Hi to all readers! This is my first fanfic to "Spirited Away", but it's the second time I upload the first chapter. As I was rereading how my story turned out, I realized that maybe I rushed the beginning and it lacked elaboration for certain things. I was unhappy about that, so I decided to rewrite and add some chapters to give the story more depth. If interested, you can read the original publication on my blog. The link will be in my profile description. Enjoy!

"Chihiro, we're going to be late!"

The last bell rang five minutes ago, and students were already scattered from their classes out into the hallways. Chihiro was being pulled out of her seat and dragged out of her now empty classroom by her friend Yuki.

"Come on! The book club meeting starts in five minutes!"

"Hold on!"

Chihiro picked up her trusty sketchbook bound in white canvas and raced out of her classroom with Yuki, who was already down the end of the packed hallway toward headed towards classroom 3-C, the book club room. Every Tuesday after school, that's where its members met at 3:05pm, and Yuki was its vice president, which is why she was in such a hurry. She effortlessly dodged students left and right, leaving Chihiro behind. Chihiro was quite the opposite of Yuki, bumping and hitting her classmates and underclassmen with her heavy bookbag, her sketchbook, and running into nearly everyone.

"Hey, watch it!"

"Sorry!"

"Ow!"

"Excuse me!"

"Careful!"

"My bad!"

"Where's the fire?"

"I'm sorry!"

She looked up to find Yuki nowhere in sight. "Yuki, wait," she called, her voice at a normal volume, her friend out of earshot and no longer visible in the hall. Chihiro steadied her pace to a slower stride as students either headed to their respective clubs or home. She passed by poster after poster of school clubs, reading each one to herself.

"Drama… chess… music appreciation… art… debate… cinema… anime… pottery… book—wait…"

Chihiro found herself pass someone out the corner of her eye, admiring the book club poster. Their back was turned towards her; hence, she couldn't see their face. They wore the same school uniform Chihiro wore, but with pants instead of a skirt, indicating they went to her school. Still, with the style and length of their black hair, she assumed, and felt the sudden urge to speak to them.

"Excuse me, miss, could I help you?" she said. The person turned to Chihiro, and immediately she blushed. "I'm so sorry! I saw the hair and I thought-"

"It's okay," the boy laughed, "I've been getting that all day."

"I mean, it's not unheard of for girls to wear the boys' uniformOHMYGOSHCHIHIROSHUTUP!" Clearly flustered, Chihiro laughed it off and asked, "So, uh, can I help you…?"

The boy laughed. "River," the boy said, bowing his head. "River Kohaku. It's a pleasure." River looked up at Chihiro and smiled. "I transferred here from Hiroshima."

"Oh, yes! You're the new boy I've heard so much about." Without skipping a beat, Chihiro bowed her head and introduced herself. "I'm Chihiro Ogino. I'm in class 8-A."

"I'm in class 1-B, I think."

They exchanged a smile, and Chihiro felt a sudden chill creep up and down her spine. I've never met this boy before… yet it feels like I have… why? she thought.

Chihiro shrugged it off. "You're in the same class as my friend Yuki," she chimed. "Yuki Harufuji?"

"Yes, I believe so." River gave Chihiro a warm, gleaming smile, and she felt herself blushing yet again. She cleared her throated and pointed at the poster River was looking at.

"Were you admiring the book club poster?" she asked, beaming.

River gazed at the poster Chihiro was pointing at once more, a print of a watercolor. It resembled the side of a building, with a sign that read "Bathhouse to the Spirits." The sky was a navy blue with a big, bright full moon. There was also the shadow of a large creature, seemingly a dragon, white with a streak of teal down its back.

"Yes, it's truly an inspired work of art," he said.

"I'm glad you like it, because I did it!" Chihiro giggled.

River's eyes widened in disbelief, turning to both the poster and Chihiro.

"You did this?"

She nodded, tittering.

"Wow, it's beautiful! What provoked this?"

Chihiro tilted her head back, unsure if she should share something so personal.

"If you don't want to share, it's okay," he assured.

"No, it's okay," Chihiro said, finally deciding. "When I first moved here, I guess I fell asleep in the car" she began, "and I dreamt that was kidnapped and forced to work in a bathhouse that catered to spirits." She pointed at the building in the poster and writing on its side. "See? 'Bathhouse to the Spirits'. It probably sounds silly, huh?"

"No, not at all," River reassured, listening intently as Chihiro recounted her dream.

"Everything about the dream is a blur now, but what really stuck with me was this." Chihiro smiled to herself as she and River turned to admire her watercolor print. Then Chihiro covered her mouth and giggled nervously while blushing bright red. River turned to her curiously.

"What's wrong, Miss Ogino?"

"N-nothing. Just that," Chihiro admitted bashfully, "I've never really shared that with anyone, not even my parents, just Yuki."

"Why not?" he asked. His face was pale and flawless like granite, and his eyes as light and bright as aquamarine. He stirred something in Chihiro that only happened when she dreamt of the bathhouse.

"I don't know. I guess it's something I've always really kept to myself," she admitted. "And, for some reason, I feel I have met you before."

"I feel like I know you too, Miss Ogino," River laughed, smiling warmly at her. Chihiro felt herself getting flustered again. Then, with an air of sudden urgency, she exclaimed, "What time is it?"

River propped up his wrist to glance at his watch. "3:15."

"I'm late!" Chihiro squealed. "Yuki will be fuming! Excuse me, Mr. Kohaku!" She bowed her head hastily and began sprinting to room 3-C, then stopped, turned around, and called out to River.

"River- I mean, Mr. Kohaku, would you like to join us for the club meeting? If you don't mind?"

River made a pensive face, so Chihiro added, "If it's not your thing, it's okay."

"Don't mind if I do," River said, flashing another smile at Chihiro.

"Uhh, follow me," she said, blushing furiously. "It's this way."

She began hurrying down the hall, with River following closely behind.

Why am I thinking about the dream? Why am I feeling this way all over again? Why does he feel familiar if I've never met him? Chihiro wondered, trying to make sense of her thoughts.