I'm back!: Chapter 9

Author's Note:
Now starts phase two! The cursed twins are picking up the pace! What is their motive? Find out in the next chapter of I'm back!: Spirited Away 2!

Present

FUTURE
Inevitable
Yet, as long as people wish,
The future can change

PAST
Is written in stone
No one can ever change it
But we move forward

"Phase two, onee-san?" Hyou asked.
"Yes. Send out the Hebi-Youkai," Yuuko answered. "Don't hate us for this, little brother," she continued, almost to herself, "We're doing this for you..."

"Are you alright?!" Haku exclaimed.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Chihiro replied slowly, trying to gather her wits. "Just confused and a bit... fuzzy? It's the kind of feeling you get when you've been hit between the eyes and punched in the stomach at the same time then you stare at the sky. It's a bit painful, a bit sad, and a bit calming all at once. And... you have no idea about what I'm talking of..."
"No, I understand. I had the same feeling when you broke Yubaba's name charm. I mean no insult, whatsoever, Yubaba."
"None taken, Haku. I regret stealing your name, but at that time, I was very paranoid and wanted complete control of my workers. I only changed because of you and Chihiro," responded Yubaba.
"That's right... you're name is Nigihayami Kohaku Nushi, right? It's a very nice name," Chihiro said. The way she looked at Haku was different now, yet not. It was the same fondness, except stronger maybe, but without the doubt and worry caused by the memory loss.
"Uh... Chihiro is a nice name too," was the only thing Haku could think to say. He blushed, Chihiro had gotten a lot cuter after 7 years.
"Well! Now that Chihiro's all settled in, it's time for you two to do your duties! Go on! Chop, chop! We have a bathhouse to run!" Yubaba said enthusiastically, pumping her fist into the air. "And no detours, you two!"
At this, both Haku and Chihiro turned bright red, but before Chihiro could say anything in retort, Haku grabbed her hand and literally flew out of the window of Yubaba's office in dragon form, with a terrified but truly happy girl on his back.

"So! How was it?" Rin asked Chihiro on one of her rounds with Haku. "Is your room nice?"
"Yeah! Yubaba and Haku were so kind! They copied my old room from the human world exactly, down to the position on my futon! But I'll miss you and the girls..."
"Hey! No long faces allowed, girl! We'll have a sleepover on our days off, okay? And don't complain! Your room's next to Haku's, isn't it?" Rin asked slyly.
"Rin! About that..." cried Chihiro, gesturing for Rin to lean in closer. Looking at Haku, who was giving orders to another worker a few paces away. "Um... I kind of like Haku, but don't tell him, okay?"
"Why ever not?" Rin asked incredulously, "Haku likes you too!"
"He does?!" Chihiro squeaked. "How do you know?!"
"Don't you notice how he always turns red when you're mentioned?"
"He does?"
"Yeah. Just pay attention!"
"Chihiro!" Haku called. "Come on! Next section!"
"Alright!" Chihiro called back, then turned to Rin. "See you later!" She started to jog away.
"Chihiro!" Rin shouted, then pointed to Haku (who was walking away), mouthed, 'Just watch him', and winked.
Chihiro gave her a thumbs up, and ran to catch up with Haku.
"So, what did you talk about with Rin?" Haku asked.
"Oh. You know, girl stuff," she replied nonchalantly. "So, how does this bathhouse run? I not going to believe that the leadership is based solely on physical ability."
"No, it's not. Yubaba could demote anyone who gets a good rank but produces bad work," Haku paused. "But in your case, she believes that you'll learn fast and produce quality work in no time. The proof is that she already customized your room. Usually, she waits for a long, long time before trusting to new worker and putting their room next to hers. We were the only exceptions."
"Yeah, that's encouraging! Does that mean she likes me?"
"Yup!"
"Oh, yeah! What are we supppsed to do other than walk around the bathhouse? What kind of orders are we supposed to give?" Chihiro asked curiously, gesturing around her. "Wait a minute, Haku, hold that thought."
Chihiro walked into one of the bath sections, and towards a new worker who was having trouble opening the door of the hole in to wall that went to Komajii. (You know what I'm talking about right?) She tapped the worker on the shoulder, and smiled saying, "Need help?" Chihiro showed her how to open the door, and even gave suggestions about what herbs should be used for what spirit and which bath tokens represented each herb. The bathhouse worker, who at first had looked terrified, looked happier and calmer now. She thanked Chihiro, with many bows, and waved goodbye. Then, Chihiro jogged back to Haku, who had been carefully observing.
"Alright! Back to the questions-" was what Chihiro started to say whan Haku cut her off and said,
"That's what you do."
"What? What's what?"
"The answer to your questions," Haku replied, looking impressed. "What you just did was the answer to your questions. Our duties are to serve our customers the best we can, as well as help each other. We have to be able to gladly offer help and be open to suggestion. That's how this bathhouse is run. Actually, I'm not that surprised that you were able to do that, since this bathhouse principle was based on you."
"Me?"
"Yeah. Before, Yubaba was so mean and only cared about money. Now she cares about money and people, too. It's all because you came. Yubaba values hardwork and passion, and it's because you came to this place seven years ago. I think you'll be just fine with this job."
"Thanks. All because of me, huh? I did have a lot of fun here seven years ago... wait a minute. Things have been happening so fast that I haven't been able to properly process my memories. Where's Bo?" (The giant baby.)
"He's sleeping. He's always sleeping," Haku said, looking a little disgusted.
"Really? Even thought he's- what? Ten years old if he was three when I last came?" Chihiro looked surprised.
"Ten? He's three hundred! He's older then I am! I'm even turning a hundred-fifty this year!"
Chihiro didn't look surprised. Nope. She was dumbfounded. "What?! You're a hundred?! How old ARE you spirits?!"
"Well, actually, I'm a very young spirit. Yubaba's probably a little older than my parents should have been. My twin sisters Hyou and Yuuko are 200 and my oldest sister should have been about 300."
"Then how old are your parents?" Chihiro mumbled, her eyes popping. "Wait a minute! How old is Rin?!"
"Rin is 50. Very young. My parents should have been hitting around a thousand by now if they hadn't died."
Chihiro suddenly looked sad. "Your parents died?"
"Yeah. About 100 years ago. My oldest sister Sakura, too. You've had a similar experience."
"Yeah... How did they..."
"Let's just say that my family has a lot of enemies and that if those enemies knew that I was still alive, they would come after me with no remorse, whatsoever," Haku siad bluntly, his eyes betraying nothing. Not even pain or sadness. He had left those behind him a long time ago.
"Oh... I never knew... Is that how you came to the bathhouse?"
"No. That was only recently. Maybe 3 or 4 years before you came."
"Then what's that big gap in the middle of the story?"
"It would take too long to explain now, and I expect Yubaba will get impatient if we don't work," Haku said. Then he smiled. "Why don't you meet me at the bridge early tomorrow morning like last time?"
"Sure! Don't forget to bring those yummy bun things from last time. Just don't put a spell on it."
"Ok," Haku started walking off to the next section. "Hurry up, Chihiro!"
"Coming!" Chihiro skipped behind Haku, then took his hand. "Now you can't go ahead."

Haku turned red.

Author's Note:
Does everyone like the development so far? I hope so! This is starting to get really fun to write! Well, bye! Keep readin'!