Written Rivers

Book 2: A Tie Amongst Rivers

Chapter 9: Euphoria

Chihiro waited impatiently outside the Bathhouse, her nerves frantic as she waited for some sort of news. It took everything in her to keep her mind from going to the worse case scenarios. Where were they?

Yuuka had flown out in her bird form after they realized Makoto had already gone out ahead of them. If they really were taking this long, they were probably safe and having a deep heart to heart conversation about why she ran off. Yeah. That was it. Nothing to worry about.

The image of Rumi's dead body grazed her mind for a moment before a hand touched her shoulder. It was Haku. Chihiro reached up and gripped his hand, anchoring it to her shoulder.

"I feel so useless…" She mumbled. "I should be helping."

"And have two humans lost in the forest? No." He replied shaking his head. "It is best that you are here so that Makoto can search for her with a clear mind. If you went out, he would be worried about you. Have faith in your friends."

Chihiro took a deep breath. "You're right. They're fine." She stifled a yawn. It was around seven in the morning and she hadn't gotten any sleep.

"Maybe you should rest."

"No. I couldn't sleep with them still out there."

"Then we shall wait together." Haku replied, squeezing her shoulder.

Chihiro nodded and sat herself against the post of the bridge that led to the Bathhouse, her eyes were getting heavy and she could feel her body beginning to betray her as sleep started to consume her. Her eyes watched the end of the bridge. She could still feel Haku's hand on her shoulder. He wasn't worried, why should she?

Just as her eyes began to drift again, Haku nudged her shoulder and her eyes caught movement at the end of the bridge. She gripped Haku's hand as she stood. Coming from the other side of the bridge was Makoto in his full wolf form and Rumi, blanketed in furs, with her arm reaching over his neck. Yuuka sat comfortably on Rumi's shoulder.

"Rumi-Chan…" Chihiro whispered.

Rumi stopped at the end of the bridge, looked up at Chihiro then looked away. Makoto whispered something to her and she took a deep breath and nodded. She gripped his fur and stepped away, taking another look at Chihiro, who was shaking with anticipation now.

"Chi-Chan… I…"

Chihiro dashed across the bridge and embraced her dear friend, tears running down her face. "I was so worried about you!"

"What?" Rumi replied, as if taken aback.

"Don't act so surprised. You had me worried sick and I couldn't do anything about it!" She hugged the confused girl tighter. "Please don't do that again. Please don't bottle it up anymore. I can't understand everything, but I can try. You've always been there for me. Please let me be there for you."

Rumi didn't move for second before her shoulders began to shake and she wrapped her arms around Chihiro, returning the embrace. "I'm sorry." She mumbled. "I'm sorry… I can't do it all… I can't. I'm hurt. I'm afraid. I feel like a total hypocrite! But I feel so alone even when surrounded by all of you. What if you guys disappear too? You're the only family I have left. I'm scared of it slipping between my fingers. Chi-Chan, I don't know what to do…" Her voice trembled from crying. "I need help."

Chihiro felt her best friend's words cut deep. How did she end up like this? Had she neglected her as a friend? As a sister? She was so focused on herself that she didn't realize her best friend was suffocating from helping her when her own problems. She had to return everything Rumi had done for her and then some. "I'm sorry Rumi-Chan. I haven't been a very good friend-"

Rumi shook her head. "What? No, I-"

"No. I haven't. I've been so self absorbed that I never took the actual time to check on you properly. I could see it. You've barely held on by a string and you've been taking care of me. I'm sorry. You must have felt so alone back in school… I'm sorry."

"It seems we both needed each other more than we realized." Rumi laughed softly.

"I love you, Rumi. You're my sister, blood or not."

"Love you too." Rumi gave her another squeeze before backing out of the hug and touch her forehead to Chihiro's. A smiled seemed to play at her lips as the tears on her cheeks began to dry. "There's something else…"

Chihiro's eyes gleamed with curiosity and whispered. "What?"

"Makoto may have just asked me to be his mate…" She said so low, it was barely audible.

And sleep that was fogging her mind seemed to fade almost instantly as Chihiro grasped Rumi's hands and grinned. "What are we still doing out here?"

Rumi laughed, whipping any excess tears left as Chihiro dragged her towards the door before she stopped and turned towards Makoto. As much as she wanted to have the talk with him at that moment, she needed to thank him. Thank him for saving her best friend, for being the anchor she could never be for Rumi, for being the future Rumi needed. She couldn't some up the words so she let go of Rumi's hand and approached the okami-inu. He looked bigger than usual, he hadn't grown any from what she could tell, but his presence was bigger. He was proud. He was happy. She could tell he was barely containing his excitement even though he was as stoic appearing as always.

Chihiro smiled up at him and hugged him around his large furry neck. "Thank you." Was all she whispered. She could feel him bow his head slightly in acknowledgment to her unsaid feelings. "What would we do without you."

"I can name a few things." He chuckled.

She swatted him playfully. "Way to ruin the mood!" She laughed.

"It was too tense." He said.

"That's funny coming from you." Rumi chide with a smirk.

"I am glad everyone is safe and returned." Haku said from behind them. They all turned to him, his expression was soft yet authoritative. "But I do think many of us could use some proper rest and there are somethings that need to be discussed." His eyes seemed to fall on Makoto and Rumi.

"Of course, Master." Makoto said, bowing his head.

Rumi glanced nervously to Chihiro before everyone started heading inside to their respective cooriders. Everything would be alright. Haku wouldn't be that stubborn or cruel. Would he?

No, he wouldn't. She held Rumi's hand as they walked down the halls toward their room, with Yuuka still perched on Rumi's shoulder. She squeezed her friend's hand gently as they entered their room and sat at the couch in the main room. Yuuka flew off Rumi's shoulder, shifting to her human form half way, and prepared tea for each of them.

Chihiro continued to observe Rumi, who seemed to have a dull look to her despite the news of Makoto's proposal. Rumi looked worn beyond her years, her eyes distant with dark bags and her usually well kept shiny black hair seemed to have lost its luster. How long did it take her to get to this point? When did Chihiro stop paying close attention? Did she ever?

"Where do we even start?" Rumi laughed sarcastically as Yuuka passed at the tea.

"We're sorry. I'm sorry, for everything." Chihiro said, bowing her head lowly.

Rumi panicked. "No, no! Raise your head! You know not to do that around me." She sighed, shaking her head. "We're too alike sometimes."

Chihiro nodded, raising her head. "Crazy really. Neither one of us can really get our stuff together, can we?"

Rumi shook her head, chuckling lightly. "No. No we can't. Neither one of us can admit we have a problem, neither of us can even see what's right in front of us."

"Yeah. You're both rather hypocritical." Yuuka nodded.

"Yuuka!"

"Oh, shut up!" Rumi pouted.

Yuuka laughed and shrugged. "You already admitted it yourself on the bridge. I can't tell you guys how many times I've heard you two go on about family, love and belonging here and yet you can't seem to walk the talk. Geez."

"She's not wrong." Chihiro admitted. "Honestly… I think it's time we both come to terms with it."

"Hm? With what?" Rumi asked.

"The Spirit World is our new home. I'm not waiting for that gate to open anymore and if it does, I'll go see Oka-Sa and Otou-San when the gates open again but until then, I'm fine with staying here." She then gave Rumi a mischievous side glance. "Especially if some of us are deciding to settle down. Hmmm?"

"Eh? Uh, yeah." Rumi stuttered, looking everywhere but her two friends, whose eyes were just begging for information.

"Well? Details!" Chihiro pressed.

"Err… weren't we talking about staying or not?"

"She already accepted his offer to be mates." Yuuka recounted slyly.

"What!" Rumi blushed. "How did-"

"I saw!" Yuuka said, sticking her tongue out with childlike sass.

The girl's ears turned red. "How much did you see?!"

"Enough. I left after you said yes. I didn't want to stick around to see what happened next." Yuuka stuck her tongue out again, this time with slight disgust. "Nothing I wouldn't have seen before."

"Y-Y-Yuuka!" Rumi shrieked, throwing a throw pillow at her.

Chihiro laughed. "I'm glad you're finding happiness. You've earned it after everything you've done and been through."

Rumi stopped trying to suffocate Yuuka with a pillow and looked at her friend. "Thanks. I still can't believe it happened. It's almost like a dream." She looked off into space, as if recounting everything that happened.

"You really do love him, don't you?" Chihiro smiled, leaning her chin into her palm.

Rumi blinked and smiled back, her cheeks still pink. "Yeah. I do."

"Then I'm glad it's Makoto." She tilted her head. "If it were anyone else we'd have a problem."

Rumi laughed and looked down at the sound of a pounding on the floor. Yuuka was still buried under her pillow and looking for air. Rumi laughed and released her. "Sorry, sorry."

"Were you trying to kill me!" Yuuka screamed.

"It felt appropriate in the moment." Rumi replied innocently, receiving a growl from the young spirit.

Chihiro watched as the two bickered and smiled. She chose well. She chose well in the people she surrounded herself with. They were crazy, but they brought out the best in her. She appreciated it. She breathed a sigh. Would Haku ask such a thing from her?

Haku sat his desk, lacing his fingers together in front of him as he reclined in his chair and looked at the scene before him. "So you are asking for my blessing… but you have already asked her to be your mate?" He asked, looking between Makoto and Rumi, who was fidgeting anxiously with a scarlet face.

"Yes." Makoto affirmed confidently. However, his stance was stiffer than usual, making Haku know that he indeed was nervous.

He glanced over at Chihiro, who stood near the door as support for her friend. She was doing that nervous tick of hers where she bites her lower lip and picked at her nails. It was the small things like that that she did that he found endearing.

It was late afternoon after Rumi was found. Everyone had gone to their rooms after and gotten proper rest before sitting to talk about Makoto's proposal to Rumi. If he blessed their union, he was sealing the idea of both girls potentially staying there in the Spirit World indefinitely. After fighting it for so long, he would be finally telling them it was okay to stay with this one phrase. He would be throwing the idea of going their separate ways out the window. He would be admitting that he wanted to ask the same of Chihiro what Makoto was asking of Rumi. Surely, that was what he wanted.

"You understand what you are asking of her?"

"Yes." Makoto replied.

"Do you understand what he is asking of you, Rumi-San?" His eyes shifted to her.

"Yes." She said with more confidence than her demeanor showed.

"Then you have my blessing." He saw Chihiro's eyes widen from the corner of his eye. "If you both understand the circumstances and still wish to mate, I have no qualms."

A light sparked in both Makoto and Rumi's eyes and Rumi jumped up and wrapped her arms around Makoto's neck, whispering her excitement to him. Haku smiled softly as his eyes shifted to Chihiro. She was watching her friends with a happy, yet sad look. What was going through her mind? What was hiding behind those brown gems that were her eyes?

"Now that you two have my blessing, I would like to talk with Chihiro alone."

"Hm?" Chihiro blinked, pointing to herself. "Me?"

"Is there another Chihiro here?" Haku asked.

Chihiro pouted, puffing up her cheeks and averting her eyes.

Rumi glanced between the two and seemed to grin mischievously. "Of course. We'll be on our way. Right, Makoto?"

"Hm." Makoto took her hand and walked Rumi out, leaving the two of them alone.

Silence filled the space between them as time seemed to drag. Chihiro was still avoiding eye contact with her cheeks dusted pink. She was leaning against the far wall, arms crossed. Haku leaned on his desk with his chin in his palm, admiring her sulking demeanor.

"What is it you wanted to talk about?" Chihiro finally asked, looking at him.

"You do not work tonight, no?"

She quirked a brow, unfolding her arms. "No? I don't believe I do. Do you need me to?"

He shook his head and stood. "The dinner. I want to do it tonight. Dress up and come back here before sunset." He walked across the room to where she stood, her cheeks were a bright red now. He inwardly chuckled at the fact that she was so easy to fluster. If this continued, he would have an interesting life ahead of him. "We will not have to worry about any disruptions this time."

Chihiro's legs started to tremble and she looked like she was about to buckle under his gaze. "R-right… I'll be here. Anything else?" She asked as she skirted toward the door ever so slightly.

"Yes."

She paused, listening.

"Just be yourself." He smiled. "No need to bring anything else."

She blinked then smiled that shy yet confident smile she managed to master. With that she turned to leave, leaving him to finish preparing for their dinner.

Haku was getting a horrible sense of deja vu as he waited for Chihiro to come back to his office. For some reason, he felt like he was was paying more attention to every little detail, more so than last time. Everything was arranged the same, except for dinner entree and the bouquet of flowers, which consisted of red and white carnations, white anemones and simple greenery. These flowers' hidden message was one of devoted love and sincerity. Maybe one day he would teach her this art.

A knock on the door brought Haku's attention away from the balcony where he had everything set up. He straightened out his kimono. It was one of his simpler kimono, with a subtle deep blue and green palette, that still spoke of his status but did not intimidate.

He took a breath and started toward the door, each step seemed a bit heavier. Was this what is felt like to be nervous? It was quite the foreign feeling.

Haku opened the door to Chihiro. She was dressed as she was before only this time she wore a pale orange, simple iromuji style kimono, peach blossoms embroidered into the silk. Her hair was pulled back with a matching clip. She fidgeted slightly with the hem

"Beautiful." He breathed inaudibly.

She fidgeted nervously. "Are you going to invite me in?"

Realizing he was staring, he complied. "Of course." He bowed slightly and ushered her in towards the balcony.

Everything felt right, the only thing out of place was Chihiro's stiff and nervous posture. She stopped to admire the flower bouquet, touching each individual one as if to find out their secrets. She looked around the balcony, surveying the area for trouble. Haku gaze her a had look to her back. She was still scared and unsure about their safety. He did not blame her, but he could and would reassure her that it was safe. He handled every detail this time around and left it out of everyone's hands.

Haku walked up behind her and placed his hand on her shoulder. She flinched but her body untensed almost instantly after. "You are safe. Nothing will harm you."

She took a deep breath and nodded. "I know." She turned to him with a bright smile. "Shall we get started?"

"Hm. We shall."

They both sat at the table and Haku looked to the far side of the balcony and made a beckoning motion. Chihiro glanced over and grinned ear to ear.

"Ame!" She rose and dashed towards him to envelop the small boy in a hug. "I missed you! Where have you been?"

Ame laughed. "Shishou has had me on a lot of errands to the river and main city lately since he'd been on bed rest."

"The main city?" Chihiro asked.

"Important errands that need to be done in the main city because of the Bathhouse. Nothing you need to be concerned with." Haku answered, not fully explaining to her the need to let the capitol know about the inmates they kept under Bathhouse supervision.

"Ah." She replied, nodding absently. "Well it's great to see you Ame!" She hugged him again. Then there was a glint in her eye. "So what is his river like?"

"Ah! Uh, well…" Ame side glanced at Haku, who tended to leave any knowledge of his river between his closest associates and the spirits of his territory.

"It is fine." He nodded.

Ame beamed and began raving to her about the river and its residents. He went on about the river itself and how it talked but did not talk whenever you touched and of the different plants that grew there. Chihiro listened with earnest, her eyes the size of saucers as excitement danced in her eyes.

"That's amazing." Chihiro said. She glanced at Haku and she blushed lightly. "It would be nice to meet the river someday."

Haku shrugged. "That could possibly be arranged."

Her eyes lit up and she grinned down at Ame.

"But until then, let us have dinner. Ame is here to serve the food."

"Oh really?"

Ame grinned and bowed. "At your service, Milady!"

Chihiro laughed and bowed herself. "Then do please take good care of us." She turned and sat back down at the table, a new air of relief around her. She felt safe again.

The evening went on and dinner continued over small talk and updating the other on their lives, though there really was not much to update on due to proximities. As the sun began to set, he motioned for Ame to take his leave and began to rise from his seat, extending his hand to a curious Chihiro.

"Come. I want to show you something."

Chihiro nodded and took his hand, rising as he gently pulled her up. He guided her to the ledge of the balcony, the clock tower just in their sights.

"Watch." He whispered close to her ear.

Chihiro looked up to him then out at the tower across the green hills that would soon be the river. As the sun set behind the trees, the water that trickled through the rocks at the base of the small town began to bubble up and out into the grassy hills, filling it until dark waters stretched out towards the clock tower, where orange glowing lights lumped over the waters. The setting sun reflected over the dark water in orange hues causing the water to practically dance with the lights as water rippled around the luxury boats that sailed across.

Haku could hear Chihiro's barely audible gasps of awe as the sunset upon the beautiful start to the night.

"It's beautiful." She breathed, then she chuckled. "Funny how perspectives change overtime. I didn't think it was beautiful the first time around. I was terrified."

"That you were." He chuckled himself. "But you made it out and you saved your parents. You were really brave. You still are."

Chihiro sighed a laugh. "Thank you. It doesn't always feel like it though."

Haku took the shift in conversation as an opportunity. "I will be honest…"

She glanced up at him.

"I have never really feared anything, until I met you."

"What?" Chihiro blinked, take a side step away from the balcony, as if to study his whole demeanor.

"I fear the day I have to say goodbye. I fear the day when I am unable to protect you."

Chihiro looked at him with empathy. "But Haku-"

He raised his hand to stop her. "But you are also the first person in my life that I do not want to see leave because I want you to see me better. I have gone through most of my life detached from the world and responsibilities. I was devout to my river, my work, the wars at hand, but always detached from relationships. But then a little red shoe dropped into my river and my whole world changed." He looked at his hands. He could see the blood of many enemies and lives lost to his river. The many sacrifices made to his river in the early years. "Countless lives have been lost at my hands, in my waters. What was one more? What was different about the life of that one small child?" Haku looked her in the eyes, curiosity filling her eyes and what also looked like caution and concern. Another time.

"Fate and I have not been on good terms as of late, but I do believe fate dropped your little red shoe in my river, so that one day you would save me. So that one day I would come to find that I love you." He reached out and cupped Chihiro's face and touched their foreheads together. "Chihiro. You are my greatest strength and my greatest weakness and you hold my heart in your hands whether you know it or not. Allow me the honor of being the one to love you." He traced one of his hands down her arm and brought her hand to his face. "You are the reason I am who I am today, I want to show you just how much you affect this heart." He brought her hand closer and kissed it.

Chihiro's face turned a dark shade of pink. He could see the gears turning in her head but not responding. He brought her hand to his cheek and leaned into it. Her chocolate brown eyes began to glisten with tears.

"Haku. I..." She leaned her cheek into his hand that was still caressing her cheek, covering it with her own. She closed her eyes and let out a breath. "Haku I love you. And I wouldn't want anything more that to remain by your side."

Haku smiled, then chuckled. The range of emotions running through him at that moment were hardly familiar to him and he felt like a rushing river after a good storm. He felt like soaring high in the sky. He paused as he kissed the inside of Chihiro's palm. Maybe he would.

"Follow me." He said, taking her hand and leading her away from the balcony.

"What are you doing?" Chihiro mused.

"I want to show you how I feel." As soon as they were a good distance from the ledge on the small balcony, he shifted to his dragon self and nudged Chihiro to climb on. She quickly complied and carefully hoisted herself up onto his long slender back. When he felt she had a grip on his horns, he ran the short distance of the balcony and soared into the sky. The crisp night air flowing through his mane and the full moon lighting their path.

He heard Chihiro gasp in wonder and he felt himself overflow with excitement until he could no longer contain a roar that echoed across the forests and valleys. Behind him Chihiro let out her own type of roar that only ended in a jumble of giggles. He chuckled but found it endearing. This would work out. He would treasure and love her. He would take care of her. Through the storms. Through the trials. Whatever fate would send him. He would provide what she needed. Everything and anything.

"Haku." Chihiro mumbled, baring her face in his mane. "I love you. Don't you believe anything else."

Haku breathed and let the back of his throat rumble like a pur. He would hold those words close.

They drifted in the sky until the winds became too cold for Chihiro. They returned to the Bathhouse, midnight still out of sight, they landed on the balcony outside of Chihiro's room. Once Chihiro was off his back, he shifted back to his human form and caressed her cheek once more and touched their foreheads together.

"Do not ever leave me." He said, his voice low.

She shook her head. "I wouldn't dream of it."

Haku smiled and breathed. He traced his hand down her arm and held her hand. He wanted to show her. He never was good with wording his emotions and he knew it. But he wanted to show her. "I want to take you someplace. Someplace I have never taken anyone. But since it is you." His smile brightened. "I think arrangements can be made."

"As long it's with you and you don't send me away." Chihiro replied.

"Never again." With that, he pressed his lips to her forehead and nudged her towards the door. "Good night."

A/N:
You weren't ready. They weren't ready. I wasn't ready. We all weren't ready. But it's here.
Let the romance begin.

Since I could not find any real info on "spirit mating rituals" or how they worked (especially with humans), I took it upon myself to make my own rules on the topic. So please don't take it verbatim when it comes around.-(honestly think that verbatim is my favorite word lol)

Would you guys be interested in a Q&A?

Thanks for reading and don't forget to review! And for those that do review, I thank you a bunches!

Thank you for the reviews from: picklesisadeadcat, RSBCS, Rosettaxfantasy, Kra, Turniptree, Sypherpol, chimera-writes, lackadaises, coolchick87, CluelessPaige, AlexAngel14, MorbidVisionary, CarlyRaeJepsenStan, and Ai Star.

God bless! KawaChou