A/N: Yes, another part of the story is complete. I hope you read and enjoy.


Chapter Nine: Invitation

Chihiro stood in the shower, her face buried in the bent arm against the wall. The hot water rushed along her body. Part of her thought she should have made it a cold shower. She definitely needed one. Heh.

'Why did I chicken out? I'm so stupid...' she berated herself

She sighed heavily, moving her face into the spraying water. It felt good against her skin. Not as good as a kiss would have been, but she couldn't really be choosey, could she? The kiss wasn't going to happen. The chance had passed.

Grumbling, she reached for the shower poof and put a generous amount of raspberry-scented body wash on it. Immediately, she began to work up the body wash into a foaming lather on her skin. While she worked, she hummed softly to herself.

The bathroom door opened then shut. Chihiro stopped bathing for a moment wondering who it was.

'No doubt it's Mom. Probably bringing extra towels.'

She nodded to herself then started back up again, complete with song.

"What song is that? It's beautiful." A male's voice asked from the other side of the glass sliding door of the shower.

"What? Oh, it's..." her words tapered off, realizing that the voice belonged to...

Haku pulled the door to the shower open and stared at her intensely. Chihiro screeched in surprise, embarrassed. She tried to cover up everything, hide herself away from those prying green eyes. He started chuckling as she did. Of course, the chuckling angered her. In retaliation, she tossed her green poof at his face, which he gracefully caught before contact. Chihiro huffed, crossed her arms, and turned away from him.

He didn't take the hint, obviously. Oh no. Instead, he climbed in the shower with her, wearing nothing but the grey sweat-pants he sported earlier. She gasped as he turned her around with strong hands, then backed her up against the tiled wall. He held her body up with his own so they were at eye level. She was too shocked to say or do anything. Instead, all she could do was stare into those emerald eyes with confusion.

"Mind if I join you?" he asked

"A little late to ask." She said without thinking.

He smiled at her, pressing himself against her more. A small, moan passed her lips. Hearing the sound from her mouth caused her to blush. His face moved closer to hers, pressing his forehead to hers. There was something familiar about the touch. For some reason, it made her misty.

"What's wrong?" his voice was soft and sweet, full of caring and gentleness. As he questioned her, he reached down her body to her legs, pulling them apart then wrapping them around her waist.

Their new position distracted her to the point she could barely speak.

"I-I don't know. I felt something a-and--"

His nose nuzzled against hers while his hands ran up the sides of her torso. The sensation of his hands on her skin gave her goose-bumps and caused her to shiver.

"And?" he asked after kissing her chin

'Oh, wow' she thought. This was worse than earlier. He needed to kiss her and he needed to kiss her now.

"A-and you make me feel something..."

He stopped kissing her neck to hold his face before hers.

"What do you want, Chihiro?"

"I want...I want you to kiss me." She said

He smiled again, moved forward, pressing his mouth on hers. And she nearly fainted. It was like having every wish she'd ever had fulfilled in one touch, with one taste. It was like kissing a spring, pure and sweet, warmed from the sun. Each moment outdid the last as he started to deepen the union. Another moan spilled from her mouth to his. His body responded with a gentle push toward her, toward the center of her.

When he pulled back, she thought she might cry. She wanted his mouth on hers so desperately.

"Chihiro..." he whispered with a hint of ache in his voice.

She whimpered at the way he said her voice.

"Chihiro..." he said again.

"Chihiro! Are you even listening to me?"

Her mother's voice snapped her out of the delicious fantasy. Chihiro yelped then slipped in the tub, falling hard on her bottom.

"Ouch..." she groaned.

Chihiro's mother opened the shower quickly, looking down at her daughter.

"What is your problem today, Chihiro?"

Chihiro sighed.

"I'm fine, Mom, just caught off guard a little." She admitted.

"Are you sure? You're all red. Do you have a fever? Would you like to take some medicine?"

"No, Mom, I'm fine!" she said agitatedly then closed the shower.

"Fine, see if ever make sure that no bones are broken or that you haven't come down with something awful ever again." Her mother said in a haughty voice, "Anyway, I was reminding you that your 'welcome home' party is tonight."

"Party?"

"Yes, party. We've been planning it since you told us you were coming for a visit. I told you on the phone when you call. I swear, child, if your head wasn't attached to your neck..." Her mother muttered as she walked out of the bathroom.

Chihiro stood up in the shower, finally, with a heavy sigh. A party? She didn't want a party. She just wanted to spend time with Haku...

Memories of her very elaborate fantasy surfaced. She reached over and turned the water as cold as she could get it.

"YAAH!" she yelped, loud enough for most of the house to hear.



A/N: You people don't know how tempted I was just to leave it at this for now, but I couldn't leave it as all smut and no substance. So, for your reading enjoyment, here's the REAL chapter.

REAL Chapter Nine: Invitation

Chihiro dressed for the day, still rather annoyed that there was a party tonight in her honor. Right now was just a bad time. She just wanted to spend some time with Haku. But no. Now she had to be surrounded by all her parents' friends as they fawn over her because she was the big famous author.

There was no way out of it, so she decided not to make a big deal. No, that wasn't true. Inside she was fuming, but on the outside, she tried to keep herself calm. She couldn't get too angry. She could humor her parents for a night. They honestly didn't ask for much.

"Chihiro! Mr. Kohaku! Breakfast." Mrs. Ogina called from the kitchen.

Chihiro stepped out of her room, just as Haku had. The pair stared for a moment–just stared. She suddenly felt awkward as he watched her. That fantasy earlier stuck with her. The sensations had been so real. The emotion that ran through her made her breathless even now.

I feel like I've been waiting for you so long. Why do I feel this way? Why did you come to me just to leave? It's so impossible. These thoughts and feelings. It's like they don't belong to me. Just like you don't belong to me. What have you done to me, Kohaku?

She wanted to yell her words to him. Instead, she just kept an eye on him. Right now, he was in the role–her boss. His eyes, which she had become used to being bright and kind, were now a deep emerald. It gave her a shiver. He was someone else when he was like that.

Unable to stay in the silence, Chihiro headed down the stairs without a word. She felt Haku's eyes burning her, watching her leave.

It took a few moments for Haku to follow. He watched as she nervously headed down the stairs. Yes, he'd gone too far. That was the only thing that could explain the haunted look on her face.

He hadn't realized that he'd stopped breathing until she disappeared from the hall. Now that she was gone, he sucked in a long breath with closed eyes. His usual sturdy and perfect posture faltered a bit.

Oh, Chihiro, it was never my intent to make you uncomfortable. I did not want this. I do not know what I want. I just wanted your companionship once more. But this bond I feel now, this driving force inside of me, is asking for more than your friendship. How can I long for more when I have little time left? You call to me like the sea, yet I'll never set foot on the sands.

It was killing him.

He needed to stop bellyaching. There was no reason he couldn't salvage their friendship. He would apologize for his crude behavior, make her understand that all he wanted was her companionship. Infatuations were simply that. Haku might not be human, but he was a man. It was natural to be drawn to a beauty such as Chihiro.

He waited long enough. No doubt the family was wondering where he was and was waiting for him to join the table. Faking confidence, he headed down to the breakfast table.


Most of the meal, Chihiro kept her head down, looking into her plate. No one spoke to her for the most part. At one point her father asked about her book, which she murmured a response. The rest of the conversation focused on Haku. Her parents questioned him on many things, all of which he skillfully answered.

For a time, she stopped paying attention. Her mind wandered to her story. Haku was in the Princess' world, confused and lost...worst of all, scared. Princess Sen was trying to keep him safe, unlike before where he'd been the one doing the safe keeping. The King and Queen questioned him as though interrogating him, which irritated the poor dragon boy, but he took it in stride. Very much like this Haku at the kitchen table.

"I'd very much like to attend the party. Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Ogina." Haku said

That caught her attention. She looked up, right into Haku's eyes. Nervously she turned her face to her parents, who were also watching her.

"What?" Everyone was looking at her!

"Oh, nothing Chihiro." Her father said, "We were just talking about you."

Her eyes went wide as her usually rosy cheeks went positively crimson.

"Are you sure you're feeling well, Chihiro? You've been overly red today. I think you should take some aspirin, just in case you're coming down with a fever." Her mother said, full of anxious concern.

"Mom, I already told you, I'm fine." She couldn't disguise the exasperation in her voice.

Haku said nothing. She could still feel his eyes locked on her. It wasn't helping her get rid of the flushness in her face.

"I'd be honored if you save a dance for me, Chihiro." He said

Her face turned to his. The thought of being in his arms, twirled around a dance floor made the party seem infinitely more appealing. There was a space of silence, table wide as she kept her eyes on him.

"Well, Chihiro," her mother's voice rudely interrupted, "Don't keep the man waiting. What do you say?"

"I-I...Yes, okay, a dance sounds good."

Haku smiled for just a second. One of those warm smiles that she found herself falling for the more she saw them.

Conversations started again. Chihiro's parents pulled Haku's attention away again with stories and questions, which was fine. Her mind played a scene of Haku twirling her around, holding her close to him as beautiful music swelled in the background. She saw herself clinging to him, molded against him, as her face tilted to his, watching him closely. The entire world melted away...

Excitement began pooling inside of her. She couldn't wait for that dance.

Then, a very obvious realization hit her. She liked Haku. Even though they'd only known each other a short while–well, in her opinion since he thought otherwise–she already liked him. Too bad he was leaving in a few days. In time she would have...

She shook the thought away.

"I'm finished with breakfast. I'm going to go figure out what I'm going to wear, tonight, then work on my novel."

She stood up from the table, too jittery to stick around for now.


Haku watched her go with a soft sigh. Her parents were talking him about nonsense, while he rather spend time with Chihiro alone. Of course, that wouldn't be appropriate, especially with his emotions running as high as they were. The idea of dancing with her made his heart pound. For a moment, he thought she felt the same.

He needed to be free of these feelings. They were getting the best of him.

If there had been more time, he could have explored these emotions. Just two days left.

eds