The Cure That Truly Haunts

Chapter Eleven

*For the record I do not own anything of Spirited Away

* And for the record, I really apologize for not updating in so long. I've had family situations going on, dealing with college stuff etc. So it has been extremely difficult for me to get back to this story. So all I ask is for some patience. And I sincerely apologize. And I mean REALLY apologize. I know it has been months since I've updated. And it might still be a struggle. But I do intend for this story to be finished!

Lin's soft hands rose upward to my stiffened hand, challenging to remove my wrists with her calm demeanor. Her russet eyes creased closed in such exasperation that she literally had to jerk my fingers away from the superior cloth. They lingered though as they began to glide toward her thin collarbone. Her neck shuddered faintly while lifting her gaze directly into my own. It was her air, her expression that I comprehended that my sister was becoming bodily marred since the greatness of our recent situation caused the tension to transmit into my claws. I didn't realize that my emotions affected me that badly.

Chin lowering further down her body, mainly going back and forth between her shoulders; it was obviously noticeable that I punctured her skin. Lips pursed, she glanced questioningly at the marks. Miniature blood stains permeated certain areas, causing the hue to turn into an ugly rosy mud color. My eyes expanded and I felt each muscle in my eyelids as they did so. And unfortunately, the increased humidity only caused the liquid's scent to escalate to my nose. The bitter iron taste entranced my throat in a disgusting fashion. My tongue once more rubbed the roof of my mouth as I stepped a few feet back toward the door.

The door where Kama no Kami just disappeared in his attempt to find Chihiro. And I knew this to be true, somewhere deep down in my conscience that I understood couldn't define a sense of factual knowledge. It was just there.

But I couldn't stop stuttering in the shock of what I had just committed toward Lin, even if it was a simple mistake. "I, I, I am so sorry. I didn't mean to do that, I, I swear." Honestly, there was a part of me that was betting on her using me as her next beat up doll. So I in turn also raised my arms. However, she never acted in retaliation. Instead her hands crossed over to the opposing shoulder continuously running over her bleeding skin in order to dry the remaining wounds. I noticed that they were small movements, and it only guaranteed for me that I owed her big time. I continued on rambling. "So if you forgive me I can order you a new worker shirt, or I can continue taking care of the bathtub while you go and get changed. I could also go down to Kamajii's and retrieve some medicinal herbs or," My head was wacked forward by her hand and I felt like I lost my voice for a moment. Hearing some strands of my hair ruffle, the left side of my jaw snapped in agony. It was subtle, but it still hurt.

My stare shut itself for a brief second as my hand went to pacify the twinge. I looked back up to seeing a small smile dignify her face. She put her attention on the squeaky floorboards for a moment, but then came so close to me that I had no thought for what would come out of her mouth. I figured that she would at least yell out that I was to blame and that I definitely had to make up to her. My head lowered a little, sort of like what a dog would do under their master. Then again she is my boss. However, she chose not to yell. She didn't treat me like a pet or a slave. It had nothing to do with the injuries. All it took was for her to return the action and placed her slender palm over my own shoulder again. It was gentle, and I could feel her skin as it toyed with the teal straps that hung over it. Every so often her fingertips would accidentally graze my neck by mistake. And it made me more focused on her when she obviously just wanted me to stay quiet. Before she even could return to her natural bantering, the only thing that she ever mustered in a whisper was the single thing that she deemed as a way to amend myself.

"All I want from you is to find Chihiro. She means more to me than any robe or medicine or anything else you think you can do for me. And I would be glad to keep the shirt." This left me confused. Why would Lin want some blood-spotted shirt that was conveniently destroyed by my hand? It made no sense. One of my thin eyebrows ascended as I frowned in the suspicion. My mouth felt dry and I had to cough to rid of the sensation. Fortunately I sounded as I normally would, so it never came as awkward. Or at least I prayed it didn't. Breathing in a fresh cool breeze from the several newly opened windows in the ceiling as they unlatched with a series of clicking noises, I asked, "Why do you want to keep the shirt Lin?"

At this she started to express amusement, tightening her hold on my shoulder which brought me to stumble and lean forward. It was a rough gesture, and it made me more at a loss. Ok, what she said about Chihiro made sense, but to keep a blood-ridden shirt and to WANT to still have it in her possession is weird. Plus her laugh is creeping me out. My arms rested on hers as a few stray tears fell down her face. That was all I could see of her as what her expression entailed had been covered over by her lengthy hair. Using my aching muscle strength, I shoved her off of me so that I was able to get a better look at her. She of course was only a few yards away from me as a result, her feet shifting to each other as her arms engulfed herself in a hug as she bended over. Her body was still shaking with giggles for a few minutes. And I felt an urge that she may have had some sake while she went to get our breakfast.

My right arm instinctively reached out to Lin. "Lin, are you alright?"It was a bold move for sure. On one hand she would calm down and bestow me an explanation. But in another condition, I may have to take her back to her room for the night. I was hoping that the first one would come true like a fairy tale or something. If I was alive, then it was a happy ending.

Then there continued to be that happy ending because her fits of laughter finally calmed down. I took a big sigh as my eyes glanced back at the door. No one was looking in on us nor did it seem that anyone noticed anything awkward going on in our area. It suddenly occurred to me. Did anyone even notice that Kawa no Kami had come to find Chihiro? They seemed to not have noticed Lin's insane cackling. They were all still working for their guests, running on the floor boards with tokens, filling up bathes, and providing to every spirit's wishes. I even saw a glimpse of Sayuri running to the bath across from us. Lin was still calming, so she didn't notice her cousin pass by. I grimaced in sadness for them. But my boss was utterly content at the moment.

She stood straight upwards again; one hand straightening out her clothing while the other wiped away her tears in a fist. Her smile never ceased, which for some reason aided my guilt. Maybe it was the fact that she was overjoyed at the possibility that her past assistant had returned. Or maybe it was the way I had apologized and cowered in fear of her. She did love feeling like she had the power in any given situation. But she wasn't dimwitted. Lin knew when a problem that needed solving was out of her control and that she would have to relinquish her attempts to help. Either way, I was relieved for awhile.

Hair flipping behind her back, she shuffled her feet outward as her gaze considerably brightened. Yet there was mischief in them, I could sense it. She was going to say something or do something that would embarrass me, I just knew it. Smiling wryly, she said, "Well, Haku, I am alright," she turned and began to walk out of the door indicating that I should follow her out even though we weren't done with our job with the bath. But what is more important? Lin's probably thinking that we should find Chihiro now before she could possibly get hurt. She is more of a priority than cleaning some bath tub. I quickly went down for my white shirt by the wall and let my feet carry me in her direction. Lin strutted with some grace, and I had no idea that she could even walk like that. I supposed it was a female thing. The yellow walls started to disappear as we made our way outside and onto the bridge.

The occasional employee would stare at us as we made our way through the extensive amount of crowded rooms, probably because I was the one who staggering behind her and not the other way around. It was to my fortune that no one stepped in my way. Sure for the most recent of years I have been degraded to working on the same level as the majority of the staff. However, since the time everyone saw me hovering in the air with Chihiro on our landing, they got the notion that I wasn't a spirit to be taken lightly. They understood that I had a dragon form, which out of fear made them not question me so much.

I appreciated the privacy I got when I truly needed it, but I had softened and perhaps even became friendlier. It was both a blessing and a disappointment. Spirits like Sayuri, Tarou, Kamajii, Clam, and Lin all warmed up to me or had done so before. Others were still nervous at what I was capable of doing. I dealt with each opinion of myself well, besides the hint of guilt I felt. Some had heard rumors of what went on in Yubaba's office when I was injured by her sister. They were worried about me, if I was emotionally stable to be here. I chose not to blame those comments because if an average employee was injured in their boss's office, they wouldn't want to stay. For me it was still the only home I had. Yubaba needed my help with her contract. And now with the news that Chihiro might have returned to our world…..I had to stay because first I had to get her past the sorceress and back to the tunnel.

Others still thought that I had hurt Chihiro up in the office. Even though the thought boiled in my blood of how they could even fathom that possibility, they were still right. I really came close to killing her. And if she was back like Kawa no Kami informed, I would do whatever I could to make it up to her in the long run, regardless of how much time I had with her - maybe a more meaningful departure with some truth to it since I didn't fully give it to her last time?

Chihiro was ten at the time, so it was very easy to lie to her. That was where my guilt ate me up. I had lied to her when I told her I would see her again. If it weren't for what happened tonight, I would still have believed that it was. It never crossed my mind that she could end up in the spirit world again because of the memory spell I had put on her – for good intentions of course. All I have to do is let her know that.

She saved my life and I saved hers. And I hope she can forgive me.