Lin was given all the things she needed to go out to find her family. Zeniba was forced to magically conjure some Japanese currency, and Lin was given her parents' driving licenses, as well as a photograph of herself as a one-year-old, which her mother had carried in her wallet. Zeniba had kept for at these years, but the reason for this was never asked. Nor did Lin inquire-she just wanted to find her family.
No-Face and Yubaba, eager to help, had quickly made some clothing that would be acceptable in the 'human world'.
Then Lin tearfully said good-bye to Zeniba, No-Face, Haku, and Kamaji, the only ones in this world who'd actually been kind to her. The yuna looked on sullenly, muttering that now they would have extra work to do.
"I'm sure I'll see you again," Lin said, looking at Chihiro. "You'll go back to your world—or should I say our world—tomorrow morning, right?"
"Yeah," Chihiro nodded. "The time-stop that Haku made will wear off."
A nervous but hopeful Lin—no, Tsuri—made her way to the tunnel that led to the Other World.
They'd all been standing in the main lobby of the bathhouse when Tsuri had said her goodbyes. Kamajii went back to the boiler room and Zeniba and No-Face began the journey back to their cabin, but Haku, in human form, stayed by Chihiro. Yubaba was giving the human girl a piercing gaze.
"What do you have to say for yourself?" Yubaba hissed.
"I'm glad Li—Tsuri can go home," Chihiro said coolly.
Yubaba made a quick hand movement…
Chihiro felt a sharp tug of an invisible force…
Haku leapt toward Yubaba, but there was a flash of light, and he was paralyzed, smashing to the floor.
Chihiro was being tugged closer to the cruel witch, as if a tight iron hand was pulling her. Just as suddenly, however, she was released, though it was difficult to move. With a wild glance at Yubaba, Chihiro was poised to wrestle out of the oddly leaden feeling in her legs.
And then Yubaba concentrated on the human girl; her eyes began to whirl, staring into Chihiro's. Chihiro began to fixate on the whirling gray irises, and felt herself being drawn into the witch's power. She forgot everything except for the wild movement of Yubaba's eyes and that sudden, oncoming feeling of stupor.
"Look away, Chihiro. Look away!" Haku shouted from a long way off.
"You are not Chihiro, you are Sen!" Yubaba said rhythmically.
"I am S—" Chihiro began, but then, in the back of her mind, something told her what to do. How she knew, she did not remember at the time, but she tightened her fists and, looking slightly aside, fought Yubaba's attempts at hypnotizing her, at stealing her real name.
"I am Chihiro. I am Chihiro!"
Yubaba's voice was smooth and insistent. "You are Sen!"
"No," Chihiro struggled against the hypnotic feeling. "I am Chihiro! You are lying. I was Sen once—but I always have been Chihiro."
For the next several, agonizing seconds, Chihiro fought Yubaba's binding hypnotism, but at last, with a surge of the rest of the strength she could muster, Chihiro managed to break from her daze and lunged forward, giving Yubaba a resounding slap.
With this diversion, Haku was released from his paralyzed state, and Chihiro was able to think clearly. Yubaba, her eyes returned to normal, stared at the insignificant-looking girl and scowled. With a most bitter tone, she said to Chihiro.
"You win. There's no beating you. You cost me my heir…a silly little girl like you!"
Chihiro looked directly at Yubaba again.
"This isn't just about Lin, I mean, Tsuri, isn't it? This is all about control. Tsuri was hard to control because she was too curious and she still had a very faint memory—just her parent's voices—but enough to keep her interested. And I don't look like I'm someone who can defeat you, but I did! And that's twice now! You realize now that forceful control and power isn't always infallible, and you can't take it."
Yubaba opened her mouth, but shut it again, and walked away.
"Come, Chihiro. Why don't we have a picnic in the countryside?" Haku suggested.
Chihiro smiled into the familiar green eyes and nodded.
…
Somewhere a voice calls in the depths of my heart
keep dreaming your dreams, don't ever let them part
Hi! I'm back! I got a burst of inspiration and decided to add this little intermediate chapter. I'm both happy and a little sad that Chihiro's adventure will be drawing to a close soon. 3 y'all!
Also, I know that in canon, Lin/Tsuri is a weasel spirit, but I decided to take artistic license in this fanfiction.
