Chapter 5

What to be Lost

Chihiro and Haku sat by the river dividing both worlds. They watched the sunset as beautiful colors reflected off of the river. Soon the stars were shining brightly, and they needed to go home.

"I wish I could go back over there," Haku sighed. Tears glistened in his eyes, threatening to fall.

"It's okay, Kohaku," Chihiro patted him. "We'll find a way to get you back home. One way or another."

"Thank you, Chihiro," Haku sniffled. "I'm so glad to have you."

"Hey, you did the same thing when I was lost in the Spirit World."

Haku smiled. He recalled the time when Chihiro accidentally wandered into the Spirit World with her parents. Haku saw her and rescued her from being turning into a piglet. She was called Sen then. Haku sometimes wondered why he rescued Sen in the first place. But then he remembered that call, urging Haku to help her. He always wondered what that voice was, or who it was. It was something so distant… yet so close. It guided him along the whole journey.

"Haku?" Chihiro asked, suddenly, interrupting his thoughts.

"Yes? What?"

"I've been wanting to ask you this for a long time…" Her voice trailed off as she looked at him.

"What is it?"

Chihiro took a long breath, as if preparing to ask a very important question. "Why does your eyes keep changing color?"

"Huh?"

"Yeah. First it's green, then it's brown, then it's dark green, then it's jade…"

Haku was appalled. He blinked. He was utterly speechless.

"I have another question…" Chihiro went on.

"What? And it better not be about my eyes…"

"It's not."

"Okay then. What is it?"

"Why does your hair color keep changing."

Haku got up and headed toward the tunnel.

"Hey!" Chihiro called, running after him. "Wait up! You didn't answer my question…"

Haku was in the bath house again. He was in Yubaba's office. She loomed over him like a lion compared to a mouse. Her face was dark and evil.

"Will you share a roasted lizard with me?" she held out the lizard.

"Sure," Haku answered. He unwillingly reached toward it as every thought in his head screamed no. Right before he touched it, Yubaba dissolved. Then her office. Soon, the whole bath house.

A new scene appeared, and Haku was now in a grove where pink flowers grow on bushes. He was far from Yubaba's office. He recognized the place where he gave Chihiro her clothing from the Human World.

"Do you remember this place?" someone called out. Haku looked around and found himself faced with an old spirit, leaning on a crutch. He sat down next to Haku.

"Yes," Haku replied. "This is where I gave a human named Chihiro her clothing and her name."

"Yes," the spirit nodded. "You do remember."

"Who are you?" Haku questioned after a moment.

"Ah, that does not matter…" the spirit shook his head. "Some people call me Kawa no Kami. But please, just call me Kami. I am a river spirit, like you."

They sat there, sun shining on them, giving them warmth. "Why are you here?" Haku asked after a while.

"To deliver an important message," the Kami answered. "Later in your adventure, you will have to make a choice. A choice between here in the Spirit World, or there," he gestured toward the Human World beyond the river, "in the Human World."

"I need to get back here, to the Spirit World," Haku stated. "It is my only home after I lost my river in the Human World. I just have to!"

"Ah, yes," he sighed. "But don't be hasty your decision. Think about it," he put Chihiro's old rubber band in Haku's palm. "And remember what you will be losing…" The last words echoed in his head even when he woke up.

Haku woke up, panting. It was still late at night, and the sun had not yet risen. The dream felt so real, Haku thought. Most of his dreams were hazy and weird. But this one felt real. He could see the details so well, and nothing was weird about it. He actually felt the sunlight. "And remember what you will be losing..." He closed his eyes as emotions rushed through him. He realized that he had been clutching something. He opened his hand. It was Chihiro's rubber band. (LOL that rhymes). The rubber band was Chihiro's until he had made a new one for her to symbolize their friendship. Her old one was lost and forgotten.

How? Haku thought. How did this happen? It was a dream! How did I end up with this? But a calmer part of Haku answered. That spirit was trying to tell me something. To consider staying in the Human World. But no. I must go back to the Spirit World. It's my home... The sky outside started to brighten, colors bleeding into it. Haku stood up and faced it, a gentle breeze blowing. He was determined as ever. I WILL find the Imperium Seed.

He rushed to Chihiro's parent's room and put them under a sleeping spell (that would last a couple days). He went to Chihiro's computer (that she had taught him how to use the day before) and sent her teacher a message that she was sick and couldn't come for the next couple days. He did the same for her parents. But when he came back into Chihiro's room, he found her dressed and ready.

"What are you doing?" Chihiro asked.

"To find the seed," Haku answered.

"I'm coming with you." Haku nodded. Chihiro got a bunch of things and nodded. Haku grabbed Chihiro and jumped out of the window. He turned into a dragon and soared across the skies.

They were going to find the Imperium Seed.

I'm sorry that I haven't been updating. I've been writing way too many stories lately... I hope I could update more often though!