"But Mom!" Chihiro complained to her mother. "It's not up for discussion, Chihiro." Her mother told her. Chihiro sighed and slumped in her chair.
Frowning, she pushed away her cereal bowl.
"Chihiro, don't be such a brat." She was scolded. Chihiro ignored her and stared out to space.
"You can't be here! Get out of here! Now!"
Chihiro shuddered at the absent memory. These words came to her mind a lot, just suddenly. Not just those words, many others.
"We're identical twins, but exact opposites."
"Once you've met someone you never truly forget them."
She shook herself out of the small trance. Ever since she had moved here, these memories had come to her again and again. But from where?
She feared she may never know.
Chihiro sighed as she regretfully pulled herself out of her chair and grabbed her backpack. She opened her front door and headed off for Junior High.
It wasn't such a bad place, really. She thought to herself as she walked along.
It was a nice neighborhood, she had lots of friends, and some crushes here and there. She should be really happy, actually. But she was only sorta happy. The only thing blocking the full happiness was…
The memories. It was kind of haunting, actually. The words would play in her head, almost pleading for her to remember. But, alas, she could not.
The day went by extremely normal. Periods 1, 2, 3, 4, lunch, 5, 6. Her friends, Ai, Kiyomi, and Michio, walked with her in the direction of there homes, all of them parting finally, except her and Michio.
They had a crush on each other, which was no secret. It was a small crush on her part, but not on Michio's. His friends constantly told her about his admiration for her.
Her long, flowing, silky brown hair that she now left down. Her sparkling midnight eyes. And her perfect height-not to short, not to tall, just… perfect.
Michio was cute. He had brown hair, brown eyes, not big deal. He also had a babyish face and was medium height. He was just cute to her really.
He smiled his cute, white smile as they arrived to her house. He always walked her home, though her house was far from his.
He looked at her and she knew he was going to hug her, as he always did.
"Meet me at the bridge."
Chihiro quickly stumbled back, leaving both her and Michio with confused looks on their faces.
"Uh, bye…" Chihiro said quietly. She stumbled for the doorknob and quickly went into her house. She took in a deep breath and turned towards the kitchen.
Well that was just… Weird. She thought.
That 'memory' was so over powering… It was a new one, which was for sure. She shook the thoughts away and was greeted in the usually empty kitchen-at this time- by her parents and Yuuko… Her cousin.
"Hey cous!" Yuuko grinned at her, jumping up from her seat at the kitchen table. Chihiro blinked. She now remembered why she had been arguing with her mother this morning…
"Yuuko's moving in with us, Chihiro."
"What? No! Why, Mom?"
"Because, her mother isn't a very good one. You know that. You'll have to share your room with her."
Chihiro and Yuuko were the same age; 13. They were only a few months apart, Chihiro being the older one.
They were extremely different.
Yuuko was loud, obnoxious, brave, and adventurous. But around adults she was sweet, polite, and a bit of a kiss up.
She was also strong and a bit violent. Chihiro dreaded getting into fights with her. Yuuko had had to defend herself from her 2 step-dad until her mom finally divorced him. During that time, she had learned to be strong and ignore pain.
Despite the differences, they were also slightly alike.
They were both stubborn. It must have run through the blood. When they set their minds on something, there was no stopping them. They also looked astonishingly alike at first glance. They both had long brown hair, black eyes. Yuuko was shorter, though, and paler. She also had some freckles dotting her nose.
Chihiro didn't really like Yuuko. She just annoyed her… But Yuuko, clueless as she was, didn't seem to understand that. She continued to grin stupidly at Chihiro.
"Chihiro, say hello to your cousin." Chihiro's mother said, a warning tone in her voice.
Chihiro sighed. "Hello, Yuuko." She said, slightly annoyed. Yuuko jumped up. "Hey! I've been dying to come here! How bout you show me around?!" She begged eager as ever.
She had been there, what, five minutes?
"How about tomorrow?" Chihiro's mother told Yuuko. Chihiro shot her a grateful glance as she shot off to her room as she heard a sigh of protest escape Yuuko's lips.
Chihiro flopped back on her bed, tired from the long day. She noticed another bed in the room. This would definitely take some getting used to.
She rolled over.
And Yuuko burst into the room. "I'm tired! That plane ride was looooong."
"Oh dear, you woke up the baby!"
Chihiro sat up quickly and looked around. Some how Yuuko was already fast asleep on the bed.
Chihiro's school lasted a long time today. Exams. So it was already around 8. But Yuuko didn't usually sleep till 1.
With a yawn, she sleepily shut her eyes and also fell asleep.
"I'm Chi- I mean Sen."
Chihiro's eyes shot open. That was her voice this time. She didn't remember saying that! Saying… Well, she had already forgotten… But that was weird.
She looked to the left and saw Yuuko was already out of bed. "You sleep loooong, cous!" Yuuko said, looking over her. "It's already 2."
Chihiro sat up. She was six hours late for school! "Why didn't someone wake me?!"
Yuuko laughed. "Cause its appropriate to sleep in on Saturdays!" She winked. Chihiro sighed. Always with the games.
"Come on!" Yuuko said, pulling her out of bed. "You have to show me around now!" Chihiro sighed and got ready.
After a short breakfast, the two girls left for town. The town wasn't very big, so there wasn't much to show. After about 2 hours-with lunch and some talking and buying things- Chihiro concluded the 'tour'.
"What a boring town." Yuuko complained. Chihiro shrugged. "If you don't like it, leave." She muttered.
Yuuko had an offended look, but quickly shook it away. "Let's explore!"
She grabbed Chihiro's hand and shot off randomly.
They ran until they came to a foresty path. Chihiro recognized it from when they first moved here. It was a creepy place up ahead.
Chihiro stopped.
"We can't go up there, Yuuko." She told her. Yuuko looked at her.
"Hm? Why not?"
Chihiro quickly racked her brain for an excuse. "It's trespassing." She lied. Yuuko grinned. "Well, you could use some adventure in your life!"
She grabbed Chihiro's wrist and dragged her down the long, winding, forest path.
Yuuko began to get freaked out, not when they first passed the shrines, but when she saw the little cylinder statue.
She made a face, but kept on, dragging a reluctant Chihiro behind her.
Until they came to an old-looking beat down red building. The two girls stopped.
"No, Yuuko. We can't go in!"
Yuuko looked at her as if she was crazy. It took them a whole freaking hour to get down the path! Maybe 2!
"Come on." She said. "The sun sets quickly here…" She told Yuuko. "Just a peek!" Yuuko replied, running inside the building. Chihiro ran after her.
"Don't cling, Chihiro. You'll make me trip."
Chihiro gasped and looked around. That sounded as if it came next to her.
"Don't be such a scardey-cat!"
She stopped walking. "What'd you say?"
"Don't be such a scardey-cat!" Yuuko called. "Stop being a weirdo." Chihiro ran up next to her and then spotted a light as the entered a small room. She looked at the familiarly of the room.
"Whoa!" Chihiro hadn't noticed Yuuko had run out of the building to look at the big amusement park in front of her. The big grassy plain spread out in front of her and rocks covering what should have been a river.
Chihiro timidly walked out after her. "We should really head back." She insisted. Yuuko waved her off.
"Chill out!" She said, running up the rocky river. "What a pretty place." She sniffed. "I'm hungry. That food sure smells good. Let's check it o-"
"NO!" Chihiro screamed. Yuuko looked at her with wide eyes.
That wasn't like Chihiro at ALL. "Chihiro… What's wrong?" Yuuko asked her, stepping over the river.
Chihiro shook her head, hysterically. "No! Don't! YUUKO!
