Dragon Boy

Chapter 1 Haku and The Human

"We have intruders Haku!", Yubaba said to her apprentice when he walked into her office. 

"Humans?", he asked.

Yubaba nodded her head. Haku has always hated her. He should have listened to Kamaji's warning. If only he knew his name, he could leave this wench and live a new life as a free spirit. Sadness crept over him. His name... That was something he's forgotten long time ago. Yubaba's voice interrupted his thoughts. 

"I already turned the adults into pigs for gorging the food of the spirits, but the girl didn't have any and now she's wandered off!" 

Haku looked at his master with cold stare. "And you want me to get her."

She nodded her head once again, "Once you catch that little brat, do whatever you want to do with her. Kill her! Feed her to a spirit! Let her go home! Do whatever you want, but make sure she doesn't come to my bathhouse!"

He nodded his head and left. Stupid witch! That poor girl will either live without her parents, or die. He shook his head in disgust. Why should he feel bad for a pathetic human? It's her fault that she came here with her greedy parents. 

When he finally got outside, he looked at the bridge and saw her. She was thin. She had scrawny legs and arms and her brown hair was tied up in a soft looking pony tail.  His heart stopped. Did he know this girl?

She looks awfully familiar.

He walked closer to her as silent as he could. Somehow tough, she heard him, turned her head and looked at him. He suddenly smelled roses and lavender. The smell overwhelmed him for a quick second. 

Snap out of it! He told himself. 

As he walked closer to her, he spoke: "You shouldn't be here. Get out of here now!" 

Confusion filled the small girls face, "What?"

He became more serious, "It's almost night. Leave before it gets dark!". He looked over the bathhouse. The lamps started to lit up. "They are lighting the lamps...", he said to himself. He started pushing her across the bridge suddenly full concern and worry for her. "Get out of here! You gotta get across the river! Go! I'll distract them!"

She took off running. Haku turned around and blew dragon scales to activate a spell to hide the girl from other spirits.

---

Haku stopped running. He looked around a while, then continued running. 

Where is she?

A human shouldn't be so hard to find. He stopped again. He looked his left and saw her curled up into a small transparent ball. He ran towards her. When he got to her, he knelt down and put his arms around her shoulders.

She jumped and looked at him. Her eyes were full of fear which made Haku feel bad for her. "Don't be afraid", he told her, "I just want to help you."

She shook her head, "No no no!"

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a berry he found in the kitchen. "Open your mouth and eat this", he said as Chihiro kept shaking her head. "You have to eat food from this world or you'll disappear"

"No!", she yelled at him and tried to shove him away. Her hands went right through him , but hi nostrils were filled with her lovely scent.

"Don't worry", he assured her, "You won't turn into a pig." 

He pushed the small fruit through her soft lips into her mouth. "Chew it and swallow." 

She took her time chewing, and swallowed.

"There you go. You're all better," he held out his hand, "See for yourself."

She reached her hand to his and this time , it didn't go through him. Haku's heart skipped a beat when fingers lingered on his palm. "I'm okay", she said surprisingly. 

He held her hand in both of his and smiled warmly. "You see?", he gazed into her liquid brown eyes and stood up. "Now, come with me."

"Where is my mom and dad? They... didn't really turn into pigs, did they?" 

All he could say to the poor girl was, "You can't  see they now, but you will later." He heard a bird flying nearby. He looked up and saw Yubaba's bird searching for the girl. He covered her with his body. "Don't move!" He said as he felt her heart beat rapidly.

Chihiro.

Haku had no idea where that thought, or name came from, but as soon as that name was mentally spoken, he pictured a rushing river gurgling in the woods. 

When the bird disappeared, he leaned away from the sweet smelling girl. "That bird is looking for you", he said and got up. "You've gotta get out of here."

Chihiro tried to stand up but couldn't. She started pulling his hand.

"My legs! I can't get up! What do I do?" She said in panic.

He knelt next to her again. "Calm down and take a deep breath."

She took a ridiculously deep breath that almost made Haku laugh. He put his hand on her thigh. "In the name of the wind and water within me, unbind her."

A silverish glow appeared and then disappeared. "Get up." He helped her up, held her hand tight and they took off running. 

---

They were approaching the small gate that would take them right next to the bridge. "You have to hold your breath while we cross the bridge", Haku said and unlocked the gate. "Even the tiniest breath will break the spell and everyone will see you." He let her walk in front of him while he closed the gate. 

To his surprise and joy, the young girl clung to his left arm.

"I'm scared", the girl said in timid voice. 

He felt a rush of sympathy and something else, when he heard her spoke. "Now just stay calm."

They started walking towards the greeters. He kept blank face, uncaring expression on his face. "I'm back from my mission", he told the greeters coldly.

"Aah! Welcome back Master Haku!", one of the frog mans replied.

"Take a deep breath", he said quietly so no one would hear him. She took deep breath. "Now hold it." 

One of her arms left his as she covered her nose and mouth with it. They stepped on to the bridge...