Don't Look Back – Chapter 29

Happenings Of Love

((Haku's POV))

I was thrilled… beyond thrilled… but we had a problem. Chihiro and I weren't married, and she's pregnant. Bad. Really bad. This would dishonor us both unless I did something, and I didn't want to get married just yet. I wanted that day to be a happy one, not rushed. But I knew that if I didn't formally claim her, she would be shunned.

So, proposing sounded like my only option.

But a proposal was supposed to be romantic, and it was driving me insane. I liked to do things right, and rushing things wasn't right. There were tough decisions in life and this was just one of them. I yelled at Fate to send fatherhood at me, and everything that comes with it. So, in a way, I brought this upon myself.

I bought a ring through Yubaba, and she was thrilled about it. I was almost afraid that she would tell the entire bathhouse before I even said a word to Chihiro.

But it was now or never.

She was sitting on the couch, reading a book. I came in silently and wrapped my arms around her shoulders from behind, causing her to laugh. "Oh no, what do you want from me this time Haku?" she asked, leaning back into me.

"I'm hurt!" I cried in mock pain, "Is it illegal to just hug you once in a while?"

"It is when you have an aim besides enjoying my company. What is it?"

I sighed, "You know me too well."

She smiled at me. "Haku… I live with you. I'm the mother of your unborn child. Don't you think I would know how you act?"

I chuckled, "I guess you would know then. Actually… I was thinking about our situation."

"When you say situation do you mean the fact that I'm pregnant before we're married?" Chihiro said darkly.

I rubbed her arms, "I'm not mad Chihiro, it's just got us in a squeeze. The only way I can think of to fix it completely is to get married before you start to show. I don't want to do that though… our wedding day is going to be happy."

"So then what do you propose?" she said sadly, eyes closed.

I drew the simple ring out of my pocket, and picked up her left hand. I slid the ring onto her fourth finger and she gasped. Her chocolate eyes flew open and looked at the ring that I had placed there. She looked up at me and I smiled sadly.

"There wasn't a way to propose romantically when it's a rushed proposal and-"

"It's fine… I love it." Chihiro murmured, looking fondly at the ring. I smiled and came to sit next to her on the couch. She leaned on my chest and I automatically wrapped my arms around her.

It wasn't bad, but it could have been better. At least the problem was halfway cleared up. We would be frowned upon, but the fact that she was now my fiancé, neither of our names would be disgraced.

She leaned up and kissed me on my cheek and stood up. I frowned, "Where are you going?"

"Bed." She said simply, walking to our room slowly, "I'm not exactly tired… and I would very much like you to join me…" she said, looking at me over her shoulder.

I grinned and jumped off of the couch. I dashed over and grabbed her, which made her laugh. I kissed her while she was breathless and opened the door to our room with one hand. She pushed me through, and the door shut behind us with a snap.

A Month Later
Chihiro's Pregnancy – 3 Months

((Kentoku's POV))

"Do you ever sleep?" A woman asked, coming into the room with a staff in hand.

I smiled, "I sleep Rin."

"WHEN?" she asked with a laugh, coming to stand in front of me, "I always find you down here!"

"I don't come down here every night. You just manage to find me most of the time. I was down here last night."

"I was about to come down last night!" she exclaimed.

I smirked, and tapped her staff, "Are you here to talk or are you here to spar." Her response was to give me a few good whacks, but I managed to block them. After a few blows, I managed to knock her down.

She jumped right back up and racked her brain for something to tell me. "Oh… I remember that! Once I set Yubaba's papers in her office on fire because she told me I had to clean the big tub when Chihiro was first hired."

I couldn't help but laugh. "You set… her papers… on FIRE?" I gasped out between laughs.

She joined in and nodded, "Yes I did. I remember the look on her face… it was priceless."

"Did she catch you?" I asked.

Rin stopped laughing and struck my staff again. "You have to knock me down first!" she said in a singsong voice.

I quickly countered her attacks, smiling to myself. We'd been doing this for a while, and she was fluent in the ways of our game. After a few blows, I found myself down on the floor and I chuckled. Rin was waiting patiently for me to reveal a secret as I stood up.

I smirked at her, "I'm afraid of snakes."

The complete randomness of the statement made her giggle, "Oh come on, tell me something real!"

"I just did! I'm afraid of snakes!" I said in defiance, a grin coming over my face.

"Really Kentoku, what?" Rin said, looking at me sternly.

I sighed, "That was it my dear." I said, striking her and she blocked me. I put hard on the offensive, and yet I managed to find myself on the floor again. I glared up at her. "You need to stop doing that."

She just smirked and leaned on her staff as I stood up. "I want to know how you see me."

I turned to her, surprised. She usually let me pick something to tell, so her asking me was a change. And what she asked was even more of a mystery. But, I had to answer fairly.

"I see you as a strong willed and beautiful woman that knows life is hard, but can still enjoy the good things about it." I said softly, and Rin smiled.

"Thank you." She said softly. I nodded, lowering my staff and grabbing hers. She didn't let go, so I just pulled her closer to me. She looked up at me, gray eyes dancing. I smiled and kissed her gently, and she let her staff fall to the ground with a clatter as she wrapped her arms around me.

I laughed against her lips and broke away, "Rin… are you a little playful right now?"

"No I am not!" she cried, arms still around my neck. "It's just…"

"What?" I asked softly, tilting my head down so I could hear her better.

"Kisses are something to enjoy… especially when they come from you."

I was deeply touched. Something that I don't think twice about giving she treasures? How wrong is that? I let my staff fall and I gathered her in my arms. She sighed and leaned her head against my chest. I looked up at the ceiling and thought hard.

I've come a ways. I was a depressed and mourning man until a beautiful bathhouse worker came and turned everything I knew around. She saved my life more than once, and I gave hers back to her. She helps me overcome my sorrow and I never think twice about her during the day.

What is wrong with me? I wondered to myself, the corners of my eyes becoming moist. I closed my eyes and let two tears fall down my face. I opened my eyes and brushed them away before Rin saw them and I smiled down at her. She winked at me and I gave her a quick kiss and picked up my staff. I wanted some sleep.

((Amaya's POV))

Wedding details… oh how I'm coming to hate them. They're almost done because there is absolutely nothing to do in the bathhouse. Chihiro's showing now and she's thrilled. Haku's been running around like a nut, making sure nothing is coming that will harm his soon to be new family.

Perun's been as calm as calm gets, and he's helped me out a lot. He's about the only sane one around her. Chihiro and Haku… that's given happiness and insanity. Kentoku and Rin are fine, but it's obvious they're hiding something. I think Eve's the only one that hasn't completely lost it, but she kinda got jumpy when she heard that Felix and Basir were coming back from patrols around the surrounding country. She evidently knows the two generals, and doesn't want to see them for some reason. I wonder why…

Now I'm thinking its just Perun that's sane because I'm not going to last very long if I'm buried in all of these wedding details. I need to get OUT. BADLY.

Chihiro came into the room and sat down in a chair slowly, pulling out a book of dresses and smiled at me, "You better get a dress soon…"

"Heh, I guess. Want to make sure it fits." I agreed, coming to stand beside her. The book rested on her slightly round belly, and I gasped.

She laughed, "Yes Amaya, it's a child."

"No, no, it's not that!" I cried, "Chi… the wedding is going to be REALLY close to your due date…"

She blinked a few times. "Huh, it is isn't it? Well… that's definitely another bump in the road this pregnancy has caused."

"Don't worry about it!" Perun said, coming into the room with Haku. "Wait… you'll be really close won't you?" He asked, grabbing himself a glass of water.

"About eight months." Haku confirmed, looking at me.

I sighed, "We'll have to move it then."

Chihiro gasped, "No! Amaya, you are NOT going to delay your wedding because of me!" she said sternly, grasping my arm lightly.

I patted her hand in reassurance. "I wont delay it… I'll make it around sooner."

Poor Perun… he had been taking a sip of water when I said that. He choked and water was sprayed everywhere. "What?" he croaked out.

"I'll have to make it sooner… unless you want to wait a year."

"No! No, I don't want to wait a year." Perun said, setting his glass down.

"Then it has to be two months." I said, opening another book. "So, that means you two have to scram and let me finish things."

Perun opened his mouth to protest, but Haku grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. "You heard your fiancé, let's go!"

"But hey, I haven't seen her all day!" Perun protested, trying to get out of his brother's hold.

Haku's arm snapped out and grabbed his little brother in a headlock. "She'll still be here tonight."

"But I want to see her BEFORE tonight!"

Haku snickered, "You can keep your pants on until then, so just chill out." Perun gasped in shock at his brother's statement, and Haku let out a triumphant cry. He threw him out of the room and shoved him down the hall.

"How dare you make a comment about my sex life! I, unlike you, am waiting for marriage! Hey… when DID you and Chihiro-"

"Oh no, don't you DARE think I'm telling you a thing! And are you seriously waiting for marriage? Father didn't do that."

"You're kidding!"

Haku laughed, "I'm not! So, I'll tell you about me and Chihiro only if you tell me when you're REALLY going to bed Amaya-"

"Guys!" I cried in outrage, Chihiro having a laughing fit, "You left the door open!"

Both men poked their heads in and looked at each other nervously. Then Haku's mouth twitched. Perun chuckled, and the both of them busted out laughing. Chihiro let her giggles be heard, and I couldn't help but smile.

Boys will always be boys no matter how old they'll get.

Two Months Later
Chihiro's Pregnancy – 5 Months

I can't believe it's here… my wedding is three days away! Perun and I were assigned different levels of the bathhouse so we would be apart for the traditional three days. Kentoku was to lecture him about his new duties. Rin and Yubaba were to do it for me, but soon gave up when they discovered that I wasn't paying attention. Chihiro and Eve were trying their best to calm me down, and Eve actually threatened to give me a sleeping draught right there and then if I didn't go to bed the night before. I mean, who would want to sleep the night before their wedding?

The Next Day
((Kentoku's POV))

Perun was pretty calm for the past few days, but when he woke up on his wedding day… he was a nutcase. Literally. I was afraid I'd have to give him something to sedate him at one point. Haku and I managed to force him into his tux, and I left the room to escort Amaya down the aisle. Haku, Basir, and Felix were to be the groomsman, Haku being best man. Rin, Chihiro were bridesmaids and Eve was the maid of honor. I haven't figured out why Chihiro isn't, but I guess I'll never truly understand how the female mind works. When I stepped into where the girls were getting ready, (when it was safe) I noticed why Chihiro was just a bridesmaid.

For only being five months along… she was pretty big. There was no way she would want to be the maid of honor in the form fitting dress. It all suddenly made a LOT more sense. I looked over at Amaya and my breath caught.

Perun… good luck.

It was an ivory dress with a pretty long train. A halter-top with sewn in beads glimmered and she smiled up at me from beneath her veil. "Does it look good for last minute?"

"There is no way that this dress was last minute." I said seriously. Amaya blushed and came over. I offered her my arm and I escorted her out of the room… and then down the aisle.

Nothing went wrong, as planned. Now the newlyweds were dancing happily in the ballroom at their reception, and everyone was enjoying themselves. Now there was an even bigger reason to celebrate our peace. Looking around the dancers and all gathered, they think it's going to last. But I know better. It won't, Kallisto will come back. It's only a matter of time now, though I don't expect her to even think about showing her face again for another year. Rin was at my side and she smiled up at me. I smiled back down and led her out to the dance floor for the next song. I enjoyed dancing more now; after all, I had a wonderful dance partner.

After the song, I took her back to our table so she could have a sip of her drink. I looked at the doors, and to my confusion, they opened! Basir and Felix came down the steps, all ready for the festivities. Then they each spotted Eve talking with Chihiro. They started making their way down the steps and across the room, and I knew that unless she wanted to confront them here and now, she had to get out of here.

I weaved through the people and grabbed my sister's arm. "Now would be a great time to leave."

She took a sip of her glass of wine and looked at me in confusion, "Why? There isn't anything wrong!"

"There's going to be if you let Felix and Basir reach you." I told her.

She immediately set down her glass and I helped her out of a secret door in the wall. "Thank you." She whispered to me before she took down the hall. I closed the door and turned around to see a confused Haku and Chihiro.

"Why did she have to leave?" she asked, her arm through Haku's.

I smiled sadly, "You want to know the story? All right, you asked for it.

Basir and Felix are twins, and they're both Eve's age right? So, both of them have their eye on her. But, there's a catch to this. Felix likes Eve, but she only thinks of him as a friend. Basir likes her, but he doesn't show it in front of his brother because he refuses to woo a woman that his brother likes. Eve likes Basir but respects that he doesn't want to hurt his brother."

"So it's been like a stalemate for the last… how many years?" Haku asked.

"About twenty. It's completely ridiculous, but I respect the fact that she doesn't want to confront them right now. After all, they thought she was dead. It would create a scene if she tried to slip away after they talked to her."

Haku and Chihiro nodded, and I smiled at my oldest son. "You might want to follow her example, I'm sure you're feet are killing you Chihiro."

She winced and lifted on her feet, "They are actually…"

Haku looked down at her as they walked toward the entrance. "Why didn't you tell me? We would have left a lot sooner."

"Haku!" I called out, and he turned around. I opened the door Eve has escaped through and Haku nodded his thanks as they ducked in and went up to their room. I shut it behind them as Rin came up.

"Is something wrong? I saw Eve and then Haku and Chihiro leave…"

"Nothing really. Eve's just escaping her suitors."

Rin giggled, "Oh dear… who are they?"

"Felix and Basir." I said, offering her my arm and walking her back to our table. Sure enough, Basir came up to our table. "How are things?" I asked, delaying what he really wanted to talk about.

"Fine, nothing out of the ordinary. I was actually wondering if you had seen Eve-"

"She's retired for the night." I said quickly, watching him nod in understanding.

"I see. Well, I hope that I'll be able to talk to her without everyone around sometime. I have a lot to apologize for."

I blinked in confusion, "What do you have to apologize for?"

"I doubted her. I thought that she was dead. I didn't think that she could take care of herself behind enemy lines."

I shook my head, "I thought she was dead as well, you have nothing to be sorry for." Basir nodded and began to leave, but I caught him before he left. "Oh, and Basir?"

"Yes Kentoku?" He asked, turning back around.

"If you want to be noticed by someone, you have to speak up. If you don't, nothing will change." I told him, and he nodded reluctantly.

"What was that about?" Rin asked.

I kissed the top of her head, "You'll know soon enough."

A/N: I combined the next... THREE chapters so I could give you a long chapter before I lost the modem and couldn't update for a while. Heheh. I hoped you liked it, cuz this is all you're getting for about two weeks.

As of Tuesday or Wednesday, I WILL NOT HAVE THE INTERNET. We're moving, and that's the day my mother takes the modem back. -- So, I'm updating before I'm unable to.

I'm also starting school in two weeks, so I won't be able to update as much then, maybe once or twice a month. So, don't get used to frequent updates anymore because you probably won't see them as much as you like to. I'M SO SORRY!

Lillix Vail
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Thank you for reviewing you guys! I hoped you liked the little love triange I set up... XD

-Vincent's Angel of Chaos-