A.N.: Hey pplz! Sup? NMH...been havin' writers block...again...so if this chapter sucks...forgive me...tests are coming up...damn them!...so many numbers...:rocks back and forth:...they scare me...oh I've no doubt I'll pass the science...it's the Algebra that's got me worried...And for the pplz who will ask...in the English version of Spirited Away...Rin is called Lin...I'm using Rin...so get over it...Oh I'm just rambling..on with da fic...and thanx for da review!
Disclaimer: I own nothing! Nada! Zip! Z-E-R-O!Zero!
Chapter 2: The Arrival
Chihiro looked around in amazement as they walked out of the building. In front of her lay the grassy fields and beautiful blue sky. She smiled to herself as she saw the stream that would turn into a river once night fell.
"It's exactly the same," Chihiro said still gazing upon the majestic fields.
"It seems so doesn't it," Ubaba said.
"Wow," a voice from behind them gasped in awe.
Chihiro and Ubaba quickly turned around to come face-to-face with Alana.
"Alana! What the fuck are you doing here!" Chihiro demanded.
"I followed you," Alana shrugged.
Chihiro looked at Ubaba and whispered, "Is there any way to make her forget?"
"Only if the portal hasn't sealed itself," Ubaba answered.
"I heard that!" Alana piqued up.
"Let's just go," Chihiro muttered accepting Alana's presence.
"Who do you want to see first?" Ubaba asked as they crossed the stream.
"Kamajii...and Rin," Chihiro replied.
"Ok...but who are they?" Alana asked.
"My friends," Chihiro answered.
"That's a lot of help," Alana muttered.
"Chihiro, how do you plan on getting close to Haku?" Ubaba questioned.
"I'm going to change my name and work in the bathhouse," Chihiro explained.
"What's going to be your new name?" Alana asked.
"Mikako," Chihiro replied.
"Child of the new moon? Interesting...," Ubaba said.
"Chihiro? Can I come with you to work at the bathhouse?" Alana asked.
"Sure. What's your new name gonna be?" Chihiro replied.
"Well...," suddenly Alana's eyes lit up, "Yukiko."
"Snow child? Once again...interesting," Ubaba put in.
"What's so interesting about the goddamn names we chose Ubaba!" both girls yelled angrily.
"Nothing," Ubaba replied.
(A.N.: Do any of you kno what foreshadowing is?...thought not...)
Chihiro leads them quickly along the path Haku had led her along when she'd stumbled upon this world before. Until they came to the bridge they were not presented with any problems. Night had fallen and spirits were being welcomed into the bathhouse. Chihiro stopped before they walked into clear sight of anyone wanting to see them.
"Chihiro, why'd you stop?" Alana whispered.
"Look," Chihiro pointed at the uppermost window, where a young man was visible, but just barely.
"Smart move Chihiro. But what do we do now?" Ubaba said.
"Is that toad still here?" CHihiro was focused on the gleam in Haku's eyes.
"Yes, he's right there," Ubaba pointed out the toad.
"Call him over," Chihiro took her eyes off Haku for a split second, but when she looked back he had vanished, "We better hurry."
The toad, as if pulled by magic, walked through the wooden gate and into the garden. He noticed Chihiro and opened his mouth as if to scream, but no sound came out.
"Do you promise not to alert the others?" Ubaba asked and the toad nodded.
"Sen. Is that you?" the toad asked.
"Yes, but while I'm here I'm going by Mikako. Got it?" Chihiro said.
"Uh huh...but why are you here? And who's this other human you brought with you?" the toad rapidly fired questions.
"I'm here to take the spell off Haku and restore the bathhouse to its rightful owner. And this is Alana, but call her Yukiko, okay," Chihiro replied hastily.
"Ok, but what do you want me to do?" the toad asked cautiously.
"Go get Rin and tell her to bring two disguises out her pronto," Chihiro said.
"What about Ubaba?" the toad asked.
"She's be to hard to disguise. Now go on," Chihiro answered.
"Ok, I'm on it," the toad replied heading back to the bathhouse.
"Now Ubaba, meet us here at six tomorrow morning," Chihiro said.
"Ok. Where do you want me to stay until then?" Ubaba said in reply.
"Go tell your sister that we'll be visiting for a while...hopefully...but if we're not here by six-thirty then we can't get out. But don't worry about that, I've got that all figured out," Chihiro was once again gazing at the window, although this time there was no one occupying that particular space.
"Ok," Ubaba turned into a large bird and flew off in the direction of Swamp Bottom.
"What will happen if we can't get out by tomorrow morning?" Alana asked.
Just then Rin came running through the gate carrying two flower-covered kimonos and she thrust the purple one into Chihiro's arms and the blue one into Alana's arms.
"There wear those, you idiots," Rin said gasping for air.
"Bossy as usual?" Chihiro asked.
"You bet," Rin grinned and hugged Chihiro, "Who's this?"
"That's Alana, but call her Yukiko," Chihiro said.
"Why?" Rin asked and Chihiro told her a brief explanation, "Oh...yup you're definitely still an idiot."
Chihiro and Alana now wore the kimonos and Chihiro muttered as they walked towards the bridge, "Here goes," and she held her breath until they were at the other side.
"Why'd you do that Chihiro?" Alana quietly asked.
"Do what?" Chihiro asked in reply.
"Hold your breath," Alana replied.
"I did that? Oh...I didn't notice," Chihiro smiled.
:Five minutes later:
The girls were slowly walking down the steps to the boiler room. Chihiro, who was at the back of the group, walked even slower than the others, as if examining memories of long past. Soon they reached the entrance to the boiler room. CHihiro grinned as she saw those little sootballs transporting the coal.
"Hey Kamajii," Chihiro said.
The sootballs, of coarse, had started to jump up-and-down and were dropping coal at her feet.
Kamajii turned around suddenly startled, "Is that you Sen?"
"Yes, but my real name's Chihiro. But for purposes best not discussed here, you can call me Mikako. And this is Alana, but call her Yukiko," Chihiro replied.
"Ok," Kamajii replied.
They talked amongst themselves for a while, then Kamajii offered to let them sleep in the boiler room. They hastily agreed.
:The next morning:
Chihiro yawned and headed outside, leaving a note telling Alana to follow. She sighed and took a deep breath of fresh air. A had rested on her shoulder and she gasped as she turned around and looked into Haku's cold stare.
A.N.: I just LOVE cliffys! Ha ha ha! What'll happen next? Read and find out! Dun forget to review! L8er, K.A.F.