Rather than wait until I compile something long enough to warrant a normal chapter I'm going to do this next part in shorter chapters that way I can post them more rapidly. Sometimes its just so much fun watching things go to hell in a hand basket. :) I promise that things will get better before I kick them off the metaphorical cliff again.

Things achieved since the last chapter-

Chapters written: technically 1

Fanfictions read: 7

School Essays completed: 0 out of 9

Exams taken: 2 (with perfect or near perfect scores on them)

Hours worked: 50+ hours

Ideas for new stories in other fanfiction categories: 2 (Valkyria Chronicles, OHSHC)

Number of new poll votes: 0

Dance breaks around my room to procrastinate working on anything: 8

I will be heading to a convention in Michigan in the upcoming weeks as a gift to myself before I go into the crazy that will be the next few months. I'm going to be cosplaying as Haruhi Fujioka and Alice from Madness Returns. I enjoyed the reviews and messages you guys left. Thanks for the support and I hope to surprise you in the upcoming chapters as we come to a close.

Chapter 28:

Hikaru watched the bathhouse staff drag wounded spirits into the infirmary through the afternoon and late into the night. Helping out where he could, he gave up his bed for another suffering soul and kept busy. Even though Yui had forbid him from leaving the infirmary until the following morning, he felt like he was more than ready to be checked out. It felt like he had seen enough horror in the span of his recovery to haunt him for the rest of his days. Unfortunately for him, Yui had misinterpreted his zeal for leaving as a plan to escape and the small band about his ankle would insure he did not leave the basement area before midmorning the next day. Following the flow of patients coming in from the docks, he helped another staff member carry a wounded frog spirit into the hospice ward. That room still gave him the chills, especially when he thought of how none of them would probably ever see the exterior of that room again. Leaving it quickly, he began walking towards the dock entrance where the flow of patients seemed to be ebbing. Passing by an unused corridor, he stopped in surprise when he heard familiar voices speaking. Curiosity getting the best of him, Hikaru slowly walked down the corridor listening as he approached.

"I have a few choice words for you regarding that incident with Chihiro yesterday morning."

"Not now Lin, the next bell should be going off any moment and there is no time for us to be arguing." The sound of footsteps moving away sounded, but were halted as the weasel spoke again.

"These patients are from Swamp Bottom and most of them are asking after Zeniba." Hikaru's brow knitted in confusion as he wondered about the implications of the words. He had never heard of a place by that name, but it must have held some sway since the footsteps turned around and returned to where they came from. "They wanted to know if Zeniba survived the attack since apparently she held off the Tainted for them to escape. Now how could that be if she is supposed to be at the Capital finding a way for Chihiro to go back home safely?"

Hikaru felt a light bulb over his head go off as he briefly recalled Chihiro mention a witch searching for information for her. All she had been waiting for before returning home was news from this witch.

"Zeniba found nothing to keep Chihiro safe in the human world. She returned back to defend Swamp Bottom weeks ago."

"You haven't told Chihiro that. She has been living here under the belief that Zeniba would return with an answer for her. Were you just never going to tell her? Haku, what were you thinking?!"

"Shhh, keep your voice down," he admonished, "I was going to tell her after the festival when I sat down and explained everything."

"No, no, no, Haku you can't wait that long. If she finds out that you've been lying to her on top of all that you've done in the past 24 hours, she won't agree to stay. Hell after this morning, she might not agree to it anyways." Haku mentally grimaced as he thought about the additional fuel he had just thrown onto the metaphorical fire. Wait until Lin heard about that…he would have to be watching his back so a knife didn't wind up through it.

"I'll go talk to her in the morning. It's an absurd hour to be waking her. She is sleeping in your room right now right?"

"Probably. I haven't seen her this afternoon since I have been helping out down here. Haku, what will you do if she refuses to stay?" There was a pregnant pause as he considered his answer.

"Then I will force her into a contract until I can get her to see our way. I can't afford for her to go running off at a time like this. There will be time to sort everything out after the festival, but until then I need to focus on keeping her under the radar and everyone else occupied." Hikaru backed away in horror and quickly retreated back to the infirmary. He needed to tell Chihiro what he had heard, but there was no way for him to reach her without magic or him leaving the infirmary. He could try sending a message with one of the staff members heading back upstairs, but there was no guarantee they could find her. Pacing in front of the infirmary door deep in thought, he nearly fell on his ass when a substantial weight slammed against his chest. Steadying himself against the door frame, Hikaru held onto Chihiro who was trying to right herself.

"Sorry about that, I got a little overexcited when I saw you and tripped over my own feet. Where have you been? I've been looking everywhere for you." Looking both ways quickly and seeing that they were in the clear, Hikaru wrapped his arm around her shoulders and began hurrying her towards the opposite end of the maze than where he had overheard the other two. The sound of the wounded bell began again and Chihiro covered her ears as they passed deeper into the dark maze. "Hey, what's going on? Hikaru, what's the matter?"

"You need to get out of here," Hikaru warned as he pulled them to a stop in a dead end of the maze. "You got to return back to the human world. Lin and Haku have been lying to you. The witch you said you were waiting for isn't coming back. She was killed in a battle for her home."

"Wait how could that be when her home is in Swamp Bottom-"

"And she was supposed to be at the Capital? I know. I don't know what else they've been lying to you about, but you must return home. It's the only way to escape them." Chihiro silently nodded her head as everything became more certain in her mind. The bag that hid her scent had the clothes and shoes she needed to return. She had grabbed them in her anger earlier when she had caught Haku and Hana together. Still it felt wrong to leave suddenly and so she had paced in Lin's empty room indecisively. Finally she decided to head down to the infirmary and talk with Hikaru about the day's events, but brought the bag along unconsciously.

"That's what I was coming to tell you. Today has been terrible and I'm not sure if staying around is really the right thing anymore. I've got my clothes and was considering making a run for the tunnel."

"Good. Then I'll show you another exit from this basement so you can escape unnoticed." Chihiro stopped him as he turned to leave.

"Come with me, Hikaru. If you really meant what you said the other night then there's no need for a contract between us. Obviously I won't remember you or anything that happened here when I go through the portal, but if we go together surely we could become friends again on the other side right?" Hikaru looked down guiltily at the band that Yui had placed the other day and Chihiro's eyes followed his down to look at it. "What is that?"

"Yui thought I might leave early and get myself reinjured. It will disappear tomorrow midmorning allowing me to leave this basement."

"Then I'll wait. We can leave together then."

"No Chihiro it isn't safe." Hikaru ran a paw through the fur on top of his head as he quickly tried to think of a solution. "Look, Haku was talking about binding you in a contract as soon as he found you. If you get into a contract with him there will be no way for you to escape. The rules prevent me from breaking someone else's magic so even if I could remember my magic I couldn't save you from that."

Chihiro's mouth gaped in outrage and horror. Haku knew the importance of contracts, the two of them had been contracted to Yubaba to serve in the bathhouse together, but to think he would use it against her as well was frightening. The night he had used his magic to freeze her came to mind and her blood ran cold. Hikaru was right. Chihiro needed to flee the bathhouse.

.-.-.-..-.-.-.-.-.

Crisp sunny afternoon air swirled past Chihiro as she slowly made her way around the edges of the ghost town. By now, the majority of the spirits would be long asleep, but it was always better be safe than sorry. The wind had the slightest chill in it, reminding her that fall would be coming soon. It seemed like nearly a life time since her date with Haku in the garden and an eternity since her arrival. Time in the spirit world seemed to flow in a rhythm different than that of the human world. Her mind thought over her last few words with Hikaru before he saw her off through the side door of the basement.

"I'm going to go now," Chihiro had said after pulling back from the hug. His sudden embrace had warmed her cheeks in surprise and she had hugged him back in the moment. He was a good friend and it was a shame they wouldn't be leaving here together. "You promise you will come find me on the other side?"

"Of course," he had smiled sadly, "you don't need a binding to find something that is important to you."

His words rang through her mind as she broke away from the afternoon shadows of the town and slowly picked her way over the uneven stairs into the grass below. Despite the bright sun shining down on her, she felt exhausted and her bag cut slightly into her shoulder from its regular presence there over the past few days. The remnants of the train station towered ever closer and she felt the weight in her heart weigh all the heavier. Just thinking about how deeply she had felt for Haku and how he betrayed her in so many ways had hurt more than she cared to admit. Hikaru didn't even know the half of it. Right now he was probably peacefully sleeping in his large bed without a thought for her, but none of that mattered anymore. Within a couple of minutes she would be in the station, change into her clothes and quickly pass through the barrier without a glance back. The moment she stepped back into her world these memories would all be gone and she would be back to her old life. The sunlight washing over Chihiro became eclipsed in shadow, but she walked on without noticing.