After a long and arduous year, I can say that I survived my freshman year. The feeling is so liberating... But I haven't asked my parents for my summer reading books and my biology summer assignment makes me go a little faint, so for now I'm free. If there is anything or anyone to thank, it is my laziness.

Saturday, April 24th, 1999

Plak.

I stared at the third blotch of ink in my homework with growing irritation. At this rate, I was never going to finish. Nowadays, it was too much to ask to wake up early. I had prepared myself for being able to write this haiku in five minutes, but–

"Alright class, I'll go around and check your homework. Please have it ready."

–something always has to go wrong when it comes to late work. This time, Sachi had woken up late, and we only had five minutes to get ready and go to our first class, which was in A234. The classrooms ended in A299, but it was still quite a few ways to go from the dormitories. In the end, we had been three minutes late, and Kira had only excused us from the goodness of his heart. Which is why my heart was sinking in dread at the idea of him thinking I was taking advantage of him.

"Hurry up, Artemis-chan!" Airi whispered hurriedly to me. I was tempted to snap at her, especially after glancing at her own neat paper, with her graceful kanji characters glaring at me, but that would have taken too much time from me. I simply ignored her and continued writing.

Sachi tapped my lap twice, and I sent her a blank look, not meaning to show my chagrin. She gestured in front of her, and I turned to see that Kira was already in the row ahead of us. So fast! But of course, since we had been late, we were forced to take the seats that were vacant, and apparently I was not the only one that had forgotten about her haiku. And as luck would have it, Airi and Sachi would both be unwilling to give me one their middle seats, leaving me next to the walkway and the first one in my row to turn in my haiku.

I sighed happily as I finished my poetic piece. I reread the haiku, just to make sure that the unusual inspiration that I had blindly followed hadn't betrayed me. I had no skills in the matters of literature or artwork. My words had been told to be bland and unemotional and teachers asked of me many times to redraw a stick figure or two that did not resemble five lines with a circle at all. This brought great troubles for me in learning the techniques behind kanji. Delicate, careful, and deliberate strokes... If one made a mistake in one single movement, the character might be illegible or resemble something else.

My eyes widened slightly as I finished reading my haiku. How... How in the world had I written that? Was it even possible? Why would I even write that? Before I crumpled the sheet and started in a new one, Kira picked my paper. His eyes widened slightly as he read it over, and I soon felt mortification washing over me.

"Hmm... Ah, ano... Costa-san, I will need to speak with you after class is over," he told me quietly, his blue eyes worried. He went on to read Sachi's, then Airi's, and soon continued his way through the whole classroom. What would he do to me? If I were to be expelled, then I would need to find a new reason in this Soul Society place. Quite frankly, I was not in the mood to find a different approach in waking up. I might just grow bored and give up entirely... Which was not good.

In my contemplating on this new difficulty, I had not noticed that Kira had dismissed the students. He was in his desk, grading some papers. I tentatively got up, clutching my poem tightly. I walked down the stairs and went to stand in front of Kira. I attempted to gauge his expression, to see if I was in big trouble or even death row, but unfortunately his blond hair was hiding his face. His brush suddenly stopped and he put it back in his ink well, his movements weighed down by something I could not recognize. He raised his tired eyes and met my expectant eyes. "We have a problem, Costa-san."

I gulped unconsciously. Of course, my haiku, if it could even be considered one, was very offensive.

Dickless piece of crap

Carbon and water wasted

may you rot in hell

...It certainly did not leave a desirable nature image in my head, and it was quite vulgar. It was most definitely not a haiku. Stupid Kannogi boy, making me lose my temper early in the morning! When I finally registered that the so called inspiration I had previously identified was in fact wrath, it was already too late to explain myself. "I understand," I said morosely.

"Yes, it is very troubling. The fact that I could not recognize a single character is upsetting for both you and me. I could not appreciate what could possibly be an amazing piece of literature." I gaped at him, not even trying to close my mouth. When he saw that I wasn't going to say anything, he continued, "Do you have any... Eto, how to say this? Problems?" He grew nervous and waved his hands in front of my face, probably since my face switched from astonishment to horrification. "I-I didn't mean to offend you, Costa-san! I know that you try really hard, I'm sure you do! But... I can't really grade anything you give me, even your other teachers, if your handwriting is this illegible."

My cheeks raised in temperature to levels I was not even aware of. "Kira-sensei," I murmured slowly, "I don't have any problems." Now it was Kira's turn to look panicked. He groaned quietly, and in a rare moment of kindness, I continued, "But my artistic talent is quite low. I had much trouble communicating in Rukongai. It can be said that I don't know how to write properly."

"Is that so?" he said quietly, more to himself than to me. "I am not distinguished in the art of calligraphy..." he trailed off, not knowing what to say. Meanwhile he was mulling over his options, I wondered if I should tell him of my situation. Although Mihane had explicitly told me to keep it a secret, I felt as if I could trust Kira. He did not seem like the kind of person to judge prematurely and I felt that he was a good man inside. Besides, this was not the time or place to hesitate. This could be crucial, a key even. Maybe I needed to learn a lesson from this whole ordeal and then my body would grow strong enough to wake up. I would never know if– "Fortunately, I'm well acquainted with an excelled calligraphy master. He's very kind and I'm sure he'll help you out given your situation."

"My situation?"

He averted his gaze from me and focused on his papers. "Well, Costa-san, I'm afraid you must have some sort of problem if you can't properly write in kanji. Don't worry, I'll make sure that by the time you graduate Shino, I'll be able to read anything you write for me." He looked up and smiled at me, no pity in his eyes.

Although it was not in my nature to have people mistake me as some kind of challenged person, I appreciated what Kira was doing for me. After all, I would gain more in this tutoring than what I could lose. I bowed lowly, and still looking downward, said clearly, "Thank you very much, Kira-sensei." I returned to my original posture, which still had some remnants of the awkwardness of the situation. "Who would be my tutor, sensei?"

"The head of the Fifth Division, Aizen-taichou. Don't get nervous, Costa-san, he is one of the most respectable taichou you will ever find."

I frowned lightly. So a captain would know about my special condition. O the humiliation! However, he is the only one able to give me the instruction I need to become good in the writing system that this world seems to value highly. Neither honor nor pride came before knowledge and truth. To have either or both is useless if one is an ignorant, lying cretin. Which is why I will forsake the pride I had in my command of languages in order to further develop my Japanese. "Kira-sensei, how do you know Aizen-taichou, then?"

He looked surprised, as if he could not believe what I was saying. "That is because I'm the fukutaichou of the Third Division, Kira Izuru." He peered at me curiously. "I thought it was common knowledge that I gave lessons in here for my own enjoyment."

Surprisingly, I was starting to be familiar with the feeling of embarrassment. This time, I did not seem as flustered as I would have expected. "I am ignorant regarding anything to do with the Gotei 13, Kira-sensei," I replied truthfully.

His mouth formed an O and nodded in understanding. "I see. That is nothing to be ashamed of, Costa-san. That is why you're here, after all: to learn. I'll try to contact Aizen-taichou this week and I'll tell you the time and date he set the next time we meet, which will be Thursday."

I nodded. "Thank you. If Aizen-taichou cannot do it, I will understand. Have a nice day, Kira-sensei."

"You too, Costa-san."

I turned and went to gather my things. Students were already filing in, taking their seats, and I resisted sighing in irritation. I was already late for my next class.

Sunday, April 25th, 1999

"Artemis-chan!" a sing-song voice whispered next to me. I groaned lightly and turned to the other side of my bed, not before lightly slapping the offending figure that wanted to interrupt my sleep. "Artemis-chan!" the voice now whined, poking me in the shoulder. My eyes snapped open and I turned on my side to glare at big brown eyes. "You're awake!" she yelled.

"Ugh," I moaned and turned, closing my eyes instantly. "Go away."

Airi, however, was relentless. "But it's TWO in the afternoon! You're going to waste your Sunday!"

I grumbled, "That is exactly how I spend my Sunday mornings, Ichihara-san." I faced her just in time to see her wince.

"No need to get so mad," she muttered, avoiding my glower.

Deciding not to pay more attention to the meddling girl, I went under the covers and tried to fall asleep again. However my attempt proved to be fruitless, as once awake I could not go back to sleep as much as I tried. I slowly got up from my bed and sluggishly went to the bathroom, closing the door behind me. I was about to go have a relaxing time meanwhile I did my natural human actions when an obnoxious knock stopped me as I was about to pull down my underwear.

"Artemis-chan! We need to go practice!" Airi said, a tone of urgency in her voice.

I pulled my sleeping pants up and decided to open the door just to give Airi my incredulous stare. "You want to train on a Sunday?"

"Is there something wrong with that?"

My eyes closed on their own accord. My arms started shaking visibly, and some effort was required to stop the tremble. "It's Sunday, Ichihara-chan," I said very quietly. "I rest on Sundays, and you should as well. Why don't you go practice with Kawate-chan?"

Airi stuck her bottom lip out and her eyes grew wide. "But that's what lazy people do, Artemis-chan! You don't seem like a lazy person. And Sachi-chan left early in the morning to go visit her family..."

"People who know their own limits rest, Ichihara-chan." Somehow my voice took a motherly tone of voice as I explained this easy concept to this person of around my age that was acting like a child.

"By sleeping till two o'clock?"

"Everyone has their own definition of resting," I replied as I walked to our shared wardrobe and got some of my comfortable clothes, a simple brown hakama and new pair of underwear. I went back to the bathroom and closed the door.

"Oh, I see..." she said in a thoughtful voice beyond the door. I inwardly jumped in happiness. The troublesome girl was going to let me be! But now that I was awake, I really need to do something productive. Exiting the bathroom, I put down the clothes in the washing basket and went to make my bed. Perhaps I should practice... Does the Shino Academy have– "So are we practicing or not?"

At that moment I felt like a little part of me withered. With no other choice but to comply with the persistent girl, I took my wooden sword and slid the door open, Airi skipping behind me. My Sunday, my only day of rest, was going to be spent working. The mere idea made me pissed.

Oh...

...I forgot to pee.

Wednesday, April 28th, 1999

The steaming jasmine tea warmed my body. At first I had disliked tea, as I wasn't used to refined beverages like the ones Hanari prepared, but after a while I started enjoying the taste and state of peace the tea brought me.

"Artemis, are you sure you're supposed to be here?" Hanari murmured meanwhile she sipped her own tea.

I shrugged languidly, shifting in my seat slightly. "I am afraid I am ignorant in that matter. Instruction is over, and students may do as they please. I believe visiting family can be an acceptable excuse."

Hanari hummed in agreement. "Well, I'm not complaining in having you over. My Sunday was incredibly dull. I was expecting a visit of my newest granddaughter. What happened?"

I felt my face contort into one of annoyance and relayed the story of Airi, meanwhile I explained my first few days in the Academy to Hanari. Instead of criticizing the girl, she laughed at my experience. After I finished my story, she was eager in meeting Airi and Sachi. I, on the other hand, would not let Airi five kilometers close to Hanari. Either they will form some kind of animosity to each other (contrary to what my adamant grandmother thinks) or they will create some sort of alliance and make my life an irritating mess.

Hanari chuckled quietly after our discussion. "Oh, Art-chan, even if you don't mean to, your actions can be quite endearing. I believe I won't be able to expect you to come over on Sundays?"

"Possibly not," I muttered. "If it isn't Ichihara-chan and her sparring, then it might be my remedial kanji classes. Apparently my kanji is so horrible it's not even legible."

Hanari's closed eyes opened slightly and she looked to her side, muttering something incoherent.

"What was that?"

"Oh, nothing, I'm just happy that you found an instructor for something I was entirely unhelpful with."

I waved my hands in front of me. "Oh, no! You were really helpful, baasan. I probably would have been considered extremely uneducated if it weren't for you."

"Really? Well that is– Oh, what a most wonderful surprise!" she suddenly exclaimed, her eyes actually opening more than the usual. "Welcome home, Shiro-kun!"

Shiro-kun? I turned around to see a boy come in. But what a peculiar boy! He had short spiky white hair and turquoise eyes. He was a shinigami, I could tell by his robes, but he had a white... cape? It's the first time I had seen it, but it made him stand out compared to the other shinigami I had met. Shiro-kun seemed really annoyed to have been referred as such, but the scowl left his face when Hanari hugged him. In fact, I hadn't noticed it, but Hanari was even shorter than the white-haired boy.

He muttered something unintelligible to Hanari, to which she only chuckled. He turned and narrowed his eyes at me, and the room felt a bit colder. "Who is that?"

"That is your little sister, Costa Artemis. Say hi to your big brother, Artemis-chan!"

I turned and walked in front of him, towering over the boy. "Are you sure he's the big brother? Shouldn't he be the litt– Why is it so cold in here?" I was now shivering. The room had dropped a few degrees in temperature, which were completely unexplainable.

"Don't call me short! I am much older than you!" he yelled in anger. "Besides, respect your superiors!"

I looked at Hanari for comfort. "Who is he?" I asked quietly, hoping that the irritable boy wouldn't hear me, but I think he only grew more disgruntled.

"Hitsugaya-taichou," he muttered at me, his jade eyes cold and narrowed. My eyes widened, not entirely happy with the prospect of being added to a captain's black list. I had barely met him and he was already glaring daggers at me!

Hanari looked amused but somewhat worried. "Toshiro-kun is one of my grandkids. Remember those stories I told–"

"What stories, baachan?" he asked in a low, dangerous voice.

Her lidded eyes had a mischievous glint to them. "The embarrassing ones, of course."

The room dropped a few more degrees, but Hanari seemed mostly unaffected. I sent the captain a desperate look and shook my head widely at him. He must be the embodiment of my idea of a nightmare... "Do not worry, Hitsugaya-taichou, she's teasing you."

"Art-chan, you were supposed to go along with it!" I restrained myself from glaring at the old woman. Not only could she freeze hell over with one of her looks (something her grandson had inherited), but I think the captain wouldn't appreciate my rudeness. Hanari continued, "Such a pleasant surprise, Shiro-kun! Let me go make you some tea. Sit down, make yourself comfortable!" She went outside, as she preferred to make her tea with the fresh air, and left the captain alone with me.

I wasn't entirely comfortable with him there, yet I still sat down in my original spot in the floorboard and started enjoying my tea, which had gone slightly cold. His presence unnerved me slightly, mainly for the power he possessed. Even though my mind knew that his power was unreal and quite impossible, my body still trembled over the power he emitted... Reiatsu, was it called? More implausible was that I could feel his power, that I could feel his reiatsu. How does one even do that? I can't even feel humidity sometimes; I can only observe the frizziness it caused to my hair and the sweat in my body as a result. If I could barely feel something as tangible as humidity, how could I feel something as... as preposterous as power itself?

I was starting to have certain suspicions over this whole ordeal, in fact. I sensed something was amiss with my mind. I had never proved to be an imaginative person when it comes to situations like the one I was facing. My true imagination lied elsewhere, in a world I had not touched since the shooting. I believe if I can't get my hands on a piano right now my reasoning will crumble slowly with my sanity.

Ah, music, the only true passion I can say I have. Languages, school, people, the world... nothing compares, except awareness. I feel grateful to my parents for forcing me to learn such wonderful instrument twelve years ago. Without some sort of release from certain stress called life, continuing would be harsh, even for me. Music was a way I kept myself healthy. After all, mens sana in corpore sano.*

Yet another reason why break free from the clutches of sleep: my music. And my sanity, of course.

"How did you meet my baachan?" Frankly, I had completely forgotten about the presence of the captain. He was sitting in front of me, his arms crossed and his eyes closed.

The question did not surprise me. I felt like if I was intruding in something precious. If I had known that he was going to visit, I would have not come today. I finished the rest of my tea and sighed contently, the jasmine working wonders I did not know imaginary jasmine was capable of. "A year ago. I was having trouble communicating with people, so she decided to help me. She continued visiting me every Sunday at the dojo, and sometimes I would come here to keep her company."

"Hmm..."

"If you don't mind my asking, Hitsugaya-taichou... What division do you watch over?"

He opened an eye slightly, as if gauging my intentions. "Tenth," he answered finally, closing his eye. We stayed in a less tense silence, and this time I did not forget his presence. I was waiting for Hanari to get back so that I could make some excuse that required me going back to Shino Academy. I think that Hitsugaya and Hanari would appreciate that. "Are you training to become a shinigami?"

I was somewhat shocked that he would ask me that question, but I answered nevertheless. "First year, Class Four."

He raised a white eyebrow, but his eyes still remained closed. "Class Four? Why so lowly?"

"Not all of us are geniuses, Hitsugaya-taichou," I answered quietly, albeit somewhat coldly. It is safe to deduce that the boy in front of me was a genius if he had made it to captain status... Knowledge above all else... Knowledge above all else... All else is naught without being cognizant of what all else is. My eyes fell shut as I repeated my mantra, not about to be humiliated by the short shinigami.

"That is not what I meant," he replied placidly. "Class Four is simply an average class for average people."

I was tempted to open my eyes and scrutinize the captain but I resisted. "And what makes you think I'm not average?"

"Average people don't usually meet a taichou so early. There must be a reason why you met my baasan, a predestined reason."

I again resisted the urge to scoff. "It is not called fate, Hitsugaya-taichou, it is called coincidence. Many different actions, both deeds I could control and deeds I had no jurisdiction over, that brought Hanari-baasan and me together. So many different probabilities, yet we still are here. One mustn't overanalyze such coincidences."

I heard the captain shift slightly. "Regardless of your beliefs over the matter, classes are not kept like that every single year. A negligent First Class student may be demoted, meanwhile a hardworking one talented enough can be promoted. What I've been trying to say this whole time is that you shouldn't expect greatness if you are average among the average. Do you really want to be another unnamed shinigami walking through the barracks of your division?"

This time I felt the need to gaze at the captain. "Yet again, what makes you think I won't be satisfied in being one of the numbers and not names should casualties arise?"

He averted his gaze and opted to look outside through window. "If you are in terms with such thought, then, even though I just met you, I can safely surmise that you're a fool."

Beatrice Artemis da Costa had been called a fool before, but never had Beatrice Artemis da Costa's knowledge had been called foolish. I was heavily tempted to return the insult, to point out his own unawareness, but so would only prove his insult true to both him and me. "I shall be a happy fool, then."

He turned to me and narrowed his eyes slightly, as if the idea of me agreeing with his insult dissatisfied him. "You have been under the tutelage of my baasan for around a year. My baasan does not mingle with people that aspire to do nothing with their lives. If she heard you, she would be extremely dissatisfied, and for her sake as well as my own, she can't be disappointed. Aspire to something great, otherwise I will never acknowledge the bond you share with my baasan and never accept you as a comrade, less something as remotely close as my family." His gaze turned even colder, and the room dropped a few degrees. "I might not even allow you to call her your own grandmother."

I shivered slightly, the room's temperature and the cold warning causing the action. Not allow me to have one of the two people I consider family in this lonely place? If that happens, then what will become of my sanity? I could also not deny the fact that Hitsugaya had some say in the relationship I shared with Hanari. I could sense some truth in his words as well, but the meaning eluded me for now. Why would Hanari be so interested in my success? What did she have to gain? For now, I could only count on Hitsugaya's analyzation over the matter.

However, why should I aim to become great when I already had a goal? That goal is to return to my family. My real family. These people, although I had become fond of them, meant nothing when it came to reality.

Hitsugaya's point was null.

"Oh, I hope you had a wonderful bonding time," Hanari said as she burst in the room carrying a tray with three cups of gyokuro tea. I mentally groaned at the sight; I hadn't planned in disappointing Hanari today.

I stood up from my seat and helped her set the tray in the floor. She sat down next to her grandson, but I didn't follow suit. Instead I bowed at the two people in front of me. I smiled slightly at Hanari's confused gaze when I raised my head. "I'm sorry, but I cannot join you for another cup of tea, Hanari-san. I promised Ichihara-chan that we would practice kendo today." Although that was a lie I had fabricated at the moment, I was actually planning in finding the girl so that we could spar. I don't exactly know why, but I had this desire to fight after my conversation with Histsugaya. Fight or vent off, whichever.

She looked surprised that I used the formal honorific on her, and she looked slightly hurt, but otherwise made no comment. The captain was somewhat surprised, maybe a little disappointed, but I did not know. "Well, I wouldn't want to keep Ichihara-san waiting any longer."

My smile widened. "Yes, enjoy your evening, Hitsugaya-taichou... Hanari-baasan." This time, Hanari warmly smiled, and although the captain's eyes were still somewhat cold, his posture seemed less tense. I had no doubt it would be hard for the captain to accept me, but a clench in my chest told me that, real or not, I wanted to... be a part of them.

Friday, April 30th 1999

I tentatively knocked the door. "Aizen-taichou, this is Costa Artemis. I'm reporting here for my... lesson."

"Come in," a commanding yet polite voice responded from the other side.

I slid the door open and walked inside. The room was even larger than Kira's, with rows and rows stretching until the base floor, which had a large board and a desk in it. A brown-haired man that wore glasses was grading papers. He looked up and smiled at me, his brown orbs friendly. Immediately I felt at ease, my last meeting with a captain leaving a bitter memory. I walked all the way downstairs and sat in the frontmost row, the middle section.

He stood up and walked to my seat, his haori (as Sachi had told me) flowing gracefully with him. He was closer to me than what I expected a captain to be with an Academy student. In fact, his nearness reminded me of the rest of the instructors in the academy. "Kira-fukutaichou told me about your special situation, Costa-san. Tell me, how old are you?"

"Nineteen," I replied, counting the year I had spent in Soul Society when I gave my answer.

He seemed pleasantly surprised. "Well, that explains quite a lot. You're indeed very young in coming here so early." Young? I was almost an adult! In fact, I felt quite old being a First year and being nineteen, but I kept that comment to myself. "I teach a popular calligraphy class here in Shino, however very few times I have tutored people, and even less someone that young. I congratulate you for making it so early."

"I don't believe I deserve such praise, Aizen-taichou. I was trained before coming here, and I believe that is the reason for me being accepted. Compared to the other students, I am not as talented as you think me to be." The question of where this sudden humbleness had come from would haunt me for a while, surely.

Aizen chuckled quietly and sat down in his desk again. However, his questions hadn't finished coming. "For someone so young, your vocabulary is surprising. Can you tell me why this is, Costa-san?"

I physically winced at his observation. In the whole year I had been here, no one had ever noticed my manner of speaking. Either all of the people here were slower than reality, or Aizen was sharper than most. After all, no one except Aizen and maybe Mihane knew my age. Such answer could not be given easily, as my expanded vocabulary came from the languages I knew. I was positive that not many people in Rukongai spoke a tongue other than Japanese. How to explain without lying? "My parents speak a wide variety of languages. I merely inherited some of their lexicon through conversing with them."

The captain was now working on his papers, impeding me from seeing his face and his motives. "You are fortunate in having such educated parents. I have a troubling thought with your answers, though, Costa-san: Such educated parents could not teach you kanji?"

I resisted gasping in surprise. What a man! He... He managed to find holes in my story so quickly! I was left gaping at him like a dumbass meanwhile he gracefully continued with his papers. "W... W-We're not Japanese." I prayed... No, I hoped that he wouldn't have the need to ask more questions.

Aizen stopped his writing and deliberately set his brush back in the ink well. The Fifth Division captain looked at me, his brown eyes still kind but triumphant. "And how would you know that you're not Japanese? After all, none of us remember our origins."

I shivered, feeling the goosebumps appear on my skin. I had just been in his presence for less than ten minutes, and he had already figured everything out. How... This man exceeded my thirst for knowledge. He was masterful in getting the information he wanted. He knew how to use that knowledge correctly and efficiently. Aizen was... He was everything I wanted to be... "The truth is–"

He raised his hand, stopping me. "The truth is useless unless one knows how to properly explain it. So far, let my theories be that: theories."

"Why go through all that when you don't even want to know what really happened?" I demanded, exasperation in my voice. I did not even bother apologizing for my rudeness; it was warranted.

"Because truth limits the possibilities, Costa-san. The truth limits the explanations. What is the fun of being handed everything when you can... imagine so many scenarios?" Aizen... He is beyond my reach. "Say, Costa-san, I shall help you."

"Help me?" I echoed, completely confused. Why would that man help me? Did he want to extend his kindness to me?

He nodded and walked towards me again, a little bit closer than what he used to be standing. "It would be troublesome if someone else where to find out of your little secret. Eventually, people will start catching up with the little bits of information you unconsciously give. You cannot hide forever, after all. That is why I'll try to make you more like a normal Academy student with a credible background. You'll be able to hide as long as you want to, as long as you deem necessary to. Do not worry, Costa-san... I do this from the kindness of my heart and have no ulterior motive."

Gratefulness filled me. Such a wonderful person... I could feel that he could do something because of his power, and I had no doubts with what he said was true. Mihane had said it before, and now Aizen had confirmed it: I needed to keep it as a confidential matter. However, I still had one main concern. "Aizen-taichou... Why is it imperative that this secret remains undisclosed?"

He chuckled quietly and turned to the board. He got a piece of chalk and started writing characters with careful, orderly strokes. Thinking that our conversation was over, I immediately started to write my notes in romaji. "I'm afraid I cannot answer your question, Costa-san."

Frustrated, I again demanded, "Why?"

"Because what is the point of giving you the truth when you haven't even begun searching for it?"

* Mens sana in corpore sano translates to a healthy mind in a healthy body. A sound mind in a sound body is a more common translation.

So we finally see Hitsugaya and Aizen, keeping true to my word, at least from the Hitsugaya character title. It was unnerving writing them both, as I can't picture them in said situations, but I hope I kept them in character. These two will become main, Aizen temporarily (for obvious reasons).

I revealed many things to you guys this chapter: the year this is taking place, Hanari's relationships, Kira being Izuru Kira, gave away Art's only artistic talent, and more insight in Art's morals. I should introduce more mysteries to make up for the revelations... I keed... or do I?

And yes, both Kira and Aizen actually teach in Shino Academy in canon. Apparently, Aizen's calligraphy class is so popular that people have to sit in the hallways or some sort to be in hearing range of his lesson.

The Academy snippets idea came to me recently. I have no idea if other stories have done this, but I personally like the idea. Most of the days will be pretty average, but I'll have a mix of average days and bizarre ones. This snippet style should only last the Academy days, but depending on the success I might keep it longer.

Note: for the sake of the story, Aizen's betrayal will not occur in 2001 A.D. That also means that Bleach plot will not start in 2001 either. I hope this can be overlooked.

Comments, criticisms, or concerns are widely appreciated.