Choices
Disclaimer: I don't own Spirited Away or any of its characters.
Author's Note: Well I know I am in the middle of two other stories right now but I had gone to a camp for a week and got two ideas for stories one for Spirited Away and one for Digimon. So I'm going to write and post both stories first chapters and then put it on hold for a bit. If I didn't post this chapter then the story might never get written. Well I hope you enjoy and tell me what you think, please. Merci Happy Reading!
Na
Chapter 1:The Hard Truth
Chihiro walked into her new bedroom on the second floor of the little blue house. It was Wednesday, not Sunday this seemingly unimportant fact, was the most important and at least to Chihiro's Parents the most mind boggling fact.
They had arrived at their new house that day when the last of the moving trucks arrived, Akio had assumed it was the first truck. He realized something was wrong when pieces of Chihiro's baby crib (a non important object that wasn't needed anymore and could arrive three days late) were taken out of the moving van. Akio had a bone to pick with the movers but never got a chance for as soon as he approached the head-mover, who was supervising as other men moved boxes into the house. The supervisor told the Ogino's that in fact the family was three days late, and it was Wednesday. He was a little mad because a few of the neighbors had come over. The movers had to plug in the refrigerator to keep the Welcome Jello, batch of cookies, and loaf of bread fresh.
Chihiro now looked around her room chaos was the best and only way to describe it. She remembered how her parents had apologized about the room which previously belonged to a boy and how they would paint it pink or purple (Chihiro's old favorite colors) The walls in this room were green, a green not unlike Dragon Kohaku's Mane, although in a slightly lighter aspect. Chihiro had thought that the floor was a medium colored wood but between a few boxes she could see a braided throw rug of blue; indigo, blue, light blue, and white. A braided rug of four colors, Chihiro didn't question it.
It was already late and Chihiro knew that she hadn't really slept in a couple days, not having had slept on her way to Swamp Bottom. But strangely as the moon shone down through her window it gave her energy to clean or at least do something other then sleep. But cleaning was her only choice at the moment, since even if she was tired it was hard to make out the metal bed frame pushed against the far wall in front of the huge window, which reminded Chihiro so much of the windows of stories, windows big enough for small boys like Peter Pan to fly in. But this was no story and there would be no boy flying into the window, but Chihiro smiled at the thought it was to small for a dragon, one like Kohaku to fly into.
Chihiro's smile held not just for her 'small' window problem, but for her parents confused and shocked yet not unpleased faces earlier that day. Chihiro was given no time for her own room, but had to help organize the rest of the house. Her parent were surprised to see Chihiro push an arm chair across the room by herself. They were even more surprised and scared to watch Chihiro climb out a second story window and stand on the seven centimeter 'ledge' that went around the house. Chihiro had stood comfortable and not afraid as she washed windows. After walking on a breaking pipe and falling down while on the back of a bloody dying dragon. Stuff like standing on firm cement 'ledge' a good seven centimeters wide only meters off the ground, was like standing on solid ground for the young girl. Three days in Aburaya can really change anybody, for the better.
Chihiro sighed and picked her way across the room best to start with her bed so she could at least go to sleep when she wanted. Chihiro struggled in pulling the box spring onto the bed frame. When Chihiro was finally successful she climbed on the box spring and opened the window to let in the fresh warm nights air.
Kohaku sighed as he walked into his own unlit room and lightly fell to his bed. His day had been stressful and most of all painstakingly hard. Kohaku had no idea how he ever walked without Chihiro around before. Yes he was mourning her lose to him, at the cost of her freedom. But she had freed him and now the memories were to hard to handle without the only one who would forgive him. The memories that made his feet heavier, that faltered his step, where those of Haku, the memories of who he was and what he had done in his young age at Aburaya.
This was not the time to dwell on the events of that day after Chihiro left, or to sleep in a bed like he figured Chihiro was doing at the moment . It was time to do what he needed to do to keep his promise, and why think of such chaotic things that happened while the sun shone, when in a matter of minutes he would most likely have to tell the whole story to Chihiro.
Everything was unpacked and put in its proper place. Chihiro stood up and threw her scrub brush into the bucket of dirty soapy water. Chihiro stretched and pulled off her green and white shirt, then throwing it into the dirty clothes hamper. Chihiro picked up her pink sleep shirt and pulled it on, she pulled on the matching pants after discarding her shorts.
Chihiro climbed into her bed with the light purple sheets, surprisingly the sheets didn't look at all bad against the green walls and the blue carpet. Chihiro lay on her side facing the window that was still open to lessen the smell of the Garden Fresh Mr. Clean. The wind blew lightly against her face, but was still strong enough to push her door ever so slightly.
At the sound of the creek Chihiro turned around realizing she didn't close the door, as well as not brushing her teeth or removing the bucket of water, turning off her bedroom light, and the hall wall directly in front of the door was covered in her empty boxes. The morning would be fun trying to get through the boxes with the bucket of water in hand. Chihiro debated whether to close the door, and turn off the light or not and at the most clear a path through the boxes and brush her teeth. While she debated this her eye lids grew heavy, and when she was looking at the open door through the small slits of her eyes she decided it was too late and there was school the next morning.
Seconds after Chihiro closed her eyes and gave into the darkness they had brought, a gentle hand lay on her up turned shoulder. Chihiro eyes shot open she was still facing the door meaning whoever it was somehow got into her room through the window that was on the second story of her sky blue house. Chihiro was scared because it left two possibilities Peter Pan and Kohaku, and both were impossible. Peter Pan didn't exist, and Kohaku couldn't go to the human world. He was bound to the spirit world or to a river being the river spirit he is, and even if Kohaku left the spirit world he said he would return to his world which was a clear blue strip of water that would share his name, 'The Kohaku River'.
"Chihiro?" said the person behind Chihiro, in a soft low voice that Chihiro knew to be Kohaku's. But it had to be a trick was all that Chihiro could think of, it was impossible for Kohaku to be there, and though she hoped and wished on all the stars that he would come here for her, she knew she would see him only as a strip of water and when she was lucky as the Dragon Kohaku.
Chihiro slowly turned around to see her 'visitor' though her mind was screaming 'It's just a dream! Wake up!' an enemy is always dangerous, but a stranger at your back is far worse. Chihiro's heart jumped when she turned to look strait into emerald green eyes of a smell twelve year old boy crouching on the windowsill.
"Haku!" Chihiro screamed scrambling to a kneeling position and throwing her arms around Kohaku, making him loose his balance as he returned Chihiro's hug and falling to her bed. Chihiro smiled at him but the smile left and she looked at him questionably, "Not that I'm not happy to see you, but... How... What are you doing here? And so soon, Yu-Baaba let you go?"
"Yeah she let me go I can return to my world if and when I want. But Chihiro this is a dream of yours and I know you would like to see me again like this and not like this..." Kohaku said forming a small pool of water in his hand, "I figured you would ask this and I know what your next question is."
Chihiro looked into Kohaku's eyes she had stopped hugging him, "You do?"
Kohaku took a hold of Chihiro's hand and nodded, "Yes I do. First this is a dream, you fell asleep while scrubbing your floor," Kohaku placed a hand on Chihiro's forehead and showed her, her sleeping body; Left arm draped over the red water bucket head on that arm, the scrub brush laying under her relaxed right hand, and Chihiro's legs were folded to her left. A rather uncomfortable position but Chihiro could read her clock in the background 4:58. Kohaku took his hand away and answered Chihiro's second more important question, "After I let go of your hand I watched you leave and part of me wished you would look back and by the magick of that world, be trapped there with me forever, but I kicked myself for that thought I shouldn't have had such a selfish thought. Once I knew you were safe on this side and in your car(?) I made my way quickly back through the streets and back to Aburaya. In my absents or rather our absent Zeniiba came to make sure that Yu-Baaba would also let me go. I walked into Yu-Baaba's office when Zeniiba was pointing out the fact that her magick was stronger and had not been tainted with greed. I explained to Yu-Baaba that I wanted to leave and with a very unpleasant laugh she agreed, and I could return to my world. I was happy forgetting my world wasn't yours, it was Zeniiba who stopped me. Yu-Baaba laughed I remember here words, 'You have two choices Haku, stay at Aburaya, or go back to the waters you came from! Now choose wisely Haku what will you do?' I thought, yes, but my answer I knew the second I let go of your hand, 'I pick Chihiro,' was what I said both of the sisters smiled and the Kashira where quiet. 'Sen? Well since that's not a choice, I guess you'll be staying here,' calmly replied Yu-Baaba. Zeniiba stopped Yu-Baaba's plans to get me under a new contract and become her willing slave again, 'But its his choice all the same, so if he works here it is under no contract and free will.' Yu-Baaba and Zeniiba argued over this for awhile, but Zeniiba won in the end, and I'm free to go when I please. I promised that we would see each other again, but I never said how. It is obvious that you figured out that I couldn't come here in any other form then a watery dragon and at night I could travel to the spirit world as a shadow until I reached the spirit side of the river, which would be when I could be seen as I am now, or a dragon."
"It's alright Haku, you've kept your promise, and I'm so happy that you did. No matter what I'll never forget you," replied Chihiro, she hugged Kohaku and pressed her forehead against his.
Kohaku returned her hug not wanting to ever let go, "You are in my heart and thoughts forever, death wont even make me forget you. But for now I must leave you, you need to wake up now and go to school(?)."
"Will I see you again?" asked Chihiro hopeful.
Kohaku smiled, "Tomorrow night, now wake up." Chihiro nodded as Kohaku faded away she let herself slowly get pulled back to sad consciousness.
By some magick she was kept in her sleeping state only to see Zeniiba, not at all happy. Chihiro smiled and hugged Zeniiba. Zeniiba forced a smile, "Chihiro I'm so sorry, like Haku you have two livable choices. Return to the spirit world and live with me and occasionally see Haku, or destroy the hair tie I gave you and forget us all," Chihiro was shocked and confused Zeniiba continued, "Yu-Baaba will only have you at Aburaya again as a piglet, or coal, most likely coal you would be dead faster. If you keep the hair tie it will keep the spirit world magick at bay and you'll be able to remember all of us, but it will be hard to live here, painful even when your heart lies with us and the hope for him still lives. It's your choice, I'm sorry." Zeniiba began to fade away and Chihiro's vision went white, the white you sometimes see before you wake.
Before Chihiro's eyes opened she yelled to the light, "Granny wait! I promised not to forget him!" whether Zeniiba heard this cry or not Chihiro was awake and sitting up in her bed now.
Chihiro was surprised that she was in fact in her bed the light was off and the door was closed. Chihiro knew that her parents weren't the ones who moved her, for the simple fact that her room didn't smell of human. Chihiro had noticed the smell when she met up with her parents on the human side of the river. It wasn't as repulsing as the Yuna's had led Chihiro to believe, but there was a smell. And Chihiro's room smelled of fresh morning air and slightly of Mr. Clean.
Yuuko walked into Chihiro's room, and stopped in amazement at the clean completely unpacked room before her. "Wow Chihiro nice job sweetie. But now you need to get up, you don't want to be late for your first day of school," said Yuuko who then looked down at Chihiro's desk that was to the right of the door. Chihiro had gotten out of bed and was stretching out, when Yuuko picked up a small piece of paper, "Hey honey where did you get this old train ticket?"
Chihiro's eyes widened as she quickly walked to her mother's side. The 'train ticket' was in fact just that, a train ticket that could carry her to the sixths stop also known as Swamp Bottom. Chihiro took the ticket and shrugged, what could she say. Chihiro's eyes fell to the desk and there just laying as though they were meant to be there was a pair of scissors, but not any scissors, Zeniiba's scissors the ones she had used to finish the hair tie with. Most likely the only scissors that could destroy it.
There were her choices laid out in front of her. Train ticket in hand Chihiro was ready to run to the woods, but what stopped her for at least that day was the slender figure in her doorway. Chihiro sighed and placed the ticket on the desk. Could she do it, take the ticket and leave her parents? Could she break her promise and destroy the hair tie? The hard truth was one day she would have to choose, maybe not today or in a month or a year, but one day would come and come fast even if she waited a hundred years. Chihiro felt like crying the truth was also one day Kohaku would also have to choose, and what if they chose wrong Kohaku to the river and Chihiro to the spirit world? "Honey come on get ready it's your first day of school," said Yuuko walking out of Chihiro's room. That was the one thing Chihiro didn't want to hear didn't want to deal with; The Truth. But being ten she could pretend and being ten meant hope was hard to sever. At that moment truth was forgotten, choices pushed aside (thrown into the top desk drawer), and hope held fast, hope for another way out.
Disclaimer: I don't own Spirited Away or any of its characters.
Author's Note: Well I know I am in the middle of two other stories right now but I had gone to a camp for a week and got two ideas for stories one for Spirited Away and one for Digimon. So I'm going to write and post both stories first chapters and then put it on hold for a bit. If I didn't post this chapter then the story might never get written. Well I hope you enjoy and tell me what you think, please. Merci Happy Reading!
Na
Chapter 1:The Hard Truth
Chihiro walked into her new bedroom on the second floor of the little blue house. It was Wednesday, not Sunday this seemingly unimportant fact, was the most important and at least to Chihiro's Parents the most mind boggling fact.
They had arrived at their new house that day when the last of the moving trucks arrived, Akio had assumed it was the first truck. He realized something was wrong when pieces of Chihiro's baby crib (a non important object that wasn't needed anymore and could arrive three days late) were taken out of the moving van. Akio had a bone to pick with the movers but never got a chance for as soon as he approached the head-mover, who was supervising as other men moved boxes into the house. The supervisor told the Ogino's that in fact the family was three days late, and it was Wednesday. He was a little mad because a few of the neighbors had come over. The movers had to plug in the refrigerator to keep the Welcome Jello, batch of cookies, and loaf of bread fresh.
Chihiro now looked around her room chaos was the best and only way to describe it. She remembered how her parents had apologized about the room which previously belonged to a boy and how they would paint it pink or purple (Chihiro's old favorite colors) The walls in this room were green, a green not unlike Dragon Kohaku's Mane, although in a slightly lighter aspect. Chihiro had thought that the floor was a medium colored wood but between a few boxes she could see a braided throw rug of blue; indigo, blue, light blue, and white. A braided rug of four colors, Chihiro didn't question it.
It was already late and Chihiro knew that she hadn't really slept in a couple days, not having had slept on her way to Swamp Bottom. But strangely as the moon shone down through her window it gave her energy to clean or at least do something other then sleep. But cleaning was her only choice at the moment, since even if she was tired it was hard to make out the metal bed frame pushed against the far wall in front of the huge window, which reminded Chihiro so much of the windows of stories, windows big enough for small boys like Peter Pan to fly in. But this was no story and there would be no boy flying into the window, but Chihiro smiled at the thought it was to small for a dragon, one like Kohaku to fly into.
Chihiro's smile held not just for her 'small' window problem, but for her parents confused and shocked yet not unpleased faces earlier that day. Chihiro was given no time for her own room, but had to help organize the rest of the house. Her parent were surprised to see Chihiro push an arm chair across the room by herself. They were even more surprised and scared to watch Chihiro climb out a second story window and stand on the seven centimeter 'ledge' that went around the house. Chihiro had stood comfortable and not afraid as she washed windows. After walking on a breaking pipe and falling down while on the back of a bloody dying dragon. Stuff like standing on firm cement 'ledge' a good seven centimeters wide only meters off the ground, was like standing on solid ground for the young girl. Three days in Aburaya can really change anybody, for the better.
Chihiro sighed and picked her way across the room best to start with her bed so she could at least go to sleep when she wanted. Chihiro struggled in pulling the box spring onto the bed frame. When Chihiro was finally successful she climbed on the box spring and opened the window to let in the fresh warm nights air.
Kohaku sighed as he walked into his own unlit room and lightly fell to his bed. His day had been stressful and most of all painstakingly hard. Kohaku had no idea how he ever walked without Chihiro around before. Yes he was mourning her lose to him, at the cost of her freedom. But she had freed him and now the memories were to hard to handle without the only one who would forgive him. The memories that made his feet heavier, that faltered his step, where those of Haku, the memories of who he was and what he had done in his young age at Aburaya.
This was not the time to dwell on the events of that day after Chihiro left, or to sleep in a bed like he figured Chihiro was doing at the moment . It was time to do what he needed to do to keep his promise, and why think of such chaotic things that happened while the sun shone, when in a matter of minutes he would most likely have to tell the whole story to Chihiro.
Everything was unpacked and put in its proper place. Chihiro stood up and threw her scrub brush into the bucket of dirty soapy water. Chihiro stretched and pulled off her green and white shirt, then throwing it into the dirty clothes hamper. Chihiro picked up her pink sleep shirt and pulled it on, she pulled on the matching pants after discarding her shorts.
Chihiro climbed into her bed with the light purple sheets, surprisingly the sheets didn't look at all bad against the green walls and the blue carpet. Chihiro lay on her side facing the window that was still open to lessen the smell of the Garden Fresh Mr. Clean. The wind blew lightly against her face, but was still strong enough to push her door ever so slightly.
At the sound of the creek Chihiro turned around realizing she didn't close the door, as well as not brushing her teeth or removing the bucket of water, turning off her bedroom light, and the hall wall directly in front of the door was covered in her empty boxes. The morning would be fun trying to get through the boxes with the bucket of water in hand. Chihiro debated whether to close the door, and turn off the light or not and at the most clear a path through the boxes and brush her teeth. While she debated this her eye lids grew heavy, and when she was looking at the open door through the small slits of her eyes she decided it was too late and there was school the next morning.
Seconds after Chihiro closed her eyes and gave into the darkness they had brought, a gentle hand lay on her up turned shoulder. Chihiro eyes shot open she was still facing the door meaning whoever it was somehow got into her room through the window that was on the second story of her sky blue house. Chihiro was scared because it left two possibilities Peter Pan and Kohaku, and both were impossible. Peter Pan didn't exist, and Kohaku couldn't go to the human world. He was bound to the spirit world or to a river being the river spirit he is, and even if Kohaku left the spirit world he said he would return to his world which was a clear blue strip of water that would share his name, 'The Kohaku River'.
"Chihiro?" said the person behind Chihiro, in a soft low voice that Chihiro knew to be Kohaku's. But it had to be a trick was all that Chihiro could think of, it was impossible for Kohaku to be there, and though she hoped and wished on all the stars that he would come here for her, she knew she would see him only as a strip of water and when she was lucky as the Dragon Kohaku.
Chihiro slowly turned around to see her 'visitor' though her mind was screaming 'It's just a dream! Wake up!' an enemy is always dangerous, but a stranger at your back is far worse. Chihiro's heart jumped when she turned to look strait into emerald green eyes of a smell twelve year old boy crouching on the windowsill.
"Haku!" Chihiro screamed scrambling to a kneeling position and throwing her arms around Kohaku, making him loose his balance as he returned Chihiro's hug and falling to her bed. Chihiro smiled at him but the smile left and she looked at him questionably, "Not that I'm not happy to see you, but... How... What are you doing here? And so soon, Yu-Baaba let you go?"
"Yeah she let me go I can return to my world if and when I want. But Chihiro this is a dream of yours and I know you would like to see me again like this and not like this..." Kohaku said forming a small pool of water in his hand, "I figured you would ask this and I know what your next question is."
Chihiro looked into Kohaku's eyes she had stopped hugging him, "You do?"
Kohaku took a hold of Chihiro's hand and nodded, "Yes I do. First this is a dream, you fell asleep while scrubbing your floor," Kohaku placed a hand on Chihiro's forehead and showed her, her sleeping body; Left arm draped over the red water bucket head on that arm, the scrub brush laying under her relaxed right hand, and Chihiro's legs were folded to her left. A rather uncomfortable position but Chihiro could read her clock in the background 4:58. Kohaku took his hand away and answered Chihiro's second more important question, "After I let go of your hand I watched you leave and part of me wished you would look back and by the magick of that world, be trapped there with me forever, but I kicked myself for that thought I shouldn't have had such a selfish thought. Once I knew you were safe on this side and in your car(?) I made my way quickly back through the streets and back to Aburaya. In my absents or rather our absent Zeniiba came to make sure that Yu-Baaba would also let me go. I walked into Yu-Baaba's office when Zeniiba was pointing out the fact that her magick was stronger and had not been tainted with greed. I explained to Yu-Baaba that I wanted to leave and with a very unpleasant laugh she agreed, and I could return to my world. I was happy forgetting my world wasn't yours, it was Zeniiba who stopped me. Yu-Baaba laughed I remember here words, 'You have two choices Haku, stay at Aburaya, or go back to the waters you came from! Now choose wisely Haku what will you do?' I thought, yes, but my answer I knew the second I let go of your hand, 'I pick Chihiro,' was what I said both of the sisters smiled and the Kashira where quiet. 'Sen? Well since that's not a choice, I guess you'll be staying here,' calmly replied Yu-Baaba. Zeniiba stopped Yu-Baaba's plans to get me under a new contract and become her willing slave again, 'But its his choice all the same, so if he works here it is under no contract and free will.' Yu-Baaba and Zeniiba argued over this for awhile, but Zeniiba won in the end, and I'm free to go when I please. I promised that we would see each other again, but I never said how. It is obvious that you figured out that I couldn't come here in any other form then a watery dragon and at night I could travel to the spirit world as a shadow until I reached the spirit side of the river, which would be when I could be seen as I am now, or a dragon."
"It's alright Haku, you've kept your promise, and I'm so happy that you did. No matter what I'll never forget you," replied Chihiro, she hugged Kohaku and pressed her forehead against his.
Kohaku returned her hug not wanting to ever let go, "You are in my heart and thoughts forever, death wont even make me forget you. But for now I must leave you, you need to wake up now and go to school(?)."
"Will I see you again?" asked Chihiro hopeful.
Kohaku smiled, "Tomorrow night, now wake up." Chihiro nodded as Kohaku faded away she let herself slowly get pulled back to sad consciousness.
By some magick she was kept in her sleeping state only to see Zeniiba, not at all happy. Chihiro smiled and hugged Zeniiba. Zeniiba forced a smile, "Chihiro I'm so sorry, like Haku you have two livable choices. Return to the spirit world and live with me and occasionally see Haku, or destroy the hair tie I gave you and forget us all," Chihiro was shocked and confused Zeniiba continued, "Yu-Baaba will only have you at Aburaya again as a piglet, or coal, most likely coal you would be dead faster. If you keep the hair tie it will keep the spirit world magick at bay and you'll be able to remember all of us, but it will be hard to live here, painful even when your heart lies with us and the hope for him still lives. It's your choice, I'm sorry." Zeniiba began to fade away and Chihiro's vision went white, the white you sometimes see before you wake.
Before Chihiro's eyes opened she yelled to the light, "Granny wait! I promised not to forget him!" whether Zeniiba heard this cry or not Chihiro was awake and sitting up in her bed now.
Chihiro was surprised that she was in fact in her bed the light was off and the door was closed. Chihiro knew that her parents weren't the ones who moved her, for the simple fact that her room didn't smell of human. Chihiro had noticed the smell when she met up with her parents on the human side of the river. It wasn't as repulsing as the Yuna's had led Chihiro to believe, but there was a smell. And Chihiro's room smelled of fresh morning air and slightly of Mr. Clean.
Yuuko walked into Chihiro's room, and stopped in amazement at the clean completely unpacked room before her. "Wow Chihiro nice job sweetie. But now you need to get up, you don't want to be late for your first day of school," said Yuuko who then looked down at Chihiro's desk that was to the right of the door. Chihiro had gotten out of bed and was stretching out, when Yuuko picked up a small piece of paper, "Hey honey where did you get this old train ticket?"
Chihiro's eyes widened as she quickly walked to her mother's side. The 'train ticket' was in fact just that, a train ticket that could carry her to the sixths stop also known as Swamp Bottom. Chihiro took the ticket and shrugged, what could she say. Chihiro's eyes fell to the desk and there just laying as though they were meant to be there was a pair of scissors, but not any scissors, Zeniiba's scissors the ones she had used to finish the hair tie with. Most likely the only scissors that could destroy it.
There were her choices laid out in front of her. Train ticket in hand Chihiro was ready to run to the woods, but what stopped her for at least that day was the slender figure in her doorway. Chihiro sighed and placed the ticket on the desk. Could she do it, take the ticket and leave her parents? Could she break her promise and destroy the hair tie? The hard truth was one day she would have to choose, maybe not today or in a month or a year, but one day would come and come fast even if she waited a hundred years. Chihiro felt like crying the truth was also one day Kohaku would also have to choose, and what if they chose wrong Kohaku to the river and Chihiro to the spirit world? "Honey come on get ready it's your first day of school," said Yuuko walking out of Chihiro's room. That was the one thing Chihiro didn't want to hear didn't want to deal with; The Truth. But being ten she could pretend and being ten meant hope was hard to sever. At that moment truth was forgotten, choices pushed aside (thrown into the top desk drawer), and hope held fast, hope for another way out.