Haku choked and gasped for breath. He didn't need it, not really, but it was a habit now. It almost felt as if his lungs were burning. He couldn't keep expending this much of his energy, but he had tosee her. He felt Rinna's cool hands against his back, soothing him, and helping him up off the floor. This was becoming a regular occurrence.
"What happened? Kohaku? Talk to me. Are you okay?" He struggled through the haze, trying to remember what had happened. The more he expended his energy on the human world, the more black outs he caused himself. "Why the power surge? What were you doing?" Rinna was demanding answers angrily now. He needed her to be quiet for a moment.
"She was with someone." As he remembered he found himself wanting to forget. "Some boy. He kissed her."
He felt Rinna's hands fall from him.
"What did you do?" she asked him again, more cautiously this time. "What did you do?"
"I don't know!" He was angry now. The boy had been touching her so tenderly. "He shouldn't have been touching her like that. I didn't know what to do. It just happened. I lost control and the glass exploded."
"You lost control?" Rinna's voice notched up a few more decibles. "You were willing to risk Chihiro because she was with someone else?"
"It wasn't like that. I wasn't trying to hurt her, or him. I don't know what happened."
"You can't risk losing control, Kohaku," Rinna murmured gently. "You know that." She watched him carefully for a moment. "I think maybe you need to leave her alone. Just give this whole thing up."
"No!" He bolted upwards. "I can't do that, Rin. I need to see her again." He looked at her pleadingly. "If I can't be with her I need to at least see her. I shouldn't have reacted like that when I saw them together, but I've never seen her with anyone before. It caught me by surprise." He was panting now, desperate for her to understand. "I need this," he whispered, "Please. I don't know what I'll do otherwise."
Rinna looked at him sympathetically. She was worried about him; it wasn't like him to be vulnerable. If others knew about this there could be trouble. He was depleting his energy sources on a lost cause, but surely if he was only watching her from afar then he shouldn't need much energy anyway. She wouldn't interfere just yet. He wasn't being honest with her, but she couldn't force a powerful river god to confide in her. All she could do was help him along his way.
"I think you should rest. I'll call for Kameko." She settled him on his bed, noticing he was already asleep as she left the room.
Kameko, his tortoise spirit servant, hovered anxiously in the hallway.
"He'll recover. I think we need to keep a closer eye on him and make sure he doesn't do anything like this again. He's becoming too involved."
"Yes, mistress." Kameko nodded. She was always deferent to anyway associated with Lord Kohaku. Rinna rolled her eyes, and wondered how responsible Kameko was for his ego.
Since she'd arrived, Rinna was one of the few who dared to challenge him. She liked to think it was a way of showing gratitude for restoring her name. He hadn't had to, and had probably done so because he knew it would have pleased Chihiro. She was thankful nevertheless. She would be eternally grateful, and as a spirit she knew how long eternity meant.
She padded softly downstairs and peeked out onto the surging river. It was obviously too upset for her to go near it. Maybe when Kohaku had calmed down she might creep a little nearer.
In Haku's sleep he smiled. He was with her, next to her as she slept. She was curled on her side, and he wrapped himself around her and cradled her to his spirit body. He wished she could feel him there. When he really tried he could make his spirit almost physical in the human world, and feel the softness of her skin. It cost him a lot though, and Rinna was beginning to notice. He hadn't meant to make the mirror crack. He felt pangs of pain and anger at himself as he realised the harm he could have caused her. He had little to thank the boy for, but he'd shielded her from harm. She may have been with him, but Rinna was wrong to suggest he should give her up. He saw the way she looked at the dragon painting, and the gentle way she caressed the lifeless creature. There was something there, he was sure of it.
He began to slip into a deeper sleep, and felt himself being pulled away from Chihiro. Kameko had probably administered something to his sleeping form. He'd have to remember to talk to her about that.
As the tide pulled him away, he turned, and pressed a kiss to Chihiro's warm lips.
Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a wonderful time.
This is only a short update, because I was just setting the scene for Haku. Also, I had a massive panic when I realised I still had three more essays left to write before going back to uni. I spent today & yesterday working on one of them, & am taking the evening off because otherwise I have to start a literary criticism essay, or read some more George Orwell essays. The next chapter will be much longer - probably because I'll be avoiding an essay of some sort.
I plan to update every week, although there will be a second update this week (probably tomorrow or later on tonight) because this chapter was so short.
Reviews would be lovely. I appreciate the story adds I've had so far, and the kind reviews.
If anyone has any ideas for chapter titles, well, your suggestions would be lovely.
Have a good week!
