Chapter Two: Academy Life

"Went to school and I was very nervous

No one knew me, no one knew me

Hello teacher tell me, what's my lesson?

Look right through me, look right through me"

Mad World — Gary Jules

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The entrance ceremony was held in one of the Shinō Academy's training fields. Hundreds of new students stood in lines along the grass while some older students watched from the sidelines. Chiyume stood in the dead centre of the crowd. She hadn't meant to end up there but once she'd reached the field and the other students had finished moving her out of their way she had ended up where she was.

Chiyume sighed, getting off her tiptoes. She couldn't see around the giant in front of her. He was at least two metres tall, she figured, with long black hair pulled into a ponytail. She tried looking around him again and was blocked by his wide shoulders. Chiyume's eye twitched. She'd had enough.

"Excuse me?" She reached up and tapped him on the shoulder – quite a feat actually. He turned around and smiled down at her, his eyes green but a soft, Emerald Isle sort of green, different to the other green eyes she'd seen. Chiyume looked to the side thinking she'd more than enough people with that eye colour to last her a lifetime. Hey, aren't green eyes supposed to uncommon? She thought unhappily. This was just her luck.

"Hello," The giant said softly.

"Yes, hello," Chiyume coughed to clear her throat and faced him again, looking him straight in his eyes. He seemed taken aback by this as he stepped back, bumping into the girls in front of him.

"Hey!" One of them cried indignantly. Chiyume blinked in surprise as she registered that she knew that voice. "Watch it, you big lummox!"

Chiyume irked again, this time because she found the girl's language extremely rude. She shouldn't insult someone she didn't know – that just wasn't fair however you looked at it. "Sorry!" Chiyume called over the boy to the girl. "That was my fault. Don't blame…"

"Hayashi Hotaru," the boy supplied in the same soft voice.

"Yes, thank you," Chiyume said curtly. "As I was saying; don't blame Hayashi Hotaru, blame me."

"Fine!" The girl yelled back. "Come here and I'll blame the hell out of you."

Chiyume stepped up to Hotaru who turned to the side to let her pass. He seemed unwilling to let her fight for him but was too scared of her to say anything. Chiyume was surprised to see the girl with braids from before. She was shorter than Chiyume (146cm to be precise, Chiyume was 157cm) with glossy black hair and strange golden eyes. Her friend was standing next to her, looking uncomfortable. She had short dark blue hair tied up at the back slightly and coal-black eyes. She was tall (176cm) and wore a silver charm bracelet on her right wrist.

"So," the hot-headed girl said, her hands on her hips. "Thought we'd pick a fight with the best student in the year, huh?"

Chiyume flicked some loose strands of black out of her face. "Oh? And where would they be?"

The girl irked and lunged for Chiyume but her tall friend caught her under her arms and held her back. "Let me at her!" She screamed. "I'll claw her face off!"

Chiyume shrugged, looking disinterested because she knew that would annoy the girl's type more. "Please, Kanon, calm down." The tall girl seemed rather calm, if not a little embarrassed, by this whole situation. She kept shooting Chiyume and Hotaru – who was fidgeting nervously behind Chiyume – apologetic looks while she restrained her insane friend.

"So, Kanon, right?" Chiyume crossed her arms and stared Kanon right in the eye. "Look, I'm sorry about all of this. What say we start over?" She held her hand out in a show of friendship. "I'm Kurosawa Chiyume. Behind me is Hayashi Hotaru," she looked over her shoulder at the embarrassed teen. "What about you Hotaru-kun? Want to start fresh?"

Hotaru nodded once, slowly. For his great size he was actually pretty slim. He stretched his long-fingered hand out to Chiyume and they shook. She then directed her attention to Kanon who had at least stopped trying to murder her and was standing straight. She tugged at her uniforms sleeves and wouldn't meet Chiyume's eyes.

Kanon's friend sighed and stepped past her to shake Chiyume's still outstretched hand. "I'm Watanabe Yumiko. It's a pleasure to meet you, Kurosawa-san."

Chiyume laughed lightly. "Please call me Chiyume. Kurosawa will just draw unwanted attention."

Yumiko nodded. "It that case… It is a pleasure to meet you, Chiyume-san."

Chiyume grinned, "That's more like it. Now," she looked once again at Kanon who was now shooting Yumiko 'traitor' looks, "Kanon-san, will we let this incident go?"

Kanon looked like she was having a vicious internal struggle then she eventually sighed, her posture slumping, and reached out her hand. "Okay, Chiyume. But this doesn't mean we're friends or anything."

"Of course," Chiyume shook her hand lightly once then Kanon quickly withdrew it.

"The entrance ceremony we now commence," A Hell Butterfly swooped low overhead and informed them. It lighted down on Hotaru's shoulder and said something for him and him alone. Hotaru looked startled by this news and, once the Hell Butterfly had continued on its merry way, he turned to Chiyume and bowed low.

"My deepest apologies, Chiyume-san, but something important has come up and I must go," he looked up at Chiyume through his long, black fringe as if waiting to be told to get lost.

"Sure thing, Hotaru-kun. You just make sure to come back and see me again, okay? You'll be a good friend, I think." Normally Chiyume wouldn't be caught dead saying things like that but it seemed Hotaru really needed to hear them from someone and soon. So she figured she may as well be the one to tell him it and she might just come out of it with a friend. Who knows?

Hotaru's cheeks were red again from her words and he opened and closed his mouth a few times, trying to say something but it seemed his voice was caught. "Go on, silly," Chiyume pushed him down the aisle of students towards the easiest-to-reach exit. "I'll still be here when you get back."

Hotaru nodded, looking thankful he didn't have to say anything, then quickly hurried away. Chiyume watched him go until she couldn't see him anymore which took a while longer than it normally would.

"Good morning, students," A strong voice boomed out over the babblings over the students. "Some of you may know me already. I am Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni." The talk of the students immediately ceased at the famous name. "I am the Sō-Taichō of the Gotei 13. Welcome to the Spiritual Arts Academy." Chiyume looked up the front and could now clearly see the podium that the old man stood on. He was old, very old, but tall and muscular, with a long white beard, no much head-hair, and long white eyebrows. He carried a large, lumpy cane with him and wore a Shihakusho with his Taichō's Haori over the top.

"From this day forth you will all be giving your all to become Shinigami and serve Soul Society in whatever way necessary. The role of a Shinigami is an important thing…" Chiyume tuned out. She'd just caught sight of a person she'd thought she'd never see again.

Kōmori Yoruhiko was here, standing a mere ten people down the line to her right.

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"From this day forth you will all be giving your all to become Shinigami and serve Soul Society in whatever way is necessary. The role of a Shinigami is an important thing. A Shinigami does not simply cleanse Hollows and perform Konsō's; a Shinigami is responsible for the balance between worlds. We must properly govern the souls that travel between our two worlds, else we will all be destroyed." Yoruhiko was listening intently to the Sō-Taichō's words. Becoming a Shinigami was important to him and he wanted to be certain he wouldn't miss any information.

"Furthermore, a Shinigami must be brave in the face of danger, kind to those in need, and, above all, loyal to Soul Society. If you cannot do this you do not belong here. We are willing to accept anyone as long as they shall not betray us."

"That part's new," a girl from down the row to his left said loudly. "Must be 'cause of Aizen."

A ripple of fear, repulsion and disgust travelled outwards in waves, disrupting Yoruhiko as he tried to listen to his Sō-Taichō's speech. It annoyed him that these wannabe-Shinigami could be so callous to those that truly did wish to serve Soul Society. It was ridiculous that he had to stand here and be forced to listen to their unceasing prattle instead of hearing what could be an important speech from his superior.

Yoruhiko felt his annoyance well up inside him and he recognised the anger inside him starting to flow. His Reiatsu began to spread and he quickly closed his eyes and took deep breaths to try and calm himself before he accidently hurt someone. He'd known from the minute he'd walked into the Academy that most of the students didn't have Reiatsu anywhere near as strong as his. In fact, the only one in this whole crowd of first years that could possibly not faint in the presence of his full power was someone a little bit to his left. He only hoped it was not the loud girl who'd spoken before and caused all the commotion.

And then another voice spoke out above the crowd, and this girl Yoruhiko would recognise anywhere. "Oi! Will you lot shut up!" She shrieked. He'd never heard Chiyume yell and was glad not to be on the receiving end of her frustration. Her reiatsu flared for a second then went back to its dormant state. He'd never felt anything so strong. If he didn't think it foolish he might've though hers stronger than the Sō-Taichō's. But that was a ridiculous notion and Yoruhiko quickly dismissed it. It seemed he was imagining things because he checked her Reiatsu levels again and they'd dropped to zero.

What happened? Yoruhiko thought, worried something might have happened to her. His chin had already begun to turn in her direction when he stopped himself. No, he reminded himself. It is stupid to cling to the past this way. You are to forget her. Yoruhiko shook his head lightly, clearing it.

"…and have an enjoyable time here. Thank you." Yamamoto-Sō-Taichō finished his speech and with a nod of his head to the crowd left the podium and sat down on the line of seats occupied by the teachers and a few Taichō's.

"Damn," Yoruhiko sighed. He'd been distracted by that woman and missed the speech. Three teachers climbed onto the podium now, each holding a small box.

One of the teachers stepped up to the microphone and said, "Thank you for that wonderful speech, Yamamoto-Sō-Taichō. Now we will begin presenting you all with your identification badges and swords. Please come forward as your name is called."

"Abe Midoriko, Anzai Yuina, and Arai Junko." Yoruhiko's eyes searched for the girls as they made their way through the crowd and onto the podium where they were given badges to identify them as authentic students of the Shinō Academy, for use when you ventured into Soul Society and weren't in uniform. They then walked down the other side of the podium to where a long table was laid out with plain Katana's. Each girl selected one then made their way off to the side where they were given a sheet from a fourth teacher containing information about their dormitory, classes, and various other things. Yoruhiko waited, his head turned resolutely forward throughout the entire ordeal until his name was finally called.

"Kōmori Yoruhiko, Kubota Taito, and Kurosawa Chiyume." Yoruhiko froze mid-step. Did he really just say Chiyume? …No matter. It can't possibly be her.

Holding that thought firmly in mind, Yoruhiko continued to walk towards the podium. His knees kept locking but he forced himself to look normal. If it was her he need only pretend that he'd never met her. It wasn't like she'd remember him anyway.

He reached the left side of the stage second, a boy about his height with messy brown hair having only been standing in the front row was first. Yoruhiko made the safe assumption this boy was Kubota Taito. His Reiatsu was a little stronger than most of the new students. He walked up onto the podium first and turned and waved happily at the crowd causing his friends to cheer. Yoruhiko maintained his blank exterior but inside he really wished his name wasn't so close to such an annoying boy. If the school did things alphabetically he was in dire straits.

Yoruhiko walked up the stairs after Kubota but took the distance across the stage slowly. He wished it wasn't so but he needed to see if Kurosawa Chiyume was his Chiyume. When no-one came, he began to wonder if he'd imagined feeling her Reiatsu before, it did happen on occasion. When he felt- No. He would not even think of such weak things. He had simply imagined feeling her in a temporary lapse in his otherwise perfect emotional control. And he had merely heard someone who sounded like her. There was no way she was here. He was certain of it.

Having put that mess behind him, Yoruhiko strode confidently across the remaining space to the middle teacher, a short blond female with a kind face. He took his badge from the box and turned to continue on his way when loud footsteps hit the wooden floors of the podium running and came to a stop abruptly behind him. He could sense nothing from this person so, dreading what he might see, Yoruhiko unfroze his limbs and walked off the stage.

He stopped again at the swords table. While they all looked the same, he still wanted the one that felt the most right. Yoruhiko ran his fingers across the swords, trying to visualise what they would feel like in his hands.

"Hello?" Yoruhiko stiffened, still half bent over the table, at the familiar voice. "I'm Kurosawa Chiyume. It's a pleasure to meet you."

So she didn't remember him. Of course not. Yoruhiko felt his heart clench and reprimanded himself for ever letting his hopes up.

Still, he could not find the willpower to respond without letting his feelings show so he pretended not to hear her. He picked up the first sword he could and walked swiftly to the next teacher.

"Kōmori Yoruhiko-san?" This teacher was also female, though this time a cordial-looking brunette.

"Hai," Yoruhiko bowed deeply. The teacher giggled.

"I like you, Kōmori-kun. You're the first person to be so polite to me this year. Oh! And look, here's the second." Yoruhiko stiffened again, was she following him so closely in purpose? "Kurosawa Chiyume-san?"

"Hai, Sensei," she said from right beside him. Yoruhiko decided to chance it and looked out of the side of his eyes at her. She was bowing as deeply as he was, her long black hair coming loose from its ponytail hold and falling into her face. She glanced sideways at him and he felt her icy blue eyes pierce him for a second before she looked away. This was her all right. Kurosawa Chiyume was his Chiyume.

"Here you are." Chiyume straightened first and took her sheet from the teacher, then Yoruhiko, remembering how to move, straightened and received his as well.

He looked it over briefly, said, "Thank you," to the teacher then walked away in the direction of his dormitory, or so the papers said.

"Um, hi, again." Yoruhiko was expecting it this time and managed not to react. Good. If he could keep this up, everything would be fine.

"Hello," he responded coldly.

Beautiful silence enveloped them and Yoruhiko was thankful for that. He only had a little more to endure then the woman would surely reach her own dormitory and they wouldn't have to see each other again. It would be perfect.

But she kept walking along with him. He refused to look at her, refused to even acknowledge her existence, and though he could not sense her Reiatsu, his other senses could locate her just fine. Her scent was of the woods he'd woken up in a year earlier, her footsteps were light, as light as he remembered, her breathing was a little irregular, something he did not remember, but why should that concern him? He no longer had anything to do with her. But though he had tried to forget his first few hours they were etched painfully in his mind and he couldn't do anything about it. That annoyed him. He was a bit of a control-freak and not having control over himself near that woman just bugged him.

He was almost about to speak, tell her a lie like this was his building and exit, when she spoke, beating him to it. "This is my dorm, um, sorry for bothering you, Kōmori, it won't happen again." She seemed to sigh a little then walked around him to her dormitory building. He watched her go out of the corner of his eye, unable to start walking again until she was gone. She hadn't waved or even said a proper goodbye. How rude, he decided and walked away.

His quarters were the last dormitory building, the one closest to the back of the Academy grounds, and so close to the woman's he felt like asking to be moved. That's stupid, he reprimanded himself. She has no power over you. You are simply imagining this entire problem. She did not even remember you. He felt different now, knowing she had not recognised him. Not sad, or disappointed, or angry – he would not let himself feel that way, ever –, just different.

He slid open his door, and entered his new home. The décor was standard with whites and creams and the furniture was standard issue. One lounge, a dining table with three chairs, and a study desk. His room had a sliding divide down the middle, which he opened to enter his bedroom. The room was virtually bare, with only one large cupboard standing against the wall. His bags had been placed next to the cupboard and he opened them now and checked everything was still in order. With nothing better to do, Yoruhiko pulled out his current reading book – Hollow Heart by Nekozawa Katsuki – and went back into his living room and settled down on the lounge to while away the time before dinner.

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Chiyume rested her back against her living room wall. She slid down to the ground and put her face in her hands. He hadn't remembered her, hadn't even wanted to talk with her. She was no good at making conversation or friends, as she was new at both, and she'd tried her hardest to get him to speak to her. But she could not simply blather on until he hated her. Or, hated her more than he already did.

No. Don't be stupid. He doesn't know you so he can't hate you. That's just silly, Chiyume reasoned with herself. Still, she could not shake the feeling in her gut that told her Yoruhiko held a severe dislike towards her. He'd been giving out a murderous aura their entire walk and had not even looked at her. What did I do to him anyway? She thought unhappily. Well, whatever I did, I should just avoid him for the time being. If I figure out how to talk to him, I will, but until then I shall maintain my distance. With that decided, she nodded determinedly and made to stand up. She stopped though, sliding back down the wall. He really hadn't remembered her. She'd thought she'd never see him again. He was the reason she was here. Her whole life had changed because of him. But he was no longer the sweet boy he'd been when she'd last seen him. Maybe she should have known – he did steal her food and leave without saying goodbye – and she thought she must have, somewhere deep in her heart. She'd just been denying it for a year.

Because she wanted him to be that boy.

But… Why? Chiyume wanted to cry, get this out of her system so she could forget he ever happened. But she had not cried in years, too many years to count. And she would not cry now.

That did not mean she couldn't stay where she was though, just for a little while, before she moved forward and forgot him.

Just for a little longer, let me have him.

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Chiyume: *whistles* Look at all that Yoruhiko P.O.V. That must've been hard.
Katsuki: Not really. It's fun making him have feelings.
Ulquiorra: ...Things are going to get worse for me from here, aren't they?
Katsuki and Chiyume: HELL YEAH!
Ulquiorra: ...
Ulquiorra tries to leave
Katsuki: Oh no you don't. *pulls out secret weapon* I'll make you wear this.
Ulquiorra: ...You wouldn't dare, trash.
Chiyume: ... *sweatdrops* Is that a tutu?
Katsuki: Yes, yes it is. And if Yoruhiko doesn't do exactly as I tell him, he's wearing it.
Ulquiorra: *sigh* What do I have to do?
Katsuki hands him next week's script
Ulquiorra: *reading* I am not doing this.
Ulquiorra throws book away and leaves
Chiyume: *sigh* Hotaru, Kanon, Yumiko, me and everyone else who doesn't appear in BLEACH outside of this, belong to Katsuki-sama so no stealing. Katsuki-sama wishes to extend thanks to Tite Kubo for being so brilliant as to write BLEACH. She also wants to say this.
Katsuki: Thanks, Chiyume. I would like to thank anyone who's reading this and I particuarly wish to extend my gratitude to Greennave who keeps reviewing my story. Thank you so much. So, thank you all. Until next time, may your days be full of emo Hollows and happiness.
Chiyume: Oh, look. He's back.
Ulquiorra walks in with Hyōrinmaru
Ulquiorra: He says he wants to speak to Katsuki about his role in "Frozen Passion". He says his master will kill him if he does want you want him to do.
Katsuki; Fine. I'll go tell Shiro-chan about the other work he'll be starring in. That'll shut him up.
Katsuki leaves
Chiyume: ...Well, bye mina-san.