MY FIRST EVER FAN FICTION EVER!! WOOHOO!!! Sorry if it is really, really bad, I'm kind of new to this...

"Chihiro...."

I was half asleep, falling in and out of conciseness, when I heard someone call my name. It wasn't my mother or father, but a voice I hadn't heard for six years except in my dreams, but I hadn't had those for many years.

"Chihiro......"

And then I saw a familiar picture, the bridge over the temporary river, and a dark silhouette against the midday sun. Tall, with a lean, athletic build and shoulders that were broader than I remembered. The figure turned to face me, but before I could get the glimpse that would confirm my suspicions, I felt a much firmer, less distant hand shake me from my reverie.

"Sweetie, wake up!! We are just leaving and I wanted to say goodbye"

"Good-bye, Mama", I mumbled, "I'll see you on Thursday."

"Goodness, I feel so terrible about leaving you alone for almost a week!!" my mother looked at me anxiously, hoping she hadn't made the wrong decision.

"Mama, I'm almost sixteen!! I'll be fine, and anyway, I wouldn't want to be the only person under thirty-five at Aunty Hitomi's party."

She smiled, and leaned down to drop a kiss on my forehead. I heard my father's impatient call from the car, and my parents were gone.

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Finally alone, I brooded over my mysterious dream. I hadn't had a dream about the spirit world for many years, and never one so vivid or realistic. I had always pictured Haku as the mature, gangly twelve-year-old boy who I had left behind, but always wondered what he would look like now. He would be eighteen, two years older than me.

I started to fall back to sleep, the early hour and my late night working against my judgement. Suddenly, I gasped and sat straight up in bed. As soon as I had closed my eyes, another pair appeared to be staring straight into them. Green, as green as their respective river, swirling colours like marbles, like whirlpools. I didn't move for several minutes, and when I did, it was to look at the sketchbook which lay on my desk. Flicking through the pages, I found my "Study of the River Boy". A drawing of Haku. Yes, those same green eyes stared up at me.

Stripping of my camisole and shorts, I threw on some clothes, barely checking myself in the mirror before I left my room and hurried downstairs, not forgetting to pull the all-important hair band back on my wrist. My wavy brown hair, almost half way down my back, sprang freely around my face, and I barely stopped to put on a pair of shoes and grab my keys before I ran out the door, towards the forest.

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I ran until I got to the forest, and I ran through to forest until I found myself in front of the gate. It looked exactly the same, as if hours, not years, had passed since I had last wondered at it. I took a deep breath, and took my phone out of my bag, deciding whether or not to text some people I had made plans with this week. "Don't Get ahead of yourself", I said, "It might have been a meaningless dream, not a sign. You might not be able to return. And what if... what if he doesn't want you??"

I shook my head, trying to remove this thought from my mind. I looked up and took a deep breath. I took a step, and another, and then another. Soon I was engulfed in the darkness of the tunnel, but I could see light a short distance off. I resisted the urge to run, but my steps became faster. Before I knew it I was back out in the sun. Looking around, I realised it was a beautiful day. Not just a nice day, but a truly spectacular day. The sky was a bright blue, not pale but vibrant, glowing. A few white clouds littered about, but their pearly whiteness only set of the cerulean. It was windy, the long grasses where waving around my ankles, and I could hear wind chimes in the near spirit village. My white skirt was being blown around, and I had to hold it down after it came dangerously close to revealing what underwear I had put on earlier.

Crossing the stepping stones, knowing a great river would be in its place when the sun set, I began making my way through the warren of streets. Endless oriental restaurants, huge vats of steaming and completely tempting food on the counters, begged me to try some. But I had learnt my lesson. I walked up the stairs and amazed myself by my calm attitude. Inside I was afraid, terrified Yubaba would arrest me and turn me into a pig. Even more terrified that Haku might not be there, might not want me. Never the less, I passed the clock tower and stopped. Scanning the horizon, I couldn't see anyone, not a soul. Where was the figure from my dream??? Blinking, I felt tears spring to my eyes.

"Chihiro?"

My head snapped up. A tall figure had emerged from the shadows. Tall, lean, with natural grace and presence.

"Haku?", I heard myself cry out.

"Chihiro!"

I ran towards the voice and the figure, and he ran towards me. We met in the middle of the bride. I threw my arms around his neck, and he held me tightly, swinging me around as we both laughed for joy and relief. Moments later, he put me down lightly, his river-green eyes gazing into my dark ones intently.

"Chihiro!! You understood! It was my only way of accessing you, I'm sorry if it wasn't clear enough!"

I smiled up at him, taking in the subtle changes. His face was longer, and had lost some of its boyish roundness, although his expressive green eyes had lost none of their passion or kindness. He was tall, much taller than me, as I had always been small. His ebony-green hair was slightly longer, but pulled back in a simple ribbon at the nape of his neck.

Looking up into his eyes, I realised he was studying me as intently as I did him. We noticed at the same time, and said, symmetrical:

"You've grown"

Laughing, we pulled each other into another warm hug. My head on his shoulder, I could see the bath house, which hadn't changed since I left. The dark and dusty basement and lower floors, with soot-stained walls and rickety lead pipes, leading up to the clean, guest rooms, the luxurious suites for important visitors, leading up to the ridiculously opulent top floor, where Yubaba lived. Everything was gilded, painted, set with jewels and priceless pieces of art. It was over the top, tasteless and a sight for sore eyes.

"What's wrong?" asked Haku, his smile swept of his face my worried expression.

"Is it... safe?? What about Yubaba?"

He laughed. "Yubaba is long gone, called away by duties in the Northern territory. I run the bathhouse now. You could never have been safer."

I heard a angry shout and a large amount of steam was let out of one of the pipes in the basements.

"Kamaji", I whispered under my breath.

Haku smiled. "We can go see him now. He has been expecting you, as has Lin."