Sorry about the awkwardness of last chapter; I will go back and edit these rougher moments/ add more characterization stuff after I finish this arc. Chapter 17 ended up being super long so I cut it into 3/4 and 1/4. The later 1/4 will make the beginning of chapter 18. Fun fact for you: I did not originally plan on more than 2 dates when I originally laid out this arc and have now had to adjust it for three with this date's addition. As much as I hate to admit it, these next few chapters are going to be rough, but I promise that I will come back and edit all of this before I start arc 2.

As always, thanks for your ongoing support and patience. Next update will be on June 20.

Chapter 17:

Chihiro was sorting supplies in the pantry two days after the water incident when she found the first red herring from Haku. A small circular stone smoothed down to a perfect egg shape sat in the bottom of the box she had been pulling supplies from. Looking it over, she was disappointed to find no writing on it, but somehow she instantly knew that he had left it for her. Slipping it into her uniform pocket she continued to work. By the end of the fourth day, she had found nearly a dozen stones of the same size and shape of varying colors, but none of them had writing. She lined them up along her window sill at the end of each night and wondered when she would find the stone marking her first milestone. Two of them rattled around in her pocket alongside a note from Haku as she made her way down to the infirmary the evening of the fourth day. The note had been a warm reminder that they were going to go out together to explore the market place the following morning.

The infirmary was oddly silent and it only took a cursory glance to see why. All of the spirits except Hikaru were sleeping. The fox spirit was standing beside a large window looking out over the river below. As he leaned back against the sill, Chihiro could see that he had worked hard to remain standing from the sweat dripping from his brow. His crystal blue eyes flicked over towards her and his distant expression faded into a small smile.

"I am surprised to see you up out of bed. You will be better in no time, Hikaru," Chihiro greeted him warmly.

"Even if my body heals, my memory has still not returned. It will be some time until I can return to where it is I came from."

"You could always find a place around here to stay. Yui has been helping Okita make arrangements for after his release from the infirmary. It seems he will need a week of outpatient therapy before she will sign his release papers back to the military."

"I will stay as long as is necessary. In the meantime, I look forward to planning Okita's graduation from here. I'm sure the nurses will celebrate his departure with great gusto." Chihiro laughed quietly at the thought. After all of the pranks he had pulled on everyone here, most of the staff would be celebrating his move.

"When were you thinking of having the party? I could ditch self-defense lessons for one night to attend if you give me a heads up."

"As soon as Yui gives him his two day notice, everything will go into motion. It shouldn't be too long now. She might kick him out early after that trick he pulled with the plaster the other night." Nodding her head in agreement, they fell into a comfortable silence. Looking out the window at the weak sun, she smiled. It was indeed a beautiful night. Hikaru looked back at her and noticed her distraction with the view. Bringing up a new subject, he spoke his mind.

"I can tell that you have been working hard at your lessons. How has the summoning ritual been progressing?"

"I have most of the stances and movements down, but Yui says my rhythm is off. Without music I can't imagine what sort of beat I will have to adjust to."

"My guess would be the traditional beat of taiko drums, but show me the dance and I'll see if I can figure it out." Hikaru settled himself back onto his bed and watched as Chihiro took a big breath. Fixing her posture, she let her body release its tension and began to move. As she continued, she could hear the faint tapping of Hikaru's claws against his bed post tapping out a steady rhythm. Trying to match the beat he gave her, Chihiro felt some of the dance come together.

"You are focusing too much on correcting each movement you make. This is a water festival is it not? Focus on moving like water. Try it again and listen to the beat I'm giving you." Hikaru quietly tapped out a steady beat and Chihiro began again. She matched her movements with her breathing and found that it felt more relaxed and natural.

"Much better," he complimented as she began to close out the dance. Standing tall she felt her attention drawn back to the sunlight as she finished. For the first time, the dance had felt right to her and her mind had become as empty as the cloudless sky above. "If you practice with that kind of grace and precision, there's no doubt that the dragon will respond to your call."

"I wish you could be there when I'm actually at practice. Watari-san would probably be a whole lot less frustrated with me if she actually saw improvements."

"I'm sure she sees more in you than she lets on. It is easier to provide criticism and watch you grow than to let you become complacent with mediocrity. She expects great things of you, all of us do." Turning her smile to him, Chihiro gave a nod in understanding and felt her body begin to go through the movements again. Tapping his claws quietly against the bed post, Hikaru kept rhythm and watched her dance in the sunlight.

Chihiro slung the pouch that Lin had given her over her shoulder as she followed Haku out of the side entrance of the bathhouse. Looking back to make sure no one was following them, she smiled wide at their successful escape. Haku's smile mimicked her own as he led her through the bustling town. Both of them were dressed down to blend into the market and Chihiro was certain she had on enough magical temporary protection spells to survive a nuclear blast. Approaching the end of the town, she sighed as she saw the ferry departing for the other side of the river already.

"Looks like we missed the first ferry over. Guess we have to wait for the next one," Chihiro commented with a frown. Smirking at her, Haku walked to the water's edge. The river water was kicking up in dark waves that reflected fragments of the sliver of moon overhead.

"Why don't we just walk over then," he asked as he stepped out onto the water. As if he was walking on firm ground, the water seemed to flatten out surrounding his shoes and the waves moved around without touching him. Chihiro's eyes grew wide as she slowly walked towards him.

"Are you serious," Chihiro questioned rhetorically. Staring at his feet, she contemplated the murky water and its tame behavior beneath him. "Shouldn't you be saving your magic in case there is an emergency?"

"I'm sure my magic can handle a little wear and tear for a few hours. Let me spoil you for tonight," Haku said smoothly as he offered his hand out to her. Nodding her head in acceptance after a moment's hesitation, Chihiro grasped his hand and stepped out beside him. The water held her up as well and he gently pulled her forward. Holding onto his hand for dear life, she looked down at the fish and creatures swimming below the water's murky surface. One false move and she could be swimming with them in an instant. Trying to not to blush as she clutched his arm closer, Haku smiled at her amazement and fear.

"You won't fall in as long as I focus, Chihiro. Even if you don't hold onto me." Part of him regretted saying anything at all about their proximity, but he was losing circulation to his arm. Then again, how often could he get her to touch him so intimately? Her fear at going into the river was palpable.

"Really? You promise you won't let me fall," she asked without looking up from the water beneath them. They were a good solid halfway across the river now.

"I promise," Haku replied with a smirk. Tentatively, Chihiro released his hand and took a shaky step forward alone. Watching her carefully, Haku had to keep from laughing as he saw her high step forward as if worried that the waves would catch her legs. Unable to hide his laughter, a snort and chuckle rumbled from his chest. Turning a light glare towards him, Chihiro moved to playfully hit his arm for laughing at her. Dodging out of the way and teasing her, he set off at a slow (for him at least) jog as Chihiro made chase. The water barely formed beneath the balls of her feet as she ran and the waves turned to wet air around her legs. The adrenaline of the magic beneath her swelled through her and she joined his laughter with her own. Haku made it to shore and smirked as she neared him. Calling out his surrender, she smiled victoriously as she caught him and tried to catch her breath. The market buzzed in excitement nearby and many spirits were walking to and fro. Moving towards the market, Chihiro was ready to start the adventure. Haku grabbed her hand and squeezed it tightly in his own.

"You caught me, now don't let go," he said with a large smile. Allowing him to keep her hand, she blushed a deep red. Holding hands they went into the market. The day passed quickly as they tried different food stalls and wandered past the odd vendors throughout. Chihiro swore that she had never laughed so much in her life. It was as if Haku had a witty comment or funny story about everything there. Her cheeks were sore from all of its efforts. As they neared the owl spirit that Chihiro remembered visiting with Lin, she guided Haku over to the stand. The stall smelled strongly of old leather from the stacks of books lying about and it only took a few moments for the pair of them to become enveloped in the aisles. Spying the hair sticks that she remembered, Chihiro asked Haku the question that had been lurking at the back of her mind since the last time that she had visited the stall.

"Haku, if I buy something of this world is it possible for me to bring it back to the human world?"

"Yeah, it's possible. Food always rots if you try to bring that through the portal, but everything else goes through fine. How else do you think relics are made? Human relics consist of objects embedded with spiritual magic that were brought over to the human world, just like how our relics are created from empowered human objects passing through the barrier into our world. If you are interested in bringing back some books, I would unfortunately have to advise against it. The Capital has a strict policy about the transfer of living creatures or information."

"I'd like to read some of these books some time, but that's not what I'm interested in." Chihiro eyed the pair of antique silver dragon hair sticks on display in their old box. Walking over, she released her hair from its pony tail and adjusted the mirror on the table to her height. Picking up the box, she held it out to Haku, "Could you possibly put my hair up with these?"

Smiling broadly, Haku picked up the hair sticks and felt his magic swiftly being called into the objects in question. Examining them closely, understanding swept through him as he recognized the moonstone gemstones that the dragons held. Haku knew immediately from the residual magic on the stones that the spirit who had created the hair sticks had been an immensely powerful water spirit that had died recently. As a result, the stones were gathering water magic and seeking a new owner to serve. It would be easy to fill the stones with his magic and manipulate it into serving Chihiro. Running his fingers through her hair, Haku carefully wound her tresses into a fashionable spiral and put the hair sticks in place. Bending over her shoulder to see her reflection in the mirror, Haku admired how beautiful she looked. The dragon in him was puffing up with pride that she would choose something to wear that would resemble his natural form so closely and that he could adjust the magic within it to mark her as his own. "You look beautiful," he whispered gently into her ear and watched a tremble go down her spine followed by a heated blush.

"They look better than I thought they would." Gently taking them out of her hair and looking them over scrupulously, Chihiro admired the fine details in their design before returning them to the box. She closed the lid and began walking to the cash register as Haku followed quickly behind. Handing the box to the owl, she began pulling out her money, but was stopped by Haku.

"These will be my gift to you as thanks for covering for Yui in the upcoming water festival," he said as he handed the owl a gold coin from his pocket. The owl spirit's eyes grew at the coin, but quickly recovered as he made out change.

"Haku, they are much too expensive for a simple gift." He stopped himself from scoffing at her remark. If she could see the ledgers he spent most of his time balancing, she would realize that money would never be an issue at the bathhouse. The staff was well kept and there was enough money put away to ensure a reliable future no matter the turn in times. Dragons were known for protecting their treasures and though he and the bathhouse were wealthy, what he valued most was not money, but people. His staff and Chihiro were his greatest treasures.

"Nonsense. It would be a great honor to me if you would wear these at the cleansing ceremony and as often as your heart desires." Chihiro opened her mouth to refute, but the firm tenderness in his eyes stopped her. Her heart skipped a beat as he smiled down at her with such warmth and affection that the sun would surely be envious. Taking the box back from the owl spirit, Haku reclaimed her small hand in his own and guided her out of the stall. Stopping in the open street, he pulled out the hair sticks and tucked the box away back in his pocket. "If you don't mind, may I put them back in your hair?"

Nodding her head yes, Chihiro felt more than watched as Haku moved behind her and put her hair back up into place. The feeling of his long slender fingers weaving through her hair and tracing around the back of her neck made speaking impossible for the moment. He lingered there, fixing each hair into place and gently weaving a beautiful design. Chihiro felt cherished and more importantly, her heart was racing out of her chest. The way he continued to whisper how beautiful she was quietly under his breath by her ear as if she couldn't hear him made it all the more difficult to breathe. For the first time, Chihiro Ogino realized that Haku may have feelings for her that ran deeper than the friendship he claimed and if her heart was any indication, she felt the same way. The softness of his voice rang out around her, but the words didn't register in her mind. It wasn't until he moved in front of her again and retracted his touch did she realize he had actually been talking.

"Sorry could you repeat that," she asked with a nervous smile as she brushed back an invisible loose hair behind her ear.

"I asked if you were ready for dinner yet. There is this wonderful soba shop overlooking the river that I would love to take you to." Nodding her head quickly, Chihiro smiled up at him. Haku gently took her hand up again and they walked together forward.

The small soba shop had one of the best views of the bathhouse and river that Chihiro had seen thus far, not to mention delicious food. Laughing over her mug of beer, she wondered how she had not noticed it before. She had lost count of how many she had had, but surely it shouldn't have taken getting tipsy to understand his interest in her? The way his eyes lit up when he smiled at her like that…The way his hand gently brushed hers at every opportunity…all of it was keeping her on fire. Thinking back to the first time they went out together, she felt like shaking her head in embarrassment. She had thought he was only viewing her as a friend, but right now the same said friend was throwing glances at her lips as if on the pinnacle of a decision. Sipping the last of the cold alcoholic beverage, Chihiro's head turned to stare at the clock tower as it loudly rang out the late hour. Soon it would be time to go home and their day together would come to an end. Haku followed her eyes to look up at the clock tower. Today had been going so well and if she would let him, he had just the idea of how to finish it.

"Do you trust me, Chihiro," Haku asked honestly. Her eyes flicked over to him and she replied yes as her smile held its size and brilliance. Slipping a coin into the check to pay for the meal, he grabbed her hand and began to leading her to the clock tower.

"Where are we going, Haku?"

"It's a surprise." The clock tower loomed ever closer and Chihiro could see what appeared to be a guard change of eel spirits at the entrance below. As they approached the guards, Haku's demeanor changed. His back straightened, his chest puffed out and his expression hardened into seriousness. Walking with every bit of confidence that the master of a bathhouse would be expected to have, he approached them. Noticing their approach, the eels became visibly uncomfortable and some even fled quickly. Giving them a brief nod of his highly held head, Haku brushed past them and opened the door for Chihiro to enter. Take the stairs up together she wondered why he was acting like that. Her confused expression gave it away and Haku turned a smile towards her.

"The clock tower watchmen are wily slackers, but they are difficult to kill. Makes for good guards against the Tainted when they actually do their jobs… It's too bad that they are susceptible to displays of power and distraction. A little bluff that we are supposed to be here can go a long way." Opening the door at the top of the stairs, a group of eels paused in conversation as they leaned back from their places surrounding a table covered in maps and documents. The round room was covered with bowls of water with images of the town floating within them and there were several spirits watching said bowls.

"We are passing through. Continue on." Guiding her around the pointed stares, Haku slipped them out the opposite door and closed it behind them. The inner mechanics of the clock tower clicked away and the bell hanging above their heads stood silent waiting for the next half an hour marker. Twisting through the narrow passes between the machinery, they finally reached a platform wide enough for the two of them to stand across from each other.

"I'd like to bring you up to the roof. Will you allow me to hold you to do so?" Chihiro considered her fear of heights and the handsome man staring back at her. He held out his free hand and she hesitantly took it with acceptance. She was scared, but she trusted that Haku would do well by her. Taking both her hands, Haku squeezed them gently before pulling her tight against his chest. Ignoring the feeling of her breasts against him and the cute way she puckered her nose when she closed her eyes in concentration, he secured her a little tighter and flew them upwards. Dodging the swinging clock bits, he found the platform he had been looking for. Landing steadily on the platform, he released his hold on her. Brown eyes fluttered open to stare at him, but were quickly distracted by the view. A bleeding morning sun was beginning to rise, marking the end of a spirit's day and the beginning of human's morning. The curdling red color was brilliant against the dying night sky and cast the entire town in hues of orange and yellow. From their high perch, they could see all of the town below and the shifting of magic as the river retracted to grass and spirits were disappearing to their evening sleep. Trying to ignore the sharp drop downward a step away from their rickety wooden platform, Chihiro admired the transformation of lively spirit town to empty ruins. Last puffs of steam fizzled out of the bathhouse and she smiled at the thought of her coworkers heading to bed. Kamaji would be unfolding his blanket, Lin would be braiding her long hair before bed, even somewhere in the shrine Yui was probably preparing for the night's comforts. And here she was standing beside Haku watching the sun rise. It was all so beautiful and felt so right.

Haku watched as Chihiro took it all in and tried to engrain this moment into his memory. The way she had blushed and held his hand all day as they rambled through the shops of the Old Market compared nothing to how she stood awestruck and jaw gaped at a sight he had seen hundreds of times in passing. He couldn't look away from her and even when he did manage to peel his eyes away to look over the town, he couldn't help but feel that he was seeing it through new eyes- her eyes. Her human eyes that couldn't see nearly as well as his eyes saw more in this moment than he ever had seen from his endless flights overhead. Haku's eyes were drawn to the gentle smile that she wore as her mouth closed the small o it had formed in surprise earlier. She was so beautiful standing there in the sunlight, just as he thought she would be. Drawing closer to her, he considered how badly he wanted to kiss her. He could gently turn her head and press his lips to her soft puckered lips. He didn't have to confess or try to find words to decipher the depth of his complicated feelings for her. Keeping her at arm's reach under protection would keep her safe, but he longed to be closer to her and show her how much he still loved her. Haku wanted her to love him back and give him her heart. He had loved her the day she fell into his river, he had loved her the day she left the bathhouse, and he continued to love her still this very moment. Haku would bet his entire fortune, the bathhouse, and his life that he would love her for the rest of his long life. If she would only say the words he longed to hear…

"This is breathtaking Haku," she whispered in awe as the world was finally swept in golden rays of sunlight. He wanted to tell her how every day she was away from him was like an eternal night of solitude and that when she was there beside him, the world was a better place. He wanted to sweep her off her feet and embrace her like there was no tomorrow. He wanted to lay the world down at her feet and listen to her laughter bubbling forth like fresh rain water over smooth stone, but instead he just smiled at her. Whether it was the alcohol in his system dulling his mind or the dragon within begging for action, Haku watched himself lift a hand to boldly stroke her cheek. Turning to face him and lean into his hand slightly, Chihiro looked up at him curiously. Staring into his green eyes, she felt herself blush profusely and started to turn away. His hand gently turned her back to him and without a moment's hesitation, Haku kissed her gently upon the lips.