Another seven years had passed, and Chihiro was turning nineteen.
Though 'nine', or ku, represented suffering, agony and torture, Chihiro felt as though this year she was finally at peace with herself.
She had largely reconciled with her parents, and attended church with them every week when she was home with them.
Being a part of youth groups and bible studies, she had enrolled in a religious college for her training after school, intending to become a missionary.
Her parents had had another child, and so their strictness had palled considerably, allowing her to feel more free and to really discover the True Faith for herself.
Her obsession with Shinto gods and folklore had only torn her to pieces in the end; she could never find rest, or an answer to all her questions in the mystical texts of her native culture.
Her memories were as foggy as the ocean in a storm, yet whenever she heard the sound of water something stirred in the depths of her mind.
She had lost the shining purple hair band a few years ago now; it had gone one day when she had come home from her first Bible study session.
Chihiro had shed some tears over it, even though she did not remember where she had got the band from, - but for some reason it was extremely sentimental to her. No amount of therapy had regained her memory before the age of 10, and so she never knew what played her heart strings whenever she had worn that pretty sparkling hair tie.
The college she attended was located in Okinawa, and she would spend a term there of a few months before returning to the main land for her study break.
She adored the campus, as she it was surrounded by endless oceans.
The heat and humidity felt purifying, and she could live off cold teas and shaved ice.
The students were from many backgrounds and even countries, and for the first time Chihiro felt her horizons expanding beyond her previously very small world.
The teaching was centered around the Bible of course, and she learned how harsh and unforgiving times were in the Old Testament.
Chihiro felt it was more history than religion, but when she heard the words of the New Testament, she found revelation in the upholding of tenants such as peace, love, kindness, forbearance and self control.
She tried her absolute hardest to emulate such heavenly traits in her everyday life, but there was a very stubborn, flaming streak of passion and unbridled curiosity within her that could not be quenched by merely being 'kind' and 'peaceful'.
There was one other student who was also an artist, that Chihiro felt the most in common with.
Her name was Rin, and they would often go exploring together in the forests surrounding the campus.
'Do you think that it's sinful to want to be kissed?' Chihiro asked her friend, as she took photographs of the beautiful area.
Rin loved Chihiro's photography, and would turn it in to paintings. They had even produced post cards for the College for students to write back to their loved ones on cards displaying the particular allure of the landscape.
Rin giggled 'No I don't think so' she mused, as she sat on a large rock they were on throwing stones in to the ocean below.
'It's a natural desire' Rin concluded.
'What about' Chihiro spoke, balancing the camera on her tripod, and glanced down at her friend, 'wanting more - if you know what I mean'
Rin laughed out loud 'It's natural to want a partner for most people Chi!'
'But isn't God always on about the natural man being evil, and we must suppress any desires that consume us to the detriment of our faith?'
Rin looked considering at her friend.
'Does it consume you?' She asked frankly.
Chihiro looked back down the lens; there was a distant cove on a island out at sea that she wished to capture.
'Sometimes' she answered, as a sudden wind picked up and blew her thick brown hair in her face.
'Then maybe we can pray together to help you'
Chihiro began taking shots of the mysterious vine draped cove, and answered: 'help me do what?'
'Get rid of those desires that take your focus off God, of course'
Chihiro stood back a bit, and felt a constriction in her chest.
'I'm scared, Rin.'
'Why?'
The small girl looked at Rin and sighed heavily.
'I am scared that I won't ever be able to fully devote myself to God, even though I want to'
The girls fell silent as the breeze rustled through the forest leaves and stirred the waves on the ocean, sending salt in to the air that rested on Chihiro's lips and hair.
That particular afternoon, they had a class for the Old Testament.
Chihiro liked to sit by the window at the far end of the class room and stare outside at the passing clouds and tree tops visible from the small opening.
The lecturer stepped in to the room and opened the lesson.
'This term we will be investigating the mythologies of ancient cultures mentioned in the Old Testament.
Remember not to discount this information, just because it is 'mythology'.
The term does not refer to the meaning of myth as a lie, but as the ancient social and cultural practices and traditions of people long ago, and the inherent weaving of the supernatural throughout.
It is a vital part of Bible study.
These mythologies are referred to as different cultural religions or superstitions, such as the worship of Molech, and the gods of the Canaanites as well as the Golden Cow, and other such idols that people back in those pre-historic times prayed to.
We will also be investigating the Nephilim, or the Annunaki, and what significance they had in Genesis.
You will be looking at the Epic of Gilgamesh and Sumerian texts to compare it to the Bible's own creation story, and also juxtaposing other ancient mythologies against them.
Every culture of the earth has a creation myth, and there are some striking similarities. One that stands out is the report of a global flood, which most cultures and legends of the world have recorded in various ways.
Water, as you will see, is an incredibly crucial thing in every story, just as it is vital to our existence now.
I will not be teaching you this unit, as I am not overly acquainted or qualified in mythology and the heavenly host.
We have a guest lecturer for this term who comes from Kyoto University, a very prestigious college. Please welcome him'
Chihiro had long ago forsaken her interest in mythology, as it had taken her to a path of nothing. When she heard her lecturer go on about Epic's and gods, she switched off completely. This was ridiculous! She had not escaped the torture of trying to find out why her ancient Shinto texts eluded her memory so viciously to be placed right in a long term class on a similar topic.
She continued to gaze out the window, already confirming within her mind to withdraw from the Old Testament classes for this term and take on Philosophy instead. She didn't really like the inane nature of philosophical debates either, but it was better than this joke.
'This is Nigihayami-sensei'
The students bowed to their new teacher, and then took their seats again.
It was not mentioned upon seeing him, but the lecturer was a very striking person.
Chihiro had not even glanced at him as of yet, being already withdrawn mentally from the class.
But Rin saw him, and her eyes widened.
A tall, slim figure of a young man dressed in fashionable black slim jeans and a dark button up shirt with sleeves rolled to the elbows stood before them, with long dark hair to his waist, tied back. He had an almost feminine face, if it weren't for the slanted piercing green eyes and the sharp jawline and cheek bones. He was curiously pale, and he emanated an unidentifiable aura.
Rin glanced at her friend in the seat next to her, to see if Chihiro saw what she was seeing.
Typical; her friend was staring out the window like a lovesick youth.
'I will leave you in his care; there is a lot you will learn with this gentleman.'
Their older lecturer walked out after bowing, and all eyes but one pair were on the fascinating new teacher.
'We will start with Genesis' he spoke, and to match his unusual appearance, his voice was enchanting, smooth as silk and just as emotionless as an empty sky.
It was unusual too, for a new teacher to not make some sort of introductory speech; and just begin right away on the subject matter.
Chihiro frowned slightly at hearing the voice; - it belonged to a person she felt did not want to be there.
Why would she listen to a teacher who didn't want to even teach this topic?
It was best that she left now rather than waste her time; so she looked at Rin, gave her a slight eye roll, picked up her study book and bible and stood up.
The students looked at her as she unceremoniously moved to the back of the class room toward the door.
'Where are you going?' Came the lecturer's voice, and Chihiro turned, looking at him.
She met the gaze of a very sharp pair of eyes, strangely light in appearance yet intense in delivery, with a colour the shade of pure polished peridot.
Despite herself a blush fanned across her cheeks - 'oh no' she thought to herself.
A hot guy. She couldn't deal with hot guys, she always just turned in to an anxious mess around them.
Now she wished she had just waited until after the class to leave and sign over to Philosophy.
'I - I realised I am in the wrong class' she looked down at her feet, hoping he would just let her go.
'What is your name?' Asked the far-too-attractive lecturer.
'Chihiro Ogino' she muttered, feeling rather more like a child back at school than a mature, adult college student.
The teacher glanced at the sign in book on the front desk for just a split second.
'Your name is signed off on the register. Sit down' the words came out like an order.
Chihiro was blushing madly by now, she felt utterly mortified and chastised like a child.
She was not going to stand there and argue with this beautiful but cold and authoritative teacher either and make a further fool of herself.
She would just have to sign out after class; and now Chihiro hated that she had made herself a fool anyway for no reason. Her stomach was a great knot of anxiety, but she chose to obey him and went to sit back down next to Rin.
'If anyone else wishes to leave, please do so discreetly, after this session' no one made any movement, thoroughly under the spell of his naturally assured authority.
The word 'discreetly' made Chihiro feel even worse, as his tone implied she had expressed the opposite trait. She looked at Rin and made a very slight 'phew' expression. Rin grimaced back. This would be interesting.
'Ogino-san, please read out Genesis chapter 6 verse 1 through to 4'
Was this new teacher now going to punish her for the rest of the lesson? She silently gulped, feeling quite shaken and even nauseous. She certainly was not going to remain in this unit.
Chihiro took a deep breath and began:
'Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, that the Sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose.
And the Lord said, 'My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years'.
There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the Sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them.
Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.'
Chihiro did not look back up when she finished.
'This is a part of the Old Testament many people do not realise exists' began the teacher, and Chihiro thanked God he did not pick apart her reading.
'And yet it is at the crux of all mythology. Greek, European, North American, Japanese and Aboriginal legends all say the same thing.
The Sons of God in the Bible refer to angels, and in other mythology, they are referred to as gods.
Humans gave them names such as Poseidon and Odin; Ra and Molech - and you may be more familiar with the names of the Kami Ryujin and Izanagi among many others.
We - ' here the young lecturer faltered a little and corrected himself 'rather, they - all took on human-like or beast-like forms and some took, or fell in love with human females, and had children with them.
Their offspring became the demi-gods, or hybrids, that we hear about in stories such as Achilles and Hercules.
These beings were worshiped and sacrificed to during the time, and especially later when they passed in to legend.'
Chihiro listened despite herself, and when the handsome teacher faltered slightly in his smooth dialogue she made the mistake of looking up, to only find his eyes were on her.
Pretending to not notice, she looked down again, and hated that she couldn't control her infernal blushing.
She couldn't wait to sign out of this strange unit. Was she to sully her knowledge of God with this useless pagan clutter?
A student raised his hand and Sensei allowed him to speak.
'I am sorry, Nigihayami-sensei, but this all sounds absurd. There is no such thing as gods and goddesses. All of the pagan beings those heathen nations worshiped were statues made of wood and stone, they were not living creatures.'
Chihiro smirked and couldn't help but want to see the teacher's reaction. Again, it was a mistake. The youthful yet scary lecturer had a snake-like look on his face and a sneer to his lips. What on earth - ? But the expression disappeared in a split second.
'If you do not believe what this one verse says, how do you believe the entire Bible?' Inquired the teacher. 'If you wish to argue, join your classmate Ogino-san in signing over to Philosophy.'
Chihiro balked. He was still punishing her. He already knew the only option besides the Old Testament with their time tables was Philosophy.
'But it seems crazy, that angels did such a thing - that they would forsake God, just for the sake of a woman' the poor student mumbled in a defeated tone.
The teacher seemed to think for a moment, and then said:
'Look around you, Ito-san, at the girls in this room.' The boy blushed, but did so. Their sensei smiled slightly: 'are you not attracted in any way to any of them?'
Ito-san happened to have a slight crush on Chihiro, and when his gaze rested on her he blushed.
The young teacher saw the blush, and saw who caused it, then smiled a little wider.
'See, the spirits are no different to you, in that respect' the young sensei concluded softly.
Ito-san fell quiet.