Chapter 3

Haku was not a happy dragon. In fact, he was far from happy, he was furious. Everyone he met spoke to him like a normal 16 year old human child. If he wanted to rent an apartment, they would tell him to go home. If he wanted to enroll into the public school, they would ask him to tell his parents to sign him up. It was making him frustrated.

Inwardly, he told himself to calm down and that this was for a good cause. If he succeeded on this quest, he might be reunited with Chihiro.

A finger tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around, and looked at the old woman who had tapped him. "Yes?"

"I'm sorry to interrupt you, but I was just thinking… aren't you a little young to be walking out here alone, asking for an apartment?"

The boy bristled. "I happen to be 16! That should be old enough to be walking outside, shouldn't it?" Usually Haku would be kinder to the elderly, but he usually wasn't on the brink of punching someone was he?

"I apologize. But may I ask where your parents are? I mean, who in their right minds would allow a young boy such as yourself to rent an apartment?" The woman was a nosy one, Haku noted, and he would ignore the 'young' comment this time. He had no time for trivial matters such as speaking to an ancient gossiper who asked relentless questions that held no relevance to her own life.

"My parents are dead." The dragon ground out, "Shouldn't you be somewhere?" Like anywhere but here? He added in his mind.

"No, I don't have anywhere to go. Besides, I enjoy talking to you. So, are you new here?"

Haku growled. She was doing this on purpose, he knew it. "Yes, I am a newcomer here. Do you know how to get me into the nearest public school? I'm afraid I cannot let my education take more time off then necessary." He forced a smile. He would sleep in a tree if needed, after all, he was a river spirit, and used to such conditions.

"Oh! I think I can be of help! How about I enroll you into the local school under my name? If they ask questions, I'll tell them that I recently adopted you. Although I don't think they should ask too many questions. People these days don't care as much as they use to. In the old days…" At that point, Kohaku stopped listening. So, the old hag did have a purpose. Maybe he shouldn't be so rude anymore. She was helping him after all.

"Thank you so much. But I do not understand why you would do such a thing for an orphan like me." He gave her a charming smile, hoping to make up for all the times he had been rude to her.

"It's no problem at all. How about we meet at the park just south of here? At 12:00, I'll come to the big fountain of the dragon. It's hard to miss, even for a novice like yourself." Haku agreed and began to walk away. Although the woman was still babbling to herself,

"Bye." There. Now he spared himself the agony of listening to his conscientious' nagging about being rude and just leaving without a proper goodbye.

The dragon began to walk south. He would stay in the park the old woman mentioned until tomorrow. As for school, as soon as she signed him up he would have to find a place to stay, incase they were assigned a school project and had to meet at his 'house'. He was too 'young' to stay in an apartment by himself, but perhaps… maybe he could get the old woman he had met earlier to 'adopt' him, even if he wouldn't be staying there permanently.

That may do. Haku stopped walking and looked up at the branches of the various trees all gathered in a small clump. This must be the park she was talking about, Kohaku mused to himself. Not much of a park, just a few hundred trees planted so the humans could pretend they still cared about nature and their environment.

He found a large, old cherry tree and silently asked to spend the night in his branches. The tree was astounded. Apparently, all the plants nearby thought the Kohaku River had been taken over by concrete, never to be seen again. So Haku began telling his story to the aged plant (with the help of Squeak, Squeal, and Squish), who would then tell the tale to his friends, and they too would spread the tale, which would soon become a legend among the plant-life.

The legend of the Kohaku River and a simple human girl, Chihiro. It was called, Spirited Away.