Chapter 3: Taboo

Rin sat back down on the chair again with a cup of tea in her hands. Besides delivering the nightly reports to Haku at the end of her rounds, she rarely entered this part of the bathhouse. Even when she had a private meeting with him, they stayed in the lounge area, where his desk was. Haku was a private person and never liked anyone coming into his quarters, especially the bedroom. It was strictly out of bounds.

Well, if it weren't for you, Chihiro, I don't think I would've even taken half a step in here. Rin surveyed the room with curious eyes and was pleasantly surprised that the room was decorated with little trinkets and ornaments. It was somewhat pleasant to know that her stony-faced employer had some kind of a personality after all. Her wondering eyes looked about her and travelled back to the sleeping human girl, lying motionless in Haku's futon.

She had been lying completely still for close to two days now and should have woken up a hours ago. As Rin studied the girl, she thought she saw Chihiro's lips move, as though she were mouthing words. Thinking that her eyes were playing tricks on her, Rin leaned in closer to the girl and then she saw it — a small smile tugged at the corner of Chihiro's lips.

"You're still smiling when you're on the brink of death!" Rin exclaimed as she ran her fingers through Chihiro's soft hair. "Only a silly klutz like you would stumble into this horrid place twice in a lifetime," she said under her breath, feeling both happy and sad to see her old friend back at the bathhouse again.

That damn Haku better find a quick solution to this if he really wants to keep her alive. Rin stared out into the barren night sky. The moon hung high above, keeping every being under its watchful eye, under its unfeeling gaze. The spirit world is an unforgiving place.

As Rin leant in to tuck the blankets over Chihiro's shoulders, her eyes widened. Haku's unmistakable fresh mossy scent intermingled with her musky human scent.

"Damn you Haku, you bound yourself to her?" Rin muttered under her breath, "you bound yourself to a human?"

Before the bleeding sun took its leave, Haku rose and stealthily slipped into his room. He didn't want to raise any suspicion, especially in the bathhouse, where word spread fast and gossips are rampant. Hoping that no one caught him sleeping in the boiler room, Haku took on his dragon form and flew up into his room instead. Landing softly on the balcony, he caught Chihiro's scent wafting towards him from the bedroom.

That's something I need to take care of before anyone finds out she's here.

The light curtains billowed in the cold dusk wind. As it fanned apart, it revealed the soft face of a human woman sleeping in his large bed. Haku was caught off guard. He stood at the balcony, just staring at the face he had been missing for the past 16 years.

"Quit ogling and come in!" Rin shushed at the dragon. The spell between him and Chihiro was instantly broken and Haku snapped out of his stupor.

"You have a lot of explaining to do. Like her scent- "

"I know. Keep your voice down!" Haku pressed a finger to his lips.

"She carries your scent Haku! You bound yourself to her? You can't just hide her here forever!" Rin threw her hands in frustration and stomped towards the dragon man who suddenly found interest in the linings of his carpet.

Haku lay a tender look at Chihiro and turned his gaze to Rin. He knew the severity of what he had done. Harbouring a human was a serious offence, but what he's done to her at the banks of his river… it could cost both him and Chihiro their very lives.

"Get Zeniba. Ask her to come quickly," Haku muttered under his breath.

"The witch? She gives me the creeps!" Rin cringed.

"Just do as I say," Haku turned away from Rin and sat on the edge of the bed, next to Chihiro.

Rin nodded and walked off. Haku cast a quick spell over the sleeping human. He needed to mask her scent if he wanted to keep her safe but this spell was only temporary.

Chihiro had not moved, not one bit. Although he had managed to keep her alive, he wasn't sure if she was ever going to wake. And if she didn't… Haku decided to keep his mind off the worst possible scenario. He got up and changed into his usual robes. It was white with turquoise trimmings - simple yet regal, the perfect image the master of a bathhouse should have.

As much as he wanted to stay by Chihiro's side, sitting by the futon wasn't going to help at all. Quietly, he headed to his work area and closed his bedroom door behind him. Lighting a cigar, Haku sat at his desk and smoked as he tackled the stack of paperwork before him.

As he got to work, he tried to forget about the human girl lying in his bed. He signed off letters and checked the accounts but it was as though his hands were moving on their own, his mind elsewhere. The moment he found Chihiro lying at his banks he knew he was done for. He couldn't bring himself to leave her and let her soul float away but neither could he bring himself to finish her himself.

He loved her. He longed for her. And it was exactly this deep longing that brought him to the mess he's created. The only person who knew enough magic to give him counsel was Zeniba. Just then, his scattered thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. Haku rose from his seat and transported towards the door in a second, the gust of wind caused a few pieces papers to float to the ground.

"Zen-" He slid open the door, expecting the witch but cut himself short when he saw Aogeru, the frog spirit, before him.

"Aogeru," he straightened. Aogeru looked slightly shell shocked to see his master open the door so suddenly but recovered quickly enough.

"Master Haku, I hope I wasn't intruding," he bowed, "Lady Kaeda, the angelfish spirit of the South, has arrived."

"I see," Haku nodded. The angelfish spirit was an important guest. "Give her a room on the 8th level. The one facing the sea. She enjoys a view. And send 3 of our best Yunas to draw her a bath."

Aogeru spoke nothing. He remained still and an awkward moment passed. "We've already made these arrangements," he started, "but she said she wasn't in the mood…"

Haku raised a brow at the stuttering frog.

"Lady Kaeda asked of your service," Aogeru cast a quick glance upwards at the bathhouse master who was towering above him before lowering his eyes to his feet.

Haku knew what that meant. A moment passed before Haku replied, "very well. Let her know I will be there in a minute." Haku slid the door shut and took a deep breath. He took one last glance at the little human lying in his bed. He didn't mind entertaining his guests, especially distinguished guests who were important business partners. As the master of the bathhouse, it was part of his duties. What he hated was performing unique services for some of his female guests. But, that too, was part of his duties. Haku was a powerful spirit and the master of one of the greatest bathhouse in all of the Spirit World but more often than not, he found his hands tied. He needed to do what he had to do. Straightening his robe, Haku slid out of the room quietly without waking the human girl.

It was 9 in the evening and the busyness of the bathhouse was in full swing. Spirits were busy at their stations, serving other spirits in need of cleansing. As Haku stepped out of the elevator at the 8th floor, he caught a plump catfish spirit balancing two trays of dirty dishes on her fins. One glance and he knew those were from the guest on the 8th floor.

"Master Haku," his workers greeted him and he gave them a slight nod as he swiftly walked down the corridor. Making a right turn at the corner, Haku knocked on door 858 and heard soft footsteps approaching.

"Kohaku, it's so nice to see you." Kaeda cooed as she slid the door open. Stepping in quickly and sliding the door closed behind him, Haku turned around and found himself a mere inch away from the lady.

A short moment of silence passed between the two and Kaeda let her robe fall to the ground, revealing her bare, naked body. Her eyes never left Haku's and he looked upon her ravishing face, expressionless.

"It's always an honour to have you with us," Haku's smooth tenor voice chimed. "Shall we begin?" He asked and motioned her towards the massage table.