Chp.3: A New Friend

Don't own Spirited Away at all.

Chihiro walked down the road that led to the old shrine. She observed the scenery. The leaves swayed in the wind, pushing her towards home, perhaps telling her to return, not to leave them. But she was determined to go back no matter what it took her. A young squirrel came rushing up to her and climbed her shoulder. He sat there as if he belonged, and no matter what Chihiro did to try and get him off, he stayed put. She finally decided to take it with her. The squirrel seemed to like Chihiro very much as it nuzzled her affectionately.

"Hey what's your name?" Chihiro asked. There came no reply but she got 2 shiny eyes look up at her with innocence as if to say "huh?"

"Do you have a family? Where do you live? Where are your parents?" she tried once more, although she expected no answer. She began walking on when she heard a voice similar to a young girl's voice,

"No, I….I don't"

Chihiro turned around but saw nothing. Then she looked upon her shoulder. As if on cue, the squirrel once again began to speak,

"I don't have a family, I lost my parents, I don't remember…" her voice trailed off as she looked at her feet but Chihiro could tell she was sad.

"Hey ya know what?" Chihiro started trying to lighten up the mood, "Do you want to come with me?" The little headed bobbed up and down saying yes.

"Ok then, but I'm going to warn you, I'm going to a spirit world" cautioned Chihiro but still the small animal stuck to her as though her life depended on it.

"I'll follow you wherever you go Chihiro nee-chan" the squirrel replied as though if was an obvious thing.

"Okay, but I have to know your name" questioned Chihiro, still confused that a squirrel could speak human language.

"My name is Risuko!" said the squirrel enthusiastically, jumping up and down on Chihiro's shoulder but then tripped and fell.

Chihiro sweatdropped. It was so CUTE! She started running not noticing that Risuko's eyes were spinning. She finally noticed when they arrived but by then Risuko had already passed out and dropped into Chihiro's bag.

"OOPPS sorry Risu!" said Chihiro in apology.

She slowly entered the grimy tunnel. It was dark and gloomy but also held a familiar touch to it. She arrived to the end of the tunnel as the bright sun lit her face. She ran to the same bridge she had ran to when she was 10 and looked down. She poked Risuko awake too. As Risuko admired the view, she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned around to see who it was. Her hazel eyes met emerald green ones.

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(A/n: hey!! I haven't updated in like forever. Sorry for the really short chapters! XD I tried to put in less dialogue and more description. I started new stories on fictionpress and I wrote a fanfiction on PPGZ so I've been busy, watching Powerpuff Girls Z and Konjiki no Gash Bell episodes. I don't know how that ties together but oh well.)