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Chapter 2 of my new Bleach story. Tell me what you think ^^


Misaki remembered the day Hinamori told them her decision .

A Shinigami was another words, a Death God. From what she understood, a Shinigami was the one who sent her here to Soul Society. It turned out that Hinamori had applied for and taken the entrance exam one day on her own.

Misaki let her, of course.

How could she not? If Hinamori wanted to become a Shinigami, she didn't have a right to stop her.

However, she could tell that Toshiro didn't want to let Hinamori go. The look on his face was enough to give it away his sadness.

Yet, he put on a big smile, and told her not to worry about it, and to do her best.

It saddened both of them, the day they, along with Granny, watched her leave in her new uniform.

Hinamori's leaving for the Academy also meant that there was no one to take care of themselves anymore. Her leaving... It meant them growing up.

And so they did.

Hinamori visited every time she had a day off.

Toshiro always acted nonchalant and annoyed at her, but she could tell that her was secretly glad to see her again.

That day off would be spent talking, eating watermelons together and enjoying each other's company. Just like old times.

But at the end of the day, she would leave, once again.


It all started about 3 to 4 years later. When Hinamori had been enrolled for about 4 years.

One night, Misaki had the strangest dream.

She was walking around the streets of Junrinan, when suddenly, a chilly breeze blew.

When she looked up, the world was spinning, for some reason. And the daylight suddenly became a blur in her eyes, and the darkness of nighttime swallowed up the remaining light as if a monster on the prowl. The only source of light was a crescent moon in the sky, which for some reason had a tinge of red at its side.

Suddenly, the moons disappeared, and icy winds began to tug at her hair.

She closed her eyes, and opened it.

There was a pure white cat sitting in front of her. It was wearing a black collar with a crescent moon dangling from it. There was also silver ribbons trailing from its paws and tail. However, for the strangest reasons, its eyes were closed, and it seemed to be smiling.

She smiled at the cat, before starting to walk towards it.

As soon as she took a step forward, a blast of cold wind came her way, pushing her back.

There was also a bright light, a blinding light that glared at her as she shut her eyes and stood her ground, not letting the wind blow her back any further.

A voice rang in her mind suddenly.

It was strange... It was like someone was speaking within her.

Are you worthy?

The voice that sounded very much like hers asked.

The icy winds and the light got stronger and stronger.

She struggled, managing to take a step forward.

The voice fell silent, before starting to speak again.

Everything turned back to normal. She was still in the pavement, surrounded by darkness.

The cat was sitting there, it's eyes still closed.

The voice spoke again.

My name is...

She reached out a hand to touch the cat, but then it faded away completely. So did the voice.

That was when she woke up, shivering, and realized the night was colder than ever.


"You've been having nightmares, Toshi-kun?"

They were sitting side by side on the porch outside. Granny was resting inside.

Toshiro didn't retort at the nickname. It seems that he had finally accepted the flattering nickname she had given him.

Toshiro nodded.

She had grown a lot more comfortable around him. With Hibamori gone, they spent most of the time talking together or chatting with Granny together.

However, for some reason, the kids in the village always avoided both of them. She didn't know why, but they just did.

"What did you dream of, Toshi-kun?"

He was silent for a while.

"A dragon. And ice."

She fell silent, before speaking once again.

"I dreamt of the night. There was a crescent moon, lots of snow and light."

She sighed.

She paused, before adding quietly.

"There was also a cat."

Toshiro was silent as he contemplated what she said.

"Hm." He replied, before adding.

"I knew you were a crazy cat lady."


They leaned against a nearby tree..

Granny was inside resting, and Misaki was worried.

Granny had been growing sickly at late. She had went out and gotten some spare blankets, but there was no significant improvement in her health.

What scared her, was that neither she or Toshiro felt cold. She was starting to wonder if Granny was sick. That wouldn't be good. At all.

Their little house was quite far from the shops, and she didn't know of a nearby clinic.

Suddenly, she felt some footsteps nearby, accompanied by some laughter.

She looked up.

There was a boy and a girl standing nearby and talking. They were some of Hinamori's friends before she left for the Academy.

Misaki took a step forward.

"Hey."

She had been planning to ask them if they knew of a clinic, but they took a step back.

Toshiro looked up, and they started backing away.

They sighed in unison, walking back to the house.

There was a kind of feeling in her... She wasn't sure what it was.

It felt like...

Pain.


They sat on the edge of the porch.

Misaki wondered why the other kids disliked she and Toshiro so much

Did she... look scary?

The way she talked?

Or maybe she was just cold.

Was she...?

Suddenly, she felt Toshiro shove something in front of her.

She looked at it in surprise.

She was holding a half of a watermelon.

Glancing at the watermelon half and Toshiro's, she realised that he had deliberately given her the larger half.

He looked away, the look on his face one of embarrassment and annoyance.

"Just take it. You could use some watermelon. Eat it if you don't want to stay short."

Misaki smiled at the sweet gesture.

However, as his words sank in, a tick mark appeared on the back of the head.

"Toshi-kun."

She turned towards him, and smiled.

"Thank you."

He returned the smile with a small one of his own.

She suddenly started to spit out the watermelon seeds at him.

"Oi, what are you doing?!" Toshiro fended off the seeds before retaliating with a few of his own.

"We're the same height, Toshi-kun. You need to eat more than I do."

Misaki gave him the remainder of her watermelon.

He sighed, clearly exasperated.

Taking the watermelon and eating a bite, he opened his mouth to thank her when she interrupted him.

"Thank me when you're taller."

A few watermelon seeds flew away.


"We're out of jelly beans."

Toshiro was looking through the larder as he remarked.

"Yeah."

Granny really liked jelly beans.

"I'll go and get some. Misaki, you stay here and look after Granny, OK?"

Misaki smiled and watched him go.

It saddened her.

Even as Toshiro walked away to buy those jelly beans, the children from the house beside them were obviously avoiding him.

They turned around and met her gaze.

Immediately turning away, one of the boys grabbed his sister's hand, as they ran off, whispering to each other.

Sighing, she took a seat next to Granny, and waited for his return.


Toshiro was lying in bed, feeling very troubled.

A bag of jelly beans lay on the table.

Granny was sleeping peacefully, as was Misaki, who was snoring lightly from the other side of the room next to Granny.

He smiled softly at her.

As he recalled the events of the day, he found himself getting more and more confused.

Who was that lady in the shop?

It wasn't just that she wore clothes different than the rest of the villagers, she had been wearing black-coloured robes.

But not only that. The lady had this aura of power around her, that stood out from the rest of the village.

That could only mean one thing.

That lady was a Shinigami.

While contemplating the fact, he yawned quietly before closing his eyes, and going back to sleep.

He soon regretted it, for another nightmare of a dragon and lots of ice plagued his dreams.


Misaki jolted up from her futon.

She looked around her, reminding herself that she was in her little house with Granny and Toshiro, and not wandering the streets of Rukongai.

She sighed. She had that dream again, the dream about the moon, the snow and the cat. Only that the dream kept getting worse and worse. The crescent moon that appeared in her dream looked almost blood red, the cold winds kept getting colder and colder, and the bright light blinded her completely.

Rubbing her eyes, she turned around to glance at Granny and Toshiro, only to find in horror that Granny was shivering uncontrollably.

She immediately got up to fetch the extra blankets that she had gotten, tucking one around Granny.

Suddenly, a gust of cold wind blew from beside Granny.

Misaki's eyes widened as she walked over to Toshiro. Waves of coldness was radiating off him.

What's going on?

That was when she realised that she, too had waves of coldness radiating off her.


Suddenly, she felt someone standing outside the door and about to enter.

She hurriedly tucked a blanket around Toshiro as well before scrambling back into her futon, just as that person entered the house.

She peeked over the top of her blankets as the figure walked towards Toshiro.

Misaki should have probably attacked the intruder or something, but something told her that the intruder meant no harm.

Cautiously, still lying down, she glanced at the intruder who was standing over a now-awake Toshiro.

Who is she?


"You're from this afternoon..."

Toshiro looked up at the orange-haired lady with wide eyes.

The lady was silent for a while.

Then, she spoke, her voice serious.

"Kid, you should hide your reiatsu when you're sleeping."

She then looked over at Misaki, who was still pretending to be asleep.

"You too."

Misaki immediately sat up, her eyes widening.

How did she...

"Your grandmother looks cold. That extra blanket won't work, by the way. We're dealing with spiritual pressure and not the elements here."

She sighed.

"Both of you... you should become Shinigami. "

She turned to Toshiro, picking him up roughly with one hand, ignoring his protests.

"I only expected you to have powerful reiatsu, but it turns out that your friend here... Has some of her own as well."

She sighed and gestured for Misaki to come over.

The pretty lady ruffled her hair, before looking at Toshiro seriously.

"If you don't... Your powers will eventually kill your grandmother."


The lady's name was called Rangiku Matsumoto.

Toshiro sighed.

Misaki seemed to really like that woman.

"Rangiku-chan, what's it like being a Shinigami?"

He watched as she sat at the woman's feet and listened as the lady told her stories about Shinigami and her adventures.

Toshiro gave a grudging smile as Misaki burst out in laughter.

Misaki seemed to look up to the woman in some way, like the way she looked up to Hinamori.

Toshiro picked up a glass of water and sipped from it.

"Rangiku-chan, do you have someone you like?"

Misaki suddenly blurted out, as Toshiro nearly choked on his water.

Rangiku looked at the girl in puzzlement.

Misaki smiled before adding.

"If you do, I'll think of him like my onii-chan!"


Rangiku smiled at the young girl. She did have a person in mind, but it was unlikely that the person and little Misaki would ever meet unless she became a Shinigami. However, she glanced at Toshiro and laughed at the look on his face.

She nudged Misaki before asking.

"But don't you think he is like your onii-chan?"

She pointed at Toshiro, who looked up, with a hopeful expression on his face.

Misaki smiled.

"No. He's just Toshi-kun."

Toshiro twitched as a vein pulsed on the top of his forehead.

Then, he got up, and walked over to Granny, who was still asleep. Noticing his gesture, Rangiku got up and ruffled Misaki's hair.

"Goodbye, Misaki. I'll see you soon. Stay safe."

She looked pointedly at Toshiro.

He sighed.

"Like I'll let anything happen to her."

Rangiku beamed in satisfaction, before leaving.

"You two... Consider the offer, OK?"

And with that, she disappeared.


Misaki could still feel traces of Rangiku's power around.

What had Rangiku-chan called it?

Reiatsu?

She then looked up and glanced at Toshiro, who was sitting beside Granny, who was still sleeping.

It was then did she realise how thin Granny had grown.

And according to Rangiku-chan, she and Toshiro had been the cause of it.

"If you don't... Your powers will eventually kill your grandmother."

They were now waiting for her to wake up, so they could tell her their decision.

They didn't have to discuss about it. They already knew what each other was going to do.

They were going to learn how to become Shinigami. To take responsibility for their powers. To learn to control it properly, to follow in Hinamori's footsteps.

To protect Granny.


As Misaki and Toshiro made their way into Seireitei, all she can think of was the sad but accepting look on Granny's face.

She had agreed to them going, seemingly having already predicted it somehow. There was even this look of pride on her face. It pained her that they would not be able to look after Granny anymore, but with them leaving, it meant Granny could now recover properly.

Both of them was now headed to the Shin'o Academy for the entrance exam. If they passed the entrance exam, they would be able to enroll as students of the Shin' o Academy.

Both of them walked to this lady sitting at a desk outside one of the examination rooms. As she took down both of their names, she handed them each a number card, Toshiro's being #98 while Misaki's being #99.

"These are your numbers. Go into to the room that is available when that screen over there flashes your number."

The lady adjusted her glasses, before remarking.

"There is certainly a lot of people this year. Usually there isn't this many people."

She dismissed them, before wishing them luck.

Misaki gasped. Where they had been standing a long queue had formed, and three additional registration tables had been set up next to the one they had been standing at.

She looked up at the giant screen that was temporarily set up over the courtyard. Glancing up at the screen, she saw that it was only #45.

Toshiro and herself sighed in unison. It was going to be a long wait.


Misaki was relieved that she and Toshiro came early in the morning. Now about two hours later, the screen was now only #81. Misaki had caught sight of an unfortunate someone holding up a number in the 3 digits that was far from 100. They had seek refuge from the blazing sun by hiding in a tree, where they could see the numbers on the big screen clearly.

She started to wonder. What would they be tested on for the exam? What were they looking for? Would she even pass it?

"Misaki. In case you're wondering, they'll be testing us to see if we have reiatsu. And we do have reiatsu, so stop worrying yourself."

She sighed. She sometimes wondered if Toshiro could secretly read minds.

"Also, I don't read minds. I make a smart guess by reading your expressions."

Misaki sighed, crossing her arms and turning away.

She heard the sound of fabric as she turned around.

Toshiro had just opened a bag of amanatto. He must have gotten them when she was at home with Granny.

He poked one into his mouth before passing her one.

"You're going to have to eat something. We haven't had breakfast yet. And it's going to be our turn soon anyway."

Smiling at his gesture, Misaki took one of the syrup-coated beans, poking it into her mouth.

"Thank you, Toshi-kun."

She smiled, chewing on the sweet treat. She could feel Toshiro twitching on the other side of the tree bark, sitting on his own branch and holding back a retort.

"Though I still like ice-cream better... You know what to get my for my birthday, Toshi-kun!"

Toshiro popped another of the amanatto into his mouth, biting down on it, sighing.

"You're too noisy... If you shut up mostly and get into the Shin O' Academy with me then I'll get you ice-cream."

Misaki smiled as she sighed.

"Do you promise it, Toshiro?"

Even though they were separated by the tree bark, she could already see him rolling his eyes. She glanced over.

There was a small smile on his face, presumably from the lack of what he dubbed the annoying nickname.

"Yeah. Whatever."


The giant screen hanging in the middle of nowhere flashed and changed. It flashed once, and then twice.

#98- Room 2

Toshiro looked up, and with a serious look on his face, he stowed away the bag of amanatto in his pocket.

He hopped onto the ground, before turning around and looking upwards, raising his eyebrows at Misaki who was still sitting on the branch.

"See you later?"

She smiled, when suddenly the giant screen flashed again with the number.

#99- Room 3

She hopped down the tree branch as well, walking up to him. He turned around as they exchanged glances.

"C'mon, let's go. All the best, OK?"

Toshiro gave a nod.

Just before she entered the room, she vaguely heard Toshiro muttering about how he had better see her in the Academy.

She smiled and glanced back at his retreating figure, before walking into the examination room with a deep breath.


There was a pretty woman wearing spectacles standing in the room. She was holding a sort of device, and there was machines all around the room. The device that she was holding looked akin to that a scanner, and it was attached to a computer. There was this little chair in the middle of the room.

"Hello there. You are Shinozaki Misaki? "

Misaki nodded, as she swallowed down a gulp.

"Please take a seat on this chair. I will need you to close your eyes, and relax yourself as much as possible. If you can't relax, either think up of a memory that you've experienced once or try to fall asleep."

Misaki nodded, sitting on the chair and closing her eyes, wondering how her reiatsu level could be assessed by the way the lady had stated.

Sighing, she leaned back in her chair, thinking that she couldn't sleep.

However, there seemed to be comfort that Toshiro was next door, possibly doing the same thing, and that was probably what lulled her to sleep in the end.


Dreaming...

Misaki peeked out of the front door.

She was in Granny's house, and she was looking for Toshiro.

She frowned, taking a few steps out of the house before finally spotting him. And resisting the urge to giggle at him.

He had fallen asleep underneath the big tree near their house. A leaf had fluttered down and landed on his snowy hair. There was also the most adorable little cat snuggling in his arms.

Her slight giggles turned into a smile at the sight of him snoring peacefully, and holding a sleepy cat at the same time.

Any other day, she might have woken him up by cruel means (Like poring water on him)

But today, she simply walked over to him, and sat down beside him, ruffling his hair gently and in affection, before scratching the white-coloured cat behind his ears.

Then, a yawn escaped her mouth as she leaned back and closed her eyes, not before casting another glance at Toshiro.

Grinning, she thought to herself that Toshi-kun must like cats much more than he let on.


She sat up abruptly.

Rubbing her eyes, she found that she was sitting on a pavement.

For some reason, it was nighttime. Misaki blinked, confused at how she got here.

A cold wind was blowing, and she shivered. Where was Toshiro? How did she get here? What was this place anyway?

The pavement she was sitting on... It didn't seem to end, and the only source of light around was the moon.

Not just any moon though... A pretty crescent moon...

She suddenly rubbed her eyes.

Was it just her... Or was the moon red?

In a mixture of fear and uncertainty, she tentatively took a few steps, when suddenly, a cat appeared in front of her.

It had its eyes closed, and it was smirking like a little Cheshire Cat.

Smiling at the feline creature, she gently reached out to it to pet it.

"My name... It's..."

When suddenly, she was engulfed by blinding light and the icy cold, accompanied by the feeling that she was falling.

Falling into a pit made of the darkness of the night, the last thing she saw was the mysterious, smiling cat.


Her eyes snapped open, and she panted slightly, looking wildly around her.

The lady was now sitting behind the computer, frowning as she entered a few things into the computer.

Misaki realised the lady had wrapped the scanner she was holding around her arm with a piece of fabric. A wire trailed from the scanner and connected into the computer.

The lady got up, adjusting her spectacles.

She looked at Misaki, smiling. Misaki frowned as she realised the lady was shivering for some reason.

"That went... well. I would now like to ask you if you saw anything in your dream."

Misaki thought about her dream. It was the one she had been dreaming for these few months, not entirely the same, but not different either.

So, in great detail, she told the lady everything that appeared in her dream. The lady took down notes, and the look on her face was a surprised one.

"Thank you. We would like you to stay around the compound for until all the exams are over. We will then gather all the applicants in the courtyards at the end of the day and hand out your letters. The letters will determine whether or not you get accepted into the Academy, and if so, what class you will get into."

The lady smiled at her, or she tried to, before gesturing to her that she could leave.

She still looked shocked, maybe even... afraid.

It terrified Misaki, and there was nothing she would left the room. She didn't want to stay there, at any rate.

She had so many questions. What happened? Why was the lady so shocked? What did an eight year old like herself do to frighten the lady in her twenties?

Outside, Toshiro was waiting, his eyebrows raised.

Not saying anything, she grabbed his hand as she pulled him away, and back to the tree they were in before.

Where they would wait for their results. Whether they could get into the Shin O' Academy.

Toshiro must have sensed her anxiety, for he remained silent and allowed himself to be led away.


Hope you enjoyed this chapter ^^

Sorry if the last part was full of angst...

Leave a review? Favourite? Follow?

Please?

Btw, Misaki called Rangiku, 'Rangiku-chan' because she admires Rangiku and looks at her like a sister. Do note that Misaki and Toshiro are about 8 years old in the current timeage.

Also, would you all like...

Renji X Rukia or Ichigo X Rukia?

****Just so you know, you see the review section that apparently I reviewed... but that's not me... That was only my sister using the computer... The review doesn't count if it's just my sis being nice ._.

So now there's only 1 review.

Sorry if there was misunderstandings :(

*To my sister who's (probably) seeing this now: DON'T USE MY ACCOUNT, MAKE YOUR OWN