Disclaimer: I don' own Spirited away *sobs* The wonderful Studio Ghibli, Miyazaki, and Disney do. *bows* And the song 'Gatta get thru this' is by Daniel Beddingfield. Enjoy!
A tall, slender girl closed her auburn eyes, equally brown locks pulled into a bun with an eye-catching hair tie. It was of sparkling lilac color. She opened her eyes and glanced around owlishly at the empty rows of seats in front of her. It was like a sea of reddish burgundy that rolled along the theater. She looked heavenward and saw the glorious painting of scenes from anything. In the center there was a young woman nestled into the arms of a younger man. They truly looked content and she heaved a sigh. Her shoulder sagged with longing to be the girl in the arms of a boy she had never forgotten of. "So what if it was a dream?" She had told herself over and over. "'Nothing that happens is ever forgotten, even if we don't remember it.'" The lovely old witch Zeniba had told her.
She closed her eyes again and contemplated on how long it had been...5 years...she was now 15 sense her 'dream'. Her clumsiness was barely an annoyance to her anymore. She was wearing a long blue sweater resembled a robe and even tied in front like one. A soft sweater-like-tank top the same color and design lay under it, over her pale skin. She wore bellbottoms and she felt a smile tug at her lips. Such childish dream she chased. But she was still stubbornly determined. That irritating stubbornness brought her seer willpower to help her mother and father. She didn't cower and run away into the sea and drown herself. She stayed and fought to get them back. But not alone.
"Haku..." She murmured softly, anymore inaudibly soft and she probably wouldn't have heard it herself.
She shivered despite her clothing, winter upon her small shabby town. At school she made many quick friends, but she never told them her 'dream'. It was her own little paradise that she could go to. She really wondered how she knew that there was a bathhouse...Her parents said they looked over there and she was no where to be found. Then why did she know it was there?...It was a dream. A fun filled adventure. With that handsome mysterious boy who had saved her. Haku...Ohaku river...was her falling into the river a dream? She had ended up on the bank, safely. Maybe the river set her there. Zeniba was just a dream. But she still remembered what she said.
"Chihiro! Get your singing butt down here!" Another girl her age that had brown, curly hair and blue eyes yelled. She waved to her excitedly and with an enthusiastic jump she ran over to her and hopped onto the stage her friend was on. "Hey, you ready for tonight girl?"
Chihiro blinked a few times then a grin spread across her face. "Yeah! I'm ganna knock 'em dead Yumi!"
Chihiro had entered a talent contest that their theater held. Extra credit from her literature teacher. 'Good enough for me' she thought. The quint auditorium was the only real means of entertainment. Movie theaters and malls were out in the city area.
With a slight rocking of her feet she began to sing, "I gotta get thru this
I gotta get thru this
I gotta make, gotta make it, gotta make it thru
Said I'm gonna get thru this
I'm gonna get thru this
I gotta take, gotta take my mind offa you
She was now proudly singing melodiously with a bead of sweat trickling down her face. A microphone sat in front of her and a jostle of townspeople sat listening.
Give me just a second and I'll be all right
Surely one more moment couldn't break my heart
Give me till tomorrow and I'll be okay
Just another day and then I'll hold you tight
Eyes shut, she pursed her lips and took a breath then started again while the music played. The base and beat of the song made her sway and swing slightly.
When your love is pouring like the rain
I close my eyes and it's gone again
When will I get a chance to say I love you?
I pretend that you're already mine
Now my heart ain't breaking every time
I look into your eyes
Her still childish yet beautiful voice resounded throughout the building and she sheepishly smiled. Her friends were in the back dancing as she sang, mouthing the words with her.
If only I could get thru this
If only I could get thru this
If only I could get thru this
God, God
Gotta help me get thru this
I gotta get thru this
I gotta get thru this
I gotta make, gotta make it, gotta make it thru
Said I'm gonna get thru this
I'm gonna get thru this
I gotta take, gotta take my mind offa you
Give me just a second and I'll be all right
Surely one more moment couldn't break my heart
Give me till tomorrow and I'll be okay
Just another day and then I'll hold you tight
When your love is pouring like the rain
I close my eyes and it's gone again
When will I get a chance to say I love you?
I pretend that you're already mine
Now my heart ain't breaking every time
I look into your eyes
She saw his eyes peering at her amongst the crowed of people. She looked onward without averting her gaze.
If only I could get through this
If only I could get through this
If only I could get thru this
(I just gotta get thru this)
She whispered and echoed through the microphone, breathing heavily into it.
God, God
gotta help me get thru this
(I just gotta get thru this)
If only I could get thru this
If only I could get thru this
If only I could get thru this
(I just gotta get through this)
God, God
gotta help me get thru this
(I just gotta get thought this)She whispered and echoed through the microphone, breathing heavily into it.
I gotta get thru this
I gotta get thru this
I gotta make, gotta make it, gotta make it thru
Said I'm gonna get thru this
I'm gonna get thru this
I gotta take, gotta take my mind offa you
I gotta take, gotta take my mind offa you..." She trailed off, bowing her head as her singing started to fade. She bowed respectively and furtively looked up.
The audience clapped, cheered and hollered at her. She blushed prettily and smiled at her beaming parents. The stage dimmed and she began to walk off. She stepped onto the stairs one by one as it went pitch black. She tripped slightly, her shoes catching a loose step. She caught herself and walked on, trembling slightly. How could she be afraid of such little things like that? Or singing? She had gotten her parents back and found love. That used to be impossible when she was that goofy ten-year-old. Those tealeaf-green orbs stared at her lovingly. 'Shows what dreams may do' she thought halfheartedly. She wished deeply that it wasn't a dream.
"Girl!"
She laughed lightly and pivoted around.
Her two friends, the other Meila, embraced her and they stepped out of the theater into the cold night.
It nipped at there skin and they all shivered. Chihiro rubbed her arms and breathed out a puff of distilled air. The dark, navy-blue sky almost reminded her of his hair. Shaking her she laughed again under her breath. The wind howled at them and wisped her ponytail back. She could almost feel fingers combing through her tresses.
"I miss you. I wish you really were out there...", she whispered, leaning her head on her shoulder. "So you could keep your promise and come find me."
"Chihiro?" Meila asked and put a hand on her shoulder.
Chihiro blushed and turned around, waving her hands in front of her in defense. "Ohoho, I didn't mean that! I was...thinking of my own song that I could sing next year!" She fibbed and bit her lip.
"Ok..."her friend shrugged her shoulders. "Well, I'm ganna go get my freezing ass INSIDE!" She emphasized and playfully patted her but. "It's to valuable to freeze."
Her and Yumi cracked up and Yumi snorted, "Haha--ha...oh god...well I'm going in with miss perfect-ass here, all right?"
Chihiro nodded slightly and they ran back inside. She stared up at the sky and yearned to touch the stars. They seemed so close, like small diamonds. Yet, when she reached out for them they moved away. Frowning, she felt something cold fall onto her cheek. A blizzard of small, white flowers fluttered around her. They danced their own rhythmic dance along the wind. "Snow! " She exclaimed like a 2-year-old and spun around in a circle. She jutted out her tongue and caught some. They melted and she giggled playfully.
"I promise..."
Her eyes went wide and she looked around apprehensively. That sure was not the wind...
"Sen... No, Chihiro..."
"Meep!" She was truly freaked out by the familiar voice that seemed so close. She ran through the flurry of white, not knowing where she was going. With a yelp of surprise she slipped and the ground disappeared underneath her. Tumbling she went, down the icy cold hill. She dug her nails into the earth and she just slipped out and plummeted faster. Her adrenaline pounded through her ears and she covered her face from the debris hurling at her from the ground. Her hair was now a dirty brown as she fell faster.
Shouting in fear, her whole body was thrown foreword as she went somersaulting down. 'I know I'm slightly clumsy, but my god!' With a thud she landed headfirst on the sooty ground. Her but was upright in the air and she twitched slightly. A thin layer of snowflakes powered the ground. Sitting up, she rubbed her throbbing head. Blurry vision clouding her eyes, she peered up and looked around her. A weird, stout.... thing stood in front of her. It was a grayish, covered with white powder. She squinted to see straight and she gasped slightly. Her voice caught in her throat and she stared straight ahead.
A tall red building lay in front of her, cheap paint worn away and chipping off. The same building that started her dream. She stood up shakily and brushed off her disarrayed sweater-robe and started to walk in. She curiously stared ahead into the dark abyss. 'Whoa, why am I going in here?' she asked herself as her feet carried her in as if with a mind of their own. The walls were damp, darkness foreboding.
Her heart beat through her chest as she made it to the clearing of the field. The sky was dim and she saw that the river was still empty. The rocks were lightly dappled with snow and she wondered if, in her dream, what they did in the winter and Christmas. Trekking forward she rubbed her arms again, trying to heat her body.
"I'm so sorry..."
"Meep!" She squeaked again at the wind whipping at her, pushing her forward. Her long hair grazed her pink, frostbitten cheeks. Haphazardly skipping across the stones, she hopped onto the other side and stopped. She sniffed and gasped. The sent of a chicken roast and many winter seasonal goodies wafted past her nose. That settled her suspicions. The cold did not stop the spirits. The young girl started of on a brisk jog down the abandoned streets. Lights popped on and filtered down onto the streets. Green and red streamers appeared and weaved through each other. Brilliant Christmas lights flashed before her and she ran faster toward her destination. She would take a chance...did she still smell human? Did he still work their or did he clear himself, name his own again? So many questions buzzed through her head she finally came to the bridge.
Behind her spirits floated toward the bathhouse. It had been so long since she saw the Arubaya looming over her welcomingly. 'No way...NO WAY! This is all way to real...I'm not dreaming...maybe I bumped my head when I fell! Maybe I am dreaming!' she tired to think up coherent thoughts but then she saw a radish spirit slowly trudge onto the bridge.
Her eyes went lifeless in fear as she saw the frogs jump out and happily beckon them in with open arms. They smiled gleefully.
Gulping as they passed her without any acknowledgment she wearily stepped on the wood boards and expected the worst. She lifted her chin and shut her brown irises tightly.
(MWHAHAH!!!!! OMG I FINALLY SAW THE MOVIE!!! IT WAS SO GOOD! *hugs self* Chihro and Haku are sooo good for each other....R&R and Ja minna-san!)