Hiya! Wow, I'm at chapter three already...I had no idea that I would ever get this far! This is all thanks to you wonderful reviewers:

Kute Anime Kitty: I promise I will update all my fics. The thing is I am an academic so most of my time is dedicated to homework no matter how much I hate it. I promise that I am working on Ice Meets Wind but I can't seem to get the mood right so it's taking an eternity.

Dark Angel: I'm very glad you like it!

There are my two wonderful reviewers for the second chapter! Now, on with the rest of the fic.

Bath House of Spirits Ch. 3: Long-Forgotten Memories

Sliding the wooden door shut behind him, Kurama crawled through the small tunnel on the other side. The tunnel was very small and very short, a tight fit but Kurama somehow managed it. At the other end this scrawny excuse for a tunnel was a room full of lifts (A/N: I'd like to say elevators, but it doesn't quite fit). Each lift went up to a certain level and then, apparently, the riders must change lifts if they wanted to go up higher. This would prove to be a problem if Kurama wanted to get to the top level without being noticed.

Drawing his eyes down from the multi-leveled lift system, Kurama looked around the floor he was currently standing on. This was obviously the ground floor of the whole Bath House due to the fact no slugs or frogs were around and boxes of various age were strewn everywhere. Hiding down here would be a cinch, especially if that person hiding is a thief extraordinaire. Slowly walking into the center of the lift-room, Kurama spotted only one that went from the ground-level up to about mid-level. This on had it's doors opened and seemed to be waiting for someone.

"Aha!"

The cry came out from behind Kurama near the anorexic tunnel. Whipping around, he saw a slug standing in the shadows.

"I thought I heard a new voice in Kumagi's boiler room!" the slug cried triumphantly, walking out of the shadows and moving right in front of Kurama.

Kurama observed that this slug was more human-like than the ones he had seen up on the bridge. She was taller than those short, fat things he had seen, almost as tall as he was. Her eyes were not little black dots but wide and a brownish-blue. The eyebrows had shrunk to the standard slug-dots, but other than that she looked human. This slug was wearing the pink pants and shirt of an underling worker. In other words, she was lower in status than the well-dressed ones greeting spirits and gods on the bridge.

Without warning, the slug grabbed Kurama's chin and pulled it down to her level. "My, my. You are a cute one. Than again, your voice told me that you had to be good-looking. What a waste. To execute such a handsome young boy, normally I wouldn't stand for it."

eye's widening, Kurama said quickly, "You won't turn me in, will you?"

"Give me one reason why I shouldn't." Smirking, she let go of his chin and began walking around him. "It would mean a pay raise for me if I bring you in."

"Umm..." Kurama, for once in his life, couldn't think of a thing to say.

"You know what?" The slug said reluctantly as she continued to circle Kurama, "I have never seen a human, or any other creature for that matter, quite as handsome as you. Must be some rare breeding in you. Now that I've gotten a good look at you, I'd rather keep you all to myself."

Reaching into his pocket, Kurama rummaged around for anything he could offer her. Finding nothing, he took a gold chain bracelet off his wrist and held it out to her. when she didn't see it at first, he grabbed the back of her shirt and dangled it in her face.

"Gold?! Give it!" She reached out to snatch it but Kurama quickly slipped it back on his wrist in one swift motion.

"Greedy, greedy. I figured," sighed Kurama and let go of her shirt. "Take me to Yubaba and this bracelet shall be yours."

"I'll do whatever you say!!" The slug seemed very eager to help now at the thought of getting gold. "I am Lin, at your service!"

"Great. Now, (Lin, was it?) take me to see Yubaba. I must see her tonight."

"Follow me." Lin turned and headed to the lift with it's doors open and stepped into it. "Hurry up!" she gestured wildly at Kurama top move into the lift next to her. Obliging her, he stood in the lift. "Going up. we'll have to change lifts only once."

"The least amount of visibility, the better," Kurama muttered. Some light began to filter over his face a few seconds into the ride. Glad for something to look at besides walls, he turned his head and peered through the slats on one end of the lift. It was difficult for him to see, but he managed to make out that the light was coming from lamps scattered on the floor below. As the lift rose higher, he managed to make out the entire bathing area.

Scattered all over the floor were little cubicles with a bath in each one. The occupants of the baths were being care for by the slugs and frogs, most of which scurried from place to place gathering towels and soap and things along those lines. At the moment, all the baths were full. Looking carefully at their faces, Kurama tried to recognize anyone he could possibly know. He was concentrating so hard on their faces he failed to notice the lift stop.

"Move it!" Lin hissed, grabbing the back of his coat and dragging him out onto the busy floor. "Don't; stay in the lift for too long once it stops, you'll be discovered faster!"

"Stop dragging me, I can walk on my own!" Kurama wretched himself out of Lin's grasp and straightened out his jacket. Glaring at Lin, he began walking in the general direction of the nearest lift.

"where are you going?"

"There's a lift around here that goes up."

"How do you know that?" Lin asked, dumbfounded.

Kurama stopped in mid-step. how did he know where to go? Patrons are normally led by slugs, so they truly are helpless without a guide. Kurama wasn't a regular who gained the privilege of learning his way around, so how did he know that a lift was right around the corner in front of him?

"I-I wish I knew..." Kurama replied softly, turning and seeing a lift on the wall. "This one does go up, but not to the top floor, correct?"

"Y-yes, you're right. There's only one lift on this level that goes to Yubaba, and that one is-"

"-across the bridge," Kurama finished, pointing at the bridge going across the open bathing area. It was just beyond the lift where he had stopped. "You go across the bridge, make a left and keep going until you reach a stairway. Slightly beyond the bottom step of these stairs is the lift that goes straight to the top level."

Lin continued to look at him, struck dumb. She was so shocked that she nearly dropped the bundle she was carrying. Fumbling for it, she managed to secure the bundle in her hands before it crashed on the floor. Looking blankly at it, a dawn of understanding spread across her face, soon replaced by panic. "I forgot to give Kumagi his food! He's going to kill me!!""

Turing on her heel, Lin took off for the lift leading to the ground level. Calling out over her shoulder to Kurama, "if you know the way, go yourself! I won't ask how it is that you know!" And just like that, Kurama was alone.

Starting across the bridge without a guide, Kurama finally got a good look at the inner workings of the Bath House. Ten different levels with so many different activities occurring on each balcony Kurama felt tired just watching them. Looking down at the bathing area, he saw several spirits walking around in their undergarments. Seeing spirits and gods out of their splendor had a profound effect on Kurama. Covering his mouth so none of his laughter could be heard, he ran as fast as he could to the other side of the bridge before he was spotted.

Following his own directions, Kurama ran to the lift that went straight to Yubaba's floor. He knocked several frogs and slugs over in his sprint, but he never stopped. Upon reaching the lift, he shoved all those coming out of it away and slid the door shut. Pulling on the lever to raise the lift to the floor wanted, Kurama allowed his laughter to overtake him. Despite his serious demeanor, seeing gods and spirits in their underwear was just too much for him to take.

His laughter calmed down as the lift approached the top floor. as the doors slid open, Kurama put on his usual expressionless mask and stepped out of the lift. Turning right, he found himself in front of a very large, ornate double door. There was a large knocker positioned so that Kurama had to bend down slightly to reach it comfortably. Seizing it firmly, he swung it as hard as he could at the brass plate. The knock echoed throughout area behind the door.

That is it! Please review. Live for reviews.