Chapter 6

Chihiro gradually walked up to the bathhouse and slowly opened its large doors. She poked her head in and peered around. The workers were scurrying around tying to please their clients. Chihiro smiled as she walked completely inside, soon followed by Haku. A frog man rushed up to them ignoring Chihiro and addressed Haku.

"Master Haku, Yu- Babba is upstairs expecting you."

"I know, I'm going to see her now."

Haku walked towards the elevators, and Chihiro obediently followed behind him. They went up several elevators in silence until they reached the top floor. Haku walked up the large mahogany doors.

"Password.", said a small gold knocker menacingly. It was positioned on the door almost eye level to Haku.

"Just let us in.", Haku said coldly.

Just then, what seemed to be hundreds of doors opened before them. Haku grabbed Chihiro's hand tightly.

"Hold on."

Haku's feet then left the ground and they flew swiftly through numerous pathways until they were inside a large carpeted room. Yu-Babba sat in the corner on a small stool recounting her numerous gold coins. When they entered the room she brushed all the coins off of the table into a small wooden box.

"I see you have brought her to me.", said Yu-babba in a snide voice.

"Yes, I brought her, just like you asked of me.", said Haku who was looking straight ahead. Chihiro looked up at his emotionless face. "Why is he acting so strange? Ever since we got here, he's been so distant. Did I do something to upset him?"

Yu-Babba's gruff voice distracted her thoughts.

"Come here girl, it's been a while since I've seen you. I can see that over time, you haven't gained any manners."

Yu-Babba pointed one of her stubby fingers toward Chihiro in a beckoning motion. Chihiro flew across the room with her feet barely skimming the floor, and stopped abruptly about an inch away from Yu-Babba's enormous nose.

"If you are to stay here, you must work for me.", said Yu-Babba holding a pen and paper that suddenly appeared as if out of nowhere. "Sign this contract proving that you are bound to me, after you retrieve what I want from the Lagoon of Darkness, then I will set you free again."

Haku seemed to snap out of a trance. "Lagoon of Darkness? You never said she had to go there!"

"Silence!" Yu-Babba made a swift hand movement pushing Haku out the room and slamming the large doors in front of him.

"Now that we wont have anymore distractions..." Yu-Babba placed the pen in Chihiro's hands.

Chihiro tentatively signed the paper.

"That's a girl, and I'll even be gracious and let you keep your name. All you have to do, is wear this bracelet." Yu-Babba opened her closed fist revealing a golden bracelet resting in her palm.

"What is it for?"

"It just assures that you wont leave from under my regulation until you have fulfilled your task."

Chihiro obediently put on the bracelet and looked up at Yu-Babba's eager grin.

"Now that we have everything in order, I shall explain to you the details of your mission. You are to go into the Black Lagoon and retrieve the 'Amulet of Power'. Only a human can take it without being...disciplined."

Chihiro's face suddenly stretched in fright, "What does she mean disciplined? Will I lose my life trying to complete this task?"

Yu-Babba went on, "Haku may accompany you, but he can not go into the 'Temple of Asjar' with you, all spirits who enter there with never escape."

"What have I gotten myself into?", Thoughts of Haku being imprisoned crept into Chihiro's mind.

"Now that you understand your assignment, you will work here for a couple of days before you depart. You will serve under the cleaning staff, and you will offer your help where ever it is needed, understand?"

Chihiro nodded her head showing that she comprehended what Yu-Babba was saying.

"Haku will show you to where you will be staying." Yu-Babba swept her hand, and the doors to the room flew open revealing Haku with his hands folded behind his back.

Yu-Babba barked instructions towards him, "Haku! Give her a uniform and show her to a room. When you are through, return back to me. I wish to speak with you."

Haku bowed, "Yes ma'am." He looked toward Chihiro. "Follow me."

Chihiro followed Haku back to the elevator shafts and waited in silence for the elevator to arrive. Chihiro couldn't take it anymore.

"Haku?"

Haku looked over at her with an blank expression. "Yes Chihiro."

"Um, why are you acting so strange?"

"I don't know what you are talking about."

Just then the elevator door's opened and he stepped inside. Chihiro slowly follwed behind him. After taking two elevators, they were on a floor Chihiro had never seen before. The floor was made of silver marble and the walls were painted periwinkle blue.

"You will be staying on this floor."

Haku led her to the fourth door on the right. "This will be your room."

He opened the door revealing a small emerald room with olive colored carpet. It had a wooden desk, a dresser which upon it sat a lamp, and a single bed that laid against the wall. The only window was positioned over the desk, and a door that stood next to the dresser. The door led to a small balcony that looked out over the small town of restaurants.

Chihiro turned to face Haku and then noticed he was holding a pale pink uniform, identical to the one she had before, only larger to fit her. He thrust out his arms, offering it to her. She took it from him timidly.

"Uh, Thanks Haku."

He bowed his head, "You are expected to work tonight and take part in cleaning the commencement room."

"Haku, why are you being so stran-", but before she could finish her sentence Haku had backed out of the room and slid the door closed behind him. Chihiro sighed. "Why is he acting so weird? What did I do?" Chihiro sat on the bed in aggravation. She quickly changed into her uniform. A sudden knock at the door made her jump. "Maybe he came to apologize for acting so strange." But to her surprise when she opened the door Haku wasn't standing there, it was her old friend Lin. She had helped Chihiro the last time she was in the spirit world. Lin pounced on her screaming with excitement.

"I didn't believe that you were back! I thought the foreman was just lying when I overheard him saying he saw you come in earlier!"

"It's great to see you too Lin!"

Lin looked around Chihiro's room.

"Hey! How come you get such a nice room, and all to yourself at that?"

Chihiro shrugged. "This is just the room Haku showed me to."

Lin nodded looking slightly jealous.

Chihiro smiled, "I'm sorry Lin, but I have get going, I'm assigned to clean the commencement room tonight."

Lin laughed, "I'm assigned to clean that room too! We can go downstairs together."

Chihiro walked out of her room and closed the door behind her. Lin and her walked to the end of the hallway and waited for the elevator to arrive. Lin was gabbing on about how Yu-Babba cut the workers pay, but Chihiro really wasn't listening. She didn't think Lin was boring or anything, but her mind kept going back to Haku. "Maybe he's nervous about going on the journey, or maybe he's worried about me..." Chihiro thought, feeling quite worried herself.

When she arrived in the commencement room with Lin she grabbed a sponge that resting in bucket of soapy water. She followed the lead of the other workers and began to brutally scrub the floor. After about two hours, Lin, Chihiro, and all the other workers had finally finished cleaning the room.

Both sore and tired, Chihiro waved goodbye to Lin, saying she would see her in the morning and retired up to her room. After arriving to her door, she slowly slid it open and staggered into the dimly lit room. She burrowed thought the dresser and found a gigantic white shirt in the bottom drawer. It was suitable enough to sleep in. After pulling off her uniform, she slipped the white shirt over her head. It nearly came to Chihiro's feet, it was more like a dress rather than a shirt. Chihiro then turned off the lamp and climbed into the bed exhausted. After a few minutes there was a knock at the door. Too lazy to turn on the light, she stumbled out of her bed and to the door. "It's probably Lin coming up for some late night gossip."

When she the slid the door open just a bit, she could see Haku standing there dressed in his light blue uniform. Chihiro looked stunned.

"Oh, Haku, did you forget to tell me someth-"

But before she could finish getting her words out Haku had abruptly leaned down and kissed her. Chihiro cheeks instantly turned red. After letting her lips linger on his for a moment, she pulled away.

"Haku? What was that for?"

Haku leaned his forehead against hers.

"I've been wanting to do that all day, but the entire building is under Yu-Babba's watch. I had to wait for her leave before I could do anything."

Chihiro sighed with relief. "Oh..."

Haku noticed Chihiro's expression and laughed. "You didn't think I was upset with you, did you?"

Chihiro blushed and looked away quickly, which caused Haku to laugh again.

"Chihiro, I will love you until the day I die." He then grabbed her chin and turned her head to face him.

"Haku.."

He bent down and kissed her again, only this time he was more aggressive. He picked her up gracefully and carried her into the room, and kicked the door shut behind him. Even though the room was pitch black, Haku did not once stumble or stagger. He laid her down elegantly on the bed, then eased himself on top of her. He trailed kisses down her neck to her chest. Chihiro clasped her hands around the back of his neck moaning in pleasure. Haku brought his lips up against hers and once again kissed her tenderly. Chihiro reached her hands downward and pulled his uniform shirt off. She let her hands graze over his muscular body before stopping on an indent that was clearly a massive scar.

"What happened?" She said in a breath.

"It's nothing, accidents happen sometimes, that all.", Haku said softly as he caressed her back through the thin white shirt.

Chihiro bend down an let her lips caress the wound. Haku then stretched his hands down and pulled the white shirt Chihiro was wearing over her head, laying it on the floor beside them. Chihiro brought her lips to his and kissed him passionately. She wrapped her arms around his back, pulling him closer, letting their bare skin converge. She laid her head on his shoulder and after a few minutes began to drift off to sleep.

"I love you Chihiro." Haku said, he voice barely a whisper.

"I love you too Haku." Chihiro replied, soon after she lost consciousness and drifted off into a deep sleep filled with dreams of only Haku.

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Author's Note: Thank you for all your reviews! How do you like the story so far? I want to know! Don't stop sending in the reviews, and thanks again.