Chihiro opened her eyes to find herself standing in the sparkling stone room she had recovered in after her escape from the hospital. Meeka was standing a little apart from her, obviously disorientated, her ears were flat and she was blinking her golden eyes owlishly. Chihiro saw no reason to move from the haven of Haku's arms just yet, despite Meeka's presence. Besides she was not too sure her knees would hold her.

"When you said "home," I thought you meant the bathhouse." She mumbled into his chest, she was still trembling slightly.

"One day I hope you will look on this place as home." He said his voice practically purring deep in his chest. She stared up at him, but she knew from the wicked gleam in his emerald eyes that he was teasing her. She guessed it was just his way of coping with what he had just declared to the entire spirit world. A smile tugged at her lips, he smiled back at her tenderly and then reluctantly released her, giving her plenty of time to find her balance. However, he seemed to wish to maintain some contact with his hard-won prize and seized her hands possessively in his own, clasping them to his chest. Chihiro smiled again almost chuckling at him, she knew she must look absolutely terrible but at that moment she did not care.

"I brought you here because the bathhouse will be in total chaos. I was thinking you could spend a few days here with Meeka. I have to return unfortunately but I want you to have time to relax and to think. Take some time to take in everything that has happened." She nodded it made sense.

"Do Rin and Linca know where I am?" He sighed and tightened the grip on her hands as if such things were just a trifle to him.

"I'll be returning to the bathhouse now, I'll be flying of course, I would not want to cast another long-distance transportation spell without a rest." He treated her to a crooked smile, which threatened to melt her bones. "I'm good but I'm not that good. I'll tell Rin and Linca as soon as I get there, I may even contact them on the way if you like." She nodded.

"If you could please, they will be worried." He glanced over her head at the little wood spirit who was just standing watching them both, he frowned.

"Meeka could you draw a bath for Chihiro and prepare a meal?" He asked coolly. Meeka bowed hurriedly and scuttled away.

There was silence between them for a moment. Chihiro could not believe everything that had happened. She still felt a little numb.

"I... I don't know how to repay you for what you have done Haku." She whispered. He laughed, surprised and touched her cheek gently, his eyes were soft almost wistful.

"Just be happy, at least then I can get a good nights sleep." Chihiro frowned.

"Why did that happen?" she asked suddenly curious. "Why did you dream of me? Why did I dream of the bathhouse?" he shook his head setting the green highlights in his hair shimmering.

"I don't know, maybe it was because of Zeniba's gift to you, maybe it was..." He paused, struggling. "Maybe it was...something else entirely; I wish I had the answers for you Chihiro." She looked closely at his face; he seemed to have difficulty meeting her gaze. All of a sudden the strong, confident Haku she knew was gone and in his place was someone who was not too sure of himself. It surprised her and she found it charming. Despite his unease, however, she had to know, she had one last burning question to ask before he flew away.

"Did... Did you... Did you mean what you said?" She stammered, her hands shook a little in his. He glanced at his feet, his eyes unfocused.

"I did what I had to; it was all I could think of at the time." He mumbled. Chihiro sighed, and felt very maternal for a moment; she pulled a hand free from him and tilted his chin up to look at her. Green fire blazed in his eyes at her touch but also confusion, doubt and quite possibly fear. Her heart swelled with sympathy for him. But she was not going to let him off the hook quite yet.

"You're avoiding my question." She reproached gently. He swallowed and seemed to mentally gather himself together. His eyes turned thoughtful and the emotion in them faded. He moved forward and gave her a chaste kiss on the forehead. His lips lingered a little longer than they should have perhaps, but Chihiro was not about to complain.

"Let's just say I could not lie and I was as affected by that plain speaking spell as you were. I said things... that I had not intended to say." He stepped away from her. Chihiro resisted the urge to sigh regretfully, she was missing him already and he had barely moved. "I'll discuss this with you later, but now you are tired and overwrought. You will need the time to prepare yourself; the gossip machine will be in full swing by the time you return." Chihiro rolled her eyes and groaned. Haku folded his arms, and smiled an evil smile, revealing his sharp canine teeth. "Don't worry, if anyone bothers you, tell me and I'll render them mute." Chihiro gasped at him.

"What... you can't do that it's.... "He interrupted her with a bark of laughter.

"Stop teasing me!" She cried, "For all I know there's some law about punishing gossips that you could enforce." She moved to give him a playful shove but her hands only met air. He had vanished. Chihiro swore to herself under her breath, even after all that had happened he could not resist teasing her.

"I will have to get used to his brand of humour I suppose, even if he makes me feel very gullible and stupid sometimes." She thought sourly. Meeka popped her head around the door.

"Your bath is ready." Chihiro nodded and with a sigh, she left the room.

Much to Chihiro's amusement Meeka tried to carry out her pre bathing ablutions.

"I'm not incapacitated in any way; I would prefer to wash myself." Chihiro said gently. The cat-like spirits ears flattened, she had looked forlorn and chastised.

"Why do you not trust me with such things Mistress? I know I tried to hurt you once but that was... different. I was different; I let my prejudices get the better of my judgement. I now know you are a nice person and I respect you. I believe you will be good for Master Haku." Chihiro sighed.

"We are not together Meeka." She said coolly.

"Oh," said the spirit woman, "but I thought..."

"You, and the rest of the plain no doubt," Chihiro grumbled stepping behind a paper screen to get washed in private.

"But he said..."

"He said the first thing that came into his head, like we all did in that temple. I'm not about to hold him to something he probably regrets saying." Chihiro emerged from behind the screen, scrubbed and ready to plunge into the huge tub that was sunk into the black stone floor. Meeka helped her into the bath and Chihiro sighed with contentment. She revelled in the hot bath. It was so nice to be pampered. Meeka was a marvel, she added vanilla oil to the water, then rubbed Chihiro's tense shoulders. She then anointed Chihiro's chestnut locks with special oil that made her tresses gleam. Eventually, Meeka broke the tranquil silence.

"Forgive me for saying this Mistress, but I don't think you are seeing things clearly. Maybe you are denying the truth for some reason, I can't think why but I'm sure Master Haku meant everything he said." Chihiro slipped further down into the water, not wanting to listen to Meeka's high-pitched, singsong voice. However, her mind continued to focus on the wood spirits words.

"What if she is right? What will I do? No, she is not, he just wanted to save me, and yet...?" Her mind drifted somewhat as the heat from the water soaked into her muscles. She found herself thinking about the incident on the ferry. It had not been much of a kiss but it had felt good, very good, it was right somehow. It was as if she was meant to kiss him.

"I really do have some thinking to do," she heaved another sigh. "This constant denial is childish, I'm twenty, not twelve. But I'm not going into that at the moment, I'm too tired." She heard Meeka breathe in sharply behind her, as if she was going to say something else on the subject.

"Forgive me Meeka, you know I hate to order you around but do you think we could change the subject?" The spiky fur on Meeka's feline face flattened down.

"But of course, I'm sorry Mistress; it's not my place to have an opinion on such things." Chihiro shook her head.

"Of course you are entitled to an opinion, you have a brain. I hate this! You are not my slave!" Meeka bowed her head.

"I'm afraid I am, you need to understand Mistress that I am proud to perform this penance." Chihiro lowed herself still further into the water, it now covered her to her chin.

"I will never understand this place" She mumbled.

"With respect Mistress, perhaps that is one of the reasons the Lady let you stay. You do not accept things just because they have always been. Conscience is a human trait, many spirits lack one."

"I'm too tired for a philosophical discussion right now," Chihiro mumbled and slipped completely under the scented water. When she re-emerged Meeka said.

"Your room is prepared, it is late, will you retire?" Chihiro nodded and got out of the water. Meeka wrapped a large fluffy towel around her and guided her to some house slippers, aiding Chihiro in putting them on. She then wrapped a towel around Chihiro's head and draped a bathrobe over the top of it all.

Chihiro chuckled.

"I'm not sick Meeka, what is all this?"

"Master Haku told me that humans can sicken just by being exposed to low temperatures. I have no intention of letting that happen to you while Master Haku is away. I like my legs just as they are; I have no intention of doing anything to get them broken." Chihiro laughed.

"As if he would!" she chuckled as she headed for her room.

"You did not know him when he first came back. He was very hot-tempered and angry. He made a lot of threats, people became frightened." Chihiro frowned.

"That sounds so unlike him." She muttered

"He is different now," Said Meeka. "Since you came he smiles and has developed a sense of humour about things." Chihiro really wanted to just go to sleep and forget the long day she had endured. She sat on her bed.

"Thank you Meeka." She said. "But I'm dead on my feet; I just want to rest now." Meeka bowed and left without another word.

Chihiro dumped her towels and robe on the floor and kicked her slippers off across the room. She slipped naked under the soft cotton covers and fine woollen blanket. She yawned and unconsciously grasped her pendant. Its warmth comforted her and helped to still her clamouring mind.

"Thank you," She whispered into the dark, somehow thinking he would hear. "I owe you everything and you've asked for nothing in return." She snuggled down in the bed and closed her eyes. "I'm never going to forget today." She sighed and drifted off to sleep. The tiny obsidian mirror glowed green for a moment, the light penetrating the fingers that clasped it. The light receded and the room returned to darkness.

Miles away, a white dragon flew over the moonlit plain. Haku heard Chihiro's voice speak in his mind. He nearly tumbled out of the sky in shock. Her words made him grin, which looked more like a snarl in his dragon form. He gave a happy roar, taking delight in scaring everything in two square miles. He raced onwards to the bathhouse with a light heart. Not even thinking of Yubaba could blacken his mood at that moment.

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