Haku? I asked telepathically. Candles weaved a circle around me, flames flickering to signal the energy present in the room.

I felt a presence on my right. An odd feeling entered me; those which Haku would use to identify himself.

Saa...still no idea where Chihiro would be...I sighed inwardly. Go to keep trying...

A feeling of nostalgia. Haku was remembering the past...it seems...whirlpool of images and emotions rushed through my mind again.

Much to my surprise, I felt a pang of jealousy. Nani? Why should I be jealous??

I recollected myself mentally. What's happening to me? You can't let Haku knew what you felt just now...

Demo...why should that particular girl have such an impact on him anyway? She's just the same as me...a human!

Emptiness. The nostalgic feeling was gone. I couldn't feel anything now. Worry crept over my heart. Masaka....he found out?...

Haku? I tentatively called out.

No reply.

I waited a bit longer. But it was no use; I couldn't feel his presence anymore.

I opened my eyes. Tiny dots of flames circled me. Haku was gone.


She wasn't at the library...I'll try to catch her at recess...but how in the world am I going to find her? She might have gone for recess with—

The bell for recess woke Chihiro from her daydream. Students stood up and greeted the teacher out. Chihiro followed numbly. As soon as the teacher's foot stepped out of the door, she was out of the classroom like a shot.

Racing down the hallway, she bumped into a few students in her haste. The hallway was just filling out and the crowd hindered her movements. She had to be careful not to smash headlong into a student.

She arrived at Nakamura's class just in the nick of time. Nakamura was just coming out of the classroom rather hurriedly. Chihiro hoped she was friendly.

"Sumimasen," she stepped beside the 4th year student. "Are you Nakamura Yuri?" Though she was she was; the picture from the last year schoolbook was engraved in her mind.

"Hai..." she answered, and looked at her strangely. "But how do you know my name?"

Chihiro chose not to answer that; all around her students were coming and entering classroom, and to mention a dragon giving names would surely attract attention. The time would come; but now she went straight to the point.

"Sumimasen, but my name is ??? Chihiro. I don't think we've meet before—"

"Chihiro!!" Nakamura almost shouted her eyes wide.

"You're Chihiro??" Hands gripped Chihiro's shoulders tightly, the other girl's eyes bright. She nodded, reluctantly.

Nakamura smacked her hands, cackling like a whip. A jubilant smile was on her face and she pointed enthusiastically at Chihiro, jumping all the while.

"Oh, I can't believe it!! I've found you! Kohaku's going to be so happy!!" she cried.

"....." Chihiro sweated, but perked up at the mention of Haku. It seemed that he had told Nakamura some things. Though she was not sure exactly how much Nakamura knew...?

Unfortunately, their small commotion had attracted a string of onlookers, what with Nakamura jumping up and down. Chihiro looked around uncomfortably.

Nakamura noticed and stuck her tongue out self-consciously. She pulled Chihiro aside into a corner.

"I know what you want. You're looking for Haku, right?" She whispered. Chihiro gaped like a goldfish. How did she know??

"Well, it seems like I'm correct then," She grinned.

"Meet me after school at the benches by the old tree. You know which one, don't you? The old tree next to the Chemistry Lab..."

"Hai," she managed a reply.

"Ok, it's settled then. I have to go now, see you later! Bye!" She turned and waved.

How did she know my name? Yuri wondered as she descended the stairs, her hair billowing. Did Haku tell her? No, that's impossible. If she could already communicate with him, he could easily tell her his whereabouts.

Still, she felt that she had put on a good show of politeness to the girl. She snorted. The first thought that entered her when she knew who Chihiro was this is it?? This is Chihiro??

Just a normal brat. Probably spoiled at home. What's so special about her? She frowned. Haku sure has a bad taste. What does he sees in her anyway?

"Oy, what took you so long?" Her friends were already waiting at the front of the stairs, impatient.

"Do you know what time it is?? You've wasted 10 minutes!! We won't get an empty table at the canteen now!!" One complained.

"Gomen ne, I got caught up," she replied coolly. Got caught up by a 1st year brat...

"Well, you're gonna have to pay today. That's for making us wait for 10 minutes!" another chirped in.

"What?? Hey, no way!!" She protested. "That's not fair!!"

"Okay, okay." The third cut in, exasperated. "She doesn't have to pay. Now can we go faster to the canteen?"

Yuri said nothing but quickened her stride.