A Different Current of the River
Chapter 6: Advice
By: LadyRainStarDragon
Disclaimer: Miyazaki owns Spirited Away.
A slender hand went to the black beast on the wall, and the numbers clicked as the owner dialed the number for her husband's cell phone. Sobbing, she sat down on a nearby chair. The phone rang coldly, only stopping when the other party picked up.
"Moshi-moshi, Ogino speaking."
"Akio! She's run away!"
A silence greeted her on the other end. After a beat, his deep voice answered.
"That's not a funny joke. I think you're working too hard dear."
"It's not a joke! She ran away when she found out about the coming move. I tried to catch her in the yard, but it's like she faded from sight."
"You know that isn't possible dear. Did you call the police?"
"Yes! They can't go find her unless she's been gone 24 hours, and she hasn't shown up at school."
"Ok. I'll let Ni-san know that I need to come home. She'll understand."
"Gomen nasai!"
"I'll be home as soon as I can, and we'll go find her."
The phone clicked and then droned after Akio hung up. Yuuko carefully hung the phone back on the wall and covered her eyes.
Back at the office, Akio flicked his phone shut and looked at where his boss was holding a cup of tea.
"Trouble at home Ogino-san?"
"Hai, Chihiro ran away Ni-san."
Tsukaimono frowned, her green eyes becoming deeper.
"I am sorry to hear that. I hope that she doesn't get herself kidnapped and that the river protects her. Go find your little girl, I know how it is to have one lost."
Akio bowed.
"I'm sure that she will be fine. Thank you, I'll leave at once and call when we find her."
Tsukaimono nodded, and watched him leave, suppressing a shudder at remembering what had happened to her only a few years ago in the forest.
The old spider spirit poured some hot sake for the rich boy sitting in front of him, and drank some himself.
"That is quite a dilemma. My advice is to stay here as a guest first, and keep your ears open. Yubaba will know something is wrong if a boy as obviously high up as you are goes to her immediately for a job. Pretend to fritter away your wealth, and play the eccentric, you'll be surprised what you can overhear and where you can go then. Then after a while ask for a job, but under no circumstances should you take the role of apprentice. It is a dangerous job, and if you get into that position you may never be able to get out of it to go back to your friend if she does not find her way here."
"Thank you for the advice, Kamaji."
The boiler man nodded.
"You are very welcome. You should hurry to the front now though. It would look very bad to be discovered down here at this time."
Haku nodded, then bowed before getting up and leaving the room, while the suswatari squeaked a farewell. Blowing up the stairs and then to the town courtyard with the magic of the wind, Haku dreaded going into such a heavily populated place. When he was in the courtyard again he looked to the setting sun.
"The things I do for you, my Chihiro."
The lamps began to light as he walked toward the bridge again, holding his head high and assuming a detached air. Greeters were already on their way out from behind the blue and white curtain, holding lamps that would later light the way for guests. A small green frog spied him and began hopping excitedly.
"A guest! This way Sir, these are the finest baths in the whole of Japan, the perfect place to forget your worries for a time!"
Haku's geta clacked as he mounted the bridge, and he couldn't help but smile a little at the excitability of the little fellow.
"So I have heard."
Kohakunushi carried the sleeping Chihiro carefully through the forest, Ten walking sedately with him. The latter glanced up at the sky.
"Afternoon already. We weren't there for very long."
Nushi nodded.
"Father did keep her to himself for a while. I'm surprised that he decided to give her back. He and mother have always especially liked her."
"The prophecy?"
"I suppose. Not that it makes any sense."
"Since when do parents ever make sense."
"True."
Nushi glanced down at the sleeping face as the spring and river came into view.
"We could always take her down now Nushi, and just let Koji know that those two let her get lost yet again. He'd know she was safe that way."
"Don't tempt me Ten. I'm not in the mood for it, and I have a few words for that lump of slag and his wife."
The two continued walking, now along the side of the river as it wended towards the town, the birds falling silent as the stewing river lord and curious spring lord passed by, only to break into hushed twitters after they had gone. The further that they went and the closer to where they could smell cars, the angrier the river lord seemed to get, soothed only by the occasional glances at the human he carried to be sure that she was truly alright.
"He put a sleep spell on her."
"To keep her from running away Nushi?"
"Probably."
Soon, they were at the Ogino home. Akio's ugly blue car pulled into the drive way of his home. The two kami could see it as they drew closer, walking unseen by the humans.
"I'm home Yuuko! Let's go! Did you check at Ji-san's?"
"There is no need for that."
Nushi broke into the conversation that was starting just as Yuuko opened the door and ran out, drawing attention to himself and Ten.
"Who are you and what have you done to my little girl?"
Nushi glared at Akio while Ten growled quietly to himself. After a moment, Nushi's cold voice cut the air.
"We are friends to Koji and Chihiro-chan, Akio. We came across her out in the woods and thought to return her to her family. You are lucky that a Tengu didn't run off with her. Take better care of your family Akio, before you get them in trouble."
"Who are you to talk to me like that, and to be so familiar with my father and daughter? You must be a crazy, because no one believes in Tengu anymore."
"Chihiro!"
Yuuko diffused the brewing fight by running up to the young man holding her child, scooping her out of his arms and holding her tightly despite how heavy she had become.
"Thank you so much for finding her! She ran away and I wasn't fast enough, and then she just disappeared and…."
Nushi's eyes snapped to the woman, before softening when he saw the very genuine tears streaming down her face.
"Just keep a better eye on her. It is so easy for her to get hurt, and easier for her to go places you can't."
Akio had turned to get a better look at his daughter, checking to be certain that she hadn't been hurt.
"Is that a threat?"
Looking back up, the two men in kimono were gone.
"Strange."
"They said they were friend's of Koji's."
"I don't remember seeing them before."
In the nearby river, the water flowed on."