Phantom Pains

WEEK LATER

Flowers of ruby, emerald, and sapphire littered perfectly groomed spaces of grass lined with stone paths. The botanical gardens of Konoha were slowly coming to and end as fall crept up on the horizon. A beautiful koi pond was the center of the garden with a trickling fountain off to the side with luscious mossy rocks. Lines of beautiful arbors hung over the entrance as a group of four walked onto the premise.

Chihiro was walking between Kiba and Sakura, with Ino rushing ahead of them. It took the girls almost an hour to convince Kiba to bring Akamaru for their outing. Chihiro was excited to be out of the confines of her apartment after a few days of spending her time staring at the walls or playing with Peaches. So, she'd dressed up all cute for this, sandals and sundress, with perfectly curled hair. There was a small skip in her step feeling overjoyed, surrounded by the aroma of beautiful flowers and good company. Akamaru was trotting alongside Chihiro with his tongue out, joy in his eyes.

"Guys let's go this way!" Ino called back to them, waving them over, "look at this pond,"

Chihiro was grateful for the knock at her door that morning with the invite. She knew she needed to get out more, preoccupy her distant mind but it was a challenge. Akamaru barked, running off towards the koi pond where he continued to bark at the fish.

"They're just Koi," Kiba laughed, petting the fluffy white dog.

"He better not grab one of them," Sakura teased.

Chihiro bent down so her fingers could glide against the cool water. It was pure bliss for her in the moment. Like a serene moment where she could look up to her new friends and smile. Everything surrounding her is enough to take her breath away permanently, she could probably spend hours wandering around if able.

Though she felt like this wasn't supposed to be a holiday for her. It was like being surrounded by a little piece of heaven with flowery evocative aromas. Yggdrasil was just as beautiful, maybe more so but in this moment- she was glad to be in Konoha. She was in her own rosy little world in that moment.

"Ino told me you and Neji been hanging out," Kiba said as he came to stand next to Chihiro.

"I guess, just sorta happens each time. It's nice to have company."

"He's a good guy, better shinobi," he said it like he meant something deeper, "what do you think?"

"Huh? I mean yes I would agree. He's been very kind to me. So has everyone..."

"Hmm okay," he gave her a toothy smile.

"What?" she laughed.

"Neji is a hard nut to crack. Always been very serious and calm when it came to missions I've heard. He doesn't really come to many events we have when we get together, I was surprised when he was at your place the other week."

"Oh? I mean... I could see that with him now for sure. But he's helped me a lot."

"Oh I'm sure."

Chihiro just shrugged his comments off, thought it was hard to shake away her thoughts of Neji. She couldn't deny she'd been thinking of him whilst he was away on a mission, possibly missing him. Was she missing him? She wasn't too sure, though she missed having someone who could talk her out of a panic attack. Missed how he'd spend time with her even if it was in silence. Something about his eyes that once made her shiver, now felt comforting. It was hard to explain how he made her feel, tiny tingles when they'd accidentally touch, or faint blushes. Just thinking about him in that moment made butterflies appear in her stomach, a tiny smile forming. Which Kiba surely noticed as he smirked, rolling his eyes.

Chihiro decided she wanted to look around rather than sit by the pond watching Ino and Sakura trying to get perfect pictures. She'd stay in their vicinity though, but walk along the paths looking at and feeling the petals of arrangements of plants. Under the trees she walked like a little fairy, dainty in every meaning of the word as she looked ethereal. The air slowly began to grow heavier and heavier with each step she took. It was odd, as she'd look around and the scenes in front of her felt woozy. It made her cock her head to one side before spinning every which way to gather her bearings.

Slowly, Chihiro found herself feeling drawn away from the group. The three shinobi were becoming harder and harder to hear as their voices faded away as she walked amongst the flowers. It was like she was in a trance with a dazed look on her face and glossed over eyes.

She began walking along a dirt path, trees growing heavier as the garden boundaries were ending. Chunks of stone laid scattered on the ground with heavy vines covering them. Blooming wildflowers and weeds covered the grass, swaying, trying to make their way onto the beaten path. In her flowy sundress under rays of sunshine peaking through the leafed canopy above, she felt like she was in an enchanted place. A lone tear fell down her face as she wanted to stop walking. She could feel a gut wrenching feeling of dismay sink into her as a voice inside her head was screaming for her to 'run'. It's dark and unmoving and it's staring right at her. Chihiro kept walking as her hair moved elegantly in the wind, bangs fluttering above her stunned eyes.

The figure was standing with his back to a large cliff, the sound of water could be heard running below. The stranger was tall and clad in an eccentric black cloak with images she couldn't depict. It stood there like it was beckoning for Chihiro to come closer, giving her no option. Terror was bubbling in her chest as she was feet away at this point, while she also had no realization of what was going on around her. She had no knowledge of the cries in her name from a distance or the birds squawking in panic above. The stranger had a chiseled manly face that peaked out from under the hood. Chihiro was in his grasp finally. His fingers stroked along her cheek with ghastly intention. Even as the ice cold digits touched her blazing skin she didn't flinch. Her mouth just opened as if to speak but nothing. He tilted her head up by grasping her chin, a cruel smile appearing—

Suddenly a kunai came flying from behind her, landing to the right of her head, nicking the stranger's hand. She was so out of it that she hadn't even jumped or turned. Chihiro just stood there as she could have sworn she saw a smile from under the hood in front of her. There one second gone the next, he was gone in a flash she could only see leaves blown in circles by his speed.

Chihiro frowned as her limbs slowly began to move at her own will. She brought her hands up to her eyes to stare at them with confusion, like they hadn't been hers seconds ago.

"Chi!"

Chihiro spun around to see Sakura, Kiba, and Ino running at her. They had their kunai drawn, which made her look down to where one laid at her feet. It was all a blur for her. She remembered what happened but it hadn't felt real as her face was completely drained of all color.

"I.." she stuttered but no words came out.

"Are you okay?"

"Who was that?"

"I-I don't know..." Chihiro said confused.

Sakura seemed amiss as she grabbed Chihiro's shoulders, peering into her eyes, "she was definitely put under some sort of jutsu, pupils are dilated."

"What?" Chihiro felt worry rise in her chest.

"We should get out of here before that dude gets back." Sakura begged, as she grabbed Chihiro to leave.

Chihiro felt like a rush of adrenaline was suddenly going through her. As she was pulled away from the cliff's edge, she kept looking desperately towards where she once was. Like her eyes couldn't tear away, something calling out to her. 'Wait!' she's internally screaming that she can't leave, needed to investigate the cliffs edge more. So as it disappeared on the horizon as they got back to the gardens, she knew she'd have to go back.

-

Her fingers graced along the beaded string that was attached to the lamp at her bedside. It clicked and the soft light went out, leaving Chihiro in the dark, only faint moonlight creeping in from behind the window's curtains. It was silence that hit her ears next, just faint purrs from Peaches who slept at the foot of the bed. Chihiro was not tired as she'd been early, so she stared up at the dark ceiling with emotion coursing through her. It was easier now in some way, to have Peaches to come home to, to take care of and bide her time. It felt like it gave her more of a purpose here and kept her sane.

Earlier felt like a fever dream to the poor girl who felt unsure of her current situation. Even when she closed her eyes, the dark figure seemed etched on the inside of her lids. And it scared her. She was scared that when she woke in the morning he'd be standing over her or that he was waiting just outside her door. Chihiro knew that the shinobi went to inform Kakashi but she wasn't sure of the outcome from that. So she sat alone inside her apartment wishing Neji could be there and worrying her pretty little mind.

Chihiro wanted to go home now almost more than ever. With the question of her life up in the air, it was dreadful how it made her feel. Sinking feelings. Constant tears. Less of an appetite than before. She was left to her own devices during a time she could have used anyone.

It felt like she could just fall apart at any second the more she thought about how unfair her life was right now. Alone with her thoughts was dangerous for someone in her position. Like she'd be willing to do anything to find a fix. It was then she remembered something Neji said that day in the Hokage's office, it'd been so long ago at this point she barely remembered. He said she had a strange aura, one that he'd never seen before. And what Chihiro knew about chakra and shinobi at this point, she knew they had enough power to make their own fates. Could she do something to try to change hers? Could she get herself home?

Chihiro felt frustration rise in her chest. It was like a raw, untamed feeling that couldn't be kept in order. She was stuck, unable to do anything at all. She was hurting.

As she laid in her large bed channeling what she thought was her aura instead of chakra. It was like she was trying to reach far down into her soul to touch it, see it, and use it. Chihiro imagined herself in a black space grasping for a way out, until she could see a bright shining light. She was crawling for it in her mind, almost running to grasp it, though physically she was over-exerting herself as she laid there. All she wanted was a way home as pictures of faces flashed to her in her 'eyes closed' stare. Soft tingles took over her arms and legs, it almost felt like she was flying, hovering over her bed. But it was too much as sweat dripped down her forehead, she gasped out and her eyes shot open as she began to sniffle. When she looked around she was still in her bed in her apartment in Konoha, she'd imagined that all. And she was exhausted as she began to cry. Chihiro spent her night sobbing, hiccuping into her pillow until sleep was finally able to take over her.