[.Enjoying Life.]

[~*~Chihiro~*~]

The sun was just starting to rise into the sky,another morning had come to the bath house.While everyone else was still asleep from the events that happened during the night,aiding the spirits and making sure they we're kept pleased one girl had come out to greet the morning with a smile.As she stood on the bridge,she stretched her hands towards the sky and yawned.

Sighing she went to the railing on the left side of the bridge,standing up on the bottom wooden rail and leaned over hoping to see the train steaming by this early in the morning.Sure enough there it was,coming out of the tunnel and heading towards the horizon that went on forever.

"Someday I want to go to the end,I want to see what's there".

Lowering herself back onto the wooden planks,she looked towards where the stairs we're that led down into the area where the spirit resturants we're.She had wanted to see the sun rise that she forgot to grab something to eat,guess she could sneak into the kitchen and grab something.

[Haku]

A long twisting form slowly began to take shape as it moved through the early mornings clouds. A silvery sheen of light spread over the large beasts body as the brightening rays of the sun shine hit him. Emerald green eyes narrowed and concentrated trying to see against the once dark skies that now held a more brilliant blue color. Only a few fluffy white clouds float by as he let his slender body wiggle through them making his forest green mane damp. Of course, the dampness did not last long. Whenever he burst back through a cloud it would dry almost immediately because of the speed he was going through the warm air. The passing air also caused the stringy whiskers to flap around his face every now and then, but every now and then he would slow a bit to let them hover gracefully at his sides.

The sight of the bath house caused him to slow dramatically. Now hid body seemed to be floating in the air as he spiraled down toward the earth and the large building. But before he could make a final landing, the keen jade eyes caught sight of another presence beside his own. This particular other being was standing at the bridge to the Bath House and caused him to almost stop in mid air. But instead, he twirled down toward the ground near the Bath House.

In a quick moment, the large feet turned into the sandaled feet of a young man and the rest of his body was soon to follow. Now there was no dragon. Just a young man. But as he turned on his heel he managed to walk just as gracefully as he was when a dragon. He took quick flowing steps which caused his long locks of dark hair to flow behind him. A stern look was plastered on his face and a frown graced his pink lips. His arms hung attentively at his sides next to his lean body. This was his business look. The kind he tried to use to scare others. Usually it worked.

As his feet hit the edge of the bridge, he stopped. Both eyes narrowed as he took in a good look at the girl. He surveyed her before saying anything. Then he finally decided that talking was probably a good idea.

"What are you doing here?" he asked in a sharp tone. Even though it was almost a curt remark, he managed to keep his low even and just loud enough to let her hear him.

[~*~Chihiro~*~]

As she turned back towards the bath house,her long brown hair bouncing against her back.Her feet stopped dead in their tracks as she heard a voice,and not just any voice but the one she hadn't heard for a very long time.There near the bath house was someone she was hoping to surprise,oh but that's right she wasn't ten years old anymore and not a kid either.Looking down at herself in the uniform she wore,not being able to wear the bigger clothing somewhat words almost seemed to escape her for a few momments.

*Oh no what am I going to do,what can I even say.....i'm not ten anymore*

Come on Chihiro think of something,don't just stand there looking like a ninny.This is your friend and someone you cared deeply for,there was nothing to be scared about except for that tone in his voice.How she always hated when he used that tone,especially around her but it was always to fool that witch into thinking he was strict.

"Listen I work here,I just came out to enjoy the morning sunrise......besides.....".

No she couldn't say it right now,she wanted to make him keep believing she was enjoying a normal life on the human side of this place.That she didn't come back and renewed her contract,because then everything they had worked so hard to accomplish four years ago would have been a waste.

"Well heh I better get back,don't want Yu-Baaba to catch me".

[Haku]

Haku knew this voice. This person, to be specific. He knew that he knew but it was not so easy to place. If she knew him he realized that he would not be too hard to point out. He was not exactly someone you could mix another person with. How many beings did one know with forest green locks of hair? Overall, Haku was sure he would managed to stand out wherever he went. Although over the past few years he mad managed to take on a bit of an older look. The locks of hair had managed to grow out in longer strands that hung right on his shoulders. Even though the bangs that cut straight across his forehead were still around, they seemed to manage to sneak closer to his eyes than they had so many years ago. Haku did try to keep his hair nice and trim to look presentable, but after a fly it was not so easy. His facial features seemed more masculine than they had before. Instead of having the almost inoccent yet keen eyes of a child, they seemed to change into something sharper. Almost as if he had kept them narrowed so much they had stuck. Though they still had a nice oval shape.

The more dramatic changes was probably his height at this point. But like most growing boys he had to grow sooner or later. It just took spirits a bit longer he supposed. To get larger and what not. His body had also managed to fill in a got bit. He was no longer just a skinny little boy, but a young man.

At her words, he was almost tempted to throw her an amused smile. Just to confuse her. But he did not. The same firm look remained on his features as he watched her silently. She was not going to escape him so easily. He had a feeling that he did know her.

"If you work here, why haven't I seen you?" he question easily. Though it had come out more as a demand. "I'm sure I would have seen you before."

Another change. His voice. Not by much though. Though it did hold more of a presence now and seemed to hold more wisdom to it now that he had more years added on him. His age was lost to him but he knew now that he would probably fit in with any teenage boy. Not personality wise. But growing.

[~*~Chihiro~*~]

"Well probably because you don't keep track of workers,i've been......er around".

Around trying to keep hidden as much as possible,she hadn't noticed till now but Haku seems to have changed since time has passed.He didn't look like a child anymore,he seemed more like a young man which was kind of good she supposed.Chihiro had to make another excuse to get out of this prediciment,she had already said she was working here what more did he want to hear from her.As she tryed to change the subject,there was barely anything she could really say at this point.

"If your going to lecture me,then I think this conversation is over".

She now put her hands on her hips,and just once acted like the child she once was.Sticking her tounge out at him,the purple hair band in her hair glistening as the sun touched it.Blinking she put her tounge back in her mouth,she gave a nervous laugh oh great just great hopefully after that little escapade he wouldn't find out it's her.

[Haku]

This almost did not surprise him. Actually, it didn't surprise him for some reason. He knew that he knew this. Everything in the back of his mind that told him he knew her was now pressing to the front so that he could take a chance to fully grasp the situation that had fallen before him. So he could find out exactly who she was. There was only one name that came to mind. One name, one human. There was only one human that he could recognize. That he could recognize in her. That one and only person would have to be the girl that he had met years ago. The girl that was not supposed to be here. Here working, at that. It had been difficult enough getting her out of the work and now here she was back in it. Now he knew for sure. He knew who this was. Haku knew exactly who she was.

A few years may have changed her appearance, but it had failed in changing her personality too much. At least the bit he had just seen. Not to mention the way that she spoke to him. Nobody spoke to him like that. Not around here if they knew what was good for them. Haku was not exactly the sweetest of people when you got on his bad side. Especially when you were on his bad side.

At first he was not going to let her go. He was going to hold his stern gaze, keep on the serious look, and continue questioning her until it drove her completely mad. But he did something that was the complete opposite. He held up his chin a bit and let his eyes raise up to look from her own. The serious look on his face dissolved a bit as he let more of the ray of light hit his face that was hidden pretty well underneath his hair. Then he let the slightest and briefest of grins appear. A small upturn of one corner of his mouth. It quickly faded though. He then dropped his head again and walked almost carefully toward the rail of the bridge to let his hand rest on it. His eyes now looked down at the tracks beneath him. The seriousness, returned.

"Then get back to the bath house, Chihiro," he spoke in the same seriousness as he would with anyone else. In almost an uncaring tone. Probably because it bothered him a bit that she would come back. Why was she back?

[~*~Chihiro~*~]

"Eh....you knew it was me,oh well so much for keeping a low profile".

Chihiro let her hands drop to her side,did he know all this time or had he just realized now it was her.Why wasn't has going on and asking her why she had returned,was he angry with her or just disappointed that what they fought for was for nothing.She let her chocolate gaze stare at the ground,some hair falling over her shoulders.He was angry wasn't he,hey she didn't think she would ever return here either but something just urged her to come back.

"I hesitated at first when I reached the bridge,I thought to myself "Chihiro this is foolish" or "Chihiro this is stupid just go back home" but I couldn't make myself turn around".

Shrugging her shoulders and letting a small laugh escape her mouth,looking back now it was kind of stupid to even have come here with her parents.But what a adventure she had,not only did she become stronger and gain more courage but she had learned that true friendship could be found anywhere if you just look hard enough.

"I'm not a kid anymore,well maybe just a little after all i'm fourteen and the time is different in our two worlds".

[Haku]

Even if his expression had yet to show anything except for the humorless expression he always wore, Haku was quite amused with her little act. He found it rather amusing that she would try to hide the fact that it was really her. Maybe she just was not much of an actor. Or Haku was simply fond of the way she spoke and moved. Whatever it was, Haku could still tell when it was Chihiro. Well, it had taken him a while to figure it out, but he knew from the start that he knew her. That was what had led him to knowing it was her to begin with.

The emerald stare was tempted to turn back in her direction to make contact with her browns, but he kept them forward and away. The black eyebrows pressed toward one another thoughtfully as she spoke. His lips stayed in a perfect line and he almost seemed as though he was not listening to her at all. It seemed as though the spirit had slipped away into his own dark corners of his mind and was letting his imagination run wild. But, in reality, he was no where near day dreaming. He was taking in the information that she gave him.

Once she finished speaking, Haku shifted his weight around in an unnoticeable manner. His feet only shuffled so he could half turn himself toward her and the railing. He knew very well that she was not a child any more. Now she was a young woman. It was plain and simple. He could see it with his very eyes. She was grown. Not an adult, but old enough to make her decisions. At least he thought so. Maybe she did not need her parents any longer. Somehow, he doubted that.

"Then you have work here again? Yu-Baaba let you come back?"

[~*~Chihiro~*~]

"Yu-Baaba heh.....,yes she let me come back".

But it wasn't easy no there was always some catch,or some other thing.It's true the work was hard but she could do it,proving she could hold her own when it came to cleaning and washing the floors that we're so hard before.Chihiro could have just gone home from school,she didn't have to leave her backpack by that scary statue and come back through that tunnel but she did.

Raising her head up she turned her head slightly,her eyes falling upon him.It felt akward standing here on this spot,this is where she crossed to first hide in the bath house and again when she had to take that ridiculous test to see if she could idetify her parents.

"Another reason I returned,we made a promise.......remember".

[Haku]

There must have been a catch. There had to be a catch with someone like Yu-Baaba. She would not just let Chihiro come and work. There had to be something more to it. If there was, then why didn't he know? Why hadn't Yu-Baaba informed him of her return in the first place? If Chihiro had been there long at all. Haku had no idea. He didn't know when she got here and how long she was working. And he was not about to go and ask her. Haku would figure this out on his own. Besides, she must not have been around wrong since he hadn't known. He would have surely known. Wouldn't he have noticed?

After shaking himself free of his thoughts, Haku finally looked back toward Chihiro. His brows rose lightly and instead of holding his usual almost unemotional stare, the look held a bit more innocence. If that was even possible with Haku. But it was something more along the lines of curiosity and thoughtfulness. A dash of bewilderment was even mixed in there.

The promise? Haku assumed that she would have forgotten that promise. But, even if she had, he had not expected this to be the answer to the promise. He would have much rather found her in the human world again. Not her coming back her to work. Humans. They never made much sense to him. Chihiro especially. She was rather a curious subject to ponder over.

"Hmm, I remember," he answered after letting out a soft hum. The jade eyes turned away once again so he could think before he spoke. Like he always did. Haku was not one to randomly blurt things out. He thought things through. He always thought. "You remember as well, I see. What made you want to come back here?"

That was a question that seemed to tug at his gut the most. The one that he was set on getting an answer for. Why did she come back? Why would she want to come back? Surely there was nothing here that was greater than what she already had. She had some friends here, but not family or anything. What was here for her?

[~*~Chihiro~*~]

It wasn't a matter of she wanted to come back here,she just got off school oh when was that.Wait how long had she been back here for,Chihiro had forgotten when it was she once again stepped through into the spirit world.One reason was the keep their promise,every day for those four years she had kept her eyes open hoping to see Haku come into the human world to visit her but he never did.

"Four years is a long time to me Haku,I had thought you forgotten about me that Yu-Baaba maybe figured out she wasn't in control of you anymore".

Wheather it was tapping her pencil on her desk at school,or staring out the window she had always hoped that one day he would have come to see her.But time passed and she had made new friends,gotten along better with her parents and didn't have a care in the world but never did she once forget the promise.

"I was worried......about you".

[Haku]

Forgotten about her? How could Haku ever forget about Chihiro? It was near impossible to do so. Especially after all of the trouble that she had put him through. After all of that he could not forget her. He knew who he was because of her. He knew his name again. Haku knew who he was again because Chihiro had showed up and helped him. If it had not been for her, he would still have no idea who he really was. Just Yu-Baaba's worker. That would have been all. That was what he was now as well, but now he was more. Not just Haku. He was Kohaku; Spirit of the Kohaku River. That was what he was. Who he was.

"I wouldn't have forgotten about you. I didn't," Haku spoke matter-of-factly making sure to keep most emotions out of his voice. He did not want to come off as being a sweet heart. That was just awkward. "You know you don't need to worry about me either. I am capable of handling things myself."

There was really no reason for her to worry about him. There was no problems that he could not handle. He could take care of himself without problems. He was used to thinking of himself and himself only. It was taking care of others that he had problems with. Sure he did not show it much, but he was not really the most social of people and came off as just a mean little henchman. But he wasn't. Haku really was not that bad. At least, he did not think that he was. There was good in everyone.

A loss of words. That was Haku's problem at the moment. He had no clue what he should tell her now. Or even ask her now. He was rather flattered that she would go out of her way to worry about him, but he did not want to make a big deal out of it. He was not fond of being over dramatic. It simply did not suite his personality.

"Thank you, for your concern," he answered in a hushed tone. "But, please, don't worry about me."

[~*~Chihiro~*~]

"There you go again,saying not to worry about you it's when you say that I do worry".

So much for enjoying the sunrise and sneaking off to get some breakfeast,it made her wonder if she actually intended for them to meet like this.Now he knew how grown up she was,Chihiro didn't have to hide in the bath house anymore and run away when she saw him pass by.The only one she had to worry about getting on her case was Yu-Baaba,okay and maybe him as well but just once awhile she didn't want to get yelled at.

"You never forgot about me,then why did you never come".

Was it because he had nowhere to come to,was it because he had no river.Heck whenever it rained over in the human part of the world,she'd try so hard to find a place where water could gather and just maybe he would come then but no it never did happen.Now facing him completely,Chihiro walked over and leaned in placing a kiss upon his cheek before pulling back.

"I should get back to the bath house,i'm glad we got to see eachother again".

Chihiro gave a smile then turned on her heels,now walking towards the entrance of the bath house.Stopping she looked up seeing smoke,so Kamaji had lit the boilers that meant the other's would be waking up soon or we're already up and about doing stuff.

[Haku]

Instead of trying to come up with an answer, Haku merely remained silent. The mossy colored eyes lowered for a moment before Haku simply turned his head in another direction to look out at the scenery. The roseate lips formed nothing more than a straight line as he narrowed his eyes almost like he was in deep concentration. A plain and simple face. Almost a harsh forbidding expression. One that told that he was not to be questioned and, if anyone dared to, he would not answer or be quick to use his sharp tongue on them. Maybe snap their heads off. Of course, he would probably go a lot easier on Chihiro. After all, she only asked why he had not come. Something he just could not bring himself to answer. The reason being because he did not know. There was no answer.

Even the kiss on his cheek hardly broke his emotionless stare. All he did was briefly close his eyes and furrow his brow ever so slightly. It was hardly noticeable and gone in an instant. Still he held his tongue. Even when she said that she was leaving, all he did was stare for a few moments. Though this time he moved. It was a slight movement, but it was movement.

The spirit turned his body a little and still had to turn his head and look over his shoulder to watch her go. He almost spoke up. He almost said that he was glad to see her again as well but he bit back that sudden temptation. Another part of him was not happy to see her here. That part of him was almost furious with her. She should have waited. And that was that. She did not need to come back here. He found it foolish. Such a waste.

Even though Haku felt all of these emotions none of his movements or expressions made it evident. Not in the least bit. This was why everyone found him so cold. But it was also what kept him almost feared by the other. And of course knowing that he worked closely to Yu-Baaba helped in the fear factor.

A silent goodbye was all he gave. A drop of his chin for a moments time. Then, he too, was off.

With upturned eyes and a soft breeze blowing through his hair, Haku was no longer a human like figure. But a beast again. A dragon. Then he was gone. Nothing more but a tangle of silver far off in the mornings pure blue sky.

((end of thread;;I believe))