Chapter 3

The pink and white uniform wasn't as comfortable as she remembered it to be. But of course, her body had been very different then. She absolutely refused to go without a bra on a daily basis, as most women in the bathhouse did. Social situations, in her opinion, called for as much. Especially if she was going to be around Haku.

Which she highly doubted would happen.

She had quickly been pushed out the door by a thoroughly frustrated river spirit. He hadn't even assigned her a mentor. No matter, it wasn't as if she really needed one. It had been easy enough to walk back downstairs and into the women's dorms, get out a properly fitting uniform and dress herself before hunting down Lin.

"Oh look, she's a big girl now," Lin chimed, referring to Chihiro's fully clothed self.

"What the hell, Lin?"

"Whoa, complete with big girl words."

"You knew Haku was up there. You knew he was the head of the bathhouse." Lin became extremely interested in her toes as Chihiro continued. "Why didn't you tell me?"

With a sigh she moved into the comforting hand that was placed on her arm. Chihiro couldn't stay upset with Lin when she saw and felt the concern there. "I thought…it was something you had to find out yourself. I knew you would be wondering about him from the moment you arrived here. I didn't want to drop something like that on you and make you even more confused, or upset."

Chihiro nodded in understanding. If she had known the person waiting for her had been not Haku, but a shell of the person she knew, she probably wouldn't have been able to continue.

"He's not the same boy you knew Chihiro. He changed after you left and not for the better as we all had hoped. He gave us some slack, yes, but he became so solitary. He wouldn't listen to reason, not even from Kamaji."

"Why? Why did he change? Was it Yubaba? Lin, please tell me."

The elder gently patted the arm she still had a hold off. "Again, I don't really think I'm the one to tell you that. Here," Lin handed her a wide tray scattered with food before the full affect her pout could set in. "Take this to the boiler room. There's someone there who wants to talk with you."

Her grin was wide, and with one final wink from Lin, Chihiro did as ordered with no small amount of excitement. Still, she made sure to grab an extra roasted newt on her way out.

|g|

If her hair hadn't still been secured in a pony tail, it surely would have taken on a life of its own in the dry air of the boiler room. Not only had the room been freed of any moisture, it was hot, and the smell of charcoal and raw herbs accompanied it. The bright fire writhed and hissed from the open door of the boiler, the creaking of the aged iron mouth continuous, like a heartbeat. Chihiro had to wipe her forehead on her sleeve within seconds of stepping into the room. Still, that didn't dim any of the anticipation of seeing Kamaji again.

She remembered how the old man had so easily lied, claiming she was his granddaughter, all to help her. She remembered how he had watched over Haku as he healed when she could not. Kamaji and Haku…

The scratch of a wooden door opening and closing, plus Chihiro's soft knock, got Kamaji's attention. When he caught sight of her, the smile that stretched across his aged face drew and equally big one from her. She could almost imagine the scrunching of his eyes behind his round, black glasses.

"My goodness. Who is this beautiful young woman come to pay me a visit, eh? It couldn't possibly be my little Chihiro." Even as he spoke, Kamaji was opening his many arms.

"It's me," Chihiro nearly squealed with delight, running and jumping into the offered hug. She heard the return excited shouts of the sootsprites and couldn't help the giggle. She felt almost ridiculously giddy, as if she were young again, being doted on with cuddles and sweets. "I'm back Kamaji. I'm finally back."

With a final squeeze, Chihiro was drawn back so Kamaji could get a good look at her. "I'm glad! You're a sight for sore eyes my dear. Though I have to say, I didn't expect to see you again quite so soon. You should have returned looking as withered as me."

"You are not withered," Chihiro insisted. "You still look strong as an ox." Kamaji flexed, earning another bout of laughter from her. Had it really only been a few hours since she had laughed like that?

"But I probably shouldn't be here. It's due to my own stupidity, really. I got hit by a car." Kamaji's sharp inhale could probably be heard upstairs and definitely over the roar of the fire.

It seemed the lectures came along with the milk and cookies grandparents feel. "Chihiro…why weren't you more careful? You're still so young. How could you be so careless? There were still so many possibilities for you in that world."

"That's where you're wrong," Chihiro said, exasperated. She stood and began pacing around the room, finally settling at the edge of the wooden floor, petting the sootsprites that jumped to greet her. "In that world everything was so dull. I was bored on a daily basis. And lonely. I had friends, but none of them compared to you, or Lin, or Haku…"

"Ah," Kamaji murmured. "Now I see how it is. Please don't tell me this is all about Haku."

Chihiro remained quiet. Perhaps it hadn't always been, but it was now.

"I know Lin's already told you, and I'm not going to tell you any different. Haku isn't the same boy you grew to love back then. He's become something terrible. Not like Yubaba was," he quickly added at the horrified expression on Chihiro's face. "Haku can be kind. When he shows any emotion at all, that is. The day you left, Haku came back and confronted Yubaba. She had been waiting for him. She knew he was no longer under her control, but she was still willing to cut her losses and let Haku go without a fight. But Haku refused. He told her that she had taken too much away from him, so he was going to take everything away from her. Stupid woman figured her meant Boa, but what Haku really wanted was the bathhouse. Yubaba was infuriated and she told him no, so they fought, with Haku eventually willing.

"After Haku took over, things were a little better here. There work is still rough, but the food is good and sleeping arrangements comfortable. It is a business after all. Still, he hasn't smiled since, hasn't smiled at anyone the way he did you."

"All the more reason for me to stay!"

"No, Chihiro," Kamaji insisted, shaking his head. "This bathhouse sucks the life out of everyone inside it. Even with a new owner. That's why Haku is the way he is. Instead of a slug possessing him now, it's the exhaustion, and the stress of being the head of a successful business. His soul is worn out, and that's something that is not so easily repaired."

Chihiro's arms were wrapped tightly around her knees. She couldn't believe things had gone so horribly wrong. "Why are you still here, Kamaji? You said Haku was more understanding. He surely would have let a dear friend like you go had you only asked."

To her surprise, Kamaji chuckled. "Like I said, the food is good. Also, I'm an old man. It's too late for me to start a new career."

Chihiro took the outstretched hand and walked until she rested next to Kamaji again, three of his six arms wrapped around her back. The thought didn't disgust her. She knew the man and she refused to believe this wasn't her place. She felt so comfortable.

"You are not like me, Chihiro. You were so young, with so many possibilities…" Kamaji drifted off into his own thoughts. She soon brought him back to the present with her movement, telling him she had to go and that he needed to finish eating before his food got cold.

She had gotten what she wanted. Though it still didn't explain why Haku had been so cold to her. Kamaji said he had smiled at no one like her did her, so why couldn't she make him smile now? No matter what Komaji said, she didn't have many possibilities now. So she was going to make the most of what she had, and she was going to see that smile on Haku again.

|g|

Chihiro walked briskly, setting the tray filled with now dirty dishes down on her way through the kitchen before walking out onto the main floor. Her aim had been to find Lin, perhaps work until her brain achieved some form of numbness, at least for a moment. Unfortunately, Lin was nowhere to be found. Though there was no shortage of workers on the floor. Actually, it seemed there were more than usually, all flitting about a bit anxiously. Chihiro traveled in the direction of the crowd and caught a glimpse of what all the fuss was about.

The small room was dominated by a large bath, as per usual, but instead of some radish spirit, the bath was occupied by a woman. And a beautiful woman at that. She was petite, but curvy from what Chihiro could see above the water. Her hair was long, flowing well past her shoulders and out into the water in front of her, glimmering a dark orange color. Her eyes were the same color, wide, and framed by thick, dark lashes. They fit her round face well. In short, she was beautiful. Save for the large fox ears that stood tall on each side of her head, shifting from side to side at each new sound.

She stood there for a moment, dumbfounded, before she had the thought to pull someone over and ask who the hell she was.

"You don't know," The toad asked in a condescending tone. "That is Lady Hotaru. Master Haku's woman."

Now that was even more unexpected. Haku, had a woman?

A beautiful woman too. It was no wonder the entire staff was groveling at her feet. Chihiro felt a bit nauseous. She hadn't even thought…but why wouldn't he? Haku was a full grown man. Of course he wouldn't hold on to childish memories and promises. She felt completely stupid. It was no wonder Haku had looked at her like gum on the bottom of his shoe when she suddenly showed up.

Haku had moved on.

The woman (Hotaru was it?) turned and looked up, accidentally catching Chihiro's eye. Though her cheeks had been flushed only moments before from the heat of the water, her face seemed pale. She kept eye contact for several moments before breaking away, splashing furiously towards the edge of the tub.

"My robe," the lady shouted at the closest attendant and then they were scrambling, passing a long, and red, velvet robe, warm and ready for when she stepped fully out of the tub. The woman's voice was surprisingly harsh for such a small, soft looking creature. She shouted out demands left and right, staff parting like the red sea to clear her path.

She was only a few feet away from Chihiro now and she knew it, turning with one last, startled look at Chihiro. As if she had seen a ghost. Just as soon as she had looked, her head was turned and she continued on her way, to the nearest elevator and on her way upstairs. To where Haku was no doubt.

Haku's woman.

Chihiro shook her head violently and grabbed the nearest rag, dunking It into a bucket of soapy water then wringing it out with all of her strength. As if it was around that little…No. Why was she feeling such jealousy? It wasn't as if she had been in that kind of relationship with Haku. He was perfectly free…

Chihiro got scolded and sent away when she almost scrubbed a hole through the floor.

By the time she got a few more grueling minutes of cleaning in, it was time for bed and Chihiro finally found Lin in the women's dorm.

"Chihiro," Lin greeted her with a smile. "How was Kamaji?"

"Kamaji was fine. Same as ever. It was really good to see him again."

"I knew that would make you feel better," Lin said, cuffing her arm lightly. "Did he tell you about Haku?"

Chihiro nodded. The conversation had been circling through her mind all night, intertwined with images of that…

"Yeah he told me about Haku. What he didn't tell me, was about Lady Hotaru."

Lin stood stiff as a board. "You just saw her?"

Chihiro nodded, nibbling at her steam bun half heartedly. "She was bathing when I came back upstairs. She's really pretty."

"Oh, Chihiro. I thought you had seen her upstairs with Haku and that was why you were so upset. I'm so sorry. I should have mentioned something."

"No that's okay," Chihiro said, stopping Lin short. It already hurt enough, no matter how irrationally. "It's not like we were…like that. We were kids. You know? It's fine. It's fine."

They finished the rest of their dinner in silence. Setting out their futons, Chihiro needed to know one more thing.

"Did you recognize me," Chihiro wondered aloud.

"What do you mean," Lin asked, folding over the top blanket of her futon, scooting in and taking her hair out of its tie.

"Out on the bridge. Did you recognize me?"

Lin thought for a moment, before nodding. "It took a few seconds, but I had a feeling even before you spoke. Your face isn't that different? You still have really round cheeks," she said, poking said cheek. It drew a small chuckle from the younger girl. "Why do you ask?"

Chihiro sobered and curled under the blanket, pulling it up to her chin, but that didn't stop the chill that traveled up her spine. "No reason. Just curious."

Lin shrugged and tucked herself in. Seconds later the room was dark, the only sounds the soft breathing of the women around her.

Chihiro still didn't fall asleep for hours afterwards, and when she did, her dreams were full of images of Haku, that woman's arms draped over his shoulders.

A/N: For some reason it was difficult for me to write this chapter. Part of it may be that it was mostly filler. Just outlining the new workings of the bathhouse. The next chapter will be more entertaining, going more into depth with Chihiro and Haku's current relationship. A friend of mine, ~.net, suggested that this is progressing a bit slowly. With this chapter, I agree, but if I'm worried that if I progress it faster, it won't last very long. I'm not sure that it's going to be more that 10 chapters as is. So I was wondering what my wonderful readers were thinking~ Please let me know in your reviews! Thanks for reading!