A/N: I'm glad there are readers. I believe I'll have to delete 'Evil Cupids Inc.', no-one's reading it and it's taking up web space. So…yeah. Here you go. Chapter two. It's still Sarai's POV.

Disclaimer: I own the crazy plot, the basic storyline and Kana, but don't sue me cause I'm not saying I own Spirited Away. Stupid lawyers.


Chapter Two

He pushed me off, and I saw shadows rising. I hear wind, and laughter, and music. I see more shadows. I am scared.

So I run.

I run faster and faster, and I try to assure myself that I won't die. I've almost convinced myself, until this giant green shadow pops up in front of me. It has a white mask with pink cheeks and tiny slit black eyes. It grins at me with its big red mouth, and it says, "Soooo…little Sen is back, aye? She's back? Ain't s'pposed te happen, aye? Why're ye back, child? Ain't good fer ya here, aye. Ye's a human, aye, ye is." I scream. It leans over, and it looks like it's going to eat me. "Bah! What's dis, aye? Ye ain't Sen. Who's ye, eh, who's ye? Why's ye here, aye? Me wonders, why's human girlie here?" I scream again, and made a mad dash around the thing. I run even faster. Who is this 'Sen?' What does that…thing…mean?

I descend the steps to the grasslands, and-"Ah! There's water!" I quickly ascend the steps again, scooping water with my hands. They flow through. Wait, they flow through? "Ah!" I lift my hands up to my face. I see a light-spangled boat. Wait, aren't my hands supposed to block the scene? I finally realized. "I'm disappearing!" Paper masks exit the doors, gaining red-robed bodies. I run and hide behind a large wall. Now I'm really freaked out. I'm disappearing. I huddle, hoping warmth would help my body regain shape. But there is no warmth. I'm ice-cold. I think I've failed Chihiro since I'm going to disappear here. And I do the one thing I swore never to do again:

I cried.


Haku's P.O.V.

I walked back to the bathhouse, quickly notifying Yubaba of the new arrival. Then I sat in my room, waiting for the right time to go save the girl. I heard the door slide open. "Hello," came the cheerful voice of none other than Kana. "So. Who's the new girl?" I shrugged. "Come on. You're supposed to know." I sighed. "Well, she's wearing the same clothes as Chihiro did, and looks exactly like her except paler. She has black hair, and her eyes are bluish-gray." Kana's head snapped up. "What?" she asked, and then said, "Say that again." "Okay. She's wearing the same clothes as Chihiro did, and looks exactly like her except paler." Kana nodded. "Keep going." "She has black hair, and her eyes are bluish-gray." Kana smirked. "Well, Haku, sounds like anyone we know?" "No." Kana slapped her head. "Come on, are you stupid?" I shook my head. "We don't know Sarai. We've seen her. She hasn't seen us." "You know what I meant!" "Okay, okay. Don't bite my head off. I got to go."

I found the girl huddled exactly where Chihiro did. Strange. Usually they go screaming back to the bathhouse instead of sitting there like Chihiro and Sarai do. I'm finding this a bit strange…but I go to her anyways. I put an arm around her shoulders. She turns around and set her blue eyes on me. Her cheeks are wet. She's trembling. And, of course, disappearing. "Here." I handed her a berry. "It'll keep you from disappearing. Eat it." She opened her mouth, and I popped it in. I was amused. Most would put up a fight, even Chihiro did. Was this one desperate enough that she didn't care? She looked down and put her arms around her legs. I put out a hand. "Are you okay?" She nodded hesitantly. "I…I think so." "Did anyone come here with you?" "I…no." I watched her silently. "Come on. We have to get you somewhere safe." She nodded and stood. Wait, she stood? What was this? She wasn't supposed to be able to stand.

I heard a squawk. Yu-bird was here. I pulled her down again, hiding her from view. Instead of squirming, she pressed her face into my chest, and I felt wetness and warmth spread about my body. She was crying. I looked down at her. She looked up. "I'm-I'm sorry." She pulled away. I shook my head. "No, it's okay." I looked up. Yu-bird was still there. What was the thing's problem? Sarai tried to stand up. I pulled her down and pressed her against the wall, covering her with my body. "You see that bird?" she nodded. "If it sees you, you're dead." Okay, okay. That's not my line, but hey, Kana and I like to add a little spice to our parts. Suddenly my eyes widened. I know why Yu-bird was still there. It had to do rounds for someone else…I looked across the grass to Kana, who was watching me uncertainly. Haku, leave already. This guy's waiting.

Well, sorry Kana, but if the bird's still there, I can't leave.

It seems the thing finally got the point, and swooped nearer to Kana so that we couldn't see it but they could. I grabbed Sarai and ran for it.

We arrived at the bridge soon enough. "Don't breathe when we go over the bridge. If someone sees you, well…" I let her imagination go through all the wonderfully unpleasant things it could think of. Her eyes squeezed shut. "It's okay, I'll protect you." I blurted. Now why did I say that? We neared the bridge. "Take a deep breath…hold it." I'd gone too off line, so I'll just stick to the old script now. We almost got it, when that stupid frog jumped at us again. "Master Haku! You're back!" Sarai's eyes widened and she covered her nose, but not fast enough. As always. "Hmm? A human!?!" I sealed it in a time bubble and grabbed Sarai around the waist, speeding parallel with the ground through the waiting Yuna. They giggled, thinking I was trying to look up their skirts. Disgusting. I opened the garden gate and rushed her in, following her myself. I closed the door and led her to the back of the bathhouse. I waited.

Kana. The bridge.

You're done?

Yep. The frog'll be conscious again in three.

Are you sure? Can you get Sarai out of there fast?

I'll try my best. I'll call you when I'm ready. 'Kay?

'Kay. I'm leaving!

Loud noises and 'Master Haku!' were distinctly heard. I turned back to the girl, and found she looked once again tough and unfeeling as she did when I first saw her. That was my act! But when she saw me look at her, her face softened. "What am I going to do?" she whispered to no one in particular. I smiled reassuringly. "Listen." I put a finger to her forehead. "When things quiet down a bit, go out the back door and down all the steps. Soon you'll reach the boiler room. Ask for Kamaji, the boiler man. Ask him for a job." "Kamaji? Job? Why?" she asked, her eyes discreetly blank. "If you don't get a job, you'll never survive here. Trust me." She nodded. "MASTER HAKU!" I sighed, and stood up, finally realizing I had never let go of her since we entered the garden. "Good-bye for now. And remember: I am your friend." She nodded again. I smiled and walked off, taking off my sandals as I did so. Aniyaku walked up to me. "Master Haku, Yubaba wants to talk to you." Nod. "Is it about my mission?" Nod. "Great." He winked, and walked off.

"So. Who is it this time? " I turned from my position at the window. I watched as Sarai calmly-calmly, for goodness sake-descended the weak, creaky, narrow, high wooden stairs. "It's Chihiro's cousin." "Chihiro?" "Sen." "Ah. Where is Kana?" I watched her curiously. "She's got one too. Didn't she tell you?" Yubaba looked at me in surprise. "No. She went to go watch you and set off Yu-bird." I left the window as Sarai disappeared. "Well, I saw her at the shore too. I was wondering why Yu-bird rounded five times before me, then I saw Kana with some guy." "Oh really?" Yubaba smirked. She looked into a crystal ball in front of her. "My, my, your little girl is doing very well indeed…" I walked over and peered inside. I saw Sarai lift the coal and walk over to the furnace unhesitant, and threw it in, running back to Kamaji. "What do I do now?" she asked. Kamaji watched her as the Susuwatari began to drop coal on themselves. "Hey, you runts! You want to turn back into soot!? And you, back off. You can't just take someone else's job. If they don't work, the spell wears off and they turn back into soot. There's no work for you here, got it? Try somewhere else." Kamaji frowned at her as the Susuwatari gave squeaks of complaint. "You soot balls have a problem? NOW GET BACK TO WORK!!!" "Chow time!" Lin entered. Her lines were said, then Kamaji gave her the newt, and they left.

Kana, get the guy's butt in there.

We've been here for the past ten minutes, Haku, are you sure?

Yep.

Good grief.

I resumed my place at the window. Sure enough, an approximately fifteen-year-old boy quickly made his way down the stairs. He looks pretty familiar…black hair, pale skin, bluish eyes…"Uh-oh." Yubaba looked at me. "What?" "Kana's guy. He looks exactly like-" My head snapped up an I left the room swiftly as the knocker was heard. "Come in." A few hesitant steps were heard, then more. Soon enough I saw Sarai from my perch behind my curtain. Yubaba looked surprised, since usually they didn't knock, but it was gone as soon as it was there.

The Kashira 'OI'-ed their way to her. She fell over and they bounced around her. I looked up to see Yubaba recording some random nonsense. "Quiet down, you're making a racket." The Kashira obediently rolled away.

Sarai stood up, watching Yubaba without saying anything, which I believe freaked her out quite a bit. "What do you want?" she snapped. "I would like a job. Now." It wasn't a request but a demand. Yubaba looked up and sealed her lips. "I don't want to hear such a stupid request. You're just a stinking, useless weakling." She paused, putting one of her bags of gold, jewels or pure cash into her little, red, jeweled box. "And," she continued, "This is certainly no place for humans. It's a bathhouse for the spirits. It's where they come to rest and replenish themselves." Kana arrived silently and sat beside me, mouthing the exact words Yubaba was saying. "And you humans always make a mess of things. You get what you deserve. You should be punished." Yubaba stuck her lit cigarette into her mouth. "You could be a piglet, or maybe you'd prefer a lump of coal." Kana watched Sarai. Haku, she's not scared. I nodded. I know. "I can see you shaking. Actually, I'm impressed you made it this far. But I'm sure you didn't do it on your own. Let's thank whoever helped you. Just who was it, dear?" Yubaba unzipped Sarai's lips. "Why don't you tell me?" Kana looked at me. She's smirking. I looked at Sarai to find that she was, indeed, smirking.

"I'm not shaking." This, I could tell, unnerved Yubaba quite a bit. Perhaps Boh wasn't needed this time. She continued staring at Yubaba until the witch finally gave up on her lines and snapped, "So, you want a job?" "No, ma'am, I demanded one." Yubaba growled. "Maybe I'll give you the most difficult job I've got…and work you 'till you breathe your very last breath." This didn't unnerve Sarai. She continued watching Yubaba-and smirking. "Maybe I'll make you Lin's assistant…" Still no reaction. "That's it then." She finally replied, "I'll do that." Yubaba sighed. She wove her hand and a contract and a pen floated over to Sarai. "Sign your name away, and I'll put you to work." She picked up the pen, leaned on the fireplace and signed. She's good. They don't do that, though…I nodded in agreement. Surely, this wasn't supposed to happen. "Are you done yet?" Sarai nodded, and handed the sheet to the air. It floated to Yubaba. "So your name's Ogino Tomika Sarai, is it?" Nod. "What a pretty name. And it belongs to me now." The letters grabbed on to Yubaba's palm. "From now on, your name is 'Mikai'. You got that? Answer me, Mikai." "Yes, ma'am." I stood up and stepped over Kana out into the open. "You called for me?" Sarai's head whipped around to watch me. Haku? Yubaba's losing her cool. Get her out of there. Quick. I heard Kana's voice inside my head. "This girl signed a contract. Set her up with a job." So Kana cared, too…"Right." I turned to her. "What's your name?" I asked coldly. She looked at me with fear and confusion in her eyes. "Oh, what? Sara-oh…it's 'Mikai." "Okay, Mikai…" I rolled the name around my mouth. It didn't sound right, or suit her. "Follow me."

I believe we left just as Kana's guy stumbled in.


Kana's P.O.V.

I watched as Haku and Sarai-or Mikai, whatever- left the room. Then I heard the nasty voice of the doorknocker. "Aren't you even going to knock? You're the most pathetic guy I've ever seen." Pathetic? Torokito? Is it kidding? I mean, come on, the guy forced his way through the barrier to get his little sister, and he ran down those stairs unthinkingly. Good grief, Torokito might be lacking in manners, but he's anything except pathetic. "Come in." Nothing. "I said come-" "Alright, alright, I'm coming, can't I even tie my shoe here?" I suppressed laughter.

Yubaba's face twisted in annoyance when she saw Torokito. 'Kana, what the HELL were you thinking? That girl was bad enough, now you bring me her male clone?' Torokito brushed strands of black hair from his face, revealing two azure-blue eyes. Yubaba promptly cringed. 'I don't like the looks of him. In your wise words, Kana, good grief! Should I let him off easy?'

Sure.

She watched the boy for a minute, decided to listen to me and waved her hand. A contract and pen somersaulted over. Torokito looked at her, as if expecting it to be a trick. "Do you want the job or not?" she snapped. He took the pen and scribbled his name roughly on the blank. "Done?" "Yep." The paper danced over. "Ogino Torokito. Oh great." She grabbed at the letters. "From now on your name is Toro." The boy smirked. "What's so funny?" "Everybody already calls me Toro."

"All the better. And if I hear one little complaint from you, you'll be living in the pigpen. Got that?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Good."

"Ma'am?"

"What do you want now?" Yubaba glared at him, and I knew that if Torokito-or Toro, whatever-pissed her off any further, she'd become a fire-breathing monster and promptly squash him with her foot. "Where is my sister?" "How should I know?" Yubaba's eyes began to glow and I knew I should step in now.

"You called for me?"

I watched as Toro looked at me amusedly. Yubaba mentally thanked me. "This boy signed a contract. Set him up with a job." And set it far, far away from Mikai and Lin, got that? I nodded. "Right." I turned to him just as Haku had dome Sarai a few moments ago. "What's your name?" He watched me for a second, and then muttered, "Toro." "'Kay then, Toro, follow me."

When we reached the elevator, he tried to make conversation. "So, Kana-" "Don't talk to me. And address me as Miss Kana." He blinked, then turned away as we made our way to the front desk…


A/N: So…Toro enters the scene? What job does he get, and how would his arrival affect the entire bathhouse? What if Lin slips up accidentally? What will happen when Mikai-or Sarai, whatever-decides that Lin must know something? To be continued…

Good grief, I sound like some stupid Dragon Ball Z narrarator. But my own style mixes with Kana's…I can almost picture being her. I almost pity Yubaba…key word 'almost'. Well, tell me what you think, cause this stupid thing's seven pages long. So…till next time, ta!