A/N: I decided to take a completely different approach.. hopefully you like where I'll be taking it.

Sentaro had finally done it. He never really thought he would get the courage apply to Shin'o Academy. To become a soul reaper. He'd just done it on a whim. He never really thought these things out, but now that he was here, for bad or worse he was determined to see it through. Growing up in the inner Rukongai, there was little else to do but work and read. Whenever his grandfather would head to the closet town, eventually he would sneak off to the district archive. He'd spent his youth reading books about famous shinigami and decided that one day he wanted to try and be a shinigami of the Gotei 13. At first he didn't even know if he was able to become a shinigami, however having passed the entrance test, those doubts were quickly laid to rest.

It was the first day of course and all of the new students were in the lecture hall. The day previous everyone here had taken the entrance test which determined whether they were eligible to be a shinigami, due to its specific requirements. They had tested him both mentally and physically along and now Sentaro found himself in a giant lecture hall with all of the people that had passed along with him the day before. From eavesdropping on the conversations around him, he realized not one of them had any knowledge on why they had been told to come here. The hall was cacophony of voices and chatter, it irritated him. For the briefest of moments he considered leaving, but he quickly dismissed this thought, he'd come to far already to turn away.

He came out of his thoughts long enough to realize the room of people had gone quiet. He looked around and saw everyone else's eyes toward the front of the room. Following everyone else's gaze he looked toward a modest podium at center stage. On the podium was none other then Gengoro Onabara, the Chief Instructor and Head of Shin'o, and behind him were people whom Sentaro could only assume were other instructors .

"Everyone settle down and take a seat, I am Gengoro Onabara, but you may all call me Onabara-sensei. Welcome, to Shin'o Academy, over the next six years you will learn what it truly means to be "shinigami." Here you will learn to find your niche to determine what you do and where you will go after this. All of you by virtue of being in this room have demonstrated, to some extent, that you have some sort of spiritual power, and because of that, you all have potential. Look around you ladies and gentlemen, in this very room, could be the next 4th Division Taichou or the next Kenpachi which is a very sinister thought indeed. And now as I'm sure your all wondering, why your are here in this room this morning. Well, that is because you are going to be placed in your respective classes right now which are based on your reiryoku."

A collective gasp took the room. "Recent studies done by 12th Squad have shown that reiryoku can be measured in a very effective and visible way, resisting another person reiatsu. So, all of you will come up to one of the instructors around me, and be tested and then you will receive your class designation."

Sentaro looked around the room some people, he observed, looked visibly ill at the prospect of being asked to preform in front of so many people, others looked pompous and confident that they would out preform. And Sentaro, he simply didn't care. Sure he was nervous, but iff any of the books he read held any truth in them, then his reiryoku would grow the longer and harder he trained, this test was nothing more than a measure of what your already had. Everyone watched as the first group came up. A few managed to hold their ground albeit almost having a stroke, fewer had passed through almost unscathed except for the profuse sweating, however most just collapsed all together, completely overcome by an invisible force.

After the first few groups a routine begin to form, sometimes there were people who had an easier time and they were ushered over to a small area to the side of the stage while others, who looked like they didn't even put up any resistance at all and were overcome were put in a much larger group. Finally it came time for Sentaro to have his turn. Pulling his hands out of his pockets, still uncomfortable with being surrounded by all the people, he strolled up the steps to the stage to stand in front a man about his height wearing a black shihakusho with white shoulder patches bearing the Shin'o insignia, staring down at a clipboard.

"Name?" the man asked.

"Kisake Sentaro." he replied.

"Very well, prepare yourself." the man responded, almost as if the tedium of testing new students was a bothersome task.

"'Kay." Sentaro said steeling himself for the invisible onslaught.

Moments passed and the two just stared at each other. Sentaro just looked at him staring right at him. The man blinked at him, and Sentaro looked right back. "I'm ready when you are sensei." Sentaro asked.

"I...I am... well, I suppose I am using a small amount," the man said scratching his head thoroughly suprised, "you may be a bit more advanced then the others, not that this is a bad thing, how about...Now." he proclaimed.

Sentaro looked at the man and blinked 'Is he joking with me?' "Hey, I don't know if your playing with me sensei, but its getting old." When the man didn't respond and looked like he was concentrating even more, a small vein popping on his forehead; Sentaro started to get annoyed and he was known to have a disrespectful side when annoyed and a familar flare welled up in his stomach and he then spoke with a even tone. "Stop messin' around wi-"

"Stop it!" The shinigami-instructor yelled. The entire room was now looking at them. Every single student and instructor had eyes only for him and the slightly flustered instructor. Onabara-sensei walked over to the man.

"Sabo, calm yourself, what is the meaning of this outburst?" He calmly asked.

"It's this kid!" Sabo started irritated by this point, "He isn't responding to any of my spiritual pressure, even at its full strength. And then he started exerting his pressure on me!" At this point every eye in the room was focused on Sentaro. Sentaro looked at Onabara-sensei and saw him staring at him thoughtfully.

"Very well, Sabo, let me have this one."

Then he took a hushed tone and told Sabo, "Go sit down, the way you're frustrated right now you're liable to use full force on the next student and send them into cardiac arrest, besides... I have a feeling about this one." Sabo looked at the older man and just nodded, and left the stage. Onabara just looked around the room and saw everyone staring at them. "Well? What are you all staring at? Don't tell me I'll have to teach you all proper manners along with your studies." At that, everyone either tried to focus on another random object in the room or went back to preparing for when they went on stage.

'Well to be fair,' Sentaro thought "The sensei's' were staring too.' but he didn't bother to say that to the lead instructor. Onabara looked up from the clipboard.

"So, your Kisake Sentaro? Well met I suppose, and by now I am sure beyond any doubt you know who I am?"

After a few moments of silence, and looking at Sentaro expectantly Sentaro could tell he wanted an answer.

"Y-yes sir?"

"Well that's good, at least I didn't have to tell you I wanted an answer, now we come to the matter at hand, and I need you to be honest with me right now, how did you feel when Mishu-sensei was testing you?" He asked, taking a serious tone towards the end.

"I...well, I didn't feel anything. It was like he wasn't even doing anything at all." Sentaro answered trying to be as honest as possible.

"Not a thing? Not even a gentle breeze? These are important things that could seriously affect the outcome of this test, so I'd choose your next words carefully with thought."

Sentaro thought back to a few minutes ago trying to remember anything of what Sensei was talking about, finally after a minute he answered. "No Sensei, I didn't feel anything."

Onabara looked at him, raised his eyebrows, and went "Humph. We shall see... well, what are you waiting for, prepare yourself." Shocked out of his reverie, Sentaro assumed what he thought seemed a concentrated and guarded stance. The next instant Sentaro feel a cool breeze tickle his cheek and he touched it quickly on response, startled by the sensation. "How about then?"

"I felt a breeze just now Sensei."

Sentaro replied surprised he felt something at all.

The older man gave a grin, like something had just brought great joy to him. "Good." "How about now?" he said calmly.

Sentaro had to brace himself in that instant, the air had suddenly turned thick and he had to think about every breath he made, not that it was an effort, but it was rather annoying and every gulp of air felt like thick plasma. "The.. the air..it feels thick?"

"That's wonderful we're making progress. I think this should do it." He said jovially. Sentaro didn't even have a chance, his knees buckled under a weight that the thick air around him didn't have just a moment before, he could scarcely breath now and his eyes went wide with fear. He stared at the smiling older man with a pleading gaze, then the weight was gone and all was back to normal. He gasped air into his lungs and staggered to his feet. "Well now, I do think we've found your limit hahahaa!" The older man laughed cheerfully. After a few moments Sentaro had regained enough composure to speak.

"Sensei, that feeling...it was..."

Sentaro said still trying to regain his normal breathing, feeling a bit overwhelmed. He was so floored at what had just happened he needed time to collect his wits.

"Terrible? All-consuming? You felt like you were helplessly trapped?" Onabara-sensei finished for him.

"Yes"

"That," he said matter-of-factly "is what it feels like when facing an opponent far outstripping you in raw power, however, sometimes that is not always the deciding factor in who wins or loses, as you will come to find out." He answered politely still smiling. He then turned, addressing all the students. "Once you have received your class, you may go to your dorm and do as you please for the rest of the day, no doubt you all are exhausted." There was a suddenly roar of talking as students discussed the events that had happened and among that talk was the guy who Onabara-sensei took with him. Onabara turned to walk away, when Sentaro remember he forgot to ask the most important question, the reason he and everyone else was here in the first place.

"Onabara-sensei!" he called out.

Onabara stopped and turned to look at him "Yes?"

"What class am I in?" Sentaro asked.

"Hahahahaha!" Onabara laughed long and hard which thoroughly puzzled Sentaro and finally said to him "We will talk soon about that. Your in the advanced class Sentaro and will join them in 1-A in Building Two tomorrow, until then get some rest, you will surely need it." Then Onabara turned and walked out of the lecture hall.

'Talk soon?' Sentaro mused to himself leaving the building 'whatever that means.'

Sentaro made his way to the dormitories, which were situated on the outskirts of the Academy. The halls were filled with tons of new students looking for their rooms, and many instructors and some older students helping the new ones find their respective rooms. He walked up to the nearest one with what looked like a list and asked for his room number.

"Hmm Kisake..Kisake..Ah, Kisake. You're in room "C" on the 3rd floor."

And with that he headed toward his room. From looking in the other rooms he past he saw that he would be sharing his room with another student. He silently hoped they would get along.

When he arrived at his designated he opened the door and saw another boy about his age, a little shorter than himself with brown hair combed back, with a small ornamental square in it.

'Nobility?'

The other boy, noticed his presence, looking startled, turned to him and said "Ah- my name is Kurugawa, Soshi, i-it's a pleasure to meet you. A-are you new to Shin'o too?"

Taken aback slightly at his nervousness, Sentaro hesitated slightly before answer.

"N-no I'm new too, and I'm Kisake Sentaro, you can just call me Sentaro though."

The boys face lit up. "Ah Yeah! You can um.. call me Soshi I guess?"

Sentaro moved to get settled in his part of the room, an awkward silence falling between them. Feeling slightly uncomfortable, Sentaro began to make conversation, afterall for all he knew they would be spending the next six years as room mates, getting to know one another would be the easiest thing to do.

"So um, Soshi, I'm from the 11th District North, what about you?"

"I'm from the 4th District East hehe." Soshi said scratching the back of his head.

'Yep, definitely nobility.' Sentaro thought. It was common knowledge that the first 7 Districts of East Rukongai were primarily inhabited by nobility and wealthy of the Soul Society.

"Well it's nice to meet you Soshi, what class are you in?"

"I'm in class 2-D. What about you?"

"I'm.. well I'm in the advanced first year class."

"Oh wow, you must have really high spirit energy to start out in the advanced class. Hopefully after a couple tests I'll be able to join you." Soshi said bubbling with enthusiasm.

"Yeah haha hopefully, do you know what time we have to be up for our classes.. hehe kinda missed that part." Sentaro asked slighly embaressed.

"Oh yeah! They start at 8. And the academy even provides alarm clocks, so that should make it easier getting up on time."

"A..Alarm whats?" Sentaro asked confused. He'd never heard of alarm clucks? (A/N: Real World stuff is never really seen outside of the Gotei/Noble class)

So Soshi told Sentaro about alarm clocks and they talked more about themselves until they both decided to go to sleep, to get a good start for classes tomorrow. 'Well' Sentaro thought as he lay in bed 'At least my room mate's alright.'

Sentaro awoke the next morning, and got ready. He and Soshi didn't know what to expect, being the first day. Soshi had heard that alot of the first year was basics and history, but they tried to be optimistic. By the time they were walking out of the dormitory, Sentaro was feeling rather upbeat at the prospect of the first day. Soshi didn't usually eat breakfast, he said it made him sick to eat early in the morning. But Sentaro made his way to the cafeteria anyway to get some breakfast or as his grandfather had always said "The most important meal of the day squirt!" That thought made him smile, he would visit him the first chance he got.

After he left the cafeteria, he started to make his way to building two, by now most of the student body was up and about making their way to their first classes of the day. When he made it to room 1-A he could hear the chatter inside. 'This is it,' he thought to himself ', the first step toward becoming a soul reaper.' But as he opened the door and people turned to see who it was, the noise of people talking started to die down, and then stopped all together. They were all looking at him. Some blatantly staring, others glancing every few seconds, as if trying to hide their stares. Then the whispers began.

"Is that him?" "That's the guy from yesterday." "He's the one that made that one instructor freak out and Onabara-sensei talked to.""I heard he's a prodigy from an important family." "He doesn't look special?" "Is he nobility?" "Not that I know of." "I heard he's a freak with like a bunch of spirit energy." "shh I think he heard you." "I bet he thinks he's better than us." "Psh yeah right, I'll show'em" "Quiet I think he's listening."

Needless to say, Sentaro felt awkward already. He sat down in the first open seat and tried to ignore them until the instructor arrived and class started. The topic of the day being soul reaper history, a topic he was already pretty familiar with. He paid attention long enough to realize he was being told the same things he'd already read, and started to zone out.

For the rest of the day he shuffled between his various classes. But a few classes stuck out as some of his favorites. Kido Theory, Hand-to-Hand Combatives, Basic Swordsmanship. In these he excelled, distinguishing himself In all of them. But the more he excelled the further alienated he felt from the rest of the class. Nobody had tried to talk to him. They just whispered about him behind his back.

So when the end of the day came, and he got back to his room, he felt almost relieved to see Soshi there. And Soshi started talking about how exhausting the day was, and the sheer amount of information being given to absorb. Sentaro responded and told him about his day, leaving out the parts where he was unincluded by his peers.

The rest of the week past by much the same. Going to classes, hearing people talk behind his back, ignoring them, and spending much of his free time studying or talking with his roommate Soshi during lunch or at the end of the day.

Since it wouldn't be til the next weekend following the coming one, that he'd be able to go home, he resolved to get some well-deserved shut, deciding to sleep in late on Saturday and would go study with Soshi the rest of the day. However.. things rarely ever go according to plan.