Authors Notes: I am so sorry for the delay. I did promise that I will try to post at least a chapter a week but I guess I was tied down with earthly matters :P There were some complications in writing this chapter too but I do hope it turn out all right. Thank you so much for all your supports and encouragements again.
Fandomnerd12: Thank you so much for all the support and encouragements :) n the manga recommendations are really good. Thanks again :)xoxo
SAK00: Thanks you so much for everything! I remembered you were the first to reviewed Distant Dreams :) It really meant a lot to me :) thanks again for the constant support xoxo
KanaMac: Good luck with your story :) and thank you so much for reviewing. About Haku, I guess you will have to read and find out :D xoxo
Carly: Thank you for reviewing, glad to hear that you like the story so far. xoxo
Sashablouse: Thank you so much for reviewing, glad to know you like my previous story. Hope you will like this one too :)
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Happy reading everyone!
Disclaimer: I don't own Spirited Away
Chapter 2: Unexplainable Feelings
The rain pelted down heavily and mercilessly as Chihiro ran towards her university. The sky was dark and lightning was flashing in the sky followed by the rumbles of thunder. She was wrapped snuggly in a black raincoat and carrying an umbrella trying to stay as dry as possible.
She got a visit from her worried landlady telling her that Kenshin did not return to his room for a week. Chihiro knew about it since she lived just next door and tried to convince her stricken landlady that Kenshin was fine. He sometimes stayed in the university to finish his projects. But her landlady insisted that he never stayed away for that long before.
Finally giving in, Chihiro told her landlady that she would go check on him. Their landlady was a kind old spinster who lived downstairs in the same townhouse. She took care of everyone's problems and made sure they stay with comfort. So Chihiro would do anything to quell the old lady's worries.
It started to pour before she was about to go out, so without a choice Chihiro put on her raincoat and took her umbrella. Yougosha was actually worried and stood by the door nudging her arm when she was about to leave.
"Don't worry I won't be long." Chihiro told him and patted his head.
Yougosha cursed inwardly when she left slamming the door behind her.
Toushi will definitely hate this, he thought inwardly. If Haku is watching this… he will freak…
"Why are you out in this weather Chihiro?"
Haku was watching her. He stared at the Kage no Kagami in shock.
He watched Chihiro ran through the rain feeling frustrated that he was helpless in this situation. There was no way anyone could stop her if she decided to go out in such weather. He knew that, but it didn't make him less annoyed and worried.
"Shirudo!" Haku called quickly.
"What!" Shirudo appeared suddenly from thin air.
"Do something!"
"I can only do a protective spell so that she wouldn't get sick." Shirudo told Haku. "That is as much as I can do!"
"Then cast it!"
Shirudo sighed and did as she was told.
She would appear occasionally at the Jade Palace to assist Haku. She had been a personal messenger for Haku since she refused to go to the human realm disguised as a human animal. She also helped in performing simple protective spell over Chihiro though she didn't need it anymore because she no longer attract the phenomenal since her spiritual aura was taken away. But Haku insisted anyways.
He sure is a worry ward! Shirudo thought inwardly rather agitatedly.
Chihiro stepped inside the front doors of her university and began stripping off her wet raincoat dropping it carelessly on the floor and chucking her wet umbrella into the racks provided by the door. Even bundle up carefully she still got slightly drench by such heavy rain.
She wiped her face dry with both her hands hastily and shook the rainwater off her hands. Then she brushed back her long hair agitatedly. Maybe she might give Kenshin a good kick up his ass for putting her in such a situation.
She headed towards his private work studio.
Since it was the weekends, the university was quite empty with only a few students around and with such weather most people would rather be at home.
When Chihiro got to Kenshin's studio she didn't bother knocking and opened the door. The room was in darkness and the sudden flash of lightning gave Chihiro a quick glimpse of Kenshin lying on the floor on his side.
"Ken?" Chihiro reached out to switch on the lights before going to him quickly.
She knelt down next to him and shook him.
"Hey Ken!" She called again anxiously.
Kenshin rolled over and groaned softly.
"I'm hungry." He whispered.
Chihiro raised an eyebrow. She wondered whether to knock him with a sledgehammer or strangle him. He must be so engrossed in his work he forgot to eat again.
"Jeez, when was the last time you ate something?" Chihiro stood up in a flash and folded her arms indignantly. That was when she saw the studio aside from the huge canvas by the wall; the floor was in total mess.
There were empty instant cup noodles, empty can drinks and boxes of junk food. Chihiro stared wide-eyed. He was eating all this for the week? She looked down back at him in disbelief. He had gone back to sleep again.
Chihiro placed her hand over her forehead and sighed. Honestly, she felt like this was the last place she wanted to be at the moment.
Kenshin woke up by the aroma of rice, tamagoyaki and meat. He looked up and saw that his studio was cleaned and next to him was a box of store bento attached with a pair of recyclable wooden chopsticks. Then he noticed not far from where he was sleeping Chihiro sat on the floor her back towards him.
(Tamagoyaki [たまごやき]: Japanese fried egg roll that is usually sweet)
She was very relaxed, leaning back slightly with both arms supporting her, placed slightly behind the side her body with her palms resting on the floor and her legs bent towards her front. She was looking up at his painting on the huge canvas by the wall.
She must have cleaned the place and got him the bento set. He looked out the window and saw that it was drizzling slightly outside and the sky was not as dark anymore. He wasn't sure how long he slept but he knew it was raining very heavily when he fell asleep or drop unconscious on the floor. He could vaguely remember when he heard Chihiro's voice.
"You know too much instant ramen will kill you one day." Chihiro said without looking around. She sensed him waking up. "And to go hungry will also kill you too."
"We all have to die someday." Kenshin replied groggily and rubbed his eyes.
"That's true, but we control whether to die of health problem or cause of old age."
"That really does not concern you though." Kenshin said nonchalantly.
Chihiro turned around slightly her eyes flashing. "Then stop making people worry!"
"I can't imagine you being worried about me." Kenshin smiled softly and picked up the bento set and started eating. He was famished. He really couldn't remember when he last ate.
She must have gotten it from the supermarket near their townhouse. He knew Chihiro couldn't cook. He always saw her buying bento sets from the supermarket before she got home.
"Hah!" Chihiro turned back to the canvas. "As if, ooya-san was worried that you didn't return for a week. She came to me wondering if I knew what happened to you. She wouldn't stop worrying until I said I would come to check on you. Please at least call her if you decide not to go home."
"So its her…" Kenshin sighed softly. "I told her so often that if I don't come back I am in here working on my projects."
"I guess she knew that you would collapse for not eating properly." Chihiro snapped and finally turned around fully. She still remained seated on the floor and her legs crossed this time.
Kenshin remained silent.
"Ken, you are a genius at your work and I know it always comes first. But you have to please think about people that care about you too!"
"I don't need that." Kenshin looked down at the partially finished bento box.
Chihiro sighed. "Then why did you decide on me being your partner? You don't care about other people. So why did you think that you needed a partner this time?
There was silence from him and Chihiro thought she wouldn't get her answer; she finally stood up and headed for the door.
"It was your first day."
Chihiro stalled by the door when Kenshin spoke in a rather quiet voice.
"You were holding your canvas and I saw that painting. That scenery of a lake you painted caught my attention and I wondered what kind of girl you are. You are able to paint something I couldn't. I just wanted to see how our work would be like together."
The first day when she came to university? Chihiro's mind was whirling, trying to remember the painting she brought on the first day. She remembered she was trying to look for her class and there were two girls talking about Kenshin.
She blinked. Right, he looked over at her painting before their eyes met!
She remembers now.
Kenshin mentioned about a lake then it should be the picture of the sun setting behind the shrine. Why would such scenery captivate Kenshin? His work was always on the graphic side.
"You drew that picture with so much passion it tells in the painting."
Chihiro could feel her cheeks burned for she blushed at his words. What he said was true because always felt a strange attachment to that lake and the forest below the shrine. She couldn't understand why but that place gave her a nostalgic feeling of warmth and love.
"Besides you are one of the best art students in university that doesn't flirt all over me and I needed to get my distinction to…" Kenshin didn't finish his sentence when he stared at Chihiro in astonishment. "Chi-chan why are you crying?"
Kenshin would only call Chihiro by her nickname he had given her, violent girl or a shortened name he said it was easier to use, Chi-chan.
Chihiro was wide eyed as tears slid down her cheeks. She hadn't realized that she was crying until Kenshin mentioned it. She raised her hand to touch the wetness gingerly and in awe. She had no idea why she was crying.
"Eh?" Chihiro smiled awkwardly still in shock. "I wonder why?"
Her heart hurts when she thought of the shrine, the lake and the forest. Why did her heart hurt so badly?
"Hey…" Kenshin said softly walking over to her. "Was it something I said? You never cry over anything I said before. Even when I start calling you rambo onna."
Chihiro chuckled and wiped the rest of the tears away quickly with the back of her hand. She shook her head slightly.
"No, it wasn't you. I think I might be homesick and miss the shrine I used to stay in."
"You used to stay in a shrine?" Kenshin raised his eyebrows.
Chihiro laughed. She hadn't really talked about her past with anyone here in Tokyo. She was from a small town and how she came to stay with the town priest at the town shrine after her parents moved to Kanagawa. It sounded rather boring and uninteresting. So she never said anything.
"That scenery that captivated you." Chihiro smiled. "It is the backyard of the town shrine I used to live."
"You must really love that shrine." Kenshin had an expression of astonishment.
"Is it that weird to like the shrine?" Chihiro was still smiling. "The backyard has a beautiful view. You said so yourself."
"I didn't say anything about it being beautiful. I just said you drew it with all your heart."
"Right…" Chihiro rolled her eyes. "So you think you want to do something around that line for our project?"
"What do you have in mind?"
"Well, holidays are coming, I might want to visit Toshihiro-san." Chihiro smiled.
Kenshin looked at her in a silent agreement. He was quite interested to see that town Chihiro grew up in. She seemed to be a pretty fascinating person for someone coming from such a small town.
"You should be happy." Shirudo said quietly as she stared over at Haku. "She is going back to the shrine!"
Haku was expressionless while he watched Chihiro talked to the boy name Kenshin. He didn't like the idea that Chihiro was bringing someone to their special place.
The backyard at the shrine was where they had spent so much time together was special to him. To have someone else invade that place he felt crushed.
"Haku, you should be happy Chihiro showed some emotions when they were talking about your lake." Shirudo said. "She was crying! That would mean even she couldn't remember she felt something! Isn't it a good sign?"
"Yes, you are right." Haku replied curtly and waved the Kage no Kagami away. He didn't want to look at that boy more than he needed to. "I guess it is time to pay a visit to my lake. Please inform Toshihiro."
"Yes…" Shirudo replied quickly and vanished she didn't want to be around Haku when he was moody like that. Though he was always moody since Chihiro was no longer in his life.
At this occasion, even a blind man could even tell that Haku's temper was boiling over the scale.
"What else can I do to be make you remember Chihiro?" Haku whispered placing his palm over his forehead.
He felt like pieces of him was falling away as days went by without her. Even he had put up a façade of being the most powerful leader in the spirit world, he felt frustrated and weak.
Masami stood by his room with her presence hidden watching him silently. Even she was void from all expressions, her feelings were torn between what she thought was right and regret. When was the last time did she even saw Haku's smile?
Chihiro stared at herself in the mirror after her shower. She was wrapped in a towel that covered her chest down to her thighs. Her long brown hair was wet lying limply over her shoulders. There still droplets of water on her fair skin. Her skin was flawless except for a crude scar below her left shoulder.
She touched that scar gently. It didn't hurt anymore but with such a hideous scar proved that it was a very bad wound. The strange part was she couldn't remember how she got it.
A sharp shiny object with stains of crimson flashed before her eyes.
She gasped and blinked.
What was that?
The sudden ringing tone from her cell brought her back to reality and Chihiro left the bathroom to answer the call.
She could see Yougosha sleeping near the kitchen. She found it rather peculiar. Her dog was always awake before she entered the bathroom. But whenever she was out after her bath he would be sleeping. It doesn't matter what he was doing, he could be in the middle of his meal and he would just sleep when she steps out of the bathroom.
Since it wasn't anything that was troubling her, Chihiro didn't contemplate on it and answer her phone. It was Kokoro who called. When Chihiro told her that she wanted to go back to the shrine, she and Eiji decided to return too. They wanted to visit their family that holiday.
They were supposed to meet up during noon. She had packed her bags and Yougosha was ready to go anytime.
"Right, I'll be ready in a few minutes." Chihiro told her. "I just got out from a shower. Ken and I will meet you and Eiji by the station. See you both soon."
Chihiro flipped her cell shut and looked over at Yougosha's sleeping form. She touched her scar momentarily before she quickly got dressed to meet her friends.
It had been almost a year since she left that place. Now that she was going back again, she felt slightly anxious. She wondered why such a feeling of nervousness.
It was a few hours ride by the shinkansen from Tokyo. Chihiro was rather quiet the entire journey. It was a good thing that Kenshin was sleeping as soon as he sat down in the train because Chihiro didn't feel like talking. She felt butterflies in her stomach the whole time.
Yougosha didn't misbehave in any way was resting at their feet. He was a very well mannered dog to begin with so Chihiro had no problem bringing him along. It was only because of his size that got people around nervous.
Eiji and Kokoro were chatting quietly but as time went by they soon fell asleep together their head resting on one another.
Chihiro was the only one left awake staring out the glass window as the scenery zoomed passed her. The queasy feeling in her stomach kept her awake the entire journey. Why was she feeling so anxious? She couldn't understand why.
It was almost evening when they reach the station and there was still an hour ride by cab to their town.
So they decided that Eiji and Kokoro would take a different cab because they couldn't fit in a single one and they were going the different direction.
Chihiro, Kenshin and Yougosha took the same cab. Moreover, Kenshin didn't have a place to stay at the town and there wasn't any motel or hotels nearby. So Chihiro suggested the shrine and Toshihiro didn't mind.
Yougosha who was sitting at the other side of the cab his head out the window was feeling overjoyed; he was finally home to the place where spirits were strong and remembered.
Kenshin who was took the front seat was looking out the window with a bored expression. This place look liked a dead town. He saw Chihiro's reflection at the side mirror and wondered why she looked so nervous. Weren't she coming home to a place she said she missed so much?
After the hour of car ride, they soon approached the old crooked cement steps leading to the shrine when the cab came closer to the hill. Her heart started to pound rather rapidly. She was at the edge of her seat as she stared out the window.
When the cab came to a halt, Kenshin was the first to step out the vehicle and let Yougosha out. The driver was unloading their luggage. It took Chihiro a few minutes before she finally opened the door gradually and stepped out of the car.
"Are you alright Chi-chan?"
"Yeah…" She answered softly as she looked up those familiar steps.
Yougosha was already running up those steps without waiting for anyone. Chihiro smiled slightly to see him so excited. It was strange that the dog seemed like he knew the place so well. But it could be because of the long coop up journey they had and he didn't have much space to stretch his legs. Chihiro didn't dwell on the matter for long.
Kenshin paid the driver and they were on their way up those steps. They met Yougosha half way up. It was like the dog was waiting for them. They continued their way up together with Yougosha padding next to Chihiro and Kenshin lagging behind.
"I can't believe you climb these steps every single day when you were in school." Due to the lack of exercise he was out of breath before they reach the top.
"Well, I am call the fastest runner in school." Chihiro smiled back at him. "Though I never took part of any sports, I am quite an athlete."
"That explain that kick you gave me, it hurts like hell." Kenshin mumbled under his breath.
"You are still holding that against me?" Chihiro chuckled. "It was your fault for grabbing me like that."
"I can't imagine you being good in sports though." Kenshin looked at her inquiringly. "You look so much like an indoor person."
"I wonder why too." Chihiro replied softly. "I didn't participate in any sports at school, but I remember I was really fast when it comes to running."
Yougosha looked up at Chihiro slightly. Of course she was a fast runner, all those years running away from danger. She was trained to run fast since she was young even though she didn't want to. However, she wouldn't remember that.
The red archway came to view soon and a grin slowly appeared on Chihiro's expression. The butterflies and nervousness she felt earlier had vanished instantly when the two komainu (stone lion-dogs) stationed at both side of the red arch loomed before her, she felt like she was finally home and she was safe.
"Toshihiro-san!" Chihiro cried running up the last remaining steps and dropped her luggage by the archway.
Toshihiro was standing by the shrine near the porch smiled when Chihiro ran towards him. She jumped over to him and flung her arms around his neck nearly knocking him back.
"Tadaima!" Chihiro whispered almost in tears.
(Tadaima [ただいま]: I'm home)
"Okaerinasai Chihiro." Toshihiro replied in a soft gentle voice and placed a hand on her head softly.
(Okaerinasai [おかえりなさい]: Welcome home)
"Ojama shimas." (Sorry to disturb) Kenshin came up behind them quietly. He had both his and Chihiro's luggage in his hands.
"You must be Koertig-san." Toshihiro smiled at him. "Hajimemashite, I'm Toshihiro Hiroki. I take care of this shrine."
(Hajimemashite [初めまし]: Please to meet you)
"Douzo yoroshiku onegaishimasu," Kenshin bowed. "Please just call me Ken."
(Douzo Yoroshiku onegaishimasu [どうぞよろしくおねがいします]: I am pleased to meet you. [Literally the meaning for this sentence is "Please form good relations with me" or "Please take good care of me"])
He was actually expecting an old bald man, this priest here was far from what he had imagined. He was wearing a hakama like most normal priest would but it was the air around him that made Kenshin more weary of his attitude.
Chihiro smiled slightly to see Kenshin being so respectful. That was a rare sight.
"I had cleaned your room Chihiro." Toshihiro told her. "And I had prepared the room for Ken-san next to yours. Please do show him the way."
"Yes of course," Chihiro nodded immediately.
She turned back to Kenshin who was studying the surroundings. She smirked slightly and went over to him to take her luggage off his hand.
"Come on." Chihiro told him. "The house is at the back of the shrine."
"By the way, Chihiro." Toshihiro called after her.
"Yes Toshihiro-san?"
"You left a small box in the cupboard before you left for Tokyo." Toshihiro told her. "I only just found it when I was tidying up your room. I didn't send it to you because you are coming back. I left it on the table in your room."
"Thank you Toshihiro-san." Chihiro smiled. "I will go see what it is."
Toshihiro nodded slightly and went back into the shrine with Yougosha behind him.
That was weird, Chihiro thought to silently as she walked to towards the house with Kenshin. Yougosha seemed to be getting along with Toshihiro very well. He never liked strangers much but he didn't mind Toshihiro at all.
"This is a very quiet place." Kenshin said breaking Chihiro's train of thoughts.
"Yeah it is peaceful." Chihiro slid opened the door and stepped into the house. "You should see the back view it is really beautiful. You are lucky we reach just in time."
"In time?"
Chihiro smiled silently and lead him to his room. She slid the shoji door aside and stepped into his room. She went to the back shoji door that led towards the backyard. She slid it opened and stepped aside.
"It is actually more beautiful than the picture." Chihiro told him.
Kenshin was silent but wide-eyed. She wasn't lying. This place looked magical like a picture from a fairy tale. The forest below the hill was luscious green and the lake by the house was sparkling crystal like in the light. The evening sky streaked of red and orange with the setting sun in the distance.
He walked over towards the back shoji door slowly and stepped out to the wooden verandah.
"I will be in the room next door if you need anything." Chihiro smiled slightly and walked over to her room through the back verandah and opened the back shoji door.
She spotted the small box Toshihiro mentioned earlier immediately on the low Japanese table. She set her luggage aside and went over to it. She sat crossed leg on the floor and opened the box curiously. How did she even forgot something and left it behind.
She blinked when she saw the items inside.
There was a purple hair tie, two school festival tickets of a stage play and a chain necklace attached to a broken silvery pendant that may used to be a seashell.
She picked up the hair tie and studied it. She vaguely remembered that she always wore that when she was in school.
"It's woven by your friends and will give you protection…"
Chihiro's eyes started to become hazy as she continued stare at the hair tie in her hand.
"Chi-chan?"
"Huh?" Chihiro snapped out of her trance and turned towards the door. Kenshin was standing by the opened shoji door. She didn't close it when she went in.
"Something wrong?" He stepped into her room and knelt down next to her.
"No…" Chihiro shook her head. "I was just wondering what I forgot to bring to Tokyo."
Kenshin stared into the box. "Looks like some old stuff and a broken item."
"Yeah…" Chihiro smiled softly. "It's strange that this hair tie still looks so new. I had it for a long time and I'm not mistaken I wore it all the time."
"It must have some special meaning to it since you kept it."
Chihiro tilted her head trying to figure it out but nothing came into her mind. She finally shrugged and put it back into the box.
"I don't know, I always feel like I forgot something important but I just don't know what."
"You even kept school festival tickets?" Kenshin smirked slightly, picking up both the old tickets in the box and read it. "Romeo and Juliet… is this some kind of school play?"
"Yeah, Kokoro was in the drama club and she played the lead role Juliet. She was so beautiful." Chihiro smiled at the memory, then she chuckled softly. "Anyways, Kokoro is always beautiful."
"Unlike someone." Kenshin said in a soft monotone voice.
"Hah?" Chihiro frowned at him. She knew exactly whom he was talking about.
Kenshin ignored her glare and said instead. "You went with someone? There are two tickets."
"I don't think I did." Chihiro stared. "If I did, I don't remember who I went with."
"You seemed like you have a short memory lapse or something." Kenshin frowned and placed the tickets back into the box. "I'm sure whoever you went with must be someone important or you wouldn't keep that tickets as a memento."
Chihiro was silent. Kenshin was right. So why couldn't she remember?
"Why do you still keep this?" Kenshin picked up the necklace.
Chihiro looked over to see the necklace dangling on Kenshin's fingers. In a sudden swift reflexes she snatched it from him and then paused with wide eyes.
"Eh?" Chihiro was shocked at her own actions.
"Whao chill…" Kenshin raised an eyebrow. "I wasn't going to throw it away or anything."
"No… sorry…" Chihiro shook her head slightly. "I don't know why I did that."
She looked down at the necklace with the broken pendant. Most of it was cracked away only leaving a small silvery piece attached to the chain. Somehow she felt like it was not a seashell even though it did looked like one before.
"Keep it close to you always…" A pair of emerald eyes never wavers as they stared into her eyes.
Chihiro blinked and furrowed her brows. She kept hearing things and weird images kept flashing before her eyes. It was always those clear emerald eyes but the other features of the person were blurry. A sharp pain stabbed her temple momentarily and she shut her eyes tight. When the pain wore off she opened her eyes slowly.
Kenshin was looking at her rather strangely.
"Something wrong?"
"No," Chihiro answered softly.
"You went all pale suddenly. Are you sure?"
Chihiro nodded slightly. She always felt that pain whenever she tried to recall the images she got. It happened so often that she finally gave up and waved the images away as a mere dream.
There was a short silence between them, while Chihiro studied the broken pendant. The silvery colour of the broken pendant was dazzling. She had never seen anything like it. It may used to be a beautiful pendant but now it was broken beyond recognition so why did she still keep it? Was it something that important to her? What was strange was she couldn't even remember what the pendant was like.
She stared at the small broken piece in silence. She couldn't feel anything special about this necklace and somehow she still couldn't get why she couldn't throw it away. Finally, she placed the necklace back to the box gently and took a deep breath. She couldn't understand her own feelings at all.
"Chi-chan?" Kenshin frowned slightly her strange attitude. She was always so loud and cheerful. It was weird to see her all serious and quiet.
"Come on, it is time for dinner." Chihiro said and got up. She didn't want to think about it any longer. It was giving her a headache. "Toshihiro-san always prepares great food."
"He cooks?"
"He is a great cook." Chihiro said enthusiastically.
"You should take lessons from him."
"Ah shut up!" Chihiro raised a hand and was going to give him a playful punch but he dodged away.
They left the room together into the corridor of the house.
Haku stepped out from the corner of the back shoji door silently. He felt rather torn when he watched how close Chihiro had become with that person. He took a very important place from him. Even though they looked like they were only good friends but his heart still ached to see that he couldn't share his time with her.
He stared down the box where Chihiro left on the table feeling a tiny hope growing in his heart. Maybe she could remember after all. She showed some signs of regaining her memories. The only problem was how long would it take for her to remember completely.
He didn't want to push her too much but he missed her terribly…
to be continued...
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Shinkansen:
The Shinkansen (新幹線, new trunk line) is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan operated by four Japan Railways Group companies. Shinkansen literally means new trunk line, referring to the high-speed rail line network. The name Superexpress (超特急 chō-tokkyū), initially used for Hikari trains, was retired in 1972 but is still used in English-language announcements and signage.