A small clicking sound echoed through the quiet room as Yubaba clicked her dark red painted nails against the hard oak of her desk. She stared off at the fireplace that danced merrily within it's hearth before she turned her attention to Alyssa, who stood quietly in a darkened corner of the room, staring out at the black sky.

"So the beast managed to get to her? I assume you stepped in and saved her?" Yubaba said coldly.

Alyssa cast a glance toward Yubaba and just barely stopped the sneer from taking over her face. "Yes the bitch managed to get to her. And no, Chihiro managed to save her own skin. She's not that eleven-year-old girl anymore," she said quietly, just keeping her temper under control. "She doesn't need someone to be with her 24/7."

Yubaba slammed a hand on her desk, eyes lit up like the fire in the hearth. "You are supposed to be protecting her! I should not have had to worry about sending you to go and fetch her from the cottage. None of what happened should have come to pass!"

A sigh echoed through the room as Zeniba stepped in-between her sister and Alyssa. "Yubaba, it is not her fault. None of us could have known that Deruku suspected we'd move her. Nor did we realize that he would figure out where we moved her too."

"That's not the point," Yubaba said, calming herself. "We cannot let that man get a hold of Chihiro. It cannot happen! If it does…" The old woman trailed off, frowning. "You don't want to see what this world can look like if taken control of by the wrong hands."

Alyssa snorted, a cold look passing over her features. "I tried to get there on time. I assumed the silly wolf would have had enough sense to keep track of her," she responded finally, casting a glance toward the fireplace; just to the side where another girl stepped into the light.

"Don't you dare blame this on me! You are her guardian!" Mori Kanshisha muttered. She was starting to get irritable being cooped up in the bathhouse.

Alyssa growled at the forest spirit, and Mori simply glared right back.

Zeniba glanced between the two and sighed, rolling her eyes. A hand suddenly smacked against the door in a knock and the elderly woman walked over and opened it, smiling faintly at the girl on the other side. "Nice to see you, Lin," the woman said softly, though even Lin's appearance didn't stop the two spirit's glaring contest.

Lin chuckled quietly as she stared at the two. "What is up with them?"

"They're having a bit of a ….disagreement," Yubaba responded dryly. "How is Chihiro settling in?"

A sad smile fell across the older girl's lips. "She's asleep. I'll wake her up in an hour or so to eat, but she looked to peaceful. She was really worn out. I don't think anybody's given her the chance to really adjust to what's going on," Lin responded, sending a small glare toward Yubaba, who immediately looked sheepish.

"Unfortunately it can't be helped," Mori said quietly, finally tearing her gaze from the stuck-up shape shifter. "Thing's are going to happen quickly. Even the forest animals are starting to get worried. The trees are dying, and everyone's already seen the ocean. There soon won't be any clean water anywhere. Even the spring has dried up in the forest."

Zeniba sighed sadly. "Aye, that's true. I assume that's why you're here, then Mori?"

"Yes," the forest spirit said quietly, casting a glance around the room, arms folding across her chest, "The girl needs to find out what's going on eventually. You're keeping everyone in the dark."

Everyone's gaze settled on Yubaba, who sighed warily. "We must let Chihiro figure it out on her own. No one can tell her."

Zeniba spoke up then, a frown marring her lips. "She's been having dreams. I think the Queen is trying to connect with her. But I haven't figured out if it is truly her. It could be Deruku sending visions to her…"

Alyssa allowed a flicker of worry to pass over her eyes. "Do you think he's really that powerful? It seems surreal that the Queen could be doing it. She's dead. Has been for a few months."

"It is a possibility. All we can do is protect Chihiro for now, there isn't anything else we can do, not until she realizes who she is. Until then… We'll simply have to keep her safe," Yubaba said quietly.

Everyone nodded who was in the room before Mori and Zeniba left, talking quietly to one another. That left Lin, Alyssa, and Yubaba still in the room.

"I should probably go check up on Sen," Lin murmured, heading toward the door as well.

"I'll go with you," Alyssa said, walking off after the girl, both of them leaving Yubaba to her thoughts.

"Serena… I really hope you're right. Otherwise that girl will get into a lot of trouble. And I don't think anyone in this world will be able to stop it." Yubaba whispered quietly into the empty room, giving a heavy sigh as she shut off the lamp on her desk and walked into her bedroom. It was time to get some sleep.

Really short chapter, sorry! But I know I haven't updated in a long time, and I'm trying to make up for it, so hopefully you enjoy. I seem to have gotten my muse back for this story… and I really hope I didn't just jinx myself. o.o