Hi there, this is my first fic, so I'm a bit nervous… I'm more used to writing in Russian, so English will be a bit unusual, but the most important is so the story will be good! I'll be really happy to get reviews, especially those with critics, so they will help me get better (^_^)! Okay… So here I go*punches air with her fist*!

Spirit: Just don't be lazy and type, okay?

Me: I'm not lazy!

Summary: Chihiro is 18… Her dream for 8 years was to visit the now flowing again Kohaku river… But the river spirit is different! It gives the girl a message from Haku… He asks for her help! New friends… old foes…

Chapter 1

When Chihiro turned 12, she found out that the Kohaku River has been restored. She asked her parents about visiting it, hoping to meet her dragon friend there, but they very all up against it. At that time the girl's mother got seriously sick, and died about a year later. Her father got married for the second time, and spent more time with his wife then with Chihiro. She got lonely very fast… Sure she had friends, but that didn't really help…

As soon as she turned 18 and finished school, she started planning a trip. She was determined to visit the river that started appearing in her dreams every night for the past months! The young lady has been working very hard to earn enough money to pay for the trip herself, and not asking her father, so she was feeling pretty proud of herself!

Chihiro changed with years… She was as tall as her friend from the spirit world, Lin. She still loved to tie her chestnut hair in a ponytail, but now it reached almost up to her waist. She was now a very curvy lady to.

-I wonder if Haku changed as much as I have… Oh, why hasn't he come? I miss him so much… - A tear ran down her cheek, when she remembered the boy… - Probably he is a man by now… Tall and handsome…

-Chihiro, get down here!

- Coming dad…- she sighed, closing her half-packed suitcase, and walking out of her room. – Did you want something?

-Yeah! Heard your leaving? Where to? For how long?

-To see the Kohaku River… Told you before. But you didn't want to take me, so I'm going by myself! For about a month.

-But dear, it's dangerous to go alone…

-I already asked a million times not to call me that, Natsumi. That is what my mom called me! And only she!

-Now, Chihiro, she's been your…

-She is not my mother!- putting a meaning in each word replied Chihiro. She didn't like the way Natsumi, her stepmom, wanted to fill the gaping hole in her heart, created by her mother's death. No one can replace HER mom! She stormed out of the room leaving her father to comfort Natsumi.

She returned to packing. The trip was for a month, but because it was summer there wasn't much stuff she wanted to take. A swimming suit… A couple of dresses, shirts, and skirts. She looked at everything and put a pair of jeans and a sweater, just in case. Everything else was all ready inside, except one thing : A crystal figure of a dragon. It was a present for Haku. For some reason she knew, that the trip will definitely change her life!

She left the house the next day, while her sleeping "parents" couldn't stop her. She didn't even want to say good-buy… She arrived by the evening of the same day. Chihiro stopped by a hotel, to drop of her things and immediately went down to the river. It looked beautiful even at night, the slight ripples of the waves glittering under the light of the full moon.

-Are you Chihiro?- she suddenly heard a childish voice behind her. She turned around and saw a little girl about the age of 8. She seemed very familiar… -And are you looking for Haku-sama?

-Why yes I am… And what's your name little one?

-Kohaku River.

-What?

-My name is Kohaku. I'm the spirit of this river. I will explain everything, but please, don't interrupt… Listen to what I have to say… I don't have much time in this appearance.

- Alright, I promise,- Chihiro calmed down and sat down on a rock by the very bank of the river. The girl did look a lot like her Haku. The same piercing green eyes, the dark hair… Only hers were long and loose on her shoulders.

-When a river gets blocked, it dies… So does the spirit guarding it. That's how Haku-sama ended up in the spirit world. He just didn't remember it until you helped him return his name. But when a river is restored, or is created, a new spirit guardian is born. That is how I came to be. And why my name is the same as his. People can't always see us, so they can't tell if there are spirits at all… It's so sad to think about it…

-But you came up and talked to me, why?

-Haku-sama told me about you, so I know you when I see you, Chihiro-san.

- You talk to him?

- No, I'm not that powerful yet… You can say I'm like his sister in a way, so he can keep up the contact to tell me something. Or warn me about danger… Mostly it's Haku-sama who talks to me… And he wanted to find you.

-Why? Why hasn't he come like he promised?

- He can't… When he told Yubaba, that he wants to leave to find you, she made him sigh a contract. He stays for a year, and then he's free to do whatever he wanted… But she tricked him! She took his memories once again… And now he is in trouble! He needs your help!

The difference between Haku and this little girl was that she was more emotional. She almost cried telling her about what is going on in the bath house. Thanks to the connection the two had between each other, the spiritual contact was possible.

-Chihiro-san? You will help right?

-Yes, but I need to return to my city…

- No! If you go by the same road twice, because you are a human, you will die before you reach the bath house!

- But then how can I help Haku?

-I know a different way… Do you trust me, Chihiro-san?

Chihiro looked at the determined eyes of the little girl spirit… Now she definitely looked like Haku, when he was trying to help her, when they first met…

-Yes! I do!

-Then get ready to be spirited away once more, Chihiro-san,- Kohaku smiled at her, twirled on the spot and disappeared, leaving behind a light mist…

-Wait, Kohaku-chan… Oh well, See you tomorrow…