Chapter 15: Human Thing

"Is everything alright?" Lin asked.

"Yeah," Chihiro answered shortly.

"Uhh... You and Haku... fight again?"

Chihiro sighed. "Well...," and she shrugged.

"What's wrong?" Lin asked again.

Chihiro thought for a second. If she told Lin that Haku worried about her because she's a human today, Lin probably had the same thought and wouldn't train her.

"Nah, nothing serious," Chihiro lied.

"Are you sure?"

"Yup,"

"Okay. Then it assures me that it won't distract you from our preparation," Lin said.

"Sure, it won't distract me," and Chihiro nodded her head.

"Good. Now let's begin," Lin said. She stretched her body and there was a cracking sound as she smothered her fist with her other hand.

"Okay, that sounds intense," Chihiro said.

Lin put a smug smile on her face. "Well, that could be useful to threatening our contender," and Chihiro laughed a little to Lin's sentence. "Position," she demanded.

Chihiro did her ready position. "I will attack you, try to fight back," Lin said. Chihiro nodded her head. Then they started.

Lin swang her fist trying to attack on the head. Chihiro moved her head aside, Lin missed. Lin tried once again, she attacked her trunk but Chihiro used her arms to shield her body. At a chance Chihiro pulled Lin's hand and pushed her away.

"Good defence," Lin commented. "Try to attack me,"

Then Chihiro tried to punch Lin on her stomach and Lind caught her fist easily. Chihiro stepped her foot across between Lin's legs trying to lock her but Lin turned with her hand gripping Chihiro's wrist, so Chihiro's arm was twisted to her back.

Chihiro squealed. "Wrong move," Lin said and let her go. Chihiro moved back while she rubbed her right arm. "You're fine, now try to throw me down," Lin demanded.

Chihiro did as she was told. She did it the right way, step by step. Just the time she got a good grip on Lin's upper arm and about to slam her, she lost her balance and ended up herself slammed down to the floor.

Lin laughed a little at her sister faux pas and Chihiro found herself surprised. "You good?" Lin asked while offering her hand.

"Yeah," Chihiro said while she took Lin's hand and stood up. She sighed and frowned.

"You did it the right way, but you were powerless. Try again," Lin said.

Chihiro took a deep breath. Okay, this time I will not fail. She tried once again. She moved steady and nimbly, did the same move she'd done right before. Everything seemed smooth, Chihiro almost too happy because she successfully slammed Lin down to the floor. Lin could tell Chihiro did from the smile on her lips.

"Don't be so happy, girl," Lin said. Then she used her leg to kick Chihiro. That human was surprised and she bounced off a little.

"What?" Chihiro exclaimed.

Lin got up in a blink. "Stay focus! Never give your contender a break!" she said before she swang her leg at Chihiro's head.

Chihiro bent down to avoided Lin's leg. But it was a wrong move, that made her body even closer to Lin. Once she looked up, both of her hands got to withstand Lin's fist. Chihiro was overwhelmed that she missed Lin's other fist that hit her stomach. It wasn't too hard but she wasn't ready, so she bounced off and dropped to the floor.

"You're loosing your focus, Chihiro!" Lin snapped.

"Ughh," Chihiro mumbled. Rather than paying attention to Lin's words, she crouched to the pain on her stomach.

Then Lin's eyes widened and she gasped. "Oh my God, Chihiro! You're bleeding!"

"I'm what?" Chihiro was dumbfonded to see a circle of blood on her clothes.

Lin ran to her and squated. "Chihiro, I'm so sorry! D-did I punch you too hard?" Lin was panic and was close to tears.

Then Chihiro looked once again to where exactly the blood stain was. "Wait," she said and tried to stand up.

"H-hey, just sit still, don't move. I- I'll get you some first aid," Lin said nervously.

Chihiro shook her head. "Lin, what date is it today?"

"Uhh... We don't really think about that kind of date here in spirit world. But if you ask about the month, now is approximately two-third of the month... Why?"

Chihiro thought for a second. Then she huffed. "I knew it," and she stood up.

Lin crinkled her eyebrow. "What?"

"The first aid is in the bathroom, right?" Chihiro asked.

"Yeah. B-but just stay here, I'll get it for you,"

"No, no, I'm okay," then Chihiro headed to the door.

"Then, I'll come with you! I- I can help you," Lin said while she grabbed Chihiro's hand.

Chihiro looked at her, she looked both worried and scared. Chihiro made a thin smile. "Lin, don't worry. It's not your fault. Just stay here, okay? I'll be right back," she said and walked out.

Lin was left alone with her mind confused and scared. Soon, she heard foot steps running towards the room. She was snapped out.

"Chihiro...?"

The door slid opened violently and a tall man with his straight black hair and green eyes stood there.

Lin's expression was changed. "Haku?"

That river spirit immediately entered the room. His eyes were steely looking at her. "Where is she?" he asked.

Lin gulped. "Oh, Chihiro... She's in the bathroom," she said carefully.

Haku walked closer to her. "What did you do to her?" he asked again coldly.

Lin stepped backwards. "W-what...?"

Haku didn't stop, he kept moving. He knew she was scared, he could smell her fear.

"H-haku, I'm sorry.. I-" Lin stopped as she realized now she's been pressed against the wall.

Haku grabbed her pink salmon clothes at the collars. He looked at her closer, practically eye to eye. "I can feel her bleeding. You hurt her?" Haku said it murderously.

Lin was scared to death. From his eyes she could tell that he could really kill her at the moment. She cried. "It was part of the training... I was attacking her, she missed my fist and I hit her stomach.. B-but I didn't mean to hurt-"

"You idiot!" Haku yelled at her. "Don't you know that she's a human today!?" he yelled again with a higher tone.

Lin didn't understand what he's talking about. And she had no time to think about that. She sobbed and her body started shaking. "I'm so sorry..." she said weakly. She really hoped him to kill her.

"Guys? What's going on here?"

Both Haku and Lin turned to the voice and found Chihiro stood at the door, with new clothes without blood stain on it.

"Chihiro!" Haku exclaimed. He immediately let Lin go and then run to his human.

"Haku, what are you doing to Lin?" Chihiro asked.

Haku grabbed her upper arms and ignored her question. "Chihiro, are you okay?" he asked in return.

"I am perfectly fine,"

"Please don't lie to me,"

"Haku, I'm not lying,"

Haku sighed. He moved his hands from her arms to her hands. "I can feel you bleeding... It hurts," and he frowned.

Chihiro hadn't thought about this before. Now that she and Haku were connected, it make sense that he felt it too.

She cracked a smile and caressed his cheek. "I'm sorry that you feel it too, but this is fine, and perfectly normal,"

"Normal?" Lin asked suddenly. And again, the lovers forgot that there were not only to of them.

"Yeah, I've been dealing with it every month for about four years," Chihiro said easily.

Haku and Lin looked surprised, then they looked to each other.

"Chihiro, nobody is called normal for dealing with bleeding every month," Lin said cautiously.

"And furthermore, you said it's been four years," Haku added.

Chihiro clamed up looking at their serious faces. Then realization hit her.

"Oh. My. Goodness," she said while putting her hand to her forehead. She almost forgot that she was no longer living in the human world.

"What's wrong, Chihiro?" Lin asked.

"Guys, it's called period. I'm on my period,"

Lin and Haku looked to each other again.

"And that is...?" Haku asked.

"Uh... Lin, you don't know it...?"

Lin shook her head.

Chihiro confused to find a word. "Did this period ever happened to you, female spirits? Because we humans, female humans, it happens to us,"

"Honey, humans and spirits are totally different," Lin answered.

"So, would you please explain to us what it is?" Haku asked.

Chihiro was silent for a second before she huffed and sratched her head, even it wasn't itchy. How was her to explain if they didn't even know what period is?

It was a pretty long day. After Chihiro explained what period is to Haku and Lin, Haku forbade her to practice with Lin and Lin agreed, they wanted her to take some day off. Well, she thought they didn't really understand but in this situation, she couldn't refuse.

Now he was taking her to Kamaji, he would get her some medicine to reduce the pain. Actually, it wasn't really necessarry. Chihiro told him that she was used to it, but still he was a stubborn dragon.

"She is sick," Haku told Kamaji.

Chihiro shook her head. "I'm not si-"

"She's bleeding," Haku cut her words.

Chihiro huffed. "It's called period, Kamaji,"

Kamaji hummed while rubbing his chin. "Period, huh?"

Chihiro nodded.

"Yea, I read about it in some books about humans,"

Chihiro made a wide smile. This lifted her mood up, finally someone understands about period.

"But, still it was too confusing to understand," Kamaji added.

Chihiro's smile back dropped to frown.

"What I know is, it takes a week until two to off period. Is it right?" Kamaji asked.

"Yeah, well, it works different on each person. Usually I only need four until five days to off my period," Chihiro explained.

"Do you think it's something dangerous?" Haku asked.

"Dangerous? Hmm.. I don't think so," Kamaji said.

See? Chihiro looked at Haku and put a smug smile feeling herself won.

Haku breathed heavily. "Still, I want you to give her some medicine," he said firmly.

Chihiro forced a smile. Meanwhile Kamaji laughed. "Don't worry, I understand," Kamaji said. Then he moved his hands to take some herbs and started mixing.

"Your dragon loves you so much that he worries a lot, Young Lady. He will never let anything get to you," Kamaji said while handing her a cup of herbs potion.

Chihiro smiled. "I know," then she took the cup. "Thank you, Kamaji,"

Kamaji nodded. "You're welcome. But I cannot guarantee that potion could reduce the pain, but I'm sure it could make your body feel better,"

"Wait," Chihiro said. She sniffed the smell of the potion and she made a weird face.

"What's wrong, Chihiro?" Haku asked.

"What is this?" Chihiro asked Kamaji.

"Medicine," Kamaji answered simply.

"No, no. I mean, what's this made of?"

"I know it smells not good, but it's good for you," Kamaji said.

Haku understood why Kamaji wouldn't tell her the ingridients. "Uh, I think it's better not to tell you, or you won't drink it," Haku said.

"He's right, just drink it. It's good for you," Kamaji assured her with a wide smile on his face and his thumb up.

Chihiro forced a smile. "Okay, okay," and she sipped the potion.

Chihiro knew it would take forever if she drink it that way, so she gulped the rest. Once she finished it up, she put the cup down and hastily covered her mouth with her hands.

"No, no, hold it, don't throw it out," Haku said. Then he pulled a glass of water out of thin air. "Here,"

Chihiro took it fast and drank it in a blink. "It tasted horrible! I would never drink that again!" she exclaimed.

Kamaji laughed and Haku too, but he tried to hold it back. "Don't hurt your grandfather's feeling, Love," he said.

Then Chihiro's expression was changed. "I'm sorry, Kamaji. I don't mean to, it was only my spontaneous reaction," she said and she frowned.

Kamaji laughed even louder. "Nah, it's nothing. I'm used to get horrible complaints. But in the end, people thank me for my herbs and the effect on their body," he said.

Chihiro laughed a little. "Okay, okay. Thanks a lot, Grandpa,"

"Anytime, Sweetheart," Kamaji answered while waving his hand. "You guys may take a rest here if you want to,"

Chihiro and Haku nodded their heads. Then Haku turned to her. "Four until five days, it's pretty long for bleeding," he said innocently.

"Yeah, it will be longer in this crucial time," she said uneagerly.

Haku realized that his words only making her more scared. "Hey," he said while he stroke her hair. "Don't worry. You got me, you got all of us. We will protect you,"

"I know," she responded shortly. Then she rested her head on his shoulder.

"Come here," Haku said. He opened his arms. She came closer and hugged him. He warped his arms around her.

Your smell. Petrichor. Your warmth. The most shooting things on earth. I will never let go.

But why...

fear is here too?

[crucial time too]

*Sherona849 - that's great! we know it's not easy, just keep swimming-

*fanficgirl85 - THANK YOU SO MUCH! I TRIED AS HARD AS I COULD AND ASAP, I'M SORRY IF YOU WAITED SO LONG.

*EioYP - thanks, but I don't understand what do u mean :( i hope it's smth nice. anyway thanks for reading!

[ps: though I kinda busy and have a lot work to do, I keep waiting to receive your review! THANK YOU]

-moinami