Haku went outside and noticed Chiharu waiting calmly on the stairs, while playing with a bronze chain around her right wrist.
"Did I make you wait too much?" Haku asked.
"No, I was just thinking." Chiharu answered. "I miss my mother."
"I see, don't worry, I'll make sure you go back to her soon." Haku assured her.
"I hope she doesn't worries about me too much." Chiharu murmured.
"She, and what about your father?" Haku asked.
"He's dead." Chiharu answered.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Haku murmured, ashamed.
"Don't worry, he died two years ago." Chiharu explained. "We were on a boat, then there was an accident and it started sinking. A rescuer got my mother safely to shore, and I…I'm not sure. I don't remember at all. One moment I was underwater trying to keep by breath, and the next I was gasping for breath, next to a piece of wood. It was like a miracle. But…" she sighed. "He didn't make it. It was too late when the rescuers reached him, he drowned." A single tear ran down her cheek while she spoke.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked you something like this." Haku said.
Chiharu shook her head.
"Anyway." She said. "Are we going to stay here all night?"
"No, of course not." Haku said. "Come with me."
He went back upstairs to the main entrance.
"This is a Public Bathhouse, for gods and spirits." Haku explained Chiharu. "I'm gonna try to take you to the dormitories, without them noticing you."
"Why?" Chiharu asked.
"They don't like humans too much." Haku explained. "So we have to trust your spiritual presence to hide your human essence."
Chiharu nodded, she concentrated on herself, her dreams, wishes, thoughts, feelings. That way, her mother had taught her, her spiritual presence would grow.
It didn't take them long to cross the bathhouse. All the workers said hello to Haku and thought the girl was just a weak spirit.
Chiharu memorized all her surroundings, it was a one-of-a-kind place.
'This is awesome.' She thought while she looked around.
She raised a hand to her chest, something was in there, some strange feeling, it had been there since she had entered the place.
'This strange feeling.' She thought to herself. 'Like a lost memory. Like if there was something I have to remember. Something important.' She sighed. 'Like if this wasn't the first time I come here.' She shook her head. 'Now you're really going crazy Chiharu.'
.---.---.
Meanwhile Chihiro was in her home, drinking a cup of coffee when she suddenly got her hand to her chest.
"Something is going on." She murmured in the night. "I'm sure of it."
She turned to her window, got up and walked outside, to her garden. It ended in a bard. And behind it there was a river.
"Something is going on." Chihiro repeated. "I know it. I'm sure of it."
She turned her attention to the river flowing. Slowly a lonely tear slid down her face and to the current.
"Haku…" her whisper found no one to hear it in the cold night.
.---.---.
Chiharu was still wondering what was that strange feeling she had been having all night when suddenly there was something else.
'I have a bad feeling.' She thought.
And just then a voice called: "Haku!"
Haku gulped as he turned around, trying to look as calm as ever.
Chiharu turned around at the same time, and what she saw let her without breath. If this realm was really like her mother's old fairy tale she knew exactly who this lady was, even without having her introduced.
"Witch Yubaba…" she gasped.
Haku was quite astonished, how did Chiharu know who Yubaba was?
"Haku, here you are." Yubaba said. She noticed Chiharu. "You know that kids aren't allowed here. This is a public bathhouse."
"I know it Yubaba." Haku said trying to keep cool. "This girl, this spirit-girl got lost, I found her in the surroundings. I thought it would be good for her to stay here while we found her parents."
"What…" Yubaba started.
"It would talk good about you." Haku continued. "Worrying about a possible-client's daughter."
Yubaba immediately thought about money.
"Perfect." She said. She turned to Chiharu. "What's your name?"
Haku immediately gulped, if Chiharu said her real name Yubaba may be able to find out the truth.
But Chiharu noticed perfectly that the rest of the spirits weren't supposed to find out who she truly was so…
"My name is Hari, madam." Chiharu said, bowing.
"Hari." Yubaba repeated. "Perfect. I'm Yubaba, the owner of this place."
Chiharu nodded in silence.
"Perfect, she can stay." She said, she turned around, but before she left she added. "Just don't trouble."
Chiharu again nodded in silence.
Yubaba left.
"Ah…" Haku sighed loudly once she had left.
"Should I have said my real name?" Chiharu asked Haku.
"No, you did the right thing." Haku answered her. "Now come on. We must find you a place to rest."
.---.
About ten minutes later they both were in a hallway that lead to some bedrooms.
"Here, you'll be comfortable." Haku said showing her into one.
Chiharu nodded as she couldn't hold a yawn.
"Chiharu." Haku said, remembering something. "How did you know that woman was Yubaba?"
"It might sound strange to you but my mother has this old fairytale, different from any other I have ever heard about before." Chiharu explained. "It talks about a Human Princess called Sen, who visits the Spirit Kingdom and meets Prince Haku, and some other friends. And in it there's also the evil witch Yubaba." She turned to look at Haku. "When that woman appeared I had bad feeling, and immediately associated her with the old witch of my mother's story."
Haku nodded.
'So that's all we are now for Chihiro.' Haku thought sadly. 'An old fairy-tale.'
"What's sad." Chiharu said suddenly. "Is how such a beautiful story couldn't have a happy ending."
Haku turned around immediately, trying to find out why Chiharu had said that, but she had already fallen asleep.
"Well, I guess I can find out tomorrow." Haku said, he took a blanket and covered Chiharu with it.
And just then he noticed something Chiharu was wearing around her neck, it was a silver necklace with a jade dragon hanging from it.
"Chihiro…" Haku murmured.
.---.---.
And in her home Chihiro suddenly saw Haku's reflection in the river, next to hers.
"Haku!" she exclaimed.
But then she thought better about it.
"It's impossible for him to be here." She told herself. "As much as it is impossible for me to go there."
She began playing with a bronze chain she had around her right wrist, it had ancient runes all around it, and an aura, like magic.
"I'm going crazy." Chihiro told herself. "I better go to bed."
And with that she left.
.---. End of Chapter .---.
So, how do you like this fic so far? I know the chapters are short, but I just can't reveal too much at once.
I hope I'll get more reviews this time.
See you in the next update.