[.Injured.] (Chihiro?)

[Kohaku]

The twisting, silver scaled-blue furred dragon crashed into the lobby, rather injured, and bleeding from a few wounds. It was Haku, and he had just come back from lord knows where. His gaze was glazed over with pain as a growl rumbled in his throat, he attempted to stand, but failed miserably and fell down, his gaze was blurry, and he barely recognized the shapes around him. He fought off the pain, and attempted to stand, being as stubborn as he was, he wasn't about to black out right here in the lobby, he'd never hear the end of it. The growl erupted from his throat, and warned everyone to stay away from him, as he took two steps forewards, and collapsed, barely concious.

[~*~Chihiro~*~]

Chihiro had been nearby just finishing up some cleaning,she heard the crash and wondered what the heck it was.Some of the workers ran the other way,while other's stayed and whispered to eachother.When the girl came on the scene she noticed the familiar dragon,it was Haku and he was really hurt.Running over to him,she looked him over ignoring his growling.

"Haku what happened,your a mess".

Chihiro kneeled beside him,Yu-Baaba wasn't going to be happy about this that's for sure.Standing up she helped pondered on how she was going to move him,she was strong but not that strong to move a dragon his size.If only he would go back to being a human boy,then she would be able to drag him into a room.

[Kohaku]

Haku growled at her, although softer than the previous growl, her voice comforted him a bit, but he shook that off mentally, and bared his fangs at her. He was blinded by pain, and when a dragon was in pain, you stayed away, he attempted to stand, but failed again. Yu-baaba was going to have his head because of this, He growled in fustration, and visibly attempted to go back to normal, but he was stuck in this form, at least for now. His pain-glazed eyes stared at her, and he calmed, but was unable to move.


I can't put Chihiro in danger...I have to get out of here... Haku thought to himself, and took a shaky breath, and stood up, and looked up at the hole he had made, his dragonic legs visibly shaking, he needed to get out of here, lest he hurt the human girl.

[~*~Chihiro~*~]

"Don't go,please Haku....".

She didn't want him to leave,didn't want him to go.Chihiro had see him in pain before,when he had been hurt by Zineba's paper birds and then had to hold him while feeding the medicine she got for her parents.And who could forget that icky black thing that came out of him,so inside this was breaking her heart abit.But was he trying to run away because he was hurt and didn't want to face Yu-Baaba,or was it because he was protecting her.

"We can get through this,I know we can".

Whatever was hurting him she wanted to know,if he looked into her eyes he would see her own pain right now.The pain that was causing her to watch this,he was no longer bound to Yu-Baaba so why.....why was this happening.

[Kohaku]

Haku looked at her, and saw the pain in her eyes, he sighed audibly and his legs gave out underneath him, unable to support him any longer than they had. The pleading she had done, had made his heart twinge, for the pain he was putting her through at the moment. He looked up at her from the floor, his eyes slowly clearing, and the pain subsided for a mere instant, and he took that chance, and went to his human form before the pain returned. It was bearable in his dragon form, but not his human one. The small wounds seemed to get larger, and multiple slashes criscrossed his body, tearing his clothing on his arms and on his legs.

"Chi...hiro..." He said weakly, and nearly blacked out again, but fought it off, he couldn't go unconcious, not when Chihiro was so worried about him.

[~*~Chihiro~*~]

Chihiro caught him before he fell,she put one of his arms around her shoulder and carried him to a nearby room.Putting him near a wall she found some bedding and made up a bed,then going back to Haku she brought him over laying him down gently.Looking over the wounds,they seemed serious now that she saw them.Standing up she ran out of the room,and into the kitchen down the way some of the cooks looked at her but said nothing.

Grabbing a small bucket,she then filled it was some water and grabbed some cloth to make bandages with.Going back to the room,she placed the water down beside Haku then kneeled down and dipped one of the clothes in.Wringing it out she began to clean the wounds,gently and making sure not to hurt him most.

"Haku......what happened".

Her voice was gentle and caring,she went to tearing long strips from the other clothes and began to wrap the wounds.Being a spirit he would probably heal quickly,but with these many it may take a little more time.

[Kohaku]

Haku winced as the wounds were cleaned up, but relaxed slightly, feeling the pain slowly subside. He looked up into the 14 year old's eyes, seeing nothing but concern in those soft eyes of hers. He grunted in pain, as Chihiro touched a particularily deep one in his side, he mulled over her question, deciding to answer, but not go into detail.
"...I was attacked" He replied quietly, and sighed a bit "...By humans, who were frightened..because of the way I looked....I guess a dragon flying in the sky isn't as popular as it used to be..." he shut his eyes, and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "I was merely going for a fly...I was lucky I made it back in one piece...I apologize..for being away for so long"

[~*~Chihiro~*~]

Humans.....did he say humans,but there shouldn't be any humans on this side of the barrier.why would they be over on this side of the spirit world,did they plan to do something and if they saw Haku then that means they know there is something here.Chihiro quickly finished up with the bandages,this was a serious matter if humans have come here not knowing what to expect.

"It's okay,it's not your fault".

[Kohaku]

Kohaku sighed, and shook his head, and slowly sat up, looking at Chihiro. "It is my fault...I went to the human side..." He said quietly "I was curious as to how the world changed..I'm lucky I didn't get worse wounds than I have right now...." He frowned, his eyes dulling "It's changed so much since I last saw it..." He didn't look very happy.

[~*~Chihiro~*~]

"You didn't have to go there".

Chihiro said that with her eyes downcast,there was not much to see in her world.Everything such as cars and shops,school and construction what was so interesting about that.Haku should know she was already here and was not leaving to go back home,she had mentioned it time after time she was not going back to the human side of the barrier.

"I am going to stay here,forever".

Finishing with the bandages,Chihiro stood and grabbed the bucket now a crimson red from the blood.She walked out of the room and to the kitchen to rinse it out,why did Haku have to be so reckless and go to the human side.He knew that she was here and refused to leave,even though he told her so many times to go back home.Washing everything,she went back to the room but not inside and instead leaned on the doorway.

[Kohaku]

Haku gave a heavy sigh, and made himself stand up from the bed, he looked at Chihiro, and pulled her into a hug. "I only went, because I was curious...foolish..I know, but I had to see what had changed.." He stated, whispering in her ear "I was startled...really to see how much it had changed since I was the kohaku river spirit..." He looked into her eyes, and smiled just a bit. Calm, sweet Haku. Probably the best Haku to be around. He pulled her into the room and shut the door, ignoring the pain that came from his wounds "It was stupid..and reckless..but..I learned Humans have gotten even more parted from us spirits..we are nothing but legend now...tales...and..it hurts to think of it that way.." He sighed "Chihiro, I swear to you, I will not do that again...I don't want to see the worry on your face anymore...it hurts to see you like that.." He placed a hand on her cheek softly.

[~*~Chihiro~*~]

Chihiro was abit surprised by the hug,since she had come back he had always been strict with her and always demanding so why now was he turning soft.This didn't seem like the same Haku she had met when she came back to the bath house,well in the field actually.He had told her that she shouldn't have come back,that she should return home because her parents would miss her.

"I thought the spirits couldn't risk more humans coming here,but they would all turn into pigs anyways".

Chihiro felt the hug lifted then she was pulled into the room,her eyes downcast she didn't know what else to say.Ever since she has come back,this is what she has been wanting right.To see the sweet side of Haku she always adored and loved,but when Yu-Baaba was around he had to be stern and cruel otherwise if she hadn't already that he was no longer under her control.

"Just promise me,no more Haku".

Feeling his hand upon her cheek,a small blush danced across her cheeks.Putting her hand on his,she gave a small smile.Someday yes someday they would leave this bath house,and be together forever.That's all she ever wanted,was the keep that promise they made.