Chihiro felt as if she felt her heart falling. Ignoring Kamajii's sympathetic look, she hurried out of the boiler room, slamming the door behind her. She stood at the top of the staircase, for a moment, breathing hard, and looked around her. The sky deepening to a rich blue and the stars were starting the come out. The water that stretched out to the shining city was dark and serene. In the distance Chihiro could see the headlight of the train.

Haku had never said anything about her? Had he forgotten her?

Don't be ridiculous, Chihiro told herself. Just because Haku didn't mention you to others doesn't mean he's forgotten you. He never really had much to say…i

Chihiro winced at the bittersweet memory, and she felt a cool, misty arm go around her shoulders. Turning her head, she saw that No-Face was trying to comfort her. Touched by the spirit's kind gesture, she managed to calm down. She remembered something that Zeniba had said: "Once you've met someone you never really forget them."

"Come along, No-Face," Chihiro said. "I want to go back to the bathhouse and see the gods and spirits coming over the bridge. Haku couldn't forget me—he wouldn't. I just hope I can see him soon."

Girl and spirit walked back to the bathhouse complex and stood by the bridge to watch the lavish, brightly lit boat pull up to the dock. Already spirits and gods were coming out of their rooms. Chihiro grinned when she recognized the radish spirit, a plump, shaggy white figure with squinty eyes beneath a broad-brimmed red hat.

Near the end, however, was a spirit Chihiro didn't recognize. It was tall, with long legs, gnarled hands and intense green eyes. Its 'hair', in a darker shade of green than its eyes, was prickly and pulled back by what looked like a pinecone-shaped clip. It was, Chihiro guessed correctly, the pine tree spirit that left sap all over the baths.

"I'm going to help Lin run the baths," Chihiro said to No-Face and hurried into the bathhouse. No-Face parted from his friend and went to the kitchens to see if there was anything to eat (especially oatmeal cookies or tapioca pudding).

Chihiro found Lin starting a bath for the Ootori-Sama, or bird spirits. These spirits were so very cute and fluffy (like oversized yellow chicks) that the human girl almost laughed. She stopped herself just in time, not wanting to insult them—for they were spirits.

"May I help, Lin?" Chihiro asked.

"You can fill the bath over there," Lin replied, indicating to a bath across the room. "Look, the customer is coming now—hurry!"

Chihiro quickly filled the bath for an intimidating apparition. She recognized right away that this was not just a spirit, but a god. It looked like a granite sculpture of a human—yet it was far more dignified than the most noble human, with a high, stern face. It was, Lin told her in an undertone, the God of the Iron Mountain.

When the bath was filled, Chihiro stepped back, bowed in respect and then continued helping Lin. It was almost midnight when the customers parted and the workers were able to relax. Chihiro and Lin went to the employees' common room, where they found No-Face floating around and nibbling on a cookie.

"Hi, No-Face," Chihiro said, smiling. "Are there any more of those cookies?"

No-Face nodded and indicated toward the kitchen. Chihiro promptly got a large plate of cookies and a pitcher of honeyed tea, and she and Lin had a nice snack.

Chihiro was very tired that night, as she was no longer used to the hectic pace of the bathhouse. When she fell asleep, however, she dreamed of dancing and flying in the sky with a certain dragon.

The following morning, Chihiro decided to travel to see Zeniba so, with No-Face at her side again, she took the train all the way to the sixth station, just as before. The vast expanse of water was still and shimmering, and the train moved silently over the tracks as usual. There were no other passengers, and Chihiro and No-Face got off soon enough.

They followed the now-familiar path to the little cottage in the woods; before Chihiro could even knock, the door was opened and there stood Zeniba, with her gentle, cheerful smile and merry, kind eyes.

"Chihiro, I have been expecting you," Zeniba said softly.

Chihiro threw her arms around the grandmotherly witch. "I missed you, Granny," she said.

"Thank you, child," Zeniba replied. "Now come along—you must be hungry after your train ride. I just made some oatmeal cookies. They happen to be—"

"No-Face's favorite," Chihiro and Zeniba said together, giggling. No-Face also made some sounds that sounded suspiciously like laughter.

The odd trio sat at the table once again, nibbling on the cookies and sipping herbal tea. Zeniba was full of questions about what had happened in Chihiro's life since the parting three years ago, and Chihiro told as much as she could. Zeniba hid a smile when the girl told about her fight with Minori.

"Oh, child, he just thinks he's being strong and mature," Zeniba said. "Boys his age are all like that. It's part of growing up."

Chihiro shook her head. "Not everyone. Not Hak—" she began, and then snapped her mouth shut. Zeniba gave her a scrutinizing look.

"You haven't forgotten your dragon boy, have you?" she said gently.

"No, but he has forgotten me, Granny!" Chihiro cried, suddenly feeling insecure again.

The good witch looked at Chihiro in sympathy. "No. No he hasn't."

"No?" Chihiro said. "But it's been three years…and he never mentioned me to anyone at the bathhouse, ever."

"Haku hasn't forgotten you. He just wanted you to get through your adolescence before he called you back. He thought it would be difficult for you to be between two worlds while growing up."

"But it wouldn't be…I know it wouldn't be," Chihiro protested.

"I know,"Zeniba said, "but though Haku wanted to be cautious. He's not wholly human, of course, and he doesn't fully understand human emotions."

"At least he hasn't forgotten me," Chihiro said a few moments later, though she could not help but feel a trace of doubt. "Well, Granny, I think I'll go back to the bathhouse. Lin is still having problems cleaning the sap from the pine spirit's bath. No-Face, if I don't see you again before I go to the human world again…I love you. You're a good friend."

No-Face began dancing in place, obviously happy. Chihiro and Zeniba smiled, and then the girl took her leave and left the cottage. She had barely taken a few steps outside when she jumped in surprise. Before her stood a beautiful Pegasus, whose blue wings looked like shimmering water, and its emerald green mane and tail contrasted with its pale beige body.

"Who…what…" Chihiro said, dazed, and then, suddenly, the Pegasus was not there; in its place was a girl with glossy black hair and dark green-grey eyes. There was something very familiar about her face. Chihiro stood in frozen silence until the girl spoke.

"Chihiro, come with me. I want to take you to someone I love dearly."

"Are you…Emeraude?" Chihiro said. The girl smiled.

"Yes. And I'm taking you to see Haku. That stubborn brother of mine! He didn't think you were ready to go back to the spirit world."

"You're taking me to see him?" Chihiro said incredulously as Emeraude phased back into her Pegasus form. The winged horse nodded, and then bent down on her front legs, signaling Chihiro to get onto her back. The human girl did so, with some difficulty, sitting in front of the wings and wrapping her hands in the silken mane.

Emeraude took off gently, and her flight was smooth and effortless. Her wings barely moved as she steadied herself and took advantage of a warm current of air. They were almost floating, in contrast to the dragon's winding, almost snake-like movements.

Chihiro had never seen the land below during daylight. The forest in which Zeniba lived was like a shadow of dark green thinning into the serene, rippling meadow. The water looked even clearer from above, and the lonely train glided over the tracks again. In the distance she could see the bathhouse, a brilliant splash of red against the meadow and the sky. The wind from Emeraude's wings flowed past Chihiro's ears and sounded almost like a song.

The Pegasus flew south for about an hour, and the meadows and trees slowly gave way to low blue mountains whose tops glittered in the sun. Just as Chihiro was starting to be drowsy from the warm sunlight and the winged horse's smooth flight, the latter began to descend, aiming for a small valley between two broad mountains. There was a house in the middle of the valley, a house that shimmered like a pearl in the sun.

Emeraude landed gently in front of the house and knelt on her front legs so that Chihiro could dismount easily. The girl straightened and then looked in awe at the house that lay before her. It was a simple two-story house, but it was beautiful. The roof was tiled with mother-of-pearl tiles, and a wide veranda wrapped around the first story. The house was painted a silvery blue color, and lush vines clung to the front wall. Gray granite steps led to the front door, which was made of shining rosewood.

"Go ahead," said Emeraude's lilting voice, and Chihiro jumped. She had forgotten that her companion was there, and now in human form.

"I can't," Chihiro gasped, suddenly feeling weak.

"Chihiro!" Emeraude's voice was sharp. "Don't be who you were three years ago, before you came to the bathhouse. Be strong. Don't turn back now!"

"I suppose you're right," Chihiro grumbled, and trudged ahead, her heart pounding. How would Haku react to seeing her? How would she react to seeing him? She stumbled up the steps and hesitated at the door. She noticed after a moment that the door was engraved with beautiful patterns and pictures—mountains, stars, planets, the sun, and rivers intertwining.

Then, with trembling hands, Chihiro reached for a silver bell hanging off to the side of the doorknob and rang it. It made a bright, tinkling sound, but it seemed to clang and echo in Chihiro's mind.

She waited for the door to open…


Hope you all enjoy this chapter...I enjoyed writing it, though I now want oatmeal cookies. :D