Riding Haku into the sky, the scenery on the ground grew smaller and smaller.
Chihiro gripped the two long horns on Haku's head, her body pressed close to his back.
Suddenly, an image appeared in her mind—underwater, a very small version of herself, in the same posture.
The river surged, and rocks were scattered everywhere.
A white figure darted through the bottom of the lake. That massive shadow seemed to drill back into the girl's memory, igniting the illusory and blurred oblivion, making his figure vivid once more.
The moon was half-hidden in the mist. The dragon and the human floated leisurely among the clouds, with a moderate wind blowing against their faces.
Chihiro craned her head forward against the wind and shouted loudly into Haku's ear.
"Haku! Listen. My Mama told me about this; I don't really remember it myself."
The wind whistled in her ears, but her youthful and firm voice could still reach Haku's ears.
"When I was little, I once fell into a river. That river has now been filled in and replaced by a building. But I just remembered."
"The name of that river."
"I remember now," Chihiro thought.
"That river was called the Kohaku River! Your real name is Kohaku River!"
The leaves rustled on the distant horizon. At those words, Haku's eyes widened—his scales stood on end like a cat with bristling fur.
Then, from head to tail, layers of scales fell away and drifted off like cherry blossoms scattering in the mist, shattering over the marshland.
Then, under Chihiro's expectant gaze, he headed straight for the distant moon.
With the scales gone, Haku, in human form, took Chihiro's hand.
"Thank you... Chihiro, thank you!" Their clothes flapped in the air, and though their voices weren't loud, they reached each other's hearts.
Haku was no longer cold; he could finally smile, cry, and express his emotions loudly: "My real name is Nigihayami Kohaku Nushi!"
"Nigihayami?"
"Nigihayami Kohaku Nushi."
Chihiro cried tears of joy. Her tears were blown upward by the wind, hitting the mouse's belly and splitting into several smaller droplets.
"What a wonderful name! Like a god!"
"I remember everything now. Back then, Chihiro fell into the Kohaku River because she was trying to pick up her shoe."
"Yes! It was the Kohaku River that carried me to the shore, wasn't it? I'm so happy!"
How beautiful.
Sen Getsusa murmured, watching the two of them holding hands as they flew over the lake, constantly disturbing the water's surface.
"Did you know all along that they would remember each other?"
"They might not have. But things that happened in the past are never forgotten."
Yubaba's Sister gazed contentedly at the sky... The Bathhouse usually operates at night; during the day, Spirit Street is almost empty of any living beings.
But today was different.
Yubaba had been standing at the entrance of the Bathhouse for half an hour. Behind her, a group of pigs watched her pace back and forth with a frown. Her anxious expression carried a hint of worry.
"What time is it? What time is it! Why aren't they here yet? Where is my baby?"
The frog: "Soon! Granny, Lord Haku informed me they'll be here any moment!"
Yubaba smiled sinisterly: "'Lord'? He's about to be torn into eight pieces by me! Frog."
The green-skinned frog promptly shut its mouth. Years of experience and lessons had taught it that when Granny was angry, it was best not to chatter in her ear... Fortunately, it didn't take long for this angry and uneasy atmosphere to be broken.
Several shouts suddenly came from behind the building.
"Look!"
"They're here, they're here! It's starting!"
"Mr. Bai! Mr. Bai is back!"
The silent Bathhouse burst into noise; every wall and rooftop was lined with employees, and at the front stood the girl who had helped Chihiro.
Yubaba turned at the sound and looked skyward. White Dragon slowly descended, holding Chihiro's hand. She unclipped the two small trinkets from her shoulder, signalling they could go back.
Yubaba shouted across the bridge: 'Baby? Where's my baby?!'
'Buzz-buzz-buzz!'
'Squeak-squeak-squeak!'
A mosquito dragged a little mouse by the scruff across the bridge; with a loud POP and a puff of smoke under Yubaba's bewildered gaze.
The Giant Baby and the Crow returned to their true forms.
Yubaba buried herself in the Giant Baby's arms.
'Baby my good baby's back oh you must be tired after the trip'
White Dragon called from the far end of the bridge: 'Yubaba! I've brought your baby back as promised. Let Chihiro and her parents return to the human World!'
Yubaba, still hugging the baby, poked her head out from his waist: 'I can't let her go so easily! This World has rules!'
'Ahhh—'
'Greedy witch—'
'As expected of Yubaba…'
'Breaking promises is obvious, isn't it?'
'Shhh—'
Yubaba snapped her head round: 'Shut up!'
The baby suddenly spoke: 'Mama, don't be stingy. Don't be like this. I had lots of fun; Chihiro took me to really interesting places.'
Yubaba looked up, startled; her suddenly grown Child caught her off guard.
At that moment the baby's face was serious: 'Please let Chihiro and her parents go back.'
'But baby, rules are rules…' Yubaba fidgeted, helpless and torn: 'Rules… can't be broken. Otherwise the spell won't lift.'
While explaining carefully she traced circles of varying sizes in the air to reinforce her words.
'Anyway, if you make Chihiro cry, I'll dislike you.'
The employees: … Sen Getsusa in the shadow by the wall: … Why does this feel like a son standing up for his wife against a mean mother?
Chihiro let go of White Dragon's hand, shook her head at him, and walked alone toward the Bathhouse door across the bridge, calling: 'Granny! I'm coming over now!'
Yubaba watched the girl, unchanged since her arrival, stride determinedly across the long bridge and stand before her.
'White Dragon already told me about the rule,' she said.
Yubaba gave her a sidelong glance: 'Good that you've made up your mind.'
She waved a scroll-like object in front of Chihiro. 'This is the contract you signed. Come here.'
She beckoned Chihiro, then told the baby: 'Baby, I'll be right back wait for me'
Around the corner Yubaba led Chihiro to a group of grey pigs. 'Pick out your parents from these pigs.'
A whole group…?
Chihiro studied the scene thoughtfully.
Rope partitions formed a line; the grey pigs, disciplined as Soldiers, stood in two neat rows, nudging one another behind the rope while turning their eyes to Chihiro.
'You get one chance. Guess right and I'll set you all free.'
Chihiro stepped closer, examining the well-trained pigs, at a loss—every one looked the same… 'Mama? Papa?'
The girl's tentative call drew no response from any grey pig.
They stared at her indifferently.
A crisp voice rang out behind her.
'Granny! I knew you were scamming again! Hmph, after tricking someone into Child labour, now you're making her hunt for something that doesn't exist, right?'
Yubaba and Chihiro turned; even the employees on the wall looked toward the sound.
Not far away, Sen Getsusa, in a shirt, lounged against the huge wooden bridge. She had rolled up her sleeves, arms draped over the rail, long legs crossed, a piece of chocolate between her teeth.
Long black waves cascaded like a waterfall to her waist; in the sunlight her hair looked like art spun from heated black pearls.
She playfully winked at Yubaba, pressed the tear-mole at the corner of her eye with a finger, and tugged it downward.
Blehh~~
ξ(?＞??)~
Yubaba spotted at once the human who had thwarted her several times.
Furious, her huge nose flaring, she crumpled the contract in her hand: 'Shut up! You—this—this is Chihiro's test! No one else may speak! Not a word!'
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