Chapter 2

I learned much after that day, five year ago. I learned that it was hard to live on your own and sometimes you had to ask for help. It wasn't something that made you weak. It was something that made you strong. I started to count and believe in others and to my surprise, others started to do the same towards me. I wasn't used to it but with kindhearted friends... all it took was time and right now - I had all the time in the world.

The first year passed fast and when I encounter one of the persons that were on Kei's funeral - it all started. Easier said it felt like I started a new life. His name was Konno Daisuke and he gave me a chance of a lifetime. A chance to prepare to become a Death God. I hadn't thought about it during the funeral but all the guests had wished for my wellbeing and everyone of them were specialized in a different subject. Konno Daisuke were an owner of the biggest library in Soul Society.

There, I started study the Soul Socitys laws, traditions and different techniques the Death Gods fought in. I had listened to the Captain of squad 6 but... I needed to be mental prepared. I needed to become an independent and trustworth person before I could maintain Kei's honor. Konno Misaki helped me with that. Together helped the Konno family me even more. He opened up his armes and invited me like I was important. I had never felt special but... he gave me emotionals. She was the daughter of Konno Daisuke and were also preparing for the exam. She gave me something to look forward to. She gave me my first friend. Normally, you didn't need to prepare to the exams but.. I didn't want to come to the tests with no knowledge at all. Misaki was thinking exactly like me. One day, Konno Daisuke came in with a guest to the library with same dream as ours. His name was Shiro Ryuu. He had been working part-time at a restaurant and then the restaurant went bankrupt. He didn't get access to food and he fainted. Konno Daisuke was a savior. As well as he saved me, he saved another child. We became a team. We all started to study together. Without knowing it... So many things happened in just five years.

TODAY

The sun stood high upon the sky and I hated it. It had been over 40°c for a month now and if this didn't stop soon, many spiritual sensitive children would die. Children that weren't discovered yet. Children that were the future of Sieritei. The sun had dried out the ground and cracks were all over the streets. The force sensitive weren't the only ones that had it rough.. everyone had a hard time. The price at the market rise at almost impossible numbers and I had helped at least one old man with his trailer made of wood everyday because it got stuck in a crack. Nothing grew. This weather didn't help anyone. I had given all the food and water I had in my bag, the black one that Misaki gave me for my birthday one year ago, to a group of children trying to steal. It was my breakfast and my lunch but... I couldn't stand the thought losing anyone if I could make a difference. I guessed Kei would have done that. Maybe Kei would been proud of me. If he was proud, I could be proud too. I needed to be proud. This was an important day and without food all that had me going was my stubborness.

I knew Misaki would be angry with me, giving up my food, but I also knew that she would understand. Ryuu would be mad. I could hear his voice in my head but I couldn't help but smile about it. That voice that always blamed everything and everyone but himself.

"Wasting food on others? You have to survive too, you know, If not give it to me."

We decided yesterday that we would met up at the eastern gate to the Gotei 13 headquarters. I walked along the streets and looked upon the gate. It was so big. I had to look up to see the end of the wall but that didn't work when the suns sunlight hit my eyes. This white wall... this white wall divided people and now I could become a part of it. A part of the side that didn't have to worry about food. A part that helped others. A part of me felt that everyone should have the chance... but the world didn't work that way.

I had never been this close to the wall. I had never really have had a reason to. Never as in the past five years. I liked to come here before, when Kei was alive. I felt that we were closer to each other. I felt his presences. Inside the walls were Gotei 13 headquarters. There, somewhere inside one of the buildings, I would take the test that could change my life. Create my future. I couldn't believe it. I stopped for a while and took a deep breath. I put my blonde hair in hair knot at the back of my head. It was the same hairstyle I had every time I studied with my friends. My fighting look. Some strands of hair always left the knot and I had to put them behind my ears.

"Ayame-chan!" It was Misakis voice. The voice of an angel. Light and hided a melody behind it. Before me stood Konno Daisuke, Misaki and Shiro Ryuu. Konno Daisuke was a man in middle-age but was a man that looked even older. Older as in wiser. His ice blue eyes told that he had seen a lot and learned both by reading and by experienced it. The wide scar on his jaw told that he had been a fighter and had never given up. He denied age. He had dark brown hair but with the years they had turned grey. He tried to hide it under a white bandana but it didn't really match the blue and grey kimono he was wearing. He held his hand on his hips. Looking serious. Misaki waved at me. She was short so, she always put her hand up to the air. She said that made her longer... but I didn't say anything about that. As long as she smiled with her bright smile, I could rest safe. Her hair was tied in an advance light brown braid. She wasn't much alike her father. She only had her fathers eyes. She was positive and was never worried. Konno-sensei was negative and worried about everything. That made them both unique, having different way of caring.

"Konno-sensei, what are you doing here?" He looked at me if I was stupid.

"Seeing my daughter and my adoptive children of to the exam?" Misaki looked at her father and put a hand on his shoulder. She barely reached when her father was very tall. Almost as tall as Ryuu. He had almost snow white hair. His hair was cut short but behind his ear he saved hair and every morning he made a braid of it. He didn't let me cut his hair with a scissor but let me cut it with a knife. In that way, his hair was also uneven. He was muscular and always had a good stance.

"When did I become your 'adoptive child'?" Ryuu was staring at the old man with his forest green eyes.

"When you stepped into my library..." Konno-sensai made it sound obvious.

"Does that mean you're family with every visitor?"

"Of coures not. How would that look?" Ryuu was just about saying something but then he regret it.
"Forget it." They always fought and never took a break before someone of them gave up. This time Ryuu had to give up. I knew what he thought. He wanted to save energy to the exam. That was also the most wise decision I ever seen him made. I looked at Misaki and we started to laughing. Ryuu fought himself to hide a smile but he failed. This was the day we had been waiting for. We were ready to take the entrance exam at the Spiritual Arts Academy - Shin'ō Academy. Today was the Day.