(A/N Haku is human! Hence from last chapter. Haku will face the challenge of what it's like to be a human with no magical abilities or transformation of his dragon form. I think he'll get the picture once you read on.

Chihiro is getting ready for dinner at her friend Kapiro's house. Will she move on and make new relationships? You'll have to wait and see what happens. Suspense. I love making suspense.)

Disclaimer: I don't own anything similar.

Chapter 4: Life in the Human World

Haku made it. This was unreal, no it is real. He was in the Human World. Everything looks similar back in the Spirit World, except it had no flying dragons or Spirits. He looked up and saw an airplane fly over the land. "Wow, a machine that can fly." Haku amazed of the human's inventions.

Then a he had a bad thought. Where was he supposed to start? He had no idea where Chihiro lived nor if she still lives in the town where the Spirit gate holds access to the Spirit World, at least Haku believed it was the only one.

"Mother Spirit!" He called out."How am I going to find her?" He was greeted only in silence. Mother Spirit warned him she would not assist him during his journey. If he wanted to find Chihiro, he would have to look himself or suffer the fate that awaits him when the sun sets on the third day.

'Think Haku. Think! Maybe I can track her scent. That'll buy me some time." He reached into himself searching his dragon instinct. It was blocked off. He tried again. Nothing happened.

On his left, what looked like little houses, he picks it up inspecting it. He could hear the faintest sound of a spirit, he had no idea what kind of stone would just lie in the middle of nowhere.

Judging his appearance, Haku realized since Humans don't have the privilege of the seventh sense of a Spirit. Spirits can sense a human within miles of their presence. Haku is not born of a human, Haku is one-third Spirit and human. If Haku was going to find Chihiro, he can't count his abilities assiting him on his journey, he looks like human, but must act like a human.

He puts down the stone and starts his walk down the sandy hill followed by a road. He crosses the street without looking both ways, a car honked startling Haku. Haku froze where he was, followed by another driver honking, the man slams his brakes nearing crashing Haku, the man unrolls his window popping his head out."Hey, friend! Get out of the road! What are you trying to do? Get yourself killed?"

Haku bowed apologetically."Sorry." He crosses the street, the man shakes his head and drives onward leaving Haku confused by the dangers of crossing the road.

The streets were quiet, he walked solemnly as the sun beats down on his face. Who knew what dangers the human world has? Nearly ran-over by cars, planes instead of dragons or Spirits. Without his dragon abilities, or magic, he can't fly away or track Chihiro's scent while in human-form.

Little did he know it's hard being human surrounded by dangers wherever you walk or go. He has a lot to learn about this world.

Haku finds a bench and sits down catching his breath. 'Who knew living in the human world is harder than it looks? I've never seen an object move under horse power. I must reach Chihiro without getting myself into trouble, or worse."

The sound of a vehicle heading towards him snaps him out of his thoughts, the vehicle comes to a complete stop. Two doors slide open allowing people off this enormous vehicle, Haku watches as one by one, people climb off the steps. "Come on, kid. I'm on a tight schedule?" Said the man wearing a blue and black uniform, thin mustache, and a hat with letter's printed BUS MAN. Haku pointed at himself.

"Yeah you!" Said the Bus Driver."You getting in or not."

He hesitates."What do you call this certain moving object? asked Haku, innocently.

The man sighs."It's called a bus. Now are you getting in or not, I haven't got all day."

Haku slowly steps in, considering the explanation he has never ridden on a bus nor has he ever seen a car. The bus driver closes the door with the handle. Haku is amazed by amazing buttons. Other people were on the bus, five adults dressed for work, one woman was reading a newspaper, five children dressed in school uniforms laughing about the latest gossip told in whisper.

Haku takes a seat in the front and stares out the window. The bus driver drives the bus, Haku has ridden on a train before, but it's nothing like the train.

The town was huge, several houses scatter upon the hills, down below he can see the path he took where the Spirit World lies. Haku spots several cars, another road not similar the one he almost gotten ran-over. Five cars were lined up surrounded by other cars following the five street line path. Up in the sky, another airplane flies over the clear blue sky.

The bus reaches up the hill, the bus driver picks up more passengers. The woman Haku spotted earlier with the newspaper steps off. Another ten schoolgirls in uniforms step inside. Haku couldn't understand their constant giggling. Haku had the urge to laugh but stopped since their was nothing to laugh about.

The bus takes a turn up a steep hill. This must be the road up the hill where Haku spotted the houses, followed by the blue house on the end. Several houses had the same cars Haku has seen. Why can't other people take their cars instead of riding in a crowded space?

The bus passes the road where Chihiro resides. Haku looks around cautiously for any surroundings of Chihiro. He can feel her. He sighs sadly."I will find you Chihiro."

The bus carrying the river spirit disappears down the road. Chihiro steps out of her blue house, locking the door behind her. She rushes hurriedly to her car. Class was starting in fifteen minutes, she tosses her bag on the passenger seat, and puts the key in the controller. She starts the engine and drives over the speed limit.

Living in a quiet neighborhood took no granted, she slams her breaks waiting for another car to pass the yield. She drives down the hill where her father once stumbled eight years ago, she was told before the road surrounded by rocky stones of wood was haunted, some believed Spirits lived there, the story became less interested.

Chihiro got tired people constantly trying to scare her. Once they dared her too chicken to cross into the small forest, Chihiro was twelve at the time, as the walked through the forest, the wind she thought was pulling her in through some path. A sound startled her, but no one was around. Silence.

Chihiro never went through the rocky stone path again. She was brought out of her thoughts as her watch reads she has four minutes before her professor locks the door. Chihiro grabs her bag, and runs across the halls, down the stairs making a boy drop his stack of books. Chihiro turns around and bows apologetically."Sorry! In a hurry!"

Chihiro swings a left at the fountain, she nearly tripped due to the floor mopped by the janitor. She checks her watch again. Two minutes left. Chihiro takes another path down the hall out the doors of the courtyard, she runs with all her might around the building, she opens the door, and swings a right at the fire extinguisher, her class was two doors down where the janitor placed the wet floor sign.

The Professor checks his pocket watch. He gets up from his desk ready to start today's lesson. "All right Class, the sooner we start the sooner-."

Chihiro barely makes it before he locked the door." I made it!" Chihiro completely out of breath.

The professor checks his pocket watch."Yes, ten seconds to spare Miss Ogino."

"Sorry sir, I had a little trouble this morning."

He puts up his hand to silence her."No excuses Miss Ogino. Please take your seat."

"Yes sir." She bows.

Chihiro takes a seat next to her friend Hana. One of her few friends from her high school years attending the same college. As the Professor goes over the history of Rome, Italy. Chihiro's friend Hana taps her with her pencil."I heard word on the street Kapiro asked you on a date?"

Chihiro lowers her voice."It's not a date! And where did you hear that from?" she asked.

"I heard it from the girls whose older brother is friends with him. He was like Chihiro's eyes shine like the moon, her hair is like a golden light passing through your brown hair." Hana says in a dreamy state.

Chihiro growls."Kapiro and I are just friends. You're making that up!"

"If you don't believe me. You can ask your future boyfriend/husband." said Hana, winking.

Chihiro didn't speak to her friend until class ended. Chihiro sits in the courtyard with her friend Hana on the bench. Chihiro clears her head before speaking."Hana. He's not my boyfriend nor will he ever be."

Hana takes a deep breath in."You never give guys a chance. Since high school, you turned down every guy who asked you for ice-cream, a walk home, you even turned down going to the dance with the hottest guy in school. I wish guys would do that for me but coming back to you. Why won't you give guys a chance?"

Chihiro turns red as Hana reminded her of her high school years of boys asking Chihiro out. Hana continues."Kapiro is a great guy.

Chihiro slumped further sitting on the bench. She covers her face hiding her shame." I know he's a great guy, I've known him since our art class freshmen year of high school. One of the few guy friends I have."

Hana patted her shoulder."Does someone have your heart? Was it someone who once had your heart and you're not sure if you should move on?"

Chihiro looked at her if she was going to get more answers of her love life."Please Hana. No jokes." She crosses her legs putting her hands together on her knees.

Hana sits up straight."I am serious this time. I guess since no guy ever comes looking for me, I admit I got a little carried away. Chihiro, I guess I should of listened what you have to say about not ready for the next step. First it's dating, going steady for a few years, marriage, children, and so forth."

"It's not anything like that."

"Then tell me. Maybe I can help? Someone had your heart that was broken, and you're afraid to get hurt?" asked Hana studying Chihiro carefully.

Chihiro sighed."It was a long time ago. I forgot all about our meeting as if it never happened. Then one day I recalled we promised to meet in the future. I started to have recent doubts he just thought of a way to get rid of me."

"So what you're saying is, you guys were together. You somehow forgot you two set a meeting in the future to see where would your relationship stand, and then you had doubts it was a mutual-breakup if the feeling was still mutual?"

Chihiro didn't want to give in of her encounter of the Spirit World, she led her friend to believe Chihiro had a boyfriend, but was blinded by love, she didn't want to believe her heart was broken. They promised to meet along the way and then Chihiro realized he didn't want her.

"Girl." Hana pats her knee."It's sweet and romantic you had a serious relationship with a guy, but you can't carry a torch believing it'll never burn out. You need to move on. Once you give Kapiro or any guy a chance, you'll forget all about him. Every girl goes through the schoolgirl crush."

Chihiro took a deep breath in."I guess you're right. Why torture myself like this? I should move on. He's in the past and who knows where life will take me. All schoolgirl crushes. Thanks, Hana."

They give each other a hug. After class ended for the day. Chihiro thought a lot about what Hana said. Not counting what she assumed Chihiro had a boyfriend, but someone did have her heart.

After the long drive home, Chihiro laid on the couch thinking of Hana's words. She had her sketchbook next to the coffee table next to her. Chihiro wrote a few entries on the last page of her and Haku holding hands. "Haku. I wish you come for me. Wherever you are, real journey or imagination of a child. I have a life here in the mortal world, inside I'll have you in my heart." She pats her heart closing the book.

She looks up the clock on the wall. Two hours passed, Kapiro was coming in one hour and thirty-minutes. Chihiro puts her book back on the shelf to get ready for Kapiro.

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Haku reached the end of the line. The bus man drops him off near an elementary school. The sun not set the end of day one, Haku wasted half the day looking out the window for any surroundings of his Chihiro.

Haku walked near the elementary school as cars pass him two different lanes. Cars driving North where Haku had been and other cars on the left lane driving south. Haku came by a fence. It separates himself from children playing on the playground.

Parents were parked in the car waiting patiently for their child. Other children ran back into the building. Haku climbed up the fence and jumped down. He walked steadily surrounded by the squeaks of the swings moving back and forth. Teeter-totters stood silently, Haku touched with one hand of the monkey bars children held on with two hands.

Haku looked around, children were driving away with their parents, others were walking home up the hill. He opened the door of the school, and closed the door behind him. He made mental note to find his way back, the water fountain was his key to the blue doors.

He peeked through windows of classrooms, children were cleaning the blackboard, dusted dust from erasers, other kids came out of classrooms carrying bags and bins. Haku climbed the stairs to the second floor, a man dressed navy blue overalls was mopping the floor while dragging a bucket of mop water.

Haku looked out the window, he can see the green pasture mountain leading down the hill of the Spirit World. A tap on his shoulder brought him out of his thoughts.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to startle you. Are you looking for someone?" asked a school girl carrying a bin full of trash. The girl was dressed in her school uniform, standing at five feet tall and three inches.

"Yes, I am looking for a girl by the name of Chihiro."

The girl thinks it over."Chihiro. Chihiro. The name sounds familiar. If you say her last name, it should lighten me up."

Haku opened his mouth but closed it. He's such a fool. He didn't learn her last name human's take on after their first name. Her first name is the only source of information."I don't have her last name. You did say the name sounds familiar, do you know where I can find her?"

She takes a step back."Slow down. Let me think for a minute."

"The name sounds familiar. I'm sorry. Is she a friend of yours?" asked the schoolgirl.

"Never-mind, sorry if I disturbed you." Haku passes by the schoolgirl, he turns his back after the girl speaks of his concerned whereabouts of this Chihiro person.

"No, it's no bother at all. If you leave me your name and home address, I can leave you feedback if I hear anything about your friend."

Haku studied her a moment. Can he trust a human in the human world to help him find Chihiro? Then again, she did say the name sounds familiar. He made up his mind."My name is Nigihayami Kohaku Nushi, but my friends call me Haku for short."

They shake hands."My name is Alysa. Please to meet you Haku. Pardon me for asking, where is your current residence?" asked Alysa.

Haku froze. He can't simply answer his home is back in the Spirit World, judging by the colors of the sky, it'll soon be dark, the next day would be day two. He had no current residence if he found a suitable place close to the Spirit Gate.

"I am afraid that information is confidential." Said Haku.

"Do you have a phone number my family can contact you, or an e-mail?" asked Alysa.

Haku shook his head."I am sorry. I am not familiar with phone numbers. I will be around town for awhile so no one can miss me. Thank you Alysa."

They bow.

Haku walks away leaving Alysa in the middle of the hallway. Being twelve and half years old, she can see deep in his eyes the boy's in love. "Good luck, Haku! Chihiro. Hmm. I'll have to tie a string around my finger so I can't forget."

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Back at the Spirit World. Lin was scheduled to clean the big bath by herself, according to the boss upstairs. The Toad Spirits giggled as Lin carries cleaning supplies down the hall where the big bath is scheduled for the heaviest, dirtiest Spirits.

Without Chihiro around, they made perfect timing to clean the outside of the bath except the inside. Normal Spirits come in for a little cleansing of their body. Polluted Spirits who never leave their residence in the human world come for the big bath which happens once or twice a month or weeks depending on the precise.

Lin asked if she could pair up with someone to help her clean the big bath, the foreman shook his head after assigning her work duty. "Sorry, no questions for the big boss. She didn't leave any explanations about assistance by your side."

"The big bath is frog work." exclaimed Lin.

"Get back to work. That's an order!"

Lin cleaned the floors, and scrubbed them with wet soapy cloths with her hands down on her knees. After thirty minutes, all that's left is the filthy bath. Lin scrubs all her might getting the scum off the hard surface.

After every attempt of every soap supply to clean off any scum, the scum seemed to spread, and dirty water covers her bare legs leaving the worse case of wrinkled toes, and stepping on something that may not be of this world.

"This is harassment!" Lin shouts hoping Yubaba would hear.

"Lin!" The toad's head pops from the corner,"Stop that ruckus! You're disturbing the customers."

Ten minutes later, Lin scrubs the last scum off the bath. She wipes her forehead and crawls out of the bath. A job well done, she goes to search for something else. A frog Spirit hops tapping Lin on her shoulder."May I help you?" Lin irritated after cleaning the big bath.

"Yes, Yubaba would like to see you?" said the frog spirit.

Lin smacks her forehead."Oh no, I already followed orders. Big Bath is clean, now I must fetch breakfast before more guests arrive. Excuse me." Lin walks away leaving the frog spirit gulping.

Lin sits down eating bowl of chop suet, with a small bowl of rice on the side, and a glass of water. She eats silently before someone taps her shoulder again."I will get back to work after I eat!" She exclaims her full mouth of food.

The frog spirit stood two feet away."Lin, I was sent by the foreman from orders from above that Yubaba expects you in her office in less than five minutes. She will not take no for an answer."

Lin frowns."Fine." She gobbles her food in one bite sipping the broth from the bowl, she picks up her chopsticks and eats the last of her rice. She wipes her mouth, and runs up to Yubaba's office.

Three minutes on time, the snobby doorknocker opens the doors leading to the witch's office. Lin comes in putting on her irritating face. She followed orders, and would get back to work cleaning more baths before lock-up.

Yubaba was writing something not looking up greeting her guest. The three green giant heads limp around playing in the corner, grunting. Lin taps her foot. Why can't Yubaba just ask her if she needs anything and leave.

Five minutes later, Yubaba puts down her paper work."Lin. You're right on time."

"Is there anything I can get you? I cleaned the big bath as asked." Said Lin.

Yubaba shook her head."That is not why I have called you here nor get me anything I need when I have all the things I have right here."

Lin raised an eyebrow. If she has no other orders, or need to get her anything then why was she here?"If I may ask. Why have you called me here?"

Yubaba took a cigar, she casts a fire with her finger lighting the cigar. Yubaba smokes as the fumes enter in and out of her nostrils. "Well, to make things clear so nothing won't confuse you. You see, a former apprentice and a bathhouse worker have been having a wonderful conversation about a certain human girl who stumbled upon our world eight years prior."

Lin froze. Chills run from her feet up."You were spying on us?"

Yubaba puts out her cigar."How can anyone not notice my former apprentice look over the land where the spirits come across the river, all the magic combine opening the gate."

"Yubaba-" Lin's mouth zips up, Yubaba smugs casting her spell she used on Chihiro the first time.

"No more interruptions, I sensed a powerful Spirit among my land, Haku was free to do as he pleased." She got up from her chair pacing back and forth."I may be powerful, smart, and something up my sleeve when I give someone a job. My powers are no match for the river spirit. For all these years, I never gave thought Haku would still mourn the human girl he dearly missed. I thought it absurd since she's a human that shares the fate of all mortals, they live for maybe sixty or seventy years, and then die leaving their premises in the grounds of the earth, and their soul reunited in the after life."

Lin's face turned blue thinking of bodies in the ground of the earth.

Yubaba chuckled."How odd Haku would sit on top of the roof looking to see one day she would return. I never gave it any thought until eight years have passed until I was ready to banish him from my land since he was no longer the apprentice I needed. He may work on and off in the bathhouse but it wasn't enough. Until the other Spirit showed up."

Lin shook worried where Yubaba was getting to as she hid her shivering not wanting to show the witch she was scared. If her mouth wasn't shut thanks to the spell, she defend Haku and Sen.

"Let's get to the chase. I heard the Mother Spirit offer Haku to become human to find the human girl Sen, or Chihiro since she remembered her name."

"Sen's name is Chihiro." thought Lin.

"We all know once humans leave this world they're memories are erased. I heard him say multiple times of his constant trips to my sister's house, memories are never forgotten, take a while for your memories to return. Except there's a loop hole."

Lin raised her eyebrows. Where was this coming to?"If a human took an object that valuable to them, somewhere on the line if they have kept the valuable possession they hold dear, their memories will come back including her encounter of stumbling upon the Spirit World, and her encounter of a certain river spirit."

Yubaba smirked."Since she didn't. Haku's trip will be for nothing. Chihiro's memories are stored away in her subconscious and will never recognize him if he finds her. It would be a charm if I had my number one employee return. Then again, I had second thoughts, if Haku succeeds, I make the decision if I offer her a job or sent to the pigpen till my spell wears off, hopefully she does't get too fat to make bacon and ham. Or he finds her and no encounter of her memories without the valuable possession, he will be heartbroken, and although I have no land in the human world. It'll be the opportunity for me to get Haku as my apprentice again.

If Lin could gasp without her mouth sewn shut, she would have."Mmm, ehhhmmm. Mmm, mmmm,mmm ,mmmmmm mm mmmm mmm."

"I cannot understand you, Lin." Said Yubaba."You see, if Haku agrees to be my apprentice, my spell will help ease some of the effects of the pain of his river emotionally. But, since Mother Spirit's power is stronger than mine, he will suffer the consequence for the next thousand years."

Lin pounds her fist in the air if she could talk. If Haku fails, he might reconsider signing a contract with Yubaba to get some of the effects off, but still suffer the same fate all over again. This seems cruel but what other choice will he have. If Chihiro comes back, she might be turned into a pig. Lin hopes it won't be too late for Haku and Chihiro. Both choices seemed unfair but it was Haku's decision, after all she hopes he won;t sign a contact with her.

Yubaba sits down."This will be our little secret. Once I cast my spell off you, you will speak of this to no one once Haku returns empty-handed or with her, you be turned into a pig, and hope we don't get you too fat."

Yubaba laughs her evil laugh. The spell wears off, Yubaba escorts her out, Lin flies over guests, pulling her down the stairs, and into a bath with the heaviest spirit in the big bath.

"Oh Haku, I hope you find her. Chihiro, please be okay."

(A/N Took awhile to write. Sorry for delay, I had a HUGE essay to write for creative writing class of A Wrinkle in Time. I got an A.

On to other news, remember from chapter one that Yubaba was watching or spying on them after Haku accepted the offer to find Chihiro. Well this chapter clears everything. If Haku fails, he may sign a contract with her, if he succeeds, well you'll have to read on.

Leave me a review. I got more to write, see you next chapter.)