Authors Note: The sequel is up for Distant Dreams :) Those who were looking forward to it. I hope this story will interest you too. I gotta thanked all those who had reviewed on my previous fic and gave all the support and encouragement. It really did help me a lot when it came to motivation and inspiration. Thank you so much.

The only drawback for this story is that next month may be a busy month for me. So I may not be able to update as often as I did with Distant Dreams. But I will try to put up at least one chapter a week. I hope I have your support again for this new story.

Happy Reading!

Disclaimer: I don't own Spirited Away

Chapter 1: The Beginning

The wind was caressing her face. The air was fresh. She was flying in the clear blue sky. It was so beautiful. She would love to go on like this forever. She felt free and happy. There was something helping her fly. What was that? She couldn't see it clearly.

Everything faded away and there was a pair of emerald eyes…

Beep beep beep beep beep beep…

Ogino Chihiro jerked her head up by the rude intrusion that woke her from a bizarre dream. The girl with long brown hair messily fell all over her face was still disoriented. One of her arms that she had used for a head pillow before she was dragged out of her slumber was stretched out straight on the low Japanese dining table. She had fallen asleep at the table again.

She took a deep breath and looked down at her assignments strewn messily over the dining table. She rummaged through the pile of books and papers and found her cell. She flipped it open and switched the alarm off. She squinted her eyes slightly trying to read the time on it. Her eyes widened immediately.

"Oh shit!" Chihiro was fully awakened forcefully.

She scrambled up from her position and dashed for the bathroom. She crashed face down when she kicked onto something large on the way. It gave a small yelp and an angry bark.

"Oh no!" Chihiro turned around and patted her huge white wolf dog on the head. "I am so sorry Yougosha. Are you alright?"

The big white wolf dog stared up at her with his crystal blue eyes and gave her a reproachful look.

"I am really sorry!" Chihiro said again and got up to her feet. She got into the bathroom and shouted from inside. "I am terribly late! I forgot to change the alarm time!"

The white wolf dog sighed inwardly. She was always late. It wasn't the first time she kicked him too. The room she was staying in was way too small for the both of them.

He stretched himself and yawned before he padded towards the small open kitchen. With one paw he pushed the door of the fridge opened. He saw on the lower shelf an unwrapped steak and he grabbed it with its jaw and pulled it out. He turned away using his body to give the door a slight nudge to shut it.

He had done it so often that Chihiro didn't even bother feeding him anymore and left food for him in the fridge and he would get it himself when he was hungry. He lay down on the kitchen floor and started chewing on his meat.

Everyone had thought he was just a mix breed of a Great Dane and a Siberien Husky. No one was suspicious of what he was. He had disguised himself well. He was very smart too, that was like obviously. He thought to himself.

He remembered that fateful night he revealed himself.

It was already almost a year Chihiro moved to Tokyo. The streets were dangerous and one night when she was on her way home from her late part time job she was cornered by some drunken. He came out from the shadows and chased those men away.

Chihiro was staring at him then. Even though he was very big for a dog. Her eyes were wide but there were no fear when he approached her. In a distance they could hear angry shouts.

"There is a huge wolf on the loose!"

"It is dangerous it tried to attack us!"

"Call for animal control!"

Chihiro looked back at him with a worried expression and finally she looked like she made up her mind about something, she bent over to him.

"Come on!" She told him. "Let's go, you don't want to be caught do you!"

They both ran home together. When they were finally in the safety of her home she smiled.

"You are really smart," Chihiro said to him. "It looked like you knew what I was talking about."

He almost rolled his eyes.

"Thank you for saving me." Chihiro grabbed a bowl in the kitchen and put water in it. "If you really don't have a home. You can stay here."

He sat by the door grandly and wagged his tail as if he agreed to her conditions.

"You are really smart." Chihiro laughed and placed the bowl of water on the floor. He padded over to her slowly and drank from it. She patted his head gently. "I'm sorry I have no food in the room now. But I will go get some tomorrow morning. You know, I really think you are like a defender, a protector…"

Her voice was trailing off as if she was thinking about something hard.

He looked up at her with his blue crystal eyes hopefully.

Her eyes were hazy like she was in a trance. Then she shook her head.

"I will call you Yougosha," Chihiro smiled and said cheerfully. Her eyes were no longer hazy.

His hopeful feeling dropped.

But that was a good sign. Even she couldn't remember somewhere deep inside she still did. He knew that her soul was always strong. He didn't choose the wrong master.

Yougosha stayed with her since. It was a good chance to keep a close watch on her anyways. He finished his breakfast when Chihiro came out wrapped in a towel. He quickly turned away and closed his eyes. He laid his head on his front paws and pretended he was sleeping. If Haku knew that he was watching Chihiro like that. He would be as good as dog meat.

He could hear her feet padding around the wooden floor quickly as she got dressed. Then he heard her approached and patted his head.

"I'll be on my way." She said.

Yougosha looked up again and she was out the door.

He took a deep breath and thought he heard a caw by the balcony. He went over and unlocked the glass door with his jaw and nudged it opened with his nose.

A big black raven with red eyes was perched on the rail.

"I am losing reputation disguising as human animals!" The black raven snapped in a silent communication.

"Oh it is not that bad Toushi." Yougosha chuckled. "You should have seen Shirudo. That kitsune was so utterly offended with her big bushy tail and kept complaining about big butt. So she refused to come here in that form. " (kitsune: fox)

"Whatever." Toushi scoffed. "It is a good thing for her she can perform her protection charm anywhere."

"If you must know, Chihiro left a minute ago."

"Ah damn."

The huge black raven spread his wings and took flight.

"If everything goes well, we will have our master back." Yougosha said hopefully.

He padded back into Chihiro's little room and closed the door. It better happened soon. This lifestyle would kill him one day.

The university ground was crowded as usual. Chihiro rushed indoors quickly. On her way met a few of the students that were in some of her classes.

"Good job Chihiro!"

"I wish I could be you!"

"How did you do it? But congratulations anyways."

Chihiro was confused at everyone's wishes. She even passed by some girls with envy and angry eyes as she walked on.

She didn't put much thought about it since she was late for class. Then she came by their usual bulletin board for results and awards. That was when she saw something that made her stopped and turned back. She stared up at the notices on the board.

There was the notice posted up regarding project partners and she saw there written on the paper.

Kenshin Koertig and Ogino Chihiro.

Her eyes were wide in shock and when she got over her shock, anger started to sip in.

"KENSHIN!"

Kenshin Koertig the best art student in university was an arrogant self-absorbed person. He hardly talked to anyone and criticized anyone's hard work when he gets the chance. He acted superior than others and didn't care about people's feelings.

Her classes forgotten Chihiro marched over towards his personal art studio that was a privilege given to him because the teachers thought that a personal space for him would be a great quiet environment for him to produce good artwork. It was without a doubt his paintings won constantly in awards and competitions. His art works were also hung in the Tokyo Art Gallery. He was known as the child prodigy when he was young.

The only reason Chihiro seemed closed to him and talked to him was because they were neighbours. He lived in the next unit to Chihiro's on the first floor in that old double storey townhouse.

She never got along with him since that day he used her to get rid of his admirers.

Chihiro remembered that day so clearly when one of his persistent admirers tried pursuing him. He was famous among the girls even though he took no notice of them. His lack of interest might have triggered more girls to like his mysterious ways. Not to mention that the girls found him very good looking.

"Kenshin please, we can just try to date as a trial." The girl told him.

Everyone call him by his name because his family name Koertig, a German name was very difficult to pronounce.

Chihiro was nearby snapping photos with her phone for her next project when the two of them appeared. She could hear their conversation very clearly. She peered over quietly and Kenshin looked rather agitated at the girl's constant and stubborn approach. She quickly looked away and resumed to look around for more potential pictures.

"I told you that I don't have time for this." Kenshin was already walking away.

The girl pulled him back.

"NO! You haven't even tried! How would you know you don't have the time? How would you know you wouldn't like me?"

"Just go away busu!" Kenshin told her rudely then. (busu [ブス]: ugly)

Chihiro almost drop her cell. She thought it was best to leave. She can always come back later. She started to walk away when she felt a tug under her arm. She turned around and saw that he grabbed her.

"And for you information I am seeing this girl." Kenshin told that girl.

"I don't believe you!" The girl yelled.

"Then believe this."

Kenshin actually pulled Chihiro over to him. He placed a hand over her mouth and pretended to kiss her. Chihiro was wide eye and was too shock to move.

However from the girl's angle they really looked like they kissed. She ran away crying.

Chihiro kicked him.

"Ow!" Kenshin moved away quickly. "What was that for?"

"That is supposed to be my question!" Chihiro yelled.

"I didn't even kiss you."

"Have a bit more tag Ken." Chihiro retorted. "That girl is heart broken!"

"That girl deserves what she got!"

"You are unbelievable, insufferable brat!"

"You rambo onna." (Rambo[乱暴]: Violent, onna: girl/lady/woman)

Chihiro gasped indignantly.

They were at each other throats since that day. Why on earth did he choose her for his project partner? Besides he always worked alone! There were more willing female participates around and he actually chose the one that couldn't stand his guts.

She burst the door opened. It looked like it almost flew off the hinges.

"You did this didn't you?" She shouted at him by the door.

Kenshin didn't look over at her was still sitting on his work stool painting on a very large canvas that almost covered the entire wall of the room. He knew she would come. He remained silent. That got Chihiro angrier.

"You never work with anyone before! So why did you do it?"

"The teacher thought that it would be best for a change once in a while." He finally spoke without looking at her.

"What?" Chihiro almost snarled. "There are so many other girls that will fall all over you to get this chance. Why didn't you pick anyone of them?"

"That is the point." Kenshin replied nonchalantly his back still on her. "I don't need a half ass partner who can't concentrate because they are too busy trying to flirt with me."

"And you think we can get the job done when all we do is try to get down each others' throats!"

"It is better than having the girls trying to do inappropriate things to me."

Chihiro raised her eyebrows. There was a short silence before Chihiro sighed in defeat and walked over to him.

"Come on Ken." Chihiro said in a much calmer voice. "You don't need a partner. I am sure if you just tell the teacher that you can work alone he would listen to you in a flash."

"Nope, not going to do that." Kenshin replied indifferently.

"Urgg!" Chihiro cried angrily. She felt like strangling him! "You are doing this on purpose!"

Kenshin smiled slightly. "Don't you have class today?"

Chihiro stared at him for a moment and then a string of curses left her mouth before she fled the room.

"I am telling you!" Chihiro cried furiously. "He is doing this to make me angry!"

"You know Chihiro, I think the guy likes you."

Chihiro almost dropped her food tray. It was lunch and it was her usual routine with her best friend Matsumoto Kokoro having lunch at the university backyard where their cafeteria was.

Those who preferred indoor dining would eat inside the cafeteria and those usually smokers will dine outdoors where wooden table and benches were provided.

Chihiro dined outside because she loved the outdoor environment.

"Come on Chihiro," Kokoro pressed on. "He is the only guy you actually really talk to."

Chihiro was about to open her mouth to argue when Kokoro continued.

"And please rule out Eiji he is not counted." Kokoro rolled her eyes. "Besides I see that you are the only girl that Kenshin actually talks to more than he would with other girls too. In fact he doesn't talk to other girls at all. When he does, he calls them busu!"

"We talk because we are neighbours." Chihiro sighed and then groaned. "And he calls me rambo onna!

"He calls all girls busu." Kokoro smirked. "But he calls you rambo onna and only you he uses that." She purposely emphasized 'only you' but Chihiro took no heed to it.

"Gosh I hate that! Why, why fate is so mean to me? Of all people in uni he has to be the one who lives next door! Do you know how many girls came after me to demand what kind of relationship we have and when they found out we have no relationship they asked me to be their personal mail deliverer! Do I look like a postman? If I want that kind of job I would have sign up with JP! Jeez… I have better things to do!"

(JP: I think it is the Japan postal service JP Post)

Kokoro burst out laughing. "This is such a cliché situation."

"Tell me about it." Chihiro grumbled.

"Hey Kokoro, Chihiro over here!"

They saw Eiji at one of the tables waved to get their attention. They went over to him and set their trays down.

"How's class Eiji?" Kokoro asked taking a place next to him.

"You would say that everyone is busy with the concert coming. I could swear…."

Chihiro who was about to take the seat opposite them didn't hear the rest when she felt a prickly sensation behind her back as if someone was watching her. She stopped and looked around. She always felt that whenever she was out, especially in university.

"What's wrong Chihiro?"

"No nothing." Chihiro turned back to her friends and took her seat.

Perched on the tallest tree Toushi watched Chihiro silently.

"She looks like she is having a perfectly happy life Haku." Zeniba said.

Haku stood by the pond in the imperial garden. His expression was unreadable. They had been exchanging news since the day Haku found Chihiro. Everyone was against his plan for trying to get Chihiro to remember again. He really didn't expect this from Zeniba.

"You have to admit that even it is hard for you." Zeniba pressed on. "Look at her! Look at her smile! There are no evil spirits trying to harm her anymore since her spiritual powers are gone. There is no more life-threatening phenomenon. You got to see that this life is good for her."

"I thought that I would at least get your support Zeniba." Haku said in a rather hard tone.

"Haku…" Zeniba sighed.

"No, it's fine." Haku turned away from the pond and her image vanished.

He heard giggling nearby but didn't acknowledge it and walked away.

He strode back to his room to have a little peace and quiet. The Jade Palace had become extremely crowded when courtship of other imperial female dragons had come to win his heart. Even he firmly refused it and asked them to leave.

However, the female dragons were persistent and didn't want to leave. Then it started to become a nuisance after they ignored his request, so he just left it as it was. He started to ignore them too.

He waved his hand and the most precious item materialized in the air, the Kage no Kagami the window that linked him to Chihiro.

He was glad when her shikigami was willing to look for her. They regarded her as their only master and they stood faithfully by her side. At least he had some support and he wasn't alone trying to get Chihiro to remember again. Then he would be able to bring her back into his life.

Chihiro appeared in the mirror. He could see that she was still good friends with Kokoro and Eiji. They were eating together in a huge lawn. There were many people around her. But his focus was only on her. Her eyes were flashing. She seemed angry about something.

He smiled slightly. It was a rare sight to see Chihiro angry. In fact, he never did before. Maybe it was because she never gotten angry with him no matter what happened. His heart ached at the thought. She had always been so patient with him.

"Chihiro, I really need you…"

Haku whispered into the Kage no Kagami.

"I need you..."

Chihiro gasped and jerked her head up from the table. She looked around her quiet surroundings. The books around her gave her the familiar scent of new and old paper. It was after classes and Chihiro decided to come to the library to work on her assignments.

The university students were spread out sitting at different tables, some studying and some doing their projects. They didn't heed any attention to her as they continued with their work.

She must have fallen asleep on the table again. She rubbed her temple with a soft sigh. How long had she slept?

She looked out the window to see streaks of yellow and red creases over the sky. It was going to be dark soon. She started packing her materials. She remembered she had to drop by the supermarket to get food for Yougosha.

She was having strange dreams lately. Dreams like flying in the sky. Voices that she couldn't remember what it said when she woke up. Then the most bizarre of all was a pair of amazing emerald eyes. Who did they belong to?

It was definitely not Kenshin's green eyes. She was positive that these were different.

She snorted when she thought it might have been Kenshin's eyes.

"No…" Chihiro shook her head. "Definitely not Ken's"

However she did remember when she first saw Kenshin's eyes she felt a weird jolt.

Those emerald ones in her dream made her heart ached painfully.

Why did green eyes have such an effect on her?

So if those emerald eyes didn't belong to Kenshin, whom did they belong to?

to be continued...

Authors note: What do you think of the first chapter? Well I hoped it went well for I was kind of stuck with words when it came to explaining the dreams Chihiro had. Though I hope they were easy to read and to understand.

Please do drop a review it always makes my day :)

I will thank you those who reviewed my previous story again:

SAK00, fandomnerd12, gdoodle, Carly, Alexa, NarutoSwagg99, diety, melissa14dk, BubblesDoujinshi, Bucko, percabethandeverlark, NJ, darkstar2010, kelpiejh, Kagayaku Hoshi-chan, Sapphiet, Life is no Fairytail, roshini, KanaMac, Ammylovesfood, TsukiyoTenshi, TroidBanrion, DeafAngel2000, Natasha, CheshireWolf97.