A/N: okay, I have to many stories to update. I really shouldn't post any
more, not until I get them finished, but oh! I couldn't resist this one!
Disclaimer: no own.
Summery: in the Japanese version, Yubaba instructs Haku to look after Chihiro. In other words, she gave her to him to do with as he pleased. It was a contract, yes? SO, I decided to write from there!
Genre: to be decided
Rating: to be decided
Chapters: I'll put up how many chapters I "think" I'll have after I finish this. :D ha, what a stinker.
Third Person POV
This takes place starting where Yubaba calls Haku. Okay?
.
.
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"This girl signed a contract, look after her." Yubaba instructed.
"Hai." He turned his head slightly. "What's your name?"
"Chihi - oh. It's Sen." She said, barely catching herself in time.
"Alright then, Sen; follow me."
Like a good girl, she followed him down the halls and to the elevator. There was nothing but silence between the two before Chihiro figured it'd be better to talk then go crazy.
"Haku, um," she started, but he cocked his head at her and frowned.
"No idle chatter." He looked back up. "and call me Master Haku."
Surprised and hurt, Chihiro looked down. What had happened to him? He had seemed so nice! He had said he was her friend.
Why was he so mean all of a sudden? She bit her quivering bottom lip.
They got off the elevator, and walked down a quiet hall, in silence. Haku exhaled and leaned against a door - the door to his room -, brow furrowed in thought as he crossed his arms.
He had expected Yubaba to tell him to simply set her up with a job. He was supposed to look after her? Was Yubaba planning something? There was definitely a gleam in her eye when she had said it. look after her. Did she expect him to watch her and do her tasks for him at the same time? That would prove difficult. He wasn't about to do that. Maybe he could leave her with Kamajii? No, that wouldn't work. Rin? Maybe. She could work as Rin's assistant, so that way he could keep an eye on her. Ah, then he saw the flaw in that plan - the girls would just love to stab Chihiro in the back while she slept. Rin would have to be her baby-sitter for Haku. Fine.
"H- Haku?"
He glanced at her, standing there obediently, hands unconsciously trying to rip her shirt apart. She seemed scared. He didn't blame her - he had larger fish to fry, though.
"What now? "she asked, voice cracking.
No, she wasn't scared. She was terrified. He felt a pang of guilt, and reached out, gently brushing her cheek. She started slightly and he shook his head.
She had a fever.
Wonderful. It was test. He would have to look after her, and be a good boy and do his chores, and stay loyal and keep his composure.
Ah. Perfect. Yup, that was very much like
"Are you feeling okay?" he asked, dropping his hand. She looked down, biting her lip hard enough to draw blood.
It was a moment before she answered. "......... Memai ga shimasu," she murmured softly. "I feel faint."
Haku shook his head disdainfully. He had work to do right now. "You'll be fine after you get some rest," he said. "follow me." again, they started off, and many stopped and stared as he led her through the bathhouse. He took her to the department that Rin was in.
"I don't care if Yubaba gets angry with us," one said. "we can't take Humans."
"We're not taking her in our department."
"Yeah, she'll stink up the whole place!"
"WE don't want her."
"She's already under contract," Haku interrupted coldly. He DID have work to do, and it should be done.
"I promise to work very hard," Chihiro put in, voice strained slightly. Her hands - fists - were placed firmly to her stomach.
After a bit of arguing, Haku finally flicked his hair out of his face and scowled. He was late as it was.
"Listen," he said firmly. "If she doesn't work hard... roast her. Boil her. Do whatever you like. NOW GET BACK TO WORK! Where is Rin?"
"What? "Rin demanded, jerking straight from her position at a door. "don't you dump her on me!"
"You *said* you wanted an assistant."
"That's perfect! Give the girl to Rin!"
Haku looked over his shoulder at Chihiro, who was watching him with an expression he couldn't read. "Sen, get going."
"Yes Sir!" she yelped, jumping slightly and then scurrying over to Rin.
"What a pest, you owe me one, do you hear, Haku?" Rin demanded as Haku clenched his fists and walked away.
"Have a nice day!" one of the men put in.
Rin grumbled as she left, turned back to grab Sen, then continued on her way. Once out of earshot, she whipped around with a grin.
"You did it! huh, you're such a dope, I was really worried! Now, keep on your toes, and if you need anything ask me, kay?"
"o... okay."
"What's wrong? Do you feel okay?"
"I don't feel so good..."
"Don't worry," Rin said as she led her to her room, clicking on the light and rummaging through the closet thing. "some chow and some rest, and you'll feel fine. Now this is your apron, you have to wash it yourself, your trousers... hmm. You're so puny." She held up a shirt. "why too big."
"Uh, Rin-san?" Chihiro asked after a moment softly.
"Yeah?"
"You know Haku?"
"What about 'im?"
"Um... there aren't two of them, are there?"
"Two Hakus? I can barely stand one of them," she held up another shirt. "too big." She threw it away. "He's Yubaba's henchman, don't trust anything he says. Now where is that - aha! Here it is!" she held up the smallest pink shirt there was proudly, then looked down and noticed Chihiro crouched, trembling.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"What's going on, why all the racket?" one girl that had been sleeping asked, turning over.
"It's the new girl, she doesn't so good."
"That's a human!" the only other slug-spirit announced. "gross! Don't help her, Rin!"
"Why not? Don't you feel sorry for her?"
"No, of course not! She'd be better dead!" the other replied, standing up fully. She rummaged through her things for something. "I can make a quick, clean cut, you know. Get her out of the way." She pulled out a knife.
Chihiro looked up, choked a little bit, and buried her face in her new clothes, crying. She fell forward to her knees and arched her back, holding her stomach.
"Don't do that!" Rin cried.
"Why not?"
"She's under contract! She'd under Haku's protection, too, and it wouldn't do any good to piss him off, now, would it?"
Chihiro groaned.
"Then why doesn't she sleep in Haku's room, then, huh? He usually stays here on weekends."
"Because maybe she's a girl and he's a boy," Rin pointed out.
"So? As if he'd do anything. She certainly won't try anything," the second replied hotly. "why'd he go and stuff her with us, huh?"
"Shut up!" Rin cried and Chihiro managed to get her tears under control, wiping her face and nose with her sleeve.
"No, it's okay, Rin-san," she said hoarsely. "I just don't feel so good, that's all..."
"Well, try to sleep, then, okay?"
"... O... okay."
"Good girl. Here, I'll set you up a bedroll, next to mine."
"That's sick, Rin! Sleeping next to the Human!" the first said.
"Go stick it up where the sun don't shine," Rin replied, setting out a bedroll for Chihiro against the wall, next to hers. "Here you go, Sen. Come on, get changed into your apron, hup-hup!"
Chihiro came over, bent double slightly, and Rin helped her struggle into her apron. Okay, in you go," Rin told her, holding open the blanket. Chihiro slipped in, curling into a ball under the covers and closing her eyes tightly as tears came back.
"I'll have to throw these away later," Rin murmured, setting Chihiro's human clothes aside.
"Ugh, we'll do it," the first said, finding a stick.
"Yeah, who wants to be in the same room as that smelly human anyway?" the second put in, also finding a stick. Together, they managed to carry the clothes out. They disappeared from sight.
"You'll have to excuse them," Rin said, sighing. "you'll be getting that reaction a lot here, but don't worry, I'll be sleeping right next to you." she reached out at Chihiro's choked "hai" and rested her hand on her forehead. She jumped slightly.
"You're burning up!" she cried. "bad fever!"
"g- guess," Chihiro mumbled.
"Spirits don't usually get sick," Rin told her. "you didn't seem this way before when I took you to Yubaba." She frowned, then groaned. "oh yeah, I forgot; Humans aren't immune to any kind of illnesses here, and they're so much more easier to catch them." She frowned. "you're so frail. Probably got something from the Radish Spirit, or maybe you ate something..." she shook her head. "I'll get you some water, hold on."
Chihiro didn't say anything in return other than to feel miserable. She would have to get better soon. She couldn't work - at all - if she was sick, especially contagious. What had Haku said they could do to her if she didn't work hard? Roast, boil her? Do whatever they wanted.
Kill her?
She wouldn't put it past them, from what she had heard. Maybe Rin and/or Kamajii wouldn't, but they seemed to be the only ones.
Even Haku...
Chihiro drank the water she was offered, and after some convincing, Rin let her fall asleep.
She dreamt:
*** she was running alone, through, darkness everywhere. Voices echoed around her, screams, cries, pleas for help. She was frightened terribly, and tripped and fell. Startled she let out a tiny scream as she realized she had fallen right into a pool of blood, bright red warm blood. She screamed, or tried to, but her voice wouldn't cooperate. Then Haku was there, helping her up, smiling kindly. He supported her a ways, then let her drop. Her voice was lost to her as she fell through a great big black opening, hands, slimy bloody hands, reaching out everywhere on all sides, grabbing her, pulling her hair, ripping at her skin and clothes, Haku's face above her smirking cruelly, she was being ripped apart... ***
she gave a short scream, jerking upright, then falling down again, miserable. Her stomach ached terribly, from just beneath her ribs to just at her hips, her entire stomach. She felt slightly dizzy, and, well, sick. There were plenty of slug-spirits - those girls that wanted her dead, didn't like her smell - all scrunched together, sleeping, snoring. Rin was next to her ask well. Biting her lip Chihiro tried to sit up, but flopped back down when her stomach informed her she would throw up if she did that again and her dizziness increased, from her sitting up too fast.
She was going to be sick.
Biting back a groan, she tried sitting up again, slower this time. Her dizziness didn't knock her over, though she was a little unsteady, and her stomach was now sure of itself that it would get rid of its contents. Her scream hadn't woken anybody up, thank the highest spirit, but the dream flashed through her mind, and she felt sick even more. Afraid of what to do, she reached over and shook Rin until she woke up a little with a tiny yet annoyed yawn.
"What's wrong?" she whispered.
"I'm going to be sick," Chihiro whispered back.
"Wrap up in a blanket," Rin hissed, then proceeded to give Chihiro directions to the nearest bathroom.
So, in her apron and blanket, Chihiro stumbled away down to look for the bathroom.
She found it, thanks to Rin's great way of describing things ("to the left of this ugly carrot statue that has a nick in the top right corner of it and makes you want to barf...") and collapsed at a toilet, quickly ridding her stomach of its contents.
Only feeling even more miserable then before, Chihiro washed her mouth out thoroughly, then got a little drink of water. She leaned against a wall for support, as she was again struck with an aching dizziness. Groaning softly, she massaged her temples while sitting in a crouch, then gathered her blanket about her and stumbled out. Deciding that she would only fall down if she took the stairs, Chihiro found an elevator - not knowing which one it was, really - and went up. Down a quiet hallway that seemed semi- familiar.
She stopped at a dead end, and paused. Could have sworn this was the hallway.
Somewhat disoriented, Our Heroine paused, leaning against a wall cradling her forehead as another wave of dizziness swept over her. She was beginning to feel sick again.
After a few deep breaths, she could look up again, and for a moment she listened to the soft snoring in the rooms around her. Discouraged, she began to walk slowly back to the elevator, running her hand along the wall of doors.
One of them was open, she noticed. It didn't sound as though anybody was occupying the room, and though Chihiro knew very well she would most likely get in trouble, that throwing up on somebody's floor would be very, very bad, that curiosity killed the cat... well, curiosity may have killed the cat, but satisfaction DID bring him back. Right? Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought him back.
Besides, she concluded after a few moments of listening, nobody was in there. Not that she could here - no breathing, not audibly. She wanted to know... bad girl, she mentally thought.
Then she walked forward and carefully pulled the door open even more, peering inside. There was an occupant.
On a medium bed (it was a medium room) on top of the covers... no, the covers had been kicked back. It was Haku. He was curled, facing the door (and Chihiro) shirtless. His arms were crossed against his chest, both clasped in fists, and one knuckle was pressed against his bottom lip, mouth slightly open so that his top teeth were slightly visible. His hair was in total disarray, and he looked overheated, uncomfortable, almost childish. Innocent, was the word to describe what he looked like. Almost scared. His breathing was so soft that he made no noise, didn't seem to move.
She froze there, unsure of what to do.
She didn't want to leave, he looked as though... any suspicions were confirmed when he let out a very un-Haku-like whimper, so soft she almost didn't hear it, and kicked, thrashing for a moment before settling on his stomach, one arm still crossed beneath his chest, the other up against his face. She saw tears - tears!
Her heart melted, and ignoring her own dizziness and upset stomach, she padded carefully over and stood over him for a moment. Up closer, she found that he was breathing in short, quick gasps. He thrashed again, this time falling on his back, and the blankets at the foot of the bed got tangled up with him. This obviously didn't make his dream any better, because he said a hoarse "No! please!" and he kicked and thrashed until he was back in almost the same position Chihiro had found him in, shaking slightly. She felt awful for him.
Carefully, closing the door gently behind her, she walked over and reached out and touched his shoulder in a half-hearted effort to wake him. He flinched at her touch and groaned like he was in some sort of pain, but otherwise didn't do much. Jaw clenched, Chihiro put both hands on his shoulders, giving him a good shake, pushing his body around so that he was on his back.
This, of course, woke him up, and faster than Chihiro could figure out what was happening, she was on HER back on his bed, and he was above her, pinning her down by straddling her chest and both hands firmly locked around her throat. She didn't notice much of this until her dizziness swam away.
"Chihiro," he hissed, sitting back and removing his fingers from where they were spasmodically clenching harder around her neck. He pushed hair that was sticking to his face with sweat back behind his ears.
"What are you doing?"
he looked rather angry, and Chihiro furrowed her brow. "I got sick, so Rin sent me to a bathroom. I guess I got lost going back, because I was in this hall and your door was open a little bit."
"And you just walked in." he finished flatly. Yup, he was NOT happy.
Chihiro looked up at him. He was still shaking a little bit - but not physically. For a moment she wondered how she had figured that out, then the need to answer pushed at the back of her lips. "I didn't think anybody was in here." She examined him closely for a second. "H - um - Master Haku, are you aware that you talk in your sleep?"
Personally she was shocked at how quickly the color drained from his already pale face then rushed back with a vengeance. He fought it for a moment until he regained his composure.
Chihiro tried to figure out why he seemed so angry with her. She had just helped him, right? So why was he sitting on her scowling?
"No, I wasn't," he hissed shortly after a moment of struggling with his facial skin color. "and what was it you heard me say?"
Chihiro furrowed her brow. "You just kind of whimpered and groaned, and the only thing straight I heard was 'no please' or something like that." She cocked her head slightly. "were you having a nightmare? I had one before I woke Rin up. What was it about? Do you want to talk about it?"
"I don't remember," he lied smoothly. She frowned, knowing full well it was a lie.
"Well, it always helps me to talk about things," she whispered at last.
"You should get back to bed."
"I am in bed - just not mine." She succeeded in getting a slightly more relaxed posture from him. "and I can't go until I can get up."
"then get up."
"You're sitting on me." she hated to be so blunt, but she really, really wanted to know what he was dreaming about.
In neutral mode, Haku slid to the side, where he crossed his legs and watched her gingerly sit up, then get to her feet. She held on to the bed post for a second, trying to regain her balance. Then she leveled her gaze with him and sighed.
"I know you remember," she informed him quietly, almost casually. "Why don't you just tell me about it? it'll make you feel better."
"No. go back to bed."
"But you were *crying*!" she explained, watching him incredulously. Why was he so cold?
"No I wasn't."
"yes you were." Chihiro leaned forward, reaching out and touching his upper cheek. Haku, startled, jerked away, almost losing his balance. "See, you still are a little bit, too. And you're really jumpy and scared."
"I am not crying, jumpy, or scared," came the scathing reply, much louder then Haku had intended it. his back stiffened by reflex when Chihiro sat back down on his bed. He tried to think of a way to edge away from her without appearing "jumpy" or "Scared" in the least. He hunched his shoulders forward slightly, using the back of his wrist to wipe sweat - and tears - away. this girl didn't know when to give up.
"Tell me about it," Chihiro insisted. "who was in it?"
"None of your business."
"So you DO remember!"
Haku made a mental note to kill himself on a later basis.
"Why won't you tell me? are you embarrassed? Is that it?"
"No. go back to bed, Chihiro."
"But,"
"No." Haku stood up firmly and took her by the arm. The blanket around her shoulders slipped, but she didn't care. She jogged for a few moments to keep up with him until he let go, then followed him around in the moon-lit through windows darkness until he stopped at the room Rin slept in. go figure.
"You and I never spoke as of yesterday." He told her in that same angry and firm tone. "understand?"
"Yes sir." She walked inside and laid down back on her bed roll. With a sigh, she reached up and massaged her still aching temples. She was still dizzy, too, but she decided to dismiss it from tiredness.
Haku, however, marched back to his room, locked the door, opened the window, and looked out. For a moment he relished the cool wind, then jumped out into nothingness, turning into his dragon form half way down.
Might as well scout out Zeniiba's.
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A/N: okay. I guess. *shrugs*
Disclaimer: no own.
Summery: in the Japanese version, Yubaba instructs Haku to look after Chihiro. In other words, she gave her to him to do with as he pleased. It was a contract, yes? SO, I decided to write from there!
Genre: to be decided
Rating: to be decided
Chapters: I'll put up how many chapters I "think" I'll have after I finish this. :D ha, what a stinker.
Third Person POV
This takes place starting where Yubaba calls Haku. Okay?
.
.
.
"This girl signed a contract, look after her." Yubaba instructed.
"Hai." He turned his head slightly. "What's your name?"
"Chihi - oh. It's Sen." She said, barely catching herself in time.
"Alright then, Sen; follow me."
Like a good girl, she followed him down the halls and to the elevator. There was nothing but silence between the two before Chihiro figured it'd be better to talk then go crazy.
"Haku, um," she started, but he cocked his head at her and frowned.
"No idle chatter." He looked back up. "and call me Master Haku."
Surprised and hurt, Chihiro looked down. What had happened to him? He had seemed so nice! He had said he was her friend.
Why was he so mean all of a sudden? She bit her quivering bottom lip.
They got off the elevator, and walked down a quiet hall, in silence. Haku exhaled and leaned against a door - the door to his room -, brow furrowed in thought as he crossed his arms.
He had expected Yubaba to tell him to simply set her up with a job. He was supposed to look after her? Was Yubaba planning something? There was definitely a gleam in her eye when she had said it. look after her. Did she expect him to watch her and do her tasks for him at the same time? That would prove difficult. He wasn't about to do that. Maybe he could leave her with Kamajii? No, that wouldn't work. Rin? Maybe. She could work as Rin's assistant, so that way he could keep an eye on her. Ah, then he saw the flaw in that plan - the girls would just love to stab Chihiro in the back while she slept. Rin would have to be her baby-sitter for Haku. Fine.
"H- Haku?"
He glanced at her, standing there obediently, hands unconsciously trying to rip her shirt apart. She seemed scared. He didn't blame her - he had larger fish to fry, though.
"What now? "she asked, voice cracking.
No, she wasn't scared. She was terrified. He felt a pang of guilt, and reached out, gently brushing her cheek. She started slightly and he shook his head.
She had a fever.
Wonderful. It was test. He would have to look after her, and be a good boy and do his chores, and stay loyal and keep his composure.
Ah. Perfect. Yup, that was very much like
"Are you feeling okay?" he asked, dropping his hand. She looked down, biting her lip hard enough to draw blood.
It was a moment before she answered. "......... Memai ga shimasu," she murmured softly. "I feel faint."
Haku shook his head disdainfully. He had work to do right now. "You'll be fine after you get some rest," he said. "follow me." again, they started off, and many stopped and stared as he led her through the bathhouse. He took her to the department that Rin was in.
"I don't care if Yubaba gets angry with us," one said. "we can't take Humans."
"We're not taking her in our department."
"Yeah, she'll stink up the whole place!"
"WE don't want her."
"She's already under contract," Haku interrupted coldly. He DID have work to do, and it should be done.
"I promise to work very hard," Chihiro put in, voice strained slightly. Her hands - fists - were placed firmly to her stomach.
After a bit of arguing, Haku finally flicked his hair out of his face and scowled. He was late as it was.
"Listen," he said firmly. "If she doesn't work hard... roast her. Boil her. Do whatever you like. NOW GET BACK TO WORK! Where is Rin?"
"What? "Rin demanded, jerking straight from her position at a door. "don't you dump her on me!"
"You *said* you wanted an assistant."
"That's perfect! Give the girl to Rin!"
Haku looked over his shoulder at Chihiro, who was watching him with an expression he couldn't read. "Sen, get going."
"Yes Sir!" she yelped, jumping slightly and then scurrying over to Rin.
"What a pest, you owe me one, do you hear, Haku?" Rin demanded as Haku clenched his fists and walked away.
"Have a nice day!" one of the men put in.
Rin grumbled as she left, turned back to grab Sen, then continued on her way. Once out of earshot, she whipped around with a grin.
"You did it! huh, you're such a dope, I was really worried! Now, keep on your toes, and if you need anything ask me, kay?"
"o... okay."
"What's wrong? Do you feel okay?"
"I don't feel so good..."
"Don't worry," Rin said as she led her to her room, clicking on the light and rummaging through the closet thing. "some chow and some rest, and you'll feel fine. Now this is your apron, you have to wash it yourself, your trousers... hmm. You're so puny." She held up a shirt. "why too big."
"Uh, Rin-san?" Chihiro asked after a moment softly.
"Yeah?"
"You know Haku?"
"What about 'im?"
"Um... there aren't two of them, are there?"
"Two Hakus? I can barely stand one of them," she held up another shirt. "too big." She threw it away. "He's Yubaba's henchman, don't trust anything he says. Now where is that - aha! Here it is!" she held up the smallest pink shirt there was proudly, then looked down and noticed Chihiro crouched, trembling.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"What's going on, why all the racket?" one girl that had been sleeping asked, turning over.
"It's the new girl, she doesn't so good."
"That's a human!" the only other slug-spirit announced. "gross! Don't help her, Rin!"
"Why not? Don't you feel sorry for her?"
"No, of course not! She'd be better dead!" the other replied, standing up fully. She rummaged through her things for something. "I can make a quick, clean cut, you know. Get her out of the way." She pulled out a knife.
Chihiro looked up, choked a little bit, and buried her face in her new clothes, crying. She fell forward to her knees and arched her back, holding her stomach.
"Don't do that!" Rin cried.
"Why not?"
"She's under contract! She'd under Haku's protection, too, and it wouldn't do any good to piss him off, now, would it?"
Chihiro groaned.
"Then why doesn't she sleep in Haku's room, then, huh? He usually stays here on weekends."
"Because maybe she's a girl and he's a boy," Rin pointed out.
"So? As if he'd do anything. She certainly won't try anything," the second replied hotly. "why'd he go and stuff her with us, huh?"
"Shut up!" Rin cried and Chihiro managed to get her tears under control, wiping her face and nose with her sleeve.
"No, it's okay, Rin-san," she said hoarsely. "I just don't feel so good, that's all..."
"Well, try to sleep, then, okay?"
"... O... okay."
"Good girl. Here, I'll set you up a bedroll, next to mine."
"That's sick, Rin! Sleeping next to the Human!" the first said.
"Go stick it up where the sun don't shine," Rin replied, setting out a bedroll for Chihiro against the wall, next to hers. "Here you go, Sen. Come on, get changed into your apron, hup-hup!"
Chihiro came over, bent double slightly, and Rin helped her struggle into her apron. Okay, in you go," Rin told her, holding open the blanket. Chihiro slipped in, curling into a ball under the covers and closing her eyes tightly as tears came back.
"I'll have to throw these away later," Rin murmured, setting Chihiro's human clothes aside.
"Ugh, we'll do it," the first said, finding a stick.
"Yeah, who wants to be in the same room as that smelly human anyway?" the second put in, also finding a stick. Together, they managed to carry the clothes out. They disappeared from sight.
"You'll have to excuse them," Rin said, sighing. "you'll be getting that reaction a lot here, but don't worry, I'll be sleeping right next to you." she reached out at Chihiro's choked "hai" and rested her hand on her forehead. She jumped slightly.
"You're burning up!" she cried. "bad fever!"
"g- guess," Chihiro mumbled.
"Spirits don't usually get sick," Rin told her. "you didn't seem this way before when I took you to Yubaba." She frowned, then groaned. "oh yeah, I forgot; Humans aren't immune to any kind of illnesses here, and they're so much more easier to catch them." She frowned. "you're so frail. Probably got something from the Radish Spirit, or maybe you ate something..." she shook her head. "I'll get you some water, hold on."
Chihiro didn't say anything in return other than to feel miserable. She would have to get better soon. She couldn't work - at all - if she was sick, especially contagious. What had Haku said they could do to her if she didn't work hard? Roast, boil her? Do whatever they wanted.
Kill her?
She wouldn't put it past them, from what she had heard. Maybe Rin and/or Kamajii wouldn't, but they seemed to be the only ones.
Even Haku...
Chihiro drank the water she was offered, and after some convincing, Rin let her fall asleep.
She dreamt:
*** she was running alone, through, darkness everywhere. Voices echoed around her, screams, cries, pleas for help. She was frightened terribly, and tripped and fell. Startled she let out a tiny scream as she realized she had fallen right into a pool of blood, bright red warm blood. She screamed, or tried to, but her voice wouldn't cooperate. Then Haku was there, helping her up, smiling kindly. He supported her a ways, then let her drop. Her voice was lost to her as she fell through a great big black opening, hands, slimy bloody hands, reaching out everywhere on all sides, grabbing her, pulling her hair, ripping at her skin and clothes, Haku's face above her smirking cruelly, she was being ripped apart... ***
she gave a short scream, jerking upright, then falling down again, miserable. Her stomach ached terribly, from just beneath her ribs to just at her hips, her entire stomach. She felt slightly dizzy, and, well, sick. There were plenty of slug-spirits - those girls that wanted her dead, didn't like her smell - all scrunched together, sleeping, snoring. Rin was next to her ask well. Biting her lip Chihiro tried to sit up, but flopped back down when her stomach informed her she would throw up if she did that again and her dizziness increased, from her sitting up too fast.
She was going to be sick.
Biting back a groan, she tried sitting up again, slower this time. Her dizziness didn't knock her over, though she was a little unsteady, and her stomach was now sure of itself that it would get rid of its contents. Her scream hadn't woken anybody up, thank the highest spirit, but the dream flashed through her mind, and she felt sick even more. Afraid of what to do, she reached over and shook Rin until she woke up a little with a tiny yet annoyed yawn.
"What's wrong?" she whispered.
"I'm going to be sick," Chihiro whispered back.
"Wrap up in a blanket," Rin hissed, then proceeded to give Chihiro directions to the nearest bathroom.
So, in her apron and blanket, Chihiro stumbled away down to look for the bathroom.
She found it, thanks to Rin's great way of describing things ("to the left of this ugly carrot statue that has a nick in the top right corner of it and makes you want to barf...") and collapsed at a toilet, quickly ridding her stomach of its contents.
Only feeling even more miserable then before, Chihiro washed her mouth out thoroughly, then got a little drink of water. She leaned against a wall for support, as she was again struck with an aching dizziness. Groaning softly, she massaged her temples while sitting in a crouch, then gathered her blanket about her and stumbled out. Deciding that she would only fall down if she took the stairs, Chihiro found an elevator - not knowing which one it was, really - and went up. Down a quiet hallway that seemed semi- familiar.
She stopped at a dead end, and paused. Could have sworn this was the hallway.
Somewhat disoriented, Our Heroine paused, leaning against a wall cradling her forehead as another wave of dizziness swept over her. She was beginning to feel sick again.
After a few deep breaths, she could look up again, and for a moment she listened to the soft snoring in the rooms around her. Discouraged, she began to walk slowly back to the elevator, running her hand along the wall of doors.
One of them was open, she noticed. It didn't sound as though anybody was occupying the room, and though Chihiro knew very well she would most likely get in trouble, that throwing up on somebody's floor would be very, very bad, that curiosity killed the cat... well, curiosity may have killed the cat, but satisfaction DID bring him back. Right? Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought him back.
Besides, she concluded after a few moments of listening, nobody was in there. Not that she could here - no breathing, not audibly. She wanted to know... bad girl, she mentally thought.
Then she walked forward and carefully pulled the door open even more, peering inside. There was an occupant.
On a medium bed (it was a medium room) on top of the covers... no, the covers had been kicked back. It was Haku. He was curled, facing the door (and Chihiro) shirtless. His arms were crossed against his chest, both clasped in fists, and one knuckle was pressed against his bottom lip, mouth slightly open so that his top teeth were slightly visible. His hair was in total disarray, and he looked overheated, uncomfortable, almost childish. Innocent, was the word to describe what he looked like. Almost scared. His breathing was so soft that he made no noise, didn't seem to move.
She froze there, unsure of what to do.
She didn't want to leave, he looked as though... any suspicions were confirmed when he let out a very un-Haku-like whimper, so soft she almost didn't hear it, and kicked, thrashing for a moment before settling on his stomach, one arm still crossed beneath his chest, the other up against his face. She saw tears - tears!
Her heart melted, and ignoring her own dizziness and upset stomach, she padded carefully over and stood over him for a moment. Up closer, she found that he was breathing in short, quick gasps. He thrashed again, this time falling on his back, and the blankets at the foot of the bed got tangled up with him. This obviously didn't make his dream any better, because he said a hoarse "No! please!" and he kicked and thrashed until he was back in almost the same position Chihiro had found him in, shaking slightly. She felt awful for him.
Carefully, closing the door gently behind her, she walked over and reached out and touched his shoulder in a half-hearted effort to wake him. He flinched at her touch and groaned like he was in some sort of pain, but otherwise didn't do much. Jaw clenched, Chihiro put both hands on his shoulders, giving him a good shake, pushing his body around so that he was on his back.
This, of course, woke him up, and faster than Chihiro could figure out what was happening, she was on HER back on his bed, and he was above her, pinning her down by straddling her chest and both hands firmly locked around her throat. She didn't notice much of this until her dizziness swam away.
"Chihiro," he hissed, sitting back and removing his fingers from where they were spasmodically clenching harder around her neck. He pushed hair that was sticking to his face with sweat back behind his ears.
"What are you doing?"
he looked rather angry, and Chihiro furrowed her brow. "I got sick, so Rin sent me to a bathroom. I guess I got lost going back, because I was in this hall and your door was open a little bit."
"And you just walked in." he finished flatly. Yup, he was NOT happy.
Chihiro looked up at him. He was still shaking a little bit - but not physically. For a moment she wondered how she had figured that out, then the need to answer pushed at the back of her lips. "I didn't think anybody was in here." She examined him closely for a second. "H - um - Master Haku, are you aware that you talk in your sleep?"
Personally she was shocked at how quickly the color drained from his already pale face then rushed back with a vengeance. He fought it for a moment until he regained his composure.
Chihiro tried to figure out why he seemed so angry with her. She had just helped him, right? So why was he sitting on her scowling?
"No, I wasn't," he hissed shortly after a moment of struggling with his facial skin color. "and what was it you heard me say?"
Chihiro furrowed her brow. "You just kind of whimpered and groaned, and the only thing straight I heard was 'no please' or something like that." She cocked her head slightly. "were you having a nightmare? I had one before I woke Rin up. What was it about? Do you want to talk about it?"
"I don't remember," he lied smoothly. She frowned, knowing full well it was a lie.
"Well, it always helps me to talk about things," she whispered at last.
"You should get back to bed."
"I am in bed - just not mine." She succeeded in getting a slightly more relaxed posture from him. "and I can't go until I can get up."
"then get up."
"You're sitting on me." she hated to be so blunt, but she really, really wanted to know what he was dreaming about.
In neutral mode, Haku slid to the side, where he crossed his legs and watched her gingerly sit up, then get to her feet. She held on to the bed post for a second, trying to regain her balance. Then she leveled her gaze with him and sighed.
"I know you remember," she informed him quietly, almost casually. "Why don't you just tell me about it? it'll make you feel better."
"No. go back to bed."
"But you were *crying*!" she explained, watching him incredulously. Why was he so cold?
"No I wasn't."
"yes you were." Chihiro leaned forward, reaching out and touching his upper cheek. Haku, startled, jerked away, almost losing his balance. "See, you still are a little bit, too. And you're really jumpy and scared."
"I am not crying, jumpy, or scared," came the scathing reply, much louder then Haku had intended it. his back stiffened by reflex when Chihiro sat back down on his bed. He tried to think of a way to edge away from her without appearing "jumpy" or "Scared" in the least. He hunched his shoulders forward slightly, using the back of his wrist to wipe sweat - and tears - away. this girl didn't know when to give up.
"Tell me about it," Chihiro insisted. "who was in it?"
"None of your business."
"So you DO remember!"
Haku made a mental note to kill himself on a later basis.
"Why won't you tell me? are you embarrassed? Is that it?"
"No. go back to bed, Chihiro."
"But,"
"No." Haku stood up firmly and took her by the arm. The blanket around her shoulders slipped, but she didn't care. She jogged for a few moments to keep up with him until he let go, then followed him around in the moon-lit through windows darkness until he stopped at the room Rin slept in. go figure.
"You and I never spoke as of yesterday." He told her in that same angry and firm tone. "understand?"
"Yes sir." She walked inside and laid down back on her bed roll. With a sigh, she reached up and massaged her still aching temples. She was still dizzy, too, but she decided to dismiss it from tiredness.
Haku, however, marched back to his room, locked the door, opened the window, and looked out. For a moment he relished the cool wind, then jumped out into nothingness, turning into his dragon form half way down.
Might as well scout out Zeniiba's.
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A/N: okay. I guess. *shrugs*