Thanks to all my reviewers!

Velf: I'm happy Sei's smugness has not gone unnoticed. The Santa thing: Well I'm actually Japanese by origin, so I can say that Santa is in fact believed by kids over in Japan. (Although not as much as in the west.) Just thought I'd let you know - Haku sends his kisses. (don't faint!) lol

OceanicGodess: Ahhh! A threat. lol Well here you go...

Zomego: (winces) ouch! Your words are too true. (they burn they burn!) lol I will try my best to put in more descriptions. But I won't get better overnight! Keep bugging me about it please!

Pyramidgirl89: gasp! It's on time! That snow day did me good.

Ogino Chihiro: I'm sorry if the last chapter was a little confusing…admittedly there was a lot going on. I hope this is a bit clearer.

Lost-and-lonely-Phoenix: I liked the idea of Sei getting slapped too. (grins) Ok, I do have some idea of the plot... But it does change frequently! Anyways, here's the next chapter. Enjoy!

She who refuses to be named: I think I'll stick with this until you figure out a name you like! lol Yeah the pig part is a bit weird, but I think its ok if Mayu heard it cuz she figures everything out anyways. I liked the "sorry sweet" part too. Talking into peoples head will come in handy Thanks for all the help.

Manga-boy-lover: I'm missing Haku too…but he's not in this chapter! So sorry! Next one, I promise!

Henry: Yay! Thanks sooo much for reviewing! Sorry for all the nagging lol! Read on…

A/N: This chapter is a little short but hey it was on time! Not much action, I thought I needed a slower chapter since the last one was fast pace. Bear with me…

Recap: So I left you with:

Sei watched her reaction. Her coal back eyes glittered with excitement and hair brushed her golden skin. Pretty. He reached out a hand and brushed a soft lock off her face and bent in. Mayu froze in horror as she felt the feather soft lips touch her skin. "Till tomorrow." A whisper ticked her ear. She looked up just in time to see him silently fade into the air. There was a gush of wind and the windows rattled as Mayu watched, still frozen in place. She felt the still tingling spot on her forehead. Amber. Amber eyes, so pretty… Then she realized something. It had been on since that morning? But I would have felt him put it on me if I was conscious. Conscious? What if I was sleeping. She gasped and ran over to the window.

"You creep! You snuck into our room!" she yelled into the breeze. She could have sworn she heard warm ringing laugh.

>>>>>

Broken Promises

The wind whistled for a while longer and faded away into the distance. Mayu cast her eyes out the window of the now deserted studio. Chihiro was running furiously back towards their dorm. The back of her checkered purple knee length skirt and ponytail swung in a rapid rhythm. The white of her polo shirt glared in the bright sun and contrasted with the warm green of the trees and grass nearby. Mayu frowned slightly with worry. She lean her elbows on the dusty window sill and cupped her chin in her elegant hands.

Suddenly she felt a familiar warm wave pass over her wrist and looked down. The beautiful pale blue crystals had disappeared. She let out a slow sigh and reached out trembling fingers to the invisible stones and felt the dull corners of the crystals. It was real. Somehow she had thought it might just vanish into thin air like its giver. Stupid Sei… A slight warmth seemed to still linger, a tingling on her smooth skin. The gift and its giver had oddly similar effects. Mayu caught herself squinting into the light breezes ruffling the waxy green leaves of the trees nearby and smirked. Because I'm really going to see his face floating around in the air! She gave a rueful laugh but quickly sobered, eyes returning to an icy black.

She remembered Chihiro again and looked down. She had stopped dead in her tracks, thin frame quivering. She was covering her face with her hands, hiding tears. Mayu's chest ached with sympathy. It must be confusing for her too… She tried to resist the urge to give her new friend a shoulder to cry on. Seeing me will just make it more confusing for her right now. Her eyes seemed to cloud slightly gray as she sighed and continued to gaze down at her…

Chihiro burst through the double doors and ran out into the bright light outside. She tried to run the storm of muddled thoughts out of her head, but so far it wasn't working. When she reached the dirt path of the courtyard, she turned around. There was nobody there. She sighed. No teasing grins framed in chocolate locks. Stupid Sei… His picture came into her mind. The aggravated, fat pigs, the train. Suddenly she was overcome with memories from the distant past. The oddly peaceful train ride over the water, surrounded by spirits. The wonderful peppermint smell of Zeniba's embrace. Playing with Bo and Yu-bird, finally understanding No Face's gentle nature. Being saved by Kamaji, late nights on the balcony with Rin. And a glowing white dragon. Chihiro felt a stab of loneliness as she remembered the naïve promise at their parting, the snug yet electric feel of his fingers on hers. Unwanted tears bubbled up into her eyes and furiously she tried to wish them away. "No.." she whimpered aloud. I promised I would never cry about it again…She gave into a silent sob and raised her hands to cover her face. Wet tears trickled down her shaking fingers. Stupid, stupid Sei. Why did you make me remember? The courtyard was deserted and nobody heard her quiet weeping. After several more long moments, she calmed down and the hiccups went away. She slowly lowered her hands and looked up at the cloudless sky. A gentle breeze washed over her face and started to dry up her tears.

"Don't cry." A voice whispered. Chihiro kept looking at the sky, unmoved.

Sei… "Go away." she said quietly. "I want to be alone." A fresh wave of nostalgia washed over her and a teardrop trickled glittering down her flushed cheek.

Sei felt a pang of guilt. "I'm sorry. But I didn't think…" I didn't think you had blocked all that out of your memory. a voice rang quietly in her mind. Chihiro snapped out of her daze and whirled around in a slow circle, eyes burning with fury.

"Stop doing that!" she retorted, "And I haven't! I just…" she gasped. I almost just admitted everything! "I mean... I just…" she stammered. A peal of airy laughter was all she got in response.

Chihiro opened her mouth again to make up an excuse, but suddenly there was a strong gust of wind. She gave a shriek as her skirt went flying up, swirling around her waist.

"SEI!" she yelled, trying to hold the fabric down. After a few more protests the air became calm again. A semi transparent figure of Sei appeared in front of her. Chihiro stared with eyes wide as slowly, slowly, he started to materialize until he stood there, grinning, and pounded his chest.

"See? Solid." Chihiro laughed a little despite herself. A dim light sprang into her cinnamon eyes. Sei gave a dramatic sigh.

"That's much better." he said and smiled. Chihiro just gazed thoughtfully at him.

"Sei…" she started.

Sei shook his head. "No, it's fine. You'll come to terms with the truth in your own time. Sorry I pushed you." he said, winking. Amber eyes flickered down for a moment. A new sparkle of mirth appeared in him and he smiled wider. "Just wanted to say sorry." Chihiro smiled. Maybe he's not so bad…

Sei fought to keep his face straight. "Oh, and uh…your skirt's still up in the front." He finally burst out laughing as Chihiro turned instantly beet red and looked down. The purple pleats had somehow folded in on itself and a tiny corner of her white underwear peeked out. Her mouth dropped open and she felt the intense heat in her cheeks.

She looked up to yelled at him. "You little…!" But he wasn't there. Wait! That means…She gasped and grabbed her skirt, but it was too late. Another wind swept up the back of her skirt and Chihiro squealed.

"You'll pay for this!" she shouted, laughing in spite of her words. "You hear?" The wind chuckled for several more minutes, but it eventually died down and the leaves rustled to a stop. Chihiro cast wary eyes around and saw a single feather come floating down from the sky. It was a golden amber with flecks of black, brown, and creamy white markings. Chihiro ran to the spot where it fell. Pretty. It was fairly small, comfortably fitting into the palm her hand. She ran her fingers along the stiff yet soft down until she saw that a slip of paper was tied to the stem. She felt a rush of adrenaline and her heart race. Slowly, she untied the paper. She looked at the clear black letters…

A present for you.

Chihiro smiled. "Thanks Sei." she mumbled. Then she squinted and saw that there were more black letters showing through the paper, on the back. She frowned and slowly flipped it over.

Your dragon will keep his promise.

Chihiro just stared at the words. Such a simple sentence brought on a tidal wave of emotions. Pure joy and sour doubt fought furiously in her chest. Doubt won. "How do you know?" she said quietly aloud. "Why would he? After all these years…" her voice shook. Chihiro realized she was talking to a deserted courtyard, but she continued. Somehow she thought Sei was still around. "How can you say that?" she demanded to the air.

Because he promised. And I promise too. Sei's voice trickled into her head. Chihiro glanced around. Nobody. She shrugged.

"Whatever" she said and starting walking back towards the dorm. The note and feather were clutched tightly in her white-knuckled fist.

Mayu felt a breeze pick up and her hand traveled unconsciously to a still tingling spot on her forehead. She kept staring with rapt attention as Chihiro's skirt blew up and Sei's form appeared. A twinge of something tugged at her heart. Her lips stuck out slightly in the smallest of pouts and raven hair fluttered gently around her face. Then she saw Sei vanish as another wind blew and a small object fell to the ground. Mayu stuck her head farther out the open window and squinted to see what it was, but it was too far away. Just another present. She winced at the words. Why does everyone have to give me stupid presents? A memory sprang into her mind...

"There's my darling Mayu!" A huge bear hug of an embrace, a warm loving laugh. "Guess what? I got a present for you!" a man's voice. A rich tenor which rumbled out of his chest. Big comfortable hands holding a small wrapped up box. A nice big lap to sit on.

Mayu felt like a lead stone had dropped slowly down her throat. She wrenched her eyes away from Chihiro and turned her back to the window. She slowly sank to the floor and hid her face in her knees.

"Open it." Her own small hands tugging at the ribbons, cutting into her skin. The satisfying ripping sounds of the wrapping paper. Her own excited squealing as she torn the lid off. And then…

No! But it was a movie playing in her mind. She was a captive audience. Mayu felt tears trickling down her bare knees. She reached under her shirt with trembling fingers and pulled out a worn golden chain. On it hung a small golden ring, too small to fit on her finger now. A brilliant azure speck of a sapphire was embedded deep in the gold. She smiled and fingered it lovingly.

"Do you like it?" Padded fingers manipulating the tiny golden clasp. The coolness of the gold on her neck. "It will protect you from evil spirits and connect me to you no matter what." Her own young voice. "Really?" "Yes, Mayu! I'll always be with you no matter what."

Anger and pain shot through her. "Liar! No stupid necklace can do that." She snarled to the empty room as she grabbed the ring and stuffed it back under her shirt. Then she remembered the invisible band on her wrist. I don't want stupid presents. Without a second thought, she yanked at the crystals. It didn't bulge. She tried again, but it refused to come off. She gave a frustrated grunt. "Come off, damit!" The stones responded by growing hot against her fingers. They grew hotter and hotter with each attempt until finally, she couldn't even touch it. Oddly, her wrist was unharmed. She laughed at herself. Of course. He put magic on it so I had to keep it…Fresh tears rolled down her wet golden skin.

"Keep daddy's present honey." A warm woman's voice. So trusting, so comforting. "He loves us so very much. So we will wait for him. As long as it takes."

Hasn't it been long enough? She painfully closed her eyes and swallowed a tight knot that had formed in her throat.

Their bitter, mocking laughter…"Mayu's a bad girl! Why else would her..."

She heard a humming cut through her thoughts and looked at her wrist. The band had become almost visible. They glowed a magical icy aqua against her golden skin. She smiled and remembered Sei's warm amber eyes. Did you vanish into the wind like Sei then? Still staring off into the distant memory, she slowly got up and walked out the deserted classroom a silent tear slipping out of the corner of her eye.

A young girls voice. "And you still believe him?" a bark of laughter. "Of course he's not coming back!"

Mayu slammed through the swinging double doors and ripped at the golden chain. Angry red stripes formed as it cut into her flesh until with a snap, it broke. There was a soft clinking as a ring wobbled dejected on the dusty floor.

>>>>>>>

A/N: So a little on Mayu's past. Moving toward the reunion of everyone's favorite couple! Within a couple chappies I'd say…Haku in the next chapter for sure. You know, writing this thing is getting really addictive. I never realized how muchfun itwould be!

Disclaimer: I do not own spirited away! Sorry peoples, no skit this time! (but Haku sends his kisses...lol)

Please Review! I want to know what everyone thinks so I can make things better!