-Catgirl-of-Bavaria-: Omg, I am so late with this update…I said last time that I'd be quick to make up for technology's shortcomings…but, ack, it's been more than a month since then! January seriously just flew by, I don't know where it went! I know I've been hard at work on my latest addition to my fanfiction works, a little project about Oban Star-Racers. If any of you guys like OSR, please, check it out! (especially if you are like me and love the Molly/Aikka pairing!) I'm actually getting a great response to that one, it hasn't even been up a week, and it's just passed 700 hits. I think that's a good thing….:sweatdrops:. Anyhow, to get off my bragging horse…If there is such a horse…

So, this chapter, as I think I mentioned before, is the last one of this story! I've really been stalling on it as well because I wanted this to be a good send off of the story. So I was trying to go for a good way to end it and tie up all the ends, without it sounding corny and put together. Whether it turned out that way, I guess is up to you guys…heh heh…

Aside from that, the sequel, as promised, will be coming soon! Look for it!

Chapter 21- A New Promise

Before Chihiro could comprehend what was happening, the hands in her own left, and she was pulled forward by a strong set of arms and her forehead was suddenly resting on what she could only guess was a well toned chest. Inside this body, she could feel as well as hear an assuring heart beat.

This was not Kaonashi that was holding her in an embrace.

Maneuvering her head to place her gaze above her, her hazel eyes caught sight of softened versions of the dark eyes she knew in the human world. These eyes looked almost foreign to her, but there was no doubt in her mind. Those eyes could only belong to one person.

"Taro…" Chihiro whispered with a smile, feeling something of great weight lifting from her heart. "It worked, I did it…" She smiled, releasing a couple of joyful tears onto his chest.

"Of course you did, Chihiro. You're Sen, after all." Taro's voice was still as deep as she recalled it, but it felt appreciative, it felt soft to her. "I thank you."

Taro placed a chaste kiss on her forehead in thanks, and let his hands meet with hers as the last of the darkness around them disappeared. He peered down at himself, finding an outfit entirely out of black, just a simple cotton tunic and pants. On the ground, something else caught his eye. Chihiro followed his gaze, and found what he was peering at. Bending down, she retrieved the objects.

"Your mask," She said quietly, carefully cradling the pieces in her hands. She looked up at him with curious eyes, finding his own filled with intrigue; full of emotion that she'd never seen him as expressing that way before. "What are you going to do with it?" she asked him curiously.

Taro transferred the pieces to his hands with care, feeling the material and being reminded of ceramic. He stared, thoughtful at it as he became aware of the others making their ways over.

"Woo, you did it Chi!" Rumi practically tackled Chihiro in a hug. Taro let a laugh escape him, appreciating how good of a sensation it left in him. He had taken that feeling for granted before he became unable to do so in his other form. A presence in front of him turned his attention from the sight of his two friends twirling each other in exultation. He was met with the same jade eyes he regretfully used to hate.

"I owe you my thanks, Taro-san." Haku told him with a slight smile.

"For what?" Taro asked honestly, cocking an eyebrow in question.

"You gave your life for Chihiro. That deserves a great deal of thanks." Haku sank into a deep bow. "If any harm had come to her, I don't know what I'd do. I was wrong about you from the beginning."

Taro grimaced and scratched his head embarrassedly, much to Haku's surprise; one of the last things he'd ever expected to see was an earnest Taro.

"Yeah, well, at the time, you weren't too far off. I'd already made too many mistakes with her in that life…I was more of a monster back then than I was as Kaonashi…" Taro sighed, watching Rumi congratulate Chihiro, now with the mouse-formed Boh joining in, whizzing around their heads with Yu-Bird's help. "I wouldn't have lived with myself if I hadn't done something. Then in this life, all I wanted to do was make everything up to her. Even if I didn't have a clue what I'd done."

"Regret can be a strong feeling." Haku smiled reassuringly at his newfound friend, while setting a palm on his shoulder. "You know as well as I do that I know a thing or two about that particular emotion."

Taro grinned. So much had changed between them over the last five years, even if they really only hated each other the other day. Or yesterday…When exactly was it that he died in relation to the current time?

"Hey, Haku, how long ago did it happen, anyway? My dying, I mean." Taro asked nervously, but curiously. Haku only calculated for a moment.

"Four days tomorrow, I believe." Was his answer. "Today is Chihiro's birthday, if that's of any help."

"And only just earlier I saw you at the bath house. My, how quickly five years fly." Came a voice from beside them, suddenly. The two found, next to a silently observing Zeniba, Tenryu, who was smirking at them, looking Taro up and down. "You haven't changed a bit, and yet you've changed so much." Bright blue eyes shimmered above a white toothed smile.

"Oh, yeah I remember you. Still cryptic, as always, I see." Taro laughed, coming level with Tenryu, actually finding himself to be as tall as the River God.

"Of course I am! It's only been an hour or two since we first met!" Tenryu playfully waved a hand at Taro, while twirling a lock of his hair between his fingers with the other. Taro flashed a quizzical look at Haku, finding the younger spirit shaking his head in his hand a bit shamefully.

"He gives a terrible name to the River Gods…" Taro could have sworn he heard the younger boy mutter. He laughed along with Zeniba, who now took her turn in congratulating the former Kaonashi.

"Keitaro, what an exciting life you truly have, I always knew there was something more to you, my friend," the old spirit laughed while Boh and Yu-bird came out of nowhere to settle on her shoulder. "I still wonder, though, where did you learn to spin thread like that?" She asked him playfully. Taro blanched.

"I really don't know," he said dismissively before looking away, embarrassed that the conversation had come to this. Haku laughed despite himself, then felt Chihiro come up next to him, along with Rumi. The two of them seemed to be suppressing giggles of their own.

"Well, no matter, come, all of you; let's continue our visit inside, it seems we have much to catch up on!" Zeniba turned towards the door, inviting them along as Boh and his friend took off of her shoulder to make their own ways.

So it happened, they did catch up, mainly of Chihiro's stories of her life since visiting the world of spirits, but also a discussion of Taro's life as a lost soul; they were all curious, and Taro was glad to supply, glad to be able to be understood again. He was glad to be able to just sit around with friends and talk; another thing he had taken for granted when he had Chihiro and Rumi in the human world. Just talking and laughing with them made all five of the previous years as Kaonashi well worth while.

It had definitely put many things into perspective for him. Haku and Chihiro's love for one thing, had been explained to him in full, as he had been thrust into the middle of it five years before. He never thought he would have been grateful in death, nor because of his death, but here he was, nonetheless. It had changed him, and for the better. Now he could actually appreciate Chihiro for what she could provide to him; friendship. Not only did he have Chihiro for this, but he had all the people now in the living area with him, Zeniba especially. It was rather like having the sort of older, parental figure that he really wanted in life. She really was like a kind old grandmother.

Haku felt the sun begin to rise just outside, hours after they'd gone in to the little cottage, after long hours of talk and laughter. But one thing was still nagging at him, one thing about the spell's true effects on him. He glanced at Chihiro while she laughed with the others, thinking again on how he would love to spend his life with her, but wondering how it would work. Was he still human, though he'd regained all his river spirit attributes? Perhaps he could survive in both worlds with equal quality…All he knew was he wanted Chihiro by his side.

Though, as he knew the sun was rising, he also knew that time was running out if they wanted to return to the human world before the girls' families missed them.

"Chihiro, Rumi, I think we should take our leave, if we want to return before your parents find you missing," Haku said as he stood from his seat next to Chihiro. Immediately, Boh protested, squeaking frantically with a sad expression on his mouse face. Yu-bird twittered her own sentiments from the mouse's shoulder. Rumi gave them a little pet with her fingers, and the mouse and bird calmed down, though they were still sad to have the visit coming to an end.

"Alright," Chihiro said, albeit reluctantly, looking at Rumi. Rumi nodded hesitantly, before passing a sort of sad look to Tenryu, who threw the blonde a smile.

"I'll let all of you say goodbye, I need to ask Zeniba something, actually," Haku told the girls quietly as they came up to meet him. Zeniba flashed a knowing look in their direction as he said it, and he grinned at her seemingly telepathic mind. So as Taro and the other spirits met with the two human girls, Haku strode over to a knitting Zeniba, who glanced up at him with a wide and wrinkled grin.

"What is it you wanted to discuss, Haku, dear?" Zeniba asked politely. Haku sank into a bow before her, and looked back up with a smile.

"First of all, I want to thank you for giving me another chance with Chihiro. I know you used many hours to figure it out, and I am grateful for every one of them." Zeniba nodded. "However, I am curious, about…what exactly I am. Do I still remain human, even though my powers have returned?"

Zeniba chuckled at the sincere curiosity in the dragon's voice.

"I imagine, that this simply makes you a whole other species. You have both the aura of a human, and of your true river spirit. I do not know truly what it will mean for you, but I believe that this all became a new scenario in the instant your powers resurfaced as a human." Zeniba said, setting down her project and rising, dusting off her sapphire colored dress. "This really is a new chapter, not only in your life, but in the records of magic, especially this particular spell. But you are wondering if you will be able to spend this chapter with Chihiro without any drawbacks, am I correct?"

Haku looked at her with expectant jade eyes, and then nodded. The old witch laughed a little.

"Of course you will be able to. With this sort of mixed aura you give off, I believe that for you it is possible to live in either world naturally. I did after all give you a new entity." Haku's tension eased as a smile spread on his face.

"Thank you, Zeniba," he said, again sinking to a bow. He'd never felt better in all his life, except for maybe when he received his name from Chihiro.

"You are very much welcome, Haku." Zeniba nodded back to him. "Get going now, and be sure to take care of both of these fine girls," Zeniba led the dragon over to the gathering near the door. Turning to the girls, the witch gave them both a great hug at the same time. "Do come back for a visit, you three, don't be strangers. And Tenryu, you are more than welcome to stop by if things at my sister's bath house get boring on your visits!" she laughed, and the older of river spirits smiled.

"I'll be sure to, Zeniba," He then turned to Rumi, who looked apprehensive about the fact that the one way train wouldn't get them back to the bath house. "So, Koishii, ready for another ride? I promise I won't show off like our buddy Kohaku, here," Rumi still looked worried, but smiled shyly. Taro then turned to Zeniba.

"I'm going to go with Tenryu to see them off," He told the witch, who nodded in return.

"Just don't get too near the bath house, my sister is probably still mad," Zeniba warned playfully. Haku then remembered something.

"Taro, didn't you sign a contract with Yubaba?" he asked the young man curiously. Taro looked at Haku blankly before laughing again.

"Yeah, I suppose I did!" He said, scratching the back of his neck out of habit. "I don't suppose she'd want me anymore, though, since her place drives me insane…"

"Don't worry, we'll have a chat with my sister when you get back, Taro. I think I can convince her to let it go. Now, the lot of you, get going, the day is dawning!"

With that, she shooed them all out the door, and soon the two river gods were back into their snaking dragon forms, ready for boarding of the three passengers. On Tenryu, Rumi was already clutching at his grey horns and simultaneously burying her face into his pitch black mane, with Boh and Yu-bird riding on her shoulder. Taro had taken the spot just behind her, to ensure extra safety to the girl should she faint in mid flight again. Chihiro was, of course, in her rightful spot on Haku, and looking towards Zeniba.

"Thanks again, Granny! I promise I won't ever forget you again!" She called to the witch, who was standing just before her door, smiling broadly at all of them.

"Take care now, Chihiro, and do take care of that hair tie! Keep it near, and your friends will be near as well!" Zeniba waved a ringed hand at the group. Haku and Tenryu both stretched, just before taking off above the ground.

"I will, Granny!" Chihiro called over her shoulder with a broad smile. The two dragons snaked over Zeniba's modest farmland and over the gateway where the hanging lamp waved brightly at them. They didn't rise too high above their current level, if only for Rumi's sake, but the scenery they passed over was just as beautiful in the light of dawn as if they'd risen above the pink clouds.

The journey was a long one, even with the speed of Haku and Tenryu, and they reached the bridge of the bath house at about mid morning. Luckily, a quick stop in the bath house would not be necessary, as Rin was already standing in the entrance patio, waiting for them. As the two dragons set down on the broad, wooden expanse of the bridge, the sleep-deprived Rin woke out of her slump over the railing, and ran over to them.

"Where the heck have you three been!?" she asked, somewhat indignantly, as she came up beside the group, just as Haku and Tenryu changed back to their human forms. She caught sight of Tenryu and bowed, recalling him as being an honored guest of the bath house. "Yubaba told me you all went off on some escapade or something,"

"We were merely visiting a friend, and setting things back to their rightful order," Haku told her with a sigh. "I am sorry we didn't have enough time to catch up, Rin, but Rumi, Chihiro and I must get back to the human world."

"Ok, so who is this guy?" Rin said, motioning to Taro with a nod of her head. Haku grinned.

"I believe you know him better as 'Kaonashi.'" Haku and the others watched with smiles as Rin's eyes widened, scanning the former lost soul up and down.

"How's this kid Kaonashi?" she asked skeptically, raising an eyebrow at the group. Tenryu stepped forward.

"I'll be glad to explain everything to you once I return to the bath house, but these three do need to get a move on; time moves a little differently in their world, and they are already running late." He explained to her with a bow. Chihiro suddenly ran up to Rin and tackled the woman in a hug.

"Rin, say goodbye to Kamaji and Isao for me, ok?" She said, nuzzling into her sister's chest. Rin looked surprised at the girl before smiling, a little sad to see her young friend leave again.

"Just promise me you'll come back, ya dope," She laughed softly, too stubborn to let loose any sign of the sadness she was really feeling about seeing her human sister leaving again. "And bring your friend again, we haven't had nearly enough time to have girl talk!"

"I'll come whenever Chi does," Rumi promised as she came up to Rin, transferring Boh from her shoulder to her hands. "Make sure Boh finds his momma again, an old bat though she is,"

Rin gave a laugh at Rumi's jab at Yubaba, and took Boh in her own hands, allowing the fuzzy rat to give his own farewells to the girls in little mouse nuzzlings.

"Haku, you take care of Chihiro, or there will be Hell to pay, you hear me?" Rin told Haku fiercely. Haku grinned at the woman.

"As if I had any other plans for my life, Rin," He told her slyly. Rin nodded at him, and wrapped both Rumi and Chihiro in a hug strong enough to last a lifetime.

With their last, reluctant goodbyes, the group left Rin, Boh and Yu-bird at the patio of the bath house, to head down the path that would lead them to the vast field. Chihiro and Rumi both took in everything as they passed through the streets of seemingly abandoned cafés, committing everything to memory. Even Haku seemed to be enjoying the scenery for the first time.

When they reached the top of the stone stairs, the group of five stopped next to the frog statue, and looked out onto the grass of the hilly plain before them. Both Chihiro and Haku exchanged glances, both of them recalling the last time they had stood here together, with their hands clasped together as they were now. Haku's look was stained with a little guilt, remembering that decision he'd made at that point, the one he'd ended up regretting for years to come. Chihiro saw it as the place where she'd been promised of their second meeting, a promise that had come true, and brought her close to her guardian river god once more. Though she did sense Haku's look of regret, and decided to lean in for an unexpected kiss on his lips.

"No regrets, Haku." She told him certainly, her hazel eyes glittering in the day light. He looked at her for a second before smiling.

"Not anymore." Haku confirmed quietly, wrapping his arm around his love's waist.

They turned as a unit to the other three, finding Rumi in the middle of a hug with Tenryu. If Chihiro wasn't mistaken, either, she could see a pink blush along with a smile on the girl's face as she hugged his chest. She gave a glance with a raised eyebrow to Taro, who gave her a knowing look, obviously catching on to the same observations. Chihiro cleared her throat loudly, and the blissful look on Rumi's face was replaced with one of surprise, as she released Tenryu in a hurry. Her pink blush grew all the brighter. Chihiro grinned at her friend broadly; she would definitely be using this little development to her advantage later on. Tenryu threw her a wink, apparently reading her mind on the subject.

"Chihiro, I must say, this whole little adventure made my vacation all the more enjoyable, thank you," Tenryu said, coming before the girl and bowing. "It was a delight meeting all of you, really." He said with a broad smile. He suddenly made a face as though he remembered something. "Oh! And you should visit my river sometime, all three of you! Unless I'm on a vacation, I'll be quick to answer you!"

"Chihiro," Taro's voice came next, bringing Chihiro out of the conversation with Tenryu. She came over to him, leaving Haku and Rumi to their individual farewells to Tenryu. Taro smiled down at her. "I…want you to have this," he told her, seeming to pull something out of mid-air, something white and broad.

"Part of your mask?" She asked curiously, looking at the fragment.

"Yes, I guess it's sort of to remember me by, when you're in the human world." He smiled at her again. "Don't ever forget what you did for me, or what you do for others. You have some amazing powers, Chihiro, they may not be the same as Haku's, Zeniba's or mine, but you are a very amazing and powerful person. Just, keep this to let you remember what you can really do." He told her certainly, setting the piece of his mask into her hands. Chihiro stared blankly at it for a second, before smiling back up at him.

"Of course," she replied softly, before hugging it protectively to her. The strong arms of Taro embraced her once more, holding her closely to him

"Thank you again, Chihiro. You're a true friend, I'm glad I am finally seeing clearly enough to recognize that." He told her warmly, before pulling back from the hug to place a kiss on her forehead again.

Chihiro smiled at her once-boyfriend, who smiled back, with eyes that were still deep, but now with emotion. Taro then gave a nod to Haku, who took Chihiro by the waist before bidding their last farewells to the two spirits that would remain. With the last wave by Rumi to a grinning Tenryu, the trio of humans was now on their way back to the human world, descending the steps, and plotting across the rounded and moss-covered river rocks at the bottom.

After a distance over the grass, Haku decided now would be a good time to ensure they all remember the important events that had transpired, and paused, signaling to Rumi and Chihiro that the time had come to look back.

They could still see the top of the stairway from there, along with the distant figures of Tenryu and Taro, who waved as soon as they'd figured out that the trio had turned around. The three of them breathed deep as the wind seemed to bestow on them a reliving of all that had taken place, as if it were asserting the memories into them, to defy the spell on the gate. As Haku recalled all that had conspired, sort of as a catalyst to his decision to be a subject of that one spell, he embraced Chihiro to him from behind, setting his chin on her shoulder, taking in the scenery of the little town ahead of them with emerald eyes that had never held so much appreciation for the life he had, complicated though it was. He was lucky, in many senses of the word.

Love had been lost, for what he had feared would be forever. Then it was returned to him, though he had no clue at the time why or how it was there. And now, it was right there, in his arms again, and he'd never felt better.

He made a promise to himself, that he'd never let this love slip away from him again. And Haku was a river spirit of his word.

-Catgirl-of-Bavaria-: The end…sorta. On to the sequel! Rawr!

And with the ending of this chapter, I give mountains of thanks to each and every one of you who reviewed! I know I really sucked at doing replies, but I will try to be better once the sequel gets going. Despite my lack of replying, I read each and every one of your reviews, and they all made me very happy to know that my work is so loved! You guys have all been awesome, and I give you my thanks!

.:Bows:.