She raced like the wind, her heart pounding with emotions, through the tunnel and soon found her self on the other side to find the green sea of grass. It looked like an untouched paradise, and soon for the second time that day she found her cheeks wet with emotion.

Could all of this truly be real, if she touched a stone would and it fade into darkness? If she picked a flower from the ground would it die and fade from her trembling hand? No, it was too real, this was not a dream.

Chihiro began to shake with excitement of knowing she was so close to finding him and feeling his touch again, his hand in hers. His joy of learning his name and running with him in the heat of the moment, it was all so exhilarating. She hadn't felt so alive for such a long time, 7 years to be more exact. And if she had her way, it was never going to end.

She shifted her backpack more firmly around her shoulders and walked confidently through the plane of grass. With the passing moments she began to walk faster, and so her walk turned into a small jog and from a jog to a run. Chihiro felt that she needed to get to him that second and couldn't wait any longer.

Her chest started to heave, her breath coming in controlled gasps and legs rhythmically pumping beneath her, she soon was able to see the stone steps. A smile spreading across her face, she sprinted with the last of her energy, and now only one thought was going through her mind.

Kohaku.

She leapt across the rocks, but, Chihiro's foot was caught on a loose stone. It was too late to catch herself. She swung down upon the rocks in a fluid motion, with no time to scream. The last thing she saw was a moss covered rock, then nothingness.

"Well, she was always a klutz, but lord! What was she doing, nearly killed herself on the rocks . . ." Chihiro's hearing was fading and this was the first thing that she heard. Who is that? Oh my god, have I been taken by one Yubaba's henchmen? What's going on?

She tried to move but found she had no strength to move, and even if she could, she wouldn't desire to. Chihiro was aflame with pain all over her body, all the taken for granted functions of her body were screaming in pain. But what was this? She could feel bandages across her chest and limbs. Chihiro also realized that all she wore only the bandages. Someone had striped her of her clothes . . .

She could feel the soothing weight of a wet cloth on her forehead. Who ever had taken her was, actually, taking care of her. She didn't really care anymore, she was just so tired . . .

Chihiro started to drift off into sleep's labyrinth again, hoping that when she next woke, she would find herself in her bed, back at home . . . or in Kohaku's bed . . . she mentally laughed at the thought and was selfishly taken away by sleep.

When she woke next she was fully awake and she dared to open her eyes. The room slowly came into focus, and soon it dawned on her where she was. Her eyes widened and she greedily took the room in, was she truly back in the boiler room?

Chihiro took in the smell and inhaled the perfume against the pain that hacked at her ribs, but it could not be helped, she was hooked to the forgotten smell of the herbs and spices. Again, and again she worked the intoxicating scent into her body, until she was out of control. She smiled, and started to laugh like she hadn't in a long, long time.

This is wonderful, well, except for the body being injured bit. . .

Well, for right now she would just love to lie here and be surrounded by the smells, but, it was not meant to last. Foots steps could be heard on the wooden floor near her head. Chihiro didn't close her eyes; she wanted it to be known that her eyes were open. She wanted to see her caretaker, no, she wanted to see Kohaku. And if she didn't see him walking towards her, well, it would be just another disappointment.

I think I could deal with the disappointment . . .

Chihiro, with all the will power she possessed, she wrapped her naked body with the blankets, sat up, and resisted the urge to moan with the pain of it all. She slowly turned her head toward the sound of the oncoming footsteps and raised her chin, trying to be strong. Then, what she did see, well, it was a shock, but, it was her dear friend, Lin.

Lin, the caring friend she had forgotten. Lin, the woman who had taken her under her wing for her stay at the Bath House. Lin, the friend she thought she was never going to forget. Chihiro was struck by the sudden appearance of her lost and forgotten friend, but not that disappointed.

"Well, Chihiro, it's great to see that you are awake at last!" Lin said happiness shining through her words "I am so glad that--"

"How do you know my name?" Chihiro asked quickly, then just as quickly added "Well-- I mean how do you know my real name . . . I thought you knew me as Sin--"

"Oh, Chirhiro!! After you left Kohaku, well, Haku now told Kamaji and me your real name" she smiled "It sounds so much better than Sin . . ."

But Lin stopped talking, she just realized that Chihiro was in total shock, her mouth wide; free to catch any lose flies.

"Kohaku--Kohaku is still here, in the bath house?" Chihiro stammered.

Lin gave a smirk, sat down next to Chihiro and gently pushed her mouth close. "That's very un-becoming of a young lady! And yes-" Lin nodded" Haku-sama is still here . . . why wouldn't he be? He still works for Yubaba, after you left he tried to leave, but" She shoke her head "in the process there was a fight and after Haku was sama just like before, just as cold. Nothing really changed, your being here was just a ripple and was soon washed away. I am so sorry. But, what were you expecting?" Lin smiled weakly and continued "Yubaba is not only boss of the Bath house but, of all this" she raised her arms in a gesture to present the world to her.

"So, really you should be thanking your lucky star! Haku found you in the nick of time, when he found you . . . when he came to Kamaji and me, we feared the worst-" but Chihiro suddenly realized what Lin just said and visibly jumped. Kohaku had found her and brought her here to Lin and Kamaji . . . so why wasn't he here right now! Did he really still care?

"Where is Kohaku right now?" Chihiro said excitedly, not being able to hide the joy that Kohaku had indeed found her and brought her to safety! Also, she thought wickedly, hoped that he had been the one to strip her of her clothes. Chihiro mentally shook herself, what was she thinking! She couldn't think of that now . . . but the desire of wanting his hands on her, enclosing her in his warm . . . was brainwashing, intoxicating as the aroma of the boil room.

Lin touched her hand gently, a look of pity on her face " I don't think he would want to see you right now Chihiro . . . you should be lucky that he even brought you to us . . . like I said before hes been so cold after you left . . . I don't think he cares about anyone but himself and Yubaba now . . . I'm so sorry."

Chihiro shook her head. No, she wouldn't except it, no, never. She loved him, he must love her back, after all she had done for him . . . there was no possiblitly he wouldn't want to see her, to hold her, to kiss her . . . like she had wanted to do for so long . . . But, Chihiro wasn't going to be pushed away just because 'he didn't want to see anyone' Ha! Fuck that! He was going to see her whether he wanted to or not. She had been to much pain to stop now, that was for sure!

" Lin, whether he wants to see me or not, I don't care! " Chihiro grasped Lins hand back firmly " Please" Chihiro willed Lin to look deep into her eyes to try and make her understand her seriousness of her emotions for him "Tell me where he is, I need to go to him, thats why I came here. I came here for him, I came to take him for my own, I came here to be with him. I am willing to do anything for him right now, and if I have to," Chihiro smiled wickedly " I'll kidnap him if I have to. Do you understand what I am saying? I love him, very much. Please, please. Tell me where he is."

Lin, the good friend that she was, gently pulled Chihiro into an embrace. "Of course I will, my friend".