Everyone READ THIS! I made a mistake! Haku does not have brown hair, he has green hair. So sorry for that incorrect description. And Chihiro has dark blue eyes, not black eyes. Absolute Anime misled me so forgive me please. Also, I apologize for the incorrect use of Japanese words and that I thought her hair band was red and not purple. Anyway, here is the update. YAY! I have a little surprise which I explain in my other author note at the ned of the chapter so please read it.

FONT KEY

Bold: Chihiro's P.O.V

Italic: Person's thoughts

Bold Italic: Kohaku/Haku's P.O.V

Chapter Two

Remember Me?

Chihiro surfaced from the green water, flipping back her damp hair. She sighed in relief at the feeling of rejuvenation. Some soap smelling sweetly of cherry blossom sat there so she used some to get rid of all scents of sweat. Chihiro stepped out of the tub and remembered she did not have a towel to dry herself. Just as she started to sigh in frustration, her blue eyes fell onto the bench where her sweaty running outfit lay.

A fleece towel laid on the green wood next to her shorts. She picked it up curiously, wondering where on Earth it had come from. The material was so soft, unlike anything she had felt before. Chihiro wrapped the towel around her naked body and dried off her skin. Her towel from running she wrapped around her head to fluff her hair dry.

At this time, the other outfit laying on the bench caught her attention. She walked over to it and tentatively touched it. It was silk of the finest quality she had ever seen in her entire life. The outfit was a shirt with a high neck cuff-like thing and short sleeves. The matching pants looked about knee length, maybe a little longer. It was lavender, her favorite color, with yellow flowers decorating it. The creepy thing was it was her exact size.

"Who would leave something like this here? Is it meant for me?" she asked aloud. Chihiro unwrapped the towel from her body and put on her undergarments. She buttoned up the silk shirt and put on the pants. They felt wonderfully crisp, cool, and loose, like a breeze in the season between spring and winter. "A perfect fit." Chihiro smiled and walked over to the mirror hanging on the wall. She smiled at her reflection.

Taking her sparkly purple hair band off her wrist, Chihiro braided her wet hair and tied the end of it. She tucked her necklace out of her shirt, smiling at the way it gleamed. Chihiro turned around and pulled on her sneakers. She folded her socks into her short and shirts, wrapping it all up with her towel, the one she had brought.

"Who's in there?" a voice suddenly boomed from nowhere. Chihiro jumped in fear. To her surprise, a handsome young man of about seventeen years ran in. His green hair was tied into a ponytail and matched perfectly with his white shirt and green pants. She stared at him, fright in her eyes. She took a step back from him.

"I'm sorry if I trespassed, I promise to repay you!" she cried. He walked towards her and held out his hand. She stared at it, confused. What did he want her to do? Take his hand? Drop money it?

"Come with me before they find you. Quickly, Sen!" he commanded. Her eyes widened at the name "Sen." She knew that "Sen" and "Chi" shared the same Kanji so was he calling her by a part of her name? Who the heck was he, anyway? How did he know part of her name?

"Who are you?" she demanded. Footsteps were heard, approaching. The boy looked at her with fierce, startling green eyes.

"We don't have time now. You must come with me, I shall explain everything. Take your clothes, too." Chihiro felt she had no other choice. She snatched her other clothes and took the boy's hand. He ran, pulling her with him. But he went so fast, it felt unnatural for a human. Like a gust of wind.

They ran out of the bathhouse and to a small, trap door near the end of the bridge. They sat near some bushes and flowers. Before Chihiro could ask anything, the boy put his hand over her mouth.

"Don't move or make a sound!" he whispered, gently pressing himself against her to hide her from view. A black bird flew overhead with a large, human nose instead of a beak and an old lady's hair. The young man pushed them into the shadows of the bush until the bird passed. Chihiro pulled her head away from his hand.

"Listen you, I don't know who the heck you think you are but you don't have any reason to–" He put his finger to her lips, cutting her off. She looked up at him into his eyes.

"You don't remember me?" he asked. Chihiro stared at him, confused. Remember him?

"Uhh...I don't think I know you." Chihiro leaned forward, almost touching his nose with her own. He blushed slightly in surprise. She observed his face closely. "Have we met somewhere?" she asked. He nodded.

"Does the Kohaku River ring a bell to you?" he asked. She sat back, looking thoughtful. She remembered that river.

"Yes! When I was a little girl, I fell into the river after dropping my little pink shoe. I thought I had drowned in the river, but when I woke up I was on the shore. I...I seem to remember opening my eyes for a minute. My hands were gripping onto two horns and I saw a green mane from an animal. Then, the next thing I knew, I was waking up on land again." He gave a small smile.

"So, you have not forgotten everything." She raised an eyebrow. "I...I don't know if I can explain it to you. We shall have to wait until you remember." The boy looked up at the sky. The sun was starting to set. "Oh no, we've been talking for far too long. Hurry Chihiro, we need to get you out of here."

"Wait, how do you know my name is Chihiro? And why did you call me Sen before?" she asked. "Who are you, anyway." He took her hand.

"Just call me Haku, and I do not have the time to explain. I must get you out of here before you are found. Come on!" He started to pull her. They ran over the bridge just as the lamps started to light up. They ran through the village. Smells of various foods filled her nose as the lights started to turn on. Black figures with eyes appeared in the restaurants came into view. Chihiro gasped in fear.

"Haku, what are these things?" she cried.

"Oh no, we might be too late. Quickly Chihiro!" he yelled. They ran through and down the grassy hill. Both stopped dead. The rocky pit with only trickles of water was now vast and deep, like a large lake. "No...the river is full..." Haku whispered. Chihiro stared up at him, confused.

"Oh, I get it. I'm dreaming this entire thing. Yes, that is it, I must have fallen asleep while taking my bath. It is all simply a dream and it will disappear." Chihiro nodded and looked at her hand. She gave a short scream. Her hand, it was transparent. "AAAHHH! I'm disappearing!" she cried.

"Hold on!" he said. Looking around, Haku pulled her back up into the village. He ran over to one of the restaurants and spoke quickly to a shadowy beast thing. He dropped something in its hand and ran back to Chihiro. Her other hand was starting to go away. "Eat this!" he commanded, holding up a rice cake. Chihiro stepped back.

"What, are you...crazy?" she snapped. "For all I know, you poisoned that thing." Haku did not move. "Get back...wha?" Her hand went right through his chest. She brought it back up to her, looking at it. "I really am disappearing." Haku broke off a bit of the dumpling and held it out to her.

"Just eat this bit, it will cure you." Chihiro tried to take it from him, but her hand simply went through it. "Will you kill me if I put it into your mouth?" Haku asked, somewhat amused. Chihiro, having no other choice, shook her head. He gently pushed the bit of dumpling past her lips. She chewed it and swallowed roughly. "See? You're better." Haku held up his hand.

Chihiro hesitantly pressed her hand to his. She felt butterflies flutter around in her stomach at the connection. "I...I'm not disappearing anymore..." she whispered. His lips slowly formed into a smile.

"There, you see? All is well now." She nodded, grinning slightly. "Alright, Chihiro, I should explain what is going on. You have to believe all I am telling you, despite how bizarre it all sounds." She looked up at him.

"After all I have seen, I doubt your story is too far-fetched."

"Ok, you are in the Spirit World. Because you are human, you could disappear unless you live here. You need to get you job at the bathhouse back." Chihiro blinked.

"What do you mean 'get my job back?'" she asked. Haku sighed and told her everything about her last adventures, except their good bye. (Read "good bye?") Chihiro's eyes widened.

"No way! This...this isn't happening. There is no way that this is happening." Chihiro stood up and stepped away from Haku. "You...you stay away from me." Haku stood up.

"Chihiro..." he started. She shook her head fiercely.

"No! Don't come near me!" she yelled. Chihiro turned and ran away.

"Chihiro!" Haku shouted. She ran through the village, stumbling on a stone. Back towards the bathhouse she ran. The bridge came closer. Haku sped up next her and snatched her lean waist, yanking her into the shadows before anyone saw. "Chihiro you need to..."

"Hey, what's going on back there?" a voice yelled. A lantern's light drew closer. Haku turn around fearfully. He pinned Chihiro to a wall.

"Forgive me for this, Chihiro." He pressed his lips against hers, causing her cheeks to turn pure crimson. A frog holding a lantern walked into the shadows, shining his light around.

"Is somebody here?" he demanded. The frog stayed for a few moments but then turned around and left. Haku pulled away from chihiro and she was at a loss for words. She could only stare at him in shock, blushing.

"I'm sorry, Chihiro, but kissing you was the only way to keep us out of sight. Now, are you ready to trust me?" he asked. Chihiro put her fingers to her lips, still shocked.

"I...I guess I don't have much of a choice. Alright, what must I do?" she asked. He smiled at her, happy she had finally chose to listen to him.

"First, you must speak with Yubaba to get your job at the bathhouse back. She will take your name and will, more than likely, force you to go by the name 'Sen' once again. Unless you get a job, you will not be safe anywhere here. I will take you to Kamaji and he will call Lin. Then, they will work to get you up to Yubaba without anyone seeing you. Few will recognize you."

"Why won't they recognize me?" she asked.

"Well, um...you see you look more...mature. Taller, longer hair, and your voice is more...adult-like."

"Oh!"

"Are you ready?" he asked.

"Haku...just one question. Who are Lin, Kamaji, and Yubaba again?" she asked. He chuckled slightly.

"Yubaba is the witch who runs the bathhouse, Kamaji is the boiler man, and Lin is one of the slugs who work there." Chihiro grimaced at the word "slug." "Don't worry, they are only spirits of slugs and look perfectly human, except with longer faces. They are not slimy or bug-like in any way." Chihiro sighed in relief.

"Alright...let's get going."

YAY! Haku kissed Chihiro! Of course, in my fanfic, when a spirit kisses a human on the lips they temporarily remain invisible until they pull away. I think it will only work if they love one another, cough cough, but you get the idea. ALSO, I plan to put a picture of older Chihiro and Haku on fanartcentral. I'll try to update soon.