Haku was sucked back into consciousness. He struggled to sit upright, his chains jangling as if they were trying to mock him. He sighed and rested his spinning head against the wall.

He smiled.

The facial gesture felt odd to him; he had not smiled for months. But today he had something to smile about... He had finally managed to unpick a fibre in the weave of Kenshin's spell. He had fainted from pulling at it so hard, but it was done. He closed his eyes and examined the barrier between him and his power. There was the smallest gap, and through it he could feel it; his power was starting to trickle into him ever so slowly. Haku almost felt dizzy. He felt as if he had been holding his breath all this time and was finally breathing through the smallest of hollow reeds. It was sweet, heady, and made his heart pound. How he had missed the elation that using his own power brought to him.

But his task was far from over. He was considerably weakened as his power was still being pulled from him, and he now barely had access to the tiniest proportion of what was left. But it would aid him in teasing out the next thread of the barrier. He estimated that his task would now take him weeks rather than months.

He grinned wolfishly. Yes, today was a good day; he was one step closer to seeing his little one again. He longed to hold her in his arms and breathe in her scent. He wondered if her scent had changed since she had got with child. Many pregnant spirit females would emit scents that made their mates more attentive and protective.

Suddenly, anger flashed through him and his eyes snapped open. He should be with her! He was her mate! He should be caring for her at this time and using his own power to ease her pregnancy symptoms. Instead, he was rotting in an arid cell, too powerless to remove a barrier that, under normal circumstances, would have been child's play to deal with.

He growled and bared the teeth that had now fully grown back in. Kenshin would pay dearly for taking this time from him, for taking Haku's duty and responsibilities from him. But there was also a nagging fear fuelling his anger. As thrilled as Haku was to be having a child with his mate, he was frightened; the whole prospect of fatherhood was daunting. He needed his mate to tell him what to expect and ease his fears, but she was far from him. He was a bonded spirit and his kind rarely raised their own children. There was no call for it; their offspring were perfectly capable of fending for themselves. But his child, his little daughter, would be different; she would be half-human.

She would be small and defenceless, needing round-the-clock care. Haku did not know how he would fare as a father. It was all so new to him! The idea that the tiny being that his mate would give birth to would be utterly dependent on him and Chihiro frightened him senseless. What if he hurt his child by accident? What if he could not provide everything it needed? He had seen human children before, of course, and non-bonded spirit children were similar in their dependence on their parents, though less prone to sickness and less demanding than human ones. He should be learning all he could from Chihiro at this time, and he should be preparing a nest for the child, too.

Haku shook his head. No, that was not right. Chihiro was human; she would have no instinct to nest. At least, he thought she would not... Haku's ignorance disgusted him. But he had thought breeding would be a few years ahead of him and Chihiro. He had not meant to remain ignorant, but there had been so little time to discuss such things. Between his river and the Bathhouse, Haku had barely seen Chihiro during the hours of daylight. That would change. He did not just have a mate to consider now; he had a family. He needed to compensate for this time he had been away from them, and he needed to arrange to have more time to spend with them when he returned.

Meeka or Zeniba were probably running the Bathhouse in his absence. He was sure Meeka would be more than capable to act as a manager, though she lacked confidence in her abilities. Perhaps, if she was running things, then having a taste of leadership might have changed her attitude somewhat. Having a manager would suit Haku perfectly; he could delegate half his workload to her, just as he had once done with Yubaba.

None of these grand ideas would come to pass without him freeing himself, however. He closed his eyes and sighed, then selected the next thread he would begin to pull at.

Yubaba huddled over her squat little cauldron. It really was a cliché, she reflected, a witch with a cauldron, but it was the best tool for brewing potions. She added some tincture of fire Lotus and smiled at the pleasant smell. Behind her, Kenshin lay on a futon. She had found him collapsed in the main corridor, shadow spirits floating around him, trying to rouse him. She ordered them to take him to her rooms. The air spirit's face was pale and drawn. He had lost weight, also. Yubaba could not remember when she had last seen him eat.

She frowned into her green coloured brew. She still could not fathom why he was putting himself through all this. He had told her he thought the worlds were broken.

"The worlds were never meant to be this way," she remembered him telling her when he first explained his plan to her. "In this world, spirit kind is getting weaker. We have lost our influence over the human world. We have paid for our arrogance. Humankind has grown strong; they no longer fear the natural world. They have tamed it. In taming it, they have harmed and enfeebled us, something we never thought to be possible a mere few thousand years ago."

"Humans will fall as quickly as they have risen," Yubaba had scoffed. "They will either kill each other or degrade the land so much it will no longer feed them."

"And what will happen to us if they do degrade their world to the point of starvation?" He had sat back and given her a flat look with his grey eyes. "I doubt there will be many of us left to dance on the grave of humankind."

It was at that point that Yubaba realised Kenshin's cause could greatly benefit her. He wanted to save spirit kind. That meant he was saving her business. No point in having a Bathhouse if all the customers were dead.

Yubaba sighed. She had deep reservations about reuniting the worlds; many would die on both sides. Then again, both races would survive and possibly prosper in the future...

"Yubaba?" queried a voice. Yubaba turned to find her patient awake and a pair of very lucid, grey eyes regarding her questioningly. "Why am I in your rooms?"

"You collapsed," murmured the witch, returning to her brew.

"And you cared for me?" he asked with a surprised chuckle. "How unusually maternal of you."

"I am a mother," she spat at her cauldron.

"Yes, I forgot... your child, the one who has refused to age for two centuries. I heard he is now in the care of your twin," said Kenshin with a sigh. Yubaba knew he was just stating facts; the air spirit did not revel in others misfortune. It still angered her, however, that he could talk about her misfortunes with no hint of sympathy or empathy. It was not her fault Bou liked being a child. As his mother, she had tried to give him everything, but running the Bathhouse had taken most of her time. She had to be financially independent for his sake. His father had never even come to see him! She was responsible for none of her sad fate. Even her cursed crone-like appearance was not her fault. The blame for that lay entirely with Kenshin's bitch of a mother... Yes, vengeance against the old ones was a wonderful bonus to have.

Kenshin sighed again. Yubaba added some bitter sheep's sorrel to her mixture, just to pay the spirit back for his comment about her son. She doused the flame under her cauldron and spooned the brew into an earthenware bottle. She handed the bottle, a cork, and a spoon to the air spirit.

"Take two doses once it has cooled," she instructed. "Another two before bedtime."

"Anything poppy-based in this one?" he inquired mildly.

"Poppy can't ease your symptoms any more," Yubaba sighed. "Not without addicting you, anyway."

"So what is in this?" he asked, blowing on the top of the bottle to speed up the cooling.

"Mainly fire grass," Yubaba replied with a slightly smug smile. Kenshin's black eyebrows shot up.

"Where did you get this?" he whispered in awe. Yubaba's smile broadened, but she merely shrugged in reply to Kenshin; she could keep some secrets. Fire grass was exceptionally rare and well renowned for being deadly poisonous. However, if prepared in a potion by an expert, the fire grass's poison was nullified. When added to a few other ingredients, the then harmless fire grass took on extraordinary properties. The potion she had given to Kenshin could temporarily increase his magical energy. There was a price to pay, however; it would render the spirit that took it virtually powerless after its effects were allowed to wear off. It could take centuries for a spirit to recover from the side-effects of a fire grass potion. Kenshin no doubt knew this.

"How much of this do you have?" he asked softly.

"Enough to keep you supplied until after your spell is complete," replied the witch. Kenshin looked at the bottle and smiled.

"I'll need it all," he whispered. He then looked up at the witch. "Thank you, Yubaba," he said gently, sounding genuinely grateful. "This will aid me greatly."

Yubaba shrugged but felt a glow of happiness flutter briefly in her stomach at his praise. She squashed the emotion ruthlessly. This was business, not friendship. She had no doubt that if she got in Kenshin's way or ceased to be useful, he would dispose of her without a second thought. She had to be careful. Haku had tried to worm his way under her defences with heartfelt pleas, and Kenshin was doing the same by treating her as a comrade. She had a perfect memory, however; she remembered well that he had struck her. She knew he did not view her as an equal, no matter how he pretended otherwise now.

"Did you perform the viewing I asked?" enquired Kenshin, cutting through her thoughts.

"Yes," replied Yubaba. "She has left the Citadel."

"And the concubine?" he pressed.

"Has remained in the Citadel with the wounded human, as you planned," she replied.

"The human was a bonus. I am glad that I did not have to remove him later on." Kenshin paused and a cold smirk tugged at his lips. "I may not have been as gentle as Hikaru was," he whispered.

Yubaba shivered; it was disconcerting to see Kenshin smile in such a way. That smile showed he clearly had no joy in his life.

"I have to thank you again, Yubaba," he continued, a small chuckle creeping into his voice. "Our ruse succeeded."

Yubaba nodded. At first, she had been reluctant to visit Hikaru's Citadel; surely directing Rin there would cause enough problems for Chihiro? But Kenshin had insisted that he wanted the spirit woman parted from Chihiro. That was only possible if Rin could be either killed, injured, or find something more pressing than her sister's quest. Yubaba had, of course, known all of Rin's sad history. She still remembered the day the silent and pale woman had stood in her office, dressed in filthy rags. Rin had prostrated herself before her and begged for a job so she could forget about the murder of her child. It had taken gold as well as begging, but Yubaba had eventually let Rin sign a contract. The change in the woman had been dramatic; a few hours later, she was laughing and joking with the other domestic staff. Yubaba had actually been pleased with herself. She had ended the woman's suffering and saved her from an abusive partner.

Hikaru was soon at her door, but she had sent the snake Lord running back to his Citadel with the aid of a few well-placed fireballs. When she had told Kenshin this, he had quickly hatched a plan to exploit the situation. Yubaba had been sent to observe the Palace. She had discovered that the lion spirits were not willing servants. She had then requested an audience with Hikaru and told him that his lost concubine was being returned to him. The insane spirit had tried to embrace her! He had bowed and thanked her for finally releasing his future mate. Yubaba had wanted to be sick!

It was with relish, that she told the lion spirits that her overlord—not naming Kenshin—had discovered the location of Rin's daughter. It had actually been herself and her crystal ball that had located Tori, but that did not matter... The lion spirits had been much more polite in their thanks and merely bowed. They could now buy their freedom if Hikaru was disposed of... Yubaba knew that a wronged woman could endure much silently, but a wronged mother, with a few centuries of forgotten hate bubbling under the surface, would be enraged and easy to manipulate once she knew her daughter was alive and safe.

"All this prepared," whispered Kenshin, once again bringing Yubaba back to the present. "With the strongest fighter of the group gone, what is ahead can only fracture the group further."

Yubaba nodded. What lay ahead for the questers was indeed formidable. They would try and save time by taking the most direct route. That would lead them through a wasteland where ancient Earth spirits desired to do nothing but sleep. If they were disturbed, they would retaliate. Their attacks were psychological rather than physical, but just as effective as a knife to the throat.

"She may die," warned Yubaba.

"I'm not that lucky," said Kenshin sarcastically. "She is well protected. I doubt she will suffer more than a headache." The cold smirk returned to his face. "The others may make it also, but they will be in no fit state to travel for a few days. After that, I have specific plans for one little quester that will drive my mother's tool to me, and she will accept any terms I offer her."

Yubaba frowned. She could not figure out why a reputedly brutal spirit would apt for delaying and demoralising tactics, rather than more direct action. The rules said nothing about kidnap! They were just not allowed to strike at Chihiro directly. But Kenshin seemed to be relishing meeting his adversary. Water bull or not, Yubaba thought it was still dangerous to let Chihiro into the fortress.

"You question my methods?" asked Kenshin softly. Yubaba cursed herself; she must learn to keep her expressions neutral.

"You should get rid of her. She should not come here."

"You are correct," said Kenshin. Yubaba was stunned; she had not expected him to agree. "I have fought many campaigns. I know well that the only kind of enemy you can count on is a dead one."

"Then why?" asked the witch softly.

"I have no wish to kill her," he replied in the same tone. He gulped a mouthful of the still hot brew in his hand. Much to Yubaba's disappointment; he did not even wince at the taste.

"But..." Yubaba was interrupted once again.

"I now know what draws me to her," said Kenshin with a sigh. "It took me a while to remember, but now I am certain... My mother is even more underhanded than I suspected." He stood and walked to the door. "She no doubt knew when she met Chihiro that I would be very reluctant to raise a hand against her. Indeed, I have a duty towards her." Kenshin sighed again and opened the door. "My mother bonded Chihiro to this world in order to use her or any of her offspring against me if I ever awoke and got any strange ideas about usurping her." He turned to the witch one last time. "She chose her weapon well, but my mother does not know me. I will not be swayed by this. My goal is everything."

"So, we will continue to slow her down?" whispered Yubaba.

"Yes," he replied, "and drive those who support her away from her. When she finally reaches us, she and any remaining companions will be unable to resist my will." Kenshin made to leave, but Yubaba called after him.

"Haku will know she is near!" she protested. "She carries his child! He will redouble his efforts to escape!" Kenshin stood still but did not turn to face her.

"If you fear that Dragon's wrath that much, then you should not have agreed to attack him." He paused and Yubaba was sure the chilling smile was back on his face. "If he gets free before the spell is complete, he will be unmerciful. I have no doubt he will tear both you and me to shreds." Yubaba gulped.

"You... you won't protect me?" the witch stammered. "After all I have done for you?"

"I will be unable to," he replied simply. "As I just said, my goal is everything. If the Dragon breaks free, I will donate my life to the spell so that it is completed." Kenshin walked away, letting the desert sunlight stream in through the now empty doorway.

Yubaba swallowed. She was committed to her Bathhouse, but not that committed! She liked the money it generated, and the lifestyle it supported. She could not reclaim it if she was dead. She frowned to herself.

"Perhaps," she thought, "it is time to review the situation."