A: Hi. I'm sorry. I forgot the disclaimer last chapter. I don't think I'll really talk that much. I'll let you get on to the story.
She quit her job and packed the few possessions she couldn't live without. Her apartment was taken care of. Money had no importance to her anymore. The last was spent on a picnic lunch and the bus ride to the closest stop to her destination.
"Thanks." Looking down the forest path she took a deep breath. "I'm coming back, guys." The trail was longer than she thought. Then again her dad had been going about 60 mph. At last she came to the sight she longed for. Running, she vaulted over the marker and dashed into the red tunnel. It was darker than she remembered.
"Ow! Damn supports. What's this?" She bent down and picked up a crinkled piece of paper. Her eyes grew wide. "This isn't paper! These are tickets for the train! Beats my plan by far." She grinned and rushed out into the open air. "Ahh." The wind ruffled her long hair that she had let down. She quickly tied it back when it got in her face with the band her friends had made.
Food sounded good when her stomach growled. Dusk had not fallen yet, so she had time to eat before her plan was put into action. She cleaned up then faced the bathhouse and watched it come to life. "Time to go."
She wasn't afraid to be seen. Frankly, she didn't give a damn about what they thought. Great. That's just the way I want to meet them again, in mangled pieces. She sighed and headed for the train station.
"Swamp Bottom, please." The spirit took one of her tickets and let her on board. "Does this train still only go one way?" She asked a spirit next to her.
It shook its head.
"You mean I can ride the train back?"
It nodded.
"Yes!" Her stop came and she started walking. "Zeneebaaaaaaa!"
"Who could it be?" The door flew open. "Who are you? You reek of human!"
"I am human." Her hair band glinted in the light.
No-Face saw it and made a sound.
"It's me! Nice to see you, No-Face." She walked right in.
"Chihiro?"
"Yep."
Zeneeba was ready to cry. "My baby girl's all grown up." Chihiro was taller than her now, but that didn't stop Zeneeba from crushing her in a hug.
"Zeneeba! Don't crush my things!"
"I'm sorry, Dear. I'm just happy to see you."
"I'd like you to hold onto some things for me."
"Of course! Of course! I'll put them right here." She dusted off a shelf.
Chihiro peered into her bag and pulled out her going away card. "This reminds me of the first time I was here. I was so scared."
"Yes, but you made a lot of friends. I here the train is back to normal."
"It is." She handed her a ring.
"It's so beautiful."
"I got it from my grandmother before she died. My mother wanted to 'hold onto it for me.' I wouldn't let her near it. She was really mad. I hid it when I went to school so she never found it."
"That's nice, Honey."
Chihiro pulled out her last possession. She would never forget how she got it.
A: Thanks for reading. Please wait for the next installment.
