A few hours later, I woke to find Lin rustling around the room, humming to herself. She was unpacking items and handing them to a spirit I had never encountered before. She was pretty, with soft, brown hair and wide brown eyes, her face smattered with freckles. She looked gentle and delicate. When she saw I was awake she bowed to me formally. Lin caught sight of this exchange.
"This is Yonushi, she will be your maid while you are here-"
"I don't need a maid, I coped perfectly fine in the human world, thank you very much."
Lin rolled her eyes, "Dragon boy's orders, I had nothing to do with it. And while we are on the subject of his scaly-ness, you've been instructed to wake up early tomorrow morning, you're visiting Zeniba.
"Am I taking the train?", I asked, thinking back to my mysterious train journey 6 years ago.
She snorted, "Of course not. What's the point of a live-dragon without the free transport? Honestly, Chihiro, you can be so dense sometimes. I guess I can't blame you, you're just a human"
"What's all this stuff?", I gestured around the room. Clothes, books, cosmetics, pillows, snacks, quilts, pictures, trinkets and many more indescribable objects lay on every available surface. I was surprised not to find that I wasn't covered in writing utensils and embroidered sashes.
"There are two more crates in the other room" said Yonushi, smiling shyly. "Master Haku is giving you the royal treatment!"
I giggled, but Lin shook her head.
We chatted and laughed until we finished our work, it turned out that Yonushi was a deer spirit, which I thought suited her very well.
Just as they were leaving, eager to get back to their own rooms to sleep, Lin said:
"My room is just next door. Come in if you need anything. And if you start disappearing, eat some of this.", she said, pointing to a dumpling on my desk."
"Where does Haku sleep?", I inquired drowsily.
"Well, his apartment is on the floor above this one, and I think that would make his study and room directly above yours". She blew out the candle and said goodnight.
It was comforting thinking Haku was right above me, probably working hard over bath house paperwork even though it was late at night. I snuggled down into the bed and drifted of to sleep, thinking of what tomorrow would bring.