((Hello to all of my readers…. I'm really burned out due to school….and life….*dies*
Chihiro: What?! Nooo! What'll we do without the authoress?!
Haku: Looks like we're going to do the disclaimer ourselves…*sigh* No-one owns Spirited Away, except for Hayao Miyazaki….I hope she pulls through….))

Zeniba's POV

I sat up in my bed, unable to sleep with the thought of Chihiro's questioning in the morning. What will she ask? Is it personal? Is it about the Spirit Realm? Or does it involve getting rid of that bath-house where my wretched bat of a sister works? My ears picked up the sounds of footsteps and hushed, worried, tired voices; could that be her? I have a feeling whoever was out there had found out my labyrinth spell and are already losing themselves in it.

But what if it was Chihiro?

What if she wanted to ask me the question NOW?

No! Stop it, Zeniba; you're being paranoid….just like mother….

I wonder if she is still awake….There is only one way to know…I must enter her mind….Now.

Inside of Chihiro's Dream….

I sit in front of a large sliding door, which was decorated with a beautiful image of a white dragon rising from an azure sea churning with waves. I can see shadows illuminated by lanterns in the other side; I can't quite make out what forms they resembled, but I did see one shadow that stood taller and stouter than the others, who seemed to be gathered around it. They were silent but actively moving and squirming around the biggest shadow, who appeared to be their leader. Sick of my curiosity, I called out feebly, "H-Hello? Who's there? H-H-Hello…Is there anyone here listening a-at the door?" But I had only received silence as an answer. I tried with a good deal of strength to open the doors, but with no success. A second time…I managed to make it budge. As I tried a third and final time, the door slid open with ease…to reveal a party full of shadows, one bearing the figure of No-Face at the head of a long Western-style table.

"Whoa…" I sighed as I attempted to walk in, only to be halted by two shade-like guards bearing katana swords that were a staggering six feet long. Nervously, I backed away, getting the message. Great, how I get in? Maybe I'm not dressed right? I took one glance at my night clothes and saw that I was correct. I practically looked like a peasant! Tearing my attention away from the door, I wandered about the spacious hall to find at least SOMETHING to deck myself out with; sadly, I ended up with nothing. As I opened another door to try to find something on the other side…I found out that there WAS no other side. It was all just empty blackness as deep as the ocean's dark depths. Quickly shutting the door, I found that another, all-too familiar guest had arrived. "Granny, thank goodness you're here!" I cried as I rushed over to hug my elegantly dressed 'grandmother'; she embraced me, her form smelling of sweet perfume, as she held me at arm's length and advised to me in a whisper, "Chihiro, those aren't just shadows that are there. Many important gods and figures are there, including dragons, Oni (Ogres), sprites, demons, the honored dead as well as my sister, Yubaba. I'll let you throw something on and take you in with me, but on two conditions: One, you must stay silent and keep your head down. Two, be careful and keep an eye out for anyone dangerous, especially my sister. Understand?" I gave a nod, not wanting to violate my first condition as she handed me a paper package tied with twine and shooed me from the room and into a nearby alcove with an order to change.

Upon stepping out a good hour, I found myself decked in a formal, silk, five-layered black kimono with a white dragon majestically swirling up the hem's left side and having its silver-threaded claws rest on my right shoulder, barely showing from behind. With a smile, Zeniba ushered me over to the katana-wielding guards and said, gesturing to me, "She's with me, don't worry." As we stepped into the room, a pungent aroma of light sake and perfumed smoke filled our noses; as we struggled to find a vacant table amidst the smoke, clanging of dishes, cups, and drunken laughter, a masculine voice called out, the only one that appeared to be sober, "Hey! Excuse me!" Before I could move a fraction of an inch, Zeniba kept me still as she turned around to greet the man, who sounded very noble and high-brow. However, as soon as I heard the name 'Nigihayami' float from his lips, I stiffened slightly. I couldn't help but think, 'Who is this person? Is he related to Kohaku somehow?' I hope so…

As I heard Zeniba say goodbye, she grabbed my shoulder and led me towards the nearest exit, giving small answers to people calling out to her for drink; she gave them no answer. She was too busy weaving us through the laughing, singing, drunken maze of gods and spirits to answer them all. I was scared. My heart was pounding ten thousand miles in my chest. 'Are we going to make it through?' I asked myself as I couldn't feel my feet move like lightning across the wood and tatami covered floors.

I felt myself being pushed back through a screen door, seeing that I was now back where I was before: the sliding door blocked by two guards wielding six foot long katanas. Surprisingly, Zeniba was there next to me, just as dazed and confused until she regained her senses. "Chihiro, did you hear anyone familiar?" She asked, holding my shoulders.
"Yes….a spirit that had the same name as Kohaku….'Nigihayami'." I informed of her, my mind still stuck on that name.
"Oh…O-Oh my. You didn't make eye contact, did you?" She questioned, her tone growing frantic.
"N-No, I didn't. I kept my head down like you told me to."
"Good. It's offensive for someone of lower spiritual strata to make eye contact with a High Dragon."
"That was a High Dragon?!"
"Yes. More importantly….that was Kohaku's father."

Dream state OVER

At that, I jolted awake with sweat pasting bits of my hair to my forehead. What? That was…his dad? I mumbled in my mind as I shaky stood up and sat near Kohaku, who was still asleep. Lucky, lucky him. After placing a hesitant kiss to his cheek, I stepped into the bathroom to rid myself of the sweat and placed myself in a fresh, pink yukata in an attempt to distract myself from the encounter I had from my dream(or was it a nightmare?). As I stepped back out, Kohaku was only stirring in his sleep; I tiptoed around him in fear of waking him up…and possibly interrogating me. I can practically hear it now: "Chihiro? What's going on? Are you alright? What happened?" Now, to find Granny….

((So, what do you think? Am I going too fast? Is it too rushed? Am I boring some of you? If so, I'll do better in the next chapter!))