Chapter Three

Decision

~Chihiro~

What do I do? Haku's dead... I don't know what to do anymore! Akito's words rang over and over again in my head and I felt guilty when I thought about dying. Akito...he's right. Haku... he never would have wanted me to die. My head throbbed a bit. All the crying made me feel tired. I stood up and walked over to the door. Akito stood outside with Rin. They stopped talking when I opened the door.

"I've decided", I said loudly.

Akito crossed his arms. "Decided what?"

I took a deep breath. "I've decided that I'll work in the entertainment quarters".

Lin looked surprised and Akito didn't show any expression. He just turned around and starting walking away. "Lin!" He said to her. "Go and make a room for Sayuri upstairs".

Lin nodded.

"And you", he said to me, turning around.

"What?" I asked, kind of feeling irritated that he only used my name when he was talking to someone else.

Akito's lips curved into a sly smile. "Let's see what you really have in you", he smirked before walking away.

I cleched my fist. Why that little...

"Sayuri!" Lin called. "Come on!"

"Okay", I replied and ran over to where she was. We made our way to the elevator went up.

"Your room is going to be near Akito's room so you can go and ask him for help", Lin told me.

I flushed. "Why would I want to ask help from that pervert?" I exclaimed.

Lin giggled. "Yeah I know what you mean but I think he's really interested in you".

My eye widened. "What? I don't think so", I said, trying not believe what Lin had just said.

She laughed. "Whatever you say", she laughed. She pointed to my bracelet. "That's a pretty bracelet".

I smiled and suddenly felt homesick. "Thanks", I twisted the bracelet fondly and fiddled with the charm. "My friend gave it to me".

"I see... can I see", she asked.

I nodded, taking off the bracelet and handing it to Lin.

Her eyebrow raised when she saw the charm. "A dragon?"

"I'm a fan of those pretty water dragon paintings they do", I said, trying to make it seem really real to Lin.

"Hm..." Lin handed the bracelet back to me. "I'm guessing you don't really like Akito do you?"

I nodded, laughing. "Who does?"

Lin tapped her finger on her chin thoughtfully. "Hmm... I don't know. Girls always seem to swoon at the sight of him." She stared at me. "Except you're different".

"You're not "swooning" over him", I pointed out, making quotation marks with my hands.

"Well, I'm not interested in men", Lin said, waving her hand around.

I giggled. "Okay".

Lin stared at me for a few seconds. "Are you in love with someone?"

I blushed but then it was replaced with sad eyes. "Yes... or I was", I said.

"Was?" Lin asked.

My eyes narrowed a bit sadly. "He's not... here anymore", I murmured.

Lin eyes widened. She looked so sad for a moment.

"What's wrong?"

Lin shook her head sadly. "Nothing it's just..."

I leaned forward a bit. "Yeah?"

Lin smiled sadly. "A long time ago... I too was in love with someone", she said softly. "But then he left... like the wind", she said the last part laughing even though the tone was sad.

Then there was silence until the elavator dinged and the door opened. Lin stepped out and I followed her down a long hallway. We passed by many room. They were mostly filled with women and men. They all laughed heartily and looked drunk as I saw them through some open windows. One man, who had a woman hugging him stared at me as I passed by.

He had bright blonde hair and his eyes were ice-blue. He looked like a warrior with the dark blue armour he wore. Somehow, his gaze scared me at how intently he stared at me with his eyes. I looked away and kept walking. Lin stopped at a room at the end of the hall. She opened it and beckoned me inside. The room was large and had a wardrobe as well as a small desk with a mirror.

The ground was filled with tatami mats and creaked a bit when I stepped on it.

"This is your room and someone will call on you later when it's time to serve men at night", Lin told me and then closed the door. It took me a few minutes until I fell to the ground crying and hugging myself.

Please... Haku give me strength for this. What do I do? Should I try to find a way home? Should I stay? I must have sat there for a long time because when someone knocked on the door to my room, it was already night.

"Sayuri?"

I straightened up and wiped away my tears. "Yes?"

Lin opened the door and bowed. "It's time to entertain the men now", she annouced.

I nodded, trying to not look unhappy. "Alright", I said.

I followed her as she led me down the hall. I clenched my fist. What am I going to do? Now that I know that Haku's dead, I should might as well go home. But still... I want to stay here. No... I should go back. I don't belong here. I just don't. Lin opened a door of a room and beckoned me inside and then closed the door.

"So you having fun?" An all to familiar voice asked me. I whipped around glaring. "You!"

Akito was lying on the ground propped on a elbow while drinking what looked like sake from a small cup. Even though I didn't want to admit it, he did look handsome. His eye lashes were so long and even though his hair was long, he still looked beautiful.

"Why are you here?" I demanded. "I'm supposed to serve the guests not you!"

Akito gave me one look and reached out to grab my arm and pull me towards him. "What are you-" I gasped, trying to jerk backwards but failed miserably. He put his arms on both sides of me, a few inches away from my face.

"Should you really say that to the person who saved your life?" He said, leaning in close. I felt myself blush violently as I felt his breath warmly on my lips and face. He nearly pressed his lips against mine but I snapped my arm forward at his face. "Don't you dare try that again!" I nearly screamed as my hand made contact with his cheek. He fell back instantly and I stood up, furious. But that emotion soon slipped away as pain replaced it.

"Ow!" I winced in pain and looked at my hand. It was a bit red and a tiny tint of purple started to appear around the edges.

Akito sighed. "That's what you get for punching me in the face". He put a hand out. "Let me see".

When I didn't respond, he just grabbed my hand. "Hey!" I winced not at the pain, but the icy coldness of his hands.

Slowly, it felt like the pain in my hand went away. I stared at Akito who was staring at my hand. The more I looked at him, the more I felt myself drowning just watching him. I pulled my hand back and turned my head away, trying to hide my embarrased expression. Why do I always feel so flustered whenever I'm near Akito? It's not like I love him or anything.

I narrowed my eyes. I'll only ever love Haku. No matter what... even if he's dead. Akito sighed and got up. "You're no fun at all", he said. "Since there's nothing else for you to do, you might as well should just go to sleep".

I stared at Akito. Maybe he know's how I can get home. I hesitated for a second.

But if I went home, would I have a home to get back to? I thought, my forehead creased.

"What's wrong?" Akito asked me.

Just ask him! "Akito... do you know how I can get home?" I asked, standing up and facing him.

Akito shrugged. "How should I know?"

I grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him to down so our faces were face to face. "Look here, you spoiled brat! I know you know something so tell me already!"

Then Akito leaned in and he kissed me. My eyes widened. Why that little...!

I kicked him in the stomache and sent him backwards. "Do you want to die that badly!" I screamed.

Akito laughed and pushed himself up. "I'm beginning to like you a lot. Not many girls are like you here".

I clenched my fist. "Yeah and not many girls are about to punch you in the face!"

Akito laughed. "Alright alright! I'm sorry!" His lips curved into a sly smile. "I'll tell you how you can get home".

"How?" I asked eagerly.

"Once every year, the two moons in the spirit world will alighn and the doorway to the human world will be opened", he said.

My eyes widened. "A year? I have to wait a whole year?"

Akito nodded. "Yeah so you might as should get used to this place while you can". Then he left the room.

I slumped on the ground feeling so lifeless. I have to wait a whole year? Why? Oh please! Tears streamed down my cheeks. "Please... I want to go home", I sobbed, burying my face into my hands.