Fate Is An Interesting Thing

Chapter 3

Disclaimer: I do not own Spirited away in any way, shape or form. 

Chihiro stands at the entrance of the red tunnel with her backpack which contains her diary and sketchbook, along with some pencils, reminiscing the events 9 years ago. 

'Chihiro?' The voice asked in response to her hesitation. 

'Ohh, I'm fine. I was just thinking back to the last time I was here.' Chihiro assured him. 

'Ahh, okay. Shall we go?' 

Chihiro nodded. 

Near the end of the tunnel Chihiro could already see a wonderful sight. The insides of the dark tunnel were lit up from all the lights on the other side. And some of the light was wavering a bit since they were being reflected off the river. 

As Chihiro walked out of the end of the tunnel, she was happy to see all this sight again, but it then occurred to her that the river would prevent her from crossing. 

'Ohh no. The river has appeared, how am I supposed to cross now?' Chihiro asked looking really worried. 

'Worry not, my child. I said to you that I would guide you to your wish and I do not go back on my words.' 

Suddenly Chihiro began lifting off the air as if she was a piece of paper. 

'Ahhhh!' Chihiro screamed as her feet left the ground. 

The voice chuckled. 

Chihiro begins to float in the air and above the river, flying across it. She looks around in amazement after her fear left her. 

Chihiro landed safely on her feet on the other side of the river. She had stopped worrying about anything else and just carried on walking. All of a sudden, Chihiro looked at her hands and gasped. She was disappearing. 

'Guardian! What should I do? I'm fading away again!' Chihiro alerted the guardian in fear. 

'It's okay Chihiro, here, eat this.' A little berry of red appeared in front of Chihiro as soon as he said that. 

Chihiro took the little berry into her hands and looked at it. It's exactly the same as the one Haku gave her last time. Without a second thought to threw the berry into her mouth, chewing and swallowing. Within moments she could see her hands again. Chihiro let out a sigh of relieve and then continued walking. 

She came to the front of the bridge where she was stared at by all the spirits. Some even gave her looks of disgust. It was then one of the yunas noticed that there was a human in their territory. 

'Oh my!' One yelled. 

Everyone came to see what the commotion was about and spots Chihiro standing there. The same aogaeru that spotted her 9 years ago comes to the front of the crowd and sees Chihiro standing there, smiling at him. 

'Hello, I am Sen.' 

The frog's eyes widened at what she just said. 'Say...Say what? You are Sen? The human that came here years ago?' 

Chihiro nodded happily. 

'Ahhhhhhh! Sen is back!' The frog shouted happily. 

The yunas eventually joined the frog in telling everyone this good news. Some of the customers that knew and remembered Sen also began cheering. 

After a few moments everyone returns to normal, but still smiling happily. 

'Oii, frog, some of the people sent me out here just to see what all the noise was about. We could hear you all the way inside you know.' Chihiro turned at this familiar voice. 

'Sen is back!' Said the frog happily. 

'Whaa... What? What did you just say?' This woman was now shouting. 

The frog didn't say anything; it just giggled and looked in Chihiro's direction. The woman also turned around to see what he was looking at. It was then she saw a wonderful sight. 

'Lin!' Yelled Chihiro crying with tears of joy while running towards her. 

Lin's eye's widened and her jaw dropped. She could not believe what she was seeing. 

'Oh my god, Sen! Is that really you?' She asked while tightly hugging the human with tear forming in her eyes. 

'Yes! Yes!' It's me Lin!' Chihiro replied ecstatically. 

Lin pulled away from Chihiro and put her hands on Chihiro's shoulders while taking a good look at her. 

'My, my, you have grown!' Lin praised 

'And you have not changed at all Lin' Chihiro replied truthfully. It was true, the woman still has the same face, same clothes, same hair, if not a bit longer but that is about the only change. 

Lin smiled. 'Come, I'll take you to Kamajii.' Lin said whilst taking Chihiro's wrist and dragging her through the spirits and through the bathhouse. Lin took her through many sets of stairs, all of which Chihiro still remember. 

When they reached the bottom, Lin slid open the wooden door and walked into the boiler room. 

'Kamajii! Kamajii! Look at this!' Lin shouted in excitement. 

But Kamajii didn't turn around. 

'KAMAJII!' Lin screamed at the top of her voice. 

'What?' Kamajii replied, obviously annoyed. 'I am very busy you know.' 

'Just turn your head and look this way!' 

Kamajii groaned and turned his head. His reaction being the same as Lin's. 'Whaa...' 

'Hello, Kamajii. I am Sen' Chihiro said with a bid smile. 

'Se...SEN?' 

'Yes.' '

Kamajii literally jumped out of his working position and ran towards to two ladies. He came up right close to Chihiro's face and examined her from head to toe. In the background Chihiro saw that that soot balls are jumping up and down ecstatically. Then Kamajii extends all 6 of his arms and gave Chihiro a nice, welcoming hug. 

'Ohh Sen we have missed you so much.' Kamajii says as he lets go of Chihiro. 

'I know, I've missed you a lot too.' Chihiro replied. 

'So, what are you going to do now? Are you staying here forever?' Asked Lin as she stands at the side. 

'Yeah.' Chihiro answered. 

'Are you going to sign a contract under Yubaba again?' Kamajii asked, ignoring all the bath orders behind him. 

'No, I don't think so. I want freedom this time. But I think Yubaba will try and get me to sign another contract.' Chihiro guessed. 

Kamajii nodded. Now returning to his working spot and cursing as the amount of orders. 

'Ahh, right, Where's Haku?' Chihiro asked as she turned her body to face Lin. 

'I don't know. He wonders around. Since he had his name back he didn't want to work under Yubaba anymore, so he just wonders about the spirit world. But I see him at the bathhouse every now and then.' Lin replied with a frown, knowing that would upset her a little. 

'Ohh.' Chihiro uttered disappointedly. 

Then there was a loud opening of the door. A yuna came in and looked at Lin. 'Where have you been? I have been looking all over for you.' 

Lin now looks confused 'Why were you looking for me?' 

'Because it seems that Yubaba now knows that Sen is her and demands to see her' she replied fearfully. 

Lin looked down at Chihiro as if to ask her what she is going to do from now on. 

Chihiro looked back up at Lin and said, 'Don't worry Lin, I'll go up to see her, but I won't sign a contract.' 

Lin smiled. 

'Chihiro, leave that backpack down here if you want.' Lin offered. 0

Chihiro nodded and placed her backpack in a corner of the room.