Thank you so much to my awesome reviewers! (blows kisses) You make me so happy!

Pyramidgirl89- My very first reviewer! I couldn't resist the cliffy! lol Thanks for introducing me to the wonderful world of fanfic!

Sami the archangel- Can't tell you who Sei is yet! lol But you'll figure out soon, I promise. Thanks for reviewing!

Guess- hmm…I wonder who it is? lol I'm glad you like. And you do have a say!

Velf- gasp! I'm so honored and happy you like! That's so hilarious about how you misread: don't feel stupid! Actually it would have been a lot funnier your way! I like Sei's description too. (he's supposed to be hot ..hehe). Love your story! Thanks again for reviewing!

Lexi Prahl - Here you go! Enjoy!

Ai: thanks! Hope you like this chapter too…

Roxworld: Yup, you're right. He is from spirit world… thanks for reviewing and there are clues about him in this chapter!

Undying-love: thanks! Here's some more! (like your fic btw )

Viettatsu: I was going to continue it anyways…hehe Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Spirited Away. Miyazaki-san is a genius!

A/N: More set up. (sighs) It's annoying but necessary. O! I should make this clear: Sei is my own creation! I hope I can make him into a 3-D character…this chapter is somewhat uneventful, but the spirit world needed to be set up and the MxC friendship established more. Hope you like it!

Big Secrets

"ATTENTION!" A crackling voice screeched through the noisy bathhouse. Everybody froze and silence fell. A fuming Yubaba glared down at them from a railing above.

Workers exchanged worried looks. Who was it this time? they all wondered.

"RIN! I need to see you in my office…NOW!" Yubaba's voice shrieked.

Rin rolled her eyes. Geez! Three times in one week! "Yes, Yubaba." she said, a touch of sarcasm in her honey sweet voice.

Yubaba's eyes widened and a her face contorted in fury. "You ungrateful rat! That kind of attitude is what gets my guests complaining about you! Just like that stupid human Se.. " she suddenly froze but continued. "That goes for the rest of you too! So much as a word of complaint and I'll turn you all into pigs!" Then she snarled, "Rin! I'm waiting!" and disappeared into a waiting lift.

Rin sighed. She dropped her bucket and slid into the nearest lift. For a whole month now Yubaba had been cracking down on all the workers about good service. Each day some worker or other would be called to her office. Three times out of four, it was Rin. Well, I've never been one of her favorites. thought Rin ruefully. Soon she was facing the overdone doors to Yubaba's office and before she could knock, the doors swung open and she was sucked by some unseen magic into the usual messy office which she was now used to seeing quite often.

"So, Rin…" Yubaba started sweetly, "One of my precious guests tell me that you insulted them?" she said, drumming her fingers on her desk and letting pieces of gold slip through her fingers. "What did you say? Hmm?" Yubaba seemed to disappear for a second. Then Rin suddenly found herself staring at Yubaba's thick blue eye shadow. Talk about over doing your makeup! She thought.

"Well? WHAT DID YOU SAY!" she roared into her face

"Oh! I think I said that they smelled slightly of humans. Did I do something wrong?" Rin asked sweetly, batting her eyes in mock innocence. Yubaba's nostrils twisted and flared two inches from her face.

"You little…!" Yubaba gave a frustrated shriek and papers blew around the room and windows rattled. Then she hissed, "Just because that tiny shrimp of a dragon put protection on you doesn't mean I can't turn you into a PIG!" she spat.

"That tiny shrimp of a dragon owns half of your bath house." Rin retorted, shoving Yubaba off. Yubaba's eyes narrowed dangerously. Rin ignored it and went on. "And besides, I was telling the truth. They did smell like humans." Rin folded her arms and glared back. "I don't know what you're up to, Yubaba, but we know you're plotting something. We're not that stupid you know!"

"We? Oh yes, my darling twin is helping you I suppose." Yubaba grinned maliciously. Rin opened her mouth to respond but Yubaba put up a finger: "No, no! I'm sick of your filthy voice. DISMISSED!" She shrieked and waved a gnarled hand. Rin went crashing through three doors and into a waiting lift.

"Oww! Gods!" Rin rubbed the back of her head and felt a bump. "She gets crankier everyday!"

the next morning…

"Breakfast Kamaji!" Rin yelled as she slid the miniature door open to the boiler room.

Kamaji looked up, startled. "What?" he hurriedly scooped up some squirming things from the floor and hid it behind his back with one of his many hands. Then he saw who it was and sighed. "Oh, Rin! It's just you." he said.

"Hello to you too!" Rin sneered. "What are you hiding there, hmm?" she asked peering around Kamaji's back. He grinned and opened his hand to reveal a chubby mouse, a sparrow and what appeared to be a paper bird.

"Chuu?" squeaked the mouse.

Rin laughed. "Alright, you three! Game's over!" she said.

There were three large pops and there stood Bo, Yu-bird and Zeniba. Bo giggled. "I escape again! Mama will be so mad at Bo!" he said proudly.

Rin laughed even harder. Then the bump on her head from the day before throbbed and she grimaced. "You know, I think I made your mama pretty mad too, insulting her guests." she said.

Kamaji frowned slightly. "Is she still sucking up to those odd spirits?"

"Yup. And she practically cracked my head open for telling one it smelled a little human. Geez!" she rubbed her now only slightly sore head. "What's going on?" Rin demanded, turning to Zeniba.

Zeniba sighed. "I wish I knew, darling. That sister of mine is always up to something." she said, smiling as Bo started sprinkling some rainbow colored treats at the waiting soot balls.

Rin smiled triumphantly. "But you know who might know? Mister high and mighty dragon. Where's he?" she asked.

"If you mean Haku, he's gone to his river again" Kamaji said between bites.

Rin gave an exasperated groan. "That idiot's never here when you need him!" she exclaimed.

Zeniba interpreted, "Now, now! Haku actually stopped by before he went, dear. He said he knew my twin was up to something because she let him go to his river without a fight. Usually she wants him around to run the bath house and do all her errands. He felt told me to warn all of you darlings."

Rin raised and eyebrow and grinned. "So he did remember us, eh? Maybe my lectures about responsibility have sunk in a bit?" she laughed, then continued more seriously, "But Zeniba, do you know who they are, the odd spirits? Some air sprites, wood nymphs, mermaids. Lots of other odd looking creatures..." Rin drifted off.

Suddenly, a look of alarm then a frown crossed Zeniba's face. She looked over at Bo playing with the soot balls and said, "Yu-bird, its time you took Bo back, my sister will be frantic. Come along Bo darling." she beckoned.

Bo toddled over and whined, "Do I have to?"

"Yes, now off you go." Zeniba pointed and soon the sparrow Yu-bird and mouse Bo was flying up the shaft. Zeniba turned to a scowling Rin and Kamaji.

"Do you know something, Zeniba?" they asked in unison.

"I have an idea." she said, "But no use in alarming you yet, darlings. I must go now: my dear no face is waiting. I'll contact you as soon as I make certain of my idea. In the meanwhile if Haku comes back please send a message by Yu-bird." Rin and Kamaji nodded. "Well then. Goodbye my dears!" Zeniba pointed at herself and soon a paper bird went zipping through the back door.

Rin and Kamaji looked at each other. "Well, no use worrying about it now. I better get back to work. Tell me when high and mighty gets back, ok?" Rin asked. Kamaji nodded, frowning. Rin smiled and said, "It'll work out. Don't worry!" Kamaji chuckled and waved her away as Rin slipped back out through the boiler room door.

>>>>>>>>>

Students started streaming out of the art room as Mayu looked worriedly at her new friend. There was a look of horror mixed with a touch of excitement and total confusion on her face. Her skin was a sickly white, and she wondered whether or not Chihiro was breathing.

"Chihiro! Earth to Chihiro! Are you ok?" Mayu shook her by the shoulder. Chihiro seemed to get snap back to reality, and looked at her friend.

"Oh…yes, I'm fine." she mumbled.

"Well…Lets go get some dinner." she said hesitantly.

"Alright.." Chihiro mumbled back.

But at dinner the same confusion came into her eyes as Chihiro picked at her food. Mayu looked worriedly on as Chihiro seem to walk like a zombie back to their dorm room and sat, staring off into space, on the bed.

Mayu decided to try again. "Chihiro? What happened? Did the amber eyes say something mean to you? Because I can beat him up for you any day!" she exclaimed.

"No…" Chihiro said, staring at the band of purple beads on her wrist.

"Does is have to do something with that?" Mayu asked, pointing at the band. "Didn't you say you got that from your grandma? You know, I miss spending time with my grandma. She would just sit me down with a mug of hot tea and let me tell her all my troubles. Actually, she gave me a bracelet like that too when I was little. I wonder what happened to it? Hmm…"

Chihiro couldn't take it anymore. Zeniba's smiling face filled her mind and she burst in tears with a sob.

Mayu looked up, startled. "Chi! I'm so sorry!" she said rushing over to comfort her friend.

"No, its ok Mayu. I need to tell you something." Chihiro said, still looking at the purple band.

She told Mayu the whole story about her adventures in the spirit world, sparing no details. Mayu just put her arm around her the whole time, not saying a word. Then Chihiro got to the part about Sei.

"How did he know my name? I never told that name to anybody in the human world." she said, sniffling and wiping the last of her tears from her face. Then she realized what she had done and whirled around to face Mayu. A look of innocent awe was in her eyes.

"You…believe me Mayu? You don't think I'm nuts?" Chihiro asked hesitatingly.

Mayu laughed. "I don't think even you can make up a story in that much detail! Of course I believe you. I'm your friend now, Chihiro." Mayu gave her a hug. Chihiro laughed, and hugged her back.

"Thanks. But what do you think about Sei?" she asked.

"Hmm…well since you haven't told anybody in the human world, I guess he's…a spirit." she said.

"Yeah…" mumbled a dazed Chihiro.

"And maybe," Mayu continued, "he can even lead you to your white dragon!"

Chihiro let it sink in. "I could…see Haku again!" she said. Mayu watched as a glimmer of hope flickered in Chihiro's eyes and smiled.

"Well, lets try to find mister mysterious tomorrow. No use worrying now." Mayu said, winking. Chihiro grinned.

"Thanks for believing me Mayu. Now lets promise no more secrets from each other, ever." she said, sticking out a pinky. Mayu giggled and the two girls linked pinkies like two four year olds.

"No secrets ever!" they chanted. Then they were suddenly exhausted from the long eventful day. They said goodnight and soon were snoring, a look of blissful content on their faces.

Later that night, a quiet wind blew against the window of the girl's room. Amber eyes vaguely appeared from the flowing wind and a pair of translucent lips smiled. Then there was a glint of icy blue as glowing hands reached through the glass. They gently lifted Mayu's hand and slipped a sparkling band onto her wrist. He smiled more as both girls flopped over moaning from the sudden draft and pulled up the covers. Good night Sen and her new friend. he whispered. Then with a rustling of leaves, he was gone.

A/N: hmm! Amber eyes in the wind. Who had amber eyes again? hehe. Anyways, how did I do writing Rin and Yubaba? (They were a bit of a challenge) Next chapter will be more flirty fun! (aka Sei and Haku will appear) Please review! (even just to say hey I read it)

To be continued…