Chihiro couldn't be sure as the boy had her back facing her. But, it was much too obvious to her that the ebony hair and uniform couldn't belong to anyone else. Haku was leaning on the rail of the bridge, obviously having a quiet time while looking at the scenery. He had definitely grown a lot since the last time she had seen him. He was perhaps a head taller than Chihiro, and definitely more masculine. Chihiro was about to call out to him, but then...
"Haku..." came a voice. Chihiro looked harder and gasped. A girl who appeared to be about the same age as her was slowly approaching Haku. The evening sunset was reflecting off her golden hair, and it seemed to make her ocean blue eyes twinkle even more than it did before. The girl smiled and took Haku's hand, and he followed by taking her other hand. "Tell me something I want to hear," she smiled.
"Misako, you ask me to say it everyday," came Haku's deep voice, "Isn't it enough?" he teased.
"No..." she giggled, "Tell me again."
"I love you..." Then, he leaned closer to the girl, and kissed her gently on the lips. Chihiro watched with fury and jealousy. 'How could he-? That cheating liar!'
"Well, promise you'll see me again my ass, Haku!" Chihiro began to stomp towards him.
"What?" Haku and Misako said together.
"You, girl, you get your filthy hands off MY Haku!" Chihiro yelled angrily at Misako. However, Misako didn't react or even begin to argue with Chihiro. Instead, she stared blankly at the flames in Chihiro's eyes.
"I think she's a human," she whispered quietly to Haku. He nodded in agreement.
"You people don't give me this 'human' talk again! I saved your backsides once upon a time, all of your backsides! And this is how to return my favour?"
"You should get her out of here," Misako continued, completely ignoring Chihiro's angry statements, "It's getting dark."
"Yes I know. Misako, you have to get back into the bathhouse. Don't come back outside- I'll see you when I get back." Haku instructed Misako. She nodded, slipped her hands away from Haku and began to run into the bathhouse. Haku watched until he knew she was safe, and then turned to face Chihiro.
"You're not supposed to be here. Leave now! You've got to get across the river before it gets completely dark! I'll hold them off!"
"NO!" Chihiro yelled stubbornly, "NO! I'm not leaving here until you tell me what's going on with you and that Misako girl!" Haku turned around, ceasing to blow petals out of his hands.
"Look, Misako is my partner and I love her very much so. Frankly, this is none of your business," Haku said angrily, "Now go!"
Chihiro let out a frustrated yell and began to cry. Haku didn't stop for a second. He immediately grabbed Chihiro's wrist and ran- pulling her as he went. Chihiro couldn't help the tears that were flying behind her as she ran, and as much as she hated to admit it, she wished that Haku would never let go. Finally, the blur of the sidelines ceased, and Chihiro found herself standing next to Haku, in front of a very large river.
"Damn it Chihiro!" he cursed, "Now look what you've done! You'll never be able to get back home now!"
"You just called me Chihiro! You can't have forgotten me! I haven't even told you my name yet!" Chihiro argued.
"It's in my powers," Haku defended, although he knew it was completely untrue.
"Why now, Haku? Why are you so unkind now? Last time I came here you were so nice to me! You helped me get back onto my feet! Now you're treating me like this!" she spat.
"Listen to me carefully, girl," Haku spoke as he pulled Chihiro's wrist, making her come closer, "There was no last time. You've got it all wrong. I'll give you only one warning- stay AWAY from my Misako." At these words, Chihiro began to fade.
"Well, I'll give you only three words- I HATE YOU!" she yelled, pulling her hand from Haku's.
She ran up the hill, struggling towards the stone wall that she had sat by before. Desperate for air, she collapsed, curled up into a ball and began to cry. 'Why is Haku acting like this? He can't have... forgotten me?" Chihiro thought furiously. She cried harder into the palm of her hands. Suddenly, she felt a pair of hands touch her shoulders lightly. Startled, she looked up.
"Oh... It's just YOU. Leave me alone," she said to Haku, burying her head into her hands.
"Look, I'm sorry I was horrible to you before. But let me help you," said Haku gently.
"I don't need your help, I'm fine," Chihiro replied.
"I hope you do realize that you're fading. You've got to eat this or you'll completely disappear from existence."
"Then let me disappear... There's no point existing anymore. I mean, you've already forgotten me," she added sadly.
"Then eat this for me, for the sake of my memory," Haku urged. Although Chihiro had no idea about what that had meant, she took the little red berry from his hand and stood up.
"Don't follow me," she said sternly, "I can take care of myself."