Hello Everyone… Heh... OK I've been gone for awhile, but my family and I went to another country! And when we got back my sister started playing with my laptop, playing a game called simgirl, Anime-based dating game, and my laptop got a virus! It took my Dad two weeks to fix my laptop! GRRRRR!!! And here's Chapter Two! ENJOY! (By the way I was listening to "Funky Town" while writing this).

Once Again, I'm sorry to We'll Always be Together Forever Fans!

- - -

A black bowl? It was all she could concentrate on in her half-asleep state. A simple black bowl sitting on the table

Her eyes shifted toward the floor, small deformed circles of light shined down. Chihiro blinked several times, coming into consciousness. She rolled her body toward the wall behind, taking the risk of squashing her arm under her body, and it was actually this that got her out of bed.

She sat up, and stretched her arms before kicking the bed covers off her. She looked at the curtain; the long thick fabric had various patches of it missing layers, causing the light to sneak through. It was a really old curtain anyways. Thought young Chihiro as she stood from her futon. She walked over to the table and looked within the bowl. Katsudon was served. Instead of digging in, she walked toward the curtains and pushed them aside. She flinched as the light flowed through the room instantly. The girl stepped out to the balcony. It looked about midday; she looked down to the transparent sea, with its calm waves, and then looked up to see no smoke being released from the steam pipe. She looked to the bridge to see two familiar girls running across toward the small town. She dropped her head a bit to the left in thought.

I wonder where they're going. The girls disappeared behind the buildings. Chihiro sighed laid her head on the railing. Hmmmm…They're probably going to watch the dance practice where mother is… or help with some carnival I might have forgotten about… or they might be going…. TO CLASS!!! Chihiro head instantly shot up. She ran hastily into the room, and opened the door of the wardrobe with a slam. She grabbed a random kimono, which was Green with many purple and gold Dragonflies, and ran behind the changing screen. She tossed her sleeping kimono over the screen, then her obi.

She ran to the mirror, kimono half on. She used her reflection to tie the obi. When she finished she grabbed a plain red hair tie, and styled her hair in a ponytail. Opening the screen door half way, Chihiro ran out letting it close itself, and leaving the bowl of Katsudon abandoned.

Footsteps echoed through the dark empty halls. Rapidly getting louder and louder. Swinging around the corners, Chihiro began to sweat in anxiousness. Her mind currently thinking on what her punishment would be when her sensei informs her mother of her seventh tardiness this season. She ran down the last pack of stairs needed to reach the ground level of the building. Trying to swallow the saliva in her dry mouth, felt her back ache from all the adrenaline. Just as she was about to turn a corner, she felt herself hardly breathing. She closed her eyes and just when turning the corner, she slammed into something firm, and she felt her body fall to the floor.

…

She blinked a few times, now feeling the ache of the impact, and closed her eyes again. Thinking she probably hit wall, which happens quite often thanks to her clumsiness, she tried to relax on the hard-wood floor, resting from the exhausting mad dash she did through the halls.

"Are you hurt?" Chihiro's eyes shot open. DID I RUN INTO A PERSON INSTEAD OF A WALL?! Nice one Chihiro! She moaned and slapped her hand on her face in disapproval of herself. Why do I have to be so clumsy?

"Can you get up?" Chihiro heard again. The voice was male, which added another fifty pounds of embarrassment on her like a ton of bricks. She looked up at person she bumped into and gasped.

She was startled. This boy she was accidentally knocked down by was, by appearance a young God. He had a firm, narrow face. His eyes were glistening green, but held a hard steely glint. His dark green hair was cut in Okappa style, a long version of a bowl cut, with straight bangs. He wore a dark-colored Hoko sugata, attire too formal and expensive for a worker of the bathhouse. He bent down and held out a pale hand to her. Chihiro looked in awe, for she had hardly ever seen a real male before, mostly just frogs and weird-looking spirits. She stared at his extended hand, not understanding what he wanted.

"Don't you want to get up?" He asked her. Chihiro nodded and placed her hand in his. His touch was warm, and soft. It gave her a strange tingly feeling. She gasped when she was pulled up without any effort on her part.

"I apologize for knocking you down," He said politely. Chihiro looked down at the wooden floor timidly.

"It's Okay, it was my fault for running," Chihiro said in a low, shy voice. She blushed slightly when she felt her hand still in his. She looked up at his face for a brief second, he was staring intently at her, waiting for her to say something else. What was she supposed to say? Being the first real human-looking male she's ever really talked to, she felt baffled on what to say to him. It made her a bit uncomfortable. If she was Flustered by one boy, one REALLY cute boy, what would she be like as a Geisha?

She gasped again. Realizing that she was late to class. She looked up at him again.

"I have to go now, Thank you very much for helping me up," she said rapidly, as she gave a quick bow. "Goodbye" She said before running down the hall.

- - -

Running through the main street of the small commercial town, Chihiro stopped beside a restaurant counter, and leaned on a barstool. Panting, and dripping in sweat, she looked down at the backstreet behind the restaurant. Almost there...

She pushed her body off the barstool, and with much effort, continued to run down the street. She turned the corner and dashed down toward the end of the street to a small one story pagoda. She nearly collapsed when she got to those four stairs. Music and chants could be heard coming from inside. She peaked over to see, her sensei demonstrating seemingly simple fan dance to the other girls. Behind the class was a small band of musicians. She gulped as she stood up to enter the room. She took off her waraji sandals, and lined them up against the wall, next to the other girls' sandals. She enter awkwardly, receiving annoyed and mocking stares from her classmates. She waited till her sensei finished her dance, and turned to her. She bowed respectfully.

"Tardy to class once again Chihiro, and you didn't even bother to even dress formally!" Her sensei lectured, snapping her fan against her other hand, while the class snickered. Chihiro looked up at her confused. She looked down at her clothes, a proper and simple kimono. It was pretty enough for the dance practices. She looked over at the other young girls, and gasped. They all wore the whole package. White powder skin, ruby red lips, Standard Maiko hairstyles, fabulously elegant kimonos, and all the rest. Chihiro looked up at her sensei and gulped. She was a very tall woman, with straight auburn brown hair, she narrowed her dark eyes at Chihiro, twisting the delicate-looking paper fan in her pale hands.

"Girls, apparently your dense classmate has forgotten today's assignment, Which of you would like to enlighten her on the subject?" She asked the class, making the other girls snicker, and even the musicians had mocking smiles. She just lives to embarrass me...

A few girls raised their hands. Her sensei pointed her fan at a black-haired girl. "Midori! Please inform Chihiro of today's assignment!" The girl stood and nodded.

"Yes Sensei, It was expected of us to be fully dress, to practice our dance for the upcoming festival, where we welcome Sae-No-Kami," The girl spoke.

"Thank you Midori, you may be seated," She turned to Chihiro, and frowned. Chihiro bowed her head in embarassment.

"I'm sorry Yayoi-sensei, it won't happen ever again," Chihiro uttered. She looked up at the strict woman affright.

"I'm sorry, is just not enough Chihiro, You have been late to class seven times this autumn, I'm beginning to get very agitated! I'm going to have a talk with your mother on this, and until we can agree on a suitable punishment, you will be excluded from the Festival dance, Understand?"

Chihiro sighed and nodded. "Your mother will be very disappointed Chihiro," Said her sensei with a mock tone, then she turned her back to Chihiro and turned to the class. Chihiro walked outside and sat on the porch of the building. She sighed sadly and waited patiently for class to end.

She could hear the musicians beginning to play a rhythmic tune, the selected melody for the classes dance. Chihiro gave no interest in the performance. Their role in festival was just an intermission for the true stars of the festival. The Full-fledge Geishas. Her mother and the other geishas' perform their more extravagant, dazzling, and not to mention erotic dance. There was really no point in appearing, no one had any interest in seeing a group of ten year old girls dance.

Chihiro's mind decided to reflect back on her previous encounter with the mysterious boy she met.

- - -

Night had fallen over the land of gods, which initiated the full function of Aburaya. The lanterns along the main road and bridge magically began to lit. Inside the huge building a myriad of yuna and frogs walked tiredly through the hallways. Uneager to slave away another day of unpaid service. Within one of the many hallways in the building, Chihiro scurried to the stairs, careful not to be seen.

At the very top of the stairs, she took two careful steps, and peaked at the bottom of the of the stairs. Seeing no one, she took the opportunity, and hurried down the them. She turned to her left and disappeared down a scarcely lit hallway.

Chihiro peaked down a long petty-looking narrow corridor, where a large window took up the right wall. It was empty. Chihiro stuck her head out, then proceeded across. She turned another corner, and walked directly to a large cheap-looking screen door. Chihiro stuck her ear against it, to hear inside. She could hear loud talking from the inside, and recognized the voice. She slowly opened the screen door to peak in.

The room was three times as big as her room, and was much less decorated, with a few small wardrobes here and there. The room was empty except for two girls. In the middle of the room, laying lazily on a futon, was a ochre-brown haired yuna. Her hair reached to about the back of her knees, and had bangs that reached below her chest. She had long narrow face. Her body was tall, and slim. She wore a pair of common worker pants, and a blue apron the covered her upper body. Behind her, another yuna with short brown hair looked into a tall cracked mirror, while she slipped on a pink worker shirt, she was younger and much less skinnier than the other yuna. Chihiro slid inside the room, and closed the screen door behind her.

"Well, If it isn't the fabulous, and rich daughter of a Geisha, descending from the high levels to socialize with the common workers," Said the girl in front of the mirror, turning to give a mock bow.

"Oh, lay off her Miyu, It's not her fault she's rich!" laughed the yuna on the floor. Chihiro frowned.

"Well, I'm sorry, but it's been around a week since she gave us a visit, What's up Chihiro? Geisha duties?" laughed Miyu. Chihiro glared shining daggers at Miyu.

"BEING A GEISHA IS NOT WHAT YOU GUYS THINK! How many times do I have to tell you two that!" Chihiro yelled out. The yuna on the floor sat up and grinned.

"Settle down Chi, we're just teasing you, we don't mean anything by it!" She told her. Chihiro sighed and sat down next to her. The yuna next to her tossed an arm over her shoulders. "What's wrong Chi? Rough day?"

"You have no idea Rin," Chihiro responded hugging her knees. Miyu sat next to her, while trying to comb her hair with a red comb that what missing some teeth.

"What happened?" Miyu asked with a smile.

"Well, my mother had to work again last night so we didn't get to spend any time together, I woke up late to my cl-,"

"AGAIN?!" Blurted both yuna, interrupting Chihiro.

"Yes again, so anyway I left without eating breakfast, and while running through the halls I bumped int-,"

"A wall?" asked Miyu

"No, a boy,"

"A frog boy?" asked Rin raising an eyebrow.

"No he-, he was a person-looking boy," Chihiro said. Both yuna looked at her in shock.

"REALLY! What did he look like?!" Asked Rin her brown eyes widening.

"Well, uh, he was kinda taller than me, and he wore really really nice clothes, and his eyes were a nice shade of green, and... he had a very cute face. I can't really remember anything else, we only spoke for a few seconds, But he had a nice voice too," Chihiro commented trying to think back on the encounter.

"Do you think it could be Haku-sama?" asked Miyu. Chihiro and Rin looked at her with curious faces.

"Who's Haku?" asked Rin

"Haku-SAMA, is Yubaba's novice, he's like the future heir of the bathhouse," Miyu explained

"WAIT! Wait! What's a no-vice, and doesn't Yubaba have a son?!" Rin asked

"A Novice is another word for Apprentice," Miyu explained wagging her finger.

"Why didn't you just say apprentice in the first place," Miyu narrowed her eyes at Rin.

"Anyway, next question," Chihiro said

"Yes, as for Yubaba's son, He is still an infant of the age of thirty-seven, Let's suppose something fatal happened to Yubaba, Or in Yubaba's retirement her son doesn't want to take the job, or is still too young, someone has to take over," Miyu explained.

"But why call him heir?" Asked Rin laying back down on the futon. Miyu turned back to her.

"Don't question why things are said!" Rin stuck her tongue out at her. "By the way, Chihiro what else happened today?" Miyu asked again.

"Um, after meeting him, when I got to class, Yayoi-sensei got angry and took me out of the festival dance, and said she would speak to my Mother about more punishment," Chihiro finished, laying her head on her knees.

"You mean that festival where we welcome the Kami of Roads?" Rin asked. Chihiro nodded. "That's kinda harsh,"

"I don't care, me being there is meaningless really, I was in the last row of the dance, so no one would have seen me anyways," Chihiro said lifting her head and smiling back at Rin.

"Hey Rin, we have to get to work, get dressed," Miyu told her as she stood to stretch. Rin moaned unhappily, then stood of the futon, Chihiro did the same. Rin took, and folded the futon, then went to place it in the nearest wardrobe, placing it in a shelf. She looked in another shelf and pulled out a pink worker shirt. Miyu was patiently waiting by the door. Chihiro sighed nonchalantly. Making Miyu raise an eyebrow at her.

"Well, I have to go," Chihiro told them, waving a hand as a farewell. Rin walked to the screen door beside Miyu.

"Want us to help you sneak out?" Rin asked. Chihiro shook her head.

"No thanks, I'm fine," Chihiro said walking after her. Miyu slide the door open to let Chihiro out. "Bye guys, Remember wait just a few minutes, and then come out," Chihiro said before running down the hall.

- - -

This is the worst day ever. Sensei Yayoi sat across from her mother in the room, both her hands clasping the paper fan tightly. Chihiro's mother sat next to her, a fustrated and upset expression on her face. Chihiro sat there, head cast down shamefully. Not only was Chihiro late for school seven times, and ignorant to the assignments, but she was caught 'touring' through the bathhouse. Chihiro took a quick glance at her mother's face. Angry. No surprise there. Sensei Yayoi had her eyes closed in 'graceful meditation'. Chihiro had forgotten what led to this uncomfortable silence, but there was little she could say about the situation.

"So tell me Yayoi-san, what sort of punishment do you think would be appropriate, for Chihiro to undergo?" Asked Chihiro's mother trying giving the woman a serious look. Yayoi opened one eye tyo look at Chihiro's mother. Then closed it again.

"What I have in mind is not exactly useful for a future Geisha, but Chihiro-san seems to have no interest in the way of a Geisha. So I believe it would be suitable to have her do another sort of work for a short period of time in the bathhouse to show her the rare blessing of being able to pursue the Geisha way,"

"That sounds quite reasonable Yayoi, but what labor will my daughter be given, and for how long?"

"Yuuko, I propose she labor for three nights as a Bathtub scrubber," Yayoi stated. Chihiro jumped slightly, a twinkle of happiness in her eyes.

"..." Yuuko remained silent. Giving thought on the sentence given. Chihiro peaked at her face, seeking approval. If her mother approved, that meant she could be with Rin, and Miyu all those three nights. Yuuko looked at Chihiro, noticing her excited eyes, she frowned at one instant, but returned to her solemn expression. Yuuko looked back at Yayoi, her shoulders hunching slightly.

"Very well Yayoi, I accept the proposal," She turned to Chihiro her eyes calm. She watched Chihiro silently try to hide a smile, and sighed nonchalantly.

Chihiro looked at Yayoi. The awful broad probably wasn't even trying to hide to her happiness. Sure her expression was serious, but those dark eyes showed pure content. Chihiro smirked slighty.

I'm just as happy as you Yayoi, This day didn't turn out so bad after all...

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Gomensai for the long wait! This Chapter was much less sloppy than the first... I'm the queen of sloppy beginnings... bad luck to me

Review Please!