It was the wee hours of the morning in the dark hospital. I was a frequent patient due to my chronic illness.

I heard them bring the boy in. They worked on him a while, but it was clear it was too late.

He was dying.

Due to my weak body, I have intense spiritual abilities.

But I don't often intervene in matters of life and death.

But there was something different; something special, about this boy.

I entered his room. The life support was keeping him alive. I sensed he was a spirit forced to take human form.

But he was running out of spiritual energy without a locale to draw from.

I had to do the Restoration Ritual—and fast. I looked at my arm. Three marks left.

I pulled his chart—his name was listed as "Nigihayami Kohakunushi."

That was all I needed. A name, and my own spirit.

Silver magic poured from my fingertips.

Xxx

Haku woke up in the human world.

He remembered, that he had gotten sick and began to fade in the Spirit World. Zeneba had advised him to go to Human World and find a new locale.

He had taken temporary human form to do so, but the world was so modernized...he'd run out of time.

Haku had been sure he would die.

What did death mean to a spirit?

But when her silver spiritual energy touched his spirit, he felt a jolt. He felt it as part of her soul tore from her and entered him, anchoring him as he had been when his river still flowed.

It had been a long time since he had been in contact with a human. And this one was...her spiritual energy was so strong. It was as if she was a spirit herself.

After healing him, no words passed between them.

Her head ducked and she fell on his chest, asleep.