"Come on Chihiro we went to the trouble of ordering you a cake in the shape of a dragon, since you seem to be obsessed with them so much. The least you could do is eat one piece!" Kairi complained shoving the plate of cake under Chihiro's nose.

But Chihiro had slowly been feeling more distant from her friends as the night wore on and she couldn't figure out why. The cake had nearly been the breaking point. Why had they had to make the dragon on it look so much like him? She blinked and felt moisture left on her lashes.

"Chihiro did we do something wrong?" Anri asked gently touching her shoulder.

Chihiro looked into his face and smiled.

"No everything is just perfect I'm just not feeling very well I guess."

"Oh no do you think you had better go home?" Miki asked worriedly.

Chihiro sighed biting her lip.

"Maybe. I'm not sure though."

"In that case we'll walk you home." Alto smiled standing up but Chihiro shook her head.

"No really I actually think I just need some fresh air." She smiled standing up herself and slipping out of the booth, "I'll be back in a bit."

Her friends looked after her in confusion and apprehension. Chihiro had been known to disappear for hours despite her assurances that she would only be gone for minutes. That was just the way she was, forgetful, a bit clumsy, and very creative with her imagination. After all, someone who drew fantastical worlds as good as she did, had to have a creative mind.

Chihiro walked back in the direction of her house but that was not her destination. Instead her feet were carrying her back to the un-open tea shop. Her steps were halted by a voice that spoke from the front porch of the shop forcing her to look up.

"Ah you see my dear, I told you she would be coming back soon. Now you may give her the letter."

Chihiro gaped at the two women on the porch. The speaker was a woman who seemed to look in her mid 20s but carried herself in a manner that spoke of years of wisdom and experience. The younger woman beside her appeared to be actually no older than 18 but she too had the presence of a woman beyond her apparent years.

Chihiro bowed to them respectfully.

"I'm sorry to intrude but I passed by this Tea Shop earlier without having enough time to stop and examine it properly so I just wanted to get a better look. I'm really sorry for disturbing you."

"My dear girl you aren't disturbing us at all." The woman smiled laughing softly, "In fact young Alytho hear has something to deliver to you."

Chihiro was surprised and curious. She approached the two women slowly but at a smile of encouragement from the older one her feet carried her more quickly. Soon she was standing before the younger woman who had pulled out what appeared to be a letter.

"My brother requested I give this to you." Alytho said simply pressing the letter into Chihiro's hands with a bit too much force.

Chihiro stepped back a bit and glanced down at the envelope in her hands. Her name was written on the front in an elegant hand she didn't recognize. After examining it closer she realized the script seemed to flow across the envelope like small curling waves.

"Who is this from again?' she breathed looking back at Alytho.

"My brother." Alytho replied impatiently, "Someone you're close to. Just open it already and you'll find out."

Chihiro was still unsure of whom the sender could be but curiosity and hope made her break open the seal tentatively and pull out the slip of paper inside.

The scrip on the page almost seemed to travel across it like a gentle river and Chihiro was almost too mesmerized by it to actually start reading. But eventually a definitive cough from Alytho broke her from the majesty and she began to read.

Chihiro,

Sorry I couldn't deliver this letter in person but I hope that you can understand why. First off though I want to wish you happy birthday. Yes I'm aware that it's your birthday (if Alytho was successful in delivering this letter on time that is). We have spirits watching over you all the time so I know a good deal more about you than I was aware of the last time we saw each other. But that was 6 years ago now so I'm not surprised that you've changed as you've grown up. But I'm getting a bit off subject now. Chihiro there's something that I need you to do for me but I think that it would be better to explain this to you in person. I know that I told you to never look back or come back to the spirit world but I think that the abandoned train station leading to the spirit world should be a safe enough compromise. Tell Alytho to take you there before midnight. She doesn't know anything about this so you'll have to tell her that I requested it. She may take some time convincing but I think that she should see reason before too long and be able to get you here before midnight. If you arrive after that…you might actually understand what I need to tell you a bit easier but…I don't want you to experience that yet. I hope to see you soon and am glad that you have been doing really well these 6 years since your return to the human world.

Haku

Chihiro reread the signature over and over just to convince herself that it really said his name.

Alytho had been watching her the entire time she had been reading the letter and now she was terribly impatient.

"Well what does he say?" She snapped trying to snatch the letter from Chihiro who stepped back quickly to keep it from her reach.

"Your brother is Haku?" Chihiro breathed her hands shaking on the letter.

"Yeah so what? What are you to him anyway?"

Chihiro shook her head uncertain of how to answer.

"I don't know." She whispered at last staring back at the letter, "Someone important I think."

Alytho snorted.

"What makes you think that?"

Chihiro looked back at her.

"Because he wants to meet me tonight before midnight, at the abandoned train station. You're supposed to take me there."

Alytho's eyes flashed in surprise and annoyance.

"Oh really? And why does he think I would do that?"

Chihiro shook her head.

"I don't know. He said I would probably have to convince you but that you would come around in time."

Alytho continued to glare at Chihiro but after a few moments she sighed.

"If he asked for it I suppose there's nothing else for me to do but do what he said."

She approached Chihiro and held out her hand.

"You're familiar with spirit flying I presume. My brother does enjoy employing it a lot after all."

Chihiro blinked tentatively slipping her hand into the other girl's.

"Uh I'm not sure what…" but she had no time to finish her sentence because they were instantly flying near the ground at an incredible speed.

So that's what it's called Chihiro managed to think before her mind was completely caught up in the dizzying experience.

(anyone that's interested in reading the letter in the actual intended script the name is Freestyle Script)