Five: Magic

By Miss Bra

All these mixed emotions we keep locked away like stolen pearls

Stolen pearl devotions we keep locked away from all the world.

Your kisses are like pearls, so different and so rare

But anger stole the jewels away and love has left you bare

Made you cry.....These tears of pearls.

It was like some strange out of body experience that I had. I never thought you could do that. But here I was, looking at the beautiful blonde doctor checking my stats, near a bed I was laying in.

"Poor girl," I heard him mumble softly. I sighed.

And then, Heidi was by my bedside, looking at me with big eyes. I had three scratches across my face, a bandage around my head and a slash across my stomach. Apparently, I was very lucky.

"Oh, Chi, why did you do it?" She whispered, the tears falling over her eyes. "Why are you so cold?"

Ask my mother. Her mother probably loved her, embraced her when she was young, kissed her goodnight. I couldn't remember when my mother kissed me goodnight. I could hardly remember the happy, smiling Yuuko that was my mother of my youth. She was just a shadow compared to what my mother was now.

I felt sorry for Heidi at that moment. I wish she didn't know me. It would have been better for her if it was like that. I didn't want to drag her down anymore. I didn't want her to try and befriend me the way she was. I didn't want her to waste her time with me.

"They say you'll wake up, Chi, soon," Heidi said, taking my bandaged hand. "They say you'll make a great recovery, I don't think they're even thinking about… your problem…" She sighed. "Doctor C says at least two weeks after you wake up. That's pretty good, hey, considering."

I thought of the blonde doctor, lying and pressing my case so much that I wouldn't have to go to Kobe hospital, or even Tokyo. That would have been the worst for me, and my condition and the doctor knew that. How kind that man was, though I had never seen him in my life. I guess that was why he was called a doctor.

"How is she?" It was an irresistibly smooth and silky voice. I matched it with the doctor's face and it fitted, however, I looked down and there was someone standing over Heidi who was most definitely not the doctor.

He was really here, and I wasn't dreaming. It was Haku standing over her shoulder, his eyes set on me.

I wanted to hit him, but I couldn't move- suspended in the air like a ghost. I wanted to scream at him, but they couldn't hear me. My screams fell on deaf ears.

He just stood there, like a god, his figure fine and lithe. He was obviously not a boy anymore and looked around nineteen. His hair was a little longer now, still dead straight and still a dark forest green.

"Stable," Heidi replied levelly. "How do you know Chihiro?"

I expected him to say 'childhood friends' but nothing of the sort came out of his lips.

"Family friends," He said softly. "I was involved with her mother and father for a while."

"How can you let her stay with her? It's disgusting how she treats Chihiro. I wouldn't be surprised if this is a suicide attempt," Heidi choked. "Oh, god, I couldn't bare to think that!"

I almost burst out laughing at the sudden shock over Haku's face. Yes, Haku! My life isn't as picture-perfect as you thought it was! I was so happy, he looked genuinely shocked and I eagerly awaited the next words that came out his mouth.

"Who is 'she'?" Haku asked slowly, carefully.

"Her mother," Heidi said.

"I haven't seen Chihiro for years… It was sort of a surprise thing. I wanted to see if she was alright," Haku choked out. "I had no idea her life was… like… this."

"Her mother hasn't spoken about her since her father divorced her, and Chihiro is always taking the shit for it," Heidi said. "She doesn't talk. At all."

"At all?" Haku asked.

"Well," Heidi seemed hesitant. "Sometimes… she'll talk… If she likes you."

"I do doubt she will talk to me, then," Haku said. "I thought we parted on stable terms… But, I guess…"

"Things change," Heidi said. Then, suddenly, she got up, whirling around to Haku, one menacing finger pointed at him. "If you dare hurt her, I will kill you. Do you understand?"

He brushed it away, his expression calm. "I wouldn't dare hurt her anymore. Obviously, she's in a lot of pain."

"Goodbye then," Heidi said, picking up her back pack.

No! I didn't want her to leave me here with Haku! I wanted her to stay! I wanted the doctor! I wanted Haku to leave; I didn't want him to stay with me alone. I had no idea of what he could do to me. I was scared as he sat down, sighing heavily.

One hand moved across to touch my arm.

"No!" I screamed. He didn't take any notice. The room was empty.

"I know you're here, Chihiro," He said suddenly sternly. "Your spirit is not in your body anymore. Please, let us speak, I wish to talk to you. I know you heard what was just said. I at least want to sort things out. Please."

I didn't reply incase he could hear me now. I didn't move. I didn't want to know if I could or not, now.

"Come on, Chihiro," He coaxed. "Get back into your body or I will make you."

"Do not touch me," I seethed. If he had heard me, he didn't respond. His hands lingered on the arm closest to him.

"Alright," He breathed. "I hoped it wouldn't have to come to this, Chihiro."

I didn't hear him mumble the spell, but I knew exactly what was going on as I was pushed back into my body. I could see all the scratches on my face healing rapidly. I wanted to scream at him, to hit him, but my hands just slipped through his head as if I was nothing more than a shadow.

And then, I was back inside my body and everything was black. I knew I was awake but I did not open my eyes. I refused to open my eyes. I knew I would see him. I prayed that the doctor would come to check on me and order him out. I only had to stay 'asleep' until after visiting hours, then I could make my escape.

I was going to leave this god-forsaken town. Haku would never know where I go. I didn't care if I walked, or if I took the bus or stole a stupid car, I was leaving.

"Alright, Chihiro," His voice was closer than I expected and I tried not to jump. "I know your awake, open your eyes and we can talk."

I didn't move, I controlled my breathing and heart rate and tried to stay 'asleep'.

"Alright then," He sighed. "I guess I'll have to use more magic then. I really hoped you weren't as stubborn as this, Chihiro. It is really quite frustrating."

I braced myself, but I couldn't feel a thing. I didn't think he had done anything until his hand suddenly slipped across my cheek and the heart monitor by my side went crazy. My heart had blown it for me.

Suddenly, I felt something… fuzzy… slip across my mind. I instantly sat up, gasping, my eyes wide. Haku chuckled beside me.

"It could have been a lot easier if you had just woken up like you were told to," He chuckled. "Now we can talk… or," He rephrased. "I can speak, whichever suits you."

"You dying would suit me," I spat. "Leave!"

He seemed a little taken back, but not shaken. That annoyed me greatly. I wanted to break his heart. I wanted to break him like he had broken me.

"Fine," He said, leaning back on the plastic chair next to my bed. "I guess I will be speaking, instead of us talking. I will, however, get my point across never-the-less, of what you say or do. You will know my side and you will understand it." Then he smirked. "Your friend told me you only talk to people you like. Considering that and how crazy that machine went when I touched you, I would say that there is an attraction you do feel for me. I am glad the feeling is mutual."

So he loved me? I turned away from him. I turned away from that word. I didn't care if he loved me, whatever 'love' was. I had forgotten.

He continued to speak, none the less.

"I'm sorry I found you in such a… condition," He spoke, "And I cannot help to think that… I brought on the crash… and I'm sorry Rin found you. It was much too early. She was supposed to find out how you felt about me… If you… Remembered me or not."

I wished I didn't remember him.

"If you didn't remember me," He sighed. "I would accept that. I wasn't going to force myself onto you- to make you remember what you obviously didn't want to. But…" Then he sighed. I didn't care if I was making it hard for him. I was enjoying the fact he was struggling. "If you did remember me… I wanted… you… to still… love… like me. I can see now that that isn't a possibility. I would give you a choice of the two, if you wanted me to stay, or to leave, but I can't because I know what the answer will be. It would be the first- you wouldn't want me to stay. But, I can't do that; I can't just… leave you when you know me."

I snorted.

"It's selfish I know, but I can't help it. I will still be here, whether you want me or not," He spoke. "In the big house behind the sewing shop, I'll be there. If you ever need me at all, Chihiro." Then, he sighed. "Maybe the feelings I have for you will die as you get older- as you start your life and move away. Or," He said suddenly. "I might just take your option and die. That would be pleasant, much better than living with a broken heart."

I almost grinned. I had given him a broken heart. I had accomplished it! And then I frowned. Why didn't it feel as satisfying?

He caught my frown and interpreted it wrongly. "Oh," he said suddenly, "that displeases you?"

I turned to him sharply. "Leave!" I hissed, catching the light head of the blonde doctor.

Haku complied and got up out of the chair. "Remember, Chihiro," He said softly. "And… please… Try to consider my side and not be… so cold."

Haku left and the attractive, blonde doctor stood beside my bedside, a warm smile across his face.

"Ah, Chihiro, I'm glad to see you are awake!" He hummed. "It's good you got to see your visitors. They must care about you a lot. Are you in any pain?" I shook my head and he pressed the morphine down on my monitor. He smiled warmly. "Alright then, try and get some rest, Chihiro. The nurses should be around soon. I'll get them to order you some food. I cannot imagine how disgusting it would be to eat through a tube."

And then he left, walking off swiftly to other patients in the block. Haku was no where in sight and I suddenly felt fine. I sighed heavily and sunk back into the pillow.

No one visited that night, or for a while in the morning. No, not until late at night was when Heidi visited. Apparently, she had heard from Mae that I was awake.

"How do you feel? Oh, sorry, that's a question," She mumbled and then sighed heavily. "Your family… friend… came by," She said and I winced.

"Haku?" I asked softly.

"I think so, while you were asleep. I didn't catch his name, he seemed nice though." Heidi sighed and pulled out her homework. French class, I noticed. She did it while mumbling to me. "Have you ever considered moving out, Chihiro? Perhaps in with me; or with that man?"

I snorted. Heidi winced.

"You don't like him?" She asked meekly.

"No," I replied coldly.

"Oh."

Heidi stayed with me until half-past- six until the handsome doctor came around again, checking my stats and drip, mumbling to himself softly. I wondered if he had a wife, maybe as beautiful as him, and if they loved each other very much. I asked so.

"Do you have a wife?" I whispered. He shot his blonde head up and smiled warmly.

"Yes, I do," He said softly.

"What is she like?" I asked again.

"Beautiful beyond compare…" He murmured softly, a lovely smile against his face. "At least I think so, anyway."

"What's her name?" I whispered.

"Emalie," He said softly. I recognized her. Emalie May worked down in the local flower shop. She was insanely beautiful with beautiful golden locks over her petite shoulders. Naturally someone as beautiful as the doctor should marry someone such as Emalie.

"She is beautiful," I whispered back to him. "I have seen her."

He smiled softly. "And I love her very much," He replied. "You, Chihiro, are just as beautiful," He whispered.

"I wish I had someone that loved me as much," I replied softly. His brows puckered over his eyes.

"There is definitely someone out there for you, Chihiro," He said softly, "Someone who loves you for who you exactly are as a person. And he will love you as much as I love my Emalie"

The thought scared me greatly, though in the moment I was too caught up in with my 'conversation' with the doctor. The thought of someone loving me was scary. I didn't want to let anyone into me- to know me. I didn't want to be hurt again. I knew Haku loved me. He had admitted it so.

And that absolutely petrified me.

Disclaimer- I don't own Spirited Away or the song 'Tears of Pearls' by Savage Garden. All rights go to respective owners and in no way am I making money from this.

An update on a Thursday, I think that's pretty good. Next update will hopefully be maybe… Tuesday.

Zensilia: Lol. It was such a temptation, I have to say! Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Thanks for the review.

Vycre: Thanks, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Thanks for your review. :D.

Mizaka: You can be happy again now. Thanks, here's another update for you.

Please Review.