I believe I know where this story is headed now. Yay! It's kind of weird, but hey, it's my story and I can write what I want! JK, anyway, let's get back to the story and see what Haku wrote to Chihiro!
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A Second Chance
Chapter 3: Hooky
Chihiro,
I found that I don't have the strength to ell you in person what I'm about to tell you here. The letters from the others are the last you'll ever hear from them. I made the decision not to return to the bath-house so I could stay here with you. You are my life now and only horrible memories remain back there. In doing this, I can no longer be the Spirit of the Kohaku River or turn into a dragon. If you decide that you don't want me in your life, which I would understand completely, I will leave and never bother you again. As long as you follow your heart, I will obey whatever decision you make.
Haku
Haku, you're so stupid, she thought and climbed back out the window and ran toward the clearing once more. As she neared the spot, praying he was still there, she began yelling "Haku! Haku, of course I want you to stay! Haku!" She entered the clearing, but saw no one. He's gone, she thought, then turned upon hearing someone coming up behind her.
"You want me to stay?" Haku asked.
"Of course I do" she replied, "I couldn't bear to lose you again. Haku…I can't imagine my life without you."
He smiled, "I can't imagine my life without you either." He placed his palm on her cheek and softly kissed her lips, then pulled her into a hug. They stood like this for a couple moments until Haku insisted that she get some rest for school the next day. She asked where he was staying and he said, "If you ever need me, just come here and I'll come to you."
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The next morning, remembering Haku's words, Chihiro thought, I won't be able to concentrate anyway, so why go to school? She was able to convince her parents that she was too sick to go to school, but once they left, she got dressed and headed toward the clearing.
She arrived at the clearing and thought, This is so peaceful and beautiful. I've never been here at this time of day. I should skip school more often. She sat on the boulder and didn't even notice Haku arrive for she was so entranced in her surroundings.
"Chihiro? I thought you had school today?" he said.
"I do" she replied, "But I'm not feeling well" and she let out a fake cough. Haku was less than impressed. "I wanted to spend the day with you, not just a couple hours at night, the whole day" she said.
Seeing it was pointless to argue because she had already skipped school, he replied, "Alright." Chihiro smiled. "But don't make a habit of this."
"I won't, I promise" she replied and took his hand as she headed toward her house, "C'mon."
"Where are we going?" Haku asked as he was being dragged.
"Back to my house. My parents aren't home so we don't have to worry about them. Plus, I want to show you something" she told him. By this time, Haku had caught up to Chihiro and they were walking hand in hand to her house.
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They went inside and Haku asked, "So what is it that you want to show me?"
"It's this way, follow me" she replied as she went upstairs. She stopped outside the door to her room and when he arrived beside her, she opened the door, revealing all her drawings and precious memories.
He went inside and gazed around him, not believing what he saw. "I thought that you would only remember it as a dream" he said, in awe at how accurately everything was depicted.
"I did…for a while" she replied.
Haku was still entranced by the drawings when he came upon the section that was devoted to drawings of himself. He became engulfed in the picture of himself carrying Chihiro over the water in dragon form, drawn so vividly it could have been a photograph.
Chihiro came up behind him and said, "That one's my favorite."
"These are amazing Chihiro. I can't believe you drew all these" he said.
"My parents thought it was just a matter of an overactive imagination" she laughed, "I couldn't very well tell them the truth. They would've sent me to a psychiatrist or something." She paused and looked him in the eyes, "It's just nice to know for sure that it wasn't all a dream."
Haku put his palm to her cheek and she smiled slightly. He lowered his hand once more and intertwined his fingers in hers. Chihiro couldn't help but think how amazing it was that he could tell her so much without saying a word. He really isn't going anywhere, is he? "So" she began, "What are you going to do now that you're stayng?"
"Actually, I thought about enrolling in your school, meeting your friends, and just being with you" he replied.
"That sounds perfect. But I still don't know where you're staying…And why didn't you tell me last night?" she questioned.
"I had to be sure that you really wanted me to stay" he said as he turned and walked toward the other side of the room.
Chihiro followed, "Haku, I can't believe you still doubt that. I do want you to stay."
"I know that now…and I'm so glad you feel that way" he replied, "I honestly don't think I would've been able to leave even if you wanted me too."
Chihiro let out a small laugh and threw her arms around him, then she pulled away slightly and said, "But if you're going to start going to school, you're going to need some new clothes" he looked down at his outfit, "And maybe a haircut. We just need to up-date you a bit. I promise it won't be a huge change."
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The next day was Saturday so Chihiro convinced her parents to let her go to the mall for school supplies that she had been running low on. She didn't tell them, however, that Haku was going with her and the "school supplies" were new clothes for him. She gave him a bunch of stuff to try on to find a unique style for him and eventually settled on a pair of black jeans, a navy tee with a white button-down with blue pinstripes over it. They also picked out some black and blue Vans for shoes. His look was completed with a hair-cut. The style wasn't changed much; the ends were just razored to give it a less straight and even look.
"What do you think?" Chihiro asked once everything was done and Haku saw his completed look.
"It's different" he replied, "But I like it. It'll just take some time to get used to. By the way, I'm staying in a small apartment that Zeniba conjured for me not far from your house."
"I'm glad you finally told me…So, when are you going to start school?" she asked.
"I was thinking of going in on Monday to get things straightened out and I'll hopefully start school the next day" he replied.
"Wow…you don't waste any time, do you?"
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Haku's going to the same school as Chihiro! What will everyone's reactions be? And what do you think of his makeover? I'm having so much fun with this story and I hope you are too! Please review!
