Edge of The Ocean
Disclaimer: I do not own Spirited Away or any of its characters.
A/N: Phew… Sorry for not updating faster… I think I'm writing myself into a box… don't worry though; I have big plans for this story!! …Short (because I'm running out of steam…) but big!! I hope that made sense… if not, well… sorry… lol…
Azure-x-Rose: There will be more Haku scenes shortly lol
Chronicleofcoincidence: My goodness! Don't go insane or you won't be able to read and review properly! Then what would I do??
HarunoSakura13: I'm glad you like it!!
snow-leopard-demon24: I hope I don't disappoint you!!
Chihiro was in a world of hurt; her head hurt so bad it felt as if it were about to implode… what was happening to her in reality was the sharp and sudden retrieval of all the memories she had repressed while growing up. Haku, Boh, Yu-Bird, Zeniba, Lin, Yubaba, No-Face, and the rest… the whole world in her mind was fighting for recognition as her body was swept into a void of darkness only to explode in color again… and then…
There was nothing but darkness…
The first thing that caught Chihiro's attention as she stirred was that her lungs that should have been filled with water were in fact not; they felt completely normal. The second thing to come to her attention as she opened her eyes was that she was laying on a plush carpet near a fireplace; she knew it was a fireplace because she could hear the soft crackle of the embers.
"Am… am I back??" Chihiro asked herself in astonishment. She frowned; her eyes still closed as if she was worried it would all just disappear when she opened her eyes… she was so worried this was just another dream that she did not hear a soft squawk of Yu-Bird near her… she did hear something else though…
Chihiro's eyes snapped wide open and she sat up immediately when she heard the unmistakable whine of Yubaba's giant infant son Boh calling or her. "Mommy? Are you back? I'm hungry!" he said as he pushed the draping from the door to his room to step into the office. His eyes widened in amazement and wonder when he saw a human sitting in his mother's office. "Who are you?!" He asked.
Chihiro blinked several times before she answered cautiously; still shocked that she was actually sitting in Yubaba's office. "Boh? Is that you?" She said timidly. This time it was Boh's turn to blink in confusion.
"I'll ask again. Who are you?" He said a bit calmer this time. No longer was he the cowardly baby he was before he met "Sen." Chihiro suddenly smiled and pushed her self up off the ground.
"BOH! It's me! Chihiro!! Sen!!" She answered and almost had to cover her ears when Boh squealed happily.
"CHIHIRO! YOU'RE BACK!!" Boh cried with joy but refrained from hugging her because he knew how people did not like to be bear hugged – or so said his mother one day when Haku first started his apprenticeship and was kind to Boh.
"Boh, it's so nice to see you again… Yes I'm back; how, I don't know, but I am!" She said with a huge grin. "Tell me Boh, where is-" she was cut off by Yubaba as she flew in and shut the large balcony door.
"Haku? Hmph, it's funny how predictable you still are." Yubaba said and smirked. Chihiro almost grinned to see her – she did not however, she sill remembered how mean she had been.
"Well hello to you too Granny." Said the black haired girl; hiding her tiny smirk at the sour expression that suddenly crossed the witch's face. Yubaba suddenly smiled and took Chihiro's hand.
"My, my… how you've grown. No longer afraid of me hm? I must ask though, what are you doing back? I thought you wanted so bad to return to your home what has changed? Could it have been a certain former apprentice of mine?" She asked slyly. Chihiro blushed but kept silent for a while before answering.
"Ah… No… I mean, well… yes I did want to return home but… I've never really fit in after my little adventures… It's been ten years and all I've ever wanted was to return here." Chihiro explained. Yubaba scratched her chin thoughtfully and flicked her hand in her direction, pushing her body to sit on a chair that pulled up with the same flick of the hand.
"I'll tell you what Chihiro… If you truly want to see where you fit in, I'll give you a job… work for me one year and then see where you stand… What say you?" Yubaba asked with a mysterious grin. Chihiro might not be as naïve as she had been as a child but she was so happy she was accepted back into the spirit world that she agreed without thinking.
"Excellent! Now, sign off your name you know the deal." Yubaba said with another flick, this time tiredly as she made her way to her desk. "You may stay with Lin if you wish. Try not to chase away the customers hmm?" Yubaba said. Chihiro was surprised of how… nice she was being; she grinned happily and signed the paper.
Both of the women missed something from the other. Chihiro missed a secretive and sly smirk from Yubaba as she snatched her name up, and said witch missed Chihiro ripping a tiny section of the paper off to write down her name so she would not forget it.
"Pleasure doing business with you Sen." Yubaba said gruffly as she inhaled her smoke-pipe deeply and exhaled the smoke through her nostrils. Chihiro nodded curtly; she hid a smile as she stuffed the piece of paper in her pocket and waved bye to Boh while walking out of the office.
End A/N: Sorry it's so short – It allows for more chapters lol