Probably the fastest I've ever updated a story...

Hope you enjoy!

DISCLAIMER: Own nothing, I do.

Shortly after my sixteenth birthday, there were a series of strange events: my parents were unusually kind and caring, not that they weren't always just more so than normal, it was like they were trying to spend as much time with me as possible, of course with hindsight I can see why and everything but anyway, there was also strange weather and a woman that I always seemed to see yet never quite see near my house and a whole other bunch of stuff; so needless to say when a large headed woman, who I seemed to vaguely remember having seen before, turned up on my doorstep saying that I was to be her apprentice and that everything had already been arranged with my parents and "Don't worry dear, you can see them whenever you want, don't worry about school, this'll be much more fun believe me.", I just added it to the list.

So with bags packed and goodbyes said, we set off, the woman and I, in her car, which was a hell of a lot bigger on the inside, being driven on a trail through the nearby wood by an odd figure in all black and a mask. In all honesty, what I wanted to do was sit sullenly and stare out of the window, but I did have some sort of manners and I didn't even know my new boss' name, so I decided to strike up a conversation but as I opened my mouth to speak she got there first "My name is Zeniba, but you can call me Granny, Chihiro my dear" for a short while I sat there gaping like a fish in surprise but then my voice returned to me "Do I know you?" She smiled a little "Not personally but I've known you since you were much smaller than you are now, what a fine young lady you've grown into!" I looked down as I felt my cheeks tinge pink, to save me the embarrassment of having to respond, Zeniba continued, "I've come from the Circus of Stars, the very same circus you, yourself went to when you were ten years old", I opened my mouth to speak but again was cut off before I could start, "I am one of the two witches there and six years ago I chose you to be my apprentice, instead of taking you there and then I waited for you to grow and mature and spend some time with your family" I smiled at the odd kindness this woman had imparted, " I still don't quite understand, why me?"; She signed and frowned slightly for a moment as if trying to find the right words to explain, "My sister and I, we have this game that we like to play, well her more than I, anyway the game requires the both of us to take an apprentice; We must train them, each night they are to compete against one another and they must also place enchantments of the circus without the other knowing, all in order to prove which sister is more powerful." She paused before continuing, "My sister chose her apprentice many years ago, he was a young boy at the time, but I decided to take my time and then you came along." I shook my head slightly in disbelief "If your sister chose her apprentice ages ago, she's probably been training him all this time! He'll be way ahead of me, I'm not a witch!" She started which shocked me a little, "My dear, the reason I chose you was because you were born for magic, it runs in your blood, something tells me that you aren't quite human," I made to protest but she stopped me "I was going to save this for later but I might as well do it now, no doubt Yubabba will probably harass you when we get there anyway, give me your hand," I held my hand out to her hesitantly "Don't be scared, by putting on this ring," she held a silver ring up for me to see, "I'm merely binding you to the challenge, and unlocking your powers or at least your potential, you will still need training but if we work all night you should be caught up." She gave me a wide smile that invoked a confidence in me that I didn't know I had; I wanted to win, well I suppose I am naturally competitive.

With a now small smile on my face I turned to the window and watched the surroundings pass us by in a blur. As we entered an open, wonderfully green field, Zeniba patted me gently, "We're here." I frowned "But I can't see anything." She nodded slightly in realisation "Right, well, close your eyes and concentrate, remember the circus as much as you can, once you remember a little the rest shall appear." I did as I was told and shut my eyes, taking a deep breath and I remembered. The stalls that lit up the night like stars, the costumes that changed as the performers moved, and all the different acts themselves and…the boy; the boy with the dragon. With a small gasp I opened my eyes once more to the spectacular tents of my childhood memory, people waved to Zeniba and nudged each other once they saw me, "Do they know about your game Zen- Granny?" I asked "Vaguely," her face darkened "They don't know the true meaning and consequences behind it, neither does Yubabba" I frowned "What do you mean Granny?" She smiled "Another time, now let's find your room and get you changed." She said climbing out of the car, I scrabbled out of my side and ran round after her "What do you mean 'get changed', what's wrong with what I'm wearing!" I yelled slightly indicating to what I was wearing, a simple outfit of jeans and a t-shirt, she only laughed in response and gestured for me to follow her, she wasn't going to let up so I did.

Once I was more 'suitably dressed' like a doll, in a tight, sleeveless, high collar dress with matching shoes, an outfit reminiscent of the Victorian era, and more in Zeniba's idea of presentable; she took me on a tour of the circus or at least she did before she was called away by her sister Yubabba, who was her "identical twin, and exact opposite", and I was left alone to wander; that was until I slammed head first into and therefore knocked back by a figure running round a corner of the tent. As I sat myself up into a sitting position and was met with eyes as green as the surrounding field, I had ran into a boy, well a young man; I'd met him before, I could feel it. He held out his hand to help me up, his eyes glinting with mischief, "Come on, we don't have much time," once I was back on my feet, he started to run again, pulling me along by the hand and I got the feeling that we had done this once before.

He pulled me into a small tent of white and green and let go of my hand, leading me bend over and catch my breath; running in this dress was not easy. I felt a hand touch my shoulder "I'm sorry, are you- Chihiro?" I righted myself and was finally able to get a good look at the boy in front of me; shoulder length dark hair with straight bangs, pale skin and those deep green eyes, he looked older than the last time I had seen him but it was him. The boy with the dragon; Haku.

"Haku!" I threw my arms around his neck and pulled his surprised figure into a hug, "I guess it is you, Chihiro," he said with a chuckle on his lips. I let him go with a small "Sorry" and a sheepish smile, his smile soon quickly turned in to a frown "What are you doing here?" I sighed and gave him the same answer he had given me six years ago, "It's a long story, but I'm meant to be here, I guess I kind of work here now." his frown was relieved a little "You weren't taken against your will were you?" now it was my turn to frown "No, I mean I was a little surprised but I wasn't forced to come here, well…no, I mean I don't mind being here." He laughed a little "Good, sorry again for running into you and dragging you off, I suppose you were looking around weren't you?" I nodded, he held out his arm for me to take, "Well I'd be glad to take you on a tour, hopefully-" He was interrupted by a shrill yell of "HAKU! WHERE ARE YOU?" said boy sighed annoyed "Well I guess I won't be able to show you around," he paused for a moment, as we exited the tent, looking around, his eyes lighting up as he found something, "Lin!" He called over a slender young woman with long brown hair, she walked over to us, her face un-amused "What do you want dragon boy?" Haku scoffed in response "Is that anyway to talk to your superiors?" The woman, Lin, rolled her eyes and bowed sarcastically "I'm so sorry, your highness, now what do you want?" a small laugh escaped my lips before I could stop it and I was met by looks from both Haku and Lin. " This," Haku said gesturing to me, "is Chihiro, show her around would you?" Lin, looked at the two of us outraged, "Why are you lumping her off on me!" Haku rolled his eyes slightly, "I'm not, I would be glad to do it myself but I can't." Lin huffed, "Fine," Haku smiled and nodded his head slightly "Thank you Lin," he was met with a "Whatever." As she turned around and was started to walk off, he then turned to me, "Until we meet again then Chihiro," I nodded, "I suppose." With shy smiles on both our faces, he took my hand and kissed it before turning a walking off in the direction we had heard the shouting, waving goodbye as he went. I stood, stuck for a moment, before a yell from Lin of "Come on, you dope!" awoke me from my stupor as I ran to catch up with her.

"I'm Lin by the way in case you hadn't of figured that out," She said as I caught up to her, I nodded, "I'm Chihiro." She looked at me "I know." She frowned, "You're different." I looked up at her surprised "I am?" She nodded "Yeah you are," She paused and frowned again "What's your act?" I sighed, "It's complicated, what's yours?" She smiled wide, spun round to face me and with grand gestures exclaimed "I am the best acrobat and contortionist of the whole circus!" I smiled in response, "Well it is an honour to meet you, and I must say I cannot wait to watch your act." I said bowing playfully; Lin laughed, "Maybe you're not so bad, dope." She pulled me along, showing me all the tents, stalls and everything I could possibly ever need to see in the circus, as we walked I asked various questions, mostly about Haku, to which she replied "Haku, Haku, Haku, honestly!" she laughed slightly at my embarrassed face, "I only thought that you were friends with him because you call him dragon boy –" She laughed again, "I've called him dragon boy ever since he was a small boy, before I even knew his name, because that's his act." She smiled a little, "To be honest, him asking me to show you around is probably the most he has ever spoken to me in the whole time I've known him, he kind of keeps to himself," She paused "There really is something about you. Come on, dope." She said with a smile and carried on the tour, but none of it really stuck in, Haku and his eyes clouding my mind.

Just to make clear, Haku was hiding from Yubabba cause he was trying to get out of work but then he realises she's gonna find him at some point and it won't be pretty the longer she has to wait...

ANYWAY.

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