Thanks to BaccaBaby for beta-reading this. Without you it would be much more difficult ;*
In two chapters time, the actual plotline will begin. Please, be patient until then! :)
The training field was full of the voices of the students who were talking excitedly while waiting for the teacher to arrive. Today, after a few months of practicing and learning, they were going to the world of the living for the first time, to fight real Hollows. They were going to fight the weakest kind while under the care of their older colleagues, but there was still a higher probability of danger than during their usual sparing. Some of the students, believing in their own strength, were making spunky faces, ready to fight the whole world, while others, frightened, were squeezing the shafts of their katanas, as if it would grant them invulnerability.
The voices fell silent when the sensei came over. He sneered when he felt the more watchful than normal gazes upon him.
"I can see that you're all ready. So please meet your three senpais who will guide you through this mission: Akiro Mai, Daro Haki and Nana Kameyou. Listen to them from here on…" The sensei cut off when a strange man appeared on the field.
The most distinguishable thing about the man was his pink haori. From under a straw hat trickled brown hair. After a moment, quiet gasps and cries started between the students. From under the garish haori another one was sticking out. A white one. The sign of the captain rank.
The sensei quickly emerged from his shock and bowed, respectfully addressing the captain.
"Kyouraku-taichou. May I ask you, sir, why have you pleasured as with your presence?"
"I would like to borrow Kurosaki for a moment" he answered and took the teacher to the side, explaining something to him.
In the meantime, the students noticed that they could not eavesdrop without catching unwanted attention, so they directed their gazes to Ichigo. Nevertheless, he was standing unmoved; although, Ino noticed a flash of interest in his eyes.
"Do you know what's going on?" she asked shyly.
At last someone dared to ask the question which troubled everyone. Immediately silence fell everyone wanting to know the answer.
"I've no idea," Kurosaki stated, frowning. "But we'll know in a moment." He added pointing at the forthcoming men.
"Ichigo-kun, come with me, please." The captain said to the boy.
Kurosaki went, seen off by the gazes of other students. He tried to not hear quite comments like Yeah, as always everything is revolving around him or I've got enough of this Carrot. He really tried not to listen to it.
"Hello, Kyouraku-san..."
"Come with me for a moment," the captain said, shunpoing out of sight of the students.
Ichigo sighed, shrugging and following the man. When they stopped, he growled.
"What's going on?"
"Yare, yare, calm down. I'm only obeying orders," the captain replied, winking.
"To begin with, you won't be normally participating in this class," seeing that the boy wanted to interrupt him, Kyouraku quickly added. "You'd only be disturbing the other freshmen. Sometimes during one of the first classes an accident happens so that we can find talents among new students and try our older students before they begin real missions. Do you understand? A Menos," Kurosaki began to understand. "The majority of the students always runs away, but if someone stays to fight, he or she usually becomes a note-worthy shinigami." The captain's thoughts wandered for a moment to a silver haired boy. "Or a traitor…" He added to himself. "Anyway, in the most critical moment some higher-ranked shinigami, or even a captain, comes to save the cluster. I was to do it today, but Yama-ji decided that you should do it. He said something about an inborn skill to play a hero, or something like that… Do you follow me?"
Ichigo nodded, not really pleased by the last comment.
"Great. Now it's time for something, unfortunately, not so nice. Do you remember when Toushiro explained to you that we seal the energy of captains and lieutenants in the world of living?"
Ichigo nodded again, having a bad feeling.
"Because your reiatsu is captain level, it also has to be sealed." Kyouraku extended his hand, on which laid two pills. "Blue or red one?" He asked, grinning.
Kurosaki rolled his eyes. "He has really spent too much time in Karakura recently. Maybe I shouldn't have told him about that movie" He thought.
The captain, noticing that he hadn't been appreciated, sighed and continued his explanation.
"You'll also get this communicator. If anything really bad happens, you have to ask for permission to break the seal. Now take the pills and go back to the others, they've already been waiting for you enough."
"Both of them?" Ichigo asked suspiciously.
"Yare, think. You've got not only shinigami powers, but also Hollow abilities."
"Something like that is even possible? Why hadn't you given it to Vizards?" Kurosaki inquired, dismayed.
"Kisuke-kun has just discovered it recently. Although, we're not sure whether it'll work for sure-"
"What? You want to use me like some experimental rabbit?" The boy began to shout, clearly furious.
"Well... Something like that," The captain honestly admitted.
Ichigo was not able to comment it in any way. He was suffering from jaw lock.
"Since everything's already been explained, swallow the pills, take the communicator and go back to the field." Kyouraku said.
"See you, Ichigo-kun" Kyouraku added when he saw that Kurosaki did as he was told and then the captain disappeared.
Probably to the nearest sake bar.
Ichigo returned to the training field, so deep in thought that he nearly did not pay any attention to the whispers. He went straight to the sensei, who said, before Kurosaki was able to say anything.
"Kyouraku-taichou informed me about your mission. We'd better get going, we've already been delayed long enough."
The mission was going smoothly without any problems. Ino quickly stopped thinking about Ichigo, busied by their fight with the Hollows. The students had been divided into groups of three people, and each group was to defeat one monster. Everything was overseen by the three senpais, who would come into action if anything should happen. At last, Kama hit the mask, cutting through it and killing the enemy.
Tucking away the hair that was glued to her sweaty forehead, she looked around. Two boys who were in her team were breathing heavy just like her. Fortunately none of them was hurt. Other groups were still fighting, so she decided to use the free time for a short rest. She sat on the ground and watched other students, commenting in her mind the mistakes they made and the more rare well-done actions.
Suddenly she shivered, and looked up. She noticed the sky over her tearing open accompanied with the sound of the howl of Hollows. She stopped breathing. Menos Grandes. She heard the senpai ordering to run away while they themselves stayed, though they were equally frightened. Ino got up, evacuating with everyone else. She turned back when she heard a cry from behind her back and she saw a shocking view.
One of the senpais was lying on the ground, cut down by the Menos, which was preparing to give the final blow. Relying on instinct, she drew her katana and run towards them. She barely noticed that one more person followed her, while the other two fifth-years were stunned, too frightened to move.
Although Ino knew that she was too weak, she raised her sword to block the Menos' hit. She closed her eyes awaiting pain. When nothing happened, she dared to slightly open her eyelids. In front of her, holding a zanpakuto as big as himself, was standing an orange hair boy. In the next moment he was already slashing the Menos' mask.
When he came back to check if anyone has been injured, Ino felt dizzy. She lost her balance, but Ichigo's hands saved her from falling. Losing her consciousness she growled.
"Baka."
And a little comment at the end. Why?
Just to explain one thing. Why are the students behaving like this to Ichigo? For those, who haven't noticed the explanation in the first chapter:
Most of those students are from Rukongai. They do not know much about the Winter War, except it was some big deal for shinigami. That's why Kurosaki is only a figure for them - they don't understand how much he did for the whole Soul Society. And they're... jealous ;)
As always, waiting for your lovely comments~