Happy Holidays everyone! A few short things to go over before you dive into the longest chapter I've ever written.
Poll is at 14 votes and will be closing probably around the end of January at the latest (my hopeful estimate for the ending of this arc) so if you have an interest in the next project I'm working on, go vote! You can find the poll listed on my author's info page at the top and the initial chapters for two of the story options have been posted though are likely to be edited/changed slightly once I really get writing for them.
Thanks for the one year anniversary wishes and support/critiques. There are plot gaps/not fully fluffed out transitions with supporting events to support the changes in character development in some sections but, I hope to fix some of that when I go back and edit things before the next arc. If there are particular sections you think stand out as needing work, feel free to private message me the chapter/scene and I will put it on the working list I have going.
This will be the last post for this story this year. I hope to post my next chapter by or on January 9th depending on how the rest of my travels work out and the mountain of work awaiting my arrival home on the 6th. As usual, thanks for your continued reading, feedback, and patience.
Chapter 32:
The next few days seemed to slip by as if time were water flowing away from her. Chihiro kept busy staying out of the way and helping where she could. She couldn't tell if Haku was simply avoiding her or was working obscene hours since he returned home after she went to sleep and got up before she awoke. Every now and again she would catch glimpses of him around the bathhouse assisting staff members with different things. It was easy to tell how much the staff loved him and he treated them like family. Haku was good at his role and the bathhouse thrived under him. When their eyes would meet, she would smile at him and he would return it with a smile of his own before hurrying away to another task. Chihiro wanted to talk to him about the drawings, but he always seemed to slip away before she had the chance.
The day before the opening ceremony, Lin and Chihiro were busily folding laundry in the upper breezeway. As predicted Lin had quite a few choice words for her after learning that both of them hadn't really talked and come to a conclusion. Glaring at Hikaru's turned back, Lin quickly cornered Chihiro against the balcony and quietly shushed her before whispering.
"Just answer me two questions Chihiro. Do you want to work things out with Haku?"
"Well yeah.-"
"Do you like him?" Chihiro raised an eyebrow at the weasel cutting her off.
"Yeah I do like him. He seems to be a great guy for the most part.-"
"Not what I meant," Lin interrupted waving her off before continuing, "Do you love him? Do you care enough for him to try staying here in the Spirit World for good?"
A moment of hesitation passed as Chihiro considered it. If she did start something with Haku, would she have to stay? Was there not some other way to make a relationship with him work? A flashback of the humans burning in the plaza from Haku's memory came to mind. Could they really be happy together or was it all just going to turn ash? Lin could see Chihiro thinking hard on the subject and then frown as her thoughts turned dark. Sighing loudly, Lin held Chihiro's face and made her look at her.
"Just tell me if you love him. If you do, I promise I will do everything in my power to make sure you both find happiness together."
"Yes…yes, I do," Chihiro whispered as Lin continued to stare down at her. Pursing her lips, Lin nodded her head once and released Chihiro's cheeks. "Then you need to tell him and stop fucking around. I'm sure he's feeling insecure with your new furry friend over there and you can't be feeling much better with whatever nonsense he's pulling on that fish. I'll get rid of the fox, then let's go hunt him down."
Chihiro gaped open mouthed after her as the weasel stalked over towards Hikaru across the room. Throwing an arm around Hikaru's shoulders, Lin began to push him towards the exit.
"So Kitsune-chan, the next batch of laundry should be ready to be brought up. Why don't you head down there and collect it while Chihiro and I finish up this last batch? It would be a real big help for us." Hikaru looked over his shoulder back at Chihiro who exaggerated grabbing another wet sheet and shaking it out before hanging it. She was picking up on Lin's game.
"I really should stay by Chihiro just in case anything happens," he started, but was cut off by Chihiro sighing loudly.
"I'll be fine Hikaru. Please go grab the last of the laundry so we can be done with this already." Nodding his head in reluctant agreement, he followed Lin's push and headed downstairs. The moment the elevator door closed behind him, Lin came running back and grabbed Chihiro's hand.
"I got a plan," Lin said as she began dragging Chihiro in the opposite direction of where she had deposited the fox. Chihiro had the slightest suspicion that she wasn't going to like whatever was coming next.
Haku walked quickly to keep pace with Lin as they made their way through the bathhouse. He had been in the middle of collecting the weekly ledgers from each department when she found him and practically dragged him from the room. Taking the ledgers from him, Lin continued to pull ahead of him as he tried to figure out why she was muttering curses under her breath.
"What's wrong," he asked wondering what had gotten her into a twist. She stopped to frown at him and rolled her eyes before continuing forward.
"Come with me. I'll explain everything soon." Lin led him towards a less populated part of the bathhouse. As they passed by an open door, Lin shoved Haku through the doorway into the dark space within. Within seconds, the sound of a heavy lock being shoved into place could be heard as his fists slammed against the door and he yelled for Lin to let him out. As he prepared to use magic to slam open the door, he heard the sound of a broom falling over behind him. Stilling instantly, Haku realized he wasn't alone in the darkness. He took a deep breath and recognized the familiar scent of Chihiro lingering in the air amongst the smells of floor waxes and cleaning supplies.
"Chihiro, why are we in a cleaning closet?" Turning to face her, Haku let his eyes adjust to the dark. She was leaning against the back shelf watching him, indecisively biting her lip. Seeming to throw her shoulders back and find her inner strength, she slowly walked towards him and took his hands in hers.
"I can't wait any longer Haku. I need you to know how I feel." Haku instantly felt his heart sink as he realized the situation that Lin had tossed him into. She was going to reject him in a dark closet of all places! Couldn't she have chosen a well-lit place to deny him so he could at least memorize the details of her face? He wanted to beg her for more time to try and make things right. Hadn't they agreed to wait until after the festival? Couldn't he get rid of the enemy first before she turned him away? This was going to be it, over before it could even begin.
Squeezing his lifeless hands for a moment, Chihiro released them with a shaky breath before bringing them upward. Haku was tall, but not too far out of her reach. Wrapping her fingers into his hair, she pressed her lips against his and began moving even as the stinging sensation began. Haku timidly began to return her responses before slowly moving his kisses away from her lips to trail down her neck.
"I love you Haku. I don't know where we will go from here, but I believe that we can make things work." Her somewhat well planned speech was interrupted as he stole the breath from her. Haku claimed her lips with a ferocity that she had never experienced. Returning his energy with gusto, her arms wrapped around him to bring him closer.
"I love you. I love you so much," Haku whispered between quick kisses as he pressed her against the wall. Her simple statement was more than enough to set his heart on fire. He had been so scared of her rejection and that she wouldn't come to feel the same way about him again. Yet at the same time he wanted to send her away and protect her from all the hurt that will come their way by joining together as one. Haku could feel his worries sliding away as he felt her heart matching his. The barrier keeping the bonding process from continuing hurt terribly and yet the feeling of her yielding to him was a sweetness of heaven. No matter how many times he tried to push her away for their mutual sake, he couldn't deny how he felt for her. "I wish we weren't in a closet right now, but I'm grateful to know you don't reject me. That you are giving me a chance is more than I can ask for."
"You will have that opportunity, but please, let's not wait until the festival is over. Please don't make me watch you flirt with other women any longer. I know you said you are faking, but it hurts to see it anyways. Especially when they take you seriously."
"I," Haku began to refuse, but was silenced as she kissed him sweetly once, then twice. "I already agreed to attend the lotus party Chihiro."
Chihiro pulled away as she felt her heart sink despite its energetic dance within her chest. She at least had the comfort of not being present when the lotus party got underway. She wouldn't have to watch as many beautiful women took advantage of the situation to parade about the garden trying to catch his attentions. Haku could see her deflating from his response and he redirected her gaze upwards towards his eyes. With his eyes well-adjusted to the dark now, Haku could see the disappointment there.
"But please don't be upset. If it makes you feel better, know that I will openly reject any advances from here on forward. I have you. That's all I've ever wanted and all I'll ever need." Chihiro took comfort in his words and leaned into his hand caressing her cheek. In Haku's mind, all of the challenges that would come from rejecting the potential marriage candidates in a short span of time began to pour forward. Squishing them under the warm bubbles of excitement and love, he nuzzled his nose against hers before reclaiming her lips again for a short kiss. "By the end of the festival, the people that could threaten us will be leaving and we can let the bathhouse staff know that we are officially together. That is of course, if you want them to know."
"I don't mind telling them once the guests leave, but are you sure it's safe to tell them?"
"They all know you are a human and we don't have spies from the Capital breathing down our backs yet. I think it would probably be fine. I want to investigate Hana's claim of a spy first, but I don't want to keep us a secret for long." Haku grasped her hands tightly and Chihiro could feel the energy pulsing in his palms. "In fact, I wish I could fly up to the roof of the bathhouse and shout my joy to the heavens. I'm sure below the ground my river is celebrating for us this very moment and eagerly awaiting your next visit."
Chihiro giggled as she felt herself blush at his excitement. Torn between stroking her cheek and kissing her again, Haku decided on the latter before reaching for the door knob. As he had suspected, the door had never truly been locked to begin with and it gave way to the empty hallway. The light shone in on her face and Haku smiled at her with all the radiance and love that he felt. They could deal with the world's problems later, right now all that mattered was keeping that smile on her face.
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
"I don't need an escort just to go to the bathroom guys," Chihiro complained as she started down the narrow slip of grass between the bright colorful tents towards the restroom. After her two favorite ex-patients had gotten her to agree to go to the festival with them, they had barely given her any time alone. It was a miracle that Lin was able to help her finish getting ready this morning with how frequently Okita had been knocking on the door asking how much longer it was going to be. Since Hikaru was silent, Lin had allowed him the privilege of sitting in the corner of the room while she put Chihiro's hair up and made final touches to the yukata.
"But Chihiro that's when you're most vulnerable. Think about it. When your pants are down-" Okita mocked but was interrupted by Hikaru.
"We will wait here for you." Before Okita could continue his joke, Hikaru glared at him pointedly. There were some lines not meant to be crossed. Leaving the two boys behind, Chihiro followed the signs down the path to the designated tent. She really should have gone before they left the bathhouse, but excitement kept her from making the necessary trip. At least they hadn't made it to the heart of the festival yet with its rows of vendors and games. After doing her business, she was on her way back to her friends when the wall of the tent beside her lifted up and what appeared to be a large white rabbit rolled out. Stumbling backward to avoid kicking it accidentally, Chihiro watched it flop over in mutual shock. With its fall, human legs appeared flying in the air from its skirt and a pair of white bloomers were in plain view.
"I'm sorry. I didn't think anyone was out here," the rabbit spoke as it lowered its legs and began to preen its pale rose skirts. With the fabric out of the way, it was easier to see the half rabbit, half humanoid appearance the small girl had. Even now the rabbit like features were melting into those of a human child. The pair of long white furred ears were disappearing into the mess of white blonde curls a top of her head and a pair of blue eyes grew in size to match her angelic face.
"No worries," Chihiro said as she offered to help the child up. Looking at her strangely for a moment, the girl hesitantly took the proffered hand. Instantly her grip on Chihiro's hand tightened as Chihiro pulled her up onto her feet. When the girl did not release her hand, Chihiro felt her fear spike. The rabbit's irises had disappeared completely and the girl was in a state of frozen movement as if in rigor mortis. Yanking her hand away, Chihiro watched the blue instantly return into the girl's eyes. Gasping softly the child looked at her a new.
"Terribly sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you. I phase out occasionally. It just happens sometimes. That's why they usually keep me away from others. It's too easy for me to get hurt if I phase out at the wrong time."
"What are you doing out here alone then? Shouldn't you be with your parents?" Frowning at her feet the rabbit halfheartedly tapped her foot against the grass. By the end of the festival this same path with its cut grass would be trampled by the thousands of feet that would traverse it.
"They are gone. I live with a wolf named Daisuke now. He has work here at the festival to attend to so he doesn't have time to accompany me. Rather than stay in that dreary tent all day I thought I'd go take a look around while he's gone." Thrusting out her hand with confidence, the now fully human girl gave her a large crooked smile. "The name's Tsukiko, and you are?"
"Chihiro." Shaking her hand, Chihiro couldn't help smiling back at her. There was an open brightness about the girl that seemed to melt away whatever fear she had experienced earlier.
"It's a pleasure meeting you, but I best be off. Gotta find my way to the river bank for the opening ceremony." Tsukiko began walking off towards the bathrooms.
"Um, Tsukiko, the street is this way." Looking back at her with giant doe eyes, the girl laughed nervously.
"Guess it is, isn't it? My sense of direction is pretty bad. I get lost easily." The girl slowly walked back towards her and pulled on her white blouse in embarrassment.
"I'm heading to the ceremony with some friends after we walk through the market. Would you like to join us? We could walk you home afterward." The way Tsukiko smiled Chihiro would have thought that she had offered up the cure to end world hunger rather than a simple invitation.
"Really? Do you mean it? Could I really go with you?"
"Yeah, it's not a problem." The girl whooped in joy and grasping Chihiro's hand began pulling her towards the exit. She smiled at the girl's excitement and let herself be led along.
"We are going to have so much fun! I hope they got the fish catching game. I have always wanted to play it, but no one has been around to take me during festival time," the rabbit girl babbled.
"I'm sure we can make a stop to play the fish catching game. Don't you worry," Chihiro reassured the excited girl. As they broke from the path between the tents, the two boys spotted them. Upon spotting them Hikaru instantly had a hand on the knife sheathed in his belt, but Okita simply burst out laughing.
"See I told you that women's restrooms are never to be trusted! They congregate and multiply in there." Rolling her eyes at Okita's antics, Chihiro stopped in front of them with Tsukiko beside her. The rabbit bowed deeply as Chihiro introduced her. Hikaru didn't bother hiding the suspicious gaze he bore into the child, but Okita wasted no time in offering the girl an exploding candy. Before Chihiro could stop her, the girl opened it and confetti burst out. Okita and Tsukiko laughed as it rained down confetti on the four of them.
"Tsukiko is going to hang out with us this evening and then we will take her home after the opening ceremony. Sound good," Chihiro asked as the girl finally relinquished her hand to give the burnt wrapper back to Okita.
"Sounds awesome. Come on squirt, we are gonna cause some trouble tonight," Okita smiled as he ruffled her curly hair. Giggling in delight, Tsukiko smiled at him. Hikaru however was still frowning at their new addition as they wordlessly took off towards the festival. Tsukiko and Okita led the way talking and laughing as Hikaru and Chihiro walked slightly behind.
"Why the frown," Chihiro asked after the distance between the two pairs had grown slightly.
"Spirits can change their age and shape, Chihiro. There's no way to tell if she is really a child or an assassin sent to kill you."
"Don't you think she would have already done that when she first ran into me?"
"Possibly," Hikaru replied as he thought it over considerably, "Unless there is something else she is looking for."
The afternoon began to wear into evening as the group explored the festival. Hikaru was careful to keep an eye on Chihiro and Tsukiko, though from what he could see the girl was indeed a child. Even though he was on guard and keeping a keen eye on everything around them, Hikaru was having fun watching their antics. Okita got a wad of sticky sugar candy stuck in his fur at one point after Tsukiko "accidentally" tripped. Chihiro tried to help right her, but when she pulled the girl free of the sticky mess, the wand of candy rebounded backwards to land on her face. She ended up getting candy stuck on the top of her lips in the shape of a badly groomed mustache when she finally got the wand pulled off. One solid lick from Hikaru had dispersed it and left both of them blushing, but the other two howled in laughter. After eating kurage from a food vendor, they made their way to the crowded river bank for the opening ceremony.
A large grandstand had been erected on the side of the river closest to the bathhouse. Banners fluttered in the gentle breeze and the crowd rumbled in excitement. Chihiro, Okita, Hikaru, and Tsukiko pushed as close as they dared to the water front. Being nearly half of Chihiro's height, Tsukiko couldn't see anything with the crowd of people present. Picking her up gently, Okita placed the girl on his shoulders so that she could see above the crowd. Cooing in delight, she clapped her hands and pointed to the turbulent water before them. Hikaru leaned over and whispered in Chihiro's ear.
"Would you like to go up on my shoulders?"
"No thanks. I'm much too heavy and I can see just fine from here." Okita smirked overhearing her response and stepped closer to comment without distracting Tsukiko from her viewing.
"Darlin' any man would be happy to die with his face in-." The toll of the bell resounded cutting off his response, but the blush on both Hikaru's and Chihiro's faces said they knew exactly where he had been taking it. Hikaru opened his mouth to comment that since it was the back of his head rather than his face that such a statement should not count, but she shushed the both of them and pointed at the balcony. When the clock struck one, an entourage of people had stepped out of the shadows of the grandstand onto the balcony in view of all. After a brief introduction by a swan, Haku came to the forefront and began the opening speech to introduce the various masters of ceremony for the weekend. Standing regally at his right hand, Hana looked down upon the crowd with a plethora of jewels on nearly every inch of her skin. Both of them looked otherworldly in their regal dress and positions of power. As Haku spoke and looked out over the crowds of people bubbling at the riverbanks edges' it felt as if he were miles away in more than just distance. Ending his speech, Haku and the others took their seats for the opening ceremony show.
Out of the bubbling river water, the barebones of a ship wreckage rose high into the air above the river and large drums began pounding out a tempo from the shore. Shrimp and fish spirits stretched their limbs from the skeleton beams and began an intricate aerial acrobatics routine to the beat. Chihiro's breath was taken away as she watched their splendid prowess and gravity defying art. Clapping in awe as one of the shrimp was flipped through the air from one end of the ship to the other, she smiled at the strange scene before her. These creatures of the watery depths obviously did not regularly come up into the air as evidenced by the thin water bubbles surrounding their gills, yet here they were soaring like experts. As the song began to speed up, the ship began rocking as if stuck in an unforeseen current. The synchronized gymnastics kept pace before finally the music came to an end and all of the occupants jumped off the boat into the water with a loud splash. Joining in the resounding applause and cheers, Chihiro watched as the ship began lighting off fireworks. She had always enjoyed fireworks at festivals growing up, even though she never attended with a boyfriend. Would Haku have visited the festival together with her if Hana and the others weren't around? Looking over at Haku on the balcony, Chihiro felt herself wish that she was up there beside him watching the fireworks together.
Hikaru couldn't help but admire Chihiro as the light from the fireworks shined around them. It was hard to imagine that they would be here together now at a festival together after all that had happened and yet here they were. The bright reds, oranges, and blues washed her in a rainbow of magic light and Hikaru couldn't help but feel drawn to her. There was something special about festivals that resonated with him. The moment would have been perfect if she were looking at him or at the lights themselves. Instead he followed her gaze towards the master of the bathhouse who was staring emptily forward towards the fireworks display and leaning into the whispering koi fish. Hikaru felt his heart squeeze painfully in his chest at the look of longing on her face. If she looked at him the way she was looking at the dragon right now, Hikaru would count himself the luckiest man in the Spirit world. Yet the dragon was too busy perching upon a throne of deceit and power games to truly see her. He had left the most important treasure behind unguarded. If Hikaru had looked away from Chihiro, he would have seen the calculating gaze in Tsukiko's eyes as she followed the train of gazes and expressions from her companions back up to the balcony. Pursing her lips, Tsukiko frowned at Haku before letting the expression melt away into a mask of childish amazement.
After the fireworks display was over, the crowd began to push and expand as all of the spirits began to head back to their accommodations for the evening. Hikaru was quick to grab Chihiro's hand when the crowd threatened to pull her away. He dragged her along as he kept up with the others. With careful navigations, they began to thread their way out of the mob towards the End of the Line bar. Dropping off Okita first, Chihiro and Hikaru said their goodnights and linked hands again as they began the search for Tsukiko's tent. After what seemed like a near endless puzzle of identical tents, the little girl pointed at a red security tent and pulled them forward. As if sensing her approach, the tent flap swung open to reveal a giant black wolf in a full suit of armor. Hikaru instantly felt himself grasping for his weapon as the wolf growled at them.
"Daisuke," the girl cooed as she ran forward and he lifted her up on his arm. Together they looked quite the odd pair, but Chihiro could see the warmth in the grizzly smile he gave her. "I'm back!"
"Tsukiko, you know what I told you about running off. It's not safe out here," the wolf growled as he fixed a stray curl and released the tent flap to close the opening. Hikaru could see other wolves in armor surrounding a table with a map on it within before the panel shut. He didn't realize Haku had brought on additional security measures for the festival. "I was worried."
"I was fine though," Tsukiko emphasized with a dramatic eye roll, "see I even made some friends. This is Chihiro and Kitsune-kun." Her introduction drew the wolf's hard gaze onto them. Chihiro smiled and bowed politely, but Hikaru was stiff in his response. His hands were remaining close to his weapon just in case the well-armed wolf had any argument.
"Thank you for bringing my Tsukiko home to me. We must be off to our tent now."
"AWWW, but Daisuke I want to go out with them again tomorrow." Chihiro briefly looked over at Hikaru in question. They hadn't really talked about the plans for the next day, but it was understood that Lin would be joining in whatever they did. The wolf frowned at the girl and the girl pouted back at him. Slamming her small fists against the wolf's shoulder armor, Tsukiko bargained. "They will keep me safe again no problem. Please let me go with them."
"We will talk about it later tonight," the wolf countered as he began to walk away from them with the girl sitting atop his arm.
"I'll send you word in the morning. You are staying at the bathhouse yes?"
"Yes," Chihiro replied as the wolf began to take the girl away.
"Perfect. Have a good night!" Tsukiko waved and smiled at them as she was carried away. Chihiro and Hikaru waved her off and began their journey back to the bathhouse. As soon as Tsukiko was out of sight from the pair, she instinctively silenced. She stared straight forward as the wolf brought her back to their tent. The childish act was gone and her appearances began to mature. Her long bunny ears emerged and her body began to grow to that of a short hybrid woman. The moment they were alone in the high security tent, Tsukiko hopped down from her perch on his arm and began walking over to the plush cushions beside her looking glass.
"I hope you realize the trouble you cause when you run off like that. You know the Elders would have my head on a pike if they heard you were running around unguarded out here," Daisuke growled.
"Don't bother with your lecture, Daisuke. I found what we were sent here for." Frowning at him disdainfully, she used a paw to stir the water and sat down beside it. The calculating wise expression on her youthful features were more familiar to her than the smiles and laughter she shared this afternoon. The gift of foresight had long been her burden to bear and it took with it any chance at frivolity that she could have. "Notify the Elders that I believe the rumors to be true and am gathering evidence to secure the claim. If all goes according to what I foresaw, they will have the dragon as they want him shortly."