Chihiro knocked gently on Rin's door. Her pleasant mood of a few moments ago had turned sombre. Rin needed her help and what she planned to do went against all the advice Haku had given her regarding Rin's condition. Somehow, however, she had a feeling that she was doing the right thing. She had expected Linca to answer the door, instead a sharp "come in!" echoed forth from behind the wood. Chihiro's mood lightened slightly. Rin was obviously awake and not happy to be so.

Chihiro opened the door carefully and wondered into Rin's sitting room. The spirit herself was lounging on a settee with a blanket covering her. Linca was hovering over her with a determined look on her face. She had a porcelain spoon in one hand and a bowl of plain rice porridge in the other; Zeniba's favourite cure-all for anyone feeling a bit off colour. Rin obviously had no intention of eating the insipid concoction.

"Get that spoon out of my face! I'm not touching that slimy slop."

"You must eat it; Zeniba has put a strengthening spell on it. You will feel much better once you've got something in your stomach. It will taste much worse if you leave it to go cold. But warm or cold you are going to eat it." Rin turned her head from the proffered spoon.

"Sen!" she snapped, turning her angry eyes to the human. Chihiro noticed that there where huge bags under the spirit woman's eyes and a yellowish tint to her skin. Rin had suffered a massive shock to her system and she was still quite ill. "Tell this deranged sister of yours to back off. I'm not eating that goop!" Chihiro smiled and sat in a chair opposite the settee.

"You should eat Rin, Linca is not being malicious. The stuff may be unpleasant with no flavouring but it would be different if we did not care and just left you to your own devices."

Rin muttered something under her breath and then said, "Why are you here anyway? White eyes told me you where being whisked off to parts unknown by your lizard."

"I postponed it; I wanted to spend some time with my sick sister," replied Chihiro.

"You did not have to do that," Rin mumbled, casting her eyes down.

"Yes I did," said Chihiro, and stood and took the spoon from Linca. "Now as you not only attacked the love of my life, but disrupted his plans for me, I think you should start earning my forgiveness us by eating this muck." Chihiro held the spoon to Rin's mouth.

"Alright!" snapped Rin and snatched the spoon and bowl from her. "But I'm feeding myself," she grumbled. She popped the spoon in her mouth and shuddered. "It's not the lack of taste, it's the texture!" she complained.

"Eat!" snapped Linca.

"And don't talk with your mouth full," added Chihiro. Rin swore but ate without further comment. When she was finished Chihiro took the bowl from her. Rin grabbed Chihiro's free hand before she moved away.

"I am really sorry," she whispered. "I don't know what happened. I saw that bruise and I just lost it completely. All I could think about was that he was hurting you and soon he would start beating you..." Rin screwed up her face as if trying to remember something.

"Rin," said Chihiro gently. "There is no need to..."

"I know it makes no sense," interrupted Rin. "Of course the dragon would never hurt you; I know that, but... I just got so angry. I could not let you suffer that way. I actually intended to murder him. I can hardly believe it but it's true. I wanted him dead." Rin's voice caught in her throat. "The worst part is, I actually like the stupid lizard, though I would never tell him so." She sniffed and Chihiro smiled warmly at her.

"He knows you did not mean it Rin, he understands that this is a symptom of Yubaba's theft of your name. Most are content to forget their past, you no longer are. You seem to wish to be more than just 'Rin' again." Rin nodded miserably. Chihiro crouched beside the settee, her eyes level with the spirit.

"The advice I have been given is that if you avoid remembering, the emotions that you are feeling will eventually disappear. I don't think that's going to help you. I think there is something about Haku and I that has provoked these emotions in you. I don't think they will simply fade away. So my idea is we shall dig up your past. We will start with what you do remember and work from there. We need to find out exactly what triggers these emotions off. What I hope will happen is that your urge to remember will be so strong, and your repressed memories so close to the surface that you will punch a hole in Yubaba's spell and regain what you lost."

"Is that possible?" whispered Linca.

"I have no idea," replied Chihiro. "But it's the best course of action I can think of."

"What if it does not work?" croaked Rin, "What if it drives me insane? What if I do remember and then I realise there was a very good reason for me to forget? It must have been something horrible for me to block it all out. What if I go off the deep end and hurt someone?" Chihiro shook her head sadly.

"I don't have any answers for you Rin. All I can say is that I think it is worth a try and it's better than doing nothing and hoping for the best. But this is your life, you need to make the choice and decide if you want to take the risk." Rin bit her bottom lip nervously. "Don't decide right now," whispered Chihiro, "take all the time you need, just concentrate on getting better."

They chatted for some time together and Chihiro gave Rin her last bar of chocolate, on the grounds that it was a medical emergency. At last Rin's eyelids begin to droop and she dozed off on the settee. Linca tucked the blanket around her. There was a gentle knock at the door; Chihiro opened it to admit Meeka. The wood spirit was balancing a tray on one hand and clutching some neatly folded clothes in the other. Chihiro recognised the ostentatiously decorated green bottle on the tray as Haku's best snowberry wine. Linca's face lit up.

"Well, it seems as if someone has been thinking of us." She smiled at Chihiro. "Or more probably of you."

"Master Haku sent this for you both," said Meeka primly. "He thought the nursemaids may need a bit of a break too." Chihiro grinned; sometimes Haku could be so considerate it put her to shame. Of course, he could also be a pig-headed fool but nobody was perfect. Not even in the spirit world. Meeka laid down her burdens; the clothes were Chihiro's night attire. Chihiro noticed that Meeka's paw like hands were covered in flecks of paint; had she been decorating? Chihiro also noticed that Meeka seemed a little out of sorts; perhaps she was working too hard?

"Well, she can have a few days off when Haku and I go away." The thought of her little getaway still filled her with excitement and nervousness. Meeka took her leave but Chihiro swore she saw the hackles rise on the back of the wood spirit's neck. Linca poured Chihiro a drink and they sat at a table in a corner of the room so they did not disturb Rin.

"I bet the Dragon was not pleased when you refused to go with him," said Linca in a low voice. The land spirit seemed to always know when Chihiro was worrying over something and always took it upon herself to set things right, or at least offer advice.

"He was disappointed, I could tell, but he understood."

"I'm sure he was disappointed," Linca said taking a sip of wine. "He probably had it all planned out. Romantic walks, candlelit dinners, midnight swims in that hot spring of his. Oh, and sharing his bed with you, he probably had planned on that too." Linca chuckled to herself evilly. Chihiro blushed crimson she said nothing but she did take a large swallow of the very potent wine.

"What?" said Linca, surprise creeping into her voice. "No vehement denial? No outrage? Nothing?" Chihiro just shrugged. Linca sat back; her milk-white eyes seemed thoughtful. "So you were thinking of taking things further?"

"Not exactly," mumbled Chihiro uncomfortably.

"But the possibility had crossed your mind," supplied Linca. The sprite's face lit up with a dazzling smile. "Oh, to be in love, there is no feeling like it in any world. I pity those who scorn it. What is life that has not been touched by love?"

"When were you in love, Linca?" asked Chihiro quietly.

"Long ago," sighed Linca. "It seems a little unfair, a few short years of bliss and it's supposed to last my lifetime." She frowned and looked at Chihiro wistfully. "But that is a story for another day, and not one I'm ready to tell you yet. It's painful and would really spoil my evening." She then seemed to shake off her bleak mood. "Anyway we are talking about you not me and if I know you at all you are fretting over spending time alone with him."

"I'm excited too!" Chihiro protested, forgetting about Linca's past for the moment. "I want to spend time with him, be free from the gossips and the others that judge us. We can be ourselves and see what happens."

"So what are you worrying about?" asked Linca.

"I'm frightened I'm going to make a fool of myself," mumbled Chihiro. Linca sat forward and finished the wine in her glass.

"I'm going to ask you something, and don't take this the wrong way." Chihiro nodded and mentally braced herself. Linca could be quite blunt. "Do you want him?" Chihiro pursed her lips and tried not to squirm under Linca's gaze.

"It depends what you mean."

Linca grinned. "You know exactly what I mean, human! Do you want to see him naked and scratch your fingers down his back?" Chihiro felt a modest flush creep up her cheeks again; she hated blushing and somehow knowing she was blushing made it worse. Still, she was not going to back down either.

"So what if I do?" she mumbled.

"Nothing," replied Linca with a smirk. "It's perfectly natural; the Dragon is hot. I'd have been worried if you could not answer the question. But it seems you are aware of your own feelings on the subject. Maybe you are ready for the next step."

"How do you know that?" mumbled Chihiro.

"Oh, it's easy to tell, you are perfect for each other! I'm actually surprised he has been as patient and gentle as he has, it's not in his nature believe me, that alone should tell anyone with half a brain that he is crazy about you. However, the point is that you must be comfortable with all this." She looked earnestly at the subdued human. "Nothing has to happen on this trip Chihiro. He's waited this long, I really don't think he expects anything from you. He has not put any pressure on you has he?"

"No," whispered Chihiro.

"Then why should that change because you are at his place?" Chihiro shrugged, feeling a little bit silly. "I think it is you who are pressurising yourself. Stop it! You will worry yourself into an early grave if you are not careful," Linca chuckled. "Besides, when the time does come he is hardly going to be giving you marks out of ten! No one is born a natural lover. Not even me." She winked at Chihiro. "It took me at least a hundred years and six lovers to get as good as I am. You will not live that long or it seems have that much variety. So I suggest you should practice as often as you can."

Chihiro could not help a smile touching her lips. Linca always seemed to know how to make her smile. Linca gave her a tender smile in return.

"Your problem is that you think too much. Just let your mind go and your body will follow. This is all supposed to be fun, remember?" Chihiro nodded and poured them both some more wine.

"When are you going to tell me about your past, Linca?" she asked quietly.

"When I'm ready to tell you," replied the sprite breezily. "It's not that I don't trust you Chi, but I'd rather keep it to myself for now." Chihiro made no reply, Linca was being honest and she had to respect her request for privacy. The spirit would tell her at some point she was sure. They chatted together for some time and eventually woke Rin up to help her to bed. With Rin tucked in, Chihiro made to leave her bedroom.

"Sen?" Rin said weakly.

"Yes?" she replied, barely making out the figure on the bed in the gloom.

"I want you to leave with Haku in the morning." Chihiro was surprised; Rin was the last person she would expect to encourage her to spend quality time with Haku.

"Are you sure?" she whispered.

"Yes," replied Rin. "Besides I owe him for trying to kill him." She gave a bitter chuckle. "I want you to go; you've both been working hard and need a break. I won't take no for an answer." Chihiro nodded.

"Very well, I shall go, but we should talk again about what to do to make you better."

"I will have decided by the time you return," sighed Rin. Chihiro turned to go, murmuring a goodnight.

"Sen?" Rin called again.

"Yes?" Chihiro replied.

"Have a really good time, you deserve it."

Haku could not sleep; he lay in his bed, wide awake. It was deathly quiet up at the top of the bath house. If he strained his hearing he could just about make out the muffled sounds from the main bathing floors, about thirty stories below him. But it was still too quiet. Haku knew the reason for his restlessness. Chihiro had been practically living in his quarters for the past month. For the past fortnight, she had hardly slept in her own bed. Choosing to either sleep on his sofa or to commandeer the bed. Haku had been very strict about sleeping arrangements, much to Chihiro's amusement. She did not seem to realise that if he did spend the night in the same bed as her there was no way he was going to be able to keep his hands to himself. It was hard enough as it was! He seemed to always be reaching out for her, caressing her face, stroking her satiny hair, pulling her close to him to feel the deliciously contrasting contours of her body compared to his own.

Haku removed his covers and got up. He padded across the highly polished hardwood floors and walked to his office. There was always a mountain of paperwork requiring his attention. He sighed and sat at his desk. His attention wandered, however. His mind kept slipping back to the incident in his bedroom. He was still fuming at having been manipulated by the Lady but in truth, she had only manipulated Chihiro. It had been Chihiro herself that had driven him insane with want, to the extent that he did not question her change in behaviour. Chihiro had been quite timid at first when it came to displaying her affection. It had taken him weeks to gain her full trust, so that she was completely comfortable with him. He should have guessed that one so hard won would never have acted so forward. However, the Lady had not used compulsion, just prodded the chemicals in Chihiro's blood to lower her inhibitions. Haku was sure that what he had seen was what Chihiro could be like, if she only let herself.

"All the more reason to continue with the gentle approach," he mused. Haku had decided months ago that as far as becoming lovers was concerned, she would have to come to him. As difficult as it was, he had never put pressure on her. Well, at times he had gently coaxed, but she was nervous and to tell the truth, so was he at times. If all went according to plan, he would see the more demanding side of her again in the not too distant future. But for now, the tantalising glimpse he had now haunted his thoughts and robbed him of sleep.

"Who would have thought I could ever physically need another so much?" he wondered.

He had always been a loner by nature, preferring not to engage with those around him. River spirits did tend to be detached and reserved. That had continued when he split from his river and became Yubaba's apprentice. Part of it had been Yubaba's control spell. The main reason was that he had little patience with non-bonded spirits. Their concerns seemed petty and their lives dull and empty. He had been civil of course, but always aloof and cool. Then a scrawny human girl with limpid brown eyes and a shy smile had shown up. He half remembered her face and knew her name, though the image of her in his memory had been of a much younger child. Suddenly he had wanted to talk and engage with someone; he had believed this human held the key to his past and possibly his future. He had been right on both accounts.

Haku recognised what had been the first flush of the intense emotions that he experienced now. He had loved her even then. It had taken him years to realise it. Then she had turned up again, a fully mature human woman; the eyes had been the same though full of sadness and the scrawniness had definitely gone. With her coming he had been forced to change again. Now he was a practically a trained diplomat; he could not believe how affable he had become.

He sighed and pressed the heels of his hands to his eyes. He really was tired, but he knew he would get little rest if he returned to bed. He could use magic of course, or drink that coffee stuff that Chihiro liked so much. Either would work, but he found magic to be a poor substitute for real sleep and he found coffee far too bitter for his taste. He sat back in his chair and growled to himself. He wanted her to be here, he even missed the sound of her breathing.

"I'm pathetic," he muttered to himself. He toyed with the idea of going to Rin's room and stealing Chihiro away until dawn. She would not be missed, he could see to that. But he remembered the mortified look on her face when she had realised she had forgotten about Rin and dismissed the idea. She would end up resenting him if he kept her from spending time with other members of her family and her friends. He smiled to himself. She could be quite stubborn at times and keeping her happy was mentally exhausting on occasion. Her moods could swing 360 degrees in the space of ten minutes. Usually, it happened when she was on her monthly bleed but it was not restricted to that. It was tiring just keeping up with her. She was also a master at pulling his strings to get what she wanted. For all this, he would not change her. Well, maybe stop her thinking so much. She was definitely a person who let her head rule her heart. But he had seen what was possible when she let go. Another memory of that night flashed across his mind.

Chihiro had practically torn open his tunic and was kissing his throat, her tongue darted down his neck and across his chest making him groan. He had moved down her body, kissing the flesh he had exposed, his lips had lingered over her belly, revelling in the softness of her skin. She had moaned and whispered his name; he had continued to move downwards...

With a cry of frustration Haku stood and started pacing the floor. It wasn't fair! No one should have to put up with this! He constantly felt like he had a fever, his veins felt like they were running with molten lava instead of blood. He wanted to kiss her until she had no breath left. He wanted to feel her bare skin against his. He wanted to bite her and taste her blood. That last thought halted his pacing and he shuddered. He knew it was just the animal in him talking. Such "love bites" were part of dragon mating rituals. He knew such things were not possible with Chihiro, but the darker side of him still wanted to experience the sweet taste of her human blood.

Disgusted with himself, Haku ground his teeth and opened the nearest window. He changed quickly into his dragon form and practically sighed with relief. His reptilian body was only capable of processing the most basic of emotions. He was still "him" but most of his more complex thought processes were mere background noise.

Haku flew into the night, enjoying the cool touch of the night air on his pearlescent scales. Things would have been much more simple if he had returned to his natural dragon form after leaving Yubaba's service. But if he had he would not be with Chihiro now. His peace of mind and rest were small sacrifices to make to have her by his side.

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