A cool touch traces the line of my jaw and the hollows of my collarbones , I shudder slightly as a warm breath shifts the hairs from my neck. My breath catches a little as I feel a pair of soft lips trace my own, a hand glides over my body like a lovers caress. ..

I sit up suddenly gasping for air and yanked my earphones out at the same time, oh my…that felt way too real…especially after I was thinking of Haku again…I glance around my surroundings noticing how dark it was getting. As my gaze travels over the pond I catch a glimmer of teal-y silver floating above it. I rub the sleep from my eyes and look again at the pond. The fog-looking apparition still blurs my vision so I squint a little to try and get the shape to focus.

As I do, the shape of a man slowly comes into view. He stands around 5'9" about four inches above my own height, he is wearing long baggy blue pants and a long tan overcoat reaching to mid arm. There were slits of blue visible at the shoulders and the shirt continued to past his waist, synched in with a purple cloth belt. He had long limbs with muscles defined in his arms and I could see the muscles underneath his shirt and pant legs ripple like water as he steps from the ponds center. I look up at his face and see a strong masculine jaw, chin length teal hair that curled a bit at the ends, perfect cheek bones, a long nose that fit his face nicely, and a pair of brows that accented his big green eyes. I stared into those eyes and felt my heart skip a bit, they were the eyes I had dreamed about ever since that final day; eyes that had caused my heart to stop more times than I could count.

My breath caught in my throat and my hand lifted to cover my mouth, I prayed that I wasn't still in my dream.

"Chihiro…" His voice had deepened a couple of pitches and that rich sound sent a shiver down my spin. He started walking towards me, more gliding than stepping, and stopped a couple feet from my sitting figure. He crouched down so he was eye level with my wide chocolate brown eyes.

"I'm sorry I didn't come sooner, Chihiro…" He whispered quietly, almost as if not to frighten me away. My hand lowered back down to grip the blanket underneath me, almost as if to anchor me to this moment in time, "I couldn't get out of the Spirit World any sooner…I hope…" He paused, "I hope...you haven't forgotten me…I came to find you like I promised."

I stared at him not believing I was finally seeing him again, randomly it seemed, in the middle of a hidden grove.

"How…how did you get here?" I whispered back, "How did you know I was here? Why couldn't you come for me sooner?" My voice rose and cracked at my last question tears threatening to fall.

He flinched at my accusatory voice, pain evident on his face; "I tried, really, I did! Yubaba cast another spell on me to try and keep me away from you. She didn't want someone else to get away from her clutches. She sent me to another plane of the Spirit World where I had to do menial tasks under constant surveillance, never able to find time to escape. Every night I would stay up wondering where you had gone, when I would see you again…"

He slowly reached a hand out to touch my face giving me plenty of time to move away, I didn't. His fingers, roughened from the hard labor he was put through, gently touched my cheek; my emotions got the best of me and a few tears escaped my eyes, no matter how hard I tried to keep them in check. Haku lovingly wiped my stray tears and gently smiled at me, "I hope I can make up the time we have lost to you. No matter how long it takes, I promise you, I will find a way to make it up to you…"

His eyes travelled across my face taking in every detail. "Chihiro…you're even more beautiful than I remember. My imagination has never done you justice."

He slowly leaned down towards me, cupping my tear stained cheeks in his large palms, and closed his eyes as he touched his forehead to my own. He breathed in deeply and his presence calmed my frazzled nerves. I closed my eyes as well and softly pressed my nose against his, and as I slowly pulled away I opened my eyes to stare into his. His gaze seemed to gently probe into my soul, seeking entrance to my innermost emotions and thoughts, and I openly accepted him back where he belonged in my heart.

One of his hands caressed my long hair, tracing it down my spine until he reached the small of my back where he firmly grasped me. His other hand slowly moved from my damp cheek to the back of my head to softly cradle it in his palm. My heart seemed to thunder in my ears and I was sure he could hear it from his proximity.

"Chihiro…" He muttered before he gently brought his lips to my slightly parted ones, "Haku..." I breathed, "I love you…"

The last thing I saw before I closed my eyes were his vivid green eyes staring deep into my own, and the love that shimmered within its depths dragging me in. His lips molded to mine and it felt absolutely perfect, even better than anything I could have imagined. His petal soft lips tasted like the ripest white peach and his breath lightly tickled my cheek, his long brown lashes gently brushed against my own eye lids.

Haku…I have missed you so much…

He pulled back and gazed at me intently, "I love you, Chihiro…Will you always stay by my side, now and forever?"

My breath caught in my throat; as hope gently pushed my initial shock aside, my thoughts slowly caught up with what he said.

My mouth turned up at the corners giving him a shy smile, "I never thought you'd ask…"

The End