Here is chapter two... I hope everyone enjoys this, and again, PLEASE review.

Chapter Two: Communication, Fight, and Flight

School didn't start until late, the next morning, so Chihiro was free to add more to her painting. She decided to leave the previous night's events off of it, and stick to the beginning of the dream only. She wasn't sure she wanted her teacher, or any of her class mates to see that. That was just asking for more whispers behind her back.

"You work fast," said her mother, admiring her work, "This was still mostly blank, as far as paint, yesterday afternoon, now it's nearly done. Think you'll have it done in time for school?"

Chihiro shrugged, not looking at her mom, nor did she lift the paintbrush from the painting. In truth, she knew she'd have it done. She knew exactly how fast she could paint, and by her calculations, she'd have it done, and still have time to spare, before she had to leave. "I was up early," she offered as an explanation. Indeed she had been up early. Three am, was her guess, as she hadn't looked at the clock.

"I know," her mother replied, "I heard you scream last night... What was wrong?"

"I saw everything burning... The dragon, the bath house, the spirits, everything, and I couldn't get to any of them."

"Chihiro, they're your dreams, why so much fuss over dreams?"

If only you knew, Mom, if only you knew... "I dunno," she said, with another non-commital shrug, "It was a dream, that's all."

----------------------------------

Haku did what he could to keep his mind off of seeing Chihiro being beaten up, but so far nothing was working. For the moment, he had settled on simply lazily flying around the bathhouse, but even that brought his mind back to Chihiro. It had been when she was flying with him that she had remembered his name. I give up... She's permanently grafted into my thoughts, it seems. He would have liked to get his hands on the group that had beat the girl... They'd have regretted it, and they wouldn't have done it again. After all... Hard to hit someone, when you lack the proper appendages...

Banishing these morbid thoughts, the dragon continued with his flight, trying to get back into Chihiro's head, as Zaniba had said he would be able to. It was proving difficult.

------------------------------

As Chihiro had predicted, she was done with her artwork in time to get ready for school, which she did in a hurry, dragging on a pair of blue denim shorts, and a loose blue-green t-shirt. Her hair, now reaching past the middle of her back, was lazily pulled through her violet hair-tie, though only partially, so she had one little round ball of hair in the center of a rat's nest. Not that she cared, she was in a hurry. If she left early, she would be able to get to school before anyone else even left their houses, then she could at least avoid being hit until school was done, that way her painting wouldn't be damaged.

She shouted a goodbye to her mother, and waved to her father, as she passed him on the sidewalk, and all but flew to school. Halfway there, she felt that presence in her mind again, only this time it didn't seem like it was in her memory, but rather, in the thoughts of then and there.

Get out. She thought at it, What're you doing in my head in the first place?

The reply she got sounded so surprised, she couldn't help but smile. Chihiro!?

There was something familiar about that voice, Yes, I'm Chihiro... Who are you? And how did you get in my head?

It's good to hear you again, Little One... It is Haku, Chihiro, and Zaniba is how.

Haku! Wha- how... But you're- She couldn't even get a full thought out. She couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if she were speaking. You're not even in this world... Are you? She looked over her shoulder, just for good measure.

No, I'm not. I'm still at the BathHouse... She could feel him sigh, I've missed you.

Chihiro bit her lip, I've missed you too... I wish I could go back... I wouldn't have been so desperate to leave, if I had known what it would be like coming back...

I saw what happened to you yesterday... Does that happen often?

So it WAS you in my head, yesterday... Yes, that happens often. It didn't used to, but now it does. They do it because they think I'm strange, that I don't belong here.

The town, or that world?

Both. I'm inclined to agree with them, sometimes, especially when I remember how much I miss you.

Another sigh, Chihiro, you shouldn't. It's my fault you're miserable there.

How can you say that? It's no one's fault...

No, it really is my fault. I should have made you forget about your time in the spirit world...

No. She thought back, with determination, I didn't, and still don't, want to forget everything... Or you. Being beaten up, and called names is worth remembering.

They argued the ups and downs of her remembering, as she continued her way to school. Personally, Chihiro would have been happy, even if they were having a full scale fight. It was wonderful, just to be able to hear her Dragon's voice, and feel his presence in her mind. She arrived at school, with a smile on her face. Something she hadn't done in quite a long while. One of her teachers noticed.

"Good morning, Chihiro. Any reason you're smiling?"

Chihiro shrugged, as she responded to something Haku said. No, she's not one who hits me... She handed her paiting to the woman, "I managed to finish that early, Ma'am." she said to the young woman, with a half-bow. Some of the other students, who had arrived earlier than her gave her jealous glares. She knew those well. She got them on a daily basis, when she did something that pleased a teacher.

All through class, she talked with Haku, surprised at the lack of akwardness. Somehow, she had always imagined that if she ever did get to speak to him again, it would be a rather akward thing at first, yet here they were, carrying on as if they did so every day. By the time school let out, she hadn't managed to remember a thing the teachers had said, save that homework assignments were due back in a few days. Mercifully, the bullies were kept after school, giving her safe passage home.

Seeing their daughter come home smiling was a rare sight indeed, to Chihiro's parents. She had a slightly dreamy look in her eyes as well. As per usual though, she greeted them vaguely, and went up to her room. Trading confused glances, and shrugs, they decided they'd ask her what was up at dinner.

----------------------------

Haku felt much better than he had in a long while, after being able to talk to Chihiro. But he still wasn't comepletely happy. He doubted he would be, unless she was there with him. He'd had to break off the connection with her eventually, when Lin came, yelling at him that it was time for dinner. After promising Chihiro that he would talk with her again, he left. He wondered if Zaniba had known that he would be able to speak telepathically with the girl, by getting into her mind. He guessed that she had, and had just wanted him to figure out how to do so on his own. Though he had ended up doing it on accident.

He asked the old witch, later, if she had known, her reply was simply a smirk and, "When you want something bad enough, you can get it, if you just try."

Somewhat put out by her answer, he avoided her for the rest of the night. He didn't tell anyone else he had spoken with Chihiro. The fact that he was keeping something a secret was severely annoying Lin, who couldn't stand not knowing something. Kamaji thought her behavoir was childish, and told her so, only annoying her even more. When she finally gave up, and stalked off to go to bed, Haku almost laughed.

At first, that night, he slept better than he had in four years, but then, his pleasant dream changed. Like Chihiro, he saw everything, and everyone he knew, burning. And like Chihiro, he woke, covered in sweat, and feverish.

The same sense of foreboding washed over him, as well. Something was coming. And it spelled trouble for the bathhouse.

---------------------------

Chihiro wasn't so lucky as to avoid a beating the next afternoon. Speaking with Haku distracted her enough, that she wasn't paying quite enough attention to her surroundings, and she didn't see the six other kids approaching from two sides. The first blow was a sucker punch, to the small of her back, that left her momentarily breathless. Before she could even register the fact that she had been hit a second time, this time to the ribs, a third and fourth punch were placed to her shoulder blades. She couldn't even answer Haku when he asked what was going on... All that was getting through to him, she was sure, was the pain.

An arm hooked around her throat, and pulled her back up. A fist connected with her stomach, and she tried to ball up, to protect herself, but being held up hindered her. Haku's thoughts screamed at her to tell him what was going on, but she couldn't. She managed to clamp down on her captor's arm with her teeth. She tasted something coppery, and realized she had drawn blood. She tore at the skin she had hold of, and heard several disgusted yells, and one of pain. Before the one holding her released her, she managed to make another, this one a boy, back off with a well placed kick. She hit the ground, and tried to scramble to her feet, but was held down when someone stepped hard on her back.

"GET OFF!" She shrieked at the group, only to be answered by laughs.

Chihiro! What's wrong!

Gang... Jumped me... being hit...

She managed to squirm out from under the foot that held her down. A few kicks later, she managed to clamber to her feet, somewhat clumsily. She wasted no time before she started running.

Please don't follow, please don't follow, please don't follow. She mentally begged. Generally, she didn't get an answer to that.

Can you make it somewhere safe, Chihiro? Haku wanted to know

I can... if they don't catch up to me... Dammit... They're following me...

She could hear six pairs of feet pounding on the pavement behind her. She saw a path turn off up ahead, and took it, not even thinking about where it would lead. Her feet were taking her down memory lane, and she didn't really care, as long as she could get away. The gang meant business today, and she doubted they would stop beating her until she was either unconcious, or had to be taken to the hospital... Or maybe both. She passed a small group of shrines, and she could see her house, atop a hill, but she didn't dare try to climb the hill to get there. That would only slow her down. She just kept running. There, nestled in the trees was a short, fat little statue

There was a tunnel ahead, and another of those statues.

She ran into the tunnel, no longer knowing where she was. All she wanted was to get away.

She kept running, and running, until she finally came to the top of an old set of stairs, adorned with a frog statue, and there she collapsed, in pain, and barely able to breathe.

-----------------------------

Chihiro! CHIHIRO! Haku mentally shouted. But he could no longer sense her presence. Anxious, he paced back and forth, trying to make a connection with her again, but he couldn't.

"what's up with him?" Lin asked Kamaji, as she arrived in the boiler room, with Kamiji's dinner. "I think I prefered him moping..."

A good thump to the back of her head, with one of Kamiji's many hands put her in her place, "why don't you go ask him, instead of bothering me?"

Haku wasn't listening. He was too busy trying to think... Something about the last thoughts he'd heard from Chihiro were bothering him. "The tunnel... Have to get to the tunnel... Can't follow me... in... spirit..."

"Haku!" Lin was saying, waving a hand in front of his face, "Hellllooooo, anybody home in there? Yoohooo!"

The boy, however, was oblivious to the fact that she was even there... Something was falling into place in his mind.

"KOHAKU! Answer me, Dragon!" Lin shouted, poking his arm with one finger.

She's here... She crossed the barrier... But how?... Have to find her, before she disappears... "Lin!" he suddenly said, making the woman nearly jump out of her skin.

"Ahhh! Don't do that!" she replied, scornfully.

"You have to help me... Chihi- Sen... is here... She crossed the barrier. We have to find her, before she disappears."

"Wha? Huh? How is she here? Humans aren't supposed to be able to cross in the first place, let alone twice!." Lin argued. The idea that the girl would be able to get back was preposterous.

"Don't argue with me, woman!" Haku growled, emerald eyes flashing, "Just come on."

Grumbling that she wasn't a slave, Lin followed the boy out of the boiler room.

We have to hurry... It'll be sundown soon... We won't be able to get her home, if we don't find her by sundown... Wait... Do I even want to send her home? She hates it there, and I don't feel right without her... But what about her parents?

In turmoil over what to do, Haku searched. She couldn't have gone far from the entrance, with as exausted as she had seemed, so it was best to start in areas close to there.

"Ha..Ku... Why... Do we... have... to run... thi-this fast... can't... breathe..." Lin complained.

"Do you want Sen to disappear forever?" Haku asked, not caring if she answered or not.

Ahead of them, next to the old frog, lay the unconcious form of Chihiro. "Oooooh dear..." said Lin, seeing the girl turning transparent, as the sun began to disappear from the sky.

"Lin, hurry, and get some food. Now!"

Hmmm, decisions decisions... Let her stay or send her home? AFTER they save her of course...