CHAPTER IX
-it's a human world-
Chihiro looked at Kohaku in dismay, but he didn't show any sign of disappointment. His emerald eyes were steadily locked on the table. Zeniba started talking again.
"It's a misfortune I can not help you this time, my dear. But, I can tell you the reason behind all of this. You can still go back, and forget everything. However, you might even be our last hope..." Zeniba paused as if she was asking whether to continue or not.
Chihiro turned to Kohaku, who this time returned the look and answered.
"We will listen" and Zeniba intertwined her fingers and placed her hands on the wooden surface.
"When the world was first created, Spirits and humans lived in harmony. It was a very long time ago. The Spirits always stood on humanity's side, they were the ones who helped them and controlled the forces of nature. Small or big, every community had its own God they prayed to, so the Spirits were all delighted that they earned such respect. Nevertheless, as centuries passed by, the humans started believing in their own strength and they neglected their Gods. They accomplished a lot of things on their own and they forgot that everything they had was thanks to the Spirits. That is the main story..." she paused.
No Face moved from his spot and went to fetch a bowl of cookies. Zeniba took one and continued.
"But humans have even started to destroy nature. The Spirits tried to punish them many times, but humans would just not listen. It was shortly after you left" at this point she looked at Kohaku "that less and less Spirits began coming to the Bath House. They said that it was a waste of time, so they selfishly withdrew into their Realm and refused to cooperate with human beings. As a result, the Bath House had as few customers as ever, and most employees couldn't work. Some disappeared, others turned into animals and scattered to the human world." At this point, Chihiro instantly thought of the bird she had seen some months before.
"Consequently, my sister couldn't run the business anymore, so I suppose that after packing up all of her gold and jewels, she fled away. This place is empty now, devoid of any magical traces. No Face and I, are the only ones around..." Zeniba sighed.
Both Chihiro and Kohaku looked astonished. No Face was naturally the only one who seemed to be calm.
"So in other words..." Kohaku said "It was a chain effect. And the ones responsible for this, are the humans?"
Zeniba nodded.
Chihiro looked at her, and only then did she realize why Zeniba had hesitated telling the truth.
"My race..." she began to say, but she couldn't finish the sentence.
After some moments the girl let a sigh through the nose, rose her head and looked at Zeniba in the eye.
"Granny, I want to go to where Yubaba is."
Zeniba burst into a loud laughter.
"I knew you would say that! And if you are lucky, she may still be where I think she is."
Zeniba stood up and went to the back of the room. When she returned, she was holding two one-way tickets. Chihiro immediately recognized them, as the tickets to the train she once rode to the Swamp Bottom.
"The train still works?" she exclaimed.
"It does. But it's too late now, it should pass by the station tomorrow before sunset. You have to get off at the last stop, the Sprinkling Square" she said and handed over the tickets.
"Granny, thank you" said the girl and hugged Zeniba, who was surprisingly shorter than Chihiro.
"Now, now...I am the one who should thank you two. And Kohaku, make sure to protect the girl, or else..." she glared at him and passed her finger across her non-existent neck.
"I would do so either way" he smiled and bowed.
Chihiro went to say goodbye to No Face, and he nodded as usual, but this time he seemed more vivid.
The couple took the way they had come, but this time the hopping light didn't show them the way. As they went further away from the house, the surroundings became darker and darker, but Chihiro didn't care. Her mind was occupied with Zeniba's words, and she struggled to think of a way that would bring about a change.