Hello there! Just a very odd idea that came to mind while watching the movie again. I don't think this story is fantastic, but I thought I'd share it So enjoy! Constructive criticism is welcome, speak your mind, but if you review just to insult me or the story then don't bother. The characters may be OOC since I truly couldn't figure exactly how would they behave in some circumstances but I still hope you like it. I don't own anything except for some characters of my own creation.

"Will I ever see you again?"

"Yes"

"Promise?"

"Promise"

Chihiro slowly opened her eyes, not for the first time wishing she didn't have to. She sat on her bed and looked out her window, a window that had a view to the mysterious forest that led her family astray all those years back. Yes, she thought to herself, it has already been six years since then.

Chihiro pulled the covers and lazily turned, dangling her legs off the bed, one hand rubbing her still sleep ridden eyes while the other remained loosely fisting the covers.

Moving both hands to rest on her lap, Chihiro thought back to the recurring dream she'd been having from when she had been a ten year old spoiled and panicky girl. She knew it hadn't all been a dream, there were many things that proved it, from the hair tie Zeniba had given her to the unmistakable oddness surrounding the fact that Chihiro had taken four days to save her parents, four days that her parents didn't remember but had noticed nonetheless. But above all else, there was still that tingling feeling on her left hand, the same tingle as when Haku's hand had left her own when the time came for her to go back. She sometimes regretted not looking back, but she knew she probably would have regretted even more if she had. It hadn't only been about herself, it had also been about her parents and they deserved better than the loss of the world they knew on a selfish whim from her. No, she had done what was right and she vowed to herself she wouldn't regret any choice she'd made, they were all part of her growing up after all.

"Chihiro! Are you already awake?" she heard her mother call from downstairs, breaking her thoughts.

"Yes, mom, I'll be down in a minute!" she called back, rising from the bed and going into the bathroom for her morning hygiene ritual.

Chihiro quickly got back and made the bed, checked her mobile phone where it lay on the nightstand and ran out her room, straight downstairs and into the kitchen.

"Chihiro, there is no need to run about at this time in the morning! You'll end up waking your father" her mother scolded lightly, never taking her eyes off the stove as she made some tea.

Chihiro took out some cereal, getting the milk from the fridge as well as a bowl and a spoon from the washed dishes drying on the counter and setting everything on the table. She slowly poured the milk and added the cereal, making a slow tempo knowing that her mother liked to join her for breakfast and would soon be finished with the tea.

When her mother sat down, a cup of hot green tea in her hands, Chihiro started eating her breakfast.

"Chihiro dear, I was thinking, would you like to go to the Flower Festival this year? Your father and I were thinking it would be the perfect opportunity for you to show off your skills" her mother suggested, a light smile gracing her rosy lips.

Chihiro had proved to be a master at flower arrangements, as well as most of the domestic traditional chores like embroidery as well as the art of making and serving tea. Chihiro didn't really think these were exceptional things but they pleased her mother greatly, who liked nothing more than to be a perfect hostess and coming from a traditional family, it made her proud that her only child was so skilled on these arts. But Chihiro was also very interested in the spirit world and was aiming to be a Shinto priestess. This however, didn't really appease her parents, who thought it a waste of her qualities and for this reason, Chihiro told them she would take a degree in biology, since studying living things brought her nearer to nature and the spirit world. Yes, she knew they were everywhere and with her studying to be a Shinto priestess, she now knew how to get them to show themselves to her.

Pondering on her mother's suggestion, Chihiro didn't think it was a bad idea at all, but she really didn't feel up to take part in the competition, since she never thought it was fair to use flowers in that way. She always helped at the festival, since she got so many requests and the money helped with her savings, but she never participated and she wasn't about to start.

"Mom, I'm not participating if that's what you're suggesting, but going to the festival to enjoy myself would be lovely" she answered, smiling at her mother.

Disappointment flashed briefly through her mother eyes but was rapidly masked when her mother smiled back.

Chihiro knew better than anyone how easy it was to disappoint her parents, whose life was led by their material trends and above all else, they seemed to pour down onto their daughter all their expectations, often forgetting to think on what Chihiro would truly like herself.

Chihiro finished her breakfast and excused herself, retiring to the safety of her room. She opened the wardrobe and searched for suitable clothes for the day ahead. You'd think that someone with such feminine skills would dress all girly, but Chihiro often used plain loose and comfortable clothes instead of flashy or very classy clothing, which her mother sometimes fussed about. Every year, around the time she moved to that town, she would make a trip to the forest and into the old tunnel. Many would assume she was just going for a walk in the forest but at the lateness she usually returned, some would start questioning her sanity. Her parents didn't approve of these little yearly escapades but since they were just once a year and they really had other things to worry about, it rarely moved beyond small comments.

Chihiro looked at her left wrist where her beautiful shiny purple hair tie was as a rush of memories threatened to invade her. She pushed it aside and swiftly tied her long waist length hair in a neat ponytail, dressing herself and grabbed her backpack. She shoved her Shinto books inside, her phone and her sketch book. Picking a few last things from the kitchen, Chihiro moved into the living room, her father already awake.

"Good morning Chihiro, where are you going in such a rush?" her father asked, looking up from his newspaper to look at her as he set down the mug of coffee he had been holding.

"Just for a walk in the forest" she innocently stated, smiling lovingly.

"A walk? With a backpack that full? You're going for that little escapade you do every year aren't you?" her father laughed, amused with his daughter.

"Well, if you already knew daddy, why did you ask?" she grinned.

"Hoping I might be wrong this year? You know I don't really like you to stay out all day only God knows where without a good reason, and as I see it, you haven't come up with a good reason even after all this time but since you've insisted so much and I've never had a reason to doubt my trust in you, I let you have your way on this matter, but Chihiro, don't you think it's about time you grow out of that habit?"

Chihiro was taken aback. Whatever was wrong with it? Why did she have to give up on her connection to the other world, to her fondest memories and to the other half of herself? First they didn't approve of her studies now they want to take away her peace. She quickly composed herself and smiled.

"Dad, it's only a walk once a year, what's so wrong about it? You worry too much, see you later!" she kissed him and went to the garden.

"Mom, I'm leaving! See you later!" Chihiro called to her mother while leaving by the back gate.

Her mother looked back from hanging the wet clothes and waved at her daughter, shaking her head slightly in disapproval when Chihiro was out of sight.

Chihiro tied the backpack to her bike and got on, eager to get to her destination as soon as possible.

oOo

"Haku-sama! Haku-sama!"

Haku turned around to face a toad running towards him. His expression was cold and there wasn't any trace of the kindness he showed to Chihiro all those years ago.

"Yes?"

"Yubaba wants to see you"

Haku nodded and left.

"Haku, Kamaji asked me to tell you he wants to see you when you're free, take care" Lin told him as he passed her on the way to see Yubaba.

"I'll make sure to go to him when I'm able to. And it's 'Haku-sama' to you Lin" he said, never stopping or looking away.

"Geez, that guy has only gotten bitter with the years, one would think he'd changed dramatically after that whole thing with the girl!" Lin muttered to herself.

She missed Sen, the girl had been her only true friend for the short time it had lasted but she knew she couldn't come back to the spirit world. Fate brought the girl to them. This time they would have to go to her. Every now and then they would get news from Sen by means of some soot balls Kamaji had requested to spy on the girl. It seems no matter if Sen wasn't his granddaughter, he acted as if he was her grandfather, but so did Zeniba, who had offered to help with gathering news from the girl as well. As luck would have it, Yubaba didn't allow Zeniba into her domain or got along with her, but Boh was her child and she never denied him anything so far, besides previously not letting him go out of his room from fear he'd get sick or injured, so when Boh decided he wanted to see his aunt, Yubaba consented on some terms of her own. The group then established a date every year to meet and talk about the news and events about Sen. The same date that Chihiro used for her escapade.

Haku was the only one that didn't partake in these gatherings, receiving the news from Kamaji alone on another time of his choosing. The river spirit didn't like to open himself to a lot of people for he knew what weaknesses lay bare when he did and so he hardened his heart again when Chihiro left, pulled his shields back up and only let himself relax on Kamaji's presence, who was the only one to truly have seen that side to him besides the girl. Never in every single day that had gone by did he forget his promise but he had a contract with Yubaba, no matter if she couldn't control him anymore, a contract like the ones she made were hard to break. He had been busy for the last years with trying to get Lin out of the bathhouse so she could do what she always dreamed about without her having any knowledge of his plan. For this, he had to make a deal with the old witch. Lin's contract wouldn't be broken, Yubaba would give her a year to do as she pleased on the condition that Haku pay for that year of work with ten years of further servitude and only then would they discuss the ending of his own contract. It has been six years so far and Yubaba still hadn't consented Lin to leave.

Time in the spirit world didn't have the same meaning as in the human world. Spirits lived much longer than humans could ever dream to and their death was a different matter altogether. When spirits died, if they died, they would disappear forever or enter the human life cycle, the former more often than the latter. Humans died and came back, over and over, to learn, to mature, to love and to cherish what best there was in life. Humanity was the garden spirits vowed to nurture but it became haywire and unruly, turning against their caretakers.

So ten years servitude was a small enough fee for one year of freedom. Besides, Lin deserved it.

Haku arrived, bowing slightly to the witch as she rounded her desk full of jewels and took in her apprentice's appearance. The river spirit was reliable as long as she kept his contract, his only means of freedom under her control, but she knew she wouldn't be able to keep him bound forever. He was too powerful and beyond her reach since the little incident with that little brat. Sure he never made a move against her since then, but he had a defiance that easily outmatched her cunning and manipulative nature, what with her old hag of a sister Zeniba also interfering and her own child being none the wiser, she knew she was up against a losing battle. Even so, she thought, she'd get her winnings out of what she still could get from him while he was under her rule.

"Haku, I want you to get a small artifact for me. Lady Okinawa lives in the forest surrounding our spirit gate and I made a bargain. Go collect it for me. I expect you back in the evening. You can also tell Lin she may take her leave for one year. Dismissed" she simply said, waving him off like a servant.

Haku bowed again and left. He headed straight to the boiler room.

One of the soot balls noticed Haku's arrival and made some weird noises, making Kamaji look back at him and declaring a break.

"So what did the old woman want from you?" Kamaji asked, drinking some water.

"She wants me to get her some artifact from Lady Okinawa, whoever she might be" Haku answered, letting his shields come down as his expression became somewhat sad.

"Why that's just the perfect opportunity! Lady Okinawa lives on the forest by the spirit gate, although it's currently closed, it's your best chance!" Kamaji happily exclaimed.

"Whatever do you mean by that?" Haku seemed unsure.

"Now you go and play dumb with me, today is Chihiro's day! The day she comes to the gate! Lady Okinawa is temperamental, mind you, but she's very kind and very wise, she might just know what you can do to meet Chihiro this time!"

"No, I refuse to get strangers into this. I will find a way to see her again but I will do it myself" he said, closing his eyes in frustration.

Haku opened his eyes again when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"You've been alone for so long, lost since your river was dried up and then the girl you saved comes along and just so happens to manage to save you while you thought your duty was saving her again. She's a very strong girl and she's grown, you've been delaying things with your denial. You deny your love" Haku frowned at this "yes, love, no matter what love you believe it to be, it's love nonetheless. She has come every year with hope to see you yet still knowing that she likely never will, yet she believes in the promise you made. If you delay much more she will move on and you'll lose your opportunity. I'm not saying you have to go and promise her a 'forever', no I'm saying go see her, talk to her and may you meet again when another opportunity arrives but don't just crush her hopes like that, you're her dearest friend"

Haku sighed. For all the centuries he lived and for all the wisdom he possessed, he knew all this and still hesitated. Granted, he'd never got himself involved with the humans before, his only duty was to his beloved river until the girl fell into his waters and he just couldn't let her drown, even if he didn't know why, he couldn't. Now, things should have ended then but as fate would have it, his river was dried, making him a lost soul, she came along again and he found himself questioning his true duty. What fate awaited him? What was in store for him?

But he knew, Zeniba had told him, his soul was bound to Chihiro's and that was why. He didn't understand it fully but he knew that if he were to never see her again it would slowly kill him but if it meant she would be happiest that way he wouldn't hesitate. Love was a very dangerous emotion in the spirit world, most spirits didn't love beyond their birth channels but the few that did often lived painfully, suffering a thousand times more than any human in the same condition. The so called unrequited love was poison to a spirit. A spirit would fade away just like their human world part, be it river, forest, whatever the like, it would fade with them as their soul knowing it could not merge would start moving on. Humans were reborn with their true love over the centuries, many times over, while spirits came to be to protect the world. Sure some spirits found happiness with humans and entered the life cycle with their beloved on their next life, since linking a spirit's soul to a human's would bound their life, so when the human dies, the spirit will follow. True some humans changed their loved one during their lives when their soul loses its link to the other half or when they break the link themselves to forge a new one. It was rare, dangerous and very unlikely. Not many souls were compatible with more than one half but some haven't yet found their half, being free to link. But really how likely was it that the feeling he had was of that nature and how even more likely was it for Chihiro to be part of one of these exceptions? Chances are, even if he figures he loves her, she won't feel the same or can't.

But Haku doesn't like to dwell on this, he doesn't believe there is anything beyond a deep friendship love between them even if he doesn't deny he won't fight against it if he does develop feelings for her but until then, he has vowed to not mistake his feelings. He knows himself and knows right now, Chihiro wouldn't be able to respond anyway, she is too young by human standards and even if she were infatuated it was dangerous to involve himself with her at such a volatile age as the one she was currently in, not that he believed any wrong from her but it was human nature.

Yet Kamaji still was right. He had to see her.

"Thank you my friend, I shall do my best" he said, a ghost of a smile on his face.

Kamaji nodded, he knew Haku would do the right thing.

"Tell Lin she can take leave for one year, don't mention me"

"So you succeeded after all, what did she make you do as payment?"

"Ten years servitude" Haku firmly stated.

"Ten years!" Kamaji's glasses almost dropped from his shock.

"Don't worry. I will see you when I get back" and with that he left.

Lady Okinawa lived in a big clearing, her small yet luxurious house a place of renown. Her powers were wide but she mostly centered on dragon herding. She took all kind of dragon spirits in and cared for them when they lost their human world attachment. Since dragons were born from rivers and the like, usually it had to do with the drying up of these rivers by human influence.

When Haku arrived he saw someone waiting for him at the front door.

"Hello Kohaku, I'm Nazumi, from the Nazumi river." The young man said, his dark blue hair all spiked up and his sky blue eyes looking right at Haku's green ones.

"Why is a river spirit here?" Haku mused out loud.

Nazumi laughed.

"My river dried up and Lady Okinawa took me in, she's waiting for you Kohaku"

Haku was surprised there was someone in the spirit world that would do that.

As Haku entered the Lady's domain he confirmed that the legends were true, Lady Okinawa's house was way bigger on the inside than on the outside. For all the space, you'd say you just entered a castle instead of a small cottage.

He was led to a small room and told to wait.

When the door opened again he saw a tall woman enter. She had the longest and purest of white hair he'd ever behold. Her skin was chalk white as were her eyes. She was very thin and frail looking but held such an aura of power his first instinct was to cower before her. Her expression however was warm as a wide smile graced her delicate features.

"So you're the dragon boy Yubaba sent to collect the Sen no Tsubasa. I'm glad to see you again, even if you won't remember me from our first encounter, I was rather different then" the Lady said, her voice so soft a normal human would have to strain their ears to hear.

Haku didn't remember her at all.

"No need to look so surprised, I'm lady Okinawa, or Shironaku, as I was once called. I was the main river from where yours was born from, so let's just say I'm like your mother, of sorts. You're all grown up; I feared what might have happened to you after they dried the river. Mine still flows but I have grown apart from it, in a sense. It's still a part of me but I've lived long enough to take other duties and live far away. I hope you stay for a while, Akaiku will show you to a room and we shall talk more later, I'll send Kashi to Yubaba to tell her you'll be back tomorrow or after" she announced calmly, always smiling as she motioned to a raven perched on a branch of a small tree on the corner of the room, starting to turn to leave.

"Wait! I can't stay, I have something I need to do Lady Okinawa. I deeply apologize for the rush but I must leave" Haku said, almost losing his posture.

Lady Okinawa smiled wistfully and handed Haku what looked like a fan made of rigid pure white feathers.

"Take the artifact then. I do hope you come visit me sometime, my dear, it's been a long while" she said, nodding slowly before leaving.

A girl with two long red pigtails entered not long after, her yellow eyes seemed to glow as she showed a toothy grin and held a black ribbon to him.

"Shironaku-sama wants you to have this. If you cut it, one half is connected to the other" the redhead said.

Haku took the silky ribbon in his hand and thanked the girl.

"My pleasure, I'm Akaiku. Hope you come back, brother"

Haku knew there were many dragons but he'd never thought of them as family. It was a warm friendly environment, one full of luxury, no wonder many people seemed to speak of the Lady with envy.

Now for the hard part of his journey, Chihiro would be by the gate by now.

oOo

Chihiro stopped the bike and let it fall carelessly to the ground. The place looked the same as always. Sure, more vegetation had grown around again but it was mainly the same. Not the same as when she first beheld it. She remembered, the path had been clear and the building had still bore its red paint, free of moss, a brand new building as her father said. When they had left the spirit world behind, the building had all been covered in moss and the paint was gone, the building was timeworn and almost in ruins, as it was now. Sometimes she hoped she'd find it as it had been the first time, but that never happened. Just to find the path again had been a challenge. It seems fate had really wanted them to get off course that day. Many times had she crossed the tunnel to find the place full of cobwebs and dust, the walls and ceiling looking like they were about to fall apart. The windows were broken and dull, unlike the lovely colors she remembered. The benches were gone. All in all, it was a sad sight. More so was the fact that when she backtracked to the little town of restaurants all she found were more ruins and where the bathhouse should have been there was a wide lake. Chihiro had given up on wishful thinking, she knew in her heart she wasn't meant to go back but it still hurt she would never see them again.

Sighing, she took the backpack and moved towards the tunnel.

Chihiro

She stopped and remained still. That voice, she knew that voice. It was deeper but it was still that same voice. She turned around but didn't see anything. Had it been her imagination? Was her mind playing tricks to her now?

But then she saw him.

"Haku!" she exclaimed as she ran straight to him and into his outstretched arms.

They both laughed as they came into contact. He sure had missed her. He buried his face into her hair, relishing the feeling. She smelled just the same, she looked practically the same yet she had grown.

"Chihiro, you're all grown up!" he stood back looking into her lovely face.

"Is that so? I truly hadn't noticed" she said, smiling lightly.

He smiled.

"What nonsense, of course you are. The silliest things come out of your mouth" that made her smile.

"Haku, you're really here aren't you? This isn't just a dream is it?" she suddenly asked frowning.

He shook his head.

"It isn't a dream"

Chihiro smiled wide and embraced him again. Oh how she had anticipated seeing him again but she never thought it'd feel so good. Haku was a spirit but he seemed more mature, somewhat grown, his hair now around the middle of his back.

"Chihiro, sadly I can't stay for very long. But I'm sure you would like to know how everyone's faring" he said, holding her hand and pushing her towards a patch of grass, sitting himself as he pulled her down with him.

She smiled and listened intently, making a comment here and there, laughing, smiling. She shared the tale of her own experiences of the last six years and was happy to see Haku was listening to her as if she was saying the most interesting things there could be. His attention was solely focused on her as he smiled on.

"You know, with how long it took, I almost thought you'd forgotten me" she joked.

Haku's expression fell and he frowned.

"I'm sorry it took so long. I still have another four years of servitude until Yubaba will discuss with me the ending of my contract. I probably won't see you for another few years but I assure you I promise to see you again. Just don't think I've forgotten, no matter how long it'll take me" he said, holding both her hands and staring into her eyes.

"You know, I was only joking. I never stopped believing I'd see you again, I just really wished it didn't take much longer" she smiled "oh and when you get back to them tell Kamaji I know he has some soot balls following me and Zeniba that her shikigami are also noticeable. Well, I notice but no one else does"

Haku smiled.

"I'm glad your life has been going alright. Until we meet again" Haku said, standing up.

Chihiro knew he was going to leave and in a thoughtless move she grabbed him midway and made him stumble on top of her.

Haku was taken aback with the move but caught himself in time not to crush the girl under him. He looked into her eyes as he saw a blush creeping onto her face.

Chihiro knew she was blushing. Gods, her heart was beating so loudly she almost swore Haku would be able to hear it ramming against her ribcage. Why did she do that?

But Haku's face didn't change, his expression blank as he gathered himself and stood again, helping the girl up.

"I'm sorry" she said sheepishly.

Haku smiled and looked into her eyes one last time before turning and transforming.

Chihiro stayed looking as the dragon moved swiftly and graceful into the blue sky until he was out of sight.

Now, Chihiro wasn't ignorant, she knew boys blushed if she did what she just did, if they had any interest in her, that is, but Haku didn't even react, just stood up as if nothing happened. If it weren't for that smile as he acknowledged her apologies she could have believed it actually hadn't. Yet first she had to figure why she did it at all and why she was expecting anything out of it. But she already knew the answer, had known for some time now. She was in love.

She knew it didn't matter anyway, she and Haku were worlds apart, she cherished their friendship above all else. She decided she'd move on and be able to keep what was between them without ruining it. How could a river spirit like Haku ever feel the same way anyway? He couldn't, she thought, and quickly dismissed it with a forlorn smile.

oOo

Haku had never been so frightened like he was just moments ago when Chihiro made him stumble on top of her. True he didn't show it, but that didn't mean he hadn't felt so but centuries of learning how to deal with himself and the world made him able to cover the slightest slip of his emotions easily. No matter how big the turmoil, he knew he could mask his feelings. He just hoped he hadn't hurt the girl's feelings with his lack of reaction but he couldn't have reacted. It wasn't right. Haku sighed inwardly, no matter how wise he was, how old he was, love was very new to him. Yes, he now admitted, it was love after all, not brotherly love, though that might just have been the case then, but not now. He knew he'd been fond of the girl and knew he'd wait for her but only now did he understand the depth of his feelings. Maybe it had been love all along and he just didn't want to admit it for both his and Chihiro's sake. He truly didn't know for he had just followed his heart on the matter, not stopping to think it over. Sure, he was cautious then and had to think everything out, but not his feelings. Chihiro on the other hand was an open book, so easy to read. He knew for a fact Chihiro had also been fond of him but he also knew she had been a ten year old and not mature enough to even know what love truly was, how could she have loved him then? He didn't doubt the love she had for him then, he was just very sure it had been of a different nature than it was now. Was it? Did Chihiro love him now? He refused to think further from there. She was probably infatuated with the idea of love and after all they'd been through he couldn't fault her, but it couldn't be love as he loved her.

It just couldn't, he thought as he glanced back one last time at the forest with longing.

So that's the end of this chapter. Reviews reviews! *gives cookies to whoever reviews* xD Next chapter will be up soon.