"Come on!" someone called from downstairs. "Food's ready!"
Chihiro groaned and turned over. Her bed was so comfortable, she didn't want to leave.
"Don't you want to practice getting up for school?" her dad called.
The school was starting tomorrow. She would finally meet some new friends. Last year wasn't so successful though. No matter how hard she tried, she never had any real friends. There were some people who were nice to her, but they weren't really friends. She wanted to practice getting up early so it wouldn't be so hard later. But so far, it wasn't working out so well…
"Be down in a sec," Chihiro called as she drifted back to sleep…
About a year ago, Chihiro set foot in the Spirit World. The adventure seemed to come back vividly. Sometimes, she would think it was a dream. But somehow, she knew it wasn't. It wasn't only logical (all of a sudden it went from the 7th to the 21st of August), but she felt it. It was real. She knew it in her heart.
THUMP! Something fell on her, pushed her off the bed.
Chihiro moaned and looked up at her bed. She gasped when she what did it. Or should I say, who did it.
Haku, her long lost friend from the Spirit World, was there, staring into her brown eyes. For a moment they just stared at each other in surprise, not knowing how to react. Then she felt joy.
"Oh Haku!" she jumped up and hugged him. "I missed you so much!"
Haku stood there feeling the same, joy. "I missed you too."
Suddenly, Haku withdrew, worried. "What's wrong?" Chihiro asked and suddenly realized what was wrong. "Why are you here?"
"I-I don't know," Haku looked down at his hands. "One moment I'm at Yubaba's office, asking for independence, and the other I'm here, standing in your room."
"We've gotta get back to the Spirit World quick before my parents find out you're here!"
So Chihiro and Haku ran downstairs.
"Chihiro!" her mom called, looking straight at Chihiro and Haku. They froze. "Come and have breakfast! I thought you would never come down!"
It was like she thought Haku was invisible.
"Of course," Haku mumbled. "They can't see me yet. I haven't eaten food from this world."
"But I thought you have to cross the bridge to be seen," Chihiro said.
"The rules here are different," Haku explained.
Chihiro quickly ate her breakfast and told her parents she's going off on a bike ride.
"Oh Chihiro!" her mom shook her head. "I'm tired of you now! You said yesterday after breakfast you were going to help me clean the house. No leaving until you're done." Chihiro groaned at set off to work. Hours went by as she cleaned. Finally, she was done, but it was almost dinner. She raced to her bicycle and set off toward the woods.
"Remember to wear your helmet!" her dad called after her, as his stomach jiggled from his obesity. Chihiro coasted along the side of the road and turned right into a foresty trail, so small that a car could barely fit through. She remembered being scared entering the tunnel, but now she felt confident, and a little sad that Haku had to leave so early.
"Bye Haku!" Chihiro called as he jumped onto the water, walking on it as if on land. He waved a good-bye.
But then, something strange happened. He had made it halfway across the river when he bumped into an invisible barrier. He put his hands on it and tried to push through it. Then he flew above the river, drew back, and collided with the barrier. He plunged into the river, and the waters carried him to Chihiro. She ran to the riverbank and pulled Haku out.
"What happened?" Chihiro asked, worried.
"I-I don't know," Haku replied, confused. "She used a teleportation spell. I should be able to go… oh no!" He looked at the floor, eyes fearful. Blood drained from his face.
"What is it?" Chihiro questioned, worried. "Are you okay?"
"The Imperium Seed," he gasped, breathing heavily. "It was in my dream… it must have been a warning somehow."
"What is the Imperium Seed?" Chihiro repeated, anxious now.
"It amplifies a spell… or curse. Instead of just teleporting me, it trapped me here. It also makes it almost impossible to break…" Haku stumbled, on the verge of falling now. "If I don't return to the Spirit World soon, my soul will fade away."
Chihiro ran over and caught him before he hit the ground.
"There's still a way, right?" Chihiro reasoned. "You can't die! I just found you!"
Haku's eyes fluttered open. "There are two ways to end this curse. To find the rare Imperium Seed or to give in to Yubaba."