CHAPTER 9: Two Hearts Broken

. . . . . . . . . . hi.

Okay, yeah, you know me. Idiot and lazy author with stories that aren't updated a lot. That's what I'm probably known for. And I apologize, to those who waited, you deserve something better. For like, a super duper long wait. I'm sorry, it's just that I'm busy and I got a lot of things to do. I am human, and so are you. Not like those people who can do like a thousand things at once. But hey, that's life.

Look, I know this was said to you a hundred times before, but if life gives you lemons, make orange juice. The best orange juice made of lemons that ever existed.

So here, 9th chapter. No, it's not filler. Yes, it's part of the story. I swore that I would remove my fillers, because I hate them too.

I cannot make any promises that I would update fast. I don't want to disappoint you people. And if you spot grammar errors, sorry. I'm too lazy to proofread.

Disclaimer: Roses are red, Violets are blue, I don't own Spirited Away, and I bet you knew that too.

CHAPTER 9: Two Hearts Broken

Haku sat at the porch of the employee dorms, watching the night sea and sky with sorrowful eyes. He was leaning on the wooden railing, arms resting on its façade, his eyes transfixed on a full moon. The soft sea breeze carried sprays of sea water to his skin, cool and serene. His emotions, however, were anything but serene.

He saw everything. He saw Zekuro take Chihiro to the balcony. He saw his amazing silhouette display. He saw the Prince confess his love to the gill. He saw how much Chihiro loved him, and it broke the river spirit's heart.

Why did that even happen? he thought. Why didn't Chihiro love him? Why did she love Zekuro instead? What did that Prince even want with her? And why did Haku even love her?

There was a piece of paper shaped like a bird that landed on Haku's shoulder. He tried shooing it away, but he always found it resting on his shoulder. He was strongly annoyed at this, until he realized it was more than a paper bird.

"Zeniba?" he asked.

"Yes, Haku," the paper bird replied. "Who else would it be?"

Haku continued to look sadly at the ocean.

"What's wrong, Haku?" Zeniba asked. "Did anything happen when I left?"

"Nothing." Haku replied sternly.

"Nobody's miserable for nothing, Haku," Zeniba replied. "Now tell me, what's wrong?"

"I. . . ." he said, sadly. "I think. . . . . Chihiro doesn't love me anymore."

The paper bird stayed silent. Then, finally, Zeniba said, "What makes you think such a thought?"

"I saw it. . "Haku replied coldly. "She loves Zekuro more than me." Here he bleated sarcastic laughter. "Why did I say 'than'? She doesn't love me at all."

"Don't be so pessimistic, Kohaku," Zeniba replied maternally.

"But. . . "

"Why is this painful for you to bear? Is it jealousy?"

"It's not jealousy, Zeniba. You already know the answer."

"I do know. I just want you to say it again."

"Fine," Haku grumbled. Then he closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. "I. . . I love Chihiro."

"There," Zeniba said, satisfied. "Is that better?"

"It still doesn't change the fact that she doesn't love me." Haku opened his eyes. "I also have no idea why I love her."

Zeniba stayed silent at this.

Haku glanced at the paper. "You're silent, Zeniba. Was there something wrong in what I said?"

"No," Zeniba finally replied. "Its just that I think you two are meant to be."

"How could you say such impossibilities?"

"It isn't impossible, Haku. I know it when I know it."

The paper dispersed into tiny shards of papyrus. With Zeniba gone, Haku had thought his relationship with Chihiro was more than impossible.

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Zekuro was satisfied.

He was waiting at his balcony, watching the night turn into dawn. The dark night blue turned into glowing yellow, a vibrant orange resting in between the two hues. Twinkling stars were disappearing in the presence of the sun. The Prince calmly looked and basked in its magnificence. He looked to the horizon. Tranquil waters barely stirred, save for a few small waves gliding across the waters. Sooner or later, he saw a figure flying towards him. As it drew closer, he noticed it was a crow, and strapped to its back was a cylinder made to keep a scroll.

Zekuro held out his arm, stretched towards the crow, and the bird landed on it. He took off the lid from the cylinder and took the scroll from it. Then the crow cawed thrice then flew away from sight.

He looked at the scroll, which was white with red bordering. He opened the thing and read the beautiful script-like kanji.

"Zekuro,

"Apologies for the crow. I know you hate it when I send letters through crow. I was planning on seeing you personally, but Father didn't allow me. Perhaps he wants you to handle this dire situation alone without any assistance. I pity you.

"Anyway, Father wanted to tell you to hasten. He has discovered your attempt of bringing your honor back, and he actually approved of it, to my surprise, for the fact that he has disliked you all these years. He wants you to hurry. He wants to see how living in desolation has made you elite.

"For me, I find it odd that he wants you back.

"Your sister, Chiumi Okashitawa"

Zekuro smiled in a huge satisfaction.

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Chihiro ran across the empty bath-house. For some odd reason, Zekuro wanted to see her. That was one of the weirdest things, judging the fact that it was closing time at the bath-house and he might want a tour or something. She ran to the third floor, took some flights of stairs into the hallway where all the bath-house dorms were. But, to her surprise, leaning the Prince's door was Haku.

Haku? What was he doing there? And his face had an expression that made you think that whatever you were doing was bad.

"H-haku?" Chihiro nervously stuttered.

He pushed himself from the wall and stood in front of Chihiro. "C. . Chihiro, I want to ask you something. . . "

"Uhm, sure." she replied.

"Do you, uh. . " he said, scratching the back of his neck, "do you think the Prince is up to something?"

"Uh, no of course not."

"Oh," Haku said, looking downcast. He stepped forward, making Chihiro blush and step back.

"Chihiro," he said. "I know that when you love someone, you. . .you want to make them know you do love them. And when they love you back, you're the happiest person in the world. So, uh, if you love someone, they say, don't be afraid to admit it, even when they won't love you back."

Chihiro could see him blushing, and she felt her cheeks burn. "W. . .what are you saying, Haku?"

"I. . . " he said, then finally, three words that made Chihiro stop. "I love you, Chihiro."

She stood there, paralyzed, then let all her angry thoughts pour out.

"You don't. . . . you don't get it. . . " she whispered at first.

"D-don't get what?" Haku stuttered.

He was surprised to find her screaming.

"I. . . I loved you, okay, Haku?! I loved you! Even back then, when I was ten, I think I loved you! Even now, I still do! And you didn't love me back, and love me only now when the Prince was here! But I found Zekuro. . . and. . . . I love him too! And I think you always knew that! And now, now that you see that he loves me, and you just want to take me back again and torture me! But I'm through, Haku! I'M THROUGH!"

Before Haku could protest, she pushed him to the side, crying as she opened the door of the Prince's dorm and closed it behind her. Even while she was inside, he could still hear her sobs and her tears and cries of sorrow.

Haku stood there, guilty and said to himself,

"W. . . .what. . . have I done?"