"Yubaba," Haku stated firmly, facing her polished desk with its many books and papers piled upon it.

"Good to see you haven't died yet, Haku," she replied, scribbling her writing onto documents, flipping through a bunch of parchment.

"I'm surprised you haven't. What happened? Zeniba stole your power, how could you possibly get it back and more?" Haku demanded, fists whitening as his nails pressed against his palms.

"Questions, questions, so many questions," Yubaba pressed a large wrinkling hard to her forehead rubbing its massive size. She outreached her arms and tried zipping up Haku's lips, but he stood strong and yielded, tearing away from her powerful magic.

"I'm supposed to rule these highlands. You promised the town that who ever challenged me and won would win my position, but all have failed. Yesterday was supposed to end the nonsense, why have your returned?" Haku persisted, stepping further into the dimly lit room. The large hopping heads of a sickly green color hopped up and around him, blocking him from walking further. Haku's patience ended as soon as they hopped on by. His arms flung out at his sides, concentrating hard on ridding them of their presence. They flew across the room, airborne for longer than a moment, and smacked against the solid wall.

Yubaba's eyes widened, looking up. "My, Haku, how you've grown in power. Is that what possessed you to bring Chihiro and her stupid boyfriend back into this world or are you just dumb?" She asked, not bothering to get up from her seat.

Haku's fists tightened, teeth clenching together and trying to ignore that boyfriend bit. "I thought you were gone for good. Tell me why you've come back, now."

"So intrusive, Haku. Remember? You're my henchman, my right hand man. You work for me. You do not demand such requests to me of all people," she cackled, hard and long like the wicked witch she was. "I suggest you take Chihiro and that boy back where you found them, or hide them by the least. Chihiro's the only human that's gotten past my firm grip with the help from you. You disappoint me you know that? I will have her head and if you misbehave I'll have yours as well."

"You can't take me nor her. I'm far too powerful for you now," Haku dared say, stepping forward once more.

The comment made her cackle even louder, slapping the desk out of the humor of the situation. "You must be joking," she wiped away a falling tear, staring back at the independent teenage boy. "You, more powerful than I? Oh that is good. Listen up, Haku, if you take Princess and Prince Charming down there away from here by the stroke of midnight, I won't turn you all into pigs. Hey, I might even not kill you."

"Nice offering," Haku said, closing the space between him and her desk and placing both hands on top of the polished furnishing. "But I'm thinking I'd rather run you out of town instead."

"You, dare challenge me? Oh, you are the foolish one, aren't you," Yubaba shuffled a deck of cards, placing them into their holder, and stood up. "It's one thing when Zeniba changed my sweet baby Boh back into that fat ugly rat, leaving me nothing but my power, then she takes that away too. Saying I'm getting too out of hand. But a little seventeen year old such as yourself is going to tell me he rules my city?" Her outrage flickered across the room, a harsh wind bruising past Haku's face, but his feet remained glued to the floor. "But...," she countered, simmering down, "I will make a deal with you then. You get Zeniba to give me back Boh, where ever my precious baby may be, and my old golden clasp that she claims is rightfully hers, and I will most generously give you one last chance to take my place of power back. I have much better things to deal with anyway, besides this wretched town. Give my Boh and my clasp, and I will give you a final test to see if you are truly worthy of my throne. Is it a deal, or is it a deal, Haku?" She asked, extending a giant, old hand to shake,

Haku hesitated, staring at the old woman's hand for a good few moments, then looked back up at her. "What kind of test?" He asked carefully, standing up straight and letting his hands rest at his sides.

Yubaba curled her withered lips into an evil grin, hand still held steady. "Deal's a deal, Haku. You can't know about this test of love and power until you do your half of the bargain. I solemnly promise the test won't be too...difficult, to place your finger on."

"But doesn't Zeniba now own one third of the swamp lands, guarded heavily by swamp spirits?" Haku asked.

"Yes, that's why I can't go back and get Boh and my golden clasp. She would never allow me in, even by force. Last time we met, which was about a week ago, she let her shields fall on herself. I managed to steal some of her power back along with mine, now I'm aware she's more cautious than ever. She wants what's hers, and these spirits are giving her more strength and power by the minute. I may be strong now, but she's...," Yubaba's eye twitched, white hair held in that perfect bun fell around her head from exasperation, a china pot across the room shattered with her with inhaled rage. She sighed, whispering to herself. "You know those Buddhist classes are really helping my anger. Anyway, do we have a deal, Haku?" Her hand was still in mid air, held out to him.

Haku shook it reluctantly, a solemn eye staring her down. Her hand felt thick and leathery, like padded cow skin. "Don't hurt Chihiro...or her friend...in anyway while I'm gone."

"While you're gone? Tsk, tsk, they're going with you. That should be equivalent to the dangers I would have to deal with if I went alone, so take care of them at your full extent, because I won't, got that?" Yubaba shook her head, a smile perked upon her lips.

"I have to bring them with me? That...pretty boy? Can't you at least take him?" Haku demanded.

"Are you kidding me? I saw that boy down there. He looks ready to hyperventilate. He's your problem as far as I'm concerned. Now, leave, I grow tired of your presence." She sat back down, too tired to force him out the door with her magic.

"Can't I wait until morning to take them home? They'll be gone by then, I assure you," he asked.

"You don't seem to grasp the concept, Haku," her smiled was still ready to cackle, "The river no longer dries during the day light hours. I've kept it running and flowing now, and there's no way of getting back. Well, unless you had my place of power to reverse the spell, but you don't. Now leave," her fingers flicked outward, turning him invisible to disappear back outside of her office. Halu cringed, clutching his fists tightly against his palm.

"I'll get your damn rat and clasp, just you watch," he shouted as he disappeared into an oblivion, only to reappear back outside. He could have just pushed power back inside of her, running the kingdom once more, but no. Half the time he was bluffing, and half the time he could back up his words. But for now, he was alone on this one. Well, he thought, with Chihiro along and...that damn pretty boy...

"Here we are, home sweet home," Lin announced, sliding the door open to a small, cozy room. "For now. It's not much, but it'll do until morning." She turned to Chihiro. "I can't believe you're leaving so soon! I haven't seen you for years and finally when Haku brings you back, you have to leave the next day."

"I'll visit you guys whenever I can, promise, but not as long as Yubaba's still here," she replied, "I need to have a little talk with Haku later about it."

"Haku, Haku, Haku," Jiro muttered, resting down on one whicker chairs. "What's so great about him?"

"What is he babbling about now?" Lin asked flatly, jabbing a thumb at Jiro.

"I'm confused," he went on, "I ask one of the prettiest girls in school out and she turns out to be some freak."

Chihiro blushed to the knowledge that people thought she was pretty, but bubbled in anger to know he though of her a freak. "I am not a freak!" She defended.

"Hey, you better listen up, Mr. Popular, you are not one to talk about freaks. In this town you are freak to the others who live here. It would be just the same if one of our people went into your town. For the next night or so you're going to be one of the biggest freaks in this town, and you'll see just how it feels. So don't dare say anything about Chihiro," she contemplated, standing in front of the vane teenager.

"Fine," he muttered, turning away from the two in the chair.

"Don't mind him, Chihiro. I can't believe you actually said yes to him when he asked you out," Lin told her, walking away from the glum one.

"I can't believe it either," she eyed her supposed date, and leaned against the far wall. "When's Haku coming back?"

"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" A smooth, deep voice asked, standing in thelight of the door way.

"Chane, what are you doing here?"Lin asked irritatedly, arms folded across her chest.

"Oh, just browsing around," he replied, arms folded across his broad chest as well. He looked around the room, spikey blond hair curled into ringlets atop of his head, pale skin reflected against it to make him appear like a glowing god instead of a river spirit. His black cape whistled behind him as he walked around the room, eyeing every object his eye caught. He finally whipped around to Chihiro, standing near him against the wall. "Who is this lovely human?" He asked, stepping in front of her. His aura breathed around her like the breeze from a cool sea, touching every last part of her body that could be felt.

"Chihiro, Chane. Chane, Chihiro," Lin greeted for them, hand gesturing to the two.

"Chihiro," Chane repeated the name, rolling every syllable off of this tongue. "Beautiful name."

"Chane's a cool name, too," Chihiro replied, managing to be polite as he leaned further into her.

"Chane here's another river spirit, aren't you, Chane?" Lin asked sarcastically.

"No need to mock my spirit type, Lin," he replied, still staring into the core of Chihiro's sparkling eyes. "Chihiro, is that sobbering human over there your boyfriend?"

"No," she replied defiantly, eyeing Jiro again.

"Do you have a boyfriend?" He asked.

"Well..."

"What's with all the questions, Chane?" Haku asked, standing in the entrance of te door way.

"Haku, well if it isn't my least favorite person in this room," Chane countered, stepping away from Chihiro.

"Stay away from Chihiro," Haku commanded, walking over to her like a protective boyfriend.

"That's no way to treat your guest," Chane replied as Haku's body seperated him from the girl.

"For you it is," Haku replied, glaring him down. "Get out."

"Don't mind if I do," Chane replied, cocking his head over to Chihiro, "I'll see you soon." He disappeared as his cassually way of transportation, leaving the four alone again.

"Stay away from that creep, he's bad news," Haku turned around, telling her face to face. She merely nodded her head and kept quiet.

"What the-"

"Don't start," Lin rolled her eyes, interrupting Jiro. "Do us all a favor and shut-up."

"Okay, look," Haku began, scratching the back of his head anxiously. "We need to go get Yubaba's golden clasp and Boh back from Zeniba in order for her to leave and you two to go home, so we'll need to leave soon. By morning, at the least."

"Who?" Jiro asked stupidly.

"Your mother," Lin replied.

"I need to take Jiro and Chehiro with me. I'm afraid Yubaba would hurt Chihiro if I didn't," he informed Lin.

"This isn't fair," Lin complained, "You should just push that old widow out the window like she did to you!"

"Wait, Yubaba pushed you out a window?" Chihiro spoke up, touching Haku's shoulder. He flinched under her touch.

"Oops, shouldn't have said that," Lin muttered, covering her mouth.

"A few years ago," Haku replied, spitting out each word, "I couldn't fulfill one of her more important orders. She got so angry she shattered her window with me hurtling to the ground. I almost didn't survive."

"Haha," Jiro laughed. Everyone turned to him angrily. Haku was suddenly in front of him, backhanding him hard across the head. He fell with the chair down to the wooden floor.

"I'm sorry," Chihiro said, hands kneading at the back of the wall.

"It's not important right now," Haku clutched his hand around air, letting his anger file out. "You guys can't go back home until I become in charge again. Rest up. I'll see you in the morning," he turned around to face his loved one once more, eyes cool and ready for anything that was thrown at him.

"But Haku-"

"All you need to know, Lin, is that without taking these two to get Yubaba's things from Zeniba, I'll never be able to run this city again. Things will go berserk as always, and I can't force Yubaba out. I thought I could, but she stole some of Zeniba's power. I thought I was stronger than that," Haku interrupted her, staring at her from the corner of his eye. He was suddenly in front of Chihiro again, holding her close to him. The action was so sudden she shivered beneath his touch, almost giving a small shriek. "Don't go outside," he warned her, kissing her tentatively on the cheek, then disappeared again into thin air. Chihiro quivered again, rubbing her arms warm.

"I know, I hate it when he does that too," Lin replied, walking over to the door. "Good night. Don't get into trouble." She winked at Chihiro, and slid the door close silently, walking away as her footsteps faded.

"I hate this place," Jiro muttered to himself, slouching in his chair.

- - -

Author's Note: I'm just so *sniff sniff* happy...they like me, they really like me! No, I kid, but I didn't think anyone would review. It's either some of you are overly optimistic or I'm the best author ever! No, no, I kid...school starts again tomorrow (yeah, in Wisconsin you get Spring Break over Easter which I think makes sense...even though I'm atheist...). Jiro reminds me of every conceited asshole out there, I guess that's why I made him. But Chane's cool with me. He reminds me of some hot...guy...thing...right.