I let go of her hand in pain; I felt her smooth skin caress my own as her hand slid off of mine.

"Don't look back." I told her. Never look back. Trust that I will find you. I tried hard not to cry as she walked away. Knowing that I might never see her again, but fate has a way of twisting itself so that even miracles were possible. I promised her we would meet again, and this was a promise I intended to keep. For I could not bear to continue living on in her precious memory of a dream forgotten.

I pulled away gently and he let go of my hand… he let go.

"Will I ever see you again?" I had asked. He promised me we would meet again. He promised… "Don't look back." He said. I wouldn't look back. As much as it hurt to keep going onward, and trying to forget him… I would not look back. I tried so hard to forget him that he was but a mere memory, except for in my dreams. But who can decide what they dream? And dream I do…

Seven years have passed… since that day I started having those strange dreams…I have basically forgotten what happened that day. But I do remember one thing. I remember that I left behind some one very important to me that day, someone I loved. Back then I was little, only ten years old. And having my parents with me was the most important thing. I remember that day we moved. When we got to the new house, the movers weren't any were to be seen. They were furious when we called them to see where they were. We told them we had taken a short stop, but they said we had been gone for the longest time. I wonder why.

When I finally was allowed to see my new room, I kept remembering what my mother had told me about starting a new school, and moving to a new house; she said it was all an adventure. An adventure… I couldn't believe what she told me. The house seemed pretty normal to me, besides a small sitting place in my room that was connected to a large window. I remember how I used to stare out of that window… and just watch everyone walk by. Sometimes, I drew that things I saw out of that window, and in the spring I would open it and draw the large cherry blossom tree in our front yard. It had a wooden swing me and my dad had built when I was twelve. Drawing was my life. I used to get all A's in art class. I was the best, most committed and imaginative student, that's what my art teacher used to tell me. I would draw all sorts of spirits, and frog like creatures. Things I would make up, but they seemed so real, like I had really met them… of course, my mother and father would say I was silly. There was no way I could have met them, because they were just, make-believe. But lately, thanks to these dreams, I've been drawing dragons. Well, a dragon. A magnificent white dragon with soft fur, or sometimes pearly scales. And a head of forest green fur lining it's back. He has these eyes, fierce green eyes. Sometimes the dragon is flying, sometimes he's swimming. But there's one thing that's sure, is name is Haku. And I every time I draw that dragon, for some reason, I begin to cry longingly, it's as though I love it. I do love it, or at least in my dreams I do. But I don't have time for dreaming… not anymore. Instead, I have to start thinking about my future, like college and such. I want to be an artist. But my parents want me to be a lawyer or a doctor. I'm not sure why, but lately they just can't seem to agree on anything. They fight over the stupidest things, and I caught my mother crying in her room the other day, although she denies it. I just wish things could go back, to when life was not this hard. And to when I could dream all day long. And not care about college, or my parents splitting up. Sometimes I just want to runaway, and let that dragon carry me off into the sky.

Life here has been hard since she left. Yubaba and I made another deal, if I want to be free, I will have to work for her for seven more years. She knows that the only reason I want to be free is because of Chihiro. Sometimes things get so bad here, I feel like dying. But I keep on going; the thought of seeing her again makes me keep going. Every year that passes makes me feel like if a giant boulder is being lifted off of my back. I know I love her. I've always loved her. I wonder if she remembers me… does she just think this is all some crazy dream? Does she remember my promise? Is she waiting for me… or has she moved on? I can't continue living like this… it hurts being apart from her. Being a memory… it hurts. But this is the last year I have to work. I'll finally be able to see her…

Zeniba opened the door hastily and Haku came barging in.

"I was three days early." He said angrily. He pulled a chair and sat down. Zeniba shook her head. A deal is a deal. Three days more then." The deal Haku had made with Yubaba would be completed in just three days. In three days, he would be free.

"But… it's just three days!" exclaimed Haku. He stood up and started pacing around the room. Zeniba smiled sadly at him.

"It'll be alright Kohaku." She said leading him back the chair. He sat down and began drumming his fingers against the wooden table. No face sat in a corner weaving a beautiful purple dress to match the beautiful hair band they had made Chihiro. It was a gift for Chihiro they wanted Haku to give her for them. Boh and Yubaba's bird sat on a spinning wheel next to no face in their small chibi forms. No face got up and picked up a spool of purple thread. Haku stood up and walked over to him to examine his fine work. He was a few inches taller than no face now. Zeniba watched him from the corner of her eye as she brewed some ginseng tea. He had strong features with wide elbows. His hair was about two inches longer than it had been when he was fourteen. His face was longer, and even more handsome than it had been seven years ago. 'Chihiro is a lucky girl.' thought Zeniba. Haku was a strong worker, dedicated, and caring. Also, he was extremely handsome. All the young girls in the bathhouse swooned over him every time they saw him. But it was his eyes that caught everyone's attention the most. They were a deep green. His eyes were so intense, so fierce, and yet kind. Zeniba poured the hot tea into cups and brought them over to the table. Haku walked over to her and sat down across from her.

"I wonder what she looks like." He said distantly. Zeniba smiled.

"Why do you want to know how she looks like?" asked Zeniba jokingly. Haku grinned.

"It's not like that. I just wonder how I'll find her. That's all." He took a sip of his steaming tea and gagged. "Hot…" he hissed. Zeniba laughed.

"Well what did you expect? It's steaming." He grimaced and pushed the cup to the side with a sigh.

"You'll find her." Zeniba said. She took a sip out of the tea. Haku stared at her.

"What makes you so sure?" he asked.

"Because, there is nothing that can keep you away from her. That is pure love." she smiled at him. He blushed.

"I don't know… back then… we were just kids." And it was true. Back then things were different. They were kids. But know they were older. And Haku was serious about his feelings.

"Let me see that dress." Zeniba told no face. He held it up for her to see. It was a knee length traditional Asian styled dress with a long neck. It had short sleeves, and beautiful blossom embroidery that no face was just finishing up.

"Hmmm… well, I hope it fits." Said Zeniba eyeing the dress.

Haku smiled. He couldn't wait to see Chihiro. Everything would be ok once he'd find her.

Chihiro woke up and stretched. She had dreamt that she had been flying through the sky on Haku. She smiled sleepily. Were had she even gotten the name Haku from anyway? 'Oh well… time for school.' She thought heading to the bathroom. it was Thursday and she couldn't wait till the weekend so she could sleep in late and dream all afternoon. She wished her dreams were real. In her dreams, she had people who cared about her. Her mother was probably still sleeping and her father had probably already gone to work. Chihiro opened a new tube of toothpaste and spread it out on her toothbrush. Sure she had friends… and had been asked out on dates. Not that she accepted of course. No, she was waiting for someone, she just wasn't sure whom. But all of her friends said she was too quiet, and got too many good grades. And they said she was a weird art freak. Not that it bothered her because she knew they were just playing around… well, most of them. But most of her friends were boys so of course they were playing around. Chihiro took a few seconds to think about how she would get into college with only two after school activities. Art club and track. With Chihiro being the 'art freak' she was, it was no surprise she had joined the art club, but track was a little strange. Her Phis. Ed. Teacher had suggested it since Chihiro had such long, strong legs. Chihiro had accepted knowing that she needed after school activities to get into a university or college. Her parents wanted her to go to T.U. but she doubted she could get in there.

She walked out of the bathroom and into her room. She opened her closet and picked out a plain white oxford shirt, a navy blue jacket, a navy blue tie, and a navy blue mini skirt. Her uniform. Of course since she was an only child, her parents had paid for her to go to a stupid private school. And she had a stupid plain uniform that was very flirty in Chihiro's opinion. Chihiro picked out some clean socks, underwear, and a bra and began to undress and then dress. Finally, she put on her black moccasins and tapped the end of her shoe on the floor. She let her hair down since it was picked up in a ponytail, and brushed it. Lately she had been picking her hair up to sleep with a hair band she had had since she was little. She found that her dreams became clearer when she did this. Chihiro then ran her fingers through her hair and smiled at her reflection. Her hair went down a little lower than her shoulders. Her face, was just as it had been when she was little, only her eyes were now bigger and her face was little less chubby. She absent mindly reached down to a little box in the corner of her vanity and put the hair band away. Then she ran downstairs and picked up her book bag quietly. She opened the door and left without locking it. She ran around the corner as fast as her long legs could carry her.

"I'm gonna be late!" she exclaimed as she hopped across the street dodging a car by a few feet.

"Ahhh…" her lungs began to ache and she held her side in pain. Her school was now just a few feet in front of her. Two minutes…

She jumped up the steps of the school and thrust the door open. She ran down the hall… one minute… she could see her classroom now. There were people gathering in front of the door. She sighed and slowed down. Just in ti-

"Hey! What's up?" asked an all too familiar voice from behind her. She groaned inwardly and put on a fake smile.

"What?" She asked curtly. This had been the guy who had been after her for about two months now. Mike Shiragi. He was from America. And boy was he conceded. His dad was in the army and filthy rich. And he was handsome too. He had dreamy blue eyes and gorgeous blonde locks. And he was in the stupid basketball team… and blah blah blah… he even had his own mini fan club, consisting of all the girls he had ever dated in high school.

"So… what are you doing this Friday?" he asked stuffing his hands into his pockets. Chihiro grimaced. He probably put on hand lotion…

"I'm busy." She said quickly trying to get pass him. He blocked her and leaned in a little bit to whisper something in her ear.

"Come on babe. I've been after you for months now… please." His breath smelled like cigarettes. She put her hand against his chest and pushed him away.

"I'm sorry… I really am." She said. He grabbed her wrist and held her hand.

"What about Saturday then?" he pouted. To some other girl, this would have looked adorable. But Chihiro was not some other girl.

"I can't." she said.

"Why not?" he asked her.

"I… I just can't." she said.

"That's not an excu-"

"I'm waiting… for someone." She said pleadingly. He let go of her hand and backed up.

"That's why… well… who are you waiting for? Cuz he sure is taking a hell of a long time." Chihiro glared at him.

"I would never go out with you." she hissed and walked away. Sure, she didn't know who she was waiting for… and she didn't know if he would ever come… but in her dreams… in her dreams he was always there. She sighed and dumped her book bag on the floor. God she hated math.

Two days left… last night he had slept over Zeniba's… well, in her back yard at least. He liked sleeping outside. Thinking that maybe Chihiro lived under the same sky comforted him. Looking at the moon, and thinking that maybe she was looking at it too. He picked up a small cherry blossom that had blown next to him. He stood up and blew it into the night sky. It flew up… over the trees, and over the hills, over the bathhouse and over the river. In through a dark tunnel…

He had woken up and ran as fast as he could towards the bathhouse. When he finally got there, he entered through the boiler room. Kamaji was still sleeping. Suddenly, the soot balls ran out of their small caves to greet Haku. He hopped over them and walked towards Kamaji.

"Kamaji. Wake up." He said. Kamaji snored away. Haku glared at him.

Boom. The small door in the corner opened and Lin came in crouching.

"Haku… your back. What took you so long?" she asked sarcastically. Haku nodded towards the ceiling.

"Did Yubaba notice?" he asked. Lin shook her head.

"No. Hey, let me see the dress." Haku reached into the fold of his yukata and took out the dress no face had made with great care. Lin gave a low whistle.

"It's beautiful." She whispered. Haku nodded. She handed it back to him, and he put it away safely.

"Now all we need is for you to give them to her." she grinned. Haku closed his burning eyes.

"We miss her too Haku." She said climbing out the door again. She left. Haku followed through the door, closing it behind him. Just two more days… climbed up the steps to where the great hall was. Most of the spirits were leaving now. He past a great radish spirit and went to the lift. The doors closed and he sighed, leaning against the walls. First floor… second… third. The doors opened and he regained his composure. He took a deep breath.

"Oh master Kohaku!" a frog spirit exclaimed. "How nice to see you!" Haku nodded curtly and passed the girls sleeping dormitory. Five seventeen year olds crowded around him giggling and twirling their hair between their long bony fingers. They all had long black hair put up in different styles. One of them had her hair bangs curled into a heart shape, and a jumpy ponytail.

She giggled preppily at Haku and he grimaced at her.

"Hi!" she gurgled.

"Hello." Haku said. He stared at her disbelievingly.

"I'm Hanna… Hanna- chan to you." she said hitting his arm. She puckered her lips and gave him a kiss on his cheek. "I'll be hear alone tomorrow handsome." She giggled. The other girls gasped and whispered amongst themselves.

"That's great. Really." Said Haku pushing though the crowd of girls. Enough was enough. There was no way he could care less… really. He sighed as he wiped his cheek where the girl had kissed him and knocked on the wooden door to Yubaba's office. He still wasn't sure why she had moved the girl's dorm to this floor. 'Probably to annoy me.' Though Haku as the door opened.

"Come in." called Yubaba from her desk. She seemed to be in a good mood.

"Oh… it's just you Haku." She sighed.

"Kohaku." Corrected Haku.

"Sorry… I forget." She said sarcastically.

"Were you expecting someone else?" he asked.

"Not that it concerns you… but yes. My baby. He's visiting his horrid aunt to make something… not sure what… But what are you doing here? You're still too early." She said.

"I came by to see if there was anything… you might need me to do before I left. And to ask you a question.

"Well, yes. There is something I need you do… did you clean the stables?" Haku nodded. "And the pig's sty?" he nodded again. "Well then… good… good…. So… shoot."

"Will I be able to come here with her after I leave."

"I don't know. Will you?" Haku grinned.

"I'm asking whether or not you'll let me and her come here to visit without you keeping us here." Yubaba thought and nodded.

"Why not." She sighed. "Besides… I need a favor of you… both." Haku eyed her suspiciously.

"What is it." He asked.

"Oh, don't look at me like that! You aren't a saint yourself. And besides, it's nothing bad. I just need you to travel to another city to get me something, but you need a girl to accompany you."

"Why?"

"Stop asking questions. Bring Sen… I mean Chihiro and I'll tell you." she nodded at the door and Haku walked over to it. He opened it and Hanna who had been leaning against it fell into the room.

"I heard you needed a girl to accompany you on a mission… well, I'm the one." She gurgled happily.

"No. Your not." Said Haku in annoyance. He walked out the room.

Ya se que no vendrás
todo lo que fué
el tiempo lo dejó atras
sé que no regresaras
lo que nos paso
no repetirá jamás
mil años no me alcanzaran
para borrarte y olvidar
y ahora estoy aqui
quierendo convertir
los campos in ciudad
mezclando cielo con el mar
sé que te dejé escapar
sé que te perdí
nada podrá ser igual
mil años pueden alcanzar
para que pueda perdonar