Disclaimer- Look at Chapter 2.
.: .The Stolen Name.: .
CHAPTER THREE--'SURPRISE!'
By: Cecile Li
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"Haku!" She cried out, running toward him.
"Chihiro..." He looked in her eyes, deep within her soul. She was hurting! Such pain he saw. He shook his head to clear those thoughts out. "Chihiro...you came back..."
She stood in front of him, uncertain what to do.
"Chihiro...how long has it been?"
She looked at Haku's emerald eyes, shocked by how he didn't know. "It's been 7 years."
"7 years..."
Suddenly, Haku hugged her hard. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..."
She hugged him back, trying to fight back the tears building up in her eyes. "I missed you so much." She knew this was a sense of false security, but she always felt safe in his arms.
He pulled back from her, unable to look at her properly. "Everything has changed while you were gone." He said weakly, wiping his eyes.
"Show me then."
* * * * * * *
Haku showed her the bathhouse. Nothing had changed much, some remodeling here, some painting here. Chihiro was happy to see Lin and Kimanji; they hadn't changed either.
She sighed softly, leaning on Haku's arm contently.
"Tired?" Haku asked quietly, looking at her.
"Yes, sort of."
"Well, hang on...There's one more thing I want to show you." He looked more excited than he had in years.
Chihiro put her hands on her eyes, covering it. "Well, don't tell me. I want it to be a surprise."
Haku smiled.
He steered her toward a small room. He slid open the door lightly.
The room looked delicate and soft in the soothing candlelight. There was a small cot by the round circle-shaped stained glass window. It must have been beautiful during the day. Beside the cot was a small table with three drawers. On top of the table was a small blown glass vase filled with sweet-smelling blossoms and a tall thick candle with the picture of flying birds etched into it.
In the middle of the room, a petite figure crouched there, sewing a sampler.
"Sora." Haku called out eagerly.
Sora stood up and turned around.
Sora had beautiful long brown-black hair that was tied with a knot. Her face was heart-breakingly beautiful that looked forever magnificent, a picture lost in time. Her eyes were blue, bluer than the sky.
Chihiro gasped. Her skin was paler than anyone's she had seen.
Her bright blue eyes glanced at Chihiro curiously. "Haku!" She laid the sampler onto her cot. She frowned at Chihiro. "And who is she?"
Chihiro gulped nervously. "Chihiro. My name is Chihiro. I'm from...the...other world."
Sora smiled. "I'm so glad to meet you. Haku's been telling me about you. I've always wanted to meet you."
Haku looked at them anxiously.
Sora smiled again, this time her smile uneasy and troubled. "I need to borrow Haku for awhile, Chihiro. You should go rest. Lin's room is right next door."
Chihiro could see Sora really needed to talk to Haku. "Sora, I hope we can be friends."
Sora looked at her, her sparkling eyes resting on Chihiro's face . "Of course."
* * * * * * *
Haku closed the door behind Chihiro. The moment the door was closed, Sora sighed.
"What happened, Sora?" Haku glanced at Sora with genuine concern.
Sora sighed. "It's Hitoro again." Haku's eyes widened angrily. "He grabbed my neck and threatened me. I tried out the spell you taught me. It worked a little too well. Instead of just the same bruise he gave me, he's feeling every bruise, every kick, every hurt he has ever inflicted on me all at once." She looked away. "He's in the infirmary right now. The nurses say he might not make it."
Haku gasped. "What did Yubaba do?"
Tears erupted from her eyes. "She said, 'Good Job! Thanks for killing him off for me, he was starting to get really annoying.'"
* * * * * * *
3,
Cecile.