Author's note:  I do not own Spirited Away or its characters.  If I did, I would not be writing a research paper on Hayao Miyazaki.  Don't sue me; I have student loans to pay.

Chihiro sighed in relief as she removed her silver-blue robe. Graduation was finally over. The ceremony was over, the pictures had been taken, and the reception was winding down. The end was finally in sight.

The bathroom mirror reflected the image of a young woman of eighteen years. Long chestnut hair was swept up in a bun secured with a sparkling purple hairtie and silver dragon hairsticks leaving a few tendrils to frame her face. She was dressed in a black Chinese dress with a silver-blue dragon embroidered on it. Her only jewelry was a pair of jade earrings, a silver dragon pendant, and a ring of pale green jade that was carved in the shape of a dragon. The earrings had been a graduation present from her parents. The other two, however, had each come to her under rather mysterious circumstances.

The pendant had come to her first. It was right after she had moved here. Her class had gone on a field trip to see a number of Shinto shrines in Tokyo. The last one they had visited was selling good luck talismans. She had been looking for one for herself when the miko had suddenly whispered something to the caretaker and disappeared. She returned in a few minutes and pressed something into Chihiro's hand. It turned put to be a dull silver pedant in the shape of a dragon coiled into a circle and hung on a black chord.

"It's a protective charm made with the power of water spirits," the woman told her. "I knew you where the one it was made for."

The ring hadn't come to her until she was fifteen. Chihiro was beginning to have problems with boys. Because she never said yes to a date, she had become one of the most sought after girls in her school. It was driving her crazy. Then during the Tanabata festival, she had come across a street vendor in an alley. Among the old woman's wears had been some jade jewelry. Chihiro had been looking at a bracelet when the old woman spoke, "The ring is for you, child. It represents the river's promise."

She had been completely surprised by that comment and took a closer look at the ring. The carved jade was a perfect semblance of Haku. She had taken to wearing the ring on her left hand, and she told anyone who asked that it was a reminder of a promise made by someone she loved. And that had gotten most of the guys off her back.

Chihiro sighed breaking her reveries; she'd better get back to the reception before someone came looking for her. She left the bathroom and ran straight into Yukio Fujiyama. He was the captain of the American football team, class valedictorian, the son of a wealthy CEO, and an all around pain in the rear. He was also one of the few guys who had continued to pursue her.

"Ah, Chi-chan, I wanted to talk with you."

She winced at the nickname. So he thought that might tip the balance in his favor. Not likely. Chihiro had learned years ago how precious one's name was, and she would only answer to two: Chihiro or Sen. So she ignored him.

Yukio grabbed her arm, "I can understand you not wanting to date while we're in high school, but now that we're in university, it's different. You can even live in my penthouse with me while we attend Tokyo University."

"Except I'm attending Miyazaki College near Mt. Fuji. I've already been accepted with a full scholarship to study art and folklore," Chihiro replied coolly.

"I already talked to both your parents and my father; it will be no problem to get you accepted to Tokyo University."

Fury rose up inside Chihiro. How dare he! And how could her parents accept? She shrugged off his grip and said in an icy voice, "I have no interest in your offer. I'm leaving now. Do not follow me."

She stormed away from him and out of the school. Her parents were already gone. They had stayed long enough to see her graduate and take pictures before leaving for a three week business trip in America. By the time they returned, Chihiro would be at college even though classes wouldn't be starting for another two weeks.

Instead of heading home, Chihiro decided to try and walk off her anger. So she turned down an old side road that went into the woods. And by doing so, Chihiro came to a place she had searched for many times but had never been able to find: the entrance to the Spirit World.

She stood there staring at it. Should she try to return? Her heart said yes. Gathering her courage, she started down the long dark passage. Then she entered the train station and exited out into the meadow. She was back.

Tsuzuku (to be continued)