The Path of Water
By Arlia'Devi
Disclaimer: I do not own Spirited Away in any respect; all rights go to Hayao Miyazaki and associates. I make no money from this.
The Path of Water
By Arlia'Devi
XLVIII: Like Water
'I met in the street a very poor young man who was in love. His hat was old, his coat worn, his cloak was out at the elbows, the water passed through his shoes, - and the stars through his soul.'
~ Victor Hugo
She asked him what he wanted, and he said, "Peace, these last moment to enjoy with you…," in a soft miserable voice as he lay on their bed. Chihiro pressed a cold cloth to his face; his forehead, lips, cheeks and temples. He just looked at her with red rimmed eyes, his hair fanned out behind him on a pillow. He wanted to ask her a million questions, but asking any of those questions seemed to only justify that this had happened now and he didn't want to do that. Lord of the Eastern Lands.
"What will happen now?" Chihiro asked gently. The bathhouse was silent. Outside the winds roared.
Haku didn't reply so Chihiro didn't press the matter, just remaining by his side and pressing a cool cloth, meandering down to her future mate's chest and dabbing at his sweaty skin. The cream shirt he had been wearing was damp and unbuttoned down the middle. After a long while, she couldn't stand the silence, and said his name again, pleading.
"I don't know," he whispered because it seemed he couldn't do more than that. "Augustine will be here soon."
"… How?" Chihiro asked and Haku knew she meant Sar'onga's death.
"I don't know," he replied. "It's so sudden. I was only there a few days ago… he looked healthy."
"It's going to be alright, Haku," Chihiro smoothed the hair out of his eyes. He gave her an incredulous look.
"How can you say that?" he rebuked, his mind racing at everything that had changed in a matter of moments. He was returning from the foyer, wondering if he'd consult that dirty book Chihiro had given him to mix it up a little tonight, and then the next second he'd felt a horrible wave and collapsed to the ground.
Chihiro shrugged and dropped the rag into the small bowl. "I just do," she said, taking the dish in her hands and swirling the water around gently, careful not to spill. "You're water."
Haku frowned. "I don't understand."
"You're water," Chihiro replied, shifting to his side and tucking her legs beneath her rear. "You're like your river; water flows and molds working around barriers and blockages to forge a new path. Water's always moving, it never stays in the same place."
Haku rolled his head to look at Chihiro. She smiled sheepishly.
"You really believe that?" he asked hoarsely.
"I do," she replied and took his hand. She gave it a gentle squeeze and was relieved when he squeezed back. "The river will always forge new paths and flow, what can stop the flow of water? Everything breaks down eventually."
Haku said nothing for a long time. He laid on the bed, bathed in the warm afternoon sun. Outside, the wind howled. Absentmindedly, Chihiro asked, "How long will the winds last?"
"Days," he replied and turned his head away from her. "Do you really mean that? What you just said?"
"About water?"
"Yes."
Chihiro smiled gently. "Of course I do."
"Do you think I can do this?"
"I think we can do this," she clarified.
Haku said nothing then and Chihiro didn't push it. Instead, she said, "I'm going to go down to the baths; the staff seemed pretty shocked and we're opening soon. I'll be back in a little while. I'll bring dinner up."
Haku nodded and Chihiro rolled off the bed, smoothing out her clothing and combing out her hair with her fingers. She was about to leave before she heard Haku call, "Chihiro?"
"Yes, Haku?"
The dragon walked over to the doorway, his eyes still red-rimmed and his face streaked and grey. Gently he pressed his lips to hers and said, "I love you. Please don't ever forget that."
"I love you too, Haku," she murmured endearingly. "You should get some rest, or have a bath – do something to clear your head."
"Perhaps," he replied, his eyes casting a glance to the shoji doors. "They'll be here soon. I should change."
"Who will be here soon?" Chihiro frowned. "… What will happen next?" she'd been dying to ask that question for half an hour now.
"I don't know," Haku admitted honestly. "We'll find out soon. Augustine will be here."
She touched his cheek gently, wiping away a tear track with her thumb. "Are you scared?"
He was hesitant for a moment until his hand pressed hers against his cheek. Into her palm, he whispered, "Yes."
Chihiro had organised the staff into some sort of functioning order. Rin was more helpful, telling spirits to butt out when they asked Chihiro about Haku being the new Lord of the Eastern Lands. Some had actually began to call her Lady Chihiro. She ignored that for the remainder of the night and wondered how Haku was going upstairs. He hadn't come down, not that she really thought he would.
Guests flooded in, more than could be expected but when it was realised they didn't want a bath but to intrude on the new Lord of the Eastern Lands they were quickly escorted out. Perhaps it was wise Haku didn't come down, at least until the hype had died down a little. Still, she was eager to find out exactly what was going on, so bypassing Rin and Chase and promising to fill them in later, she grabbed a tray of food and hurried up the elevator.
The door was locked to Haku's apartment.
Not good.
"Haku!" she knocked on his door.
There was a shuffle and Chihiro stood for a long while, worrying if the food was getting cold. Haku's voice was low talking on the other side, then suddenly the door opened and he was standing there in a long indigo gown with golden trimming. His hair was straight and his face was of markless porcelain complexion. For a moment she was struck at how grand he looked, and then he took the tray from her hands wordlessly and she snapped out of his stupor.
He looks… like a king, Chihiro realised. No, he looks like a Lord.
Usually Haku would have teased her obvious oogling, but it seemed that he wasn't in the mood for any of that tonight.
Gently he set the tray down on the dining table and took his usual seat, facing Chihiro and the fireplace, his back to the outside world. Chihiro slipped into her seat wordlessly and picked up her chopsticks.
"I like your clothes," she murmured, nudging some rice into her bowl as Haku stirred the meaty broth with a small white ladle. "New?"
"Yes."
"Did Augustine come?"
"Yes."
"Are you going to say anything else other than 'yes'?" she offered him a smile and he nodded, sucking in a deep breath.
"Augustine came around – Sar'onga has died," he murmured. His bowl was empty. He noted Chihiro had noticed his lack of food. "Sorry, I'm not hungry tonight."
"It's alright – you can eat later if you want," she nodded. "Please tell me more."
"He wanted to see you, to speak with you about what has happened," Haku replied. "I wouldn't let him."
"Why?" Chihiro frowned, confused.
Haku sucked in a sharp breath. "Around two months ago, remember the dream I had where I lost you?" he shook his head. "I couldn't stand it; I didn't want anyone near you in case they wanted to hurt you. We're not even married yet! I couldn't stand if you had to be taken away from me…," he paused and swallowed thickly. "You should know mates are usually not tolerated."
Chihiro frowned. "What?"
"I explained before that the political hierarchy is based on the level of potential power an individual possesses, not the ties of a particular blood line. There is no need to sire offspring." Haku poured himself a drink, popping a bottle of red wine, though it wasn't for celebration. "Mates are... distracting."
"Am I distracting?" Chihiro teased lightly.
"You know you are," and there was that smouldering look in his eyes. His lips kicked up into a smile.
"Darling," she reached across the table and took his hand. "It's going to be alright. We'll get through it."
"That's what else I wanted to speak with you about, Chihiro," he muttered gently. "I… I just want us to be happy together. I managed to postpone moving to High City by two months – Augustine said it would take two weeks for the administration, and then there will be the funeral which it is compulsory we must attend… I suppose what I'm saying is that it everything has changed. Our wedding… Your parents…"
"Will understand," Chihiro nodded, though not really believing what she'd just said. Would they? Probably not. "Maybe not, but they'll try. As for our wedding, it can wait. We can talk about this later, maybe everything is not ruined and we can still have a winter wedding."
Haku smiled at his future-mate's hopefulness. She was the level-headed one in times of crisis.
"There is one more thing…," he murmured.
"What is it?"
"When the time comes for me to leave the bathhouse and move to the High City, until things settle down at the Imperial Palace, I want you to stay in the human world with your parents."
"What?" Chihiro cried.
"Please Chihiro, it's for your own safety," Haku implored, squeezing her hand tightly in his. "It will be dangerous and I love you far too much to get caught up in it. It won't be for very long, maybe a week or two. Please, darling."
Chihiro swallowed thickly. "You… you really want me to go?"
"Of course not," he shook his head. "But I think it's for the best."
She shook her head, wondering if this was his way of breaking up with her. Could that be true? Did he not want her around anymore? "… Is it…" she frowned, unable to make the words come out and blinked back the tears. "Over between us? Is that what you're trying to say?"
"Over between us?" Haku frowned, and then suddenly understood the phrase. "No, no, no, Chihiro," he murmured, falling to his knees beside her chair. "Darling, no – of course not, Chihiro, no never would I ever want you to leave my side but you understand this world is dangerous and I couldn't stand if you got hurt and I wasn't there to protect you." He kissed each knuckle of the hand he was holding within his.
Chihiro nodded and with the other hand batted away tears that were threatening to spill over her eyelids. "I understand, Haku."
"You do?" he asked. "I just couldn't stand it… I'll come and get you as soon as it's safe to do so."
"I understand," she said, kissing him gently. "And I know you will."
He kissed her back hungrily, pulling her body down from the dining chair and into his arms on the floorboards. "My life is so stuffed up, you're the only thing good in it – do you think I would let you go so easily?"
Chihiro's head rested on the soft rug he had in front of the fire, though she hadn't noticed them moving. Magic.
The fire was warm and soothing, and she always enjoyed the way it lit up Haku's face, while creating shadows at the same time. With her fingers she gently traced the lines of light and dark around her mate's face, running over his lips and receiving small kisses.
"What are you going to do about the bathhouse?"
"I don't know," he admitted gently. "I'd always planned on giving it to someone." Haku's hand trailed down to rest over Chihiro's belly and she knew what he meant.
She sighed against his cheek and said, "I suppose we can figure that out a little later, Haku. We don't have to figure everything out now. Are you really sure you want me to leave?"
He pushed himself onto his elbows and looked down at Chihiro. "At this moment, it's the only thing I'm sure of."
She nodded and sighed. Haku kissed her neck tenderly, taking in the sensation of her warm, sweet skin as he travelled lower. It was warm and lazy in front of the fire and he felt like bed, even though it was only early in the night. He grunted then against her collarbone as his mind remembered something and he was forced to ask the question,
"How is the bathhouse?" he murmured. "I didn't want to go downstairs."
"It's fine," Chihiro hummed. "Rin and Chase, I suspect, are helping run it. I think it's going well. Stay up here for tonight; you can face it all in the morning." She ran her fingers gently down his spine. "Stay up here with me."
A low growl emitted from Haku's throat as Chihiro's fingers began to work on untying the lavish robe, digging her fingernails into the golden sash that secured the garment close. She parted the haori and exposed his chest, running her hands down and working on the ties of his pants as he kissed her ferociously.
"You've convinced me," he murmured and Chihiro laughed, pushing his hair back behind his ear.
"It does not take much effort, my love," she cooed gently as Haku untied and stripped Chihiro of her shirt and began working on the ties of her halter neck behind her back. Soon, it seemed the worries and disaster of that day had been forgotten about. At least, it seemed, for that moment.
The following morning, Haku deigned to come down from his apartment. As Chihiro got ready, he lay in bed watching her.
"You can't hide up here forever, Haku," Chihiro sighed briskly as she rummaged for a salmon top from the basket of folded clothes. She ended up putting them neatly away in the chest, smoothing over Haku's ornamented tunics. She sighed and pulled her hair into a ponytail – it was getting rather long, perhaps when she went home she'd organise to get a haircut.
"I'll be down in a little while," he murmured, rolling to sit on the edge of the bed. Outside, the sun shone through, casting little square shadows of shoji on the floorboards. "It's a beautiful day outside."
"It is," Chihiro smiled as she stood by her mate, gently touching his shoulder with the tips of her fingers. "You should come down. The staff want answers. It won't be as bad as you think. Then maybe we can have lunch out in the gardens, relax in the sun for a while."
"Sounds nice," he murmured and kissed her cheek gently. "I'll come down a little later. Give me a moment to get dressed."
Chihiro nodded and left Haku in the apartment, fixing her hair and closing the door behind her. Down the elevator, work was beginning and for a moment it struck her as being a completely normal day. That was, until one foreman bowed and said,
"Lady Chihiro, Rin has been looking for you."
Chihiro nodded. "Where is she, I'll meet her."
"Her quarters, I believe, my lady," replied the foreman.
Rin was indeed still in her quarters, combing her hair through with an ivory comb. She wore the standard outfit before grabbing a piece of cotton and tying her hair back. Chihiro slipped into the bedroom.
"I knew you were coming," Rin replied with a sigh as she turned around. She rubbed some sort of cream onto her face then, and then a wax onto her lips. Chihiro took a little wax from a small pot and rubbed it over her lips as well – peppermint wax and rather expensive. Haku had already bought her two pots.
"How are you?" Rin asked lowly as Chihiro took a seat on a vanity chair beside Rin's chest of drawers.
"As well as can be expected," replied Chihiro.
"How is he?"
Chihiro nudged and repeated, "As well as can be expected, I suppose."
Rin nodded and sat on her platform futon, which squeaked under her weight. It was already made up. "What are you going to do?"
Chihiro shrugged. "I don't know. We've been given two months before Haku has to move to the High City. H-he wants me to go back to my own world while things simmer down here. He says I'll be 'safer'."
"What?" Rin cried, sitting up straight, her hands clutching the fabric of her pants. "How is that even possible? You can't go back through until the end of winter!"
Chihiro shook her head and sighed. "He said it would be possible. It will take some effort, but it's possible apparently."
"What horse shit," growled Rin. "He can't just throw you to the side like that."
"Rin!" cried Chihiro. "He's worried. He's had some horrible dreams recently. It spooked him a lot. It's for the best, and he's right; it's going to take a while for everyone to settle down."
Rin was about to mutter something when her eyes suddenly darted down the hallway as Chase entered, Aeala in a wrap on her back. The little kitten gurgled and laughed as she bounced when her mother walked. The cat offered a commiserating smile.
"Hey Chihiro," she said sympathetically. "How's Haku?"
"He's sending Sen back to the human world!" cried Rin.
Chase seemed shocked, but remained composed. Eventually she said, "It makes sense."
"How can you think it makes sense?" shrieked Rin.
Chase regarded Rin seriously. "It's the best thing for her – she's not a spirit, Rin, she's a human. We all forget that sometimes, but living at the Imperial Palace will be dangerous. Haku will be busy; he won't be there to protect her all the time. And the palace is three times the size of the bathhouse. Do you really think he'll just abandon her back in the human world?"
Chihiro's eyes dropped to the floorboards. "Don't worry Rin, I thought that too."
Rin huffed. "See? She feels the same way!"
"But I know it's the right thing to do. I just have to trust Haku. If not, I expect both of you to beat him to a pulp if he leaves me there."
"Don't worry," Rin snorted. "We will."
Chase pulled Aeala around to her breast and unwrapped the babe from her sling. Letting her on the floor Aeala crawled over to Chihiro, before sitting on her bottom and reaching her arms out to the woman.
"Aww, cute little kitten, do you want a cuddle?" Chihiro cooed over the baby as she picked her up and nuzzled her soft fur. Aeala gurgled and took fistfuls of Chihiro's hair, tugging on them none-too-gently. Chase came to the rescue and gently untangled Chihiro's hair from the infant's sticky hands.
Rin stood immobile, her weight resting on one foot. She nibbled on her bottom lip gently. "I'll take care of the bathhouse," she announced suddenly and the other women turned to her with wide-eyes.
"What?" cried Chase.
"Rin you hate working here," replied Chihiro. "No, I can't let you. It's not fair on you."
"I don't hate working here," she replied. "I hated being enslaved and having no rights. True, the frogs are an absolute pain in the arse, but I know this is what I have to do! Who else are you going to give it to? Yubaba? Is Bou going to inherit it? He can barely count the fingers on his hands."
Chihiro shook her head. "I won't let you do this."
"What are you going to do?" Rin sniped. "You're going back to the human world." Then she turned and stalked out of the room. Quickly, the other girls followed her, but the sable spirit managed to catch and close the elevator before they had a chance to catch up.
By the time Chihiro, Chase and Aeala managed to get up to Haku's floor, Rin was waiting for the dragon to answer the door. He opened it just as they ran out of the elevator.
"I will take the bathhouse while you're gone," Rin said suddenly, not bothering to enter the apartment but speaking her intentions outright.
"No, Rin!" replied Chihiro, coming up behind her with Aeala resting on her hip. "It's not fair. Haku, don't let her do it."
Rin whirled around to Chihiro. "Will you let me do this for once, Sen?" Instantly, the human shut her mouth.
"I want to do this," Rin turned back to Haku. "Let me do this. I can do it."
"I don't know how I feel about that," Haku replied gently.
Rin snorted. "Stop being a gutless lizard, Haku – you're as bad a Sen. Who else are you going to let look after it? I have no intentions of keeping the damn thing, to let you know. And I'll be taking a week vacation once every three months."
Haku nodded once. "If it's what you want."
"You're damn right it is."
Haku nodded then and Rin turned to leave, smugly walking past the two women in a determined strut. Chihiro approached Haku about to voice her outrage when he leant down and murmured against her forehead, "It's for the best," and then kissed it softly before following Rin down to the baths.
Left in the settling dust was Chihiro, utterly confused, Chase, staring into space and Aeala sucking on her fist.
"I have no idea what just happened," Chihiro murmured to the bub, bouncing the girl gently. "But I know I don't like it."
"I do," replied Chase suddenly. "I know what just happened."
Haku and Rin stood side-by-side in the elevator, with the spines straight and their shoulders back. They stood silently, either comfortable in the silence or unsure what to say. Eventually, it seemed Haku was the one to crack as he cleared his throat and said,
"I want to thank you for-,"
"Shut it, Haku," Rin replied.
"I know we don't get on very well sometimes," he murmured. "But you know you're my dear friend, Rin."
She scoffed. "Don't get mushy on me, Haku. You know I hate all that."
Haku nodded. "I still want to thank you."
"Your thanks are the raise I'm getting now," she replied. "I'm sure you'll get a nice little raise becoming Lord, as well, so kudos for that."
Haku shook his head at Rin's harsh tone. "You know it was never my intention to leave like this; if I didn't have to, I wouldn't."
Rin looked at the dragon then, "You should go," she said gently. "It's your duty now; just make sure you look after Sen in the process. And you better make sure any kid of yours has at least half the intellect his parents do – because the Lord knows I ain't keepin' this bathhouse forever." Haku grinned at the last line. "I'll fire all these frogs, you know I will, burn this entire thing to the ground."
"The bathhouse keeper," Haku hummed and laughed. "It has a ring to it."
"Shut it, Haku," Rin huffed.
"If I have a daughter, I hope she's like you," Haku grinned to the sable spirit. "Though not as hot headed, but with the genetics she's going to have, I can't exactly guarantee it. At least then she'll have something in common with her Aunty Rin when her parents get too much for her to handle."
The doors to the elevator opened and Rin stepped out. Haku, wanting to head down to the foyer remained. Rin turned and held her hand against the door of the elevator so it didn't close. In a final bidding she said, "You better look after Sen. But you better look after yourself too, Haku. I don't wanna hear you've turned into dragon tail soup in the big city."
He grinned at Rin's worry and said, "We'll be fine, thank you." And then Rin let go of the elevator fighting against her hand and the doors closed. With a huff, she turned around and went back to work, noting the pillars that stretched up the long body of the bathhouse. She noted the tatami mats on the floors, the murals on the shoji screens and plastered walls. The air was laden with the moist smell of herbs and minerals, soothing water smells and burning incense along the hallways and dining rooms. Rin took it all in.
This is mine.
My stupid computer must have some sort of virus, it's been randomly deleting pre-written chapters for The Path of Water and it's seriously peeving me off. Thank god for DropBox, where all the chapters are backed up on.
Thanks to everyone who reviewed last week, they were:
Ashterbowden, xEternal Silence, Nonumaru, DemonGirlSylvie, Natalie, michelle88222, Moonlight Mermaid, Sokka2Me, Have a Nice Dream, Randomsam123, FlutterbyBella, litugreen, Cinnful, 04Orihina, ulquihime7980, DemonChild94, doglover500, WhiteTiger246, ziggy zee, Suyo-chan, Tamisin and Courtney Ravensdale.
Next time; Haku and Chihiro venture to the High City for the funeral of the Lord.
Thanks! Please remember to review before you go!
~ Arlia'Devi.
