It's been 14 years now since I left the Spirit World and I, Chihiro Ogino, am 24 now. At first when my family and I returned to the Human World I was so happy to just have my Mom and Dad back and human again, but as the days continued on I started to miss all my friends I left behind in the Spirit World and started to worry about Haku too.

As time move on I wanted to learn as much as I could about my friends and the world they lived in, so I started to immerse myself in mythology from around the world and history of Japan. I also started to take some drawing classes at my Middle School. I could tell then that I wasn't like my other classmates, my time with Haku, Granny and the others had changed me and I felt like a foreigner in my own world. Soon I graduated and entered into College, there I took a major in history with emphasis in mythology. I already knew a lot when I started and into my second year the teacher asked me if I be a TA for his mythology classes. I stayed on and got my Masters in the subject too and was even offered a job once I was done at said university. I was happy they asked me, but I was a little burn out from 7 years of college, so I asked for some time off and I'd contact them when I'd come back. They agreed saying the job would always be open to me.

So now I'm on a vacation so to speak and back at my parents relaxing till I'm ready to go back, but honestly I don't know if I'll ever be.

" Chihiro!" my mother shouted from the kitchen

" Yeah!" I replied back

" You're lunch is ready for you." She explained

I walked into the kitchen and there was a bento fixed to me. Lately I have taken to going on walks in the forest behind the house we moved into. I enjoy it so much sometime I lose track of time and don't come back till after dark.

Maybe this time I can find the entrance. I thought

That was the other reason I went for the walks, I hoped I could find the entrance to the Spirit Worlds again.

" I'll be back later Mom." I said walking out the back door

My mother followed be and stopped at the doorway, " Just be back before midnight. I don't know if I can keep your Father from calling the police again."

I chuckled at this as I continued to walk across out backyard. My first walk I was so happy being out in the woods I stayed well past midnight and when I did return my Father had called the police and they were at my house getting ready to start a search for me.

" You have you flashlight right?" I heard my mother yell before I entered the woods

" Yeah!" I yelled back and waved to her and walked into the forest.

I walked for hours in one direction, but suddenly I felt like I needed to go a little to the left, so I did what I felt.

It's almost as if something's pulling me this way. I thought as I continued to move

My feet started to hurt from moving along the many protruding tree roots and rock that were in this part of the forest. I walked a little further and noticed the trees seem to be thinning out.

I looked down at my watch, " 3:00, well if there's a clearing here for me to sit and eat I'll rest for a bit."

As I moved to where the forest finally stopped I gasped at what I saw.

In front of me was the clearest blue lake I'd ever seen the area hummed with ancient life, and I could feel it even if I was human. The trees that wrapped around the lake were like a giant fence and they were so high.

" If someone even tried to cut one down it'll take them a year to cut it all up." I thought

I heard the wind blow throught the trees and it sounded as if the were shivering with fright at my words.

" Don't worry you're too far out for anyone to come and harm you and I'm just walking thought. You're safe." I said not knowing if the trees here could understand me or not

The wind calmed down and a content calm took over the place again.

" I think my time with Haku has caused me to be more aware of nature." I said, " This place is so wonderful. It reminds me so much of the Spirit World."

As I looked to the lake again I noticed something floating on the surface. I took a closer look and saw it looked like a Lilly pad.

" Strange there should be more than one on a hidden lake like this." I said

Taking a closer look I saw a shadow underneath the Lilly pad.

" Kappa." I whispered to make sure the creature didn't know I could see it

I smiled at finding this place had a spirits here, This place is everything I've been looking for, maybe this is a sign that I can find my way back.

I walked closer to the lake, but made sure I stayed far enough away the Kappa wouldn't attack me and pull me into the lake.

What is that Ningen doing? The Kappa thought watching Chihiro from under the water, A normal Ningen would run to the lake to at least dip their aching feet into it, but this one is staying far enough away I can't get to her. I don't get it? She couldn't have seen me, most Ningen don't believe in our kind anymore, but she did speak to the trees.

Chihiro went and sat down under a tree that was near the lake, but not so close that the Kappa could hurt her. She took her backpack off and opened it up pulling her large bento out her mother had made. Looking back down into her pack she saw a brown bag too.

" What's this?" Chihiro said confused about the bag

She pulled the bag out also and opened it up looking inside. She smiled at what was in it. Her mother had also packed her some snack of fruits and vegetable along with a knife to cut off the skin if she wanted. It was looking inside she saw what she would need to have the Kappa not hurt her.

I just hope what they say in all the books about Kappas and cucumbers are true or I'm dead. Chihiro thought

The Kappa moved closer to the edge of the lake watching Chihiro open her bento and start eating, What is she doing staying here? Why didn't she come into the lake?

The Kappa was highly confused over this

" You know…" Chihiro started interrupting the Kappa's thoughts of confusion, " …I'm not coming in there and becoming a meal for you, Kappa."

The Kappa was shocked by her words, So she did know I was here.

The Kappa decided that since the human knew he was there, there was no use in hiding anymore.

" So you knew all along?" the Kappa asked

" Yes, though if you let me soak my feet I'll give you some other food." Chihiro said smiling at the Kappa

" Ningen what could you have other than you warm blood that I could want to eat?" the Kappa asked annoyed this human was trying to barter with it

Chihiro reached into the brown bag and pulled out 2 cucumbers. The Kappa saw this and his mouth began to water.

" You have kyuuri? Oh it's been so long since I've had that delicacy." The Kappa said reaching for them, but staying at the edge of the water still

Chihiro though pulled them back, " Kappa you must promise me you will let me be while I'm here and I'll let you have these."

The Kappa stood there pondering if this would be a good trade, " I agree for today I will let you be."

Chihiro nodded and tossed the cucumbers one at a time to the Kappa, who jumped up and caught them in mid air. The Kappa placed one on the lakeshore and bit into the other one smiling at the delicious taste of the food. Chihiro in the mean time smiled and resumed eating her bento.

" Tell me Ningen what are you doing this far out from your clan?" the Kappa asked after he finished his first cucumber

" I was taking a walk and felt like I needed to come in this direction and here I am. I don't know how though." Chihiro said

" The lake is calling you." The Kappa said looking back at the lake

" It's calling me?" Chihiro said confused, " You mean the spirit of the lake know me somehow?"

" I believe so, tell me Ningen what is your name?" the Kappa asked

Chihiro looked warily at the Kappa the last time she gave her name Yubaba had taken it away from her.

" Ningen?" the Kappa asked confused, " I promised I wouldn't hurt you and a spirit promise is its bond."

" I'm sorry Kappa, but 14 years ago I gave my name to someone in the Spirit World and she took it from me and kept me as a worker." Chihiro said

The Kappa looked at her shocked, " You're…you're the Ningen that worked for Yubaba and freed Kohaku-sama!"

Chihiro looked at the Kappa shocked he knew about this, " How do you know that?"

" How would any spirit not know about it, after you left your tale was told daily at the Onsen by the workers. Yubaba was furious when Kohaku-sama told her he was leaving and told her he knew his name, which you gave back to him."

The Kappa who had been sitting stood and bowed to her, " Chihiro Ogino, my name is Kamigama and it is a pleasure to meet you. You have my word that if you return here I nor any of my fellow Kappas will harm you if you go into the lake."

Chihiro looked at the Kappa shocked, " Why do you say that? I've only given you cucumbers, what have I done to warrant such a promise?"

The Kappa looked up at her shocked, " You really don't know whose lake this is do you?"

" No, the only water spirit I knew at the Onsen was the River Kami. Lin and I cleaned out all the trash from." Chihiro said

The Kappa smiled at her, " There was one other you knew there Ogino-chan."

Chihiro looked at him confused, One other, No, all the others were Land Spirits, Haku was the only other, but he was a River God too and his river is gone now. " I'm sorry Kamigama, but I don't know of any other spirit."

Kamigama smiled at her, " You know Ogino-chan, rivers have to start somewhere."

Chihiro looked at him still confused and this shocked by his words finally understanding this, " You mean this is…"

Kamigama nodded, " Chihiro Ogino may I present to you Lake Nigihayami Kohakunushi or Lake Haku as you might know him."

Chihiro's face lit up at the news Kamigama gave her, " So he didn't lose his home after all. I'm so happy."

" The lake wants you to come in Ogino-chan." Kamigama said

Chihiro looked at Kamigama and then at the lake. She put her bento beside of her and took her shoes off and walked to the lake. She glanced over at Kamigama, who smiled at her kindly and nodded.

" I will help you if anything happens, but you'll be fine." Kamigama said to her

She nodded and stepped off the shore into the lake water. When she first entered it seemed to part and slowly come onto her, so the cold wouldn't hit her so hard. She stopped when she was knee deep and took her hands and grazed the water.

Chihiro. She felt the lake speak to her and it sounded like Haku, but deeper voice now

She smiled and didn't notice she had started to cry until the tears hit the water and it grew upset becoming a little turbulent, Upset? What wrong?

Chihiro shook her head, " Nothing is wrong I'm happy to be with a part of you again Haku and that you weren't all destroyed."

The lake calmed at her response, but this stilled, Go!

" Go? Go where?" Chihiro didn't understand what was going on

Kamigama came and grabbed her wrist and pulled her back to shore looking up.

" What's going on Kamigama?" Chihiro asked confused

" The lake doesn't want it's other half to know you here yet." Kamigama said still looking into the sky

" You mean Haku's coming?" Chihiro said happy at this

Kamigama nodded as he pulled her into the forest shadows, " Stay here and don't come out till his lake signals."

Chihiro nodded and looked out behind the trunk of a tree, " Haku after all these years I'll be able to see you again."

Looking up into the sky she saw the white dragon of her dreams, " Haku."

Haku landed on the surface of the lake and change back into his human form.

Chihiro looked at his dragon form before he change. " He's gotten more muscular and longer too, but he looked the same as the last time I saw him." When he changed into his human form Chihiro nearly passed out, " The Gods have been good to you Haku. You probably have all the female spirits falling at your feet and completely oblivious to it too."

Haku's human form had him standing at 6 foot his body was lean, but Chihiro could tell that there was muscle hidden under there and if anyone underestimated him they'd be dead. His hair was still cut the same way it was just wilder instead of flat. The sun shining in it caused the green to show up in his hair more. Instead of the Onsen outfit she last saw him in her now wore a traditional Hakama that had light blue pants and a white haori with a dragon that was the spiting image on him wrapped around the front and back.

" Kamigama, what are you doing so far out of the water?" Haku asked seeing the Kappa was just now exiting the forest

" I thought I saw something in the forest Kohaku-sama and was checking on it." Kamigama replied

" You need to be careful if you go too far you might start to dry up and I don't like any of the lake creature leaving." Haku said

" Gomen Kohaku-sama I'll stay close by, don't worry about me. How is work?" Kamigama asked

" Haku always worries about other." Chihiro smiled at this, " Work? What work? He got his name back so it can't be for Yubaba."

Haku sighed at this question, " That Yubaba if the higher Kamis hadn't put me as a co-boss she wouldn't do any changes I want. I can see why they wanted me there, but I think she's starting to dislike being ordered around."

" Maybe you get lucky and she leaves." Kamigama said

" If that happens when she does come back we'll have big trouble on our hands." Haku said rubbing his head

" Gomen Kohaku-sama I didn't mean to cause you a headache you come here to relax and I'm making it worse aren't I?" Kamigama asked

Haku smiled at the Kappa and shook his head, " Kamigama you are one of the few who worry about me."

" Only because you don't think of yourself Kohaku-sama, you think only of others and the occasionally ningen." Kamigama said smiling glancing back into the wood

" Hai Ningen, I wonder how she's doing now? It's been what 14 years now?" Haku asked looking into the sky

" Chihiro, Kohaku-sama?" Kamigama asked and Kohaku nodded, " I'm sure you'll see her again soon."

Haku sighed at this, " Iie Kamigama, I don't think she'll be able to come into our world again."

" But if she found this place. This place that the Human and Spirit World cross, she could stumble on it." Kamigama said to him

" That may be true, but my lake it too far in the forest she's never find it without mine or a Kami helping her." Kohaku said

" So if Haku didn't direct me here, who did?" Chihiro thought

Haku moved to the lakeshore and sat dipping his fingers in the water.

" Hello my friend you seem happy today." Haku said

" Chihiro." The lake replied

" So you miss her too." Haku said

" Where's Chihiro?" the lake asked

" I'm not sure she's somewhere in her world, which I can't get to, Gomen." Haku said

" Chihiro left. Find Chihiro asked Kamigama he knows." The lake said back

Haku looked at his lake confused and then to Kamigama, who was going to a tree. He noticed Kamigama bent down and go through something and pull out a cucumber.

Where did that come from? Haku thought knowing cucumber didn't grow anywhere in this forest

As Kamigama came walking back Haku saw a backpack and bento sitting beside the tree. What struck him was the backpack had a dragon design on it and it looked like him as a child.

" Kamigama tell me you didn't eat another Ningen." Haku said annoyed

" The Ningen came and gave me kyuuri I knew she had more." Kamigama said

" She…" Haku questioned

Normally if anyone wanders this way it's a man. Haku thought

" Where's Chihiro?" the lake asked again

Haku's blood ran cold at this lakes question again, She, it was…Chihiro was here!

Haku's eyes bleed red in rage, " Kamigama!"

Kamigama looked at Haku shocked, he and the lake knew Haku would think the Kappa had eaten her, but neither him nor his lake thought he get this enraged over it.

" How could you? You've known of her from what the others and I have told you! How could you hurt her?" Haku said enraged that the one he cared about had been eaten

" Demo Kohaku-sama…." Kamigama tried to explain

" Iie, you knew how precious she was to me…to the Spirit World. How could you?" Haku asked slowly walking towards Kamigama, who was walking away from him and near where Chihiro was hiding

Rage. She felt the lake speak to her

Looking around she notices she wasn't near an off source of the lake and didn't understand how she could hear the lake. She then felt something slowing moving down her leg. Looking down she saw her shorts had gotten wet from the lake and was dripping down her legs and her hands were still wet too.

Contact. She felt form the lake

" You mean even if I'm not near you if you're still on me I can fell and hear you?" Chihiro questioned

Hai. The lake responded

" Why is he so angry?" Chihiro asked

It was then she was flooded with emotions. She crouch on the ground and covered her ears from all the emotional input she was getting.

" Too…much." She said and as soon as she said this is stopped

Ok? She felt the lake ask

" Yes." Chihiro said breathing hard, "…but for a human that is too many emotions at once to have in them."

She felt the lake whimper in apology.

" Don't worry its alright." She said to it feeling its relief

She then thought back to what the lake had sent her the explosion of emotions coming from Haku. His rage was enormous and almost painful, and sadness was the same was too, but what caught her thought now was the utter loneliness he felt. Was it because he thought Kamigama had eaten her that he thought he was lonely.

" Surely he has the others he talks to. Why would he feel so lonely about me being gone?" Chihiro questioned

She heard Haku roar in rage and looked at the scene before her.

Kamigama had his back again the tree and was huddled on the ground shaking from the rage coming off Haku. He knew they had taken this game too far. He could tell the lake was trying to calm him down, but it hadn't worked and from what he saw behind him this cause the lake to go into a frenzy because it's other half wasn't talking to it.

I, no we didn't know he'd react this strongly about her being gone. But this does validate Zeniba's thought of him liking her more than a friend. Kamigama thought

It was in a flash that Haku changed into this dragon form looking even more intimidating with his eyes still glowing red from rage.

" They have a saying in the Ningen World and eye from a eye. So since you took my precious person's life I will take yours." Haku growled

" Kohaku-sama I…" Kamigama tried to explain

" Haku no!" Chihiro said as she ran in front of Kamigama

Stop Chihiro! The lake tried to tell Haku, but in his rage he could hear noting but his anger

Blood flew in the air as Haku attack.

Kappa – A demon dwarf who lives in Japanese seas, rivers, lakes, or ponds. Like to lie in wait for people or animals that stray to close to their water homes and drag them down to die.

Ningen – Human

Kyuuri – Cucumbers

Kamigama – Frog Turtle, a play I did on what a Kappa looks like

Onsen – Hot Springs/ Bathhouse

Gomen – I'm Sorry

Kami – God

Hai – Yes

Iie – No

Demo - But