Chapter 8: It Just Keeps Getting Better

Time skip ~ Chihiro is now almost eight months pregnant, don't judge meh *^* and no one calls Chihiro Sen anymore just letting you know.

Opening the sliding door to the balcony as she did everyday, Chihiro looked out across the field. Hearing some voices, she looked down. The bridge was decorated beautifully with banners and buffets and crowded with spirits that either worked at the bathhouse or were friends with Chihiro and/or Haku. The banner that caught Chihiro's eye said 'Baby Shower'. "They didn't..." Chihiro said to herself. Sliding the balcony door closed, Chihiro walked over to the bed where her husband was sleeping and shook him gently, "Haku, Haku, get up!" She commanded excitedly. Opening one eye lazily, Haku looked at Chihiro, willing her to explain. "Down on the bridge, let's go! Their having a party!" Even though Chihiro already knew, she didn't want to spoil it for Haku. "Okay, but you'll have to get off me first." Haku replied. Chihiro's now very large bump was resting on Haku's arm, positively almost crushing it.

Chihiro got up, rushing to the wardrobe the couple shared and pulling out a kimono Lin had given her a few days, saying she would need it soon. She and Haku got changed, Chihiro into her kimono and Haku into his own greenish blue gown with a deep blue haori on top. "Let's go! Can we take the stairs? I want to get there as fast as possible!" Chihiro asked excitedly, but Haku knew he couldn't allow, with all the extra weight, she could easily topple over and potentially kill herself. "Sorry Chihiro, but it's too dangerous. Only we if go slowly and carefully." Haku replied, and Chihiro knew that that way was the absolute slowest, so she nodded happily.

While Haku and Chihiro were in the lift, a thought sprang to Chihiro's mind. "So, what are we gonna call the baby?" Chihiro asked. Haku thought about it. "What about Kamigakushi? It means spirited away, and it should work whether it's a boy or a girl." Haku suggested. Chihiro smiled, "it's perfect!"

And at that moment, the lift opened, revealing the ground floor. "You know, I'm really glad I got spirited away here that day when my parents turned to pigs. It only takes one fateful day to spirited away, huh, Haku?" Chihiro as the two walked towards to exit leading straight to the red bridge where the two had for the second time in their lives. "Yeah, I'm glad, too. I'd still be Yubaba's heartless apprentice if it weren't for you." Haku replied.

Meanwhile...

"They're coming!" Lin said, "hide, now!" Everyone hid for the couple the party required.

Back to Haku and Chihiro...

Using his magic, Haku opened the door for his beloved wife, Chihiro. "Surprise!" Everyone yelled, jumping out from their hiding places. Zeniba, No-Face and Lin were there. Haku didn't expect to see the faces he saw, he almost fainted. "Mother, father..." He said, slowly approaching his family, who he hadn't seen since they gave him the Kohaku river and he set off for the human world.

Meanwhile, Chihiro was looking around. On this bridge she knew and loved, there was table upon table, piled high with food, drinks and gifts. "Guys..." She began, but was too awestruck to finish. "Hey, Chihiro. Still as much a dope as ever." Lin commented, putting her arm around Chihiro.

Haku's parents briskly approached Chihiro, leaving Haku standing there, his mind racing. Chihiro didn't notice until Haku's father, Hashibami Nigihayami Nushi, was standing a meter over Chihiro. He was so tall... "Are you my son's wife?" He asked in his deep, powerful voice. He had white hair and a long white beard, which made Haku's pitch black hair seem surreal, and was wearing many shades of green and blue in the form of a cloak and haori. On his haori was a logo consisting of some waves and above was the name Nigihayami. "Yes sir, you must be Kohaku's father." Chihiro replied, she was scared to call Haku by his bathhouse name in front of his father. The man nodded, "I am Hashibami Nigihayami Nushi, God of the Hashibami river." He replied, Chihiro bowed low, a little of her cleavage showing in the process. "Is that Kohaku's child you carry?" Hashibami asked.

"Yes, sir."

"What kind of spirit are you?" That question caught Chihiro off guard, was it okay to tell this powerful river spirit that she was human?

"She is human, father." Haku replied, walking past his father and putting his arm around Chihiro. Lin had left Chihiro's side when Hashibami approached, she was deathly afraid of his power. "Kohaku, you married a human?" The powerful river spirit asked, irritation in his voice. Haku nodded. "First you lose your river, then you disappear, then you marry a human?!" Hashibami was furious now.

"Yes father, I couldn't hold the humans off when it came to my river, yes I didn't go home, I came to the bathhouse, but then I met Chihiro, who survived being spirited away to this world without a scratch. She changed my life, even saved it, and I love her. I won't let you hurt her!" Haku replied, stepping in front of Chihiro defensively. Chihiro couldn't let this go on. "Haku, leave it. When we married, neither of our parents even knew that we were going to do so, and neither had our blessing. That is something that cannot be atoned for easily. As well as that, I became pregnant with your child, my parents would be furious if they found out, as well as the fact that I disappeared. I see where your father is coming from, he cares about you. That's why he acts this way. Am I correct in saying so, Mr. Nigihayami?" Chihiro spoke up, putting an arm out in front of Haku and indicating for him to stop. Hashibami stood staring at Chihiro, awestruck.

Everyone had stopped eating and talking, and were now staring at Chihiro.

"You're not as ignorant as you look. When Kohaku disappeared, I searched for him, far and wide. That search never ended, but the hope in my heart faded. That is, until I got word about Kohaku getting married." Hashibami replied after a long pause. Chihiro smiled. "I ended up spirited away here six years ago by chance, but coming here again eight months ago was my own choice. I have no regrets." Suddenly, Chihiro's stomach growled. "Except maybe not having breakfast this morning!" She added, blushing. Hashibami laughed. "Why don't you have some cake, Chihiro? No Face made it, it's really good!" Lin said, handing Chihiro a plate with a piece of cake on it. The words 'Congratulations, Chihiro. From No Face.' were iced carefully onto that specific piece. Smiling at No Face, Chihiro took a large bite out of the piece gratefully. "You know, I think I don't mind having you in the family." Hashibami said thoughtfully, biting his own slice of cake.

So, there you have it! Mr. Nigihayami approves! By the way, Kohaku means amber, so I called Haku's father Hashibami, which means hazel. So, what do you guys think? By the way, when I said there might be a sequel last chapter, I didn't mean that this one was over! Happy Boxing Day and I hope you had a great Christmas yesterday! Ja ne!~