Chapter 2.

(I don't own Spirited Away)

Chihiro wakes up with a strange feeling in the pit of her stomach. She glances towards the window and it's still dark. Looking at the time she see's it's 3 in the morning. She gets up and opens her window to feel the cool breeze against her soft face. "Haku." she whispered. "I wonder what you're doing and if you're still keeping your promise. I miss you."

She suddenly decides to go for a walk so she puts on her sweat pants and a tank top and jacket and goes downstairs. Her parents are passed out asleep and smell like alcohol. "They must've had a good time." she thought. Grabbing her keys, she heads out, not really sure of where the destination she has in mind. She follows a trail she never noticed before which was strange. She's been all over the place and pretty much knows her whole neighborhood and the whole forest.

"Just a peek. It is a trail after all so people must go through here every once in awhile." she said. Chihiro went through the path and was happy she had a little flashlight on her keychain. Humming, she comes across a small river. With the moon shining, no longer behind the clouds she turns the flashlight off and sits down beside the river feeling the coldness and sighs.

She hears something behind and instantly stiffens. She looks desperately for a large rock or stick or something and finds a sharp rock and lunges for it, quickly turning around to see who was behind her. Nothing. Except... A scale. Haku's dragon scale. Picking it up, Chihiro rubs her fingers over the rough but fragile scale. Looking everywhere she tries to find more but she doesn't and Chihiro starts to cry.

"Why'd you do this? Why couldn't you have just taken me away from the Human world? I hate it here. I feel empty without you Haku." She rubs her eyes and holds the scale close to her.

She's decided. "I'm going back. I don't care anymore. I need to see you."

She goes back towards her house and goes down to the abandon theme park. She hasn't gone back to it in 9 years, believing Haku will find a way to her. Holding the scale tightly in her hand, she is almost to the building. She sees the ugly statue covered in moss right in front of the pathway and stops.

Taking a deep breath, she takes a few more steps foreword and stands right in front of the building. Again, Chihiro feels the wind pulling her in just like before except it's a little stronger this time. It sounded like the wind was whispering her name. Calling her. Telling her it'll be alright. Shakily, she starts forward and walks straight through without a backward glance. "I can do this. I can do this." she encouraged herself.

There. She was out and saw the place she hasn't seen in so long. The hills were there and the wide open space and she even heard the train. Laughing, she runs to find the bathhouse. For a split second she thought she heard Haku. She's too happy to really focus on it and she kept running till she was standing in front of the bridge. There it was. The bathhouse. It hasn't changed a bit. But she has.

"Se... Sen?"

She knows that voice. She didn't want to turn around. She was too scared to think that this was a dream and as soon as she turns around to see, she'll wake up.

"Sen. Turn around. Please."

Slowly, Chihiro turns and sees not Haku but Lin.

"Sen!" Lin grabs her and hugs her tightly. "Oh Sen, how I've missed you so much. What are you doing back here? How'd you get back here? Oh, who cares? You're back!"

"Lin, I'm happy to be back too. I've missed you guys so much." Chihiro said, hugging back. "I was so scared to turn around because I thought I might be dreaming." Chihiro pulled back and looked at Lin. "You haven't changed a bit Lin."

Lin laughs. "No, but you sure have! Look at you. You're beautiful. Oh. We better get you some food. And quick. Follow me". Lin takes her hand and drags her across the bridge into the bathhouse.

"Come on, Sen." urged Lin.

"I'm hurrying." Grumbled Chihiro. She was practically being half dragged to the kitchen to get something, anything so she doesn't disappear.

"Here. It's just a slice of bread but it'll do." Lin handing it to Chihiro and she ate it.

"There. Now you're all better." said Lin, smiling.

Chihiro smiled, "Yes. Um, Lin? Where's Haku?".

Lin winked and said, "He already knows your here. Come on. Let's go to his room."

Chihiros heart was beating hard at the thought of seeing him again. Lin and Chihiro stopped in front of a black door. It was nothing special. Just black, different from everyone else's.

"Everyone knows not to mess with him. Ever since you left he's been different. More withdrawn. It's probably from having to let you go Chihiro. You really made an impact when you came here. You really changed him." Lin looked at her. Chihiro was surprised. Looking down, Chihiro said "I didn't really do anything. I was just trying to save my mom and dad from being pigs."

A few seconds passed and Lin finally knocked on the door very loudly making Chihiro jump. "Are you in there, you sulky dragon?" Lin shouted. No reply. "That's odd. I could've sworn he was in there."

"That's because I'm right behind you Lin. I was trying to find something to eat and find you. Since you're obviously not working."

Chihiro turned around and there he was. Haku.

"Ah, don't give me that crap. I found Sen outside the bathhouse and made sure she wouldn't fade away and then we came to find you. So don't start with me, dragon. But yeah. I'm going back to work now. Sen."

"Yes Lin?".

"I gotta go. Watch him for me will ya?". Lin gave her another hug and ran off .

Haku looked at her and smiled, "Chihiro. Welcome back."