Standard disclaimers apply.

Chapter 8

Chihiro strolled calmly and with her head held high as she made her way to Yu-Baaba's office. After Haku had left for the day to inspect the baths, she was finishing up some paper work when Yu-Baaba called for her. It was not something unusual since her arrival. Chihiro had been called quite a few times. Chihiro was now working for the woman and since Haku was a joint partner Chihiro was gifted with the right to 'pass notes' between the two. As she passed the last set of doors to Yu-Baaba's office, she figured that this would just be another one of those instances. She knocked and waited patiently for Yu-Baaba to allow her access. The doors opened soundlessly and she entered.

Chihiro looked around the room confused. Haku was there and at his feet was a small travelling bag. Yu-Baaba was behind her grand desk smoking calmly, "well, well Sen it seems that Haku has something to tell you. Go ahead Haku, make it fast she isn't getting any younger." Then Yu-Baaba stood and went into the baby's room. Chihiro had seen little of baby, he had not grown a bit (thank god) but he still liked being in his room.

Looking extremely confused Chihiro walked up to Haku her mouth slightly open to ask him a question when Haku pressed his lips in need against hers. All argument was cut short by Haku's action, Chihiro stopped wondering why they were there and concentrated all her focus on Haku's lips, his taste and the growing sexual need that she was feeling.

Haku leaned back allowing Chihiro to lean against his chest as he memorized her taste and the feel of her lips. He buried his face in her hair and said, "I hate to have to tell you this Chihiro, but I have to leave for sometime."

Immediately Chihiro was ramrod straight and looking (or at least trying to) Haku in the eye. "Why are you leaving? Are there other things that you need to do your job here?"

Haku's brows knotted, in way she had hit the nail on the head, and in others she had missed the mark completely. "Yes in a way…there are some things I need to get to make my job more…complete."

"Like what?" Chihiro's eyes begged for an answer that would leave her some hope that Haku wasn't just going off and doing the things that he used to when he was under Yu-Baaba's control.

Haku wanted desperately to tell her of his plans but knew that Yu-Baaba had strictly forbid it. There was no way that she was going to allow such a moneymaker wallow in possible dreams that might not even happen. Haku knew better, Yu-Baaba had grown to care for this – his human, and she didn't want to get Chihiro's hopes up when he might not even come back. So instead he did what he could, he told a half-truth, "I'm going to get something that will make our life, yours and mine better. Please Chihiro, understand that I do this for the both of us. I'm leaving the running of my half of the business to you and Kioko until I come back," and taking her face in his hands, "I swear to you that I will come back, and when I do I'll never leave without you again. Do not fear." He kissed her lightly and picked up his back as he changed. Hs dragon form floating out the open window.

Chihiro didn't bother telling Yu-Baaba that she was leaving, Haku's words running a mile a minute through her head. What had he meant? And what did that mean to their relationship? But one thing Chihiro did know, Yu-Baaba had sent Haku on a quest that he might not come back from, that was why Haku left the way he had, he was protecting her from something.

When Chihiro returned, Kioko was waiting expecting Haku to be with Chihiro, their food was already for them and Haku never missed a meal, but when Chihiro entered without Haku, Kioko was worried. He had said something in passing that she had not understood but now seeing the apprehension in Chihiro's eyes Kioko understood. Haku had said as he left 'make sure she does not cry over me.' He had left, why? At that time Kioko could only fathom.

Chihiro steeled herself and sat down in her usual seat beside Haku's and motioned Kioko to sit with her. "Haku…Haku has gone on a journey. He didn't say when he would come back, but that he would." Sighing she continued, "we are to look after his duties, and…and not to fear." Chihiro blinked back her tears as Kioko rushed to her side and the sisters held one another, their thoughts on the man in their lives that had made their lives better.

Haku flew through the twilight, his thoughts as well on the two precious women in his life. He knew deep down that everything he had ever done since they appeared on that stormy night was for them. His mind ran through quickly the list of things that he needed to retrieve so that Yu-Baaba could concoct her little potion. What this potion did he had no clue, but she had given him an ultimatum. Either he gets these ingredients or he could kiss his life with Chihiro goodbye. There was no question as to if he would do it but it was merely a matter of time.

Back at the bathhouse Ki watched the sisters eat in silence their minds on Haku. But Ki's was on how she was to give Chihiro the poison. The sisters usually ate from each other's plates and Ki did not want to hurt Kioko, master Haku saw her as a sister and Ki thought she could easily control the child's mind to do as she wished. Ki counted the minutes until Chihiro was no more then a memory and then she would be the one sitting there, in the gifted seat beside master Haku.