Chapter 14 The Matchmaker

Sorry for the late update…I just couldn't find an idea…and I was busy with volunteer work. Thank you for reading this chapter…

NANKA, CHIKARA WA NAI DESU: For some reason, I don't have any strength.

**The lines represent different points of view**

DISCLAIMER: I dare you to sue a helpless teenager who gets lost in words and her thoughts to escape reality. It's obvious what and what I don't own…

Chihiro stopped crying and slumped tiredly against me. "I'm sorry. Nanka, chikara wa nai desu," she murmured with a faint smile.

Zeniba gave me a look and sat down next to Asahi who was trying hard to control her emotions from riddling her face. "Haku, do you know why Chihiro is so tired all the time?"

Asahi looked guiltily at the floor.

"It's because Asahi's passing is coming soon. Those two are linked irrevocably. The closer it gets, the more affected Chihiro will be. Don't worry, I'm brewing a potion to counter the effects and made another for Asahi to numb the pain."

Asahi stood up to get two small teapots and poured their contents into their respective cups. When she placed the pot close to Chihiro's cup, Chihiro reached out for her hand.

"I'm so sorry," whispered Asahi. Chihiro smiled apologetically at her and gulped down her tea.

"Would you like to go to the guest house and rest?" asked Zeniba. I nodded for all of us. She helped Asahi gain her footing and headed into the cool night air.

"Come on Chihiro. Just walk a little bit and you can sleep soon," I said trying to coax her. Kaonashi wrapped her blanket more tightly around her. "Thanks, Kaonashi."

Together, we helped Chihiro slowly walk to the guesthouse and get settled in one of the 2 beds. She fell asleep instantly. For the sake of the other two girls, I decided to roll out a mat on the floor. We were all tired as the day's events slowly sunk in. I needed to get her home before this world hurt her any longer.

"I can tell that you're thinking of taking her back," whispered a small voice. I quietly sighed to myself knowing that I would have to face the inevitable.

"So what of it?" I replied. A smile formed on Asahi's face and I couldn't help, but notice the air being filled with unexplained happiness. "You know, if you use your magic too much, it might be bad for your health." She smirked.

"Like I care anymore," Asahi fiddled with the warm blanket. "But I'll tell you why I'm happy and I didn't charm the air." My ears were perked and I wondered how she, of all people, could be happy. "If you send her back, the least you could do is make sure she's not alone."

My normally calm eyes widened at her underlying meaning. "Don't be stupid. It's impossible for a spirit to wander into the human world."

"Ah, but you promised Chihiro didn't you? That's all you need to get through. That's the connection you have symbolized in one promise and you know, fully well, that promises in this world are serious matters. All you need is your friendship or whatever relationship you have. That mutual feeling is the connection."

I turned my face away from Asahi. "That's it? If that's it why didn't other spirits just walk out before?" I asked incredulously.

She laughed heartily. "No other spirit has cared for a particular human as much as you. Normally, this secret would be kept quiet under an oath unless completely necessary. The idea that terrible things would happen to anyone who left is to prevent an imbalance between the two worlds. Every guardian spirit that has existed knows this as well as other powerful spirits like Yubaba and Zeniba. The fact that I can tell you this proves that fate is on your side. Now you're under oath yourself." She looked all smug as I stared dumbfounded for the first time in a long time. Somehow, I felt calm knowing this. Chihiro stirred quietly and I relaxed when I saw her smiling to herself.

"Besides baka ryu, when are you going to confess?"

"Wait wh-wh-wha-what did you say?" I couldn't help, but blush.

"You're the one with sensitive ears; I would think you heard EXACTLY what I said." I glared at her. "Shall we take this outside?"

"I'd be glad to," I sneered. She laughed hysterically.

"I'm just kidding. Jeez, lighten up a little Haku. I'm going to sleep anyways, so you can talk to yourself if you want."

I shook my head and went outside to think things out. Once we left Zeniba's, I would send Chihiro's letter to her friend and then go back to the bathhouse, until I decided to take her home. Asahi would probably tell her everything she just told me, so I didn't have to worry. I leaned against the wall and sat down on the reassuring dirt.

Chihiro popped open a gleaming, mischievous eye. I quickly cast a sound proof spell around us. Haku would never hear what we had to say. She burst out laughing.

"Did you see his face?" She said in between fits of laughter. It quickly died down though.

"Now you know what you need to know."

"Yeah, I guess so, but you will be okay right?" she asked. I nodded while staring out the small glass window. "I can't believe that I can go back to my world with Haku. Can't you come with me and maybe you can live?" I mentally commended her sharp thinking.

"I can't because I will most probably die quickly in your world anyway. Death is inevitable and if you fear it, it will come faster. If it makes you feel better, I will most likely be reincarnated into another spirit or even a human." I smiled reassuringly to her.

"Really?" she asked.

"Really," I replied. "It's the next day and dawn is breaking already. Why don't you go confess now? There's really nothing to lose especially after you saw his reaction."

Chihiro's lips formed the biggest smile I have seen on her. She stood up and gulped down another cup of tea. I gave her a smaller blanket to wrap around herself and she went stepped into the outside, breaking my sound barrier.

I stepped outside and saw the faintest traces of light slip into the dark sky. It was such a beautiful indigo. More beautiful than any paint I could ever use to try and replicate this scene. I could see slight wisps of my breath in front of me. As I turned left, I nearly tripped over Haku. He was in dragon form and his tail lay by my feet. He was curled up.

I knelt down next to his large jade eye, which opened to greet me. I rubbed his mane gently.

"I have to tell you something…"

I love you all for all the support you gave me. Hopefully you are satisfied with this chapter. It took me awhile to word it properly.

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