Chapter One

Mei walked over to the car, hefting a large box full of paint and equipment. Her arms ached slightly from all the lifting she'd been doing. She felt pretty tired too; she hadn't slept since she had received the call.

Today she wore a hand-made shirt, and a pair of scruffy, stained jeans- in her view, well suited to a painter. Her mother certainly wouldn't be pleased at all. She was one of those old fashioned types who still believed that 'proper' women wore tidy dresses and only spoke when spoken to.

"Mei! Chihiro stumbled out into the hot summer air. "Give me a hand with this canvas. All this is yours after all!"

She carefully placed the stuff inside the car boot and rushed over to help her friend. Chihiro and Mei had met only a few years ago, but were inseparable at the hip. People often joked that they were each other's shadows; where one went, so did the other. Though Mei liked to think of Chihiro as more of a younger sister.

"Sorry Chihiro. You really didn't have to help lift all my things, you know?" Mei grunted with effort as she shoved the painting into the back of the car.

Chihiro gave her a stern look. "Mei, how many times do I have to tell you, roommates help each other out. Besides, it's not like I have anything else to do.. I've already finished packing my stuff into my car."

Strapping a final box to Mei's car roof, they dusted off their hands.

"There we go! All done and ready to go!"

Mei sighed wistfully. "It's hard to believe we're actually going. I can't wait to set up my own art studio in Tokyo.. and you'll have your own cafe. It's going to be brilliant, yet.."

"You're still sad about leaving the village.." Finished Chihiro. "I feel the same.."

"It's great we got that house though.. It's, without doubt, big enough to have your cafe and my studio on the ground floor, and then our own house on the first.." Mei slowed, seeing that Chihiro's eyes had gone distant and sad. "You're thinking about him again, aren't you."

Chihiro bit her lip softly. "Can I visit the tunnel again..? Just.. One last time..?"

Mei hesitated. Two years ago, Chihiro had.. well.. she'd..she'd jumped into the river by that tunnel. Chihiro was found half-drowned by a neighbour. She'd claimed that she wanted to meet a friend of hers in there. No one believed her.

Well, Mei kind of did. But nearly everyone thought that she had attempted to commit suicide. That lead to a sort of unspoken ban on Chihiro going there.

Chihiro's eyes now gleamed with tears. "Please, Mei.. I need to say goodbye.."

Mei choked slightly. "Chihiro, please don't.. You know I hate it when people cry.."

Chihiro let her lip wobble, half out of play, half out of genuine grief.

"Damn it, okay Chihiro, but we are not going too close to the water's edge!"

Chihiro smiled, her face as bright as sunshine. "Thanks Mei. It means a lot to me." She grabbed her hand eagerly. "C'mon!"

Mei huffed gently as Chihiro dragged her along the path like an excited six year old. She couldn't believe she was letting Chihiro go back to this place after she'd nearly died, for the second time, in that very river. Also, she couldn't understand what she was doing by the tunnel, even for Chihiro's sake.. The tunnel had always given her the creeps. She shivered slightly as she passed the small houses of the spirits.

"You'd better watch out, or the spirits shall steal you away." That's what her Grandma always said when she was naughty as a child.

Chihiro lead her to a halt by the river. Mei watched carefully as she bent down to get a little closer to the water.

"Don't fall in." She warned cautiously.

Chihiro rolled her eyes and looked out at the ripples on the surface.

"Hi Kohaku." She began. "You may not be able to hear me, but I just wanted to come say goodbye."

Mei watched as Chihiro relaxed, her lips forming a droopy smile that spoke for her. She was head over heels in love. The poor girl.

Shut up. Mei frowned at herself inwardly. Don't call her that. That's what they call her. All those 'sympathetic' townsfolk.

"I do miss you, you know." Chihiro spoke up again. "Everyday. I haven't forgotten your promise." Her voice broke off.

Mei's heart ached for her friend.

She didn't particularly know whether or not to believe in all the stories and tales of the spirit world that Chihiro had told her, or whether or not there really was a dragon boy called Haku, but she did believe in love. Even if she herself had never experienced it romantically, and wasn't even sure if she wanted to. It appeared to her, a confusing but powerful thing. But friendship love she could understand. It is one of the most powerful emotions a person could experience. She laid a hand on Chihiro's shoulder comfortingly.

"-But I can't wait any longer for you. I'm sorry Haku. In a few hours I'm leaving for Tokyo. If you can.. If you can.. No." She cleared her throat. "Even if you can contact me in Tokyo in any way, don't.. It's been too long. Goodbye.."

As a tear slid down her cheek, she stood, turning her back on the river. A determined look crossed her face and she stepped towards Mei.

"I'm ready to go now, thanks-"

Mei gasped as a page from her sketchbook flew away, diving out of her reach and finally landing beneath the chilled shade of the tunnel.

"Quick get it!" She raced over, sliding it back inside with her other drawings. "Phew, that was close."

Mei turned to face Chihiro. "You okay?"

Chihiro nodded grinning. "I think this is a sign."

"What..?"

"The spirit world is open again!"

"Huh? Chihiro, it was just a slight breeze-"

Chihiro gave Mei a hopeful look, with a little desperation. "Close your eyes and walk with me..? Please."

Mei exhaled. "Fine. But don't be disappointed if nothing-"

Chihiro lead her forwards. "Quick, close your eyes."

Mei slammed her eyes shut abruptly, as she walked below the cobwebbed arches. She hated spiders.

"What now?"

Chihiro hushed her. "Just keep walking."

"But Chihiro we're going to bump into something-", like spiderwebs whispered a little, traitorous voice in her mind. A chill ran down her spine.

"Come on, please, please, please.." Chihiro muttered under her breath. "Let us through.."

Mei felt nothing. After what had felt like decades she gradually opened her eyes.

"Umm.. Chihiro.."

Chihiro looked around excitedly. "Did it work! ..oh.."

"I'm sorry Chihiro but we're still here.. no spirits.. or anything-" A gust of wind shoved her from behind, making her spiral out of control. She fell forwards anticipating the hard, rubble ground and landed face first into..water..?

Chihiro blinked in shock. Mei has disappeared. It had worked. Mei was in the spirit world. Chihiro would soon be too! She could see her friends again.. and Haku! She'd be able to see Kamaji and the soot sprites... and she could trick Yubaba into accepting her into the bathhouse again..

She raced forwards, arms outstretched eagerly. Chihiro froze.

"What?!"

Nothing had happened. She was still in the village by the river. She took another step forwards. And another.

"No!"

Frantically she ran forwards, only to pass the empty houses of a still abandoned bathhouse and empty stalls with no one around. It didn't work. Mei was gone. She had left Chihiro alone in the human world, whilst she went to join the spirits. Chihiro collapsed to her knees, sobbing. "You took the wrong person! It was supposed to be me! Not her!"