We walked slowly up the long road, each bend and turn in the road giving way to more beautiful landscapes.
Chihiro looked about excitedly exclaiming about how exciting it was to see it in the daytime.
Turning around a steep turn Chihiro, ahead of Haku and I, stopped suddenly motioning for us to hurry.
I looked at Haku, smiling curiously, before sprinting around the turn.
There in the middle of the dirt road was a silver hare standing on its hind feet just like a human would stand.
The hare didn't move, it simply stared at us; it's deep brown eyes watching us as we looked at each other.
"What is it doing?" I asked Haku, Chihiro as well looked at him questioningly.
His green eyes gazed at the hare and as he watched it the hare's eyes found his.
I shivered slightly; the hare seemed intelligent and aware of us and possibly who we are.
"I think he is accompanying us to Zeniba's house, he refuses to speak to me but that is my best guess." Haku said shrugging slightly.
He stepped forward calmly and Chihiro and I followed.
The hare stayed in place until we were standing over it.
Its silver fur glistened against the sun as he rested his four feet on the ground and came up to sniff Haku first.
The hare looked up at him once more and I could have sworn his small mouth turned into a smile. I mentally shook myself wondering if I had imagined it.
I mustn't have because after smiling he raised himself on his hind legs and bowed to Haku who bowed back in turn.
He hopped over to Chihiro next bowing as well and nudged against her leg.
She laughed as she knelt down to pet it.
"You have such soft fur little hare." She said smiling happily as the hare kept nudging against her leg acting more like a cat than a hare.
Finally moving back over Haku, the hare stood before me and bent his small lean frame into a deep bow.
I mimicked him and watched him curiously.
Something about him seemed familiar, his eyes looked like someone I must have known, it was such a frustrating and uncanny feeling.
The hare, which seemed to strike me as a male in gender, hopped forward slightly and rested his front paws on my legs.
I was puzzled at his behavior that seemed so different towards each one of us.
His behavior to me, reminded me of how I would get my fathers attention when I wanted to be held.
Maybe that's what this hare wanted, I thought curiously.
"Do you want me to pick you up?" I asked unsure of what to do.
His silver head nodded in the slightest and I looked over at Chihiro and Haku not completely sure if I was seeing things right.
Chihiro looked like she wanted to squeal and Haku was smiling at me nodding for me to continue.
I handed Haku my box for safekeeping.
Reaching down I picked up the hare as delicately as I could and held him across my arms as I held him to me.
I couldn't help but smile, something about his tiny heartbeat and soft nature made me feel at peace.
Chihiro walked around to my other side and pet the hare as I held him.
Haku began walking again and Chihiro and I moved to catch up.
The hare seemed to like her hand his body began humming and vibrating as she pets him.
As we came up to walk in line with Haku he leaned over gracefully to pet the hare, his long white fingers a beautiful contrast between the silver fur he was petting and his skin.
"It looks like you really belong here, even the creatures here seem to always take a liking to you." I heard his voice whisper into my ear as I tried to keep a blush from creeping to my cheeks.
He chuckled; most likely noticing the blush rising on my cheeks, which only made me, blush more.
His words rang in my ears as he leaned back and kept walking.
Chihiro was still focusing on the hare and didn't notice what had transpired.
Maybe he was right, other than the shadows chasing us I felt at peace in this world. I could start over here, and it was true I seemed to be having a lot of luck making friends.
Once this is all over maybe I could stay here for a while, it would be infinitely better than back home with that shadow I once knew as my mother.
My train of thought was interrupted when Zeniba's cottage came into view, everything about it welcoming and humble.
Chihiro squealed with delight and rushed forward coming to a sudden stop in front of the door.
Raising her thin arm she rapped on the door and waited, moving back and forth on the balls of her feet with excitement.
I laughed and came to stand behind her with Haku.
A short old woman opened the door; the lines on her face were deeply engraved in her skin. Her grey hair was wound into a modest bun atop her head and she smiled at us kindly as we stood there.
Chihiro bolted through the door and wrapped her long arms around the woman who pulled her into a big hug.
"Granny it's been so long!" Chihiro exclaimed her face hidden in the woman's shoulder.