Chapter 5 - part 1: Fight

Disclaimer: Contains severe bullying and harsh language.

When I wrote chapter 5 it became much longer than i thought so I decided to divide it into two.

I've always been fascinated by Japanese culture and language, and since Spirited Away is a Japanese movie, I'll try to interpret and use that in my story.

Some words used in the story:

Bento – lunch box

Ryokan – Japanese old style hotel

In Japan it's rude to call each other by first name only, unless you're close, most often surnames are used attached with an honorific.

Honorifics:

Sensei – Teacher

Senpai – When referring to someone older, like an upperclassman or similar.

San – a neutral word used for any gender and age

Chan – Mostly referring to younger females who are either friends or loved ones.

Kun – Mostly used for younger men.

Sama – Very formal, used for someone in a high position.

An example of this would be Ogino San for Chihiro.

I've always been surrounded by darkness, from child to adult, it hurts to remember, yet I'll never be able to forget

The annoying sound of the alarm rouse me from a wonderful dream, which are most often nonexistent. I slam my hand on the off button and slide my legs over the edge of the bed, planting my feet on the cold floor. The early morning sun sneak through the window, blinding me. I rub my eyes from sleep and stand up, donning my school outfit consisting of a white blouse and a green plaited skirt, then tie the matching sweater around my shoulders.

Hanging over the bedside table is a silver mirror in which my reflection shows an exhausted face and messy bed hair. I comb through the tangles and knot my hair into a side braid, then attach the magical hair tie that was kept from the spirit world. It's one of my most precious belongings, and even though I've maintained it with care, it's begun to show some signs of wear and tear.

When my appearance is somewhat presentable, I amble towards the kitchenette, that contain a small stove, tiny fridge, and a few cabinets, nothing to brag about. The color scheme is plain and boring, but since it's a small student apartment there's no admission to change it. My preferred items are the things my mother bought for me, like necessary cooking utensils, some furniture and appliances.

I've had to grow up fast since moving here about one year ago, learning to spend my allowance appropriately, cleaning the apartment and preparing meals. Even though my cooking is not particularly advanced, it's enough to sustain me through the day. I begin today's meal by switching on the rice cooker, whisk some eggs together with spices, and pour miso soup into a saucepan. While the eggroll mixture sizzle in the frying pan, I chop up some veggies and stack them neatly on the cutting board. Half of the finished meal goes into a bento and the rest is for breakfast. I shove down the food in a mechanical fashion, more out of necessity than pleasure.

When the breakfast is consumed, I've got just enough time to clean the dishes and prepare to leave. I chuck the bento into my backpack and strap it on my shoulders, then rush through the door and down the stairs of the high-rise building.

Outside the weather is decent with just a few clouds gliding over the sky. The school lies just a few kilometers away and the bike ride is fairly pleasant. A few stragglers pedal up behind me on my way there. When I enter the school courtyard it's teamed with noisy students heading for their lessons. I park my bike in the general bicycle stand and head up the huge marble stairs into the entrance.

The first class is English at the top floor, I jump up the stairs and head for the classroom. My bench is at the back of the room near a window, I flop down on the chair and prepare my notes and books. The rest of my class slowly saunter into the premise and settle down on their seats, chattering with each other. I don't have to wait long until our English teacher Fujii Saburo arrives and silence the noise. When the bell tolls for class to begin he settles down behind his desk and prepares the attendance list.

"Good morning everyone, I see that most of you've made it here today, that's good… Now let's see, Busujima Aiko?" He runs through the names one after the other and I raise my hand as he reaches mine. "I hope that you've studied the homework well, since we've got oral practice today. Ogino San, why don't you have a go and begin with page one"

"Yes, Sensei" I open Pride and Prejudice to the first page and begin reading aloud "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered as the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters…"

When I've finished reading successfully some scornful glares are sent my way, especially from Aiko. They probably despise the way Saburo always single me out, knowing how adequate I am with the subject. As a child my mother and I used to work summer vacations at a Ryokan near our house. It was a popular resort and visitors from all over the world spent their holidays there. I received plenty of practice since it was a multilingual retreat. I've been fascinated with the language ever since and began to devour any English books and movies I could get my hands on.

Most of my class don't share my fascination for language, or studying, and will probably find a hard time plowing through the advanced book. I've got no friends, either in class or otherwise, so my spare time is spent studying. It doesn't really bother me though; I love to study and learn new things. All the hard work resulted in scores that propelled me to the top of the year, along with envy and hate from students below me on the list.

The class continues with oral practice and then a review of what've read so far, especially the tricky words which might be hard to pronounce. When the bell rings everyone shoves their books in their bags and leave the classroom in a mess of chattering and laughs. I'm the slowest as usual while gathering my things and stuffing them neatly in my backpack. Saburo cleans the whiteboard and collects his equipment then looks up at me.

"Oh, you're still here Ogino San, you did good today, it shows that you've done your homework thoroughly, like always"

"Thank you, It's one of my favorite books"

"So, you've read it before?"

"Yes, I was researching some popular fiction and stumbled upon Jane Austin"

"That's surprising, you're pretty young to tackle that book on your own"

"I don't know about that, it's just a hobby I've got…"

"Well, keep up the good work and you'll have no problem with upcoming assignments"

"Thank you for today's lesson..."

I fling the backpack over my shoulder and bow politely, then proceed out of the classroom. In the hallway outside students hang out, sitting on the windowsills and chatting with their friends. Sometimes I wonder what life would be like if I joined them, behaved like a normal teenager. Maybe the spirit world really screwed me up, it made me brave, resilient, yet unable to cope with a world where everything is logical.

I glide down the stairs into the entrance hall, taking the door that leads out to the backyard. There's this lovely little grove full of flowers, with a bench under the trees, where I spend most of my breaks. I dig out Pride and Prejudice again and settle down to read, feeling the sun warm my neck. It's easy to get lost in the pages, leaving this world, escaping to one where my problems don't exist.

Something hard hits me in the back of my head, snapping me out of the dreamy world. I glance behind me, where Aiko stands with a smirk plastered on her face, a book in hand that was probably the tool she used to hit me. Her gang of cheerleaders surround me, with the same smiling expression.

"Hi there, freak, you really think you're something, don't you?"

I sigh deeply and rise, ready to leave, but she latches on to my hair and haul me backwards. The stinging pain in my scalp makes me wince, but I keep quiet.

"Where do you think you're going, we're going to have a little talk, you and me"

"I don't feel like it, let me go…"

She growls and push me down on my knees, dragging one of my arms against my shoulder blades, a firm grip on my braid.

"I said we're going to talk"

I bend my neck back to relieve some of the pressure on my scalp, adopting a deadpan expression to hide the pain from the others.

"And I said that I don't want to…"

"It doesn't matter what you want, you're going to do as told"

"What if I refuse, will you beat me up?"

"You've got some sass; I'll give you that… but low scum like you, should learn to shut up before superior people"

"You told me to talk and now you tell me not to… is inconsistency a part of your superiority?"

"Don't mark words! tell me about the little trick you played on Noguchi Senpai"

"What are you talking about?"

"Cut the crap! You know exactly what I'm talking about!"

"No, I really don't"

"I saw you leaving that note in his locker… he's mine, you've got no right to approach him!"

Nogutchi Mitsuo is an upperclassman and sports fanatic. He's head of the basketball club, and obnoxiously popular among both girls and boys. His personality does most of the work, but it doesn't hurt that he's handsome as well. homework isn't a priority to him, probably because he receives so much attention elsewhere. I was tasked by the school counselor to help him with some English assignments. The circumstance Aiko refers to is the note I left him, asking about when to begin the tutoring.

"I wasn't aware that someone could be owned, how much did you pay for him?"

She tugs harder on my braid, dragging my head backward, pain surges through my spine and scalp. With pure determination I halt the gasp of pain from escaping, refusing them the pleasure of seeing me suffer.

"Your impudence is getting tiresome; it would be a good idea to stop while I've still got some patience left"

"Why should I, when pissing you off is so much fun?"

"SHUT UP BITCH! Do you think yourself important just because you're every teacher's pet? They don't care about you; They're just interested in your grades! I could do whatever I wanted right now, no one would even notice…"

"Go ahead… I'll never be afraid of you… I'd rather lick a donkey's ass, than submit to dimwits like you…"

I know that I'm digging my own grave by uttering such words, but it's impossible not to when dealing with utter nonsense and lunacy. I'll never bend to people like them, the tenacity running through my veins won't allow it, no matter how much it'll hurt me.

"What the hell did you say?!"

Her fingers bury deep into my braid, the pressure on my scalp so tight that it feels like she'll rip it off. When she pulls harder my hair tie gives way, I fall forward from the sudden release but manage to land palms against ground. I whip around ready for confrontation and catch sight of the string in her hand. For the first time since our encounter began, a surge of fear runs through me.

"Give that back…"

She lifts her hand and laughs when discovering what she's caught hold of. She pinches the hair tie between her thumb and index finger, dangling it tauntingly.

"Oh, is this silly thing important to you?"

Burning fury pulsate through my body as I stand up, the movement releasing my locks that cascade over my shoulders and face. I glare threateningly behind the curtain of hair; she recoils as if she'd caught sight of a ghost.

"Grab her!"

Her gang throw themselves at me and seize my arms, their grip strong, preventing me from breaking free.

"GIVE IT BACK!"

"If you're this enraged when I'm simply holding it, how will you react if I break it? "

She stretches the hair tie between her hands, and I watch in horror as the string thins out at the breaking point. My heart beats like a drum, sending a raging pulse against my temples.

"NO PLEASE! DON'T DO IT! STOP!"

I struggle so much that it hurts, my arms burning as they slowly glide out of their grip. The sudden release propels me forward and I stumble when reaching for Aiko.

With a horrible, ominous snap, the hair tie breaks apart. I rip it from her hands, staring in disbelief at the torn string. An anguished howl escapes my throat and I pounce, punching her in the jaw. My body works on its own, wanting to tear her apart until there's nothing left.

I fight against the arms hauling me back and fall to the ground when they push me. I curl into fetal position as their kicks slam against my body like a hailstorm. My arms folded over my head to block their assault, the hair tie firmly in my fist.

When their abuse subsides, I glance up through blurry eyes at Aiko, who spits on the ground beside me.

"Crazy bitch"

When they're out of sight I crawl into sitting position and groan out of pain, hugging my knees and observe the hair tie in my hands. Tears build up in the corner of my eyes and overflow as new ones take their place. My soul breaks apart like the loose fibers of the string.

"Zeniba… No face… Boh… I allowed them to break it… I'm sorry… so sorry…"

I remove my necklace and bind the hair tie next to the vial with water from his river.

"Please protect them Haku…"

I hunch over my knees and sob violently, feeling the fabric of my skirt growing wet from tears. In this moment there's no sense of time or space, and I allow myself to drown in sorrow. My chest empty where my heart is supposed to beat.

When my cheeks have gone dry and I'm steady enough to stand, I grab my backpack and head towards the bathroom.

I observe my reflection in the mirror and notice several bruises. There are blood stains on my torn lip, from when I bit down as they kicked me. In my bag there's a towel that I moisten with water to clean my wounds. To hide most of the damage I put on my sweater and arrange the hair around my face.

I throw a glance on my wristwatch and realize that I've missed a whole lesson. By now it's time for lunch, but I don't feel hungry at all and decide to head towards the room for my next class instead. There's a bench in the hallway where I settle down and stare hollowly at the opposite wall.

When my teacher arrives one hour later, I rise and walk towards the classroom. My head spins so violently that I must brace myself against the doorframe.

"Hello Ogino San, how are you feeling? you look pale…"

"I'm fine, just a bit dizzy from standing up too fast…"

Cold sweat gathers on my skin and the corners of my eyes grow dark, blurring my vision. My body trembles and I must force myself to step forward, then the darkness consumes me.

I open my eyes and stare up at a white ceiling with bright lights, the strange surrounding confusing me. Slowly the area becomes familiar and realize that I'm in the nurse's office, but unable to understand why. I slide my legs over the side of the bunk bed and notice my sweater hanging over a chair, the arms of my blouse tugged up over my elbows, displaying several bruises. My whole body feel swollen and sore as I rise, supported by the bed. I grab my sweater and tug it on, then part the curtains enclosing the resting area. On the other side the school nurse turns around in her chair, observing me.

"Oh, you're awake Ogino San… How are you feeling?"

"What am I doing here?"

"You fainted in class and were carried here"

"I see… well… thank you for the help Ebihara Sama…"

I bow politely though my body screams in protest, then amble towards the exit but before reaching it, she intercepts me, placing a hand on the door handle.

"Please sit down, we need to talk…"

I throw a glance at her, deciding that it's probably better to tackle this conversation now rather than later.

"Sure…"

She locks the door and settle down on her chair again, placing herself opposite me.

"Who did this to you?"

"No one…"

She sighs and straighten up, adopting a sympathetic expression.

"We both know that's a lie… you've got bruises all over, and might've contracted a concussion"

"I fell down a hill…"

"So, between first class and now you managed to find a hill and decided to plunge down it?"

"What would you prefer me to say?"

"The truth"

"My explanation is funnier…"

She breaths deeply as if to gather patience "If you tell me I can help you…"

"No… you really can't…"

"How can you be so sure?"

I fold my arms with a deadpan expression "Your interference would make everything worse…"

"It might help to talk about it at least, and I can guide you to support groups at school"

"They wouldn't help me"

"Because you feel like you won't fit in?"

"Not 'feel' like, I know… are we done yet?"

"Yes… If you want… but can I tell you something before you leave… there's nothing wrong with you Ogino San… they just don't know how to approach you, scared even… their envy of your intelligence and grades turns into violence…"

I laugh bitterly at her words, wondering if it's supposed to make me feel better. Like everything would be okay if I convince myself that I'm superior to them. Would their abuse be excused if it was done in the name of jealousy? It's funny how adults think their so-called wisdom will change how it feels. In fact, they're just clueless about how the world of a student works. Teenagers are callous, warped by society and lash out at anyone who's different. Since I'm completely worthless socially they find it easy to attack me, knowing that I'm alone and unprotected. No words of encouragement will ever change that.

"Thanks for the, 'pep-talk', but I'm fine…"

"Before you go… remember to visit a doctor to examine your injuries, and be careful…"

"Okay, I will…"

I turn around to leave, ignoring the pitiful glance thrown my way.

Thank your so much for your encouraging words!

It makes me so very happy to see that you enjoy this story. I work hard on every chapter to make the story flow.

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Next chapter will probably be up in a week, it's the continuation of this chapter.

Thank you yet again, readers makes it worth spending time on writing!

Thank you for continuing to read!