Hey guys! I decided to update this story for some strange reason…maybe it's because it seems the easiest to write right now. I don't know. All I know is that it wouldn't stop bugging me and that I'm dying to start watching Final Fantasy: Unlimited! It's a really cool annime based on the Final Fantasy games. I think there is a category of fanfics here based on it. Not sure though. It's pretty cool. If you guys have seen Pretear, then you'll see there's a guy named Kaze in it that acts pretty much like him and has a past similar to Hiei's (from YYH), but he can't remember a thing. (Why they named him "Wind" when he has Soil magic is beyond me, though…)

Anyways, enough of me babbling. Time for the chappie!

Disclaimer: You baka lawyers just want to ruin everyone's fun, don't you? Fine, I'll do it! Idon'townSpiritedAway! Happy?

Chapter 2

"I can't believe you guys were about to just leave me there!" Akane whined.

"Hey, we would've left you there if Sakana didn't point it out," Chihiro laughed.

"Some friends you are," Akane scoffed, making the other two laugh.

By the time they reached Chihiro's house, the sun was almost setting, painting the sky in a brilliant array of purple, red, and gold.

"Let's have some fun!" Sakana shouted louder than need be.

Chihiro covered her ears at the sudden noise. "Do you have to be so loud?"

"What? I can't be excited for one of my best friend's birthday parties?"

"Well, it's not like anyone's going to be there besides my mom and dad…" Chihiro said. Just as she was about to turn the doorknob, Akane stepped in her way. "What are you doing?"

"Wait. Here, let me open the door for you, birthday girl," Akane laughed nervously and quickly turned around. Chihiro blinked at her friends' odd behavior. What was up with them today?

"Ogino-san, are you there?" Akane called through the door.

"What are you doing, Akane? This is my house, I can go inside if I want," Chihiro tried to push past Akane, but Akane stood her ground. "What is up with you guys today? You guys are acting stranger than usual…if that's even possible," Chihiro added the latter under her breath.

A low whistle emitted from the opposite side of the door, and the girls smiled.

"Now we can go in!" Akane announced and opened the door to allow the others in. All of the blinds were shut, and the room would have been pitch-black if the front door wasn't open, but even that light didn't provide enough to see inside. Chihiro strained her eyes to see, but couldn't make out a thing.

"Why is it so dark in here? I can't see where the light switch is," Chihiro felt her hands along the wall for the said switch. "Ah, here we go," she finally found it and switched the lights on.

The extra lighting revealed an amazing sight, indeed. Colorful streamers and balloons decorated the walls and ceiling. A cake was waiting for her on the table; it was covered in chocolate icing, making her mouth water.

"SURPRISE!" Chihiro screamed as her family and many of her friends jumped up from behind couches and under tables. They all wore little party hats and had noise-makers in their hands. Chihiro's eyes widened when she realized what was going on.

"So this is why you guys were acting all strange today!" Chihiro cried over the noise of congratulations.

"Yep. Happy birthday, Chihiro!" the two girls cried and formed a group hug.

"Thanks. You guys are the best friends anyone could ever have," Chihiro smiled.

"Happy birthday, Chihiro!" Chihiro's parents came up to her, smiling. Her father took a hat from behind his back and placed it on his daughter's head. "Happy birthday, sweetie!" He gave her a big bear bug, almost knocking the air out of her.

"T-thanks, Dad," she coughed, smiling. Her mother tapped his shoulder and he backed out of the hug with a sheepish smile.

Now it was her mother's turn to hug her, but she was softer about it. "Happy birthday, honey," she whispered in her ear.

"Thanks, Mom. And thanks for not crushing me like Dad did," she joked and they laughed.

Her mom turned to her friends with a smile. "Thank you for helping us with this."

"No problem!" Akane said.

"We always help a friend in need!" Sakana added proudly.

Chihiro sighed and shook her head. "You guys are knuckleheads."

"But we're your knuckleheaded friends," Sakana joked.

The party had gone on just like any other of Chihiro's birthdays; People laughed and joked and constantly congratulated her on her birthday; her far-away relatives pretty much asked about her life's story since she last saw them.

"So, do you have a boyfriend yet, Chihiro?" this was the question always asked at her birthday parties.

"No," Chihiro answered tiredly. Her cousins got annoying sometimes when they tried to pry into her life, thinking they are "helping" her.

"Well, do you like anyone this year?" they asked again. Was it really any of their business?

"No," Chihiro lied. Though she did like someone, they would probably be even more obnoxious if she told them about him, so she gave them the same lie every year.

"Ah, come on, Chihiro! You always say that! You have to like somebody by now!" They whined.

Chihiro growled slightly. "Just because I don't have a boyfriend or girlfriend like you guys at 15 doesn't mean I won't find someone. Now stop pestering me about it already!" (A/N: Just to let you know, Chihiro is NOT a lesbian. She was just talking to her boy and girl cousins, so don't get any ideas!)

"Maybe that's what you should wish for this year! You could wish for a boyfriend, Chihiro!" one of them shouted. Well, they weren't too far from the truth. She had been wishing for that certain someone to come back to her, to come looking for her, to let her know he and the rest of the gang were all right; but every year, nothing had happened, so Chihiro stopped getting her hopes up of it ever happening. She didn't want to feel that pain again.

"Chihiro! Chihiro, it's time to do the birthday cake!" Her mother called from the kitchen. Her stomach growled and she laughed.

"Come on, let's go have cake," she motioned for her cousins to follow her, glad they had forgotten their questions.

Everyone was already gathered in the room. She spotted her friends and took a seat next to them.

"Are there any surprises in the birthday cake?" she asked the girls. Her mom had set it in front of her. She stared at her suspiciously, as she began lighting the candles.

"No," Sakana laughed.

Chihiro cocked an eyebrow. "How do I know you're not lying?"

"Because we would never lie to a friend!" Akane cried. "…and we couldn't anyways; You could sniff out a lie from a mile away."

Chihiro laughed. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

Everybody ready?" her mom called out to the crowd of people in the room. "Ok, on three: one…two…three-"

"Happy birthday to you!" everyone chorused. "Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday, Dear Chihiro. Happy Birthday to you!" Everyone cheered as the last note rang out.

"Now blow out the candles, Chihiro, and make a wish!" her father coaxed. Chihiro smiled at him.

Chihiro was about to just blow out the candles without making the wish, like always, when something stopped her. It wasn't anything physical, but for some reason she hesitated. For some reason she felt as if that her wish was guaranteed to come true. Part of her was pushing her to just blow out the candles and forget the stupid wish and move on; the other part of her wanted her to stop and make her wish, putting all her faith in the one breath. That feeling made her feel as if she would go insane at any moment. It was pulling at her insides, demanding her to bend to its will. Slightly afraid and confused, Chihiro stopped to think before making her decision.

-----

Chihiro retired early that night wanting to get away from everyone pestering her about her birthday wish. Sure she had a lot of fun, but she couldn't stand it. For some reason she felt like this birthday would be different, that her wish would come true—but part of her knew it wouldn't. She didn't want to get her hopes up, then have them crushed and feel the agonizing pain in her heart...

…but she still made the wish.

A/N: Well, here you go! Sorry it was a bit short. I tried to make it long…guess I came up real short on that. Hehehe.

Anyways, arigatou pinktears for telling me Chihiro's last name…it didn't mention it in the English version, so I was like "How the hell do people know her last name?" But whatever. Thanks anyway!

And arigatou to everyone who reviewed! You guys make me feel all fuzzy inside/wipes away tear/ lol. But yeah, thank you everyone. And thank you everyone who put me on their favorite and alert lists! (for the story and my penname)

Now please review! Pweese? And if you guys look at the notice board on the FF homepage, I won't be able to post any chapters on Dec. 30th, ok? But I'll try to get in as many as I can!