Disclaimer: I don't own Spirited Away or any of its characters.

Chapter 3: Dance

Chihiro got up at 7 pm and changed into a black tank top and jeans. Chihiro put her hair up in a pony tail with the hair tie from Zeniiba, though she couldn't exactly at that point remember where she got the hair tie, It always made her feel better. When Chihiro was finished she noticed that the slash marks were visible, so Chihiro grabbed a button up t-shirt and put it on over her tank top, unbuttoned. Chihiro walked downstairs and into the kitchen, she grabbed a piece of bread and sat at the table to eat.

The doorbell rang Yuuko answered it, "Hello."

"Hello I'm Nigihayami Kohaku Nushi, Nigihayami, I told Chihiro that I would walk with her to the dance," said Kohaku. Kohaku hated being called Nigihayami, but he knew that Yuuko would recognize Kohaku, or Haku.

"Oh, yes Chihiro didn't mention a boy, I'm Yuuko, Chihiro's mom. Please come in I don't think Chihiro is awake yet," replied Yuuko motioning Kohaku to come in, "Akio! Is Chihiro awake?"

"I don't know why?" asked Akio, as he walked to the door.

"Her friend is here," answered Yuuko.

"Oh I'll go check, one minute," said Akio as he turned around to go upstairs and get Chihiro. Chihiro was standing behind him, "Oh honey you're here good. Your friend is here."

Chihiro walked towards the door and Kohaku, Yuuko stopped her, "Where is this Dance?"

Chihiro looked at Kohaku who answered, "At the roller rink downtown."

"Ok, well have fun, and I expect there is an entry fee, so here this should be enough," said Yuuko handing Chihiro $20.

Kohaku and Chihiro said bye to Akio and Yuuko, and started to walk downtown. "So Sen who is your shoulder, better? I mean it was bleeding earlier," asked Kohaku.

"It's fine. How do you get in and out of this room?" asked Chihiro.

"I don't know, magick maybe," replied Kohaku. That was the last thing either of them said for the whole walk to the roller rink.

When they got to the roller rink they found out that younger teenagers could go from 6pm-10pm and the older ones could go 8pm-2am and that it cost $10 to get in. Mai Lin was waiting for Kohaku at the door, her face lit up when she saw him, but automatically went sour when she also saw Chihiro.

"Hello Haku, find it all right?" asked Mai Lin. Chihiro was clinging to Kohaku's arm like when she first walked across the bridge in the Spirit World. She was beginning to wonder why she even came no one liked her here. Yes Chihiro wanted to get out of the dark room, but did she really want to enter a world where everyone thought she was crazy.

"Yeah it was no problem," answered Kohaku, as he followed Mai Lin over to a table.

"Well here let me introduce you to my gang, this is my little sister Ami, Kanako, Osonyo, Osonyo's boyfriend Yuya, Nasami, and Nasami's unofficial girlfriend Kimiko. You guys this is the new kid in my class, Haku," said Mai Lin.

Everyone said hello to Kohaku as he and Chihiro sat down. No one said hello to Chihiro. Kohaku was beginning to think that he shouldn't have invited her, but he was hoping that this night would help her out of her room. Chihiro starred the same way she always did and the group was beginning to whisper. Kohaku didn't think that the whispers were going to help Chihiro, but no matter what anyone else said he was going to stick by her.

"Well what are we waiting for?" said Kimiko standing up, "let's go dance." Everyone stood up following Kimiko into the rink, where all the skating had stopped and round table/chairs were placed on the floor so people could sit. Chihiro had loosened her grip on Kohaku's arm so Mai Lin took the opportunity to hold Kohaku back and talk to him alone. Chihiro didn't really notice, Kohaku figured 'they' were disapproving.

"Why did you bring her? She is so off, a freak," asked Mai Lin angrily.

"She is my friend, Mai Lin I thought she would have fun. This is a public place you never know she could have come here by herself if I didn't ask her to come," replied Kohaku.

Mai Lin still angry retaliated, "She wouldn't have come, She doesn't talk to anyone, she has no friends."

"I'm her friend and I hate to see her like this, I want to look in her eyes and see the Chihiro I knew."

"You knew her before you came here?"

"Yes, I saved her life when she was four and fell into a river. And then I remet her seven years ago. She is my best friend and I'm not going to leave her."

"Well fine, she can hang, but I'm warning you no one is going to like this." Mai Lin walked quickly to her friends to tell them that Chihiro was going to be hanging with them that night because of Kohaku. Kohaku found Chihiro confused standing in the middle of the room.

"Hey Sen, sorry Mai Lin wanted to ask me something. Come on lets go over there with them," said Kohaku leading Chihiro to Mai Lin and the others.

"I told them (a/n: aka 'they') that this was what normal kids do. But they aren't happy, I don't know why. There are shadows in the room now, not only darkness I can see shapes now, I think they are benches," replied Chihiro. She was talking when they reached Mai Lin and the others. Chihiro didn't notice that everyone was shocked to hear her speaking.

The music was currently rap and half of the group was very unhappy about the music selection that night, so that was basically the topic of conversation, while Kimiko and Nasami danced. Until some pop rock, Good Charlotte, blared over the speaker and everyone got up to dance. Mai Lin pulled up Kohaku leaving Chihiro sitting against the wall. Kohaku was confused because, he had never really danced to this kind of music ever before, let alone heard it before.

"Mai Lin I got to go home, its ten," said Ami stopping Mai Lin from trying to teach Kohaku how to dance. Mai Lin knew her parents still treated Ami like she was a baby and that she would have to walk Ami home.

"Ok, I'll be right back you guys, ten minutes tops," said Mai Lin to the group.

"Hey I'll tag along I need some fresh air," said Kanako, as she followed Ami and Mai Lin out of the building. Kohaku was relieved that he no longer had to dance, and he sat next to Chihiro.

Yuya and Nasami quickly came over and motioned Kohaku to follow. Kohaku sighed and followed the two boys.

"Hey Haku don't listen to Mai Lin, she is just jealous of Chihiro." Said Nasami.

"Yeah we have no problem with her, we just don't normally hang with her, rumors and all. Well I talked to Osonyo, and told her to be nice to Chihiro and Nasami talked to Kimiko." Added Yuya.

"Question though, how can you stand her? I mean the way she always just stares, never talks and the way she clings to your arm. I find it annoying and eerie. I did hear what you said to Mai Lin, but I still don't understand," asked Nasami.

"Well I tried for seven years to come here and find her, and well I guess I love her, even if she was really as insane as everyone thinks, I would still love her," replied Kohaku.

"Don't tell Mai Lin that, she'll freak," replied Yuya, "Hey look, see we told you. The girls are trying to get Chihiro to dance." Nasami and Kohaku looked over Kimiko and Osonyo had pulled Chihiro up off the floor and started to dance.

"And It worked! I'm amazed," said Nasami as he walked back over to where the girl's were dancing. Kohaku Sat down against the wall, he watched Chihiro dance she was as bad as he was but it looked like she was having fun. Kohaku was glad that Nasami and Yuya understood that he wanted Chihiro to be better and they were even helping him. The music changed to a slower beat and Osonyo grabbed Yuya for a dance. Nasami motioned Kohaku to stand up, he did but he didn't know why.

Kimiko gave Chihiro a little push towards Kohaku, "Dance," Kimiko said as she took Nasami's hand and started to dance. Both Chihiro and Kohaku looked at the others for a second.

The Kohaku asked, "Well do you want to dance?"

"Sure," Chihiro replied.

"Was your back hurt by them? Will it hurt if I put my hands on your back?" asked Kohaku as he stepped closer to Chihiro. Chihiro shook her head, they danced.

"Why are you helping me?" asked Chihiro while they danced.

Kohaku didn't know what to say. If he should say its me its me Kohaku, because I love you and don't want you to forget me, or should he lie? "Because I know how you feel, I was trapped in a place for seven years, and couldn't be with the girl I love."

"Then why are you here with me?" asked Chihiro.

"Because I know that your Kohaku would never want to see you like this."

"Yes your right. Thank you."

Yuya and Osonyo came closer to Chihiro and Kohaku, "Keep her close Haku, for her sake," said Yuya looking over Kohaku's shoulder. Kohaku slowly looked over his shoulder Mai Lin was starring at them with green eyes.

"I don't like her she reminds me of them," whispered Chihiro.

"She really isn't that bad of a person, It's just that Mai Lin is second best in her class next to Chihiro, and the boy she likes, loves Chihiro," added Osonyo.

The music changed again, Kohaku still held Chihiro. He looked at the clock, it read 11pm Mai Lin must have been there for quite awhile. Kohaku wonder why she hadn't approached them earlier. Kohaku's lost his train of thought when Chihiro's stomach growled.

"Come we'll get something to eat," said Kohaku grabbing Chihiro's hand and bring her over to the food stand.

"I'm not hungry," replied Chihiro.

"Yes you are, I heard your stomach," replied Kohaku.

"Hey were are you two going?" asked Kimiko.

"To get something to eat," answered Kohaku.

"We'll all chip in a buck and buy a large pizza," said Nasami, "Yuya! Pizza!"

Kimiko noticed Mai Lin and Kanako, "Hey you two were going to buy pizza." Everyone, including Mai Lin walked over to the food stand Nasami ordered two large pepperoni pizza and a pitcher of coke with eight glasses. They all sat down at the table they were sitting at, at the beginning of the night.

Kanako commented, "Pizza at 11:30 pm, just a light midnight snack?"

"I usually eat at this time," said Chihiro.

"Yeah me too," added Kohaku.

"My mother doesn't know, but my 'midnight snack' is usually half of the left overs," said Osonyo with a big smile. The pizza came to the table and everyone grabbed a slice, the waitress handed Yuya the bill.

"24 even, that's three dollars a piece," said Yuya to the group. Everyone took out three dollars and handed it to the waitress. "So what is everyone doing after graduation?" asked Yuya between bites.

"RELAXING!" said Nasami with a grin.

"Guys!" said Mai Lin shaking her head, "Me, I'm moving to Tokyo for collage."

"Of course Tokyo Mai Lin your like the best in your class." Said Kanako.

"Well not quite," replied Mai Lin shooting a nasty look at Chihiro.

"Oh yes, that's right," said Yuya, "and what are you two doing?"

"I don't know this is only my first day of school ever and Yu-Baaba still has my contract, so I'll probably just go back to Aburaya and work, after I find Sen of course," replied Kohaku. Chihiro was staring at him she recognized the names he had mentioned.

Everyone was looking at Chihiro for an answer, "I'm going to wait for Haku to keep his promise, like I've been waiting."

"Haku? But he's....." began Kimiko. Kohaku shook his head, Kimiko didn't finish her sentence.

"Owww!" Chihiro cried she leaned forward, there was a big bloody gash down her back.

Kohaku whispered, "Them?"

"Maybe, but it was her (a/n: her is referring to Mai Lin)," replied Chihiro.

"Ouch! How did that happen?" asked Kimiko.

"Look there is a piece of broken glass," exclaimed Kanako, picking up a bloody piece of glass.

"That looks bad, maybe you should go home," suggested Mai Lin.

"No! It just needs to be cleaned," answered Chihiro, getting up from the table and walking to the bathroom Osonyo followed to help her.

"Hey man," said Nasami to Kohaku, "I'm sorry, Chihiro is really cool, not much of a talker though."

"Yeah Haku, she is that Sen girl your looking for isn't she?" asked Kimiko, Kohaku nodded, "Then why doesn't she recognize you? Why don't you tell her?"

"Because of whatever made her this way, not a disease, but some sort of magick, evil magick," answered Kohaku. Everyone looked confused Nasami was just about to ask Kohaku another question when Mai Lin fainted.

"Oh my god, Mai Lin! What happened?" asked Kanako.

"I don't know maybe she ate to much pizza," answered Nasami.

"No she only ate one bite I'm going to get one of the security guards," said Kimiko, as she got up and left.

They heard a scream from the direction of the girls bathroom, "Osonyo!" screamed Yuya, after he recognized the scream. Everyone except Kanako got up, Nasami went to get another security guard. Yuya ran into the girls bathroom not even thinking followed by Kohaku.

They found Osonyo and Chihiro on the floor, Osonyo looked alright and was still conscious. While Chihiro on the other hand was very beat up and unconscious in Osonyo's lap. "What happened?!" asked Kohaku.

The Security guard ran in followed by Nasami. Osonyo answered, "I don't know what happened I was helping Chihiro wash the blood off, from when she cut herself on the glass. When a person dressed all in black, pushed me into the wall, grabbed Chihiro and beat her up, I was so scared that I screamed, then he...she...it(?) just disappeared."

The security guard quickly phoned the ambulance, which was already on its way because of Mai Lin. All eight kids went with the ambulance because they were all witnesses or victims to what had happened that night.