Summary: Intimate moments as Haku helps sneak Chihiro into the bath house.

Rating for Chapter: M for adult themes and language.

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2: When will I see you again?

"Get up."

The rest was a blur and mélange of scenery streaking by. The orange-lit alley widened as they entered and narrowed when Haku's hands beckoned the sliding door open with a slam!

Chihiro followed in his wake, running on air, hand gripped firmly in his, afraid she'd stumble mid-run or fall from the mysterious man, losing her grip on this dream. Enormous herb urns, frozen whale sized tuna and squid piled high and spilled from the walls to the earth floor. Their every labored breath appeared as white clouds in the air in the chilled temperature. Another door slammed open. The temperature spiked in this room, along with the stench of manure and moldy hay in a wooden barn. Pigs were fenced and packed tightly to either side of the barn, squealing in protest and distress. The man's feet pounded soundlessly on the earth, streaking effortlessly through the second structure. Chihiro whipped her head behind to stare in sympathy at the imprisoned pigs as the barn sunk into darkness.

Once again here I am, running down a hill, hand in hand with him…Chihiro smiled, mesmerized by his lithe figure guiding her to safety.

A yellow and amber aura arched over the horizon, murmurs went from a whisper to loud bustle in the distance. Bright colors bobbed across the bridge Chihiro had seen earlier, as they both emerged from the darkened garden path. She squinted her eyes, trying to focus on the crowd ebbing into the immense bathhouse. The enormous, ornate structure dotted with lit lanterns dominated the night sky. An ancient cypress twisted towards the lilac sky towered at the front of the entrance.

As Chihiro drew closer to the bridge, she realized the crowd was like nothing she'd seen, but oddly shaped and definitely not of her world: huge cloaking apparitions, colorful floating blobs with lampshades over their heads, and gigantic chickens with leaves over their heads ambled toward the entry. Surely, it had to be some kind of theme park or costume party the man was taking her to? Is he taking me on a blind date? Chihiro's heart swelled in delight.

He'd been deathly quiet scanning the activities of the bathhouse, suddenly halting behind a tiny wooden gate. "Ah!" Chihiro gasped in shock, the momentum of her walk crushed her breasts into the man's rock hard arm, her face slamming into the nape of his neck. Her breath flew from her mouth, her body burst into flames and she was positive she heard a wicked snicker escape from his lips.

He stood motionless at the gate, moving his arms seductively against Chihiro, assessing what was beneath her flimsy t-shirt, rubbing the back of his forearms on her heaving breasts. The pounding in his chest mimicked hers and the man tilted his face slightly to her cheek and smirked appreciatively. A salacious glint in his darkened eyes, promising an unspoken intimate secret, reduced Chihiro to a helpless puddle. Or is it just my imagination? She puzzled, her hazel eyes dilated in excitement at his touch, staring at his upturned chin to hide her embarrassment at his overtly sexual maneuvers. Thank heavens I worked on my abs so he can't feel my love handles! Chihiro gratefully reflected, squeezing his hand in fondness at what otherwise, if with any other man but him, was sexual harassment.

"You have to hold your breath when we cross the bridge," he whispered into the nape of Chihiro's neck, his lips teasingly brushing her naked skin. Her knees wobbled in response.

The man relaxed his pleasurable assault on Chihiro and reached over the fence to unlock the wooden gate, watching for the right moment to join the crowd streaming into the bathhouse as he did so. Chihiro continued her vigil on the man's chin, clamping her mouth shut to prevent her heart from flying out in bewilderment that such a hot stranger was hitting on her. "Even the tiniest breath will break the spell, and then everyone will see you," he finished pulling away, leaving an empty void between them. His hand left hers, pushing the gate open to enter the lit path. He let Chihiro step in front of him, locking the gate behind them.

Don't let go…Chihiro begged silently, already missing the blissful warmth and comfort of this stranger, in this strange land. Don't leave me alone please, she bit out in quietude, roping her arms around his, hugging her body tightly to his. "I'm scared."

"Now just stay calm." The man's eyes were transfixed in deep concentration on the crowd ahead, as though he was doing something forbidden by being with Chihiro.

"Welcome, welcome. Always nice to see you," chirped a happy voice somewhere on the bridge. "Welcome back, welcome back!" The voices continued in a lilting joyful tone. "Welcome, welcome!"

"I'm back from my mission." The friendliness fell from the man's voice as he addressed the two odd potato like characters. The two workers bowed graciously, greeting the anomalous monsters, gigantic birds and ancient looking kites passing.

"Ahhhhh, welcome back Master Haku," replied the potato shaped man respectfully.

At closer inspection in the glow of the lamplight, Chihiro saw his skin was reptilian and his eyes bulbous like a swamp creature, possibly a frog.

Haku? Is that your name? Chihiro eyes stole a glance to inspect Haku's ethereal profile. She didn't know what was happening, but knew silence was warranted now.

The tepid night air hissed with steam rising from the bathhouse. The surrounding heat and the terror induced sweat dampened Chihiro's skin. Her teeth chattered in pure horror and she sensed unequivocally, this man was her key to survive this waking nightmare. Hold my breath hold my breath. When? Chihiro clung to Haku, her eyes shrunk to pinpricks staring ahead of her. The situation didn't seem erotic any more.

"Take a deep breath. Hold it," he said, as if he'd read her mind.

Chihiro obeyed, inhaling a huge gulp of air, slapping her left hand over her mouth. Two steps later, they were on the planked bridge: passing the yellow mustard blob monster, countless gigantic obese fluffy chickens, an eerie black shadow wearing a white mask and demon like creatures with huge fangs, horns jutting from their heads wearing capes. This would have been a fantastic adventure if she wasn't so terrified to look around, allowed to ask questions and able to poke and prod at the creatures that belonged to a cartoon science experiment gone wrong.

Her lungs swelled threatening to explode as they walked on, when Haku tenderly whispered, "Hold on, we're almost there."

Just another few steps Chihiro thought stoically, hearing the countless steps reverberating on the wooden panels.

"Master Haku!" shouted a tiny green frog dressed in a blue belted top. "Where you been?" the frog questioned inquisitively, leaping into the air floating an inch from Chihiro's face.

A talking frog! And her lungs burst in desperation, drinking in much needed oxygen. SHIT, SHIT, SHIT!

"What! A human!" hollered the frog in amazement, as if Chihiro was the oddity in this place.

Haku's hand lashed upwards, magically encasing the midget frog into a glossy bubble, freezing the errant reptile in mid-air. "Let's go!" Haku snapped with irritation, his fingers binding around Chihiro's in a vice grip. With a swoosh, they were air bound, wind lashing at her face and clothes. They glided over the cobbled path passing the bridge, weaving between giggly, longhaired women, the wind tossing their kimonos up and exposing their painfully white legs.

Haku gruffly shoved Chihiro into a tiny wooden opening, slamming the gate shut for protection from the raucous exploding on the bridge behind them.

Haku wordlessly ushered Chihiro through a finely manicured rock garden, teeming with the sweet fragrance of cherry blossoms and hydrangeas. The plucking of ancient stringed instruments hummed melodiously from the room. Haku's arm wrapped over Chihiro lovingly. They squatted stealthily in the shadows of shrubs, until the rush of people visible through the windows disappeared.

"They know you're here," he said in a cool, melodious voice.

"I'm sorry I took a breath," Chihiro replied in shame. It's entirely my fault. I'm so useless.

"No, Chihiro, you did very well," Haku lovingly cooed, his eyes gentle and caring, hugging her in assurance. At his embrace, time stopped, the intoxicating floral scents of the garden fell from the air, the darkness surrounding them changed to light. The only thing Chihiro could discern were Haku's eyes piercing hers. A chill of excitement shivered up her spine, her face instinctively craning up to his to…

"Listen carefully to what I tell you to do," he calmly explained, the intimate moment gone. "You can't stay here, they'll find you and you'll never get to rescue your parents. This is what you have to do: I'll create a diversion and you can escape." His eyes scanned her face as he spoke.

Chihiro's emotions screamed in mute grief at Haku's revelation. Was he going to abandon her? "No! Don't leave me, I don't want to be alone!" she begged, tugging at his grey top in desperation.

"I don't have any choice if you want to help your parents," he spoke sweetly, enfolding his silky hands over hers. He waited a moment for Chihiro's panic to subside. "This is what you have to do…"

"They did turn into pigs, I wasn't dreaming," Chihiro winced, unable to deny what Haku was inferring. Tears pricked at her eyes, threatening to gush forth, Haku's calming affection shining through the shadows doing nothing to stem the hurt of her situation.

His gaze dropped to her lips, his mouth edging inexorably to hers, and then he stopped, choosing to raise his right palm to her fevered forehead. "Don't worry," and she felt a soft heat permeate over her forehead. "Now, when things quiet down go out through the back gate…" He continued speaking and scenery popped into and raced through her mind, of flowers, steep wooden stairs, ending with a smoking boiler room. Haku had cast a memory spell giving her instructions to find a 'Kamajii' in the boiler room.

"Kamajii," Chihiro mimicked once he'd finished. Haku told her of the witch who ruled the bathhouse, Yababa, Hubaba? She had to get a job he'd said; else, she could not stay here.

"Just keep asking for work," he continued firmly. "It'll be hard work, but you'll be able to stay here."

It's not the work I'm worried about! Chihiro's bravery caved, her eyelids closed to the horror of her predicament, tears finally spilling over in hot, salty streaks. Her ears heard nothing but the blood and adrenaline gushing through her veins. "…then even Yubaba can't harm you," she caught the tail end of Haku's instructions.

"I have to go Chihiro, and don't forget, I'm your friend." His final squeeze of her hand constricted her chest with a crushing sadness as he stood to leave. Yet his words dried her tears and filled her heart with courage. Only friends? Is this the last time I'll see you?

"How did you know my name?" Chihiro asked forlornly, surprised.

"I've known you since you were very little. Good luck and whatever you do, don't make a sound." Then he was gone.

He entered into the glass shoji doors, taking with him Chihiro's first glimpse of something she'd never known, but had yearned for, for so long.

She buried her face in her knees, wishing everything about this night, except Haku, were nothing but an ugly dream: but it clearly wasn't. Chihiro held her head high, inhaled deeply with conviction and followed Haku's directions to the boiler room.

When will I see you again Haku?