Shinigami academy

Hinata felt good , no she was ecstatic she was on top of the world. She had returned to Soul Society Yesterday after a training mission were she actually encountered a single handedly defeated a hollow. She would soon graduate the academy amongst its top graduates. many of whom were several years her senior. The field instructor had rated her performance exceptional . This impressed her lead instructor and academic advisor Tonio Shihoin. He had even recommended she be given the Trials , The grueling test to become a full fledged Shinigami. She had already been interviewed by 13th's squad Lieutenant , Rukia Kuchiki , as a possible candidate. Her instructors infamous cousin and 2nd squad Captain Soi-Feng had even come to give her a look see.

They were looking on now as she prepared to spar.

Tonio Shihoin was a man to be respected , worse a man to be feared , not for his obvious physical abilities. He was tall and heavily muscled with the uncanny strength and speed synonymous with his clan , he was sharp of mind and of wit .He was one of the lead instructors at the shinigami academy This combined with his unpredictability gave his opponents no end of trouble .His sparring sessions were infamous and arduous , You had to bring your A-game everything he taught and everything you learned . In the classroom he stressed application and improvisation of skill and knowledge to any given problem . This translated onto the field as "BRING IT ".

She had manifested her Zanpaktou ,twin kodaichi , wrapped in lavender and white soon after entering the academy. Komainu she called it the twin guardian lions. About 9 months into her training she had manifested her shikai. Her Shikai was much like her instructors own Nekekami "Spirit Cat" the difference being in his shikai his kodaichi grew and became twin oxtail broadswords , each with two long ribbon like tails . Hinata's Komainu when in shikai remained twin Kodaichi but glowed with a silvery light and sported a single long ribbon like tail. Her shikai matched well with her gentle dancing fighting style .She was still working through exactly what her Shikai abilities were ,so far she had noted her speed and strength increased two fold.

Tonio watched her for a moment as Hinata flowed into her ready stance , Her fighting style looked so delicate more like a dance than anything .This did not detract from her efficacy as a fighter , in fact ,her opponents tended to underestimate her . She could fight rings around his other students and was holding her own against some of the junior instructors. But Tonio was a strict instructor and expected perfection from his students. He would imitate the attacks used by her opponent and she should be able to defeat him or at least force a draw , But if he saw any weakness or any opportunity ,well , Hinata was in for a long day.

"Are you ready " he teased offering her a mocking bow

Hinata was ready for this he would always attack the instant a student thought to answer . Her only reaction was "Karu (hunt) Komainu " This was her instructor after all , no sense in playing around.

He smiled " So be it little one . " Karu (prowl),Nekekami " he activated his shikai the flowing ribbons wrapping around his arms then he moved he Flash stepped to the right and then to the left but the attack came from directly behind her , Hynata parried the first sword outward knowing his second strike was was coming right behind the first he flash stepped away and came again this time low and the rising she manage to block both strikes again and again he was gone. He upped the ante coming in forward when she blocked the first strike he immediately attacked her to the rear and high when she parried he was already coming in low and and to the right " she noticed something was wrong almost an instant too late his last attack was with his open hand , no sword evident she saw it out of the corner of her right eye spinning inward towards her she deflected it knowing she would be open to a kido attack if he was fast enough. He was

" Shō" he whispered and HIhynata was blown back a few feet It was a week Kido attack only meant to force an opponent back .

she retained her footing and yelled back "Tsuzuri Raiden" lightning building up in her blades and traveling along the ribbon he had not seen her wrap around his forearm He was shocked but only for a instant the ribbons from his swords wrapped around hers and then plunged into the ground pulling the arc away from him.

He offered her a warm smile " Well done little one , and such style ,Is this how you defeated the hollow yesterday "

Htnata was breathing hard , unhurt but still taxed by the Brief and furious fight.

"He was a lot easier than you Shihoin sensei , he didn't move so fast "

All in All Tonio was very impressed with his students development , she had been able to dodge his shunpo attacks and was even able to attack him undetected , if he had been slower her attack would have succeeded and probably hurt.

"Oi , stop playing around "Yoruichi teased "lets see some real fighting"

" Yeah ,right shes still a student cousin , but if you want a real fight two on two then ." Both women smiled at that . They flickered and both women suddenly stood in the practice field.

"uh ... uhm sensei , those are both captain level ..."Hinata began nervously.

"Yeah , but anything that doesn't kill you "he said then flickered immediately attacking Captain Soi-Feng leaving her facing a grinning Yoruichi.

After the battle Hinata was spent breathing hard and barely able to stand and completely unable to help her instructor . The women had been amazing even faster and more impressive than the stories told about them in the academy . A grinning Captain Soi-feng had her instructor face down in a complicated leg and arm lock . Worse he was being "noogied " to death by his cousin. Hinata shook her head and smiled , "Adults could be so childish sometimes" They had acquitted themselves well in the battle and may have even forced a draw , Then a bright flash and and they were getting their butts kicked.

Finally the two women let her instructor up,when satisfied smirks on their faces. They looked and regarded Hinata .

"Shes not half bad ,Tonio .One of your best I'd say " This from Yoruichi .Hinata couldn't help but to smile , such a compliment coming from Yoruichi .

" I could use her in either squad " Soi-Feng added.

And with that the two women turned away and flickered and were gone .

Tonio got to his feet , not at all embarrassed by his recent humiliation at their hands.

" I'm sorry sensei , I was no.." Hinata began

"Don't " He growled and frowned at her . Then his expression softened and he said " You did just fine. Those two could take down an army between the two of them. Besides the only noogie me when I make them work hard ." The last he added with a devilish grin.

"Any way , Hinata , we're through for the day, go and get some rest "Tonio said

Hinata froze at his words. He never called a student by their names . It was always Kit , Kid or rookie. When he called you by name it was never a good thing.

"Sensei … ?"Hinata began "Why do I need to get some rest "

A simple question deserves a simple answer she thought .

"Oh , I didn't tell you , must have slipped my mind " he lied .She new nothing ever slipped his mind ."You're being sent back to the World of the Living again. Seems some more hollows are turning up in that area "

"But I'm still only an apprentice" sh protested .

"Don't worry , actually Lieutenant Rukia Kuchiki is being assigned there , She is going to need an assistant. she asked for someone who is familiar with the locale . So I thought this would be a great opportunity for you to get some more field experience. Any way get some rest She wants to leave tomorrow evening , that should give you plenty of time ."

He gave her a wicked grin and turned and flickered away before she could protest.

Butterflies swooped and flew through her stomach and head. Going back home again was not high on her list of priorities . Too much emotional baggage haunted her back home . Feelings of love and affection for family and friends . Unrequited love , So many complicated emotions . She had spent weeks just getting up the nerve for the first training mission . Now she had to do it all over again in a day . Just One Day! She suddenly saw her self noogieing her instructor to death. Though normally the most gentle of people , she letthis thought warm her as she trudged her way back to her dorm room. She promised herself that if she got the chance she would ask Captain Soi-Feng how to apply that leg lock.

The next morning dawned bright and clear , which promptly turned to rain by mid morning , Its gonna be one of those days Hinata groaned as she packed She finished packing and had herself a light lunch and tea. She was settling down to meditate to try and calm herself for this mission when there was a knock on the door. She got up an answered the door thinking she did not need any interruptions now . When She opened the door two figures stood there. One was Lieutenant Kuchiki the other was a tall shinigami with a perpetual scowl and wild spiky orange hair.

" Wont you come in " Hinata asked , she wasn't expecting Lieutenant Kuchiki so soon. She offered the two her Bed to sit upon while she took the small desk chair . The Spiky haired shinigami remained standing . He had an enormous sword on his back , as large as or even larger then the swords carried by the seven legendary swordsman.

" Well I see you're all packed " Lieutenant Kuchiki said "This Is Ichigo Kurosaki by the way " she said indicating the tall shinigami . He smiled and offered is hand

" Nice to meet you "

She hadn't noticed at first but after touching his hand Kurosaki positively oozed power like a pent up thunderstorm.

"what can you tell us about this place were going to " lieutenant Kuchiki said

"Well , leiu..."

"Just call me Rukia for now "she said kindly "We don't have to be so formal yet "

"Well .. Rukia the land I came from is the home of Shinobi …...