Disclaimer: If the world was perfect, I would own Spirited Away. But the world always has its flaws, thus making me not own Spirited Away. Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli own Spirited Away.

…

At recess, Chihiro began to think about what the Nigijhami Kohaku Nushi looked like. She smiled at her daydream, and she whispered, "I wonder what he looks like…"

An image of the boy from yesterday came up on her head.

Chihiro's face scrunched up, and she said, "No! Anyone BUT him!"

Rin, who was next to her, said innocently, "What's wrong, Chihiro?"

Chihiro grunted, "Nothing…"

…

The Strangest of All

Chapter Two

"Chihiro! Please go and buy some milk!" Mrs. Ogino screamed on the way while rushing out of the house, only to be said goodbye to by facing Chihiro's glum look on her face. Chihiro groaned, and she said, exhausted, "Sure…whatever…"

Chihiro's sister, who was equally competent as her mother for the position of: Mrs.-I-am-so-important-because-I-have-to-earn-money, looked at Chihiro in a finalizing way, and said, "Get some more sleep."

Chihiro nodded, and she mumbled, "Goodbye Rin. Goodbye Mum."

By the time Chihiro finished her sentence, Rin was already locking the door, and her mother had rushed downstairs to catch a taxi. Chihiro could still hear Rin screaming out, "Don't forget the milk!"

Chihiro, with the glum look still pasted onto her face, nodded with a sense of dread, and proceeded to put on her shoes, to which she realized she was still in her pajamas, "Ah!"

…

"Going to be late…"Chihiro mumbled as she put on her shoes, and began her power walking to the trains station, "Stupid mum didn't tell me I had to MAKE dad's lunch AND deliver it to him at the library!"

Grumbling, she bought a return ticket from the window receptionist, and she ran down the stairs to catch the next train, "Excuse me! Excuse me!"

Chihiro stumbled down the last few steps as she rushed about, and jumped onto the train just as the doors were closing. Gasping for breathe, she smiled at her success in catching a train, and sat down.

Chihiro sighed as she collapsed onto a seat, and she looked at the lunchbox, "Are you worth all this?"

No, Chihiro, I'm just a plain old lunch box. So I'm definitely not worth it.

Besides the lunch box and it's unworthiness, Chihiro noticed a stray cat sitting on the seat next to her. Chihiro smiled at the cat, asking it, "Where are you from?"

Chihiro noticed that the cat seemed very old and tired, "The next stop is mine…you going with me?"

The cat meowed at Chihiro's toy key ring, and started snarling at it.

Mumbling to herself about cats and stupidness, Chihiro watched as the train went through the city, and Chihiro got a shock as the train halted to its next stop.

Chihiro took one last look at the cat, "This is my stop. See you later, cat."

To her surprise, the cat followed her out of the train, and start gathering up speed as he dashed among the crowds to get to its destination. Chihiro, still stunned, started chasing after the cat, and yelled, "Wait for me!"

The cat got faster and faster. Chihiro kept chasing and chasing.

A race of cat vs. human.

In a normal race, human always won, but this is no ordinary cat, and this ain't ordinary human. An ordinary human would never know the true meaning of love. no. Only a human in love would know. Duh.

…

"You stupid cat! Why can't you be like my cat, which is stiff like a stick?" Chihiro yelled as the distance became larger between her and the cat. The cat turned around the next corner, and when Chihiro got to it, the cat was gone.

Chihiro sighed, and she said, "All I wanted to do was help you."

The chasing of the cat led her to an unknown area of the suburb. Chihiro slowly walked around, trying to find her way back. She found a store nearby, and was greatly interested in it.

Chihiro walked into the store, fascinated by the antiques.

"Good morning!" a voice said behind her.

Chihiro jumped four metres high up (not literally) and turned around in process (she should get a medal for that!). She breathed in relief when she saw it was just the owner of the store, an old man.

Chihiro smiled nervously, and she shook her head desperately, "No, no! I'm sorry! I just found the store interesting…so…"

The old man chuckled, and he smiled, "I may be old, but I do recognize curious eyes when I see them."

Chihiro relaxed immediately, "Oh." she noticed an antique and elegant clock nearby. Chihiro smiled, and she said softly, "That's a beautifully craved one."

The old man himself started to calm down, and he whispered softly, "A young woman brought it in. Many, many years ago. It's a complex model of a clock with a complex story behind it."

Chihiro turned around, and she had a question written all over her face.

The old man chuckled, and he said softly, "The bravest soldier in the kingdom was fighting the enemy, the country of fairies and elves. Upon washing his wounds in a nearby river, he saw a fairy, washing her hair in the crystal clear water. The solider was scared to see one of the enemy who possessed magical capabilities. The young soldier then preferred to kill the fairy, when the fairy's piercing eyes stared straight at the soldier. She then said to him, 'you want to kill me, am I correct?'. The solider, shocked at this straight attitude of the fairy, turned away slightly, and said, 'you're the enemy. I can not betray my country.'. The fairy then replied quietly, 'so if the queen rages war against your king, then all of the opposition is your enemy. Is that fair on us? Is it fair on you?'?"

"The solider was rather bewildered upon those words, and found his grip on his sword loosening. The fairy smiled at him, and she whispered, 'you're that solider that got wounded in battle yesterday. I saw you take in that arrow with great bravery. It is true that we are enemies, in human and fairy nature, but helping a man from dying is not considered betrayal. In fact, if I killed you while you were in this wounded state, I consider it cowardice.' The fairy then put one hand on the man's chest, which was covered in blood, and instantly, the wound healed."

"The solider was astounded that the enemy would do so much in order to save his life. In desperation for himself, he asked the fairy, 'what is your name?' The fairy replied, 'Hikari. Meaning light.' and then, the fairy's smile faded away, 'but I'm unlike other fairies. Other fairies have freedom in wherever they go. My wings are attached to this rock on the river. I can never escape until the day of my death, or until the day I get my first kiss.'"

"The fairy then shook her head, and tears fell to the ground, 'trapped here, I'll be lucky if I see anyone at all come by, let alone someone who'd kiss me.'"

"The solider, who was eager to help the fairy in anyway, softly and gently pressed his lips onto the fairy. The fairy was even more shocked at this action by the human. Immediately, the curse on the fairy was lifted, and the fairy stood up for the first time in years. The fairy smiled radiantly at the solider, and she murmured, 'and what is your name?'"

"The solider replied by saying, 'Minoru.'"

"And from that day onwards, they never met each other formally and face to face again. But from time to time, they would see each other from a distance away. And that was enough to keep them content."

…

Chihiro looked away, afraid of crying in front of the old man, "So this story…is behind the making of the clock?"

The old man smiled, "When the clock strikes 12 o'clock, the solider comes out from the side of the clock, and the fairy arrives inside. They can only see each other from a distance, as they were still enemies after all."

Chihiro bit her lip, "I see."

Suddenly, at the mention of 'time' in particular, Chihiro sat up straight, and she said nervously, "What's the time?"

"It's almost ten o'clock. Why ask?"

Chihiro jumped up, and she yelled, "Oh no! I have to deliver the lunch box to my dad! Good bye, sir!"

The old man shook his head, and laughed as Chihiro ran out of the store.

it was only a while later that he saw that the girl had left the lunchbox behind.

The old man's eyes twinkled, and he shouted out towards the back to the store, "Grandson! Will you deliver this lunchbox to a kind girl with brown hair, and brown eyes? She's going to the library. She has a necklace with a feather charm on the end."

The boy with dark green hair shifted uncomfortably as he walked towards the old man, "Oh. Her."

"You know her, grandson?"

The boy laughed nervously, "Yes I do. Chihiro Ogino, I think you're talking about."

The boy got his bike from a corner, and he smiled at the old man, "I'll be back before you know it. Ogino-san isn't a girl to be messed with. When she gets angry…she goes like this…" and he pulled a face. The old man just laughed in reply.

…

"Hey! What's you're name again?"

Chihiro turned around to find the annoying boy from yesterday chasing after her on a bike, "It's Chihiro. Chihiro Ogino."

"Ogino-san. Your lunchbox." the boy said, holding out the lunchbox.

Chihiro's face turned a dark shade of red as she grabbed the lunchbox, and she said, "Where did you find it!"

The boy shrugged, and seemed uninterested it the matter, "Does it matter?"

Chihiro shook her head, "I guess…thanks."

"No problem…" The boy started, and then he shook his head, "but you sure have a big appetite, eating THAT big lunchbox!"

Chihiro's face turned red with rage as she screamed, "The lunchbox isn't…" Chihiro then mumbled, "How did you know I left the lunchbox?"

The boy laughed, and he taunted, "Yes, that's right, Ogino-san. How?"

The boy steered the bike away to reveal a cat sitting in a basket that was hanging from the end of the bike.

Chihiro gasped. It's that fat cat on the train…

The boy sneered, "I'll be off then, Ogino-san!" and he took off on his bike within the next second.

Chihiro glared daggers after the boy, and she entered the library with an "Hmph".

…

End of Chapter Two

…

Alright. Chihiro's personality and her personality in the movie aren't supposed to be similar. This story is AU. The characters are somewhat changed by me.

Anyway, criticize whatever you want. Plotline, characters, writing techniques…you're welcome to. I need to know how to improve, right? I can't stay on the same level forever.

This story is based upon Whisper of the Heart, otherwise known as Mimi wo Sumaseba.

And as a plus, a preview of the next chapter:

Preview of Chapter Three

"And welcome to the school's annual Bachelor Auction! Please state your price by raising your hand in the air. For each time a hand is raised, the price increases by 1000 yen!" Rin yelled into the microphone.

Chihiro smiled evilly, what a way to get revenge on that stupid boy…

The bachelor auction wasn't in Whisper of the Heart. Purely a chapter that's going to be made up for my enjoyment… (Grins evilly).

Please review!

Once again, I repeat, this story is based upon: Whisper of the Heart. LOL! That's my second favourite Studio Ghibli movie, which of course, was beaten by the one and only Spirited Away.