(A/n): I like this story… Go déjà vu!

Itchari is a stupid little prep, if you hadn't noticed yet. xD

Enjoy

Chapter Three: Entering the Spirit Realm

Rin, you were bitter at first, but then you helped me…

I choose not to forget this.

"Sen… What's going on…?" Itchari whispered, now clutching onto Sen's arm. "Why is the sun down again? Why is there water here? Sen?"

But Sen wasn't listening. Her mind was slowly coming to a quiet resolve.

She couldn't let anything happen to Hari.

They needed to get into the Bathhouse.

They needed to find Haku.

They needed to eat some of the Spirit's food.

They needed to go… Now!

These were straight facts. Now, so long as they didn't panic….

SCREAM!

"Hari!" Sen cried, whipping around.

"Sen, what the hell is going on here!" Hari asked, eyes so wide you could see white all around. She hadn't come to the resolve of resisting panic.

"You know exactly what's going on here, so straighten out, now!" Sen commanded, keeping the edge of fear out of her voice.

Hari stared at her, then her eyes wandered beyond, and she let out a small gasp. Sen spun around again, knowing what she would be seeing. There was a city across the water. And on the water was a boat. And coming out of the water…

Hari screamed again, grabbing Sen's arm and pulling her away. There were shadow spirits coming out of the water.

"Just a dream, disappear," Sen whispered, her eyes taking on a dreamy haze. She was snapped out of it by Hari, who was now discovering what happened to humans in the spirit realm.

She was staring at her hand… And through it.

"Sen…?" She whispered, fear etched on her features.

"We need to get to Kamajii," Sen stated, "But first we need to get across that bridge. Come on!" Then she took hold of Hari, running back towards the bathhouse. This time, Hari followed without complaint.

Sen took a deep breath, hurrying along the way she had gone last time. As soon as they got to where she had met Haku for the second time, she broke out in a full run. Through the butcher's room, through the pig-pen…

In a moment, they were both leaning against the small fence door next to the bridge, gasping. Hari risked a peek above it, and saw the now crowded bridge, attendants and all. She let out a small whimper, turning away.

Sen was the next one to peek, taking in who the attendants were. Then she saw something that made her heart skip a beat. Could it be possible? There, nearing the fence, was the Radish Spirit. No way, it couldn't be the same one.

"Sen, one of them's coming this way!" Hari breathed, she had been watching, too.

"I know, come on!" Sen replied quietly, moving over to one side, Hari following.

The Radish Spirit, against all odds, came right up to the fence, opened the tiny gate, and squished through.

Sen glanced at Hari, she was already completely transparent. By the look on her face, Sen was see-through, as well.

That was it. The risk of not doing it was greater than the risk of staying here. Sen got up, and walked swiftly over to the huge white spirit.

"Mr. Radish Spirit?" She asked timidly.

The Spirit turned around, looking at her, slight surprise showing in his eyes. Sen clenched her fists, resolve strengthening.

"Um, I was wondering if you could get me and my friend some Spirit-food, Sir!" She cried, though quietly. The large spirited regarded her for a moment, then nodded. Sen smiled, relieved. It must be the same spirit, then.

"Um, thank-you!" She bowed.

The Spirit bowed back, then dug into the teeny bag at his side. Out he pulled a small bag of… Let's not find out what. He handed her some of the sloppy contents, which Sen took with another bow, then ran back to her friend. On the way, she ate some of it, trying not to think about what it could be.

Hari stared at her with wide eyes, and Sen fed her some of the food. Hari's hands weren't solid enough to get her own. In a moment, they could hold their hands together, and they had never felt more solid.

"I'm okay!"

"You see? You're all better!"

"Um, Sen?"

"Yeah, Hari?"

"Um… What now?"

"I'll have to ask the Radish spirit to…uh…Ah!" Sen had turned around, to find the huge … thing, directly behind her.

"Thank-you Mr. Radish Spirit, sir!" Sen cried again. The Radish spirit bowed slightly.

"Um, I was wondering if you could help us get across the bridge, please, Sir!" Sen pleaded.

The spirit stared hard at her for a moment, then pointed a squeaky finger towards the female attendants. Sen followed his gaze, and let out a small gasp. There was Rin!

"Um, could you please get Rin for us, please, Sir?" Sen asked.

The spirit nodded, then slowly walked back to the gate, and through it, and over the bridge…

As soon as he'd gone over the bridge, Sen let out a breath that she didn't know she'd been holding. He went straight over to Rin, and pointed one white finger over to where Sen and Hari sat. Rin glanced over, then did a double take, and nodded at the Radish Spirit, who then went on his way.

Rin glanced around for a moment, then began walking purposely across the bridge. Nobody seemed to look at her, nor care that she was there at all. In another moment she was across, and heading for the fence. As soon as she was around the fence….

"What the freaking hell are you, then?" Came a bitter voice.

"Shut up, Hari!" Sen snapped back at her, then suddenly found herself in Rin's arms.

"Where have you been? Why didn't you come to visit? It's been so long!" Rin cried enthusiastically.

"Um… Hi, Rin," Sen laughed, "D'you know where Haku is?"

"You are always on about Haku, aren't you?" Rin laughed, "He comes by once in a while. He might be around tomorrow, but then, maybe not for months."

"Okay… Um… Rin… I was wonder-"

"Could you two freaks stop reminiscing, already! I don't care who this 'Haku' is. I just want to get home," Hari snapped.

"Oh, right…" Sen muttered, suddenly wishing for all the world that Hari wasn't there, "Rin, this is Itchari… Hari, this is my good friend, Rin."

"Hey there, Itchari," Rin smiled.

"Whatever…" Hari muttered.

"Rin, I was wondering, could we stay with Kamajii tonight?" Sen asked.

"Kamajii…? Oh, sure!" Rin smiled, beckoning them through the fence. She took each of them by the hand, though Hari looked reluctant, and started walking towards the bridge.

"You have to hold your breath," Rin stated, smiling at them both.

Step.

"Take a deep breath…"

Step.

"And hold it!"

And so, the journey across the bridge began. It was slightly less dignified, as Rin hurried through the crowds.

Step.

Hold it in.

Step.

Hold it in.

Step.

Hold it in.

They got all the way across just fine, thanks to the hurried pace. Rin stepped back to her post, while Sen and Hari rushed past her, into the gardens.

There were no people running around, looking for humans.

"No, don't leave me, I don' wanna be alone!"

"Now what do we do, oh princess of the freaks?" Hari smirked.

"Now, we go down the stairs," Sen stated, walking towards the door.


Heh- look at that. 1000+ words on this one. xD

Didja like? O.O