I walk out the front doors of Izumi Kouko High School and pause for a moment to take in a deep breath of the outdoor air. The gentle breeze tangled my long brown hair cascading down my back in their more recent pigtail style. I reposition my heavy school bag over my shoulder and continue my stride.

Gosh, I never really realized how stuffy the classrooms can get! I wish we could just have class outside all the time…

With that thought my imagination immediately pictured the big grassy fields outside the big red "amusement park" building from so long ago. I give a sigh and look down at my school uniform to straighten out the skirt.

Has it really been four and a half years since THEN…I think to myself. It seems like so much longer…I wonder how everyone is doing…is Kamaji still at the boiler? Is Yubaba still terrorizing all the workers? How is Linn doing? And Haku…

"Chihiro!"

Startled out of my thoughts I turn to see my friend, Kimiko, running towards me.

"I called you like, four times before you turned around, are you alright?" She lays her hand upon my arm to slow me down.

"Sorry Kimiko, I was just deep in my own thoughts…"

Kimiko gives me a concerned look, "Is it something you would like to talk about?"

I let out a little sigh. "No...it's more…my imagination than anything of importance…sorry for making you worry."

She gives me a yeah, like I believe that look and I rush to convince her, "It's nothing, really!" I give her my masked smile. "So how is Yuuki doing?" trying to change the conversation towards her new boyfriend instead of at me.

She immediately brightened, "Oh my GOSH! He is sooo nice and caring and tall and…" I smile at her excitement but after a little bit I start to zone out knowing this topic will keep her occupied until we reach our parting streets towards home.

Since I'm already in the reminiscing mood, I look back on the first time I met Kimi in my first years of Middle School…

*flash back*

It was the first day of my new middle school and, of course, I knew no one. With my adventure with Haku still fresh in my mind I knew that going to school wouldn't be as hard as I had originally thought. Oh how wrong I was…

Since I was an incoming 2nd year to the school I felt like I was an outcast, everyone already knew each other and had friends from the previous years. As I walked into the classroom, I saw that everybody was already seated and ready to start the day; the teacher, Mayumi-Sensei, turned to the door as it slid open and smiled warmly.

"Welcome! Class, please greet your new classmate, Ogino Chihiro. She has just moved into the neighborhood from Asaksa, so please help her feel welcomed!"

Some of the kids smiled while more than a few looked skeptical and there even were some who looked as if they wanted to laugh.

I bowed my head and said quietly, "Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu."

I glanced up from under my bangs and then quickly looked down. They all stood up and bowed back saying, "Welcome, Chihiro!"

Mrs. Mayumi smiled in response and said, "Chihiro, please take a seat next to Mima Mizuki near the back. Well then, let's get started! Today is going to be all about grammar!" The class gave a collective groan.

I carefully walked toward my new seat and glanced at the girl I will be sitting next to. She had black-as-night hair, pale white complexion and dark gray eyes.

As I approach I give her a tentative smile, "Hajimemashite…I'm Chihiro, it's nice to meet you, Mizuki-san…" She glances at me from beneath a layer of hair and then turned away.

Hmm…alright, I guess she's not too talkative…

I sat down in my seat and quietly brought out my notebook and pencil. I must work hard to get good grades this year. I made a silent promise to Haku that I would do my best. I must not let him down!

I tried to remain attentive and take good notes on everything Mayumi-Sensei taught and I was focused so hard that when the bell rang, I jumped a little in my seat. I turned towards Mizuki to ask her if she wanted to get lunch with me, only to see the tail ends of her hair as she whipped past my desk and out the door. My shoulders slumped at the obvious rejection and silently packed up my things; as I shouldered my bag and walked out into the hallway, I felt the presence of someone behind me. I turned around and saw a guy's uniform right in my face. I tilted my head backwards to see a hard jaw and even harder eyes glaring at me.

I recoiled a bit at the obvious dislike written all over his face while he sneered at me and said, "Well well well…looks like we have a little mouse entering our school."

I stepped back and realized that there were two guys, one with spiky blonde hair(obviously bleached), the other with side-swept black hair, and a girl, with long wavy brown hair, were standing behind him.

"I'm sorry…I don't believe I know you…" I swallowed hard, this looked bad…first day of school and already making enemies by just being here.

"No you don't but lemme introduce you, I'm Niko, behind me is Hikaru, Katsuro, and my girlfriend Rika. We're here to welcome you to our school;" His expression changed to that of a smirk, "Don't think that you are worth anything around here. You are at the bottom of the heap, lower than even the first years. So get used to being our underling, that'll be as high as you get in this place."

At that he pushed me hard into the wall making my head crack against the plaster and causing my book bag to fall and scatter its contents. While Niko and company laughed and continued down the hall, I sat up and rubbed the already rising bump on the back of my head glaring daggers at their backs as students practically jumped out of their way.

I stood up and brushed off my new uniform. "What jerks…" I mutter to myself.

"Yeah they can be pretty rude." My eyes widen as I quickly spin around hoping I was not overheard by someone from within their inner circle about to be snitched on.

The girl standing before me was about my height and she had a nice heart shaped face. Her cheeks were a pretty pink, her brown-black hair was pulled back into half pigtails, she had big azure eyes surrounded by long brown lashes and a smile that showed her perfect, white teeth.

I couldn't help myself from giving a small grin in return as she said, "Hi, my name is Kimiko Yamada! You are in my class, it is very nice to meet you Chihiro!"

She stuck out her hand in greeting. I clasped it in my own, slightly clammy, hand. "Don't be nervous, I don't like that group anymore than most of the student body." She glared at the retreating backs of the four upperclassmen.

"Come on, let's go get some food!" I glanced down and murmured, "Hai, Yamada-san." She grimaced and said with a wink, "Ugh, please…Yamada-san is way too formal; call me Kimi, Chihiro-chan!" "Hai…Kimi-chan!"

We made our way down the hall towards the cafeteria all the while talking about random things. From that moment on I knew that we would become best friends.

*end flashback*

Kimi was still talking, giggling and blushing, telling me about the latest thing that Yuuki gave to her as a gift, "Oh goodness, and then he gave me this CUUUUTE stuffed bunny with a pink bow and it was sooo fluffy! And then we went to the park and walked around…"

I smiled at her obvious joy and giggled along with her as she recounted her and Yuuki's first kiss.

I wonder where Haku is…He promised we would see each other again…but it's been almost five years…

Before I knew it, Kimi and I got to our parting street. "Okies Chihiro-chan, I have to go this way, I will see you next week! Have a good weekend!" Kimi said while going to the right.

I waved, "See ya Kimi-chan! Say hi to Yuuki for me!" She blushed, nodded and started off towards her home while I turned left and walked away.

End of Chapter 1