Spirited Away: My Way
Chapter 2- Reading the Instructions.
"I just wanted to know if you remember me." said Chihiro.
"I'm sorry Chihiro. I don't remember anything before two weeks ago." said Kohaku.
Chihiro was devastated. The first boy she ever had any feelings for doesn't remember anything about what had happened, the moments they shared. Nothing.
"But... but you helped me save my parents from Yubaba. We flew back to the bath house together. I helped you remember your name." said Chihiro.
"I'm sorry. Everything is just a haze."
"Well what do you remember?"
"All I can remember is that I was in front of what looked like an abandoned amusement park. There were several people there as well."
"Wait, that's the entrance to the bath house." said Chihiro, "What did the people look like?"
"One was a woman and had long black hair, the other was an old man with a thick mustache."
"That was Lin and Kamanji. Do you know where they are?"
"You mean mom and grandpa? They're at home."
"Can you take me to them?"
"Uh, sure Chihiro."
Kohaku led Chihiro down to an apartment building. Inside was Lin and Kamanji sitting down to a nice post lunch time cup of tea.
"Hey Kohaku. Who's your friend?" said Lin, who looked moderately surprised to see Chihiro.
"This is Chihiro, a classmate of mine." said Kohaku.
"Why don't you go change out of that stuffy uniform and I'll get to know her my self." said Lin.
Kohaku left the room and Chihiro sat down.
"Chihiro, I never thought I'd see you again after you won your parents back."
Me too." said Chihiro, "But what are you two doing here and what's wrong with Kohaku?"
"When you left, the boy couldn't stop thinking about you and he up and quit." said Kamanji, "We followed him because we knew that he wouldn't last ten minutes in the human world."
"Only thing is, when he left, he somehow lost his memories. He thought that I was his mom. It feels so great to get back at that little monster for everything he's made me do."
"Is there anyway to get him back to normal?"
"No idea. He might be like this for the rest of his life." said the boiler man.
Everyone clammed up as soon Kohaku entered the room again, this time in casual wear.
"So grandpa, I heard that you got a job at the school as a boiler engineer." said Kohaku.
"Kohaku, I'm not your grandfather." said Kamanji.
"What do you mean? You've always been my grandfather."
"Only for the past two weeks. You only thought of me as your grandfather because that's what you wanted to think."
"That means you're not my mother?"
"Way to go old man." said Lin, "Look Kohaku, we really aren't who you think we are. You used to work with us at a witch's bath house in the spirit world. We really don't know how you lost your memories."
"And I want to help you get back to your memories back." volunteered Chihiro.
"All of this... It's just so confusing. I need to think this over." Kohaku left them and closed the door to his room.
"Come on Chihiro, I'll take you home." said Lin.
The only thing worse than seeing Kohaku like that was Lin's driving. Every time something wrong happened she cursed loudly and she blamed the humans for 'this accursed contraption.'
One scary car ride later, Chihiro was at her house and when she walked in, her parents were sitting down to dinner.
"Where were you Chihiro?" said her father.
"I was at a friend's house." she responded.
"You should call us next time. I'm glad that you could make some new friends." said her mother.
After dinner Chihiro was in her room looking out the window into the beautiful night sky. All of a sudden she hears a voice.
"Hello Chihiro." it said.
She whirled around to find a strange creature standing in the corner. The creature had a forest smell to it, long pointed ears, dry green colored hair, and a decidedly female form.
"What are you!" she shouted.
"I am a forest spirit. Higashi if you must know, sent here by the elder spirits to help you and your friend Kohaku." she said.
"Really?"
"Part yes and part no. I actually am here to help you, but the whole elder spirits thing is a pile of fertilizer." said Higashi, "I was doing what all forest spirits do, frolicking through the trees, and I see your friends Kohaku, Lin, and Kamanji and I happen to over hear his little dilemma. So I think "Hey, he's cute and helpless. I think I'll follow him and see how this turns out." she said with a grin. Her teeth were sharp and needle like. Perfect for getting revenge on nature's advisories.
"Hey! That's not right."
"Yeah I know. While I was recovering in their fern (I can't stand cities), I conveniently heard your story. It was so sweet, that I couldn't stand idly by and not help. Do you happen to have any plants around?"
"Why?"
"Wow you're a curious one. Forest spirits can't survive without healthy green flora. It keeps me alive you coconut head. When humans cut down trees, they destroy a resting place for a forest spirit. One less tree means one less place for me and my pals."
"There's always the lawn..."
"There's no way on Gaia's sweet creation you're going to get me to rest in grass." said the spirit as she waved her arms in protest.
"How about the bonsai tree on my desk?"
"I guess it'll have to do. Get your parents to buy a tree or something."
Higashi walked over to the small tree on Chihiro's desk and seemed to disappear all together. The tiny bonsai glowed a soft green.
That night, Chihiro tried to make sense of everything that had happened that day, Kohaku, Lin, Kamanji, Higashi, all of the bits and pieces, odds and ends. Meanwhile, Kohaku was having the same troubles. The new life he had was torn to pieces and he felt all alone in the world. But one thing still persisted. A memory of a shy little girl with brown hair that had gotten lost. Who looked like her...
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So that's OC number four. A big hurray for Lin and Kamanji's triumphant return!
Bonus stuff-
Behind the characters
Higashi- The forest spirit with a huge environmental streak. He wicked pointy teeth will inflict pain beyond anything you've ever felt! Worse than that time you slammed your thumb in a door. She's more than a character, she's a political statement. Recycle or she will bite you.
Preview-
Chapter Three- Putting the Pieces back Together.
It's the second day of school for Chihiro. Kohaku still seems distraught over the truth. Many revelations and other things occur!
