Chapter 1 –New beginnings
Chihiro stepped out of the school entrance gate with her friends. It has been six years since they have moved to the little town that had changed her parents and ultimately her life. It has been six years since they have drove into the abandoned amusement park. Six years since she met Haku, Rin, Kamaji, Bou, Granny Zeniba and Yubaba. Six years since she fell in love.
"Hey Sen, are you coming to Kenji's house for the art class this afternoon?" asked Sano, the older brother she never had. Sano looked out for her ever since she was put into her grandpa's guardianship.
"Maybe, I need to help grandpa with the shrine this afternoon, Sano. Why don't you and Soujiro go first? I'll meet you there" suggested Chihiro
Ever since the fateful life-changing experience, Chihiro realized there were more important things in life than bouquet of roses and selfish needs. She had grown from the spoiled klutzy little brat of ten to a selfless, hardworking, graceful, clever, girl of sixteen. Chihiro's childish, clumsy limbs had grown to long graceful ones. She had long mahogany brown hair that passed her waist and indigo blue eyes.
On Wednesdays every fortnight, there were art classes held at Kenji's house. Chihiro gives anime drawing lessons to younger and eager students. Kenji is Sano and Soujiro's older cousin.
Her grandpa, Roki, was a priest and looked after one of the few remaining ancestral family shrines. People often go there to give sacrifices to the Nigihayami Kohaku Nushi, the god of the Kohaku River. They worshipped Amaterasu and Tsuki-yomi, the goddess of the sun and the god of the moon and O-Wata-Tsu-Mi- god of the sea and Fukurokuju, The god of wisdom, good luck and longevity. Chihiro worked at the shrine for $5.00 an hour on Wednesdays, Friday and the weekends for two hours. She was training to be a miko by her grandpa so she could talk to the Gods when necessary. Loki told her that Chihiro had potential to be a powerful miko.
Chihiro walked to the shrine. She brushed all the leaves to the side walk and put it into the bin. Chihiro did all her chores and told Loki that she will be back at seven o'clock as she'll be going to Kenji's house.
The class held a lot of promising students and many of them have the potential to be the some of the best artists in the future. She drew a familiar mythical animal; a green and white dragon.
How time flies when you're having a good time, it was 6:45 now, time to go home. On Monday, Chihiro had karate lessons; she was an aikido 3 times black belt and martial arts 4 times black belt.
When she was 12 years, it was revealed that she wasn't really an Ogino; she was actually her adopted mum's sister's daughter. Her real name was Kamiya Kaoru Kitakami Chihiro.
When she turned thirteen years, her mum caught her dad cheating on her mom with a young blond bimbo. So they separated and her mother was announced too mentally unstable to bring a little girl up when she was caught drinking and driving. The authorities put her in her grandfather's care and he was made her guardian.