Chapter Fourteen Promises are Forever
The sun rose above the horizon in the spirit world, Chihiro looked out the window yawning, she sat up on her bed.
"Morning," Haku said carrying a bowl of rice and pork. "Would you like some breakfast?" Haku walked in through the door.
"Thanks Haku," Chihiro said picking up the chopsticks and eating the rice. Haku sat on the bed near Chihiro. She gently kissed Haku's cheek. Haku smiled and said, "I got a message from Kamajii."
"What happened?" Chihiro asked in between chewing.
"San," sighed Haku crunching his bangs in between his fingers. "She…she started killing them."
"You're joking?" Chihiro asked dumbfounded.
"No, I'm not. She starting carrying a blade and starting to stab everyone! She even stabbed the foreman. And, Lin has a slight cut on her arm," Haku said blandly.
"Oh my gosh! We'd better start a move on now!" Chihiro said frantically, she was about to stand up until Haku put a hand on her shoulder and urged her to sit back down.
"Chihiro…," Haku muttered quietly.
"Yeah?" asked Chihiro. 'Oh no, had she done something wrong. Haku seemed upset,' thought Chihiro.
"I don't want you to come along with me," Haku said looking down at the bed spread.
"Why not, Haku?" Chihiro asked concerned. "What have I done?"
"You've done nothing, it's me. I don't want you to come….because I don't want to lose you," Haku said pausing in between. His tears were not visible and he was crying.
"Haku…don't cry. we're in this together. I need to fight with you," Chihiro said sweetly hugging Haku.
"No, you can't!" Haku said almost shouting. "I don't want you to die!"
"I won't, Haku. I swear," Chihiro said crying now too.
"Chihiro, I promise, everything will be ok," Haku cried. "Just do not come with me to the bath house."
"Haku…do you seriously mean that?" Chihiro asked kissing his lips softly.
"Yes, I want to make a promise to you, ok?" Haku asked kissing her back softly.
"What…is the promise?" asked Chihiro stammering.
"I promise that if you come back to the Spirit World in seven years. Everything will be okay. I will love you forever and always. If you do not love me, we can still be friends. I, the Kohaku River, promise that to you Chihiro, the love of my life. Promise?" Haku stated sincerely.
"If this is what you want Haku…," Chihiro paused. "Then, ok."
"Chihiro…thank you," Haku said.
"Haku, I want you to promise me one thing," Chihiro said pushing him away and starring into his emerald eyes.
"What is it?" asked Haku.
"Promise me that everything will be ok and you will not be defeated by San," Chihiro stated bluntly.
"I promise," Haku said putting his hand over hers. "We should get you back to the human world."
"Oh…okay," Chihiro stuttered; tears fell from her eyes.
"Remember Chihiro, I love you and I'll never, ever forget who you are," Haku said kissing Chihiro.
"I love you too, I will always love you. And, Haku…if I go away and I come back will promise you that I will stay for good, with you. Forever," Chihiro said thinking very deeply.
"Forever?" asked Haku shocked his eyes widening. "But, then you will never have a normal life as the girl you are."
"I'd do anything just to be with you," Chihiro said seriously.
"We should go now, so I can fight San off with everyone else," Haku said. Chihiro and he walked out of the house and back near the abandoned theme park entrance. Chihiro remembered the first time her and Haku said good bye three years ago.
"Remember not to look back," Haku had said like the last time.
"I won't, I promise," Chihiro said holding his hand tightly, tears streaming down her chocolate brown eyes.
"Oh Chihiro," muttered Haku holding her close and kissing her. "I promise that I will fight this battle and be victorious!" They shared one last kiss and their hands left each other.
"Don't forget to come back," Haku called down as Chihiro made her way down the grassy green steps.
"I won't!" Chihiro called not looking at Haku. Chihiro ran through the tunnel and didn't make one look back at all. She went back to her house and saw the duplicate that was playing as her. When she crept into her room the duplicate vanished.
"Weird," muttered Chihiro under her breath.
"HI MOM!" shouted Chihiro, she ran up and hugged her mom. It felt like ages since she saw her family.
"Chihiro, honey, why are you acting like you haven't seen me in ages?" asked her mom. "And, don't tug on my shirt please."
"Oh, I duno. What's for lunch?" asked Chihiro.
"Honey, today's school. You have to leave soon," her mom said.
"School? Oh yeah, school, right," Chihiro said. "What day is it?"
"Oh my Chihiro," said her mom. "Are you sick?" she put her hand on Chihiro's forehead.
"No, mom, I feel fine. But, what day is it?" asked Chihiro.
"Oh, it's Thursday," her mom said putting a brown bag into Chihiro's back pack. "There's your lunch, by the way."
"Ok, thanks," Chihiro said. "I'll be right back." Chihiro walked up to her room and looked around. There were her books lying on the table at her desk. 'Wow, my notebooks are up to date,' Chihiro said mentally flipping through them.
She put her books in her bag and said, "Bye Mom."
"Bye honey," her mom said waving. Chihiro waved back and outside waiting for her was Hisae and Mami, her two friends from school.
"Hey guys!" cheered Chihiro.
"Morning Chihiro! We almost thought you weren't going to come," Mami said.
"Nope, why would I miss out on school?" asked Chihiro.
"I don't know sick maybe?" Hisae said.
"Nah, I feel good today," Chihiro said wiping her eyes she still had some tears spotted on her face.
"Were you crying?" asked Hisae.
"No, just yawning before. I guess I'm still tired," lied Chihiro.
"Ok, whatever," Hisae said. "Let's getta move on to school then."
"Sure," Mami said. The three girls walked to school. Chihiro was mentally reviewing what had happened this morning, she thought of Haku and started to space.
-------Meanwhile in the Spirit World------
"Kamajii! We need back up!" Haku yelled trying to hold of San. San was in a black and red kimono and was holding two slick blades. She already started killing more and more people as the minutes had passed.
"Thank god Chihiro isn't here," Haku muttered casting a larger spell on San. "Wow, dad's demon magic is pretty damn strong."
-----Back in the Human World------
Chihiro was now living an ordinary girl's life. Going to school, hanging out with friends doing homework, etc. She now missed Haku more than anything at times she felt miserable and had no one to turn to. Who would want to believe that there was another world? No one right. Well, Chihiro tried to enjoy her life as much as she could. Knowing she'd only have to wait seven years to see Haku again. Being only a mere teen still she didn't know that seven years could seem like forever.