Authors Note: I am so sorry for the long Hiatus. I had been busy and when I finally got time, I got into a small kitchen accident cutting 1/3rd of my nails off my finger. My finger was in a bandage for almost 3 weeks. It was so difficult to type with an extra large finger. So in the end I had to put this on hold. Finally the bandage is taken off but my nail is still in the process of growing. Hopefully no more accidents and I am able to update as often as I can. I will try...

Thank you so much to trainermeimei, Cats4789, NarutoSwagg99, Guest, Jeanne, SAK00, kingjr, Christie Wind, Ninja-Ashleamay, RnDoM Gurrl, Ally Ann, illi777 for your constant reviews, supports and encouragements. Also thanks to all readers who visits me and put this story to their fav lists.

Happy Reading!

Chapter 6: Feelings That Cannot be Stolen

The fishes were swimming through the palace grounds. There wasn't any water in the barrier but strangely the fishes were fine as they float across. It was actually really beautiful. Even it was underwater there was light everywhere giving the water around the cocoon a sparkling glow.

Chihiro was captivated by her surroundings watched the school of small colourful fishes swam away. She wondered how long she was here. There wasn't any daylight to tell. The illumination of glow around didn't come from the sun. It seemed like artificial light or maybe at these cases magical phenomenon.

After an agreement with Haku, Chihiro was finally able to leave the room but no further than the inner grounds. There was a stonewall around indicates the separation of the outer palace and the inner palace. She could see a rounded archway at a corner of the stonewall that leads towards the outer palace. Since she promised she wouldn't leave she didn't go near the exit.

Even though it was the inner palace there was a huge beautiful garden just outside the room she was in. She gathered that this isolated garden she was now sitting on must be still his private quarters.

The place was too huge to be his quarters. Wouldn't he get lonely being alone here?

Besides that the palace was strangely empty. She thought maybe she could ask someone about the time or day. Wouldn't there be guards or maids around?

Chihiro touch the grass that she was sitting on in the garden. It was soft like carpet unlike any grass she had ever felt. It was a beautiful place. Peaceful and enchanting but she knew she wouldn't be able to stay long. When her holidays end. She had to go back to classes.

Besides, Kenshin must be having a fit right now that she went missing suddenly. If only she could see that. She chuckled inwardly and looked up to see the seawater flowing around gracefully outside the barrier.

"I'm sorry, did you wait long?"

Chihiro looked back to see Haku had returned again. He sat down next to her gradually.

"Kohaku-ouji…" Chihiro started.

"Please just call me Haku."

"But…" Chihiro frowned slightly. It was a very informal way to call a prince.

Haku felt his heart stung again. She wouldn't even call him like she used to.

"Eto… I will call you Kohaku then…" Chihiro said uncertainly. She couldn't bear to see that hurtful expression in his eyes.

Every time he looked upset, somehow Chihiro could feel her heart cracked painfully. She couldn't understand that feeling and she hated it. If only maybe he would smile?

Chihiro tilted her head slightly. She hadn't seen him smile since she got here. He was always looking sad and somewhat had a vacant look in those beautiful emerald eyes.

A short silence followed while Chihiro looked away slowly and back at the flowing water above.

"Kohaku, you know that I can't stay here forever." Chihiro said unable to look at him. She didn't want to see that painful expression on his face.

"I know…" Haku replied softly.

"I will try to remember but if my holidays are over, I have to go back to my realm."

There was silence from Haku.

Chihiro waited for a moment longer before she peered over to him. He was staring above the waters like she was too. His eyes were somewhat vacant and sad.

She sighed inwardly feeling her the pain in her heart again.

"Ne… Kohaku why don't you show me around your home?" Chihiro tried to change the subject to a much more cheerful one.

Haku turned towards her with wide eyes. She smiled at him gently.

"It is a big place even at the inner palace." Chihiro stated. "I am sure there must be stories and history… whatever it is around this place."

"If you wish to listen." Haku was still looking surprise. "I thought History are usually boring to humans."

"Well, if you say having to sit in class and listen to teachers drone on and on… that might be boring." Chihiro said thoughtfully. "But in a place like this… I doubt so."

She got up to her feet and stretched. Haku stood up next to her quietly.

"So where do we start?"

"There is a place I would like to show you." Haku told her.

"Awesome… let's go." Chihiro said happily. "I'm bored stiff sitting around doing nothing."

Haku smiled softly and Chihiro cheered up immensely. That might be a good start.

Haku watched Chihiro silently. With her memories gone, he found something different about Chihiro. She no longer had that mature aura around her. Before with responsibilities and her spiritual powers Chihiro had to grow up faster than the humans her age. With both her powers and memories stripped from her, she was somewhat became carefree and childlike.

When they reached their destination Chihiro gaped and ran forward. It was a crystal like pond with stones glittering like jewels at the bottom.

"This is beautiful!"

"There was a similar pond at the forest behind the shrine." Haku told her.

"Really?" Chihiro turned around to him curiously. "And I gather that I had been there before?"

Haku remained silent.

Chihiro turned back towards the pond and approached the bank. She knelt down and touched the waters gradually. The water was cool to her fingers.

"Ne Kohaku… what else did we actually really did together?" Chihiro asked silently. "There are things I kept and places I went to felt like I had been there with someone. Did we actually go to school together?"

"We did…" Haku answered shortly.

She stood and turned around. Her heart almost stopped when Haku was only inches away from her. She almost stepped back and fortunately didn't because if she did she would have fallen into the pond.

"We went to many places together." Haku told her softly. "Those were very precious memories to me."

"I'm sorry… that I forgot" Chihiro said softly not knowing what else to do or say. He was still so close.

"It wasn't your fault."

Chihiro looked up at those gentle emerald eyes and again her heart began to beat so fast and loud she wondered if Haku heard it. Why was it that only he could make her feel like this? Even she only met him but her constitutions told her that she knew him for a long time.

"Chihiro…" Haku raised a hand slowly and touched the side of her cheek gently. "I miss you so much. I don't want to scare you but… I am…"

Haku was at his limit. The urge to touch her and hug her was so strong that he couldn't hold it back anymore. Now with her standing so close. He was losing his senses.

"Kohaku…?" Chihiro's eyes widened with surprise.

Was he going to kiss her? He was getting even closer!

Chihiro didn't know what to do. Her conscious mind was screaming to run away. But her heart was making her stay where she was. Why wouldn't her legs move?

Then Haku let his hand drop from her face and turned away. He started walking back towards the path they took to get to the pond.

Chihiro blinked a few times and when she realised that she held her breath the hold time. She let it out quickly. After a few seconds trying to calm herself, she finally followed Haku slightly behind him with her head lowered and staring down the ground.

She didn't know whether she felt more disappointed than relieved. But she knew that she was somewhat disheartened that he didn't kiss her.

When the thought came into her mind she shook her head quickly. Why was she even thinking that? She barely even knew him! Gradually peering up at Haku's back, Chihiro wondered what was Haku actually thinking about.

Haku almost stabbed himself for almost kissing her. He was disappointed that it never happened. But he didn't want to scare Chihiro or push her too hard. When he came to his senses he could see her eyes wide with alarm.

He couldn't make himself to look at her after what happened and walked ahead without looking back. However he could hear her footsteps close behind which means that she had followed him even after what happened. He was relieved that she didn't hate him or got angry at what he did.

What took him by surprised was when he felt Chihiro's hand took his hand gently.

She had no idea what she did that. All of the sudden when Haku didn't look back and kept on walking, Chihiro sudden impulse was to grab his hand and she did, without a second thought.

Haku turned around slowly with surprise.

Chihiro could feel her face turning red and she quickly let go.

"Sorry…" She stammered immediately.

Haku was silent still in shock.

"I… don't know what came over me…" Chihiro continued to blabber on. "You didn't turn around… and I was wondering if you were alright… so… I didn't know… I actually… well… you see… oh no… its so embarrassing…"

Chihiro closed her face with both her hands.

Haku gradually smiled and reached out to take both her hands away from her face gently.

"It's ok Chihiro… I don't mind."

Chihiro looked up at him bashfully, her face was still flushing.

Haku's smile widened. She looked so cute.

That made Chihiro's heart skipped a beat at his amazing smile. He finally smiled and it was a genuine one. It made him look so handsome! He should smile more often, she thought.

"It's almost noon…" Haku told her. "I am sure you must be hungry."

"Well, not really…" Chihiro answered slowly. She was served a rather large serving of a Traditional Japanese meal during breakfast. So she wasn't really hungry yet.

"Are you even eating properly? You are way too thin."

"I am?" Chihiro blinked. "I have no idea. My clothes are always fitting me just the same so I don't think I ever gain or lost any weight."

Haku almost sighed. He remembered how Chihiro's eating habit was when she was in high school and she never changed.

Hand in hand they walked back as they chatted normally.

How Haku missed these times. He was glad Chihiro didn't pull her hand away as she let him guard her back towards the inner garden outside his room.

After he had seen her safely back in his room. Haku left.

Chihiro immediately felt the void when he wasn't around and yearn to see him again soon. She couldn't understand the feeling but she felt a lot happier when he was around. Was it because she was lonely in this huge place?

She wasn't sure.

She looked down at her hand that held his earlier. It was a feeling of déjà vu.

Everything around here had a feeling of déjà vu. She felt like she had been here before. The atmosphere was familiar. Even the lady with yellow eyes, Shirudo was familiar to her. If only Haku allows her to explore more than just the inner palace.

Maybe the outer palace may ring a bell?

She wondered if she should go out but she did promise Haku that she wouldn't leave the inner palace and she didn't like breaking promises.

She sighed. Maybe she might ask him when he returned. He might let her go out.

She walked over to the shelf at the corner of the room where the books were placed and pulled one out. Might as well keep herself occupied until someone comes to see her again. She felt so much like a prisoner.

Even though that she knew that Haku didn't mean to imprison her like this. She knew that he had a good reason for it.

She blinked when her own thoughts automatically trusted Haku. She looked up from the book. Even without memories her feelings were telling her something else.

She slammed the book shut and placed it back on the shelves. She went over to the bed and sank down on the edge deep in her thoughts.

She didn't mind when he was around. She could never get along with guys except for Eiji her childhood friend and Kenshin her neighbour. Even so she and Kenshin were always quarreling. So why?

She was actually disappointed when he didn't kiss her and she actually instinctively reached out to grab his hand when she thought he was going to walk away from her. When he leaves she could feel her heart drop immensely. Even when Shirudo came to visit, she didn't feel that way when she left.

And above all that her heart felt like it was going to burst whenever he was near because it was beating so fast and loud that she couldn't be surprise it jump out of her throat. She blushes so easily too!

"Oh no…" Chihiro lay back on the bed and covered her eyes with the back of her hands. "What is going on with me?"

Then she heard Kokoro's voice ringing in her head telling her how it was like to be in love.

"Like your heart is thumping, heat rushes up your face, your hands become sweaty."

"Masaka…" Chihiro whispered to herself.

"You can't keep her locked up in there all the time!" Shirudo cried angrily.

Haku swept passed her without answering.

"You are treating her like a prisoner!"

Haku stopped on his tracks and turned to her swiftly, his eyes flashing.

"Do you think I am happy about the current situation?" He hissed. "The outer palace is swarmed with the royal female dragons. What do you think they will do to her if they found out! There is someone among the group already tried to kill her manipulating humans to do her dirty job. If they knew that she is here, they will be even more vicious!"

"They already suspected something is going on." Shirudo replied heatedly. "You are barely around the outer palace. Your maids and guards had been stationed outside leaving your quarters empty. They are not stupid."

"I know and I am trying to keep her safe."

"By locking her up in your quarters?" Shirudo crossed her arms. "I know your quarters may be bigger than the whole of Tokyo city but she is still a prisoner in there. Do something about those dragons."

"What do you expect me to do?" Haku was desperate. He didn't want Chihiro hurt. It was painful for him to resort to such measures. "If I send them away without good reasons, I will be offending nearly all the royal families. You know how important they are."

"I don't know what kind of political issues you dragon have if you can't do it then let her go back."

"I can't…" Haku said softly turning away and started to walk off. "This is also my chance to make her remember no matter what."

Shirudo could see how the situation was killing Haku from the inside.

"I hear you are a great artist."

Chihiro almost jumped when she heard a female voice behind her. She was in the gardens again taking a short stroll alone, trying to sort out her thoughts and feelings. She turned and saw the most beautiful lady she had ever seen. She had those same emerald eyes like Haku.

"I guess you can't remember me." She smiled slightly and almost rather ruefully. "I'm Masami."

"Ah Masami-hime…" Chihiro bowed slightly and almost quickly.

"You remember me?" She was surprised.

"No… Shirudo told me about you though."

"I see… what did she say about me?" Masami asked hesitantly.

"She told me that you were Kohaku's fiancée and you tried to erm… kill me before."

"Even after hearing that and knowing who I am. You aren't afraid?"

"I can't remember so I don't know whether if I should be or not…" Chihiro told her earnestly. "Besides I don't feel any hostility from you. So… I don't think I should be afraid."

Masami almost smile at her innocence. She never changed. Still the naïve human she knew. Maybe that was why Haku loved her so much. Her heart was bigger than any ocean she knew. Even there were some changes from the way she acted but her feelings were still the same.

"I brought you something that may cure your boredom." Masami finally said.

She snapped her fingers and a canvas appeared together with colour paints and brushes.

Chihiro's eyes widened and a bright smile appeared.

"Oh my goodness!" She cried happily. "Thank you so much."

"These is as much as I can do for you now." Masami said and started to walk away but stopped shortly. She turned her head slightly towards Chihiro. "I'm sorry about your memories. It was my fault that you lost it."

Without waiting for Chihiro to answer or see her reaction Masami walked away.

Chihiro stared at her departing figure. She didn't know whether to hate her or be angry with her. She did looked genuinely regretful at what she had done. Besides what had happened cannot be undone. All she could do now was made the best of it and looked forward not dwelling at the past.

Dwelling in the past… Chihiro blinked.

Ever since she got here everyone seemed to be down and gloomy. Was it because everyone was thinking of the past instead of the present?

Maybe there was something she could do. Chihiro thought cheerfully.

Haku finally returned after he settled his daily spiritual errands. He was surprised when he saw Chihiro on the grass with a canvas on her lap as she painted a picture of a school of colourful small fishes. He knew those fishes always swam by. She must have seen them. But where did she get that canvas?

"Chihiro?"

She turned around with a wide smile when she heard Haku's voice.

"How did you get that canvas?" He sat down next to her.

"Masami-hime gave it to me." Chihiro told him happily. She was so happy that she missed the sudden dark look came upon his features at the mentioned of Masami's name. "She even said that if I needed more just call her. She gave me this. She said to rub it three times and she will come. Sounds so much like the Genie in the Lamp."

Chihiro chuckled and showed Haku a small green gem shaped of a flower. Haku recognized it immediately that it was one of Masami's accessories. He reached over grabbing the gem resting on her palm and crushed it in his hand. The gem broke into pieces and scatter on the ground, disappearing as soon as the pieces touched the grass.

"Why did you do that?" Chihiro was shocked.

"I can bring you the canvas if you needed one." Haku told her rather severely. "You don't need to use the one Masami gave you."

"You are still angry with her for what happened to me?"

"You can remember?" Haku frowned slightly.

"No but Shirudo told me what she did." Chihiro shook her head. "But I am not angry at her."

"She took your memories of us." Haku nearly shouted but managed to keep his cool. He doesn't want to frighten Chihiro and he knew that when he was angry he might look way to scary.

"I know those memories are very important." Chihiro said sadly. "I get it. But it is in the past!"

Haku stared at her disbelievingly. Was she trying to tell him she was giving up?

"Kohaku…" Chihiro sighed softly. "I want to build new memories with you."

Haku was silent and felt his heart skipped at beat. He hoped he didn't misunderstand what Chihiro was trying to tell him.

"It can't be help that I can't remember the past memories." Chihiro continued and reached out to take his hand in hers. "But I want to have new memories with you… in the present time."

Haku still couldn't answer.

"Do you want to create new memories with me?" Chihiro asked him with a sheepish smile.

Without a single word Haku pulled Chihiro towards him. She landed lightly below his chin and he wrapped his arms around her. He was so afraid that without her memories Chihiro wouldn't feel the same. But her feelings never changed. He was glad that Kawa no Kami's prediction wasn't all correct.

"I would be glad to…" Haku whispered hoarsely above her head.

"We can make this work…" Chihiro told him just as softly the side of her head rested gently on his chest. "Maybe one day…. I might remember our past … but even if I don't… we have new memories to treasure…"

Haku didn't know what he would do without her. She always brought the light out of his darkest days. In the end it was her helping him instead.

To be continued...

Please do drop a review it always makes my day!

I apologize if there are any mistakes on the chapter... I didn't really had much time to edit and I only briefly read through the chapter and posted it up. I hope everyone will forgive me on that part.

Thank you so much for reading!

Kawa no Kami: The nameless River God that I had mentioned in my previous chapters.

Masaka (まさか): You can't be serious! / No way

Eto (あの): where it's given the same hesitant or drawn out sound as a person in English would use "uhh..." as if uncomfortable or searching for something to say likely in response to a question asked. "Ano~" is another commonly enough used and means the same thing.