So here it is, the first (proper) chapter of my first Spirited Away fanfic, 'The Other Side'. I'm kinda experimenting with my writing now, so I hope this has turned out okay. If you like it, review it! (As you can see, my first chapter garnered me approximately 0 reviews T.T)
Rated T for mild course language and possible mature themes.
disclaimer: I do not own Spirited Away or any of it's characters, I do, however, own the OCs
Chapter II
The First Day
As the sun rose the sky was streaked with wispy clouds, a rippling ocean of faded peach. It was warm, and the summer breeze swirled around, bringing the sound of brooms sweeping the courtyards of innumerable apartments. It was on that day that I started at my new school, Kohaku High. I tried to ignore it, but I was nervous, I'd see friends who I hadn't seen since I was 10, and 4 years is a lot of time. People can change a lot in 4 years, and I was scared that the friends who I was returning to might not remember me. Don't get me wrong, I was still excited; a part of me remembered the hot summer days eating ice cream with Rui, lying on the grassy slopes of the city park, just laughing. Of course I'd miss the countryside, where you could see the horizon off in the distance, the slightly curved line that divides the green from the blue. I'd miss the friends I made, and living with Dad. But on the other hand, anything was better than the stifling atmosphere that arose whenever Mum and Dad were in the same room.
"Honey, it's your first day at school, how're you feeling?" asked Mum.
"Fine," and desperately wondering how to change the subject I added 'You look tired.'
'I had that dream again.' For a moment I was worried. 'That dream' was a dream that Mum kept on having. She once told me that in her dream she forgets everything that's important to her and can only think about the hunger that devours her mind. I think I have recurring dreams too, but I'm not sure what of. All I know is that I wake up with such a stong longing to be there, I don't know where and I don't understand why. A lot of that had been happening recently; me not understanding.
For a moment as I first entered homeroom I was scared that I wouldn't know anybody, but my thoughts were interrupted by a cheer that came from a long haired girl sitting near the back. I grinned, what are the chances that I'd be put in the same class as Rui? I could see that she wasn't the only one I knew, there was Yumi, another old friend, sitting next to her and Kamiki, our old next door neighbour a few seats away. I spent the entire session whispering to Rui and Yumi, exchanging stories. I apologised profusely when the teacher asked me if I was planning on making it a habit to talk in class and Rui laughed at my obedience.
"You sure have changed, Chihiro," she said, "Back in the old days you would talk during class just to annoy Mr. Hayate!" I laughed with her, remembering that I had been a bit of an attention seeker when I was young.
When I met Rui's new best friend at lunchtime, I wasn't really jealous, mostly sad I guess. We had been friends since grade 1 and I felt left out. I hadn't wanted to accept that things had changed, but they had, Rui's smile wasn't the same, it wasn't so cheeky as before, and it didn't show nearly so many teeth. I'd already noticed that she couldn't pass a mirror without pausing to pin back a stray strand of hair, or reapplying another layer of glistening lip gloss.
"So, Chihiro, I've heard so much about you from Rui, I feel as if you're already my friend!" said Sakura, Rui's new best friend.
I smiled, she seemed friendly. "I'd be honoured to be your friend." was my reply.
"Then consider it done! So, how's the countryside?" As I started to describe the gently sloping hills and the stars at night she started to laugh, almost cruelly.
"So clueless, little Chihiro, when I ask how the countryside is, I mean are there any hot guys."
"Umm...I don't really notice that kind of stuff..."
"What, are you lesbian?" I felt my face heat up and I bit my tongue to stop myself from saying something I might regret. I didn't have a problem with her thinking I was a lesbian, but I did have a problem with the way she used the word as an insult. I heard Rui telling Sakura to go easy on me because I'd been practically shut off from civilization for 4 years.
"No, it's all right, I'm sure it was just a joke." I said, smiling.
"Yup," laughed Rui, "don't worry about her. Anyways, we have to get you a boyfriend!"
"Absolutely, come over to my house after school and we'll give you a make over! We'll teach you how to use makeup, we'll style your hair and we'll get rid of that ponytail, it makes you look like a seven year old. And who gave you that pink hair tie, your grandma? It's so tacky." came the voice of Sakura. I hid my anger at having my hair tie called tacky and scrabbled for an excuse to get out of this said makeover.
"Sorry, but after school I have to help my mum unpack; we just moved here a couple days ago." I sighed with relief as Sakura shrugged.
The next session was public art, and I was heavy hearted when I realised that I shared this class with Sakura and Rui. I sat bored, feeling utterly out of place as they nattered on about people I didn't know and places I'd never heard of. Turning my head to survey the room, I saw her; a girl who had the entire table to herself while the other tables were loaded with chattering people. She had black hair that just failed to reach her shoulders, her clothes more practical than fashionable. Her back was straight, and though she stared vacantly at the opposite wall, her hand still moved across the paper, leaving heavy black dashes along the white. At her feet lay a large, straw coloured dog.
"Hey," I nudged Rui, "that girl over there, is she blind?"
Rui shuddered "Yep, and the bitch never lets us forget it, milking it for all it's worth. Why doesn't she wear sunglasses like a normal person? We don't want to see her eyes; they're creepy"
"And you know," joined Sakura, "she doesn't have an artistic bone in her body, I mean, there's only one reason why a blind girl would take an art class." My fingers twitched in annoyance.
"Why?" I asked. Sakura rolled her eyes.
"Obviously she's got the hots for someone in this class, and now she's following the poor guy around, like a dog on heat."
"How can she follow someone around if she's BLIND!" I could barely keep my voice from shaking.
"Calm down Chihiro! We were talking about the blind girl, not you."
"I know, but what's she ever done to you?"
"Well, for starters she was born." snickered Sakura. I don't know exactly why, but I seemed to lose all my anger at that moment. It was replaced with a strange resignation; I knew then that these people weren't my friends, not even Rui. They were too absorbed in their own self importance, and anybody who was different from them were treated as enemies. I gathered my books and stood up.
"Sorry." I said, and walked over to the blind girl's table.
"Wait, Chihiro!" called Rui, so I smiled at her to show her that I was fine.
As I sat down the blind girl showed no sign of noticing me. I examined her and stifled a gasp as her eyes rose to meet mine. They were unevenly clouded, as if she had washed them with milk, but the most disturbing thing was the way those eyes twitched; she had no evident control over them.
"I hope you realize how stupid that was." I was surprised when her voice rang out clear and strong.
"Huh?"
"Miss Perfect isn't going to forgive you for ditching her." the girl grinned, "She's going to give you hell. You'd better start grovelling, new girl." When I finally dragged my eyes away from hers, I realised she was pretty.
"No, it's fine." I said calmly, dipping a brush into the blue paint, "And besides, they only talk about boys and fashion and boring stuff."
"What makes you think I don't talk about that stuff too?" I panicked a little at that, stumbling over my words to rectify my mistake.
"I-it's not that boring, I didn't mean that umm..."
"Don't worry, it is boring, and how could I be interested in guys and fashion when I can't see them?"
"Oh..." I was silent for a moment "What's your name?"
"Aoi, ironic, isn't it?"she said with a sad smile "And you're Chihiro, right?" I said nodded, and then realising that she couldn't see said 'yes'. She was silent for a moment before asking "What do you look like?" I hadn't really been expecting this, and I wasn't very sure how to answer.
"I have...brown shoulder length hair that I tie back. I'm not that pretty..."
"I think you are pretty." She'd surprised me again. "And in any case, who decided what's pretty and what's not." She noticed my silence and grinned sheepishly, "Sorry, I'm a bit of an anti-conformist. By the way, please tell me you haven't straightened your hair, because if you have I'll need to ask you to leave my table." After reassuring her that I hadn't straightened my hair, we lapsed into a comfortable silence.
That is how my first day at Kohaku High School passed; and I felt as if I might almost survive the week.
