"Tell me about your past."

They sat side by side on the floor of the balcony. It was now around midnight, and all was quiet below them, the sea calm and the crickets asleep. Somewhere from within the depths of the bathhouse they could hear the faint shouts of the foremen, the pattering of feet and Yunas ran back and forth to serve the customers, the sloshing of dirty bath water. Those sounds were unreal to them. Only they were real to each other, sitting with legs dangling off the ledge, staring out into the distance. Although the boy and girl were only an inch apart from each other, the boy reached for her hand and grasped it, with no intent of ever letting go.

"You know about my past, Chihiro. My river that they filled and destroyed. The bathhouse, where I worked for seven years until you came." Haku said slowly.

"No, before you met me. Yubaba said you were 2010 years old." The dragon winced slightly, fearing that his age would drive a gap between the sixteen-year-old human that he cared for and him. Although she was mature for the average of her age, at least from what he guessed according to her human years, she had only been in existence for sixteen years, while he had seen the horrors and joys of life 2,000 years ago. The thought might have intimidated her.

She saw the doubt rising in his face and gave his hand a squeeze. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that. It doesn't matter to me how old you are, Haku. You'd still be my dearest friend even if you were a million." Chihiro grinned reassuringly at him. "I don't want to prod…it's just that I don't know anything about where you came from, or who you were."

"Mysterious, am I?" He smiled back, whites flashing in the gloom.

"Just slightly. A little less than what you were six years ago, handing me berries like that when they could have been poison." She snorted softly, the sound sending flutters in his heart.

"Was I really that frightening?"

"Hey, you were some guy who just popped out of nowhere telling me to run! Haku, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to…I understand…"

He sighed. He never told anyone about his past, feeling it unnecessary, the past being something that only dragged you down. But Chihiro was right, she didn't know his whole history, and she ought to. He wanted to bridge all distance between them and create a bond of trust. Haku focused his eyes on the sliver of a line that showed where the sea met the horizon.

"Of all people, Chihiro, you deserve to know." His brows furrowed as he began to recall the past that he had buried so long ago.

"I assume that you know spirits are not born the human way. We do not need a mother or father. We just need to have a purpose. In this world, a purpose is crucial if you wish to remain existing. As spirits, our purpose is to protect or sustain…" he faltered, narrowing his eyes more, trying to think of a word that could sum up the complexity of the whole matter.

"Anything?" Chihiro prompted.

"Yes, anything you can say, as long as it's something that makes an imprint upon this world. It doesn't have to be something you can touch. There are some spirits that are protectors of arguments or disagreements, feelings of hate that may run deep between two people, countries, or even ideas. It is the purpose of keeping the rift alive that gives the spirits a place of existence in this world. More commonly, spirits are the guardians of nature, or things derived from nature that are worth sheltering to prevent them from going into nothingness." He cast a quick glance at Chihiro, an was reassured that she was soaking everything in, hanging onto his every word, listening to him.

"My river branched off from a larger river about three thousand years ago. This river god was able to maintain control of the tributary until it grew too big. It was at that time…that I was called into existence.

"I wasn't born-before I gained control of the Kohaku River, I was already alive, alive as though I was just a bystander, watching the events of ancient Japan go by with my eyes but not being able to intrude because I didn't have anything to contribute. Nothing in this world comes for free, not even the right to protect.

"It's all a little fuzzy…I remembered I used to help the old river spirit before, checking on the branch off once a century. When he gave up control, he sought me, of all the bordering existence and shadow spirits out. He told me that he was no longer able to control the river, as it had grown bigger and wider over the hundreds of years, running deeper and deeper into the east of Japan. It had also made alliances with an underground water hole that was also out of the reach of the old river god, a factor that explained why it had suddenly became wild. After all those years as a speculator, I was awarded with the choice of actually being able to protect, have a purpose to exist. I accepted eagerly.

"It was a big undertaking, my very first object of protection being a river that was still instable, one that would grow or shrink or flood or even disappear in a drought. I admit I was foolish, but the opportunity was just too great to resist. Always setting my own motives forward, always the ambitious one…" A little gasp of pain stopped him in the middle of his account. Chihiro instantly tried to cover her moment of weakness, but his fierce eyes probed her, concern flicking within the green hazel.

"What's wrong?"

"My hand—"

His eyes flicked downwards and he cursed himself, releasing the delicate hand from his vice grip, a pattern of purple and blue beginning to spread on the pale skin. "I'm sorry-I didn't realize—" he stammered, too ashamed of his lack of control to meet her eyes. The bruised hand lifted his chin so that he was forced to meet the liquid like gaze.

"Take my hand, Haku. I asked to know, take the little comfort I offer." And when the dragon reluctantly and fearfully held the delicate limb once again, she gave it a squeeze. Her whisper traveled in the air.

"Continue."

"It was not long afterwards, perhaps a few centuries, that I foresaw trouble. The year had been a hard one, for both humans and nature, for the day was long, the sun scorching, the rains few, the nights blustery and dry as parched earth could be. Wildfires burned west of the riverbanks. Sandstorms blew east. Crops died, livestock were killed, plants shriveled, trees lost their foliage far earlier in the season than normal, their roots growing shallow to soak up what water they could. During my short presence as the God of the Kohaku River, this season, the worst in one thousand years, hurtled its way towards me. Like all water sources, I tried my best to help the surrounding environment, creating a network of waterholes beneath the ground in order to aid the dying plants. I could never do much, however, because my purpose was to protect the existence of the river, not those around it. Building too many waterholes would only deplete the supply of water. So once again, I was a bystander, helpless, unable to do anything while I watched the life wither away around my home.

"There came the time where the trees turned yellow, and the earth so loose that a gust of wind would cause a major dust storm. The plants that had once anchored earth to the ground had all perished. This was the peak of the dry season. My river wasn't large, but it was a good size. Although I had lost almost half of my water, there was still enough to sustain the life that depended on my flow. My purpose to protect was still intact. I was one of the few surviving spirits in the region. I hung onto the hope that this bizarre dryness would soon pass and give way to rain.

"It was about this time that I lost some of my faith. Word traveled to my part of the river that the ruling spirit of the atmosphere had gotten into a silly, negligible argument with the ruling spirit of the earth. Because of this rift, the spirit of the heavens refused to send rain down to the Earth. I cannot—even bring myself to tell you what it was about—to know that such—such an insignificant problem had caused so many spirits, that I watched with my own eyes, to lose the purpose of guardianship and fade back into shadows. I was young, yes, only about 400 years old, and I saw the world with an innocent eye, picking out right and wrong, always trying to make peace and follow the rules. After this, I was beginning to doubt the fairness of everything. Why did we, the Kohaku River and the bordering forests, have to suffer such misfortune brought to us on a whim of temper? We did nothing possible to infuriate the gods of higher ranks, yet it just so happened that they decided to let their anger out on us." Haku shivered, squinting out into the darkness as if trying to detect any form of light. Chihiro looked at him with concern, wanted to snuggle up closer and lean her head on his shoulder, but decided not to interrupt him, as this was an obstacle he needed to get by.

"I felt like a pawn, a pawn tricked into fighting for existence while the upper Gods lazed away, not even appreciating the hard work I had put into my river. I realized how fragile everything was, being a pawn. Everything could be wiped away with a sweep from their hands. It was perhaps my realization that caused me to rebel, to become rash.

"There was a neighboring river, slightly smaller than mine, its guardian spirit named Jirou. When the dry season hit, his river got the hardest blow because most of it winded out of the shelter of the forest. The dust was thick outside while the trees sheltered my river from most of it. So while I had only lost half my water, the Jirou River was a mere trickle, most of the fish already dead or gone. One day, he came pleading upon my banks. You see, we were connected by a water hole, one that I had sealed off the first day I gained power of my river, fearful that he would try to take advantage of our connection. He asked for my assistance. He begged that I remove the barrier in order to give his river some water.

"Normally, I would have said no. I know it sounds coldhearted, but in the spirit world, the wisest thing to do was deny. I weighed the consequences if I did not help, and there were few. My water source did not depend on Jirou; I would not be affected if his river ran dry. What if I helped him, and it didn't work? Then it would be not only his lost, but mine. Both of us would run dry, and this would not be a benefit to the world around us. I was constantly thinking, constantly pondering.

"Eventually, I relented. I felt compassion, pity. He was even younger than I, only 100 years of existence. I figured that the rains would come soon, and that it wouldn't hurt if I lost some of life stream. Now that I think about it, I was deliberately going against the ancient rules that the Gods had imposed. As guardians, we could not go astray from our purpose. Perhaps it was because of my anger, my feeling of betrayal. I was sick of being a pawn. I wanted to be able to help. To this day, I do not know if what I did was right or wrong.

"I posed one condition. Once the rains came, I asked Jirou to return the water that I would lend him for survival. And he agreed. He promised.

"The next day, I removed the barrier and the water gushed like blood from my heart. It was like watching my life flowing into the hands of another. But I convinced myself that I was helping, that I would eventually be paid back with a token of thanks.

"Do you see Chihiro, how young I was then? How trusting? Because soon after, the skies tore loose and rain poured like tears from the heavens, storm clouds bloating and gray. My river was very shallow, only maintaining the barest of life form. The rains helped, but did not recover even half the river. Jirou? His banks were soon swelling, the rain and my water more than what he could control. I went to him, and asked him to keep his promise. I suppose he was acting like a starving man deprived of food, and now he was presented with a feast, one he could simply not turn away from. He said to me, 'you are so naïve, Kohaku Nushi. I have not yet drunk my fill. Besides, your water already runs deep within my veins, how can I bear to give it back to you when it has become part of me?'

"I lost my temper. I regret it. Smart of him, to run away before I could cause any permanent damage. Yet, it was not that day that I lost my trust. Not that day I aged about 2000 years. I did not regret giving water to Jirou. Even if I perished, there would still be one thriving river to support life.

"The next day, the rain did not stop. For three days it rained and rained and rained, the ravenous earth hungry for more. But my river did not replenish. You have tried pouring water into sand holes at the beach, have you, Chihiro? Yes, you know what I mean. The water just sinks right in, because there was not enough of it existing to support the new liquid from slipping into the clutches of sand. That was like my river, the bottom thirsting for water, not giving it the chance to refill.

"Eventually, Jirou's over flooded, the river and rain crashing onto the banks, turning the whole area into a muddy landslide. The mud slipped off the banks into his life stream and choked the current. It became a swamp. Jirou no longer existed; a swamp spirit took his place.

"A part of me died that day. With the death of the Jirou River. It troubled me to know that I may have brought the death of him. Had I not given him the water, then perhaps he would have survived. He broke his promise. He betrayed my trust. The Gods were cruel. The world was confusing. What I did I thought was right, but it ended up wrong. I was 461. I was young. But I wanted to see no more."

He stopped, his chest heaving, not daring to believe that he had told her the story he thought he had locked up inside of him and thrown away the key, gone for good. It had spilled out, after the years and years being pent up inside of him. He felt…lighter, like a feather wanting to take flight. For a breath, he worried what she might think of him, whether as she saw him as selfish or cruel, or even stupid, clever as she was. But he nudged the anxiety away. She asked you to trust her. You know Chihiro. She will understand.

And looking at her, the hair that shimmered like polished ebony in the moonlight falling around her face as she stared ahead deep in thought, a little crease etched into her brow, he knew that at last, he had told the right person after all this time. Someone who did not throw their arms around him and comfort him like a child. No, not after a story like that. It would have been quite insincere.

"What happened to your river, Haku?"

"It dwindled. It used to be quite grand, before the Era of Wilting, which is what the dry season was later named." His chest puffed out proudly in recollection, and then as if it just struck him that his river was gone, he sighed, the air whooshing past his lips. "It was never the same after the drought. If only…it hadn't shrunk, perhaps they couldn't have filled it…I'm talking nonsense." He shook his head, rustling his bangs before they fell back into their customary place. "I wish you could have seen it, wild and free like it was." The last rays of the prideful and unwavering attitude faded into the dark, and his chin sank slowly into his chest. The scars, after all these years, opening up again, biting his flesh. And he welcomed the anguish. The ache he should have faced 1600 years ago. The pain he had avoided until today recalling the tale to Chihiro.

"Oh, Haku…" She finally turned her head towards him, her voice only barely above a whisper. "To think…how much you've been through, then and now—holding it all in—I'm glad you told me. And I wish I had seen it too, although the Kohaku River I fell into was as beautiful as a three year old girl could have ever wished for." At last she closed the distance between them, resting her head on his shoulder, and he gingerly slid one arm around her, pulling her close. "You know you can tell me anything, Haku. I will always listen. I'll always be there for you."

He didn't reply, but only looked straight ahead. "Was I right or wrong?"

"There was no right or wrong. Just like there is a blurred line between good and evil. But, if you ask for my opinion, I believe what you did," her eyes twinkled like stars, but her mouth was straight and somber, "was the kindest thing you could do."

He clutched at her hands tightly, trying to grasp the concept. "Was it?" His normally calm voice rose, desperation rippling through. "Was it?" What he wanted most was a verdict, an answer to the question smothered long ago, only just beginning to haunt him again. She looked tenderly at him, her hands remaining in his although his strength was near unbearable.

"Yes. You gave Jirou a chance. You gave him the ingredient for life. Sometimes, it's the thought that counts, not what follows it. I admit, what happened was tragic, that perhaps what you did fueled his greed. But what Jirou did was his own decision, nothing you could have ever influenced or tempered with." She pulled away a hand to run it through his hair, the locks separating into little rivulets under the course of her fingers.

"So Jirou disappeared after his river transformed into a swamp. Can spirits die?"

Haku smiled frostily, eyes cold with sardonic humor. "Ah…it can be debated whether you can call it death or not. Personally, I don't think spirits die. They just fade into the background, speculators once more. It will just be their soul that lives, no body to host it, not if they aren't contributing into the spirit world. If they loose the purpose of existing too long, their powers also fade into the air. So, some argue that they indeed do die. But to me, it's not death but a prolonged state between living and death. More torturous, supposedly, to be just a shadow…" Chihiro shivered, wrapping her arms around her body. The bitter glint had disappeared from the dragon's eyes as he gazed down in worry at her.

"Cold?"

"No…it sounds so awful though…"

"Sorry, got a bit carried away there…" he muttered some words beneath his breath and a blanket appeared within his arm's reach. He plucked it from the air and draped it around her, a bit difficult considering she was leaning into him. Chihiro settled back into the space between his arm and chest.

"I shouldn't have said that." He didn't want her to worry about things even the oldest spirits couldn't exactly put a finger on, not when she was just sixteen.

"No, I wanted to know. Ignorance is bliss, and no body can stay in the bliss too long."

"That quote doesn't apply to me. I haven't had a taste of bliss until just recently in my 2010 year life span."

"Really now?" A smile stretched across her face as she leaned in closer, offering her ear. "I'm glad you finally found some happiness. What was it?"

Haku blushed faintly and mumbled something inaudible. She only frowned and decided not to chase the subject. "You saved me from your river because you hated not being able to act. You came to this bathhouse for a purpose to exist…but you were also hungry for magic, right Haku? Otherwise you would have never agreed to become Yubaba's apprentice. You lost your trust because of the Era of Wilting."

He opened his mouth as if to add something, but closed it after realizing that it couldn't be any better put that how Chihiro analyzed it. Yes, he believed that magic would enable him to gain possession of his river once more, a silly thought now that he was reminded of his real motives. She went on.

"Purpose, just like names, have a great power in this world, from what I've heard from you. Yubaba also told me that you finished the water sanctuary in record time…that it was the purpose that gave you power?"

He mused silently. She was sharp, his dear one. "True, although it is hard to be certain. A true reason does aid those in need. It aided me in the duel against Ashumo. Even now I don't really know how I held off for three days."

"What was it?" she asked in a soft voice. A purpose so fervent, so potent, that it uprooted the effect of magic, the power to sustain and endure. A purpose not lost until the very end, the threat that left its blow.

"Keeping my promise to you." The wind appeared to sing softly in their ears, humming a sacred tune.

Will we ever meet again?

Sure we will.

Promise?

Promise.

"It's two weeks away?"

He dipped his head shallowly. He wanted to sigh again, as if exhaling air could equal exhaling sorrow, but sitting next to him was a very special human, who had captured his heart, who he would do anything for, who sat straight and strong even though the news was probably hurting her just as much as it was hurting him.

"I made a promise, too." Head resting on his shoulder as it was, his hair brushing her cheek, he could feel the words issue from her mouth, the soft breathing. Shyly, he placed a light kiss on the top of her head, faint and uncertain that she didn't notice, and he was glad she couldn't, fearing his emotions would get the best of him.

"What's she like?"

He froze, biting his lip, asking the question he already knew the answer too.

"Who?"

"Kyo."

"Cold-hearted, selfish, lazy. Black hair down to her waist, black eyes, black heart I reckon, too."

"Do you like her?"

And he answered by pulling her into his lap, their legs now dangling on top of one another in unison. He couldn't help the fact that his protectiveness was starting to surface again. Firmly, but still carefully, he traced her jaw line with his fingers and turned her head so that they were face to face. He tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Sternly, he hissed.

"Never, Chihiro, ask me pointless questions. Questions that you know I will only have one answer, one that I will never change in the days that I live."

She smirked in his face, her nose touching his. She was so close. Too close. He wasn't keeping a straight head, he needed some distance.

"I take that as a no, Master Haku. Then, I will tell you. I promised myself that I will not in a million chances stand by and watch you get mated to someone you do not care for. Do you expect me to sit in the aisles on the day of your ceremony? I will fight, with you. Shhh! Listen to me, do not protest. I can't break this promise to myself. You will let me fight."

He sat there, mouth hanging open, shock registering on his features, horror dawning in his mind. He had tumbled headfirst into this trap, a trap she had set up for him when he answered that he did not like Kyo. Fight, indeed! Fight when he himself had almost died, fight against the Delta Gods! Train his dear one to fight tooth and claw when he knew of only one outcome. She pushed his chin back up with one finger, closing his mouth.

The old Haku might have said no straight away, tried to persuade her that it was too risky, too dangerous. What would happen if she got hurt? Or even worse, and very possible, killed?

But hadn't he made a compromise? You said you would try to trust her. Trust her to learn. To fight. To take care of herself. But if he lost her…how he would survive past the grief was beyond him.

Trust her…

"What will you do if I say no?" His voice was cold and stiff.

"Then I will fight them as an amateur with no knowledge of weapons or how to defend myself. No matter what, I will fight." She glared at him, arms crossed beneath the blanket, huffing slightly. From the resolute expression on her face, he could tell that she meant every single word. He snarled, showing his white fangs, and she didn't even flinch. Got me, this time. I have to teach her then. Fighting as a beginner would be committing suicide.

"It will be hard work. And I'm not enthusiastic about it." The dragon growled deeply.

"I don't care about hard work. I just want to help." They stared at each other long and hard. Her smoldering look, lovely even when agitated, was making his head spin, so he broke the contact first.

"Stubborn. I'm only agreeing because it would be even more dangerous if you fought them without training." Her laugh surprised him. Hadn't Chihiro just been shooting him death glares a minute ago?

"You're also agreeing because you said you'd try to trust me, hmmm Haku?"

Damn, she's good. "Maybe, maybe not," he replied loftily.

"You are one. Infuriating. Dragon." She threw a well aimed, though light, punch that struck the place in his chest where the sketchbook had hit, where Lin had poked him, and he grimaced, before tackling her to the balcony floor so she wouldn't notice his pain. She squealed as they rolled over, scuffling as both tried to end up on top. Haku pinned her beneath him with his arms, a slow smile spreading across his face as he arched an eyebrow. His triumph was short lived: No sooner than she was pinned, she brought her knees up and shoved them forward, into his stomach, causing a surprised "oof!" to be emitted. She took the opportunity to push him over and leaped to her feet, brushing her clothes. Chihiro took one stern look at the surprised dragon, still trying to sit up, and smiled, before pulling him up by his two arms.

"Never underestimate me, Haku. I'm much more than what I seem."

He pretended to look grumpy, but in the end grinned too. Chihiro stretched her limbs, cramped from sitting too long, and stifled a yawn. Haku, startled, quickly sized up the position of the moon, blanketed under clouds, under a skilled eye before cursing.

"I'm so inconsiderate, it's past midnight and you need to sleep."

"Where will you sleep? And I can't just sleep while you stay up! I know the workers here usually rest in the morning…"

"If you insist, then I'll sleep tonight. Take or add some few hours of slumber won't affect me. And I'm positive the workers won't mind if I conveniently disappear for the rest of the night." Especially Lin.

"I'm not sleeping on the bed then."

He folded his arms, confused. "What do you mean, Chihiro? Where else will you then?"

"The floor."

"That's absurd! I'll take the floor any day." A warning note slipped into his steady, low, voice.

"Well, not with me around." She stuck out her lower lip and placed her hands on her hips, taking the stance of a formidable female ready to strike. He only narrowed his eyes, keeping his temper in check. "You will sleep on your bed while I make a sleeping bag on the floor out of blankets. Period."

He pulled his lips back evilly, amusement sparking in his black pupils. "Oh, is that so?" the words drawled out leisurely. "Period? Think twice." His tapered and slim fingers snapped once and Chihiro was instantly forced by magic onto the bed. Her fury-fueled struggles did not match the strength of the magical bonds. Visibly seething while sitting cross-legged on the sheets, she glowered at the triumphant once more dragon, who good naturedly stepped into the bedroom, shutting the sliding doors behind him.

"You think you've won the battle? If I tell you I'll not close my eyes or even try to sleep a wink tonight, then what will you do? Place a sleeping spell on me? I don't think so. Not if you value your life." Haku, who had just been rolling the blinds down on the window, froze. She was plucking his strings! True, he could absolutely solve the issue by placing a simple spell on her, but their trust, he valued her trust. What did she want him to do? He proceeded to act very un-Haku-like and threw his arms into the air, ruffled and annoyed.

"Fine! You have me there! But under no circumstances will I let you sleep on the floor! Not while you are in my care!" He started muttering very quietly, all the while dimming the lamps and arranging the bamboo pillows.

"Aww, Haku, don't start getting depressed on me! You're so rigid. We can share the bed! Half and half. I don't take up much space. Cheer up, it's not the end of the world." Chihiro rolled over to the side against the wall, slipping beneath the blankets and pulling them smooth before patting the large space next to her. Haku's jaw almost dropped open again, but he kept the hinges firmly locked. Don't be an idiot. He was terrified that he felt his ears go burning hot, fearing that the rest of his face would follow soon, and quickly turned around, trying to find something to do. There was nothing, so he stood with his back to her until he felt it was safe to turn around once more, and even then he tried to look anywhere, the wall, the ceiling, the floor, anywhere but the space next to Chihiro or she herself. When he a last braved a glance, she wore the most peculiar amused expression on her face, brows raised high in questioning.

"A-are you sure—I won't do anything—but—is this a good—" The words seemed to stick in his mouth, refusing to come out.

"Geez, Haku! It's not like...we're anything more than friends." He watched her pale skin go a shade redder for a hair of a second, but the color disappeared and she smiled at him, obviously pleased she had managed to get the sentence out without sputtering like him. He nodded his head in acquiesce before slipping with fluid motion beneath the covers, rolling onto his back so he faced the ceiling. A small sigh of relief escaped his lips as he pulled the covers underneath her chin. The only sounds that could be heard were the soft inhale and exhale of the petite form that he was so consciously aware of next to him.

"Chihiro?"

"Mmhhhh?"

"Do you want me to make a dividing line on the bed…?"

The side where she lay trembled, he guessed from laughter, as she rolled onto her side to face him, laughter indeed leaving traces on her lips.

"Do you ever relax, Haku? Just worry about falling asleep tonight."

True, very true. I don't think sleep is something reachable of accomplishment…not when she's this close…

Calm quiet settled over the two forms, side by side as they lay with a distinct six or so inches between each other, inches that were begging to be crossed, only determined restraint holding the space back. Just when he thought she was asleep, her muted melodious voice snapped his mind back to attention.

"One more question, Haku." He rolled onto his side so that they were face to face, smiling as he noticed the purple hair band was still in place.

"Do you usually sleep with your hair tied up?"

"No. But it won't hurt if I do it once, although it'll be terribly knotted in the morning."

"Then allow me…?" Receiving a nod, he reached out an arm, the baggy sleeves brushing over the pillows, and flicked a finger, the hair tie slipping off like water running from a faucet, no loose hairs attached. A river of sleek hair tumbled out onto the pillow. Haku twisted around to place it on the bed stand table before lying back in place, both of the two smiling at each other in the gloom.

"Now, what's your question?"

"Why did you age?"

He pretended to screw up his face in thought, although he knew the answer perfectly well. "Because I didn't want you to come back to a twelve year old as a friend." Before she could say anything, he added, "Now go to sleep, it's late."

"Kay. You try to sleep too. I don't care if you're a dragon, you need to rest." The blankets pulled tighter as she flopped around so that she was facing the wall, the sweet smell of her hair intoxicating as it splayed out behind her.

"Goodnight, Chihiro," he murmured. She didn't reply as she was already in the clutches of sleep. Well, I might as well do so too. He wiped his mind clean and closed his eyes, for the first time in a very long time giving his body to a content state slumber.