Disclaimer: Look at chapter 1

SAK00: Haha, glad you like it, hope this was soon enough :)

Chapter 2: No News Is Good News

I open my eyes to see the cracks in the floorboards. Hanging halfway off the bad is not entirely comfortable so I pull myself up. It's still dark outside, I look at the clock, 5:30. The storm outside settled down finally. It's Saturday, so there's no way I am getting up at this hour. I close my eyes and start to drift.

"Ah- uh-" my eyes spring open, I stay in my bed, frozen, but alert.

"Ah- uh- uh-" it's coming from the corner of my room. Quickly I sit up, and scramble awkwardly out of bed. Hitting my knee I sink to the floor from the impact.

"Ow." I say as softly as I can manage. Rubbing my knee, I look up. There standing in the darkest part of my room, is the last person I ever thought I'd see. "No-face?" I ask.

"Ah- ah-" his mask is happy and he sounds excited. I run over to him.

I open my mouth to begin asking all the questions I'm dying I know the answers to. Everything about Lin and Haku and the bathhouse. The questions all get caught in my throat because No-face looks anxious. "I-is something wrong?"

"Uh- uh." Nodding his head.

"Why are you here? Did Zeniba send you?" I asked swallowing my fear and worry. Again he nods.

"What's wrong? Is it Lin? Is Kohaku alright? What's wrong, what's happened?" tears start prickling my eyes. Oh, I wish he could talk anywhere outside the bathhouse!

He isn't going to answer my questions. He begins disappearing by backing up towards the wall, leaving me with all my unanswered questions. "Don't go," I beg. "Please I-" I reach into the shadows my hand finding only the smooth wall.

Turning around I look outside my window. The storm has been finished for at least an hour now. a thick fog clings to the air, making it difficult to see past my yard. Even still I see leaves scattered everywhere, and even a few branches.

I have to go back, I think to myself, Granny wouldn't have sent No-face if it wasn't important.

I rush over to my closet pulling out clothes and solidifying my resolve. I quickly change out of my pajamas, pull on my most comfortable pair of jeans and a purple tee shirt. I walk over to my dresser and look in the mirror. I see a plain girl, brunette, thin, but her normally dull brown eyes are alight with excitement, and her cheeks are flushed with color. I reach into one of the many small containers on my dresser, retrieve the hair tie made by my friends and pull my hair back.

"Keep it with you. It will offer you protection. Remember, it was made by your friends."

Grabbing socks, I pick up my light blue hoodie, nap sack and put those on as I rush out my bedroom door.

Okay, I think, I'm ready. I start my silent descent towards the kitchen taking my time to be extra quiet around my sleeping parents.

I find a small notepad in the kitchen and scrawl a quick note so my parents won't worry.

Dear Mom and Dad,

Please don't worry about me. I've left for the spirit world. I have to help

people there. I'll be back as soon as I can. Don't look for me.

I love you,

Chihiro

As I walk out the door I suddenly remember something. My ID. Without it I will completely forget who I am. If that happens Yubaba will own me, and I'll never be able to come home. When I reach the kitchen again, I destroy the carefully organized drawers looking for my ID. When I find it, I put the card in my front pocket. I run downstairs to the basement, leaving the mess I made, not bothering to look back. I scramble in my bag for the house keys and close the door careful not to let it slam behind me.