Dearest readers,

Hello everyone, this is the second to last chapter in my story Going, Going, Gone and I just wanted to tell you that it has been a pleasure writing this. Thank you to all my reviewers, and future reviewers to this story, I hope you find as much joy reading it, as I did in writing it.

Anyways, a great thanks to my latest reviewer, marium.

I appreciate all of your guys' support, and I'll be back with another story soonish.

Thank you again.

-KaeJoe


A calm smile spread over Haku's lips, watching the girl sort through everything she'd just been told, before he stepped forward, digging out a small, circular container that contained a single red berry; "Chihiro.." he said softly, opening the jar and extracting the berry, holding its soft body gently between thumb and forefinger, before slipping the jar back into his pocket. Holding it out to her, he smiled encouragingly and used his other hand to take her chin in his fingers. Touching the berry gently to her lips, he gently pulled on her chin a small bit to get her to open her mouth, again realizing that he was asking her to put a good amount of trust in him.

His gaze bore gently into hers, nudging her mind as he prodded her into accepting the food he offered. "I do not want you to disappear. Please, eat," his words were gentle, kind, and she had no reason to distrust him, yet she was still wary of the entire situation, paranoid from years of therapy that told her that Haku and the spirit world were not real, yet she opened her mouth, and felt him roll the berry off her bottom lip and onto her tongue where she chewed it slowly, the bittersweet flavor almost making her cringe, before she smiled and swallowed it down. As soon as the berry pulp was down her throat, she felt a warming sensation – like that of a fire on a cold winters night – in her belly that warmed her entire body, gave her a more sound, real feeling, like she was tethered to the ground by an invisible, safe cord. Haku nodded slowly. "How do you feel?" he asked softly.

The brown haired girl stared at him for a moment, running her hands over his chest, up his neck, touching his face, feathering her fingers over his eyelids as though to confirm that he was still real before she licked her lips, tasting the last bit of berry on her lips, again confirming that it was real. "I don't understand, why didn't you come sooner..?" she asked, her voice shaky with emotions she hadn't had to use in such a long time, that they almost frightened her.

The dragon spirit smiled, and reached his hand out further to cup her cheek in a gentle, loving fashion, pulling her closer as he wrapped his hand around the back of her neck into the soft, silk strands of her lovely hair. Rubbing her neck gently as he urged her to rest her head on his chest, which she did so hesitantly, yet gratefully, he licked his lips and closed his eyes, his cheek resting on the top of her head. "I wanted too, Chihiro, Goddess, I wanted too. You have to understand the position I have been in recently, so let me explain..

"After you left ten years ago I went back to the bath house and set Yubaba straight, she was shocked when I informed her that I knew my true name, but accepted it over the course of a few weeks. When she was ready, I then told her that instead of being her apprentice, I wanted to be a free spirit, free as the river I used to protect. Again, it took her some time to adjust, but she accepted that as well, and I signed on as co-owner of the bath house, we now run it together, though grudgingly. For nine years I have been cleaning up her messes, fixing up the bath house, and preparing for the day that you would return to us, I was going to come to you in a few months when preparations were finished, and then today I got a call from Yubaba, that you were going to.. Going to.." Haku's voice broke, and his grip tightened gently around the slim girl in his arms, holding her against him as though to deny the truth of what Yubaba had told him, and the truth as to why he'd come to fetch her early. Pulling back, Haku's hands went to her shoulders again, and he held her at arm's length, his calm façade dropped as he studied her, true pain in his eyes. "I was scared, Chihiro. Scared I was too late."

Kohaku studied her for a moment, waiting for a reaction, and was pleasantly surprised when she leaned back into him, burying her head in his chest and breathing deeply of his scent, letting it fill her head and calm her nerves as she thought about what to say. Finally leaning back, she rested her hands on his chest and nodded slowly. "I.. I think I understand, Haku, and I'm sorry. I should never have doubted you, but this past decade hasn't been easy for me, my parents threw me in therapy for five years, they managed to convince me that you were fake, that the spirit world was fake and ever since then I've thought I was simply craz-"

Her words were sharply cut off when Haku rolled his eyes, leaned down, and planted the softest of kisses upon her lips, a soft purr actually vibrating his chest as her taste over took him, and he pulled her flush against his body, letting out another purr as she molded against him, and after a momentary hesitation, kissed him back. This was by far a different Haku than Chihiro had ever known, his actions were by no means calm; on the contrary with every passing second they progressed from sweet and persuasive to passionate and aggressive until he was practically clinging to her, one of his hands sliding from her shoulder, down her back, and along her hip from which he slid it to her thigh. He felt her tense against him, but that didn't stop him from gently pushing her back against the tunnel wall and sliding his hand up under the skirt of her dress, rubbing gently at the ultra soft skin of her leg, before he hoisted it up around his waist; after a few moments in this much more intimate position, with more groping of hands and needful kisses, Haku seemed to snap back into reality, and softened his kisses and his grip until he was able to back away from her and rub a hand over his face, carefully making sure the very shaky girl could stand.

During all of it, Chihiro was a very willing participant, and she opened her eyes with a soft noise of disappointment when he pulled away, her brown eyes confused. "Wow, what was that?" she asked softly, touching her lips and looking up at him. "That was.. Nothing like you. Nothing at all."

The spirit laughed softly, and pinched the bridge of his nose for a moment. "I am sorry about that, it's been a long time since I felt a woman's touch like that.. I got a bit carried away." When he finished his statement, he shook his head and then moved to walk away again, yet turned back when Chihiro tugged on his arm.

"Can I come with you now?" she asked softly, looking up at him with huge doe eyes.

Haku smiled softly, and cupped her cheek as he shook his head. "Not today, I need to finish preparations. Return to the human world, and I'll come for you in a few months time; take your remaining time there to finish things up, quit your job, sell your house, and wait for me. Never stop waiting, I'll be there. Soon."

"Promise?"

"I promise, now go, and don't look back."