AN: Here's the next update. I hope you all like it and please leave me a review. They really do encourage me to write more and make these chapters amazing.

Chihiro licked her lips.

There stood a young man of about twenty or twenty-one. His grey-blue hair shone brightly at her in the sunlight. His eyes pierced her own, and her insides squirmed.

He swallowed and began crossing the bridge, and she was unable to move from the spot she stood.

A loud caw erupted from overhead, and the young man became startled and looked up.

Chihiro took this moment to turn and dash away from him.

Following behind her was a gust of wind, perfumed with cherry blossom leaves. Only the leaves hurt when they made contact with her skin. Small cuts were left were the petals connected.

She was afraid, and as she turned a corner, she slowed into a jog before stopping to catch her breath.

She lifted her head and looked around, and there was a new realization. She was very, very lost.

Chihiro hated herself for running so blindly. She walked for what felt like hours, trying to find her way back to a familiar place. The whole town felt like a giant labyrinth that was swallowing her further and further.

Each time, she'd find herself coming back toward the bathhouse, but when attempting to go the way she had originally come from, she'd emerge once more in front of the bathhouse.

The sun was setting.

As it darkened, lights began to brighten the streets, and after walking a street she had walked countless times by now, there was a new, smaller street tucked between two.

I never noticed that before…

A sense of hope forced Chihiro to run down it.

There was the food stand she had passed! She felt her heart race harder, and she heard the water.

A grin erupted onto her face, and when she saw the bank, her eyes teared.

SPLASH

The water was freezing and sent her muscles into a rigorous state.

She lost all footing on the mossy ground below her, and she went under.

Chihiro sputtered and cried for help, but the water was claiming her as a new victim.

The only thought to cross her mind was, The water has come back to finish the job.

And she sunk slowly into the dark abyss.

AN: I almost left this as a cliff hanger. . But I hate when fanfics do that, so I won't. ^.^

Chihiro awoke in some grass completely surrounded by hedges. She pulled herself up.

Her lungs hurt as she breathed in the air, and she coughed out some water.

She pulled her knees to her face, something she hadn't done in years and cried softly.

A rustle in the leaves shook her from her malaise state.

She looked up and found herself staring into the same young man she saw earlier.

His face was no longer angry but was soft-featured and caring. He kneeled by her, and despite the fear she felt before, she was calm with him there.

He smiled reassuringly, brushing back his hair and reached into the pocket of his yukata overcoat.

He pulled a handkerchief that was folded plainly into a square, and unwrapped it slowly, pulling out a small handful of what looked like blackberries.

Chihiro nodded and took them, eating them one by one.

"Thank you…"

She felt her face burn with shyness and confusion. She knew this boy from her dreams, only this man was older and more… handsome.

He sat there, staring at her. She chewed her lip, "What's your name?"

At this question, his face twisted into a grimace, before he took her hand and ran it over his closed mouth.

"..Oh…!"

She felt the scar-like bumps that indicated his mouth had been sewn shut.