A/N: Yaaaay an update after a millennium of inactivity. I apologise in advance, but as I said I will finish this story one way or another. This chapter is now finished...and I have no excuse, I am a terrible human being. At this current time I will not be adding anything new to previous chapters, I realise that the chapters are a little short and from now on I'll be trying to make them longer. After I finish the story, I am likely to go back and revise the previous chapters but you will be notified if that is the case. Onward to chapter 8!
A gentle tap on my head woke me from my slumber. I rapidly blinked to take in my surroundings, it's still night. I brushed my wrist over my lips to rid myself of the drool on it. A small wet stain was on the shoulder of Haku's shirt and I tried to apologise as my cheeks burned. He let out a gentle laugh.
"It's okay. You seem to have slept well, I'm glad." His smile only made me feel more embarrassed. "This is our stop, I don't think you want to miss it."
We stepped out onto the great sea, the train pulled out of the station and trailed away into the unknown. The familiar island greeted us once more, but Granny's lamp was no where to be seen. I suppose I shouldn't have expected to see it again, after all that was the only time I visited her and perhaps she didn't feel the need to keep one anymore? Haku is about to lead the way when we heard a faint sound, an irregular beat that grew louder by the second. We scanned the area and Haku's sharp eyes spotted the light first. It was the lamp. It bounded up to us in a frantic manner, paused for a moment to bow before resuming its erratic dance, bouncing all over the place. Haku furrowed his eyebrows.
"Take us there." He picked up my hand in his and we raced across the dark grounds after the candle lamp. It did not curl itself up onto the gate as it had done last time but instead continued on until it hopped madly around in front of the door. It was slightly ajar with a light from within.
"Oh no." I murmured and we rushed in.
My worst fears were confirmed. The cottage was empty with only a fire in the hearth and the one ceiling lamp lit. There was a kettle on the stove furiously boiling, spilling it's contents into the flames below. I quickly shut it off as Haku took a look around. I wouldn't have known if anything was missing, but everything seemed to be in order. Yet, there was no sign of Granny anywhere. No-face should have also been here, unless something had happened and he was trying to tell me that in our earlier meeting. I silently kicked myself for not paying closer attention, but Haku called me over not allowing me to continue.
"You haven't had the chance to meet with her, right?" I nodded in response. He frowned before pointing to something that was caught in the window sill. I instantly recognised it as one of the paper birds and reached out for it, but he stopped my hand. Instead he lifted the window slightly and I feared it would have flown out by the wind, but to my surprise it remained motionless for a minute. As if by magic it floated up until it was perfectly balanced on the pointed tip, wings outstretched. It was by magic, I thought to myself. I had forgotten for a moment where we were. Zeniba appeared before us, though Yubaba and her look alike, I'm certain it was Zeniba standing before us.
"Granny!" I yell, overjoyed to see her well. I saw Haku shake his head, looking more unsettled than ever and glanced at him inquiringly.
"This is not a current projection of herself. This was a message left by her."
I opened my mouth to ask a question but Granny started speaking before I could get a word out.
"Chihiro, I am so glad you are back. It has been a long time, I'm sorry I can't say much right now, but I hope we can meet again soon. I had to leave rather suddenly to take care of something, I am sorry I could not see you earlier. But my child, I am giving you a warning right now. Please be careful during your stay here. I feel something lurking in the shadows, haunting this world. I don't know what it is, which is why I left to go find out. Don't worry about my safety I will be just fine. However, you must be on your guard from now on. Haku." Her apparition turns to face him as if she knew, and it's hard to believe it's a prerecorded message. "I am counting on you to take good care of Chihiro just as you did before when she was young. She will need your help and the help of the others. Check the table." She points to it. "I have left something for you and I promise I'll be in touch soon."
Her image faded and the paper bird fell flat on one side. We checked the table and see two train tickets for this destination as well as a small wrapped box. The tickets I presumed were saved for a later time when we would need to return, but Haku stopped me before I could open the box.
"We will check what's in it when we get back. I don't think it's too safe to stay here for now. She was in a rush for a reason, and I don't believe she only left in a hurry to check something, but also to escape something."
I nodded and we quickly fled the island, returning to the train station. Luck seemed to be on our side as the train's light was already in the distance and pulled into the station in a matter of minutes. This time we were alone in the compartment, I guess it was to be expected so late at night and I was beyond thankful Haku was with me.
The two of us remained silent for a long time and I couldn't get Granny's words out of my mind. Something lurking on the shadows...haunting this world. What did she mean by it all? Even Haku seemed to see something in the message that evaded me as he mentioned her escaping something. What was after her? Why?
"Haku?" I quietly asked after some time has passed. Our journey back was maybe only halfway over, but I feel like yet another one is only about to begin.
"Yes, Chihiro?" He looked away from the vacant sea and smiled at me. It disappeared when he saw my expression. "Is something the matter?"
"You told me about some of the things that happened in the Spirit World after I left. What else happened?"
He shifted a little uncomfortably in his seat and gazed back at the sea once more. "It really isn't important what else happened. It doesn't really concern you."
I grasped his shoulder to try and force him to look at me and he did so albeit a little reluctantly. "Haku. I know you are trying to protect me, but I think you're lying when you say it doesn't concern me. You knew what Granny might have talking about, didn't you?" He continued to look silently at me with an impassive expression. It didn't work on me though. Despite being reserved during our last meeting, towards the end I could tell how he really felt underneath. That sense didn't fail me this time either. "I knew it." I let him go and went back to staring at the sea as well.
An uncomfortable silence settled between us as the train pulled in and out of faraway stations with not a single passenger in sight. I tried to hold a steady gaze and not let any emotion show on my face as the night went on, but I was nowhere near as good as Haku at hiding them.
A felt him hold my hand once we were closer to our destination which surprised me considerably but I tried to keep my cool. I looked over to him and he had that same smile I remember from years ago and all the awkwardness that built up in the last few hours melted away instantly and I just had to smile back. "I'm sorry Chihiro. I am trying to protect you a little too much aren't I? Come to the clock tower tomorrow evening and I will try to answer all the questions that I can."
"Promise?"
He smiled at the request. "Promise."
Again I am a terrible human being for forgetting to write the fanfictions, but also not having the time to write them. Please humbly forgive this author for she really doesn't mean to do it! This chapter is now complete and as usual, feedback is always wonderful so I know that there's still an interest in the story's continuation. After all, an author's story is nothing without the readers who enjoy it! Also let me know if the chapters are a bit too short, if you prefer them a little longer or if these are fine. Thanks again!