SPIRITED AGAIN (a fanfiction by Jo-chan-ANIME)

Hi everyone! I've been reading fanfiction, and I've decided to update! (Audience: "Ooo, ahhh.")

Here are some replies to reviews (and some notices to certain people)

RidingGirl: I HAVE to have evil cliffies! Besides, having short, frequent chapters is better then say: none at all for example. I wonder who that could refer to? *Glares daggers at RidingGirl* "When the night is done I see you, Beautiful and haunting and cold, Like the wind in the night, So high and so sweet, Nobody knows Your heart." -Princess Mononoke

(Before I forget: Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN ANY TOTORO OR SPIRITED AWAY CHARACTERS!!!)

mysticwolfguardian: WAHHHH!!!!!!! Where were you? I haven't seen you update for AGES!!!!!!!!!! Do you like ma story? I'll check for yours when I can, all right? Glad to see you back!

Anee: Thank you. Yeah, I've crashed before. When you have sugar you go "wwwWWWwww-zzz" I've had that happen before. :D

porifra: Thanks for the encouragement. I LOVE your input everyone! Do you have any suggestions, porifra?

Tangled Puppet: My name is pronounced Josie. Its spelled José but half the time the accent doesn't work. :'( Glad to see you like my fanfiction! (And it's plot) I hope you keep on reading and reviewing!

Cute Anime Kitty: You'll find out who He is! Just keep on reading!

arrow-card: Umm, is that a GOOD OoOoOo or a BAD OoOoOo?

Ryuu-Youkai: Yes I know EVIL CLIFFIE!!!!!!!!! I LOVE EVIL CLIFFIES IN MA STORY-but I hate them in other peoples stories. I am very sad that way. *grins* glad 2 C you like it!!!!!!!!!

Alli: Hey, it's okay! ANY review is welcome by me! If you have any questions though, don't hesitate to ask them in reviews!

TBPeppy: Yes I am pure evil! You'll find out soon enough what happens! Anyway, I read your chapter dedicated to ME!!! **smiles** I am so happy, so very HAPPY! You'll find out what happens with Chihiro and Haku if you read my story! (as slowly as I update)

silent H: thanx for the tip, I'll try it later, okay? Glad to see you enjoy my story, and I look forward to more reviews from you! I KNOW! The Totoro are so KAWAII!!!!!! (cute, if you don't already have that in your vocabulary)

Oh, just in case any of you don't know, AKANBOO is NOT a Japanese name. It actually MEANS something in Japanese, which I will reveal to you, in this chappie-in due time. MUhaHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!

I REALLY would like suggestions, so if you have any, do suggest them! :D

I HAVE 40 REVIEWS!!!!!!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!! *curtsies* Merci, Arigateau, Thank You! (I can only say thank you in three languages. Well I CAN say it in Chinese but I can't spell it.)

If this is fast paced it's because there is SO MUCH MORE to this story, and I don't want there to be 100 chapters (though I wouldn't mind that many reviews!) (I might sneak in little characters from other anime/books/movies so I don't own any of them either. Let's see if you can hunt them out. Whoever does get a prize (if it's RIGHT!) I'll put the disclaimer for them in the next chapter.)

HERE IT IS!!!

SPIRITED AGAIN Chapter #6

Chihiro's eyes widened. "It's-it's you. But, what happened to you? You- you're grown, that's to be expected, but where's your mother, and-and your eyes."

The cold glance stared at her. Chihiro began to quiver, and began (a childhood habit) to mutter her thoughts. "Akanboo. Your mother would never let go would she? Akanboo. Baby. I remember, nine years ago, you still didn't have a name, and were trapped within that chamber." she glanced at his ivory skin. "You haven't been outside since I left, have you? But-" here she stuttered. "Your eyes were olive green but now-"

He picked her up by the neck of her shirt. "What is your name." It was a demand, not a question. "It- it's Chihiro! Don't you remember me?" The man's face was expressionless. "Don't you remember? You were transformed into a mouse and that bird thing was a fly, and Yu-baba-" The face was transformed in an instant. Chihiro was lifted into the air and thrown into the wall. Chihiro's head struck solidly, making a loud cracking noise. A noise of extreme pain escaped her lips.

Haku was sitting; his back against the door, eyes closed, his breathing slow, calming his wild emotions. Sudden pain overthrew him, and he gritted his teeth against it. He stood up, and slowly put a hand to his head, touched the hurt, and brought his hand down. Where there should have been blood, there was nothing. The pain felt, detached, from him somehow. He closed his eyes, to think over what it could be.

Chihiro closed her eyes against the sudden nausea that threatened to overcome her. She swallowed hard, forcing the sickness down. She reached a ginger hand to her head, and felt a sticky wetness. She removed it, to find it covered in blood. She looked up at an image that was slowly coming into focus. "Never, NEVER mention our mother's name." the voice was Akanboo's (Akanboo means baby!) with a strange woman's voice shrieking alongside it. "I was forgotten when HE was born!" the voice was now completely woman, her voice, when angered resembled that of a banshee. Akanboo picked Chihiro up, and threw her into the nearest desk. The sharp edge concussed Chihiro, and she slumped on the ground, still.

Haku felt sudden pain at his temple, which should have knocked him out, was the pain his. Suddenly it struck him. "Chihiro! Oh gods, please don't leave me! CHIHIRO!!!"

Chihiro looked around. ~Where, where am I?~ she said. She looked at herself, translucent. ~I, I'm see-through!!!~ she said in shock. She looked at the many semi-solid people surrounding her.

A humongous wolf ambled past her, with a warrior man and wild looking woman beside the she-wolf. On her back she carried a woman, who carried the wild mother's looks.

Chihiro turned around. A woman white hair with streaks of red, wearing a blue top, white pants, and an odd whistle around her neck, chatted amiably with a young woman dressed in the red hakama (pants) and white uwagi (shirt) of the feudal age priestesses. Her long black hair bound, and a large bow at her side, this woman looked formidable indeed. Chihiro blinked, and turned again. The sight she saw almost brought her to tears.

A middle aged woman, with long black hair, streaked with grey, and crows feet which showed when she smiled, stood before her in a navy blue kimono. Chihiro gasped a tear sliding down her not-quite-solid cheek. She KNEW this woman's name. She had been given permission to use it when she was thirteen. ~Umiko!~ she whispered. ~UMIKO!~ she ran to the mother of her best friends. ~My dear Chihiro.~ said the woman kindly. ~What are you doing here so early? No, it is not your time dear. See, you are still more solid then those of us who have already departed from your world. You do not belong dead, dear one. But what has happened to you? Why are you here? How are my daughters?~

Chihiro's eyebrows rose. ~This is the realm of the dead, then? Satsuki and Mei were so upset when you,~ she trailed off, swallowing hard. Umiko smiled a warm, motherly smile, and enfolded Chihiro in her arms. ~I understand. I didn't wish to leave you, any of you, but I was in great pain from the cancer (Chihiro winced) and it was my time. See, there are others torn from their families.~

She pointed at a young couple, the woman with flowing shoulder length auburn hair and stunning green eyes, and the man beside her with hazel eyes and black hair.

~They had a little boy, barely one when they left him. He is now fifteen or so, but they still miss him dearly.~ Chihiro felt pity for the couple.

~And then,~ Umiko interrupted her thoughts, ~There are those who were left behind in the land of the living, left by those whom they have loved.~ she then gestured (politely! Umiko is NOT like that!) at a formidable looking woman with gray hair, standing tall, a blue crescent moon upon her brow. Her eyes were a deep, rich brown, which, when you looked in, show hidden knowledge, greater then you can possibly imagine.

~That is Morgan le Fay. She was faerie born, and her brother, King Arthur, died by his son, Mordred's hand. She has wandered, finally dying of old age. But you, what do you do here?~

Chihiro pulled her eyes away from that odd woman, and filled Umiko in on recent events. The woman's eyes filled with worry upon the news on the mysterious disappearances of her children, but she made no move to interrupt, letting Chihiro blunder through the remaining part of her story. Umiko nodded when she heard of Akanboo's change. ~I know what is happening.~ she said, slowly. ~What?!?! You must tell me, please!~

Silvery tears trickled from the corner of the deceased woman's eyes. ~I cannot. I must let you find out on your own.~ Chihiro's face hardened. ~What do you mean?!? WHY WONT YOU TELL ME?!?!?!?~ she shrieked.

Umiko opened her mouth to speak, but out of nowhere, chains wound around her throat, and all that emerged was a hoarse croak. ~Oh lords! Umiko-san, I am SO sorry!~ She unclenched her solidifying wrists and the chains disappeared.

~I told you I cannot.~ gasped Umiko composedly.

Chihiro gazed down at her hands. +What is happening to me?+ she thought. +I didn't know what would happen, but I caused pain to Umiko-san, who was like a second mother to me, and I- I hit Haku, who is like-+ she trailed off, frowning. She was going to say 'like a brother,' which he most certainly was when she was in the spirit world that first time, but now- she didn't know where she stood with him any longer.

She looked up at Umiko. She was shocked to find that she was barely visible, whereas she was almost completely solid. ~Good-bye, my dear Chihiro. Tell my daughters I love them and wish them well!~ and with that she was gone. "Good-bye." Said Chihiro, her voice no longer just in her mind, but actually solid.

A pain throbbed from far away, calling her back to the present. She stirred, as she felt her spirit return to her mortal body, and groaned. She blinked, as the fuzzy image came into focus. "So," came a beautiful, melodious, female voice. "You have angered me greatly," the voice transformed on the word 'angered', sounding suddenly harsh, rough, cruel, and cutting. It's next words came out, winningly, sweetly tantalizing, almost as though she was trying to win Chihiro over. "But you wish something of me. Just what is it you want, dear?"

A tiny voice in the back of Chihiro's mind rebelled. ~Don't call me dear! Only Mother and Umiko-san call me dear. I don't know what you are, woman, and I don't trust you, or have no wish to. You did something to my friends, and no matter what, I will find them. Until then, I will bide my time, and trust you as far as I can throw Akanboo!~ (Who by the way, is still HUGE)

"I wish to have a job in this bathhouse, if it wouldn't trouble you greatly." She said coldly, mentally adding 'you horrible, cruel, unfeeling THING!'

"A job?" the voice was for a sudden roaring and rough. But then it calmed, and was yet again sweet, honeyed. "A job. But of course, dear, anything. You may go and find yourself one. Tell them that 'He' sent you. They will give you a job straightaway, sweetheart. Oh, but first, you must sign this itty-bitty bit of paper over here. Just sign your name, and you are free to go." A piece of parchment flew at Chihiro, along with an old fashioned pen, pre-dipped in the ink bottle. Chihiro, now dizzy, signed her name. "Thank you, love. Oh my, what a beautiful name, Chihiro. Chihiro-chan, from now on you will be called Sen. Got it, dear?"

Chihiro nodded, fighting exhaustion. "Sen." Her words were as cold as ice, slurred as they were from the wooziness threatening to overcome her.

"You may take your leave, Sen dear."

Sen stood but did not leave.

"You can go now."

Sen did not move.

"LEAVE NOW, THIS INSTANT, OR YOU WILL BE PERMENTALLY PLACED IN THE RELMS OF THE DEAD, YOU HEAR ME GIRL!?!?!?"

Chihiro took her leave, thinking to herself. ~Whoever that person is, they are sick and bent. I won't be able to act all on my own though. I need Haku's help. As,~ she hesitated, then continued. The word didn't seem to quite fit, but she used it anyway. ~As friends, he will help me. I would do the same for him.~

She gripped the walls, willing herself to stay upright, as waves of nausea threatened to overcome her. ~Must-stay-strong!~ she encouraged herself.

Haku turned towards the door. "Chihiro." He whispered, unbelievingly. "Chihiro! She's all right!!!" Inside, he sagged from relief, but on the outside, he stayed strong.

Chihiro came bursting through the door, "Haku!" she gasped. "I did it, I got a job! Only I've," she stopped and gasped. "got so much to tell you. We have to talk about," she paused and drew a sharp intake of breath. "what happened in there!"

"Shh." Comforted Haku, as he gently tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear. "Calm down. You need to rest. Lets go back down to the woman workers residence. It's empty now, and will be for quite some time. You can rest there while you tell me what happened, and," he trailed off. He gently brushed the wound on her head. "You're." He said hoarsely, and then seemed to recover himself. "You're hurt. I'll tend to you while you explain what went on in there." She nodded, and they slowly made their way to the elevator.

The woman grinned a sharp, fanged, cruel smile. She remembered what she had learned. Owning a name can give you power over the person. At rare times, and with great power, you can even control the original owner. She clenched her fist. Her plan had not originally included those horrible snips of humans, but all had turned out for the best, in the end. They would, indeed, be very helpful, after all. A tear of anger trickled down her cheek. ~Will this prove to you, I actually exist? That I am not worthless, after all? I'll make it so that you will regret what you did to me, and SHOW YOU WHAT I CAN DO!!!~

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Well, everyone? How was that chapter? Not as harsh a cliffie as some I've typed up, and this chapter is longer than most I have written. Any questions and/or comments? Send them to me and I will receive and reply them with pleasure.

Hmm, I wonder who this mysterious woman is? I KNOW and you will find out- soon! I AM EVIL!!!!!!!!!

Can you guess who any of the other-story characters were? Tell me in reviews!

Hope you all keep on reading!

Suggestions are appreciated!

(Hope this chappie was long enough for you RidingGirl!)

The author, Jose