DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN SPIRITED AWAY

CHAPTER 1:

"Never Forget"

I stood at the gate, urgently willing my legs to take me away from this place so that I could join my parents. It was what I wanted wasn't it? Freedom was exactly the reason for tolerating everything I had in that bathhouse ran by Yubaba.

And yet I couldn't move; my legs were frozen to the ground. Why was this happening? Why didn't I want to leave?

I felt slight pressure against the skin of my palm. My light brown eyes glanced up quickly and immediately locked with the most beautiful pair of emerald green ones.

He gave me a tentative smile that didn't completely reach his eyes. I attempted to smile back but failed miserably. Tears leaked out of my eyes. He swiped them away with the tip of his pale index finger. I could already feel his touch beginning to fade; the stroke he bestowed upon my cheek felt more like a slight caress of a feather rather than a finger. Any minute now and his entire hand would pass through me; the thought roused panic within the pit of my stomach. What would I do without Haku?! I couldn't just leave him here and return to my world as if he hadn't changed me!

I didn't realize it at that moment, I was only ten of course, but this was the first sign of my budding love for the boy before me. He was someone so unique and kind- hearted; willing to give anything and everything he had in order to save the people he cared deeply for. Just like he had for me; he had gone out of his way to ensure my safety during the time I was imprisoned within the Spirit realm.

"Will we see each other again?" I asked him, another silent tear streaking across my cheek. I sounded so vulnerable; so scared and alone. I needed to know that I would see him again; I needed to know that one simple thing and maybe I could go on.

He gave a small smile; this time I saw a hint of happiness and longing within those irises that were the perfect shade of jade. "Yes; I can promise you that we will see each other again."

That one simple answer to my one simple question had made my heart swell with absolute joy. In that moment I just knew that I could face anything with the knowledge that my one true friend would come back for me.

I could just picture Haku, transformed as a fair dragon adorned with a velvety emerald green mane, the exact color of those eyes that I adored. He would be waiting for me at the gates of the Spirit world, waiting with a genuine smile upon his face for me. I would step into the Spirit World and be surrounded by the one true place that I called home….

"Beep! Beep! Beep!" I woke with a start as my alarm clock stirred me from my wondrous dream, alerting me to the fact that I needed to be in full consciousness so that I could prepare for school. It also alerted me to the fact that I was still trapped in this world. I was still a caged bird.

Haku had promised me six years ago that he would come back for me, that we would see each other again.

I had not forgotten his promise and it made me feel that he had abandoned me; never to return—

I instantly discontinued my trail of accusative thoughts; Haku had promised me. Haku was my friend; my one true friend, despite me only knowing him a short time. He would come back to me. He would set me free from this predictable life that had tortured me for all these years… I just knew he would… right?

I shook my head, as if in a, futile, attempt to clear these thoughts. I just couldn't help what my heart repeatedly declared; it was as though a horrendous screaming voice sounded in my head whenever thoughts of Haku deserting me surfaced.

I smiled a tiny smile as I, unenthusiastically, prepared for my day.

I looked within my mirror to see a girl I barely recognized. My russet hair had grown to about the length of the small of my back. I had taken to pulling it up into a high ponytail lately, allowing a few loose pieces to fall into my face, like it used to be…

I has defiantly gotten taller since my tenth year, maybe about 5'6 by now; I was still shorter than most of the people in my class though. My cheekbones had accumulated, I had acquired curves and my face was fair and flawless.

Despite the fact that I had transformed into a beautiful girl, at least that's what everybody told me, I couldn't help but think that it was not enough. I didn't care if I was beautiful or not; he wasn't here to see me anyway.

Yes, I had fallen in love with Haku. I had felt those first inklings of love deep within me, trembling within me, begging me to realize that I loved him before it was too late, that day that we had parted ways… probably forever.

What was I saying? I just knew Haku was coming back for me, deep down inside of me I could somehow feel it.

"Chihiro! Darling, are you decent?"

I sighed quietly and analyzed myself one last time before I descended the staircase so that I could, once again, bound out the door, hop into my car, reach the school building, barely listen to the teachers as they droned on and on throughout the day, then head home so that I could do it all again.

I was tired of it. I detested this boring life.

I loved my parents deeply but my love for Haku seemed to outdo that parental love, something that made my chest ache; I didn't need to choose some guy over the two people that raised me!

Once I reached the bottom step of the staircase I plastered a fake smile to my face, hugged my father, kissed my mother's cheek and hurried out the door so that I could quickly take the wheel of my Toyota Camry and scurry to the school building.

The roads were thick with the December ice. The town looked like a scene out of a fairy tale. Ice sickles hung from roofs of buildings and snow formed a pure, untouched pallet on the grass.

I loved the winter… but I loved the spring time more… Quickly I discarded these thoughts; I didn't feel like reentering the feelings of loneliness and abandonment that I had experienced this morning.

I stopped at a red light carefully, leery of the slick ground. One false movement and it would end my life.

Shaky hands gripped the steering wheel as I focused on taking deep breaths.

This intersection was always a horrible one to use, but, for some reason, I had driven here without thinking.

The light flashed green and, quickly assessing that there were no other cars approaching, I, hesitantly, drove through the intersection.

I only made it halfway.

Trees and greenery were placed in the exact position that was needed to be able to see approaching cars, and, with the thickness of the snow upon the trees, it made it that much harder to notice impending hazards. One only knows if cars are coming once they see the headlights or they hear the other engine.

Or if the other driver isn't paying attention to the traffic light color and soars, headlong, into the other driver's car.

I saw the headlights and turned, as if in slow motion, to see a truck, frantically attempting to stop, barrel into the driver's side of my car.

My life flashed before my eyes as I found myself trapped in the glares of those headlights, like that of a deer.

I saw my parents and my childhood friends. I saw my current friends and my teachers that I never gave so much as a fraction of my attention to during the day… but mostly I saw the Spirit World and Haku.

All of the monumentally important, life- changing events in my life happened in that realm of excitement and erratic adventures.

I had seen my parents transformed into pigs, I had experienced cleaning a river spirit, I had made friends with an old lady that was almost an exact clone of her evil sister and also with a girl that only wished to achieve freedom, what I almost wished I hadn't gotten … I had also fallen in love for the first time.

The truck seemed to come slowly, as if understanding my need to remember Haku, for I needed to call his face to my mind as I died.

Finally, after what seemed an eternity but was only a few seconds, the truck made contact with my red Camry. I raised an arm to shield my face from the spraying glass as it entered into my skin.

The truck kept coming, pushing its way deeper and deeper into the car.

I knew I would be squashed and I accepted that fact. I held my breath and closed my eyes, waiting for the inevitable.

With a flash of realization I understood that I would be going to the Spirit world. I would see Haku again!

A wide smile graced my lips; I eager to accept death and be with my beloved once more.

When the searing pain began, my smile didn't waver at all; I would be found with that smile upon my lips, among the ruble much later.

As the light left the vessel that was my body, I called out into oblivion, praying that Haku would hear me.

I'm coming! I'm coming Haku! Please wait for me!

Memories faded, breathing became harder and harder, heartbeat slowed.

The young girl named Chihiro, the girl that I once was, died within an instant, only to be reborn into the Sprit world that I had longed so desperately for.

Only this time… greater enemies stir within the shadows of the world; grinning with dark acid words escaping their mouths… waiting and watching as the girl who defies the rules of their territory enters into their dominion.

She who holds the secret

She who lives in peace

Will soon discover

Her peace shall cease…