"There you are. Come in! Come in!" Zeniiba beckoned them through the doorway. "I saw your fight from the window, and then you just disappeared into the trees. I was worried."
They entered the safety of Zeniiba's little house and she closed the door behind them with a solid click. Chihiro promptly turned around and gave Zeniiba a big hug. "It's so good to see you, Granny," she said, smiling. She found herself the same height as Zeniiba.
"It wasn't much of a fight," Haku muttered under his breath. He was disgusted with himself. The demon had tried to hurt Chihiro and had gotten away with it.
Zeniiba heard him. "Let's not worry about this now," she said. "It's Hanami; it's a celebration." She smiled at Chihiro, whose hair was entangled with leaves and twigs from their landing in the trees. "Why don't you get cleaned up in the spring behind the house? I made you a pretty kimono to wear to the party."
Chihiro waded into the spring. It was deep enough to swim in and slightly cool on her skin. The pool was crystal clear, and she could see the rocky bottom. Though the water was connected to the rest of the swamp, the pool was continuously renewed by the spring. She dunked her head in and started pulling her fingers through her hair. It was surprising how easily the knots came out, considering she didn't have shampoo. It was as if the water wanted her to be clean. Leaves, twigs, and pieces of bark floated around her, and were carried away by the gentle current. Once her hair was to her satisfaction, it floated around her while she started scrubbing her skin. The water seemed different from any water at home; it seemed almost sentient.
Inside, Zeniiba laid out the pieces of a deep blue kimono out on Haku's bed. Haku had been banished to the living room so that Chihiro would have some privacy, and sat at the table, deep in thought. She's so innocent, and as delicate as a sakura bloom. Human life, too, seemed to him as fleetingly beautiful as a cherry blossom. And yet she's strong, Haku thought. He thought about how she had turned them both away from the fireballs. There had been fear, yes, but her strength had come from determination, not desperation. There's power hidden inside this dainty flower.
Through the window he could hear Chihiro splashing around in the pool. The spring water laughed and loved her, and enjoyed her company. Please, Haku asked the spring. Help me protect her. He thought he could sense its acquiescence.
Kaonashi tugged on Haku's sleeve, pulling him out of his thoughts.
"Ah, ah!" He pointed toward Zeniiba's bedroom. Haku followed Kaonashi into the room, and there laid out on the bed was a formal kimono. It looked very familiar. My kimono? Where did she get this? Kaonashi left and shut the door so that Haku could change.
Chihiro heard the door open and turned to see Zeniiba come out with a thick, fluffy towel. As she left the spring, the water clung to her feet. She dried herself off and wrapped herself in the towel, and went through the paneled doors into the house. There was a beautiful kimono on the bed and next to the bed, a small bedside table. The kimono was rich blue silk with silver branches and white cherry blossoms embroidered on it. Chihiro was stroking the soft cloth with her fingers when Zeniiba came in carrying a chair.
"This is Haku's room," she said, setting down the chair. "Sit here. I'll do your hair." Zeniiba gently combed through Chihiro's long, thick brown hair and twisted it into an elegant knot, fastening it with the purple hair tie. She pulled out a silver comb with a row of small pink porcelain sakura and slid it in behind the knot.
Chihiro had never worn a kimono before. They had always looked very uncomfortable to her – there was just so much cloth. The next few minutes passed in a whirl as Zeniiba showed her how each piece was fastened. When the last silver sash had been tied around her waist, Chihiro moved her limbs experimentally. The cloth was soft and thin, very fitting for the weather, and allowed much more mobility than she had expected. She slipped her feet into bamboo sandals like the ones she had seen Haku wear.
Zeniiba smiled at her. "You look wonderful."
She opened the door and Chihiro stepped out. For some silly reason, her stomach was in a big knot.
Haku was standing looking out the window. He turned at the creak of the door. Chihiro stared; her breath caught. She hadn't expected to see Haku like this. He stood tall and dignified in a knee-length white kimono with teal edges the color of his mane and eyes. The cloth shimmered with a pattern of scales. His hair just brushed the shoulders of his kimono. Inside, his shirt and hakama, which reached the tops of his feet, were the same deep blue as Chihiro's kimono. Its simplicity practically radiated all the power and grace of a dragon. A blush rose on Chihiro's cheeks. Haku…is that really you…? Chihiro suddenly felt shy.
Haku was stunned by Chihiro's elegance. The cloth draped over her shoulders and hugged her small frame, while the sleeves and bow behind her made her seem more modest and innocent than ever. The blue silk and silver embroidery reminded Haku of the night sky and the pink flowers in her hair brought out the blush in her cheeks. Her rich brown eyes made the night sky seem welcoming. She belongs in a kimono.
Once again, they realized they were gawking at each other. Haku grinned – "You look beautiful" – and reached for Chihiro's hand, but Chihiro found her eyes drawn to the floor.
"Are we flying?" Chihiro asked, when she found her voice again. Why can't I just tell him he looks…he looks…"You look…very handsome," she muttered.