Chapter 2

In the next two weeks, Chihiro started to warm up to the new town's school. This high school was behind compared to her old school, so she just flew through her school work. She had met the students, but really hadn't made any new friends. She sat with a few girls during lunch and they talked, but it wasn't anything serious. They didn't exchange phone numbers, or hang out on the weekends or anything. Her father had painted her room the color that Chihiro and her mother had picked out. It was a light pink color. She had tried to start new at this new place. She tired not to focus on the bath house as much and spend more time with her family. They had enjoyed themselves, and Chihiro wasn't as sad that she had left anymore. Maybe this move wasn't as bad as she thought it would be. If anything, she had started to forget about everything.

"Chihiro!" a girl named Yuri called to her. "Come on!" Chihiro turned around to see her lunch mate waving to her.

"What?" she asked, walking over to the other girl.

"We're going to the local arcade and then grab a bite to eat. Would you like to come with us?" Yuri asked, with a smile on her face.

"Really? You're inviting me?" Chihiro asked, trying not to sound too overjoyed.

"Of course! You're our friend, aren't you?" She smiled.

"I didn't know you considered me your friend."

"Of course!" Yuri exclaimed. "We've been sitting at the same table for two weeks now! Come on, let's go!" Chihiro's new friend grabbed her hand and pulled her along, giggling. They caught up with the other girls and went to the arcade. They messed around and had fun for two hours. Not once did Chihiro think about Haku or the bath house. When Chihiro got home that night, her parents were sitting in the front family room, watching television.

"Welcome home, sweetheart," her mother said, kindly.

"Hi, mom. Sorry I'm home so late," her daughter said, quickly. "I made some new friends today and they invited me to go with them." The older woman nodded, understandably.

"Well, I'm glad that you've finally made some new friends, honey," Chihiro's father said. "But next time, why don't you call us?"

"I would've but, I didn't have any way to reach you," Chihiro replied, quickly. Her parents looked at each other and smiled.

"Well, your father and I have decided that you're old enough now," her mother said and held up a package. Chihiro smiled when she saw what is was.

"A cell phone!" she exclaimed. Her father nodded.

"Yes," he answered. "It's already been activated for you and everything." The teenager hugged both of her parents.

"Thank you!" she exclaimed and ran to her room. She hopped onto her bed and opened the box. Inside sat a pink covered flip phone with a white dragon dangling from the top. A white dragon. Haku's face flashed in her head, but was instantly gone. Before she did anything else, Chihiro added her new friends' phone numbers. After dinner, she did her homework while listening to music, and then went to bed.

Chihiro went out everyday with her new friends. Their names were Yuri, Asuza, Shiori, and an American girl named Madison. Life couldn't have gotten better. She had more friends than she'd ever had. The thoughts of the bath house weren't dragging her down, either. She and her parents also couldn't have had a better relationship. Nothing could go bad now. Everything was perfect. That was, only until a week to the day that she and the girls had first gone out together.

Over the next few weeks, Haku couldn't keep himself busy. During the day, everyone usually slept, exhausted from a night's work. He couldn't sleep. He didn't want to sleep. All her could think about was Chihiro. He realized this is how she must have felt, not being able to see him for six years and he didn't like it. Was she thinking about him now? Or had she started forgetting? Had she gotten new friends and forgotten about him and the bath house? He concluded that she couldn't have. She'd been coming to the tunnel every single day, unless she was sick, just waiting to see if he'd turn up. Zeniba had told Chihiro once that once you met someone, you never really forget them. Haku would go by that. He would have to. Even if Chihiro was having the time of her life at this new place, she couldn't ever forget this place. Or him. It wasn't possible. Instantly, he knew what he had to do.

"I think I'll go visit Zeniba," Haku told him and stood up. He walked over to the outside balcony, trying not to step on the frog spirits or the others that were in his room. He stood on the wooden railing and jumped off. Instantly, he was a dragon. He flew quickly. The speed was faster than usual. The thing he had decided to do, in his mind, was a thing that had to be dealt with quickly. The old witch would know what to do. She could teach him what to do. Ever since Chihiro had left, Zeniba had been teaching him bits of her magic as long as he promised not to steal her secrets, like he tried to before.

When Haku arrived at the house, he turned back into his human form. He heard a faint squeaking noise and looked up. The lamp sitting on the arch outside of Zeniba's house was waving at him, greeting him. Haku smiled, waved back and walked under the arch. He walked up to the door and held up his hand to knock. Before he could, the door opened. The No-Face spirit was standing there, holding the door. Since he couldn't talk, he made his usual 'glad to see you' noise.

"I'm glad to see you too, No-Face," Haku said, still smiling. "Might I come in? I have to ask Zeniba something." Instantly, the spirit was out of his way. He walked into the house and found Zeniba standing over the stove.

"Welcome, Haku. It's nice to see you," the old witch said, without looking up at him.

"Sorry to bother you at this early hour," he said. "But I need your help."