Kohaku watched Chihiro run down the steps towards her freedom, family and the rest of her life. He could feel the presence of the sorceress behind him as Chihiro disappeared beyond sight into the tunnel that would lead her back to the human world, back to where she'd come from; the smile on his face had faded as he'd watched her go and his eyes, once bright, were dull.
"You made that girl a promise you can't keep."
"She's just a human child, she needs that hope for now. In time, she'll forget me as we have been forgotten by those who once feared our very presence." He replied as he turned to face Yubaba.
"A deal's a deal dragon. I've kept my end."
"I will keep mine." He replied even as his human form gave way to his real form. His silvery scales glistened like jewels in the sun as he stood facing the sorceress. His serpentine body, that had known the currents of air and water would soon know neither. His green mane, lighter then his eyes, trailed down from his head between his horns to his tail. He lifted his head to stare at the sky above, his whiskers swaying gently around him though he knew what was coming. Knowing made it no easier as he cast his mind from his body long before it began. He barely registered the pain even as he felt his life force, his blood, spilling down the stairs where days before water had brushed. He didn't sway, not yet. He thought of her, of Chihiro, of the first time he'd seen the young girl when she'd fallen into his river to retrieve a shoe. As the next lance of pain cut through him he thought of how he'd seen her on the bridge and knew her though he had been surprised to see her in his world; he'd known her even then though he hadn't known his own real name. Another shot of pain, his body collapsed and he remembered she's helped him fight off Zeniba's magic paper when he'd stolen the sorceress' seal. He felt tired now, so very tired. He thought of, then, her giving him the medicine cake she'd gotten from the River God to get him to relinquish the seal he'd stolen as well as ridding him of Yubaba's bug that had been controlling him. Then, after blacking out, waking up to see Kamaji sleeping nearby. He heard the faint sound of retreating footsteps. Chihiro? No, she was gone now, he remembered; he was alone. She wasn't nearby anymore to help him and the gateway to the human world would close again soon. He could see that the day was getting dark now or was that just his eyes closing? He'd rest now, sleep; he knew he desperately needed to. Forgive me Chihiro. I love you. The young former river spirit thought as his eyes drifted close and he no longer saw the world. The smell of the green grass now lost to him as was the rest of the world about him as the stones and grass below drank their fill of dragon blood. All was silent, not even the wind stirred; as if to mourn the passing of the spirit who had once rode with it and commanded it.