Needless to say they did not make it home in time for dinner; an afternoon between two in love is never quite long enough. And once the rain started to fall there was not much to do but to huddle in the boughs of a tree and kiss. There was a lot of kissing.

When they walked in the door of Chihiro's house both slightly pink faced and dripping wet they were greeted with a reprimand of the highest degree and a cold supper. After changing into dry dressing gowns they sat and ate in silence with Chihiro's father hovering over them and spouting occasional words of contempt.

"So I guess you better be heading home now then Haku?" he said as he whisked the plate from under Haku's fork.

"Well actually Dad, would it be ok if Haku spent the night here?"

"If it's not an inconvenience," added Haku, "I can sleep on the couch."

Chihiro's father looked like he may have swallowed a model train, but luckily her mother chose that moment to come in.

"Well of course he can stay, I wouldn't expect you to go all the way home this late and in weather like this."

Haku bowed, "thank you very much."

Chihiro's father watched her make up the couch from the doorframe and as soon as she had given Haku his pillow he sent her straight up to bed without time for a quick goodnight or anything.

He then turned on Haku with a face of galvanised steel. Haku was sitting on the couch very calmly.

"So, Haku," he said, "what exactly are your intentions with my daughter?"

"I assure you sir that they are completely honourable."

"As you know Chihiro is only fifteen, and you look like you're at least…"

"I'm seventeen sir."

"Exactly! You see, Chihiro is still a child, she's not ready for a…"

"Isn't her birthday in a couple of months?"

"Look, that is hardly the point."

"Sir, I understand your concern, but you can trust that I will never let anything happen to your daughter, you have my word on that."

"But what if I don't want you to happen to my daughter?"

"Well sir, with all due respect, I don't think that is up to you, now if you'll excuse me, I need to clean my teeth."

Haku climbed the stairs to the bathroom and was disappointed to find Chihiro's door shut, he dared not open it for fear of her father's rage so he returned to his little bed on the couch and curled up under his dressing gown blanket.

But Chihiro wasn't asleep, she had waited for her parents to shut their door and had crept out of her bedroom, in her pyjamas, padded down the stairs and timidly entered the living room. Haku looked as though he were asleep and she was suddenly fearful of waking him. He looked beautiful when he slept. His dark hair was swept across his forehead and there was the smallest hint of a smile on his lips.

She tiptoed to his side and knelt at his head, his chest was rising and falling with every breath and she felt an irresistible urge to reach out and touch him. She put her hand out ever so slowly until it was resting on his cheek. Then he woke up and nearly jumped out of his dressing gown.

"God Chihiro, I thought it was your father coming to kill me."

"Sorry Haku, I just wanted to see you."

"That's alright," he said sitting up, "here join me."

She snuggled next to him and rested her head on his shoulder.

"I wish you could stay here with me forever," she said.

"Me too, but your Dad will never let me stay another night."

"Is there nowhere else you can go?"

"I have no friends in your world, no family, no job, no money, where can I go?"

Chihiro knew where he could go, and she feared he did too, but she couldn't seem to bring herself to say it out loud. She didn't need to. They were both thinking the same thing. Haku would have to go back to the spirit world.

"Let's not talk of that now," she said, timidly taking his hand, "we're together now, tonight, let's just focus on that for now."

He looked at her then, really looked at her, and he realised, his fears were all for naught, she was still that same girl he had known, she had the same smile, the same eyes and he knew in that moment that he would never love anyone else as long as he lived.

So they had one night, one perfect night together, before the morning that would separate them again.

Chihiro could not find it in herself to eat breakfast, it was hard enough to tear herself from Haku's side, before her parents awoke, and return to her own bedroom.

Before he left they took another walk into the garden but Chihiro couldn't seem to look Haku in the eye, instead she had to sit on the grass and study the flower beds while he tried to whisper consoling words.

"It won't be forever, Chihiro, I can always come and visit, and who knows, maybe in a couple of years you could come too?"

"I know," she said, "I just, I feel like I only just got you back and now I have to lose you again."

"But you won't lose me, I can come and see you anytime I want, I will come to all your volleyball games, I promise."

"Well, as long as you promise."

He wrapped his arms around her, "come on," he said into her hair, "I better get going before your Dad shoots me."

They walked inside hand in hand despite the disapproving looks from Chihiro's parents.

In just a few minutes Chihiro found herself standing at her front door between her parents and watching Haku walk away.

"I don't want you to see that boy anymore," her father said with a look that suggested he knew Chihiro hadn't spent the night safe in her own bed.

"He's not a boy," she said as she watched his white tail flick through the sky, "he's a dragon."

But her parents had no words of protest, only open mouths.

A week later Chihiro's father dropped her at her volleyball game. She had searched the skies the whole way there for the slightest hint of white, but there was none. It wasn't until the game started that she spotted him sitting in the crowd. He was grinning from ear to ear and waving like a maniac. She was so happy to see his face that she missed a spike, and Chihiro never missed a spike.

The End.