"There it goes!!" cried Chihiro excitedly as she pointed at the setting sun.
The both looked around as the lanterns started to light up and spirits slowly started to appear.
"Quick! Follow me" Chihiro jumped to her feet and ran back towards the bathhouse, Aki followed as fast as he could. The both ran across the bridge and into a secret entrance, then down the rickety stairs. They stopped running and burst into laughter; Chihiro looked at the door in front of her and smiled. It'll be nice to see Kamaji again she thought to herself, she put her hand on the handle and opened the door slowly and they both walked in.
"Kamaji!" screamed Chihiro and ran up to give him a hug. "It's been so long!"
Kamaji turned around and saw Chihiro; a great big smile appeared underneath his moustache.
"Sen!" He cried and stretched his long arms out to hug her back. "How have you been?? Why didn't you come back until now?! Haku and Lin have been worried sick!"
"I'll explain everything later" promised Chihiro, she signaled Ski to come forward. "I hope its ok, but I've brought a friend this time. Kamaji…This is Aki Onuki, he helped me a great deal over the last few days..."
Kamaji looked at Aki with great interest, his many hands still for once. After a few minutes he broke the silence.
"Hmmm, very nice indeed" he said, and shook Aki's hand.
"Kamaji, where are Lin and Haku?" asked Chihiro. "Can I go find them?"
"No!" exclaimed Kamaji "Yubabba is still here, you mustn't be seen by anyone….Not until I contact Zaniba"
Both Aki and Chihiro nodded. Aki was about to say something when he noticed some things on the floor, like soot was moving around on the ground. He knelt down to get a better look and saw that they were little balls of soot, they looked up at him and then saw Chihiro and crowded her.
"Hey guys!" Chihiro said as she knelt down and patted some of them. "Still at work?"
"Sen, Aki...please sit down and tell me what has happened since the last time I saw you" said Kamaji as he pulled out some cushions from one of the many draws on the wall with one hand and made a pot of tea with another.
Kamaji listened as Chihiro told him of what had happened, and how she met Aki. She suddenly burst into tears at the thought of her parents, thinking about how she'd never seen them again, how she'd be all alone.
"Poor Sen," said Kamaji "yes your parents are gone, and of course you will miss them. But you are safe now ..."
"And with people who love you," Aki added, putting his arm around her.
After a meal of rice dumplings for dinner, Kamaji set up some beds for Chihiro and Aki. As they prepared to go to sleep Kamaji told the two of what had been happening in the bathhouse over the years.
"And now Boh works with Zeniba!" joked Kamaji. "But now it is time to sleep, you will see Lin in the morning." Two of his hands each pulled a blanket over Chihiro and Aki, and then he himself went to sleep.