Disclaimer: I only own Audra and Bade…woot.

A/n: Replying to reviews:

Tippy-chan- Well, seeing the face Chihiro made in the movie gives that obvious idea. Well, my chapters normally start out short, then they lengthen…I just won't make as many cliffhangers. It will take longer now, mind you. Oh, just wait, you'll find out soon. ;)

ZimXGir- Heh, me too. XD

Flamegoddesthe9th- And this chapter totally goes against your review! I doubt the others will be as long as this one though.

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The boy dragged Audra along, quickening with each step toward the bath house.

Question loomed in any air around Audra. She already had ten questions that she planned to get answered, not matter how long she would be in this…place.

"Sorry to interrupt the moment, but-" The two made a sharp turn "-I was never told your name-" They were now in a jog "-and I do think you should at least tell me."

The boy brought them to an unexpected stop. They were again by the bridge. Now the bridge looked absolutely mesmerizing. Creatures of all kind floated, shuffled, and meandered across in a large mass.

"We have to cross." said the boy, totally ignoring the question.

"What? No way. I'm not crossing until I know what I'm crossing with." Audra released her loose grip on his hand, and backed away.

"They're…they're, well, spirits." The boy grabbed her elbow. "And if you wanna get out of here, you're gonna have to walk next to a spirit."

"Those can't be spirits! Spirits float around and make moaning noises!" Audra yanked her arm away, and stared fearfully at the bridge.

"Believe me." The boy held out his hand to Audra. His eyes had the most promising spark.

"Oh…okay." Audra again took his hand, but gripped it a bit tighter, feeling that he was more trustworthy. "But, you could at least give me your name!" she added on sharply.

"Call me Bade." he said.

"Bade…" Audra let it roll off her tongue, "Wait, I think-"

"Let's go." Audra was cut-off, and soon walked side-by-side with Bade. "Okay, you have to hold your breath when we cross the bridge. The tiniest breath will make you visible to the rest of the Spirits."

"And I only have to do this across the bridge?"

"Yes."

"That makes no sense."

"Just listen." Bade came onto the cement walk way, and headed for the bridge.

"Okay, when I say three, take deep breath, and hold it."

Audra nodded, and tightened her grip on Bade's hand.

"One…two…three."

Audra took a great inhale. She held it, feeling her lungs crunch as time passed.

Why are we walking? It seemed much more reasonable to run and get across soon.

"Hold it, only a few more inches…" Bade reassured Audra, whom was turning pink. Just 3 steps before they came off the bridge, a little frog came hopping in front of Bade. It looked aged, and wrinkled.

Audra's last seconds were wasted. She took a gasp for air.

"Master-WHA?"

"RUN!" Bade took a long step forward, shoving the frog to the side.

"SORRY!" Audra stumbled along after the sprinting Bade. He tripped over his own feet, and fell forward into a patch of grass.

"Oww…"

"You don't have very good balance, you know." Audra said, flat on the ground.

"I'm aware of my flaws, thank you very much." Bade pushed himself up with his arms, then brought Audra up, quickly thrusting her behind a bush.

"A HUMAN?" was heard from the building, along with more commotion.

"They know you're here. Curse that frog…" Bade glared toward the bridge.

"Sorry, I didn't hold my breath."

"No, it's okay. I don't think it would've mattered anyway…"

"What?"

"Ignore me. If you want to survive, you have to get a job, and ignore me."

"A job?"

"You have to work to live here. It's the only way."

"But-"

"No more arguing. Let me give you directions."

Well, he's nice. Audra folded her arms, and rolled her eyes.

"Memorize what I say. You have to go right from here, be careful. You'll find stairs lined up on the wall of the bathhouse. Go down those, and you'll find the boiler room through a door. You will also find Kamaji. Ask him for job."

"Kamaji?"

"Listen. He'll trick you into leaving. Don't fall for it. I have to go."

Bade came out from behind the bush, toward the door of the building.

"Master-"

"I'm coming!"

Audra sat there for bit, running all that Bade had just told her through her head. She really would rather not move, but knew if she wanted to make it through, she would have to.

She squirmed out from behind the brush on her stomach, making sure she was well past the windows of the bathhouse.

She went into a crawl on all fours, and came around a corner.

"Oh, great." The stairs stood before her, a true nightmare. They seemed just like one, a thin cord leading down to a possible fate, nothing but a wall, and water.

Audra scooted over, putting a bit of weight on the first step. It gave a threatening groan.

"Oooh…" Audra knew that if she put all her weight on each step, one would eventually give way. Only one way to do it.

She stood up, and took an extensive leap, skipping a great number of steps at a time. She was shaking terribly, and lost her balance once, having to regain herself with the wall.

Finally, she came to the last few steps, skipping over them also, and landing on hard ground.

"Thank God…" Audra gave a sigh of relief, her palms sweaty, and still shaking.

The nightmare wasn't over. Like Bade had said, there was a door. It was large, and metal. Audra could see her terrified reflection. Her curls were frizzed, and her cobalt eyes were blood-shot already.

Not wanting to look at herself any longer, she opened the door, staring into a long, dark hallway, filled with steaming devices.

"Great, another tunnel." Audra mumbled to herself, taking a step in. Being more confident, she went smoothly, and strolled right into the room. Soon regretting it.

An old man with a gray mustache that resembled one of a walrus', spun a wheel, mixing some kind of herbal looking combination in a bowl.

The thing that scared Audra half to death was his arms. She couldn't even count them. A new one seemed to add every time he reached for something.

Then she noticed the floor. Little tufts of black with slender legs carried coal to a furnace of some sort.

Audra gave a small squeal of uncertainty.

"Huh?" The man turned his gaze to her.

Audra jumped back. "Uh, I…I-" Audra stuttered, and gathered up all her courage, "-I need a job! And I'm not leaving until you give me one! Don't even expect me to take a step near that door!"

"Sure, you can start tomorrow." The old man, which Audra had guessed was Kamaji, extended his arm, and opened a drawer.

"You're not gonna trick me? You're not gonna refuse?"

"No, no…" Kamaji chuckled, "There is a prophecy to be fulfilled."

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A/n: Uh…about lessening cliffhangers…I'll just lengthen the chapter XD