Chapter Ten: A Party

Time passed so slowly when waiting for something. Haku tried to meditate, but his impatience kept him from his inner calm. The hours droned on as his mind showed him images of Chihiro in his arms, dancing close together.

Eventually, it was just a half hour before they were to leave. Haku dressed in the suit Chihiro gave him and tied his hair back in a short ponytail. He did so cautiously, making sure that nothing looked out of place. Everything had to be perfect.

When he felt ready, he moved to the living room with Chihiro's parents. They both seemed on edge.

"What is taking her so long?" her mother asked, tossing her hands up in the air.

"Patience, love. Patience." Mr. Ogina said

"I hate keeping our guests waiting. We have to get to the hall."

Haku listened to them, but didn't really hear. Instead he kept his eyes on the staircase, waiting for Chihiro to join them. He pictured her in a wide variety of dresses. Anticipation had quite the grip on him because of it.

"Why don't we go on ahead, sweetheart?" Mr. Ogina asked his wife, "That way we can greet the guests."

She considered it for a brief time.

"Sounds like a good plan."

The couple moved to the door, giving Haku a bow.

"If you will excuse us, Mr. Onishi, we will meet you both at the party. Chihiro knows where the hall is." The older woman said before she and her husband walked out of the door.

"Of course." Haku said as they left, then turned his face back to the stairs with eagerness.


Chihiro stood in front of the mirror, smoothing her dress with her hands. She thought she looked good, but her opinion didn't matter. She wasn't dressing like this for her own benefit, honestly.

I wonder what Haku will think of this dress, she wondered. Oh, and my hair.

She played with one of the long curling locks between two fingers. They had to get going if they were going to make it on time. No doubt her mother was becoming impatient, and probably rather cross with everyone.

"It's now or never." She said to her reflection with a nod.

With that, she left her room.


Haku heard footsteps approaching. He stood from the couch, keeping the excitement out of his face, though he certainly felt it.

The waiting had paid off. And then some.

She wore a beautiful red dress with spaghetti straps, a tasteful v cut, exposing a touch of cleavage, and a flaring skirt that just touched at the knees. Thanks to some "Teen" magazines he'd found in the guest room, he knew the terminology. Her thick dark brown hair was done in wavy curls that shined, cascading down her back like a luxurious dark river. Two red combs with small roses held her hair at the sides.

"Chihiro . . . " he whispered in awe. She looked like a modern-day goddess

She blushed a little, presenting herself to him once she'd reached the bottom of the stairs.

"Um, do you like it?" she asked

He barely heard her. Instead, his attention focused on her lips. They seemed to be coated with something pale red and shining. For some reason, her mouth was more kissable appearing than before. It almost seemed like an injustice! How could he resist?

"Haku . . . ?"

Haku jumped, then cleared his throat. He busied himself with his hands by straightening out his clothes, hoping she wouldn't notice that he hadn't been paying attention.

"You look . . . " he stopped to find the right word, then smiled when it came to him, "Enchanting."

She blushed almost as red as her dress. He found the flushness endearing. A smile showed as much.

"Thank you, Haku." She looked around the room, "Where's my Mom and Dad?" she asked

He shook at the familiarness of the question. He remembered young Chihiro, lost in the Spirit World, asking that very question. Haku had done everything he could for that little girl and allowed her into his heart. From the first time they met–no, even before–some emotion swelled between them. Both were too young at the time to understand then.

"They went on ahead," Haku responded a little hoarsely, "They asked for us to meet them at the hall. Your mother said you'd know where it is."

Chihiro nodded. "I know where it is."

"Then we should be off."

"Right!"

She started for the door. Something in him told him to stop her. He didn't want to go. Selfishly enough, he didn't want to share her. Not right now. But, he realized how silly that was. There was a party to go to. Instead, he did the only thing he could think of at that very moment.

As she got to the door, Haku moved up beside her. Nervous fingers reached out for her free hand while the other grasped the doorknob. Before she could open it, Haku's hand grasped hers.

Chihiro jumped in surprise, thinking he was stopping her. It took thirty seconds or so for her to realize that he just wanted to hold her hand. That very realization made her heart pound hard, almost hard enough to be seen.

It amazed her how such a simple touch could make her very happy. Just to hold his hand...for him to want to hold her hand...The moment of closeness was almost better than having a kiss. Not that she didn't long for one.

Neither of them moved. They just held hands. However, they had to get going. Still hand in hand, the pair headed out to her car.


It was a tiny little community hall in the middle of the small town. Since the city was distant from any major urban area, this was possibly the ritziest place. Several cars lined the streets. It had to be a fair turnout.

The party was already in full swing when they arrived. Haku escorted her in, which both got a fair amount of curious stares for. For the better part of an hour, guests passed Chihiro around in greeting. They offered advice on her new novel and asked her what was to happen next. Of course, everyone died to know about the handsome young man that escorted her. Her response was simple.

"He's a friend of mine."

Some people seemed disappointed at the news, some, especially old women wanting to match make, were very excited that Chihiro was available. The thought annoyed her to no end.

When she finally broke away, she went to find Haku. It took about five minutes for her to find him, standing by the punch bowl. A few young women stood nearby watching him with giggles. Haku was a handsome man with sharp features, almost in a feminine way. The way he carried himself made him seem so confident, possibly even regal. Chihiro expected girls to find interest in him. For some reason, that made her jealous.

She walked up to him with an apologetic look in her eye. He dismissed it, giving her a warm smile. Instead of saying anything, he grabbed her hand again, which made her stop breathing for a moment from surprise. He gave her hand a squeeze as he led her out to the dance floor, just as a soft slow song began to play.

Haku pulled her into his arms, staring down at her perfect face, into those warm welcoming eyes. The heat between their bodies made him shiver for a moment as though cold. That couldn't have been further from the truth.

She fit with him perfectly, up against his body, as though made to be. They moved in sync. Something in his movements reminded her of the flow of water, slowly trickling down a stream. He was so fluid and graceful.

The look of his eyes was nearly her undoing. Haku stared at her, intensely as always. It felt like he was trying to touch her soul. She wanted him to. She wanted that closeness. More closeness than a simple dance. Not that this dance was simple. It had passionate undertones that Chihiro couldn't deny. It made her push closer to him, though she knew she shouldn't. Haku welcomed it, though, holding her tightly with the arm around her waist.

The song ended, sadly. Haku and Chihiro didn't notice. They didn't notice the crowd that had circled, watching them with amazement. They didn't hear the clapping and cheers the guests gave them for such a beautiful dance. All they saw was each other.

"Haku...?" she whispered as she looked around, "I need to talk to you for a minute."

"Alright. I take it you mean alone?"

She nodded twice, "Yes, there's a garden out back."

"Let's go."

The pair headed toward the back as the guests started going back to the festivities. She led him to the garden area, which was luckily empty except for the flowering trees and bushes.

Chihiro looked up at Haku, unsure of herself. She wanted to be alone with him for a moment. Now she had him out here, under the pretense that she needed to talk to him. And she had nothing. And, as before, she began to panic. She had to say something.

"Did you read today's chapters?" she asked

There was an oddly disappointed look on his face, but he nodded.

"Yes. The story is coming together rather nicely, Chihiro. I'm very proud of you."

She beamed at him. His praise made her feel so happy.

"Really?" she asked, excitedly, "I'm glad you like them, Haku."

"What's not to like? You are extremely talented."

"Thank you!" she said with a bow

Then there was silence. Haku and Chihiro stared at each other waiting for something to happen. Anything to break this uncomfortable pause in conversation. She couldn't help thinking how perfect an opportunity this was for Haku to grab and kiss her. He wouldn't, of course. He seemed stuffy in that sense and it was VERY frustrating. Slowly, her face started showing her aggravation.

"Haku! Why won't you kiss me?" she asked as she stomped a foot, then put her hand to her mouth as though embarrassed.

He stared at her in shock. For a moment, he'd wondered if he'd heard her correctly. She had been distracting him all night, but not on purpose, of course. She had no way of knowing how radiant he saw her right now. She also had no way of knowing how desperately he wanted to touch her lips with his.

"Pardon me?" he asked, just to be sure

"It's just that I really...I...You seem like you want to and I want you to, but..." each word that tumbled out of her mouth sounded like a frustrated child trying to get her point across.

Haku stared at her a while longer, just watching those rosy cheeks turn redder and those soft tempting lips tremble. He was almost afraid to make this move, worrying that it was merely a dream. Nothing would please him more than to just...

With a heavy, fear-filled sigh, he brought a hand to her cheek, cupping it with a nervous hand. She stiffened up, but he decided to try and ignore it. They both wanted this, for good or ill. He moved closer to her, hovering right above her. A thumb lightly traced her sweet lips. Haku heard her breath catch in her throat as she closed her eyes and slightly parted her lips. That was all the invitation he needed.

Before he could stop himself, their lips met. So soft. So warm. Just as he imagined. It was like pouring his soul into her as he took a bit of hers. For a moment the world just stopped as the union continued. A soft moan sounded from her throat which made him pull her closer. He took her mouth with gentle ease, exploring every part of it, memorizing the feel with his own touch.

Chihiro felt faint. This was exactly like her dream. He tasted like a river, cool and refreshing, sweet like the purist of water. It was enough to make her cry, though she didn't. Instead she clung to him for dear life, unwilling to stop or let him go. She needed this so much...Needed him...

Something about a stream touched the back of her mind. Now that she thought about it, she remembered a river with his name. The Kohaku river. She fell into it when she was young, trying to save her pink shoe. Chihiro remembered thinking she was going to drown, but the stream carried her to safety.

She held him tighter as the memory surfaced. Something about that river...Something about Kohaku. How it had felt alive as she found her way to the banks. How safe and protected she felt instead of afraid. How Haku made her feel like that...

What if the impossible is possible, Chihiro? She heard the thought in the back of her mind. What if what he said is true?

She pulled back and stared at him. He had a longing in his eyes that shook her being. No doubt she returned it, because she certainly felt the same.

"Kohaku..." she whispered.

Before he could answer, there was a loud crashing sound inside the hall, followed by frightful screams. They both turned to the sound, wondering what was going on. The lights in the hall flickered off and on a few times as the screams continued to echo into the night.

"Hakuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu! Where AAAAAAARE youuuuuu!" a hoarse, shrill voice echoed in the courtyard.

Haku shuddered, then stiffened up, squeezing Chihiro tightly against him.

"NO!" he yelled out, "How could this be!" He turned to Chihiro, shaking her as he spoke, "Run, Chihiro! Get as far away from this place as possible!"

"Haku! Why? What's going on!" she asked frantically

"No time! I have to try and save the others. I can't have you be here. I can't see you in harms way."

He pulled away from her, giving her a little push, trying to get her to run. Without being sure she was leaving, he started for the hall.

"Haku!" she screamed out, "What's going on!"

Haku turned back with fear in his eyes.

"He's here, Chihiro."

"Who?"

He shook again, fearfully.

"The Spirit Eater..."