Disclaimer: I don't own anything except the plot. Everything else, (Chihiro, Haku, Yubbaba, etc.) are all owned by the great Hayao Miyazaki. I am very lazy; so don't blame me if this chappie is short.

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Chihiro looked at the dirt path in front of her. School was finally out and she could spend more hours at the tunnel. She started walking. She was wearing the same clothes as on the first time at the spirit world, and had a small backpack flung over her shoulders. In her backpack contained the usual stuff she always had. A small flashlight, a few snacks, and a bottle of water. She always brought these 'cause she never knew when she would change her mind about going through the tunnel.

She kept walking, now the road was so familiar to her, she could find the tunnel blindfolded. She went over to the little shrines at the side and bowed a small bow and smiled. She had worshiped, from the day at the spirit world, anything that was told that consisted of any spirits. She continued on her way and after a few minutes, she passed by the statue to her right. That statue still spooked her. She glanced at it, kept her head low, and walked on by.

When she reached the tunnel and the statue in front of it, she sat down and laid her bag down. She stared at the tunnel. It was so dark. The wind pulled her toward the entrance, swishing her ponytail hair inwards. She thought for a minute. She remembered Lin, Kamajji, baby, (even) Yubbaba, Zeniba, and..Haku. She remembered their faces, their voices, and what they might say to her if she returned now.

"Sen! You're back!!!!" she could imagine Lin would say. "Sen!" baby, on account of his limited vocabulary, would say. "Hmph! What are you doing here?" she could here Yubbaba's voice. "Chihiro! How have you been?" Zeniba would ask. And. Haku.would say.. Thinking of Haku made her heart ache in pain.

Chihiro looked back up and stared at the tunnel. Something told her to go in. Unlike the other days, it seemed like a powerful force was telling her to go in, and take a risk. She thought about the consequences. She might have to make a deal with Yubbaba again. Lin, Kamajji, and Haku would probably help. If she made a deal.. 'Hmmm.' thought Chihiro carefully. 'I know! I could make a deal with Yubbaba to stay in the spirit world for the summer! Perfect!' The plan seemed flawless. She got to stay in the bathhouse and still work to pay it off. The only thing that caught her mind was Haku. What if he didn't like her anymore? What if he still liked her, but not the way she felt about her? These thoughts made Chihiro want to cry. 'No.' she thought, 'even if he doesn't love me, I need to see him, or I think I'll die of my heart ache.'

Chihiro went over her plan again, and stood up. She picked up her backpack, flung it over her shoulder, and faced the tunnel. She looked behind her, over her shoulders. She thought again. 'Be brave, Chihiro.' she told herself. She took a deep breath and took a step into the tunnel. As she slowly went through the tunnel, hearing nothing but her footsteps, she picked up her speed. 'Weird. I don't remember the tunnel being so long'

Soon after, she looked up and saw that the end of the tunnel was still far away from her. She looked over her shoulder and saw that the entrance was much nearer than the end of the tunnel. She gulped and broke into a run. She ran and ran for what seemed like hours, and looked up to see that she was only halfway through the tunnel even after her long run.

Now she found herself sprinting toward the exit, and after what seemed like more hours, she reached the exit. Huffing and puffing, she panted and forced herself to run out to the field. She felt tears well up in her eyes as she caught the sight of the field. She missed it so much! Judging by where the sun was, she could tell that it would be night in a few minutes. She ran all the way to the filled river, crossed it, and found her way to the bridge that lead to the bathhouse. Huffing and panting, she caught sight of the enormous building. It hadn't changed a bit. She felt so happy and so dizzy at the same time. She realized that she had run all the way from the entrance to the bridge. But she didn't care. She was so happy to see the bathhouse. And dizzy at the same time. She still panted, and felt her legs weaken. Then, her world went black.

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Haku practically ran out of Yubbaba's office. He should tell Lin and Kamajji the good news first, but he didn't have the patience. He had waited for this moment for four years now. He couldn't help but grin, thinking happily about how he would take Chihiro into his arms, the moment he saw her.

Then, his happy thoughts were crushed when his thoughts struck him. How the hell was he going to find Chihiro?? For all he knew, she could be on another continent right now!!! Haku began to slow down and thought for a few minutes. Then, he came to a conclusion. He would have to ask Zeniba for help. He didn't particularly like the idea, but hey, he had no choice. Besides, he was pretty sure Zeniba would help him, anything involving Chihiro would probably encourage her to.

As he thought all of this, he didn't pay attention to where he was going and bumped into someone. He heard the other person fall on his butt as he did also.

"Agh! I'm s-" Haku started, but stopped when he saw who it was. Instead of apologizing, he quickly came to his feet and smirked. It was Koji who was also scrambling up and frowning.

"Watch where you're going, Dragon boy!!" yelled Koji. "I think you should be the one who should watch where you're going." said Haku even though he knew it was his fault. But he was not going to admit that to his archrival.

Koji came to the Bathhouse a month after Chihiro left. He just barged into Yubbaba's office and asked to be her apprentice. From that day on, he had become Yubbaba's second apprentice and Haku's rival.

Not only a rival of apprentices (?), but also a rival of popularity and worship ness. Haku was considered the most handsome guy in the bathhouse until Koji came. Koji had some traits that considered him handsome. He had spiky dark brunette hair that went to his neck and warm looking brown eyes. He had just about the same body trait as Haku, which made all girls drool. Sure, Haku didn't care who was more handsome, but being handsome earned him his respect in the bathhouse. Obviously, the girls gave him respect along with admiring, and the guys wanted to be like him, so, they gave him respect. Now, Haku lost some of his respect and did not try to lose anymore. He hated Koji, and Haku was positive Koji hated him.

"Looks like we're in a big hurry, eh?" teased Koji. "Oh, let me see. today makes it your last fourth year, so I guess you're now going back to this beloved Chihiro I keep hearing about."

Haku wanted to rip his mouth out. He had such a mocking tone that made his calmness disappear. 'Calm down, Haku. This is just the way he wants you to react. Besides, you don't have time for him.'

Haku smirked and replied, "You guessed right. I didn't know you paid attention that much. Now, I'd love to chitchat, but I must be leaving. Some people that have a beloved are busy."

He walked by, but grinned at how Koji's expression must look right now.

'If I go to Swamp Bottom now, I could probably make it back tonight.' thought Haku as he made it to the nearest balcony. He looked outside. It was raining hard, but he didn't care. He quickly changed into his dragon form and flew off into the sky.

He didn't fly so high and as he looked down at his surroundings, he spotted something near the bridge.

There, at the other end of the bridge was a small figure. The figure was so familiar Haku slowed down a bit and flew a little lower.

'Wait. I know that figure.' Haku gasped (if dragons can) when he saw who it was. 'Chihiro!!! CHIHIRO!!!'

Haku quickly flew to her. As he landed, he turned into his normal form. "Chihiro!" he yelled and ran to her.

He knelt down beside her and put her head on his lap. He started shaking her, in an attempt to wake her. "Chihiro! Chihiro! Please wake up!" She was unconscious. Her body was cold, but her head was burning hot. 'Oh god, Oh god, Oh god, Oh god.' was all Haku could think.

Haku quickly carried Chihiro and ran across the bridge, toward the bathhouse. He ran like there was no tomorrow. For him, there will be none if Chihiro wasn't alive.

He ran up the stairs, thankful that no one was in the hallway, and ran into his room. Well, not entirely his room.. Koji was there.

***************Flashback****************

"WHAT?! I CANNOT SHARE A ROOM WITH HIM!!!!!!!!!!" yelled Koji and Haku.

Yubbaba glared at her two apprentices for their loudness.

"And just why not?"

"I HATE HIM!!!" again, both Koji and Haku chorused at the same time.

"Hmm. let's see. you're both my apprentice, you're both male. I don't see any other reason for you to complain. Besides, you should be lucky you even get a room only with one person. The other workers share a room with at least 25 people." said Yubbaba, using her "case closed" voice.

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Koji blinked a few times. He was surprised to see a soaking Haku, who by the way, was in a hurry to get out of the bathhouse, carrying a pretty little girl, who appeared to be unconscious.

Haku panted but ran over to his bed and laid Chihiro there. He quickly put a blanket over her, still ignoring a surprised Koji.

Koji smirked and asked, "And who is this pretty little angle?"

Normally, Haku would have strangled Koji right then, and there, but he was in a hurry.

"Get Lin." was all Haku said.

"What? You know I don't take orders from y-"

"KOJI, YOU *censor*, SHUT YOUR FREAKING MOUTH AND GET LIN!!!!!!!!"

Koji blinked again. Haku's voice was so mixed with anger, sadness, desperate that he went outside and looked for Lin.

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