Chapter 3: I Don't Wanna Live Forever

Haku made his way through the bathhouse. It was a bussy day though, a huge wave of customers were occupied. Yet he was given no job from Yubaba neither from the foreman, so he planned to visit Kamaji. Just then he walked passed the main floor didn't noticed Kayo was there.

"Oh, hey Haku!" Kayo called him.

Haku turned and saw Kayo waved at him. He walked towards her.

"Yes?" he replied.

"Umm, are you bussy?" she asked.

Haku shrugged. "I guess I'm not. Why?"

"Thank goodness. Mr. Foreman asked me to move those things to the storeroom, and I need a little help for the heavy ones," she pointed the piled up things and boxes behind her. "Would you help me?" She asked and put a cute smile on her face.

Haku nodded and smiled. "Sure, why not?" he picked up some boxes. "Just forgive him, sometimes Mr. Foreman is cold-blooded to new employees. Even for a girl employee," he continued.

Kayo starred him in amazement. She froze for a momment.

"Come on, these boxes are not too heavy, but not for long," Haku's voice snapped her out.

"Oh, yes. Let's go then," she felt herself blushed. Hastily she picked up random things and walked beside Haku. "Thank you, Haku. I really appriciate your help," she smiled to him.

Haku replied her. "Yup, no problem."

They walked down the stairs, heading to the storeroom. After a moment of silence, Kayo spoke up.

"So, how long you have been worked in here?" Kayo asked.

"Umm.. maybe for eleven... or twelve years? I'm not really sure," he replied.

"Wow, that's long enough," she exclaimed. The thought of do you have any girlfriend came to her mind. She shook her head, she had no courage to asked him about that. "What makes you stay here all this time?" she asked instead.

Haku sighed. "Well, I am a river spirit and actually I have no where to go since my river was covered up by appartements in the human world, and being alone at my river in this world... had become lonely," he paused in his sentence to added without you, Chihiro mentally. "So this place had become my second home and people here had become my familly," he continued.

Kayo gave him a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry about your river, it must be hard for you."

"No, it's fine. It was in the past though," they reached the storeroom as he finished his words. He opened the door and put the boxes on the floor. Kayo did so and they came out of the room and went back upstairs to get the rest of the things.

"So, how about you? What makes you came to work here?" asked Haku became friendly.

Kayo surprised. She was so excited that Haku became friendly with her. "I came here for my parents. They dreamed to have their own bathhouse. They asked me to do some surveys about bathhouses and I heard that this bathhouse is the best one in this world, so I decided to work here while having my survey," she explained.

Haku nodded understood. "Well then I hope you'll enjoy the work and good luck for your survey," he smiled.

Kayo's heart was about to jumped out from her chest. She could feel herself blushed even darker. Of course I'll enjoy the works here. You make me, she thought. "T-thank you, I will," she said.

Noticing Kayo's change, Haku rolled his eyes. Tried to get away from her nicely, he remembered his plan to visit Kamaji. "Uh, Kayo, I am sorry, but I remember there is something I have to do. Is it okay if I leave you with the rest stuffs?" he asked politely.

Kayo was dissapointed. She wanted to be with him just a little longer. But she hid it and merely nodded. "Oh, yeah, it's fine. I can take care of the rest."

"Okay, then. See you," Haku smiled and turned away leaving her. She watched him leaving and went downstairs. She turned around and huffed. Bringing her hands to her head, she shook it.

Little did they know she caught her eyes on them while they were talking. She put on mischievous eyes and chuckled. Oh, Haku. You are a big dumb, she thought.

Haku slid the wooden door of the boiler room and found Kamaji was snapping the sootballs.

"Calm down, Kamaji. I believe they are doing their best. Maybe they are just getting exhausted," said Haku calmly before popped into the boiler room.

Kamaji turned to saw the speaker. "Haku! It's been a while since the last time you came here!" he said excitedly.

Haku grinned. He closed the door before walked towards the spider-like old man. He sat with the shelves against his back.

"So, what brought you here?" Kamaji asked.

The exhausted sootballs were greeting him. Haku petted them and then shrugged. "I don't know, there was just nothing to do upstairs. So I planned to visit you," he answered without moving his eyes away from the sootballs.

Kamaji extended his arms. Without looking back, he reached some shelves above Haku and took some herbs. "Is that so?" He turned and eyed Haku suspiciously. "Well, I bet you have something to say, huh?" He turned around and back to mixing some herbs.

He was right. Haku chuckled. Kamaji knew him very well. "Of course, Kamaji," he answered. "It's about her."

"Chihiro?" Kamaji asked.

Haku nodded. "Yes, Chihiro." Kamaji didn't answer, so he continued. "Yesterday she came to my river. She was so upset. She spilled out her longing, even she thought that I didn't miss her. How could she think like that?"

Kamaji stopped and looked at him. He sighed. "Haku, it's been nine years since she left, isn't it?" Haku nodded. "You promised her you will meet each other again, yet you haven't, you couldn't get to her and you can't even give her any sign after all these time. No wonder she thinks like that," he continued.

Haku's eyes winced. "Just why I cannot get to her? Things couldn't get more bitter, I can't help it anymore!" he cried. He hung his head and put his hand on is forehead. He closed his eyes. "I love her, Kamaji." he exclaimed.

Kamaji surprised at his confession. He chuckled. "Yes, I know. We all know. We all can see it clearly. Even Chihiro did love you so."

Haku's eyes snapped open. He lifted up his head. "She... did?" he asked innocently. Just then the wooden door slid open and a late twenties woman with long brown straight hair popped into the room.

"Your breakfast, Kamaji!" she said. Both the oldman and the river spirit turned to her.

"Lin," Haku said in flat tone. He smiled.

She threw him a bored look. "So, you are here, Mr. Dumb," she said. She passed Kamaji the food and then made her way to the sootballs, stormed passed in front of Haku.

"Hey, Miss, watch your language," Haku said calmly.

Lin shook her head. "Nope. I said it," she turned and faced him. "Haku, you are a big dumb!" she mocked.

Kamaji chuckled while chewing his breakfast. Haku cocked his eyebrow. "Excuse me? What is your problem, Miss?" he asked.

Lin shrugged and chuckled. "I have no problem. The problem is yours, that you don't even realize that girl is in love with you."

Haku surprised. "What? Who?"

Lin grunted. "See? Unbelievable. That girl, you've been talking with her when you guys came back from the store room."

"Huh? You mean Kayo?" Haku asked in disbelief.

"Yeah, whatever her name is," said Lin in boring tone.

"But, Lin, how could you tell-"

"It is obvius, you idiot!" Lin cut him off. "The way she looks you, or when she blushed while you guys were talking, weren't you pay attention?"

Haku blinked in confusion. Kamaji chuckled and then joined them on the wooden floor.

"Calm down, Lin. Haku is not idiot. He is just in love," Kamaji said calmly.

"What? If he is in love, then why doesn't he realize about that girl's feeling?" now Lin was confused.

Kamaji smiled. "Of course he doesn't. He's in love with another girl. He's in love with Chihiro."

"Who?" Lin asked the unfamiliar name.

Haku sighed. "I had never told you before. Chihiro is Sen, your so called little sister," he explained.

Lin's eyes widened. "SEN!? Chihiro is her real name? So after all these time..." she cried. "Wait, but it's been like-" she stopped and started to count with her finger. "Nine years? And you're still...?" Lin blinked in surprise.

Haku nodded. His face slightly blushed.

"Whatever you've just said about Kayo, I don't think it will change my mind and feelings for Chihiro."

"But I don't understand..." she cried.

Kamaji chuckled at the look on Lin's face. "I told you before, you don't understand about love." he said wisely.

Lin huffed and folded her arms together. Both Haku and Kamaji laughed at her reaction.

Chihiro's eyes fluttered open to the noises that bothered her sleep. It sounded like someone was knocking at the door. She was too sleepy to response but someone outside knocked the door louder. Chihiro sat up and yawned. Seriously? What time is it? She turned to the digital clock on the desk beside her bed. 01:47. They must be joking! What are they doing here in the middle of the night!? she thought. "Just a minute!" she answered the visitor.

She went downstairs and almost slipped. She was barely awake. She opened the door and a dazzling blue light welcomed her. Once the light faded, two police figures was standing in front of her.

"Good Night, Miss. Is it true this is Ogino's residence?" asked the tall policeman.

"Umm, yeah... it's true," Chihiro said rubbing her eyes.

"So, you must be Chihiro Ogino, right?" he asked again.

"Yes, it's me. What happened?" she clarified finally awake.

The policeman sighed. "Miss Ogino, we are sorry to bother your rest. But we came here to tell you your parents got a car crash," he explained.

Chihiro's eyes widened. "What? A car crash?"

He nodded. "Yes, and now your mother is in the hospital,"

"My mom... and my dad?" she asked. She had a bad feeling.

He sighed and glanced the other police next to him. "We are really sorry, Miss. Your father was... dead when we found them at the scene," the other police said. He looked at Chihiro concerned.

That's it. She froze. She felt like her heart fell down to her stomach. "No, no. I don't believe you. This can't be right," she trembled and she shook her head.

Both the policeman knew this would happen. The taller one took a folder out of his sling bag and gave it to Chihiro. She opened it. She gasped. What's inside the folder made her trembled even more. It was a picture of her parents' car, fully destroyed from crashing the roadblock. Her eyes was close to tears.

"Is that your parents' car?" they asked.

The folder dropped to the floor and so did herself.

"NO! Daddy! No! No... Dad..." she cried and sobbed. Pictures and memories about her dad was running inside her head like a movie. She couldn't believe her dad has gone.

The policeman crouching down to her. They petted her back to calm her. "We are very sorry, Miss Ogino. It must be very hard for you. But your mother is still in the hospital. You could come with us and we will take you to her," they said.

Chihiro lifted her head up. She wiped her tears. She nodded. Ignoring she was still in her pajamas, she got into the police car and sat in the backseat defenselessly.

They were chatting about several things happily when suddenly Haku skipped a heartbeat and his face paled. He put his hand on his chest. His hand was gripping on it. What was that? Something must have gone wrong... he thought. But he didn't say a word. He sat there remain in silence meanwhile Lin and Kamaji were still chatting. Lin was the first to notice Haku's change.

"Yo! Mr. Dumb! What is it? You look pale," she asked.

Haku snapped out of his thought. He hastily answered. "Huh? No, I'm fine," he smiled nervously.

Lin cocked her eyebrow and then threw him a bored look. Kamaji eyed him suspiciously.

They parked their car in front of the emergency room. The policeman escorted Chihiro in, straight to the nurses station, and asked about the girl's mother.

"Where is the patient named Yuuko? This girl is her daughter," said the tall policeman.

The nurse looked surprised to see Chihiro. "You mean the car crash victim?" she asked. The policeman nodded meanwhile Chihiro was only remain in silence, holding her tears that about to stream. "Come, follow me. She's over there," she hurried and lead them.

She lead them to a chamber with covered green curtains. A doctor emerged out from there. Chihiro sped up, ran ahead among the others, straight to the doctor.

"Doctor! Doctor, how is my mom?" Chihiro cried to him.

The doctor surprised at her sudden question. "You are Miss Ogino?" he asked. She nodded. His expression softened to concerned. "Miss Ogino, I am sorry, but your mother's condition is very bad."

Chihiro gasped. "Oh, no! Is she awake?"

The doctor nodded "Yes. But she needs- Hey, wait! Miss...!"

Chihiro ignored him. She passed him and breached the green curtains into her mother's chamber. The doctor was about to stop her, but he had no heart to. So he just let her. She found her feeble mother on the bed, with some rubber tubes connected to her body and some monitors next to her bed that helped to sustain her life. She wore an oxygen mask and heavily breathed.

She ran to her. "Mom!"

Yuuko opened her eyes and turned to her. "Chi-hiro... My.. De-ar..." she said hardly.

Chihiro gulped. "Mom... I am so worried about you," she held her hand.

Yuuko smiled sadly. "I'm sorr-ry... Chihiro. Your... Dad... We're sorr-ry.."

Chihiro shook her head. "No, Mom. Don't say you're sorry,"

"Y-y-you have to be... strong..." Yuuko said fully struggled. She raised her hand to caress her daughter's cheek, maybe for the last time. "Ta-take care of... yourself."

She can't help it. Her tears streamed. "No! Mom! Don't say it!" she gripped her hand.

Tears were flowing down from Yuuko's wistful eyes too. "We l-l-love you... Chi-chihiro. Al... ways.."

Chihiro smiled sadly. "I love you too, Mom. Always," she kissed her mother's hand.

Yuuko smiled and then closed her eyes.

Beeeeeeeeeeeeep.

Chihiro turned to the monitor. It showed only green line that moved flatly. She turned back to her mother. She was holding her hand that was getting cold. She gasped.

"DOCTOR! NURSE! ANYONE! HELP HER! SHE'S NOT BREATHING!" she shouted.

"Seriously, Haku. What's wrong with you? Are you sick?" asked Kamaji getting worried.

Haku didn't answer, he hung his head and throwed his sight to the wooden floor instead. He felt their gazes on him. He sighed then lift his head up.

"I-I don't know," he replied. "I skipped a heartbeat and I had a bad feeling. I think something must have gone wrong," he explained.

Five bath tokens fell and hung behind Kamaji intruded them. He turned and realized he had been slacking.

Kamaji huffed. "Yubaba's not gonna like this," he turned back to work. "Haku, I think you should get some rest and calm yourself," he turned his head to Haku.

Haku took a deep breath. He stood up. "I guess so. I'll just go back to my room. Thanks, Kamaji, Lin," he smiled slightly then heading to the door.

Kamaji nodded. "And you too, Lin! You should get back to work!" he said snapping the stunned Lin.

Lin gave him an annoying face expression. "Uhuhhh, yeah," she said in boring tone.

The doctor and nurses were still at the other side of the curtain so they heard her clearly. They came hastily and directly helped Yuuko. They checked her, the rubber tubes, and also the monitor.

Chihiro stood there watched and crying. The policeman came into the chamber too, tried to calm her. She watched they used a defibrilator on her mother for several times, but no response were given from her. Her crying became louder. The doctor turned, shook his head to her and a regret look came up to his face.

"No! Mom! Please don't go!" she cried. She was about to run to her mother, but the policeman held her back. "No! Don't leave me..." she felt her consciousness fade away. "Alone..." she can't helped it. She severe shocked. She fainted to the floor. Her eyes were closed but her ears could faintly hears.

"We lost her, Doctor,"

"Sadly, yes. Note the time of death,"

"It's 3:54 AM, Yuuko Ogino has declared dead,"

No! she screamed mentaly. And then everything was a complete silent.

Just when Haku about to slide the door, suddenly he felt like falling down from a cliff. He dropped to the floor. He blacked out.

Everything was dark. He heard someone cried and sobbed. A girl. He turned and searched for the girl but he was alone in the dark.

"Haku,"

That voice, he heard it in his every dreams.

"Chihiro!?"

"Haku!"

"Chihiro! Where are you!?"

"Please help me," she sobbed.

"Chihiro! Tell me where you are!"

He could only hear her sobbing.

"Chihiro!"

"Please... Come for me,"

her voice fade away and disappeared.

"Chihiro!"

He felt a bitter liquid came into his mouth and he forced to gulp it. But he stifled and choked. He opened his eyes.

"Hey, dragon! You're awake!" Lin yelled. She and Kamaji were swarming him on his right and left. He saw Kamaji was holding a cup of potion, half empty. He looked worried.

Haku sat up. "Chihiro..." he mumbled.

Kamaji raised his eyebrow. "Haku, are you alright?"

"Huh? What happened?" he held his head tried to remember.

"You don't remember? You were about to went back to your room. But suddenly you dropped before you slide the door," Lin explained.

Now he remembered. "Oh, yes. That was... Suddenly I felt like falling down from a cliff and then everything was dark."

Kamaji and Lin looked confused.

"And Chihiro..." he continued. "She called me. She was there crying for help, somewhere in the darkness. I looked around and searched for her, but I was all alone there," his eyes narrowed.

Kamaji and Lin looked each other, then turned back to Haku.

Lin spoke up. "Oh, come on, dragon. It's just a dream. She must be fine," she smiled nervously.

"No!" he shouted. "No. I always dreamed about her, but it never was like that. Something must have happened to her," he stood up then walked towards the door.

"Haku, where are you going?" Kamaji asked. "You know you couldn't get to her, you cannot walk pass the hills. What are you gonna do?"

Haku stopped. He balled his hands. "I know!" he cried. "I just..." he sighed. "I'm going to my river, thanks," he slid the door and left.

Both Lin and Kamaji were stunned. They looked at each other.

"I hope everything will be fine," she said.

Kamaji nodded. "I hope so."

She heard voices. The sound of the door's hinge when it's opened. Footsteps. Whispers. A woman. A man.

"Is she awake?"

"No, not yet."

She felt someone held her hands, checking her pulse.

"Her pulse is still low. How poor she is. Both her parents died in the same night. I really feel sorry for her,"

So, it's real? Mom? Dad? They're gone? I... wasn't dreaming. She tried to open her eyes but it felt so heavy.

"Should we wake her up? Her parents will be buried in a few hours,"

"No, just wait for a little longer. She really had a severe shock,"

Chihiro forced herself to woke up. Her eyelids fluttered open. A blurry nurse figure welcomed her.

"Ah, Miss Ogino, I am so glad you're awake," she said.

"Where am I?" she sat up.

"You're in the hospital," the policeman beside her answered. "You got a severe shock. You fainted last night,"

"I remember," Chihiro said flatly.

The nurse handed her a cup of water. "Miss Ogino, you need to drink or you'll get dehydration," she said.

Chihiro did so, not that she concerned about herself, only to wet her dry lips so she could speak fluently.

The policeman cleared his throat. "Umm, Miss Ogino, I'm afraid it's not the right time, but I think you need to know that your parents will be buried in a few hours," he said.

The nurse caught her eyes coldly on his. The look of how dare you came up to her face. A guilty look came up on the policeman's face.

"I know," Chihiro said. "I heard you guys were talking. So I forced myself to wake up," she gave them an empty look.

The nurse stunned for a moment. This girl is strong, she forced herself to wake up from severe shock, she thought. She smiled.

"Well, now, are you feeling better, Miss Ogino?" she asked.

Chihiro threw her sight to the blanket that covered her legs. She ignored the nurse's question. "Let's just get ready for the funeral," she said instead.

The white dragon landed on his room's balcony. He shifted back to his human from. He came into the room and then threw his body to his bed.

"No! Chihiro!" he cried to the pillow. "You weren't going to my river. Then where are you?" he sat up. He held his chest. His heartbeat was uncontroled. "What happened to you? How can I help you?" he muttered. He balled his hands. He stood up and walked out his room, to the balcony. He caught his eyes coldly to the spirit gate. He took a deep breath. Dear damn spirit gate, please cooperate with me this time, he thought.

All the things that happened to her in less than twenty four hours, were just unbelievable. The policeman took her home after the funeral. She didn't say much. She didn't cry. She remained in silence with her sorrowful eyes that looked empty.

"Take care of yourself, Miss Ogino. This is my phone number, you can call me if you need help," he gave her his name card. He said his farewell and then left.

Chihiro closed the door. She stunned for a moment, letting the silence sink in. She went upstairs, imagined that she'll found her parents there, just as the usual before. But no, she was all alone now.

She emerged into her room. She closed the door. She took off her purple hairband and put it on her wrist. She eyed the cloudy sky from her window for a second before laid down on the floor. She stared at the ceiling. Pictures and memories of her parents were running inside her head like a movie. She started to cry.

"God, please just take my life. I don't wanna live like this," she whispered in her sobbing.

It's been three days since Haku locked himself in his room. He had tried his best to open the damn spirit gate so he could get to Chihiro, ignoring the hill's curse. He had cast every spells and magics he had learnt. He used all of his power and strength. But always zero resulted. Lin, Kamaji, and everyone became worried. Every time they went to checked him in his room, his answer was always the same, 'Leave me alone.' He didn't sleep. He refused to eat. Kayo was worried too, of course. She asked Lin and the other spirits she knew 'Did you see Haku?' or 'Where is Haku?' or 'Is he alright?' about five times a day, until Lin became annoyed.

Someone knocked the door.

"Leave me alone," Haku muttered.

Whose outside knocked the door louder.

"I said, leave me alone!" he shouted.

"I-i'm sorry, Master Haku. We all worried about you. And now Master Yubaba wants to see you," the speaker said.

Haku tensed up. He walked to the door and opened it. The lizard spirit outside gasped to see Haku's condition.

Haku eyed him coldly. "Fine," he stormed passed the lizard spirit and heading to Yubaba's office.

He didn't want to waste his time. Ignoring the enchanted door knocker, he barged into her office. Yubaba was surprised to saw his condition.

"Haku," she said calmly.

"What do you want?"

Yubaba chuckled. "Oh, how rude," she was about to snapped him but she realized that Haku could be dangerous when he's not in the mood. "Nevermind. I heard you locked yourself in your room. Why? I don't like it if my employee is slacking," she said.

"I can't work with my heart rumbling," he answered firmly.

"And why would your heart rumbling?" she asked interested.

Haku didn't answer. He threw away his sight to the carpet under his feet.

"ANSWER ME, DRAGON!" she snapped.

Haku's eyes narrowed. "Something happened to the human girl and I tried to help her, but I can't!" he shouted.

Yubaba's expression changed. "So, you're worried about Sen, aren't you? It's been nine years. Impressive," she grinned.

"Her name is Chihiro," he said coldly.

Just then Kayo emerged out from Boh's room with the giant baby behind her.

"Thanks, Kayo! That was a lot of fun!" Boh grinned.

"Anytime, Boh," Kayo smiled. She turned and found Haku was there with Yubaba. She gasped to see his awful condition.

"Haku! Are you okay? I am so worried about you!" Kayo cried.

"I'm fine," Haku answered without meeting her gaze.

Yubaba eyed Kayo mischievously. "So, Boh, sweet heart, how was your play time with Kayo?"

"It was great, Mama! It's been a while since the last time I had a great time with my friend," Boh answered.

They all knew who did Boh mean, except Kayo.

"Really? I'm glad to hear that," Yubaba said. "Now, Haku. I see Kayo is as good as that girl, just like what Boh said. So why don't you forget her and be with Kayo? You don't need to worry and no more slacking," she continued calmly.

Kayo blushed. Boh folded his chubby arms and eyed Yubaba. Haku was about to explode but Boh did it first.

"Mama! You cannot compare Sen to Kayo, to anyone! Kayo is good but Sen is Sen! No one can replace her!" said Boh angrily.

Yubaba's jaw dropped open. She didn't expect her son would say something like that. The blush on Kayo's face disappeared. She forced a smile.

Haku nodded to Boh. "Thanks, Boh."

Boh nodded back. With that the boys left Yubaba's office. Leaving the stunned Yubaba and the irritated Kayo. Yubaba turned to Kayo.

"Kayo, thank you. Get back to work," she said.

Kayo nodded. "Yes, Ma'am." There's sadness in her voice, Yubaba knew it.

Haku went to the boiler room. He couldn't help it. He slid the door. Without words he emerged in. Kamaji turned and his eyes widened.

"Haku! Look at you! You look terible!" Kamaji jumped out his workspace directly to Haku. He grabbed his shoulder, eyed him carefully. Narrowed eyes. Dark bags plastered beneath them. Dry lips. Heavy breathing.

"How long you haven't sleep?" Kamaji asked.

"Three days?"

"Three days!? Why did you do that?"

"I can't sleep."

Kamaji sighed. "Eat? Drink?"

Haku shook his head. "I don't want to."

Kamaji gave him the Seriously? look. "Sit down," he demanded.

Haku grabbed Kamaji's shoulders. "Look, Kamaji. Since I got that dream my heart couldn't stop rumbling. I came to my river but it told me she wasn't there. I've tried my best to open that damn spirit gate! I cast all the spells and magics I had learnt, but it never work!" he cried. Kamaji stunned. Haku turned back to the shelves.

"I can't help her, Kamaji. I feel like I'm living in vain!" he sulked. He banged his head to the shelves over and over.

"Haku, stop acting like a child," Kamaji asked.

Haku wasn't listening. A dragon could be a stubborn to face love problems. "Stop it, Kohaku!" Kamaji pulled him back, forced him to meet his eyes. "Are you loosing your mind!?" he snapped.

Haku didn't move. "Yes, I am," he answered flatly. Kamaji shoved him down, forced him to sit. He took a glass of water for him. "Drink," he handed the glass.

Haku took a sip. He pondered. He thought about these past few days. Suddenly he remembered something. She's going to try to pass through the spirit gate. His river, it told him. His eyes widened. "Kamaji, she's comming!" he broke the silence.

"What?" Kamaji cocked his head aside.

"Maybe this time she'll get pass through the gate! Maybe this time she could make it!"

"Haku, you need a rest,"

"No, Kamaji. I'll wait for her. I'll wait for her before the hills until she come. I'll be there when she needs me," Haku stood up.

"Haku, you're not thinking clearly!" Kamaji said firmly. He grabbed his wrist.

There's fire in Haku's eyes. "I believe she will come. Let me go," he demanded.

Kamaji stared him for a moment before released his hand. He sighed.

"Thank you," Haku smiled and then left.

Kamaji shook his head. "That dragon is so stubborn," he muttered.

Haku ran through the bathhouse, ignoring some spirits called him. They're all surprised to see him. They had never see Haku in such a mess. If Haku had been paying attention, he wouldn't collided with a girl from his right side. The tray and the dishes she brought fell to the floor and so did them.

"Haku?" the girl said.

"Huh? Kayo?" he realized with whom he collided. "I am sorry, I didn't see you're comming," he stood up and helped her to get up. "Uh, are you okay?"

Kayo caught her purple diamond-like eyes to his wistful emeralds, deeply. "That should be my question. Are you okay?"

Haku stunned for a moment. Kayo's eyes as if were speaking to him. She couldn't resist. She leaned her face closer to Haku's. She closed her eyes and about to put her lips upon his, but he blinked and pulled himself away. She opened her eyes in disappointment.

"Kayo," he shook his head. "No." Fire glinted on his eyes. Without another words he left. She stunned and watched him went out the bathhouse. The other spirits were watching. Some of them felt sorry for Kayo, but some ladies who had their crush on Haku were laughing at her. Feel ashamed, Kayo hastily cleaned up the tray and the dishes, then ran away to the kitchen.

He stood there before the hills. It's midnight. It was very dark but with his dragon's eyes he could see the spirit gate across the river clearly.

"Please come to me, Chihiro. I believe you will," he sat. "And I'm right here for you."

Lin was mopping the wooden floor when Mr. Foreman came to her.

"Lin, your next job is to clean the big tub," he said.

Lin folded her arms. "Excuse me? Cleaning the big tub is the most exhausting work in this place. I won't working on my own!" she yelled.

The foreman laughed. "Of course you won't, Lin. That's why I assigned Kayo to assist you," he turned and Kayo emerged beside him.

Lin rolled her eyes. "Oh, great," she said in boring tone. "Okay then. Come on, let's just get it done," she made her way to the big tub, Kayo followed her lead.

They cleaned the big tub hardly. Scrubbing and mopping. Lin was making too much sulking and muttering meanwhile Kayo was working silently. She was pondering about Haku, still irritated about the awkward moment earlier that night. She couldn't thinking clearly.

"Lin, does Haku had a girlfriend?" the question slipped out from her mouth.

Lin was surprised to hear her question, she laughed. "Mr. Dumb had a girlfriend? I don't think so," she shrugged. "But if you asked 'Did he had a crush?', I believe he did put some feelings on someone," she continued.

Kayo's heart beat faster. He had a crush? On me? No, it can't be. I was going to kiss him but he refused. Another girl, but who? she thought.

"By the way, did you see him?" she snapped her from her thoughts.

"Who?"

Lin rolled her eyes. "Haku, The Stubborn Dragon?"

"Ohh, umm, last time I met him he was going outside the bathhouse," she replied.

"Alright then." Lin shrugged it off.

They finished their job at about 3 AM. Lin went outside the bathhouse. It was drizzling. She could see the river spirit's figure was sitting before the hills. She came to him.

"Yo! Dragon! Come back inside," she asked.

His hair and clothes were getting wet but he didn't move neither turned. "No, I am waiting for her, Lin," he said.

Lin had heard this before from Kamaji. The drizzle got intense and it started to rain. "But it's raining! You could wait for her inside!" she yelled.

"I am a river spirit, water is my best friend. I'll be fine, I am staying," he said stubbornly.

Lin sighed and shook her head. She went back to the bathhouse.

It had been three days. She stayed in her room. She did nothing. Just laying on the floor. Sat by the window. Staring at the sky. Drown on pondering. Crying. She ate nothing, she thought she need no food. It was unnecessary. Only drink, a little amount of water just to wet her throat, once or twice. Sleep was only if she overslept, but most she stayed awake. Forgot about to bathe.

She started to loosing her mind. Whithout her parents she felt like living in vain. She realized that after the whole time she was just living without a purpose. She didn't know what to do. Go to school? What for? She had no future, at least that's what she thought.

Once she thought to call the policeman. But again she thought it would be useless. They would pity her only because she was now an orphan. Oh, how she really hoped and prayed to die.

It was about 7 AM, Chihiro was sitting by the window. Her head hurt and her eyes swelled, she cried too much. Her mind was out of no where, her eyes looked empty. She was wondering if there's still hope. And then her eyes were moving to the purple hairband on her wrist. That's it.

She emerged out from her room, to the kitchen. She took out a knife from the shelves. She gripped it on her right hand. She took a deep breath. She narrowed her eyes. Walked out from her house, maybe she's gonna leave forever.

She let her feet lead her to a place she took as her last only hope. The spirit gate. This is the last time. My only last hope, please let me pass through. Please cooperate with me this time, she prayed. No more wasting time, she walked into the tunnel.

The sun had rose up high, but Kayo couldn't get sleep. She kept thinking about Haku. She was worried again. Lin said he was sitting before the hills all night long. She went out the bathhouse looking for Haku. Lin wasn't lie. She found him there, sitting before the hills.

"Hey, Haku. It's me, Kayo," she said.

Haku turned his head like an inch to the right, but then he turned it back. "I need some time alone," he said.

Kayo frowned. "I know," she stepped forward. "Here, I brought you a blanket. Just maybe if you get cold," she said it carefully.

Haku didn't answer. Kayo sighed. "I'll leave it here then," she put the blanket beside him and then left.

Once she left, he sighed. Chihiro, I am right here for you. Please come to me.

Chihiro arrived at the other side of the tunnel. A beautiful scenery of green hills welcomed her.

It'd better be here. It have to be here. Or else I can't help it anymore, I would end my life, she thought. She eyed the knife in her right hand.

She walked through the hills. Step by step. Memories from nine years ago started to running on her head, the further she went, the more she couldn't help it.

"Haku..." she mumbled as tears started to flow. "HAKU!" she cried.

On the other side of the hills Haku snapped up. He thought he heard someone called him. A girl.

"Chihiro...?" he whispered.

"HAKU! WHERE ARE YOU!?" she screamed.

Chihiro! It's her! He stood up. "CHIHIRO!" he cried.

Chihiro's eyes widened. She thought she heard Haku's voice calling her name. "Haku...? HAKU!" she screamed again.

"CHIHIRO! I AM RIGHT HERE!" he screamed.

Tears streamed down her face. She wasn't dreaming. She sped up her pace heading to the other side of the hills. Haku felt overjoyed, she really came back. He ran to the stairs where the frog statue stood.

She arrived and a scenery of a place that looked like an abandoned amusement park welcomed her. There, beside the frog statue, the boy that she dreamed of was waiting. It never happened before everytime she tried to get through pass the tunnel.

She's comming. The girl he loved since nine years ago was now on her way to him. She reached the stairs and finally she was now in front of him.

His feelings were mixed when he saw her conditon. Her skin was pale, her eyes were sorrowful with dark bags plastered beneath them, they're also swelled. Dry lips. Heavy breathing.

She stepped forward. "Haku...?" she said.

"Chihiro..." he couldn't move his eyes from hers.

"Is that you?" she whispered.

"Chihiro, it's me..." he leaned his hand closer to her face and her shoulder.

Tears fell upon her cheeks. "You're real..." she trembled.

He didn't know what to say. He held her hands and found out she was holding a knife on her right hand. He confused. "Chihiro...?"

She blinked and then smiled. She felt her consciousness began to fade away. "Thank goodness," she whispered. The knife dropped from her hand. She couldn't help it. She fainted and about to fell to the ground. But in a blink, she fell to his arms instead.

woaaa finally I update the next chapter. Lately there's so many school works to do, they won't let me finish this one. Ugh. To be honest I've been so caught up in this chapter, it's the longest chapter I've wrote!

to the reviewers:

Amidstsnow ~ hmm, we'll see :D

James Birdsong ~ thank you :D

How about the others? Until this chapter I wanna proof that Haku and Chihiro were really had a strong connection. How was it? Review please :3