The Shrine Maiden
Chapter I
〜Imagination〜
Chihiro's story about the Spirit World has become a bestseller leading to her success. But the fame and money never brought her happiness, only trouble. With time, she stops believing in her own story's actuality after defending its reality for years. Traveling away from her hometown, Chihiro pays a visit to a local shrine in Maizuru. Abruptly, the forgotten world of kami returns.
Rated T to M
Dedicated to Lady Librarian's: The Road to Somewhere
By〜花の神様
Running around her bedroom, Chihiro packed her belongings. Everything of importance went piled inside cardboard boxes, some things folded and some not.
Shirts, pants, underwear, and shoes.
Accessories, toiletries, and trinkets.
She packed it all.
'Why must you leave Chihiro?' Her mother's choked up voice chimed in her head. A rock settled in her stomach. It was about time she left this old blue house. Her resolve was to transit to someplace far from her hometown. On her own! No more being sheltered under her parents' wing.
College hadn't worked out for her; she didn't want to keep trying. Everyone insisted, everyone advised her it would make her more successful. She could never write another book again! No matter how long she stared at her laptop, nothing could be sprung from her imagination.
Imagination.
2010's bestseller, "Spirited Away" and 2012's award winning animation film by Hayao Miyazaki was written by a 16 year-old-girl named Chihiro Ogino.
It was the top grossing film in Japanese history.
It first inaugurated as a manuscript written by a 10 year-old-girl, it was horribly scribbled out. The grammar and punctuation was flawed in nearly every sentence. It was merely something for Chihiro to leisurely read.
So she would never forget her time in that place.
Eventually, as years passed, Chihiro came across the old manuscript. She redrafted it when she was 16-years-old, still believing. Chihiro spent countless hours with her editor when she predetermined to get it published. They helped her rephrase each sentence and enhance her vocabulary. One of the drawings she scribbled was taken by an artist and revamped professionally.
The cover of the book was a miraculous bathhouse, nothing more or less.
Hayao Miyazaki of Studio Ghibli came across her story. He absolutely loved the concept, the creatures, and the Japanese folklore within the story. Using her book and many sketches, Chihiro's bestseller became an animation film in 2012.
Chihiro was 18-years-old by then.
As more time transpired and the fans sprawled across the world even, Chihiro became famous. She went to worldwide book signings and was happy to see all the little kids that told her they believed. It made Chihiro's heart sing. She still believed, but the fire of belief in her heart started to waver. The adults didn't believe –it was a child's story; hence she stopped believing under the influence of her peers. It was just her juvenile imagery put into a fiction.
She defended her story, saying it was honest! Yubaba was really a witch, who owned a bathhouse for the fatigued kami. A half-man-half-spider kami constructed the herbal water which had individual aliments in them. Lin was really her friend. And Haku was really a dragon. She spent so long upholding their existence.
Until she grew weary.
Until she evoked it all fantasy.
The memories of that world naturally became blurry along with the rest of her childhood memories. Long ago she was able to envision everyone clearly, even smell the herbal water; though now she was lucky to recall the color of Yubaba's dress. She pursued to grow older as the image of that place stayed invariable, reminiscence becoming decrepit, seeming more and more as just a story she sprung up.
The money from it became overwhelming.
It was arduous to make or keep friends. Everyone ogled and awed once they found out who Chihiro was. She had been on TV more than once, on interviews and acclaimed on the news whenever Spirited Away's anniversary came up. She was a child prodigy! Many desired her friendship at school even prior to the film.
She was popular, but she was alone.
"Chi-chan~ Come with us t'go shopping!"
"Chi-chan this is so cute, but I don't have any money…"
"Chi-chan, sorry I accidently dropped your cell phone, but you can buy another easily right?"
Of course, Chihiro had all the money in the world to spare on little things.
She didn't have a job, she didn't need one. College was suggested to increase her writing dexterity, but she couldn't handle it. The people were suffocating, the classes tedious, all the while her editor insisted on a new novel. The document in her laptop lingered blank for quite some time now. She returned home from college and stayed with her parents for a few months.
She announced her departure only a few days ago.
She was tired of Osaka.
Where she was going, didn't really matter.
Chihiro wanted to get away, the next morning she would leave. After they demolished the red clock tower and cut down the forest, nothing was left for Chihiro in Osaka but unpleasant and confusing memories. The adventure she remembered was through the red tower, but the building was crumbled. All hopes of "Spirited Away" being real perished along with the forest. Houses soon replaced what was once there.
. . .
"You're not hungry?" Yuuko asked crosswise Chihiro. Her eyes squinted with concern making her wrinkles more prominent.
Chihiro stared obscurely out the window to the neighboring vegetation adjacent their house. She left her rice bowl full and untouched. "Not really…" She mumbled wistfully.
Akio peered over the lip of his rice bowl which was shoved in front of his face. He stopped gorging his food to observe Chihiro. "You're not still strung up over that Kyo are ya?" He asked inquiringly before returning to his meal.
Wide eyed, Chihiro spun her head in the direction her parents were sitting. Yuuko was looking at her worriedly while Akio was still eating. "N-No!" Chihiro blurted and reddened at the mention of Kyo's name.
He was a scandalous memory.
At first friendly.
Kyo was a nice boy she met in college, he adored her book. Someday he wanted to become a famous author and envied Chihiro for becoming one so young. Kyo was blown away when he discovered the first manuscript of "Spirited Away' was written when she was only 10.
They became acquaintances.
Then friends after a month or so.
The first semester at her college went smoothly. She was passing her classes despite their dreariness. She didn't have anything left in her to write about, it was pointless wasting her time there. The only reason she stayed was because of her closeness with Kyo.
It was the first time a guy showed true affection toward her. He didn't want her just because of the money. That's what Chihiro mused.
Kyo had a heart shaped face with shaggy black hair that matched the color of his eyes, true eye-candy. A lot of girls' wanted him, yet he gave Chihiro the most attention.
She fell for him near the end of her first year.
Soon her second year of college was at hand.
Then they went on a "date" as Chihiro signified it.
It was ok, pretty much what Chihiro expected. It was perfect until he forced himself on her. He tried to kiss Chihiro even though she said no. They weren't even dating and he wanted to kiss her?! That wasn't how Chihiro wanted her first kiss to play out. Rushed and forced. She wanted it to be special… They ended up in an argument.
After that day Kyo gave her the cold shoulder.
Forgetting the fact they were friends for almost two school years.
Chihiro almost made it past her second year until pronouncing she didn't want to stay. People got on her nerves, especially with the rumors Kyo spread.
"Ogino's full of herself 'cause that book she wrote, thinks she's better n'everyone else."
"She has all that money n'doesn't even use it. What a waste."
"I heard she throws herself at all the guys. She did it to Kyo."
Ultimately, Chihiro overheard someone talking about her friendship with Kyo. Saying he was 'gonna try an sleep with her 'cause she's famous. But Chihiro didn't want to do anything with anyone unless they were dating. They laughed at that calling her a bimbo. They also mentioned something about her money but Chihiro wasn't listening anymore.
That was the end of that.
Her heart was demoralized after being trifled with for so long.
At least he didn't take her first kiss was how Chihiro saw it.
She wasted nearly two years trying to win a guy's heart that only saw her fame and had mostly sexual intentions. It was still bumming her out, the demolished forest and theme park tower only added to her depression.
"Where do you plan on going from here?"
Coming back to reality, Chihiro focused on Yuuko who was talking to her. Chihiro didn't want to tell her "I don't know" and had to come up with something.
"I'll find a place near the ocean." Chihiro smiled knowing the ocean was Yuuko's weak spot.
"Ohhh~" She swooned becoming excited. "Say, would you mind if we come n'visit?" Smiling, Yuuko had a look on her face as if she was envisioning a luxurious beach house.
The corner of Chihiro's mouth rose into a half smile, "I won't mind."
Chihiro asked to be excused as the conversation continued to lull. Before she could wrap up her barely touched dinner, Akio asked if he could eat it. Chihiro gave it to him.
"We'll help you carry the boxes tomorrow." Yuuko smiled dolefully. "I'll see you in the morning dear, g'night," she bade as Akio repeated her last spoken word.
"G'night."
Thereupon, Chihiro went up to her room.
Everything looked the way it had before she left for college. The walls were painted a frosty pink with a neutral pink accenting everywhere else. The curtains, bed sheets and random decorations were all pink. It was blinding and obnoxious.
She plopped down on her bed and stared at the ceiling. Her nerves were riled up for tomorrow, she was anxious. Chihiro was leaving her home to wonder Japan aimlessly. Holding no true objective or destination, she would simply…wander.
Gas wasn't a problem, hotels weren't a problem, neither was food; Chihiro had more than enough money.
After everything that's transpired as of lately, she wanted to find a place that had fresh air. Maybe someplace that was truly by the ocean as she mused to her mother moments prior. It didn't matter. As long as there were no cities, no one who recognized her. She wanted to meet someone who looked at Chihiro not for her fame and fortune but for who she was.
Tomorrow would be the day she finally left.
To live independently.
She was scared.
。。。。
Nighttime was rough.
Chihiro's riled nervous caused nothing but nightmares! Tossing and turning in her sleep which finally came, Chihiro was disturbed awake. She was covered in a cold perspiration that left her feeling icky and sticky.
A chill bloomed in her sternum, giving her goose bumps.
Rolling her eyes to look at her bedroom, it was as caliginous as ever. But the unsettling chill didn't cease and eventually left Chihiro shivering from the cold.
She was cold despite the sweat on her skin which began to dry.
The uncomfortable vibe of someone's observing eyes left her heart beating nervously.
With haste, Chihiro rolled off her bedframe and padded over to her window. She peered out the glass and wouldn't have been able to see a thing if not for the random street lamps. Her curtains were parted so she quickly gripped each one and brought them together. The window was now obscured in a lush pink fabric and the eerie vibe from earlier was gone.
Feeling restless, Chihiro went to lie back down on her bed, but sleep wouldn't come back so easily. She laid on her side and gazed at the wall, every now and then focusing on something not yet packed. Certain things she would leave behind like all her plushies and fragile glass figurines.
She mostly took the necessities.
One thing that wasn't yet rummaged through was her vanity. The door to her bedroom was reflected in the glass as she stared at the mirror. Letting curiosity get the best of her she snaked out of bed again to look at the things she abandoned going to college.
There was a lot of jewelry in the drawer of her vanity, it was sprawled carelessly and tangled. The necklaces were childish, nothing she really cared about. There were a couple rings to, but Chihiro hated wearing rings. Since she didn't have her ears pierced, she never wore the ear studs still packaged either. Then she found various headbands and hairclips on one side of the drawer as if she once tried to organize the accessories. She took a handful of the hairclips and bands and lifted them out of the drawer.
A few necklaces came out too.
She stared at the wooden bottom of the drawer which was exposed. The pile she picked up was on top of the vanity along with some bottles of lotion. Chihiro however, didn't care that she was tangling everything even more. She picked up a ring that belonged to her mother. She must've carelessly strewn it in with the rest of her junk.
She sat back on her bed and stared at the small sapphire jewel on the base of a silver band. It was pretty and petite, perfect for her. But Chihiro didn't like to wear rings, she stared at it for a while visiting memory lane. She thought about a few different birthdays when jewelry was given to her, the ring in hand included.
Suddenly feeling tired again, it was probably early in the morning by now.
Chihiro got up to put the ring back in the drawer along with the rest of the stuff. Before she grabbed the heaping pile of chains, clips and bands, Chihiro reached in the drawer and grabbed out a hair tie. It stood out to her as familiarity struck her.
'Zeniba.'
The word reverberated in her head like a whisper. Her brain started battling with itself. Even though it was a little dark, her eyes were adjusted. The looped string was just as she remembered it, shiny and elastic. Her friends made it for her. But she didn't believe in that anymore, she remembered her mother bought it for her. She was always buying Chihiro hair accessories.
She put the band next to her hairbrush on top of the vanity.
Packed the drawer back full of junk.
Then she went back to sleep.
。。。。
When she woke up late the next morning, it sounded like nails were clattering against the roof. Chihiro rubbed her eyes and stretched her body in ecstasy. Moaning a little, she suddenly went still in relaxation. Getting out of bed, Chihiro walked up to her window, the curtains were blocking out any light that tried getting through. When she peeled back the curtains, Chihiro frowned.
It was pouring rain.
The sky was a light gray for as far as her eyes could see. Looking down to the front of her house, Chihiro watched as her car was pelted with rain. It would be a pain to move all the boxes now…
Chihiro sighed exasperatedly.
She walked over to a small pile of clothes placed out for today and changed. She went to the bathroom to go pee, wash her face, brush her teeth and return to brush her hair. Without realization, she grabbed the purple hair tie on her vanity as she brushed out the tangles. Chihiro tied back her long brown hair into a ponytail.
A knock came rapping on her door.
Yuuko's voice spoke up as the door opened, "are you hungry?" She asked with concern dripping in her tone.
Shoving some boxes toward the doorway, Chihiro looked up through her bangs. "No, not really, sorry." A mumbled reply seeped from between her lips. Chihiro went back to moving around the boxes, a total of 5.
"Oh, ok. Akio will be right up to help you with the boxes…" Yuuko paused for a moment and Chihiro sensed what she was about to say. "Are you sure you want to do this today? It's raining awfully hard."
Chihiro sighed as she straightened her poise.
Emotion filled eyes glimmered in the doorway, Chihiro stared back impassively. "I'm not changing my mind; a little rain won't hurt anyone."
Before Akio came upstairs, Chihiro threw on a daisy-yellow raincoat.
"You ready kiddo?" A strong male voice eased its way around Yuuko who sank back. She did nothing but watch as her husband and daughter went to and fro with the boxes. They both wore raincoats, sleek and brightly colored. The rain pooled of them as they entered the house for the next box. Before long, there was only one left that got packed into Chihiro's car. The backseat of her Daihatsu Siron was brimming with packages. Akio somehow made them all fit without cramming anything into the passenger seat.
"Thank you," Chihiro shouted over the rain. She followed Akio back into the house. Once inside she lowered the hood to her raincoat and hugged her parents. Yuuko's clothes were now sodden. "I promise I'll visit you guys and send you pictures." What those pictures would be, she had no clue. Maybe wherever she ended up?
Sniffling back her protests and tears, Yuuko nodded her head. Chihiro said goodbye for now and put the hood to her coat back over her head. She trudged into the rain and over to the driver's side of the Daihatsu. Shivering from the cold, she lowered the hood once more and started her car.
Within seconds she was driving away from Osaka, heading north.
She headed to the prefecture above Osaka, Kyoto.
Why? There was no particular reason, she was just driving.
The entire time she drove, the rain seemed to never cease.
Despite the roaring heat of her car vents, Chihiro was shaking with cold. A strange whistling sound came from somewhere which had been irritating her since she left Osaka. The smell of rain and sodden earth leaked into her car. Just now investigating, Chihiro was too concentrated on her stereo and the slippery hills she drove on. Watching her window wipers squeak back and forth, that wasn't the sound bothering her. Then she shivered from another wave of cold and looked over to her left, at the passenger seat.
The window was just barely cracked open.
Chihiro gaped.
Quickly she reached over to the control panel on her door and held up one of four switches that directed all windows. It slid up until the whistling and cold retreated. Still shivering, Chihiro held her gaze to the road ahead.
She drove for a long time until she came near the city of Kyoto. Another city was the last place she wanted to drown her time so she took a few turns until headed north-west. She drove to somewhere, anywhere.
Where didn't matter as long as it wasn't so overly populated and deforested, like cities usually were.
She didn't want to see bustling cars or people ushering her for an autograph.
A smog filled sky once covered the land just beneath her house as they destroyed the red plastered tower and the forest. It hurt to watch it happen; there was nothing she could do. She was tired of seeing woods be destroyed, shrines for spirits being tossed away like garbage. Did they care not about the kami? All they cared about was housing more people, adding to the economy.
. . .
It felt good to clear her head, a few hours of driving seemed to breeze by. The rain had long since disappeared allowing Chihiro to crack her window. As air clean and untainted blew into her car, Chihiro smiled at the cool sensation. With the sun showing again it was starting to get a little hot. The warm air that was coming through the vents was turned off completely as she relied on the wind.
Then a sign came up which caught Chihiro's attention.
Maizuru of Kyoto.
Is what the sign read.
Chihiro kept driving toward Maizuru, she didn't see why not. She had been driving toward the ocean for a while now; in the opposite direction of Osaka. A little curious, this place seemed covered in hills. They sloped high in the air like mountains with rivers running like a bloodstream between.
The scenery was beautiful.
Chihiro gazed in awe as nature claimed the land. The people living in this place simply built around the hills, living in houses along the road.
Despite the refreshing breeze, Chihiro was growing tired of driving. Her fingers ached from their tension on the steering wheel and body was cramping up. She looked at the signs and searched for an inn. A tingle of worry shivered through her when she thought about having to sleep in her car. But if it came to that she would pull out some clothes to keep warm.
The sun overhead was starting to set and Chihiro hadn't found somewhere to sleep.
Her eyes were straining from searching all around. A few places to eat struck her attention but she simply wasn't in the mood. Eventually she gave up and decided to pull over. The road was alongside a cliff, the only thing keeping you from driving straight off was a metal railing. A few trees were planted between the railing and the cliff side that helped block out the full intensity of the sunrays. Chihiro was grateful.
Reaching over to the passenger seat, she grabbed her purse always left in the car and turned off the engine. The Daihatsu sat on the side of the road, enough room to let others pass by. But Chihiro hadn't seen but one car pass as she drove. There must not be many people in this town. That made it all the more refreshing.
Chihiro got out of her car and remembered to lock it with all her belongings still inside.
She wasn't going to risk any of it being stolen.
Walking along the road to stretch her muscles, Chihiro followed the pavement as it turned with the cliff. The sun was shining on her from behind as it lowered toward past the trees. The road she walked on had a slight upslope which was tiring Chihiro out more than helping. Before she stopped to sit against the railing, something from ahead caught her eye.
Chihiro stood gripping her purse as she stared at the tree line of the forest. Something bright stood out against the shining sun, glowing with pride. Taking a couple steps closer, Chihiro saw it was a vermillion tori gate. It towered over her as it sat perfectly vertical against the sloping road. She hadn't even noticed she was standing in front of it until her gaze landed on the stone stairs behind it.
'A Shrine?' Chihiro wondered.
There were countless shrine's covering Japan, and she had stumbled upon Maizuru's shrine. Whether there was more in this peaceful, beautiful city, she did not know. Chihiro gazed past the massive tori gate up the stone stairs that lead high into the mountainous hill. The stairs seemed endless, but from afar Chihiro could see their cessation. Almost beckoning her forward, she decided to pay her respects to this village's shrine. She wondered what kind of shrine it would be, was it a clan, family, or one of the many gods her religion worshipped? As she was wondering, Chihiro found herself walking up the stone stairs.
The sun's light was upon on her with the trees not close enough to block out the rays. All forestation was happily surrounding the tori and stairs at a decent distance.
The cicadas and birds screamed and chirped endlessly.
They were the only sounds added to Chihiro's breathing and footfalls.
She held her gaze down as she took step after step. Reaching a flat platform she walked up more stairs starting to break a sweat. She was really out of shape…
As her journey up the stairs was coming to an end, Chihiro saw trees forming ahead. She came to a halt as she stood atop the stairs on a flagstone pathway known as a sandō –approach to the shrine. Lined symmetrically along the flagstone pathway, or sandō, were dozens of tōrō. Tōrō are decorative lamps, the poles were made out of stone but the lantern itself was made from rice paper. Some of the paper in the lanterns had inventible holes.
Before she got absorbed in the rest of the shrine, Chihiro walked over to the purifying table. A pond of trickling water sat under a thatched roof. The water was being pumped endlessly to flow over a manmade rock waterfall. The water itself was blessed. Used to purify ones hands and mouth before praying.
Chihiro picked up the ladle in her right hand and scooped up some water. She poured the liquid over her left hand only to switch and do the same thing to her right. She held water in her right hand as she rinsed off her mouth. Before ridding of the ladle she tilted it vertical so the purified water ran down the handle, cleansing the wood itself for the next user.
Now she was ready to pray.
The girl walked all by her lonesome without a snitch of life anywhere in sight. She passed all the tōrō lanterns until she was faced with the Haiden. A Haiden is the hall of worship. Just behind is the Honden, which enshrines the kami usually off-limits to the public.
As Chihiro came to a still before the Haiden, she eyed a couple of statues.
Two foxes.
One fox was on each side of the dais leading to the offering box.
Peering at the left fox, it was slender, carved delicately. Under the fox's left paw was a scroll carved of stone. The fox statue to the right was larger, broader. Dangling from the carefully carved points of teeth was a key on a loop. That's when Chihiro realized these foxes were messengers or avatars. They protected a well-known Goddess or kami known as Inari-sama. She is the kami of rice.
Chihiro had never been to an Inari shrine.
She stuck her hand in an idle pocket and pulled out some loose change. It was a 5 yen.
Passing the fox statues, Chihiro walked up the few stairs leading to the dais. She dropped her coin in the coin box and clapped her hands, bowed twice, clapped twice and bowed once more. She prayed for Inari-sama to watch over her as she ventured into this town. She thanked the kami for all she has been blessed with. She stood there in silence as she continued to pray.
Swoosh!
A strange sound caught her ears.
Swoosh-swoosh!
Forcing an end to her prayer, Chihiro cringed in annoyance and opened her eyes. She looked around and saw nothing. Relaxing her tensed up shoulders, Chihiro stared down at the stone beneath her feet. She walked down from the dais and back to the flagstone pathway. She felt relaxed enough to return to her car now. A part of her was glad she prayed to Inari-sama. Like the part of her that stills believes in kami was showing for the first time in years-
Suddenly, she fell stock still in silence.
Chihiro stared at the ground feet away as she gazed into a pair of golden-yellow eyes. A small animal -the size of a grown cat- sat curiously peering at her. The fox was all white and covered from their ears to their toes in splotches of mud. It was crusted on the fox's fur as if it had been there for a while.
Chihiro was flabbergasted.
Eerie eyes remained fixed on her, sparkling with moisture.
She had never been so close to a fox before.
The bushy matted tail behind the transfixed fox swayed back and forth playfully.
A rustling from somewhere off to her side distracted Chihiro. The familiar sound that distracted her during her prayer started up again.
Swoosh-swoosh!
Silence.
The sound stopped just as Chihiro looked over. An older woman was staring at her with such bewilderment it was startling! Chihiro shrank back toward the Haiden. She froze when the older woman spoke up. "My, my, who is this?"
Not sure how to answer, Chihiro's head swiveled over to the dirty white fox. The animal lifted itself on lithe legs as it walked off into the forest yonder. Her attention went back to the old woman who was also watching the fox retreat.
"Don't mind her," the old lady said cheerfully. "She comes and goes."
"O...Oh," was the only thing Chihiro could muster in response.
The elder looked off to the offering box Chihiro was just praying at. She smiled endearingly while squeezing the broom haft in her hands.
"We haven't had a visitor at this run down shrine for quite a while." Then the lady's gaze landed upon her. "Especially such young folk like you!"
Chihiro blushed.
"Tell me dear, what brings you here to Inari-sama's shrine?"
Still surprised by the old lady's sudden appearance, Chihiro calmed her raging heartbeat. "I…" She began slowly. "I came from Osaka. I'm traveling."
That seemed to enlighten the old woman's face. "Osaka," she repeated with wonder. "Such a bustling city! Why, if I may ask, did you choose Maizuru for your travels?"
There wasn't a definite answer to that question. Chihiro didn't really have one. In all honesty she gave her reasoning. "I was heading for the ocean, far from Osaka. I came across this place and wanted a better look."
A troubling expression overtook the old woman's wrinkled face. A city girl that wanted to get away from the city, but how long could she live without the cities perks?
Then the sky rumbled overhead.
It interrupted their conversation.
"Oh dear, it seems a storm is on its way." The old woman looked up at the sky with furrowed brows.
Panic struck Chihiro, she still had nowhere besides her car to sleep.
Her stomach was audibly growling too, she held it as if that would calm the hunger.
A laugh bubbled out from the old woman. Chihiro looked over with her already pink cheeks shading darker.
"It seems you're hungry," the woman smiled.
Chihiro looked away, embarrassed.
"Please allow me to show you some hospitality. You're welcome to stay at my inn."
Like a bursting light bulb, Chihiro lit up. "You own an inn?!" She was utterly enthusiastic at her luck.
The old woman rose a wrinkled hand from the broom and pointed toward the forest. "There is a trail not far from here that leads to the inn. If you drive further up the road there is a proper entrance."
Chihiro remembered her car. "Is it alright if I meet you there? My car is down the road a bit." She gestured toward the tori gate.
"That is fine," the old woman smiled.
Before Chihiro walked away she looked worriedly over at the elder. "Are you sure I can't offer you a ride? I can drive you there."
The elder seemed to shine from Chihiro's consideration. "Oh ho ho, don't you worry about me, I will be just fine."
With apprehension, Chihiro left the old woman to wander back up the hill to the inn. She really wanted to give her a ride but wasn't going to force her. Chihiro shifted the purse dangling under her armpit and walked down the stairs to the tori gate. She bowed her head as she passed through. Before she made it to the stone stairs she could have sworn something white breezed by in the foliage. But nothing was there.
Scurrying back to her car Chihiro flopped inside and threw her purse into the passenger seat. With a roar, the engine started and she drove up the winding road along the cliff side until she saw the inn's welcome sign. If only she had driven a little further before she stopped in the first place… But it didn't matter anymore because she got to see a fox and meet the inn owner more personally.
A few rain drops landed on her windshield. She braced herself for another storm and a humid night.
It was if the rainstorm from Osaka followed her all the way here.
Author's Note:
Kami – A divine being in the Shinto religion. A god or spirit.