Prologue

When Haku woke up the next morning, he did not waste time. As he dressed, as he ate breakfast, all he could think about was his name: Kohaku River. He knew it now. He could escape from his life at the Bath House. He could return to her: Chihiro. He had promised her that they would see each other again. Now each moment he spent still lingering at the Bath House cost him dearly. Chihiro may have already moved on.

He knocked on Yubaba's front door, and it opened, along with all the other doors behind it. The chandeliers in each room lit up and filled the room with a brilliant sparkle. Haku walked in. The doors closed gently behind him. He walked into Yubaba's office. She was sitting behind her desk, leaning back in her chair and smoking. She only glanced at Haku as he walked in. They stared at each other.

"I have no special tasks for you today, Haku," Yubaba said dismissively. "Just make sure everyone is doing their job."

"My apologies, Yubaba," Haku bowed. "But that is not why I am here today."

Yubaba put out her pipe and leaned forward. "No? Then what brings you to my office?"

"You already know the answer to that, all-powerful as you are."

Yubaba smirked. "You think you can just leave? How childish, Haku. You have no home to return to."

"All I need is my name." Haku's voice deepened, sounding powerful and dragon-like. He advanced on Yubaba's desk, an unknown wind swirling around him and destroying the order of the room. "I AM THE SPIRIT OF THE KOHAKU RIVER. MY NAME IS KOHAKU RIVER. AND I WILL NOT BE ADDRESSED AS THOUGH I AM A MERE HUMAN UNDER YOUR CONTROL. I AM FREE." The atmosphere around him glowed.

There was a blinding flash of light, and then Haku was gone.

Yubaba leaned back in her chair and smirked. The various papers and knick knacks that had been upset by Haku floated to their original, organized places. She lit another long cigarette and inhaled slowly, contentedly.

"Good luck, Kohaku River," she muttered to herself. "Let's see how you do in the human world when you have no recollection of ever meeting young Chihiro." She cackled and moved on to examine her latest valuable findings.

~End Prologue~