'Ikuko, ready yourself we leave in
ten minutes. Do you hear me?' Chihiro called, trying to put some
authority in her voice, but she knew once smile from her younger
sibling would make her laugh and all would be lost.
'Chihiro, I
cant find my socks' Ikuko called, and there's paper all over my
room.
Chihiro froze, running back down the corridor she looked
about the child's room, and true enough there was little white bits
of paper all over the floor. 'Ikuko did you leave your bed last
night?'
'No'
'Well this room wasn't like this when I
tucked you in!' Chihiro shouted, now feeling genuinely annoyed, 'I
shall have to clear this away before mama and papa return, and then
when you get home you can tell me you are sorry, now move, you will
be late for your class'
Ikuko pulled a face, 'I did not cut up
the paper. It flew in last night when the man opened the window'
the four year old grabbed her socks and pulled them onto her feet,
'He was awfully rude he kept calling me little one and asking for
you, in the end he left, but is hall tell mother about him because he
scared me'
'Ikuko what did he look like?' Chihiro begged,
dropping to her knees to hold the child.
'He was tall, and had
nice hair.'
'What did he say?'
'He was tired, and
wanted his Chihiro, but I told him you were my Chihiro, you are
nobody else's sister are you? I told him you were asleep and not to
bother us and he left'
Chihiro half smiled, 'You need to mind
your mouth Ikuko, it will get you into trouble one of these days, now
move, we will never be on time'
Chihiro leaned against the
doorway, looking out into the street, still waiting for Ikuko to
ready herself she thought on what the child had said. Children's
imaginations were vivid enough; the description of him gave no hint
that it was Haku. Perhaps there was a man, in that case they were in
grave danger that night, but why all the paper? Chihiro turned as
Ikuko bounced down the stairs, holding onto the banister and smiling.
Chihiro heard a familiar whistle in the wind, looking up she saw
white paper leaving the bedroom window.
'Ikuko fetch your lunch
it is on the table, I will be two seconds' Chihiro smiled, 'Stay
in the house'. Holding the banister she ran up the stairs, pushing
open the child's door she stared at the bits of paper. They rose
and swirled in the room, surrounding her, Chihiro screamed expecting
them to cut her flesh, but instead they formed a mouth.
'I've
found you' it spoke, and then fluttered out the window. Chihiro
held her hand to her heart, feeling it beat she reminded herself that
she was still alive. Magic was at work here, and as much as she had
tried to kid herself that this was all a childish dream, something
out there was hunting her.
'Haku?' she whispered.
'Chihiro'
Ikuko cried up the stairs, 'You are longer than me'
Chihiro
rolled her eyes; this child had too much spirit. Running back down
the stairs she took her hand and led her out the door.
'Chihiro
thank you sweetie' he mother smiled as she unloaded the car. 'Did
you cook tea? If not we can get take out that is fine. Where is your
father?'
'Upstairs putting Ikuko to bed'
'Has she
behaved?' Her mother asked, not really caring for the answer,
simply making conversation as she threw her things into the
hallway.
'You know Ikuko' Chihiro sighed, knowing full well
her mother didn't know Ikuko as well as she should. It seemed her
parents used her a lot as a fallback when they wanted to lead their
lives; she was fed up of it.
'Chihiro, the Deleon family are
having a gala in a week or so, they are very interested in you
meeting their eldest son, as are your father and me. I think this
will be a good match for you.'
'I have no interest in matches
mother' Chihiro said the well-rehearsed line. Here came the weekly
row.
'Nonsense, its not good for a girl of your age to hide
from male attention, spending all of your time with a child isn't
healthy, nor does it look impressive'
'I think I shouldn't
spend half the time I do with Ikuko if her mother was here to look
after her correctly' Chihiro fumed, dropping a box and storming up
the stairs, knowing full well her words would fall on deaf ears, her
mother had selective hearing. Very selective.
'So you will get
back to me on the Deleon son then? I hear he is wealthy!' her
mother called after her. Chihiro slammed her door in response.
Haku shook his head, wiping sweat from his brow he lay back in the bathtub. Thinking hard about what to do, she had made the connection; she had spoken his name while his spell searched for her. Now he knew where she was, he just had to decide how to appear. It wasn't exactly his fault they hadn't kept in touch, he had other things to attend to, the years seemed to move so fast. Last night he had flown past her house 6 times before finally creeping over to a window, sending in his charm to see who was in the room, a child had grabbed a piece of the paper and woken up. At first he thought he saw Chihiro but soon realised it must be a relative of some sorts, the eyes and spirit were the same though, as the child shouted at him, he saw Chihiro shouted about the injustices she had suffered in his land. Moving on to the next window he had seen her, every bit as beautiful as he imagined, even better. Her window was shut tight, but with a flick of his hand it was open. Morphing into a human once more he had floated over her bed and lay above her, wanting to reach out, to touch her, to hear her. Instead he had simply watched her, until she stirred. Leaning further down he kissed her on the lips, surprised to feel her kiss him back. Rising up he moved out of the way, for fear she might wake, but she didn't. Chihiro had rolled over and muttered something then fallen back into her deep sleep, feeling he had invaded enough he set off home. She hadn't left his mind all day, he had no place in her world but in his she fitted perfectly. If Princess Kimochi would see he was already betrothed she would certainly back off and he could live happily with Chihiro. In his heart she was the one, in his mind he was the one, he considered himself already married, he just had to woo her, remind her what she had left behind, then take her. Own her. Love her. In theory it sounded quite good, but as he kissed her last night he felt stirrings inside him, his stomach twitched he felt quite giddy and childlike once more. For all the bravado he showed to others, he was still quite naïve where woman were concerned and he didn't want to ruin things with Chihiro. Maybe he should take his time, maybe he should start now. Rising from the bath tub, he clicked his fingers, drying himself and clothing himself, strolling out he walked past the group of woman that had taken to following him around. They enjoyed bathing in him, feeding him, massaging him, once or twice they had tried to kiss him and had paid dearly. Nobody kissed him. He didn't allow it, Nobody but her. His harem seemed to be loyal and peaceful, ever ready to obey him and all because they longed for his approval, these women were another reason why Haku failed to understand woman. Looking up into the sky, he closed his eyes and thought of her, he felt his need for her and sent it out with the wind. Now al he had to do was wait, if she still thought of him, she would come.
