So. As most of you might see... I halfway decided to quit this story. BUT. Because of the reviews and support I've been getting, I was hoping that maybe the audience can give me some ideas? I've run into writer's block, and that combined with piles of homework is a deadly combination. If any of you have an idea for what happens after, send it to my inbox. Your name will be posted here if I choose to use your idea! That's it... and here's the third chapter.

Thanks for reading! - karebear

He was too late.

The Kohaku felt as if his soul had left his body. He felt like he was floating, unable to grasp the present. He stared in disbelief at the broken buggy and the dent in the truck… and then he started to run again. Cars honked around him, and people shouted, but he didn't hear any of it. When he got to the small door, he pulled it open. There, lying with her head against the wheel was Chihiro, unconscious and bleeding. A large gash had appeared along her forehead. The glass from the windows had shattered, and littered the inside of the truck. Gingerly, he pulled her out, and settled her on concrete, careful not to jar her.

"What are you doing? You could kill her!" A woman ran out from the crowd. She threw herself beside Chihiro and checked her for damage. She seemed to know what she was doing. "Chihiro! Don't make me slap you! You know I would!" She was becoming more hysterical by the second. "Oh my god. University's just next week, dammit! You don't go and kill yourself now! Your timing really sucks. It always has been!"

"And who the hell are you anyways? What do you think you are? You don't have any medical training, anyone can see that. It's an accident you dimwit. You don't take someone from inside the car! She could have seriously damaged her neck!"

Suddenly, the body on the floor stirred. Chihiro mumbled something unintelligible, and her eyes peeked open. A confused look stole over her face, and Kohaku stared back. Then recognition made her eyes widen.

"Haku? Haku? Wait… what happened? Youki… what's going on? Wait what?" She tried to sit up, but the woman from the crowd forced her to sit back down. It took all the willpower the Haku possessed to walk away at that moment… because no matter what he did, when it came to the people he loved, the powerful Kohaku spirit was useless.

::Break::

Chihiro began to giggle. She couldn't stop. Ahhh, the irony of it all. She must have been hallucinating. It must have been some funny Japanese who looked like Haku. That must have been it. Some guy with similar nose, mouth, chin, hair and the same swirling, beautiful eyes. It's no biggie. Everyone had those features here in Japan… right?

Her chest shook with bitter chuckles. It hurt her chest, but she just couldn't stop. Once again, she needed his help, and once again, he had left her. Even if it WAS a hallucination, what the heck was that? Some spirit must be laughing…

But ah, he was such a refreshing sight. Beautiful. The Kohaku dragon had filled out, but was still lean and powerful. His short hair had grown out, and was tied in a dark ponytail that draped down his back. He looked like a bum musician… without the facial hair. Interesting choice of body, Chihiro thought, smiling slightly. Interesting choice indeed.

Chihiro had calmed down now, and just lay there, staring up at the dark sky. Rain pounded down on her face, and she closed her eyes, relishing it. It wiped away everything that tainted her, and refreshed her body and spirit. She felt as if she could have a brand new start. Maybe that hallucination was his way of saying goodbye?

She felt overwhelmed and tired, and so she closed her eyes. Chihiro slept.