Chapter 4: Getting prepared
Rain was dripping down when Kotetsu Isane was finally able to leave squad four. Unohana-taicho had kept her for another two hours before she had let her finally go. Isane swore to herself to never ever get into such a situation again, because if she did she would die of embarrassment and shame. At least that was what she thought right now. It just was all so confusing.
Isane couldn't even say what bothered her more. She just had tea with one of the oldest and probably wisest taichos of the Gotei 13. In addition to that Unohana-taicho personally saw to it that Isane ate enough for breakfast. And, while Isane was chewing her food, Unohana-sama gave her a very strict lecture about taking care of oneself and accepting help.
The strange thing about this conversation was that, even though Unohana was very serious about the entire matter, she never seemed angry at Isane. Not for the mistakes she had made before nor for the time Isane was apparently stealing from her. Unohana-sama rather appeared like a mother who was worried about her child getting injured and was now doing everything to prevent such a thing of ever happening again. But why?
For many years Isane had lived with her sister in Seireitei. As she was the older one it was upon her to take care of and to protect her sister. And in her mind she had done a pretty good job so far. Seriously, she had managed to get the both of them into the academy. And Isane had shown some talent for kido and due to her height she was also not weak in sword combat. In sum, she was a grown-up person who could take care of herself and her sister. She did not need anyone to look after her - thank you very much. So why did Unohana-taicho made such a big fuss about her?
Isane was still pondering her thoughts while her feet carried her back to the academy. As soon as she entered the big entrance hall her attention was drawn to a scream coming from the right.
"Isane-san! Where have you been. I was worried about you when you did not come back last night. What happened? And why are you all wet?"
"Kiyone-kun, please calm down. I stayed at the fourth division over night." Isane immediatly regretted these words because her sister's face showed even more fright and concern than before.
"Do not worry. I am not sick. I am fine."
"Then why did you have to stay at the main quarters of our medical devision."
"Because I was too tired and fell asleep and no one woke me up. Come on, let's get back to the library and I will tell you everything, I promise."
The library was one of Isane's favorite places inside the academy. Usually she and her sister would find a corner just for themselves where they could talk undisturbed and, if Kiyone was not around, Isane would always find something interesting to read and to occupy her mind with. Today the two found the library pretty much deserted and so they took the two armchairs right in front of the fire place. Isane told her sister in detail what had happened last night and this morning. While she talked Kiyones eyes grew wider and wider in wonderment.
"Why do you think she did that? I mean taking so much interest in you. Have you done anything special for the fourth squad and did not tell me about it?"
"No, I did not. And frankly I do not understand it myself why Unohana-sama personally took care of me. It is just confusing. Anyway, I do not have time to think about that any longer - I have to study for the placement tests."
"Häh, I thought those tests were in two weeks. Why do you need to study for them already?" Kiyone asked confused.
"That is exactly the problem. Two weeks! And I haven't even started to get prepared because there were always so many other things to do. I really have to practice kido and my sword art. Or I will find myself dumped at squad twelve as a guinea pig. I makes me shudder only to think about it."
"Hm, I guess you are right. These tests decide in which squads you can make an internship so that you and the taichos can get an idea where to place you after graduation, right?"
"Yes, and according to the new rules, you can only be placed in a squad where you did an internship before. So, even though I do not know yet where I want to spend my first years after school, I certainly do not want to go to the twelve's division. You see now, why I have to start training and learning?"
"No, I don't. You are a good student - you are good at kido, good in fighting, your grades are always above average. Frankly I cannot see what makes you worry so much. You will do just fine in these tests."
"It is not that easy little sister. These placement tests are so important. They decide about my future. I cannot take them lightly."
"So what are you going to do?"
"Well, I have worked out a study plan and will simply follow it."
"Ok. And what does that mean in detail?"
"Here, look for yourself", Isane answered while taking out a sheet of paper she had carried inside her student's uniform and giving it to her younger sister. Kiyone looked at the schedule for a minute before she started to laugh.
"Why are you laughing?" Isane asked irritated.
"Why am I ... Why am I laughing?" The girl had a hard time regaining her breath with all the laughing.
"Isane, when do you intend to sleep or relax? According to this, you have regular classes from 7.00 a.m. to 16.00 p.m. every day. Then you plan on having battle practice for about three hours. And then you want to study kido and everything else until midnight. Oh, and on the weekends you simply plan to do all the homework and study and practice until you fall asleep."
"Yeah, so I will get six hours of sleep every night. That is more than enough. What is your problem?"
"Isane, no one can live like that. Everyone needs to relax from time to time."
"I will have plenty of time to relax after I have taken the tests. And I think I can handle it for two weeks", Isane responded self confident taking her schedule back from the younger woman.
"If you say so. Well, I better leave you to your studies then. If I can get you anything, please let me know."
"Thank you imouto. I think I will be fine."
Shortly after that Kiyone left Isane in the library. And true to her word Isane stayed there the entire rest of the day studying. It was shortly after midnight, when Isane decided to take a break and get some sleep. So she silently went into the girl's dorm and, without waking anyone up, got into her bed. She slept until 6 o'clock when her set alarm woke her up again. She got up and started the day according to her schedule. This was the theme for Isane's next two weeks. Getting up early, studying and practicing until midnight and then getting up at six the next morning again.
The evening before the first exam day Kiyone went back to the library to find her older sister. Isane was sitting in a far corner, hunched over a desk which was littered with notes and books. Kiyone was amazed to see her still awake and working.
"Don't you think you should at least get tonight some more sleep? After all, the exams start tomorrow and it won't work in your favor if you fall asleep in the middle of them", Kiyone told her sister in a worried voice.
"Don't worry Kiyone-chan. I will be alright. I just have to finish this book and then I am done", Isane responded. She sounded tired and exhausted. Something her sister was quick to catch on.
"Isane you sound terrible. And why shouldn't you? You hardly slept over the past two weeks, ate on the run - if at all - and worked the entire time. Please. For me. Please close that book and go to bed. I do not want anything happening to you tomorrow when battling the other students or messing up any kido spells. Please."
Slightly annoyed Isane let out a sigh and turned around to face her sister. She knew that the young woman was only worried about her, but right now she did not have time for that.
"Kiyone, please let me finish. I will have plenty of time to rest the day after tomorrow. Leave me alone for tonight and let me finish my preparations for the placement tests", Isane demanded in a rather rude voice. Taken aback by her sister's tone Kiyone threw up her hands in the air and stomped outside the library. She was mad. And worried. And not watching where she was going. So she did not realize that she wandering aimlessly around town muttering to herself.
"She is crazy. She really is. Why is she doing that to herself. And snapping at me? I am just worried about her. I mean seriously, has she looked in a mirror lately? These dark rings below her eyes certainly do not lo... umph!"
Not watching were she was going, Kiyone had walked right into a wall.
"Are you alright?" a female voice asked kindly.
Ok. Maybe not a wall. Kiyone looked up and was shocked. The woman before her wore a taicho's haori. Gulping down hard Kiyone took a step backwards and bowed to the superior in front of her.
"I am very sorry. I did not watch my step. Please forgive me", she said as humbly as possible.
"That is alright. However you did not answer my question. Are you alright?"
"Hai taicho-sama. Thank you for asking. May I leave now?" Kiyone wanted nothing more but to bring as much distance between her and the taicho as possible.
"Only if you tell me what made you worry so much that you walk around Seireitei without paying attention to your surroundings and mumbling the entire time", the taicho demanded in a serious yet friendly voice. Kiyone exhaled slowly while collecting her thought and straightening up in front of the woman. Kiyone did not cause her sister any trouble, so she decided to be as wage as possible.
"Well, there is that girl I know. She has been studying for the past two weeks nonstop, because there is a big test coming soon. And I am just a little worried that she is overdoing it and working herself sick. That is all. But, the longer I think about it, I think she will get around and be fine soon. I am sure I just overreacted because I had never seen her face so drawn", Kiyone tried to play the entire situation down. The taicho in front of her only kept looking at her friendly and calm, not giving the slightest hint whether or not she was believing her.
"I see. Well then, if that is how you truly feel about it, then there is nothing I can do. However, if that girl is getting worse, please send her to me right away. My name is Unohana Retsu. I am the headhealer of Seireitei." And with that Unohana continued her evening stroll. Kiyone just stood there rooted on the spot watching the older woman leave.
She couldn't believe she had just run into the woman who had kept her sister over night just because Isane had a couple of bruises, a long day and had been very tired. She wondered what would have happened to her sister, had Kiyone just told the entire truth. Probably, Unohana-taicho would have banned her from the placement tests and admitted her to squad four for the next month. However, she didn't. Taking a another deep calming breath Kiyone turned around and walked back to the academy. Checking the library she saw her sister still studying. She wondered if she should try again talking to her sister, but remembering the encounter earlier she decided against it. Instead she shook her head to herself and went to bed.
Right now she couldn't do anything for her sister. It was just frustrating.
