First up, I want to make it clear that I will not post another chapter until I get three reviews. If you're an author on this site or any other site I'm sure you understand, so please take the time to review. Thanks!
To my reviewers:
invisiblesplotch: Yeah, I'd love a mansion like that too. Why not put our dreams into our stories? . Thanks for the support!
annalyn: Thank you so so so so so much for the review,I read it and I was really touched, that's probably the nicest thing anyone's ever told me about a story. Thanks so much, I hope you enjoy this next chappie!
Again, thanks so much to these two, it's only with the ongoing support of reviewers that keep a story going!
Disclaimer: I don't own Spirited Away or any of its characters. And as much as I (and many other fangirls probably do) wish, I don't own Haku...sexy beast he is...ah well. Ignore me and read the chapter!
CHAPTER THREE – SEN'S RETURN
"AAAAAHHHH!"
Sen stumbled backwards at the frog's scream and fell over. She might have been the complete opposite of her mother, but despite her strength, she had still inherited some of Chihiro's old – and remaining – clumsiness. But she was more concerned, at the moment, about the talking frog. How could a frog do these sorts of human things? And why was it dressing and speaking like a human? What was going on? Could he be the frog in her mother's fantasies?
No, Sen decided firmly, pulling herself to her feet. A fantasy is a fantasy, not a reality. Argh, I wish I knew what was going on!
That's when rushing footsteps caught her attention. The frog's scream hadn't halted yet, and it was attracting a horde of people. Suddenly men and women dressed in either blue or pink rushed into the room. They were all bearing human characteristics, but something of their faces hinted otherwise. Worst of all, they had all been attracted to the frog's scream, and were now all yelling themselves as they looked upon their guest.
"Ack! It's a human!"
"A human? Oh, no!"
"Oh, the smell! Unbearable!"
"What's a human doing here?"
And then a new shout interrupted the chatter:
"SEN!"
Sen was once again knocked off her feet by a blur of pink. Someone was hugging her…but who? And why?
The frog stopped screaming and everything went quiet. The pink blur, who was no longer a blur but a young woman, released Sen and then pulled her to her feet. The woman was like everyone else, but there was something different. She was taller and her face was most definitely a human one. She had long brown hair tied in a low ponytail and was currently wearing a very happy smile.
The woman looked around at everyone. They were all staring in shock, but Sen could hear a few mutters and murmurs here and there.
"Sen? The Sen?"
"That little girl whose parents Yubaba turned into pigs?"
"Is it really her?"
The frog, having slightly recovered from his shock, said, "Lin, how can you be sure? Certainly it can't be Sen! It's been too long!"
"And how would you know?" the one called Lin snapped back angrily. Her voice had a hint of sarcasm to it. "None of us know how much time has passed – it could have been only a month for all we care! Time passes differently anyways! Besides, look at her!" Lin then shoved Sen forwards a bit, and she gave all the stares a defiant look. "She hasn't changed one bit!" She looked at Sen quizzically. "You are Sen, aren't you?"
A little confused, Sen nodded. "Yeah, I'm Sen. But who are you, really? I don't know you."
Lin looked terrible offended. "You mean to say you don't remember me? After all I did for you? Bet you remember everyone else, don't you!"
Sen wanted to say, "But I'm not the Sen you think I am!" for she knew they were mistaking her for her mother, but she never got the chance to speak. She was suddenly tightly surrounded by everyone, and they were all asking eager questions or shouting out welcomes. Sen tried to push her way out of the mob, but it was very difficult. Struggling to get free, her mind raced. What is this place? It's exactly how mother always described it, and yet…it can't be, it's just not possible. So what is this? Some sort of dream? Or nightmare?
Just when she thought the people would swallow her up completely in their mob, an old but clear and demanding voice rang out across the room.
"Everybody out of my way!"
In just two seconds, silence enveloped the room and everyone had moved away, leaving Sen standing in the middle of the hall by herself to face what was coming. What she saw made her gasp.
A giant baby, its head barely touching the ceiling, wearing a bright red diaper. And next to it, much, much shorter, was an old woman in a navy blue dress with a lot of grey hair tied up in a bun. She had a large nose and looked quite angry and frazzled.
"What's all the commotion about, idiots?" she demanded. "What's this I here about Sen being back?"
She said the name with distaste, and Sen knew exactly who this was. This was Yubaba, the evil witch her mother had told her about. But why was she seeing all of these characters her mom knew in her fantasies? Could it really be real? No. That was impossible.
Yubaba turned to glare at Sen, who simply glared back. This surprised Yubaba, and her gaze grew colder. "The real Sen would never look at me like that. This is just a look-alike."
The giant baby stepped forward, towering over Sen, inspecting her. Sen stood tall, but she couldn't help but feel a little nervous.
"It's Sen, mommy," the baby said in a loud voice. "I can tell. See her elastic? I helped make it myself."
Everyone leaned in closer to get a glimpse of the sparkling purple hair elastic Chihiro had passed down to her, and the room broke out into mutters again.
Yubaba yelled, "Silence!" and as the room once again quieted she walked slowly towards the girl, walking around her in circles, inspecting her. After a moment she said, "Alright, I believe you, it's Sen." Cheers broke out, but the witch silenced them with a dirty look. Then she leered at Sen. "So, Sen, what made you decide to come back?"
Sen knew now that it was pointless in denying who they thought she was. So she decided to lie a little. "Just, uh, visiting," she said, and her voice grew stronger and more confident. "I wanted to come back for a little bit." After all, what harm could a little lie do?
"A visit, you say?" Yubaba said with a twisted smile. "Well, for you to stay in this bathhouse for your visit, you'll have to renew your contract, or else I'll just turn you into a pig like I did your parents. What do you say?" She flicked a wand she'd been holding and a paper and pen materialized in front of her.
Sen took the pen and signed her name. "Fine," she said. And she handed her contract back to the witch, who took it with a wicked snicker.
"You can work with Lin again, like you did last time you were here. Work starts tomorrow. Better get ready, Sen! Because if you don't work, I'll have to be cross with you!" She turned to the giant baby. "Come, sweetie pie, come upstairs to play with mommy," she simpered, and the baby followed her away.
As soon as the witch was out of sight and earshot, everyone swarmed up to Sen again, yelling and screaming. But this time Sen fought even harder to break free, not even trying for a bit of patience. And then she yelled, "Shut up!" Everyone backed away in surprise, staring. Sen continued, "You're all bothering me. Now go away and leave me be."
Still in a daze, they all left, whispering amongst themselves. Lin remained behind, grinning in satisfaction.
"I guess you learned a few new tricks, huh Sen?" she said happily, and a little enviously. "I could never get naggers off of me for my life!" Taking Sen by the hand, she added, "Come on, I bet you don't remember where our room is."
Yubaba entered the dungeon laughing. "Guess what?" she said to the captive, her eyes flashing. "Sen has returned. And I've put her under contract again."
A gasp greeted these words. Then the captive yelled, "No, you can't! How could you be so –"
"Shut up or I'll have you whipped around for a little bit again," Yubaba retorted. The captive remained silent. "I thought as much," Yubaba sneered. "Poor, poor you. Well, that's what you get for always getting in my way. Turning my baby into a mouse… But not anymore. And since I've taken away your powers, you're helpless. Only I know you're here, and I've destroyed the key. You'll never escape."
And she left the dungeon the same way she had entered: laughing. And long after she'd gone, the laugh still echoed against the dungeon walls and in the captive's ears. And the captive wept.