A/N: Second chapterrrrrrr! :b

Spirited Away belongs to the almighty Hayao Miyazaki, so it is not mine!


Chihiro

I continued walking to my school, glancing at the sunny sky every now and then.

"Chihiro!" My attention snapped to my best friend, Fumiko, who was waving and running towards me. Her long, black hair styled in a braid trailed behind her, and her dark, brown eyes seemed to glow in delight upon seeing me. When Fumiko finally caught up to me, she wheezed in exhaustion and grinned.

"You really should stop oversleeping. It'll get to you by the time you're working." Fumiko chuckled and stuck her tongue out.

We walked the rest of the way together to school, talking about life in that large education-filled building. By the time we reached the school, we went to class and settled in. Fumiko went to socialize with some of our schoolmates for a bit, while I looked out the window that my desk was beside.

I stared off into space and recalled my adventures at the Spirit World in my mind, which made me smile a bit. Fumiko then came to me with a sly look on her face that she gives when she finds out about some juicy gossip or when she's about to play matchmaker and try to get me hooked up with a guy. I inwardly groaned as my best friend's sly grin turned into a full smirk. She rested her elbows on my desk and called for my attention, which I gave.

"Hey Chi," she stopped for a moment, holding in her giggles, while I just motioned my head for her to continue, knowing what's about to come.

"Go on, Fu-chan."

Fumiko ignored my teasing and leaned her head close to my ear and whispered, "There's a new student joining us. I heard it's a boy, and a cute one too!"

I fought the urge to roll my eyes as Fumiko let out a giggle, followed by another, until she was in a fit of giggling and squeaks. I've already known what it may have been about, since this best friend of mine named Fumiko goes nuts about gossip, boys and all about my love life. As odd as some of her perks may be, she's a wonderful friend, and I'm glad to have her as my best friend.

Our homeroom teacher, Toshiro-sensei, came in and started to call names for attendance. When he was done checking off names, Toshiro-sensei looked at the class and began to speak.

"Alright class, today we're going to be having a new student join us. Please come in and introduce yourself."

Right after the teacher's announcement, a boy with slightly disheveled chin length blond hair entered the class. This created silent conversations among the girls and some giggles. I felt my heart slightly drop. In the back of my mind I hoped this new student may have been a someone I knew—someone who promised to see me again. I sighed inwardly.

"My name is Hashimoto Tatsuya. Please take care of me."

"You may sit in the desk in front of Miss Ogino," Toshiro-sensei said, gesturing towards the empty seat in front of me.

I can now imagine Fumiko thinking of ways to bring us together behind me. My guess was probably correct as I felt Fumiko's stare digging holes on my back, unless by some chance I'm miraculously wrong.

First period went off like always, and same with some of the other boring ones. Lunch came and everyone went to eat at their usual spots with their friends or simply all alone.

'Finally, it's lunchtime,' I mentally said in relief and stretched. I grabbed my lunch and sketchbook with me and exited the classroom. I reached the roof of the school and sat by the railing, the cool, high afternoon wind caressing my face. While eating my bento, I began to think.

It's been seven years now. About two more year till I'll be going to college. Haku, how many more years will you make me wait for you to fulfill your promise? I thought back to the promise Haku made seven years ago, just before I crossed the borders that separated the Spirit World and the world of humans.

"Will we meet again sometime?" My ten year old self had asked.

"Sure we will." A boy who looked to be around my age back then replied.

"Promise?"

"Promise. Now go, and don't look back." I let go of the boy's hand that I was holding. The boy, Haku, watched as I left.

Promise . . .

I kept recalling memories, now unaware and uncaring of my surroundings. I felt that mysterious presence move closer to me, but I was too zoned out and not really in the mood to notice; a faint voice seemed to be calling to me, however. I ignored the voice and kept thinking.

A few minutes passed, until the voice grew very loud.

"Hello?!" someone called, while shaking one of my shoulders, which caused me to jump.

"H-huh?" Finally snapping back to reality, I turned my to look at the mystery person, which turned out to be the new student.

"Oh, um," I blushed in embarrassment, and the new student just smiled awkwardly, averting his dark brown eyes to the court below. He looked at me again.

"Sorry for that, you were just so . . ." Hashimoto-san said, but couldn't think of what to describe my previous state.

"High up?" I finished his sentence.

"Heh, yeah."

We both shared a laugh, and I turned my game to my sketch, which was of the bathhouse. How I managed to sketch such an amazing building while in a zoned out state, I will never know.

Gods I miss that place, even Yubaba herself. I thought longingly, my fingers delicately tracing the sketch.

"That's a pretty drawing," Hashimoto-san, who was now beside me, complimented, his eyes on the bathhouse sketch.

"Thanks."

Hashimoto-san and I snapped out heads up from my drawing, our eyes locking with each other. His eyes were a very deep chase of brown, and they can be mistaken as black if you don't look closely. I stood up and packed my things, my new classmate also doing the same. I patted the dust that gathered away my skirt. I stuck my hand out which Hashimoto-san looked at confusedly.

"I'm Ogino Chihiro." Hashimoto-san then understood and took my hand, shaking it enthusiastically.

"Hashimoto Tatsuya, but I'm sure you already know that. Oh, and you don't have to be formal with me. You can just call me Tatsuya," he said.

At least I don't have to mentally address him as Hashimoto-san. Well, I do have a private mind—gotta give myself some more freedom.

"Then you may also call me by my name, even though we just met." I chuckled and quickly inspected him.

I only reached just a little above his shoulders, which made me feel slightly sad due to my own height. He wore the male's uniform for the school, although his tie was a little loose. I'll have to admit, he actually looked cute, but I don't see him in a romantic way. My eyes landed on his strange blond hair. Catching me staring at his hair, he chuckled. I blushed and looked away.

"I'm half American." No wonder.

We both headed back class, walking side by side and getting to know each other more.

Tatsuya and Fumiko sure have a lot in common. Maybe I should play matchmaker this time, with a small part of the idea being for the sake of revenge for all those times Fumiko's been trying to get me on a date. I thought and grinned mischievously, which Tatsuya didn't notice. Honestly, Fumiko's traits must be getting to me.

After the two of us dropped our things off back in the classroom, Tatsuya and I went to find Fumiko. When we found her, I introduced the two, and the moment their eyes met, they blushed. I felt myself smirk, but the two were to busy ogling each other.

So she was looking at me with that type of look. Lucky me, she won't be playing matchmaker this time.

Life is very much enjoyable here, but I feel something missing. Sometimes I feel that emptiness, but for some reason it's starting to get stronger.

Must be envy for the two—or an odd calling. I've never really gotten the chance to find love with someone, or accept the chance to be with one of Fumiko's 'victims'. Not much has happened since the Spirit World, either, so I guess life's been getting a little boring. I shrugged and followed Fumiko and Tatsuya, who started talking to each other like they've been the closest friends for years.


A/N: And that's the end of this chapter. Typing this is actually enjoyable too. I feel my brain fill up with giddiness. I also feel as if I can create bubbles with this happiness hehe. Well anyway, that is all I have to say for this chapter!