Chapter 1

Chihiro Ogino woke up to the sound of the rain pounding on the roof. She groaned into her pillow, still on end from the unsettling dream she had been immersed in.

She was on the other side of the bank. The human side. Only this time, there was water flowing through the rocks. On the other side, she saw a silver and teal dragon curled up on the grassy banks. She smiled and stepped foot in the river, determined to get across to Haku. But as soon as she put her other foot into the river, it swept her downstream. She called out his name, beseeching him to come help her, to look at her, to just turn and around and at least acknowledge that something- anything was there, but he simply sat there looking straight ahead. All the while, the water current was getting stronger and stronger, until her hands finally slipped off of the rock, and she drifted away.

She shivered, still feeling the ice cold current pulsing around her. Snuggling deeper in to the bed, she tried to shake the feeling off, already knowing how inevitable it was that she was going to be out of it today. Well, more out of it than usual, anyways.

These dreams always occurred when she least expected it, with, as usual, impeccably bad timing. She had her last final today in her least favorite class. Calculus II. She had always disliked math in general, but it was the last of the requirements she had to pass to become an environmental scientist,so when it came down to it, she gritted her teeth and got through the strenuous course. Almost through, she reminded herself gently. She still had to take the final today.

Looking across the room, she saw that Mamiko was still sleeping.

Lucky girl. She finished her finals yesterday. Well, the ones she was planning on going to, anyway.

Chihiro put her hair up in a ponytail, using her shiny purple hair tie. Even after thirteen years, it still had the same ethereal glow it had when she had first put it on. With that, she was out the door. She grabbed a cup of coffee from a nearby cafe, and walked briskly to her class. Even so, she was late. Ms. Amara gave her a reproachful look as she burst into the classroom. Ignoring her classmates stares, she walked to the back of the classroom, where she sat as far away from everyone as possible.

"-as I was saying, this is not going to be an easy final. I highly recommend that you pace yourself. If you get stuck on a question, move on. No electronics are…."Her voice faded into background noise as Chihiro propped her head on her elbows. She had always been easily distracted, but today she simply could not put any effort into paying attention to Ms. Amaras long, monotone, pre-test talks. Too much was on her mind.

"You may begin."

She hastily flipped over the packet resting on her desk, ready be over with what she was sure was going to be two of the longest and most stressful hours of her life.

Unlocking the door to their apartment,she saw Mamiko waiting with two cups of tea.

"So, how'd it go? You do ok?"

"Define ok…" She mumbled morosely.

Mamiko laughed. " I'm sure it'll be fine. I mean, you only had to get twenty one percent to pass the class. Be glad it wasn't thirty percent though."

"Why?"

"Because you would for sure fail. Sad bu-Ow!" Chihiro laughed, glad that her inner turmoil loosen a bit. Her gaze returned to her cup of tea. She stared at the swirls of steam curling from it, twisting their way up to the sky. The curling steam always reminded her of the smooth elegance in which a dragon flys. She smiled sadly. Even in her tea, the dragons never stayed.

"-and anyways, if we need more stuff, we can always take a trip to your parents house, right?"

"Right."

Mamiko touched Chihiros shoulder gently. " Alright, what's going on with you today?"

Chihiro smiled wryly. You know, the usual. I still have dreams about a boy who is, by the way, a dragon i'm in love with. Oh and my childhood town? Not going to make it any better.

"Just a whole lot of memories going back is going to dredge up, is all."

"Hmm. Interesting. Of who?"

" I didn't say it reminded me of anyone!"

"Well, you didn't. But i've found that most the time, you don't love or hate the place itself, but the humans you've met there."

Chihiro made a sound of exasperation. "Fine! Yes! There is someone but-I just-"

"Its ok, sweetie. I know. You're talking about him, right?"

"Him?"

" The reason that no matter how cute or kind or nice a boy is to you, you push them away...and the reason you've avoided going back to your home."

She nodded, the lump in her throat constricting. Mamiko reached under the table, and squeezed her hand. That was all it took. The tears she had been holding in were released in a steady stream. Because, finally someone understood (most of it anyways).

Around fifteen minutes later, Chihiro was simply heaving dry sobs. When Mamiko asked if she wanted to talk about it, she simply shook her head. Mamiko attempted some humor to cheer her up, but Chihiro just sat there hiccuping.

"Alright, get up Chihiro!No more whining!"

Chihiro jumped, clearly surprised by her change into someone who sounded like a drill sergeant. "After my ill-fated attempts at humor clearly flopped, I have realized the one solution to this cream, candy, and some movies. Now, I am going to go out to the store to get them. You will stay here and pack!"

"But-"

"No more crying either! Pity will not get you any aid, admiration at your refusal to give in does!" She ended this statement with a rather pompous pose. Chihiro made a noise between a snicker and a sob. "Aid from who? What does that even mean in this situation?!"Slowly she started to laugh a breathy laugh, a bit louder and wheezier than normal, but then again, she didn't feel normal, she felt delirious.

"You do-" She said between laughs " Realize I have-" She heaved a breath "-read the hunger games, right?"

"Aw, bugger." She slapped her head. " Well, even if it didn't have the expected result, i'm glad you're not crying. I used the wrong quote too, judging by your reaction."

"Better luck next time,Suzanne."

"Funny. Alright, see you soon!" And, grabbing her umbrella from the gold umbrella stand, she was out the door.