A NEW STUDENT

"Chihiro! Hurry up honey, or you'll be late for school!" Chihiro's mother called from down the stairs. Chihiro tripped down the stairs a few minutes later, clad in a pair of light blue shorts and an orange and yellow stripped tank top. She quickly pulled on her socks, and ran into the kitchen. She grabbed a piece of toast, and then hurried towards the door.

Over the years, Chihiro had grown. Even though she was just 12, she had begun to mature and get a figure. She had grown maybe four inches. She had also picked up the talent of rollerblading. She slid into her rollerblades and grabbed her shoes, sticking them into her backpack. She was grateful her school was free dress, since she loved expressing her taste. She hollered goodbye to her parents, and then skated down the road.

It was actually sunny today, puffy clouds that floated in the sky like wisps of whipped cream. She skated down the hill, twirling on a pole at the end of the road, and then skating down the street till her school tower was in view. She slowed her pace, and skated through the school gates. Many people already cluttered the school grounds, and they all seemed in their own little worlds.

Chihiro was too, so she didn't notice how she suddenly bumped into someone. "Oh, I'm so so so sorry" Chihiro said. The person she had bumped into groaned a bit and stood up, his back facing her.

"Oh, it's no problem really. I really wasn't watching where I was walking anyway" the boy said. Chihiro began to get up, and then the boy let out his hand. She grabbed it, head down, still trying to make sure she dusted all the dust off her knees. "Do you need any help?" he asked.

"No, I'm fine really. I was just off in my own little world" Chihiro said.

"Well, if you take a deep breath, you'll be fine" the boy said. Chihiro froze all of a sudden, and then she finally realized how familiar his voice was. She didn't realize, though, how her hand slipped out of his in her train of thought. She looked up to see him gone, nowhere in sight. She sighed, and she skated over to the lockers of the school.

She pulled off her skates, and put them in her locker, replacing them with her shoes. She pulled her bag over her back once more, and then trotted inside the school building, toward her sixth grade class.

She walked in to the noises she always herd. Laughing, fighting, whispers, and who knows what. She sat at her desk, near the back of the room. It was in the second to last row, right next to the window. No one sat next to her, they thought that she would try and talk to them. Most kids were mad that she took one of the most desired seats in the class. She took it because she could see the river out the window, and she would stare at it when the rest of her class chatted.

The teacher walked into the classroom, hushing all the students, except for one. "And then the elephant." (A/N Don't you hate that, how your talking and then suddenly it becomes quiet and everyone can hear you)

"Keiji, please quiet down" the teacher said.

"Hai, Hunta-sensai" Keiji said.

"Ok class, welcome back. Did you all enjoy your weekends?" Hunta-sensai asked.

"Hai" the class said in unison. The teacher smiled.

"Good, now, I hope you have all finished your homework, and please pass it forward" Hunta-sensai said. The class did so, and when everything was collected, the teacher stood at the front of the class again. "Now, I have an announcement. I would like to welcome a new student to our class. He said he was from somewhere near North Tokyo, and I hope all of you make him feel at home. You may come in now" Hunta-sensai said, looking at the door. The door slid open, and Chihiro was brought back from staring at the river. The boy walked in, one slow step at a time, and Chihiro almost gasped out loud. Well, she did, but not as big. The boy stood at the front of the classroom, wearing ancient type clothes. He had on blue pants, big baggy ones, and a poncho-like shirt with patches, tied to his waist with a belt. He was wearing brown shoes on his feet, that didn't seem to fit with the outfit.

He had a blackish type hair, which went to about mid-cheek and then grew shorter as it went back. He had handsome olive eyes, which were set directly on Chihiro. "Class, please welcome Kohaku Nushi. Kohaku, do you have a nickname you wished to be called.

"Haku" Kohaku said, eyes still on Chihiro.

"Alright Haku, will you please take a seat next to, hmm, Chihiro" Hunta- sensai said. "Chihiro, raise you're." but before she could finish, Haku was already moving for the seat. He sat down, eyes strait ahead now, and then he turned back to her.

"I told you I would be back" Haku whispered. A tear slid down Chihiro's cheek, and Haku whipped it away with his hand. "We'll talk at lunch, stay in the classroom while everyone leaves, ok?"

"Ok" Chihiro whispered, and then they turned their attention back to class.

~*~*~

BRING! The class bell for lunch rang, and the students shuffled out of the classroom quickly. When everyone was almost gone, Haku and Chihiro stood up, and walked out the classroom. They walked until they were on the yard, and they walked towards the back of the school. They seated themselves on a lush path of grass under a cherry blossom tree. It was just behind the gate that kept the school separated from the river. They were sitting so close to the water that they could feel its spray as it hit the rocks.

Chihiro put down her lunch, and then looked at Kohaku, who happened to be looking at her. He had changed; he had aged just as she had. His hair didn't seem longer, hers only grew three inches over the last three years. Just looking at him made her happy, but her heart was filled with so many emotions, it was hard to control them; so she began to cry.

She fell onto Kohaku, and cried into his chest, while he stroked her hair. "I've-missed you-so-much" Chihiro said between sobs.

"It's ok, I've missed you too. I'm not going anywhere" Kohaku said. Chihiro sunk more into him, and he wrapped his arms around her shivering body.

"I though-you-had-broken-your promise" Chihiro said, between sobs.

"I would never do that to you" Kohaku said. Chihiro continued to cry, but it became lighter and lighter as Kohaku held her.

"What took you so long?" Chihiro asked, her eyes and cheeks red from crying, and stained by her salty tears.

"It's a lot harder to get here then you may have thought. It took me a while to figure out how I would do it, while keeping all of my memories, powers, and body" Kohaku said. Chihiro looked up at him, and then moved a bit closer to him. She began to feel safe again, being in his arms.

"I wanted to go back in see you, but I was scared. Maybe you had forgotten, or maybe something happened. I thought you had gotten hurt, or that you had died, or Yu-baaba had turned evil again after I left" Chihiro said, beginning to cry again.

"You shouldn't have worried, and you should have been patient. But I won't leave you, and I have some surprises for you" Kohaku said. Chihiro lifted her red face out of his shirt and looked at him quizzically.

"Surprises, what kind of surprises?" Chihiro asked.

"If I told you, they wouldn't be surprises, now would they?" Kohaku said.

"You were always to smart for your own good" Chihiro said. Kohaku laughed, and so did Chihiro. She changed her position, and soon had the back of her head laid on his chest.

"Comfortable?" Kohaku asked. Chihiro smiled.

"Very" she said.

"Glad to hear that" Kohaku said.

"Oh, lunch" Chihiro said, sitting up. "You eat, right?" Chihiro asked.

"Of course, or I would disappear, just like you would in our world" Kohaku said.

"Yeah, but this time, no one needs to hold their breath" Chihiro said.

"That's true" Kohaku said. Chihiro grabbed her lunch and laid back in Kohaku's arms, opening the lunch. She was thankful she always got two of everything, since the Spirit World had made her such a big eater. She gave Kohaku a rice ball, and then took hers, and they ate. Kohaku watched Chihiro eat, and was surprised how much she could eat. "Chihiro, how do you eat so much, and yet, look almost no different then before? You are taller, your hair is longer, and you seem to be maturing, though" Kohaku said. Chihiro smiled inwardly, happy he had noticed.

"You know, I really don't know. But my appetite grew so much because of all that food Rin gave me at the bath house" Chihiro said. Kohaku smiled down at Chihiro, happy to be united with her again at last. "Kohaku, where do you live?" Chihiro asked.

"You know that house next to yours for sale?" Kohaku asked.

"Yeah" Chihiro said. Then realization dawned on her. "You're my new next door neighbor, and you moved in just this morning. I didn't even notice" Chihiro said, surprised with herself. "We better get going soon, because class will start. The yard is most likely cleared by now" Chihiro said.

"Want to take a short cut?" Kohaku said.

"No dragon, that won't help" Chihiro smiled.

"I know, not dragon" Kohaku said. Chihiro eyed him while she packed up her lunch. He then held out her hand. "Remember?" he asked. She grabbed his hand, and suddenly, they were going at lightning fast speed. She remembered how on the bridge, when the frog had jumped up, and she had breathed, the spell had worn out. So Haku had taken her by the hand and they had darted away into the garden. She was wondering what would have happened if she hadn't gasped when the frog had jumped. Maybe everything would be different. Would she have gotten close with Haku? Would she have met Rin or Kamajii? Would it have been the great adventure it had been? She stopped thinking as Kohaku stopped flying, and they were standing outside the classroom doors.

They walked inside, and took their seats. And for once, Chihiro didn't space out looking at the river while everyone talked. She talked, with Kohaku.

---

"That's odd" a girl said, eyeing Haku and Chihiro in the corner.

"I know. He's new and he's flocking all over that, weird girl" another girl said, saying the name with distaste.

"It looks like they know each other" another girl said.

"Who would want to be friends, with that? Besides, he should have become friends with us first, right girls" the first one said. The girls nodded. "No one disses Alla Tonama" the girl said.

---

The teacher walked into the classroom, it quieting again. Keiji was still left talking. "And then the elephant." The class laughed.

"Keiji, please quiet down" Hunta-sensai said.

"Hai Hunta-sensai" Keiji said.

"I wonder what ever happened to the elephant" Kohaku whispered to Chihiro, making her giggle a bit. The rest of the day went smoothly, and Chihiro was thankful for no homework on that day. "May I walk you home?" Kohaku asked her, as they stood in front of the school.

"Yes, but we must stop somewhere first" Chihiro said. She grabbed Kohaku by the hand, and led him away down the road. Alla stood by, growling under her breath, her fist clenched. 'You're going to pay Chihiro' Alla thought.

~*~*~

"Chihiro, where are we going?" Kohaku asked, as they reached the top of another hill.

"Almost there" Chihiro said. She walked a bit faster, and soon they were standing in cement like theatre in the middle of the park. "This is where the town has meetings, plays, and dances. Things like that. I like to go here and think, watch the sunset" Chihiro said, sitting down and facing over towards the side where the sun was now sinking into.

"I'm glad I can be the one to share it with you" Kohaku said.

"Me too" Chihiro said. Kohaku sat down next to her, putting his arms around her waist. She laid her head on his shoulder, and he laid his head on hers.

"Chihiro" Kohaku said.

"Hmm" Chihiro said.

"When does one of these events come up?" Kohaku asked.

"There is one next month, concluding the end of summer. Why?" Chihiro asked.

"May I ask you to this dance?" Kohaku said, looking down at Chihiro. She looked up into his eyes, and stared for a moment.

"Of course, I wouldn't have it any other way" Chihiro said. Kohaku smiled, and they talked some more, remembering her time in the spirit land. 'He smells just like he always did, and I feel as if I can lay here forever, in his warm embrace. He has melted away my shy cover, and has let me get my emotions out in one blow. I just hope, he never has to leave again' Chihiro thought. 'I don't think I'll tell him I'm entering the talent show next week, but I'll tell him to come. But he'll most likely figure it out' Chihiro thought. "Kohaku?" Chihiro said.

"Yes" Kohaku said.

"There is a talent show next week, at the school. Would you go?" Chihiro asked.

"Of course" Kohaku said, smiling down at her. She let her head sink back onto his shoulder again. "I think I may enter myself" Kohaku said.

'Now that will be interesting' Chihiro thought. They watched as the sun sinked lower and lower, engulfing them in bright, pastel colors. As the sky began to turn purple, Chihiro turned to Kohaku once again. "I think it's time we headed home" she said. Kohaku nodded, and then stood up.

"Shall we fly?" he asked.

"No dragon" Chihiro said.

"Only by night" Kohaku said. She nodded and took his hand, and in no time, they were in front of Chihiro's house.

"Goodnight, Kohaku" Chihiro said.

"Goodnight" Kohaku said. He began to turn around, when Chihiro caught him. She stood, looking up, and she kissed him lightly on the cheek. He kissed her forehead in return.

"I'll see you tomorrow, we'll walk to school together" Chihiro said. Kohaku nodded with a smile, and then headed into her house. She almost swore she heard Kamajii yell 'Young Love!'