Chapter Three

Months passed after that. Yubabba didn't bother me or Sen. Sen was getting thinner though, and that bothered me. No matter how many magical things I made her eat, she kept growing thinner. Her time in my world was taking it's toll on her. She did her work without complaint, and kept me company in the daytime hours, when she couldn't sleep. I worried about her though. I tried not to show it. Lin commented on it too, while we were talking in one of our very few social talks. Things got interesting on the eve of her anniversary of coming. She came to my office, wearing the clothes I'd found her in.

"Haku, if I've been counting right, tomorrow, it'll be a whole year since I came here."

I nodded, and gestured for her to sit down. "Why are you wearing those? You know it's forbidden."

"I know, but I thought I would celebrate by leaving tomorrow."

"What? Sen, we've been over this. You can't get across the bridge without someone's help."

"But Hak-Master Haku, you said you would get me home. It'll be a whole year."

"Well, things have changed, Sen. I have changed my mind. You're one of my best workers. More importantly, you're my best friend. I can't let you leave now."

"What?! Haku, you promised! You can't break a promise! You'd be lying to Mommy!"

I hadn't been ready for that reaction. I stood up fast, and glared at her. "You're thinning, Sen! Haven't you noticed? Don't you ever look in the mirrors? You're see-through!" I held up a mirror for her to look.

She gasped, before bursting into tears. "How did this happen?! Was this your doing, Haku? I hate you!"

I swallowed hard. "Please don't cry, Sen." I knelt beside her chair, and cupped her chin in my hand. "I'm going to try and fix this, I promise."

"I don't believe you anymore. You said you were going to let me go home. You promised." She choked on her tears, burying her face in her hands.

I sighed, and hung my head ,returning to my chair behind the desk. I answered her coldly. "Fine. Get back to work, Sen. I better not catch you in those clothes again. Get going!"

She looked up at me, a mixture of shock and hurt on her face. "Yes, Master Haku." She swallowed again, and wiped her eyes, before walking out.

Later, when I made my rounds, I found Sen and Lin in their usual station. "Sen, I want to talk to you. About earlier." I stepped outside, and waited for her.

"Yes, Master Haku?"

"Sen, I'm sorry about what I said this morning. I was just disappointed that after this time you still wanted to go home. I thought you were happy here. I like having you around. "

"I like being around you too, Haku, but Mommy must consider me dead by now, and I'm not."

"I know. Listen, Sen. I've thought about how I can still get you home tomorrow. But you're going to have to trust me, okay?" I looked up at her, hoping she would trust me as she had all these months.

"Okay." She looked troubled. "Haku? What can I do about the see-through thing? I can't go back to Mommy and Tiffy like this."

I laughed softly, and handed her a loaf of bread from under my cloak. "Take a slice of this after every meal. It will restore you. Don't let the other girls have it."

"Okay. Thank you, Haku." She took it, and put half of it in each pocket. As she turned to return to her work, she looked back at me. "What's your plan?"

"Wait and see,Sen. Go back to work." As she left, I walked up the stairs to Yubabba's. Just this once, I would have to get the woman involved with Sen's affairs.