AN:
If you haven't read Soul's Beginning, it's recommended. This is the second story in the series, and if you don't read the first, you probably won't know what's going on.
But it's up to you.
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Soul's Potential
Prologue
It was happening again, just like before.
We were late; that's where it started. By the time Taiki showed up and we were shoved unceremoniously through the portal by our 6th year proctor, Kitahara, the 15 Hollow sims had already been released.
Our hurried start had me disoriented. It was our first foray into the Living World, a graded exercise we'd fail if we didn't locate and eliminate at least one Hollow, and the other teams had a head start. I, as the only 4th year from the Advanced Class, was the leader of a team of three – Taiki, and two of his classmates, Kenzaburo and Miru. If we failed, it would be my fault.
I gave orders without even taking time to look around; there was no time. "Split up. If you see a Hollow sim, don't engage. Meet back here in ten minutes."
Taiki held up a short-range radio, part of a set we'd been given. "What about these?"
"Leave them."
"What?" the other two exclaimed.
"If that thing goes off near a Hollow, you'll be noticed."
"They've got headphones," Miru started.
"Hollows have extremely sensitive hearing. There's a reason we are trained to walk silently, and a reason we don't use these things on real missions."
"These aren't real Hollows," Ken said, making a skeptical face.
"That doesn't mean you should underestimate them," I cautioned. "Best use our practice exercises to prepare for the real thing."
There was no further argument, and we dropped the radios and split.
Only as I began seriously scouting did I get a good look at my surroundings and suck in a deep breath.
The Living World – even this sectioned-off area, protected by a barrier to keep humans out, in the dead of night – the place was more alive than anything I had ever seen. I'd always imagined the Living World would be like Rukongai, the only city I'd ever known…but it was nothing like it, nothing at all. Metal buildings, scale-roofed houses, glass windows. Electric lighting – everything was lit up, even at night. At one point, even the very sky flashed crimson. Everything was moving, everything was fast.
I was in awe, lost in it all. I stopped on a rooftop long enough to gaze out past the barrier boundary into the tall metal jungle, at the rivers of moving lights winding between them. It occurred to me that it was on one of those raised, gargantuan concrete roads that Taiki had met his end as a human.
The great, atmosphere-shattering roar from behind caused my hair and hakama to blow forward and almost sent me toppling off the roof-top. I turned. Before I could even register that Hollow sims didn't roar, before I had the time to do anything but fumble at my brand-new katana, the massive pointy-nosed creature had crashed a foot down on the roof. I went flying.
Rubble landed on top of my legs, and the thing was bearing down on me with a massive grin.
Shinigami. Tasty…
I cringed, unable to do anything else to fend off the inevitable.
A flash of light against metal, and my legs felt lighter. The rubble had all been flung off of me. In front of me, nothing but black uniform back and blond ponytail visible to me, Taiki swung his sword to block the oncoming arm of the Hollow. He blocked it, and the two remained in a deadlock in mid-swing, a stalemate.
His body clearly straining under the pressure, Taiki turned to me and yelled. "The barrier failed. Get out of here!"
I scrambled to my feet, legs bruised and painful, and stuttered, "But I can't just leave you here…!"
"I have to hold this thing off until you get reinforcements. So hurry up and get your ass to Kitahara and ask for help!" He said it with a shaky grin; his feet slid in the rubble under the pressure, and the Hollow withdrew his arm to ready for another strike. "I said go!"
I went, running as fast as my injuries would allow, dizzy with panic.
Akemi.
Before my eyes, even as I ran, my surroundings melted away, shifting from dark metal crags to gentle white walls, cherry trees covered with both blossoms and an early snow, which also covered the enclosed little courtyard.
My home, in winter. Or perhaps early spring.
I skidded to a halt in front of the girl whose voice had called to me, causing the shift.
"Ancestor."
She shook her head, shoulder-length black hair falling into deep purple eyes. "How many times must I correct you?" She sat on a bench, but stood as I approached to allow me to rest, white robes rippling as she did.
"Rest. You are tired from your nightmares."
"Nightmares." As she said it, I knew it to be true. Yes, the scene had been real once…once, when I was younger. I was a 6th year now, nearing graduation; no longer the fresh, naïve 4th year who had endangered her squad and needed rescue.
"You weren't the only one needing rescue," the girl said, eyeing me like she could see my thoughts. "Many needed rescue, that day. The true Hollows were unexpected. If anything your actions protected those in your care. The other two; they escaped danger because unlike the others they were not given away by the crackling of a radio."
"It shouldn't have been able to sneak up on me. That huge beast…" I put my head in my hands, not wanting to look at her; feeling ashamed. The bruises and injuries to my legs had faded with the scene change, but still shook. "I almost died. I failed."
"You learned." The girl, a frequent companion in my dreams, wandered over and
examined the inexplicable pink blossoms. "Without confidence, you cannot improve."
"But I thought you just said I learned."
She looked over her shoulder at me. "But did you improve?"
It was difficult to hide my frustration from her. I'd always felt somehow inferior to the girl, like she was some sort of kami from legend instead of a mere dream. When she got all mysterious, though, it irritated me.
"You wouldn't understand."
She laughed, a beautiful ringing sound. "On the contrary, Akemi. It is you who have no understanding. Of your potential, your self, or even me."
I stood, steadier. "You? All you ever do is talk about me, and you expect me to understand you?" I sat back down, vaguely aggravated. "You won't even tell me your name."
She laughed again. "But I have told you, many times. You simply won't listen. I am "
All went black as the dream faded. I awoke, still restless, and filled with a vague longing and a sense of inadequacy that I couldn't quite explain.