If Only...
(A/N: Ok! Now for the next exciting chapter of 'If Only...'! I bet you're all wondering ''Why Haku and Diarsi?' no? Well there's a very good reason for that and you'll find out so don't worry, but I do want to point out that this is still a HakuxChi story so don't worry about that either.
I also REALLY wanna apologize for how late this chapter is! It's been months, I know, and it's so not the best thing for me to have done seeing as I'm a new writer here and I also have very little (not that you're not important I'm just talking numbers here people) fans. For those of you who have given up on me, I do not blame you. For those of you still with me... THANK YOU!!!! Which by the way is an excellent song go download it off of limewire sometime if u like Bleach.)
Just one more announcement before we get this story started. After seeing the movie again, I didn't really like the way I just rushed into getting Chihiro into the Spirit World and past the red shrine. That's why, in about the same week that this chapter is posted, I will work on chapter three again. For those of you who don't want to read the whole chapter again, don't worry. I'll only be re-editing the last part in the story about her arrival in the spirit world. None of you really have to read it, I'm just sort of doing this for myself because I'm a little unhappy with my writing in the last chapter.
Disclaimer: Major Writer's Block to come up with a little poem for you (sorry for that too...) so just know that I still don't own SP (yet... WATCH OUT HAYAO MIYAZAKI!!!). I do, however, own my best guy friend (long story). It's pretty cool... (Grumpy buy me a cookie! whine...) And I also downloaded SP into my iPod so I don't have to buy it anymore! YAY!!!
The Pain & Love Both Hearts Hold
"This is Haku, my boyfriend."
Chihiro just stood, unmoving. At that precise moment, time ceased in her mind.
'No... It just can't be! Can it...?' Chihiro fell to her knees, her body becoming limp all over. 'No! I won't believe it! I just can't!' She hugged her abdomen in an attempt to suppress the sickness she felt creeping up her throat.
"Chihiro! Chihiro are you ok?!" Diarsi ran to her friend's side, "Chihiro speak to me!"
But it was too late. Chihiro tried to pull back from the darkness she felt her body being pulled to, but to no avail. The last thing she saw was the worried face of Diarsi over her, and the usually-stoic face of Haku bent over her in a concerned glare. In the last instant she could've sworn she saw a flash of green in his glinting gray eyes before his dark-blue bangs covered them and she slipped away into the velvet-soft darkness.
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"Oh please no! I never thought her cross into the spirit world would do this to her! If I'd known I would've never brought her here!" Diarsi's vision began to blur with the tears that flooded her emerald eyes, "Oh this is all my fault Chihiro please forgive me!"
Grabbing her shoulders in an attempt to stop her, Haku was quick to reassure.
"Diarsi listen to me. This is not your fault, the crossing had nothing to do with it. And even if that was what caused this, stop panicking. She only fainted after all, she's not dying so grab ahold of yourself!" His silver eyes caught and held hers while she regained her calm. "We've already got one patient for Kamaji, he doesn't need another one as busy as he is."
All Diarsi could do was nod, as she felt like a child in his hold.
"I'm coming too then. This all happened because of me and I don't want to leave Chio-chan alone here."
"Chio-chan?" a tiny smirk broke the seriousness in Haku's countenance for a second.
"Chihiro, I mean..."
"I'll get an explanation for that later, but for now, I'm taking her to Kamaji's," Haku answered, sobering up. "Chihiro won't be alone, I'll be with her. And I really think you should go inform your parent's of your arrival," he stole a quick glance at the unconscious girl, "And of Chihiro's as well."
"Mm-hmm," she nodded with a downtrodden face, almost on the verge of tears again.
"Diarsi, this isn't any of your fault," Haku reassured, reading the girl's eyes. He wished he could reassure her more, but his mind was still going back to Chihiro and getting her to Kamaji's as fast as possible so he could stop worrying so much himself. "Now go. She'll be fine. I give you my word."
"Haku?"
"Hmm?"
"Just one more thing, if you don't mind..."
Haku jumped back from the unconscious girl on the lush, green grass which he so desperately wanted to help, and the nervous one that pleaded in her voice.
"What is it Diarsi?" he sighed, knowing he would not be able to help the girl from his dreams until he took care of her friend.
"I was just wondering... Why do you care so much for Chihiro's well-being?"
The question caught him off guard and he had to think before he answered.
"I suppose it's because... She's an old friend. I cared for her then, and the instinct took over once again..."
Haku now went over to brown-eyed brunette who's breathing seemed to have calmed by now, and scooped her up in his arms. In the swiftest of movements he had the girl comfortably resting in his arms and raced of to the boiler room in a speed and grace which no one else could compete with. Without a second thought to Diarsi and what she must be thinking by now, his mind only thought of one thing.
'Chihiro..'
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"Yes yes I see now. There's nothing to be worried about Master Haku. She only seems to have fainted with the shock of coming back like this. Nothing a peaceful rest can't take care of. Maybe a bath afterwards. I'll go inform Lin."
Both Boiler Man and Young Dragon stood over Chihiro's still form, lying on a futon.
"Wait. Are you sure that's it?"
"Well she doesn't seems to have any other problems and her breathing has calmed. I would say so. Is there any other reason you suspect?" Kamaji's brows lifted in a curious expression.
Haku only looked down, feeling shame beyond comparison at how things had been working out now. Never would he have imagined that this would be the greeting Chihiro received on what should've been a joyous occasion.
"Ah... So that's what happened. It sure clears up many questions I had, yet it opens up so many more."
Haku looked up with piercing eyes full of an anger so intense no raging fire compared.
"Answer me something, Young Master." Kamaji continued, impervious to the heat of Haku's eyes, "Was this really the welcome you had planned for Chihiro?"
"You know damn well it wasn't boiler man!!" Haku stood abruptly, glaring at the wise old man, "None of this was supposed to happen!"
"Sit down. It was not an accusation, merely a question," Kamaji coaxed
Grudgingly, the young man obeyed.
"Now, before I go inform Lin of this, I have one final question."
Haku's eyes only stared at the old man in response.
"Why are you with Diarsi?"
Not for the first time this day, Haku's inattentiveness had caused him to be off guard.
"Nani?" (A/N: giggling I just love it when he says that instead of 'what'.)
One of Kamaji's long hands reached over to get the teapot of water. "Diarsi," he gulped down the water, "Is a perfectly nice girl, I admit. Yet I also happen to know that no matter how close to Chihiro she is, or how much she resembles her, she cannot be her. In the very least, not in your heart. So tell me now Young Master, why is it that you have gone to her side?"
"That's not for you or anyone else to know..." Haku's eyes surveyed the ground.
"You love Chihiro."
"That's not-!"
"Don't start with me boy!" Kamaji's glared now. "I know you well enough by now to know how things happened. Don't you think you at least owe her an explanation?" His eyes going to Chihiro.
Haku could no longer stay in Kamaji's presence. "Don't you have Lin to inform now?" Haku whispered.
Kamaji stood and hovered over the two in a menacing shadow. "As you wish, Young Master. But truth be told, you've gone back to your unhealthy ways when Yubaba controlled you. Chihiro was your light back then. The only one who could, and did, save you. I only hope that she can do so now."
And with that, Kamaji left, leaving Haku to his thoughts, the words still ringing in his ears long after his departure.
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"You love Chihiro."
"That's not-!"
"Don't start with me boy!"
'So it's true then..' Chihiro thought, regaining consciousness, yet unwilling to open her eyes. Chihiro's heart felt it would burst when she heard that Haku loved her. Yet he was quick to deny so, unknowing she was awake. Never had she been so hurt to be right. After that, she refused to listen anymore to their argument.
'I should've never come here in the first place!' her eyes welling up with tears. 'He has long forgotten about me, I should've done the same.'
After keeping all her tears inside, one finally escaped her full eyes.
"Chihiro? Chihiro are you awake?" Haku's tender voice called.
She had been caught, there was no other way to go now but to admit it. Slowly her eyes opened, which then caused all the tears to be released as she slowly raised herself from the futon.
"Chihiro?" Haku called out once more. 'She hates me... I know she does. She won't even answer anymore.'
Haku reached over to dry her tears with a cloth, yet she only flinched back, drying the tears herself with her sleeves.
'Have I really hurt you that much Chihiro? So much you won't even allow my touch?' Haku's eyes began turning a deep green.
"Here." Haku's outstretched hand held a berry, the very same kind that he had given Chihiro the first time she had been here. (A/N: I really have no idea what that really was but it looked small and red so I'm going with a berry.) "Eat it. You're disappearing again."
Chihiro reached out for the berry, her fingers accidentally grazing his skin when she felt a tiny electrical shock, just from their short contact. She hastily took the berry and ate it, refusing to look in his eyes. One look into those sleek, silver eyes and she knew she was done for. She would have broken down and cried, remembering the time when those eyes only held concern and caring for her, now suddenly cold.
The tiny shock made Haku jump, yet when Chihiro refused to look at him, a flash of hurt crossed his eyes. 'I deserve no forgiveness for what I've done to you Chihiro. I deserve any and all of your hatred. I'll even take it all, if there's even a sliver of hope that you'll someday be able to look up at me someday.'
"Thank you," she hoarsely whispered regaining her voice as well. Slowly, she began to stand, her weak legs beginning to rock back and forth on their heels.
Haku stood as well. "Please let me help you. You're not well enough to walk again. You'll only fall and hurt yourself." He reached for her elbow in an attempt to help her balance herself, yet she only flinched away again, this time causing her to fall. Halfway down to the cold hard ground in which the tiny sootballs were used to traveling each day, Haku's strong grasp caught her. He stood her upright and, once again, both felt the little tingle of the electricity coursing through their bodies.
"See?"
Both stood there for a minute, catching their breath at Chihiro's clumsiness, and the closeness they had come to as a result of that.
"Please just let me go," she nearly begged, Haku realizing he still held her in his arms after that short pause.
He had no other choice but to let her free, if that was what she truly wanted. He would, though, catch her if she fell again. He always would.
Slowly, Chihiro began staggering towards the door and making her way into the sunlight of the new sunrise.
"Chihiro you'll fall and hurt yourself on the stairs," Haku warned once again.
This time though, one thing escaped her lips the second she thought it.
"Not as much as you've hurt me."
With that, the determined girl made her way into the sunlight.
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"So," Lin said. "My favorite little dope's come back eh? That's good to hear! I'll prepare her bath then go get her. Thanks for the news Kamaji."
"Anytime." Kamaji replied, yawning. "Now I gotta get back and get some rest before the night comes and the work of preparing the spirit's bath water begins again."
"K go get some rest. I'll be over there with your food later then. Night."
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Leaning against the post at the end of the red bridge, Chihiro gasped for breath. 'Why...Why is this taking so long? Why are my legs so heavy?' After the short break, Chihiro kept at her path back into the green field and back to her world.
"Chihiro!" A loud voice called out to her from behind, "Hey you dope you're not thinking of leaving so soon without seeing me are ya?!"
"Lin?" Chihiro asked, turning around to face the speaker.
When her suspicions were confirmed, Chihiro's face broke out in a huge grin
"Lin!" she called out again.
"Hey! Chihiro it's so great so see you again! You certainly have grown eh shrimpy?" Lin said, embracing her friend with so much emotion.
"Ha.. yeah guess I have." Chihiro hugged her back.
"Such a long time has passed I can't believe you're finally back! Oh come on follow me!" Lin took Chihiro by the shoulders and began guiding her into the bathhouse.
"Lin where are we going?" Chihiro's curiosity peaked.
"To the bathhouse of course! We're gonna get you a a nice relaxing bath after having fainted so badly! I can't believe you took it that way. I actually expected- Hey what's wrong?"
"Lin I can't go back. I want to go home. I just can't stay here anymore! I really have missed you. Honestly I have. But everything else is just too hard to understand right now. I can't take it. It's almost unbearable." She broke down, dropping to her knees, her face in her hands trying to stop the tears.
"There there Chihiro," Lin knelt down to console her friend, holding her in a somewhat-awkward crouching hug. "Everything's gonna be ok, I promise."
"No it's not Lin! He made it very clear what he thought of what happened. It meant nothing. Absolutely nothing!" she sobbed into her hands.
Without needing a name, Lin knew exactly who 'he' was. "Listen Chihiro. I know it's not the easiest thing to do right now, but I really thing you should stay. For one, everybody here really missed you. And secondly, if you show Haku how much this all really hurt you, and then just run away, it's not gonna be any easier. It's gonna haunt you for a long time and you will eventually regret this," Lin patted her shoulder. "You have to show that you are strong. And, even if all that means nothing to you, think of Diarsi. How do you think she would feel if she knew she had done such an awful thing to you without even knowing? Just think this through, please."
After a few more sobs Chihiro became still and silent. She knew Lin was right. About everything. She would never be able to forgive herself if she had made Diarsi feel so awful. And she didn't even know what she did.
"Ok Lin," she sniffled, "I'll stay."
"Good," Lin grinned, "That's what I wanted to hear. Come on. The bath will definitely help you feel better. I just know it."
"I hope so," Chihiro was helped back up to her feet, biting her lip in anxiety over what she knew was surely to come.
(A/N: You all know I could certainly end the chapter right here right? I actually won't though because I understand how cruel I've been for not updating so soon... SO, lucky for you, you get to read the next part which I'm pretty sure would've been the beginning for the next chapter, but I'm gonna have to make a new beginning now. Anyways, NJOI:D)
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"Ahh...Lin this feels wonderful!"
"See Chihiro, I told you this would make you feel better. As I've learned over these past few years, there's a huge difference between cleaning a tub," she made a face, "And relaxing in one!" she laughed.
Chihiro couldn't help but laugh at the awful joke that she knew so well. Sometimes she even missed the work she got to do with Lin, but this was a much better way to bond with her instead of falling flat on her face.
Chihiro unconsciously touched her face remembering the pain that come after so many accidents here.
"Hmm? What's wrong with your face Chihiro?"
"Nani? OH! I was just remembering the many times I fell here," she admitted sheepishly.
"Haha good times..."
"Hey!" Chihiro playfully splashed water in Lin's direction.
"Master Haku!" a whiny frog-like voice came calling from the hallway as he ran past the rooms of tubs in which Lin and Chihiro had been relaxing. "Master Haku, oh Master Haku!"
Instantly, Chihiro's face fell.
"Chihiro ignore the annoying frog," Lin answered to her expression.
"I'm ok."
Lin's eyes looked over at Chihiro, trying to call her bluff.
"No really Lin," Chihiro gulped, "I'm ok."
"Ok if you say so..."
"I'm just wondering though..."
"Yeah?"
"Why is Haku still Master Haku? He told me he would quit being Yubaba's assistant..."
"Oh he did. You haven't heard the news yet huh Chihiro?"
Chihiro just shook her head.
"Oh well you see," Lin continued straightening up in the tub, "Yubaba is not longer the Head of the bathhouse. Haku is now."
"W-w-wait... How did that happen? You can't possibly tell me she just handed the position over to him." Chihiro replied in disbelief.
"Well," Lin replied, her face suddenly becoming cloudy, "It's a long story, but if you want I'll tell you.
She nodded in response.
"Ok," Lin sighed, "Well it really all starts off when you left the Spirit World and went back to your mother and father. Yubaba could not believe the changes you had caused in us. Bo had come out of his room, Haku was free from her spell, and even the workers had become more demanding from the awful conditions she had us working with. To top it all off though, you had gotten away from her so she was unable to do much else. Her fury grew and grew each passing day when she lost profits due to the Worker's Strike."
Chihiro nodded attentively to the story.
"Finally everything ended in one horrible day. She began lashing out at everything and everyone. Her fury could not be calmed, not even by her own son. Haku had had enough of the abuse done to everyone. He and Yubaba began a ferocious battle which did much damage to the bathhouse, but it was all worth it in the end when Haku overcame her. She fled. She wanted to take Bou with her, but he refused, knowing his mother was up to no good and was planning horrible things against everyone, you especially. That was the final straw for her. She stole away into the night, blending in with the shadows, but not before vowing that she would get her revenge against you and Haku."
"You mean everyone had to suffer because of me?" Chihiro said, with a great amount of guilt on her mind.
"On the contrary. You made us believe we could do better. Sure, it had to get a little bit bad before it got better, but it was all worth it!"
"Oh... are you sure?"
"Positive!" Lin smiled from ear to ear.
"Ok good then I guess. I don't feel so bad then..."
"Haha you shouldn't. But as I was saying, after vowing her revenge, Yubaba left and was never heard or seen from again. Shortly after, Haku took over and made things so much better for everyone! I even got to be Co-Head of the house!"
"That's so great Lin!"
"But then things got bad again..." Lin's smile slowly faded.
"How so?"
"Well things didn't get bad for us. I just mean... Haku changed one day. He was out running some errands for the bathhouse and he said he was attacked by something. Something he couldn't see, but he could definitely sense. That was the only reason he survived. He came back with wounds that spurted blood everywhere. The worst one was on his left arm. It hurt him like crazy and the blood that spilled from there was unbelievable... We were able to save him, but after his three nights' rest, he seemed...different. He wouldn't talk to anyone, make eye contact, or even be around as much as he used to. And the strangest thing is that whenever a medic wanted to inspect his wounds, they all checked out fine... except for the one on his left arm which he wouldn't let anyone see or touch.
"The arm..." Chihiro whispered thoughtfully.
"Yeah. No one has gotten close enough to inspect it. He won't let anyone close to him... Except Diarsi," she whispered the last part.
"Diarsi?"
"She's the closest to him right now, but it's not even close if you think about it."
"What do you mean?"
"He's very..." Lin searched for the word, "Distant. The most he's done with her is a hug, I believe. One time she put her arms around him and when her hand reached his arm, he pulled away and ran with a dark look in his eyes."
"Lin?"
"Mm?"
"I have one more question."
"What is it?" Lin slid lower into the steamy bath, closing her eyes.
"W-w-w-" Chihiro thought for the correct words to use, "How did Haku and Diarsi happen?" she gulped, her throat feeling suddenly dry. It wasn't any easier saying it as it was hearing it.
"Well... That goes back to Haku's injuries."
"Mm?"
"Well technically, I should go back to Diarsi first. See, not too long ago, about a few years back really, Diarsi and her family appeared around here. Her mother, her father, her little brother, and she had all appeared here out of nowhere. We found them out over by the train tracks and none of them knew what was going on. They didn't even know they had passed on! They had no idea when, or how they died. None of them really had any problem adjusting, except Diarsi of course. She had become depressed and distant from everyone, even her family. She missed her old life and everything she knew. One time she even went so out of her mind she actually tried to kill herself."
Chihiro gasped. "Can spirits actually be killed?"
"In a way, yes. Not the ways your thinking of, but it takes a great deal of magic to kill or be killed. How Diarsi got ahold of something like that, I have no idea. That raised a lot of questions, but that's not important right now."
"Mm-hmm," Chihiro nodded.
"Anyways, she had so deeply gone out of her mind that she was going to kill herself. She just couldn't adjust so well to this life as the rest of her family did. Just as she was to do herself in, Haku appeared and stopped her. Naturally, someone with his experience and abilities could stop someone as inexperienced as Diarsi with a flick of his hand. Diarsi was suffering so badly here, but death certainly wasn't an option. Haku was empathetic though, so he came up with a solution for her problems."
"And that was...?"
"Her life in your town. Diarsi missed your world so badly, and having her live in your town made it so much easier on Haku to keep an eye out on her in case something bad happened in the process. Immediately, Diarsi began to recover. She got the color back in her skin and eyes, and she finally began to smile again. Everything was turning out great, but Haku didn't want anyone to get suspicious of a girl who lived alone in the town. He asked her parents if they wanted to move back. None of them wanted Diarsi to go back to being depressed, they were happy as long as she was happy, so they gladly agreed. There was one flaw though. If they spent too much time back in that world, they began to lose their life energy and began to disappear, just as you did when you first came here."
"Yeah I understand..."
"So every summer," Lin continued, "They had to return to the Spirit World so they wouldn't lose their life."
"So then that's why she was never heard or seen during the summers, isn't it?"
"Yeah."
"So then now that I understand that, how did they happen?" she asked again.
"Oh! Right, right. Well Diarsi was very thankful for what Haku had done for her. Naturally, after spending so much time with him every summer, she began to like him. Haku on the other hand, did not reciprocate her feelings. He cared for her, that was undeniable, but like or love her, he did not. She became a little sad at that, but refused to give up their friendship over a silly thing such as that. Now, when Haku became injured, she was one of the most worried people. She was with him the whole time at his bedside, and even tended to some of his wounds."
"Wow... She really is a saint. No wonder Haku fell for her.." Chihiro muttered under her breath.
"Haha, it would seem like that to the outsider's eyes wouldn't it? But no matter how grateful he was to her, and how much closer they had grown, he still didn't feel anything towards her in that way."
"Then how...?"
"I'm getting to that."
"Sorry," Chihiro apologized for interrupting.
"Now this is the part in the story where Haku changed, remember?"
She nodded.
"Well, one this particular day, Haku had a grimacing look in his eyes. On that day, he didn't speak to anyone or stop at anytime. He just walked on and on through the bathhouse and field as if he was looking for something and wouldn't give up. Finally, he bumped into Diarsi and took her away to someplace where no one could find them. When they came back, Diarsi was ecstatic and had a glorious smile on her face. Haku just had a menacing smirk on his. It wasn't long before everybody heard the news. Master Haku and Diarsi we're together."
"So, it just happened that quickly?"
"Mm-hmm. No one even saw it coming."
"If he's with her now, then how do you know that he didn't feel anything for her?"
"Cause," Lin smiled and winked, "I was the closest person to him before and whenever I asked him about it, he would just say 'She's not the one I'm waiting for.'. When I asked him who was, he would just turn red and suddenly have an important 'thing' he had to attend to at the other end of the bathhouse.
Chihiro suddenly felt a blush creeping up to her cheeks.
'Wait. Why am I blushing? It's not like he was talking about me...' her blush suddenly disappeared.
"Oh come on Chihiro you know perfectly well who he was talking about!" Lin replied after reading the expression on her face.
"I'd rather not get my hopes up right now." Chihiro whispered.
"Ok, well then come on. We'd better go get you a room to stay in before the Guest Spirits come and take up the good ones." Lin looked out the window and saw sundown was but a few minutes away.
"Wait, so then I'm staying the night here?"
"Where else would you stay?" a puzzled expression appeared on Lin's face.
"I thought it was going to be like last time."
Suddenly the puzzled expression changed to one of humor. "Haha! Do you really think we would let you stay in the servants rooms? You're not working while you're here. You're a special guest and we're going to treat you as such."
"Ok... but I don't want anything too nice. I would feel like I'm freeloading here..."
"Chihiro calm. I told you, we all owe you one anyways for what you've done for us."
Chihiro just silently got out of the bath and wrapped a towel around her, copying Lin's actions.
"Now come on. No need to put your clothes on now. They're dirty from your adventure anyways. We'll get you something fresh and clean. Now follow me."
They walked up the hallway and stood in front of the foreman's stand.
"Yes? What can I do for you ladies this evening?"
"Hey, we need a room for Chihiro to stay in. The best room you've got Frog."
"Well sorry to inform you," the frog smirked not looking sorry at all, "But all our rooms are taken. Maybe next time."
"Oh," Lin said, looking unchanged, "Well if there are no rooms, then perhaps she can take your room for the time being. I heard there was this beautiful fountain and..."
"No! No that won't be necessary Mistress Lin. It appears I just remembered of a free room on the top floor. I must, however, tell you that that room is--."
"Enough with the chit-chat Froggy just take us to the room."
The frog glared all the way to the top floor and Chihiro heard him cursing under his breath. It was quiet, but she swore she heard something like: "...I remember when she answered to me...". Chihiro couldn't help but giggle at the comment.
"Hey what's so funny Chihiro?" Lin asked
The Frog threw a quick worried glance her way, afraid she must've heard him and even more worried about what Lin would do to him.
'Poor Frog doesn't need anymore trouble.' she thought.
"No nothing I was just thinking of something funny."
Lin raised a questioning eyebrow, but accepted the answer either ways.
"Well here we are. Ms. Mistress." the Frog bowed to Chihiro and Lin and left, but not before throwing another glance Chihiro's way, this time, thankful.
Lin slid open the door and stepped inside.
"Eh, nice place you got Chihiro! Take a look around... It's almost as good as mine!" she smirked.
Chihiro entered and was instantly amazed. The room was colored a light green, the kind that reminded her of the soft grass in the field. There was also a pink border around the top edges of the room. There was a soft, feathery bed against the middle of a wall in the room. The bed faced another pair of doors at the farthest wall in the room that led to a balcony which had the perfect view of the sunrise and sunset. There was also an elegantly carved dresser on the right side of the bed and a vanity on the other side. On the one side of the room stood another door which lead to an impossibly clean bathroom. Just stepping in it made Chihiro feel like she was making everything dirty.
There was another set of doors by the bed, and when Chihiro tried to open them, they wouldn't budge.
'Locked? What could be on the other side..?' her curiosity slowly gaining control of her mind.
Lin was on the other side of the room, checking out the vanity trying on the different sets of combs that laid there.
Suddenly, she heard a clicking on the other side of the doors, the locks being unlocked, most likely. When they opened, she couldn't believe her eyes.
"So," the velvety voice called, "You're the one occupying the adjoining room now."
It was Haku. Behind him Chihiro could see what was, undoubtedly his bedroom.
She suddenly blushed, remembering she had only a towel on to cover herself.
She couldn't avoid his eyes. They held hers, hypnotizing her and making her feel dizzy, making her forget that they weren't the only ones in the room. There was something in his eyes though. The usual gray was beginning to change into green and there was something else she could see there.
'What is that...?' she thought to herself.
After a few moments of sifting through, she could make out a few things.
Surprise, amusement, and even a bit of smugness.
But what stood out the most, was something even she didn't understand.
Passion.
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A/N: Oh yeah! I think I've outdone myself in this chapter! Wooo! Go Lily, Go Lily! Haha ok well my happy moment's done, but to keep it going, please review! Thanks for reading now go and review to keep me Happy/Hyper!! I do enjoy making this story, but it would really help if more of you people reviewed. I mean come on, how bad is it taking a few minutes to click 'Review Story' and typing a simple message eh? I won't take as long with the next chapter though guys! Arigatou!