Chihiro stared in awe of the dragon. He was not at all what she remembered. He was muscled, graceful and elegant, and yet at the same time dangerous and deadly. His scales gleamed in the moon light. Catching specks of rainbows.

Once over the shock of seeing Haku, Chihiro, now more motivated, turned her attention to her problem at hand. She tried again to raise herself from the grass but failed. She felt a panic attack coming. She knew what happened if she didn't eat spirit food fast, she'd disappear.

Now beginning to hyperventilate, Chihiro furiously tried again and again to stand failing each time. She was now really frightened. She tried calling out for help, but found her lips could not move. She began to frantically wave her arms only to realize they were pinned to her sides. And to top it all off she was beginning to disappear.

Oh, no, oh, no she thought. This is not how it was supposed to happen. She wasn't supposed to DIE before she even saw anyone!

Just before going into an all-out stage of fright, Chihiro heard a squeak sqeak. And felt something scampered up her legs and into her lap. It was Bud. He must have fallowed her here. Great she thought, not only did she have to save herself but Bud too.

Then as if Bud could understand, he quickly crept out of sight and returned with several nuts. He crawled up her neck and somehow forced one of the nuts in between her lips forcing her to swallow.

The second she swallowed, she let a loud gasp, and fell onto the ground. Bud started wronging around frantically in circles, losing all sense of what he could do. Chihiro slowly sat up and scooped up her little savior in her arms and cooed at.

"Thanks, Bud. I can't believe you followed me, but glad you did. If you hadn't I would be dead," Chihiro said. Then she sighed, stood up, and placed Bud on her shoulder.

Now that she was stable she would have to figure her way to the bathhouse.

Rethinking her steps from 8 years ago, Chihiro slowly was able to make her way to the bathhouse bridge.

When there she and Bud hid behind a bush. To get across the bridge she'd need to hold her breath for about ¼ of a mile. No way was that going to happen! Her other option was to climb under the bridge and cross that way. Right now even though there was the danger of falling into the water, going under instead of above was sounding like a good option.

Chihiro and Bud slowly and quietly made their way down to the rocky land area underneath the beginning of the bridge.

After analyzing the entire thing Chihiro decided to take off her shoes and socks to get a better grip on the metal and wooden ledges. She found some vines and attached Bud to her so he wouldn't fall off when they went upside down.

As she began to climb across the first few ledges, the danger became more real, but so did the feeling that she would finally be able to see all of her friends again

Half way, there just a little more to go, Chihiro thought to herself. Feeling slightly more confident that she had made it this far, Chihiro began to speed up, becoming a bit more reckless in her eagerness to see all of her friends.

Suddenly she felt Bud slip from her pocket and begin to fall to the rushing waters below. In her effort to save she lost her grip and fell into the death falls below.

…

The moment she hit the water Chihiro began to fight it. She grabbed hold of Bud. And kicked her hardest to reach the top of the water. Her lungs screamed, and her heart beat its fastest. Finally Chihiro was able to penetrate through the wall of waves that had been pushing her down.

She gasped as she hit the surface and took in one spluttering sharp breath. She was relieved she and Bud had survived but knew the battle was not over yet. Chihiro struggled against the current. Fighting and not giving in Chihiro pushed herself harder than she ever had before.

Then Chihiro realized a new danger. She was heading for a set of jagged, spiked, black rocks. Without time to react, Chihiro was thrust at high speeds into the rocks.

SLAM

Chihiro was propelled towards the rocks and hit them with great force. She was scratched and battered. Chihiro felt like she had been hit by a bullet train, submerged in acid, and trampled by cattle.

Her body screamed with pain but she kept fighting. Finally, the water brought to a calmer spot and she was able to make her way to the shore.

Chihiro collapsed on the sandy beach. Heavily breathing, and in unimaginable pain.

Shakily she stood, knowing only a little father till she was back with her real family. Examining her surroundings she realized she was standing under the stairs that lead to Kamiji's boiler room.

"Bud, I have a job for you. You see that rope right there on the steps can you nudge it down to me please," asked Chihiro.

Bud squeaked in response and crawled up to the stairs and did his best to push the rope.

"Just a little more, you got this," Chihiro encouraged. Finally after I few minutes of work on Bud's behalf Chihiro got the rope. She used to lasso it to the rail of the stairs and began to pull herself up. Inch by inch, foot by foot, yard by yard, she made her way up the rope. When she reached the top, she paused exhausted and exhilarated from the climb.

Ready it or not, here goes nothing, Chihiro thought as she reached to turn the door knob to the boiler room.

As Chihiro stepped into the boiler she saw Kamiji, still her spidery grandpa and Lin, her 20 year old bossy bug sis, eating dinner and getting ready for a long- nights work.

…

Chihiro stepped into the light and coughed slightly to get their attention. Lin and Kamiji turned away from the conversation and looked towards her. Kamiji dropped his chop- sticks and let his mouth hang wide open. Lin just stared at her a few moments, before slowly saying, "Chihiro, is that you?"

"Yeah, it's me alright"

"Oh. My. God. I can't believe you're here," squealed Lin, running forward to give Chihiro a hug which she gladly excepted.

Kamiji finally recovered from his shock wrapped her in an 8 armed embrace. "So good to see you again Sen. I still am shocked to see you here"

"Yeah, I'm shocked that I'm here too," replied Chihiro (Sen in case you didn't know). "I heard drumming noises coming from the other side and in a flash of light I was back. It got stuck, you know disappearing, but them Bud got me a nut and I survived."

"Uhh. Who's Bud?" asked Lin.

"Oh, sorry. Let me introduce you guys. This little critter on my shoulder is my friend Bud the chipmunk," explained Chihiro. "After Bud helped, we made our way to the bathhouse. When we got there I climbed on under the bridge but accidently fell in then I…"

"Did you fall into the river?" Kamiji asked sharply.

"Well, yes, but…"

"Oh, no, oh, no," muttered Lin.

"What's wrong?" asked Chihiro.

"Sen, that river is cursed all who touch its waters will fall dreadfully ill minutes later. When did fall in?" asked Kamiji.

"Only like 15 min…" Chihiro fainted and blacked out.

…

Chihiro was slipping in between being conscious and unconscious.

While conscious she was aware of people walking around. She identified them as Kamiji and Lin. She could only make out a few parts of what they were saying things like, feed her this, treated Sen with that, or I hope she gets well soon.

Her dreams were pictures of dancing colors and enchanting rainbows with meadows, speckled with pictures of the people she loved. Weaving in and out of all he dreams was a white dragon.

…

Chihiro awoke to a find a wet rag on her forehead and a Lin sitting her beside her looking nervous and excited.

"Good morning sleepy head," said Lin.

"What happened groaned?" Chihiro.

"Let's, you fainted, and you've been out the past two days. And now I'm supposed to feed you this soup, it got magic herbs to give you strength in it," replied Lin. Chihiro groaned and tried to sit up, but Lin pushed her right back. "Oh, no you don't. You are officially confined to this bed for the next two days, you hear me?"

"But Lin, I need to talk to Ha…" Chihiro began, but was unable to finish since Lin shoved a spoonful of soup into her mouth.

"Yeah, yeah. I know. I already guested that. You can see him later and pull his hair out then. But now you need to rest."

"Lin, but…"

"No buys. You're sick. And yes I also know what other things you think of Haku, so be good or I'll tell him."