Alright guys Chapter 4

Sorry about it being so late…

Now, to the important has a new option, they e-mail me informing me of people who have added my story on alert, but some of these people have not reviewed. If people don't review the story, how do I know if what I'm writing is worthwhile? All I want is a little note, to know that I'm doing well. Even if all you say is update soon, at least I know your reading. Is that too much to ask?

Okay now that that's settled, I can move on to the most important issue:

Death Note ALMOST won over my heart.

It is a great and admirable Anime, which almost took the place of Spirited away in my heart.

But alas, the glory of Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi stayed on top. And be grateful it did, I would've stopped writing due to lack of inspiration.

Now on to the Story!

(PS: L and Mello are on my hotties list)

- - -

Whimpers echoed through the room, clearly belonging to the trembling lump in the corner of the room. The sun shined in the room, despite all the quilts and blankets used to cover the windows and screen doors. But due to the hard labor, and exhaustion, it's no wonder the yuna are still asleep.

Chihiro laid facing the wall on her futon, covered with her thick blanket from head-to-toe. A shiver ran up her spine, it was actually quite cold in the room, especially since she was in the corner without windows near her. Her mother crossed her mind, she had not seen her all day yesterday, and the thought of not seeing her for the next two days scared her. Normally, in their room, her mother would sleep on the other side of the room for when she would wake up early; always see her mother's back facing her. How she missed this routine, ever since the festival to welcome Sae no Kami came along, her mother has practiced night and day for her performance.

She flinched, hearing the tossing and turning of a yuna, a short distance away from her. Another cold shiver ran up her spine.

How she wished to leave this place, escape and live life outside this prison. Living in the bathhouse all her life, she didn't have quite the imagination to wonder what's out there. But anything will better than here.

I just want to leave…

Chihiro felt her eyelids heavy once more, with no more strength to think; she curled up into a ball and fell asleep once again.

- - -

Chihiro walked fast behind Rin, following her into the fancy red elevator on the second floor. Rin had been quiet all morning, not bothering to tell Chihiro of today's work schedule. She wondered whether Rin was still in a foul mood.

They were both silent inside the elevator, an uncomfortable type of silent. Chihiro stole a glance at her face; she had a particularly blank expression, as if trying to hide her feelings. Chihiro had been taught such acts in her class. To hide one's inner emotions, and desires, to awake in men the curiosity of what's within. Is this what Rin is trying to do, hide her anger? And what was she angry at anyway? Is it because of what the Yuna said last night? Why would that make her mad?

The red wooden doors of the elevator opened swiftly, revealing a group of immensely fat spirits waiting to get on. Chihiro wondered how all these gods were going to be able to fit in the small enclosed elevator.

She and Rin squeezed through the cluster of spirits, mumbling apologies as they went by. They turned toward a wide, brightly lit hallway; the smell of fried, boiled and steamed food filled their nostrils as they entered the kitchen at the end of the hall.

"Wait here," Rin said finally, strolling over to the counter.

Chihiro fondled with her hands nervously, watching as a frog at the counter Rin went to prepare a bowl of shrimp and fried rice. He handed her the bowl on a tray, and a bucket filled with little colored stars. Rin walked back toward Chihiro.

"Rin, aren't we going to get breakfast," Chihiro asked as Rin turned to the exit of the kitchen.

"Yeah, but we gotta go feed Kamaji first," She responded walking out. Chihiro gasped lowly, remembering that Rin mentioned that the boiler man's name was Kamaji.

"You mean we're going to the boiler room?"

"Well obviously, if we're going to deliver his food," Chihiro ran to catch up to her, and walked by her side. Staring at the bowl in Rin's hands, she was very hungry and had barely eaten anything last night. How she regretted not have eaten that bowl of katsudon when she had the chance.

Chihiro struggled to keep up with Rin as she turned various corners. It was hard to go at her pace, Chihiro still did not know the bathhouse very well, even after spending ten years of her life there, thus she constantly found herself staring at all the marvels hadn't seen before. Eventually leading to a new train thought.

She sighed, she still felt bad that Rin was angry at her. She had to get the awkwardness out of her mind.

"Um, Rin?"

"Yeah," she responded, not bothering to face her.

"Are you still mad at me?"

"About what?"

"About last night, are you still mad at me when one of the Yuna asked me abo-," Rin stopped, cutting off Chihiro's question.

"Wait, hold on a second," Chihiro tilted her head slightly, as the older woman turned to face her. "You thought I was mad at you?" Chihiro nodded, causing Rin to randomly crack into laughter. Leaving the younger girl confused toward the situation. "Chi-Chan I wasn't mad at you,"

"Really?"

"Of course kid, I was angry at those slimy gossiping slugs, I bet if you had told them what your life is really like, they would have called you ungrateful, spoiled, and probably spread a few rumors about you too, you have to watch your back, you can't trust anyone,"

"Oh, I understand," Chihiro said.

"Good, now keep that in mind as you go along, there are many jealous women in this bathhouse," Rin said with a wink. Chihiro smiled and nodded, feeling happiness, and relief at Rin's protection. She was like an older sister to her.

"Now come on, I'm going to show you where the boiler room is," She said turning back down the hallway.

- - -

Their elevator descended down to the last possible floor. Where all the machinery, supplies, screws, and joints resided. Packages and barrels of herbs, towels, brushes, and everything else you could possibly need in a bathhouse was stored down here. Several oil cans, and wrenches were seen lying around the place, and you could see endless staircases leading to the top floors overhead.

Rin continued to walk through the spaces between many large pieces of machinery. Chihiro followed her to a small, low door at the end of a hallway. So low in fact, that they had to crouch down to get through it. Chihiro followed her.

Inside, it was extremely warm, and smelled of smoke. The giant machine of a boiler could be seen flaring many sparks through the pipes. The room was very big, and the walls were all drawers. In the middle of the room, small puffballs carried shiny black rocks bigger than they were, to the boiler. There was another small hall on the other side of the room, with a door at the end.

Chihiro looked up at the six-armed old man who sat on a pedestal, about a meter away from the boiler. His face was turned away from her, but he had a very big beard which covered half his face, and wore small goggles over his eyes.

"Hey Kamaji, Breakfast time," Rin said walking over to the man.

"Just put it over there," He mumbled, motioning toward the small dining table behind him.

"Come on Gramps, take a break, I want you to meet someone," Kamaji turned his head instantly.

"Really, I haven't met anyone new for long while, who is it?" Rin pointed at Chihiro. Kamaji adjusted his goggles, as if trying to get a better look.

"Ahhh, I see, and who is this little girl might I ask?"

"This is Chihiro, Yuuko's daughter,"

"Oh, Yuuko's daughter huh? Yes, she does quite resemble her,"

"You know my mother?" Chihiro asked walking closer to the pedestal.

"Yes child, I know her. Such a determined, and serious woman, very caring too, it's a pity to see her suffering such a sad fate. Before your birth, she would often come down here and cry her heart out. But I haven't seen her in a long time, maybe in a few years," Kamaji took a long look at the little girl, while one of his arms reached over to grab the bowl of shrimp and rice Rin had just placed on the table.

"You really do look like your mother, same eyes, same figure, although it's not surprising," Kamaji said taking a bite of his food.

Chihiro turned suddenly when she heard a crowd of high-pitched shrieks. It was the little fluffballs, making a commotion over the little star candies Rin was giving them.

"Where exactly did you meet this little girl Rin?" Kamaji asked turning his head to her.

"Well, it was day-time and I had to go to the toilet, and right as I was coming back I saw her weeping in a corner saying she's lost, there was a large commotion for two hours until Yuuko came to get her. I believe that was your first day Class, right Chihiro? How old were you again?"

"Yes it was, and I was 6,"

"Huh? Lost? How did you get lost?" Kamaji asked taking a bite of his shrimp.

"Well, I don't remember exactly, I think I took a wrong turn or something, I never did get a chance to walk alone around the bathhouse before, and I still don't, I have to walk to class with all the other girls, unless I wake up late,"

"Ah, so you're a geisha-in-training right? I should have guessed by your good grammar, and speech, all these yuna stumble over their words," Rin glared at the old man, mentally cursing him. "So tell me child, why are you following Rin around, and in that uniform, is this some sort of new punishment?"

"Yes it is I guess, I came late to class, and got caught walking around the bathhouse, so I have to work with Rin for 3 nights,"

"Strange punishment, why can't a 12 year old girl walk around the bathhouse, Yubaba comes up with such strict rules,"

"Uh, I'm 10," Kamaji raised an eyebrow, and readjusted his goggles.

"Going blind there old man?" Rin said with a smirk.

"I suppose my sight isn't exactly what it used to be," Kamaji mumbled taking another bite of his food.

"Hey, where's your bowl from yesterday?" Rin asked looking around.

"Isn't it out there?" Kamaji responded

"No,"

"Hmmm, Then it must be in this room somewhere," Kamaji said, putting down his bowl, and searching around the surface of the pedestal.

"Don't tell me you lost it!" Rin said angrily, Chihiro sighed and went to sit down at the edge of the wooden floor, right before the fluffballs' sandbox floor. She stared at the little creatures as they carried rocks to the opening of the boiler.

"HERE IT IS!" cried Kamaji, holding out a bowl to Rin.

"Finally, next time leave it out," She lectured, as she snapped the bowl out of his hand. Chihiro turned her attention back to the fluffballs, curiosity replacing her instant boredom.

"Those are sootballs," Chihiro looked up at the old man. He began to spin the wheel at the side of the pedestal, and take a drink of water from a kettle.

"Sootballs?"

"Yes, with one tiny spell I can come up with more than 50 strong little workers, saving me the trouble of carrying the coal myself,"

"Alright, you all are fed, come on Chihiro let's get to work," Rin said picking up the bucket on the floor.

"Huh? Already?" Rin looked back at her.

"Of course, that's why it's called work!" Rin opened the tiny door and slipped through to the other side. Chihiro stood and stretched briefly, preparing herself physically and sorta mentally for the work ahead. She looked up at the aged man, who was apparently busy mixing some herbs.

"Um, bye Kamaji-san it was nice meeting you!" Chihiro said kindly with a bow, and then walked quickly to the small door.

"Goodbye child and send my regards to you mother,"

"I will," She said smiling.

- - -

Okay, I know this chapter was a little boring, okay VERY boring, but I'm just trying to explain and clear things out in the story.

But don't worry, next chapter we'll meet up with Haku again! HAHA!

By the way, due to the deletion of my series Behind the Act, I am very pissed. But I'm going to start over! Watch out people cause behind the act is returning!