Woot! Another chapter! I promise I will work on my other stories, but I'm getting somewhere with this one:: dances: Okay, I'll stop before your eyeballs burn right of your little skulls, and we don't want that do we? Cause then you can't read my story and review. We definitely don't want that!
Thank you reviewers! Couldn't have done this without you!
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Disclaimer: Still don't own Spirited Away. Maybe if I tell Hayao Miyazaki that I'm his long lost daughter… INHERITANCE IS MINE:: runs away laughing like a maniac:
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RECAP:
Her breathing was hard, having been running so long. She stared into the tunnel. To someone else it would have been frightening and menacing, but to Chihiro, it was warm and welcoming. Chihiro panted as she bent over and coughed. She stood up as much as she could and stumbled into the looming darkness.
NOW:
Chihiro shuffled through the tunnels, tripping over loose rocks and rubble. She made her way mostly by memory, bumping into a few things: benches, the birdbath, and other objects wrapped in the secrecy of night. She could hear the low rumble of the train not too far away. She smiled under her tears, she was almost there; she had to be. Before long she could feel the tall grass brushing up against her legs. She inched though the dark meadow, shadows flying by her as the rain clouds began to dissipate. She could hear the sound of rushing water: the river. She couldn't hold up for much longer, her legs were bruised and cut, her body ached from running so far, a splitting headache blurred her thoughts, and she was burning up. She felt the cool water rise against her body as she dropped into the freezing water. Her body went limp as the waves pushed her back and forth. She couldn't tell how long she was in the water, but it didn't matter, the freezing water numbed her thoughts and the pain. Her body thudded onto stone steps and she hauled herself onto them. She tried standing up, but doubled over and regurgitated. She collapsed onto the steps, bruised, cut, sick, and sobbing. Chihiro heard a kind, but fearful voice in the darkness.
"Somebody help me, she's burning up! … Oh my God…" And Chihiro slipped into unconsciousness.
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Chihiro blinked her eyes open against the blinding sunlight. She could feel a wet cloth lay across her forehead and a soft pillow cushioning her aching head.
'I must be back home, it was just a dream…' She sighed. 'Just a dream.' She sat up from the sheets and shielded her eyes from the sunshine. Her eyes adjusted to the light and she gasped. She wasn't home.
She was lying in an enormous bed in the most beautifully elaborate room she'd ever seen. The chestnut colored walls were carved with intricate designs and the windows were framed in gold trimming with long, dark green, velvet curtains. The spotless wood floor shined, as did everything else in the room. The bed she was laying in was embroidered with the most breath-taking dragon designs she had ever seen.
Chihiro had been so busy surveying the room she hadn't heard the door creak open.
"'Morning Chihiro!" A familiar voice chimed. Chihiro gasped.
"Lin!" Chihiro exclaimed. Lin walked over to the side of the bed and smiled. "It's been a while, huh?" She winked. Chihiro smiled and choked back tears of joy as the two pulled each other into a warm embrace.
"Oh, I missed you so much! How have you been?" Chihiro asked swallowing the lump in her throat.
"I've been great, how about you? You've been gone so long!" Lin held Chihiro at arm's length to see a wave of grief envelope Chihiro's face. But it was swept away in a second when Chihiro smiled and laughed weakly.
"Uh, well, not so good, but it's fine." She smiled pathetically. Lin furrowed her brows concern but smiled back.
"Well, you'll have to tell me everything that's happened to you since you left!' She grinned. "But first I'll get you some food, you look starved!" As if on cue, Chihiro's stomach let out a low grumble and Chihiro laughed. "I'll be right back, alright?" Lin winked as she left the room.
Chihiro smiled as she lay her head back onto the pillow, holding back unshed tears of happiness. 'I'm back!' She thought, 'I'm back home…'
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Lin opened the door just a crack and peered inside.
"Chihiro, I got your food." She crept inside and leaned over the bed Chihiro was now sleeping soundly in. Lin smiled. 'She looks so peaceful…' she thought, 'I hope nothing can spoil her dreams, especially after what she's been through. She deserves an escape…' Lin sighed. She set her food on the nightstand beside the bed and walked through the door.
"Sweet dreams."
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I'm so, so, so sorry Haku's not in this chapter either! And it's really short! I absolutely SWEAR he'll be in the next chapter::is bombarded by 6 month old vegetables: Please review!