Spirited Away Fan Fiction ❯ The Reign of the Elements ❯ Enter Chihiro! ( Chapter 3 )

Chapter 3: Enter Chihiro!

 

A/N: So it's the third chapter and I'm really excited for the story! I can't stop writing, which is a very good sign!

 

P.S. Alright, on FF.net, I have received a lot of reviews and for that I am so grateful! They really keep me going! On MM.org, though, not so much. Well, let's be honest, I haven't received any reviews in MM.org. I'd really appreciate it if you drop a comment (no flames, though, that doesn't help improve my writing at all). The reviews really help! Thanks!

 

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A dark, dark opening like a wolf's mouth stared at me, waiting to eat me. The breath would not return to my lungs as the moonlight illuminated the path before me.

 

It must be the moonlight, there was no other explanation! That or I was crazy because the entrance I had been waiting for, yearning for, crying for was right before my eyes. The entrance to the land of the spirits had opened once again.

 

“It's just as I remember,” I whispered aloud as I stumbled forward, brushing my fingers against the crumbling stone. A breeze picked up, knocking against my ankles, pushing me. I looked up, following the direction of the wind. It led straight to the entrance.

 

“I'm coming, I'm coming, I'm coming!” My voice growing louder as I ran towards the entrance…

 

A tiny seed of fear blossomed inside me as I was about to enter. What if Haku wasn't waiting for me? The thought hit me so hard it caused me stop dead in my tracks. If he wasn't waiting for me…what would I do? A shiver ran down my spine leaving a trail of cold sweat.

 

No. I wouldn't think about that. Not now.

 

My knees were shaking as I stepped through the door and into pitch darkness. It was kinda bumpy and the darkness seemed to go on forever but finally a small light appeared at the end of the tunnel. As the light grew stronger so did the giddy happiness inside my chest. It grew until my muscles were twitching in impatience.

 

I ran the last few steps, bursting into the darkening meadow with a whoop of joy. The grass murmured around my feet as my whole being turned to song and dance. It felt amazing! I felt alive, free! This is why I had missed the Land of the Spirits so much! This feeling of harmony just didn't exist in the human world anymore.

 

Oh! The bathhouse!

 

Stopping dead in my tracks, I turned to stare up the hill to the barely visible roofs of the restaurants. My feet dragged me, tripping and stumbling, up the grassy hill.

Haku would be up there, waiting for me! He'd twirl me up into his arms and…oh it just makes me turn into a big, fat, red tomato just thinking of the possibilities!

 

Everything twisted into tight knots inside my body. It was too good to be true! I'd see Lin again! We'd chatter about everything I had missed and go around the bathhouse, getting into trouble. Oh and Kamaji, he'd be in the boiler room working away…wonder if those fuzz balls remember me? Oh it doesn't matter! I'd see all my friends again like No-face, and Yubaba, and Boh, and Granny and…and…

 

The hill crested and there I stood, looking over the town I had come to love…

 

Laying in ruins.

 

“What…?” I whispered as my eyes widened, taking in the landscape.

 

Everything was desolate; no lights were on even though it was getting close to opening time. The shops were boarded up or crumbling to the ground. Was the bathhouse even open? Squinting in its direction, I saw the huge building but even that monster of a structure looked dim and solemn.

 

It was time to go see Haku and Yubaba, only they could explain to me what had happened here.

 

Sliding down the grassy hill was easy, the grass easing my descent. I landed with a thud and pushed off, running at full speed. Shops whizzed by me and the occasional spirit stared at my passing with hollow, hopeless eyes. What had happened here? Why did everything look so…dead? Where were the luscious scents of food, the sounds of chattering spirits, the high-pitched music of the land of the spirits?

 

The bridge to the bathhouse appeared before me like an omen, whether good or bad was yet to be known. I slowed down and came to a stop in the center of the bridge, looking at it with a critical eye.

 

A bittersweet smile spread across my face. This bridge held so many memories. It was here that I met Haku, where he enchanted me in more ways than one and now look at it! The poor thing was in shambles! There was a hole the size of my father's belly and let me tell you that was a pretty big belly! The boards in general looked sun baked, as if they had not been repaired and the dust! It covered everything, even the railings!

 

“This is bad.” I muttered, walking over the grab onto the squeaky railing, bending over to try to peak at the train going beneath the venerable bridge.

 

“It cannot be!” A voice cried, nearly scaring me out of ten years of my life. A huge shiver spread through my skin as I whipped to stare wide eyed at a squat, frog man that looked all too familiar.

 

“Ao-aogaeru-san?” I stuttered, shocked at seeing the very first of my friends. His amphibian eyes began to twinkle as his mouth pulled into the widest grin in the world.

 

“Sen-chan!” It didn't take him more than a second to throw himself at my feet in a formal bow. “It is good to see you! It has been so long!” He blabbered hurriedly as I chuckled, kneeling to be as close to his height as possible which was quite a feat considering he was how tall?...Three feet at most.

 

“It is good to see you too, Aogaeru-san.” My voice cracked as he stared up at me with adoring eyes. He brought back so many memories that had been locked away…it hurt to have them come rushing back in the time span of a few minutes.

 

“We will have a room prepared for you instantly…well, as instantly as we can…” he corrected, trailing off and look at the floor as if it held some secret information he was trying to discern.

 

I guess it was time to ask. A part of me wanted to just get the damn question over with but another part of me was frightened and terrified of the answer.

 

“Aogaeru-san, what happened here?” I asked softly. His tough skin bristled and made him look even more froggy if that was even possible.

 

“It-it is not my place to tell…I do not know the whole story since I am only a humble servant.” He muttered sadly.

 

“Then who would know?” He deliberated for a while before slanting his eyes to the side.

 

“Kamaji-san. He hears all the things which is a wonder considering that he spends his days in the boiler…Yubaba-sama would know but she…” he trailed off again.

 

“She what Aogaeru-san?”

 

“Not my place to say.” He muttered again.

 

“Aogaeru-san!” A window burst open and a frantic woman stuck her head out the window, “come quick! Another one has fallen!” The woman flew back into the bathhouse, shutting the window with a bang. The frog glanced at me then back at the bathhouse before standing.

 

Another one has fallen? What does that mean? Aogaeru was looking a little green, well green-er, then usual. Something told me this had to do with the decrepit ruins that the Land of the Spirits had fallen into.

 

“Aogaeru-san, what does she mean?” I asked firmly. He shook his head.

 

“Speak to Kamaji-san, he will tell you.” And with that, the frog sped back into the bathhouse leaving me to stumble after him.

 

“Wait!” I yelled but it was too late, the doors were shut and I was left standing on the bridge.

 

Now what? My hands twitched anxiously as my mind sorted through what to do. Going to look for Haku on my own didn't seem plausible, the Kamis only know where he was and going back home was completely out of the question. That only left me with Kamaji…

 

The sun was set and it was almost pitch black even this near to the bathhouse. It should be bustling with people, steam bursting from the chimneys but there was hardly any sign of life in the place.

 

“Kamaji-san it is.” I muttered, walking over to the little gate that Haku had taken me through to escape Yubaba so many years ago.

 

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The boiler room was sweltering, more so than usual. Steam billowed around me in wispy clouds as I treaded through the hissing pipes. Peaking around the door, I saw Kamaji, eternally working away in front of the frothing boiler. His four spindly arms worked tirelessly at the herbs and at the handle that kept stoking the fire. The spider eyes were hidden behind black sun glasses like objects but the frown on his face screamed concentration.

 

The fuzzy balls whizzed by below on the floor, carrying the heavy rocks. Oh, those rocks were impossible to lift. A smile crossed my face as the memory of the time when I had to carry a rock into the furnace came back to me.

 

“Kamaji-san.” I called, finally deciding to speak. The old man started and turned to look at me, his mouth dropping open.

 

“Sen-chan? It can't be you!” He cried incredulously. A chuckle escaped me as the fuzz balls rushed around me feet whispering happily. It'd probably be a good idea to leave my shoes with them so that's what I did, sitting down on the edge behind Kamaji and slipping off my school loafers and socks.

 

“Hello, Kamaji-san.” I said looking up at him.

 

“Oh Sen-chan!” He stopped the boiler causing my eyebrows to shoot up into my bangs. “What?” He asked, curious about my shocked expression. “Oh, the boiler? You're confused about why I stopped the boiler?”

 

“Well, yes!” I said, “what will happen to the baths of the customers?”

 

“Sen-chan, there aren't any customers.” He said coming to sit next to me.

 

Something came to a stuttering stop inside my chest. No…customers?! That was impossible. The bathhouse was always full to brim with spirits how could there be no customers?! This was a very bad sign. Yes, very bad indeed.

 

I pulled my hands across my face, pulling at my skin in frustration. This was it, I had to ask Kamaji about what had happened!

 

“Kamaji-san,” I started, “what is happening here? What has happened? Why is everything in disrepair?” Kamaji stood and looked at me from the corner of his eyes, “Why are there no customers but most importantly…WHERE IS HAKU??!!” I yelled at the top of my lungs, feeling my cheeks turn red from the anger.

 

“Calm down, Sen-chan.” He soothed, patting my shoulder. I would have none of that, pushing his hand off my shoulder with a shrug.

 

“I will not calm down! You have to tell me what has happened here!”

 

Kamaji stayed quiet for a while, pensively pacing back and forth across the floor. The fuzz balls whined from behind me, their eyes going wide in fright. A small smile upturned the edges of my lips.

 

“Don't worry.” I cooed, “everything is alright.” They looked between each other before sliding away from the ledge and into their little homes with a rattling sound.

 

“Unfortunately everything is not alright.” He sighed gently causing me to turn back around to look at him.

 

“Are you going to tell me what is happening?” Please, please tell me why everything is in so much disorder…

 

“I think it's better if I show you some things first.” He knelt down and pushed open the wooden door that led deep into the service area of the bathhouse.

 

“Show me what?” I asked as he pushed himself through the door with some difficulty, his arms getting stuck on the edges of the door. With a final tug, he pulled himself to the other side stumbling as he gained his balance.

 

“Well, firstly to see Lin.” He said. My eyes lit up at the prospect of seeing her again. Kamaji's face, though, was closed and silent. This didn't look to be a social visit.

 

“Why do you have that expression on your face?” I asked, slipping through the door with ease and sliding it shut behind me.

 

He didn't answer. He just kept walking, weaving around the columns and leaving me to follow after him. Damn it, for a spider spirit he sure could walk fast! What did he have, a jet pack on his back? His feet like hands pounded a steady staccato against the wooden floor as my bare feet slapped furiously to keep up with him. Up and down we went until we reached an elevator.

 

“Ladies first.” He motioned for me to enter. I chuckled, sliding into the elevator and waiting for him to crouch down and slip into the small shaft.

 

“Up it is.” He muttered as he pulled on a lever that sent us flying up into the upper floors of the bathhouse.

 

For a few minutes all we saw was darkness. He didn't speak. Neither did I and as such we kept our silence around us like a cloak protecting us. We both knew that the minute we started speaking secrets would spill and it was not the proper time for secrets. My breathing was ragged from nerves and anxiety, nothing would calm it not even the deep breathing practices I had learned in yoga class.

 

We burst into a realm of light and I whirled around to stare down at the bathhouse. My breath caught in my throat until nothing was left but the smallest of gasps. My hands gripped the wood of the elevator as we rose higher into the air.

 

There below us, instead of the teaming baths I remembered and loved, were rows upon rows of beds and what looked like a spirit on every one.

 

I turned to stare at Kamaji with wide eyes. He looked at me with an unreadable gaze. Something was stuck in my throat but nothing would dislodge it from its place. A shiver ran up my spine as my mouth opened to ask the question that I seemed to be repeating over and over again lately.

 

“What. Happened?” I whispered.

 

“Patience.” He answered. I raised my hand, curled it into a fist, and banged it against the elevator's walls. “We're almost at Lin's room.” He continued, ignoring me.

 

“You're in danger of having your throat slit.” I hissed. He chuckled, causing his rickety bones to knock together, giving off a sound resembling death.

 

“You could not hurt me Sen-chan.” He said with his grandfatherly chuckle. I huffed and turned to face the spirits below writhing on their beds in agony. When we fell silent I began to hear it.

 

The screams…the groans of the dying.

 

Covering my ears didn't help, the sounds were faint from this height but still they reached my weak human ears. My heart broke again as tears gathered behind my eyelids. What had happened to my beautiful spirit realm? The tears streamed down my cheeks and quivering lips as every ounce of strength went into not openly sobbing for the suffering spirits below.

 

The elevator stopped and Kamaji got out first, squeezing through the doorway and waiting for me to trip out of the elevator. He stared at me with a pained expression as I wiped away the few traitorous tears that had fallen from my eyes.

 

“Take me to Lin.” I muttered, looking up at him with frozen eyes. His face didn't even flinch for a second and it seemed as if he hadn't heard me but before I could even think to repeat my request, he pivoted away from me.

 

He walked briskly as my human legs tried to keep up his pace. Well, he had one of the most fluid walking paces I had ever seen. Kamaji moved more like a spider thread in the wind than an actual person walking. We turned left and kept speeding through empty hallways. Again we turned and on it went, turning and walking through hallway after hallways where there was no other person.

 

We finally turned into one hallway where there were a few more people, all with masks. One of the women, a haggard expression permanently etched into her eyes, turn to us. Her eyes widened as she ran up to us.

 

“Kamaji-san! You cannot be up here without a mask!” She rummaged around her pocket, looking for one before making a noise of triumph as she pulled a white mask out.

 

“Arigato Gozaimasu.” Kamaji said as he pulled the mask on over his bushy mustache. The woman bowed and then turned her eyes to me, her eyebrows furrowing.

 

“Does the girl need one?” She asked as we passed by her, bowing slightly in her direction.

 

“No, she's human.” Kamaji said simply. The woman gasped as I turned to look at her. Her black eyes were round with disbelief.

 

“A human?” She asked as we kept walking. Kamaji ignored her so I decided to do the same as I turned around to walk up to a closed wooden door.

 

“Open the doors.” Kamaji said to the two guards. They hesitated and looked at the both of us like we had grown a few heads in the last two minutes.

 

“But-” One of them started to say. Kamaji fixed them with a hard stare that sent them quivering. “Yes sir!” They repeated at the same time. The doors were pushed opened and a breeze from within the room burst out and straight to us.

 

I breathed in…

 

My breath left in a hacking cough as I fell to the floor, the stench making my eyes burn. Kamaji knelt next to me patting my back.

 

“You smell it?” He questioned. I breathed slightly and nodded, not having breath to form a response. “Not many have that power,” he muttered and I did not understand him, “it will get better.” He said as he lifted me up, placing me on my feet.

 

Kami! I swallowed, feeling the bitter taste infuse my throat. It smelled like rotting, soggy corpses in there! Kamaji pushed me into the room and I hung onto his arm, scared of walking into the foul smelling room. He nodded and motioned for me to walk in. Damn it, this was not going to be good!

 

I stepped in and was shocked to see about ten rows of beds, each with a person on the bed. They were quiet, not like the spirits down stairs. Most of the people didn't move and this scared me more than the shaking bodies downstairs. My curiosity won out and I stepped up to one of the spirits.

 

An emaciated, sore-filled face stared back at me. My mouth dried instantly as I stared at the black craters that covered all of the skin on this man. His mouth opened and the same stench came back ten folds. My knees shook from the stench.

 

I could see his skeleton beneath his skin. My stomach churned and my eyes watered. He tried to say something but it came out like a gurgled growl.

 

That did it for me.

 

Kamaji grabbed me as my feet tripped over air in my haste to get away from the living corpse. He held my arms as my whole body twitched and turned, a panic setting in deep in my bones. Small little cries echoed from my throat as my legs twitched, trying to scramble away from the man. My entire mind was only on the panic to get away.

 

“Ssh.” Kamaji whispered as he led me away from the man who followed me with pit like eyes. He led me around the rows of beds and silent, dying spirits. They stared at us without making a sound.

 

“Wha-what is this room?” I asked as we weaved around bed trying to get to some unknown destination.

 

“This is where we put all those that are too far gone.” He whispered as we stopped before another door. He pushed this one open and we walked into a smaller room. Only about five beds were in this room. I looked about, noticing the window opened to let some air into the otherwise stuffy room.

 

And there was Lin, sitting up in her bed, looking out the window. My heart lodged itself in my throat as a sob pushed itself out of my mouth. She turned to me, her eyes not focusing on me.

 

“Who's there?!” She asked in a throaty voice.

 

“It's me.” I croaked. “It's SenI” I cried. She stayed silent for a minute before turning in my general direction.

 

“That's impossible!” She argued. “Sen-chan is long gone!”

 

“It's me!” I yelled, running up to her and causing the other spirits in the room to turn to look at me with sleepy faces. “It's me Lin-chan!” I sobbed wrapping my arms around her stiff torso. “Remember I asked you if there were two Hakus?” She stiffened even more.

 

“And I said that the world could barely handle one…oh!” She cried hugging me. “Oh Sen-chan!” Tears slipped down her eyes, “I can't even see you!”

 

“Why? Why can't you see me?” I asked, kneeling next to her bed.

 

“Sorry Lin-san.” Kamaji said causing Lin to start and look around frantically.

 

“Kamaji-san?” She asked stretching out her hand. He grasped it in his causing Lin to calm slightly. “You're here?”

 

“I brought her here.” He whispered.

 

“But you haven't told her?” She asked. Kamaji hesitated and looked at me with solemn eyes. What had happened to the witty, funny spider I had known? Was he under all that sadness?

 

“No. I was hoping you'd help me tell the story.” He asked. Lin smiled and huffed, trying to hide the slight smile.

 

“Course I'll help you, you old spider.” She chuckled.

 

Kamaji then turned to me and motioned for me to sit next to Lin. I complied hurriedly, wishing to hear the story. He cleared his throat and nodded before dropping to sit before me.

 

“Alright, I will tell you, Sen-chan, the story of what started the day after you left…almost five hundred years ago.”

 

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Thanks to strayphoenix, my fantastic beta, who finds time in her crazy life to double check my chapters!

 

~~Go-chan