A/N: I am soooooooo sorry everyone! I've just finished my GCSEs (translation: LIFE DECIDING exams) and this chapter has been waiting on my laptop for it's final draft for ages. It's pretty long by my standards and I hope everyone likes it! Thanks for all the reviews, I was especially entertained by my most faithful reviewer's mini play (btw, why did you change your name?).

I'm off to Amsterdam for the week (yadda, yadda, Red Light, yadda, District). Please review cos I love nothing more than hearing from all you guys!

Silver Sanity

Chapter 5 - Maybes and Wanderings

Haku rose from his bed. The strange dream had disturbed him more than he cared to admit. Not that he hadn't dreamed of her before, for months after she had left, she remained within his subconscious, visiting him every night. But as the time had passed and hope had withered, the dreams had died out along with any emotion he had once felt.

This dream was different, so vivid and stange. And he had seen an older Chihiro. In the past he had been unable to conjure up any image of her but the ten year old girl he had known. But he had always felt sure she would be beautiful because it was impossible for the loveliness within her not to shine through.

Haku cursed at himself. He wanted to forget, he had buried these emotions long ago and now he was just going to allow some stupid dream to dig them all up?

He moved to the balcony, pushing aside the long drapes and allowing the morning breeze to wash over him. It was a clear warm day, the blue sky dotted with puffs of fluffy white cloud. He surveyed the Aburaya below him, drinking in the stillness of the morning as he attempted to clear his head.

It was then that he saw her.

She stood before the bridge, looking up at the building with wonderment. She looked exactly as she had in the dream and as the breeze combed through her hair, panic seized Haku.

She had returned. He had not planned for this. Why would she return? Surely she understood the danger involved in doing so? Yubaba would not stand back and allow her to escape again. Haku gulped as his thoughts wandered to Yubaba. What would she do if she found Chihiro here? The prospect was unbearable.

But what should he do? The little voice that remained within his cold heart begged him to run to her, to gather her up in his arms and never release her. But that voice was drowned out by the voice of reason, of practicality.

He was fast to find her, summoning his magic to get to the dormitory quickly. Now he slid the door open and searched for her in the sea of sleeping bags.

"Lin? Lin!" He hissed, his eyes darting about the room.

A sleep tousled head of long brown hair rose and Lin's sleepy eyes fell upon Haku.

"You!" She cried, angrily. "What do you want? It's still morning for goodness sake!"

"I need to talk to you," he answered, aware of the others listening, intently. He looked back at Lin's outraged face. "Please," he added, pleadingly.

She got up, slowly, and hopped over the sleeping bags, narrowing her eyes, suspiciously.

"What is it?" she snapped as he drew the door shut.

It was clear she was still angry with him. And she had every right to be, he argued with himself. He had been arrogant and nasty when all she had been was concerned. Why should she help him?

"Lin, I'm sorry for being such an idiot, but right now I really need your help," he paused, taking her arm and pulling her away from the door. "It's Sen, she's here."

Haku peered through the glass of the main door. She was still there, now sitting upon the wooden steps that led up to the bridge. He bit his lip as a whirl of emotion hit him. He'd been striving to shake off these feelings erupting within him. If she had to leave, his heart might break all over again, it was vital that he stayed strong.

"Wow, she's gotten so tall! And her hair is so long," Lin whispered, fondly, upon seeing her. "Why is she dressed like that?"

Haku's eyes drifted to her attire and his eyebrows raised.

"I'm not sure," he mumbled, pulling a face before he snapped back to the task at hand. "Lin, I need you to bring her into the batthouse. If she wanders off, who knows what might happen to her."

"No kidding," Lin replied, sarcastically. "Why do I have to do it? Why couldn't you have brought her in here?" She yawned, widely, "And saved waking me up."

"I need to call Zeniba, she's the only one who can decide what we must do. Bring her to Yubaba's office, we'll sort the rest."

Lin nodded, the desperation in his glittering eyes cutting off any thought of protest.

Chihiro was beginning to feel the full impact of how foolish she had been. Only children wandered into unknown places and children ended up lost, which was exactly what she was.

However, she could not deny that this place was beautiful, like the villages out of brightly coloured storybooks she had read as a child. In these stories a beautiful Princess would be rescued by a roguish boy who would eventually become the handsome Prince. But this was no story. Chihiro was certainly not looking beautiful as her face was dusty, her hair knotty and her eyes aching with exhaustion. And there was not a soul in sight, lest a roguish boy who might save her and take her home.

She was trying to clear her thoughts and assure herself that she would be okay, when a person slid into view. She turned her head to find the step occupied by someone else.

"I never believed I would see you again."

Chihiro was busy studying the woman. She was slightly beyond her in years, but her young features did not match the wisdom of her dark eyes. The words of the woman washed over her a moment later.

"I'm sorry, I don't think we've met before."

The woman did not look upset that she had mistaken Chihiro for someone else. Her eyes clouded with disappointment and, despite not knowing the woman, Chihiro felt as though she had failed her in some way.

"I really am sorry," Chihiro stammered, nervously, "but could you tell me where I am? You see, I sort of wandered away from the path I was supposed to take."

"You certainly did."

The woman was right, that was a lie. She hadn't simply wandered, she had been drawn to this place by some unknown force. Maybe it was curiosity about Cain, maybe it was because she was so tired.

'No,' she told herself, firmly. 'It was something else.'

"Maybe you should come inside," The woman offered, gently.

Chihiro should possibly have been wary of this offer. She didn't even know the woman's name and she was in a place completely alien to each of her senses. But that force had returned, whispering to her soul, urging her to trust the woman.

Lin sensed Chihiro's hesitance and looked into her young eyes.

"My name is Lin, by the way."

"Chihiro," Chihiro reciprocated, softly.

Lin's eyes widened at the sound of the name. The girl who she had always known as Sen, now transformed before her eyes. No longer ten years old, no longer immature and childish. A young woman, modest and poised. Chihiro.

"Zeniba, you told me this could not happen," Haku spoke, almost pleadingly.

Zeniba placed her hand upon her chin, in a calm, thoughtful gesture. "I didn't believe it was possible. No human has ever returned to the Spirit World," Zeniba answered, glancing around the office with a look of distaste. "Still, I forgot to take into account that this girl is no ordinary human."

"What is to be done? If Yubaba finds out-"

"Yubaba shall not harm her!" Zeniba roared, her eyes blazing, threateningly. A moment later her expression was of motherly concern once more. "Haku, sit down, you're looking very pale."

Haku slumped into a winged armchair as Zeniba raised her head.

"Lin is bringing her here."

Haku's eyes widened.

"I cannot see her," he choked.

"Oh, don't be so silly. You must see her, it is you that has brought her here."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Haku snapped, getting to his feet. "She came here of her own accord."

Zeniba rolled her eyes. "Sit."

"I did not bring her here, I would not lead her into danger." The words slipped from his mouth before he could catch them. Zeniba flashed a smile.

"I know."

Haku sighed. He had always been told that love was selfish, but he disagreed. If love was selfish, he would have stopped her from leaving. He felt the sudden warmth within his heart being attacked by cold, angry thoughts. What did he know about love? How could anyone so dead inside know how to love? It was not love, it could not be love that he felt stirring his soul.

"We should send her home, there is still time."

"Haku, she has returned for a reason, you cannot ignore that."

"Try me," he muttered, darkly, as the door opened.

Lin stepped over the threshold, followed by Chihiro. Zeniba smiled, warmly, at the girl, but Haku looked away, afraid of risking seeing her so close.

"Hello my dear," Zeniba greeted, "you look exhausted, do sit down."

"Thankyou," she answered, trying not to stare at the elderly woman.

"This girl appears to be lost," Lin spoke up, hinting at the piercing truth.

Zeniba nodded, her smile not even flickering.

"You don't know where you are?" Zeniba verified, gently.

"No, not really," Chihiro answered, her voice wavering.

Her words struck Haku like a dagger in his side. She did not remember. She did not know him. All his longing and she had felt nothing. He was nothing, no-one to her.

"My name is Zeniba and you are Chihiro, I believe."

Chihiro nodded, her wariness flaring once more.

"Well, my dear, you do look exhausted. It's probably best you get some sleep before we discuss how to get you home. You've wandered quite a long way," Zeniba told her. "Haku, please take Chihiro to a room. Lin, you should probably return to your quarters."

Chihiro eyes were diverted to the corner of the room as a young man she had not noticed, rose to his feet. He was impossibly handsome and she was immediately captivated by his olive green eyes that fell upon her. Unlike Cain who was so confident and self-assured, this boy was awkward and adorably unaware of his good looks. Chihiro was startled out of her gaze by Zeniba's voice.

"Follow Haku and get some rest. We shall speak again later."

Chihiro stood and bowed, respectfully, before Zeniba. Haku did not wait at the door and Chihiro had to sprint to reach the elevator before the doors closed, barely missing the tips of her long hair. Haku looked down at his feet as the elevator jerked to life.

"You look tired too, I'm really sorry to have disturbed everyone," Chihiro apologised as Haku stifled a yawn.

He was unsure of how to reply. She was so different. Because he had no contact with humans, it shocked him how much they changed through growing up. Some things stayed the same, though, he realised. Chihiro was still so caring, so innocent.

"Why are you dressed like that?" he asked, daring to look at her.

She blushed crimson and tugged, nervously, at her dress.

"Oh, there was this dance, at my school. For Halloween."

The words were alien to the River Spirit, but he assumed the dance was what had coloured his dream. The doors opened, allowing Haku an escape from the uncomfortable silence. His heart clenched as he realised that the only empty chamber was next to his own. He walked quickly down the familiar corridor, Chihiro wandering behind him, her eyes sweeping over the new surroundings.

"In here," Haku grunted, holding the door open and shaking Chihiro from her state of awe.

"Thankyou Haku," she said, softly, on entering the room.

He was gone in a flash, leaving her to look around. The room was as beautiful as the village that lay beyond the balcony. A four poster bed and a dressing table with a mirror that reflected the sunlight snaking in through the billowing white curtains were the only items of furniture in the room, but it still managed to seem full and inviting. Chihiro sank into the pillows piled at the head of the bed, a worry about her parents being overpowered by a feeling of sleepy contentment at finally being able to rest.

Haku fled to his room. It was there that he was given the chance to assess the morning's events. She was here, she had returned to him, but she didn't even remember him. Had he meant so little to her that she had found it so easy to erase him from her memory? Maybe he had simply willed himself into believing she had felt anything for him, that anyone could ever feel anything for him.

The harsh pain that came with this conclusion made him feel angry and frustrated.

"She wont do it again," he swore under his breath, "I wont love her again."