Chapter 10: The Other Side

Chihiro dangled her legs at the edge of the balcony in her dorm. The moon hadn't been making an appearance in a while and the vast endless sea was a still sheet of darkness illuminated by passing ships. From up here, she could see the bridge leading to the bathhouse lined with spirits queueing to enter and the town beyond was bejewelled with orange lanterns.

The yunas were still busy entertaining guests and Rin had let Chihiro off early. Sitting alone with her own thoughts, Chihiro recalled the strange events earlier that evening. Rin had ran out of the elevator panting, a look of panic spread across her face. Why? Chihiro pursed her lips. She knew Rin cared deeply for her but she had an inkling that she was kept in the dark about something important. But what?

"Ugh!" Chihiro stood up hastily, feeling frustrated at… at… "If only I knew where I came from, originally! M-maybe I'll have a home to return to…" She sighed and decided to head to bed early. As she turned to walk away, she spotted a river on the other side of the bathhouse, at the edge of the town. A clocktower stood at the other side and Chihiro found herself entranced. She couldn't look away as a sudden urge to go over there rose in her chest.

Leave. Chihiro felt her heart rate pick up and an unexplainable urge to escape surged within her. Leave. Immediately. The words echoed in her mind and it felt as though her chest was about to explode. In an instant, she sprinted out of the room and ran down stairs. She ran, and she ran fast.

"Hey, watch it!" A guest yelled, but Chihiro paid no heed. Weaving through the crowd in the bathhouse, Chihiro made it out the front door passing strange faces and towering figures. Her vision was a blur and she didn't know where she was going but somehow, her legs knew where to turn. Running across the bridge, Chihiro cut through the town. She skided past food stalls and ran through shadows.

"Little one, some food? Want some food?"

"Over here, over here…" Faceless beings at the market called out to her. Their hollow voices seemed to echo around her. Chihiro's mind was screaming, telling her to halt, to return back to the bathhouse. But her body wasn't listening and her heart was yearning for answers to… to… what?

"Ah!" Stumbling forward, Chihiro found herself running knee deep into the river, splashing about water as surged forward. Her heart pushed her to go further, to the other side but a quiet, small voice held her back. I can't swim well. In an instant, the strong desire in her heart started to fall away. Looking about her, she found herself already waist deep in the waters.

"You shouldn't be here, Chihiro," a tenor voice called out firmly behind. Spinning around, Chihiro saw Haku walking steadily towards her, leaving behind a trail of petals that danced and disappeared into the night sky. For a few moments, the two simply stared at each other, not speaking. And the world seemed to fade far away into a distance behind them.

Haku's eyes never strayed from Chihiro's. Her short, cropped hair was a mess and her eyes were red. He recalled the painful feelings of loss and longing he felt from her and knew that this image of her, waist deep in the river, would be burned in his memory for a long time. He'd never intended for her to feel… like this.

"Chihiro, why are you in the river?" He tried to maintain his composure but he couldn't hide the quiver in his voice.

"M…master Haku?" Chihiro muttered under her breath, finally mustering the courage to speak. "I… I need to go to the other side, do you know how I can get there?" Her voice quivered.

A moment passed and Haku's forehead creased in a deep frown. "Chihiro…" He breathed shakily, "you can't just leave without telling me."

"I… I… I don't know,"Chihiro stammered, trying to justify herself. She looked about her and realised how silly she must seem, standing in the river, waist deep. The night wind played with her cropped hair, covering her face. Slowly heading back on shore, Chihiro tried to tuck her stray hair behind her ears, in a futile effort to look more presentable.

"Sorry master Haku, I was out of line," she managed shakily beneath her breath as she approached Haku, "I didn't mean to run away from the bathhouse. I hope you-" Suddenly, a pair of cool hands held her face firmly and drew her gaze upwards.

Staring into Haku's eyes, Chihiro's heart skipped a beat. There it was again, those conflicting emotions she felt every time she was near him. He was just an inch away from her and those emerald eyes were intense. She was as captivated as she was afraid of him. She wanted to flee but couldn't bring herself to look away. Sensing her fear and confusion, the fire in Haku's eyes cooled. His gaze softened as he thumbed away her tears.

"Don't cry, silly," he whispered endearingly. He wanted to draw her into his arms, take away the confusion and tell her… tell her… I love you. But he couldn't do that, not here, out in the open. Standing so close to her, Haku could hear Chihiro's uneven breath and feel the humanness about her.

As Haku held the girl, he couldn't help but recall his conversation with Kenta. "You've crossed paths with a human…Join us. And end this stupid conflict. End them." The wind spirit's voice rang loudly in his head. Images of losing Chihiro — blowing her cover and being seized by the palace — filled his mind. Letting go of her reluctantly, Haku stepped back and pulled out a small stack of origami papers from his sleeve.

"Here," He handed it to her, "next time you have the urge to come back here, take this with you." Chihiro turned her attention to the papers in Haku's hands. Her face marred with unending questions.

"If you feel the urge to come here again, write letters to the clock tower. It's good to pen down how you feel," Haku explained. "Fold it into a paper boat and send your thoughts over. I promise it will make you feel better," he pushed the papers into her hands. Chihiro nodded dumbly as she looked upon the origami papers with curiosity.

Sensing that Chihiro needed some time alone, Haku decided that it was better if he returned to the bathhouse first. "Let's meet for tea sometime this week," he said kindly, laying a hand gently on her shoulder, "don't worry, I just want to know how you've been feeling working at the bathhouse."

"Don't stay here too long." He turned around and returned to the bathhouse.

"Thank you, master Haku," Chihiro whispered beneath her breath as she watched Haku's figure disappear into the distance. A warm feeling rose in her chest and for the first time since she had woken up in this strange place, she felt calm.

The bathhouse, like the rest of the spirit world, fell asleep when night transitioned to day. Tubs were scrubbed, service bells stopped ringing, and even the yunas were fast asleep in the dorm — or sometimes, in the arms of a wealthy guest. Even as the bustle of bathhouse quietened, one person always slept the last — Kamaji, the eight-limbed boiler man.

Having eight limbs had its advantages. There was no need to move around, everything was within reach. And right now, after stoking fires for the evening, he wanted nothing more than a good dose of sake. Reaching one of his arms behind him, Kamaji opened a drawer right at the top and pulled out a glass bottle. His humble fingers uncorked the bottle with a flick. Throwing his head backwards, the boiler man took a swig of his well-deserved treat.

"Drinking in the morning?" A voice called from the door.

"Why do you care eh, dragon boy?" Kamaji replied toothily before taking another swig, "want to join me?" A smile tugged at the corner of Haku's lips as he grabbed the bottle from Kamaji. There were only two people at the bathhouse he could be himself with — Rin and the old boiler man.

"Well you look like death warmed up, what happened?" Kamaji questioned.

"The usual. Guests. Damned Prince of the North. Damned ladies… and their damned special requests," Haku rolled his eyes.

"I would imagine most males would kill to do your job,"Kamaji smiled wryly at his employer, "you get to massage beautiful females from all the lands and then you get paid for it."

"Am I a master of a bathhouse or a common whore to you, Kamaji?" Haku scoffed.

At that, Kamaji guffawed and spat out a mouthful of sake. Haku chuckled to himself, laughing at his own expense. It felt good to drink with someone who didn't want favours from him for a change. A comfortable silence followed and both men took in the moment of solace one rarely found at a bustling, gossip-filled bathhouse.

"That's not what brings you're here, though," Kamaji's coarse voice interrupted the quiet. "Is it Chihiro?"

Haku nodded, not speaking a word. "I felt a wave of sadness and then a deep sense of longing from her. I thought she was in trouble," he took a swig of Sake before continuing. "You know what's the worst part? When this happens I sometimes can't tell apart her feelings from my own."

Kamaji stared into the fire without saying a word. Sometimes there was no need to, and he knew this was one of those times.

"I was all over the bathhouse looking for her. Couldn't find her in the dorms. Couldn't find her anywhere," Haku whispered, shuddering at the experience, "and then, finally… I caught her at the river. Scared me half to death."

"Haku, you know what's happening don't you?" Kamaji finally spoke up. "It's the other side. Her subconscious is missing home, Haku."

"I know, I know…" Haku covered his face with his hands in frustration.

"Why are you keeping her here like this, boy?" Kamaji's coarse voice, "what happened?"

Haku took a long pause and struggled to find the right words to answer Kamaji's question. Light was blaring through the windows and not a single spirit was awake at this hour. Turning to look intently at Kamaji, Haku decided on the safest form of communication and thought at the old boiler man.

I bonded myself to her. Sort of.

"What do you mean sort of, kid? You either did or you didn't." Kamaji's eyes narrowed at Haku.

It's complicated.

Communicating through thoughts required focus and deep concentration. While most spirits can receive thoughts easily, only spirits skilled in magic can send thoughts across. Taking a deep breath, Haku dug deep and revealed his bond with Chihiro here for the first time.

I found her… at my banks. She was unconscious and her life force was fading fast. I … I couldn't help it, I can't bear to watch her die. Not at my banks. So… I committed taboo. A part of my soul was forcibly planted in her to make up for her fading life force.

Closing his eyes, Haku took a short pause before continuing.

Since she technically didn't accept my essence in her, she's not fully spirit and neither is she fully human. Going back… there will be complications.

"Have you told her?" Kamaji whispered.

Haku shook his head. I don't know where to begin. She can't remember anything about herself when she woke up. She doesn't even know she isn't from this realm. Explaining will be difficult… and dangerous. Silence followed as Kamaji took time to take it all in.

"I haven't told anyone, not even Zeniba," Haku spoke up.

"You're threading on thin ice, Haku," Kamaji looked intently at him.

"I owe her my life, Kamaji. More than that, I owe her everything I own today." Haku leaned his head against the wall and closed his eyes. It has been a long, tiring day and he was awash with exhaustion. Just four more hours and the bathhouse would awake again but Haku knew he wouldn't find sleep any time soon. Not after that conversation.

And just then, he felt it. It started as a small spark and the feeling grew in his chest. A warm sense of contentment swelled inside of him and he immediately knew it was from Chihiro. For once, Chihiro was having strong, pleasant emotions.

I just want you to be happy, Chihiro. I'll find a way to work something out, please give me some time…

Just like that, the simplest sense of contentment from Chihiro had melted all his anxieties away. Haku scooted lower and rolled onto his side, lying on the floor. Before long, the master of the bathhouse dozed off, sleeping in a corner of the boiler room just as he did 16 years ago.

Chihiro. Chihiro.

There it was again. The vast expanse of blue. It's been so busy the past two weeks at the bathhouse and Chihiro had almost forgotten about this dream. All at once, floating in this body of blue felt familiar and strangely comforting.

I just want you to be happy, Chihiro.

"Who are you?" Chihiro wondered aloud.

I'll find a way to work something out, please give me some time…

"No, please don't go," Chihiro reached her hands out as the blue gradually turned dark at the corners of her vision. "Come back!" In an instant, Chihiro bolted upright and her eyes shot open. The daytime light was blinding and she tried to adjust to her surroundings. Looking about her curiously, she realised that she had fallen asleep at the banks of the river. Except, the river wasn't there anymore. What used to be a river is now a vast plain and a tall, red tower stood at the other end.

The spirit world looked completely different in daytime. It was all very beautiful and Chihiro realised that it was the first time she had been up at such an ungodly hour. It was nice, though, getting to see this beautiful world in the daylight. Although it did feel a little lonely, since everyone was asleep. A sense of curiosity rose within her and Chihiro contemplated crossing the plane to the other side. Just as she stood up, Haku's worried look immediately came to mind and she had a nagging feeling that if she had crossed over the plain, he wouldn't be happy about it. She decided that it was better to ask her boss about the river and the alluring red clock tower.

Chihiro made her way back into the bathhouse. Her mind was preoccupied with thoughts about the river, her dream, and quite strangely, Master Haku. Although she had only been in the bathhouse for a short while, it's funny how she instinctively knew her way around. She pulled the lever of the elevator and pressed the floor to the dorm. All the way up, Chihiro couldn't keep the memory of Haku out of her mind. The way his cool hands felt against her cheeks, or just the way he looked at her… it was always as if he had something to say to her and she couldn't help but be drawn to him.

The elevator stopped with a bing and Chihiro stepped out, smiling to herself. She didn't know much about master Haku but somehow, she trusted him with all her heart. something about Master Haku made her feel so… perfectly safe. A warm sense of comfort rose in her chest and for the first time since she had awoken, Chihiro felt contented and comforted.

"You know, you do owe me a favour," a smooth, familiar voice called from behind her.

Spinning around, Chihiro looked to the source of the voice and recognised the spirit immediately. It was the guest she had bumped into last week. She felt her face turn warm, flushed with embarrassment.

"I saved you from that lecherous toad, didn't I?" Kenta raised a brow at Chihiro.

"I… I…" Chihiro stammered. The comforting feelings she had immediately dissipated into thin air. "How can I repay your kindness, sir?" She bowed lowly.

A long pause passed between the two and Chihiro was staring at her feet, awaiting the guest's reply. Finally, he spoke up.

"Draw me a bath," Kenta smirked.