Chapter 16: Blocked

Day 4

Just another day. One day closer than yesterday. One step closer to the d-day. You might think it's still long enough. It's not happening to you. But in the eyes of those souls waiting in between hope and fear, they were welcoming the end of their uncertain fate.

Everybody had getting used to these new activities. Breakfast. Practice. Preparing. Some break times if necessary. Sleep. Repeat.

"Here's your rice," Lin handed Chihiro a bowl of rice. "Which one would you like: fried ebi or dumplings?"

"I'd like dumplings, please," Chihiro said.

"Sure," and Lin took some dumplings for her.

"Thanks,"

Lin nodded. Meanwhile she herself took some fried ebi.

"Lin, if I'm not allowed to practice today, then what should I do?" Chihiro asked.

"Hmmm..." Lin hummed while chewing her breakfast. "You may join Yubaba, Q, and the others. They're working out for some strategy and things,"

Chihiro slowly nodded her head as her mind proceeding what to expect. Just in time that grey haired fortune-teller passed by. He wasn't going to greet the girls if it wasn't Lin did it first.

"Yo, Q!" Lin called him.

For a second, Q looked snapped. But then he changed his expression soon after. He stopped and turned to them. "Hello," he said with a little smile.

"Q, Chihiro is not in a good condition to practice today, so she will join you and the others working for the strategy. Is it okay?" Lin asked directly.

Q wasn't answering. His eyes straight to Lin's. He watched her carefully, not to sure that he listened thoroughly.

"Hello? Earth to Q, are you in there?" Lin asked.

Then Q blinked and shook his head a little. "I'm sorry, what?"

Lin sighed and rolled her eyes, meanwhile Chihiro laughed a little. "I am not allowed to practice today, so I will join you and the others working for the strategy. Is it okay?" Chihiro repeated Lin's word.

"Oh, umm…. Yeah, sure…" he answered, but his tone sounded unsure.

Both Lin and Chihiro raised their eyebrows. "What's wrong, Q?" Chihiro asked.

Q sighed. "You have to come with me," then he grabbed Chihiro's wrist.

Chihiro snapped. No. Please don't. "Wha-"

"I need to talk to you, alone,"

Lin realized that he made Chihiro uncomfortable. "Can't you just talk here- Hey!"

Not bothering Lin shouted, Q pulled Chihiro's hand and took her ran away. "I'm sorry, Lin! It's personal," he shouted while running.

Meanwhile Chihiro tried to break free from Q's grip. But he gripped her so tight that she couldn't. "Q, let me go!" Chihiro snapped.

"Not yet," Q said shortly and keep on his way taking her away.

Then Chihiro skipped a heartbeat. She knew it. Since Q took her hand, she felt the dragon warned her. It was getting more intense that the dragon groaned as Q pulled her running away. And now it's all gone. It didn't mean that it's over, but it's all gone because it was being blocked.

"Haku?" Chihiro called her. "Haku, can you hear me?" But Haku didn't respond. "Haku, please answer me," she tried once again. And still, Haku gave no sign to her. She didn't even feel their connection. Haku had really blocked her.

Now that they're outside the bathhouse, Q let her hand go. In spite of her guilt to Haku, Chihiro gritted her teeth and huffed.

"What is wrong with you!?" she asked angrily.

"Nothing,"

"Then what are you doing?"

Q thought for a second. "I need your help," he said.

Chihiro raised her eyebrow. "To what?"

"I know it's not the right time, but…" then he looked down in the middle of his sentence. "I-it's about Lin…"

Chihiro thought she knew where this was going. But somehow, she wanted to play innocent. "What's wrong with Lin?" she asked in a provocative tone.

"Well…. You know, I like her…" Q said to the point.

WOAAAAAAA! Chihiro screamed internally. It seemed like she forgot all her problems that she was so happy to know that now might be her sister has a love potential. Her mouth was nearly gaped, but she managed herself to keep calm and collected.

"I know." She said shortly.

"You know?" Q asked unbelieving.

"Yep. It's obvious,"

Q looked away and blushed. Chihiro made a wide smile. "So, how can I help you, Lover Boy?"

"Uh… do you think I should tell her my feelings about her?"

"Yes, you should. But not so fast, Fortune-teller,"

"O…kay. Then, how?"

Chihiro thought for a second. It might be a mistake to talk about time in this 'mean of time'. "Hmm. I take back my words. You could just tell her, anytime now,"

"Seriously? In this situation?"

"Yea, but play it smooth, Boy," she said. "I got an idea."

There would only four places in the bathhouse where Haku would be in that mean of time: his private practice room, the boiler room, the library, and last was his bedroom. She'd been to the boiler room but Kamaji said he wasn't there. She checked his practice room and he wasn't there either. That would only the library and his bedroom left. She really hoped Haku was in the library. If he was in his bedroom, then she would have no courage to see him.

Chihiro went to the second floor from the top to find her dragon. Yubaba told her to go left from the elevator. She could find a library on the second door on the right side. A library? There's a library in this bathhouse? I thought I've known this place thoroughly. And there she was. A coupled white wooden door leaves, she was standing right in front of them.

She sighed before she knocked the door twice. She held her breath waiting for an answer, hopefully from Haku. But she got nothing. Then she encouraged herself to open the door. At first, she peeked into before finally stepped in. She closed the door behind her carefully.

She took a second to have a good look at the room. She swept the view, to find that the room was big, couples of bookshelves and the books, and she noticed some tables between those bookshelves. The nearest table in front of her was empty, she decided Haku must be at the other further table.

She started walking and searching for him. "Haku?" she called. She searched on the left part first. "Haku, tell me that you're here," she said lauder. Meanwhile she still got no answers. Now she went to the middle part while kept on calling his name. "Hakuuu! It's me, Chihiro. Please tell me that you're here," she said.

She began to worry that it's the last part of the room and her searching still giving her nihil. "Haku, where are you?" she shouted a little. Chihiro didn't like this. Haku had driving her crazy. Then her eyes caught a spot she hadn't gone to, a place near the fire place. So, she ran to get there, and she got a feeling that she must look behind the bookshelf. And she stopped as she found Haku was sitting there, reading a book, with a stack of books and some papers beside him.

"Haku, you're here! Why don't you ans-…" she stopped talking because she realized Haku didn't notice her presence, or more like he pretended that he didn't.

"Haku, I'm sorry," she said. But Haku gave no response. He didn't even move an inch.

Chihiro held her breath and took a seat next to him. "Kohaku, I'm so sorry…" she said again "I- I know you're upset and angry to Q for taking me just like that, without my permission- your permission. I was angry too… But then turned out he did it because of Lin…. Q likes Lin… and he was asking me for a help, so he could probably get close to Lin… Please don't be angry with me…" she explained.

Haku's flat expression didn't change. He was only cleared his throat while turning the page on his book.

Chihiro balled her hands that were getting cold. She sighed. "I- I know it's my fault. I could have said "No" louder, I should have withstood him, or I could have run from him. I… Please forgive me…"

Haku still on his silence. Until Chihiro's hands were now kneading her clothes and she was about to shed a tear. Suddenly Haku closed his book and that snapped her.

He turned to her. "You done?" he asked.

Chihiro held her breath and carefully nodded.

Haku put his book and then hugged her. This made Chihiro skipped a heartbeat. He hugged her so tight and never let her go. Chihiro was now confused, she was so scared that he was angry but now he's hugging her. Though she couldn't resist to hug him back and kept on ducking her head on his chest while she finally shed a tear, only to make herself felt relieved.

"I'm sorry," Haku whispered. And he kissed her head.

Chihiro looked up. "So, you're not angry?"

Haku smiled. "I was mad. It felt so stupid and I'm feeling like and idiot. How could I get jealous to that tacky fortune-teller, meanwhile I know that you're mine and will always be mine,"

Chihiro smiled a little. She caressed his cheek. "Are you sure, Dragon?"

"Yeah. Check it for yourself, Dear," Haku said.

And Chihiro felt him unblocked her, now she could feel their connection was back. She hugged him once again. "Then, don't do that again, Stupid Dragon," she said.

Haku laughed. "What can I say? You're My Careless Human,"

"O-oh," she shut his mouth with her hand. "This 'human' now is only temporary," she said.

He laughed softly. "Fine, the Human wins,"

Now Chihiro laughed. "Haku, come with me! We'll watch something that might be interesting,"

"Sure. And that is?"

Chihiro made a mischievous smile. "We'll see."

Lin heard someone knocked the door. "Come in," she said.

Then the newly encouraged fortune-teller came in.

"Oh, hi, Q," Lin greeted.

"Hi, Lin. Am I bothering you?" Q asked.

"No, you're not. I just finished warming up. What's up?"

"Umm… I want to practice with you," Q said.

Lin raised her eyebrow. "What?"

"I want to practice with you," Q repeated, more confidently this time.

"And… why do you want to do that?" Lin asked unsure.

"Well… who doesn't want to practice with the daughter of The God of War?"

Lin shrugged off. "Okay… But, aren't you supposed to be with Chihiro and the others right now?"

"Well, we've got everything handled. Don't worry,"

Lin thought for a second. "Fine. Then let's get started."

Q took off his cloak and dropped it to the floor. "You go first," he asked.

Beyond their cognition, Haku and Chihiro were peeking from the door's gap. Haku used his magic so both of them were invisible at the moment. But they had to keep silent because the magic didn't work for voices.

"This was your idea?" Haku asked.

"Yeah, just watch," Chihiro answered simply.

With no hesitate, Lin stepped straight forward, swung her fist trying to attack on the head. Q moved and she missed. Now Q tried to do the same thing, and Lin stepped aside. Now she grabbed his arm, trying to lock him, but Q twisted his arm so he grabbed back her arm and locked her. Lin spun and moved her arm while pushed him away.

"Nice defense you got, Lin," Q complimented her.

"Thanks. You got good move too," Lin complimented back.

Now Q stepped forward about to punch her and Lin withstood him with her leg. Q pulled her leg trying to swing her, only to make her hopped and landed on his shoulders, then locked his neck with her legs. Q swung his body front-wise while trying to throw her down. But gracefully Lin landed on her feet.

"Wow, I got to confess. I admire you, Miss Lin," Q said.

Lin smiled wickedly. "Not, so fast, Mr. Fortune teller!" Q didn't realize that she was grabbing his arm, now she twisted it to his back and he squealed, like Chihiro did.

"Ouch… that must be hurt. I've been there before," Chihiro said. She wrinkled her eyebrows. Meanwhile Haku covered his mouth to held back his laugh.

"I take it back," Q said while backing off. "You know what, I was just knuckling under on purpose, so you could win,"

"You stupid lover boy! That's not how you do it!" Chihiro put her palm on her forehead.

Haku shook his head. "That moron will be screwed,"

Chihiro turned to him. "He will be screwed. Just watch," Haku said again.

Lin tensed up. "This is not a competition!" then she attacked him.

Q was surprised, realizing he was wrong. Now he was overwhelmed, he couldn't fight back, only eschewing.

"Lin, wait-" Q tried to hold her back.

Lin didn't hear him. Now she had already got a good grip on him and immediately slammed him down. Her position now was sitting on his trunk, about to punch him in the face.

"Lin, stop! I'm sorry!" Q yelled.

Lin held her fist. "What's the point you were saying that!?"

"I don't know. I- I just want to say that..." Q stopped.

"What?" Lin asked in impatience.

"You're beautiful."

"Oh, no," Chihiro shook her head.

"Oh, yes!" Haku said eagerly while nodding his head.

Reacting to Q's words, Lin impulsively punched him on the face.

"Oh, dear." Chihiro said. Then she turned to her dragon to find him already looking at her.

"See? I told you he'll be screwed."

"Q, I'm so sorry… I thought it's gonna work," Chihiro said.

Meanwhile Q kept on plugging some tissue paper to stop his nose bleed.

"Nah, it's not your fault, Chihiro. This fortune-teller is just dumb," Haku said.

Q made a crisp laugh. "I played it wrong, didn't I?"

"You played it wrong? You didn't even know how to play it," Haku patted the back of that fortune-teller's neck.

"Haku, stop it. He still has his nose bleeding," Chihiro said.

Q stuck out his tongue mocking the dragon. Meanwhile Haku merely rolled his eyes.

"But I think it's working. For me," Q said.

"What do you mean?" Chihiro asked.

"Every girl I've met, they would easily fall for me, or at least my words. But Lin, she's not. She even bravely punch me in the face reacting to my words. She's more special than I thought. I will not give up on her." Q explained with his eyes sparkling.

Chihiro and Haku looked at each other. They couldn't decide whether this fortune-teller was dumb, or he was just falling in love.

Meanwhile far away on the south east, our long-lost faceless monster finally found someone he thought he could talk to. This maiden with wavy black hair was found in unconscious condition, near the river. Kaonashi brought her to the nearest tree and rested her beneath it. He shook her body hoping her would wake up soon.

"Ah ah, ah ah," he said while kept shaking her body.

Eventually, that lady opened her eyes. Kaonashi snapped. As she got her sight clearer she was snapped too.

"Ah…" Kaonashi said sounded scared.

"Oh… Hello…" the lady greeted her.

Kaonashi took a step backward.

"He- hey. It's okay. I'm Mikayo. I will not hurt you," she said.

Then Kaonashi's body was visibly shaking. "Ah…"

"Don't worry. Thanks for saving me," she smiled. "What's your name?" Kayo asked while her hand trying to touch his hand.

"Ah…" and then he faded away and totally gone before she could touch him.

Kayo pulled her hand back. She was confused and a little sad. Then she went back to the view in front of her. A river. She brought herself to its bank, about to wash her face. But a realization hit her. Her reflection… her eyes, were still black. And what made it worse, was the view behind her. She was then immediately stood up and turn her body around, and she found a forest. A cherry blossoms forest.

Kayo skipped a heartbeat. Her whole body felt limped. She covered her gaped mouth with her hand.

This can't be … !?

HELLO HELLO HELLOOOOOOOO! I'M BACK, LIKE I'm back yeay._.

huhu, first of all I'd like to ask you my apologies for this very loooongg and laaateeee update.

my college life have been so busy that I couldn't write and get this chap done. and also I've been SLACKINGGG HMMMHPHHH!

this was the first chap that needed sooooo looongg to be done. huhu forgive me :(

anyway, happy holiday! during this... umm... "pseudoholiday" of mine, i will try to write and continue the story as many-as far-as much as I can. I really hope I could update more than 2 chaps until 4th of February next year... I'll try my best, K!

And of course thank you for anyone who keeps reading my story, I hope you like it. And please let me know what's on your mind (write a review: you can ask me anything 'bout the story or the other thing, or you may protest the story line, characters, etc. you could also share with me how would you like the story is going to. or anythingggg)

so that I know that you guys are reading :')

*James Birdsong and coolchick87 ~ thank you so much! I'm so sorry i took so long, but... here you go-

kay then, see you at the next chap 17: home.

-XOXO, moinami.