Edge of The Ocean
Disclaimer: I do not own Spirited Away or any of its characters.
A/N: Once again, my math class has inspired me to update… This can't be good for my grades lol
Azure-x-Rose: I hope it is! …Although, I wasn't really going for cute, I'm glad it's positive!!
chronicleofcoincidence: As long as my math class bores me I'll keep updating lol
flower391169: I'm very happy you think so :D
Haku stood on the balcony overlooking the vast stretch of water. His mind reeled as it replayed Chihiro's "innocent" kiss. Truth be told he did not know what to make of the gesture; when her lips touched his cheek they were feather soft, it would have been an innocent kiss had she not pressed against him as she had. How was it possible that this young girl-turned woman could affect him so?
Haku knew that he had loved her when they were but children but he had suspected it was merely a crush or something formed out of the drama that beheld them at the time; now however, he was unsure. When he looked at her now he had trouble seeing passed the frightened little girl with the rosy cheeks but… somehow, with that small kiss, he could get a picture of the woman she had grown into.
'Maybe I should start treating her as such…' Haku thought as he leaned against the railing, watching dust float down to the water below. 'We are not children anymore… she is a woman and I… well, I am a dragon with the form of a man.' He turned and leaned his back against the railing, still pondering on the day's recent events. 'I suppose neither of us are as innocent as we once were.' He turned again, as if restless. 'It still does not explain why a simply kiss could… bother me so…' he sighed aloud, something that was becoming common with him recently. 'I guess that "bother" is not really the word… I did like it… a bit too much perhaps…' he though. If Haku were not so in control of his body he would have blushed just now.
Meanwhile, Chihiro tried to ignore her older friend's lewd expression as they made their way to the boiler room. "I still can't believe innocent little Chihiro could have such a dream… and about Haku no less!!" She exclaimed loudly, now that they were alone. Chihiro nearly tripped from the comment.
"I never said that it was Haku!!" Chihiro protested just as loudly. Lin cackled full heartedly.
"Oh you didn't have to! All you had to say was "river" and I knew exactly who you were really dreaming of…" Lin teased slyly. Chihiro was completely mortified. "Oh come one Chihiro! There's no use hiding it now, you've got the hots for him admit it!" Lin said excitedly, loving that she was being proved right and possibly winning a bet she had made with another worker.
Chihiro did not say a word; she only crossed her arms and frowned in agitation. 'I can NOT believe how immature she is being.' Chihiro decided to voice out that thought. "How old are you Lin? You are being very immature." She scolded with a pointed glare. Lin had the good graces to blush.
"Ah okay, I'm sorry… it's just been a long time since something like this happened and it's been even longer since I had someone to really talk to ya know?" Lin explained. Chihiro's hard expression softened; she could not stay angry with her.
"Oh it's okay…" She said with a sigh. "I suppose I over-reacted." Chihiro smiled as she finished. They reached the boiler room and had to dodge excited soot balls as they made their way to Kamajii. "Hi guys!" Chihiro said cheerfully to the cute little balls of soot. Kamajii paused when he heard her and turned to look at the girl. He adjusted his glasses and then wiped them on his shirt.
"Well hello there, who might you be human?" Asked the boiler man; Chihiro grinned at him.
"It's me! Chihiro!" When all Kamajii did was blink in confusion Chihiro added "SEN!" happily. Kamajii blinked once more before abruptly laughing and pulling her in for a hug.
"…Chihiro! Now I remember!" Kamajii beamed. "Oh how you've grown! You're a lady now aren't you? It's been so long! Have you seen Haku yet? He's been positively miserable since you left! Just moping around; I was afraid his heart would harden once more like it had been before you come along." The six-legged man exclaimed. Chihiro blushed at the thought of Haku actually pining for her and smiled at the old "man".
"Yes I've uh… seen him…" Chihiro said, ignoring the badly disguised giggles from Lin. Kamajii glanced at Lin suspiciously then turned a questioning gaze at Chihiro and raised an eyebrow when said young woman flushed. Chihiro's eyes bugged out, not wanting to reveal her deepest thoughts to anyone else if she could help it. "Ah-Um We'd better get to work! Come on Lin! Nice seeing you again Kamajii we'll visit again soon!" Chihiro said urgently and grabbed Lin's hand, rushing out the door with her before she could speak.
Kamajii sat there looking more confused than before. He turned to his soot balls for answered but they just shrugged their little arms. Kamajii sighed and began to work once again. "I'm always left in the dark …BACK TO WORK YOU LAZY BUMS!" He barked at the little black balls.
Back in the bathhouse, Chihiro settled back into her old job with practice and ease. Lin watched her as they scrubbed and guided guests to the tubs through the day; all the while Chihiro seemed to be keeping an eye out for Haku, as if dreading seeing him again. By the time the day was through, and it was time to head back to the common room, Chihiro was practically jumpy. When they entered the room she glanced around as if expecting Haku to still be there after nine hours… but of course, that would be preposterous.
After a quick meal and catching up with the other workers the girls settled for the night. Tomorrow would be a new day and hopefully Chihiro would be a bit more relaxed.
End A/N: Hmm hmm hmm… You think it's Haku that's bothering her? Or something else? MUAHAHA… Stay turned to find out!!