Chapter 19: Knowing

Chihiro felt so excited this day. At the morning she woke up, she found out that she had off her period. This meant that she could practice again with Lin and be useful. She was going to find Haku to tell him about this and turned out Haku was already at the end of the aisle from her room. As they seen each other, Chihiro ran to him and Haku caught her into his arms.

"Haku!" she called him happily. "Guess what? I'm-"

"You're a spirit today!" Haku said it first with a delicate smile.

Chihiro smiled widely. "Yes! I'm off my period!"

Haku was so happy that he hugged her so tight, lifted her up, and spun with her like a kid. Chihiro laughed happily.

"Does this mean I can practice with Lin now?" she asked once he put her down.

"Of course," Haku answered.

"Thank you, Dragon!" she cheered. Then she hugged him once again and gave him a quick kiss on his cheek.

Haku got no chance to respond her because now she pulled his hand and headed to the stairs. "Come on let's have breakfast!" she said eagerly.

"Yaayy, welcome back My Sis!" Lin cheered and hugged her.

Chihiro hugged her back. "Thanks, Lin! I can't wait for this," Chihiro replied.

Lin laughed. "What is this? My sheepish and fragile lil sis has turned strong and braver?" she teased her.

Now Chihiro laughed. "I hope so," she said. "So, what do we practice now?" she asked.

"Let us first see that you still got everything I taught before," Lin decided.

Chihiro nodded. "Okay,"

"Now, position!" Lin asked. And then they're doing they usual move.

Though Chihiro was a little overwhelmed because she stopped practicing for days, soon she could handle everything Lin threw at her.

"Very well, Chihiro," Lin complimented. Meanwhile Chihiro only grinned.

"Hmm… so, what now…?" Lin mumbled. "Oh, Chihiro, I want you to choose a weapon," she said, and she opened the storage door.

Chihiro stunned to see all the weapons there. This was the first time she ever saw real weapons with her own eyes, while she was used to saw them only on tv and movies. She got goosebumps and she gulped.

"Umm…" she mumbled. "I'm not going to choose one, but I got this," she said. Then she took out her dagger given by her granny.

"A dagger? That'll be fine." Lin said. "May I see it?" she asked.

"Sure," Chihiro said, then she handed it to Lin.

And Lin took a good look at the dagger. "Wow, this is cool. Where did you get this?" she asked.

"From Zeniba," Chihiro replied.

Lin nodded. "Have you used this before?"

"I have, once or twice,"

"Properly?" Lin asked again.

"Uhh, I don't know. I just used it to protect myself and kept survive as how I was available to," Chihiro said.

"Fine," Lin said. "The main function of a weapon is to be an extension of our hand. And, actually there is no special technique to use a dagger," Lin explained. "Depends on how you hold and move it,"

Chihiro nodded understood. "You could stab," Lin said, and she demonstrated how to stab forward and downward.

"You could slash," and she moved it like doing a cross out.

"And," she brought it to the side of her head. "You could shoot away!" she uttered. And she bent her legs a little, that lowered her body, then she threw the dagger fast against Chihiro.

Chihiro jerked because now the dagger flew fast like a bullet to her way, then she spontaneously ducked. The dagger swoosh through her hair before finally pierced the wall behind her.

She stood up, looking at the dagger on the wall, then turned to look at Lin in disbelief. "You mean that!?" she yelled.

Lin smiled satisfied. "Good reflects," she said innocently.

Chihiro shook her head several times while patting her chest due to her racing heartbeat, and she huffed. Lin laughed to it. "That is good for your health," Lin teased her.

"Yeah, you should do that often" Chihiro replied.

Lin laughed again. "Here," she said, and she handed Chihiro a wooden dagger. "Use this while practicing,"

Chihiro nodded. "Okay."

Then, knock-knock.

Lin turned to the door. "Come in," she said.

Then the door slid opened and a frog sprite stood there. "Excuse me, Lin and Sen. Sorry to interrupt," he said.

"It's alright. What's up?" Chihiro asked.

"Yubaba wants to see both of you," he said.

This must be something about the war. "Only me and Chihiro?" Lin asked.

"Yubaba wants Haku too, I'll go and tell Haku right after this,"

"And Q?" Chihiro asked again.

"Q is already at her office,"

The girls nodded their head. "Where's Haku now?" Chihiro asked.

"I believe he's at his private practice room right now," he said.

"Oh, then let me go and tell him," Chihiro asked. "You may go back and continue what you're doing,"

The frog sprite nodded. "Very well, Sen. Thank you," he said and left.

Chihiro turned to Lin. "Lin, you may go to Yubaba first. I'll catch up there, okay?"

Lin nodded. "Okay,"

Then they walked through the stair together and took different turns to their own destinations. Now there she was, heading to Haku's practice room.

"Come in, Chihiro," Haku said from inside the room, right before she was about to knock his door.

Oh, he already knew I'm coming. I guess I can make him no surprise. Then she slid the wooden door and stepped in.

"Haku-"

She was shut as she saw the view in front of her. Haku welcomed her with his shirtless body. He stood there showing his field chest and six-packed posture. His muscles were seen clearly. So dashing. And, to make it worse: he was sweaty.

"Yes?" he answered.

His voice snapped her. As soon as she blinked, she turned around and blushed. "Haku, why are you not wearing your shirt!?" she yelled.

Haku laughed. "I'm sorry, I was practicing," he said.

Chihiro shook her head to herself. "Yeah, now put on your shirt and let's go to Yubaba. She wants to see us," she said. "I'll wait outside," she added, then she walked to the door.

Right before she stepped out, Haku closed the door. She turned around and found Haku encircled her with his body and his hands pressed the door.

"Haku!" she said surprised.

Haku smiled to her and looked her in the eyes. "What's going on with you, Chihiro? Your heartbeat is racing," he started.

Chihiro blushed. "Uh, I'm fine?" she said.

Haku brought himself closer. "Are you scared?"

Chihiro blushed even more. She snuggled her back to the door. "No, I'm not!"

Now Haku brought his face even closer to her face. "You look so beautiful with that beet red face," he said.

Darn it, Haku! You're teasing me! "Thanks! Now please let me go!" she yelled.

Haku laughed a little. "No way," he said. Now his hand reached her cheek and he brought his lips to her ear. "I'm testing you," he whispered.

Now his body was only about an inch to hers. She could feel his body heat radiating, but at the time Haku was after his practicing, that meant more heat. Chihiro held her breath. Her hands were kneading her clothes. "To what!?"

"To see how long you will survive at your very first attempt seeing a shirtless man, especially, me?" he teased her even more.

AAAAARGGHHH! Chihiro screamed internally. How could he do this to her right now? She had to stop him. She abruptly patted his cheeks with her palms and that snapped him. She braced herself to look him in the eyes.

"PUT ON YOUR SHIRT NOW, DRAGON!" she shouted. Then she slipped, slid the door open, walked out, and angrily shut the door.

Haku laughed very loud that she could heard him from the outside.

"Hurry up! Yubaba is waiting!" she yelled.

"Oh, come on, don't be angry with me. You looked so cute that way," he answered.

Chihiro folded her arms. "Haha. Very funny," she grumped.

"You're calling me?" Lin asked while entering Yubaba's office.

"Ai! Uh, I mean, Lin. Please have a seat," Yubaba said and gestured her to the couch.

And Lint walked to the couch. "Where is Chihiro and Haku?" Yubaba asked.

Lin took a seat. "They'll catch up soon,"

"Oh, okay. Let's wait for them," Yubaba said.

Then she turned to Q that was sitting across her. He sat there with his sword, the diamond on it was glowing. He was holding a book, and his other hand were kept moving a pencil on the paper, probably writing or drawing.

"Uh, what is he doing?" Lin asked.

" 'Seeing,' " Yubaba answered shortly.

"Sorry, we're late," Haku said while entering the room. Chihiro was following behind him.

"That's fine. Sit down, please," Yubaba said.

Haku took a seat at the other end where Lin sat. That left Chihiro the middle seat.

"Uh, Sorry Lin. But, would you mind to seat there? Because I prefer to sit on your seat," Chihiro said.

Lin raised her eyebrow. "Uh, sure," then she moved and Chihiro sat. "Thanks, Lin," Chihiro said.

"Is something wrong?" Lin asked, and Chihiro understood that Lin meant 'with Haku'.

Chihiro blushed. "Nothing," she said, then she looked away.

Lin winced her eyes, then she turned to Haku. He was smiling a little at that moment. "Hey, Dragon. What did you do to her?" she asked in whisper.

Haku's smile became wide. "Nothing," he replied confidently.

"Liar!" Lin whispered again.

"Uh, excuse me," Chihiro said attracting for attention. "Is he alright?" Chihiro asked, referring to Q who now was shaking his head over and over, meanwhile his hand moving the pencil so fast.

Then, everyone focused their attention to him.

"Q, you got something?" Yubaba asked.

"Yeah," he answered without stopping what he's doing.

"Good. But don't push it," Yubaba said again.

Q didn't answer. He kept going. Soon, his movement becoming faster, and faster, until his face becoming pale, he began to sweat, and he wrinkled his eyebrows like he's hurt.

"Q, don't push it," Yubaba repeated.

Q didn't listen. He kept going on. Now the other four started to panic.

"Q, I want you to stop," Yubaba ordered.

Q didn't respond her. Yubaba stood up from her seat. "I said, stop it, Q!" Yubaba shouted a little.

Q still gave no sign to stop. Now he looked scary and Chihiro couldn't help her worries. "Q, stop it!" she yelled.

Haku stood up from his seat. He patted on Q's shoulder. "You heard them, stop it now!" Haku yelled.

But it didn't work. Finally, the last person in the room spoke up. "Q!" Lin shouted.

Then the pencil dropped from his hand and he opened his eyes. They were glowing like the diamond on his sword did. Everybody was surprised. That was the first time they ever seen such scene, except Yubaba. She looked just fine, of course, Q had work for her for years.

A second later, the diamond stopped glowing and followed by his eyes. As soon as he's back, he grunted and shut his eyes, and he held his forehead.

"Q, are you okay?" Yubaba asked.

Q sighed. "I'm fine!" he answered. His other hand turned his book to show everybody what he's been seeing. "This is him," he said.

Then everybody looked at his drawing carefully. It was a drawing of a man with a capped cloak. He wore a mask that covered his face until his nose. What's left were his eyes and his forehead, which there's a stitch mark on it.

"Who?" Lin, Chihiro, and Haku asked almost at the same time.

"Our enemy," Q replied.

"Hmmm… Ji-In?" Yubaba talked to herself. "What's all of this have to do with Ji-In?"

"Who's Ji-In?" Haku asked.

Yubaba thought for a moment. She rubbed her chin and winced her eyes. "Hmm, I don't know much about him," she said. "What I know, he was known as a wicked spirit, master of shadow and illusion. He used to cause chaos with his 'puppets'. But it's long time ago. I never heard him doing it again," she explained.

Then everybody was silenced. They're on their own thoughts. "But we'll figure it out," Yubaba said again.

"Yeah, but can we talk about it later?" Q asked. "Right now, I need a rest,"

"Sure," Yubaba agreed. "You may leave,"

Q nodded. "Thanks," he said. Then he stood up and walked to the door.

"Q," Yubaba called him.

Q stopped but didn't look back. "I told you not to push it, but you did," Yubaba said.

Q's expression wasn't changed. "If I didn't, you wouldn't get that info," he replied, and finally, left the room.

Yubaba turned to the other three. "You guys too," she said. "Go back and continue what you're doing," she ordered.

"Yes, Mam," they answered and made their leave.

Now the four of them walked down the stairs together. Lin walked first ahead them, now Q was right next to her. Meanwhile Haku and Chihiro followed behind them and let them be.

"You okay?" Lin asked Q without looking at him.

"I'm fine," Q answered. "Even my head hurt a little," he said again.

"Do you always do that?" she asked again.

"No. Only on several occasions," he said.

"Oh," Lin shortly responded.

As they reached the last stair step, Q stopped. "Lin," he called.

Lin looked at him. "What?"

Q smiled. "Thanks for asking," he said and left.

Lin didn't know why she felt strange and that she blushed. But she quickly covered it. She turned around, about to call Chihiro, but she found her and Haku already looking at her with a suspicious smile on their faces.

Now Lin blushed again. "Why are you guys smiling at me like that?" she asked feeling annoyed.

"Lin, why is your face blushing?" Chihiro asked teasingly.

Lin's face got even more red. "No, I'm not blushing!" she uttered.

Haku and Chihiro laughed to her reaction. Then Lin rolled her eyes and huffed. She turned around and continued her way with her arms folded.

It's already midnight. Everybody had gone to sleep. The light had been turned off. Meanwhile Chihiro were laying on her bed, staring at the ceiling, thinking.

"Chihiro?" Haku suddenly contacted her.

"Oh, hi, Haku. You haven't sleep?" she replied.

"I'm not sleepy yet," he said. "How 'bout you?"

"I'm sleepy but I can't sleep,"

"Oh… Then what are you doing right now?"

Chihiro smiled. "Staring at the ceiling. You?"

"Staring at the sky," he answered.

"You're not in your room?"

"I'm in my room,"

"Oh," she responded. "Hey,"

"What?"

"Are you thinking about 'our enemy'?"

"Uhh… Are you?" he asked in return.

Chihiro clamed up for a moment. "I don't know." She said.

Haku clamed up too. Then he remembered something. "Hey, do you want to do something?"

"Like what?"

Haku smiled. "Doing some magic?"

Chihiro immediately wide awoke. "Oh, yeah, I'd love to! I've just remembered that now I'm a spirit and I can do magic,"

Haku laughed. "So, what do you say? I pick you up right now?"

Chihiro crawled out from her blanket. "Sure. I'm waiting," she said.

Then, it wasn't until five minutes, Chihiro saw his shadow flew towards her room and landed in front of her door. "Knock-knock. Room service," he said.

Chihiro laughed a little then she slid her door open.

"Good evening, Miss," Haku started. "Here I'd like to introduce you to our new program: A Tour to Our Library, that would be traveled with 'floating up'. This is one of our compliments for our lovely guests, especially the one named Miss Ogino," he said doing a role play like a bellboy. "Would you like to join us at the tour, Miss?" he asked.

Chihiro couldn't help to laugh. "Sure. What a lovely compliment, Kohaku," she replied.

Then Haku took her hands and she stepped on his feet. Soon they floated up to the library like they did before.

"Thanks a lot, Kohaku. This was a really nice service," Chihiro said as they entered the library.

Haku smiled. "Very well, Miss. Do you care to give me a tip?" he replied her.

Chihiro made a silly smile. "No," she said. But then she gave him a quick kiss on his cheek.

Haku laughed. "Good. Now you can start performing some magic,"

"Oh, YEAH!" Chihiro said eagerly.

Then there they were, at their favorite spot near the fireplace.

"You ready?" he asked.

"I'm ready," she said.

"Okay, then, fire!" Haku started.

"Goonee!" Chihiro said while flicking her finger and a flame sparked out from it. "Woaa, this is cool," she exclaimed.

Haku smiled. "Blow it off," he asked, and she did so. "Do you want to try to make it bigger?" he offered and pointing the fireplace.

Chihiro thought for a moment. Then she prepared a bigger energy and aimed her hands to the fireplace. "Goonee!" she uttered. Then fire shoot out from her hands into the fireplace.

Haku applauded. "Chihiro is on fire!" he yelled.

Chihiro grinned. "That was a luck," she said trying not to be too happy.

"Okay, next," Haku said. He threw a key to her while he shouted, "Freeze!"

Then Chihiro aimed the key. "Bacoo!" she said. And the key floated in the air.

"Good. Hold it," Haku said. "Now make it far from you," he asked.

"Loonga!" she said with her hands still. Then the key was bounced off so far and fell to the floor.

"Hey, that's my room key," Haku said playing annoyed. "Bring it back," he asked.

Chihiro laughed a little. "Sorry. Please don't cry," she said with a cute tone. Now she aimed the key again. "Doogee," she said. Then the key floated back way to her. But she moved her hand, as if she controlled it, the key flew to Haku's hand.

"Very good. You can even control its movement," Haku judged.

Chihiro smiled. "Next, Master?" she asked.

"Okay. I want you to fly and land," he said.

"Oh, yes! This is it!" Chihiro said eagerly.

"But you must know that when you're up in the air, you could fly around and floating like as if no gravity," he explained. "So, when you're going to land, don't forget to balance your feet,"

Chihiro nodded understood. "Okay,"

Haku nodded. "Now, fly,"

Chihiro took a deep breath before saying, "Aboor,"

Then slowly, her body lifted, and her feet didn't touch the ground anymore. She looked down, she was getting higher and higher. And she stopped at a few meters from the ceiling.

"Woah, I really am floating in the air," she exclaimed in amazement. Then she tried to move, turned out she could move freely. Now she happily flew around the room.

Haku laughed. Then he did too, floated up in the air, catching up on her. "How do you feel, Chihiro?" he asked.

Chihiro smiled widely. "This is amazing! It's like I'm swimming in the air!" she said.

Haku laughed. "It is," he agreed. "Now, try to land," he asked.

Chihiro nodded. "Hoomus,"

And the gravity immediately dragged her down as now she's falling fast. She squealed in surprise. Haku instantly flew down fast like a bullet, landed, and caught her into his arms in perfect timing.

"You forgot to balance your feet," he scolded her.

Chihiro smiled nervously in guilt. "Sorry,"

"Don't do that again," and he put her down.

Chihiro shook her head. "I won't," she said.

"Now, sit down," Haku asked.

And Chihiro took a seat. Haku took a seat too next to her. He turned his chair facing her, then he grabbed her chair and turned it facing him.

"The last but not least," he said. "Perform the spell that I made," he asked.

"The meanings first," Chihiro demanded.

Haku smiled. "You do it first, then I'll tell you what it means,"

"Okay, okay. The dragon wins," she said.

"Close your eyes," Haku said.

Then she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Sira eksi gya esa atma amba," she said.

The same feeling of a very strong energy moving inside her, vined easily and mildly. But now she felt it more real.

"You may open your eyes," Haku said again.

Then she did. And she couldn't believe what she was seeing.

"Welcome to my world, My World," Haku said with a smile.

Chihiro's mouth gaped and she covered it with her hand. It was like she was seeing two different views from two different windows. One was the view from her eyes, and the other one was the view through Haku's eyes. She could see herself and everything behind her vividly from his point of view. She also took a time to realize that Haku's left eye was brown like hers, and that mean the same thing happened to her. Emerald green like he had would be the color of her left eye now.

"Haku, this is crazy!" she exclaimed.

Haku felt so happy. "It is!"

Chihiro didn't want to blink even a second. "It's like having a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree view without having to turn around," she said again.

Haku laughed. "Because the spell means: Your eyes becoming one with my soul," Haku finally told her.

Then Chihiro broke her focus and they stopped exchanging their eyes. Her smile was gone, and she was silenced.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Haku asked.

Chihiro didn't answer. She was thinking back at her background life that she was used to be only a human. She had just realized what she had now in front of her. A river spirit that turned out a dragon, so loving and had gave up all of him to her. When the rest of the spirit hated humans, he otherwise put his soul into her. Now Haku willingly let her to see the world through his eyes. She suddenly felt like she didn't deserve all of these. Now she shed a tear.

"Hey," Haku called her again. Now he caressed her cheek and embraced her. "Don't ever think like that," he said.

And he forced her to look at him. "I don't care who you were or what you were, name it a human, a spirit, a monster, a fairy, a dwarf, or anything else," he said. "Once I fall for you, then it's you."

His words sounded so genuine and made her wanted to cry. "And there is never a second I regret it," he added.

That's it. Chihiro held her breath. She really wanted to cry, but she knew Haku didn't mean to make her cry because that's the last thing he would do. So, she forced a smile on her lips. But still tears streamed to her cheek.

Haku wiped her tears and kissed her on the forehead. "Smile," he said. "Not just your lips, but your mind too,"

Now Chihiro really burst into smile. "Yeah," she said.

Haku smiled too. "Do you want to go back to your room and have a rest now?" he asked.

"Umm, I still want to stay here for a while," she said. "I'd like to read the book again and maybe I found some interesting spell I might want to learn?"

"Sure. Take your time," Haku said.

Then Chihiro grabbed the Chronicles of Dragon Beings and Haku took another book, then they sat there reading. Chihiro dived in the book, read them carefully. Somehow, she felt being a spirit made her easier to read the aksaras and there's some spells that she could understand the meaning just like that.

Now she reached a page where there written "Incantation to Safe A Dragon." and the spell was written with red ink. Just like the "incantation to confirm". Then she read it. She read the warnings too. It said that if the spell doesn't perform correctly, it could take the performer's life, or even both of him/her and the dragon.

But once again like the "incantation to confirm", she couldn't understand the meaning.

"Hey, Haku," she called.

"Hmm?" Haku responded without looking at her.

"What does this spell mean?" she asked.

"Read it out loud please," he said, too lazy too turn away from his book.

"It's sira ir kula ir, sira eri ku eri, sira atma ku atma," Chihiro started to read that long spell.

Haku's eyes widened and his expression was changed into fear. He put his book down, meanwhile Chihiro continued her reading.

"… Sira uri kula uri, kadi yaku-"

And she stopped because Haku closed the book on her hand and took it.

"Hey!" she protested. "What does it mean?" she asked.

"Can't tell you," he said.

"Why?"

"Do you know what spell it is?" Haku asked.

"Incantation to Safe A Dragon…?" she answered.

"Have you read the warnings?" he asked again.

"I did,"

Haku stood up. "Okay," he said. Then he went to the bookshelf.

Chihiro followed him. "Come on Haku, tell me what it means,"

"No," he replied shortly.

"Please, we might need it someday," she pleaded.

Haku turned to her. "No," he repeated the same answer. And he put the book back to the shelf.

Chihiro folded her arms. "So, now you're being selfish?" she asked disappointed.

Haku shook his head. "I'm sorry. It's too dangerous for you," he said.

"Unbelievable," Chihiro said and turned away.

"Chihiro," he called, and he pulled her hand.

She turned back to him. "Really? Too dangerous for me?" she asked. "Does this mean you're still seeing me as a weak and fragile little girl I used to be?" she asked again, her voice sounded irritated. "You don't believe in me?"

"It's not like that!" Haku yelled.

Then Chihiro pulled his shirt at the collars. She looked at him deeply in the eyes. "Then, promise me: when the time comes, you have to tell me what it means," she said cautiously.

Haku gulped. He looked away, but he nodded a little.

Chihiro's expression back to normal. She smiled. She didn't want to stay mad to her dragon. "Okay," she said. Then she turned away and heading to the door.

"Going back to your room?" Haku asked.

"Yup,"

"Let me take you there,"

"Of course,"

Now they're already on the balcony. She stepped on his feet and he's holding her. Now they're ready to float down, but it didn't happen.

"Hey, why are we not floating down?" Chihiro asked, as they now only floated in the air.

"Actually, I want you to sleep with me tonight," Haku said. "Would you?" he asked.

Chihiro instantly blushed. "No!" she said. "I mean, not now," she corrected.

Haku laughed and they started to float down. He kept staring at her red face. "I know what's in your mind," he said. "But I only wanted to hug you to sleep, like we did at Granny's,"

Chihiro blushed even more. "Still, not now," she said.

"Or maybe, you want more than that?" he teased her.

"Haku!" Chihiro protested. "What is wrong with you today!?"

Haku laughed again. "Alright, alright,"

Soon they arrived at her balcony. He put her down.

"Thanks a lot for everything today, Kohaku," she said. "There's so much happened today. I'm not sure that I could sleep now,"

Haku smiled. "I love you," he said. And he hugged her once again.

"Good night, Dragon," she said before she got into her room.

"Good night," he replied. Chihiro closed the door and Haku flew back to his room, thinking the same thing that he might be couldn't get himself to sleep too.

Was that Chihiro who blushed, or me?

I don't know.

Pardon me, there's so much in this chap. I just can't help myself to not writing it.

What do you say? Let me know.

*Lauren248 ~ Hi, Lauren! It's nice to hear from you. I'd like to thank you for following my slow-progressed story. I realized that it's been a year. Turns out writing down what's inside our head is not that easy. I'm still learning, and I'll keep doing my best. Thanks for your support! 3

*James Birdsong ~ \(^o^)/