Author's Note: Sorry guys, I tried to put this up last night, but there was too much 'traffic' on here. Okay, I guess you all know what's coming, but please read anyway. Please review! And Happy Valentine's Day!

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Back To The Doctor

The following day, Haku was none too happy when he awoke to a crow tapping on their window. He carefully released Chihiro, still asleep, and got out of bed, grumbling. He crossed the bedroom quietly and opened the window. The crow stuck its head in, an envelope in its beak. Haku grabbed the envelope and rudely shut the window, almost knocking the crow off the ledge. He slowly walked back to the bed, opening the envelope. It was sealed with the bathhouse seal. He took out the letter and read it, scowling. He heard Chihiro stirring and looked up.

"What's that?" she asked, rubbing her eyes.

"Letter from the bathhouse," he said shortly. He sat down on the bed and frowned. The annoyed look on his face made Chihiro giggle.

"Let me see," she said, grabbing for the letter. Haku handed it to her and she read it. The note inside was scrawled in Zeniba's tiny handwriting.

Haku,

I hope that you and Chihiro are well and having a wonderful time. I hate to disturb you, but I really need to get the account books straightened out. However, I can't read a word Yubaba wrote. I hoped you would be able to write me a key or something, for I am at a lost to understand anything she has written in this book. Once again, I am sorry. I apologize for making you work on your honeymoon, and to show it, I am giving you a considerable amount of my money so that you can decorate your new home.

Yours, Zeniba

"She's given us a lot of money for furniture. That was nice of her," said Chihiro, re-reading the letter. Haku scowled again.

"It would've been nicer if she had just waited a few more days," he grumbled, opening the small folder of papers in Yubaba's chicken-scratch.

"I suppose I can go into the nearest town and purchase a few furnishes," said Chihiro, pulling on her robe. Haku sighed.

"I'll hook up the marine-equines for you," said Haku, pulling on his own robe.

An hour later, Chihiro arrived in the nearest spirit city. It was more like a small town, although it had many shops. Chihiro ambled about for a while before finally stopping into a shop selling furniture. There she bought a couch, two chairs, a queen bed, living room table, and other bedroom furniture. After that, she stopped at countless other stores, buying all the things she needed to make the house live-able.

She returned five hours later, to a rather distracted river spirit. Haku had finished decoding Yubaba's poor excuse for writing and had been waiting for her. When Chihiro opened the door to the house, she was greeted by Haku, standing in the doorway. When she had opened the door, he grabbed her by the waist, kissing her. He was so tall that when he held her to him, her stomach pressed against his groin. He sprang immediately to life, pulling her up the stairs. As she struggled for breath, Chihiro panted, "Haku, the furniture store said that they would send people to deliver our things within the hour."

"That's okay," said Haku, tugging off her top. "We have time."

The furniture was delivered to two fully dressed, very happy people later that day. Chihiro directed the movers where she wanted the furniture to go. Haku saw that she was becoming tired and helped the movers with a little magic. Truth be told, he had been practicing and had regained much of his old talent, lost by many years of needless servitude. When he had moved everything to its rightful place and the movers had left, Chihiro gave him an appreciated smile. Her beautiful face made him slightly amorous, but seeing her exhausted expression, he chilled his ardor; this was not the time.

He made her dinner and they ate, talking about the new décor. When they had finished eating, they sat in the living room, watching the fire crackle merrily. Haku looked at the mantle mounted above the hearth. It used to be bare, but Chihiro had placed five pictures on it; one of her on the farthest left, one of him on the furthest right, one of them both standing in the grass next to the bathhouse on the inner left, another of them in the bathhouse on the inner right, and finally, a picture of them on their mating day in the center. Haku smiled as he looked at it; his little one was turning him from a powerful dragon river spirit to a tame and domesticated businessman. He chuckled to himself and turned to Chihiro, but she was already asleep. He stroked her hair soothingly, pondering to himself. I wonder why she's so tired? he thought. I hope she's not sick. No, she's probably just tuckered out from all the 'fun' we've been having. Still…

Chihiro awoke the next morning in their new bed, snuggled against Haku's chest. She closed her eyes and nestled her head back into the pillow, trying to go back to sleep. However, her stomach disagreed with her, telling her to get up. She listened to it, jumping out of bed and running to the bathroom. As the door slammed, Haku woke with a start. He got up and followed Chihiro into the bathroom. He found her, yet again, bent over the toilet, being sick. He held her almond hair back and rubbed her back, trying to comfort her. When she was finished, he helped her back to the bed. He cleaned her up as best he could, giving her some tea to wash the taste from her mouth.

"What's wrong?" he asked, taking her hand.

"Nothing," said Chihiro, smiling. "I'm fine. I guess it's just something I ate."

"Huh-uh, you've already used that excuse," said Haku, giving her a serious stare. He reached his hand up and felt her forehead. "You feel hot," he said, rising from the bed. "I'll got you some clothes; you're going to see the human doctor. It feels like you're getting the flu again." He was too busy to hear Chihiro's protests.

An hour later, they arrived at the hospital. Haku insisted on carrying Chihiro there, but she put her foot down in the parking lot, and he lat her walk on her own, though he still kept his hand on the small of her back. They walked to the front desk and the receptionist looked up.

"May I help you?" she asked nicely.

"Yes," said Haku, stepping forward. "My ma—I mean, my wife, has been vomiting in the morning lately. She had the flu earlier this year, and I think it might be coming back." The receptionist nodded.

"Alright, have a seat over there and a doctor will see you soon," she said, smiling.

Chihiro and Haku didn't have to wait long; a doctor called them over five minutes later. Bowing to them, he introduced himself.

"I am Dr. Kimifuda," he said, smiling. Haku's protective instincts, which had flared at the stranger's approach, toned down slightly; he seemed friendly enough.

"Please step back here and we can figure out what the problem is," said Dr. Kimifuda, walking toward an examination room. Haku and Chihiro followed him. Inside the room, Haku helped Chihiro out of her clothes and into the paper gown, which he held closed as she sat on the table. Chihiro shivered slightly at the cold metal beneath her. Seeing this, Haku's heart bled. It was moments like this that he realized just how frail his little one was. He put his hand on her shoulder. She smiled at him warmly.

"So, Mrs," he looked down at his clipboard, "Nigihayami, you said you two are married?"

"Yes," said Chihiro, feeling Haku's hand tighten slightly on her shoulder.

"Aren't you two a little young?" asked the doctor.

"Probably," said Chihiro, ignoring her dragon's surprised look. "But we're positive about the way we feel." The doctor smiled.

"Alright," he said, glancing at his clipboard again, "you were complaining about vomiting and believe you may have the flu?" Chihiro nodded. "We'll that could be it, but I'd like to run some tests, just to make sure."

Forty-five minutes later, Dr. Kimifuda came back into the room. Haku was standing next to the bed, smoothing Chihiro's hair as she tried to rest. She had just been subjected to a battery of tests and was thoroughly tired. She sure has been worn out lately, Haku thought to himself.

Dr. Kimifuda sat down and looked at Chihiro. She sat up, trying to stifle a yawn.

"Chihiro, when did you have your last menstruation?" asked the doctor.

"It's been a while," she said. "Probably four years." She was so thin, when she hit about ninety-five pounds, it just stopped. Even when she gained a bit of weight back, it never returned, so she just learned to live without it.

"Well, I have some good news for you," said Dr. Kimifuda. "Your feelings for each other thing aren't the only thing that's positive; congratulations, Chihiro, you're pregnant!"

Chihiro just sat there, staring unbelievably. Haku, however, had just enough time to register this news before he fell in a heap to the floor with a loud thump. He had fainted dead on his feet.

Chihiro couldn't think of a single thing to say except, "Aww, but I just bought new furniture."


Alright, she's pregnant. One person (probably more) figured it out last chapter. However, her reasoning wasn't quite right. The curse was that all employed here will not bare children, so even though she's away from the bathhouse, she still works there and shouldn't be able to concieve. Also, she's about two months along, and they've been at the river for less than a week. Thanks for reading! Next chapter up soon!