Chapter 2: Come and Go
The sound of the door being knocked brought Haku back from his thoughts. He forgot he was still working in the bathhouse even he wasn't Yubaba's apprentice anymore. He waved his hand and the door opened. "Come in."
A lizard spirit came into his room. "Good evening, Master Haku. I was sent by Master Yubaba to tell you she wants to meet you immediately," said the spirit bowing.
Haku sighed. "Right. Thank you," he nodded.
"Yes, Master Haku." The spirit replied, once again bowing and then left his room.
Haku snorted. What could be so important that the old witch wanted to meet him immediately this early? He walked out his room to the elevator and pulled the lever to get to Yubaba's office at the top floor.
He arrived and the enchanted door knocker welcomed him. "Very well, Haku. My master has been waiting."
Haku bowed and the door opened. He walked in. Before he reached the room where Yubaba was, he heard she was talking to someone. A girl. He had been currious so he slowed down his way to her while eavesdropping.
"Sign your name there, and you could start working from now."
Yubaba. She must be employing someone new, he thought.
"Hmm, your name, Mikayo. It's too much."
Hmph, you old hag still doing that stealing name contract, he snorted.
"From now on, your name would be Kayo. Do you understand me, Kayo?" said Yubaba firmly.
"Yes, Ma'am," the girl bowed.
Just then he arrived at Yubaba's room.
"Haku! About time! Here, come in. I want you to know my new apprentice," she smiled smugly and eyed the girl.
Haku bowed. Not that he obeyed Yubaba like before, he just didn't want to make any problem with the old witch.
"Haku, this is Kayo. And Kayo, meet Haku, one of my best employees," she presented her.
The girl froze for a moment once she looked at Haku. She smiled nervously and then bowed. Haku eyed her from her head to toe. The girl was about his age. She was tall for a girl, even he was taller than her. Her skin was white, her hair was wavy ebony black, part of the side was tied together and the rest was dangling through until her middle back. She had purple small eyes that it was rare even for a spirit. She wore a simple purple kimono, the paler purple than her eyes.
"It's nice to meet you, Haku," Kayo smiled. There was something more in her smile, Yubaba knew it easily.
Haku merely smiled and nodded. I hope this one won't be a problem here, he prayed in his thought.
"Good. Now, Haku, would you please take her down stairs and settled her in?" asked Yubaba.
Haku forced a smile. "Yes, Ma'am."
Yubaba grinned. "Kayo, you may follow him. If there is anything you wanted to ask you could ask him."
"Yes, thank you, Ma'am," they both bowed to Yubaba and then Haku led her walked out the room to the elevator and went downstairs.
Haku tried to look calm as possible as he could. He hated it. He could feel Kayo's eyes lingered staring at him. They both remained in silence until the elevator dinged and opened as they reached the main floor.
They walked through the bathhouse. Every spirit, working or not, caught their eyes on them. What they saw in front of them was just like a perfect visual couple. The tall and muscular man, with his dark blue greenish bob hair cut and emerald eyes, looked so manful in his white kariginu. The girl looked very elegant with her white skin and diamond-like purple eyes, her wavy ebony black hair, using pale purple kimono, walked gracefully behind him. Some male spirits were immediately fell in love with her but both the girl and the man they saw were too good to be true. What they saw was perfect, except they were acting awkwardly to each other. Haku didn't like to be the center of attention. He growled and took a deep breath. Just then finally he spotted the foreman.
"Kayo, listen. I will take you to the foreman over there, and he will soon find a job for you. If you need a help just ask me," Haku tried not to be rude.
Kayo nodded happily. "I will, thank you, Haku!" She grinned, the grin reached her eyes.
Haku just smiled and nodded. With that he left her with the foreman. He sighed a relief as he passed through the awkward moment Kayo made.
The sun shone brightly and its rays flowed to Chihiro's room through the window, forcing the nineteen years old girl to woke up. Chihiro opened her eyes and found herself in her room. Realizing the day was a weekday, she grunted and idly sat up. She had to go to school, whether she liked it or not.
She snorted. "Just another day of pain," she mumbled. Then she got up and prepared to go to school.
Chihiro was now in the last grade of high school. By her age she was supposed to be on collage, but she was late for a year. Eversince she got back from the spirit world, she often had a daydream that slacked her in school. She become a loner. Her parents, her teacher had warned her but it already happened and it was on the past. Now she had to keep on going just to finished her school, but then she had no plans what to do after she graduate. She never really made friends. Even her classmates thought she was a weirdo. But she neverminded them.
Chihiro not so interested in classes so she wanted it to be over as soon as possible. She had a habit to visit her oldtown often after school. Just like this day. After the class ended, she took a bus to her old town. It was far though, but she would waste her money to go there. It took at least two and a half hours to get there. Once she arrived, she stepped out the bus and walked to the only place she missed there.
The place was rather would be seen as usual apartments, but that wasn't what she visited. She visited a little stream that flowed and popped out down the apartments. Yes, a little stream that once was part of the Kohaku River.
She ran happily to the water, sat on it's bank. She soaked her feet in to the water, enjoying the cool water to refreshing her mind.
"Hey, Haku. It's me, again," she smiled to the water.
On the middle of his sleep, Haku felt a tug. Something called him. It's his river. He snapped awake.
"She's there! Again!" Haku jumped out from his bed and ran out to the balcony. He took his dragon form and flew to his river.
"So, how are you? I miss you, you know. But I don't think you miss me too, do you?" she frowned. She felt irritated of waiting and given no response from him.
She sat there in silence for a while. She was just staring the clear blue water. She sighed. "I feel like a stupid insane girl. I talked to myself every time I visit you. But it's okay, though. I miss you and the others too. My sister Lin, Kamaji, Granny, Boh. Hey, how about Yubaba? haha..." she mumbled.
The river kept screaming to him. She's here! She's here! Haku burst his speed up as he seen his river came up to the view.
She had been sitting there for a while and her feet was already wrinkled. "Look, I am sorry that I can't take a long time here. It's my parents, they'll worried about me. But really, I want to go back home, to the spirit world. Maybe later I'll try to get pass through the damn spirit gate again," she said firmly.
She is going to leave! She is going to leave! The river cried to him. What? No! Wait, don't go! I am almost there! He landed on the riverbank and shifted back to his human form.
"So, farewell, Haku," she stepped out the water. She smiled to the water once again and then left.
Haku steped into his river. She's gone.
"What? No! She was here! Please..." he cried to the water.
Haku frowned. He cut it so close. Just why she had to leave when he was almost there?
She was so upset. She didn't think that you miss her like she did. The water told him. His river in the human world was connected to this one in the spirit world. But since it was being covered up, there's not much he can do.
"No... Chihiro, why would you think like that?" he felt her sadness through the water. It was painful.
"Don't you know that you are the only reason I aged myself...? So I hope one day I can fit you. How does it possible if I didn't miss you? I think about you all the time!" he cried to the water.
Silence answered him. Haku sighed. It's useless. Even if she was there at his river in the human world, she wouldn't be able to heard him.
She's going to try to pass through the spirit gate. The water told him again.
Haku raised his eyebrow. "What? Again?"
No, don't do it! Of course I wanted to meet you, but it's too dangerous here, he thought.
Haku stepped out the water as the sun strarted to set down. With his jumpy heart he flew back to the bathhouse.
Chihiro arrived at home when it's already dark. She hurried and ran from the bus stop to her house. She was afraid that her parents must be looking for her. Her parents would scold her for making worries. But turned out, they didn't.
"Mooom, Daaad, I'm hoome!" she cried out as she opened the door. "Sorry, I am laate! Please don't be mad at mee," she continued while took off her shoes.
She ran up the stairs to found her parents. What she saw there confused her. They were busy, moving here and there, packing things and clothes.
"Oh, Chihiro my dear, you're home," said Akio once he spotted her standing on the end of the stairs.
"Umm yeah, sorry I am late. What happened?" she asked. She walked towards them.
Ignoring her daughter's apologize, Yuuko replied. "It's your dad. Earlier this afternoon he got a phone call from his boss, he said he have to attend a meeting with some important clients tomorrow. The meeting will be held out town, and we are leaving soon tonight. I hate to leave you alone sweetheart, but I have to accompany your dad," she explained while folding clothes and put them in a bag. She stopped and looked at Chihiro concerned.
"We are sorry that we have to leave you alone. But we won't be long, we will back tomorrow evening. Will you be alright?" Akio put his hands on her daughter's shoulders.
Chihiro huffed. It wasn't the first time they left her all alone at home. "Yeah, it's fine. I can take care of myself though," she shrugged and nodded.
Yuuko and Akio smiled. They picked up their bags and heading downstairs to the door. "Alright then, we are leaving now."
Chihiro followed them downstairs. They put their bags in the car, and once again said their farewell to Chihiro.
"Take care of yourself, my dear. We love you," Yuuko kissed her forehead before got into the car.
"I will. You guys take care too! I love you, always!" She replied them from the door leaf and waved her hand. She watched their car leaving until it disappeared by the distance. She came back into the house and shut the door behind her.
She sighed. "So, tomorrow is Saturday. What to do? hmm," she mumbled to herself.
She walked upstairs. This could be a chance to get through the spirit gate. Hmm, should I do it now? She thought.
But it was dark and late. She felt so tired from her trip to her old town. Two and a half hours, multiplied by two for a round trip, it means she had been sitting there in the bus, thru all the snacking and bumpy roads, for five hours!. Backache was now trailing her. I guess I'll take a bath and just go to sleep. I can do it tomorrow though. And so that what she did. Little did she know there was something about to happen. She had no idea that there's something approaching, waiting to strike her.
Yes, the second chapter! I cannot resist! While writing this chapter I was wondering if I were Kayo, I would immediately scream like a fangirl, hoho :3 But, what would be happen to Chihiro?
By the way, thank you to Amidstsnow for your review :). So guys, which direction do you think this story will go? Share to me what's on your mind through your review ;)