Enchantment of the Heart {Fanfiction Sequel Book 2}

The Lake and the Nygel

Just as the sun was rising, Haku returned. The large windows to his bedroom opened wide to admit him with only the smallest of magical nudges. He landed gracefully, killing his forward momentum by digging his green-tinted claws into the floor. The floorboards bore numerous gouges from many landings in this manner. He was going to have to have a landing platform constructed at some point. It might save his furniture from damage; he had smashed a few chairs to splinters on less calculated ingresses, but it was low on his list of priorities at the moment.

He changed from dragon to man again. The transition was complex, and being tired, it was a little disorientating to see his field of vision change dramatically and feel his centre of gravity and sense of balance shift rapidly. He stumbled a little into the room, and the windows closed quietly behind him. He yawned and stretched. He had worn himself out by finding the nearest storm cloud and playing one of his favourite games, Dodge the Lightning Bolts.

The local air spirit, who had created the storm in the first place, was furious. It had whipped the storm into such a frenzy that it had started a few fires on the plains below. The storm had blown itself out and the air spirit, a nasty goblin-like creature, the lowest of his kind, had flown away cursing all dragon kind. Haku had thoroughly enjoyed himself, and now all he wanted to do was sleep for a week. His sensitive ears then heard something stirring in the next room, and he realised he was not alone. Haku padded warily to his living room and was greeted by a very welcome sight. Chihiro was curled up on his sofa. Her face was resting on her hands; strands of long chocolate brown hair had fallen over her face, hiding her delicate features. At her feet was a rucksack stuffed so full that it threatened to burst at the seams.

Haku smiled slowly to himself. He crept across the room noiselessly and knelt before her. He gently pulled back the hair from her face; the expression on her face was much softer in sleep than it was when she was awake. She tended to frown when thinking or concentrating. Now, however, her brow was clear, and her dark lashes cast shadows on her pale cheeks. He ran his thumb lightly over her cheekbones. She did not move. Her generous pink lips were parted in sleep; allowing a glimpse of flat white human teeth. Haku could no more resist kissing her right then than the sun could help rising. He bent his head, tilting it slightly as he did so and tenderly touch his lips to hers. He felt her wake at his touch; her eyelashes fluttered against his cheek. A small hand rubbed his jaw, and another cradled the back of his neck. He drank in her delightfully sleepy kiss and ran a hand down her back and pulled her closer. At last, he drew away and sighed wistfully.

"Good morning," he whispered.

"Hi," she whispered back, feeling a little shy. "I must say that was a charming way to be woken." Haku smiled, looking deeply into her sleepy brown eyes.

"May I ask why you are asleep here? The last thing you said to me was that you wanted to spend time with Rin."

"She practically kicked me out just before dawn; she thinks she owes you for trying to kill you," yawned Chihiro and Haku chuckled.