Chapter 17: Frantic Searching

Haku sat transfixed upon the door as he heard Chihiro's steps vanishing into the distance. Part of him wanted to jump up and run after her, to hold her close in his arms and run his fingers through that soft hair of hers. But the other part of him wanted her to disappear forever so that she could realize what it was like to be in so much pain and hurting as much as he was now. Finally the sound of her footsteps had vanished and immediately he wished that the softer part of his conscious had won. They rushed over him cleansing his soul obliterating his evil thoughts. How awful must she be feeling right now? She was alone in a world she did not know with these feelings that she could not comprehend.

Quickly he rushed onto his feet and span around frantically searching the horizon for the any wisp of her brown hair. But she had gone.

"Chihiro?" he called, "CHIHIRO??" straining his ears he listened for a reply, anything which might signal where she was. But all he could hear was the breeze rushing through the long grass which surrounded him. He ran forwards in the direction she had left wondering where she had gone to and what could be going through her mind. He could never forgive himself is she was now feeling any of the emotions he had previously felt, especially if that feeling was hatred towards him. Because even though she had signed her own memories away, even if she had left the spirit world not wanting to know who he was…he still felt a burning desire to be with her. He wanted to make her happy and see her smile and hold her in his arms until everything was perfect again. He loved her.

Swiftly he turned into his dragon form and took to the skies. His eyes restlessly scanning the layout below him taking in everything and trying desperately to see even the smallest sign of where she had gone. But he could see nothing except the vicious landscape below. For nothing could be beautiful unless she was in it.

And then logic swept into his mind, she must have gone back to bath house. It was the only place she knew, it was the only place she could turn to. Making a violent turn to face the wind he flew towards the red dot on the horizon which was the bathhouse. His feet thudded onto the wooden bridge as he landed without much grace turning quickly back into the dark haired boy, he was in too much of a rush for pleasantries. He made up his mind that as soon as he saw her he would swoop her up into his arms and apologize for his behavior and swear to help her find the answers to her missing memories. He scuttled across the bridge's smooth surface as his hair swept across face and gently billowed behind him, his green eyes determined on the goal.

There were not many workers around as it was early morning and most of them had gone off to bed to rest their wearied bodies before another night of work. Haku ran in the direction of Chihiro's room and wrenched the door open in one swift movement. His eyes scanned the floor and sleeping bodies until they lay upon the empty space which Chihiro would have occupied.

"Lin?" he shouted, "Where is Chihiro??"

Lin, who had had an extremely tiresome night having to do the work of two all by herself since Yubaba sacked Chi, groggily sat up in her bed and wiped the sleep out of her eyes before allowing them to rest upon the rude newcomer who had entered the room and woken her so abruptly.

It took her a few moment to take in the sight of Haku who stood before her but when she had finally acknowledged it was he her face changed into one of complete shock and utmost interest. Everyone had been wondering where the boy had got to and since nearly every worker in the bath house had seen who his future wife was to be and what honor his great spirit had presented him with they had all desired to speak with him.

"Where is she?" he asked, more urgently than before and growing impatient of the sleepy woman before him.

"Wha..? Oh Chihiro?" she mumbled, suddenly realizing what he was asking, "Yubaba sacked her this morning after she gave her a piece of her mind. It was really funny actually, everyone was dead impressed…"

"And you didn't even go after her? You think she has some other place to go to??" Haku fired back at her cutting her sentence short.

Lin was slightly taken back by this remembering Haku's fiery temper. "I tried to but…" she mumbled.

"But what? She's out there now all alone! I thought you and her were supposed to be friends?" he raged.

"Yubaba said that anyone who went after her could forget ever coming back," she trailed off quietly. The other girls in the room, who had been woken by the shouting, nodded their heads in agreement but looked remorseful. They had all wanted to go after her, all the girls in the room had developed a relationship with the young girl and felt sorry for the position she was in. But the prospects of loosing their job had been too much of a threat.

Haku was furious, not only with the girls in the room or with Yubaba but also with himself. So that was the reason why she had come to the door; because there had been nowhere else for her to go. And he, in his anger, had sent her fleeing away from the last place she had left to turn to. Now she was out wandering the spirit world all because of him.

He slammed the door closed, leaving the girls staring in wonder at where he had been, and turned his back on it. For a moment he did not know what to do, where to go to find her. He gazed out over the balcony and caught a glimpse of the sunrise, it's deep orange and red colours scorched the horizon in a beautiful display of golden spectacular.

"Where are you?" he whispered into the breeze.

"So there you are you unreliable spirit," spat someone from behind him.

Haku turned around to face the voice that he knew too well. The harsh outline of a rather tired looking Yubaba had turned the corner and spotted the boy at long last.

"All night I have been making up stories of where you have been, trying to calm the anger of the Great Water Spirit. You had better have an answer for him. Come!" she ordered, and snapping her fingers she attempted to make him follow using magic. Haku, however, was ready for it and put up an invisible barrier between him and his boss. "Oh don't think you will get away with it that easily!" she shrieked, and stepping forwards she grabbed hold of his arm and dragged him towards her office on the top floor. Haku, weak from having no sleep and exhausted from emotion, had no choice but to follow.

Once they had reached the top floor Yubaba paused for a moment and straightened herself out, smoothing down her ridiculously floral dress and tucking a few stray hairs back into her vulgar bun. She always had to look her best, but even more so for guests as wealthy as this one.

"Doubtless I don't have to tell you how to behave to your master spirit, but if you make this bath house look bad in any way then I will see to it that you and your precious Chihiro never see the light of day again," she snarled, and without another word she threw open the magnificent doors to her office and pushed the boy in.

It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the spectacular light which filled the room from the gloomy, dully lit hallway outside which had no windows. There were two figures in the room, one of which he had met before. That of his master spirit who now stood with a ferocious look glued upon his face. But in the corner, by the window, stood another. This time a girl, with soft looking shoulders silhouetted by the sun coming through the window.

"A late hour indeed for your return," growled her father, scanning the boy up and down. His hair was a mess, his knees muddy and a rather large grass stained patch upon his white shorts where he had been sitting in the meadow.

At her father's voice the girl by the window moved her head in a way which made her hair flick attractively across her back and turned slowly to meet Haku's gaze.

His eyes drank in the sight of her, from her soft and gentle brown eyes to her perfectly fashioned fingernails. Everything about her was perfect and beautiful which summed up the splendor of the sunrise, the sunset and the glistening night sky. Her smile enhanced her prettiness and put the finishing touches onto her beautiful face.

"Chihiro…" Haku whispered, lost in a dream.

"My daughter, and your future bride, Rin," announced the Great Water Spirit.

Haku's eyes snapped back to reality and the image of Chihiro's face vanished and his eyes settled upon the girl he was supposed to marry. The smile on his face faded as he took in her features. Anyone else would have called her the most beautiful thing upon the earth, but all Haku could think of was how she was not Chihiro.

"You shall marry tomorrow at nightfall," finished his Master.

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A/N: I know it's been a while, well a few years actually since I updated. But I started reading through some of my old stories and realised I really wanted to know what happened in the end of this story, but unfortunatly for me I actually have to write it which is a bit upsetting seeing as I have to come up with an idea on how to finish it. But nether the less here I am trying to finish it. And I hope to keep some reviews happy along the way! So please review and let me know what you think.

Oh and COOKIES FOR ALL!