Chapter One

Chihiro sighed as she took another long drag of her cigarette and looked down at the neatly manicured lawn below her. Everything about this place was so neat and orderly, so normal. It was no wonder she didn't fit in at all. She exhaled slowly, relishing the slight lightheadedness that came with the nicotine rush. That was all she could feel anymore, that small rush that only lasted a few minutes at its longest. Yes, her life had become completely pathetic. Shrugging her shoulders apathetically at the thought, she took another deep drag.

"What's up Chi? You skipping class again?" Yuka, Chihiro's only friend, teased lightly as she came to lean up against the railing with her. She took the cigarette out of Chihiro's hands and took a quick drag. "You know this shit will kill you right?"

Chihiro smirked and looked at Yuka from the corner of her eye. "That's the plan."

Yuka laughed. "That's what I love about you Chi, you're always so optimistic." She took another drag. "Guess the next pack is on me huh?"

"Since you've been inhaling most of this pack and I'm the one who paid for them, yea, it is." Chihiro step down of the lower bar of the railing she had been standing on and sat down on the ground. "Hey Yuka, what do you say we just blow the rest of the day off and head home huh?"

Yuka looked down at Chihiro and raised a delicate blonde brow quizzically. "Okay what's up? I understand you blowing off a class or two occasionally but you're not one to skip the whole day. I thought you actually put forth some effort when it came to all the academic shit. Remember the whole 'I have to get a scholarship if I want to go to college so I can get as far away from my parents as possible so we'll all be happy'?"

Chihiro didn't answer. Yes, Yuka was right. She had said that, but she really didn't feel like living up to that statement at the moment. "Hello? Earth to Chihiro? You still with me girl?"

"Well, that was before they let me get and apartment with you remember? So technically I'm already away from my parents," she finally replied. That too was true. Her parents couldn't stand the sight of her anymore so they had sent her off to a private school on the other side of the country and paid half the rent on an apartment she shared with the tall blonde next to her. So how she did in school didn't really matter anymore.

Yuka rolled her eyes. "Alright, fine. We'll go home. But you're coming to school tomorrow for the whole day and you can't skip any of your classes."

Chihiro smiled slightly and accepted Yuka's extended hand. "Deal. We'd better hurry the bells about to ring. Oh and you can pick up more smokes on the way."

Yuka glared at the short brunette and smacked her lightly on the arm. "You are such a bitch Chi. You do know that right?"

Chihiro grinned mockingly and linked her arm through Yuka's as they headed to the stairs. "Yes and that's why you love me."

"So, what are we going to do about dinner tonight," Yuka asked lightly as she rummaged through the practically empty cabinets and fridge.

Chihiro looked up from the book she had been reading and shrugged. "It's too late to go grocery shopping so I guess we'll just eat out tonight. Hell, it's not like we can't afford it. After all, the one good thing about your parents cursing your very existence is that they'll provide you with a shit load of money to keep you away from them."

Yuka laughed. "True true my friend. Kudos to us for our parents hating our guts!"

Chihiro just shook her head. "Come on you dope, let's go get some food."


Haku stood perfectly still, listening for the tell-tale sound of an approaching enemy. They were out there, no doubt about it, but when they would decide to show themselves was another story entirely. However, he was a patient man and would not rush into anything. A small smirk formed on his lips. His enemies would be the ones to make a foolish mistake.

Sure enough, moments later, a rustle came from the nearby bushes and Haku slowly turned towards the sound. A black form came rushing out from the foliage, moving so fast that it's shape was nothing more than an inscrutable blur smeared across the sky. Haku lifted his twin katana and nimbly evaded the charge while bringing his blades down in a graceful arch, effectively slicing the figure in two. The fallen enemy's comrades gave a howl of rage and began to swarm around their brother's murderer. Haku merely smiled and took each one out with a series of fluid steps and strikes. Soon, a pile of black forms littered the ground around the river spirit.

Suddenly the scenery around him began to bleed away and the black forms turned back into a bunch of lifeless straw dolls as Zeniba's cottage and yard came back into view. Haku sheathed his twin blades and turned to face his spectator expectantly.

Zeniba smiled softly and nodded her approval. "Very good Haku. I dare say that proves you have finished your training; there is nothing more I can teach you."

Haku looked at Zeniba in disbelief, a smile slowly forming on his face. "Do you really mean that?"

"Hai, I do child." Her eyes held a mischievous glint as she looked at the young man before her softly.

Haku let out a strangled cry of joy and ran up to embrace his mentor in a hug. "Do you know what this means granny? I can finally go! I can finally fulfill my promise to Chihiro!" He picked Zeniba up and spun her around in a circle, laughing joyfully the whole time.

"Put me down you obnoxious dragon." Zeniba playfully glared at her young pupil. Haku set her down with a sheepish smile.

"Sorry granny but I just couldn't help it. You know how hard I've been working for this day."

Zeniba chuckled. "I know dear, I know."

"Well, I'm going to go get cleaned up and packed. I want to get going as soon as I can!" He gave Zeniba a soft kiss on the cheek and ran into the cottage. Zeniba watched him go with eyes torn between laughter and worry.

Haku had come to her asking to be her apprentice six years ago after he had quit her sister's service. She had taken the young river spirit in knowing full well the reasoning behind his desire to gain more power. He had fallen hard for that young human girl who had wandered into their world and was more then determined to see her again, just as he had promised. He worked hard over those six years, honing both his magical and physical capabilities to a fine point and was now powerful enough to cross easily between the spirit and human worlds. Now he was off to find Chihiro and reclaim her as his own. Unfortunately, six years was a long time in the human world and the Chihiro he had loved no longer existed and she had to be the one to break that news to him.

She sighed and headed into her cottage. She had known for awhile now that Chihiro had changed drastically but she just didn't know why yet. She had kept tabs on the girl since she left, sensing her slowly building a wall of ice around her heart and soul and feeling her pain that was being tightly locked away. Zeniba didn't know what had happened to the poor girl during the past six years but something told her Chihiro's life had been something akin to a living hell.

The sounds of frantic packing could be heard coming from Haku's room as Zeniba entered the cottage. No Face immediately came to her side, radiating concern at the river spirit's strange behavior. She slowly approached Haku's door and knocked softly. A muffled 'come in' was heard and she eased open the door.

Haku looked up at Zeniba's entry and flashed her a quick smile. "Sorry for the mess granny, I just don't want to waste anymore time. I need to find her as soon as I can."

Zeniba frowned slightly, looking at the clothing thrown haphazardly in a pack. She casually waved her hand, instantly arranging the messy pile into a neat stack. Haku looked at her work and chuckled. "Thanks, what would I do without you?" He kissed her on the cheek again. "Well, I'm off! Wish me luck." He grabbed his pack and twin katana and started to head out the door.

"Haku, wait." Zeniba placed a restraining hand on the young man's arm. "We need to talk."

Haku looked at Zeniba, brow knitted in confusion. "What about?"

Zeniba felt her shoulders sag slightly and she let out another little sigh. "Listen Haku, I know you're anxious to find Chihiro but I have to warn you, you might not like what you find."

Worry began to creep into Haku's deep green eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I mean she's not the same Chihiro you knew six years ago. If you still plan on making her yours, then you're going to need to help her reclaim her heart and soul. It won't be easy, she has many scars, but if you truly love her and take your time you can bring back part of the girl you used to know. However, she will never be completely the same."

Haku felt his heart speed up as panic sent adrenaline rushing through his veins. "Reclaim her heart and soul? Scars? Granny, what's happened to her?"

She shook her head. "I don't know child, I'm just telling you what I sense."

He took several deep breaths, forcing his heart to slow back down to its normal pace. Determination began to take the place of the panic in his eyes and he straightened up to his full height. "Don't worry granny, I love Chihiro more than anything in this world and I will fight with everything in me to make sure she is happy and safe."

Zeniba nodded and released his arm. "Then go child. Bring our Chihiro back to us and help heal her with your love."

Haku took one last long look at his mentor and nodded before turning around and heading out the door, never once looking back.


She laid there on the small cot, curled up in a ball, trying to make herself as small as possible. Tears were streaming down her cheeks and all she could do was ask her self why. Why did her parents blame it all on her, why didn't they believe her, and why did she have to tell them the truth in the first place? The looks of absolute disgust that twisted her parent's faces every time they looked at her was like a knife to her heart. They hated her so much, all because they couldn't accept the truth. It was easier for them to believe she was a sick little girl than believe they had been in the spirit world for the past few weeks. And now they left her here in this awful place…

The door to her small cell creaked open and she squeezed her eyes shut, wishing with all her might that she would just disappear. Heavy footsteps approached her and rough hands jerked her up into a sitting position. Her thin arm was wrenched forward and a large needle was jabbed into the vein than stuck out on the inside of her arm, adding yet another bruise and scar to her growing collection. A strangled sobs escaped her cracked lips as she was shoved back down on the cot and darkness began to overtake her.

Chihiro open her eyes slowly, allowing a single tear to slide down her cheek before sitting up. Another dream of the memories she tried to hard to suppress and another night of only a couple hours of sleep. She shook her head. Would she never escape all this shit?

She slid her feet into the slippers that were beside her bed and headed to the small kitchenette for a glass of water, grabbing one of her books on her way. Yuka always commented on how Chihiro was able to get through books so fast and accounted it to speed reading. Chihiro didn't have the heart to tell her it was because her nightmarish past gave her nightmares which led to severe insomnia. No, her friend worried about her enough as it was.

She flipped the lights on, dropped her book on the table, and fixed herself a glass of ice water before plopping down at the small table. She sipped her drink and pick up the book but soon found that she couldn't concentrate on it no matter how hard she tried.

Instead, her thoughts began to wander in her second least favorite direction: the spirit world. Despite the fact that six years had passed and she'd been through hell and back, a small part of her refused to forget a certain river spirit and his promise to her before she left the realm of spirits and gods without looking back. She couldn't help but wonder what Haku would think of her now. Would he look at her in disgust and turn his back on her or would he still care enough to stick around? She laughed bitterly. Why bother asking herself that. It had been six years and she hadn't seen hide or hair of the dragon boy. Obviously he'd forgotten her or she had been deluding herself into thinking her cared about her as much as she had about him.

"Don't be so naïve Chihiro. He's not coming and he probably never intended too. Let it stay where it belongs, in the past," she whispered to herself. Why cause herself more pain with another disappointment? With a resolute sigh, she picked up her book once again, this time determined to concentrate on it, even if it killed her.

Disclaimer: I do not own Spirited Away

Please, let me know what you think. Flames will be ignored but constructive criticism is always welcome and will be used to make this story better. Thank you.