This is my first Spirited Away fic.

Oh, Spirited Away is obviously NOT mine (though I wish it had been!), unless I'm Miyazaki. (which is I am not.)

Anyways, happy readings!

As always, READ AND REVIEW!


Birthday Wishes

Chihiro sat down by the windowsill. Half an hour ago, she had just turned eleven. With a smile, she realized that it has been two months since her adventure in the spirit world.

"Kamaji, Rin, Zeniba, No-face, Haku…everyone…Oh how I miss you all!" she uttered with a small sigh, pulling her legs even closer to her body.

Haku…and the mere thought of his name brought a warm feeling to the young girl. Since learning their forgotten past, she would dream of it, vividly: falling into the Kohaku river as a child and being saved by a dragon. Sometimes, she would dream of just him, standing there...

She could never forget that he promised to meet her again. She could never forget that she still left knowing deep inside that it would remain an unfulfilled promise. Now, she had to content herself with memories of him, her dear friend Haku.

Haku…we will meet again. I will find a way for both of us. Oh! Please let us meet again!

Concentrating hard on her birthday wish, she walked dreamily to bed and fell soundly asleep.

Or so she thought.


Is this the end?

The child fell on the water. At first, she flailed her arms in frantic attempts to reach the surface. But it was no use. She didn't know how to swim, and even if she did, the current was too strong. Soon, she stopped resisting and fighting all together.

Is this my end?

Memories flashed through her brain. There wasn't much to remember; she was just a few years old after all...


She recalled the summer she spent with her grandparents. It was just a few months ago yet she felt as though it happened an eternity ago. The old woman was carrying her on her lap humming pleasant folksongs under her breath.

"Grandma!" she bawled, "You promised you'll tell me a story!"

"All right then. You don't have to shout; I can hear you well enough." was the tart reply she received.

"Tell me again about the river spirits!"

She chuckled and lovingly caressed her granddaughter's head before retelling the story: of spirits guarding over the bodies of water, watching humans in secret. These were dragons that took the form of human beings at will. Sometimes, in times of great floods, they would take people with them, either to punish or to reward. Sometimes, for fun and enjoyment; in rare times, out of love…

"Remember not to mock them my dear child! They are extremely powerful creatures! And remember this too: in your times of need, pray to them, and rest assured, help will arrive."


Help will arrive...

The child closed her eyes and fought a gasp of panic. Mentally, she prayed.

Oh, river spirits! Please help me! Gods, do not let me die!

Nothing. Still falling...

Mommy, daddy, grandma….

River spirit…please, wherever you are, please….

In surrender, she breathed the water in. It would be just a little while now...

Wait! I AM breathing water... but why—

She opened her eyes and found herself being sped away on a back of a silvery creature. There was but one word she could find in her limited vocabulary to describe the sensation and the sight.

Beautiful...

She felt her ask him. Yes. Felt, not heard.

Young girl, tell me your name.

Tell me...

"Chihiro," she murmured. "Chihiro..."

"And you are…?"

The beauteous dragon made a soundless roar which seemed pleasantly like a laugh.

The one who heard your prayers…


"Kohaku!"

"Chihiro!"

She was running in the tunnel towards the spirit world. His voice echoed, beckoning to her to come.

"I'm coming," she panted, "Please, you promised I'll see you again!"

"Chihiro!"

She fell into his waiting arms and held him closely. Tears of happiness fell, dampening his shirt. Chihiro looked up at him and saw him crying, too.

"Happy Birthday, Chihiro."

She laughed with giddiness, and relief—of being with him.

"So you knew." It was a statement, not a question. Yet he still nodded in assent.

"How can I not?" he murmured, still holding her close to him, "Traditionally, I should give you a present. I'm sorry if I have nothing to give…"

"Shh, don't say that! You brought me a gift," she said, eyes gleaming with joy, and they both understood.

"Today, this birthday, is the best one. Now…is perfect." She whispered with childish simplicity so full of feeling and sincerity.

"Perfect…"


She blinked, once, twice.

Chihiro jumped from her bed and opened the lights. It was only 3 o'clock. With a cry of desperation, she threw open the windows and looked searchingly at the darkness. Nothing.

"Haku…"

Just when she was about to cry, she noticed something silvery on her table. It was a hard silvery scale, roughly the size of her hand. Clasping it to her fingers, she realized that it was not sharp, rather it had smooth edges.

Holding it close to her chest, she looked up at the moon and smiled.

Somehow, something told her that the gods did hear her…

Haku, one day, we will meet again. and when that happens, I promise, I will never leave you. I promise…

With another silent prayer, she went to bed, still clasping the thing in her hands.


At the top balcony of a certain bathhouse, a young boy of twelve who had just woken up from a dream was gazing intently at the moon.

"Happy birthday, Chihiro."

One day, he thought, one day...


So…how was it?

Tell me if it is crap or not. Oh…please make the reviews a bit long and juicy. Hee! I really am a sucker for reviews! Please! REVIEW! I need to know how it is!