Hey there my readers, I have finally finished the second chapter of A Shinigami's Journey! First things first, I'd like to announce that I will be issuing a challenge to those who are interested. A friend insisted I read a few of these fanfics that had similar plots and as i read them I got the idea for this challenge. The challenge is Toshiro Hitsugaya losing his memories and wound up adopted into the Kurosaki family. You are free to write how Toshiro loses his memory and with the Kurosakis, the only condition to this is that you have to somehow make Aizen responsible for the memory loss. I wonder how many of you are interested to take my challenge. Unfortunately, I'll have to let time answer that for me as we now begin the second chapter of A Shinigami's Journey!
Chapter Two: The Entrance Exam
"Renji, you answered this one wrong again." Toya said pointing to the said question on a sheet of paper.
"Seriously?" Renji looked to where Toya's finger was pointing and groaned when he saw that the white haired teen was right. "Not again!"
"How do you keep answering that question wrong every time Renji?" Rukia asked in exasperation looking at Renji's paper from across the table they were sitting at studying. "It's just basic questions on kido."
"It's not as easy as you think pipsqueak!" Renji shouted getting to his feet glaring at the petite black haired girl.
"What did you just call me?!" Rukia shouted also getting to her feet glaring up at Renji. "It's not my fault that you're too dumb to understand such easy questions!"
"Say that again I dare you!" Renji challenged crossing his arms leaning forward a bit as the two's glares got so intense that sparks were flying.
"I'll say it as many times as you like!" Rukia held up a fist while Toya just looked on nervously. "You're too dumb to-"
"Guys!" Toya shouted getting between the two keeping them at arms length from each other. "You shouldn't fight about this!" He looked to Rukia who just snapped out of her surprise. "Rukia, try explaining the question in a simpler term instead of making unnecessary comments." He then looked to Renji. "Renji, It's alright if you're a little slow, don't let your temper get the better of you and listen carefully to what Rukia's trying to tell you." Toya slowly lowered his arms staying between the two in case they start fighting again. "Now, what do you say we get back to studying? The entrance exam is only three days away."
"Uh..." Was Renji could say still surprised that Toya got between one of his fights with Rukia as he usually just stood to the side and watched them from afar until they cooled down. He rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment when he realized how uncomfortable he and Rukia must have made Toya felt watching their fights. "Yeah, sure."
"Sorry Toya." Rukia apologized sitting back down taking Renji's paper to look over the question before placing it back down as Renji sat down. "Now look here Renji, the reason you keep getting this one wrong is because you're spelling the wording here incorrectly."
"You're right." Renji muttered quickly fixing his mistake before handing it to Rukia. "How's this?"
Rukia looked it over with Toya reading over his shoulder and they both nodded in satisfaction as Rukia looked from the paper to Renji. "Much better, now try to remember this for the actual test and you should be able to pass the written portion of the exam." She looked to Toya who sat back down to his spot on the table between her and Renji. "What about you Toya? Did you have trouble with anything?"
"I'm having trouble understanding this question here." Toya replied pointing to the question on his paper and Rukia leaned forward to get a better look at it showing a box with a male figure with both arms outstretched forward and a black circle on the other end of the box. "It's asking what is the range of Hado #31: Shakkaho when it is flying in a straight line." He ran his hand through his spiky white hair making it even more spiky. "How can anyone know the answer to this?"
"It's really simple Toya." Rukia said as she pulled out a blank sheet of paper and sat next to him and started writing. "As you already know, kido is produced with strong spirit energy, so when you take that into account..."
Renji let out a shout as he charged at Toya with a downward swing with a broken tree branch and Toya raised his branch up to block it. He and Renji were practicing their swordsmanship in a clearing with branches since they woke up that morning and the sun was now high in the sky. Renji just grinned and continued to strike furiously at Toya keeping him on the defensive before striking with an upward swing forcing the branch out of Toya's hands and flying in the air before positioning his below the other boy's chin as the airborne branch hit the ground.
Toya looked behind him to see that his branch was too far for him to run and pick it up and looked back to Renji raising his hands up in surrender. "You win."
"Heh, was there any doubt?" Renji grinned lowering his branch and tossed it aside dusting his hand off. "You need to be more aggressive Toya, you can't always go on the defensive."
"Easy for you to say." Toya frowned as he placed his hands on his hips hissing when he felt a stinging sensation on his palms. "With you charging at me like a rabid baboon, how can I go on the offensive?"
"That's for you to figure out." Renji said waving a dismissive hand as he turned around and began walking. "Now let's go, we've been out here for quite a while."
"Hey, wait for me!" Toya shouted running after Renji and walked beside him when he caught up. Toya rubbed his wrist as his fingers twitched a little and he felt a stinging sensation on the palms of his hands. "I'm amazed that my hands haven't started bleeding yet, you need to learn to hold back Renji."
"Oh don't be a baby Toya." Renji rolled his eyes crossing his arms. "I didn't strike you that hard."
"My hands say otherwise." Toya retorted showing the palms of his hands to show that they were red and had a few blisters that had Renji cringing. "Still think you didn't strike that hard?"
"Alright, I'm sorry!" Renji said rubbing the back of his neck as they walked through the district. "I can't help it."
"Maybe we should work on your self control before entering the academy." Toya commented slowly making a fist with one hand wincing when he felt said hand sting from the blisters before uncurling his fingers and letting his arm fall to the side. "You might accidentally hurt someone with your aggressive way of fighting."
"You make it sound like I hurt someone everyday!" Renji accused halting and turned to face Toya glaring at the white haired boy.
"Don't you?" Toya countered raising an eyebrow at Renji. "Yesterday you beat the crap out of a thug after falling for his provocations." Renji's eyebrow twitched at that as Toya continued counting off with his fingers being careful not to agitate the blisters on his palms. "Then the day before that you punched a vendor because he was ripping you off. And the day before that was when you-"
"Knock it off!" Renji shouted cutting Toya off and the said boy just laughed before running with Renji after him. "Get back here!"
"Catch me if you can Renji!" Toya shouted back nimbly dodging the other souls that were in his way and sliding under logs that other souls were carrying. He looked behind him to see that Renji was having trouble through the crowd and chuckled as he ducked behind a counter that had a cloth covering it and placed a finger against his lips to the vendor when she gave him a questioning look. He heard Renji closing in to where he was and covered his mouth with both hands to reign in a laugh when he heard a few curses.
"Hey, have you seen a guy with white hair and gold eyes come this way?" Renji asked the vendor lady who just shook her head and Renji thanked her before running off again.
Toya came out from under the table looking left and right for any sign of Renji before thanking the vendor lady and running off the way he came. "Renji needs to learn not to lose his temper all the time." He shook his head and slowed to a stop resting his hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath. "Hopefully what I'm doing will help with that."
"Cut the guy some slack would ya?" Toya looked up to see Rukia looking down to him with her arms crossed. "Keep it up and Renji might actually kill you."
"I just thought if I annoyed him enough he would learn to not let his temper get the better of him." Toya replied straightening himself dusting himself off only to winced when his hands touch the cloth of his kimono. He looked to the palms of his hands noticing that the blisters got worse. "I forgot, I should treat these."
"Karma." Rukia smirked grabbing Toya's wrist and started to drag him. "That's what you get for messing with Renji, Toya."
"I had good intentions, though!" Toya complained and Rukia just rolled her eyes and continued to drag the white haired teen ignoring his protests.
"Let's just put ointment on your hands and wrap them in bandages." Rukia said as they entered their shack to Toya's room and force the teen to sit down. "The entrance exams are tomorrow and we don't need you flunking because you couldn't hold the pencil for the written portion of the exam." She then left the room leaving Toya by himself who looked at his blistered palms.
"That's the last time I spar with Renji." Toya muttered under his breath slowly clenching his hands into fists but quickly winced at the stinging sensation and unclenched them. "I hope he takes it easy when we get into the academy." His eyes focused on the number twenty tattoo on his foot frowning. "And I hope the Seireitei have the answers I'm looking for."
"Alright, let's see your hands Toya." Toya looked up to see Rukia walking back in with a small jar and a roll of bandages. She sat next to Toya who held out his hands palms facing up and winced when she started to apply the cold ointment being careful not to irritate the blisters. "You and Renji need to be more careful when you practice your swordplay."
"Tell it to Renji, he's like a rabid baboon when we practice." Toya muttered as he watched Rukia wrapped his hands with the bandages after applying the ointment. "I feel like a training dummy for him."
"You pretty much are." Rukia said bluntly tightening a knot on the bandages of one hand before wrapping Toya's other hand. She looked away from the bandaged hands to see Toya pouting and she shook her head with a smirk in amusement. "Don't give me that look, you only have yourself to blame for not taking Renji seriously."
"But I am taking him seriously." Toya protested looking down to his bandaged hands. "It's just that I'm not used to fighting with a weapon." He stood up and walked out of the room with Rukia following. "I just hope I'll pass the entrance exam tomorrow."
"You'll be fine Toya." Rukia said encouragingly patting him on the back. "You've worked real hard ever since you told us you decided to be a soul reaper." She then had a thoughtful look on her face. "Come to think of it, you never told us why you decided on that when you were so unsure not long before."
"Let's just say I made a life changing encounter." Toya said cryptically as he knelt down and arranged some wood in the fire pit while Rukia prepared the ingredients for their dinner. "I wouldn't be alive right now if they didn't show up."
"You were attacked?" Rukia asked with side eyes dropping a carrot in shock.
Toya nodded as he started the fire before getting to his feet and picking up a bucket. "I'm going to get some water, I'll be right back." He gave a smile before running out not giving Rukia time to respond and went to the river that was in front of their shack. Toya's smile turned into a frown as he got to one knee at the edge of the river and dunked the bucket into the water to fill it and pulled it out placing it to the side. Toya sat crossed legged picking up rocks and tossing them in the water as he thought about his encounter with the Hollow and two soul reapers. He never told Rukia or Renji about the Hollow or the soul reapers so they wouldn't worry about him as he was troubling them enough by just staying with them until he remembers who he was and where he came from.
'I would be dead right now if those two hadn't showed up when they did.' Toya thought dishearteningly tossing another rock in the river before looking at his reflection on the water's surface. Toya gritted his teeth when the image of the Hollow's mouth mere inches from devouring him replayed in his head and that he had to be saved. 'Why did that man suggest I become a soul reaper? I couldn't even handle one Hollow.' He sighed tossing another rock watching as the ripples distorted his reflection before tossing another when the ripples settle. 'Is it too late to say I change my mind?'
"What are you doing out here?" Toya flinched at the sudden voice and looked behind him to see Renji standing behind him with his arms crossed. Renji noticed the bucket of water and raised an eyebrow at Toya "Isn't it your turn to help Rukia with dinner today?"
"Sorry, Renji." Toya said giving an absentminded smile getting to his feet and picked up the bucket. "I was just getting some water and I got lost in thought."
"What were you thinking about?" Renji asked uncrossing his arms. "It must have been something serious if you didn't notice me approaching."
"It was nothing." Toya lied walking past Renji to go back to the shack but stopped when Renji grabbed him by the shoulder.
"Nice try." Renji turned Toya to face him and took the bucket from the white haired teen. "I may not have known you for long, but I can tell when something's bothering you, Toya." He set the bucket down before sitting crossed legged and gestured Toya to do the same. "Out with it, what's bothering you?"
Toya looked at Renji for a moment before letting out a sigh knowing that he wasn't getting out of this. He sat in front of Renji in the same sitting position keeping his eyes on hands that were resting on his ankles. "I'm starting to have doubts."
"Doubts about what?" Renji asked raising an eyebrow at how Toya wasn't looking him in the eye and wasn't his usual friendly self. When Toya didn't respond, Renji got a handful of water from the bucket and splashed it against Toya's face who let out a startled yell wiping the water out of his eyes and grinned when the white haired teen halfheartedly glared at him. "I'll splash you again if you don't answer my question."
Toya puffed out his cheeks childishly before sighing. "I'm... I'm thinking of not taking the entrance exam after all."
"Why?" Renji blinked in surprise at Toya's response. "You worked so hard to get where you are now, so why stop?"
"Remember the day I decided to enter the academy with you and Rukia?" Toya asked looking back to his hands and when he didn't hear a response he guessed Renji nodded his head. "It was after I was attacked by a Hollow."
"You were attacked by a Hollow?!" Renji shouted in shock.
Toya nodded and continued with his explanation. "I was so scared when I saw it, so I ran as fast as I could." His hands shook when he remembered the fear that swelled up deep inside him as he ran from the snake-like Hollow. "After a while, it went a different direction making me think it gave up on me." He shook his head balling his hands into tight fists to stop the shaking. "But I was wrong, it went after a girl. I don't know what came over me, I just jumped in and saved her when the Hollow tried to eat her."
"What happened after that?" Toya and Renji jumped at the sudden question and looked to the source of the voice to see Rukia. "Toya was taking a while, so I came to see what was taking him so long and overheard you guys." She then looked to Toya and took a seat next to him. "So, what happened next?"
Toya hesitated to tell them the rest, fearing their reactions, but went on with his story nonetheless. "After I had the girl run and she was out of danger..." He nervously looked to Rukia and Renji before dropping the bombshell. "I picked up a tree branch and tried to fight the Hollow."
"YOU FOUGHT A HOLLOW?!" Rukia and Renji shouted and Toya leaned back when they got in his face. "ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND TOYA?!"
"I know, I know, I'm an idiot." Toya admitted before trying to defend himself. "But I couldn't just leave that girl to die, what about you two?" Seeing that they couldn't argue with that he continued. "Anyway, it's pretty obvious I had my ass handed to me and I almost got eaten." He felt a chill go up his spine when he remembered his near death experience. "But then a soul reaper came to my rescue and killed the Hollow." A hand found itself on top of his head where Kaien's was. "He said it was brave of me to risk my life for another." He lowered his hand to rest on his ankle again looking to Rukia and Renji. "He was the one who suggested I enter the academy."
"So that's how you made your decision." Renji said crossing his arms as he processed everything Toya told them with Rukia doing the same. He then had a confused look on his face. "But why are you having doubts when an actual soul reaper suggested you enter the academy?"
"I couldn't even hold off one Hollow." Toya muttered dejectedly lowering his head. "I know I don't have experience in fighting and that my opponent was a Hollow, but I didn't last a minute against it." He balled his hands into fists ignoring the stinging sensation on his palms as his nails dig into his skin. "If I can't last a minute against a Hollow, then why did he tell me to enter the academy?" Rukia and Renji gave each other a worried glance to each other before nodding and they each sat beside Toya each placing a reassuring hand on his shoulders. Toya looked to them in surprise.
"You can be an idiot sometimes, Toya." Renji said with a grin and Toya looked to the red head. "That's why we're entering the academy, to get better to fight the Hollow's."
"Renji's right, Toya." Toya then looked to Rukia who was giving him a stern look. "What you did was stupid beyond belief." Her stern look then became a smile. "But, what wasn't stupid is that you saved a life that day. And just think of how many other lives you could save when you become a full fledged soul reaper."
Toya looked from Rukia to Renji and back before he thought back to the day he fought the Hollow. He remembered that he was scared, but also determined to prevent it from going after that girl. When he thought about it, he really was an idiot for thinking he could fight a Hollow with just a tree branch and couldn't help but laugh at the ridiculousness of what was bothering him to the point of tears getting confused stares from Rukia and Renji.
"Sorry." Toya apologized wiping away tears from his eyes. "I just realized you guys were right." He got to his feet and started to stretch before looking back to Rukia and Renji giving them a big smile showing teeth. "I'll do it, I'll take the entrance exam." Hearing that got smiles from his two friends and they went back into the shack to have their dinner and go to bed.
Rukia, Renji, and Toya were standing in a room in the Soul Reaper Academy the next day with other applicants as they wait for the instructors. Toya nervously looked around the room as he did a head count of who was present and realize that there was at least half of what they started with when they entered the academy to take the written exam. The instructors only told them to wait in the room while they prepared the second part of the exam.
"So, what do you think the second part of the exam will be?" Renji's question snapped Toya out of his thoughts and looked to the red head who was talking to Rukia.
"I heard that they change the second part every year." Rukia replied holding her chin with her thumb and index finger in thought. "We'll only know when they call us in."
"Alright, it's time to begin the entrance exam." Said the examiner after he walked in holding a clipboard. "When your name is called please follow me to the next room to begin the second portion of your exam." He then started calling names and guided them to the exam room. 80 applicants later the examiner came back in the room. "Rukia, your next."
"Yes sir!" Rukia them turned to Renji and Toya. "Wish me luck." Then she left with the examiner.
"What do you think her chances of passing are?" Renji asked resting his hands behind his head as they waited for their petite friend to come back and tell them her results.
"This is Rukia we're talking about." Toya replied grinning confidently to Renji. "She'll pass no problem."
It was then Rukia walked back in with a grin on her face.
"How did it go?" Renji asked after she was in front of them.
"I passed." Rukia said triumphantly puffing out her chest.
"That's great Rukia!" Renji shouted excitedly smiling. "Now me and Toya need to wait for our names to be called and we'll all go to the academy together."
"Renji Abarai, follow me." The examiner said after looking over the list of applicants left.
"Yes sir!" Renji left with him.
Rukia and Toya stood in the corner of the room and Toya noticed that there were people staring at him. Renji walked back in and told them he passed which they were happy for him. They past the time talking as more applicants were called. There were only two applicants left that haven't been tested yet and one of them was Toya. The examiner called the other applicant and they left.
"You're the last one up Toya." Renji stated as they were the only ones left in the room. Toya nodded and took deep calming breaths.
"Toya, your next." The examiner said after walking in getting Toya's attention.
"Good luck." Renji and Rukia said at once as Toya walked out of the room following the examiner. They stopped in front of a door and the examiner opened it motioning Satoshi to go in before closing it. In the room was the headmaster and four of the academy's staff. In the center of the room was a floating glass ball.
"Your name young man?" The headmaster questioned.
Toya gulped nervously before replying. "Toya, sir."
The headmaster nodded and motioned Toya to stand in front of the ball which he did. "That orb was created by the department of research and development. you have to focus your spirit energy into it and it will change color depending on how strong it is." Toya focused his eyes on the ball as the headmaster continued his explanation. "All you have to do is place your hands on the orb and focus your spirit energy into it."
Toya nodded and placed his hands on either side of the orb before taking a deep breath and closed his eyes in concentration as he focused his spirit energy into the orb. Nothing happened at first, but soon the orb started to turn blue, then red and when everyone thought that it was gonna stop there the orb slowly started changing color again to silver which shocked everyone. When the orb returned to normal Toya opened his eyes to see the examiners were staring at him with shocked looks which made him feel uneasy and nervous.
"Is something wrong?" Toya's question snapped them out of it and the headmaster shook his head.
"It's nothing." The headmaster said dismissing what transpired for a later time. "Well congratulations Toya, you pass."
Toya had a big smile on his face before bowing to the people in front of him. "Thank you so much sir." Then he let the room leaving everyone to discuss what they saw.
"Is that thing working correctly?" Asked one of the female instructors not believing what she saw. "There's no way that can be right."
"We had the department of research and development look at it before the exam." A male instructor said crossing his arms. "That thing's as accurate as a straight arrow hitting the bullseye."
"Come to think of it, I did sense a little spiritual pressure from where the applicants were." Said another male instructor resting his chin in his hand. "Do you think it was that kid?"
"It had to be." Another female instructor said. "Some of the other applicants didn't even get past red."
"For now let's keep a close eye on this one and see how he progresses." The headmaster said causing the other instructors to nod in agreement.
Toya opened the door and walked in the room to see Rukia and Renji standing in front of the door with anticipation in their eyes.
"Well?" They asked leaning forward a little causing the Toya to sweat drop and back up a little.
A big smile made its way across Toya's face as he gave them the peace sign. "I passed." They cheered hearing that.
"Looks like we're all in the academy." Renji said excitedly a grin on his face.
"Now we just need to wait for our uniforms then come back here to find out which class we're in." Rukia said as they left.
As they walked through the district, Renji lightly nudged Toya with an elbow grinning. "I bet you're relieved now that the entrance exam is over huh Toya?"
Toya let out a small laugh. "Yeah, I was so nervous I thought my heart was going to stop."
"Well, we won't have to worry about that now that the entrance exams are over." Rukia said as they entered their home looking around with a nostalgic smile. "Soon, we'll be saying goodbye to this place."
"Yeah." Toya nodded looking around himself. "But one things for sure, I'll never forget the time we spent here together."
"That's a given." Renji said stopping at the the door running his hand over the worn wood. "Toya may not have been here long, but it's where everything started for all of us." Renji then entered the shack and into the room where the beds were. "Now let's get some rest, best make the most of this place before we leave for good."
Toya laid in his bed staring at the moon out the window reaching out to it closing his hand into a fist before bringing it over his face and opened. His eyes then went to his right foot where his tattoo lied before quietly tossing the covers off him and got to his feet. Toya looked to Renji who was snoring loudly tossing and turning in his sleep before slowly walking out of the shack sitting at the edge of the river to stare at the moon's reflection on the water's surface.
"It's finally starting." Toya whispered looking up to the moon watching as the stars twinkle around it. "My journey to become a soul reaper." He then looked to his foot again lightly brushing his fingers along the tattoo. "And to learn who I really am." Toya yawned before getting to his feet and going back in the shack to get some sleep.
Now onto your reviews my lovely readers!
Shadow knight1121: I'm happy to hear you thought it was intriguing. I hope this chapter meets your expectations and I look forward to hear from you again.
HunterHQ: You serious think there's a good balance of humor and seriousness? That's good, I was worried I didn't put enough of one or the other. I would love to tell you about Toya's past, but that would spoilers so I'll keep it to myself. Considering that he's in the soul society, him being associated to spirits is pretty high. Yes, Rukia did give Ichigo her powers. Will she do it again, that is something you have to find out by reading. Toya's Shikai and Bankai is something I'm keeping under lock and key until the time is right.
Karsap: Yes, this takes place before canon. I do plan to continue this fanfic and I won't abandon any of my works and I will see them through to the end!
With that done, I bid you all farewell until we meet again.
