"Go, run to the lake and keep her safe! She is our only hope!"

I told the maid and she ran with you in her arms. Looking back to the fight, they realized what she was doing, and struck her down before she got past the gates. I feared they might try and take you, but luckily while their guard was down he hit them, and hard too. He could've lost his life, but I had to leave him to save you. I was the one who died. And the enemy survived. We could've won if only I had stayed, but all other servants were killed, and your siblings had to stay and help your father. He was keeping them busy, but I was running out of time. I ran quick to the maid, and scooped you out of her arms. I went through the gates before a blast was shot behind me.

I was running out of time. If I never made it back in time they may all die. But you were our last hope to defeat them, and I had to ensure your safety. I took you to the river where I gave you, my precious little girl, one last kiss - a kiss of mortal life and protection - before I sent you away in a basket. I trusted the water would lead you to be found by loving humans. And it did. Now seeing you back home makes me happy, but the fight isn't over yet. Your father lost a lot, but the enemies are still out there. Go, find your power, and save your family before it's to late!

Chihiro awoke uneasy, and with a powerful headache. She felt as though she had been asleep as long as a baby spirits lifetime. Though it had only been about ten hours. Chihiro sat up, rubbing her messy hair and eyes. She looked around herself to see that everyone else had already left and gone to work.

"Why didn't Lin wake me?" Chihiro wondered allowed. Standing up, she almost fell back into her tangled bed. It looked as though a dragon was sleeping there, the way the mat was sideways, and blankets were sprawled all over the place; even into the next girls sleeping space.

Pulling her hair out of the loose ponytail, she tied it back up tight with the elastic that Zeniba gave her fourteen years ago. She always wore this, no longer surprised at how long it's lasted - being magic and all. She stumbled her way around her area, pulling her blankets and pillows back into order. She neatly made her bed, and picked her clothes up off the floor.

"Nice to see you're finally awake." Lin smiled at Chihiro. She way carrying an arm full of towels for their customers. Chihiro smiled back at Lin, still wondering why no one had woken her. She had to work just as much as they did. Were they trying to make her look bad to Yubaba. Were they still upset about a human working with them? Chihiro sighed her wonders away as she followed Lin down the corridors, and into the little cubical. She watched Lin place the towels onto a bench.

"Do you have the bath token?" Lin asked.
Chihiro looked into her hands, realizing they were both empty. She gave a sheepish smile, while Lin glared fire back into her. She shivered, as Lin pointed for Chihiro to turn back around and go get one. Chihiro let her head fall as she turned around shamefully, on her way to get the bath token she forgot to pick up on the way there.

"I heard that she was shifting between forms. Dragon! Human! Dragon! Human!" One of the female workers spoke to a group of people.
"No no, you have it wrong! She was glowing golden, and the girls got mad at the brightness. I should know! I was one of them. I had to move to another side of the room so I could sleep in peace." Another said in slight annoyance.
Chihiro approached them, curious of who they were talking about. She worried if it was a customer who was throwing some kind of spiritual tantrum, that she may be able to help with. As Chihiro got closer the girls stopped talking.

"Hey, is there anything I can do to help?" Chihiro asked.
"Oh, no no. It's fine." The woman who spoke second laughed awkwardly, inching away with the rest of the girls.
"Are you sure? It sounds like they may need help." Chihiro took a step forward, and smiled.
"Don't you have work to do?" The first woman asked, giggling.
At that moment it appeared as if a light bulb went off in Chihiro's head. She turned away from the girls quickly, and ran towards the Foreman.

"One 'salt 'n' soak' token, please." Chihiro bowed her head to the Foreman. She waited for an answer before looking up to realize that there was no one there. Yubaba wouldn't be too happy to see that an important worker wasn't at his post. Chihiro looked around her to make sure no one was watching. She didn't need someone accusing her of stealing a job. After making sure her perimeter was clear, she hoped up onto the podium, and looked through all the tokens. Chihiro had realized her mistake. She had no idea what any of the symbols meant. Footsteps approached her from around the cubical. Quickly grabbing the first one she saw, Chihiro made a dash for the small bath Lin was waiting at. Customers would be arriving soon, and Chihiro did not want to make a bad first impression, for the girl that saved a river spirit and made so much money.

"What took you so long?" Lin asked, holding her hand out for the token.
"I was stuck behind a line of gossiping girls." Chihiro explained. She handed Lin the token, and watched as she hooked it onto the chord, before it disappeared below the bathhouse to greet Kamaji, the boiler man. A spout unhinged itself from the wall, and angled over the bathtub. Chihiro climbed up the sides, and pulled the rope. The water came crashing out into the bath. It smelled like cherry blossoms, and dumplings with a slight aroma of salt.

Last time Chihiro did this she fell off the side, and overflowed the bath.

A/N: Sorry about the shorter chapter. This is more of a filler. Things should get going after some "customers" show up :) But for now, please enjoy this insightful chapter