Standard disclaimers apply.
Chapter 12
Yu-Baaba and Haku worked through the night. They never spoke their minds concentrating fully on what needed to be done. Haku forced down his fear, they had no idea if the potion would work, or if it did work, what effect it would have on Chihiro? There were too many questions to be answered and if they could be answered there would only be more added.
It was after all their work that they returned to Chihiro's room. Haku could barely stand, the drain on his spirit was so much that it had weakened him. He collapsed by Chihiro's head and moved his lap under her shoulders, brining her head higher. Kioko and Rin stayed silent as they watched Yu-Baaba and Haku work.
Haku could feel Ki in the room and he allowed his senses to reach her, trying to feel what she was. And there it was, happiness bubbling through her vein, happiness at Chihiro's suffering. Haku would have reached out and straggled her if his heart was not in so much pain. To think that someone who he trusted would have done something so terrible, it boiled the blood in his veins. Yu-Baaba sat by Chihiro's head and began to pour the still hot liquid into Chihiro's mouth. Her body reacted to the heat and began to convulse against it.
"Haku hold her down. She has to drink all of it." Yu-Baaba commanded.
Haku took Chihiro in his arms as Yu-Baaba finished giving her the potion. Stepping back Yu-Baaba watched to see if it would take effect. Haku brushed Chihiro's hair from her face, willing her to wake, so that he might once again be able to gaze into her eyes. Slowly her eyes fluttered open and she focused on Haku. Chihiro smiled softly, knowing that he had come back for her.
"Ha-Haku…" she whispered. Her throat was horse, and sore. Every fibre of her being was in pain. Not just from the poison but also from the potion that slowly worked its way through her veins.
"Hush my love. I'm here every things going to be alright now."
Chihiro smiled faintly, her hand reaching out to touch Haku's face. She brushed the edge of his jaw line then up to his lips. Entranced by her gentle touch Haku pressed his face into her hand. Gracing her fingertips with a feather light kiss.
"I love you, Haku…" whispered Chihiro, knowing it would be her last words to him.
"I love you too, Chihiro." Haku whispered.
Everyone in the room watched with bated breath. Was Chihiro going to make it? Yu-Baaba was about to leave and take Rin and Kioko with her when Chihiro shook and cried out. Haku held her tight while her human spirit left her. He continued to hold her hand to his face, willing her to stay with him. But as her body finally stopped her hand went limp in his. Her eyes glassed over and her head fell to the side, her expression blank.
Kioko shrieked and fell to the floor tears flooding her eyes. Rin stared back at Chihiro, her expression blank as well. Yu-Baaba backed out the door, she felt for once in her long life, sorrow, at the death of a human.
Haku sat cradling Chihiro in his arms. He watched her waiting for her to wake up and tell them it was all a joke. Anything. Anything other then the reality that she was gone.