Chihiro stands in the middle of a lake, the ground cold under her feet. There's nothing but black water for miles upon miles and the island she stands upon is barely big enough for her. "Haku! Haku, where are you?" she yells, cupping her hands around her mouth and staring out into the darkness. "Haku, I'm scared," she whispers, shoulders drooping.
A soft splashing sound echos around her and she struggles to see in the dark. A bright light is in the distance. Chihiro squints, trying to see what it is. "Haku? Is that you?" More splashing echos as watches a glowing lantern on a metal pole bouncing toward her, walking across the water.
She scrambles back as it grows near but cries out as her foot steps in water and she nearly falls. She can't tell how deep it it, only that it seemingly goes on forever. Chihiro looks behind her and is surprised to see more of the lanterns coming, glowing softly in the darkness until they surround her.
Chihiro bows, turning to each lantern. "What are you? Where's Haku?" she asks, trembling despite the warmth of the air.
"Mottainai, mottinai!" The lanterns all chant together, deep voices that hurt her ears.
She clamps her hands over her ears. "Please, that hurts," she shouts.
"Mottainai, mottainai, mottainai!"
A hand shakes her shoulder and she sits up with a gasp, eyes wide as she stares at Kaonashi's face. His brow is furrowed as he looks at her. "Sen, are you okay? You were thrashing in your sleep," he says, and she can hear the worry in his voice.
"It was just a dream," she whispers, taking a deep breath. "It seemed so real."
He nods, sitting back on the heels of his feet as he squats beside her. "I'll protect you, Sen," he replies, offering her a small smile.
Chihiro smiles back, wiping the sleep from her eyes. "I'll feel much better once we find Haku," she says.
Kaonashi frowns at her. "With Zeniba gone, Haku might already be dead."
"No!" She screams the word, shaking her head as grief tears at her like a dragon's claw sinking its talons deep in to her heart. "No, I'd feel it, he can't be dead!" Tears threaten to spill from her eyes so she squeezes them shut against the pain.
Kaonashi places his hand under her chin. The glove is soft like silk and cool against her skin. She opens her eyes, looking deep into his with their faces so close together she can feel his breath against her lips. "Even if he's gone, Sen, I'm here. Am I not enough?"
She licks her lips, tears falling down her cheeks. "I have to save him," she replies, not answering his question.
Her frowns and tears his hand away from her. "Fine," he snaps, getting up and walking away.
Chihiro sighs and flops back down, the grass soft beneath her. She stares up at the stars, tears leaking from the corner of her eyes. "Haku, please be okay," she whispers to the night. A heavy weight settles into the pit of her stomach, a hard lump of pain and fear all tangled together. She only survived this place the last time because of Haku. Without him, she feels lost, and so alone. Her heart skips a beat. He can't really be dead, can he? River spirits can't die.
Haku's mouth is dry, his lips chapped and bleeding. A terrible ache of hunger gnaws at his stomach like broken glass. His bones grow, making popping noises in the dark. He screams as his skin stretches, pain unlike anything he's ever felt ripping through his entire body as he hangs from the wall. His throat is raw as the screams bounce off the walls, echoing back at him.
The door creaks open and the light that follows Yubaba into the room burns his eyes. "What are you doing to me?" he croaks out, each word bringing him further pain as he struggles to speak against invisible bonds on his tongue.
Yubaba chuckles, the sound full of more malice than he's ever heard from her. "I'm aging you, my dear Haku. Slowly, you'll age jut like a human except you can't die. In a few months, you'll be an old man. By the end of the year, you'll be nothing more than bones, waiting to dance for your master."
"You... can't..."
She frowns, moving her hand in a motion he's seen before. A loud smack echos as pain shoots across his jaw. "I can't? Haku, you've forgotten. I'm the only one with the power now."
Chihiro walks along the railroad tracks again, chewing on her lip as she goes. She glances up at Kaonashi's back as they go before letting out another sigh. A warm breeze blows her hair, smelling of sweet jasmine. She stops, clenching her fists and closing her eyes. "Kaonashi," she shouts. "Please don't be mad at me, I'm sorry!" She bows in his direction, keeping her eyes shut.
The swishing of his robes tells her that he's coming closer. A heavy hand touches her head, softly patting it as they stand their. "Sen," he says, and she strands up, looking into his deep, warm eyes. He doesn't say anything else, just looks at her with an expression so sad and full of longing that it breaks her heart.
"Kaonashi, what is it that you want?" she asks, not even certain what she's asking, or why.
He takes a deep breath, letting it out slowly through his lips. "Nothing I am allowed to have," he replies, brushing his knuckles against her cheek. "Why do you ask?"
Chihiro grabs his robe in one hand, brows furrowed. "You look so sad," she whispers. "I- I want you to smile."
"I can only smile when you do, Sen."
"Then I'll have to smile all the time, so you can be happy, Kaonashi."
He leans forward and rests his forehead against her, letting out a small sigh. "You want to find Haku. I know somewhere we should look," he says, voice softer than she's ever heard it.
She smiles pulling away slightly. "You'll still help me find him?"
Kaonashi nods, smiling back though the corners of his lips seem to waver. "I will."