Luineraugwen: I hope some people liked my last chapter. I didn't get many reviews but I can' t be greedy now can I. Hopefully this chapter will go down a bit better. Warning: there's a bit of swearing in this chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own Spirited Away.

Chapter 2

Sora was awoken from her afternoon nap by the phone ringing. She guessed who it was. Her mother came down the stairs and picked up the handset. Sora didn't bother to move, she'd have to face it anyway so what was the use of running. Her mother glared over her shoulder as she listened to the person on the other end of the phone and Sora gave the older woman her best innocent look, which was never that convincing. After her mother got off the phone, she looked like she was about to explode.

"Sora, that was your new school," her mother sounded calm but Sora could see the telltale signs of the anger rising. The woman's voice was stony and she stood as rigid as a board. "The principal just got through telling me that you were in a fight today. I thought we'd gone through this before. Your father and I don't want you to move from school to school here just because you were fighting. The principal wants to see you in his office tomorrow morning before school. I'll discuss your punishment with your father tonight. Now got to your room until dinnertime and don't come down before then".

'Wow, she must be mad, she's never sent me to my room before' Sora thought as she clambered off the lounge. She quickly grabbed an apple before dashing off up the stairs to her room. Sora spent many hours in her room of an afternoon going her homework. It was her private sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of the world around her. Her bed was neatly made and her floor spotless except for a big purple rug. A wardrobe full of her clothes was packet away in the corner. A study desk with a computer sat against the wall while her school and research books were homed in two beautiful large rosewood bookcases. Sora's schoolbag was tucked away next to the desk. She grabbed it and took out all the books and sifted through them to find her homework History, Science, Mathematics, and English.

'Great, great, damn it, the dreaded subject and great' Sora thought as she looked at the books. She grabbed the mathematics one first and rifled through her bag again to find her textbook. Sora sat down at the desk, turned on the lamp and started on her homework.

By the time her mother called her down the stairs for dinner, Sora had completed several Math's sheets, a Science speech and report as well as started on her History assignment. She yawned as she walked down the stairs and into the dinning room. Although she had enjoyed it, Sora was beginning to regret the sleep she'd had. There was so much more work to be done. She wouldn't be going to bed before midnight again. She sat down quietly and began to eat.

Dinner was unusually quiet tonight. Normally she was asked how school was or she asked how work was but none of that happened tonight. Her parents must have been really angry with her. Her father sighing was the first announcement or noise that he'd made all night and it signaled that he was going to say something.

"Sora, your mother told me about the phone call she got from your new school and we're quite sick of getting them to say the least. This has to stop Sorcha. We've had this conversation a million times before but you don't listen to us. Perhaps it's about time that your went to see a counselor or something" he said not looking up from her food.

"Yeah well I'm sick and tired of being hounded by cheerleaders and all those other people. Winning fights is my way of say 'leave me alone' and it seems as though the people at this new school will be doing just that. One of the football players wouldn't even fight me. Besides Stephanie swung first and I defended myself. I can't help it if I broke her nose and by the way, I'm not going to see a counselor. No way in Hell" Sora replied.

"There is a way your could have stopped yourself, you shouldn't have punched her. That girl now has a broken nose and she'll need plastic surgery to fix it" her mother said.

"That's only another grand out of daddy's pocket. It'll be fixed by next week" Sora said sarcastically. "Anyway, nowadays being smart doesn't put you at the top of the list, you have to be cool or you work your way up there by fighting. I personally don't' want to get to the top, I'd rather be at the bottom with the nerds but just for once I want to show people that you don't have to be cool to be able to defend yourself or fight. Keep in mind that we don't have the cane around anymore and that's reason why all the kids have gone crazy, there's no discipline these days".

"Some times I think that they should bring the cane back. It'd certainly keep children in line. I've still got the scars from when I was at school" her father said resigning to her rebuttal and giving in. "Just try not to get yourself into anymore trouble sweetie, okay". Sora nodded slowly. Fighting really wasn't something that she normally could avoid; it followed her around like a lost puppy dog. She finished her dinner, excused herself and went back to her room to start on her Shakespeare work for English. Frankly she was looking forwards to it. A Mid-Summer's Night Dream was beginning to grow on her.

The next day, Sora woke up bright and early but with a spitting headache. She'd actually gotten to bed before 12 but for some reason the headache had shown up. Pain in the butt. She yawned and jumped out of bed. Sora seriously considered having the day off but her brain reminded her that she had to see the principal today, so she began to dress in her uniform. She made her bed, brushed her hair etc then grabbed her bag and made for the stairs. For a strange reason she paused to stop and look back in her room. She implanted the image of her sanctuary into the back of her mind before continuing on her way. She ate her bacon and eggs in silence while her father read the newspaper and her mother sipped on coffee. Sora packed her plate and cutlery away before kissing her parents' goodbye.

"See you tonight sweetie and try to stay out of trouble today" her dad called after her. Sora continued out the door and down the driveway but turned to look at her house. It was a beautiful house. A bigger than what she had expected but it made her happy. It was made of brink, painted white and had black roof tiles. Sora patted their dog Max before she began her short walk to school.

People stayed out of her way as she walked along the halls towards the Principals Office. Everybody whispered about what she'd done to Stephanie the previous day. Word seemed to have gotten around the school quite fast but then again half of them were there. She knocked on the Principal's door, he opened it and beckoned her in.

"I'm quite glad to see that you have shown up this morning Sora. Normally students don't show up at all and I have to chase them down" He started when they were both seated. "Well, down to business. I got a call from Stephanie's father just before I called your parents. He told me that his daughter had said that you started the fight and that she was doing nothing but standing around talking with her friends. Now just so you know, I'm on your side. Stephanie is a liar and she lies half the time to her parents and other so I don't believe a word she says. Quite a few of the teachers saw the beginning of the fight and they told me that you didn't start it, so naturally I believe my colleagues' words more. Some of them are quite happy about what you did to that girl but her father still wants to see that you are punished. I myself and quite happy with what you did so I'm prepared to be lenient. I'm going to give you a week's worth of after school detention but that's it. Understand?" Sora nodded. "Good. Now listen to be carefully. This school doesn't promote fighting or violence and we aren't always this nice to students but we must ask you to try not to resolve your problems with your fists" he pleaded.

"Don't worry sir, I normally don't do that and I fully understand what you're saying. Actually I'm a surprised at the punishment you're giving me. I expected something a little harder. My parents might not believe me so would you mind writing a letter to them explaining why?" Sora asked and he nodded.

"We wouldn't want you getting in any more trouble now would we. Come and pick it up after your detention today. The bell is going to go in about 10 minutes so I'd better not keep you. Have a good day Sora" the Principal, said dismissing her.

"Thank you sir, have a good day yourself" Sora said bowing and heading towards the door.

"Oh and Sora, your not in Japan anymore, you don't need to worry about bowing" he added.

"Sorry sir, it's hard to break old habits" she replied smiling and opened the door before walking out, closing it softly behind her.

Sora walked outside and headed towards her first class for the day, which was Science. She was off in her own little world thinking when her heard her name being called. She turned around to see Bren Foster, one of the football players standing next to the seat she'd passed. Must have missed him too. Bren was a big pain in the butt and had asked her out numerous times in the few days she'd been here. He was also her neighbor.

"I just wanted to tell you Sora that I've found someone better than you and it was no other than the girl you punched yesterday. That was my girl and I don't appreciate people hurting her" he said roughly. People all around the playground were beginning to look at them.

"Well good for you Bren, I glad for you as it now means you won't be hounding me anymore. Oh any you may as well pass this message on to Stephanie for me. If she hadn't of picked a fight with me, then she wouldn't have a broken nose. Now if you don't mind Bren, you' re wasting my time so piss off" Sora said before turning around and continued walked. Suddenly a loud bang rang through he air and a few of the girl's screamed. It was then that Sora felt a sharp pain in her back and chest. She looked down to see a puddle of bright red blood seeping through her shirt. Her blood. She staggered around to look at Bren. He stood exactly where she left him but he had a smirk on his face and a gun in his hand. The bastard had shot her. He then strode over to her, pulling a pocketknife out of his jacket as he went.

"Those who live by the sword are shot by those who don't. But then again it would go against your traditions if you weren't to die by the blade. Well the bullet probably did more damage than this will but, it'll help quicken your death" he said plunging the knife into her stomach and leaving it there.

Sora's eyesight began to get blurry and darken from the loss of blood as she looked up at Bren for the last time and whispered. "You fucking bastard" before passing into totally darkness. She felt her self fall forwards and then something pushing her away before she hit the hard concert ground.

"I told you I don't like people hurting my girl and I don't like it when someone says no to me. This is usually the punishment they get for that. An old saying says live and learn but I've made up my own for you. Learn and die". They were the last words that Sora heard before died. Now she understood why she had looked at her room, family and house before leaving this morning; she knew that something like this would happen.

Luineraugwen: Yay new chapter finished. It took me awhile but I suddenly had an urge to write this story because I'm a little sick of all my others. Was anyone expecting that? Read and Review. PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!