Chihiro heard a soft thud hit the ground from a room down the hall. She smiled slightly to herself and pulled her hair back into a high ponytail. On her wrist was a beautiful purple hair tie, which seemed to sparkle in the sunlight that filled the room; her smile grew slightly as she used this to keep her hair in place.

The hair tie itself was proof of her past, and for the last 8 years she had clung to it for a reminder that she had not imagined the world she longed for. She had spent only a short amount of time in that magical place, but she could never shake the feeling that it was where she belonged.

Chihiro walked into the kitchen, hearing a soft bell jingle from behind her. When she turned around a small cat sat in the doorway, his green eyes gleaming for food. He was white, with gray specks, and seemed to hold an air of authority, as most cats did.

"I know, I know, you're hungry, huh?" She chuckled softly and bent down to gently stroke the cat's head. He leaned into her touch and purred in contentment with his owner finally being home. "Were you lonely while I was gone?" She walked over to where his bowl lay on the floor and took down a bag of dry cat food to pour into it. "This summer I'll take you to the bathhouse, I bet you'll catch lots of mice there, huh Haku?" The cat rubbed into her legs and merely went straight for the food. He had his priorities, and listening to plans for summer, wasn't one of them.

Chihiro patted Haku's head one more time and then walked from the kitchen into her own room. The room itself was medium sized, filled with only a bed, dresser, and desk. She didn't see the need for much more, but did have pictures scattered around. In one frame was 10-year-old Chihiro, surrounded by her elementary school friends, and leaning on it was a card she had received the day she moved to this town. In the next frame was a picture of the old amusement park she seemed so obsessed it, the main focus being the old bathhouse.

She had spent many days at that amusement park, wandering through the empty buildings, even finding an entrance into the bathhouse. It had been stale smelling, and completely empty. She cried the first time she saw that.

From her memories, the bathhouse was busy and noisy, the only smell being that of soap, or maybe a radish spirit walking by. She couldn't return to that version of it, though, no matter how many times she tried. She had done everything she thought might bring her back, from staying there all night, to even doing strange calls upon the spirit realm. Nothing worked. That didn't make her lose hope though, for she knew, the boy she missed the most, had promised he would return.

Haku the cat came padding lazily into the room, drawing her back to reality. He hopped up onto her bed, curling into a small ball, tossing a glare her way. "You really are like Haku. So cold at times, but soft-hearted and loving all the same" She laughed and sat down at her desk, opening some schoolwork she had to get done before summer.

The day passed quickly, her parents arrived home, and they had dinner as usual. The conversations were idle, merely each person stating how their days had been. The normal nightly routine passed by quickly, and Chihiro was soon fast asleep in bed.

When she awoke in the morning she readied herself quickly for school. She was running later than usual so she had no time to attempt to tame her hair (having slept on it wet it seemed to have a mind of its own) and she resorted to pulling it into the high ponytail she once wore everyday. She left with toast for breakfast and met Hana at their usual intersection.

Again the conversations they held were pointless, only a way to pass time, and it wasn't long before the school day was coming to an end. Chihiro waved goodbye to her friends at the school, and Hana walked home alone, while she set off for work.

The inn was a ways away from the school, so Chihiro had to take a bus to get there. She kept to herself, but watched the passengers who filled it. When she reached her destination she was greeted by a few other attendants and she was quick to change.

Her work clothes were a traditional outfit, baggy pants, and a matching top. This time, though, they were actually the correct size. She rolled up the legs of the pants and got straight to work.

The first step was cleaning the baths, the guests would be using them around 6 that night, and no one wanted to have to soak in the grime of the last bath. The attendants of this inn, Chihiro included, would split up and get straight to work.

Since Chihiro was still a student, on the days she had class she would have to arrive with half the days work being completed. When she first started working here she would feel quite guilty for this, but now that time has passed she's realized that even just half a days work is extremely important.

After the cleaning and helping to serve each guest their dinners Chihiro was able to take a break. She sighed and slumped down into a chair in the break room, rubbing her hands gently. As she relaxed her boss walked in, glancing quickly around the room before making her way to where Chihiro sat.

"Chihiro, are you still planning on working here over your summer break?" Chihiro stood when her boss approached her, bowing slightly. She nodded her head excitedly.

"Of course! I couldn't think of a better way to spend my break." She smiled warmly, her dark eyes glistening. Her boss laughed, gently placing her old hand on Chihiro's arm.

"Even I was never as enthusiastic about this work as you are! You're a gift, dear girl." The old woman shook her head, her gray hair tied into a tight bun. "I have an opportunity for you, though. As you approach graduation I'm sure you've thought about what you wish to do. If you want to continue this work as an attendant then I truly believe you should intern at a larger inn, one that gets a steadier flow of customers and can show you more of what this job can be." Chihiro nodded along as the woman spoke. "We have been asked to send an attendant to one of these such larger inns for the summer, they need the extra help, and I was hoping you'd like to try to it out." The woman's smile beamed, she seemed so proud to be able to send her youngest, and hardest working attendant to work at a large inn.

Chihiro wasted no time in agreeing, if she would be working all summer she might as well do it in a place she hasn't been. She had a strange feeling this summer would contain something she isn't expecting, and couldn't wait to begin it.