Chapter 3: Dinner Discussion
Chihiro told them about the events that had occurred over the past four years in the human world. Kamaji and Lyn listened intently to hear about the strange occurrences and things that humans did.
"Now, it's my turn." She lay down on the sleeping bag that had been prepared for her on the floor of the boiler room. "What's been going on here?"
"Oh, nothing much." Lyn replied. "Yubaba has remained hostile towards us but treats us generally fairly. I've been working hard since you left. Turns out I needed your assistance after all." She smiled, then continued, "Zeneba has been showing up quite a few times. It seems she's trying to make peace with her sister..."
Lyn retold some trivial, funny matters over the course of an hour. Chihiro nearly fell asleep until Lyn mentioned something that yanked her out of dreamland.
"...and tomorrow's the great Light festival, which also means it's Hakku's birthday-"
"Hakku?" Chihiro sat up erect in her sleeping bag. The promise zoomed back into her head, as well as a combination of other thoughts.
"Yeah, Hakku..." Lyn watched Chihiro carefully. "He still gives me grief with his quiet, yet cheeky exterior. But I catch him sometimes staring out of windows sadly, and gazing into the distance..." then she added sneakily, "...hoping that a certain young girl will return into his arms..."
"That's not true!" she snapped, realizing that in fact it was, and she scowled more at herself than at Lyn. Lyn proudly continued, knowing she had Chihiro right where she wanted her.
"He turns sixteen tomorrow and God help us for his twisted ways."
"Has he changed much?" Chihiro asked, trying to sound merely interested, and not overly exited.
"A fair bit in character, and in appearance. He seems to me more mature in appearance, but more immature in character." Lyn fixated a serious stare upon Chihiro's face. "Ever since you left, he has become more and more dependant on his memories of you to survive. He has attempted to change to suit the human world. He's tried changing the way he moves, the way he walks, the way he talks, the way he dresses, the way he is..."
Chihiro's face held both sleepiness and confusion, so Lyn decided to call it quits.
"That's all for a night. If you need anything just tell Kamaji and he'll get me right away. It's less risky that way. Tomorrow we'll try and disguise you somehow to suit the spirit world."
Chihiro nodded, then lay to sleep, and tried to imagine what Hakku would think of how she'd changed, or more importantly what she'd think of his change.
"Somehow..." muttered Lyn at the door, and blew the candle out.