The following afternoon found Chihiro back at the gates topped with crescent moons in front of The Shop. She carried the empty and cleaned bento boxes in one hand and her school bag in the other. The yard was empty again, but the doors slid open as she approached, and Maru and Moro bounded out to greet her.

"Chihiro came back, Chihiro came back!" the twins chanted. "Master will be pleased and will cook good food again!"

"What do I have to do with cooking?" asked Chihiro.

"When Master is sad, his food tastes sad," said Maru.

"When Master is happy, his food tastes happy," said Moro. "And everyone who eats it is happy too."

"Except for the person who took Master's happiness away," said Maru. "She'll just always feel empty, no matter how much she eats."

"That's so sad," said Chihiro. "I'm sure she had her reasons."

"She did," said the Time Witch from beside the screen in the front hall. He wore another elaborate kimono, this one in deep red with silver smoke patterns twisting all over it. It was draped in a way that should have been indecent, but on him was simply mysterious. Chihiro couldn't help but stare at him.

"Hello," said Chihiro, meeting the mismatched eyes. "I brought your bento boxes back for you. Thank you for dinner. It was wonderful."

"Payment for the exorcism," said the Time Witch. "Besides, I like to cook for others. I can teach you, if you'd like."

"You would, really?" said Chihiro. "Why, and for what price?"

"I want to," said the Time Witch. "All you have to do is buy the groceries and help me prepare the food. And I feel like having a Western dinner tonight. Here's the grocery list. The market in the shopping centre should have everything we'll need."

"Okay," said Chihiro. She put her shoes back on and headed for the market. The Time Witch smirked faintly and headed to his kitchen.

"I'm back!" called Chihiro.

"Shh," said Maru.

"Master's got a customer," said Moro. They led Chihiro around the shop to the kitchen, where Chihiro left the bags. The twins continued silently down a hall, where they crouched at the door to eavesdrop. Chihiro sat with them.

"What are your bad habits?" asked the Time Witch.

"I don't have any, that I can think of," was the nervous response. "Why do you ask?"

"Are you quite sure?" asked the Time Witch.

"I can't think of any," said the customer.

"Hmm," said the Time Witch. "Take this ring. It will give you more time. Remember, it is a bandage, not a cure. The only advice I can give you is to be mindful of your thoughts, and your behaviours. If you do so, it is very likely that your hand will heal."

"Okay," said the customer. "Thank you for your help. I hope my necklace covers this."

"It does," said the Time Witch. The doors opened, and Maru and Moro went to escort the woman out. The Time Witch sighed softly.

"You didn't help her," said Chihiro accusingly.

"Not everything is as simple as an exorcism or helping a talented man find a job where he will excel," said the Time Witch. "An addict must realize their addiction and ask for help before they can be fully helped. That customer is the same; the addiction hurts her soul, and her body feels the effects. She comes to me to cure the symptoms, and I suggest a cure for the actual problem. Once she realizes her bad habit, stops it and corrects the damage, she'll be fine. But you can't tell her that because she has to realize it for herself."

"Oh, said Chihiro. "That's sad, in a way."

"I used to follow these people when I was an apprentice," said the Time Witch. "Drove people crazy, the way I was following total strangers and trying to figure out what the habit was so I could guide them to the answer. One woman was hit by a car because of her habit. Another had her habit exposed publicly and humiliatingly. My teacher thought it was amusing, bbut also knew it was something I needed to learn, So on to the cooking lessons."

"I got everything that was on the list you gave me," said Chihiro. "I think it's all good."

"Hmm," said the Time Witch, critically inspecting each of her purchases. "Very well done, Chihiro. Wash your hands. There are aprons in the drawer under the sink, so put one on when you're done. Stuffed pork tenderloin with wild rice and cranberries is on the menu, and you've got your work cut out for you."

"Aren't you helping me?" asked Chihiro.

"Of course," said the Time Witch with that chilly, amused smile. "Start by washing your hands. Then I'll introduce you to the knife block, and we'll get started on the stuffing. What are you waiting for? Dinner isn't going to cook itself, you know."

"I'm home!" called Chihiro into the house.

"Where have you been?" asked Himawari, propping her fists on her hips. "We've been worried, Chihiro."

"I'm taking cooking lessons with this guy I met," said Chihiro. "He's amazing, like a professional chef. I just have to run errands for him in exchange. He's nice."

"Call us when you're going to be late," scolded Himawari. "You're our only daughter. What if something had happened to you?"

"I'm sorry," said Chihiro. "I'll be having cooking lessons every day from now on, so I'll always be a bit late. I'll go find Dad and tell him I'm home now."

Shizuka was found sitting on a bench under a cherry tree. He seemed distracted by something that only he could see. Chihiro approached him cautiously.

"Dad?" said Chihiro. "I'm home."

"Welcome home, Chihiro," said Shizuka, snapping out of his trance. "How was your day?"

"It was alright," said Chihiro. "I took the Time Witch his bento boxes. He offered me cooking lessons and taught me how to cook pork tenderloin."

"That's the Dimensional Witch for you," said Shizuka. "Always wanting complicated foods for some reason and wearing ridiculously elaborate kimono for no reason. Eccentric to a fault."

"And what about us Doumekis?" asked Chihiro.

"Honourable to a fault," said Shizuka with a small chuckle.

"I didn't tell Mom about the Time Witch," said Chihiro. "I get the feeling that I shouldn't tell her about him, either. But should I anyway?"

"No," said Shizuka. "Himawari doesn't like the Time Witch particularly. Best not to upset her."

"I guess," said Chihiro. "Could you help me with archery?"

"Why archery?" asked Shizuka.

"I get the feeling I'll need it, that's all," said Chihiro. "And you were really good at it when you were my age, weren't you?"

"The very best," said Shizuka. "And I suppose it's a family tradition. Doumekis with strong spiritual power learn various forms of exorcism, including archery."

"Because we're natural exorcists, right?" said Chihiro.

"Mostly," said Shizuka. "But also because of the Time Witch and the family connection to the Shop."

"This is more complicated than I think it is," said Chihiro, frowning at her shoes.

"It always is when the Time Witch is involved," said Shizuka.