Haku's senses were numb. He no longer knew where he was or what was going on around him. He felt like he was floating. His

vision got better and he saw himself with a young woman next to him. He didn't recognize her, who was she? He saw her bury

her face in him and her name floated into his thoughts.

"Chihiro"

He felt the first teardrop and a burning sensation as the single tear made a trail down his face. He winced and was pulled

into his body. His scales seemed to shatter and he turned back to his human form.

He was dreaming, he had to be dreaming. There was no way she could be there lying next to him. There was no way he could

feel her next to him. There was no way she could be there. She was there, he could feel her breathe warm on his face, her

warmth, he reached and stroked her cheek.

"Chihiro"

She stirred when he said her name. He tried to move slowly, to get up so she wouldn't be disturbed. It was too much for

him, he hadn't seen her for eight years and yet here she was. She was so beautiful. His senses were suddenly on overdrive. He took in her features, her scent, he reached out a shaky hand and stroked her soft face. Here she was, the little human that turned his world upside down.

Chihiro felt something feather soft touch her face. She opened her eyes and looked up at him. Her mouth fell open, he had

aged. He was no longer the young boy she left behind. A faint blush rose to her cheeks as she looked at him. She reached her own hand out to touch his face and they just looked into each other's eyes for a few moments. Neither the river spirit

or the human girl knew what to do. Chihiro's mind was in turmoil, should she hug him, shake his hand, kiss him? Her mind was screaming at her to do something but she couldn't move after she felt his face in her hand.

"Haku" she whispered and it seemed like the spell on them was broken.

Moving faster than she had ever done before she threw herself into his arms.

"Haku! It's you! It's really you!" fresh tears fell down her cheeks.

Haku grunted in pain but he didn't want to let her go. He held her as tight as he possibly could.

"Chihiro you're really here" he stroked her hair softly and closed his eyes.

"Aw how sweet!"

At Lin's voice the two jumped apart.

"Man Sen, don't even say hi to you're old roomate, I see how it is."

"Don't you know how to knock?" Haku snapped and tried to stand.

Chihiro, seeing the look of pain that came to his face, pushed him back down, "No, don't move." she told him before turning

to Lin, "I'm glad to see you Lin" she said in a cool voice.

A look of hurt came the the woman's face, "Just glad?" she said in a small voice. "Ooof" She was knocked backwards as Chihiro tackled her.

"No I'm not just glad, I'm ecstatic! Do you know how much I missed you?" Chihiro hugged her friend tightly.

"I missed you too, you dolt." Lin laughed and stood up as soon as Chihiro let her go. "I've been taking care of your River Spirit and keeping females away from him."

Haku frowned, "Lin" he said in a dangerous voice, like he wanted Chihiro to know about...he shuddered just thinking about

her.

"Huh? Care to explain?" She asked Haku and Lin.

"No"

"Sure"

Haku glared and Lin who smiled sweetly. "She should know, what is she going to do when Soren comes back begging for a proposal?" Haku winced.

Chihiro felt a flash of jealousy surge through her. "What's going on?" she demanded.

Haku sighed, "Let me tell her than." He told Lin. "There's a certain Ocean Spirit, her parents tried to pay me into marrying her, I refused, of course, but she is insistant. They've been trying to trick me into doing it. No matter how many times I tell her I'm not interested she comes back." he shuddered again.

"An Ocean Spirit?" Chihiro frowned, "Is she pretty?" She asked without thinking.

Lin nodded, "She's the most beautiful of all the Ocean Spirits." She said, not knowing what it would do to Chihiro to hear it. "ow!" she rubbed her head after Haku threw a shoe at her, "Hey!"

Haku pointed at the human. Chihiro's eyes were welled up with tears. She was yawning, trying to hide it, but the tears overflowed and spilled over her cheeks. If Haku was turning down a beautiful spirit, what hope did she have? But that was silly, she didn't like Haku that way. Or did she? She shook her head.

Lin's face flushed, "What's wrong?" she asked.

Chihiro shook her head again, "Nothing, just thinking of back home. My...fiance is going to be worried about me."

Haku felt as if the world stopped spinning. Fiance? She had a fiance. He felt his face turn into a mask as an unbelievable spark of anger moved through him, she couldn't be betrothed to someone else! She was his! He blinked, What was he thinking? Chihiro wasn't his, she was just his friend. What did it matter if she was to be married to a human. His heart, however, broke at the thought of her spending her lifetime with someone else.

Haku cleared his throat, "Congratulations" he said.

Chihiro nodded, "Thanks" she whispered. It hurt knowing she had lied to him, but she couldn't think of anything else to say for why she was crying.

Haku frowned, his heart hurt. Chihiro was engaged. He sighed, "I should get going, I promised Boh I'd take him to see Zeniba today" he said and turned into his dragon form and flew out the window without a second glance at Lin or Chihiro.

Chihiro winced, Great, made two guys mad at me in one day. Way to go Chihiro.