The next day, Rin and Linca woke Chihiro up at the first stirrings of dawn for her "cleansing bath." This seemed to be an excuse to strip off her clothes and dunk her in a cold stream, much to the amusement of the local water spirit who, luckily, was female.

"It's winter and there is snow on the ground. You are going to kill me!" squeaked Chihiro as her sisters poured buckets of stream water over her head. She stood in the icy, swift-moving water and shivered uncontrollably. The water gurgled happily.

"And you can shut up too!" Chihiro snapped at it, forcing the words out between her chattering teeth.

"Stop moaning," said Rin. "The water must be pure and this is the purest we could find." The water gurgled, pleased by the compliment.

"Besides," said Linca. "Cold is good for the soul and we want yours to be in top condition when you give it away."

"The purity of my soul will be of little benefit if my body has raging pneumonia," muttered Chihiro. "Haku will really thank you warmly for ruining the night of our mating."

"Nonsense," said Linca tipping another bucket full of water over the disgruntled human's head. "Dragon boy won't let a little thing like snot and phlegm get in his way."

"Linca that's disgusting!" exclaimed Rin, while filling her bucket.

"It's the truth; after two days of not seeing her, and then, when she shows up playing the blushing bride for a few hours... well, he will be gagging for her!"

"Right!" thought Chihiro. "I'm not putting up with any more of this!" She concentrated on the amused water flowing around her feet. It was having a great time; this was the best fun it had had in a decade.

"River!" Chihiro snapped.

"Yes?" replied a high and breezy little girl's voice.

"Do you know who I am?"

"Yes," it replied happily.

"And do you know who my mate will be?"

"Yeesss," said the river, a little more carefully.

"Then with that in mind, would you do me a small favour?" Chihiro knew she was shamelessly pulling rank, but she rarely used the perks that came with her status as a dragon's lover and soon to be life mate.

"I am at your service," said the water, sounding servile and a little awed to be asked to do something by the famous human, Chihiro.

"It's not too difficult; I just want you to dunk my sisters in you and hold on to them for a short while."

No sooner had she thought her request at the water than there was a splash either side of her. Rin and Linca both squeaked and found themselves sitting up to their waists in freezing stream water. Chihiro waded out of the stream and informed it that she would tell Haku how helpful it had been. She hunted around for her clothes but could not find them on the bank where her sisters had dumped them.

"We hid your clothes in case you tried something like this," piped up a shivering Linca. Not even spirits were immune to the cold it would seem. "Now stop abusing your position and tell this poor, misguided spirit to let us go." Chihiro folded her arms and regarded the two spirits severely. Linca's bluish skin was almost white from cold, whereas Rin was pale but more from anger, Chihiro thought, than the cold. The woman looked about ready to spit nails.

"Clothes first!" Chihiro demanded. "Then I'll let you go."

"Not a chance!" snapped Rin. Chihiro shrugged.

"If that's the case then you can sit there until the river decides to let you go. I've had enough cleansing, for now, thank you." She wrung out her hair and started to pick her way over the frost hardened ground towards the cottage; not easy when her uncontrollable shivering kept making her slip on icy puddles.

"Your parents are in there!" shouted Rin. "Have you no shame?"

"Not really," Chihiro called over her shoulder and disappeared inside the cottage.

Rin and Linca looked at each other. The river was now giggling so hard it was threatening to burst its banks.

"I think all the power has gone to her head," said Rin. "It's partly our fault too; I think we may have overdone the family honour thing." She looked back at the cottage. "We've created a monster." Linca chuckled and then sneezed.

Chihiro opened the cottage door and sighed as the warm air caressed her chilled body. She stepped inside to see her father sitting at the table nursing a cup of tea. At the sight of his very naked daughter wandering into the kitchen, Akio dropped his cup and grabbed a towel that was on a rack by the range.

"You must be freezing!" he gasped and wrapped the towel around her. Modesty covered he retrieved one for her hair and another for her shoulders. Then he kicked off his house slippers for her to put her blue looking feet into. "What possessed you to go wandering around ..." he stopped himself and sighed. "Maybe it's best if I don't know." Chihiro looked at her hopelessly confused father and felt her resentment towards him start to wane. Despite all his disbelief, he was here and he had given her his blessing to her choice of mate. Maybe he would never understand her decision but at least he had accepted it. She lent over and kissed his cheek.

"Thank you, Dad," she whispered and then shuffled behind the curtained partition where the sleeping mats lay. Akio stared after her; was he forgiven? He felt like he did not know his daughter, but he could hardly look at her without seeing a little girl with pigtails and large, curious and questioning brown eyes. Her hands had been so tiny and she had called him "Super Daddy" because she thought he was so big and strong. But all this... it was difficult to place this world and her life in it, with the girl who had wanted to be a vet.

"Would you like another cup of tea?" Zeniba's voice woke him from his musings. He turned to the shrewd witch who was ginning at him knowingly. Just then, two very damp, scantily clad spirits slammed open the cottage door, slid over the kitchen floor and skidded into the sleeping area. There were a few moments filled with girlish shrieks and laughter from behind the curtain and then the back door slammed announcing that the trio had left. Zeniba held up the teapot.

"Yes, please," murmured Akio.

"I'll make it a large one," chuckled the witch.

Over dinner, Zeniba brought up the reason why they were all gathered.

"It falls upon us to point out the drawbacks of your choice. Not a pleasant task but we may have noticed things about him that you may not." Chihiro nodded solemnly and rested her hands on the table before her. She was not surprised that her father spoke first.

"I suppose the first thing is that he is not human." Chihiro found herself chuckling.

"Believe me, Dad, this is ground I have been over many times with myself, my sisters and Haku. I think I have that one sorted out in my head." Akio shrugged but then her mother spoke.

"But what of any children you may have? Won't they be half casts?" Chihiro winced at the indelicate term, but her mother had a valid point.

"They will be different," said Zeniba thoughtfully. "Torn between the world of logic and technology that their mother is from, and the world of magic and chaos that their father is part of. The blending of human and spirit blood can give unpredictable results. Your son or daughter may need specialist training in the magical arts, or may have no magical gift at all. No one knows or can predict such things." The witch smiled at Chihiro warmly.

"But to all intents and purposes, it will be like a normal child. If sweets start disappearing from the pantry when it is about three then you know what you are dealing with." The spirits around the table all chuckled at this; evidently, all had done such things in their youth.

"The child will age slower than a human does and will live far longer than any human would." Chihiro let this information sink in. Haku really would have comfort in any children they had. They would be with him far longer than she would. Her grandchildren, if she had any, would probably have more spirit blood again. If Haku was not careful he could be head of a very large family of spirits and part humans within three generations. Chihiro liked that idea.

"He's arrogant," piped up Rin. "It's not as bad since you came along but he still is very arrogant." Chihiro pursed her lips.

"What you say is true and it's an infuriating trait. It leads him into teasing me a great deal. I suppose he has a right to feel superior, being a water God, and a powerful one at that. But the point is he has never made me feel inferior to him. Well, not on purpose. His arrogance is something I can cope with." She saw her father's face darken, but he said nothing. The other faces at the table were more understanding, apart from Bou's, who was more interested in playing with his biscuit crumbs on the table.

"He has a hot temper," grumbled Linca.

"Oh, I know that and I don't let him get away with it. And I have a temper too, as you well know."

"He has two forms and a large part of him is rather wet," said Zeniba.

"I actually find his dragon form quite attractive and he is a very convenient form of transport. As for his river, well we are on good terms. I find it difficult to understand that elemental part of him. He tried to show me exactly what he was once. I nearly fainted with the enormity of it all. I tend to think of the river as his inner child. It's playful but does not understand much about the world and it needs attention and protection." There was silence at the table for a moment, and then finally Yuuko spoke.

"Correct me if I am wrong, Chihiro, but isn't he a little bit possessive?" Chihiro laughed and her sisters and Zeniba grinned.

"He's very possessive, Mum, but I think it just stems from his insecurity regarding my mortality; it will ebb with time, I am sure."

There was silence again.

"Come on!" exclaimed Chihiro. "You are supposed to be challenging me but I'm actually enjoying this."

"He's dangerous!" her father growled with venom.

"Of course he is," she countered. "And he has a slightly amoral streak that all my spirit friends and family seem to share." Rin looked offended. Linca shrugged accepting Chihiro's words. No-face seemed a little uncomfortable and Zeniba smiled at him. Bou drew pictures in a pile of biscuit crumbs with a wet finger.

"But I have been closely acquainted with that side of him," Chihiro continued. "It does not intimidate me. It never has."

"In fact she likes it!" exclaimed Linca. Chihiro blushed and Rin gave her impudent spirit sister a warning look. Again silence reigned. Chihiro stood.

"Well is that's the best you can all do I think I better start on the dishes..."

"He is secretive," said Zeniba quietly. Chihiro sat back down.

"I did not know him before he started working for my twin, but I knew of him, even before he knew of me. The strong ones do not pass through this world unnoticed. I know there are things in his past that he is not telling you and he may never tell you. You might get a shock at his confession, Chihiro," the witch sighed. "My point is can you live with the knowledge that he will probably never share everything with you?"

Chihiro swallowed. She knew getting personal information out of him was like getting blood out of a stone. It had never occurred to her that he might be wilfully hiding things from her. It hurt; it hurt that he did not trust her. She was not sure how to answer Zeniba, how could she defend him for not trusting her? Then again, she had not shared with him all the painful details of her childhood, mainly because she did not want to relive it and was not sure he would understand about school and college and therapists. She was about to tell Zeniba that he was not the only one who hid things, or rather forgot to share them, but Bou interrupted her.

"Do you love him, Sen?" he asked, his dark eyes fixed on her face with childish intensity.

"Yes," she replied.

"All of him? Not just the nice bits? Even his sharp teeth?"

"Yes," said Chihiro, her mouth turning up at the corners. "Even the bad things about him, including his teeth."

"Then you should be his mate," he said with utter conviction.

"It's not that simple, Bou," said Linca gently. "Relationships are more complicated than that, there are other considerations."

"Why?" asked the child and his button nose wrinkled up in a frown.

"Well... err..." Linca seemed at a loss, no one else was forthcoming with an answer. Bou looked at Chihiro.

If you love him, you should be his and he should be yours. That's the way things are meant to be," he declared and then he stood and shuffled away from the table to play with the infinitely patient No-Face. Linca laughed and shrugged.

"Well if Bou says it's true, then it must be so." Chihiro watched No-Face lead the large child outside and wondered if Yubaba was missing him.

Yubaba hung over her crystal ball, watching the happy looking gathering at her sister's house. It was taking a huge amount of power to spy on her sister without arousing her suspicion. Also, Haku had placed a number of spells on her sister's cottage as an extra layer of protection for his intended life mate. He had grown more cautious since she had been blamed for the kappa incident. As if she would try something that inane! Haku had doubled the number of combat-trained staff on duty at any one time and Chihiro was always well protected. In fact, Yubaba would not have been able to spy on her at all without Kenshin's help. The air spirit stood beside her, his head bent forward so his dark, matt black hair covered his face and intense eyes. He was lifelessly still but she could feel his magic flowing out of him. It was like a strong wind that that did not stir so much as a speck of dust. He was calming both Zeniba and Haku's defensive spells, drawing on nearly 100,000 years of experience as a magic-user to counteract the complex incantations.

"Does it seem like she will go through with it?" His smooth deep voice slipped into her mind, as beautiful and deadly as a pit viper. The crystal ball, however, only showed images; Yubaba would have loved to listen in to the conversation but that would take much more power. Quite frankly it was beyond her if she wished to spy regularly. But she could guess from the smiles and animated conversation everyone was having that Chihiro would be at the temple tomorrow.

"It looks like it," she mumbled.

"Are you certain?" The question was asked softly, but carried a hint of threat. Yubaba bristled.

"Yes. I can't be a hundred per cent sure but it does not look like a family in crisis."

"Let me see."

Before Yubaba could question the wisdom of him stretching himself in that way, she found herself mentally shoved aside and Kenshin moved his consciousness into her mind. She felt the spirit using her eyes to look at the glass. Yubaba forced down her panic at no longer being in control of her body and let the air spirit do what he wished. She reminded herself that the plan he had was sound and if all worked well she would have a bathhouse at the end of it.

They were sadly restricted by the defences as to what they could see; only half the occupants of the table could be clearly seen and Chihiro had her back to the view. Yubaba could feel Kenshin's frustration. He was almost trying to get the human to turn around by sheer force of will, wanting to put a face to his possible nemesis. He must have lost concentration for a moment, or one of those cursed magical gifts the girl carried might have sniffed something it did not like. Whatever the reason, the girl turned sharply and stared right into the crystal. She had changed since Yubaba had last seen her. She wore her hair down and the deep glossy tresses framed her round but delicate face. Yubaba thought she had matured, perhaps more woman than girl now, and quite pretty. Chihiro's limpid brown eyes, framed by long dark lashes, gazed intently at whatever she was seeing. It was as if she was looking right at Yubaba.

The effect she had on Kenshin was electric. So many emotions screamed through his consciousness that Yubaba could not distinguish one from the other. The image in the crystal faded and Kenshin practically ripped himself from the witch making her stagger.

"So that is what all the fuss is about." He said to himself quietly. I can perhaps understand somewhat... how interesting." He looked at Yubaba who was pale and sweaty from her exertions. He seemed to shake himself from his musings.

"The plan does not change. Did you create the pestilence?"

Yubaba was still trembling slightly, but she managed to pick up a small bottle from the table. In it was a small mosquito-like insect, which buzzed ominously behind the glass.

"Excellent," he said curtly. He stood still for a moment as if unsure what to do next. He ran his hand through his hair, pushing it back from his pale face and ethereal grey eyes.

"Send it tomorrow," he said at length. "During all the celebrating no one will be watching for something so small." He sighed and then frowned at the witch. "You did not make it deadly did you?"

"No, I did as you instructed, life-threatening but not deadly. It will be symptomatic within a few months and it's not contagious." Kenshin nodded and his attention seemed to wander back to the now transparent crystal ball.

"Thank you, Yubaba," he said absently. "Forgive me for using you like that, but I had to see..."

"I understand," said the witch magnanimously.

"No, you don't," he said and smiled at her coldly. "But thank you all the same."

"Chihiro?" Zeniba's voice broke into her thoughts. She turned back to the witch seated at the head of the table.

"Sorry, granny, I thought I saw something."

"It was probably just a draught blowing the drapes dear; this is an old cottage and the wind gets in all over the place. Now, would you be so kind as to help an old woman with the dishes?" Chihiro gave the window another penetrating look but the disconcerting feeling of being watched had vanished.

Zeniba knew very well that her sister had been watching. She let her watch so she could see that they were all happy and that her child was healthy and well cared for.

Then she had felt another presence spy into her home and steal a look at the sacred proceedings of the cleansing. It was male, and strong. Very strong; stronger than herself, and perhaps a match for Haku. It was old too; chillingly old. Now Zeniba was no spring chicken, 30,000 years was respectable by any standards, but this spirit could be twice that, if not more. She had let it look, hoping to gain information that may help Chihiro in the future, but Chihiro had turned and the spy had fled. Zeniba was worried, but she would perhaps tell Haku after the ceremony. After all, the dragon had much on his mind at present.

That evening, Chihiro was wondering over the frozen fields of swamp bottom. Granny liked to grow her own rice and vegetables and the flat plain regularly flooded making it ideal for her proposes. Now, however, there were just a few bare cherry and peach trees and the cultivated ground held nothing, having been turned over in preparation for the spring sowing.

It was cold, very cold, and the stars burned brightly against the black tapestry of the winter sky. Chihiro looked up and found the constellation of the dragon. She smiled; the constellation looked completely different to its cousin in the human world. The string of stars resembled a worm more than a dragon. Haku had been greatly offended when she had told him that. Frosted ground cracking underfoot alerted her to her father's presence. He came to stand beside her, his breath fogging in the chill air.

"What are you doing out here?" he asked. Chihiro said nothing. "Well, I suppose I should not complain, at least you have your clothes on now." A small smile tugged at Chihiro's lips.

"It was just a joke they played on me. I refused to give in so had to return with no clothes."

"That sounds so unlike you," Akio muttered. "You would never have done anything like that at home."

"This is my home," she corrected gently, still looking at the sky. Akio looked up also.

"I don't recognise these stars," he grunted.

"It's the same sky," Chihiro muttered. "We just see a different part of the universe." Akio shook his head.

"I'm no quantum physicist; I find all this very hard to..." He trailed off and shrugged his shoulders.

"Go back in the house, Dad," said Chihiro, wishing to be alone with her thoughts on her last night as a single human.

"I have something to say first."

Chihiro braced herself and looked back at her father. She realised she was looking down slightly. She was taller than he was. She had never noticed the difference in height before and suddenly her father seemed much smaller, almost pitiable. He was shuffling his feet and trying to order his thoughts. Chihiro felt an almost superior sort of affection for him. She had come to that realisation that every child must, sooner or later. Her parents were human and were therefore subject to all the hypocrisies and weaknesses that humanity entailed. She felt herself start to forgive him.

"I know I've done wrong by you. I should have been more open-minded, but how could I know? You were a different sort of child anyway and when you came out with all that nonsense... I thought I was helping you." He looked up at her. "This dragon; I know I've given my blessing but I must ask you to think again about this. He is sly and clever; I see that. He may have saved your life once but you have no obligation to him. The debt is mine and your mother's. I know he is rich but will he make you happy too?" Chihiro thought for a moment, touched by his paternal concern.

"Do you have any other objections apart from these?" she asked gently.

"No, as I said you have my blessing. But marriage is hard, Chihiro. Well, this is a sort of marriage from what I understand. Your mother and I have had our problems but we have worked through them. How many more problems will you have marrying a dragon? A creature that is not even a member of your species. I don't want to have to see you unhappy in your marriage... or whatever it is you call it. Your life has been difficult enough without you adding burdens to yourself."

"I love him, Daddy," she whispered in an almost childlike voice. "He is generous and gentle. He makes me laugh and treats me like a princess. He is almost totally selfless when I'm with him and I can't bear to be without him. Even these two days have been hard for me. I love him desperately, so much so I have happily left my own world behind to be a part of his, even though his place is hostile to humans by its very nature. He's my soul's mate; I'm his and he is mine."

Akio Ogino heard his little girl speak of her love and felt his heartbreak. She would always be his little girl, but now she was a woman and was giving herself to another. This was bittersweet at best. At least she was happy, and that was really all that mattered. He kissed her brow and whispered.

"If that is the case then he deserves you. I could not bear to let you go for anything less than if you had found love. Be happy Chihiro and try to forget what we did." Chihiro's lips trembled but her voice was steady.

"I will try," she whispered.

That night, Chihiro was surprised by how tired she was. She knew she would have no trouble sleeping despite the ceremony being only hours away. She listened to the sounds of her family settling down to sleep around her. Soon enough, everyone was breathing deeply with the occasional light snoring. Chihiro fought against her tiredness; she had something she needed to do first.

She gripped her Tac'Tal and felt for the one who had made it. It took her a little time, there was a considerable distance between them, and her mind was fumbling slightly with the task. Finally, she found him. He was wide-awake and seemed to have no intention of resting. She pushed a little deeper and discovered he was nervous. Very nervous. He also knew she was checking up on him and was surprised she had managed to do so over such a distance.

"You really are becoming adept at using that thing," he grumbled at her.

"You gave it to me," she thought at him sourly.

"Yes, but I did not expect you to master its powers and spy on me."

"I'm just making sure you are alright!" she protested.

"And breaking the rules," he pointed out. "Don't let Rin know you've spoken to me the night before the ceremony; she will think our union cursed."

"It already is cursed; I'm human, you're immortal, we need no ill omens to tell us that," chuckled Chihiro. Haku was not amused.

"You can still back out now if you like, we don't have to do this."

Chihiro smiled to herself.

"Stop fretting Dragon, I'll see you tomorrow."

"I can't help it," he sighed heavily in her mind. "There is so much to do before I even think of the ceremony. I want everything to be perfect for us."

"And you're nervous about the ceremony," said Chihiro.

"So what if I am?" he mumbled.

"Whatever you tell me tomorrow, Haku, I'll still love you," she told him, trying to sound as reassuring as possible.

"Perhaps," he said darkly. Then he sighed again. "Please, go to sleep, I'll be fine. I think I'll go for a bit of a night flight, it will clear my head."

"Alright. Goodnight," said Chihiro and she let herself slip from him. She was magically drawn back to him, however.

"I forgot to tell you," he breathed, his voice sounding excited in her mind now. "You may want to look outside little one. Call it a gift." Then he released her. Chihiro blinked and pinched herself to make sure she was finally back in the world of the physical. She rose quietly and tiptoed through the sleeping bodies to the heavily draped window.

She slipped behind the drapes and curled up on the windowsill. She waited for her eyes to adjust to the moonlight. Then she realised there was no moonlight. In fact, the panes of glass seemed to be blocked over with something. She carefully opened the window and stared. Big, fat flakes of snow were drifting silently down from the sky, which only two hours before had been cloudless. It was almost a complete white-out; she could barely distinguish between ground and sky. The only feature that enabled her to tell one from the other was the fence that ran around Zeniba's cottage. It still had half its height poking from the pristine drifts.

Her white dragon had turned the world white for the day she would become his mate.

"Thank you," she whispered simply to the white sky.

A/N- I'm a sucker for a bit of fluff XD Don't forget to vote lovely readers!