Beginning note: I don't own Spirited Away, I'm not making any money off it, and this is all for the funzys.
Ablution - A ceremonial act of washing parts of the body or sacred containers
Compensation
Kohaku helped her over to the rocky ledge the shrine house was perched atop of, stepping up out of the water as if were a solid expanse; his form as dry as it had been the last time she'd seen him, in obvious counterpoint to her own shabby appearance.
She was in the presence of gods: Ethereal creatures who's true forms were too beautiful for mortal eyes. And yet they gazed at her in waiting, as if she were the one who'd weaved the moon and stars together from her sodden pajamas with the little dancing cartoon cows emblazoned upon the legs.
Part of her wished she looked more the part, compensation for all the mistakes she'd made along the way; the beautiful mortal maiden who was to capture the heart of the spirits, like in all the movies. But instead, she was just... Chihiro. And she couldn't really bring herself to care; because this was her story. And nothing could change the way in which it had been written now. Maybe some high god, some great nameless form, had found it funny to watch the little redeemed girl walk among the spirits again to win her future, but then, maybe they had planned it all along. Down to her her pajamas and the way the water dripped from her tangled hair in unruly streams.
Not beautiful, but real. And ready or her adventure to come to an end.
"I was waiting for you two. The Lake was waiting for you two; for you to be ready to take up this mantle. The cavern ceiling is ready to come down; it has been for a very long time now. You just need to release it and let the sunlight shine on untouched waters, Kohaku. All that is left is for you to tell the world that you are home."
Note: So. Tired. You all are getting this chapter because I just got home and am doing laundry that i need for tomorrow. I have to be up in four hours to do today on repeat again; and it was the most hectic and stressful day this far this year for me. I need a food massage and for someone to cook me dinner; or it'll be nilla wafers again since I'm far too tired to MAKE anything.