A/N: 'this is for thoughts'

"This is for the normal talking."

This is for emphasis


(Haku's POV) Flashback:

I ran hand in hand with Chihiro far away from the bathhouse and stopped at the edge of the stairs overlooking vast green plains.

"There's no water!" Chihiro exclaimed

"I can't go any further. Go back the way you came Chihiro . But don't ever look back not until you're out of the tunnel." I said as I looked at her with my grief-stricken eyes

"What about you Haku?" she asked worriedly as she gripped my hand tighter

"I'll speak to Yubaba and quit my apprenticeship. I'm fine now that I have my name back." I spoke in a confident tone. " I'll go back to my world too." I rubbed her hand trying to reassure her

"Can we meet again?" she asked with great hope

"I'm sure." I said

"Promise?" she asked with a hint of doubt in her voice

"Promise." I assured her "Now go and don't look back." I forced a smile on my face

I ushered her to go down the stairs, she let my hand go and turned around to face me

"Before I go.. Can I give you something?" she said

"What is it?" I curiously asked

"Just close your eyes." she told me and I did as I was told

"This will only belong to you." She whispered

I felt her breath brush my face. I stood still, patiently waiting. Suddenly, I felt a pair of lips touch mine, I opened my eyes and saw Chihiro's face only an inch away from mine. I felt my heart beating fast and my face getting hot.

I stood there in trance when she ended the kiss. I touched the place where she kissed me and watched her run down the stairs passing through the grassy plains. I know , that the moment Chihiro and her parents goes out of the tunnel, they will never remember anything about this world. But deep in my heart I hoped that someday… She will come back. I went back to the bathhouse with a heavy heart. I didn't want her to go, especially now that I've grown fond of her. But, she had to do what's best for her family.

"So..did Chihiro leave already?" Rin asked as she approached me

"Apparently." I replied to her obvious question

"I'm going to miss that kid." Rin poignantly said

"We all will." I looked away from her as I tried to hold back my tears

"Despite the rule… I know she won't forget us." Rin said confidently

"I hope so." I said "Well… you better go back to work. Or else I'll have to report you to Yubaba."

"It's just eight minutes after Chihiro left and you're already back to your old self." Rin scorned

I straight-facedly looked at her "Back to work Rin." I turned around and walked away from her

"Whatever Haku." Rin muttered

I heard what Rin muttered even if I'm already far away from her (she could've made her voice a little less loud). I didn't bother to argue with her, it would only make the conversation longer. I don't really like idle chatters with anyone… except for Chihiro.

I trudged back to my quarters and sat on my bed. I wondered what Chihiro could be doing now? Will it be possible for her to remember us? Could I possibly go to her? Many unanswerable questions ran through my head. I miss her already, she was...my only best friend.

I've never felt this way towards a girl before, and it's odd.. I could've fallen in love with anyone else, but I fell in love with a human. She was special, the only human that I've met with a pure heart. I can't deny to myself that I've fallen in love with her. She will come back, I know she will. Chihiro ... The only girl that will hold my heart forever.

End of POV


Chihiro took the ticket from her backpack and walked towards the station.

"Ticket please ma'am." The guard spoke as he blocked the entrance

"Here sir." Chihiro handed the ticket to the guard and he kindly let her in

Chihiro walked towards the train and went inside, she looked for a seat and ended up sitting next to an old man and a guy her age wearing all black(he looked sort of creepy). She sat down and secured her backpack beside her. Figuring it would be a long trip to her old home town, she turned her mp3 player on and plugged the earphones in her ears. Lulled by the slow song that was played on her mp3, Chihiro slowly fell asleep.


"Ma'am… Ma'am…Ma'am!" The conductor boisterously said as he vigorously shook Chihiro's arm trying to wake her up.

"Wha—?" Chihiro muttered as she slowly opened her eyes

"Ma'am, this is the last stop. You have to go." The conductor explained

Chihiro somnolently stood up and got her bag. She got out of the train and went out of the station to wait for a taxi. But to her misfortune none passed her way. Getting tired of waiting, Chihiro decided to walk (her house is not that far from the train station anyway).

Tired from the long ride home, Chihiro trudged along the sidewalk. Her vision was getting hazy and her body felt limp. After a few minutes of walking she ended up passing through a dirt road that's so familiar to her.

Figuring it would take her much time if she goes back, she decided to continue walking. The forest was pitch black and only a few rays of moonlight provided light for Chihiro to see everything around her, there were eerie noises all around the forest, but Chihiro didn't mind.

When she reached the mid part of the forest she ended up standing in front of a large moss-covered tunnel. It looks like it's made of stone. An icy breeze blew past Chihiro's shoulder that went inside the tunnel making a peculiar howling noise.


Chihiro's POV

I felt something trying to pull me inside the tunnel. I moved closer towards the building and touched one side of it 'Oh, it's just plaster.' Suddenly, a familiar voice saying my name echoed in my mind 'Chihiro' that voice, it sounds like the voice of the pale boy with striking emerald eyes in my dreams. I shivered.

I slowly stepped inside the tunnel . I stood still. I couldn't see anything but darkness. I walked and walked but still I couldn't see any trace of light. A gust of cold wind suddenly blew past me, I felt my body quiver. I felt like something or someone is following me, I walked faster and faster. I stopped my gait when I entered a waiting station-like room with only a few rays of moonlight that streamed through small round stain-glass windows to light the whole room.

When I got out I saw nothing but fields of lush green grass. It somehow looked like an abandoned theme park. I continued walking on and saw small stone statues that seem to have faces of weird creatures engraved on them.

"This place.." I gasped as I reached a familiar place with countless buildings that seemed to be all restaurants. Although, it didn't look entirely like it did in my dream. As I looked around , I noticed that almost all of the food stalls and restaurants are closed. The sky was bloodshot, the air was dusty and there's no sight of any person around. It looked like a ghost town.

I climbed up the flight of stairs leading to some sort of bridge. The bridge lead to some sort of bathhouse that looked old and damaged…and yet familiar. I hesitated to go inside at first. But then, out of my own curiosity, I went in. The place had a strong stench of abandonment. I further looked inside and noticed that the place was covered with dust. Everything seemed distorted, it's like there was some sort of riot in this place.

I climbed the flight of stairs that lead to the second floor. I snooped inside a room filled with futons laid on the floor, I feel like I've been in this room before, which is odd. I continued investigating the room, when suddenly I heard a floorboard creak behind me. I flinched.

I stood still as I heard footsteps getting nearer and nearer to me. I closed my eyes and prayed that nothing will happen to me. Suddenly I felt a cold hand touch my shoulder. Out of fear and shock, I grabbed the hand and threw a punch on the person's face when I turned him around to face me.

"Ow! What was that for?!" the guy bellowed as he massaged his face. He was a slightly tan guy with black hair, a chiseled face and brown eyes. Cute.. If I might say, but.. not really that appealing. He was wearing some sort of uniform that resembled the clothing of a servant working in a palace during old times in Japan.

"I am so sorry." I apologized "I thought you were someone, or something harmful." I bashfully said

He looked at me intently "It's ok." He said

"Who.. are you?" I asked

"The question is… Who are you?" He asked "You're a human. What are you doing here?"

I was baffled by his statement, why did he look so appalled when he said I'm a human? Isn't he human too?

"I asked first." I sternly said "Yes, I am a human, why? Aren't you one?" I asked, puzzled

He chuckled "I'm Ran. I'm a kitsune- tsuki."

"You're a what? Are you kidding me?" I asked, obviously incensed. Was he trying to pull a prank on me?

"No. I'm serious. I'm a kitsune." He said

"Prove it." I challenged him

"Alright."

Suddenly, he changed form. From a young man, slowly turning into an enormous (almost as big as a werewolf) black fox with a white tail. I recoiled as he moved towards me and growled.

"Don't hurt me!" I begged as I covered my face with my trembling hands

I suddenly felt a warm hand hold mine. It was Ran, he turned back to his humanoid form. Obviously he knew that he frightened me.

"I'm sorry miss. I didn't mean to scare you." Ran apologized

I freed my hand from his grip "It's ok. " I said

"Well do you believe me now?" he asked

"Obviously." I said

"I've told and shown you who I am. Now tell me who you are."

"Alright." I said "I'm Chihiro Ogino. I'm a human(evidently).I don't know how I came upon here. I was supposed to go to my parents right now, but it seems I got a little sidetracked."

"Well you can't just get out of here." He said "Chihiro… sounds familiar." He whispered to himself

"What? Why? Where am I to be exact? And how do I get the heck out of here?" I worriedly asked

"You're sort of… trapped in the spirit world. This world has rules you know. You might cause harm to yourself if you don't abide it." He frankly said

"What?!" I frantically said "No! I— I have to get out of here!"

"I just told can't just leave easily."

"Then how?!" I hysterically asked

"Calm down." He coaxed "I'll take you to lord Raiden. He'll tell you what to do."

"Who's he?" I calmly asked, getting over my hysteria of being trapped here

"He's a sorcerer. He's the ruler of all lands here in the spirit world. From the Northern to the Southern lands, and to the Eastern and Western lands." He explained

"Oh." I said "What happened to this bathhouse then?" I curiously asked

"This? Well… I only know some parts of the story that the bathhouse workers told me."

"It's ok. Can you tell me?"

"Ok. Well, the owner of this place was a powerful sorceress, Yubaba, and I must admit she did run a good business. However, when lord Raiden and his troops reached this land, he was attracted with the magic and wealth of Yubaba.

So he decided to trick her. He said that they should be business partners so that they could earn double than what Yubaba is earning. Consumed by her own greed for more gold, Yubaba agreed. They said that Raiden and Yubaba had a drinking spree one night.

And when lord Raiden had Yubaba drunk he got her to give him the deed of the bathhouse. In the morning, lord Raiden ransacked the bathhouse with his men collecting every piece of gold and precious treasures that Yubaba had and held captive all of the bathhouse workers. Enraged, Yubaba challenged Raiden in a magical duel.

The fight lasted for hours, however, Yubaba lost. Lord Raiden stole all the magic that Yubaba had and kept her captive in an underground dungeon in his palace. Some of the bathhouse workers were sent to the eastern land, some were kept as servants in the palace.

There's this one lucky guy though, Haku. Lord Raiden appointed him as his right hand, He was second in command to lord Raiden whenever he goes out of town. The palace just lies behind this abandoned building. They built walls all around the palace grounds, and everything outside it is abandoned and left to rot. "

I took a while to absorb everything that he had said. It seems like my mind is lagging. Suddenly, I felt faint, my body felt light, it's like I don't have substance. I looked at my hand, it looked transparent and I can see the floorboards through my hands. I wonder if I was just hallucinating. I touched Ran and I was shocked when my hand passed through him.

"Ran, help!" I squealed

Ran calmly got a piece of chocolate(it looked like chocolate of some sort) in his pocket and moved closer to me. He forced my mouth open and place the piece of candy in my mouth. I hastily chewed it and swallowed. I touched my hands, they were solid again.

"Thank you." I gratefully said

"You're lucky I always bring food with me." He smirked

"What happened to me a while ago?" I asked

"You're a human, if humans stay too long in this world they'll disappear if they don't eat food from here."

"Oh." I said, realizing that if he hadn't been there I would've disappeared

"Well, we better get you to the palace then." He said as he lead me outside the room. I tagged along beside him as we got outside the bathhouse.

"What were you doing there if the place was abandoned?" I asked

"It's where I like to think and where I like to be alone" he said as he smiled, I pleasantly smiled back

"What did you say your name was again?" he asked

I grimaced "Chihiro." I said

"Oh yeah." He snapped his fingers " You're that girl the bathhouse workers always talk about!" He exclaimed

"What?" I asked

"They'll just explain that to you later." He said

When we got inside the palace grounds, plenty of guards lined the entrance of the palace.

"Ran, what do you think you are doing? Why'd you bring a human with you?" A guard sternly asked

"Don't worry. I'll take her to lord Raiden, he'll decide what to do." Ran said, the guard nodded and allowed us to pass.


Haku's POV

I sat next to lord Raiden and helped him read parchments from the legislatives of the western land.

"What do you think Haku, should we allow this?" lord Raiden asked as he handed me one parchment

I read it and it was a law made to enforce the security of the western land. I examined it. Western people do have a low security system by the lack of their well trained military. I nodded and handed the parchment back to lord Raiden.

Suddenly the palace doors flung open and I saw Ran. Behind him was a girl, but I couldn't quite make out her face because she was looking down. There's one thing I'm sure of though, she wasn't a spirit, she was a human. However her scent was familiar.

"Lord Raiden, if you have a moment. I wish to speak with you." Ran said

lord Raiden stood up "Alright Ran." He said

"This human got lost here in our world and she wishes to go back to her world." Ran said

The human moved closer and looked up at lord Raiden. I gasped. Those mesmerizing eyes, that silky brown hair, that beautiful face. It cannot be, can't it? I lost grip of the glass cup I was holding and it fell on the floor with a loud shattering sound.

"C-Chihiro?" I whispered to myself as tears started to dwell on my eyes. 'She came back'

A/N:

Kitsuni-tsuki- Fox spirit

Please review :))