It was evening outside and the soft lights lit up against the somehow comforting sunset. It was one of those moments when the moon and stars would mildly stand out while the sun's last rays created a lilac ease into the welcoming dark. Zeniba gazed out the window with a cup of tea in her hands. She smiled at the comforting setting and took a sip. "Why, NoFace, it is such a beautiful evening. You should come here to see it yourself." She turned around when she didn't hear his response and saw that he wasn't home. Looking out the window Zeniba found that the spirit was sitting on a nearby wooden bench and she went outside to sit beside him. It seemed like he was contemplating the stars and the strange but beautiful transition from day to night. But he was completely still. "Is there something on your mind dear?"

"Ah, ah..." The witch's eyebrows raised slightly. She then looked upwards and saw that it was now becoming darker. "Now, that truly is a mystery. I'm afraid I don't know myself – who you are, that is." NoFace blended in with the dark, except for his brilliant mask that somehow didn't smile. Zeniba then put her hand to his shoulder, or at least thought it was his shoulder, and ushered him inside.

"What made you suddenly think like this?" He then frantically tried to explain, waving his arms around in a strange matter. "Calm down, NoFace. Here, we can talk about this during tea time."

About thirty minutes later NoFace neatly took a slice of cheese cake and politely stuffed himself. Then he began explaining his day to Zeniba.

The spirit simply decided to visit the bathhouse earlier that morning because it was the only place he knew other than Zeniba's home in Swamp Bottom. "So that's why you left earlier." she said. "Ah, ah!" Zeniba smiled. "Oh no you don't need to apologize."

NoFace went on with his story. However, he had no tickets to get there so he decided to walk on foot. About an hour of walking along the tracks he eventually came across the stop before Swamp Bottom. It read "Ghufran Patch." He decided to venture into this town and discover new places. Ghufran Patch appeared nice and comforting to him, having an Edo period look to it. He saw many shadow spirits manning the restaurants and other beings strolling about. The spirit walked deeper into the village until he came into a clearing of a park. There was a festival going on and many beings were gathered there. He saw they were celebrating some sort of village commemoration and he stayed in the background. It appeared that there were indeed other spirits that weren't like the shadow spirits or the worker spirits back at the bathhouse. There were others too that acted like regular citizens. Thanks to living with granny Zeniba, he was able to resist the urge to swallow others when exposed to the traits of those around him. Well, the positive ones that is. Gratefully there were more good spirits than bad ones so it was easier for him to simply enjoy himself as the timid creature he was.

Yet this was all new to NoFace. All his life he simply stood on that bridge and eye the spirits that passed by and didn't notice him. He didn't remember who he was before that period in his life, if he had any friends or family other than Sen, granny Zeniba, Mr. Lamppost and maybe that peculiar spirit Sen took a liking to – the Kohaku River, was it? He didn't even remember if he was a man or woman, boy or girl, male or female? How old am I? The spirit thought fixedly. With this thought in mind the being scanned the crowd of nameless faces.

But NoFace saw no other spirit that looked like him. Not even the shadow spirits gave hints to knowing if he was that kind of being, despite their extremely similar appearances.

"Hence, you came back with that thought bothering you?" The other spirit shook his head. "Ah, ah."

Translation: "I first tried some takoyaki then I walked back." Zeniba thought long and hard about this news. NoFace stayed silent. She rubbed her nose and thought hard. He then spoke up. "Ah, ah." Her eyes widened in shock. "Is that so... And why may I ask that you do not like your form?"

"Ah..."

Translation: "It's hard to communicate with anyone other than you. I also tend to eat others from time to time if they influence me to do bad things. This form is dangerous and unapproachable." The witch was able to find a solution to his problem. She eyed him for a long time, taking in the spirit's actual features. Finally she sighed. "NoFace. I'll be able to change your form, but only for one day for now. We'll see if you're happy with it. This will be your chance to finally communicate with others and perhaps even find yourself. But promise me you'll at least make one friend?" At this NoFace's mask lit up and he nodded his head happily. This made Zeniba happy that her friend finally wanted to pursue his past to go forward.

She went to another room for a while and came back with a handful of papers the size of her palm as well as her golden seal. NoFace stayed where he was, nervous for a bit but excited at the same time. Zeniba put on her round glasses, gestured to him to stand in front of the door and began to chant. She held one paper in her left and hovered her right hand over it, holding the golden seal. Gold flecks speckled the paper, spotting it until it was fully coloured in a rich gold shade. This took about ten minutes of chanting and the lights flickered off, blending in with the night. Only the golden seal and the paper glowed in the dark.

Then the lights glimmered back on as soon as her incantation was completed. The witch rolled the paper up into a perfectly round ball and held it out to NoFace. "Think of the appearance you want to become, swallow the spell, and it will come true for the whole day starting tomorrow. I'll even provide train tickets for you if you like, and you can visit the bathhouse. Here is a small token for being my faithful helper, NoFace."

The spirit stretched his shadowy hands outwards and received both the paper ball and a small pouch. Inside contained three pink diamonds that glittered inside and the smile on his mask lit up. Zeniba then took off her specks and cleaned them with a handkerchief. "When you're about to take your nap, make sure you consume it with only your ideal appearance in mind." the witch repeated. She then went to her quarters, but before going she gave a glimmer and said, "I know that your actions depend on your surroundings, so perhaps if you turn into a different kind of spirit on the outside at least, you'll be able to develop opinions of your own in this world." He nodded in agreement and goodnight as the lights turned back off in the room. In the twilight the spirit glanced down at the paper ball for a very long time before finally going to his own room.

His chambers were rather snug and homey. The walls and floor were made from warm pine wood with a pair of windows right next to his wooden bed made of plump wool plaid blankets. There were many plants and cozy lights that reflected off the desk that stood next to his bed. No mirrors were laid out because NoFace didn't enjoy looking at himself at times. NoFace carefully laid the bag down on his wooden desk and slowly plumped down on the soft cushions of his bed. He thought long and hard of how he wanted to look like and tried to use an example from his memories.

After swallowing up Aogaeru he most certainly didn't want to be a frog again; he was afraid he'd also act like one too. Shadow spirits were also a no-no; they were only faceless versions of him. Maybe he can be a dragon like the spirit that Sen became fond of. Maybe she'd be fond of him too. Then NoFace remembered what granny Zeniba said one time during their conversations over teatime. "... I remember when I was young, several centuries ago, perhaps even a few millennial ago, I met this tall, dark, and handsome spirit. Boy what a sight!" she cackled. It was a random topic actually, when NoFace asked about the Kohaku River spirit.

After a long while of thinking, NoFace finally decided. Revealing his mouth only by a little bit, he swallowed the ball of golden paper and sat there in silence, waiting for something to happen. When nothing did, the timid spirit simply pulled his covers and slid into his bed. His cute arms gripped the plaid blankets and the spirit fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

NNNNNNNNNNNNN

The next morning Zeniba peacefully made some tea and took it to her desk where she worked on knitting a scarf that was nearly finished. It was starting to get cold out and even when the cottage was magically heated every year it still felt nice to create something that at least looked nice for the season. Sipping her earl grey, she finally completed the last knot of the purple scarf and smiled in satisfaction, her specks glinting in the morning light. "Maybe I can give this to NoFace when he journeys out. Speaking of him, I wonder if he's alright." Then a bellow echoed throughout the place.

It was a man's voice.

Ever since I watched the movie about four years ago I always found NoFace cute when he was timid (except for when he became a monster, but it was still funny) and I wanted to make a story for him too because I got the feeling that there was more to him than what was shown in the movie. It'll be definitely fun and exciting during the next chapter and I hope that you guys liked my story so far. Also, for those reading my other fanfic "Every Moment Counts", I AM SO SORRY! This just suddenly came to me and I just HAD to write something related to Spirited away. The next chapter will come out soon! Review please! I am anxious to know what you think and what might happen next, kukukuku...