Choices
Disclaimer: I don't own Spirited Away or any of its characters.
Author's Note: I also don't own Mickey Mouse. Yes and I know I am writing three other stories and I should be updating those and not just this one. But I got Digimon writers block. And I need to gather my thoughts more for my other Spirited Away fic. Happy Reading!
-Na
Chapter 5: Her Heart Screams While His Heals
Chihiro was sitting bored in the train, she never had any idea that six stops could take so long. But if she counted right the next stop was hers and the moon was already high in the sky. Chihiro worried about her parents, and a part of her wished she had done more with Miyu then let him kiss Kaeko. But Chihiro decided that what she had done was right if she had voiced that Miyu was cheating Kaeko would most likely get the first slap. And this was a revenge she wanted to plan out.
Chihiro sighed she wasn't going home but thinking like she would get to see the rat of her boyfriend... EX-boyfriend again was strangely comforting. Chihiro's decision to stay was obvious to her, she felt as if she was going to her Grandmothers house to talk, knit, and bake cookies and it wasn't like she was running away, or was it? Had she chosen the easy way out not having to face the world. The world that cast her aside, instead of embracing her as this one did.
"That's Sen, she is back!" said a voice of one of the shadowy people to another in a voice that Chihiro could barely hear. Chihiro didn't react to the name of Sen, though she felt she should have. Outwardly Chihiro didn't react but she listened very carefully.
"Who?" asked the second.
"Come on you have to know Sen the only one to escape Yu-Baaba."
"What about that guy who was turned to coal?"
"Well Sen returned to the human world."
"So why are you happy to see her here again?"
"She pledged her heart to the river spirit Kohaku, and pledged not to choose."
"Choose what?"
"I'm not sure but I think to live here or forget here."
"But she chose."
"Are you as ignorant as she is now, she has no clue where she is she chose both which of course is no choice at all."
"And why are you happy?"
"Yu-Baaba may ran a good business but she is evil, if Sen can defeat her once she can do it again. The business is good for the Spirit World but it breeds greed, from Yu-Baaba to her workers."
The train slowed to a stop and Chihiro walked out of the door, her time on the train before she had overheard the conversation was one of the last times she thought of the human world. The heart of a child that was forced to lie and then grew up with one little snip, was happy to embrace the magick that now surrounded her, she was beginning to except the truth in the matter, that she was Sen. Even if she couldn't remember.
The train rolled away leaving Chihiro on the platform alone. Chihiro turned around to face a massive swamp, that was alive with frogs and crickets. Even the clock that looked as if it for many years (decades, millennia ) stopped telling the right time. The clock was yellowed and had swamp grass hanging from it, and still keep perfect time. "Of course Chihiro! You had to listen to the houses you had to think that a place with such a name as Swamp Bottom was anything but an unwelcoming most likely deadly swamp!" yelled Chihiro, as she searched a place to buy another ticket. But the small platform had nothing on it except for Chihiro and the clock.
Chihiro jumped when she heard a squeaking noise behind her. Chihiro's mind was frozen in fear but her feet were not and as if they worked on the will of Chihiro's heart or the soul of Sen, they turned Chihiro to face a lamp. The lamp was a little shorter then Chihiro and stood on one white gloved hand. The lamp to Chihiro's fright bowed a greeting to her. Chihiro nervously bowed back and as soon as she was upright the lamp bounced down the only path coming and leaving the platform.
Chihiro thought quickly about whether to follow or not, surely in the swamp wasn't as safe as the edge of the swamp. But then again she listened to the voices in the houses, why not follow a bouncing lamp? Chihiro quickly ran down the path to catch up with the lamp that she was surprised to find waiting for her not too far away.
The lamp led Chihiro deep into the swamp, Chihiro was beginning to doubt her decision. When the lamp sprung in the air and wrapped its arm and hand around a pole that was far over head of the gate to a small cottage. Chihiro took a deep breath gathering courage as she walked up to the cottage. The windows were a lit with the soft glow from the fire that was burning, Chihiro still had the feeling that she was about to spend time with her Grandmother.
Chihiro stood staring at the door for a second, she raised her hand to knock but hesitated. Could she really knock on a strangers door, and ask for food and a place to stay? Chihiro raised her hand once more and once again hesitated and let her hand drop. With a loud sigh Chihiro mentally kicked herself, Come on Chihiro! Your sixteen start acting like it and stop being afraid! Chihiro had no clue how long she was on the train, hours was all she knew, and off the platform another hour or so and though here in front on this door it seemed not at all endless, it must have been for the sun slowly rose behind Chihiro. And as the first orange rays of the sun touched Chihiro, she knocked on the door. The door silently swung open.
"Well come in, come in you've stood there long enough. Sit down Chihiro and we'll have some tea," replied the voice from within.
Chihiro shyly and slowly walked into the house and looked around the cottage. She found it very pleasant and warm feeling, well lived in with a spinning wheel in the corner and a fire on the hearth. Little did Chihiro know that the cottage had looked the same as it had when she was ten. But even with such familiarities Chihiro's mind would not, could not remember, while her heart ached with the happiness of its return.
Chihiro walked up to the lady that was facing the counter and not the door. She was wearing a blue dress and wore her massive amount of blond hair in a bun, the lady was obviously old but Chihiro could tell she looked too young for her age. And now what felt strange for Chihiro was that she was taller then the lady with her back to Chihiro. "Umm... Excuse me how did you know my name?... Oh! And thank you very much for your hospitality," said Chihiro with a bow.
"Well lets just say that I've known you from since before you can remember, and hospitality? You can thank me after I show more then opening the door. Now would you like milk or honey with your tea?" said the woman turning around to face Chihiro. Chihiro now understand why the lady had a massive amount of hair, her head was massive. She had large eyes and a large nose, though she was rather short and her feet seemed all to small to support her body. She looked kind and knowledgeable, yet there was an air of class. But the lady very humble placed three tea cups on the table along with a beautiful cake, "Oh where are my manners I'm Zeniiba, and please Chihiro take a seat."
"Milk would be lovely Zeniiba, thank you," replied Chihiro as she sat down.
"Kaonashi come out, Sen is here!" yelled Zeniiba to one of the adjoining rooms. After Zeniiba realized that she had called Chihiro, Sen. Zeniiba knew that Chihiro needed to remember, but she had to do it alone. Zeniiba was relieved to see that Chihiro didn't react to the name change, but instead she starred at Kaonashi.
Chihiro had 'never' seen anything like Kaonashi he wore long black robes that could be mistaken as his skin unless he was walking and that was when the garment slipped away to reveal two skinny black legs, to match his skinny black arms. And true to his name he had No-Face and wore a white mask for a face. He walked up to Chihiro and said, "uh, uh, uhh."
"Hi," replied Chihiro a little shy, but strangely she wasn't scared. She could see that his past had held rejection and hatred, and someone... no not someone, Sen had saved him and brought he here where he would be happy.
"Well come now, drink your tea and eat some of Kaonashi's cake, they are the best in the area. And Chihiro you can tell us how you came to our door," said Zeniiba taking her own seat.
"Umm... I guess it would be credited to two people, my mom and my ex- boyfriend Miyu," Chihiro began both Zeniiba and Kaonashi were token aback by the boyfriend ex or not she didn't wait for Kohaku, but then again could they blame her? She had 'chosen' to forget, "Yes well my mom made me clean my room and I found a train ticket and then the next day she suggested that I do my history project on the shrines in the woods. Well I heard these houses or the 'people' with in telling a story about the sixth stop Swamp Bottom. Further down the path I saw my boyfriend kissing another girl. My head was spinning, my stomach was growling, and my feet slipped silently past them. I heard the train and decided a quiet train ride would do me good and I could get some food. This nice 'man' on the platform gave me a lemon drop and then the train came and I used the train ticket that I had found but I didn't know where to go so I said Swamp Bottom and here I am."
"Oh I see," replied Zeniiba, and at that moment a old antique phone in Zeniiba's office rang. Zeniiba excused herself and walked to the other room to take the call.
"Hello," said Zeniiba to the person on the other end.
"You owe me a favor!"
"No I don't Yu-Baaba!"
"Well can you just bring Haku to your house for a week, please?"
"Why? The last time I wanted him to stay with me you almost didn't let him come. So why would you want him to come to me now?"
"Do you think I want him to die? When he came back the last time he was better then when he left. And I can't have him dying here, Kamajii can't do a thing, so I was hoping you could."
"Oh so this is about Aburaya, can't have someone die in your walls? I'll do it but not for you, for him..." Zeniiba hung up the phone before finishing her sentence, "and for Chihiro of course." Zeniiba glanced down at the table that the phone sat upon there way a small paper bird, she knew in a box some where lay the rest of her white birds, but right now she needed only one.
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An eighteen year old boy lay half asleep in his big bed. If you were to have known him six years ago you would not recognize the past him and present him to be the same. He was pale before but he became paler from his sickness and lack of sun. his hair was a raggedy mess of black, most of his hair reached his shoulders while his bangs covered his eyes and fell no further then his nose. His facial hair was black, a little longer then what could be called stubble. What had not changed were his eyes they were the same green they always had been and at quick glance where cold, but if you looked they weren't really cold they knew the ultimate pain and were depressed. After weeks of not leaving that bed he was just a sweaty, greasy, smelly mess of what he used to be, his heart beat faltered often and was slow he was dying of what would look like on human standards of old age. But he was only eighteen in body and therefore shouldn't be dying, those who knew him knew the truth he was dying of a broken heart. He would also like to say that at least he led a good life, but in his younger years he led a life with no end just watching over his river, and then he was what most would say was evil, after that there was a time of three days where his heart beat true, after that of course it was depression and the slow death that he was approaching. He would die no later then the next day and he was fine with it, he had done something that he shouldn't, but then again in matters of the heart you can't chose, out of the choices he was given this was never one, but to this second he never regretted that which was killing him, the love for a human girl.
Kohaku woke up he though it would be for the last time, that maybe it would be a good thing to use the last of his strength to open his window and see the morning light one last time. He got no chance to open his window, for when he turned to face the window there stood Zeniiba this time she looked solid unless caught in the right light.
"Good morning Haku. Now get up and fly to my house," said Zeniiba getting to the point, at her own house she was supposed to be attending a guest.
"I can't Zeniiba, I don't have the strength anymore I'll be dead tomorrow," replied the young man.
Zeniiba threw him a veil of a clear liquid, "Then drink this. But you better take a bath because your not coming to my house looking and smelling like that and don't forget to shave!"
"This medicine only restores my strength and dulls the pain for no more then two hours Zeniiba."
"Then fly fast, or I'll find some way to cause you more pain then you are in now," threatened Zeniiba.
Kohaku's eyes widened, "You wouldn't harm Chihiro!"
"And you aren't going to die! A week of good home cooking, Kaonashi's cake, fresh air you'll be fine. If you don't get up and take a bath yourself I'll give you one!" replied Zeniiba. Kohaku rolled away from Zeniiba and to her surprise he got out of the bed and walked into him private bathroom.
A voice came from within the bathroom, "Zeniiba if you lift one magickal finger to hurt her, you'll be morning a lot more then the loss of that finger! And don't you think I can't do it, my death wont save you. Now leave I'll see you in a few hours!"
Before Zeniiba left Kohaku's room she waited to hear the bath water running and she said, "Haku bring a few of your old uniforms with you please I could use some." With that Zeniiba left.
Kohaku mumbled to himself, "Do you need something else? What could you use old uniforms for? Or could you just let the lonely man meet his fate and die lonely and in as much peace as he can muster!"
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"Sorry it took so long, you know business and all," said Zeniiba walking back into the kitchen to find Chihiro and Kaonashi sitting at the table, the cake was all eaten, "well Chihiro you must be tired, let me show you to the spare bedroom and you can get some rest."
"Oh that would be great! Thank you Zeniiba," replied Chihiro standing up and placing her dishes in the sink.
"Don't worry about those, I'll take care of it. Now come on," said Zeniiba in a kind voice beckoning Chihiro to follow to the spare room. Chihiro walked out of the kitchen and followed Zeniiba to the spare room. The spare room was rather small with plain wood walls and a plain wooden floor. The floor was barely seen because a large mattress covered it.
Chihiro stepped in the room and turned with a bow to Zeniiba, "Thank you."
"Your Welcome, now you can sleep as long as you would like and I'll leave you some clean clothes for you when you wake up, good night," said Zeniiba as she walked out of the room and closed the door behind her.
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Kohaku arrived at Zeniiba's house three hours after she had left his room. He walked into her house very angry at being made to fly so fast. He handed Zeniiba three on his old uniforms that just barely were too small for him. Zeniiba quickly left the kitchen, while Kaonashi retrieved Kohaku a glass of water and another veil of medicine.
Zeniiba returned and cringed at Kohaku's hair, "Ok well I guess the first thing we should do is give you a hair cut."
"What not even a 'hello Haku, I'm glad to see you came and made it in record time. would you like a cup of tea?' and you know you can't keep feeding me this medicine tomorrow if I'm alive, it will only work if your lucky for an hour," replied Kohaku sitting in the chair Zeniiba had pulled to the center of the room.
"Well yes, drink it now I can't have you falling asleep while I cut your hair now can I? And don't talk like that you aren't going to die tomorrow, you will live through this week and then, many, many after that. Now how do you want your hair?" replied Zeniiba with a smile, she knew she had Kohaku's cure. Zeniiba threw a towel around Kohaku's neck and then picked up her scissors.
Kohaku reluctantly drank the veil of magickal medicine, and looked forward, "Come on Zeniiba everyone knows I'm dying and I know I'll die tomorrow and I'm a 100 % sure I'll die within the week. I'd bet a gold piece on that. My hair the same as always."
"Ok Haku a gold piece," replied Zeniiba with a smile as she began to cut his hair, "So Haku what would you do if you saw Chihiro again?"
"I would hug her. What kind of question is that, what are you up to?" asked Kohaku.
"Nothing I was just wondering. And what would you do if she didn't remember you ?" asked Zeniiba.
"If she doesn't remember me right away, she'll still love me and I her, I can patiently wait till she remembers me," replied Kohaku.
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Chihiro woke up to find three pairs of identical clothes waiting for her on the edge of the bed. They were gray and dark blue, complete with a purple sash. They were obvious to big for Chihiro and obviously boys clothing. But it was a kind gesture on Zeniiba's part, and she couldn't stay in these clothes forever, she was now beginning to smell a strange 'human' smell on her clothes. And this specific white blouse and navy blue skirt, were her school uniform. Which was uncomfortable and only for school, plus it made her remember things she didn't want to. Chihiro pulled her uniform off and slipped into the comfortable, light, and large Aburaya uniform, but she didn't 'know' the source of her knew outfit.
Chihiro folded her uniform, she didn't remember taking her backpack off, but she didn't have it with her. Chihiro then remembered that between the third and fourth train stop she had taken her backpack off, and she must of left it on the train. Chihiro shrugged it off as she straightened out her bed sheets and laid the clothes neatly on the bed, but her uniform was placed in the far corner.
Chihiro had only slept for about four hours, but she was strangely not tired as she silently left her room. Chihiro walked out to find Zeniiba standing with her back to Chihiro and there was black hair on the floor.
"Haku hold still I'm almost finished with your hair," said Zeniiba as she straightened Kohaku's head.
"You know it would have taken 30 seconds if you just used magick, not 30 minutes!" replied Kohaku bored and annoyed.
"One, in simple matters as cutting hair or cooking I don't like to use a lot of magick. And for your information Mr. Nigihayami Kohaku Nushi with magick It could take less then thirty seconds if I saw fit, and this has taken more then thirty minutes, because you wont sit still!" replied Zeniiba laying down her scissors on the near by table, and then using her magick to pull a Mickey Mouse with the broom to clean the hair up.
"Yeah, yeah. So are you finished yet?"
"Haku you could be nicer stop taking your pain out on me I miss her too. She was such a good girl came all the way here to save you, sat in that chair over there to remember you, she was like a real granddaughter to me, someone who didn't think of herself only of others!" yelled Zeniiba almost in tears.
Kohaku turned towards Zeniiba, "I'm sorry Granny, Thank You ve..." Kohaku stopped when her saw the girl behind Zeniiba. Kohaku could hear his heart beat in his head, a sound that he had almost forgotten. But it couldn't be Chihiro, it couldn't be the girl he wanted to see more then anything in the world, worlds.
Zeniiba turned around to see Chihiro, "Oh Chihiro I'm glad your awake this is Kohaku he'll be staying here for a week, he was sick but I think he'll be better now."
"Kohaku? Oh yes the river spirit Kohaku. Well I hope you feel better Haku, what was it?... aw yes I remember, your dying of a broken heart. My name is..." Chihiro said.
Kohaku cut her off with a voice filled with relief and joy, "Chihiro!"
"Yes," replied Chihiro with a bow. It wasn't that she remembered him but so many people had talked of him and his love Sen or should she say Chihiro. And it wasn't that she was just going to except what she heard and assume she was in love. But then again those eyes, his green eyes were only soft and kind to her. Chihiro saw in his eyes a past and she knew that she really was Sen and that she had met him twice before, but that was all. She could see his heart healing along with Zeniiba's, Kaonashi's, and hundreds of others. Chihiro could see the future the Kohaku wished of a happy future that now went past tomorrow, past this week, a future for them... not just that the world. Chihiro had to force her self to once more take a breath his eyes and goofy yet sweet smile had stopped her heart for a second. Chihiro just smiled and walked up to Kohaku and gave him a hug.
Zeniiba and Kaonashi looked at the pair with a great hope as Kohaku returned Chihiro's hug. They wished that she remembered him, they wished them both health. Chihiro pulled out of their hug and her hand slipped into Kohaku's. Chihiro looked down at their intertwined hands, she was surprised, and her heart quickened screaming in joy for it's other half. But what surprised Chihiro was that his hand wasn't to big or to small and it wasn't rough like Miyu's, Kohaku's hand was soft and gentle, it fit to Chihiro's hand perfectly.
Chihiro pulled her hand away, she looked up into Kohaku's eyes, "I'm sorry... it just... I thought you looked like you needed a hug... You know I think of met you before, from before I can remember. I figure you remember though. I'm no longer ten, and I'm no longer a traumatized four year old, I'm no longer ignorant to such things. And I know that I didn't truly forget, but it is just going to take awhile for me to remember."
Zeniiba just watched the two for a moment, as they stared at each other. Kohaku smiled down at Chihiro she looked so cute wearing his oversized uniform and with her long hair loose, and flowing over her shoulders. "Well," finally said Zeniiba breaking the silence, "this is no real vacation either of you, so can either of you cook?"
Kohaku looked at Zeniiba, "You mean something that isn't burnt? And when I don't use magick right? Well I mean even with magick the food comes out barely edible."
"Well does cereal count?... or microwave pizza? I think I made that once just don't read the conventional oven direction when you are using the microwave, It just doesn't come out the same. Oh and toast I can make toast," replied Chihiro.
"Ok... so we'll start with cooking something simple like rice ok?" asked Zeniiba a little worried about the two only being able to cook burnt food and in Chihiro's case the occasional microwave pizza! Before Zeniiba got an answer the phone rang, she sighed and left the kitchen to answer it.
"So how are you feeling Haku?" asked Chihiro.
"fine, really I feel fine," replied Kohaku.
"Well broken Heart or not, you shouldn't heal that quickly. Come sit down," replied Chihiro grabbing Kohaku's hand and bringing him to the small couch in the corner or the room.
"You don't have to worry about me, I should be worrying about you, you're a long way from home." Replied Kohaku sitting down on the couch next to Chihiro, she was right he felt a little weak but he could feel the strength that he had once lost return to his body.
"Well we can worry about each other then," replied Chihiro resting her head on his shoulder, when Kohaku moved for the more comfortable position of his arm around Chihiro, she pulled her head away.
Zeniiba walked into the room, "I must go away on business," said Zeniiba, Kohaku and Kaonashi gave her a rather strange look she could just use the paper birds, "I must take care of this personally. So Kohaku I have no more spare rooms and you can't use mine so share with Chihiro or Kaonashi. While I'm gone there are some rules, One: I want to return with all three of you here. Two: I don't want anything stolen. Three: Kaonashi is in charge. Four: help Kaonashi with the cooking and cleaning, I see that he has already cooked rice tonight, but tomorrow help out. Five: Kaonashi teach them to cook and knit and so forth please. Six: Don't go in my room or my office, ignore the phone if it rings. And Seven: go to bed early tonight. Now have a nice time, learn to cook, and knit, I'm assuming you know how to clean. I love you my children and I'll see you in a couple days."
With that Zeniiba was walking out of the door. Kaonashi, Kohaku, and Chihiro walked to the door that Zeniiba left open, "Bye Granny" replied both Kohaku and Chihiro.
Kaonashi said, "Uh, uh!" as all three waved.
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Zeniiba walked towards her train platform, but where she was going no train could take her. Zeniiba walked alone down the path, it being daylight and all, the lamp was not need to accompany her. Zeniiba cursed about there being no return train which meant she had to walk or use her magick.
"Oh Chihiro how could you forget your backpack on the train? You are a good soul, and many praise your coming believing you'll put an end to unjust rule and hard labor. Because you escaped my sister, saved lives, and stopped Kaonashi all being the magick less human you are, with only a small amount of help. But for every heart that believes in you, there is one that fears that you'll bring an end to unjust rule and hard labor. Please remember Chihiro, and save Kohaku from dying now... or both of you wont survive."
Author's Note: This fic is not over with, I repeat THIS STORY IS NOT FINISHED. That was kind of obvious this time right? I'm just saying this because it's seems to be a tradition now. That will most likely be ended next chapter, unless it sounds like an end, when its not. If you didn't catch the small recollection and exact time points that Chihiro spoke about when she shouldn't have remembered them, then you should have 'cause they are slightly important. Anyways thanks for the reviews and so forth all though this isn't a review driven fic, I enjoy hearing watcha all think. Merci!
-Na