Chapter 5
Transformation
Haku passed through Zeniba's front door into her parlor, where she was once again preparing snacks. This time, however, she knew Haku wouldn't have need or desire for food or drink, so she prepared a little something for herself and Kaonashi. Without even waiting for Kaonashi to eat, Haku floated up and entered his body. "How do I look?" asked the masked figure in Haku's voice. Zeniba replied, "You look like Kaonashi and you sound like Haku. Kaonashi was admitted to this world in this form and he has to go out looking the same."
"I'm not quite ready to head back yet," Haku said to Zeniba--hoping for some additional information.
"In some ways, you're as ready as you'll ever be. The only thing you lack is the ability to determine whether you can safely cross the portal to the human world. That's up to you--and you alone," noted Zeniba.
The next morning, Haku set out by train, returning to the Yu-ya station. He rather enjoyed his time as a formless being. It reminded him of the only enjoyment he had as a dragon: flying. Now that he was in a somewhat solid form again as Kaonashi, he had to go back to getting around like everybody else. Pulling up to the last stop at the main station, Haku eyed several non-shadow people, who were most likely former bathhouse employees, gathered in front of their shops engaging in friendly chit-chat. Remembering how well he could expect to be received as Kaonashi, Haku quickly left the train and entered the station building toward the portal to the human world. Until he actually stepped across the threshold into the human world, he could turn back. At the very least, this was like a full dress rehearsal. Kaonashi was in full conscious control of Kaonashi's body up until that last step.
It didn't take him long to reach the point he had practiced reaching before. "So far, so good." When he reached the portal, he was tempted to throw caution to the wind and just step out, when he noticed something amiss. The blocking stone was there, but the green warehouse wasn't--and the path was obscured by overgrowth. This wasn't the same place!
Haku returned to the station lobby and sat at a bench, pondering the situation. "If I step out," he thought, "I will become a part of a person I don't know in a place that could be anywhere. When I was at the portal as myself, I was returning to where I came from. Chihiro likely did the same. This is probably the place where Kaonashi entered. Is it worth the risk?" Haku decided that he needed to do something. He stood up resolutely and walked toward the open portal. He stepped out.
At that moment, back in Chihiro's bedroom, the purple hair band, unseen inside the music box, briefly glistened...
Transformation
Haku passed through Zeniba's front door into her parlor, where she was once again preparing snacks. This time, however, she knew Haku wouldn't have need or desire for food or drink, so she prepared a little something for herself and Kaonashi. Without even waiting for Kaonashi to eat, Haku floated up and entered his body. "How do I look?" asked the masked figure in Haku's voice. Zeniba replied, "You look like Kaonashi and you sound like Haku. Kaonashi was admitted to this world in this form and he has to go out looking the same."
"I'm not quite ready to head back yet," Haku said to Zeniba--hoping for some additional information.
"In some ways, you're as ready as you'll ever be. The only thing you lack is the ability to determine whether you can safely cross the portal to the human world. That's up to you--and you alone," noted Zeniba.
The next morning, Haku set out by train, returning to the Yu-ya station. He rather enjoyed his time as a formless being. It reminded him of the only enjoyment he had as a dragon: flying. Now that he was in a somewhat solid form again as Kaonashi, he had to go back to getting around like everybody else. Pulling up to the last stop at the main station, Haku eyed several non-shadow people, who were most likely former bathhouse employees, gathered in front of their shops engaging in friendly chit-chat. Remembering how well he could expect to be received as Kaonashi, Haku quickly left the train and entered the station building toward the portal to the human world. Until he actually stepped across the threshold into the human world, he could turn back. At the very least, this was like a full dress rehearsal. Kaonashi was in full conscious control of Kaonashi's body up until that last step.
It didn't take him long to reach the point he had practiced reaching before. "So far, so good." When he reached the portal, he was tempted to throw caution to the wind and just step out, when he noticed something amiss. The blocking stone was there, but the green warehouse wasn't--and the path was obscured by overgrowth. This wasn't the same place!
Haku returned to the station lobby and sat at a bench, pondering the situation. "If I step out," he thought, "I will become a part of a person I don't know in a place that could be anywhere. When I was at the portal as myself, I was returning to where I came from. Chihiro likely did the same. This is probably the place where Kaonashi entered. Is it worth the risk?" Haku decided that he needed to do something. He stood up resolutely and walked toward the open portal. He stepped out.
At that moment, back in Chihiro's bedroom, the purple hair band, unseen inside the music box, briefly glistened...