New School Term


The last few days of Summer flew by in the blink of an eye. I put what happened in the Soul Society behind me and was ready to get back in my normal routine.

My alarm rang at six-thirty am, and I reached over to shut it off. I sat up, yawned, and stretched my limbs.

"First day of the new term." I muttered, sliding out of bed.

I walked over to my closet and changed into my uniform. I pulled my hair up into a ponytail and tied my blue ribbon into a bow.

"Zakuro, breakfast is ready." Yuzu called from the other side of my door.

"Okay, I'll be right down." I called back, smoothing out my blouse and skirt.

My combat pass rested on my desk and I slipped it into my book bag, along with my Soul Pager. I took a deep breath and exhaled, grabbing my dance duffle on my way out of my room.


"Good morning my lovely daughter!" my father greeted, lunging right at me.

I ducked and slid to the table, smiling when I heard my dad crash into the stairs. "Morning to you too dad." I replied, taking my seat next to Karin. I licked my lips, "Yuzu, this looks fantastic." I chuckled, taking a bit of breakfast.

My younger sister smiled. "I even made bento lunches for you, Momo, and Ichigo." she added, giggling.

"Thanks sweetie." I replied, smiling.

Momo took her seat opposite me and smiled. "Man, this smells great." she chuckled, digging in. "Yuzu, you are the greatest." she pecked her cheek.


Ichigo came downstairs a little after seven, after brushing off dad twice. While eating breakfast they got into it yet again.

"Come on you moron, or we'll be late." Momo called, slipping on her shoes.

"Don't forget your lunches." Yuzu reminded ,handing us each a bag with our bentos inside.

"Have a good day at school you two." I winked at my younger sisters before I walked out.


I stopped by my locker to put some of my binders away and grabbed a few notebooks that I would need for homeroom, as well as my summer homework.

"Morning Zakuro." Uryū greeted, walking up to me.

"Morning Uryū." I replied, smiling. I shut my locker door. "So, ready for class?"

"As ready as I'll ever be." Uryū answered.

I nodded and we walked in step. Our hands brushed against each other and our fingers interlocked. We walked into homeroom together, and Keigo greeted us.

"What the hell!" he screeched, pointing to mine and Uryū's hands. "Well now, looks like something happened-"

I whacked him with my book bag. "Keep your imagination in check, Keigo." I scoffed. "Otherwise, I'll check you into a mental institution."

"I'm happy for you two." Mizuiro said, smiling. "You guys seem like a good match."

"Thanks Mizuiro." I replied, sliding into my desk.

Uryū slid into the desk in front of me and we released each other's hands. I grabbed my notebook and pencil case from my book bag and leaned in my seat. The bell rang and Miss Ochi greeted us.

"Alright, now I want all of you to get your summer assignments and pass them to the front." Miss Ochi instructed.

I pulled out my notebook with my summer homework and sighed. that's when I heard a familiar voice scream my last name from quad area.

I bolted to the window and I saw Renji standing there, dressed like a hippie. "I know you're up there Ichigo! So are Momo and Zakuro, now get down here!" he yelled.

"That bastard couldn't wait a freakin week." I muttered through gritted teeth.

"Wow, he must really love you." Momo chuckled.

I elbowed her in the ribs. "Not now." I spat.


Ichigo, Momo, and I ran from class and threw the back doors open. I turned the corner the threw Renji into the bushes, catching my breath.

"Do you mind telling us what the hell you're doing here!?" Ichigo spat, narrowing his eyes.

"Besides stalking Zakuro." Momo said under her breath.

I narrowed my eyes and stomped on her foot. "So not the time." I growled. Then I looked at Renji. "What are you doing here?" I asked, narrowing my eyes, glaring daggers.

Renji sighed and dusted himself off. "Well it's like this, I've been put in charge of Karakura Town." he answered. "Mr. Urahara told me where I could find you three. I came here to see you and that's the story."

"You got demoted." Ichigo chuckled.

"I did not!" Renji rebuked.

Just then, the combat passes started screeching. Then, a Hollow manifested a yard away.

"It's huge." Ichigo noted.

"You have got to be kidding me." I muttered, rubbing my temples.

For some reason, Renji couldn't get out of his Gigai, so we had to take care of the Hollow. Using, our combat passes, we separated our souls from our bodies.

"Okay, I'll use my Kidō to hold it at bay." I volunteered. "Momo, you incapacitate it, and Ichigo goes for the mask."

"Who made you Captain?" Momo questioned, raising an eyebrow.

"Just do it!" I yelled, charging towards the Hollow. "Alright big guy, take this." I held my palm towards the Hollow, "Bakudō #63. Sajō Sabaku." my hand clenched into a fist as the thick gold chains tightened around the Hollow's neck. I braced myself, trying to keep it still.

Momo jumped over me and held her katana, "Spread your wings, Hino Tori!" she yelled, brining out two long daggers. She jumped onto the Hollow's back and stabbed his shoulder blades.

Ichigo held Zangetsu high above his head and slashed right through the Hollow's mask, destroying it.

The Kidō chains disappeared and I sighed. "So much for a normal first day back." I noted.

We rushed back to the bushes, where our bodies were laying, lifeless.

"Good job you three, well done." Renji complemented.

"Cut the crap." Momo scoffed.

We rejoined with our bodies and brushed ourselves off.

"Don't just leave your body lying around." I ordered. "Hurry up and put it back on."

Renji rolled his eyes and slipped back into his Gigai. "Damn, this thing is really uncomfortable."

"Listen, I don't want you coming around my school, got it." Ichigo warned. "We can meet afterwards at Kisuke's place."

Ichigo and Momo walked back towards the school. I went to follow, but Renji gripped my wrist.

"Renji, I told you before-" I started to say.

He dropped my wrist, "No, I wasn't gonna do anything." he defended. "I just wanted to say you're Kidō has gotten stronger. Good job."

I smiled. "Thanks." I replied, "See ya around." I walked back to class and the rest of the day went by normally.


After school, Uryū walked me to the dance studio. "So, why is Renji even here?" he asked.

"Apparently, he's the new Soul Reaper in charge of Karakura Town." I answered, unlocking the studio door. "That's all I know." I set my book bag down by the chair and pulled out a black tank top and pink shorts.

"Did something happen between the two of you while we were in the Soul Society?" Uryū asked.

I gasped and made my way to the dressing room. "Why would you ask me that?" I called back, unbuttoning my blouse.

"Just, the look in your eyes when he called your name." Uryū started, "And how he looked at you when we left."

I slid into my pink shorts and walked back into the main dance hall. "Something did happen, but it's nothing." I admitted, half-honestly.

"You sure?" Uryū questioned, placing his hands on my shoulders.

I nodded and turned to face him. "You don't have to worry." I assured, pecking his lips. "We're okay."

Uryū kissed me again before leaving the studio. I smiled and skimmed through songs on my iPod before the class began. I was thinking of starting the kids off with some upbeat dance pop.


It was a bit before seven when I left the studio, and Ichigo was waiting for me.

"How'd the first class go?" he asked.

"Great, I could tell the kids had practiced over Summer." I answered, smiling.

Ichigo wrapped his arm around my shoulders and we walked home.


It was a little after seven when Ichigo and I arrived home.

"You're late!" Dad yelled, attacking us from the side.

Ichigo and I each grabbed a leg and grinned. "Really dad, it's seven o three we're not that late." I reminded.

"In this house, dinner's at seven o'clock." Dad reminded.

Ichigo and I tossed him into the stairs and sat down as Yuzu served the meal.

"You kids will do well to remember next time." Dad cleared his throat and sat down.

"Sorry dad." I apologized. "I was at the studio a bit later than usual. I was practicing for the upcoming auditions."

"Oh, so you're going for it this year?" Karin asked.

"I'll be sixteen by the auditions, so I'll be eligible to try out for the lead." I answered. I smiled and glanced at the poster of mom on the wall by the stairs. "This is the year that I play the lead in the winter ballet."

"You'll be amazing sis!" Yuzu giggled.

"Thanks Yuzu." I replied, smiling.

"I can't believe it, my baby girl's all grown up." dad cried.

I whacked the back of his head. "Not now dad, we're in the middle of dinner." I sighed.

"He's always been this dramatic." Momo pointed out. "What makes you think he'll stop now?"


After dinner, I worked on my homework then drew up a hot bath. Later, I changed into black and white striped pants and a black tank-top. I brushed through my hair and pulled it into low pigtails that draped over my shoulders.

"Is it weird being back home?" Tsuki asked, curling up next to me.

I nodded. "A little." I answered, turning off my desk lamp. "It might take me a while to adjust back to my normal life. Or, a new version of normal."

"You'll figure it out." Tsuki assured.

"Goodnight Tsuki." I said, pulling my light blue bedspread up to my chest.

"Nighty-night Zakuro." Tsuki yawned, laying her head on my pillow.

I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep.


I felt someone caress my cheek and I rolled over on my back, slowly opening my eyes. I gasped when I saw Renji right above me.

"What the hell!" I screamed, throwing him across my bedroom. "Renji, you ass! How did you get in here!?"

"Your window." Renji answered, rubbing his shoulder.

I pulled the blanket up to my chest. "Idiot, you can't just sneak into a girl's bedroom at 3 am." I snapped, glancing at my alarm clock. "There are boundaries ya know."

Ichigo ran into my room, wearing dark blue sweatpants and a white muscle shirt. "Zakuro? You okay?" he asked.

"Not really." I answered.

When Ichigo saw Renji, he punched him in the face. "Dude, why are you in my sister's room."

Renji rubbed his jaw. Before he could answer, Momo walked in, wearing nothing but a long, dark green t-shirt. "What the hell is goin on in here?" she asked.

"Renji snuck in here." Ichigo answered.

Momo looked over at Renji. "Pervert." she scoffed.

"Okay, listen." Renji cut it, standing up. "I came here to tell you guys that something's here."

"So? You're a Lieutenant, kill the damn Hollow yourself." Momo said. "Some of us have lives."

"I'm sure you guys could sense it too." Renji added. "The Spiritual Pressure isn't that strong. But, it is coming from somewhere nearby."

Ichigo gasped. "Orihime."

That's when I sensed it too. "You should've said so in the first place." I snapped, reaching for my combat pass.

Momo and Ichigo ran to their respective room.

"I was going to tell you, but you threw me across the room." Renji defended.

I positioned my body under the blankets. "Well next time, try calling first." I rebuked. "Instead of sneaking into my bedroom through the window." I narrowed my eyes before jumping out into the night.


We ran across rooftops, using Flash Step to make strides. When we came to Orihime's apartment, we saw a door of some kind, with a partial skeleton on the front.

"What the hell is that?" Momo asked, as we landed on the street.

"I have no idea." I answered, gaping.

The gate opened up, creating a violent wind.

"Zakuro!" I heard Uryū call from behind me.

I looked back to see him and Chad run up to us. Then, I heard Orihime scream and we all saw her get sucked into the gate.

"No!" I yelled, aiming my palm at the gate "Ye lord! Mask of blood and flesh, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! Inferno and pandemonium, the sea barrier surges, march on to the south! Hadō #31. Shakkahō!" I discharged the red ball of fire, but the gate vanished before it could make contact.

"Orihime!" Ichigo yelled.

To Be Continued…