Edge of The Ocean

Disclaimer: I do not own Spirited Away or any of its characters.

A/N: I am SO very Sorry for not updating in such a long time! Can you believe I got the inspiration to keep writing by reading over my own story? Lol I almost forgot it was I who wrote it and I was like "OMG where's the rest?! Bloody author!!... oh wait…" then I remembered I wrote it lol. Well anyway, ENJOY!

flower391169: Well you're gunna have to! :P

Azure-x-Rose: I guess he's realizing she's a woman now lol

Chronicleofcoincidence: So you're saying it wasn't interesting before? Lol jk

midnightblue123: Ahh yes, at first I was gunna make him good but kinda crazy but I changed my mind… it's important for the plot!!

corbinbleulover1015: I'm glad you did :P

female shika-kun: Alright, alright!

Melissaaax3: I hope you like this!

Bethany: He's a mouse again because he thought it would help them travel… honestly, now he's travel size – it'd be kinda hard to travel with an enormous baby… besides, I thought his mouse form was cute lol.

Lefty3510: Lol sorry for the long wait!

lili-potter8907: I'm hurry'n I'm hurry'n!

XxHyper ChildxX: Kay!

The room was silent; the only noise heard was the crackle of the hearth and the soft chirping of the crickets and foraging of forest critters outside. "I'm so sorry Haku…" Boh said seriously; his little rodent-face grim and set as stone. Haku looked up at him and shook his head dismissively. It was a sad, terrible truth that took the whole family to get over - though some would still be scarred by such a thing. Toyotoma was strong and proud however, much like the rest of her family, so even though she suffered greatly, she did not allow it to show in the surface.

"My sister is doing fine – she's under the watchful eye of our father and the protection of some of my brothers." Haku reassured and pat the mouse's head. "You had nothing to apologize for; you are not your father." Haku pressed when Boh looked away depressed.

"I-If he did …that and cursed his own son, then he's really bad right? What are we going to do now?" Chihiro asked; fiddling with the hem of her work blouse. Haku glanced around the room, at the anxious looks of his friends and pinched the bridge of his nose stressfully. He had hoped Chihiro's reunion with everyone, especially him – and there he was being selfish – would be happy and peaceful… but this… this did not bode well.

"There is nothing we can do right now but… I will place a charm over you and then I will go visit my father – ask him if he has anything in mind; don't worry, he is fond of mortals, I am sure he will be willing to help." Haku explained and stood. Chihiro watched him as he walked over to her and placed a warm hand with his long finger upon her head. "Now close your eyes and clear your thoughts." He instructed softly. "Your mind must be blank, understand?" he added firmly as he hand began to glow.

Chihiro did as Haku asked and closed her eyes – unfortunately, she could not get him out of her thoughts but before she could ask him to wait a moment he was already preparing the charm… How would that affect the charm? Chihiro felt a pleasant sort of warmth spread into her. "There. It is done – now the only thing he should see is a blank slate." Haku said in relief, not missing the opportunity to smooth her hair with the palm of his hand affectionately before turning.

Chihiro would not meet his eyes and tell him she had failed at doing as he asked. "R-Right… blank…" Chihiro muttered as the water-spirit went to place a similar charm on Boh; she looked up sharply when Haku gasped loudly and withdrew his hand from Boh's head – as if he had been burned – and frowned thoughtfully.

"The curse… it doesn't let anyone but father mess with my mind…" Boh said in realization; his voice had become distant and low – very much unlike the happy-go-lucky Boh they were used to hearing out of him. Haku shook his head again, dismissing his guilt.

"It's alright, you didn't know." He said and sighed forlornly for his friend. Chihiro stood and walked toward him. She could almost feel the stress rolling off him and saw the angry red marks on the palm of his hand, perhaps there was a way to comfort him... if she was going to do anything, she decided, she had better do it before she chickens out!

"Let me see your hand…" Chihiro said softly. Haku turned to look at her but did not hesitate in drawing out his hand to her; his eyes fixed on her as she took his hand in her's. Chihiro would not meet his gaze but she knew that he was watching her intently; Haku watched, mesmerized as she rubbed the soreness away with soothing strokes.

"Ah?" No-Face whispered to Zeniba; said witch shushed him.

"Shh, let's watch…" The witch said with a suppressed giggle. Neither Haku nor Chihiro heard however, too wrapped up in themselves were they to register anything outside of their own little world. After a while the pain melted away but Haku let her continue, enjoying the ministrations and her attention entirely too much. Soon it became apparent that she realized he was no loner in pain and Haku hid a smile when she blushed but did not stop.

Haku smiled and covered her hand with his, stopping the "innocent" caress. "I uh…" the dragon cleared his throat. "I should go now." He said, standing with her, their hands still connected. They both looked down at their joined hands and quickly – as if embarrassed – pulled apart.

'Oh, how cute!!' Thought Zeniba as she cleaned up the table from the cups, plates, and crumbs.

"I can take you back to the bathhouse." Haku offered as he folded his arms in the sleeves of his robe. Chihiro smiled and placed a hand on his cheek, almost having to stand on her toes to do so.

"You are very kind, that's what I always loved about you, always thinking of others." Chihiro said softly; then her cheeks burned with realization of her admittance… but then again, she hadn't exactly said she loved him… right? He wouldn't decipher anything from that compliment… right? Haku however silenced her attempt at "fixing" what she had said by taking her hand in his and kissing her palm.

"We should go now." Was all Haku said, clearly not letting her take back her words and watching the display of emotions rush through her eyes as he pulled her along outside so that he could morph into his dragon form; Chihiro kept silent as she approached him; Haku flattened his now much larger dragon body so that she could get on easier. Haku closed his eyes in guilty pleasure, feeling her hands on him - innocently caress his scales and her long legs slide against him.

As soon as Chihiro slid onto his back and waved goodbye to Zeniba and No-Face, with Boh secured in her pocket, they were off. Boh held tightly to Chihiro while said woman absent-mindedly stroked Haku's horns with her thumbs, unaware of what she was doing to him as he tried to continue flying in a straight flight pattern. 'So, such monsters do exist…' Thought Chihiro, leaning over to rest her head on Haku's cool scales, 'who would have thought such spirits existed…' Chihiro closed her eyes.

When they had reached the bathhouse it was already well into the night and the tired workers were already either asleep or getting ready to – save for one. Lin paced in the small balcony anxiously as she awaited her friend's safe return. Had she found Haku? Had she even made it to Zeniba's house? Was she well? Was she alive? Dead? Where was she? Line's head would have exploded from so many anxieties and concerns over her friend had she not heard the tell tale sounds of a dragon soaring toward her.

"There you are! What in God's name took you two, err – three, so long?" Lin asked hysterically as she made her way to her friends. "I was worried!" Lin grumbled and crossed her arms as Haku and Chihiro landed safely on the balcony and Boh hopped off, feeling probably just as much relief as Lin felt for being safe on solid ground once more. If Boh hadn't known before what Chihiro could do to Haku he certainly did now… the girl was obviously oblivious to it but Boh could tell Haku had been struggling to concentrate on flying the whole trip.

"Sorry Lin…" Chihiro muttered and watched Haku straighten beside her. Lin blinked at both of them and then shook her head – deciding not to ask any questions right now… though it irked her – she had never seen Haku try to hide so much emotion, he was practically emotional which was saying a lot for his usually stoic demeanor.

"It's fine but you had better go to sleep now, Yubaba will want to see you first think in the morning and then ship you off to work!" Lin warned and went inside to wait for her, knowing something was obviously up between her friend and the dragon.

Chihiro turned to Haku, bravely looking into his intense gaze. "Will you be back soon?" She asked with a slight blush, proud of herself for not sounding flustered. Haku smiled, relaxing a little and tucked a lock of hair behind Chihiro's ear affectionately.

"Of course I will." He reassured and leaned forward. Chihiro stiffened in surprise when Haku kissed her cheek softly – his lips teasingly close to the corner of her mouth. When the spirit pulled back he smiled gently, resisting the urge to run his fingers through her hair again and jumped off the balcony, transforming smoothly and flying off. Chihiro watched him fly off, feeling her heart still hammering against her ribs.

The girl-turned woman slumped down on her bed, her eyes still dazed and cheeks still red. Lin watched her with an amused glint in her eyes; she did not have to ask what had transpired this night – the look on her friend's face and haziness in her eyes told her as much as she needed to know. Elsewhere, Haku was on his way to meet with his father; he could see the large pearly white castle that rested on polished rocks, far out into the ocean.

'Father will know what to do…' Haku thought soberly. As he approached he was met by two black dragons – castle guards – who escorted their "Prince" safely to the castle, though it wouldn't have been needed, since Haku was far more powerful than both the guards put together – even if they were much older than him.

"Sire, the Lord has been expecting your arrival – it has been too long since you left, young master." One of King Ryujin's seneschals greeted Haku.

"Where is my father? I must speak with him." Haku said formally, following the servant through the large doors and into the marble floored entrance.

End A/N: Well there you have it! Will Haku get his answers? His help? How will the Great god of the Dragons react to the dour news??