Hey guys! Here's the first chapter of the re-posted story. I changed it up quite a bit, especially the beginning, so enjoy! Also, please review, I would love to here your thoughts. ^^
Warning: Harsh language from the main character, Rin, will be used throughout the story.
Chapter 1
Rin grumbled to herself as she stormed through the halls of the Shino Academy, completely lost and unable to find the boards where they had posted who was going into what squad. She could tell by the empty halls that she was definitely in the wrong place, but couldn't hear the chatter of excited students to help her on her way, either. Her mouth twisted into an unamused frown. Six years and she still couldn't find her way around the building.
She quickened her pace, her long brown hair lifting off her back a little as she did. It was tied in a ponytail, but her slanted bangs still framed her face. She ignored the tinkling of the earring on her left ear, signifying her position, as non-existent as it was, in the Asaje clan. Like every other student, she wore the usual academy uniform. Her zanpakuto weren't with her at the moment; the Shino academy only allowed them on training days.
"Rin! Rin, you're going the wrong way!"
A voice behind her brought her to a stop. She turned and glowered as a friend of hers, Esaki Daisuke, came to a halt before her. His skin was darker, his almost black hair tumbling off his head in well looked after dreads. He was Rin's opposite, friendly and warm compared to her cold antisocial attitude. He was at least half a foot taller than her, forcing her to look up in order to meet his brown gaze, eye contact that she only held for a second. She folded her arms across her chest.
"I was fine! I just wanted to go the long way," she growled indignantly. He rolled his eyes.
"You've been wandering around like this for nearly an hour," he sighed. "And you're not the type to go 'the long way' anyways."
"I do what I want," she snapped.
"I take it this means you haven't seen which squad you're in, I suppose?" Changing the subject was the right way to go.
"Like hell I've seen it. Why the fuck-"
"Squad 6," he interjected. "And I'm in Squad 2." She looked at him, intrigued.
"With the noble," she stated.
"Captain Kuchiki Byakuya-sama."
"Great, last thing I need is another man with a stick up his ass telling me what to do," she muttered. She'd hoped for Squad 8, with people she knew and, rumour has it, weekly drinking with Squad 11. She turned and began walking away.
"I'm sure Hatori-sama and Byakuya-sama-" Daisuke began to protest, but was stopped by the cold glare she gave him when she whipped around.
"Don't mention that bastard's name, dammit!" she snarled. His shoulders sagged. Normally the woman wasn't in this bad a mood. He wondered what could have gotten her so riled up.
"Rin, I'm sorry," he apologized, but the damage had been done. The angry woman turned on the heel and strode away. Daisuke scrambled to catch up, falling into step beside her.
"It won't be as bad as you think," he reassured her. She rolled her eyes, but otherwise ignored him.
"Do you plan on visiting your mother, then? We haven't seen Hana-sama in a while," he said, trying to coax words from her gritted teeth. "We should definitely go see her."
"See her more if that bastard didn't make a fucking scene every fucking time," she mumbled.
Rin was a member of the Asaje clan, one of the four Great Noble Clans found in Sereitei. At one point, long ago, she had been the heir. That is, until she was disowned after she ran away to avoid being betrothed. Kasamiji Keiji, the one she had been intended for, was promised to Junko, Rin's younger sister. The angry woman had lived in Rukongai ever since this series of events.
Yet, despite being disowned and technically not allowed in the manor, Rin insisted on visiting her mother, the only one she had truly missed during her many years in Rukon. Hana was ill, though, and had been for quite some time, making each visit all the more precious. Daisuke often tagged along to soften the arguments she and her father, Hatori, had every visit. However, his presence never guaranteed that these confrontations would end on a good note.
"It can't be avoided, it seems. If you stayed calm and didn't fighting with him, we'd have an easier time at it," he pointed out gently, not keen on igniting her rage once more.
"Shut up," she growled. "I'm visiting tomorrow. Alone," she added when his face lit up.
"Why alone?" he asked, a little crushed.
He enjoyed these visits. Rin's gentle mother was like a calmer version of her daughter and pleasant to just stand beside. If they weren't practical twins in appearance, he would wonder how they could possibly be related with the hostile air that seemed to hang perpetually around his friend.
"You'll be busy. I'm sure Kuchiki won't be happy as it is that I'm going. Might as well not get you in any trouble. Plus, Gilepsi will come with me! If I can find the rotten furball," she added beneath her breath.
Gilepsi was her cat, a kind of heirloom in her family and daughter to Hana's own cat, Fergus. They lived extended lifespans to match that of their owners and were, for lack of a better word, compatible with the reiatsu their respective owners released. All the animals were loyal, and Gilepsi had even followed Rin into Rukongai.
It was clear that the angry woman was ending the conversation there, so Daisuke didn't argue any further. It was rare enough that Rin was thinking about him, even if she may have her own reasons for going alone. Instead, he helped his friend out of the Academy, after retrieving their zanpakuto, of course, and to her squad, just to make sure she didn't get lost once again.
Once at Squad 6, Rin gave a halfhearted nod and an absentminded farewell before walking into the courtyard. Daisuke hesitated for a second, then disappeared using shunpo to get to his own squad. Rin sauntered into the yard, taking in the few other students that were there as well. Noting the fact that they were medium to high ranking nobles or goody two shoes and teachers' pets. Students who followed the rules to a letter. Students she'd had arguments with countless times, and proud members of her baka list.
When she took her place in line, most of her fellows shuffled away from her, giving her suspicious glares as well. She gave them a cold glare in return, but didn't feel like challenging them. The only person who seemed unconcerned by her presnece was the Lieutenant, a red haired, tattooed man whom she had never met. He gave a nod, paired with a friendly smile that almost made her suspicious. She managed one as well, but was really surprised when he spoke.
"You're a member of the Asaje clan?" He nodded towards her earring. It was more of a statement than a question, but she answered anyways.
"It's complicated," she said with a shrug.
"Adopted?" he asked, a tiny frown on his face. As if it meant something to him.
"No, just not on good terms, I suppose. Asaje Rin. You?" She said this awkwardly. She wasn't used to being Friendly Rin.
"Abarai Renji," he introduced himself. "Lieutenant of Squad 6," he added, as if she didn't already know.
"So what are the tattoos for, Abarai?" she asked, smirking. "Impressing the ladies?"
"Uh...no... Just decoration, mostly," he said. Then he shrugged. "I like them, I guess."
Their conversation was cut off with the arrival of the Captain. He came to stand before them, his stoic expression sweeping there ranks, analyzing them briefly. However, his gaze hesitated when it passed over Rin, recognition flashing in their grey depths, and the feeling was mutual. Grey eyes met blue briefly before the latter broke eye contact.
"Assign their rooms, Abarai," he ordered. "There strength will be tested tomorrow."
Rin looked up as the sky, blue fading into orange. Surely there was enough time to have at least a few of them spar?
"Oi," she spoke up, earning her shocked looks from the other recruits. "Why the hell are we doing that tomorrow? That's just a stupid waste of time." She looked back at the sky pointedly. "I expected to have my test done today."
"Learn your place," the Captain shot back. "You will be tested tomorrow, just like everyone else."
"Fuck that shit. I want mine now. I've got shit to do tomorrow and I can't be bothered to come here for a little test. My Oka-chan is expecting me," she continued to insist.
Just as the noble Captain was about to tell her off, Renji spoke up in her defense, "Isn't the Asaje head ill?" he said quietly, yet pointedly. "I heard that she may pass any day now." Rin knew the last part was a lie, her mother had plenty of time left, but Byakuya seemed a little stricken by this.
"Very well. You and Ikaso will spar. If you possess Shikai, you may use it," he informed her. She curled her lip at such an insult.
"That wimp?" she growled, casting a withering look over at the noble, who gave her a deadly glare. "You know better than that, Kuchiki," she chastised. "Let me fight Abarai."
Byakuya was the only ones who didn't look surprised by this challenge. He glowered at her, and she returned it, waiting for his reply. Such insistence and disrespect were likely to get her punished, yet the man nodded anyways.
"Then you will fight Abarai," he appeased her, voice strained ever so slightly. "I expect you to back up your words with skill."
She rolled her eyes before taking her place across from the Lieutenant. He still looked confused, but clearly did not mind this change in circumstances.
"No one expects you to win," he foolishly assured her, though with a hint of smug superiority in his tone. Rin couldn't wait to wipe the matching smirk from his tattooed face. "So no pressure."
"I wasn't worried about either. Let's see what you got, Abarai," the woman shot back, drawing her twin zanpakuto that hung at her left side as Byakuya began the bout.
Renji drew his weapon just in time to block her right handed attack, then narrowly dodge the jab with her left. He slipped to the side and swung, catch her above the eye. Blood leaked from the wound, forcing her eye shut and partially blinding her. She retaliated by giving him a shallow cut across the stomach.
"You're fast!" he praised. "At least for an Asaje woman!"
He leapt away from her sudden attack, then lunged to meet her. Their swords clashed, each struggling to overpower the other.
"Shut your face," she snarled, surprising him. "I'm done being insulted today!"
She pushed him away and swung, catching his arm as he stumbled. Regaining his footing, he countered with a blow to her chest before they separated once more. Rin could tell by the look on his face that he hadn't expected such a challenge. His underestimation of her abilities had cost him a few wounds, but she had now lost the element of surprise.
He was able to block her next attack with both swords, only to have the breath driven out of him when she landed a swift kick to the gut. Slightly winded, but not out of the fight yet, he leapt onto the wall surrounding the courtyard, gaining the high ground advantage.
"Roar, Zabimaru!" he called out to his weapon.
It was transformed into a long, 6-part segmented blade. Each was wider than the last, and each had its own pick-like protrusion on the front. When he swung it, it expanded. Using it much like a whip, he sent it flying at Rin. The front slammed into the woman's two swords, quickly sending her to the other end of the courtyard.
Right before slamming into the wall, she managed to spin away. She charged Renji, her weapons at the ready. She leapt upwards when he swung the weapon, sweeping it sideways and nearly catching her in the side. She landed on thin air and resumed her charge without a single pause in step.
She gracefully avoided his next attack, surprising the Lieutenant. Having used up its attack combo, Zabimaru retracted back to its original form, leaving him open. Using this to her advantage, Rin aimed to slice open his shoulder. Caught off guard by her skill, Renji was unable to dodge as the weapon drew ever closer...
...Until someone swept in between them and blocked the attack with their own weapon. Her guard immediately went up and she readied herself for a real attack. When she saw her Captain, she pulled away in surprise and glared at him. The focus she had while attacking was lost as frustration took its place.
"Why did you stop me?!" She snapped.
"This fight is finished. Abarai will show you to your room." Ignoring her question and returning his weapon to its sheath. However, Renji didn't seem impressed either as he sealed and sheathed his weapon.
"You didn't need to stop the fight. I was fine!" he protested.
"I did not do it for your benefit," the noble Captain retorted, glaring at the taller man. "Now, take Asaje to her room."
All the other recruits were already gone, sent away by the stoic Captain. Byakuya turned to Rin, who frowned at him.
"Asaje, I wish to see you in my office upon your return tomorrow."
"Aye, aye, Captain," she muttered sarcastically. She then leapt off the wall of the courtyard and began making her way to the barracks. Renji quickly caught up and fell into step beside her.
"Stuck up bastard, isn't he?" Rin said. He sighed.
"It seems like he doesn't care about any of his subordinates. And if he does, he would never admit it," Renji replied.
"You don't like him much," she stated bluntly.
"He's my rival, and I'll surpass him one day. I don't need to like him to beat him," Renji said, determination in his tone. He turned and led her into the barracks and down the hall as he spoke.
"True. Good luck with beating him, I suppose," she said absently.
"Thanks. Hey, maybe we could go out drinking some time with some buddies of mine? It'd help you get to know people, in the least. That is, if you drink at all," he suggested.
"Give me a date and I'll give you confirmation," she replied. He stopped in front of a door and gestured to it.
"I'll call you when something comes up, then. Here's your room."
"Ugh. I'm so tired I could sleep anywhere..." she growled beneath her breath as she slipped inside.
Within, it was relatively bare. Very boring, and it felt nothing like home. It never would, even once she got the few belongings she had moved in from her dorm. She sighed deeply. It had been years since there had been one place that felt like home to her. This was no exception. She almost missed the Asaje mansion at that moment. Almost. Hatori had made sure that it would never be a home to her.
She strode across the small room and opened the window, letting the summer breeze cool the stuffy room. As she began to change out of her academy uniform for the last time, a meow at the window caught her attention. It was her cat, Gilepsi. The scruffy, black animal leapt from the sill and trotted up to Rin, purring and meowing.
"What do you think of this?" The woman asked as she started putting on her night robes. In response, her familiar growled. Rin rolled her eyes.
"Sucks to be you, then. We're going to have to get used to this, no matter how much you don't like it. It'll be like this for the next...who knows how long. Months, years, decades..."
She sat on her bed, leaning her back against the wall and closing her eyes. Gilepsi crawled into her lap, begging to for attention. Rin obliged her, running her hand across her fur.
"I didn't expect Kuchiki here," she spoke. "Though I can't say I'm surprised. Typical that I got a brat like him as my Captain," she muttered. "I remember the first time I met him. What an ass..."
It took her a second to realize that Gilepsi had fallen asleep, and that she was talking to herself. She rolled her eyes in annoyance. The woman lay down on the bed, letting sleep claim her as well.