Runnin' Through My Head By Adam "Sexy Boy" Laurent of FREAKSHOW

Chapter 3: Fulfilled

***Haku's POV***

The pain of trying to leave the Spirit World was maddening. Every step he took through that tunnel was met with resistance as the barrier between the worlds tried to force him back into inability. Inability to fulfill his promise to Chihiro. He was bleeding due to his earlier efforts. He had tried to run through the gateway, and, long story short, his lifespan had probably been considerably shortened. He was pretty sure that his ribs were broken, he was bleeding from his arms and legs, and if he survived, his reunion with Chihiro would most likely be cut short due to his desperatly needing medical help. But all of this self-imposed torture would be worth it just to see her face again. How he missed her. Nine years were like an eternity of torment, not being able to follow her. Not seeing her. Not hearing her.

Her voice was what he missed the most. It was so gentle... It was the thought of her voice that kept his thoughts anchored. The effort was unraveling him both physically and mentally. He could feel insanity creeping up on him in the reccesses of his mind. If the physical journey didn't kill him, he'd come undone and lose everything. He had to stay focused. Just a little bit farther, and everything would be perfect.

But that dark force in his own thoughts was gaining strength. Feeding him possible scenarios of failure.

What if?

What if she'd moved on? Forgotten about him? Or hated him for not coming sooner. That would be too much, Chihiro hating him. It was unbearable. The possibility alone threatened to drive him over the edge...

NO! He wouldn't stop hoping! A few more steps, and all of this pain would end. A few more steps...

But it was so hard...

***Chihiro's POV***

The small pond in the woods was her favorite place to be. It reminded her of him. In those same woods, she would spend hours and hours sitting by that pond and try to recall every detail she remembered. Sometimes, she'd even stay near it for days, just looking out over that pond. All of it for Him...

Of course, He'd been the root of a lot of sorrows as well.

Her mother and father, bothered by her dreamy, disconnected additude, had taken her to a therapist to see if anything was wrong. For a while, everybody had thought she was delusional, and everybody was going out of their way to try to get her involved. Nowadays, her folks had her on good old antidepressents. Inwardly, she laughed at their attempts. It was funny, the way everyone assumed there was something wrong with her. She didn't participate, didn't date, hardly ever went anywere, except for that pond, and was always quiet. Once, as a joke, some kid had wrote out a suicide note, slipped it in one of her books, and it had fell out onto her kitchen table. Her parents had had her put in Ravenwood for two weeks, with out even talking to her about it first! That's how bad everyone thought the situation was.

But, here she was, again. Lying by that pond, resting against a tree. Her thoughts had drifted to certain green-eyed river spirit when they were interrupted by a series of painful gasps off in the distance. As she went to investigate, she noticed sombody lying face first in the dirt. She ran to the body, were she was relieved to hear breathing. It was very faint, and she knew she should help. As she turned the person over, she found herself looking into the eyes of none othe than

"Haku!"

End Chapter 3

A/N(puts on evil grin):Evil, aren't I? Next chapter: What do you do with a half dead river spirit? Smother it with love and affection! Coming soon to a moniter near you.