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Disclaimer: I do not own any of Miyazakis work and never did. Including "Spirited Away".
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Okay people, well this is what I believe to be the last chapter. I am for sure
going to go through it and make sure it's all together and not all wishy washy,
and words are actually correctly spelled. If the way I Wright it is wrong.
well... Like you have done for the last 24 chapters... you must deal with it.
Oh yes and for this chapter, the narrator (me) will be talking instead of chihiro.
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Chihiro stood on the bridge in front of the bathhouse and watched as Boa and Lin swam in the water, playing with a large ball that resembled a beach ball. She smiled every time Boa caught it and didn't catch it. Behind her stood Kohaku, who gazed at Chihiros back as if Chihiro herself were a shrine. Back in the bathhouse Yubaba and Zeniba discussed how they would share the bathhouse, and made sure everyone was all right.
It was the day after, mid afternoon, and everyone was still tired from the long
day before. Kohaku and Chihiro both went back and got Kaonashi,
Ekiyuu and Metsuki. Chihiro by herself went and got Akushuu and Sho-to.
Metsuki sat, leaning on a tree trunk, with Ekiyuu resting her back against his chest. They both looked out at the sun as they ate their lunch. About three trees over sat Akushuu and Sho-to, sitting hand in hand.
Kaonashi stood in the shadowed corner by the bathhouse and watched how everyone seemed to be so happy. Inside he was to. He may have just been A spirit, but that couldn't stop the smile from magically appearing on his sad looking mask.
Kohaku got tired of just standing there, and came up from behind Chihiro,
Wrapping his arms around her back, and nuzzling him cheek against her
wings.
Then he noticed something he didn't expect. Chihiro was trembling. She put her hand sweetly on his hand as it rested around her abdomen. A loud Sniff of pent up emotions escaped her, and she quickly turned around, throwing herself in his arms and sobbed for an unknown reason.
"Chihiro... what is it?" He asked, so confused that she would cry when all was well.
"I can't go back home. I can't." She sobbed.
He laughed. "Why not? It's all over. I don't know how, but Yubaba said that you can pass through times whenever you like now." He said with glee.
She only sobbed harder. "I CANT!" She lost strength in her knees and let
herself cling to him like she did with her mother when she was younger.
"I cant." She shook her head no into his chest over and over.
"But I don't understand... why not?" He asked.
She looked up and seemed irritated that he wouldn't know. Even though He must have gotten used to them by now. Chihiro let go of him and sat down on the bridge as if she were a small stubborn child, and her wings wrapped around her body as if to protect her, but it was only to try and clue him in as to why she was afraid of facing her time.
He smiled. "Oh so that's why?"
Under the strong thick wings, you could hear Chihiro muster the words, "If I went back to my time with these things; I'd be a freak! My parents wouldn't let me even come near them! They'd shoot me down with my dads rifle and sell my carcass on ebay!"
Kohaku seemed extremely confused about the words, 'Rifle, and ebay'. He ignored it, and knelt down to pat her wing softly.
"Chihiro... these spirits can come and go as they please. They're just waiting for your permission to leave your body." He explained.
The wings flew open and Chihiro grabbed Kohakus hand before flying into the sky as if she were in a rush. All you could hear was a loud shrill coming from the so-called 'grown man' named Kohaku.
Chihiro was flying up towards a tall tower where she had once been forced
to enter and be locked in with a bunch of doves and different kinds of birds.
Without thinking her wings stopped flying and she wrapped her arms
tightly around Kohaku as her wings closed off around them both.
Kohaku and Chihiro yelled as loud as their bodies could no knowing
why her wings would do this without her permission.
Their bodies suddenly fell through the small roofed tower about the bathhouse, and her wings opened to hover just before landing. They still stood in each other's arms, barely breathing, and just noticing they were safe.
Kohaku was the first to open his eyes, and he looked around the room before shaking Chihiro from her frightened stupor.
Chihiro spun in a circle to bring back the bad memory of being locked in this room. She wondered why she even wanted to come here. But then she Remembered.
She let go of Kohakus hand and smiled. "This is where the spirits entered me"
She said. She suddenly felt a really warm, yet small chill pass through her
body, and took a few seconds to understand that the spirits were
speaking to her. She smiled and turned to Kohaku. "They said they would
always be with me. They said that when I leave they will stay here, and when
I come back, they will be back as well." She almost wanted to scream with
happiness that her new, should I say friends would always be with her no
matter what.
Chihiro smiled and grabbed his hand once more, and they both went soaring out of the tower and headed back to the bridge.
Just before landing, Chihiro noticed a very familiar white horse, and a very familiar king. She smiled and her wings instantly sped up. Just as the King was to climb the last step on his horse, Chihiro landed with Kohaku at her side.
Everyone hurried over, and even Zeniba and Yubaba came out of the bathhouse.
Just behind them were a bunch of the bathhouse workers, and even the
wonderful boiler man Kamagi came out.
Kohaku looked back and forth at the smiles the king and Chihiro were exchanging and took it to heart. He cocked an eyebrow, and slowly took a step forward, making sure that at least his shoulder was in front of hers. He eyed King Kokoro down as if he were an obvious murderer, and seemed to not like him to much.
The king slowly took off his riding gloves and straightened up, before noticing the glares Kohaku was sending him. He then looked at Chihiro, and back and forth and back and forth.
Holding out his gloves as if they were a pointer, she motioned back and forth at them questioningly.
"Are you two in a fancy with each other?" He asked.
Kohaku suddenly seemed like a hurt puppy, and looked down, a blush covering his face.
Out of no where Chihiro hooked her arm with Kohakus, and yelped "something like that!" She giggled for quite a while when she say the large flush on his face.
"So that's why this young man was eyeing me down as If I were here to kill"
Kokoro said, more laughter when Kohaku looked up with a snarl on his face.
Chihiro giggled, then stood in front of the king and like her random self, wrapped her arms tightly around his waist. His arms were only extended out straight and stiff as if not knowing what to do.
Everyone around them all gasped in fear of his reaction. The two servants that followed the king in his urgent quest shook their heads as if knowing his reaction.
The king stood for a few moments in complete scared awe, and Kohaku almost felt like pulling every single feather from Chihiros back.
Against what people expected from their king, he lightly rested his arms on Chihiros back and head like a father would do to his daughter. He smiled and nodded to everyone that It would be fine. They all sighed, resting hands on their chests and sighing in relief.
Chihiro wriggled out of his arms, and stood back next to Kohaku, giggling at how weird everyone was acting. She then looked up at Kokoro in question.
"Ah. I see you want to know why I am here?" He asked.
"Well it saves me the trouble of having to fly to your castle to say goodbye,
but yes why are you here?" She asked.
Kokoro smiled, then reached into his pocked, pulling out a small little brown bag. He held it out to Chihiro, but she didnt take it.
"It's the jewel isn't it?" She asked.
Everyone gasped in horror of even hearing the word Jewel, knowing that it would most likely only bring more havoc and mayhem.
Kokoro nodded, but then smiled reassuringly. He slowly took the bag and opened it, then while everyone closed their eyes, shook their heads, and cried for him to stop; he poured the jewel shards into his bare hand.
"Even if I were to fear, the jewel is nothing but scraps. It has no more power"
He explained.
Everyone sighed in relief. Kamagis hand appeared from over Chihiros shoulder,
and gruffly snatched the shards and small bag from the kinds hand.
The king jumped at the sudden snatch, and looked for an answer of
who took the jewel.
"Sorry to seem blunt sire. I thought maybe it would be best If I were to burn this"
Everyone turned to see Kamagi take the shards and slip them back into the
bag. "Just to be sure no one ever can take this shard and live bad days again.
Lin and Boa were now standing beside Yubaba and Zeniba asking for answers.
"It is fine old man. May I ask your name?" He asked.
"It's Kamagi." Chihiro piped.
Kokoro smiled down at her and nodded.
"I thank you sir Kamagi."
"Pleasures mine. This Jewel deserves to be burned."
The king nodded again, and slowly started to put his gloves back on.
"I'm sorry to seem blunt about this, but my castle has been shaken into pieces,
and I am in need back home." He explained as he climbed back onto his
horse. He started to turn around, but then stopped and turned back.
Chihiro waited for this sudden pause.
King Kokoro looked down at Chihiro, and waited to find the words of how to explain his discovery.
"Chihiro, you remember how you were upset about the old statues sadness"
He asked.
She nodded, confused.
"When I found the jewel in pieces, and looked up, somehow, it seemed
the old monk was smiling." He then without another word, turned around
and trotted away from everyone around, and just before he was out of sight,
he waved his hand into the air. Everyone else waved back. Chihiro only stood
smiling.
Kohaku then put his hand on her shoulder, and shook her from her thought.
She looked up at his and nodded, knowing that he wanted to take her home now.
They both looked back at Ekiyuu and Mesuki who were standing hand in hand. They all knew that it was time, so Kohaku transformed, and Chihiro knelt down. Ekiyuu wrapped her arms around Chihiro's shoulders and held on tight as Chihiro took off into the sky. Metuki stared at Kohaku in scared disgust.
"Just because I'm riding you doesnt mean we're friends." He blurted.
Kohaku growled in bored irritation, and with a gust of wind, somehow scooped Metsuki up and flew fast enough to catch up with Chihiro.
They all looked back at the crowd of waving people. Chihiro let out a sigh and breathed in before yelling, "ILL BE BACK I PROMISE!"
Everyone else all at the same time yelled out, "WE'LL MISS YOU!"
Metsuke and Ekiyuu waved as Chihiro and Kohaku flew.
When Chihiro saw the small building entrance to the train station, her nerves and happiness got the better of her, and she began to swoop down so fast Ekiyuu had to scream.
Chihiro landed about five feet away from the entrance, leaving Ekiyuu stumbling to get her balance and just before she fell Metsuki was already behind her to keep her from falling. The three left behind (kohaku already in his regular form) watched at Chihiro ran her fastest to make it down that long way to home. The only thing they really truly noticed was feathers flying away from her back.
Ekiyuu quickly picked one up. "I wonder if it would be alright to take one and give it to her."
"I'm sure it would do no harm." Kohaku said. "she just has to bring it with her every time she comes back if she wants her wings back, or she wont be able to get them back."
"We'll make sure she never forgets because I'm sure we'll always come back with her." Metsuki.
Kohaku raised an eyebrow at him. "What? You'd miss me that much to come back?" He asked.
Metsuki frowned, and scowled at him. "We'd come to make sure you don't get her pregnant. We'll be her 'DOG' repellant." He groaned.
Kohaku's eyes widened and he tried to jump at Metsuki but Ekiyuu stood in-between them.
"COME ON! WE'VE GOT TO CATCH UP WITH CHIHIRO!" She yelled trying to get them to stop fighting.
A little more struggling went on between the two before they calmed, and kohaku looked into the long hallway to where they were headed.
"We can just continue this later Metsuki. But for now, lets get you guys home."
Metsuki nodded, almost in relief, and started to run down the hallway.
Ekiyuu was just barely catching up to Chihiro, Metsuki behind, and Kohaku as well.
Kohaku nudged Metsuki in the elbow. "Cant believe you compared me to a dog!" He almost growled.
"Fits your personality." Metsuki snapped back.
Kohaku smiled. "Well at least it's better than what you are." He said.
"Oh yeah? And what's that?" He yelled back.
Kohaku smiled. "A mouse." And before Metsuki could retort back, Kohaku was running beside Chihiro.
The light at the end of the tunnel was just beginning to show, and the smile on Chihiro's face grew even wider.
Once at the other end, Chihiro had to stop and look at the small stump in the
middle of the dirt road. She lightly set her hand on its head, and looked
at the long road they were to start to run down. She then heaved in a big breath,
and just before Kohaku, Ekiyuu and Metsuki were even out of the tunnel, she
began to run again.
"CHIHIRO! WAIT!" They cried out. She paid no attention. They would show Kohaku where to go. She didn't worry one bit that she was leaving them behind because right about now, she could almost smell her parents.
She ran as fast as ever, and before she knew it she was out of that small dirt road, and when she turned her head and looked up that small foothill, she saw her tall two story home at the top just waiting for her.
She took a deep breath before leaping into action, running up that hill as if it were child's play. Everyone was now out of the long forest surrounded road as well, and looked up to find in wonder how it was that Chihiro could do that after that long run.
Reluctantly they followed her.
Once she made it to the top, the quickly grabbed the top of the tall fence, and
pulled as hard as she could to try and get herself up and over. She must have
used to much strength in that run because it was no use. One more pull and
she had no more to give. She sighed, then just five feet away her three followers
caught up, but she paid no attention, and started to run around the corner,
and another corner, trying her hardest to find her front door.
The last corner she would have to turn to make it to her street, she had to come to a halt to find a police car waiting outside her house.
She began to panic and started to run again, and just as she was turning to corner to her front porch, she came face to face with a young officer.
Her body went backwards and she fell hard on her front grass.
"OH WOW! WHAT'S THE RUSH?" The officer cried, bending down and helping her stand up.
Chihiro stood there, hunched over trying to catch her breath while dusting the dirt off her clothes.
"What... wh- whaaa" She couldn't breath.
"Well gosh you must have been in a HUGE hurry to not even be able to breath!" He cried.
Chihiro stayed hunched over like that for at least two minutes before she had enough breath to ask one question.
"What happened to my parents?" she asked. Her chest still heaved in and out.
The officer pointed at the house behind him.
"Your parents live here?" He asked.
She nodded vigorously, and then stood up once her breath was regained.
It seemed like the twilight zone for officer Damu. All of a sudden three
faces appeared around the corner. One unrecognized for Damu. But the
other two he knew quite well from photographs.
"Dear gods above us. We have been looking-.. " He trailed off in thought as her put his hand on her shoulder and almost broke into laughter as he shook her happily.
"What?" Chihiro asked, not understanding a single word he'd said.
The three others stopped just behind Chihiro breathing as if dieing. Ekiyuu plopped herself down on the ground and tried to catch her breath as Kohaku and Metsuki followed the same thing.
"You just stand here Chihiro. We'll get your parents here right away!" He said.
Chihiro looked at the officer in confusion. The man took out a walky talky,
and brought it to his lips.
"We have an emergency here. Please respond. Over. " He said. he looked down at Chihiro and winked.
"This is the Damu police office station. What's your emergency? Over." A woman's voice chimed.
"I, officer Damu, have found some missing children. I would like for you to please notify their parents for me. Thanks. Over." He said.
"Alright Mr. Damu. What are the children's names? Over." She asked.
"I am proud to tell you that It is the three teens being talked about all over town. Chihiro, Ekiyuu and Metsuki. Over." He said.
"SERIOUSLY?..." She almost forgot to say it but then. "Oh yeah! Over."
"Seriously, now please call their parents and tell them to come here right away. Over." He ordered.
"- I mean I cant believe that you of all people found.." She seemed to not notice that she was talking on the walky talky.
"Ahem! Ms. Damu. I can hear you. Should I report this to dad? Over." He asked.
"Sorry Bro. I'm on it. Over." She giggled.
Officer Damu turned to Chihiro and smiled. "They're on their way."
/30 minutes later/
Chihiro, Metsuki, Kohaku, and Ekiyuu were all now sitting on the front porch waiting for their parents arrival, Kohaku just nervous to meet anyone other than Mr. Damu.
Chihiro breathed in deep breaths as cars drove by, but this one particular one got her to stand.
Before the car even stopped, a woman threw herself from the car, and started to run across peoples lawns. Chihiro doing the same.
Kohaku noted that the woman was crying like a dieing animal.
The two were locked in an embrace to tight they should have been dead.
It became even tighter when Chihiro's father made his way over to them. All
three were now on their knees in the tightest embrace possible.
Ekiyuu and Metsuki's parents came in the same car, and just as Chihiro's family had done, everyone was hugging, crying, and laughing with joy.
The only two others there smiling were Damu and Kohaku.
"It's always great to see families reunite." Damu said." Where's yours by the way?"
"They're dead." Kohaku said before even thinking. The smile didn't leave his face though. The sight of Chihiro's smile didn't make him even think that he didn't have a family. To him, Chihiro 'was' his family.
Damu seemed a little depressed to see Kohaku all alone, but when he say the young mans happiness, he decided to go against his name and not pry in other peoples business.
So it all was over. Everyone was together again. Chihiro had the choice to go back and forth from each world. She could take Her now 'hooked up' friends with her. Kohaku met her parents and they loved him from just seeing him. They decided since he had no where to go that he could stay in the extra room just as long as he 'never' entered the halls at night. Chihiro's father made sure of it. Whenever they said they were leaving (intending on going back to the spirit world) they said that they were going to stay at a friends house. Of course Kohaku would be supposedly at Metsuki's, and for Metsuki he was hanging with Kohaku. Supposedly Chihiro's always at Ekiyuu's, when Ekiyuu is at Chihiro's. All four always ended up staying at the spirit world for hours and days on end.
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Well... there it is. The end. Hope you liked my story, blah blah blah.
credits credits credits.
END! O.O
Thanks again. Sincerely,
InuLuver01