Hi again! In honor of it being the Christmas season and having just reached over 6000 views, I decided I'd release another chapter for you all (despite having updated two days ago)!This chapter goes on a little bit longer than the others, so please let me know whether you like the longer chapter format or not. Also, a new character is introduced in this chapter, so let me know your thoughts on he/she in reviews.

ALSO. Do you guys like my writing style? Is there anything you'd change? I love criticism, so please let me know in reviews. Think of it this way, the more reviews, the sooner I'll update! I'll either upload one week from now, or whenever I get 5 more reviews (I currently have 29). Whichever comes first! ;)

Thanks again for all of your support, I really do appreciate it. Love you guys, talk to you soon!

"Chi, stand up straighter! You are NOT a hunchback." Rin reprimanded.
At this, Chihiro straightened immediately. The poor girl had been standing there for several hours in various positions as the Rin-and-Yasu tag team wrote down every measurement her body had. Some measurements she couldn't even comprehend as to why they were necessary, such as her head width. Were they making her a headdress?
As her mind began to think of possible outcomes, she was brought back to reality by the sound of relieved sighing. Yasu, who had been writing down every number Rin called out, turned to her model as she spoke.
"We're finally done. Sorry about that, you can get down now." She said, removing her reading glasses and setting her clipboard down.
The tired human flopped down immediately on the closest chair she could find; legs and arms spread out like a starfish. "Good, my back was killing me…" She griped. Realizing what she had said, she sat up before adding apologetically, "But I'm so grateful for your help. Thank you so much, guys!"
Walking over to her, the two girls began to giggle.
"Oh, but the work has only just begun," Rin foreshadowed, looking over the measurements Yasu had written. The other yuna had taken a seat next to Chihiro and looked to be just as tired as the human girl. Before any of them could add to the conversation, an encounter between Aogeru and another yuna could be heard from the entryway of the women's quarters.
"Delivery? For Sen?" The woman inquired. "Who's it from?"
"I haven't the slightest idea," the rough voice of the frog worker replied. "I was just told to deliver this package from a random customer from downstairs. She disappeared before I could ask her name."

A package? I'm pretty sure I wasn't expecting anything, Chihiro thought. Glancing at her friends, they all seemed to be just as confused as she was. Rin, briskly walking to the front entry, cut into the conversation.

"I'll make sure it gets to her. Thanks, Aogeru." The two bowed to one other before Rin closed the door. Walking over to Chihiro, she placed the package in her hands. The box itself wasn't much bigger than a pizza box, but it was slightly taller. It's contents didn't feel very heavy.
"Before you open it," Yasu said hesitantly, "Can I see it for a moment?"
She had no objections and handed it over to the yuna. Yasu closed her eyes, focusing her energy on the objects within. "I don't sense anything dangerous in here," She concluded, handing the box back to Chihiro. By now a small crowd of yunas had gathered around the trio, all trying to get a glimpse at the mystery box's contents. "It should be safe to open."
"Well," Chihiro said. "Here goes nothing."
Removing the lid, the entire room seemed to gasp at what lay inside the box. A note written in cursive sat on top several rolls of shimmering, ocean green fabric. The note read as follows:

A beautiful dress shall be made, for a beautiful girl.

There was no name attached to the note, leaving no hint as to who could have sent this mysterious package. Yasu reached into the box, pulling out the beautiful cloth. The way it shone picked up on little green and yellow flecks, giving the fabric an overall image of an ocean's ripples glistening in the sun.
Whispers could be heard from amongst the yunas, each with their different theory as to who this anonymous sender was.
"Surely, it must be Haku... those are his colors!"
"No, it can't be! Master Haku would never send something like this, it would draw too much attention to himself."
"Then who else could it be? It has to be someone in support of Sen and Haku, that much is certain."
Chihiro looked again at the note. She couldn't recognize the writing... the identity of the sender would have to remain a mystery for the time being. She looked to Rin and Yasu for their reactions.
Rin appeared to be confused as well, but there was a glint of amusement in Yasu's eyes. The intrigued smirk on her face showed that this mystery excited her. She turned to Chihiro as she spoke. "Well, looks like we know what fabric we'll be using for your gown!"
The remaining yunas all seemed to get excited at the idea of using this mysterious cloth, and Chihiro would too, were it not for the nagging feeling she had in the back of her mind about the situation. An idea suddenly came upon her as she turned to the two women by her side.
"Since you've got my measurements, would it be alright if I got some food at the dining hall? I'm starving after standing up for so long." Chihiro said. Getting nods of approval from both Rin and Yasu, she exited the women's quarters at a hastened pace.
Before she could even turn the corner that led to the main hall, she was met by a very flustered Haku. He seemed distracted by something, so distracted that he hadn't noticed that Chihiro was mere feet away. His face wore a puzzled expression.
"Haku!" Chihiro called to him. When he saw her walking towards her, his face softened considerably. But still, there seemed to be something seriously wrong.

I've never seen him like this before, she pondered.

"Oh, Chihiro, you're here!" Haku said, looking relieved. Whatever was bothering him, he wasn't eager to share. Chihiro continued on.
"Yeah! I came down here because I got this anonymous package from one of the customers staying here..." With every passing word, Haku's expression became more worried. Assuming he was feeling this way over the contents of the package, she added quickly, "Don't worry, it only had dress supplies for the gala." His face showed no signs of losing it's concerned expression.
"Haku, forgive me for asking, but is something wrong?" The concern in her eyes broke down his barrier. Checking his surroundings to make sure they weren't being watched, he responded curtly. "Come with me."
The dragon spirit grabbed her hand, and they were off. Chihiro remembered the last time they had traveled this quickly, when she had taken that breath on the bridge to the bathhouse after being instructed otherwise.
The world flew by in a whirlwind until she and Haku found themselves behind a corner in the main hall, away from public eye.
"Listen closely." Haku instructed. "Because of this gala, a couple of members of my extended family are here. The most important of which is my Aunt Yukino, accompanied by her son, Jiro." He spoke their names tentatively, as if somehow saying their names would make them appear.

They must be awful, Chihiro thought, to make even Haku get nervous like this.

As if reading her thoughts, Haku continued. "They're absolutely wonderful... I trust them with my life. Yukino was like a second mother to me throughout my youth... and Jiro, like a brother to me." He paused briefly, as if recalling pleasant memories. Snapping himself out of it, he continued. "But there's one thing you should know about my aunt. Do you remember what Akane said, how Piscanem had wanted us to be married?"
A slightly pink Chihiro nodded.
"Apparently, our most vocal supporter was Yukino. I haven't seen her since I ran away all those years ago, but I imagine she's rather upset about this Akane business. I didn't arrange for her to come here, so I don't know how much she's informed of."
Little by little, the puzzle pieces were beginning to come together in her mind. "Then, the sender of that package?" Chihiro inquired.
Haku nodded.
"Most definitely her."
She felt honored that she had gotten the attention of even Haku's distant family, but she also guilty that what they wanted could never be.
"I see... should I return the package, then? I feel almost badly using it now." Chihiro cast her eyes to the floor. Haku shook his head.
"No, use it! I'll explain everything to her when I see her, so don't worry. I actually think the two of you would like each other very much," He said. "Your personalities are very similar. You may even become good friends," he assured her. "Cousin Jiro is a very kind man, as well."
Chihiro felt relieved that she would be among friends at the gala tomorrow evening, and sighed inwardly. Haku looked as if he had just remembered something.
"Which reminds me why I was down here to begin with," He began. "I must go, they're arriving any moment now, and it may be considered rude of me not to be there to receive them..." The dragon spirit said, his face once again clouded with worry.
Chihiro put her hand on his shoulder. "Good luck," she said encouragingly, giving a sympathetic look. He gave her a nervous smile before heading down the hall once more.

Well, it looks like I've got some time to kill until tomorrow night, she concluded.

The three girls sat around the table, each with a plate of food in front of them.

"Ugh," Rin said, taking another bite out of her meat bun, "Whoever knew making dresses was so boring?" Leaning back in her chair and putting her feet on the table, she continued. "I'm just glad it turned out so well."At this, Yasu nodded.

The two women had stayed up nearly the entire night, putting the finishing details on the gown. Chihiro had asked to see it, but they quickly said no, telling her that "it'd have to be a surprise".

"Thank you again for doing all of this," Chihiro added. "I don't know why you guys went to the trouble, to be honest... this isn't my gala." She said, poking at her food with her fork absentmindedly.

The previously kick-backed Rin sat forward, slamming her fist on the table. "We SWORE that you would be the most beautiful woman there, and I'll be damned if I'm going to let this go now," Rin said, waving her fist in the air. "She's not going to know what hit her."

Rin's intense expressions were enough to make Chihiro laugh, much to the kitsune spirit's disapproval. "What's so funny?!" She demanded, "It's true!" Little did she know that Rin and Yasu were also laughing at the chunk of meat filling that had somehow become attached to Rin's nose. Chihiro stood up with a giggle to go get more napkins.

This room was used for the dining of both the bathhouse workers and customers alike, meaning Chihiro could see many faces from where she stood. As she walked to the counter, she became aware of an odd presence in the room.

A tall, slender boy with a focused look was standing by the buffet table, getting a good look at what dishes were available. His wavy hair was several shades brighter than a certain dragon spirits, and fell to just past his shoulders. It was tied loosely in a low ponytail, with several pieces framing his face. Appearance wise, he couldn't have been much older than Chihiro, maybe 16 or 17. He was dressed in a dark blue, long sleeved, kimono with a katana strapped to his side. To Chihiro, he looked like one of the characters she had read about in her fairytales growing up, and guessed that he was a samurai of some sort.

Focusing her attention once more on getting the napkins, she turned around just as someone carrying a plate crashed into her, sending shrimp tempura flying all over both herself and the perpetrator.

"Oh, forgive me, sir! I'm so sorr-" Chihiro began to stammer. Looking at the person who's food she was now wearing, she saw the boy whom she spotted at the buffet table just moments before. Before she could finish her apology, he interrupted, an anxious look on his face.

"Not at all, it's my fault! My apologies, I've always been a klutz," he said, smacking his hand to his forehead. The two of them bent down to begin to pick up the tempura fragments. Chihiro could hear him grumbling to himself as he did so.

"How smooth, Jiro..."

Wait a minute, did he just say "Jiro"? Is this Haku's cousin?

Continuing to pick up the shrimp, she got a glimpse at his face once more. Yes, she could definitely see the similarity... Their eyes and their resting solemn expression was nearly identical. Realizing that he was a guest and that he shouldn't be doing the cleaning, she spoke up.

"Oh, don't worry, I'm a worker. Let me take care of this..." She said, picking up the remaining food and carrying it to the wastebasket. He followed her, continuing his apologies.

"I even got it all over your uniform- here, allow me. Face me for a moment." Not in a position to object, she did as he requested. Holding out his hands so they hovered several inches from her, a blue light began to flow from his hands to the apron, and when the light dissipated, so did every trace of food from Chihiro's uniform. Her jaw dropped slightly before she realized she had yet to respond. Before she could, he spoke.

"I'm Jiro," the boy said. "I'm visiting with my mother for a gala being held here tonight. Might I ask your name?" He said politely, extending his hand in a handshake.

This boy is so openly social, Chihiro observed. Such a difference to his cousin. She had to stifle a chuckle at the thought of Haku behaving in such a way.

"Nice to meet you, Jiro. My name is Chihiro," she said, shaking his hand. His eyes widened.

"Chihiro- as in Chihiro Ogino? The human girl who saved Haku?!" Jiro's eyes began to sparkle. "Oh, please, do forgive my rudeness. On behalf of our entire clan, I would like to extend my sincerest gratitude in having helped my cousin," He said, bowing low in deep respect. "If there is ever anything you may need, please, feel free to ask."

He's talking to me as though I were a celebrity, she thought. I hadn't realized this was such a big deal to everyone else...

"That's me, but please, it was nothing. In fact, I'm the one who's indebted to him, for sure. He's gotten me through more messy situations than I'd care to admit," she said with a smile, recalling both the last week she had been there and the incident with her parents.

She decided that she could trust this Jiro. The way he spoke eloquently yet kindly was much like his cousin, and she could tell that he acted from the heart.

"Even so,"Jiro said, "You've helped bring back our family's prodigal son, of sorts. From what I've heard, when he signed his contract here, he sealed away all of his memories... why, I'd go so far as to say that if you hadn't remembered who he was, he would have never known who he was or who he came from..."Jiro pointed out, genuine sadness resonating in his eyes.

Chihiro hadn't realized that they had been standing there talking for several minutes before she heard Rin and Yasu walk up to her.

"Chi?" Rin said, not seeing the boy next to her. "Where've you been? You went to go get napkins and suddenly-" Her voice trailed out as she laid eyes on Chihiro's new companion. Yasu suppressed giggles at seeing Rin's eyes swell, as if saying she were saying 'And who's THIS hunk?'

Becoming aware of the situation, Chihiro made the introductions. "Jiro, these are my friends, Rin and Yasu. Guys, this is Jiro, Haku's cousin," she said, gesturing to the man next to her. Rin and Yasu, now aware of who he was, gasped before getting down on their knees in a deep bow. Yasu apologized frantically, saying, "My apologies, My Lord, we were unaware of your arrival! Please forgive our indecency!"

The surrounding customers all began to murmur at this spectacle, along with many of the workers who passed by. It wasn't very often that they received someone as high-up in social status as the Nigahayami family.

Chihiro felt her face heat up, and suddenly felt incredibly embarrassed at her now seemingly rude introduction. Before she could apologize, Jiro spoke once more.

"Please, get up. I'm not someone worthy of bowing to," He said, helping the two women from the floor. They were both shocked by his kindness. "And please, none of this 'My Lord' business. Call me Jiro," He concluded warmly.

He turned towards all three of them. "Now, if you'll please excuse me, I'm off to see to some necessary preparations for the gala this evening. I trust I'll be seeing you all there?" He said, his eyes pointing to Chihiro. Receiving nods from all three, he left them with a farewell.

"He seems nice, doesn't he?" Chihiro stated blindly. She was then met with the shouts of Rin in her ear. "HA! I'd certainly say so, I mean just LOOK at him."

That's NOT what I meant, Rin.

"It's refreshing to see someone so powerful and high ranking as him have such a genuinely kind personality," Yasu observed, and Chihiro agreed. In fact, if they hadn't told her, she would have never guessed that he was of nobility. "And he seemed to like you, Chihiro..." Yasu said, nudging her with her elbow.

Yasu and Rin erupted into laughter at seeing Chihiro's horrified expression. "Hey," Rin said, "You could do a LOT worse."

A bell rang out throughout the bathhouse, signifying the end of the shift. Everyone got off of work early that day, in honor of the gala, insuring that everyone would have ample time to get themselves ready.

Rin, turning to the other two girls, spoke excitedly.

"Ooh, come on, let's get ourselves changed!

Ok, everyone, tell me the truth, What do you guys think of having longer chapters like these? And what do you think of this Jiro fellow? I know this chapter went on for a while and a lot happened, but I kinda like this longer chapter format. Let me know your opinions in reviews. Thanks again for everyone's support, and especially for reaching over 6000 views! Wow guys! That's incredible! T~T