1Chihiro and Haku walked down the dirt road, hand in hand. "Haku, where are we going?" Chihiro asked.
"We're going to what will soon be my new river. I made it to be with you." Haku said tenderly.
"You found a new river?" Chihiro asked, puzzled because she thought his old one was all filled in.
Haku took Chihiro off the main road and onto another small path in the woods. "Zaneba talked to a river spirit she knew somehow, and convinced him to allow me to construct a new river off of his own. It's only a small brook right now, but once I widen it with my powers, it will do just fine." Haku said hopefully. Chihiro smiled, thinking about how happy they would both be to have Haku back in her own world. She was puzzled about something though, and Haku could sense it. "What's wrong Chihiro?" He asked, placing his arm protectively around her.
"Why am I the only one that remembers? I mean, I know Zaneba somehow made me remember, but why not my parents?" Chihiro asked.
Haku paused in the dirt road. It would be tough to explain the Spirit World's rules any more than he had to, but he'd do his best, he decided. He looked her in the eye, and began his long explanation.
"When I was younger, back in the old days when humans were more religious and spiritual, some of them would come and sit by my river. They would talk about some humans experiencing what's called 'kami-kakushi.' I suppose it would mean to be 'hidden by the spirits' in our language. Humans who experienced it would disappear from the human world and spend time in the Spirit World. They would get there in various ways. Some were kidnaped by spirits living in the Spirit World, while some like you came by accident." Haku said, knowing that Chihiro wouldn't understand that well. She still looked puzzled. Haku went on.
"Inevitably, most humans would find their way back to this world, like you and your parents did thanks to your efforts. When they came back, they would have no memory of what happened. Their friends and families, or the local police, would find them totally unharmed but without any memories of their experiences. You and your parents experienced kami-kakushi. I'm sure of it. The only thing I can't say for sure is how Zaneba managed to make a spell powerful enough to break the amnesia that all humans experience when they come back. Perhaps she used her solid golden seal, or maybe something even more powerful. Regardless, you are the only human I know of that ever could remember her experiences from kami-kakushi."
Chihiro was stunned to hear this. A week ago none of this would've made any sense. A week ago she'd still be the sad, sullen little girl she was. But Chihiro was different now. "Well I'm not the same as I was before, I'm sure about that." Chihiro said confidently.
Haku looked at her, sensing great power. "Yes Chihiro, and you are a better, more mature person because of it. Zaneba did more for me than I deserved, reuniting the two of us." Haku whispered, restraining his feelings.
"Well we're together, and at some point we'll both thank her. Right now, I want to see your new river!" Chihiro said enthusiastically, trying to absorb Haku's words one at a time.
The path became rocky and narrow, and Haku lifted Chihiro over the roughest parts. While in his arms, Haku felt alive once more as he held Chihiro. Chihiro, on her end, began to feel strange. She was only 10, but she began to feel something for Haku that she had never felt for anyone else. She began to want to be close to him, physically and emotionally. She felt her heart skip a beat as she rested her head against Haku's tunic. "Wow, the sun must be strong today." Chihiro thought, neglecting the fact that they were in the shade.
"Here we are Chihiro." Haku said, stopping behind a small opening in the path ahead. Chihiro stepped forward, pushing some tree leaves out of her way. In front of her was a small brook, not more than 7 ft wide and very shallow. It flowed lazily down a hill and around several large boulders. To her right, Chihiro saw several beautiful cherry blossoms. "They're beautiful." Chihiro whispered.
Haku smiled. "I knew you'd like it."
On the other side of the stream there was a large embankment with several large boulders covering it. Haku pointed to the embankment.
"In those boulders there's a small entry to my temporary home. A dragon needs a cool place to sleep at night, after all." Haku said.
"Wait a minute, do you actually sleep under the river?" She asked, spellbound.
"Eventually I will, but until I'm finished, no. I just sleep under the embankment. I'll take you in later if you want." Haku offered. Suddenly Chihiro remembered something.
"Oh no, Haku, I need to be home for lunch. My mother will kill me!" Chihiro cried, taking her eyes off the cherry blossoms and looking back toward the path.
"Don't worry Chihiro. We'll get there in no time. Just give me the directions as we run and I can get you there." Haku said, grabbing her hand and doing that crazy speed-run he did when they first met in the Spirit World. As soon as Chihiro told him the directions, they were back on the dirt road and heading up the hill to Chihiro's new house. Haku and Chihiro stopped in her backyard. "OK Chihiro, should I leave you here?" He asked.
Chihiro caught her breath, and looked at him. He was so sweet with his cute little outfit and his dazzling eyes. She couldn't resist, and smiled evilly. "Hey Mom! Come out and meet my new friend!" She screamed into the house.
Haku's face turned ghostly-white. "No Chihiro, I can't possibly..." He began to stammer.
"What? You don't wanna meet my Mom? Hey if she's like me she'll love you." Chihiro said, taking his hand and laughing.
Haku frowned. "But I don't want to make a bad impression. I look human, but what if they can tell I'm not? Besides they may not even like me." Haku said, his eyes down to the ground.
"Of course they will. Just don't tell them about what happened in the Spirit World since they don't remember. Despite your outfit, they'll just think you're coming from a costume party." Chihiro insisted. She knew Haku might be nervous, but she wanted him in her life again and her parents were a part of her life, so why not take the opportunity? Chihiro felt a strange impulse. She reached up and pushed Haku's windswept hair back. Haku blushed.
"Much better," Chihiro thought as her mother opened the screen door.
"Chihiro, you're back so soon? Oh, and you have a new friend already!" Yuuko said, eyeing the two of them standing together hand in hand. Yuuko wasn't the type to let it show, but she smiled deep within herself. She was happy to see that Chihiro had already made a new friend. Chihiro had changed somehow, Yuuko thought. She seemed more...confident? Yuuko shook her head. Her little girl was growing up faster than she could imagine. Although, something was odd about her new little friend. Yuuko did not want to judge by appearances, but his outfit seemed almost...ancient. Yuuko's father was a history buff, and she could've sworn that Chihiro's friend's clothes were from a feudal era. "Must be a costume party..." Yuuko thought to herself.
"Mom, I'd like you to meet Kohaku." Chihiro said, with Haku raising his eyebrows at the mention of his true name.
Haku bowed deeply. "It's an honor to meet you Mrs. Ogino." He said calmly.
Yuuko smiled at Chihiro, who was anxiously awaiting her mother's response. "The pleasure's all mine. Well, why not stay for lunch? I was just making some dumplings." Yuuko said to him.
Haku and Chihiro stepped into the house. Haku looked all around him in bewilderment. Humans did have incredible ingenuity when it came to building homes. He felt disappointed, wishing he could create something just as elegant for Chihiro if and when she became his.
Yuuko left the dumplings on the kitchen table for both of them. Chihiro was very hungry and gobbled hers up, but Haku took careful bites, not wanting to appear gluttonous in front of Chihiro. Chihiro noticed this, and laughed. "Come on Haku, don't starve yourself for me. If you're gonna live in the human world you've gotta learn to get used to how we eat." She reminded him. Haku laughed at the thought of seeing Yubaba's reaction to any of the workers eating like that in front of the customers.
Everything had happened so fast in Haku's mind. He had found Chihiro, or she'd found him. She remembered him thanks to Zaneba, and got a river started thanks to her as well. His dreams had come true very quickly, yet a bad feeling remained within him. He wanted to take Chihiro off with him to his river, to live with her as her husband forever and ever, but obviously he couldn't do that now. Still, he felt a bond growing with Chihiro. Like all relationships, it would take time.
Chihiro and Haku finished eating, and Yuuko stepped outside to get the mail. "Come with me Haku, I'll show you what a human bedroom looks like. It's not that much different from the Spirit World." Chihiro said, taking his hand excitedly. Once they arrived in her room, Haku looked around at the neatly decorated "sleeping place" as some in the Spirit World called a bedroom. Chihiro saw him as he took in every detail, not wanting to miss a thing. Haku wanted to stay, but he knew that he needed to continue working on his river.
"Chihiro, I have to keep working on the river. The sooner it's done, the sooner I can make a permanent home for myself again." Haku said. For a split second he saw what looked like triumph flash in Chihiro's eyes.
"Yes, I understand. But Haku, why not let me help? Is there anything I can do?" Chihiro offered, wanting to help Haku as much as she could. Haku thought for a minute.
"Well it's pretty isolated, so I don't think any humans would be in the area. I have an idea though. If you want, you could help tend to the flowers and plants around the river. They'll need to be protected as I deepen and widen the river." Haku said, running through the list of things he needed to think about.
"Sure. Do you want me to come tomorrow?" Chihiro asked, taking off her hairband and putting it on the nightstand.
"That would be great. I'll see you tomorrow then, but can I ask you a favor Chihiro?" Haku asked, frowning at the thought of what he'd have to ask Chihiro.
"Sure, what's wrong?" Chihiro asked, noting the look of distress.
"Come with me back to the river right now. I forgot the way. I haven't been in this area for 7 or 8 years now!"
Chihiro giggled. It was good to have him back.