Chapter 9: Someone familiar

Shuffling footsteps echo from the other side of the thick wooden door. There's barely enough time to collect my thoughts, to adopt my well-practiced facade. Even though the person on the other side is someone familiar, I wouldn't entrust her with the chaos ravaging my mind. Especially since she won't even recognize who I am.

The door opens with a grating creak and the first thing to appear is a huge nose, and fluffy hair strapped in a bun. She looks just the same as last time we met. Large intrusive eyes, deep wrinkles wrapping her entire skin, a round birthmark decorating the middle of her eyebrows.

"I knew someone was approaching… but you're unfamiliar to me, what can I help you with young lady?"

I bow politely and straighten up, adopting a stern sarcastic tone.

"I suspected as much… you don't remember me at all, do you?"

"What do you mean… who are you?"

I lean my head in a smirk, folding my arms in a cross.

"You'll just have to figure it out…"

"Why not simply tell me?"

"Because a creepy old man taught me, that there's no point unless you have some fun along the way"

She squints her eyes into slits and pushes the door to the side with a hand, stepping outside. Her gait is lively and secure, not at all fitting with her apparent age. She looks me up and down, striding in a circle around me.

"That's a good philosophy, who was this old man?"

"He refused to say, even my stubbornness couldn't best him…"

"Did he tell you to come here?"

"It was my own decision, I wanted to see you again, even if you'd forgotten me… because a wise witch once told me 'Nothing that happens, is ever forgotten, even if you can't remember it'…"

I can feel her gaze boring into me from behind, it feels almost like a predator waiting to pounce. She completes a full circle and halts before me, bending closer to inspect my face.

"You do seem familiar somehow…"

"That's a given… even though my appearance has changed with age, my personality remains quite the same, though slightly altered by cynicism…"

"There's this memory of a girl that keeps poking my mind… you've got the same color eyes and hair… the same fierce attitude… but she was human… you're not…"

"You're right"

"About what?"

"She was human… but not anymore…"

"Chihiro… is it really you?"

"Yes…"

Her eyes widen in disbelief and for a few moments we just stand next to each other, breathing.

"I was told that you'd returned… but this… I could never imagine… how?"

"It's a long story…"

"Let's go inside and get you warmed up; you look worn out… then you can tell me everything"

She places a large hand on my shoulder, stretching a bit to reach up. When I was a child, she seemed so enormous, scary, but wise. Time surely switches things around, now I'm the big scary one. Her hand guides me gently forward and I step over the threshold into the familiar cabin.

A surge of nostalgia sweeps me away almost immediately. The large chimney over the old kitchen stove. The tall shelves with her favorite herbs, the crooked walls and worn wooden floors. Every single nook and cranny bring back a flood of memories, nothing's changed. The corners of my mouth tugs into a smile when I notice No Face watching us, hands paused mid-air while knitting. He's following our every move, murmuring sounds that sounds so sentimental.

She gestures for me to sit, and I choose a chair by the edge of the table. A large knicker basket stands beside the sofa, filled to the brim with different colored, knitted socks. I raise an eyebrow and turn my head toward Zeniba, who's filling a kettle with water by the sink.

"Do you really need such a huge amount of socks to keep your feet warm at night?..."

"Ask No Face… every closet I've got are filled with his many works… first it was scarves, then hats, now socks… I believe mittens will be next…"

"How long has he been going at it?"

"Knitting you mean?"

"Yes"

She shuffles over to the stove and settles the kettle on top of a hob.

"Hard to say, he switches between each chore so swiftly… first it was weaving, then sewing, now knitting… he seems fascinated with everything put before his eyes…"

"Isn't that a good thing?"

"Yes, but it's a hassle gathering all the materials… and I've got a farm to run as well, you know…"

No Face doesn't seem to mind our banter, his glare's transfixed on my face.

"Hi there, old friend, do you remember me?"

He nods wildly and his 'aah aaah' sounds spread a smile over my cheeks. Zeniba returns from the counter with a tray of mugs, plates, and a cake. Placing them before us on the table. She studies me closely while settling down on a chair.

"How are you?"

"I'm fine…"

"You don't look fine"

I laugh dryly and study the patterns of the porcelain mug, avoiding her glare.

"Well, it's been rather chaotic lately, to say the least…"

"Chaotic how?"

The kettle whistles with a shriek, letting us know that the water has come to a boil. I can't help but sigh out of relief at the helpful interruption, I'm not in the mood for talking about that just yet.

"By the way, how did you know that I'd returned? Are you a part of the 'huge conspiracy' too?"

"What conspiracy? You're not making any sense…"

"I'll tell you about it later… but how did you find out then?"

"Haku flew by here in a flurry a few hours ago, asking if you were here"

I do my best not to act surprised, as if unaffected by this information. Maybe that's a contradiction in itself, but I'd rather act cool when it comes to him. Though the mention of him makes me rather curious.

"Haku?..."

"Yes… he informed me that you were back in the spirit world, and that you disappeared almost immediately"

"I see… well, it was because of the old man I told you about, he swept me away…"

She strides back to the table with the kettle, and a sweet scent of tea overwhelms my nostrils. Vapor rises toward the ceiling as she pours the hot beverage into our mugs. I grasp the mug and pull it towards me, studying the drab liquid. The knife clinks softly against the serving platter as Zeniba carves a piece of cheesecake for me. Even though I don't feel particularly hungry, it's too enticing to ignore. The teaspoon slides through the soft substance, and I bring the bite sized piece to my mouth. A Sweet, slightly honey flavored taste spreads over my palate.

"So, anything exciting happened here lately, I guess you've had your hands full with No Face, but other than that?"

"We can save the small talk for later dear, right now I want to know what happened to you…"

"It's difficult to explain, so much has happened, I don't know where to begin… or if I want to talk about it at all…"

"Just take it from the start and the rest will follow along"

I chuckle silently and grasp the mug, drumming my nails against the porcelain. I can feel her intrusive yet gentle gaze prodding me to speak. It's probably better to give in, to explain everything, rather than saving it for later.

I blow on the hot beverage, watching the vapor move out of the way from my breath, almost burning my tongue while taking a sip. The night slowly descends outside, and the lights within cast an orange tint on the walls.

"It began in the human world…"

Thank you to everyone who keeps reading, leaving reviews, favoring, and following the story, I can't help but mentioning it every time even though you've probably grown tired of it already!

Thank you Celurian, your reviews always make me so happy, you give me so much inspiration!

Answering your question about the color of the butterflies, they don't really have a specific color. They switch between several, everything from bright white, yellow, red, purple, and blue, maybe depending on mood? You will find out more about it later ^^

Thank you, James Birdsong, for your comments!

So far, I've posted one chapter every week, but my university studies are beginning to take up a lot of my time. From now on it might take two/three weeks before I post a chapter, that will depend on how far ahead I can keep my writing. Hope you'll stick with me anyways, thank you again!