Disclaimer: I don't own Spirited Away, I just love it. I'm pretty sure that ain't a crime.
That night, Yubaba, despite her greediness, has decided to shut off the bathhouse for a celebration of winning a battle. Everyone was to dress as if they were going to a ball, which wasn't a problem since they had brought their own clothes, but for Chihiro, that's a different matter.
'What should I do? I don't have anything to wear for tonight,' Chihiro thought to herself whilst looking outside on the balcony.
'What's wrong my dear? You seem so troubled,' Zeniba asked, walking towards the little girl with furrowed eye brows.
Chihiro shook her head, smiled and said, 'No, granny, I was just wondering, since I don't have anything to wear, I won't be able to go tonight.'
'Nonsense, Chihiro, of course you'll be able to go tonight! You are more or less the guest of honor! You can't be absent,'
'But, granny-' Zeniba held her hand up to silence Chihiro, then she flicked her other hand about and sparks and glitter was flying around Chihiro. Before she knew it, she was wearing a stunning silver ball gown. Her shapely shoulders and figure was shown perfectly from this strapless, curvy dress which is tight on top and puffs out on the bottom. The dress glitters its way out of the darkness like stars making it impossible to miss.
'Well, how do you like my masterpiece, Chihiro?' Zeniba asked, looking proudly at her own making.
Chihiro looked down repeatedly, 'Amazing, granny! The dress it beautiful! It's also the same colour as my Pegasus fur,' Chihiro replied excitedly.
'I'm sure nobody will be able to keep their eyes off you tonight,' Zeniba said mischievously, winking at her granddaughter.
As they were just about to go, Lin walks in; herself dressed up in a slim, formal red dress.
'Wow Lin, you look great!' Chihiro complemented her friend.
'Well, it is not as nice as yours,' Lin replied with a smile 'Since you're the guest of honour tonight,'
'Now, let's go. Everyone will be waiting,' Zeniba hurried them.
On the way there, Chihiro giggles to herself on the thought of Kamajii, Mitsu and Haku wearing a suit or a fancy tux. She also wonders what Mitsu's going to wear since he was the same as her, he didn't have any baggage with him, which means he shouldn't have any other clothes.
The ball was held in the four rooms joint together on the third floor. These four massive rooms joined together were actually enough to fit everybody in with room to spare.
Lin walked in before Zeniba and Chihiro, shouting to get everyone's attention as she got in the room, announcing that the special new spirit is arriving. Everyone turned immediately.
As soon as Chihiro stepped foot in the room, everybody's eyes widened. Her own face was bright red at the thought that she was the center of attention. Everybody was just staring at her, mesmerized by this woman's beauty. She was no longer the clumsy little girl who helped out nine years ago; she is now a fully grown, mature lady who holds a unique inheritance from both a god and her ancestor.
Haku and Mitsu were standing on the other side of the room. They were both wearing suits. Haku wore a white suit along with an emerald green tie that matched his eyes perfectly. Mitsu wore a grey suit with a black tie; completely contrasting each other. They were speechless at the sight of this new spirit. It had seemed like an angel descended from heaven itself.
Zeniba came up behind Chihiro, trying to support her from her shyness. Lin gave Haku a glare as if to say 'Get over here now!' And Haku did just that, walking over to Chihiro and holding out his hand whilst bowing down.
'My lady, would I be lucky enough to have you dancing with me for the first dance?' Haku asked in such a gentleman way that it was impossible for any female to reject him.
'Yeah,' Chihiro nodded, holding her hand out, ready for her dragon god to take hold of it. Everyone backed away to make a circle for them. Mitsu could only stand there, knowing he can't do anything, nor does he want to do anything. He's just happy for Chihiro.
They both walked together into the middle of the circle hand in hand, Haku spins Chihiro round and pulls her close to him with a hand on her waist. Everyone was staring at them with the words envious and happiness written all over their faces.
At first, Chihiro was so nervous that she couldn't look him in the eye, but after a while, she managed to get comfortable and looked at him straight in the eye, straight into his heart, and vice versa.
'Sorry, I can't dance too well,' Chihiro confessed to him, blushing.
He chuckled; his face was one that Chihiro had never seen before. It was one of pure happiness, without even a hint of worry. He looked pretty cute like that, Chihiro thought. 'It's okay Chihiro, you're doing really well,' He reassured her.
She gave him a smile back, showing that she was in pure bliss as well.
As they finished their dance, Haku leaned in for what seemed to be a hug, but at the same time, he whispered into her ear, 'Meet me on the roof at midnight.'
Chihiro looked at him confused, but nodded anyway. He walked away from her, going into the crowd and talking to many people.
For the whole night everyone seemed like they were having so much fun. The yunas all dressed up in lovely kimonos apart from Lin. The twin witches also 'coincidently' happen to be wearing the exact same dress.
After a while of dancing, Chihiro wanted a break so she decided to go and talk to Yubaba and Zeniba.
'Thank you for this ball, Yubaba; I'm having so much fun!' Chihiro exclaimed.
Yubaba turned her head, 'Humph, I didn't just do it for you, it's for my bathhouse as well,'
Chihiro could hear the kindness in her apparently harsh words, and giggled. 'Ahh, that reminds me, today is the first day that you two sister has worked together, ain't it?'
'W-working together?' Yubaba sounded shocked to hear someone point that out. 'Don't be silly, we never get along, never will.'
'Whatever sister says,' Zeniba added with a cheeky grin on her face.
'Yes, you don't get along. That why you two are wearing the exact same dress,' Teased Chihiro sarcastically.
Yubaba couldn't think of anything else to say, so she just kept quiet in defeat, cursing under her breath every now and then but meaning no harm.
As moments tick by, Chihiro notices Mitsu standing on the side by himself, he didn't seem to be talking or interacting with anyone, so Chihiro thought to break his silence.
'Mitsu,'
He turned around, 'Ahh, it's you, what are you doing here?'
Her eyebrows furrowed, 'What do you mean, what am I doing here? Can't I even come and talk to my friend?'
'Friend?' He seemed surprised.
'That's right, you are an important friend of mine,' She said, smiling cheerfully.
He smiled back, 'You…' Chihiro looked up at him, staring him straight in the eye, 'You look really beautiful tonight,' He said it seriously.
Chihiro blushed, she wasn't expecting that.
'Well, I suppose you look a bit better than what you normally do anyways,' He added jokingly, back to his old self.
Chihiro instantly began to get annoyed with him, resisting the urge to hit him. She snaps out of her annoyance and calmly says, 'Mitsu, you're a good person, I know that, and I like you like that, show me more of your good side, okay?' She put her hand on his arm.
He looks at her, startled by what she has just said.
She laughs at his confused and surprised face. After she finished laughing, she asks, 'Now, since you're so lonely, come dance with me,'
Now he looks even more surprised, but he regains his senses and takes her up on this offer.
While they were dancing, Chihiro asks him, 'Hey, Mitsu, where did you get that suit from?'
'What, does it look weird? Zeniba fixed it for me.' He seemed a bit embarrassed telling Chihiro that.
She chuckled, 'No, I think it really suits you,' She complimented, along with her usual little grin.
He blushed, 'Ahh, thank you,'
They carried on until the song stopped and they separated, and despite Chihiro's attempts to get him to dance with other people, he just continuously stood on the side. He didn't explain it to anyone, but he was just simply content to watch Chihiro have fun.
Midnight came. And even though the ball was still going and the music was still playing, Chihiro knew that she had to go meet someone. That special someone.
Chihiro changed into her Pegasus form after running onto a balcony, and soars upwards towards the roof. As expected, Haku is already sitting there waiting. She lands gracefully on the tiles and transforms back to her angelic human form.
She sat down beside Haku, who was smiling, gazing up at the stars above.
'I'm sorry, was I late?' Chihiro asked apologetically.
Haku shook his head, 'No, you came dead on midnight,' He turned his head at looked at her. 'My Cinderella,' He put one hand up and gently caressed her cheek with his fingers.
Chihiro smiled cutely, then remembered, 'Wait, how do you know about Cinderella? This is the spirit world isn't it?'
'Ahh yes, I forgot to tell you, after you left those nine years ago, I had a lot of free time after I finished my contract with Yubaba so I did a lot of research about everything of your world.' He explained, somewhat hesitantly.
'Everything?'
'Yeah, your world itself, your race, everything,'
Chihiro found this somehow sweet, 'So I'm guessing you researched on fairytales too,'
'Well, I did say everything didn't I? And nine years is a long time for research,' He said jokingly.
'That's what you were doing for the whole nine years?'
He nodded, 'That was the only I felt close to you,'
Her eyes widened, 'Me?'
'Yes,' He smiled, in the same way as before, full of pure happiness, 'Of all these nine years, I had not thought about anybody but you. There was not one day where would not be thinking about you. And knowing more about your world was the least I could do, it just felt closer to you, closer to your soul…'
Chihiro was speechless, what he had just told her was exactly how she has felt.
'And now God has lead you back to us, to me.' He said, touching her face again.
'Haku!' She quickly wrapped both arms around his neck and hugged him tightly, he returned the hug on her waist.
'Thank you Haku,' She said, crying with tears of joy, 'I don't need fairytales anymore, I have you,'
That comment made Haku's heart blossom, he could feel his love for this girl taking over, and made no move to stop it.
He slowly moved out of her hug, and tipped his head forward to her face. They could feel each other's breath on their skin. 'I love you, Chihiro.' He joined their lips together as soon as the last sound came out of his mouth.
The kiss was powerful. There were fireworks in the background and sparks darting around. They both wanted time to freeze right at that moment, not willing to move on, not willing to part.
'You said it again,' Chihiro told him after they had separated.
'Yes, and I will say it for as long as it make my princess happy,'
Chihiro blushed red hearing those words, 'I love you too, Haku.'
Haku looked at her, obviously not expecting those words at that time. He soon smiled afterwards. Embracing her in his arms, she could hear the strong heart beating in his chest, it was a very soothing sound that somehow tells her she is loved and protected.
They intertwined their fingers together, Haku was playing with the little brown strand of hair with his other hand. They looked at each other again and had spotted the souls through each other, they kiss again, this time with more passion. It took a lot more to separate this time.
'Hey, Chihiro, can I ask you something?'
Chihiro nodded.
'You don't have to answer me now, you can have as long as you want thinking about it, but-'
'Just say it,' She said, giving him a sweet smile.
'Will you marry me? Become my mate and be with each other for eternity?' He asked as he held out a little ring with a unique jewel on top.
Chihiro was surprised, but she didn't have to think twice about it. 'Yes!'
Haku seemed more stunned than her, hearing the answer straight away was definitely not what he'd thought. 'Honestly? Chihiro?'
'Yes,' She gave him a kiss on the cheek and lowered her head so that it would go on his shoulder, right by his neck. She took a breath and had managed to inhale some of his distinctive scent.
Overjoyed, he carefully lifted her hand and placed the ring on her finger, a perfect fit.
'This ring was meant for you, Chihiro, it contains water from my river, also a fraction of my own soul,'
She sat up straight and her eyes widened in shock again. 'Your soul? But, I-' He cut her off by putting his index finger to her lips.
'It's alright, Chihiro, because you are the only one I love, and the only one I will ever give my soul to,' He smiled at her sweetly, 'Your one is beautiful, I saw it,'
She couldn't help but smile, 'Me too, I saw your one as well, and it was also… beautiful.'
'Well, shall we go back down?' Chihiro suggested, 'If not, they are probably going to think we ran away or something,' She joked.
Chihiro stood up to leave, but the sweet, delighted dragon grabbed her wrist and pulled her back down towards him, with a mischievous grin, 'One more thing, princess,' Before she could say anything, he put his other hand behind her head and pushed her head forward to kiss her. Chihiro responded by placing her hands round his head and neck, one hand brushing through his shoulder length hair, the other gripping tightly round his back.
When they finally came apart, he holds her hand securely and mutters, 'I've got you now, I will never let go,'
Thank you for reading guys! Thank you so much for those who has put all these lovely reviews, you guys are so sweet :)
And don't worry if you think the whole engagement thing here was too fast, it will be explained and solved soon!
Love Emily x