Chapter Thirty-Eight: Welcome, Miracle Bath Baby!
Haku and Chihiro had loaded all of the stuff that they were taking with them into the carriage. Haku was hooking the marine-equine together when Chihiro came outside, a pink moving mass in her arms that he knew was Kaida.
"Are we ready?" asked Chihiro, climbing into the carriage.
"I think so," said Haku, following her. And with that, they rose from the ground and flew off to the bathhouse.
They touched down two hours later on the grounds in front of the bathhouse. Haku cradled Kaida to his chest and offered his hand to Chihiro. She took it and jumped down from the carriage. Haku told the frog spirits around to bring in their things and send the marine-equine back home. He took Chihiro's hand and they walked into the bathhouse, Kaida held between them.
Zeniba had told them that she had ordered all of the spirits in the bathhouse to leave them alone. However, when they walked through the entrance, they were surprised to find all of the spirits and yunas were in the entrance hall. They all bowed as Haku and Chihiro approached.
"What are you all doing?" asked Haku, standing in the middle of the hall. One of the frog spirits came forward.
"Master Haku, we are paying our respects to the Miracle Bath Baby," he squeaked.
"All of you," said Chihiro. "Get up. Do not treat our daughter as if she is a chosen one. She is not someone who will lead everyone to a promise land. Treat her as you would a normal baby." And with that, she walked onto the elevator.
When he was sure that she couldn't hear him, Haku said to the staff, "But do treat her with respect. After all, she is my daughter." He began to walk and followed his mate.
Back in the room, Chihiro was sitting on the bed, cradling Kaida. She sat her on the bed beside her and undid her shirt, then bra. She lifted the infant to her chest and she began to suckle. Chihiro had to admit, it became easier every time she fed Kaida. Chihiro looked around her bedroom, taking in all of the surroundings. It's only been a month, but it seems like I've been away longer. She chuckled to herself. The last time I was here, I didn't have anything to care for. Now I'm a real mom. Wow, this is going to be interesting. She took Kaida away from her breast and laid her in the bassinet someone had brought in. Then she re-hooked her bra and fastened her shirt.
As Chihiro was leaning over the bassinet, tickling her daughter's feet, Haku came quietly into the room. He stood in front of the closed door and motioned silently. He folded his hands together and placed them under his head, mimicking sleep, and then rocked his arms. He was asking if Kaida was asleep. Chihiro laughed and shook her head. She turned to her mate.
"Why did you do that?" she asked, lifting the baby into her arms. "Did you forget that we can read each other's minds?" Haku gave an embarrassed smile.
"Oops, you're right. I forgot." Chihiro slapped him playfully on the shoulder.
"What's up?" she asked, laying Kaida gently on the bed and removing her diaper. Haku covered his nose with his hands, making his words muffled.
"WimeeddowohsheZeniba," he said, hands over his face. Chihiro placed a fresh diaper on their daughter and Haku quickly banished the dirty one away. Chihiro removed his hands from her face, smiling.
"One more time," she said, cocking her head to the side. "Sorry, I didn't quite catch that."
"I said, 'I need to go see Zeniba.'"
"Oh, do you want me to go?"
"No, little one; I need to see the old witch alone. You stay here and rest. I dare say that Lin will be up here soon." He smiled and kissed Chihiro. He gently mussed Kaida's hair, then left the room. Chihiro ran to the window with Kaida in her arms. She pulled back the curtains in time to see her beautiful white and blue dragon soaring through the skies, making his way towards Zeniba's house.
Haku transformed twelve feet above the ground and landed with a small tpp on one foot, kneeling. He walked to the humble house and knocked on the door. It pulled open a second later, revealing Zeniba, peering down at him through her spectacles.
"Hello, Haku," she said warmly, opening the door. He bowed his head and stepped in.
"So," he said five minutes later, sitting down and sipping tea, "what do you have to tell me that is so important that it could not be prolonged so that I could have more time with my family?"
"Haku," said Zeniba seriously, "I trust you remember what you told a few months ago?"
"I've told you much, Zeniba," replied Haku. "To what are you referring?"
"You said that you sensed a great evil coming. It grew closer and closer by the day."
"Oh, yes; that."
"You seem more relaxed about it now. Do you not feel it anymore?"
"No, Zeniba. It seems to have retreated. I have not sensed it for several weeks."
"Do you think it's gone?"
"Not by any means," said Haku, setting down his cup and smiling sardonically. "It seems only to have backed off, but I think that it will try and advance again."
"How long before that happens, do you think?"
"I'd say a fair amount of time, at least a year," he bowed his head. "When it returns, however, it will be more evil and powerful than before."
"Do you know what it wants?"
"One can only guess. I believe that it wishes to take over the spirit world, and will probably try to start with the bathhouse."
The conversation later turned to Chihiro's parents.
"Haku, now that your family is well underway, have you thought about Chihiro's parents?"
Haku looked up from his tea. "Hmm?"
"You were absolutely hell-bent on exacting revenge on them a year ago. Do you still feel that way?"
Haku thought for a moment. "Yes," he said finally. "Chihiro's parents can no longer go on living without paying for the abuse the put her through." This pleased the old witch to no end. It wasn't that she was a malicious person; on the contrary, she hated violence. She just hated to see anyone hurt her adopted granddaughter more.
"So, what do you want to do, and when do you want to do it?" she asked, a wicked smile on her old, cracked lips.
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Haku flew home, his heart lighter than it had been in months. He felt free as he swooped and swirled through the sky, but he missed the feel of Chihiro at his side and Kaida on his chest. He sped off back toward the bathhouse hurriedly, eager to get back to his family.
Haku and Chihiro were in their room that night, getting ready for bed. Chihiro was on the bed with Kaida, holding her upright and supporting her with her hand. Haku sat down next to her and tickled his daughter's belly. She smiled and giggled, drool coming from her mouth. Haku wiped it away with a cloth and smiled.
"Haku," said Chihiro, lying Kaida down, "what exactly is Kaida?"
Haku looked up. "What do you mean?"
"Well, you're a powerful river spirit, I'm a human, so what does that make Kaida?"
"Good question," said Haku, contemplating his daughter. "I don't think that there has ever been a child born from a human and a spirit."
"Do you think she'll be able to turn into a dragon?" asked Chihiro.
"I don't know, but she'll definitely be able to fly. I just don't know how," concluded Haku. "And we know she'll be a witch and can use magic. I can already tell that she has the powers of a river spirit, so it seems that the river will go to her."
"Who's going to train her in magic?" asked Chihiro, laying Kaida in her bassinet and covering her lightly.
"Well, you," said Haku, kissing Kaida on the forehead. He turned back to his mate, who was staring at him with her mouth slightly ajar.
"Me?" she asked.
"Of course," said Haku, laying down on the bed and pulling the covers of both of them. "You've been doing a fair bit of magic yourself, right?" Chihiro nodded her head slowly. "Then by the time Kaida is ready to start practicing, you should be fluent with it. And Zeniba will help you if you want."
Chihiro smiled, for once thinking herself worthy of her mate. "I'll train her," she said. She turned her head and kissed Haku. "Good night, my handsome dragon."
"Good night, my beautiful little one," answered Haku, kissing her back. She settled against him and he wrapped his arms around her ever-shrinking waist and sunk into the comfy mattress. He and Chihiro had agreed on one thing when Kaida; no sex for six weeks, until Chihiro had healed. However, Haku found that this would take a great deal of will on his part.