Chapter 5

Spirited Away

A second chance for love

Elesterie

Haku's turn

As soon as Chihiro mentioned that, her whole world went into blackness. She had blacked out.

Chihiro suddenly opened her eyes and found herself on a bridge, facing a boy her age with green eyes. Haku...this was the word which echoed in her mind, the word which was stuck between the two different worlds, the two different times...

The boy turned and at the sight of her her, his eyes widened. After a second of full-on gazes, he said "You shouldn't be here. It's nearly dark. Get out of here, before they come. I'll disturb them."

"Haku, it's me…Chihiro," Chihiro managed to spit out, surprised. Haku...you've grown!

The boy turned to her with a look of surprise on his face. "How did you know that my name's Haku? Futhermore, it's Master Haku to people like you!"

Haku turned around, analysed some hovering information and said quickly, "Go now! Now...before they come..."

Those words frightened her and she turned and ran like hell, not knowing what to do, not knowing what to say.

But at that moment, she witnessed the spirits coming alive. The stalls livening up with the presence of spirits. She shrieked and ran to her parents, who were in a nearby stall 'supposedly' eating lunch. But in their place were pigs. She screamed and ran off.

She ran to the dried river, the one which her parents and her had crossed to get here from the tunnel

SPLASH

She was in water. From her waist downwards was nothing but water. She scrambled back on land and looked across the water. Matte! Wait for me...water, don't cover up the river...I need to get home...home to my parents...

A boat made its way from the so called tunnel to the surface where Chihiro was standing, using the water in the river. As it arrived to its destination, doors flipped open and royalty took form in the human spirits that came out.

Chihiro's heart nearly stopped, as her she regained consciousness from her shock. Everything was replaying itself for her...it was replying itself exactly how she experienced it five years ago...


Chihiro was crouched down in a corner, crying. She wasn't crying because her parents had turned into pigs. She wasn't crying because she was scared to death by the spirits.

She was crying because Haku didn't even recognize her.

Haku ran softly towards her and put his arm around her. She looked up with terror.

"Don't worry, I'm a friend," Haku assured her.

He looked upwards and saw Yubaba flying. I must protect her, he told himself, I don't know why, but I feel as though it is my duty. But how can a girl like her know me...know my name...? But moreover, how do I know her name? Chihiro...that name sounds vaguely familiar, like a memory being replayed in my mind...,

After a minute, he led her off to a gate, so they could make their way to the onsen.

Chihiro was also terribly confused. Did Haku not remember her visit to the spirit world five years ago?


Haku lead the girl with brown hair across the bridge.

"You have to hold your breath while we cross the bridge," Haku firmly said to Chihiro, "Even the tiniest breath will break the spell and then everyone will see you."

Chihiro wasn't exactly paying attention to what Haku was saying. She, in fact, was thinking about Haku himself. Haku doesn't know me...Haku doesn't know me...great, I know the drill. Hold my breath...then when I reach three-quarters of the bridge, I take a tiny breath. Easy, simple...

"Take a deep breath…hold it."

They crossed the bridge, walking at a normal pace.

"Hang on, we're almost there…" Haku muttered under his breath.

But then, out of nowhere a green frog appeared and said, "Master Haku! Where have you been?" Oh yeah, I'm meant to see the frog frist. Now, breath!

"Wha – a human? Wait a second...Sen?" In an instant, Haku had used his magic to freeze it and flew to a trapdoor, with Chihiro's hand in his. Sen...Sen...what's up? Sen...why does that name bother me so...? Haku put his thoughts away as he had more troubles to deal with.


Inside the bathhouse, servants to the onsen were running back and forth shouting the same thing, "Master Haku!"

"They know you're here." Haku said, his serious expression indicating that it was a serious issue that needed to be dealt with. But Chihiro, on the other hand, was almost grinning with glee. She was happy to be here, happy to be back in the spirit world, happy to be with Haku again. Ack...stop Chihiro, stop acting all mushy...he's forgotten about me...but how? He promised me we would meet again...he would not forget that one promise.

While Chihiro held a debate in her mind, Haku put the tip of his forefingers on her forehead and said, "Now, when things quiet down, go out through the back gate. Go all the way down the stairs until you reach the boiler room...There, you will find Kamaji."

Haku took his fingers away.

"Kamaji?" Chihiro questioned him. Kamaji...he is still here! He can tell me what's going on, and why is Haku acting so strange, I mean, come on, what's up with Haku?

"I better go." Haku said suddenly.

"Haku…" Chihiro was lost for words. For some reason, she felt as if the words she wanted to say, were restrained back.

"I'm your friend Chihiro," the name came out with the flow on his sentence. Haku was still surprised that he even knew her name.

Chihiro was dead silent. Haku looked up at her and said, "I don't know, but it feels as though I've known you before."

Chihiro made her way down the stairs. She remembered how last time she slid down them. I can't believe I nearly fell down these stairs the last time I was here...gee, I was such a klutz! When she made her way to the boiler room, she came face-to-face with Kamaji.

"Sen, is that you?" Kamaji said, his eyes widening at thought.

"Kamaji!" Chihiro nearly screamed and threw her arms around him, thrilled to see him again.

"It's great to see you again," Kamaji said, his eyes twinkling.

"Well, you're the first," she mumbled grumpily.

"What! Didn't Haku see you?" Kamaji asked. A curious expression came across his face.

"It's no big deal," Chihiro said quickly, "I mean, he was quite distracted…"

"No, I'm just wondering whether it's his turn…"

"Turn for what? Kamaji…tell me!" Chihiro demanded with her face impassive.

"Ahh...? Oh it's nothing...nothing at all...nothing, it's just…nothing."

"KAMAJI! I am not that stupid. You repeated the word 'nothing' 4 times!! In my books, that means that something is happening. Tell me, I mean it!" Chihiro shouted, this time scaring Kamaji out of his wits.

"Ok, ok. Don't get your knickers in a knot," Kamaji mumbled grumpily, "Maybe if destiny is now giving Haku a chance for his heart's desire, then you had your chance and you had either failed...or succeeded...."

"Nani? Listen old man [that's not offensive or anything, Chihiro just wants and answer from him!], cut the mumbo jumbo out, and get straight to the point!" Chihiro exclaimed. What's this about destiny and whatnot?

"Well, don't you think it is a bit odd that Haku has forgotten you totally now, but when you were gone for those past years he was waiting for you. Ever since..."

"And it's his turn to see if he remembers me...and that will break the curse." Chihiro said slowly, as though she had finally found the missing piece to a puzzle.

"A curse? Why would you say that?"

"It's a nightmare for me that he doesn't know me," Chihiro said bluntly, her eyes were lifeless, and her face was white.

"When you left, it was harder for him," Kamaji said.

Chihiro's head snapped in Kamaji's direction, "What do you mean?"

"Haku thought that he wasn't good enough for you. That was why he let you go to your parents because he thought that was what you wanted," Kamaji explained, ever so sorrowful at Haku's sad story.

"You don't know how much I've suffered," Chihiro said. A door creaked open. They said no more, as a lean, tall girl entered.


Be pals and review this...please? This is my shortest chapter...actually, I take that back. You realise, I like to count the words in all my chappies...hehe...that's just me.

elesterie