To continue on...thanks for reviewing, dream lighting, Himeno Kazehito, Veseer Vivian and Rebellion-10.
The girls were in for a surprise when they finally reached Zeniba's house. For one thing, she seemed to have been expecting them all, the first words she said being "So, you all made it." Maybe she'd had something to do with the lampost that had led them to her house, too.
Chihiro presented her with the seal. "I came to give it back."
"I see. Do you have any idea what this is?" Zeniba asked.
"Is it or is it not the seal you said Haku stole?" Arya asked, looking a bit annoyed. "We wanted to apologize for him."
"He sliced me in two, you know," Zeniba stated, "And I'm still angry." However, she seemed happy to have the seal back, although she was surprised at one thing. "What? The protective spell is gone!"
Chihiro frowned. "I'm sorry...you mean that black slug that was on your seal?"
"I squashed it." Arya explained.
Zeniba laughed. "That wasn't my slug! My sister put that slug in Haku so she could control him. You squashed it..." she laughed again. "But what happened to my spell? Only love can break it."
Arya remembered what Kamaji had said. Maybe it was true. But who had broken the spell – her or Chihiro? Each girl felt sure that it was them, but doubts swirled around. Haku had helped them from the start, and they both wanted to return the favour, but did the intense need to save him and caring feelings mean that it was love?
The baby-turned-mouse and bird-turned-fly were still on Arya's shoulder. "Hey," she said, "Could you please change these two back to normal?"
"The spell on those two wore off long ago." Zeniba explained. "They can change back if they want to." Both of them shook their heads.
While Zeniba set up tea, the two creatures were set to spinning thread by running on the wheel, as the girls and No-Face sat at the table. The girls found Zeniba was nothing at all like she had been back at the bathouse, and they explained a bit about what had happened to them to get them where they were, and how they wanted to save their parents and Haku.
"I don't get along with my sister." Zeniba told them. "She's so obnoxious, and you saw how tacky her home is. We're identical twins, yet exact opposites. I'm sorry she turned your parents into pigs, but there's nothing I can do. It's just the way things are. You'll both have to help your parents and Haku on your own. Use what you remember about them."
"Can't you please give us more of a hint than that?" Chihiro asked.
"She's finding it hard to hang on to our memories of our parents." Arya explained. "And we are having some kind of memories about Haku, but I'm not sure. He told us that he's known us since we were little."
"Yes, it seems like I might've met him once, at least." Chihiro added. "But it was a long time ago."
"That's a good start." Zeniba encouraged. "Once you've met someone, you never really forget them. It just takes a while for your memories to return. While you two are thinking, the boys and I are going to make both of you something, and I want both of you to call me Granny from now on."
While everyone else was making something with the spinning wheel, the girls raked through their memories. Sometimes they talked in low voices to try and piece things together, sometimes they were silent. Arya mostly stared into space as she thought, while Chihiro crouched with her head down and knees drawn up.
After about half an hour, Chihiro looked up at her sister. "Can you remember anything?" she asked.
Arya shook her head. "Mom and Dad are becoming harder to remember, and whenever I try to remember anything about Haku, my mind just brings up a white and turquoise colour."
Chihiro went up to Zeniba. "Granny, I can't remember anything at all." she said anxiously. "Haku could be dead already and I'm just sitting around here." Her eyes filled with tears.
"And Mom and Dad could be killed and eaten any time now!" Arya added. She blinked back the tears that threatened to fall.
Finally, Zeniba gave the two girls what she and the others had made – a hair tie for each of them. Chihiro's one was in shimmering purple, while Arya's sparkled, but it was sky blue.
"They'll protect you." Zeniba explained. "They're made from the threads your friends wove together."
"Thank you." the girls chorused. This time, Arya unwound her usual bun, swapping it for a ponytail, similar to Chihiro's. When her sister gave her a questioning look, Arya mouthed sisterhood at her. Never had the two girls ever worn their hair the same way since the ages of four and five – their rivalry had made them want to be anything but similar. But within the last few days, the girls had grown closer than they'd ever been before.
At that moment, the shutters in the house rattled. "What good timing!" Zeniba exclaimed. "We've got another guest. Will one of you let him in?"
Chihiro opened the door, but before she could even acknowledge the new arrival, Arya ran out to the majestic white dragon. Chihiro soon followed, crying out "Haku!"
"You're alive!" Arya murmured.
"I can't believe it. How did it happen?" Chihiro said, not really expecting an answer.
Zeniba smiled as she came to the doorway. "That's love for you."
The girls turned to her. "Look, Granny, Haku's alive!" Chihiro said.
Zeniba approached Haku. "I forgive you for stealing my precious seal," she told him, "But in return you must take care of these girls." She turned to the mouse and fly. "Okay, you two, it's time to go home. Come back soon." The mouse was her nephew, after all. They went back, this time on Chihiro's shoulder. No-Face decided to stay with Zeniba.
Finally, the girls hugged Zeniba goodbye. In a very short time, she really had become someone the girls could feel for like a grandmother. It was hard for them to believe that she was the same person they met at the bathouse that morning. "Don't worry, Sen, Ani." she said. "You'll be all right."
"I want you to know my real name." Chihiro said. "It's Chihiro."
"Mine's Arya." the older girl added.
"What pretty names." Zeniba remarked, the same way her twin had. "You take good care of them."
"We will." Arya assured her.
"Take care!" Chihiro called as the girls climbed onto Haku's back. "Thanks for everything!" And then they were flying in the sky.
There's one more chapter and an epilogue left! Hope you liked this one. Please review!