Chihiro and Haku had a wonderful picnic at a waterfall on the western border of Skylandia. The gurgling water splashed down a natural staircase of shimmering white rock, and ended in a pool of deepest blue.

This time, Chihiro and Haku did not talk, but just sat in comfortable silence and enjoyed each other's company. Chihiro tried not to look at the mellowing sun, for she would have to go home later tomorrow, Sunday (for the spirit world, that is). It wouldn't be until late in the afternoon, but she would be leaving nonetheless.

Instead, she marveled at the clearness of the water, the cleanness of the grasses, the clarity of the light all around them. The air smelled so fresh and sweet. It was so beautiful to her. She'd never lived in a big city, but she still had always lived in the suburbs. This beautiful, unspoiled land was far beyond her dreams.

"It is beautiful, isn't it?" Haku said, as if guessing what she was thinking.

"Beautiful?" Chihiro exclaimed. "There is no word that can describe how wonderful this is! Oh, Haku, this is home! I want to stay!"

Haku did not answer.

…

When Chihiro and Haku returned to the bathhouse, Yubaba was waiting at the main entrance—and she was smiling, or at least attempting to smile. She had long been out of practice. Chihiro glanced at Haku in surprise and puzzlement, and he looked confused as well.

"Dear Chihiro," Yubaba said mildly. "You've lost my heir, but I've found another one."

"Oh?" Chihiro said, trying to sound interested.

"And it would be you, if you're willing."

Chihiro simply stared, and Haku stepped forward, looking directly at Yubaba.

"Is this some kind of trap?" he hissed.

"No, it really isn't. It turns out my sister doesn't want to be heir to the bathhouse, and I can't trust anyone here to properly run—"

"So you want Chihiro to stay here, for your own selfish reasons?"

Chihiro's eyes brightened. If Yubaba gave her ownership of the bathhouse, then she could stay in Skylandia, with Hakua and her otherworldly friends, and live forever in this beautiful country. Trying to control her excitement, she bowed slightly to Yubaba and said:

"I'd love to run the bathhouse! But can I say goodbye to my parents first?"

Yubaba raised an eye at Chihhiro. "Very eager, aren't you? A sign of a shrewd businesswoman! You'll have to stay in your world until you've come of age, though—when you're eighteen. You need to mature a little before you're skilled enough to take on this responsibility."

Chihiro felt dejected again. She was thirteen years old; that would mean that she could never come back for five years! She looked at Haku, and was slightly put out to see him nodding; he agreed with Yubaba! Perhaps five years was no time at all for an eternal spirit, but surely he must know how long it would be for her!

"Why can't I stay here until I'm ready?" Chihiro said.

"Because you're still growing up," Haku said. "You need to stay in your world, in what is familiar and stable. You'll learn more. Staying here will be much different than just visiting."

"Won't you miss me?" Chihiro said.

Haku smiled.

"I'll miss you. I was going to ask you to come back in five years, for good. Yubaba just happened to add something to that."

"You were?" Chihiro gasped, overjoyed.

Haku glanced around the lobby. Yubaba had walked off, pleased at her choice of heir, even if the stubborn girl had given her so much trouble. There was nobody else around, either, so Haku spoke into Chihiro's ear, in a voice as warm as the sun and as gentle as the breeze in the grass:

"Five years from now, we can be together forever," he said significantly. Chihiro caught his meaning and smiled at him with shining eyes.

"Haku, do you know how happy this makes me?" she asked, giving him a crushing hug.

"I thought it would," Haku said, but added, more seriously: "But if you meet someone else, and decide you want to stay in your world, I'll understand."

Chihiro shook her head. "No, Haku. Never. I could never have anyone else."

…

Late the next afternoon, Haku and Chihiro were standing on the bridge together; it was time for Chihiro to return to her world. Both were reluctant to part, and for several moments they stood in silence, simply enjoying the last of their time together.

It had rained the previous evening, and the scent of rain still lingered in the air; the damp grass sparkled in the sunlight, and above their heads, in the clear blue sky, birds were idly flitting. It was simply lovely. As Chihiro had said, there was no word to describe how wonderful it was.

Though the human girl was saddened because she had to leave Haku and the spirit world, the warmth of the sunshine seemed to embrace her and help her feel a little calmer.

Eventually Chihiro and Haku both looked toward the tunnel that led away from Skylandia, away from the spirit world that felt like her true home to Chihiro.

"You'd better go," Haku said reluctantly, releasing Chihiro's hand. "I can't manipulate time again, and the spell will wear off in a few minutes. Don't cry, Chihiro—it's only five more years. Five years isn't forever, correct?"

Chihiro took a deep breath. "Not forever. But it will feel like a very long time."

"Not compared to our forever," Haku replied, significantly. "When you return, I'll give you a spell that will allow you to live forever—with me."

It was time to part. There was nothing else to be done. If she stayed after the 'time fold' had ended, her parents would be too worried, but she took one more swift glance from the bathhouse and the rippling grasses to the tunnel. And then Chihiro turned to Haku and managed to smile.

"I'll be back," she said fervently.

"That's the spirit," Haku said, returning the smile.

Squaring her shoulders, Chihiro began to walk back to the tunnel. She dared not look back, for she would only want to Haku again, and beg him to let her stay. Haku would not do that, and it would be heartbreaking to have to walk away from him again.

Chihiro went through the empty train station again, passed under the light that streamed through the colored window, past the benches, and then into the shadowy tunnel. And eventually the girl stepped into the human world again, into the brushy forest that was green with the sunlight streaming through the leaves.

Before she began the walk home, Chihiro smoothed her hair and tried to comb it by running her fingers through it. Her parents would wonder just what she'd been doing if she came home with messy hair—she was always primly groomed when she left for school and when she came back. She then reached into her pocket for the hair tie that No-Face had made for her the first time she'd been in Skylandia.

However, Chihiro's hand touched something cool and solid. Curious, she drew out the object and gasped in surprise. In her hand was a beautiful jade dragon pendant, hanging on a necklace strung with tiny pearl beads. It hadn't been in her pocket when she'd left, Chihiro was sure. Haku must have used magic to put it in there, as a surprise.

"Thank you, Haku," she murmured, carefully slipping it into her pocket. She found the hair tie and pulled her hair into a neat ponytail. Then she continued on the walk back to her parents' house.

Haku was right. Five years wasn't forever. It was just a blink compared to the eternity that Chihiro would spend with him. Smiling widely, she walked faster, a little bounce in her pace. It was still Friday afternoon in the human world; the idea of doing her homework later that night seemed mundane and almost surprising to her, after spending such a thrilling, wonderful time in Skylandia.

Chihiro found her backpack where she had hidden it behind the queer little statue and lifted it onto her shoulders. Seeing the backpack reminded her of school, and she thought of her tussle with Minori. With a wicked grin, she wondered how he was feeling after she had knocked him to the floor.

~FIN~

No need to search outside, or sail across the seven seas

Because shining here inside me, it's right here inside me,

I've found the light of your voice; it has always been with me

Note: I made a minor continuity error; in the prologue, it is stated that Chihiro's punishment for attacking Minori would be discussed with the principal for the following day. However her adventure occurs over the weekend in the time fold, or half an hour in the human world on Friday). I have corrected the prologue so that the principal tells Chihiro to see her on Monday about her punishment.

I appreciate y'all's reviews and support! It makes me happy!

All song quotes (in italics) belong to Studio Ghibli. These are the English translations of 'Always with Me'.