Sen couldn't remember her old life. She couldn't recall what it felt like to be sick, or bald. She couldn't remember her real father's face, or her grandmother's smile. She struggled to pull to memory her grandfather's voice, or her best friend's name. The longer she remained in the spirit world, the more her old life slipped away. She could see the sadness hidden in her mother's smile, could hear the concern in Haku's smooth voice. She knew this revelation should worry her; after all, a person with no history had no future.

Oh but she could remember the exact day she became a spirit. She could remember feeling the forgotten pain slip away leaving only lightness. She could recall how easy it was to twist her very essence into the form of a dragon, an identical version of her mother's and a miniature version of her step-father's. She remembered the days learning spells with Granny, and her lessons on herbs with her Grandfather Kamaji. She remembered with clarity, ever business lesson Yubaba gave her, and every game Boh made her learn. Sen could remember the soreness she felt after a long day working with Rin in the big tub, and her flying lessons with her parents. But memories of her human life slipped passed her like sand in an hourglass.

Sen could hear her parents whispering amongst themselves, Haku wondered if every spirit was once human, and simply forgot themselves. Chihiro quietly reminded him that she recalled every memory she ever had as a human. Haku would then remind her that she also had an enchanted hair tie that protected her from anything. Sen didn't mind listening to them. She didn't care when she forgot her Japanese history (well from the human side anyway). It didn't phase her when she had to ask her mother who Nagiori was (She had found Chihiro's diary.)

Then came the day when Sen woke up with no recollection of her human life whatsoever. Many centuries had passed, the stench of humanity had finally left he bathhouse. The nature spirits were living peacefully. Everything was clean and healthy. The spirits believed the humans had finally died out and left behind an empty planet. Plans were being made to take down the gate and join the two worlds once and for all, the belief was that the spirit world would finally be safe from human influence.

"But what if it isn't?" Chihiro asked during one meeting, "Humans took care of their planet once too, until they learned how to build machines that destroyed all that was created."

"But what if the humans are long dead!?" Came the returned cry.

"Humans lasted thousands of years!" Chihiro countered, "They adapt, they are resilient. I think the gate needs to stay in place to protect ourselves and our children!"

"Chihiro is just afraid her dragon will find another human and mate with it instead." Soren voiced. (Haku and Chihiro pardoned those who wronged them years ago, begging the head Lords and Ladies to relinquish their banishments.)

"I'm trying to protect our future! The gate doesn't let just anyone in, they have to be special, they have to have pure intentions-"

"So how did your parents get in?" Boh interrupted.

"Because they didn't plan to steal the food of the spirits until they passed the gate." Haku answered, seeing his wife's struggle to answer, "They came to explore, they wanted to see the abandoned amusement park the gate resembles. They wanted to show their daughter the new adventures in her new hometown. Their intent was pure, but the sin of gluttony tempted them. Chihiro's pure intention to return home reopened the gate and allowed them to leave. Only children can wander through anymore, and Chiriro, Sen or I send them home."

"When was the last time a child wandered through?" Sen asked in a quiet voice.

"Fifty years ago. And the tale she told us was not a happy one. I didn't wish to send her back through, but when all of us on the council redid the enchantments on all the gates, we swore to return humans back to their world before they could truly become spirited away."

Sen held her tongue until the meeting was over with no conclusion. It wasn't until they were back at home that she spoke again, "I just don't understand, why were we the last humans allowed to stay?"

"This world is fragile, Sen." Chihiro answered in a soft voice, "When I was here as a child, I almost caused the destruction of the bathhouse and could have started a war if I had said or done the wrong thing! As such I caused quite a spark when I returned before your birth."

"It's for the best, Sen." Sen's eyes fell on her father, "it's your turn to patrol the gate tonight. We'll discuss this more at a later date.

Later that night, Sen was standing beside the gate waiting for the human that would probably never pass through. She was practicing her magic when she felt the tell-tale feel of magic. The gate was opening.

A boy walked through, looking dirty and worse for wear. Her had on a dirty tunic and ripped pants. His hair was singed and he smelled of burned flesh, one glance and Sen could see why. His arm was badly blistered, the smell was enough to almost turn her stomach.

"Finally." He whispered before collapsing on the ground before her.