Hey! Thanks to all reviewers :) You guys have given me inspiration to write more... So I hope I've written enough this time! I also want to let you know that I won't be able to update a lot because I've got loads of schoolwork and my Mum doesn't like me spending all my time in front of the computer " So anyhowz... Please enjoy :D

The stench of the pig pen was making her sick. Chihiro was amazed that she had not smelt it the last time she had run through this place. But last time, Haku had held her hand whilst leading her towards the bathhouse at an incredible speed. Held her hand... Was it just a silly 10-year-old thing? When you were kids, holding hands meant nothing more than signs of friendship. Then you pass adolescence and realize that it means something more. Chihiro finally caught sight of the door and ran towards it. She followed the path that led to the gate in front of the bridge. She peered over the gate and glimpsed the spirits- they were all up and running. Chihiro paused for a moment- last time, last time, what had happened? Haku... The last time, Haku had placed a spell on her that resulted in her being invisible to the spirits. Even though she had broken it, she still had had a good start at getting away. At that present moment, Haku was absent and Chihiro was hiding behind a gate, knowing that the spirits could sight her at any moment. She knew her only choice was to run for it- it was no use hiding behind the gate all night long- she couldn't go back to the real world tonight. "Ok Chihiro," she breathed quietly to herself, "On the count of three- one, two, three!" Chihiro burst open the gates and ran as fast as her legs would carry her. To the spirits, the human stench overpowered and they all turned their heads to look at Chihiro. She made a valiant effort to ignore them all and continue running. 'Keep going," she told herself, 'don't give up now,' She was almost at the small entrance at the side of the bathhouse-

"WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?" yelled one of the Aogaeru, "GET HER!" The rest of the Aogaeru dropped their welcome ornaments and began to chase after Chihiro. By this time, Chihiro had already reached the small gate. She crawled quickly through it and slammed it shut behind her. She then stood up and continued to run. By the time she had opened the second gate to the wooden stairway, the Aogaeru had climbed through the small gate. She let out an exasperated yell and quickly closed the gate behind her.

"GO!" she urged herself. She took a deep breath and began to run down the wooden stairway- the same one that she had fallen on and screamed her way down five years ago. Chihiro kept running- the rhythm of her feet were pattering down each step as she went. She then heard the second gate open. Not daring to look back (let alone look down), she urged her feet to go faster.

"Alright! Now you go down and chase her!" she heard one of them say.

"Err... I'm definitely not going down there..."

"Fine! Then you go!"

"Count me out boss." Chihiro smiled- she was going to make it!

She allowed her legs to carry her all the way to the bottom of the stairs. Then the familiarity hit her- it was Kamajii's boiler room! Excited, she opened the green door and stepped inside. She walked past all the boilers that emitted steam and peered around the corner. It was Kamajii! He was working hard as usual- his many arms were flinging in all sorts of directions. She couldn't contain her excitement any longer-

"Kamajii!" she exclaimed as she ran towards him. Kamajii turned around.

"Sen?" he queried, tilting his dark glasses down to see her.

"Kamajii!" Chihiro ran and hugged the old man.

"It is you, Sen!" Kamajii exclaimed, enclosing all his limbs around her. "My, my, you certainly have grown!"

"Thanks Kamajii, so have you!" she joked.

Kamajii laughed, "Yes, I'm getting older aren't I?" Chihiro then felt something tickle her feet.

"Susuwatari!" she exclaimed, looking down at the little black coal. They all smiled and squeaked at her in reply.

"Yes, they have certainly been missing you," said Kamajii kindly, "It seems that they want to take your shoes and socks again."

"Oh," said Chihiro. She carefully took off her shoes and put her socks inside. The Susuwatari gladly carried them into their homes- the cracks inside the walls. Suddenly, the door opened.

"Hey! Dinner time! Kamajii," a female said while closing the door, "You'll never believe this, but another human's broken into the bathhouse! God, I miss that. It only seems like yesterday Sen-"She dropped the basket of Kompeitou (the star-shaped candy) as she stared in amusement.

"SEN?" she exclaimed. The Susuwatari were crowding around her feet- exactly where she had dropped the Kompeitou.

"Yes Rin! It's me!" Chihiro exclaimed. She ran over to Rin and embraced her as though embracing a long lost sister she had almost forgotten.

"Welcome back, kiddo," Rin said, "Kiddo? Nah... you've grown!" Chihiro grinned.

"So... what brings you back here?" Chihiro looked down sadly. Slowly, she opened her mouth and told them as much as she dared to.

"That's what happened?!" Rin yelled angrily, "Boy, if one day I ever get my hands on that father of yours..." she clenched her fists. Kamajii shot her a warning look.

"It's ok, Sen. You're safe here with us. We won't let anyone hurt you," Kamajii comforted. Chihiro allowed him to hold her tightly while she trembled with fear. For her, Kamajii was a second grandfather she had never known before she had turned ten.

"That's not all..." she continued, "Everything's just going wrong..."

"What? Who else has been messing with my poor Sen?" Rin asked.

"It's Haku..." Chihiro closed her eyes, trying to hide her tears.

"What happened?"

"I had a brush with him just then... I... He... Well... I think he's forgotten me." Rin gasped.

"How could that be possible? After you left, he came back with Kamajii and me, and you know what? He couldn't stop talking about you! It was just Chihiro this, Chihiro that- couldn't keep his mouth shut for five seconds straight!" Rin argued, "And then... Yubaaba called for him." At that precise moment, the wooden door opened again.

Chihiro strained her eyes and realized- "Mum?"

The brown-haired woman turned around, "Chihiro?" Chihiro wriggled out of Kamajii's grasp and headed towards the woman she had known all too well.

"Mum!" she cried, holding onto her as though she was merely three years old again.

"Chihiro... You've grown so much! Oh my, I'm so happy to see you again!" Yuuko exclaimed. Chihiro said nothing in response, but simply continued to cry the rivers of tears that were flowing down her face. "Sweetie... I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused you. I've seen everything that your father has done to you. I wish I could've been there to stop him... but..."

"It's ok, Mum. It's not your fault... What are you doing here anyway?" Chihiro asked, looking down at her mother's bathhouse uniform, "Aren't you supposed to be... well?"

"I was called to the bridge after I died. I saw Yubaaba... She was waiting for me. The problem was- she wouldn't let me move on."

"What? Why?" Chihiro asked.

"She told me your story. Your story on how you accidentally came to the Spirit World because of your father and me. As you know, she was extremely angry with you. Because of that, I was refused entry to the after world seeing as I was your mother. She wouldn't give me my bowl of soup." A/N: See footnote

"Mum! How could she do that to you? That's so horrible..."

"That's why I've been working here ever since."

"Don't worry, Mum. I'll get you out of here, I promise." Chihiro said fiercely. But then it sparked- promise... She felt tears coming to her eyes again...

"I didn't come here expecting to find you Chihiro. I actually came here because Yubaaba asked me to fetch the "human" who had broken into the bathhouse. I'm really sorry, Chihiro, but I have to take you to her." Yuuko said wistfully.

"It's ok, Mum. I'll come quietly," Chihiro smiled. She took her mother's hand and they both stepped out of the boiler room. They had a lot of floors to climb.

Footnote: Spirited Away was also based around the religious culture of Buddhism(?). Apparently, when a Buddhist dies, they are sent to the bridge, which symbolizes the gateway between life and death. A soup lady (Yubaaba) gives them a bowl of soup, which if they drink, will erase all memories of their past life and prepare them for the after world. Well, that's what my Mum told me- Thanks Mum!