They moved out onto the balcony and sat together on a stone bench with a modest distance between them. Chihiro looked at the sky; she recognised none of the constellations.

"This sky must look very alien to you," said Haku gently.

"I can learn to appreciate it I'm sure."

She smiled at him.

"Will you miss your world do you think?" He was looking at her earnestly.

"I will a little," She mumbled looking at the ground. "But ever since I came here I've always thought of it as the human world, not my world."

"Do you really hate your race that much?" She was startled by the question and then realised he did not truly understand her reasons for staying.

"I don't hate my own race." She was trying to be serious but could not help smiling. "True as a race we pollute our world, kill ourselves in the millions and create devastation wherever we go." Haku nodded his face still serious, not picking up on her sarcasm.

"That would be the view of most here, but you are nothing like that." 

"No I'm not and neither are millions of other people. Believe me, I could easily hate everyone in the human world for what they have done to you or what they did to Linca. That alone would be reason enough to leave everyone behind." She was solemn now the humour she had found in the conversation had vanished. "The truth is we are ignorant as a species. We harm you and your world without even knowing it." There was silence for a moment. Haku could tell Chihiro was brooding on the subject and feeling in some way ashamed of the mistakes of an entire people. Her pretty face was stern and her brown eyes were far away.

"Spirits are not blameless either." He said suddenly. "Ever since humans appeared some of us have killed and tortured you on a regular basis, just for fun." Chihiro shook her head.

"I don't believe that." Haku raised one eyebrow.

"Ever heard of the Bermuda triangle?" Chihiro's eyes widened. "There is a water spirit there who has a liking for human flesh." Chihiro frowned and was quiet for a moment, and then she said...

"So we are about as bad as each other."

Haku nodded.

"Yes we are, but since meeting you I now have more hope in the future of the human race than I did." Chihiro blushed lightly.

"You'll make me big-headed," she mumbled.

They were quiet again. Chihiro listened to the crickets and the other strange night sounds she did not yet recognise. It was a gorgeously balmy summer night; she felt like she was breathing in the scent of a thousand different flowers, their musk was making her sleepy. She dabbed at her brow. She was perspiring slightly in the silk dress.

"Why do you want to stay?" Haku blurted out the question in such a way she guessed he had not really meant to ask it. She looked up at him and smiled gently.

"I want to stay because this is my home. The restless part of me feels at peace here. I was always looking for something in the human world and never finding it. Also, I could not forget about you all, even though I tried, you were all branded into my memory." He glanced at the band on her wrist.

"You may want to speak to Zeniba about that." To his surprise, she laughed.

"I already have, I know what she did, but whether she interfered or not I still would have never forgotten you." She gave him a motherly look and took his hands.

"It's sweet of you to worry about me, but I'm fine, really." He sighed and glanced at the floor, his hair fell to hide his face.

"Please don't think I'm not grateful for what you did for me ten years ago." He looked at her again, "or that I'm not glad to see you now." He squeezed her hands, "but I would be no sort of friend if I did not worry about your safety or about your motives for staying."

"I'm staying because I love this place and the people in it." She said simply. He still looked conflicted.

"It's just that... in two month's time. After you've returned and lived here for a while... You will realise the full implications of what you have done... I could not bear to see you miserable again." He looked up to the night sky; his hair seemed more black then green in the moonlight.

"I had dreams Chihiro," he said softly. "Terrible dreams of you, I told you that but..." he trailed off and sighed. "I just want you to be happy and not see you in a state like that again, ever." Chihiro felt some of the heaviness of the past pull at her again.

"Do you know why I was crying?" She asked, he shook his head.

"It was because they would not believe me."

All of a sudden her story poured forth, she told him everything, spared him no detail. She did not know at what point she started crying but she managed to continue on through the sobs. Haku just held her hands and listened. She did not see the pain or the anger flash in his eyes. Her own were too blurred to see much at all. Eventually, she came to the end.

"And then you wanted to send me back, so I ran. I just could not face living a lie again. Tomorrow I do have to go back, to tell my parents that unless they come here, they will never see me again. I don't know why, but I know something will go wrong. I... I really don't know what I would do if I could not get home again." She took a few deep shuddering breaths, trying to get back in control. The hurt was too raw, however, too fresh still. Her fears were real now, this place was real, and it could easily be snatched from her again.

She gave up on trying to control herself and continued to cry, head down, unable to look at him.

Carefully Haku removed his hands from hers.

"What must he think of me?" She thought, "I feel so embarrassed and ashamed for behaving like this. I had to tell him though; he had a right to hear it all. Now he will see me as just a weak feeble mortal." Haku moved closer to her, however. She was surprised when she felt warm strong arms around her shoulder and back. He gently drew her to him, giving her plenty of time to object or pull away. Cradled in his arms, she cried all the harder, wetting his elegant jacket. She buried her face in his shoulder. He just held her tighter and rocked her back and forwards like she was a child. He stroked her hair and whispered soothingly to her.

"Hush... Hush little one... all will be well, you will see." How long she cried for she did not know. Eventually, the tears dried up and she was left with dry sobs and a feeling of such hurt it threatened to tear her apart.

He started speaking some words in a language she did not understand. She grew still to listen, it was enchanting, whatever it was. The words fell like rain on her heart, washing away the pain. He slowly sat her back up again and wiped her face with his sleeve. She glanced at him shyly.

"Don't do that." He said, "Don't be ashamed, you needed to tell me your story." She nodded but still looked forlorn.

"Chihiro I know you don't want to go back but it must be done." She nodded again. "I have a gift for you, but I will give it to you tomorrow before you leave." He touched her face making her look at him. "I will give you all my protection and then some if Linca and Rin have anything to do with it. You will have so many spells on you when you leave I would not be surprised if you started to glow." She did smile then.

"Trust us; we won't fail you this time."

"You did not fail me." She said her voice still throaty from crying. "You never actually promised to come and get me, just that we would see each other again. You kept your promise." He said nothing. "And you really are spoiling me with all these gifts." She gestured to the dress.

"Its gold well spent if it makes you happy." He smiled, "besides the gift, you will get tomorrow is something I made myself." Chihiro was intrigued despite herself. She rubbed at her eyes, embarrassed at how red and puffy her face must be and also how smudged her makeup must look. She was also bone weary. She stood stiffly and gave him a low respectful bow.

"Thank you for the wonderful dance and the shoulder to cry on."

"Anytime," he replied. She made to walk away but stopped at the balcony door.

"Why did you miss the other dance with me?" She asked suddenly.

"Ah, I was cornered by Yubaba." He replied evasively. She nodded and left.

Haku looked at the sky again, thinking. A snowy owl flapped down onto the balcony. It regarded him with icy white eyes and suddenly melted into a feminine, human-like form. Haku ignored Linca disliking her spying.

"Are you really going to let her go dragon?" She asked.

"I have to, it's what's right," He replied coolly. Linca plonked herself down on the seat next to him.

"You love her don't you." It was a statement, not a question. Haku just glared at her but remained silent. "Don't ignore me; you lied to her just now. You weren't talking to Yubaba, you were watching her, too nervous to dance with her. That was until you saw her lip tremble a bit and then you melted. Rin and I were not impressed you left her standing there like that."

"What are you her Bodyguards?" He snapped.

"Yes we are, she will be our sister and every potential partner must be vetted." She took his face in her small hands and forced his head down to look at her. "What are your intentions towards our sister?"

"Leave me alone!" he growled dangerously.

"Oh drop the act. It does not wash with me." She poked him in the stomach. "You love her, I can tell, it was obvious when you were dancing with her. It was like you were the only two dancers in the world." She gave him a wistful look. "And now you are like a bear with a sore head because she is leaving, and there is a chance, no matter how small, that she may decide to stay there." Haku gave her a blank look. "Tell her dragon, tell her before she goes."

"I can't," he whispered. "If you where eavesdropping you saw how fragile she is at the moment. You of all people know how much she has been through. She needs time to heal old wounds. I will not add to her burdens."

"You really think such a thing would be a burden to her?" Asked Linca, "It could be the balm she needs."

"What does a minor land spirit know of such things?" He hissed. Lincas white eyes turned as chilly as the Russian winter.

Don't underestimate me dragon, I have loved more deeply than a lizard-like yourself could ever dream. He was mortal, now his bones are dust, but I remember and I grieve." Haku swallowed and lowered his eyes.

Linca stood.

"That's what your really afraid of isn't it? To let yourself fall for a mortal. Someone who will grow old and die." Linca gave him a sympathetic look.

"It's not an easy thing to do, to love a mortal tears at your heart, because in the end, you know you will be without them." she bent down and kissed his cheek.

"If I could go back I would never change my decision, even though I'm still in love with a man who died 300 years ago. If you think you are strong enough to stand the pain the rewards are endless. Humans have a boundless capacity for love." She moved to the doors. "You have my approval as Chihiro's future sister; I think you would be good for her. But I don't think you're going to tell her are you?" He shook his head. "If that is what you wish." She sighed, "Such things have a way of getting to you Haku, and you can't fight them. It's like quicksand, the more you wriggle the deeper you sink." Linca left Haku more confused than he had been when Chihiro had burst into tears.

"Why is nothing simple any more?" He complained and followed Linca off the balcony.

He caught up with her in the now empty hall.

"I want to apologise." Linca held up her hand.

"There really is no need."

"Yes, there is, for offending you and for reading your mind."

"Ah... well... apology excepted." she smiled.

"You may be quick to forgive me but I'm not, it was wrong and I want to make it up to you." Linca was put a little off balance and for once could think of nothing to say. "I want to hire you, contract-free of course, as a staff liaison. I want you to listen to their grievances and settle their disputes. I believe you to be very wise and full of no-nonsense common sense. You are just what I need. Many of the staff are afraid of me, but you are obviously not. I need you as my go-between." Lincas eyes were wide with shock.

"You offer me all this without a contract?"

"Yes," he replied "besides Chihiro would never forgive me if you left to find work elsewhere." Linca smiled.

"She will come back you know." She said gently, he nodded.

"With the Lady talking to her I don't doubt that, but I fear what they want her for."

"Trust her," said Linca, "she is not as fragile as she seems. The human spirit is a thing of great power, you will learn this. For example, she never feared you and taught us to see you as Haku and not some powerful God." Haku blinked, taking her words in.

"She told us that a river in flood causes damage, but she is not going to worry about that on a summer's day." Haku smiled, liking the analogy. Linca patted his arm. "I accept your offer gladly, but can I ask you to hire Chihiro too? She will need a purpose to stay here." Haku gave her a sly smile. Linca placed her hands on her hips. "What are you up to dragon?" She demanded.

"Let's just say I've taken care of that." He grinned again. "I just have to persuade her."

A/N nearly 1000 views! Thank you so much! Go on, click that vote button and let me know you love fluffy romance! In today's world, I think a bit of fluff is more important than ever.