A young girl was found in the middle of the forest one night. She didn't know who she was or where she came from. The one who found her, a kind older man named Yoshirou, gave her the name Tsukimori and took her in. He raised her as his own and came to see her like a granddaughter. He taught her in the ways of healing and what he knew of kido and other martial art techniques he had learned over the years, preparing her for the day she would attend the Soul Reaper Academy. And when the time came, no one could have prepared Tsukimori for what was to come.
1951, first year at the Academy...
Tsukimori walked through the courtyard of the academy, feeling as though all eyes were on her. She couldn't surmise what the reason might be, but it made her more uncomfortable than being surrounded by so many people.
As they talked among themselves, the students of the Soul Reaper Academy stared as a young girl appearing to be in her mid to late teens walked through the courtyard towards the main building. They couldn't help but stare at her incredibly fair skin, her dainty freckles, her petite build, the smoky blue hair cascading down her back in a high pony tail adorned with tiny braids, her silvery blue eyes. She was stunning, almost ethereally so.
Tsukimori hurried passed the students, ignoring the murmuring as she tried to find someone- a teacher hopefully- that could help her find where she needed to go. Searching the halls, she began to panic when the overwhelming sense of the walls closing in around her began to take root. Then, she turned a corner and ran into someone, slamming into the wall. She winced in pain, apologized to the person she had run into, then took off again until she found an empty room. Or so she had thought.
The room she had slipped into was the office of a tall, intimidating bald man with glasses. When he spoke out of nowhere, she cried out in surprise and sank to the floor.
"Are you alright?"
Tsukimori tried to catch her breath, calm her racing heart and mind, barely managing a nod.
"First day?"
Again, she nodded.
"Take your time, child."
Tsukimori sat a few more moments in silence until she felt calm enough to speak and looked up at the man. "Please forgive me, sir. I didn't mean to intrude."
The man smiled and offered her a cup of tea. "Here, this should help soothe your nerves."
Tsukimori took the cup and sipped some of the warm tea, feeling it slide smoothly down her throat.
"You're Tsukimori Gushiken, are you not?"
Tsukimori nodded. "Yes, sir."
"I thought so. Your test results from the entrance exam were astounding."
"T-Thank you, sir."
The man smiled and they sat their for a moment or two talking about the school and such. After awhile, Tsukimori had finished the tea and the man took the cup from her. "Class will be starting soon. Are you well enough to join the rest of your classmates?"
Tsukimori nodded, standing. "Yes, sir." She bowed to him. "Thank you for the tea. And for talking to me."
The man smiled. "It was my pleasure. It's always difficult, to live a life in seclusion then be thrust into socialization like that."
Tsukimori blushed. "I should have handled it better. I just don't do well with big crowds."
"Well, hopefully we can help you to overcome that during your time with us." The man stood and went to the door. "Now, let's get you to class."
Tsukimori nodded and followed after the man as he led the way to where her classroom was. She could still feel the eyes of the others around her, but she wasn't as bothered by it after drinking the tea.
"Here we are. Please, feel free to take a seat anywhere."
Tsukimori nodded, finding a seat off to the side by herself where she sat and waited for the class to begin.
Off to the side, a few of her classmates were gathered together and caught sight of her as she sat down.
"Hey, Renji, isn't that the girl who ran into you earlier?"
The one who spoke was Izuru Kira and the one he spoke to was Renji Abarai.
Renji looked over at the girl, seeing that she had calmed down a bit but still looked incredibly nervous. "Ya, that's her. I wonder what her deal is."
"She must be new. I've never seen her around before."
The man who had helped Tsukimori stood at the front of the classroom and called for their attention.
"I am Gengoro Onabara and I will be your teacher this year. Welcome to Soul Reaper Academy."
Tsukimori sat by herself for the entire period and when it came time for lunch, she found a quiet place by the trees to eat alone and in peace. While she sat and ate, she thought about how grateful she was that the man who helped her overcome her panic attack was her teacher for the year.
'With his help, I'm sure I can overcome this unease around people.'
She watched from her spot as her classmates joked and laughed and talked among themselves and she found that while she was a bit envious of them, she preferred the solace.
Off to the side, Renji and the others were walking by and he noticed Tsukimori sitting by herself again.
'I wonder if she's alright.'
The rest of the day went the same as the morning had. Come the end of classes, she was approached by a young girl about her age.
"Hi there. I'm Momo Hinamori."
Tsukimori looked at Momo. "I'm Tsukimori Gushiken."
"Gengoro-sensei asked me to show you where the girls' dormitories are."
Tsukimori glanced at Gengoro, returning his smile when he nodded. Looking back at Momo, she nodded and stood. "Lead the way."
Momo led her through the halls and to the dormitories, showing her where her room was. "And if you ever need anything, I'm just right next door."
Tsukimori stepped inside of her new room, seeing that Yoshirou had already sent over her things and they were ready for her to unpack. She looked back at Momo and smiled, giving her a small bow. "Thanks, Momo."
Momo smiled, leaving her to herself. 'She seems really nice, though she looks so lonely. I hope we can be friends.'
Tsukimori looked out of her window and sighed. 'I made it, Grandfather. But I'm scared. It's all so new and there are so many people. I miss the comforts of the forest and our cabin. But I know that this is a step that I must take if I wish to succeed in becoming a Soul Reaper like you.'
Late in the night, Tsukimori tossed and turned in her sleep. A voice called out to her, a voice that somehow she knew. And she called back to it. "Tentai no yumi..."