Chapter Three: Good Morning?
Sunlight poured into the bedroom. The warmth of the light spread across Chihiro's face. She looked almost angelic
She moaned softly, the sun rousing her from her rest. Her eyes fluttered open then squinted at the brightness directly in her line of sight. Using the back of her hand, she rubbed her still sleepy eyes, forcing them to wake up to the new day.
Sighing, she sat up in the bed, blinking hard a couple of times. Chihiro looked down at her clothes. It had been a long time since she'd fallen asleep in her clothes, but apparently last night...
Last night!
Chihiro gasped. Had it all been a weird dream? That would explain it.
Yes, a dream, it had to have been a dream. That was too unreal to be anything else. She rationalized.
She stood up from the bed for a full-bodied stretch. Her arms reached toward the ceiling, each finger parted wide. Chihiro stood on her tiptoes as her muscles gently stretched underneath her skin.
"Good morning, Chihiro." Haku said from the desk
The girl yelped in surprise, covering her mouth to keep in the mounting scream. She turned around to Haku who looked equally as shocked. After a couple of gasps, she found her ability to talk again.
"You...uhm...Morning?" she said finally
Then there was a knock on the door.
"Chihiro, dear?" Her mother said from the other side of the thankfully locked door. "Everything alright?" the knob jiggled a couple of times.
"Yeah, Mom, I'm fine!"
Even Chihiro heard the falseness in her words. She ran over to Haku, grabbing his arm.
"Get in the closet!" she said in a yelling whisper
"Why would I need to--?" he began to ask, but she had already pulled him to his feet
She dragged him over to the closet. After opening the door, she hastily pushed him inside, then slammed the door shut. Quickly, she opened the door for her mother.
"Morning, Mom!"
"Chihiro, are you sure you're okay? I thought I heard you scream."
You heard THAT, but not my screams last night? she huffed in her mind. Out loud, she simply said "Oh, uh...I was just stretching"
"Alright, dear. Well, your father and I already ate breakfast. I'm about to head to the market place. Would you like to join me?"
"Oh, no. I think I'm going to begin writing today."
"Good for you. Your father's at work and I'll be gone for a few hours, so you should have some peace and quiet for a while. See you soon."
Chihiro watched her mom as she headed down the hall. She waved to the older woman, then shut and locked the door behind her. She rested against the door while she exhaled deeply.
"Thank goodness for small miracles..." she whispered.
She moved back to the closet to let Haku out. When she opened the door, he still had a look of confusion on his face.
"Sorry about that." She said softly
"It's alright. I understand...I think." Haku said as he walked out of the closet
Chihiro kept a close eye on the young man while he walked over to the bed. As he took a seat, she closed her eyes tightly. She squeezed the bridge of her nose with one hand and placed the other on her hip. After a moment and a deep sigh, she stared at him again. His emerald gaze met hers.
"I thought it was just a dream."
"No, I am as real as you are."
He held out a hand, palm facing her. Instinctively, she brought a hand up to his. Moving slowly, she pressed her fingertips in his hand. Haku slid his hand down hers to intertwine them. His long fingers tangled themselves in Chihiro's.
She gasped audibly. Her entire stomach felt as though it had fallen away. It was like suddenly free falling in the sky and the only thing keeping her safe was Haku's strong hand. Something flashed before her eyes--a blurred vision of a young boy and a dark night sky. Had it been a vision of some sort? Maybe a memory? Whatever it was, it made Chihiro tense up in fear.
She pulled away from his hand and took a step back. Haku lowered his hand.
"Well," she said after clearing her throat, "Are you hungry?"
He nodded slightly.
"Very." He said
"I'll make us some breakfast."
The pair went to the kitchen. Haku leaned against the counter as Chihiro began cooking in silence. As fast as she could, she whipped up some steamed rice, miso soup, and a little natto. After completing the meal, she placed the food on the table. Haku moved to sit at the table, across from where Chihiro decided to sit.
"So..." she said at a loss for what to say
"Yes?" he said before placing some rice in his mouth
"Uh...from the Spirit world, right?"
"Not exactly, but that's where I've been staying."
"And we know each other. I just don't remember"
"You never forget meeting someone, you just don't recall right away."
She blinked a few times. She used that line in the second book of "Her White Dragon."
"Yeah...I guess so," she said, then paused, "How...did we meet?"
Haku looked off thoughtfully for a moment. A small smile spread across his lips.
"We met on a bridge. You and your family wandered into the Spirit World. They decided to eat at a restaurant, but you walked off alone. You wound up on the bridge to Yababa's bathhouse. I had just arrived back from a mission and I spotted this little girl. I could tell she didn't belong."
"Me, right?"
"Yes. I came over to you to get a closer look. For a brief second, you looked very familiar to me, but there was no time for me to find out. I told you to run, to leave before it got dark. Sadly, you and your parents didn't make it in time, and you were stuck in the Spirit World for a few days."
"That's...unbelievable..."
"It's the truth, Chihiro, even if you don't recall right now."
"I don't think I want to recall."
They finished their meal, Chihiro cleared off the table, more or less to ignore Haku's words. If she began to believe him, she'd be as crazy as he was. If she just went along with him for five days and he left, there would be no problem. He would feel as though he'd done what he needed, then move on his way. So, for now, she'd deal with a crazy man. Time she SHOULD be using to write her final book.
She looked back at Haku.
"We need to find you something to wear."
"What is wrong with my clothes?"
"If you're going to be here for a few days, you should dress like everyone else."
"If that's what you think, then I suppose I should."
She sighed. Her father was the only male in the house and he was a big man at that. Haku would never be able to fit into his clothing. She thought on it for a moment, then remembered her cousin visited a few years ago and had accidentally left some clothes behind. It wouldn't be enough for five days, but it would work for a trip to the mall.
"Haku, why don't you go ahead and jump in the shower. I'll bring you some clothes."
"Alright."
Haku stood and headed up the stairs. Chihiro went into the laundry room in a tiny offshoot from the kitchen. She hoped her mom kept her cousin's clothes around. After fifteen minutes of searching, she found them under a stack of old newspapers.
"That's odd, but I guess I can't complain." She said to herself as she lifted the papers to grab the jeans and tee-shirt.
She went up the stairs, still in a state of confusion and shock. This whole situation baffled her. She couldn't figure out how she got herself involved with a person like Haku. Being so lost in thought, she hadn't realized that Haku stood outside the bathroom door, wet and wearing nothing, but a towel.
"Haku, I have your--" she yelled, but seeing Haku caused her voice to trail off.
Chihiro hadn't really looked at the man up till that point. Now she saw almost all of him. He was well-built: toned, but not overly muscular without a trace of hair other than on his head. His dark, shoulder length hair practically gleamed as the water from his shower dripped from the ends and down his shoulders. He held his head proud, his posture was absolutely perfect. And his face had nearly feminine qualities, but was still undeniably male.
She stood in shocked silence while he didn't seem phased. He cleared his throat once, bringing her back to reality with a massive flush on her face.
"Here's your clothes!" She exclaimed needlessly as she bowed in an apologetic manner, "this is all we have right now, but we'll go to the mall!"
"Thank you, Chihiro."
Haku took the clothes and held them in his hand. He kept a stern look, but inside he chuckled. She seemed so easily embarrassed by his nudity. As far as he was concerned, his clothesless flesh was just a chunk of meat.
"You're welcome!" she said as she scurried off to her room
When she went into the room, Chihiro slammed the door shut. Her face felt warm and her heart beat faster than it ever had. She let out a long sigh, then searched through her bags for something to wear.
He stood in the hall a moment longer before turning to the bathroom. What the hell was a mall?
