Nigihayami Kohakunushi -- that is his name. God of the river, he resided in a town where he was once served and revered. Then he was forgotten, now living only in the tales of the townsfolk like some kind of a made-up story passed from parent to children. His shrine was destroyed. Most of the kin of his priestesses had forgotten his existence. But he remembers them all, not only the priestesses and their families, but every townfolk living near his abode. And he remembers how they all betrayed him. They'd dried up his river -- his only home -- and erected a building on top of it. It enraged the god. How dare those little humans do that to him? His eyes had blazed, his nails digging into his sacred skin as he clenched his fists too tightly. Since then he has dreamed of exacting his revenge, making the people aware of the wrath of the river god.

Immediately, he went to Yubaba, the powerful witch who owns a bathhouse, to become her apprentice and learn more about dark magic to make the people who betrayed him pay.

However, he was reduced to a slave. He was second in command in the bathhouse, yes, but a slave to Yubaba nonetheless. She owned him. Just because she kept his name and called him Haku.

But he's free now. For some reason he can't recall, he now remembers his name.

Armed with his raw power, he attacked Yubaba during her sleep. She was a tough opponent. Though caught unaware, she was able to successfully defend herself. Their fighting lasted for years, with Haku retreating and hiding then attacking again.

When their fight was almost over, the bathhouse was in shambles. No guest dared to come back and the employees fled for their lives. But Kamaji stayed even how much Lin tried to persuade him to go, not wanting to leave the little soot sprites in the bathhouse. He believed that they'll be soon working again, with the old or the new master of the bathhouse.

And he's right, because Haku spared Yubaba's son Boh. The big baby had cried as he saw Haku strike Yubaba with his magical blasts again and again until the sorceress is bloodied and down to her knees. She was angry, her wrath burning in her eyes and making a fire in her mouth. The strands of her hair flow in different directions.

With her last breath, she used all her strength to cast a magic unknown against Haku. Laughing while dying, she said, "You will never remember that what's most precious to you forever!" Then life left her.

Haku is curious about what it is that he had forgotten, but he doubts it is something more important than his rage.

Now, flying in front of the department store where his home once was, the god gathers his long dark hair and ties it loosely on his back. He has the habit of doing it when trying to choose someone he would punish. He had taken 34 lives by now and there are already talks that the mysterious disease spreading in the town is supernatural.

"Hurry up before I kill you all," he says to no one and to everyone.

He enters the big store and spots a couple familiar to him -- the Oginos -- who he hasn't seen in a while. They left the town years before so why are they here now?

Are they here because they moved back? Or are they here just to visit?

Should he cast his spell upon the unsuspecting couple to send a message to the people that no resident or once resident of the town is safe from his wrath?

Yes. Yes, he should do that.

He flies towards the two and blows on the woman. Sparkles like icy scales leave his mouth and shower upon the middle-aged female. She shudders and then feels dehydrated. She asks for a bottle of water from her spouse and drinks like her life depends on it. And it does, but not to save but to destroy her.

Haku casts a spell he has been casting for almost a year now on the water bottle, turning it to poison unlike any other. So that no one would be able to find a cure.

The woman almost collapses, her husband catching her with his strong arms. "Yuko? Dear, are you alright? Should we go to the nearest hospital?"

"No, I'm sure I'll be fine." The woman replies. Feeling weak, she grabs onto her husband's sleeve.

"Okay. But let's go home. Chihiro must be back by now."

Haku, this time, goes near to the husband and showers him with the same spell he showered upon the woman.

But before he could finish, he hears the sound of clapping. Someone is praying to him and he knows where it is. Regretting that he would leave the couple in the middle of his punishment, he vows that he will seek them again.

Haku travels to one of the houses near the department store, where the Hashimotos are residing. It is not a big house nor is it small, perfect to house a family of four. As a spirit, he doesn't need to slide the door to enter it; he just needs to go through it. The god sits at the kamidana to hear the woman of the house pray for the health of her child, Sayuri, who Haku punished for not believing her mother's words about him.

Just then, the doorbell rings.

The woman leaves the shrine and peeks through their window. After a short moment, she opens the door.

Haku can hear several footsteps getting closer. Must be visitors of the dying child. He's correct. Soon he sees five girls in their school uniforms walking inside the house. He was just preparing to go when one of the girls, a brunette he hasn't seen before, catches his eyes. Impossible.

How could she?

For the very first time in his long life, a sudden rush of electricity seems to hum inside him. He feels excited and at the same time... melancholy? His emotions getting the best out of him, he almost pulls the girl close to him. But he manages to stop himself.

What is happening to him?

The woman of the house notices the girl. She walks near her and says, "This is the shrine for the river god Nigihayami Kohakunushi. They say that, many years ago, he's the god looking after this town and that he is residing at the river not too far from here."

"The river that they drained and where they put a department store?" The girl asks.

"Yes. Our ancestors were once living there, serving him."

The girl glances back at the altar and then at the mother, then leaves to go to Sayuri's room too.

So, she didn't see him.

It was just a coincidence that their eyes met.

He follows the group as they enter the room which is filled with the strong scent of vomit and medicine. Young Sayuri speaks to them as she lies weakly on her bed, getting closer and closer to her death. The girls walk near her and enclose her with a group hug, tears stinging their eyes.

Haku isn't moved.

The god knows that the things that now move him are close to none. His anger is boiling inside him and occupying every corner of his heart that there is no more place there for mercy.

Very soon the girls leave Sayuri. Haku trails after them as they exit the house and walk on the streets. Again, the brown-haired girl seems to look into his eyes. But she's just talking with one of her friends, seeing through him. A nameless feeling stings inside Haku -- was it disappointment that the girl doesn't see him?

Why would he care about such a thing?

Then the god notices a twinkling thread wrapped around the girl's wrist -- an enchanted hair tie. The material and the spell are familiar to him. It's made and doused with Zeniba's magic. He should be right. There is something with the brunette that makes her different from the other humans. He stares at her -- at her shoulder-length hair, her round brown eyes, and rosy cheeks. Not noticing how much time has passed, he finds himself with the girl in front of the train station. The other girls already left her.

It is almost nighttime, the station filled with people going home or going to work. It's the voices of people mixed with the noises of the trains coming and going the place that Haku hates the most. That is why he avoids the lands, its streets and vehicles, and prefers to fly.

As he is about to enter the station, he feels the ominous presence of another spirit. "A puny spirit." Haku looks at where the annoying aura is coming from and finds a green frog spirit wearing a blood-red kimono.

With all its feeble strength, it casts a spell to turn the wind into a blade and bravely attacks the river god. "For Yubaba!" It screams.

Haku needs only a very small portion of his power to conjure a sharper blade, his made out of water, and thrust it against the lesser spirit before it can come closer to him. The god watches as the frog spirit is reduced into bubbles and disappears into thin air.

"There are still some pests in the spiritual world, I see." Haku mutters.

Never mind that. He can deal with them any time. Now, he is following the girl... But she's already nowhere to be seen. He'd lost her while he was dealing with the frog spirit. No matter where he looks, he cannot find her.

In the corner of his eye, he sees something white appear and disappear.

The river god frowns.