Chapter 7: The Forest Spirit's Encouragement

Chihiro and Lin attended to the forest spirits and made sure their bath was relaxing. Lin assured the noble spirits that they would be just outside the door should anything be needed. The male spirit decided to tour around the establishment to see all the workings, to which Lin assigned one of the younger attendants to keep up with him.

Lin, Chihiro, and the other attendant bowed and began to exit the stall, when the magnificent lady beckoned for Chihiro to stay. Lin gave Chihiro an assuring nod and closed the door on the way out.

The lady was relaxing in the bath and motioned for Chihiro to come closer. The young woman approached the lady cautiously.

"Do you require any other items, my lady? Perhaps bath salts or a cup of tea?"

The forest spirit just smiled. "No, young human. But I did want to speak to you."

Chihiro pointed to her person with an astonished look about her face.

"Yes, my dear. You are the only human around here. Seems you have only just arrived for your smell hasn't dissipated yet, though you have tried to cover it with expensive herbs."

Chihiro didn't know what to say. Her body was frozen in fear and would not move. The spirit picked up on this and laughed at the human before her.

"Dear one, there is no reason to be afraid. I have humans come into my forest all the time. The ones that hurt my forest I scare, but you don't seem to be that type of human. I only wish to speak with you. You may call me Lady Kaede. The head bath attendant called you Sen, but that isn't your real name."

"I am Chi-Chihiro, Lady Kaede." Chihiro made a low bow.

"Tell me, Chihiro, how did you come to our world?"

Chihiro told the spirit about her parents happening upon this place quite by accident and how they were turned into pigs. She explained how she had to work really hard to save them and how Haku and Lin had helped her. Lady Kaede listened intently rather intrigued by the whole story.

"Interesting that you came back a second time. Usually that does not happen."

"So I have been told," whispered Chihiro to herself.

"What is your relationship to the river spirit, Master Haku? He acted familiar with you."

"Relationship, Lady Kaede?" She remembered what Haku had told her in the elevator. However, she didn't get the impression Lady Kaede would hurt her. Nevertheless, Chihiro decided it was better to err on the side of caution. "He is my superior, Lady Kaede. We work together."

"That is only half true. He is very familiar with you. I saw you glancing at him and he asked you to meet him later. Nothing escapes my ears, little one. How do you know Master Haku?"

Chihiro was reluctant, but told the woman about falling into his river and being saved. Then, how he had helped her and she gave him his name back ten years ago. The spirit nodded as she took in the story Chihiro was telling.

"You know he adores you, Miss Chihiro." Lady Kaede noted the touch of pink in the human's cheeks when she mentioned this. "He values your friendship very dearly. You two share a very deep bond." Lady Kaede leaned forward resting her elbows on the rim of the large tub. "You know, some have a deep prejudice of spirits and humans being…" she paused trying to find the right word, "involved."

A shiver traveled down Chihiro's spine. She was no longer comfortable with Lady Kaede, whom seemed to pick up on the fear the human was emitting.

"Relax, Miss Chihiro. I will not harm you. I harbor no such feelings. Like I said, I don't mind humans. In fact, I was very much in love with one a long time ago. It was before I married my husband. He was a fine human and would take care of animals in my forest." Her eyes looked distant as her face filled with sorrow. "Alas, others did not understand our affection for each other. Because of uncertainty and my pride, I turned the man away and I have regretted that action."

Chihiro was relieved that the forest spirit would not make her into dinner, but was moved by the tragic tale. What the woman had just confided to her made Chihiro feel heart broken. "My apologies, Lady Kaede."

Lady Kaede came out of her memories and looked up at Chihiro. "That was centuries ago, little one. But, should you continue your friendship with the river spirit, you have my blessing." Chihiro remained silent.

Everyone seemed to match her with Haku. She had, what many would say, an infatuation with him. Her thoughts and daydreams often reverted to the dragon boy. Over the last few years, the daydreams declined as every day life took over and adulthood began. You're in love with a dream. Move on with your life. Those were the phrases she would tell herself. Maybe that was why she was overcome with excitement and emotion when she saw him waiting by the river. Maybe that was a sign that she hadn't been that foolish. Still, she didn't want to embarrass herself in he didn't reciprocate what she had for him. She certainly didn't want to lose his friendship if things went sour. All these thoughts were swimming in her head and muddling everything.

"Miss Chihiro, could you grab my robe and have Master Haku summoned. I am refreshed and ready to dine with my husband."

Chihiro shook off her thoughts and accommodated the noble spirited. Haku wasn't long in his arrival and took Lady Kaede and her husband to their rooms. Seeing that their job was finished, Lin rounded up the girls to get some dinner.

They arrived in the workers' dining hall where the delicious scent of food wafted to Chihiro's nose. She knew Haku would be disappointed if she ate without him and decided to sit beside Lin.

"You're not going to eat? You'll be starving later, Sen. You really need to eat something," urged the older woman.

"Actually, Haku asked me to eat with him."

Lin grinned her usual teasing grin and nudged Chihiro. "So, meeting with dragon boy later, huh? Will there be candles with this dinner?"

"No, of course not." She suddenly became interested in the grain on the wooden table. "I don't know."

"By the way, what was that in the meadow earlier today?" Lin was satisfied on teasing Chihiro since Haku wasn't anywhere to be found.

"What do you mean?"

"Don't feign ignorance with me, Sen. I know what I saw."

Chihiro remembered their tumble in the flowers from earlier that day. It had been awkward but pleasant. "I pushed Haku and we fell. Simple as that."

"Seemed to me, you were enjoying a closeup view of each other's noses." Lin took a final sip of her water and gathered her dishes. "Come on. Your precious Haku will be finishing his rounds and we don't want you to be late.

Haku walked up to the female sleeping quarters and sat on the balcony. His interaction with Lady Kaede still played over in his mind. Too comfortable. He told himself. He would have to be careful in the future to keep his interactions with Chihiro to a minimum during operating hours. He knew Yubaba was right and didn't like admitting it. The old witch could be manipulative and difficult, but she knew what she was talking about.

He heard movement behind him and turned to see Lin and Chihiro enter the room. Chihiro gave him a smile as she walked out to him. Lin just shook her head and began to spread out her futon.

Relieved that Lin had decided to refrain from her sharp comments, Haku transformed and nodded for Chihiro to climb on. She complied, and they flew off toward the little town near the bath house.

They touched down in just outside of the town and walked through the streets. Haku directed Chihiro to a food stall and took a seat beside her. The frog spirit cooking greeted them and placed a bowl full of ramen soup in front of them.

"I thought you would probably want something besides bath house food." He began eating the contents in his bowl as Chihiro looked unsure. "You don't like ramen?"

"It's not that, I love ramen."

He could tell there was something she was trying to work out in her mind. It suddenly struck him and he began to laugh. "You won't turn into a pig if you eat it. You have permission this time. I have brought you here and it is my treat for tonight. Enjoy yourself as my dinner guest."

She picked up the chopsticks and began to eat her dinner. It was the best bowl of ramen she had ever eaten.

They walked leisurely through the streets and later found themselves in the gardens beside the bath house. It was late and the guests were leaving or heading off to private rooms, so no one bothered the two friends as they walked down the moonlit paths.

"You haven't said much," Chihiro said.

"Neither have you," noted Haku. "Is something bothering you?"

"No. You?"

"Yes, actually."

Chihiro's eyebrows raised. "Have I done something wrong? If Lady Kaede wasn't pleased with her service, then I'll try better next time."

"Oh, no, it's not about work. But, since we are on the subject of Lady Kaede, I'll ask. Did she say anything to bother you?"

"No. She was really nice. What were you going to say?"

Haku looked around before he addressed her again. I could've have put you in danger tonight. I don't like to say it, but Yubaba has a point. In order for you to stay safe, I must limit my contact with you during operating hours. Lady Kaede is a very keen spirited. Hardly anything escapes her notice. Thankfully, she is a benevolent spirit and doesn't mind humans and spirits having…" He paused unsure of what to say. "Having relationships. But, there are some will enter into this establishment who will exert their power. The last thing I want is for you get hurt."

Chihiro nodded her head. This made sense to her and she didn't want to be any trouble to her friends. "Will I still get to see you when the house is closed."

"Of course. Even Yubaba said we could do what we wanted in our free time. Are you afraid I'll abandon you all together?"

"Well, yes. I know it is silly, but I couldn't bare to have you forget about me. You're my closest friend."

He hugged his human to reassure her. "Silly girl. I haven't once forgotten you. I have held a dear spot for you ever since you fell in my river."

Touched by his words, Chihiro smiled at her dragon friend. Haku was taken by how her eyes glistened in the moonlight and how she looked standing among the flowers.

His dreamlike state didn't go unnoticed by Chihiro. She had been naïve to think that she only desired friendship with the spirit standing in the flower garden. There was a look in his eyes that she had only caught glimpses of. They made her elated and nervous all at once. Remembering Lady Kaede's blessing, she gave him a peck on the cheek. The startled Haku looked down at the girl. Deciding that there was no better time than that moment, he bent his head down and kissed her sweetly on the lips.

"I have been waiting for a long time to do that," he admitted quietly.

"Me too."

"Come, it's time to get you to bed and Lin will be looking for you."

Chihiro agreed and entered a side entrance of the bath house. They walked with some distance between them incase a lingering guest was still about. It wasn't until they reached the female sleeping quarters that they made any contact. They were exchanging goodbyes when the screen door slid open and a very cocky Lin stuck her head out into the corridor.

"I'm glad you're finally back. How was your lip lock amongst the hydrangeas?"

"You saw that?" Chihiro was sputtering.

"Sure did. I am just glad you finally did something about this awkward tension between you two."

"You were being nosey as usual, weasel," remarked Haku. "Perhaps, you would like to see the inside of a dragon's digestive system."

"I'd like to see you try it, slippery serpent," barked Lin.

Chihiro was standing in the middle of the battle of words and didn't care for it. She was tired, and the bickering was giving her a headache. She decided to end it by throwing Haku off guard by kissing him on the cheek. When she saw he was too dazed to move, she shoved Lin into the room and shut the door.

Lin began to ask a million questions about the course of the evening, to which Chihiro humored her b answering. Meanwhile, Haku meandered down the corridor to his quarters smiling to himself.