I do not own Spirited Away. This work was inspired by creations that came from Miyazaki's head, not mine.

Chihiro woke to the sound of water running, and even though the strain of the day's previous events weighed on her shoulders she sat up. Her eyes came into focus and for a moment she was in shock because she had forgotten where she was. She took in a deep breath, stood up, and walked to the door and down to the kitchen. Upon reaching the first step of the landing, Chihiro took in her surroundings.

"This is odd," she thought, "I should be snoozing. I never wake up this early, and that door, thats odd, too." Has she puzzled over it, it seemed to call to her. In fact, if she didn't know any better she would have assumed that whatever was beyond was just dying for her to come find it. Chihiro couldn't resist, and quietly she put on her shoes and went out of the door. In the light of the barely risen sun, the life of the swamp seemed to be alive and awake like it had never slept the night before. Chihiro traveled into it, falling deeper and deeper. The trees and branches all seemed to point her along that the path she was to take, even the birds quieted as she followed the unknown presence that beckoned her to come. The presence stopped in front of big, ancient ginkgo tree, and Chihiro ventured around it to its front and there was his river. Just like she had left it the previous morning except it ran swift and strong, happy and free. Chihiro gasp and yelled,

"Look at you! You're alive, and you're more than a trickle of water! I was so worried I thought… I don't know what I thought, but it doesn't matter because here you are!" Chihiro had by this time already taken off her shoes and was dancing freely though the current as it moved through the fabric of her thin, cotton shift nightgown. The deep torrents moved with a pulse that was undeniable. Never had Chihiro seen it run like this in the human world. She couldn't help but swim deeper into its current. Then, all at once its waves cascaded all around, enveloping her inside. She could breathe, but inside the water ran ferociously around her, yet Chihiro knew its spirit and gently stroked the sides of the water wall she was in closed into. As her fingertips followed along the currents of the wall they slowly began to shrink from around her, and a man stood before her, man drenched in bright amber light. His shape was definite and his eyes were hidden behind his dark hair. Even though the figure's face was partially concealed and his features vague because of the glow, Chihiro could see his nervousness and hesitance. "Who are you?" He asked as he raised his hand to cup her cheek. Chihiro opened her mouth to answer in protest but instead she let out a quick gasp because the stranger had already closed in and melted the free space between them. His firm lips softened against hers in a rushed kiss as one of his hands tangled in her wet hair and his other tightly held her close to his chest. The tip of his tongue urgently licked the crease of her lips, and Chihiro without realizing it; parted them and started kissing him back with almost as much frankness. Her hands reached up to his face and pushed back the hair that hid his identity and she laid small butterfly kisses on his forehead and eyes. The man's lips traveled down her throat, and then his kisses began to wash all over her like water running down a mountain until without warning Granny's earth shattering call for breakfast sent her sprawling out of bed and onto the floor.

Else where in the spirit world, a young man tossed and turned in his bed until he sat up with a start. He was drenched in sweat and his body was still trying to process the emotions that were running through him. There had been a woman swimming in his river, his soul. She had casually entered without hesitation or intentions of harm. In fact he had led her there. It was so strange. He saw himself standing over her bed marveling at the unfamiliar beauty, for you see her identity was clouded by the vibrancy of her pure spirit. He had no idea how he came to be in Granny's house nor how the figure of the mortal girl he loved came to be there, but she was. Her spirit swirled and danced all around her even in sleep she actively moved and creatively worked. He was mystified till stupidly he woke her. Her fuzzy eyes had followed him through the door and into the swamp. Deeper and deeper he led her, but once he had reached the ancient tree he had lost his nerve, and the reality of his actions had finally caught up to him. After all she could be an illusion sent by someone to make him vulnerable and open to control. With this thought in mind he backed away hoping that the lack of his presence would leave her afraid and willing to leave the place she was at. But she ventured beyond the tree unafraid. Right past all of his security spells they were useless because she didn't even realize they were there. She just ran into his soul. Her soft yells and sighs completely auditable and close. By this time Haku had already merged himself into the water just in case he should need to defend himself, but he could feel her joy, happiness, and relief as she swam into him. She was unable to contain herself and swam deeper, and not only could he feel her emotions but the heat of her body as he swayed all around her. Her bright delicate, fragile body was in his grasp. He no longer could hold back his instincts as he raised and captured her within himself. He was violent, but she was gentle, and the calming effect of her hands assuaged his dragon heart. By then he had let all of his guards down. He was unsure if such a pure beauty would allow him into her arms so he captured the gorgeous spirit within his. This girl, this beauty he held, held him within her control and he willingly let her. So without thought or hesitation he gave her what he knew, only she could have...

Back at the little house in Swamp Bottom, the young woman sloshed down the stairs to a warm welcoming breakfast table.

"Oh my…." said an unprepared Granny. "What happened to you? You're soaking wet! Did you decide to go for a morning swim?" chuckled Granny as she handed the drenched woman a towel.

"I am not sure what happened." Chihiro answered puzzled, but at the thought of the kiss from the amber stranger, who really wasn't all that strange to her, her cheeks flushed. "Granny, it was so weird I dreamed I woke up, and then I was lead to Haku's river, but his river was so… alive. I had never seen it like that before and then there was this wave, and this man and... it was all too overwhelming to recount… I mean it was probably, nothing right?"

"It would have been just another girlish fantasy if it weren't for the fact that you are soaking wet, my dear," Granny finished with chuckle as Chihiro cheeks pinked. "Also," Granny began to add, "there wouldn't be a stain of a spell on your lips."

"What!?" Chihiro screeched as she covered mouth and violently tried to rub whatever was there off.

"Dear, it is nothing to be worried about in fact I knew it would happen. I am just surprised that he found you so early, oh well, no worries, dear, after breakfast and a bath we can begin are lessons for today."

Chihiro was confused, but with the events of yesterday she couldn't expect nothing less as she sat down at the table Granny passed her cup of coffee and a bowl of rice.

"Oh and by the way you'd probably be much more comfortable dry." And with a flip of the wrist Chihiro was dry.

"Woe! Are you going to teach me that?"

"Of course, it is a rather simple spell depending on the way you want to approach it," Granny said as she causally sipped her cup of coffee.

"Granny, what happened last night?" Chihiro asked as she brought one of her legs up to rest on the chair so she could lean forward.

"Pish, posh, we can worry about that after breakfast, besides I want to hear all about life outside of the spirit world, by the way how are your parents, doing?"

They continued in this way until breakfast was eaten, and granny felt it was time for Chihiro to learn her first spell.

"Okay, first of all magic isn't complicated. Once you get your mind around that, you've already gotten 50% of the spell worked out. Second, admit that you can't and then you can, and finally, realize what you want and let yourself have it. Do you understand?"

"I think," replied Chihiro confused.

"Now these rules allow you to create and have, but there are consequences for your using. When magic is used for good attention good will be wrought not only on whatever was magicked, but also on the caster. If it is used for harm it will wrought harm for those it was intended and for those that cast it. And if a spell is cast only for pure personal gain a sacrifice must be made by the caster, and its severity will depend on the demand of the spell."

"I see, so… if someone wielded a spell for wealth they would gain it, but at the loss of something dear, or essential depending on the quality and quantity of the riches?"

"Yup, but one thing is missing. The wielders intentions, if he his intention was to gain wealth for himself and no else then he would lose his compassion, but if he wielded it in order to giver another freedom then he would lose something precious that could be given back in time."

"I never thought of magick that way. It seems so cruel."

"Only if you allow it to be cruel. My mother wanted power and money, that's where Yubaba gained her greed, but I took the path of my grandmother and decided that my gift could be used for greater things.

"Gift?" Chihiro asked.

"Yes, Kind of like that stain on your lips"

Chihiro blushed.

"Now, Child how about getting cleaned up and dressed before beginning our lessons for today?"

"That sounds great, but I didn't bring anything with me."

"Don't worry you just head off to the bath and I'll handle everything."

With that Chihiro bathed and emerged from the bathhouse in a white quarter-sleeved shift dress with a high buttoned collar. Over the dress she wore a dark teal wrap tunic that wrapped around her figure into a full length skirt, and it resembled a sleeveless yukata. Her shoes were the simple black flats that she had borrowed from Sophie the previous morning, and her hair was swept up into its usual ponytail held in place by the magical purple tie. And to complete the look was the dragon scale chain that Chihiro had hidden for so long.

Granny began Chihiro with a small breathing exercise to help channel and feel the energy that she contained within herself, next she gave her a basic lesson in potions explaining what went with what and what was good for chest colds and night terrors. Then after potions she gave her first basic spell of levitation. She explained that first a witch must learn to float and then call. Chihiro didn't really get what she meant, but she figured that Granny knew what she was doing.

In the evening both women knitted and drank tea together until all at once a strong wind rattled the windows.

"We've got company," Granny whispered as she took a sip of her tea.

"Who is it?"

"You'll see." Granny answered coolly as she got up to answer the door.

Chihiro got up calmly, but beyond her exterior she was bundle of kindled fire. Haku's face was playing on her mind as she followed Granny to the door.

"Well, Kohakunushi, what brings you here? Or should I not pretend that I don't already know?" Granny greeted, as she moved aside for Haku to view her new apprentice.

The man caught his breath as he looked at the young woman and bowed. Chihiro laughed and moved passed Granny in order to give her usual bear hug. Haku embraced her as well.

"Haku! What's with the formal greeting! You know me, Oh my gosh it's been so long! I really have missed you." Chihiro said as she backed away from her old flame and friend.

"Well, that's not entirely true." The dragon boy said with a blush. Chihiro caught his eye and then looked down with a blush as well as it dawned on her that last night had indeed happened.

"Well since the cats outta the bag how's bout we discuss this over a cup of tea or would you like to explain it to her alone, Kohakunushi?"

"I don't think that would be the wisest thing," Haku replied as coolly as he could.

"Good point can't have you ravishing her, or we would never get anywhere." Granny said as she looked at the couple who were now a pretty hot shade of red.

AN Apologies if Haku may seem a little "fluffy" in this chapter, but don't worry that will be corrected in later chapters~ Molly