A/N: So I watched Spirited Away (for the nth time) and the feels just came rushing into me. I couldn't resist writing a Haku/Chihiro fic while listening to one of the movie's OST (The Name of Life).

Disclaimer: Spirited Away is owned by the great Miyazaki-san.

Summary: They met again in the most unlikely way. Here she was, a beautiful woman in her afterlife, unable to recognize the twelve-year-old boy in front of her.

Afterlife

by kdairy

The rhythmic sound of the train filled her ears as she saw her ride a few meters away from her isolated station. She couldn't remember how long she was waiting on that same spot, in the middle of nowhere and surrounded by a sea of water from yesterday's pour.

What do you expect, after all that rain?

Her long hair was blown away as the train screeched to a halt, sloshing the water covering its tracks. The doors opened for her and the ticket man pointed to her left hand. She held a ticket to this train but she couldn't remember where she got it. Silently, she handed over the small yellow ticket and the man shredded it to pieces.

The train stop you want is called Swamp Bottom. It's the sixth stop.

She looked around and spotted a vacant seat. She sat down with gray people with their faces covered with either their hair or their hats. Her hair fell down her shoulders as she stared at her clasped hands. She was getting tired of looking at her transparent fingers. They had been like this when she first opened her eyes only to realize that she was standing on a train station, waiting for something she couldn't put a finger on.

It's just a dream.

It's just a dream, she thought, convincing herself that she would wake up any time soon to face reality once again. However deep inside her, she realized that her chant was futile as she felt every hope that this was a dream draining from her. Because this world had become her reality now. She wasn't afraid. She couldn't cry. Her mind was blank and so was her heart. She felt so detached, so devoid of all emotions. She was lost but she didn't mind. Because she couldn't even remember who she was or what she was waiting for.

Where am I?

So as the train traveled farther into the strange world, she slowly became gray as the people around her, transparent and lonely.

He soared through the cold night, dancing elegantly with the clouds surrounding the bright moon. His sea green mane rustled from the wind as his porcelain body moved like a celestial river in the sky. He closed his eyes as the sensation became so overwhelming that he could almost feel her petite hands clutching on his horn and her legs trying to hold onto his torso. He could hear her voice calling out his name with so much enthusiasm as they traveled the vast sky.

Haku!

But just as the wind stopped blowing, her voice got carried away in the darkness of the night. He could no longer feel her presence and pain sunk into him, as yet again, he felt lonely and helpless, unable to leave this world to search her in hers.

Will we meet again sometime?

Her question tormented his mind every single day after she left. He told her a promise he couldn't keep, a promise she would believe until her last mortal breath, a promise he would regret throughout his immortal life.

Sure we will.

He landed softly on the land of the witch of Swamp Bottom. He walked on two feet towards the little cottage deep in the woods where the kind witch lived with their masked friend. Up ahead, he could see a figure going in the same direction. A woman with long brown hair cascading like a waterfall on her back.

Promise?

He ran up to her and called out. He didn't know why, he just had to. She didn't seem to hear him so he tried to get a hold of her arm. But his fingers went right through and he only caught nothing. She had sensed him, he knew because she turned around to look at his astonished face. There he saw the same pair of eyes he had longed to see again.

Promise.

She stood in front of him, her face vacant of any emotion. Her whole body was transparent and she was a lot taller than him. Her body had grown, just as her hair. He gazed at her, unable to bring out any form of speech. She was beautiful. No man would ever gaze another upon looking at this beauty.

You shouldn't be here.

He was happy to see her yet she shouldn't be here. She should be in the other side, living a normal life, away from the dangers in his world. She clasped her hands together and that's when he saw a small glimmer from her finger. The little light had overcast an enveloping shadow on him. How long had it been since they said farewell to each other before she crossed the river? She had grown old and beautiful enough to marry a man of her own kind and maybe had children as pretty and as enthusiastic as her. She had lived life in her own world until her time was up. She had returned in his world as a spirit herself without her memories from her mortal life. They met again in the most unlikely way. Here she was, a beautiful woman in her afterlife, unable to recognize the twelve-year-old boy in front of her.

He stepped closer. She stepped back. He softly said her name and her eyes glistened in the dark, water welling up on each side. He held out his hand, waiting for hers.

Chihiro…

Her mind still couldn't remember but emotions came flooding inside her as he said her name with a voice so familiar. Chihiro, was it? People said it was a pretty name. Tears were now falling down her cheeks upon looking at his gentle smile. His smile gave her comfort, a comfort somewhat given to a little girl lost in an unknown place.

How did you know my name's Chihiro?

She reluctantly placed her hand on his and skin felt skin. She had this swelling feeling inside, a sense of fulfillment and contentment. Her longing had passed and for the first time, she felt truly happy.

I've known you since you were very small.

She still didn't know who this young boy was. But there was something about those piercing teal eyes that she missed being a carefree child with so much belief. He was still smiling and her tears were still falling. And they were both caught up in the moment.

Once you've met someone, you never really forget them.

A/N: I don't know if I'm going to continue this or just end it here in all its bittersweet glory.