Cherishable Memories.

*Flashback*

"Toshiro! Toshiro!" A young girl with long black hair called out.

"What do you want Yumi?" Toshiro's teal eyes averted to the girl.

"Here." Yumi blushed handing him a stringy black bracelet. "Something to remember me by when you leave."

He looked at the stringy bracelet and accepted it. "Thanks."

She quickly pulled him in a hug. "I'm going to miss you a lot… Good luck." Yumi whispered sadly.

Toshiro was a bit stunned by the hug. "Y-yeah."

Yumi released him and he waved her goodbye. He then walked ahead and turned his back for the last time. His sharp teal eyes stared at her chocolate brown eyes and then resumed walking.

"Become a great shinigami Toshiro… Be safe." Yumi whispered to herself as she saw the short white haired boy getting farther and farther away from her. Yumi felt upset that that was the last time she would see him. She couldn't confess to him about how she felt about him. Her tears started dripping down her face. She quickly wiped them away and could only hope for the best.

*End of flashback*

"Yumi!" Her mother shook her gently. "Wake up, it's time to pack."

My eyes fluttered open immediately. Today was the day I was going to go under training to become a shinigami. I sat up and sleepily gazed at my mother.

"Breakfast is already made. Come down when you're ready." Her mother instructed as she walked out of the room.

I stretched my arms and yawned in exhaustion. I couldn't sleep yesterday, I was way too anxious. I got out of bed and washed my face. I combed my hair down to make it look decent and quickly packed my belongings. A few months ago I got my acceptance letter from the head court. Maybe I would see Toshiro there…

I pondered about it for a bit and then grabbed my things heading to the kitchen. My mother was brewing some of my favorite tea. Jasmine tea.

I smiled pleasantly and began to eat my rice and fish. She got the trusty old tea kettle and poured me some jasmine tea. "Thankyou."

As I stiffly ate she sat across from me, "Nervous?"

"Y-yeah." I admitted. "But most of all… I'm going to miss you."

My mother sadly smiled at me. "I'm going to miss you too. It'll be quite lonely without you here."

"I'll send you mail whenever I have the time." I promised.

"Good." She slightly chuckled. I finished my breakfast and thanked her once again.

"You have everything?" She asked.

"Yep." I said overlooking all my belongings. I stood up adjusting my clothing and carried my bag.

My mother pulled me into a hug. She squeezed me tight. "Be safe. Never give up." She consoled knowing that the training would be hard.

"Of course!" I assuringly said. "I'll make you proud."

She smiled at the thought. "Well you better get going."

I nodded quickly. "Bye mom." My mother walked me out of the house and saw me leave. I looked back and saw her wave goodbye. I waved back acknowledging her.

As I walked off I reached in my pockets for the acceptance letter. "It says…" I trailed off as I read the letter. "To meet a shinigami at the Serei bridge." I folded the letter and put it back in my pockets. I walked to the Serei bridge and luckily the shinigami was noticeable and stood out wearing his black robe.

"Yumi Hatashi?" The red-haired shinigami questioned.

"Yes." I affirmed.

"This way." The shinigami gestured as he showed me the way to the other part of Sereitei where the Shinigami's resided.

The walk was quiet and long, my feet were starting to ache. We suddenly stopped in front of a white big gate. "Were here." The shinigami stated. "Jidanbo!"

Suddenly a deep massive voice questioned. "Is that you Renji Abarai?"

"Yeah." Renji confirmed.

Huge hands lifted up the west gate high enough for us to enter. "What brings you here?"

"I had to escort her." Renji sighed. "She's going under training."

"I see." Jibanbo said in a belittled tone.

We walked inside as he escorted me to the Shino Academy. "Well this is my stop. Good luck in the academy." Renji addressed.

I nodded acknowledging him and he teleported immediately afterwards. I sighed nervously. I walked in and headed toward the principal's office.

I knocked first remembering to be respectful. "Come in." A deep voice responded.

I walked inside and bowed politely, "My name is Yumi Hatashi."

"Ah. I see. May I see your acceptance letter for verification?" He inquired.

I nodded as I pulled out the letter smoothing out the surface before handing it to him. He thanked me and briefly read over it. He walked over to the pile of uniforms with little pieces of paper on them. He dug through the pile and pulled out a set of a white hakama with red lining. On the set it said my name and my size, a small.

"Girl's rooms are on the 4th floor. Yours will be room 507." The principal explained. "Everything else will be provided along the way. Your schedule is in the package with your hakama. If you have any more questions feel free to ask."

I thanked him and headed to the 4th floor. I found the stairs and walked up to the 4th floor. As I walked through the hallway a lot of girls stared at me curiously. I finally reached my room and opened the sliding wooden doors latching the lock behind me.

I liked my room a lot. It had a sakura design which brightened the room. There was a small round table on the ground with two sitting pillows on each side. After observing the pale pink room I slid open the closet doors and started to unpack.

I smiled as I encountered something. Mom's goodies. She knew I would miss these sweet yummy rice cakes. I placed the package carefully on the small table and continued unpacking. I changed into my hakama and took my schedule out of the package.

"Might as well get used to the locations." I muttered. I unlatched my lock and locked the doors from the outside using my key that was given in my package.

As I walked out the girls would look at me for a bit as they heard my footsteps. I just concentrated on my schedule. "First class is Kido, next Houhou, Hakuda, Zanjutsu, and personal training/studies." It would be harder on me because I was taking the advance classes so I could graduate earlier.

"I guess I should look for where my kido class is…" I sighed. I kept glancing up and down at the room numbers trying to find the correct room.

"Need help?" A guy asked me observing my difficulty.

"Y-yeah." I assented.

"My names Tondo Harishi." He introduced. "And yours?"

"Yumi Hatashi." I answered.

"Alright Yumi. I'll be your tour guide for the day." Tondo grinned.

I cracked a smile. "Thanks."

Tondo showed me where all my classes would be as he glanced at my schedule. "Ah. You're in the advanced classes."

"Yeah. Are you?" I questioned.

"No. I'm not that smart." He chuckled. "But I'll still see you around."

"Thanks again for showing me around. I don't think I would've managed as well if you hadn't showed up." I confessed.

"No problem. I'll see you tomorrow then." Tondo assured.

"Alright." I smiled. I was glad to know that I had made one friend.

After saying our goodbyes I decided to go back to my room. I was extremely nervous and anxious for tomorrow.

I started to wonder if I would ever get to see Toshiro here. I mean he probably graduated… it has been roughly 4-5 years since I've last seen him.

I sighed lying on the ground pondering about what Toshiro would be doing right now. And if he still remembered me.

Before sleeping I ate some rice cakes my mother packed me providing me a great smile of memories.

*Flashback*

Yumi knocked on the door slightly not wanting to bother the new neighbors. A grandma opened the door and smiled at her. "Is there something you need?"

Behind her Yumi saw that they were still packing. "I- I didn't mean to bother you ma'am at such a busy time but my mother made some rice cakes… and she wanted me to give you these to welcome you to the neighborhood." Yumi shyly explained.

The grandma chuckled, "Tell her thankyou. And you can call me grandma. You know I have a grandson about the same age as you I'll go call him."

"Y-yes... grandma." Yumi hesitantly said.

"Toshiro!" Grandma called. "Come downstairs!"

"Yeah, yeah grandma be right there!" A young voice exclaimed.

Shortly after I saw a short white-haired boy walk to the door. "What grandma?" He asked ignoring my presence.

"Why don't you play with her for a while?" Grandma suggested.

"Grandma..." He quietly whined.

"Now, now be polite." Grandma warned. "Her mother made some rice cakes for us."

His eyes perked up a bit, "Rice cakes?"

Grandma chuckled, "Yes. Your favorite."

"I guess she can stay for a while." Toshiro muttered.

Toshiro quickly grabbed the rice cakes off of grandma's hands and headed to the kitchen. Grandma smiled, "Come on in. What is your name?"

"Yumi… Hatashi." I answered smiling back.

"Well let's go Yumi before Toshiro eats all the rice cakes." Grandma joked.

"I would love too... but I should tell my mother." I politely said.

"Don't worry. I'll walk next door and tell her. I want to thank her personally anyways." Grandma assured. "Head to the kitchen. I'll be right back."

I simply nodded and took my shoes off before entering. As I walked to the kitchen I saw Toshiro already munching on the rice cakes.

I joined him at the table and quietly sat down as he ate. Toshiro eyed me for a bit and felt a little bad that he was being a pig. He slid the rice cakes over to my side. "You should have some. Your mom makes good rice cakes."

I grabbed a rice cake and chewed it slowly. I glanced at Toshiro for a bit seeing him enjoy the rice cakes. "I take it that you like rice cakes a lot." I said cracking a smile.

He gulped the remaining of the rice cakes he had in his mouth. "Yeah."

"Wonder where grandma went…" Toshiro muttered.

"She's at my house talking to my mother." I shyly said.

"Oh. Well I guess I should leave some for grandma." He paused. "Do you want to go upstairs?"

"Sure." I responded. We both went upstairs and went inside his room.

"So what's your name?" Toshiro asked.

"Yumi." I replied. After a few quiet moments I appeased because I finally thought of a topic. "So what do you want to be when you're grown up?" Typical common question. But I was still curious.

"Hm." He pondered. "I'm not sure… Maybe a rice cake dealer? How about you?"

"Well… I just want to be someone who is strong and can protect the ones I love." I firmly stated.

"Same… here." Toshiro perceived.

I smiled, "Then we can become strong together!"

Toshiro glanced at me and simply nodded.

After that day I would come over to his house a lot. We would "train" together and discuss how we would become more stronger and of our dreams. We would even sometimes goof off and make up superpowers. And whenever mother would make rice cakes I brought him some. He would always show hints that he was excited whenever I brought them over. Since then I think I've loved rice cakes more than ever.

*End of flashback*

I sighed thinking of the good days as I stared at the ceiling. I grew more tiresome and eventually fell asleep with a smile on my face.

*A/N*

Hope you guys enjoyed! Sorry no Toshiro yet but it will come up after chapter 2 possibly. I'm going to speed up her school/graduation because it's not as important as the other scenes that will be coming up. Anyways, thanks for reading! P.S. Tell me if you like the set up of the story? Do you like it aligned center or aligned left? :)