Gothic_farie: @_@ I am so pushed for schoolworkÉgah! Darn that school! Oh well, hereÕs the next chappie for you all!

Haku: Oh myÉsheÕs actually considering doing it!

Gothic_farie: Shut up. My fans love me! THEY LOVE ME! *runs after Haku yelling*

Waiting Ð Chapter 9

Chihiro slipped quietly from shadow to shadow, her heart pounding so loud, she wouldnÕt have been surprised if she had been caught. She caught her breath every time something moved, and every time she heaved a sigh when it turned out to be a branch or a mouse. She walked slowly down to the stairs where she had first slipped, and took a deep breath. This time she would not be afraid, this time she would walk down fearlessly. She clenched her shirt in her hands unconsciously, a habit she hadnÕt fully gotten rid of, even after all these years.

She stepped slowly down one step, and then another, holding her breath, and stepping with her toe and then putting her whole weight on her foot. She finally stood at the door to that would take her to Kamajii, and the loveable soot balls. She shivered as she remembered her last adventure, and placed her hand on her chest. She felt so anxious, and still partially disbelieving, but she was here, she was back.

Putting her ear to the door, she heard the familiar sounds of Kamajii grumbling at the soot balls, and she smiled. She was really here; she was really back in the Spirit World. She felt a huge weight lift from her shoulders, and she laughed. She opened the door slowly, and stepped in. She saw the spider-spirit working away, and she grinned, her eyes watering slightly. She remembered all the help he had given her, and hoped that she could still call him grandfather. ÔI hope he remembers meÉÕ She felt something around her legs, and looked down. The soot balls had seen her, and had started to crowd around her. They jumped up and down in excitement, and she grinned. At least someone knew her!

At the sound, Kamajii looked up from what he was doing. What he saw, he had never expected to see, but had dearly hoped he would. A girl stood there, her grey eyes wide and familiar, her right hand clutched to her chest, a tentative smile around her lips, a blush on her cheeks, and taller, and older since the last time he saw her. Her left hand was balled into a fist clutching her shirt, and he smiled. Leaning closer, he whispered, ÒChihiro, is that you?Ó (A.N. There are differences between the Japanese and English version. In the Japanese, Kamajii learns that Sen is really ChihiroÉHaku tells him :-D ) She leaned back slightly, as if she remembered him, but was afraid if he was really there. Then, slowly, she nodded, and smiled back at him.

ÒIÕm hereÉ.IÕm here because somethingÕs happened. I donÕt know what, but I feel likeÉyouÕre in trouble. All of you.Ó She sighed, and brushed a strand of hair out of her face. He noticed that her fingers were slender and elegant. ÔLike a true princess,Õ he thought. His brows crinkled together as he smiled, and Chihiro blinked as she tried to figure out what was so funny.

She knew sooner or later she would have to bring up the subject of Haku, but she needed to sort out her feelings for him. She knew that she cared for him; she knew that he was beautiful, and she would die for him, but she didnÕt know if she loved him, or if it was a friend Ð friend relationship. She sighed, and her eyes closed, a wrinkle taking up residence between her eyes. Kamajii reached out a hand; he didnÕt want to see her suffer.

ÒChihiro, my adopted grand daughter, what makes you grieve so? No one as happy as you were should be sad. What makes you worry?Ó Chihiro looked up at him with heavy lidded eyes, and her chin began to quiver. ÒIÕm worried about Ha---everyone. It seems so different. So hostile. I canÕt explain what it is, but thereÕs something going on. WhatÕs going on, Oji-san? (A.N- grandfatherÉ.) Why do I have this sense of doom? Why does everything seem so drab and dreary?Ó She stood up, her two hands clasped in four of his.

Kamajii led her to the sliding door, and sat her down. He walked back to his post, and began to work, and Chihiro watched silently as four bath-tokens fell down, and dangled in front of his face. KamajiiÕs arms moved as if on their own accord, and he ground the herbs together, and as he did, he pondered on how to tell Chihiro all that had passed.

ÒChihiro, not everything is as it was. People have changed, for the better or for the worse. ItÕs been six years, and people haveÉÓ Here he paused, his voice shaky, and he clutched his kettle tighter with his hand as he raised it to his lips. After a moment, he gulped the water down, and set the kettle back in its original position. ÒPeople have moved on, and have grown wiser, or harsher, or in some cases, even forgottenÉÓ His mind flashed back to Haku, who seemed to be exactly the same person that he was before he saw Chihiro. The only difference now, was that he was married to Rin. ÔPoor Chihiro, the sweet child. SheÕs back because she worries about him, and all of us. How will she take the news?Õ

Chihiro grew ever more impatient as she waited for Kamajii to spill the news. Her fists shook from the pressure, and small cuts appeared on her palm and small trickles of blood dripped from between her fingers. Finally, in the silence, she stood up, and frantically whispered, ÒKamajii, what aboutÉ.what will I do? I canÕt ask Yubaba for work! I just canÕt!Ó Kamajii bowed his head, and agreed with her. ÒYes, that is true, butÉ.I could tell her that I have an assistant, because not even the soot balls are enough now. I need someone. IÕm getting older. But we need a new name. If she found out who you really were, then there would be hell to pay. Your name is Namiko (A.N- literally translated as wave Ðchild). SheÕll probably call you Nami, or if youÕre lucky, sheÕll call you Ko!Ó He crinkled up his eyes and smiled, and she gave a small twitch of her own.

ÒIÕllÉIÕll need a uniform. I canÕt just stay in these clothes!Ó She felt impatient to know about what happened to Haku, but knowing Kamajii, he would just ignore her and forget, or he would ramble on and on about something else and finally after a few hours say one simple sentence. So she sighed, and smiled. It was good to be back here anyways, so she would endure his cheerfulness. He started to talk about who he should call to give Chihiro a uniform. Finally, knowing she wanted to see Rin (and knowing she had to know about the marriage), he decided to call her. She still brought him his food, and since it was near dinner, she would be coming soon. He would send her for a uniform. ChihiroÕs uniform would be different, because she would be so close to the furnace. She would need a fire repellent uniform, so hers would be black, and slightly thicker than the magenta uniforms.

There was an awkward silence as they waited, Chihiro sitting on the ledge, her hands behind her knees, pulling them up to her chin. Kamajii still worked the boiler, but he looked back every now and then. When he looked, he saw a glimpse of the child she was before. The soot balls went back and forth from the opening as they always did, back and forth, back and forth, but every time they went, they cast glances at Chihiro. Minutes passed, and Chihiro placed her forehead on her knees and felt how tired she was.

Finally, they heard the sound of wood scraping on wood, and a familiar loud voice (that also sounded to Chihiro slightly less aliveÉsomehow, it seemed more flat) proclaimed that it was time for dinner. Rin stepped in, and brought out the bowl. Chihiro leapt up, and twisted around and gaped.

ÒRin!Ó Chihiro stepped up to the taller girl, and smiled, stretching out her hands. Rin stepped back, and looked confused. ÒWho are YOU?Ó Chihiro looked shocked, then looked at Kamajii. He sighed, and looked at Rin. ÒSheÕsÉmy granddaughterÕs sister.Ó Rin peered at Chihiro, and scowled. ÒSo, whatÕs your name?Ó Chihiro stuttered for a minute, and then remembered the name Kamajii had given for her. ÒMyÉ.name is Nami. ItÕs very nice to meet you. Kamajii told me all about you. IÕm his new assistant, you see. Since heÕs getting old, and feeble.Ó Kamajii drew up at this point, and mumbled ÒToo old? I think not! But yes, Nami is my new assistantÉand she needs a new uniform, and she needs toÉshe needs to meet your husband, to make sure she meets his approval.Ó Chihiro looked up at Rin with renewed interest. ÒOh, you have a husband?Ó She smiled at Rin, and Rin looked back with a smile that didnÕt quite meet her eyes. ÒOh yes, heÕs YubabaÕs henchman. He does all of her honorable work. HeÕs a good man, my Haku.Ó

Gothic: @_@ ItÕs already too lateÉBut I love you all, so hereÕs another cliff hanger. I know that I said that last chapter would be the one where they (our couple) meet, but then during E.S.L (me being an angel and volunteering there J ) got a really good idea, so I wrote this down. I PROMISE next chapter will be the one where they meet. I swear!

Haku: UmÉ.I wasnÕt in this!

Gothic: So?

Haku: I wanna be in this!

Gothic: Too bad!

Haku: No fair! *pout*