A/N: Second Spirited Away fic of mine-but gasp! There's no Chihiro! What has the world come to?

Sorry. I'm just trying to create a crazy, impossible yet creative and possible story. So. To read or not to read? That is your decision.

Disclaimer: I don't own it. Really.


Chapter One

Haku sighed as he watched the brown-haired figure run away, knowing they would never again meet. Yet…with this one, it was different. He cared. He wasn't supposed to. She was to be left to die, and he should be happy for his revenge…

But yet, she was unlike the others. She had risked her life, her parents, her hand, and her future for him. Yes, Chihiro was different. Chihiro had real memories, memories of his river, memories that he did not plant for pure pleasure. She remembered.

And she gave him his name.

Haku turned and slowly made his way back to the bathhouse. As he approached the bridge, a slim, heart-piercingly pretty girl around 11-12 waited and watched with ruby-red eyes. Her back-long brown hair swayed slowly. "Well, well. Look who's finally back." The girl grinned. "Shut up, Kana." Kana smirked. "Oh? What's wrong? Usually you run back grinning to Yubaba and wait for the death." "I said shut up." "What's so special about Sen?" Kana pressed. "What makes her worthy of a change?" Haku turned his head and watched the girl from his position halfway across the bridge. "Come with me. I need to talk to you."


"Really? She did that?" Haku nodded solemnly. "Okay, okay. So unlike the others who only went with you to Kamaji's, got the seal out of you by waiting, dodged Koanaoshi and saved their relatives with the medicine, she stuck her hand down your throat with half the medicine, gave the other half to Koanaoshi, went to Zeniba's, came back and took a test instead?" Haku nodded again. Kana shook her head. "She shouldn't die. Really. But…with the hour we've spent up here a month has already passed. You can't leave. Haku, you'll have to live with it. Remember Yuka?" "Yes." "Yuka sacrificed her medicine too." Kana pointed out. "Yes, but she didn't return the seal, she gave it to Yubaba. And," he swallowed roughly, "she didn't give me back my name." Kana jumped up and tripped in surprise. "She gave you back your name? My Braise-God!" Kana put her arms around Haku. "I'm sorry." They sat there for a while, as Haku sighed and Kana stroked his back. "What is your name?" she asked quietly. "I-it's-" He turned away. "I cannot tell you." "But you'll forget again!" "I'd rather." Kana sighed, and stood up. "Give me the seal. Risu is waiting." Haku fumbled around in the folds of his haori, and came out with Zeniba's gold seal, which she had thrown to him when she was embracing Chihiro. He tossed it to Kana, getting up. Kana observed the thing dully. "Another copy. It's supposed to be easier to swallow and to throw up?" Haku nodded for the third time. "Is it?" Haku shook his head. "Thought so." She quickly swallowed the seal and walked out, Haku following. Around the bridge, she shifted into a golden phoenix, nodded to Haku, and began descending towards the sea. As if on cue millions of paper fish bit at her stomach and she twisted, helping them draw blood. Haku turned to walk in, hearing a "Fight them, Kana, FIGHT THEM!" before disappearing into the shadows, making sure Risu didn't know he existed, as Chihiro didn't know Kana did. He began to Yubaba's, waiting patiently to summon Zeniba at the perfect moment and to tutor Boh on his lines behind a curtain.

Haku's P.O.V.

I watched as Yubaba entered minutes later and nodded at my curtain, and picked up the phone, striking a false conversation. "He's a…NO FACE!!…" "…It's all your fault. You're so greedy. You attract terrible guests…" "…All right, I'm on my way. Don't let him eat anyone else 'til I get down there." Hanging up, Yubaba snuck a glance at the curtain where Kana and I take turns hiding, and then turned to the Dump Hole. "Uuh, Kana's bleeding all over the carpet. Get her out of here. She'll be dead soon anyway." I heard a "What?" from my right. Good. Risu was here. Yubaba moved towards the door, and I heard the normal conversation of 'Hi, sweetie, hiding under the cushions again?' and so on. Yubaba finally left, nodding to me, indicating Boh probably grabbed one of the guy's arms or legs already. As she left, I walked to the half-dead looking (key word looking) phoenix.

"You okay?" I asked. The phoenix glared. "I know, the bird and fish are a bit harsh this time." Glare, moan, glare, roar, groan, roar, and glare. "Yeah, I know, I think it's because you spilled tea on her favorite dress, and this is revenge." Grunt. "What? No! I'm only supposed to make small talk until Risu arrives." I looked over to the curtain. "Got to go. See you." I ducked back under the curtain as the Kashira resumed their OI-ing positions. Seconds later, a fourteen year old, brown haired boy ran out and embraced Kana. I think I saw her blanch. Soon enough Yu-bird came swooping, and Boh came out. I saw a red mark on his albeit fat cheek. That Risu guy's an idiot. NEVER hit the son of Yubaba. She'll make you regret it.

"…Right now or I'll start crying!" I heard sobs. Now's the time. I sat with my legs crossed, concentrating.

Zeniba. Now.

Sure enough, I heard: "What a spoiled brat. Shut your big mouth." I stood to leave. I've done what I had to. "You're a bit of a porker, aren't you?"

I started descending the hidden steps around the Dump Hole from my secret exit quickly. Just as I made to go to Kamaji's, I heard: "Kana! We're falling!" Jeez, kid, She knows that. I quickly fed the Susuwatari and made sure the recognized the unconscious slug before I inserted it into a tiny, centimeter deep hole in the wood. I went to hide under the foundations. When Kana threw up the seal, I would wake the slug quickly and it would jump up, right onto the seal. All I had to do now was wait. So I waited. Really, the behind-the-scenes work isn't easy.

Haku waited for Kana as she said her goodbyes to Risu, or Kotorisu.

"Will we meet again?"

"Sure will."

"You promise?"

"Duh. See you, love. And don't look back."

The boy smiled and leant forward, planting a kiss smack on her lips. Then he ran off, his sisters and father yelling and screaming. Kana ran towards Haku, wiping her mouth. "Anything special?" He asked. "Yep. This one squeezed the seal out of me." Haku grinned, then became grim.

"It's been 25 hours."

"Yeah, so?"

"So…it's beentwo years and a month in the Human World."

"And…?"

"And, she's already dying!"

Kana's eyes widened. "No." "Yes." "So soon?" "Yep." She grabbed his hand, dragging him at top speed towards the bathhouse. "We're going to watch."

As the sky darkened, Kana and Haku hovered over the scene in the water solemnly. Chihiro lay on a bed, her much longer hair spread on her pillow, her face pale, eyes blank, and seconds towards death. Suddenly, a girl about 11 years old burst to her side, sobbing madly. "Don't go! You can't! You're too young!" "She's pretty," Kana mused. And she was. She had bright blue eyes, milk white skin and pale, rosy lips. Her silky looking raven hair was arranged simply yet elegantly: two, chest length wisps were brought before her ears, and hair framing her worry-lined face was pulled back and tied with a black ribbon, the hair under the tie in ripples down her back, flowing into the layers that weren't tied. Though they look too unalike to be alike, she resembled Chihiro in an unearthly way. She buried her face in Chihiro's shoulder, shaking with sobs. Chihiro sighed, sitting up with difficulty. "Sarai," she whispered, her voice raspy, "There is a tunnel in the woods, and it leads to the realm of Spirits. I have been there. Everyone is kind. And…I want you to go." Haku held his breath. "There, you know that locked drawer?" The girl named Sarai nodded. "Here's the key. Open it." The trembling girl did so, bringing back a large, white t-shirt, a pair of red-orange short shorts, a pair of white socks, a pair of yellow sneakers and a elegantly carved wooden box. "Here. When you go, I want you to wear this. And…tie your hair." Chihiro opened the box, lifting up a beautiful, glittering, purple hair band. "I-I want you to have my adventure. I want you go once I die." She lay down. "And I want you to find…" her eyes closed peacefully as an angelic look passed onto her face. Sarai's eyes widened. "NO! Chihiro! Come back! WAKE UP!!!"

Haku couldn't take it any longer. He turned away as Kana threw a stone into the picture, disrupting it. "I'm sorry, Haku." She whispered, putting a hand on his shoulder. "I'm really sorry." "She was really sick. And she thought of me. She wanted me to take her away, to heal her. But…" his bangs shaded his eyes, which held the hot tears ready to fall. "But I couldn't. I couldn't. I failed her." "It's not your fault. I believe she was ready to die. And she was happy because she met you…and-and fell in love before she died." Haku smiled sadly, wiping away the tears. "You're right. You're absolutely right. But…I'll remember her. Forever."


Sarai's P.O.V.

I knew she was gone, and I couldn't bring her back. Ever. My cousin-my favorite cousin, my dearest cousin, my best friend, my only believer-she is gone. I have no one into which to confide. But I shall do one more thing for her. I shall go and find this world she has told me about. I shall meet its people. And I shall find whoever she wanted me to find-I'll know. I'll know when I see them. I'm sure of it.

Aunt Yuuko, Uncle Akio and Onii-san let me mourn. They left me alone with Chihiro's body for a day and a half. Everybody and their dog left me alone for many days after. At school, when they asked where Chihiro was, I answered: "She's dead." But now…now I'm ready. I'm leaving. Onii-san wants to come with me-but I said no. I said, Chihiro wanted me to do this. She wanted me to do this alone. I said, you might get hurt. I said, this was my job; I am to do it. Even if he wishes to follow me, he wouldn't know when, or what, or whom. So Onii-san doesn't know. And right now, I'm leaving. I've put on the clothes Chihiro has given me, and tied up my hair with her hair-band, with stray strands in front of my ears and the rest tied up in a high ponytail. The t-shirt is a bit big, and the shorts short, but I am quite sure this is the way Chihiro looked. Last of all I put on the sneakers. Perfect fit. The socks snuggle onto my feet.

I'm not bringing anything, or anyone. I'm doing this alone. Right now, it's Thursday, 4:00 in the afternoon. I can hear Satsumi calling me, and I hear little beeps and dings from my computer, telling me many people are trying to IM me. I've been neglecting this for a week now. I'm ready to go.

I pass Chihiro's grave and I set down a bouquet of her favorite flowers: kikyos, sakuras, nadeshikos, ayames, roses, and little white specks. They're beautiful. I've written a note. It says,

Dear Yuuko, Akio and Toro:

I have left, and Toro-san knows where. I have gone to fulfill my promise to Chihiro-sama. I promised to look for her world, the Spirit World. I promised to help her find someone. I don't know whom, yet I do. Please don't worry. I'll try and come back, I promise, but if I don't, pretend I never existed. Move on with life. Be happy. And forget about Ogino T. Sarai.

Please, please don't go looking for me, you won't find me, please don't try. I'm only doing my duty. And like many soldiers at war, I may never return. Farewell.

Your loving niece/sister,

Ogino T. Sarai

I tuck the note into the bouquet. I can hear Toro calling for me. I must be swift and quick, or he might catch me. I run, down the steep hill, turned, raced down the road to the forest. I run faster, it is darkening. I see the tunnel. I enter.

I see grass-lots of it. I run uphill. I cross a trickle of water under rocks…and I ascend steps. I smell something. I follow my nose. I run up, down, turn, up and came to a booth. It looks delicious. I didn't eat lunch. I reached for it, put paused. Mission first. I remove myself from the alley. I go up the abandoned street, up stairs, and see a bridge. As I reach the bridge I see a bathhouse. "Beautiful…" I looked around. There is a waterfall. "It's open?" I turn and rested my arms on the rail of the bridge. I see more water-a big river. It looks so normal to me-is it really a Spirit World? "So much water…" I gaze into the water, at the sunset. It's so pretty. I'm mesmerized.

"You shouldn't be here." I turn, and see a boy in his early teens. He had green eyes, a stoic face and black hair to his collar. He is wearing the strangest clothes I've ever seen. "You shouldn't be here," he repeats, "get out of here. NOW!" I fumble. Who is he? The sun is setting, and the bathhouse lights are turning on. "They're turning on the lights," he murmured. "Get across the river before it's dark, hurry! I'll distract them." He pushed me off, and I saw shadows rising. I hear wind, and laughter, and music. I see more shadows. I am scared.

So I run.


A/N: So…how is it? Really? Please review. I think I did very well and it is quite long. And Sarai is so… wrings hands So…Sarai. Yeah. Well, tell me if you liked it enough for me to continue. After the 'Evil Cupids Inc.' catastrophe, my new motto is 'let them read the first chapter and let them decide.' Well, I gots to go. See ya!