"Will I ever see you again?" Chihiro asked.
"I promise. Now you must cross the river. Don't look back," He told her, and watched as her hand slipped from his.
He didn't know what it was exactly, but he knew there was a pang in his chest when she was out of sight. What a silly thing for a river spirit to feel. That reminded him of the matters he had to settle with Yubaba. He remembered his name now and even though his river had been filled in, a small part still flowed. He could feel it's power, as if it made up every scale of his being, making him fly faster then he ever had. Just as Chihiro was driving to her new house, Haku crashed into a red, heavily furnished room.
"Yubaba!" He snarled, changing his shape to that of a boy.
The witch of the bathhouse did not even look up from her piles of paperwork.
"I have come to discuss my contract," he said icily, " I know my name so I am no longer bound to you." He didn't change the impassive look in his eyes nor the steel in his voice.
Yubaba paused for a moment, looking up from her work to give him the nastiest of her crooked smiles.
"Sorry, Haku, I don't think you will be able to keep your promise to that little brat."
Suddenly pain shot through Haku's entire body, he writhed and struggled. The last thing he remembered was a wicked red thing slithering down his throat. Then utter darkness.
--
In a place far away from Chihiro, yet closer to Haku then it seemed, another little girl encountered a spirit.
It was Yuuki's fifth birthday and she refused to move from her seat by the window. Sighing sadly as she cooked lunch, the old lady called out to her grandchild.
"What are you looking for, child?"
She knew, though, that Yuuki was waiting for a car to come down that long dirt drive.
"Mommy said she would come back for me," replied the girl, as if it was plain fact.
"Well, how about you eat something while you wait," suggested Grandma, knowing it would be a long day indeed.
Bright red stained the sky, deep violet and blue just tingeing the edge of the horizon. The clouds where lined with orange and the whole world seemed bathed in golden light. Time stopped, just for that sunset,Yuuki thought, holding her breath. If their was ever a perfect time for her mom to come for her, it would be now.
Moments passed, then minutes, as it dawned on the little girl.
"She's not coming back, is she?" She whispered, not wanting to know the answer.
"I don't know child." Her grandma's eyes where filled with sadness and Yuuki knew it was true.
Just like that the whole world was turned upside down, the golden sunset and golden happiness gone. She got up and did the only thing she could think of. She ran.
Farther and farther, faster and faster, until the little house was out of view, replaced by leaves and branches. Tears blurred her vision so she had no idea where she was going, just that maybe if she kept running, maybe the sadness would be left behind.
Nine years later and she still runs whenever she can, but lets get back to where she stopped.
A vast, dark blue pond stretched out before her, reflecting the glittering stars. Surprisingly , all alone in this clearing, Yuuki was not frightened at all. She was only afraid of the real world.
Then something caught her eye, not because it was the only tree on the bank of the pond, but because of how beautiful it looked. Moonlight glowed on the slivery, swaying leaves of the Weeping Willow. The tree was tall and old and when the wind picked up, Yuuki could see something beyond the curtain of branches. Shadows danced behind the curtain and when something brushed her back she was truly afraid.
Slowly she came closer to find it was only a swing, and a simple one at that. Fraying ropes attached to a sturdy looking board at each end made up the swing. It was perfect.
Sitting down on the swing in this magical place, the reality and sorrow began to catch up with Yuuki. She really tried not to cry, to be a big brave girl, but it was impossible. She knew why her parents didn't want her, she had heard them arguing a while ago. She hadn't known what it meant but now she did. They had wanted a boy and had gotten her.
Sobbing quietly, she didn't realize it at first. Thin, strong hands had wrapped around hers on the rope of the swing. Arms kept her from falling. Yuuki felt so calm, and she knew, somehow, not to be afraid of this person. She wasn't sure if it was the wind moving the branches or the person behind her whispering soothing words. Soon her eyelids began to droop and before she fell asleep completely she had to ask.
"Who are you?"
Yuuki fell asleep before she heard his answer.
What a silly thing to do, he thought as he carried her back to her home. He had known she was there, under his branches the whole time. He had felt the pain in her heart. He had wished so much to take some of that burden and he had done the first thing that had come to mind. But why did he care so much? Many people had sat on that very same swing. It was all the same, he told himself, looking fondly at the child in his arms. Just as long as she didn't notice the fading little yellow building on the other sideā¦
