A/N: Well, this is it. Can you believe it? As long as it took me to get back into the Mojo, I actually wound up finishing on of my stories that's not a one shot. So, without further adieu, chapter 15.


Chapter 15: Her White Dragon

She would have never thought that life really flashed before your eyes as you died. It did. As the SpiritEater devoured her soul, she saw everything.

Her first birthday.

The day she fell into the Kohaku River.

The first day of school.

Her first straight-A report card.

The last day at school.

Her flowers and her card.

The tunnel.

Her first novel.

Her first paycheck from it.

Her first kiss by Haku.

Her mother. Her father. Her Haku.

Lin. Kamaji. No Face. Yu-baba. Grammy.

She watched as Grammy handed her the purple barrette she now wore in her hair. That was more vivid than any other experience she'd just had as her soul sucked away.

"This will protect you." She said, "It was woven together by your friends."

Protect her how? Had it ever protected her in the past? She'd always wondered, not that she had remembered. Now she did along with everything else.

Light surrounded Chihiro's body. The SpiritEater tried to let her go, but his tentacle would not obey. It almost seemed seared into her flesh. The creature howled in pain as the beams of light shot from the girl's flaccid body. Like daggers, the beams sliced into its spiritual flesh, bleeding souls away from it.

Souls danced and swirled around the SpiritEater, finally free from their prison. As the beams sliced into the thing, more souls spilled, flying around then away. The being howled and howled into the night as the human souls laughed joyously.

Chihiro felt her soul fill her empty shell. Eyes twitching, she stared at the sliced SpiritEater. It took her a few moments to realize the beams slicing into him were coming from her.

"The barrette." She mumbled to herself, "Thanks again, Grammy." She smiled weakly

Still hazy, she went limp in the beast's tentacle, but did not pass out again. She just hung there weakly.

Most of the souls already fled from the SpiritEater. Instead of a massive creature, the thing shrank down to about an eighth in size. It released Chihiro, or rather was allowed to release her. Luckily, she wasn't even a foot off the ground anymore.

The moment she hit the ground, Haku rushed to her side as much as his battered body was able. He scooped her up into his arms, wincing in pain as he pulled her in close.

"Chihiro . . . " he whispered proudly, stroking her soft brown hair. "You did it. You saved everyone."

Her eyes fluttered at him as a warm smile spread on her lips.

"I did?"

"Mhm." He smiled equally as warm

The SpiritEater stopped howling and collapsed to the grassy floor beneath it. Both Chihiro and Haku could feel the anger, humiliation, and defeat radiating from it. They also felt the admittance that it was defeated.

"Return to the Spirit World, SpiritEater. You know what will happen if you take another human soul. You have no place here." Haku said cooly.

"Hmph, big words for a man who let his girlfriend do all the work." The SpiritEater said equally as cool.

"We're a team." Chihiro said as she sat up with Haku's help, "We both defeated you."

Haku put his face in her hair, taking in her scent. It put him at ease. Finally, it was all over.

"You may have defeated me." The beast said, "But I've still won."

Haku's arms squeezed Chihiro protectively. Something told her she should have been holding HIM.

"I may not be able to eat another soul, but a deal is a deal, Haku. You're mine now."

Chihiro cried out in agony. No. Haku couldn't go. He had to stay with her forever. She didn't want to lose him again.

"No!" she yelled.

"Chihiro . . . " Haku whispered, holding her lovingly

"No, not again, Haku!"

"I'm sorry. A deal is a deal."

"You're not even going to fight it?"

Haku pulled back, putting her face in his hands. Those beautiful brown eyes filled with tears. He hated to see her in tears. It broke every part of him. Saying goodbye was even worse.

"I can't, Chihiro. I'd rather you be safe than fight the SpiritEater again." He wiped a tear away with a thumb, "We both knew that my time was coming . . . that we had only five days."

"But you can't leave me. I finally remember you." She pleaded

He smiled, "You do?" he smiled more as she nodded, "That makes me happy." He kissed her forehead, "I am sorry, Chihiro, that I must cause you pain. I wish this wasn't goodbye, but it is."

"Say you'll see me again, Kohaku."

"It would be a lie, Chihiro."

"Then lie. I can't believe this is goodbye. I won't." She brought a shaking hand to his face, "Please . . . "

Tears rolled down his cheeks, "We will see each other again."

She wiped his tears away. The pair held each other for a long time, just soaking in the other. Chihiro knew she would never find this peace again as she felt with Haku. This wonderful happiness that only he could bring.

Despite this being the end, Haku was happy. He was happy to have had this chance. He never felt anything like he felt with Chihiro. To experience this was possibly the greatest treasure of all. She was his greatest treasure.

"Chihiro . . . " he whispered, "Thank you for everything." He ran his fingers through her hair one last time, smiling as the scent of it wafted up to her nose, "I love you."

Her eyes went wide. Trembling lips opened but could not speak. Her heart thudded in her chest until she thought it was going to escape.

"Haku–"

He'd never know what would have said. Haku pressed his mouth to Chihiro's, lightly at first. Soon, it became a feast of mouths. He explored every part of her mouth with his, pulling her in as close as possible. She moaned as her arms wrapped around his waist, holding him to her as close as possible. Haku felt her heart beating against him, which was only fair since he knew she felt his. There was no way it couldn't be felt.

Chihiro didn't want to let him go. Haku felt so wonderfully perfect against her, like he was made for her. And his kiss had her soul swimming in happiness and pain.

Suddenly, he felt cooler. His lips felt too light against hers. Her arms were closing in on her body. She opened her eyes in time to see the last bits of him fade away into the SpiritEater. His eyes faded last, big and green and filled with love only for her. It broke her spirit to see.

"Haku . . . " she whispered, reaching for his eyes, but by the time she raised her hand, he was gone completely.

"Thank goodness," the SpiritEater complained, "I thought that mushy stuff would never end." The thing laughed that evil laugh one last time before he zipped away in a ball of dark light.

Chihiro stayed there a long time, numb to the core while watching the stolen wandering souls head home. Haku was gone, forever. She never even had a chance to tell him that she loved him in return. He'd never know.


It took a few hours for her to make her way back to civilization. It would have been less, possibly, if she could have managed to walk. It was a struggle to move her feet. And honestly, she didn't care if she made it or not. Nothing mattered much anymore.

The town was slowly getting back to normal. The doctors were saying that it was a miracle that all the victims of the "plague" were back to normal now, as though nothing happened. Everyone was so happy. Celebrations were already being planned.

Chihiro made her way back to her home, finding her parents arrived home from the hospital. Her mother swept her up into her arm. Her parents were so happy she was safe, just as she was for them. They questioned her about the scars, but she dismissed them to take solace in her room.

Once inside, she sat at her desk in front of her laptop. She picked up her good luck dragon and felt that well of pain filling again. No tears came . . . none left to shed. So she did the only thing she could do. She started her computer and began to write. She promised to have her book done, so she would. First, Chihiro added something to the beginning.

Her White Dragon, Book Five: In the Princess' Kingdom is dedicated to the Kohaku River. Though it no longer exists, it still flows through my soul, and it will for an eternity.

The End.


A/N2: There might be an epilogue. I'm not sure...