Spiraling*
It was bigger than a wildfire. It was calamitous- the gossip of Chihiro being back. She was like a new exhibit at the zoo everyone lined up to ogle at. She expected that much as she readied herself to face her peers, wondering what their thoughts were. Everyone seemed to think she'd been dead. Normally she'd have been someone avoided, just a name on a list that boys found cute- but now- now she was like a wild multi headed animal.
Her long eyelashes fluttered with each blink, feeling self-conscious the second she left her dorm that morning. She was unsure if she was welcomed anymore.
Chihiro had fallen into her monotonous routine since returning to classes this week, adding another one each day. It was horrific. So much work to catch up on and so many whispers surrounding her. Anywhere she went, she felt as if people were staring or talking and she hated it. A constant anxiety rippling through her chest, constant wetness lingering in her eyes as she walked down the halls. And unless one of her friends was in class, she took a seat in the back quickly. Teachers gave her sympathetic looks and talks, ways to help her stay on track to graduate on time.
For her final class of the day, Thursday, she had Hana and Kai sat on either side of her at a table. They felt like guard-dogs over friends in some strange way, like they'd rip someone a new one if they got too close. Many of her peers had questions but each one made tears well in her eyes, she was fragile now it appeared.
But something Chihiro was surprised to learn was that classes shifted- sorting students into the realms they wished to study. By default Chihiro was placed into the one she was sent to, which didn't surprise her why her friends chose the shinobi land as well. They were learning a more in depth view of the realm compared to the overall histories from when they were young. They'd learn about specific abilities, families, and more. So she felt relieved that teachers would accept her very hands on learning experience as credit towards graduating. Yet it felt unbelievable to see text books and recently written events on a land she began to call home.
"Today, we are going to be talking about some more important families of Konoha," Professor Deng said as he rubbed his hands together. His eyes had glanced over a returning face but didn't want to bring anymore attention to her than she was already dealing with, "Monday we talked about the Uchiha Clan and the massacre, today is about the Hyuga Clan."
Chihiro, who'd been staring at a blank sheet of paper in front of her, was now staring at the board. Her head instantly snapped up at the mention of Neji surname, eyes wide lit with a fire.
"The Hyuga clan is another one of the four noble clans in the Leaf Village. They are also the strongest in the village. Anyone born into this family possess a kekkei genkai called the Byakugan. This gives them an extended field of vision and the ability to see through objects and even see chakra circulator systems, and more. They are also able to expect chakra from any tenketsu in their body."
It was such a simple, straight forward explanation of the Hyuga Clan... one she'd been able to see first hand to an extent. She'd been able to see the pale eyes and the Byakugan activated in real time- this felt like an invasion of privacy in some way. Especially as he'd opened up to her regarding his family. She had the inside look instead of the worldly view; so her fingers were turning white as her nails dug into her palms.
Mr. Deng began jotting down notes from his notebook he held, "the clan is separated into two, the main house and the branch house. I'm not entirely sure what specifically decided where the line was drawn as to who would be branch or main but there's a big difference. The main house runs the family while the branch house protects it. Members of the branch house get branded with a cursed seal on their third birthday. This seal gives the main house total control over the branch house as they can destroy a branch members brain cells with another seal, or cause them pain. The seal also makes sure the Byakugan secrets are safe as when the wearer dies it seals away. Essentially class, members of the branch house are deemed as servants."
Chihiro's eyes sad as she heard those words, knowing Neji was a member of the branch house. She hadn't realized the drastic differences even though they were one family. She hadn't understood the extent of how it was that made Neji so bitter when he was younger. They'd kill them just because their a branch member? It was enough to make her head spin.
A hand raised, "Sir?"
"Yes Chen,"
"That seems dumb. What if someone in the branch family is better than the main house members."
"Good question. Currently, that's the case."
Chihiro felt her stomach drop, like she knew where it was going and she didn't want to hear it. Blood rushed to her cheeks as her knuckles turned white gripping at the table she sat at.
"His name's Neji Hyuga, he's in his twenties now I believe. Member of the branch family. We only have information on him up to the war they had a few years ago. A genius, most talented Byakugan user in the family. The youngest Jonin of his peers, skipped Chunin level."
By mention of the name, Kai and Hana snapped their heads at Chihiro as she'd told them all about Neji... conveniently leaving some details out it appeared from the shock on their faces. Chihiro just burned from their gazes, she swore the room jumped a hundred degrees as she took in a shallow breath.
"I have some more information on him from our keepers if any students want me to continue."
Many students agreed, wanting to learn about someone close to them in age as side chatter erupted. Per Kai, when the students learned about the Uchiha Clan, it left a distasteful tang in their mouths due to the brutality of the clan's murder.
But Chihiro couldn't hear about the boy she'd fallen for like he was a dead historical figure. The one who'd taken her on a date two weeks prior, opened up to her after two months of sticking by her side. It made her chest stir, her eyes go blurry, hard to breathe as her hand pressed against her chest. Pounding and panic set into her core as her flight activated making her need to escape from the classroom. Chihiro stood up making her chair scrape back, everyone turning to look at her. With tears in her eyes she looked around before stuttering, "I don't feel good..." she practically ran out the room, letting the door slam behind her as she breathed in as her hands went to her knees, as she heaved in the hall.
Footsteps sounded behind her and she looked up to see her two friends jogging down the hallway with panicked faces.
"Chichi are you okay? We told Mr. Deng we'd check on you and to keep teaching." Hana said as they closed in.
"Let's go somewhere more private." Kai offered as they got to her, with worry clear in their voices.
Chihiro nodded, feeling like she couldn't speak from the giant lump that formed in her throat. Guilt seeped into her gut as her friends walked by her side; guilty that they were missing class because of her, that she was causing everyone's lives to become a jumbled mess. And she especially hated the attention she was getting.
The three walked in silence asides from an occasional sniffle from Chihiro whose eyes were beginning to redden. Her face was flushed as she thought nothing of the mosaic tiled halls they walked down with ornate wooden walls with gold tinges. All she could think were the words spoken from Mr. Deng that echoed in her mind. Replaying over and over how Neji's family would have considered him lesser regardless his talent. When he told her that day in the gallery of his past, she didn't connect it in those terms. She wished she could hug him, say something to make it better while she knew she couldn't. What was he doing? Did he miss her? So many questions swirled in her mind that it felt the halls of her school were closing in on her.
Soon they arrived at their destination as they went down a tiny hall to the side of the main library, that was primarily hidden behind stairs. It was a side room attached to the library, where stacks of forgotten paperwork and books were strewn about and no one ever went. Normally locked, the librarian allowed certain students to have a key to utilize it, like Kai and Kasumi. Once the perfect study spot turned into their own gossip room and place to escape asides the dorms. But the last two months it turned into where three friends brainstormed on how to bring Chihiro back. They found every book they could on Konoha and spirit orbs, and people being transported to other realms. It was a mess as they walked in, it had Chihiro shocked to see what her friends were up whilst she was gone.
"Even if we couldn't possibly know as much as our professors, we at least wanted to try to help." Hana hummed with soft embarrassment as she watched Chihiro saunter about the tiny room. She'd stop at some of their boards and softly touch their writings as she whispered to herself.
"I think I need to tell you guys everything Director Clive told me."
Their faces were shocked. Professor Aoi the renowned researcher of their school was actually from Konoha- did some science like, sketchy shit to cause realms to start colliding. And that Chihiro was the one to stop it? It sounded ridiculous, if they hadn't know her for years they'd have laughed in her face. That if she hadn't been in a coma for two months after touching the spirit orb, they'd never believe she ended up in another realm.
"I-I spent all my time with them having to help me, now it's time for me to try. I want to be useful in any way I can. Even if I can't fight,"
"But Chihiro that means you'd leave us again."
"We don't need our realms colliding you guys."
"We understand that, we do, but how can you stop it? It sounds ludicrous."
"I haven't figured that part out yet." she sighed.
"I think you're jumping the gun." Hana said, "we need to research more. Need to understand more about Aoi, it's a lot to take in."
Chihiro understood she sounded brash, like she was in a rush to get going. But it felt like time was working against her, as she didn't know how much time she had. But what would anyone ever need her for? She had no powers or jutsu or intellect to be of use. All she had going for her was the fact she could physical drift, maybe something was wrong with her. Something off with her genes or her soul- it was hard to say.
"I need to do something."
"Girl I love you, but you can't do anything. We know you miss Neji, that it was hard hearing about his family during class. But you can't rush ahead."
Chihiro liked to think she wasn't who she used to be, that her friends didn't understand how she changed. Or thinks she changed. Because normally she'd have just let it all go, let fate have its run- but she wanted to act. Wanted to see Neji.
"I need help getting into the tower."
"I'm in," Kasumi shrugged, "I mean we know Professor Lee can bring her back again if what Chihiro says is true."
"And it won't be as long as two months I think. Maybe a week or so. There's still a lot Aoi published in the library correct?"
"Yes."
"Oh no, you want us to go through all his shit while you're gone?" Kai joked.
But the way Chihiro was looking at them, he'd hit the nail right on its head. They groaned as Chihiro tried to give them her sweetest smile, dripping with appeal.
"There's no way you are just going to let her do this?" Hana shook her head, "it's ridiculous and dangerous. No way."
"But Hana-"
"We're not those annoying heroes we read about in books that jump dive in head first with no notion of reality. Reality is that it's dangerous."
"But my reality completely changed," Chihiro reasoned, "I appreciate your concern, but what happens if our realms do collide? I can't imagine Yggdrasil has the ability to stop anything the shinobi nations have, and there would be war."
"We've learned enough about ninjas to know war is in their blood." Kai said.
"War is basically in human blood idiot." Hana sighed, wheels spinning in her head, "fine. But if Professor Lee can't bring you back I'll do it myself to murder you."
Chihiro grinned.
Her friends definitely thought she'd lost it.
But she was different, there was no denying it since she returned. Fiery eyes as her somber mood sizzled out since waking. More of a passion, they saw it as she talked of Konoha and those who lived there. And no one had ever seen her so rattled as Mr. Deng talked of Neji.
"So what are you planning to do?" Hana asked Chihiro with a heavy heart.
"I have to get into that tower. Touch the orb."
"Looks like it's gonna be a long night," Kasumi said with a yawn as she took a seat in one of the lounge chairs, "because we'll have to wait until night."
-
Later that night, the four friends stood crammed behind a corner wall of the trophy room- a dusty room of centuries of school accolades. They'd have to get through the monitors to reach the gate of their destination. It was deafeningly silent asides from the two monitors talking in front of an old suit of armor behind glass casing- talking about the Director actually.
"I'm shocked Clive didn't talk about Miss Sato at our most recent meeting. Don't you think the rest of us deserve to know what happened? Melany hasn't let anyone into the tower since."
"I think I'm more surprised all spirit drifting has been halted. You know how obsessive the capital is."
The four students exchanged worried glances. Chihiro's heart felt as if it were about to thump out her rib cage, like it could be heart miles away. Stomach's were churning with nerves, not the adrenaline they used to feel from sneaking out the dorm wing. This was different.
"I have an idea, play along." Kasumi whisper-shouted suddenly.
"Wait," Chihiro grabbed Kasumi's arm before she could lunge behind the corner, "how do we know the gate isn't locked?"
"Uh well, that's your problem to figure out when we get there." Kasumi frowned, "Hana and Kai, one of you go back to the public bathrooms and act as if you're dying."
"That's your plan?" Hana asked incredulously.
"It's the best I got. You come up with something better."
"Let's just get this over with." Kai groaned, "we're so getting detention."
Chihiro nodded her head at her friends like she was thanking them, and as their eyes all locked she could see their love. See that they were doing this for her, because she firmly believed it was right. And Chihiro hoped she knew what she was doing, hoped it wouldn't mess up and send her to a different realm.
As Kai and Hana scampered off to start their act, Kasumi waited a few moments before stepping out.
It was quite the show- Kasumi acting out of breath and scared as she 'raced' to the two monitors. Seeing Kasumi, a known well put together student, had them at ease and they effortlessly believed her poor facade. If either of their heads moved the wrong they, they'd have seen Chihiro pressed into the corner, holding her breath. But seconds later she could hear footsteps getting further away, but it was replaced by her sense of dread.
Chihiro stepped out, meters away from the gated door that would bring her to a long spiral staircase up.
Like a force was pulling her in, her feet slowly moved forward. It was like the day Aoi controlled her. As if her insides were swirling. Her surroundings were blurry as she reached out for the door's handle- it clicked, opening right before she could push. Swallowing hard, a new fortification setting in, Chihiro made the long climb upwards.
That morning, Chihiro's limp body was found by Professor Lee in front of the pedestal that bolstered a glowing spirit orb.