Konnichiwa! It’s been a long while since I’ve written anything, and this is my first Spirited Away fanfic. It’s only a very brief one-shot, but I really wanted to write something, and I’m planning to write a multi-chaptered Spirited Away ‘fic soon.

Anyhow, onto the disclaimer:

I do not own any part of Spirited Away.

The darkest black I ever saw was in a dream and tinged with blue.

It was beyond me how a black could be a blue, or how a blue could be a black.

But it was certainly dark; I know that, if nothing else.

That dream of mine haunts me to this day. No black, whether shadow or dye, could compare to the richness of that dark colour.

Unlike many of the dreams I’ve had, I can remember it vividly.

I awoke into the dream, engulfed by that dark colour. There was no escape from the weight of it, which constricted my chest and forced my breathing to become shallow.

My first and only thought was, “I’m dying.”

Through the darkness, I saw two green sparks emerge, which lessened the weight upon my chest. They grew closer as they flickered.

I felt long, thick fur in my hands. My fingers became soaked in oil as they entangled in the strands.

Warm breath drifted around my face and neck. The humidity open up my throat so I could breathe deeply again.

The creature emitted a deep growl that sounded almost like a kitten’s purr. In a way, it was soothing. But after only a few notes, the fur fell away from my fingers and the warm breath was replaced by air with no feeling.

“Haku!” I yelled as I was shot back to reality.

But the meaning of “Haku” remains a mystery to me, as I’ve never known any being with that name.

Is this before “Spirited Away,” or after?

It’s up to you. I personally wrote this to take place about three or four years after the movie, but it could go either way.

I guess it’s happier if it happens before.

- Koikitten