jealous but hyped up at the same time.
"How did you do that?" one girl asked eagerly.
"Look who's getting the red-carpet treatment," another girl sniggered, "He must really like you."
"What?" Sen was dumbfounded, but she couldn't get the smile off her face. The girls crowded closer, their eyes filled with excitement, some of them were in tears.
"Oh my god, I don't know how you did it. I mean, I was trying to catch his eye and he was ignoring me totally," a girl sobbed.
Sen blushed even more, but was determined to keep a smile off her face, "Nah, he doesn't like me. I mean, I'm new. He has to be nice." But deep down in her heart, she felt as though he did that on purpose. Sen, stop that!! Stop thinking you're all important...remember your mission: help your parents.
That night, Sen was crowded with the girls. Well, they were still bombarding her with questions. They were begging her to tell them how she twisted the serious Haku around her finger to make him grin.
"I'm going to pretend I'm new," a girl announced.
"Hey! That's my idea!" another girl piped in.
Sen shook her head. She had a headache, hearing girls chirp 'Haku here' and 'Haku there.'
The girls argued more and as the night dragged on, Sen grew more and more restless. Her headache wasn't getting any better.
"Sen, are you ok?" the girls all turned to look at her, noticing her frail state, "You look so pale."
"I'm fi - " Sen then fainted.
The girls splashed some water on her face. But she didn't regain her consciousness.
"Get Master Haku!" a girl screamed. Two of the girls ran out of the room, running to find Haku.
They found him sitting on one of the stairs, apparently thinking.
"Master Haku!! Sen has fainted and she won't regain her consciousness."
Haku was on his feet in a flash and followed the girls, his heart pounding with fear.
When they arrived, the other girls had placed a pillow under Sen's head. Lin was there as well, wiping Sen's face with a wet cloth. They all looked up when Haku arrived. All of them were tearful.
"Master Haku, please help her…" the girls were crying out loudly.
Haku didn't know what to do. He didn't have any magic. Or did he? He had nothing to lose, except maybe his reputation, but he wanted Sen to become better. He loved her, that was for sure.
Haku made one last prayer to God that he could possess magic for a couple of minutes. He took a deep breath and he held her hand. Please...please...grant me my one and only wish...
"In the name of the water and the wind within me, awake her."
Sen's eyes flickered open. She had the weirdest dream about a flying dragon. But as she saw Haku's face in front of her, her thoughts connected with her dream and she felt as though she knew him.
Her hand slipped from his, and it was then when she felt it had happened before. A memory…across the river and not looking back…not knowing what had happened…an injured dragon…
"Haku, is that you?"
NOTE: If you're wondering about the river spirit, well she did it, but it can't exactly come back can it. And No Face? Well, he's with Zeniba. Some things change and some don't! I know it's weird, please keep reading. There's a reason why I did this!!
elesterie
