Chapter 3: The Contract
"Sen?"
The girl looked to an open window where a woman was leaning out, trying to get a better look.
"Lin? Is that you?"
"Stay right there!" she yelled. In a moment's time, Lin came rushing out of the bathhouse and towards Chihiro. The woman ran to the girl and gave her a giant hug.
"It's really you!" Lin finally let Chihiro go. "I can't believe you came back! Why did you?"
"When I left, Haku promised that we would one day meet again. It's been eight years since that promise, so I took it upon myself to come here. Plus I missed you guys."
"How long are you staying?" asked Lin.
"Well... as long as I want, I guess!"
"That's great! You can stay, but you know that you have to work, right?"
"I was kind of expecting it." laughed Chihiro. "Come on. Let's go see Yubaba."
"First, eat this." said Lin. She handed Chihiro a berry that she had just picked. The girl immediately chewed and swallowed it.
"Thanks."
"No problem."
The two started to walk in the bathhouse but Chihiro stopped in front.
"What's wrong?" asked Lin
"Is it going to be alright that I come back?" she asked with her head hung low.
"Of course! Why would you think otherwise?"
"I feel like I'm intruding. Like this bathhouse is a calm lake and I'm going to be the one who messes it up and causes a storm."
"Ok first of all," started Lin, "this bathhouse isn't a 'calm lake', second of all, you are always welcome here, and third of all, what is that thing?"
"Oh that's my dog Zoey. Is it ok if she stays here too?"
"I don't see why not!" said Lin.
"Cool. Hey can you hold her and my bag while I talk to Yubaba?"
"Yeah sure. Do you remember how to get there?"
"How could I ever forget?" she asked sarcastically.
Once Chihiro reached the top floor, with a few undesirable stares and comment, she knocked on Yubaba's door.
"You're back?" asked a shrunken head on the door.
"Yes. I have something to ask you." Chihiro's voice was not at all scared. She sounded confident and strong.
"Please, come in." said the head.
At once, multiple doors opened and Chihiro walked through them until she reached Yubaba's desk. Everything about the witch was the same.
"So what are you doing back here Sen?" she asked. She purposefully put emphasis on the last word.
"I want a job."
"You want a job?" asked Yubaba slowly.
"Yes. You don't even have to pay me like you did eight years ago."
"What's the catch?"
"I get to keep my real name, Chihiro, and you have to let me leave in fifty days. If you accept my offer, I will come back every summer and work for you."
"I'm not sure that I want to call you Chihiro. I think Sen is a much prettier name." said the old woman with an eerie smile.
"I know you control people by stealing their names. I'm not going to go by anything but my real name. Call me Chihiro, or you won't get free labor every summer."
"Fine!" said Yubaba.
"Now if you could just sign this contract…." Said Chihiro with an evil smile.
"Fine!" exclaimed the witch even louder than before.
The girl took out a paper and Yubaba signed it immediately without even reading it.
"I hope you know my dog Zoey is staying with me."
"You never mentioned that." she said angrily.
"Oh. It's in your contract. And if you hurt me or her, you get stripped of all of your powers. And the contract only lasts for three years. Have a nice day." Then Chihiro walked out of the room without another word.
I hope you like my story so far. *cough* I have *cough* more stories *cough* *cough* sorry, I've been sick lately. I really appreciate everyone reading and reviewing! Keep it up! Bye my narwhals! 3
