Kii ducked behind a wall, then watched Haku slip past. He peered out to watch him disappear around a corner, then came away from his hiding place. Tugging his kimono closed, Kii took a better grip on his lute, then hiked up the hem of his garment and bolted in the opposite direction Haku had gone, hoping to get to elevator in time. Dodging startled guests, his bare feet slap-slapping on the wooden floor, Kii staggered to a stop in front of the elevator, shoved a frog out of the way, stepped inside and jerked on the handle without waiting for anyone else to get in.
Kii sighed as the elevator began to ascend, taking the time to smooth down his hair and his kimono, then checked to make sure his lute hadn't been damaged. He knew that Haku rarely took the elevator, that he usually took the stairs or flew as a dragon through the window to his room. Haku didn't seem to have been in any particular hurry, so there was a good chance Kii would make it to his chambers before he did.
It took several elevators to get Kii to the ninth floor, and he stepped out into the hallway just in time to spot Haku coming towards him. Kii slipped into a deep shadow next to a potted fern and grabbed Haku's sleeve as he passed.
Haku turned, startled, then smiled when he saw Kii's face, half-shadowed by the fern. "Surprise," Kii said huskily. "Where are you off to?"
"On… an errand," Haku said cautiously, then, "another one of Yubaba's missions."
Kii took hold of Haku's collar and pulled him closer. "Mmm… again?"
Haku slipped an arm around Kii's waist. "I suppose I could spare an hour or two." He breathed in Kii's rich scent. "As long as you won't tell anyone."
Kii leaned forward to kiss Haku for a long moment, then pulled away and breathed into Haku's still-open mouth. "I wrote you a song."
"Mmm?" Haku's eyes were beginning to look dreamy and clouded; a sure sign that Kii's spell had him under control again.
Taking Haku's hand and leading him gently down the hallway to his chambers, Kii murmured, "Let me play it for you." Once inside the room, he bade Haku sit down, folded his legs elegantly under himself and readied his lute, then struck a single, high note. Haku closed his eyes and lay back on his futon with a sigh; Kii began to sing.
Several hours later, Kii looked out at the starry sky and smiled as Haku slept peacefully next to him. It was late; Lin would have given up waiting for Haku by now. With a satisfied smirk, Kii rose to his feet, dressed, picked up his lute and left the room.
Kii took his time walking down the stairs to the fifth floor; he was in no hurry. Haku would sleep for hours yet, and even then, he was unlikely to make another appointment with Lin. As if the meddling little fox could find out anything anyway, Kii thought to himself smugly. He reached the tall, ornate door and slipped inside without bothering to knock.
There was the garden with the lotus-filled pond, just as Haku had seen; however this time there was a tall, raven-haired woman standing at the edge of the pond, staring at Kii. Her face was as pale as the moon, her expression warm and serene. Her eyes were the color of thunderclouds, and she was wearing a gray kimono.
"Kii," she said simply.
Kii left his lute by the doorway and went to stand closer to the woman in gray. "You are in no danger. I've taken care of things."
"You stink of him," the Lady said, in the same even tone. Kii did not reply. "Bathe in the pond," she suggested, gesturing with one graceful hand.
Kii backed a safe distance away. "I'll not, thank you. If you don't need anything else, I'll be going." He turned to leave.
"Kii," the Lady said again; her voice was ever so slightly sterner.
Kii checked in the doorway, but did not turn around. "Yes?"
"If you love him, you may let him go. I do not mind."
Kii clenched his fists, tightening his grip on his lute. One of the strings snapped and left a thin line of blood on Kii's hand; he ignored it. "Love him? What a ridiculous idea."
