Toji mumbled to himself as he received dirty looks from the Gojo clan; while he and his baby made their way to the Gojo Heir's top-secret training room.
"You're late. Again.”
The crystal-eyed child pointed out from his spot on the floor as the former Zenin entered the room.
"Yeah, well, you could've started warming up."
Toji grinned as the young boy huffed, crossed his arms, and looked away, quite upset the man was late for their training.
“Why’d you bring him again?”
Satoru feigned distaste, as he glared at the babbling baby.
“I’ll leave him at home tomorrow.”
Toji contained his laughter as the small child gasped, crystal eyes widening in shock.
"You don't even have a house," the six-year-old recalled, glaring at the scarred man.
"And you said you gotta dull (duel) a bird every morning to see who gets breakfast."
Toji nodded in faux agreement with the exasperated child.
“Your right, Big Bird and I duel every morning... Maybe Big Bird and his buddy Oscar the Grouch can look after Gumi.”
"The one that lives in the trash?!"
"That very same one. A nice fella."
The man shrugged nonchalantly, fighting the urge to laugh as the child turned red.
“You know what? You have no rememeable (redeemable) qualities. I feel bad for Megumi.”
Satoru neared the baby, who had ceased his babbling, staring at the white-haired boy with owl-like eyes. The young boy clicked his tongue as he took in the makeshift kangaroo Toji had made of duck tape and a blanket.
"It must suck knowing you got him as a father. But it's okay,"
Toji watched in amusement as Satoru awkwardly patted Megumi's head, "I'll take care of you."
Everything was quiet until Toji snorted and let out a hyena-like laugh, which caused the Gojo heir to glare.
"Kid, can you even read?"
Satoru turned red at the accusation, "Of course, I can read! I'm six!"
"Sure you can, kid.”
Toji rolled his eyes as the Gojo child kept ranting about how he could read 5-grade levels ahead and was a gifted student. Even going as far as being his academic reports.
“For someone who’s so talented, it must be super easy to spell iCup.”
Satoru smirked smugly, shaking his head at Toji, “Of course it is.”
Toji raised an eyebrow, trying his best to school his face.
“I-C-U-P.”
Before the boy could berate the adult, Toji burst out laughing.
“I— g-give me a sec—”
Satoru glared daggers at the adult, who had his hands on his knees, howling in laughter.
“You— I can’t— believe you fell for that, kid.”
The Gojo heir willed for the man to explode right then and there when he finally got the joke.
"I feel sorry for you."
Satoru deadpanned at the baby who owlishly gazed at his father who was dying of laughter.
Chapter Description: Katsuki and Aizawa go shopping. Tomoko's past is revealed a little bit. Tomoko meets an old and dear friend. :)
Warnings: Brief mention of blood.
Katsuki was excited there was one day left till his court hearing. He wanted to look his best for tomorrow, as he knew his mom and Shinsou would. So, the blond boy was currently browsing through the racks of clothes.
Aizawa mentalized himself to being painfully out of place at a high-end store but to his surprise, Katsuki had led him to a small boutique. It was small and belonged to a couple, presumably in their late-40s or early-50s.
What amazed Aizawa the most was the high-quality material used for the clothing. There were various selections from children to adults, each item made of quality material and detailed stitching. Aizawa thought the prices were reasonable considering the grade of the craft.
"You must be Aizawa-san."
The owner smiled as she recognized the blond child.
"Yes, may I know how you know of me?"
"Tomo-chan came by 2 days ago and told me if little Katsuki stopped by to put it on her tab. She also said to feel free to get anything you'd like. I make excellent fabrics, and my husband's stitching is one of the best!"
Aizawa didn't doubt her. From the little, he had seen, the clothes looked so neat and simple, yet elegant.
"Thank you."
The young hero decided to take the offer, especially when he caught sight of the long coat section.
On the other side of the boutique, Katsuki found a suede dark red jacket and couldn't help but stare at it in awe.
"You like this one?"
The owner of the boutique asked the child. Chuckling at the child's peeved expression, the owner handed Katsuki the suede jacket.
"Ya'know, a little boy took one just like it a couple days ago. Except his jacket was indigo. It almost matched his hair but the jacket is way darker."
Katsuki knew the older man was referring to Shinsou, so he skipped trying on the jacket, already deciding on taking it.
As Katsuki waited for Aizawa to finish, he talked to the older woman, who told her another story. The couple entertained Katsuki at the front counter, recounting tales from the past.
"She was really good with blades. She had a dagger that was so beautiful. The hilt was like a dragon."
"She had daggers?!?!?"
Katsuki seethed as he remembered how the silver-haired woman had yet to keep her promise about his knives.
"Oops. Maybe I shouldn't have said that."
"I found the picture!"
Her husband returned to the counter with an old picture of the golden-eyed child. He eagerly showed it to the blond child.
"Who's that?"
"Daisuke-kun. And this one is Ame-chan. In the middle is Ryu-chan."
"Tomoko, dear."
"Sorry, I meant Tomo-chan."
Katsuki tried reading the kanji that captioned the polaroid picture, but he didn't recognize Tomoko's set.
The boy tried to push his suspicions down, but he knew none of those names belonged to Tomoko.
'He can read.'
Katsuki snatched the picture and ran to Aizawa, who was in the dressing room.
"What does this say!"
Katsuki demanded startling Aizawa, who was barely trying on a turtle neck.
"Ya'know, it's impolite to barge in a changing room."
Aizawa sighed as Katsuki said nothing but presented the photo to him.
"Takasu Daisuke. Kaneko Ryumi. Kobayashi Ame. Age 10."
Aizawa blinked, Tomoko's younger self was in the middle, yet none of the names written on the bottom belonged to her.
"But mom's name is Minami Tomoko."
"…I know."
________________________________
The sound of heels clashing with the traditional wooden floors made Tomoko smile.
She hated conventions.
Although she had little to no recollection of this place, Tomoko's body seemed to remember it, as she felt immense loathing with every step she took.
The dim lights, and the gold accents on the walls, made Tomoko click her tongue in distaste.
'Perhaps, the apple really doesn't fall that far from the tree...'
The atmosphere of the estate was very much like hers before Shinsou moved in. Ever since her kids moved in, her house was brighter, with light infiltrating the house. Though one thing stayed in its natural form. Her hidden realm.
From the dark ambiance to the accents of gold to reflect the minimal light resembled the Døløs headquarters. Tomoko almost wanted to laugh at how similar she had built her company to her old confinement. Minus the bloodstains.
'How befitting.'
So lost in thought, Tomoko missed how her body had led her to double doors.
Pushing through, Tomoko entered the training area, which was permanently stained red.
Golden eyes scanned the room as vague memories of self-defense training came to mind though she refused to immerse in them.
As Tomoko headed towards a golden cabinet, she heard a low whistle.
"Never thought I'd find you here, Ryu. Came back home for the holidays?"
A raspy voice teased as they took steps closer to the silver-haired woman who paid the visitor no mind.
Tomoko unveiled the source of her return.
Unwanted memories returned to Tomoko as she held the cursed item.
The shadowed figure neared the unsuspecting Tomoko only to be greeted by a kiss of a blade against her neck.
"I thought I told you my name is Tomoko now, Artemis."
A cackle escaped the shadowed figure, "Right, my bad, Tomo-chan. "
Tomoko rolled her eyes as she returned the blade to its confinement.
"I found his base."
Pale blue eyes noticed how Tomoko's body froze, for a fraction of a second, before continuing with her task.
"He's waiting."
Tomoko turned around with a metal rectangular box in hand, "I guess this means we have to lure the weasel out, don't we?"
The cloaked woman gave Tomoko a wicked grin, "I think we just might have the perfect opportunity."
"Oh? Do tell."
Tomoko smirked devilishly, already aware of what her dear friend would say.
"The Spring's Eternal Gala."
_________________________________________
If you enjoyed reading this, please reblog/comment, I’m a struggling writer! Feedback is always welcomed!
Next on Control >>
CONTROL (BNHA) M.L.
Having trouble visualizing the Minami Estate? Click here.
Chapter description: Katsuki is not thriving. Aizawa receives a call. Tomoko and Shinsou plan a welcome back celebration for Katsuki. Dadzawa 100%.
Warnings: None, angsty with comfort.
“Kacchan, let’s go play!”
Izuku attempted to persuade the blond, who barely moved from his spot on the couch.
It had been three day’s since his arrival.
After three days of Katsuki sulking on the couch with his hand clasped on the golden chain, he refused to take off.
“Kacchan, wanna watch All-Might?”
Izuku tried again, but the blond only sat there with a blank expression that worried the Midoriya’s.
“Katsuki-chan, I made spicy ramen. Do you want to come to the dinner table with us?”
Crimson eyes shifted to Inko in acknowledgment but made no effort to move.
Inko kneeled next to Katsuki, trying to coax him to join them for dinner. But, the boy kept the same far-away expression that worried Inko to no end.
“Why don’t you start without me Zu? I’ll be right back.”
It was around 9 pm when Inko’s expected visitor arrived.
“Please come in.”
Katsuki paid no mind to the visitor as he was too lost in thought.
“Where is he?”
The baritone voice snapped Katsuki out of his trance— his head snapping towards the entrance.
For the first time since his arrival, Katsuki moved so quick, his head lulled in dizziness.
Aizawa noticed the boy and how he swayed but before he could fall, Aizawa quickly scooped Katsuki into his arms.
“Oi, Midoriya-san told me your not—”
Katsuki’s tight hold on Aizawa’s neck, and the tears, halted his speech.
“Don’t leave me.”
…
Aizawa struggled to unlock his door without dropping the sleeping child and his duffle bag.
Once inside, Aizawa dropped the bag and adjusted his grip on the boy as he went to take out his futon.
Katsuki slept soundly as Aizawa stepped outside to his small balcony to call his mother.
“Yeah, he’s with me.”
Aizawa paused as he listened to Tomoko’s debriefing of her call with the forest-green-haired woman.
“I should’ve known better. I’m sorry for all this—”
“You couldn’t have known this would happen. Don’t worry, I don’t mind. Besides, the kid was adamant about staying with me.”
Aizawa heard Tomoko’s sigh, and for some odd reason, he could picture her exact pensive expression.
“I don’t know what’d I’d do without you, Aizawa. You’re a lifesaver.”
“I don’t mean to brag, but that is my job.”
Aizawa tried to lighten the mood, knowing the silver-haired mother was probably under so much stress at the moment.
Tomoko chuckled lightly, causing the young hero to smile in triumph.
“I’ll let you go. Shinsou just woke up. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.”
Both adults paused, the only sign they were both on the line was the faint sound of their breathing.
“Shota?”
“Hm?”
“Thank you.”
Aizawa’s gaze lifted to the sky, and a small smile formed on his lips at the sincerity.
“My pleasure.”
“I’ll let you go. See you in a couple of days.”
“Till then.”
Aizawa stayed outside for a couple minutes more, until the door slid open and Katsuki joined him.
Katsuki snuggled onto Aizawa, as he had adjusted himself on his lap—reminding the young Pro-Hero of a cat.
Looking one last time at the starry sky, Aizawa chuckled to himself.
‘If you saw me, you’d have a field day, wouldn’t you?’
He assumed that after school he’d be burned out and sleep, but boy was he wrong.
“You cannot be living like this.”
Katsuki deadpanned, with a hand on his hip and a judgmental look that made it hard for Aizawa to keep composed.
“I’m afraid I do.”
Katsuki clicked his tongue, making his way around the Pro-Hero, and toward the floor table, where his phone lay.
“What’re you doing?”
Aizawa asked in amusement as he saw Katsuki fumble with his phone.
“I’m gonna take pictures and send them to mom.”
Katsuki gave Aizawa a wicked grin as he scanned the room with the phone, alerting the apartment owner that the blond boy was indeed recording.
“Oi, gimme that.”
Katsuki dodged Aizawa, recording the small one-bedroom apartment.
“Mom look, he doesn’t separate his recyclables.”
Aizawa felt a wave of shame pass through him as he made his way to the little devil-incarnate.
“I do. I just had a busy week.”
Katsuki gave the young Pro a dirty look that made Aizawa regret his life decisions.
“Gimme that.”
Aizawa and Katsuki refused to let go of the phone, though without their intentions they sent the video. They only became aware when the phone vibrated and interrupted their fight.
Minami: You don’t separate your recyclables? 😟
Embarrassment was all Aizawa felt.
“You little…”
Katsuki gave Aizawa an innocent grin as he shrugged, “Oops?”
Aizawa glared at the 5-year-old, who sang the All-Might intro and outro songs on repeat as they cleaned the apartment—and separated the recyclables.
“All done!” Katsuki announced after his shower.
He let himself fall on Aizawa’s futon while the owner was starting his shower.
Katsuki hummed songs to himself, waiting for the grumpy Pro-Hero to return.
“Go to sleep, brat.”
Aizawa spoke as he finished drying his hair, mildly annoyed by the blond’s singing of All-might theme songs.
Katsuki quieted and stilled, alerting the Pro-Hero.
“Are you mad at me?”
Aizawa inwardly cursed himself and approached the boy who refused to meet his gaze.
“I didn’t mean for that to sound as harsh as it did, kid. Sorry about that. I’m not mad, you just need to go to sleep cuz you got school tomorrow.”
Katsuki nodded and went to his side of the futon.
Aizawa sighed and made his way to the empty spot left for him.
“Are you upset with me?”
The Pro-Hero asked but was met with silence.
Aizawa focused on the ceiling above, mentally beating himself up for being so careless with his words.
“No, I know you’re not like her.”
Katsuki whispered as he searched for Aizawa’s comfort.
The warm and secure embrace that shielded Katsuki from his past was a lot like Tomoko’s but it felt different.
Tomoko’s felt loving and protective, but Aizawa’s felt gentle and cozy, which Katsuki really enjoyed.
Chapter description: Changes occur in the Minami Household. Tomoko's and Aizawa's relationship begins to shift due to an incident.
Warnings: Slow-burn, angst, fluff if you squint real hard your eyes close lmaaooo.
It was a couple days after Katsuki’s birthday when the Minami family and Aizawa went to visit Mustafu.
Katsuki’s petition for adoption was being processed, which meant the blond child could not stay with Tomoko for the time being. So, Inko kindly offered to host her son’s best friend.
The children played all day until it was time for the Minami family and Aizawa to leave.
Both Aizawa and Shinsou had said their goodbyes and were waiting outside for Tomoko.
“Remember to be on your best behavior, ‘kay Dynamite?”
The silver-haired woman reminded the blond child as she bent down to say goodbye.
Katsuki smacked his teeth but nodded anyway, his gaze never leaving the floor.
“If anything happens, I’ll contact Aizawa-san immediately. Don’t worry, Tomo-chan, I’ll take good care of him.”
Inko reassured the young mother, who smiled and nodded.
“Thank you so much, Inko-nee.”
“It’s no problem! We’re happy to have him.”
Tomoko smiled at the mother and son appreciatively before kneeling down to the blond boy’s height.
“As soon as everything is over, we’ll go celebrate, how does that sound?”
A pouty Katsuki nodded, though he refused to look at the silver-haired woman.
“What’s wrong, Katsuki?”
Tomoko checked the boy for any injuries or sickness, her worry alerted the young Pro-Hero.
As Aizawa returned to the apartment with Shinsou on his hip, he was greeted with a sentimental moment between Katsuki and Tomoko.
The boy kissed Tomoko’s cheek before his small arms wrapped tightly around her neck and shoulder.
“I love you.”
The child whispered ever so quietly, almost as if afraid, which made the adults’ heart ache.
Tomoko held the child tightly, kissing the top of his head, as she answered,
“I love you too.”
They stayed in their embrace for a moment, before the boy let go.
Tomoko reached behind her neck, unclasping her golden chain.
“Here,”
Tomoko gently clasped the chain link around the child’s neck.
“It’s kinda heavy…”
Katsuki murmured as he played with the golden chain.
“Well, it is real gold.”
Katsuki’s eyes widened, staring at the woman in awe which caused Tomoko to laugh and ruffle his hair.
Meanwhile, Aizawa and Inko felt their souls leave their bodies at the fact that Tomoko would carelessly give a child a—real— gold chain.
_____________________________________
The ride back to Tokyo was quiet, Shinsou had fallen asleep, forcing the adults to interact.
“Aizawa-san, you went to U.A., right?”
Tomoko broke the silence, wondering what the Pro-hero was like during his teenage years.
“I did.”
The silver-haired woman nodded, silence befalling on them once more.
“Why?”
“Just wondering… The boys want to be heroes, especially after meeting you. I guess I need to prepare for that.”
Tomoko spoke absentmindedly, not noticing how the man’s eyes widened and a small blush littered his cheeks.
“You don’t sound excited about that.”
Onyx eyes momentarily shifted to the young mother who was looking out the window.
Tomoko turned towards him, inching closer, making sure to check Shinsou was still asleep.
“To be honest… I’m not very fond of Pro-heroes and vice versa.”
Aizawa nodded, recalling how in the Pro-Hero realm, Minami Tomoko is a headache for heroes, agencies, and the Hero organizations alike.
Once she took them to trial, it was a guaranteed loss, thus, she was not liked by many in the field.
“But, I’m glad you’re one of their role models. They really like you, ya’know. You’re a great Pro-hero and an even greater person.”
Tomoko added with a small smile, returning back to her previous position.
Despite having his eyes on the road, the young man felt disoriented as his heart leaped offbeat, and his face felt like it was going to explode.
Composing himself, Aizawa cleared his throat, being mindful to not wake up Shinsou.
“You’re a good person too, Minami-san. And your field of work is very respectable. The boys have an admirable woman as their mother.”
Aizawa briefly turned to the young woman, now gazing at him in shock.
Their eyes locked for a couple of seconds before the woman looked away dejectedly.
“Right…”
________________________________
When they arrived back in Tokyo, Shisnou was wide awake and upset.
“Zawa can you stay home?”
The 4-year-old asked as the young man carried him into the house, while Tomoko left to answer a business call.
“Why’s that?”
Aizawa couldn’t deny his intrigue on the boy’s request, well aware the home the indigo-haired child was referring to was not his apartment.
“We’re always 3 when you leave, but now we’ll be 2.”
Shinsou spoke sadly, as his grip on Aizawa’s shoulder tightened.
“I d—”
“Aizawa-san, it’s kinda late… why don’t … why don’t you stay for the night?”
Tomoko cut him off, smiling as she made her way to them— the worry hidden behind her golden orbs made Aizawa tense slightly.
“I’d like that, thank you.”
Shinsou happily cheered, snuggling against Aizawa.
“Can we have a sleepover?”
The timid question made the adults lock eyes in surprise.
_____________________________
Aizawa and Tomoko were in her home office while Shinsou was asleep in her bed.
“What happened?”
The young man asked as Tomoko paced around worriedly.
“Someone sent a basket of chrysanthemums to the office.”
Carefully, Aizawa stepped in front of the panicked young mother, placing his hands on her shoulders.
“Don’t worry about Katsuki, the Midoriya’s apartment is under surveillance. He’s safe.”
Glassy eyes looked up at Aizawa in shock that he could read her so well.
“For the meantime, I’ll be sure to stay around longer just in case.”
Tomoko nodded, wiping her eyes, though the tears just kept flowing.
“I’m sorry, I’m just—”
Aizawa wordlessly pulled Tomoko into a hug, doing his best to console her.
“It’s okay to cry, Tomoko.”
As the words left Aizawa’s mouth, arms wrapped around him and tears stained his shirt.
Neither of them was sure how but they were both sitting on the couch, Tomoko clinging onto Aizawa as if he was the only one that could keep her grounded and in return, he held her tightly refusing to let her get lost in her wave of sorrow.
The young mother’s tears had finally stopped after what seemed hours—though Aizawa didn’t stop rubbing her back in reassurance.
“Thank you, Shota.”
Tomoko whispered as she closed her eyes.
Her deep breaths and relaxed state let him know she was asleep.
Carefully, the young hero shifted the sleeping Tomoko, to carry her to bed.
Laying on the opposite side of the snoring Shinsou, Aizawa couldn’t help but feel a strong wave of determination.
‘This has gone long enough.’
If you enjoyed reading this, please reblog/comment, I’m a struggling writer!
Feedback is always welcomed!
CONTROL (BNHA) M.L.
Having trouble visualizing the Minami Estate? Click here.
Bound by vows, an interesting love story turned tragedy resulted in the hunt of certain flame curse users. Generations passed, and the extinction of the flame users was known in the Jujutsu world. That was until a young couple birthed their daughter.
A beautiful child, with skin kissed by the sun, jewels for eyes, and the darkest hair with the tips of her hair being a type of red that glistened under the light like a flame.
TW: minor mentions of de4th (not explicit, just vaguely mentioned) & minor bullying.
"You gotta promise me something, Tsumi-chan.”
A woman with brown hair spoke to her 3-year-old daughter, squatting down to see the precious rubies gazing at her. She gently fixed her child's pink wig, making sure it stayed in place.
“What is it, Momma?”
The child asked, holding her mother’s hands.
“You gotta use these every time you go out, okay?”
The little girl tilted her head to the side, in confusion, as her mother pointed to the girl's itchy wig and the very dark sunglass she held.
“I promise, Mama!”
Ruby eyes closed as she smiled at her mother.
Her mother’s grey eyes crinkled as she returned the smile, “C’mon then, Papa’s waiting for us.”
The woman pointed to the pink-haired man that was waiting for his wife and child at the front gates.
Carefully, the mother placed mirrored sunglasses on her child, ensuring that her eyes would be hidden away.
Small feet ran as quickly as they could through the forest.
Leaping over fallen trees and traps--that she, her mother, and ancestors had left behind to guard their home.
Tears cascaded down her cheeks as she recalled the urgent cries from her parents, telling her to run.
The unfamiliar curse energy she could detect, let her know someone had entered the forest with her.
So, she did what her mother had always told her.
Feign ignorance to the jujutsu world.
"Why can't Grandpa and Uncle Jin come to see us? I wanna show them my dance!"
A five-year-old Natsumi asked as she took a bite of her watermelon, enjoying the sight of the waterfall with her parents.
She didn't notice how her parents stiffened at the question, clearly uncomfortable at the mention of the child's paternal relatives.
"They can't find our house,"
Grey eyes scanned the area wearily, feeling as though someone was entering the forest.
"Looking for someone, Saki?"
A deep voice teased, green eyes glistening in amusement at his childhood friend.
"Uncle, you're back!! I practiced my combinations like you told me! I even beat dad!"
Boyish laughter left her father's lips, who stole a bite of his daughter's snack-- ruffling her pink hair.
"HEY!"
"Sorry, firebug. But, my dad and brother won't find us even if they used a tracker,"
Red eyes widened in awe and confusion.
"How? But, Uncle finds us all the time, huh, Uncle ToTo?"
"Damn right, TsumTsum."
The large man joined the family, stealing some of Natsumi's uneaten watermelon slices.
"Hey!"
"This big goof finds us, cuz he's a stalker, but others can't. I can make anything disappear and seal it away. It's my specialty, remember firefly?"
The said child hummed, remembering how her mother could make things disappear and make invisible walls.
Her heartbeat wracked against her chest, so much her ears grew overwhelmed by the beating of her heart.
Even though her legs burned and felt as though she would topple over, the child continued to run.
As soon as she saw her family's estate gate she crossed it, not looking back to see if she was followed. She knew for a fact that they could not cross, for only a certain few had permission to enter the Hino grounds.
Natsumi didn't stop running, she hurriedly went to her room, digging in the deepest part of her closet, to get her emergency duffle bag. Her parents had been prepared for any unforeseeable circumstances, and they made sure to train their daughter to react accordingly.
The child ran to her nightstand, picking up her favorite book and stuffed dragon, clutching them to her chest.
Without looking back, she carefully ran to the secret room that her ancestors had created. A room that could only open when the right amount of fire was produced on the dragon's mouth, that served as the door's lock.
As the heavy doors closed behind her, the child began to grieve.
Natsumi knew she could not go outside, she would have to wait until someone would come to get her. Only then she would leave her home.
The child wasn’t sure how long it had passed when heavy footsteps echoed throughout the main house.
“Oi, TsumTsum,”
The familiar deep voice called out, making the young child hurriedly rush out of her hiding place.
“Uncle ToTo!”
The 10-year-old called out in desperation to the dark-haired man, her bag carefully placed on her shoulders, and her hands clutching her book and dragon to her chest.
Before the child could fall, the older man caught his goddaughter. Green eyes noticed how disheveled the child looked, her cursed hair and eyes on full display--though its usual shine no longer there.
“Tsumi, you wanna go clean up? We got time,”
A heavy hand sat on the top of her head, in a comforting manner, as the child nodded and left her belongings with her godfather.
The older man stood outside the estate, gazing at the moon, a lone tear slid down his face. He had looked for his only friends, but their bodies were nowhere to be found. His small family had turned even smaller, and he didn't exactly know how he was going to manage with the child.
“Uncle... did you..."
Green eyes flickered to the child who wore a black kimono, surprised how her entrance went undetected.
"Sorry, Tsumi,"
The older man lamented, feeling ashamed of his shortcomings.
"S'okay, Uncle ToTo. We can go now."
Natsumi reached out for his hand to which he held tightly.
'I'll get my shit together, I promise.'
"Let's go, TsumTsum."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Dull grey eyes looked past the curse that was breathing beside her. All her classmates ran around, unaware of the monsters that lingered in their school.
"You should leave,"
Natsumi spoke quietly, trying to shoo away the lingering curse.
Though, like usual they never listened.
"Look, the freak is talking to herself again!" "My mom said she's talking to the devil!" "Whatta freak!"
Natsumi ignored the remarks, wondering when the dismissal bell would ring.
The comments were nothing new to the girl.
It started happening ever since her godfather dropped her off with her grandfather. Rumors began to spread, as more and more curses came to their neighborhood--which Natsumi had to lure to discrete areas so she could exorcise them.
Natsumi was counting down till she turned 15, as her godfather had promised to take her under his wing completely. Till then, she had to endure the disdain others felt towards her.
As the pink-haired middle-schooler walked home, she saw her uncle standing by her grandfather's house.
Even though he and her father shared the same hair color, they were completely different. Her father was tall and strongly built-- he was after all a hand-to-hand combat aficionado--but he was gentle and playful, which her uncle was not. There was a warmth to her father that neither his brother nor father shared.
“Uncle Jin, how are aunty and Yuji-chan? Did everything go well?”
The 13-year-old asked the older pink-haired man, who smiled slightly at his niece.
He was still adjusting to Natsumi's existence, as he was unaware his older brother had a child--until she was dropped at his father's doorstep. Even though her father had cut ties with him and his father, Jin tried to be courteous to his niece.
"They're fine, thankfully everything went well. Natsumi, can you let my dad know we're coming over later? I don't think he's home yet."
The man politely smiled, trying to hide his uncomfortableness at being alone with his one and only niece.
"I'll let him know! See you then, Uncle Jin."
The pink-haired teen smiled, waving goodbye to her uncle.
As she entered her house, she saw her grandfather sitting on the couch, reading the newspaper.
"I'm home. Uncle Jin said they'll be coming over later."
Natsumi informed as she took off her shoes.
"Tch."
The girl paid no mind to her grandfather's frigidness towards her, she now understood why her father had cut ties with him long before she was born.
"You got mail, brat."
In a wave of excitement, Natsumi rushed to the coffee table. Only one person knew her current address, and her happiness radiated off her-- so much it made her grandfather chuckle.
To: TsumTsum
From: You already know
The box that awaited her was heavy, which made Natsumi grin widely.
"I'll be in my room,"
The girl didn't wait for an answer as she rushed to her bedroom.
As she entered her small room, she quickly removed her wig and eye contacts. For a moment, Natsumi wanted to believe she was still at home, receiving souvenirs from her godfather while he was away.
She wanted to pretend that everything was like it used to be, even if it was just for a couple of seconds.
Hey, TsumTsum,
How've you been? I'm assuming your baby cousin arrived by now, considering your last letter. Congrats on being an older cousin.
I hope they've been treating you well. Just wait a bit, I'm trying to figure things out here. Maybe during summer, you can stay here? We do need to keep you in tip-top shape. Masami would throw a fit if I let your martial arts go to shit. Plus, Saki made me promise to teach you everything I know, so there's that. More reasons for you to stay here during summer, huh?
Well, I'll send you a gift next month for your birthday.
Till then, TsumTsum.
P.S.
Hey, Starfire, how've you been? I've been well! Toji's fine so don't worry about him. He's starting to get his shit together, finally hihi ^^".
We saw the tape you sent us! Your dancing is amazing! You looked like a little fairy in your costume! \(^^)/
Toji was very proud of your recital! I even teared up a bit =^^= Your pirouettes and facial expressions are so beautiful. You're a very talented ballerina, Starfire! We both hope you get to become one of the world's greatest!
Just know we miss you lots, and we're very excited for you to come home over the summer! We love you ^3^
xoxo
With so much love,
The Fushiguro's ♡
Natsumi closed her eyes, fighting the tears that were threatening to spill.
She loved her aunty and godfather so much. Natsumi was very happy her beloved uncle was starting a family of his own.
Wiping away stray tears, Natsumi looked inside the box, a small gasp leaving her mouth.
A new pair of pointe shoes awaited her and a small envelope, which she already knew had cash.
I hope you become a professional ballerina and live a normal life, TsumTsum.
"Long ago, a powerful sorceress roamed Japan with her devoted partner. She left her mark as the wicked devil, one who would bring hell on those who attempted to take what she cherished the most.
Hino Atsuko was the prodigy of her clan, in both the arts and sorcery.
It was known that Hino Atsuko was confined to the Hino household. A prisoned dragon, put on display for others, earning her title as the Hino Dragon.
The way she danced was mesmerizing and alluring. Like a flame dancing with the wind. The ruby orbs she hid from prying eyes, contrasted with her raven hair, which had reddish tips, that when she spun it looked like she was one with fire.
Every man and woman wanted to have the honor of being at her side. To share blissful moments till the end of time. A beautiful love story to share during their lifetime, but that wasn't what the Hino Dragon looked for in life.
She wanted adventure and someone who could fight along her side without slowing her down.
She wanted passion. Excitement. Thrills of adrenaline. Danger. The joys and horrors of life.
Hino Atsuko was known for dancing with fire, she needed someone who could do the same.
One night, a tall young man came to one of the performances. He had heard many things about the Dancing Dragon, and the promising Hino Atsuko, from normal gossip on the streets and from sorcerers alike.
The Hino clan was known for their entertainment skills to non-sorcerers. The masters of the Dancing Dragon. A renowned dance throughout Japan and other nations. Though, in the Jujutsu world, the Hino clan was one of the pillars of sorcery. Their cremating abilities were what made the clan so special, and different from the rest. Pure curse energy.
Though, only a few mastered the Dancing Dragon, the clan's special Domain Extension. The bearers of such technique had the reddest eyes that rivaled a precious ruby.
Hino Atsuko was said to bring Hell on Earth, and the young man was excited to see if it was true.
Gray eyes watched as the young woman moved graciously around the wooden floors. Her eyes closed, refusing to grace anyone with their beauty. The young man couldn't help but be bewitched by her. He wasn't special, for all the spectators felt the same way.
Though, as her hypnotizing spinning came to a halt as the drums stopped beating, the young man saw her desperation. As she left the stage, she looked back, dull ruby eyes bitterly glared at the spectators. The young man grinned to himself.
Sure, he and many others fell under her spell, but there was one thing he could offer that no other man could.
Freedom.
It happened so fast, neither of them was sure how it happened. They had met that same night, yet they escaped the chokehold of the Hino residence.
"Come,"
The sorcerer spoke as he could sense unwanted guests approaching, offering the young woman his dutiful protection to her newfound freedom with him.
Hand by hand they ran through the forest, laughing crazily as the moon shined brightly above them.
Life was exhilarating.
They passed a waterfall, which made ruby eyes glisten in awe.
"Hope you won't melt,"
The young man barely registered the soft whisper, as she pulled him down with him.
"Wha--"
They entered the dark abyss, their lives forever entertaining.
Their heartbeats raced against each other, his arms caged around her waist. For the first time, Hino Atsuko enjoyed her enclosure.
Ruby eyes glimmered under the moonlight, their warm gaze on the grey orbs that seemed to enchant her.
"Beautiful."
The young woman whispered, unable to look away from her the man before her.
"You're an idiot."
Their lips sealed their unspoken vows, binding them into one."
Grey eyes softened at the sight of her dozing daughter on her lap.
"Time to go to sleep, Firefly."
The said toddler shook her head, rubbing the sleep away.
"No! Read more, please?"
Ruby eyes glimmered hopefully.
"I've read you this story many times, Firefly. You already know what happens next."
The child pouted, crossing her arms in defeat.
"NATSUMIIIII-CHANNNN~ ♡!"
A tall pink-haired man rushed through the forest, grinning as his raven-haired child beamed at him.
Hugging his wife and child, they peacefully listened to the calming sounds of nature.
The moon above them reflected off the waterfall, that slowly lulled the toddler to sleep.
Entry 2: Real Speed
The first week of school was not so good but it was bearable. Bella and I had exchanged numbers, her offering me rides to school but we didn’t live near each other, so it was a no go.
Auntie and I lived 12 minutes away from Forks High School and 12 minutes away from La Push— a place I would find on my own.
Our new house was quite old and small. The white paint had peeled in several sections of the house— presumably because of old age and the rain. The lawn and backyard were really all the house had to go for itself. Both are big in size and greenery, especially since the backyard is connected to the forest. The massive trees made the already small house look like a rundown toy house.
On the inside, it wasn’t any better. The house was cold and sad. No ounce of the sun seemed to have graced the tiny home. The rooms were small, but that really didn’t matter. We hadn’t brought much with us anyway.
It wasn’t the prettiest house in the world, but it was now our home. Therefore, it became our safe space.
Somehow, auntie had found out about a car seller and got me a black Mitsubishi Eclipse, similar to the one I owned back home. It was a bit beat up, but it wasn't anything I couldn't fix. Auntie —despite her hate for race cars— bought it with urgency, as she had gotten the job at Forks Hospital. Therefore, I’d mostly be on my own.
Marisol woke up from her spot on the floor, groaning at the light that entered her room.
It was the second week of school.
For some reason, she felt an odd feeling about what the week would bring, but she shrugged it off.
Fixing herself breakfast, Marisol wondered how she would spend her evening.
She quickly decided a small trip around town would do her great.
Soon after, she left her house and went to school.
One thing I must note, driving in California was not the same as driving in Forks. Having been used to speed, it was strange having to drive slow and on wet roads. Driving in the rain was something quite unfamiliar and dauntingly slow, but the mostly empty lanes were a major plus.
Marisol sat down on her seat in math, surprised to see the rich boy sitting in his seat.
“Oh, hey! Do you wanna copy my notes?”
Topaz eyes watched Marisol in interest as she offered him her notebook.
“If you need any help, I gotchu.”
He carefully accepted the notes, making sure not to touch her.
“Thanks.”
“Mhm.”
Marisol offered him a kind smile before turning her attention to the art piece she hadn’t finished for the next period.
As she was so transfixed on her work, Marisol missed the topaz eyes that gazed at her curiously—though she could feel the pressure of his eyes.
‘She’s quite strange.’
He tried to see what was on her mind, but again it was a mere whisper—if you could call it that. It was quite peaceful and different, but it still unnerved the boy.
“Marisol…”
The topaz-eyed teen offered the caught-up girl her notebook.
“Hmm? Oh, thanks.”
Unbeknownst to me, this was the beginning of a strange, strange, strange, friendship.
“Bellsss!”
Marisol whined to the taller girl, hooking her arm with hers, as they walked to lunch.
Bella laughed at the smaller girl’s dramatics. Marisol's carefreeness rubbed off on Bella, distracting her from her inner turmoils—which made her grateful for her newfound friendship with Marisol.
Bella’s brown eyes humored the girl as she scanned Marisol.
Her bronze-like skin radiated with much warmth, almost as if it was the sun—which Bella found extraordinarily beautiful.
Marisol stood at a height of 5”1, though her baggy hoodie and jeans made her look smaller. Her physique was athletic yet somewhat thick. Though it was hidden away in the ocean of clothes she wore.
Seeing her pout, Bella took the time to truly take in Marisol's features.
Marisol had a bit of a babyface—with doe-eyes and chubby cheeks—though her bone structure was quite sharp.
On the right side of her cheek, Marisol had a birthmark, shades darker than her skin tone. From what Bella had seen, the birthmark extended down to her neck and possibly on her shoulder.
Marisol's features differed greatly amongst her peers, which made the girl attract lots of attention.
To Bella, Marisol was very endearing, as she was very kind—sassy—and funny. Bella felt thankful for having met the cheeky girl.
“You look fine to me.”
Marisol groaned, resting her head against Bella’s arm as they stood in the lunch line.
“I’m wilting. I can feel it!”
As Marisol stood beside Bella, a nauseating feeling of unease courses through Marisol’s body. The brunette knew something bad was going to happen, but wasn’t sure when.
Her eyes scanned across the room, catching the gaze of the familiar rich boy.
The small teen gave him a small smile, though inwardly panicked as his whole family turned to look at her.
I’m not gonna hide it. They gave me a chilling aura. Like, something about them just wasn’t right. I knew something was strange about them, but at this point in time I wasn’t sure why. I just assumed I picked up racist vibes lol.
Feeling Marisol's body stiffen, Bella looked down at her and towards the culprits of her small friend's discomfort.
Stiffly, Marisol gave a small wave to the Cullens, mouthing a shy 'Hi.'
'I... I just sounded like Stitch...'
As the specific scene from Lilo & Stitch played in her mind, she saw a small smile creep on her classmate's face.
"Do you know them?"
Bella curiously asked the now-shy Marisol.
"Um, not really. I think I share classes with 3 of them. The brunet—"
"Edward."
"Hmm? Oh, that's his name? Well, he's in my calc class, and I think the blonds are in my literature class. But I don't really know their names, I just dubbed them the rich kids, to be honest."
Marisol explained, rubbing the back of her neck as she sent Bella a sheepish smile.
Bella looked down at her friend and chuckled at her cluelessness.
"You need to pay more attention, Mari."
As they exited the line, Marisol gasped loudly.
"Excuse you, Bells, but I pay attention. Nothing escapes me, especially my sight."
Marisol joked halfheartedly as she pushed down her nausea and chills.
Bella didn't miss how the Cullens seemed to follow their every move, though she returned her focus on her friend.
"Mari, you use glasses."
"Huh? Oh, true. Um, my 6th sense?"
"You barely have 5. And if we count your hearing... you barely have 3."
"Please say sike. Say sike, right now, Bells."
I must say that this was quite a boring start. Everything in Forks felt sluggish. The lack of sun made it hard to distinguish if time had already passed, as time felt as if it stood still. So, I'll save us the bore and skip to the part where Forks began to show some real speed.
"Bells, do you think Mr. Jefferson will assign us partners for the project?"
Marisol asked her companion as they walked arm-in-arm out of school. The uneasiness she felt was harder to ignore, which made her extra alert of her surroundings.
"I hope not. I was hoping we'd get to work together."
Bella let out an airy laugh at her sudden confession, worried she'd come across as clingy.
"Me too! Hopefully, he doesn't."
Marisol gave Bella a bright smile, which the latter returned.
As they made their way to Bella's worn-out orange truck and Marisol's dented Mitsubishi Eclipse, they talked a bit more.
Marisol noticed how Bella's eyes focused past her, to who she assumed were the Cullens.
"You know maybe you should just try and talk to him."
Bella's attention quickly snapped to the brunette who held a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"He hates me."
"Nah, I doubt it. Trust me, I know."
"How can you be so sure?”
Marisol rolled her eyes, clicking her tongue at her friend's lack of fate.
A sudden feeling of apprehension filled Marisol's core, though she continued her conversation with Bella.
"Trust me Bells, I know."
Brown eyes subtly scanned the area for any immediate signs of danger, offering the Cullens a small smile when their gazes met.
"How can you be so sure?"
"6th sense remember? I just do."
Marisol grinned up at Bella, though the feeling began to increase. Bella rolled her eyes, but a smile made its way to her lips.
"You're such a dork, ya know?"
With a cheeky smile, Marisol unlatched herself from Bella, feigning anger, though her eyes quickly scanned the area one more time.
"N—"
The screeching tires alerted Marisol, her hands reached out for her friend.
"Bells!"
Without meaning to, the small brunette threw her friend on the ground—preventing her from getting slammed into by the van.
Though, Marisol barely managed to move out of the way on time.
In a blink of an eye, Edward Cullen had stopped the van with his bare hands.
Marisol stood in front of Bella’s line of vision, blocking Edward from her view. All three of them were surprised at the events that occurred.
'Holy shit.'
Topaz eyes met brown doe-eyes, which made Marisol snap out of her trance.
Everything became clear to her. She knew they weren’t normal.
"Bells!"
The small brunette stole Bella's attention from the overly strong Edward, giving him a chance to flee the scene.
"Mari..."
Marisol kneeled down next to her, telling the crowd to give her some space.
This was the second time I almost died here in Forks, but it appeared like the odds were in Bella's and I's favor.
Marisol awkwardly waited for Bella in the hospital lobby— trying to keep a lookout for her auntie.
The small brunette was aware the Cullens had arrived at the hospital, for reasons Marisol was sure were about Edward.
As soon as the siblings and Doctor reached Marisol's standing place, the atmosphere became tense.
It didn’t take Marisol long to know they were all together.
'Maybe I'll pretend I don't recognize them.'
"Marisol,"
The said girl inwardly groaned but turned to the owner of the voice.
“Oh hey!”
Marisol smiled at her classmates and the doctor that was with them.
“Rosalie tells me you were part of the incident. We should probably get you checked, just in case.”
The doctor spoke with a kind smile.
“Who? Oh! Um, I’m fine, really!”
“I insist.”
Brown eyes anxiously glanced at her classmates, wondering why they were doing this to her.
“It’s really not necessary, I wasn’t near the actual accident. I appreciate the concern but I really am fine.”
The doctor gave her a tight smile but nodded, “Very well, I must go.”
Marisol released a sigh once he left, though she quickly tensed at the glare of her blonde classmate.
“Um,”
“We need to talk.”
Edward suddenly spoke, grabbing Marisol by the arm and taking her to a private hallway.
“What the hell!”
Marisol quietly spat, as she looked around, making sure her auntie wasn’t nearby.
“What did you see?”
“Huh?”
Her gaze turned to the towering brunet, which gave her the same feeling of apprehension.
“Look, I don’t know what your problem is. I—”
“Marisol!”
The said girl squeaked as she attempted to push aside the tall brunet. Noting his abnormally marble-like skin.
“Auntie, what a surprise!”
Edward slowly turned to face the girl’s aunt, trying to be polite.
“Hello, Ms. Díaz. I’m Edward Cullen, Marisol’s classmate.”
The older woman eyed the two teens suspiciously.
“Hello. Is the hospital a new spot to hang out?”
The woman glared at her niece who instantly shook her head.
“We’re here to wait for a friend. Bella, you know? The other new girl I told you about.”
Marisol cursed Edward for putting her in this awkward situation.
“Right. I assume that’s her backpack.”
“Yes ma’am!”
Marisol raised the red backpack to prove her story.
“Well, you two make sure to get home safe.”
With a final stern glance at her niece, the older woman began to walk past them.
“Of course, thank you.” “I will.”
Watching her auntie leave the hall, Marisol glared at the tall brunet.
“If I get in trouble it’s your fault, rich boy!”
Marisol hisses bitterly as she tried to move away, though Edwards's grip on her hand kept her in place.
“She’ll let it slide. Now answer my question.”
Topaz eyes seemed to darken as they gazed into Marisol’s eyes with much intensity.
“How do you know? And I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I just do. Now, stop acting dumb and answer the question.”
The small brunette could feel his hold tightening around her arm which made her try to pull it away.
“You’re getting on my nerves, rich boy.”
“Yeah? Well so are you.”
Edward took a menacing step toward Marisol—who tried to back away but the wall stopped her from getting further.
“Look dude, we all saw what happened. The van came, probably crashed against the tail of Bella’s truck, and lost momentum. Now, tell me how you’re so sure about my auntie letting this slide.”
The two teens glared at each other, both annoyed yet intrigued by the other.
“My 6th sense.”
Topaz eyes saw a quick glimpse of knowingness in Marisol’s brown eyes, though it quickly faded.
A tense and dangerous atmosphere surrounded them.
The two teens turned their attention to the Doctor who cleared his throat and the annoyed Rosalie by his side.
“If I may interrupt, we must speak with you, Edward.”
Marisol quickly shoved the boy away from her—though his marble-like build reassured one thing.
“I’ll take my leave. It was nice meeting you, sir.”
“The pleasure was mine.”
All sets of golden eyes watched the small girl walked away, annoyance clear in her form.
“Seems like you irritated her,”
“Who wouldn’t be irritated by him?”
Before they could say anything, they heard the young girl’s happiness as she called out for her friend.
“Bells!! Oh, oops. My bad. I’m glad you’re okay.”
It would later be revealed to me that the Cullen family would discuss what to do about me. They had agreed on letting things play out so that they could act accordingly. Once again, I was on the verge of almost losing my life.
When Marisol went home, she felt strange, almost as if being watched.
She made eye contact with thin air, trying to spooks whoever was watching her.
As she laid on her makeshift bed, Marisol couldn’t shake off the feeling.
With a groan, the small brunette sat up and mumbled,
“I guess I can go explore.”
Now I wasn’t dumb. I knew something was watching me but I couldn’t see what it was. At this point, I thought the house was probably haunted or bad spirits were lingering around. So, I obviously didn’t want to explore anything within a mile radius from the house just in case. So, the answer to my problems was quite simple.
Marisol drove past the sign that welcomed her to La Push. The nagging feeling that someone was following her left as soon as she passed the sign.
I had heard from my classmates about La Push. My interest peaked when they mentioned the beach. Now, I never really liked the beach, but just the thought of seeing one brought a sense of comfort.
Marisol took off her shoes, after parking her car. Partially thankfully for bringing her flip-flops.
Her brown eyes never left the moon’s gaze. It was as if she was hypnotized by the moonlight that reflected off the water.
With eagerness, the small brunette made her way to the sand. Its coolness relaxed Marisol’s tensed muscles. She let out a blissful sigh as she took in the beach, her eyes widened when landing on others.
It wasn’t necessarily late, it was roughly 11:30pm, though Marisol was surprised to see a bonfire a few meters away.
A figure headed her way from the bonfire, despite Marisol’s weariness, she eased up as the figure got closer.
“The tides are kinda harsh tonight, so you shouldn’t go near the water.”
A familiar voice left the shadowed figure.
“Oh, right. Sorry, I just came to clear my mind. I hope I’m not intruding.”
A boyish laugh eased Marisol’s worries, it was familiar to her—though she knew it was from a dream.
“Not at all, we were already finishing.”
“I see, thanks for the warning, about the tides.”
“No problem, Imma head back.”
Marisol nodded, a gust of wind blew past her. A deep curiosity ran through her veins.
As the figure retreated, Marisol gazed at the moon one last time before walking towards the woods that seemed to call for her.
Her mind raced through all of the events that led up to this moment, leaving Marisol in a trance like state.
Unbeknownst to her she was nearing the center of the forest. Her bare feet connected to the cold and rough earth, which gave her odd comfort. As she appreciated at the forest, she knew it held importance to her and her journey.
“You shouldn’t travel through the forest this late.”
A familiar hold on her wrist made Marisol turn around to the boy who held her wrist.
“Huh? Oh. I wasn’t...”
Marisol felt a wave of dejavú.
The first time I met Jacob, was when I was fifteen, in a strange dream. It made no sense at the time. I was confused by everything that I learned and witnessed inside my dream. Though, somehow the universe intertwined our paths in the physical world.
“I don’t think I’ve seen you around here.”
Marisol’s heart began to race and her ears filled with air. It was happening. Her dream.
“I just moved here.”
“Really? Well, I’m Jacob, it’s nice to meet you…?”
The shadowed figure became clear as the moonlight showed his features.
He let go of her wrist, fixing his posture to give her a proper greeting.
Extending his hand to the awestruck Marisol, he offered her a radiant smile.
“Marisol.”
Her small and cold hand accepted with the warm welcome of Jacob Black.
It's been a while since I wrote on here. My last entry was 4 years ago, isn't that crazy?
So much has happened since then.
Where do I begin?
I should probably start from where I left off.
We moved from sunny California to gloomy Forks on January 16th.
"For the love of the earth, Marisol, stop switching the stations!"
A woman with dark brown hair, that was slightly greying, snapped at the soon-to-be 18-year-old who rolled her eyes.
"Alright, alright. How much longer till we get there?"
Brown eyes caught the brief glance the worn brown eyes gave her.
"Give or take 2 more hours."
The teen groaned but made no effort to voice her complaint.
Leaning her head on the window, she looked at the night sky, wondering what this new life had in store for her.
2 hours my ass. We didn't get there till January 17th at 12pm. Before reaching Washington we switched cars. Leaving our only token of California behind. So, I had officially missed my first day of school. Not that I minded, but still.
"Marisol, wake up! You'll be late for school!"
The teen slowly opened her eyes, confused as to why her body ached.
Taking in the small empty room, and the sprawled-out blankets on the floor--that served as a makeshift mattress-- the teen got her answer.
With a sigh, she begrudgingly rose from her spot on the floor.
Money was tight at the time. We had moved to Forks to lay low and have some peace of mind, away from everything.
A clean slate.
Our restart meant starting anew with what little we could take with us. Though, it felt like we only brought even more struggles to our new home.
Splashing cold water on her face, the teen washed away her tiredness.
"It's just school, you can do this. No biggie."
The teen encouraged herself as she took in her reflection.
Her long dark brown hair was damp, sticking to her bronze-like skin.
Brown eyes darted from her reflection to the scissors she brought along with her.
"Fuck it."
Probably not one of my best decisions, but it made me feel like I was starting fresh. No longer tied to the past.
Regrowth.
Could've gone around it in a different way, but I digress.
"I can't believe you cut your hair."
The older woman spoke in amazement, as she drove her niece to school.
"Yeah, me neither, but at least it looks good?"
It did not. Actually, looking back at it now, I think it did.
"I mean, the bangs, the short hair... It's giving me very much Dora."
The teen gave her aunty an unamused look, though she laughed alongside her.
Curious brown eyes looked at her aunt's attire, noting her scrub was on and her hair pulled into a tight bun.
"Are you working today?"
"Not exactly, I got training first. If all ends well, then after today, I will. That means we'll need to get you a car. Forks High is pretty far from us for you to be walking... I'll figure it out, don't worry, okay Sol?"
The teen nodded, giving her aunty a small smile.
As they pulled up to the school, a sense of dread built upon the teen's stomach.
"Have a good first day of class, Sol."
"Thanks. Have a good day at training."
Before she could close the car door, her aunty spoke.
"You look cute by the way. Even in this gloomy weather, you shine like a little sun."
A bright smile adorned Marisol's lips, her worries washed away for a moment.
"Love you, aunty."
"Love you too, Sol."
...
Marisol swore silently to herself, as she once again was at the wrong door. She was confused by the indoor school setting, as her previous schools were outdoors.
After what seemed like hours, she finally found her class.
Calculus/Trig.
Early in the morning was not Marisol's liking, but she braced herself for what was to come.
"Ah, you must be Miss Diaz. It's a pleasure for you to join us today."
The old teacher greeted the entering teen.
"Oh, um, yes. Thank you."
Scanning the room for a vacant seat, Marisol attempted to take a seat but was stopped by the teacher.
"If you could please introduce yourself to the class, it would be much appreciated."
'iF u KuD pLiZ...'
Marisol smiled politely, turning to the class.
"Hi, I'm Marisol. I just came here from Cali. Um, yeah. Thank you?"
Heat rushed to her cheeks as she felt all eyes on her.
"May I go sit...?"
"Of course. Choose any seat."
As soon as she heard the approval, her feet quickly moved to an empty seat in the back of the room.
'Well, that was embarrassing.'
Taking out her notebook and pencil, Marisol, attempted to write what was on the board before the teacher decided to erase it. Though, it appeared she had jinxed it for herself.
"You may work with others on this assignment, just don't move across the room."
As Marisol was handed the worksheet, she inwardly groaned.
'Math in the morning? That should certainly count as abuse.'
She heard a small chuckle from a boy who sat beside her. Though, Marisol paid no mind to it.
As her eyes scanned the paper, she felt a bit of confidence returning to her.
'Nothing I can't handle.'
She quickly went to work, trying to finish quickly so she could get the class notes from someone.
Once she finished, she casually stretched her arms, subtly looking around for her victim.
Brown eyes stopped at the boy an empty desk away from her. His fancy clothes and elegant aura surprised Marisol.
It's not that I had never seen a rich person before, it's just he gave off another level of a rich white boy. It was quite overwhelming.
Thinking she was staring for too long, she quickly averted her gaze back to her worksheet.
Contemplating whether or not to ask him. The other person she could ask was three seats away and in a big group, which she wasn't fond of.
Inwardly sighing, she turned towards the fancy-looking boy.
"Hey, um, do you think I could like copy your notes?"
Topaz eyes glanced her way in piqued interest at her smooth voice.
Their eyes met for a moment before he placed his notebook on the empty desk.
Giving him a grateful smile, she took the notebook.
As she flipped to the first day of class, a gasp left her lips. The owner of the notes snapped his head towards the paled teen.
Slowly, Marisol lifted her gaze to the worried topaz eyes.
Millions of thoughts raced through his mind, each of them leading to severe consequences.
'Did I write something?'
"Dude... It's only been like a day since school started and we already covered a section??"
His racing mind crashed to a stop.
Without meaning to, he laughed, catching everyone's attention.
"The only thing we covered yesterday was the definitions."
The two teens stared at each other in silence, before Marisol laughed.
"I almost cried, thinking I needed to switch schools."
"Oh, no. Sorry about that."
Marisol smiled at him, returning the notebook as she finished writing down the few definitions.
"Nah, it's cool. Thanks for letting me copy the notes."
As the bell rung, she smiled once more, heading out but stopped herself.
"By the way, your handwriting is pretty."
Marisol didn't wait for his response, as she didn't want to be late for her next class.
...
By the time lunch came around, she had met another new student.
Bella Swan.
She was in her government class, sharing the introduction of shame with Marisol.
Naturally, with the two of us being new and all, we stuck together. It did help that we already had something in common, we came from sunny places where it rarely rained.
As they sat with Angela, Jessica, and the others, Marisol began to feel misplaced.
"Who are they?"
Marisol's line of vision followed Bella's, her sense of displacement increased tenfold.
As the famous Cullen siblings sat at their throne, only one thought lingered in her mind.
'Damn, I've never seen a school this ... white.'
Marisol shuddered at the thought, which caught Bella's attention. Though the boyish laugh that came out of Edward's mouth entranced Bella like a siren.
++++++++++++++++++++++
Hello, lovelies!
I just want to let you know that this fic is canon-divergent.
Don’t forget that Bella is an absolutely pathetic character and managed to manipulate her best friend just so that she could feel something! #gaslightgatekeepgirlboss
I’ll be taking no criticisms or thoughts at this time lmao.
im not sure if bella had any best friends bc she was basically using people left & right. but what bothers me the most is how she used Jacob, while he was literally 15/16 and she was 17/18.
like it may not be a huge age gap, but like, bella had no business using a 15/16 year old for funsies. I feel like a lot of people forget or dismiss the age difference between them, just bc SM purposely described Jacob as if he were a grown 25 year old—just so the readers disassociate jacob with his actual age.
This is why i believe many ppl have an avid hatred toward him bc he appears as grown when he actually isn’t. like the emotional and mental maturity between bella and jacob are not the same due to the stages in life they’re at. But since SM pushes him as this 25 yo looking 16 yr old, people probably forget he is not actually as grown as he appears.
bella basically used and manipulated a 15/16 year old. What’s worse was her New Moon stunt of the motorcycle and cliff thing. Like if she would have unalived herself, the blame and trauma would be carried by a barely turned 16 year old. plus he’s the only poc that has a major role in the saga, which is another issue. might i add, bella’s dad is literally the sherif of the predominantly white Forks.
The thought that bella selfishly put Jacob, an indigenous teen at risk, has never sat right with me.
bella could’ve been written better if SM wasn’t avidly using bella as the “fragile white woman, who needs saving from the bIg bAd w0lF” yet SM hands her over to the guy who has been trying to unalive her and her classmates since day 1????? like what?????
it really sucks how the potential of any characters in the saga were thrown away in order to fit SM’s self-insert storyline. & her racist / racially motivated decisions 🤮
Can we get a different author to redo Twilight? 👁👄👁 bc it literally is so unfortunate how problematic it is and how problematic it is in LAYERS!! you can’t even enjoy it without shoving everything you know about it out of your head!
like in the superficial, Twilight has really interesting things about it. but it’s just so hard to move past the problematic layers of the books.
the remake just has to be more diverse with its demographics. like, honestly, like imagine. THE FLAVOR 😫🤌🏽 having vampires who lived in countries pre-colonial times, teaching the original languages to their people !!!! or actually doing justice to indigenous culture & spirituality !!! or the vultori being the org that helps people/countries with decolonization !!!
like bella could’ve had no love interest. they could’ve been a character that was trying to reconnect with their roots or spirituality. or growth as a human being. learning to cherish and love life. like there’s so many opportunities.
there were so many things that could have been explored but no SM stuck to her messy and problematic script.
if you’re a twilight fan and you interpret other twilight fans talking about the problematic aspects of the series as “negativity” then you’re really not as woke as you think you are. theres a difference between letting people enjoy things and getting upset when people call out racism for what it is because you wanna thirst over racist characters without feeling so much white guilt about it. y’all ain’t hear it from me tho
honestly. like seeing all the hate towards jacob and the wolf pack doesn’t sit right with me. esp bc they are the victims of demonization by the author.
woke up on this fine wednesday morning thinkin bout how smeyer only made jacob’s personality do a full 180 in eclipse and included the wolf pack in the series as a whole just so she could demonize the native american characters and have them juxtapose everything about the cullens in order to make them look even more idealistic in their whiteness, effectively promoting her racist agenda and racist stereotypes of native americans
hot take but immortal people are not to be dating children. it’s suspicious of them to date ANYONE at all but especially a fucking kid??? it doesn’t matter that you have a 20 year old body you’re a vampire and pedophille
