It seems my dream of medical school will have to be postponed until January due to financial aid and credit transfer reasons. In the meantime, I will take a few classes online, find someplace new to live by next Saturday, and keep working full time at my job. I know that all of these events in my personal life have caused the writer's block that I'm experiencing; I can't relax long enough to immerse myself in writing. As a result, I want to give a special shout out to some of the reviewers that helped me get enough pip in my step to finish this chapter: Trastuspies, Sherona849, and pikaree1. Everyone's messages always mean the world to me, but your reviews often give me a unique view into how others are interpreting this story. What I see in my head, what actually gets down on paper, and what the reader actually gets from the story is uniquely different, and I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to see it your way.

PLEASE GO TO MY PROFILE AND VOTE IN THE POLL! If I get twenty or more votes I will post two chapters at once for both of my stories.

Next update will probably arrive before or on August 8th.

Chapter 21:

Gentle fingers tugging through her hair brought Chihiro closer to consciousness. It was as if she was waking up from a long sleep. Her body slowly began returning to life, but was encased in what felt like soft cool rippling water. Her hair was pulled on again and the scrape of a firm object against her skull told her that someone was playing with her hair. Probably putting it up with whatever the object was, but she couldn't rouse herself enough to open her eyes. It was comfortable here in the darkness. Her body felt like it was floating yet it was supported by whatever she was resting on. The smell of water was thick in the air and she wondered if she had fallen asleep in the bathtub again. Her mother used to get so angry at her for falling asleep in there…another tug this time at her clothes brought her back to focus. She would not have worn clothes into a bathtub. Trying to open her eyes to get better look at who was touching her, Chihiro felt a moment of panic when her eyes would not open.

A strong pressure in her forehead swept a wave of peace through her and she recognized immediately that the calm feelings were not her own. Images flashed through her head as the pressure seemed to realize that she was awake enough to recognize it. The darkness slipped away and she could mentally see herself floating in water, as if she were outside her own body looking back at it. The current of the river was busily tucking strands of hair in an intricate updo held together with pearls and white scales of some sort. Her uniform was gone and replaced with a long sleeved kimono that resembled the shimmering blues and greens of the water surrounding her. It wouldn't have been hard to confuse her as a sacrifice to the river if not for the air bubble neatly pressed around her face showing otherwise. Cooing happily the river continued to preen at her appearance and Chihiro could feel its emotions alongside her own. Sensing her bewilderment and confusion, the river flashed more images before her closed eyes, showing her how Haku had given it to her for protection but that he would be back soon. It was happy to see her and even more delighted to have her there within it. Her anger spiked at Haku's betrayal and wordlessly she and his river discussed it. Despite the lack of voices or words, his river conveyed its thoughts through emotions and flashes of memory. It begged her to not be angry and instead understand that the situation called for it. She argued back that the situation did not call for it and that frankly it was a low blow. They went back and forth for quite sometime before the river gave up and just outright apologized. Accepting its apology, Chihiro mentally sat back and watched it continue its work on her. She could feel the deep affection it was treating her with and in time, her curiosity overcame her dwindling anger. She asked it why had it changed her clothes and was doing her hair. If the river could mentally project a bashful school boy, it was doing so now, so much so that a blush flitted over her unmoving cheeks.

Trying to breathe slowly, Chihiro tried to move her body and found that she could not. The memory of Kamaji and Haku gossiping in the boiler room discussing their mutual worry that she would run to trouble when the siren went off played through her head. Kamaji had predicted exactly what she would do and gave Haku the drug to paralyze her. They had planned for this. The river tried to soothe her and showed how it had been slowly sapping the toxin out of her system so that she would wake up before the estimated length of effect. It wanted her to wake up and be with it, something Haku had not foreseen being a problem. Time seemed to pass slowly as she and the river got to know each other and conversed over many topics. Before long the water told her that Haku was approaching swiftly and that it was time for her to go back to land. Unsure of how to respond, Chihiro thanked it for its hospitality in letting her stay there and it insisted it would prefer to keep her there for much longer, but Haku would surely scold it.

The water brought Chihiro up to the surface breaching the air bubble and releasing the last bit of toxin holding her unconscious. Opening her eyes, she was surprised to find herself in a large cavern. As the river brought her towards one of its sandy banks, the water started to move upward to place her upright. The soft sandy silt squished into her toes and she was held straight up. Haku's water kept its hold on her knees and balanced her as she wobbled slightly. It had expected that she would feel weak after the total body paralysis drug. The sound of quick moving footsteps approaching drew her attention upriver. Moving around a large boulder in the path, Haku took in the sight that greeted him. Chihiro looked as if she had walked straight out of one of his personal fantasies and the sight stopped him dead in his tracks. A gentle smile twitched on her pouting lips as she seemed to trade a few last thoughts with his water, but her eyes bore holes into his soul. Scales from his dragon form and pearls grown from the depths of his river decorated her hair marking her as his chosen partner. She looked every bit the part of a river god's wife and he saw the possibility of their future burn before his eyes. In moments she would close the distance between them and flinging her arms around his neck, bury her body into his. He would tell her he was home and hold her close before they would return to the water together. He smiled his happy lopsided grin and was only interrupted from the mirage when she called his name. Blinking the image away, Haku saw the concerned look on her face. He must have been standing there for longer than expected and he hoped that the longing for what he considered impossible had not shown up on his face. Stepping towards him and away from the water, Chihiro gasped as her legs gave out weakly from underneath her. Within seconds, Haku was there cradling her in his arms and his water had surrounded their ankles.

"Sorry it seems that I'm still a little weak from whatever you gave me," Chihiro muttered, but Haku barely registered the words as his eyes followed her opened lips. He had expected her to be furious with him, but she seemed calm and not as unresponsive as he thought she would be upon his return. As he turned his questioning towards his river, it slunk away muttering that he should be grateful for the gift that it has bestowed upon him and that if it had its way it would never have let her go again. Something about ungrateful fool was also muttered, but he chose to ignore it. Rolling his eyes at its sass and simplicity, Haku tried to focus in on the woman in his arms. Lifting her more fully into position he began walking back towards the pipe upstairs. Chihiro started to argue and say that she could walk, but from the tingling sensation in her feet she realized it was not likely. Leaning into his chest and resting her head on his shoulder, she let herself relax and enjoy the moment. She knew she should have given him a piece of her mind for his actions, but after talking to his river for hours it felt like the message had already been delivered. Even as she was thinking about how she needed to forget her feelings for him, Chihiro relished the closeness and snuggled closer. There was something so sinfully good about feeling him against her. As if he heard her thoughts, Haku held her further away from his body as he took flight up the pipe.

Entering into her bedroom, Haku sat her down in front of the vanity and used his knee to keep her propped up. Her eyes stared at the image in the mirror and her mouth became an o of surprise. Chihiro looked beautiful and her skin seemed to glow with a radiance that she had only seen after hours of makeup. Setting to work on removing pearls and scales, he set them on the vanity before her.

"Whose scales are those," she asked breathily as he grabbed her hair brush and gently tamed the locks he had freed. The white scales had an iridescence to them like opal, but had apparent notches in them as if cut. How they had held her hair up with the pearls was beyond her imagination.

"They are mine," Haku said as he fought to keep the blush off of his face. The idea of her wearing his scales stroked his inner dragon ego, but now was not the time for that. He needed to get this beautiful rat's nest out of her hair so he could put her to bed. If Kamaji had delivered the dose right, she would sleep for at least ten hours shortly after waking from the toxin. Chihiro saw the blush on his face and instantly her face was aflame as well. Slowly lifting out her hand, she took one of the scales into her grasp and ran a finger over its glimmering lines.

"They're very beautiful." Blushing outright, Haku tugged more scales out of her hair and tried to work quickly and gently. Muttering a thanks, he glanced up to catch the smile on her face. Her smile always seemed to light up his world.

"You can keep them if you want. My river wanted you to have them."

"I'm not quite sure how to use them," Chihiro murmured as she let out a big yawn. She was so sleepy…

"It's simple really. Just like this," Haku showed her how to weave her hair into the notch and push it into place. As her eyes drooped she smiled at him and his fingers froze for just a moment in their busy work.

"Too complicated. Can't you just put it up for me when the time comes," Chihiro mumbled off. It was so hard to keep her eyes open. His fingers felt so good against her scalp, brushing out her hair, and relieving it of the pretty objects the river had placed in it.

"Sure. If that's what you really wish." Haku slipped more of the scales out and placed them on the vanity. Glancing at her in the mirror, he was not surprised to see her eyes close and her breathing even. She had fallen asleep against his knee. Finish off her hair, he ran his fingers through the brushed locks and leaned into breath her scent. Weaving the hair into a braid, he tied it off and considered the situation she had left him in. He couldn't imagine that sleeping in a kimono of this sort to be comfortable, but he was hesitant to remove it from her. Deciding to take the chance, Haku carefully removed her obi and kimono, grateful that she had on a nagajuban beneath. Placing her down gently into bed and tucking her in under the covers he hoped that she would be comfortable enough like that. As she curled up towards him in her slumber, he leaned over and gently pressed a kiss to her forehead. He loved her so much.

Chihiro put the punch out on the long table in the breakroom as Lin finished the last of the streamers. Though it was well after closing time most of the staff who had served down in the infirmaries were already there, chattering in the corners and waiting for the guest of honor to arrive. Yui had brought up the last of the patients that were strong enough to attend and had just returned downstairs for Okita. Many would be celebrating his departure with gusto. The bathhouse was finally going to be free of the infamous prankster. Saddling up to Lin, Chihiro smiled at all of the guests around her. Finishing her work, Lin placed her hands on her hips and faced the crowd.

"Looks pretty good if I do say so myself. Hopefully the dragon doesn't crash it." Looking over at Lin in surprise, Chihiro saw her observing the partygoers with a smirk on her face.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Let's just say I sent him on an errand that should take most of the night so that we could get the patients above ground for the party." Walking away smugly, Lin winked back at her over her shoulder.

"Do I even want to know what she did," Hikaru asked as he stepped up beside Chihiro.

"No, it's probably for the best that we leave that alone," turning towards him she smiled broadly, "Are you ready to see Okita go? Soon it will be your turn."

"He isn't going far for now. Besides, he talked Yui into getting him leave through the festival. I think he's really looking forward to that dance of yours."

"Probably wants me to trip on my kimono sleeves or something," she laughed rolling her eyes. Offering her a glass of punch, they clinked their glasses together before drinking.

"It's too bad we could only have punch instead of something with alcohol in it."

"Yeah Yui shut that down before it even got started. She said something along the lines of 'you hooligans are enough trouble sober.'" Their laughter filled the air as the man of the hour arrived. Walking slowly into the room on his own two feet, Okita received a round of cheers and applause. It didn't take long for the music to start up and the party to really get started. Line dances and circle dances followed back to back leaving the participants little time to chatter. Chihiro spent most of the evening chatting with different patients and staff members as she made her way around the room. Skirting by edge of a circle dance, Chihiro found herself shoved into the mix by none other than the devil weasel herself. Catching her with a feisty wink as if it had all been part of a plan, Okita wrapped his arms around her and began the dance.

"I really can't dance," Chihiro shouted above the music as Okita laughed. Turning her this way and that, she barely could keep up with the basic steps. The modest skirt she had worn fluttered upward with each twist and spin, but luckily never soared high enough to reveal anything of importance.

"Don't worry! All of the guys here can," Okita replied as he spun her around to face the interior of the circle and released one of her hands. The bear spirit dancing beside her grasped her hand and just like that she was spun off to the next partner. By the fourth partner, Chihiro was not stepping on her partner's toes as she tried to keep up with the different leads. With the next changeover she was surprised to see a blur of white intercept her hand as she reached for the next partner. Pulling her close, Hikaru began to lead her through the dance.

"I've been waiting all night for this," he said with a wolfish smile. Chihiro had to admit that he moved her with a grace that the others simply lacked in their lead. It was as if it were as easy as breathing water for him.

"Why is that," Chihiro asked above the music.

"I only have enough energy in me for one dance tonight and I wanted to make sure it was with you." Dipping her low, she snapped back upright and let him guide her feet around him.

"Not bad for a fox," she chided with a saucy smile. Smirking right back at her, he spun her out and brought her back in even closer to his chest.

"Not bad for your two left feet." Breaking out in laughter, Chihiro tripped over her own feet and nearly fell over as he moved her onto the next steps. Hikaru tried to muffle his snickers, but failed miserably as he saw her scowling face. Trying to keep it together, they stumbled out of the line circle grasping onto each other in laughter.

"Oh my kami-sama, you should have seen your face!" As the music came to an end, they bowed to each other.

"If I can have everyone's attention please," Okita called out, "I wanted to thank everyone for coming out tonight to see my graduation. If it weren't for Watari-san and all of the staff who took care of me I would probably be dead in the sandy marshes. The frogs have offered to play just two more songs to close out the evening, but before that I wanted to say a special thanks to my partner in crime Chihiro Ogino. It sure as hell would have been dreadfully boring if you hadn't been around."

Swiping a glass off of a nearby table, he raised it in salute in her direction. "May no one ever find out that you are as big of a trouble maker as I am." Rolling her eyes, Chihiro took a glass and saluted him back. As everyone drank their toast, Yui stood up and took the floor.

"I doubt anyone could match you Okita-san. However, we have a small parting gift for your graduation from the infirmary. Since you will not be able to get close to the cleansing ceremony during the water festival, Chihiro has offered to perform her dance now so that you may see the beauty of her performance up close." Leaning over to Chihiro, Yui whispered quickly into her ear. "Haku just arrived and is lurking in the back of the room. Conduct the dance and focus in on him. He should respond to your call even without the magic."

"But I don't have the fan or-"

"Just think of it as a practice run using him as your partner." Clapping her on the back, Yui moved away into the retracting crowd as everyone gave her space. Uncertainty from the sudden request ate away at her inside, but the sight of so many smiling faces looking up reassured her that it would be fine. It was only another practice run. Within moments, she found herself standing alone in the center of a crowded silent room, with all eyes on her.

Focusing herself mentally Chihiro took a deep breath and released it before assuming the starting position. The room was silent as her feet slowly slid forward to begin. Even without the relics she could feel the wisps of magic in the air around her as she sought out Haku. Calling out to him with her mind and heart, she started the dance. The air around her began to smell of fresh water and she smiled as her eyes finally found his from across the room. Yui felt her pride bubble as she watched Chihiro conduct the dance flawlessly. Watching Haku out of the corner of her eye she waited excitedly for the moment when he would respond and complete their dance together. The signal came and went and Chihiro froze for a breadth of a second as she looked at Haku confused. Why wasn't he coming forward to join her? Wasn't this their moment? Tearing her eyes from Chihiro, Yui saw the uninterested expression on Haku's face as he stared back at Chihiro. Soothing out her features, Chihiro continued the dance, but the crane was beyond angry. How dare he leave her waiting for him? She could feel the air and water around them resonating with her call to him, but he ignored it as if it were a dragonfly upon the surface of his water. As the dance came to a close, Haku swiftly made his way out the door and Yui quickly followed after him as a round of applause sounded the end.