Updated: 3/31/16
2: Really? Everybody Notices The Hair!
It's been a week since I've been released and I still have no idea what my parent's were talking about the night I came home.
Inner has snooped throughout the entire house, searching for anything that could help us understand the 'secret' while I've tried countless times to steer the conversations I've had with my parents so I can try to get them to tell me themselves. But Mom was easily able to take control of the topic at the moment and turn it towards something else. More often than not the topic turned to my upcoming first day of school. In those moments I couldn't help but get excited that I would always end up forgetting what I wanted to know.
It's obvious that whatever the secret is, it's important, but not monumental as there are no physical objects linked to it. And even though it's already been a week I'm ready to give up on the search until further evidence arises or my parents decide to tell me this secret themselves. But that isn't the only reason I decided to give up so quickly.
The other is that today is my first day of high school.
I double check my hair in the mirror; my new haircut is chin length and layered. The choppy look is more intentional than just a quick trim by a nervous nurse. It might be vain of me, but I just couldn't let myself go to school without a new look. I took the black head band my mom made me and tie back most of my hair. Seeing my bangs fall freely to frame my face I turn my head. The back of my hair is slightly shorter than the front but that's fine, it's cute and edgy. Now that I won't be going back live in the hospital maybe I can grow it out to Inner's length?
Maybe, I wonder to myself, squinting at my reflection while trying to imagine long pink locks reaching my lower back...but having trouble to do so. Signing I step back from my mirror to admire my outfit.
It's the standard school uniform for fall. Navy pleated skirt that reaches mid-thigh; white button down tucked in, blue tie, black sneakers; pretty normal. Instead of the usual calf high socks I wore alternative, thick black stockings. Under my long-sleeved shirt I have a thin but tight black long sleeve Tee-shirt that stops mid forearm; it will keep me warm against the cold chill and if that isn't enough I packed a cream colored cardigan in my new green backpack along with my school supplies and medication. My only accessory is my special watch. It has all the times I have to take each of my pills saved. Normally Inner would just remind me if for some reason I forget, but...I set it to vibrate. I'll be around people now, a lot of people having a physical object will help me. Glancing back to the mirror I place my hands on my hips, satisfied with how everything turned out.
I look good. Like an average student. Except for my hair color, I think with dismay, maybe I could say I dyed it? Or would that be to obvious-
" Tah-dah! So how do I look for our first day of class?" Inner sings.
I turn, about to correct her, when my mouth falls open.
It doesn't normally surprise me anymore when Inner decides to dress the same as me. She get's a kick out of seeing us like matching twins. But sometimes she goes the extra mile, and decides that while she wants us to look like twins-she wants to look like the bad one. So seeing Inner wearing a sexualized version of what I'm wearing...always throws me for a loop. She too is in a blue pleated skirt, only she rolled up so it reaches only a third of her thighs. Her shirt is halfway un-buttoned and shows off her black tank top underneath. She switched her blue tie for a red one but left it loose. She wore black thigh high socks and black Converse. Her hair is up for once; in two high pigtails with red ribbons flowing with her hair. And her arms have so many bracelets it should be illegal.
She looks just like a naughty school girl.
I can't believe it.
Not again , I plead. As I see her plop a fake lollipop into her mouth with a sultry smile.
"Inner go put on some regular clothes. I'm the only one who can see you remember?"
She humphs, lifting her push-up bra breasts with her folded arms . "No."
I sigh. "Inner."
" I can dress however the hell I want!"
Gah! There is just no agreeing with her when she got like this! Well , I thought again as I shake my head, at least it isn't the naughty nurse costume again.
I triple check to make sure I have all my medication needed to get through the day. I also pack an extra of each pill in case I drop one. It is always a possibility.
I grab my pack and water bottle as I head to the kitchen for breakfast.
The kitchen is small; the wooden floor is scuffed, the counters clean yet crowded thanks to the microwave and toaster along with the other kitchen supplies that don't fit in the draws or squeaky cupboards. The table is a simple round one in terrible condition from age and use. We will have to get a new one soon. The maroon painted walls are have carefully placed photos of family members I have never met or close friends of the family that I will meet in the near future. Perhaps today I'll meet some of their children at school?
School, I smile to myself as I think of the word. It just fills me with happiness, this is one of the rites of passage that is so common nowadays it's eye opening when people hear I have never been to school. Just how depraved am I? Exactly how much of my life have I missed out on? I can count the years but how many more of these rites of passage did I miss?
It doesn't matter, I may be a little behind but I will do everything I want to. I won't let my life fade away into nothing, constantly hiding away from the shadows in hopes that the monsters won't get me. I know they might, I know they can. I also know that Inner won't let them lay a hand on me. She wants to live just as much as me. With a deep breath I try to shake off the rest of my nerves and catch the smell of something delicious.
Mom has already made my breakfast; toast, eggs and tofu. It sits on the table with her digital camera, a small can, a cell phone and a note.
Hi baby, I'm sorry I can't take you to school today. Work called so I had to leave a little early. Your father won't wake up until after you leave for school so you have to walk. Lock the door on your way out. I'll pick you up from school. Keep the mace so no one hurts you. This is your father's cell phone; we will work on getting you one soon. Please take a picture of you in your uniform! I want to see it as soon as possible. The directions to get to school are on the back.
I smile. She spoils me.
I eat my food, take the picture, pocket the cell and mace then take the note as I leave the house.
Inner glides by my side. Still in her naughty girl uniform and smiling but this time she is armed. She now has on her gloves and an iron pipe is strapped to her back. She can always manifest more weapons, but that would weaken her faster and she needs as much energy as she can throughout the day, in case of emergencies. The pipe is something she made a few years ago, something that is always with her but will vanish and reappear at her command. It takes less energy for her to use it then it would for her to create a whole new weapon on the spot.
A buzz from my watch reminds me to take one of my pills. I reach into my backpack to take my medication.
Before I started taking the pills I would see demons and spirits all over the place. After the pills only weak entities would attack me. Later I learned that it's because my glow had been dimmed so drastically that the demons believed I wouldn't survive a feeding.
I had to laugh at that when I first heard about this from TonTon. Not believing a word she said until she explained that there are certain laws that must be kept among the demons. And one of them is should a demon murder then they will be destroyed. Demons can possess whoever allows them to, manipulate people into temptation to kill others or even themselves and can hurt me however they want but the instant they kill with their own hands or whatever they have those demons will be in big trouble. The law's must be kept. It's the main reason why they never just went for the kill and why the more violent ones left me alone while I was weakened.
However, even though the pills for my 'schizophrenia' still work to keep my glow of my aura dimmed, I don't hide as well as I used to. According to Inner my glow grows with me, and we think that the pills cause it to be dimmed slower than it might have if I didn't have the pills. Eventually the demons were once again able to hunt me and I think that's why I created Inner, as way to keep the glow away from me without having to go into an asylum or dying. It's most likely why she feeds from me, taking the excess glow makes her stronger and me hidden. The stronger she is the easier it is to keep the demons away.
We turn a corner; an old woman walks right next to me and straight through Inner. I stop noticing the old women give an involuntary shiver and wait, knowing Inner is also shaking off the strange burn that she complains about when this happens. I once asked her how come she doesn't get out of the way, she says she likes it. After a moment Inner is by my side again, a brighter glow to her cheeks and a sly grin on her lips. I shake my head and continue on. I start to see other students wearing the same uniform as me and my heart thumps in my chest. I stop again, this time checking my heart rate. I have to know if my heart pounds too hard.
It was, after all, the first organ I had transferred.
Inner clicks her tongue, gaining my attention . "It's probably just nerves. It is your first time going to school. But don't worry, I'm right here beside you. If things get too serious just look my way I'll brighten your day and help you relax." She warmly smiles.
Oh , I think, that's why the interesting outfit today . To distract me if I need it.
I smile in her direction. That is until I hear a whisper from behind me.
"Who is she smiling at? And is it just me or is her hair pink?" whispers a feminine voice.
I turn around to see a boy with long hair tied back in a low ponytail and light grey eyes and a girl with twin buns and brown eyes. Unlike mine the color of their ties are green. Maybe they are upper classmen?
I smile again, this time shyly. "Hi, I'm Sakura Haruno. I'm a new student at Konoha High."
They share a glance before introducing themselves. The boy is Neji and the girl is TenTen. They are sophomores confirming my theory. Too bad , I think, otherwise we could have shared classes . They start walking again this time I'm beside TenTen. Inner is behind me now. She knows better than to make a show around new people. But It doesn't mean she won't shut up.
"He looks like a stick in the mud," she complains. "And she looks dull. Find some more Interesting people to be your friends."
I send her a discreet glare over my shoulder then ignore her, Neji is speaking now. Asking me where I was from and other easy topics. When I explained that I lived in Kiri until now I could see the wonder in TenTen's eyes. Kiri is one of the more harsher countries to live in due to it's mountain like terrain and harsh weather conditions. It doesn't help that is has the reputation of being quite strict in its schooling and armed forces. Of course Kiri is also one of the more advance places when it comes to medicine because of all the exotic plants that grow within it's borders. Over the centuries many doctors and scientists have gone there in order to study the plant life thus making it today's go to place for the sciences and medical interests.
I was about to explain to Neji how I was home-schooled when TenTen asked, "Sakura-san I'm curious how come your hair is pink? Is that your favorite color?"
"No, it's naturally like this." I automatically explain. It isn't until I see her expression that I mentally curse myself. Damn the truth slipped out before I remembered I should have lied. Though I know my exotic coloring isn't normal it's difficult to remember that I'm no longer surrounded by people who understand that this is a deformity and not that big of a deal.
"Impossible," states Neji. "No one is born with pink hair."
My eyes narrow in annoyance. "I'm not lying. This is my natural hair color. It's been this way since I was born." TenTen looks between me and Neji. Trying to find a way to break the sudden tension. She glances my way and smiles awkwardly causing a sudden squeeze of in my chest. She doesn't believe me, I realize.
"Well how about earlier Sakura-san. You were smiling quite a bit."
"I was just talking to-" Inner, I mentally finish as I take in her weirded out expression. The pang in my chest returns and for a moment I glance down, checking to see if I the pain was because a demon was actually trying to feed from me again. It wasn't.
"Talking to?" Neji eggs on as his eyes narrow in suspicion and TenTen slightly leans towards him. It was in that moment I knew, that no matter what I said, whatever my reason was, they already had written me off. It was also in that instant that I understood the pain I felt.
"Did I say talking? Ugh I'm such an idiot I meant thinking," I clarify. "So I was just thinking to my self. I'm rather excited about starting school here!" I force out a smile but I can already tell as I watch as Neji cooly turns his gaze over his shoulder to TenTen. She shoots me a bright smile and in that instant I know what they are about to do.
"Well, welcome to Konoha High Sakura, it was nice meeting you but we have to get going now. Neji's part of the student council and I'm captain of the Judo team so we got to get there early." She discreetly elbows Neji in the chest before they continue on their way to school. But I don't miss the pointed look Neji gives me as they walk ahead of me.
I blink back the tears that start forming in my eyes. I knew this would happen, that my coloring would grab attention was a given. The argument about whether it was or wasn't natural will always be an issue for me. Many people call me out on it when they first meet me, it isn't until I explain that it is a genetic condition and show proof that they accept it-or try to. Even when I was in a hospital it was difficult for others to accept this.
However it isn't my hair that caused Neji and TenTen to run from me. I was caught in a lie, and they saw right through me.
Growing up in the hospital means it was rare for me to meet new people, Seven Swords is private for a reason so there isn't a lot of new patients that get admitted. And when you go to Seven Swards it means kids are there for a relatively long time. I forgot that I'll have to explain myself again when I start school. That now I will constantly be surrounded by people who don't understand me, they don't see what I see, or hear what I hear. They don't even want to try to understand why I see the things I do. At the hospital while I was constantly told that the things I see are not real, I knew that the physicians could tell I truly believed they were. A lot of the time they would humor me, and sometimes they would try to contradict me. To prove that what I was seeing was all a delusion. It made them uncomfortable when I knew things that I shouldn't, things that was kept secret from rumors spread by demons and spirit guides and Inner's snooping.
Here I now know it will be different. I'll have to tell people over and over again about my condition, about why I need medication every few hours, and that my hair is really pink. I'll have to tell them why when I stare off into space it's because I'm listening to beings that they can't hear or see. That...that is just exhausting.
" Yeah! Goodbye to you too! You bastards!" Inner yells before wrapping an arm around my shoulders. The tears didn't fall, her being here is comforting enough. As I walk the rest of the way she says random things. Stories from the hospital of the spirits we befriended. That is normal, to me. I don't talk to anyone and did my best to ignore the stares, the whispers. I stood out here. I'm not used to that. Well not anymore. Sure at the hospital people studied me, but never this much. There I was forced keep an eye open for any demons, here however the students look at me as if I am a freak. The only other time I was ever this uncomfortable is when I was thirteen…
I force back the memories. I refuse to remember that horrid time of my life.
Inner led me and prevents me from bumping into people as we made our way to the office. There is a man behind the desk labeled Secretary . He has his dark spiky hair is pulled back into a high, tight pony tail. A scar is straight across his nose and on his cheeks. He glance up when I walk in and his eyes widen. Than he shook away his surprise and smile.
"Haruno-san nice to see you again," says Iruka-sensei. He was my administrator as I was taking my placement exam last week.
"You too Sensei. I came to pick up my class schedule."
"Oh, that's right. Today is your first day. Well, take a seat. The principle would want a word with you before you go to class."
I nod then smile before bowing and take the seat closest to the door with the word Principle printed in black. Inner stands her hands on her hips staring at the door. As if she was a cat sensing a dog.
"Hmm." I softly hum. I don't want to get any more unwanted attention today.
" There is something over there," she replies . "Something bad."
I look at her until she turns my way and stare her in the eye then make a circle with my thumb, signaling for her to explain.
" I can't see it, but I can sense it. If I don't feed today, you might sense it tomorrow. But if that happens it might sense you and decide it wants a taste."
I gulp.
" Whatever or whoever is over there, I think we should avoid them." She moves her eyes back to the door as if not doing so would make the entity on the other side aware of us. I sigh. Great, just what I need. Something unknown possibly hunting for me.
The door burst open and something flops to the floor. I jump away to the chair next to me as Inner falls into her usual defensive position in front of me. Her legs are squatted and she holds her arms at an angle. Her left, is held still in front of her throat while her right is gripping the iron pole.
"BASTARD!" growls a voice from the floor.
I look down to see a boy around my age. Sitting with his hands holding him up behind him and his legs bent it looks as if he fell flat on his ass. His golden blond locks stick up in various angles and frizz as if he can't control them and never even tried. I can't tell if his tan is his natural skin tone or due to being out in the sun far too often. His intense expression of anger emphasizes the unusual markings on his cheek that appear to be tattooed whiskers-or even scars. The cerulean blue of his fierce eyes stood out behind his bangs . Wearing no jacket, just a standard white button down-that is not tucked- and slacks I could tell he was a typical trouble student. His sleeves are rolled up past his elbows and the first couple of buttons of his shirt are undone revealing an orange tee underneath. His blue tie dangles from his neck and rests below the open V of his shirt. Next to him on the floor is a bright orange backpack covered with words that at my distance I can't read.
The sound of footsteps brings my attention to another boy. This one confidently carries himself in a manner that I instinctively narrow my eyes to search for a flaw. If there is one thing I can't stand it's arrogant people. I thank Doctor Orochimaru for that pet peeve of mine.
With his lips held in a sarcastic smirk he glares at the blond with haughty eyes that appear to be a velvety black. Unlike the blond, he seems to be of full Asian descent with the smooth and angular contours of his face. The lights from above that usually highlight ones flaws seem to do the opposite for him as it shines the blue tint of his jet black hair and add an angelic hue to his ivory skin. His chin-length bangs frame his face in various layers while the back of his head is styled to short points that just seem to defy gravity and stick up. While the blond on the floor has his uniform on against school policy, the ebony haired boy in front of my is wearing his uniform perfectly. He has his jacket, buttoned, his shirt tucked in and given the small stature of his jacket I can only assume he has a lean build. His royal blue back pack is sits upon both his shoulders and his hands are resting in his pockets. It isn't until he turns my way that I notice he too not only is wearing a blue neck tie but also has the top button on of his shirt undone to reveal a necklace that has a small red and white charm laying against his pale skin.
Arrogance he may bleed but the confident in his looks is granted.
I suck in a harsh breath. They are both some of the best looking guys I have ever seen in my life, and considering I haven't seen many other than Neji the Stick in the Mud, that just proves how deprived the hospital was of good-looking men.
" Damn they are hot ," states Inner.
Before I could respond they both turn towards us.
The blondes' eyes widen as he takes in my appearance, his eyes scale me from head to toe while the black-haired guy gazes at me, he looks as if he is trying to see into my soul as his lips fall into a frown.
"Why…is your hair pink?" questions the blond while he cocks his head to the side. I sigh.