I wasn't sure how long I was asleep for, but I was slowly starting to wake up. "Oh Chihiro. I'm so sorry my darling... I swear I'll protect you from now on." I heard Haku whisper. My eyes flew open, and were immediately greeted by Haku's. "Oh sweetheart! Are you okay?" He asked as I tried to move. "No stay still... You are still weak from the moon oil, Lin used. You are awake 2 hours early... Normally you would sleep for 12 hours..." Haku explained.

"I don't want to sleep or be alone Haku..." I said sadly. He moved from my head and into the spot beside me. "Wait isn't this gonna be difficult for you? You are in mating season..." I said, feeling very concerned for my mate. Haku instantly wrapped his arms around me whispering to go back to sleep, which I obeyed silently.

I woke after a couple more hours feeling more rested than I have ever felt before. "Haku?" I said as I looked around, the room. "Ssh, Darling I'm right here." He whispered, as his arm reached out and over to me, causing me to roll over to face him. "Hey, darling." I whispered. "Hey, How are you feeling?" He asked. "I'm feeling much better." He smiled wide, and said "Good. I'm gonna page Lin to come check on your injuries." I nodded. Haku got Lin, and I stripped out of my shirt, Unaware Haku was still in the room. "Umm… Excuse me…" Haku said, as he ducked out of the room, blushing red. I also must have been blushing, Lin rolled her eyes, and said "Okay, move your arms, I have to see if you healed properly… I slowly moved my arms and said "Okay Okay… Just hurry up!" I said, still completely embarrassed. Lin carefully examined, every aspect of my bare body. "Well Looks like your all healed. Which is good. You're all set to get to work, later."

After she left, I quickly put on my top, and got out of bed. I then proceeded to walk into the office. "Hey, Haku…" I said, as I stood in front of the desk. He raised his head, and said "Hey, I have a contract for you. Lin said that you are all cleared to go back to work." He slid the contract to me. "Hey… I'm sorry, about you seeing well… almost everything…" I said, as I took the papers, and a pen. "It's alright. One more word before we put this behind us… You looked incredibly beautiful, and hot." I felt a blush rise to my cheeks. "Hey… Since I don't start till tomorrow… Wanna go for a swim with me?" I asked, causing Haku to chuckle. "I have a lot… Oh What the hell. I'll finish it later." We jumped into the water, beneath the bath house. I quickly swam away from him, and around a little island, by the bathhouse. "Hey slow down!" I heard Haku, as I floated, before diving under the water. I was exceptional at holding my breath lately. Finally We sat on the land, and Haku said "How did you hold your breath for so long?" "I don't know… Honestly…" I said, as I rested my head on his shoulder. He said "I wonder… If you could be a spirit? A rare one…"

"We Found her! We Found her!" A wave bubbles, surround us, before a wave crashed on the land, and a women appeared. "Oh I beg your pardon." Haku and I stood up, turning to see the women. "Umm, May I help you?" Haku said, as he eyed the women. "I'm Kiyohime… A Fire spitting dragon like spirit… My Bubbles alerted me, that they have my child… My Lost child." I looked to Haku, who said "I'm Nigihayami Kohakunushi, But You may call me Haku. This is My Mate…" Kiyohime, looked at me and said "Finally! I'd know my daughter, anywhere! So please, Tell me your name is child."

I looked to Haku, who gave me a nod. "I'm Chihiro Ogino…" I said softly. "Tell me about your human life? I know this is all disorienting… But 16 years ago, my husband, and I lost our child to the human world." I said "It is a bit disorienting… But I never felt part of the human world. My human life was Okay… 6 years ago my human parents and I stumbled into this world. After we returned to the human world, I never felt connected to it, I could hold my breath longer, then the average humans. Life sucked in the human world to put it nicely… My human parents died, 2 months after we returned, and I was sent to the orphanage… I just ran away after the wretched treatment." I felt Haku, wrap an arm protectively around my shoulders. "OH dear! That is horrible." She said. "I feel more at home here, and Now it all makes sense." Kiyohime smiled and said "So tomorrow, You shall come to my house, and we will go through the process, of giving you your spirit spirit, and removing your human one." I said "Sounds good… How long will I be there?" "I think she means we." I looked to Haku with a shocked look, But Kiyohime smiled and said "3 days, will be enough time." Haku said "Perfect." Kiyohime said "I'll return tomorrow at 10." I nodded, as she left.

I turned to Haku, and said "You are really coming with me?" Haku nodded before saying "Absolutely. You are my mate aren't you?" I nodded and said "I am, but don't you have to run the bathhouse?" Haku said "Lin can handle it, for a few days without me." "You never did tell me how you acquired the bathhouse." He said "I was the only one who Yubba paid… I saved up everything I could, and I bought Yubba out. I told her she and Boh can stay and work, or they can leave… They Chose to leave, so I made Lin my Second in command."

I smiled, and said "Wow. And the Bathhouse is doing well?" Haku said "We're doing so much better, then we were with Yubba." I nodded and said "Good." We returned to the bathhouse, and got ready for the next day. "Hey Chihiro, rest now." Haku said with a grin. "Perfect…" I said, as I moved to put the last of the things in the bag only to have my hands be stopped by Haku. "Stop, Honey… I've got this… You need your rest…" I sighed, and said "Can I confess something?" I asked, as I sat on Haku's bed. "Of course." He said as He sat beside me. "What's on your mind?" His arm wrapped around my shoulders. "I'm afraid of what tomorrow will bring… I mean… The process of removing my human soul for my spirit one… Will it hurt? Will I be a dragon like you and my parents? Would you like me better as a spirit, even a dragon?" I rambled off all my fears. "Maybe I'm not strong enough for this…" I said, as I placed my head in my hands.

"Hey. I don't want to hear you talk like that." Haku's voice said, as he lifted my chin to see his face."I don't know if the process will be painful. I was born a spirit. But I know, that I will be right there, ready to catch you, and soothe you. I hate that you endured hell in the human world." He caressed my cheek. "Odds are you are gonna be a dragon. Both your parents are dragons. I could sense it since you arrived. You're a rare breed. I'll love you regardless. You are my mate, and I will not abandon you for any reason." His eyes, so soft, and calm. "You're not gonna fight this alone. I'm here at your side. I know for the last 6 years, you've had no one to fight at your side or for you, but now you do. You got me, and Lin. You got your parents. We're all here for you. I promise." He placed a gentle kiss on my head, before saying. "You are the strongest person I know. I don't know anyone else who is as strong as you. Do you want to know how I know that?" I nodded, still unable to respond to all his sweet words.

"I know this cause, you survived and fought every little thing in the human world, You fought hard with the moon oil, so I know you can and will fight this, and your gonna win. I promise." I smiled at that, before finally speaking. "Haku… Thank you…" He smiled, kissing my lips gently. "Now you get some rest. I'll finish packing up." I said "Will you lay with me tonight? Or will it be too hard?" I laid down as I looked at him. "I'll lay with you, in a little bit." He promised. I laid there awake, thinking of what tomorrow will bring, and what Haku had spoken. I wonder if I was a dragon, if I'd be in mating season tomorrow, and I wonder if Haku and I would be able to do anything tomorrow. But I didn't care, this is the first time in a very long time, that I felt so safe and secure. I felt Haku's body slide in beside me, pulling the blanket over us as he did, before he wrapped his arms around me. "Sleep now. It'll be alright. I promise." He whispered, as I dozed to sleep in the comfort of his arms.

I woke early in the morning, looking around the room. "Haku?" I asked. The room seemed empty. "I'm here." He said as he returned, and sat on the bed. "You alright?" I sat up and shrugged. "I don't know." "You were having nightmares last night… I could tell." He whispered. I said "Did I keep you up?! I'm so sorry!" He shook his head. "No you didn't. But you should get ready.. Your mother will be here soon." I nodded as I got up, "ugh… Can you get breakfast sent up please?" Haku said "Are you alright?" I nodded and said "Just slightly dizzy… That's all." Haku said "Alright, I'll get breakfast, or have Lin bring it up. Get ready." I nodded and quickly dressed in a dress that Haku laid out.

"Hey Chihiro, Breakfast!" Haku called, as I went to his office. "Wow, You look beautiful." I blushed, as I sat with him. "Thank you." We ate breakfast in silence. "Tonight if you are a dragon… You'll enter mating season…" Haku started. "I know…" I replied, as Haku said "I won't force you to do anything, but if you want to, we can." I smiled and said "I want to. But, I'm nervous… I've never well you know, had sex before… I'm afraid it will hurt…" Haku caressed my cheek before saying "It probably will, but just for a couple minutes. Don't worry, I'm gonna be gentle… Considering it's both our first times." I blushed. "How are you feeling?" He asked. "A little better." Just then we were aware of a presences of a person… no two people. "Lin. Kiyohime." Haku said as he stood and helped me up. "Lin, You watch the bathhouse. I'm going with Chihiro and we'll be gone a few days." Lin nodded before me, my mother and Haku left. "Alright," My mother said. "You two stay here…" I don't know how long it was but my mother finally called us in.

We entered hand in hand. "At long last." My father said. "Mizuchi." Haku greeted. "Nigihayami Kohakunushi!" my father greeted. "Please call me Haku." My father nodded. "Tell me about you child." "My name is Chihiro Ogino." I started before revealing the horrors, that I lived through. "Oh dear! That is horrible." My father exclaimed. Haku's arms slid protectively around me. "Well tonight will be the perfect time to give you your Spirit soul, and removing your human one. Your mother and I will make the preparations." I nodded as my mother showed us where we will be staying. I must have been blushing, because I heard my mom and Haku whispering. "Thank you." Haku and I spent the afternoon getting settled. "It's time. My mother and father said, standing in the door frame. I stood where my mom said to, and before I could process anything I could feel my body levitating, then I felt pain as my human soul exited my body, and my spirit soul enter. It was worse then any pain I ever felt. I had to fight to be strong enough. "Chihiro!" I heard Haku's voice, before I felt myself falling, and darkness.