7 days later
Sun started shining throught the windows, so everybody could now tell it's begging of new day. Once dark and black halls and rooms are now all good visible because of golden sunrays. Even thought morning just became, Rukia woke up long time ago. She was feeling nervous, and just could not sleep. Today, they are starting their first year of Shinigami Academy. She sat on her bed and started looking around. First thing that raven-haired girl saw were boys. Toshiro was sleeping on the same place as always,under window. He didn't move a bit, since he has fallen asleep. But Ichigo and Renji on the other hand. They are now in completely different places then she remember seeing them yesterday. Then her eyes fell on orange-haired soon-to-be shinigami. He was sleeping so peacefully. After a while she frowned. Why ? There was a incident 3 days ago, and only thinking about it was irritating her.
Three days ago
Ichigo, Renji, Toshiro and Rukia were training on field, that was about 10 minutes from their house. They were practising classic one-on-one fights, then two-on-two. After they were accepted to Shinigami Academy they were also trying to increase their control over their reiatsu. It was really hard, but they were doing some proggres. Slow, but steady.
" Hey guys, I think it's time for a break." suggested Toshiro after two hours of training. They were all covered in sweat, and of course they stink. Rukia and Renji were sparing and Ichigo was tryning to improve his control over reiatsu, becouse it was really miserable. They all have stopped what they were doing and came over to Toshiro. White-haired boy was standing besides river, that was flowing near field they were practising on.
" How it's going your reiatsu training, Ichigo ?" asked Rukia while she took bottle of water they have brought with hem.
Ichigo just scowled. "I am gaining better control everyday, but it's going slow. Too slow." said Orange-haired boy before he took off his shirt and started wiping his sweat with it. Even after ten years of being together, Rukia still blushed when she saw his, or Renjis bare chests. Toshiro wasn't showing his chest so often.
Even whe Ichigo was angry, becouse of his control over reiatsu, his grin could always easily find place on his face when he saw blushing Rukia, secretly looking at his chest. "What about you ? Are you getting better in fighting ?" asked Ichigo after a while.
"Y-Yes, it's getting better. I am thankful to Renji for his time. I hope he will find some time after this break." coughed Raven-haired girl while she was trying to stop blushing.
" Well it's surely good that he is helping you, right Renji ?" asked Ichigo as he looked at Renji, who was standig in river. Water was above his knees and he was splashing it on his chest to cool himself.
" Yeah, but honestly, what are friends for ? Oh, by the way, it's alright if we will continue our training with me without shirt ? It's really hot out here. It never mind, right ?" for a moment world stopped moving. And then…
"Bingo !" Ichigo was right now dying. Why ? Becouse he was laughing so hard, that he was almost soffucating. Over all these years, Renji has never noticed how Rukia blushed near their bare chests. And now, he says something like that ?
When Ichigo have already calmed he looked at Rukia, who was blushing and started laughing again, even harder. He was rolling on his back on the grass beside river. Rukia, who was still blushing could not take it anymore.
"Shut the hell up, Strawberry !" yelled still blushing girl. Then she came to Ichigo and kicked him to the side, then he fell to the water. Renji didn't know what was going on until now, but after he saw that Ichigo get kicked by Rukia and fell to the water he started laughing.
Toshiro was just glaring at them. "Sometimes I wonder if they are normal." mumbled prodigy to himself as he looked at his friends. Rukia was blushing, Renji was laughing and Ichigo was drowning. But now, that Toshiro was thinking about it, Ichigo was a little long under water. He looked at Rukia, who has noticed it too.
"Oi Ichigo, what are you doing ?" Where the hell you are ?" asked now-worried Rukia Renji has also notice this and started looking around him, if he could find him. Raven-haired girl was too worried now, she went to the river to help Renji in searching for Ichigo, but in the moment, she came to the water, orange head shoot out of river and catched her. Then sent her flying right to the water.
"Sweet revenge." said Ichigo as he stepped out of the water.
After 2 hours of bickering and drying themselves, they decided to cancel training for that day. After all their clothes was dry, they went back to the town. They were going around some cloth shop and saw, that there were some people, that have been also in Shinigami Academy. Young blond woman, that looked about 17 years (Looked 17, but her age is about 170. In the end of chapter 2 is all info about years and aging.). She was measuring them and taking notes.
"Ok, come after 3 days to take yours Academy uniforms." said woman to students. They all nobbed and left.
Four friend looked at each other and then went in."Good day. Could I ask a question ?" asked Toshiro as they came in.
"Of course." said woman, who was measuring people before them.
"You are sewing uniforms for Shinigami Academy here ?"
After this question, she finally turned around to dace them. Her eyes have immediately fallen on Ichigo. She smiled and answered."Yes, of course. Do you want any ?"
"Well we thought that they are sewed after we enter academy in three days, but ok, we will also want some." said white-haired boy after a while of silence."But we didn't take any money with us ."
"Don't worry. For hotties like you I will make exception. You will pay when you come to pick it after three days." winked blond shopkeeper. All sweat dropped. "Now come here, I need to take measures."
First was Rukia, since she was small, it wasn't so hard to take measures, the same goes for Toshiro. Then went Renji, there were a few compliments about his muscles but that was all. But when she was measuring Ichigo…
There were so many compliments and flatteries that Rukia thought she was going to throw up. When she looked at orange haired boy, she saw, that he was disgusted as well but it only made Rukia feel better.
"Ok, it's all done." said blonde after twenty minutes of measuring Ichigo. She was sure, that something was wrong, so she had to measure him 7 times !
'Finally.' thought Ichigo as he went to his friends when someone grabbed his hand. 'Please, tell me it's just a nightmare.' he slowly, very slowly turned around and saw smiling blonde shopkeeper.
"How about we go out, you know, on a date." she winked at him again. In that moment Renji ran out of shop becouse he could not take it anymore. The moment he came out of the shop, he fell on the ground and started laughing and rolling on the floor. Toshiro just sighed and went out, near Renji to tell other people on the street that he is not crazy, at last not so much. Rukia had evil smile on her face and Ichigo was suffering.
"Well…you know…I can't…" Orange haired student tried so hard to find some excuse but he couldn't find any.
"What ? You can't ? Do you already have girlfriend ?" her eyes hace suddened and Ichigo doesn't like when girls are sad, but he really wanted to get out of her claws. And now that he thought about it, it was good excuse. But where could he find any girl. He looked around around, there wasn't nobody. Just grinning Rukia…wait, Rukia. Yes ! This is something that he can use.
"Yes ! You see, I already have girlfriend. She is right here! I can introduce her to you." Rukia wasn't listening the conversation, he was only looking at Ichigo, who was until now suffering. But now he came to her and grabbed her around her waist.
"What the hell are you doing Strawberry ? Put your nasty hand back off me !" shouted raven-haired girl who was forcefully draged by Ichigo to young shopkeeper.
"Here, this is my girlfriend Rukia." right before Ichigo said this 'announcement' Renji came back to the shop but he quickly ran away to laugh again. Rukia was blushing, but this one hell of a blush. It was deeper red then blood.
"Baka ! What the hell are you saying ?" Rukia tried to put Ichigos hand away but he was too strong for her.
"Well you see, we are dating only for a while and it was secret that we are together now." Ichigo explained the situation to blonde.
After a while of silence she smiled and answered. "Oh, I am happy for you, but when you will brake up, remember that you can always come back to me. "
"Yeah right. Sorry but we are in hurry and must already go. Bye." Ichigo was out of the shop in less then second. He sighed sigh of relief, but right then he sensed big amout of dangerous he looked to his side and found Rukia, looking right to his eyes. She had big murdedous aura around her and looked like she was ready to kill(and not only looked).
"Ichigo, come here for a second." smiled midget right at Ichigo. It was such a sweet smile that Ichigo was starting to fear for his life. He then swalloved hard and slowly came to her.
"Yes ?" he asked and the next thing he knew was that he was knocked on the ground.
"Since when I am your girlfriend ?" yelled Rukia right to his ear.
"Oh come on Rukia, you know that I did it just becouse of that annoying woman." complained Ichigo.
Even thought she knew this she was still blushing becouse of what he did. She just 'hmpf-ed' and turned to leave.
"Besides, who would want to date such a midget ?" burbled Ichigo. He thought that he said it quietly, but much to his discomfort Rukia heard it too. She turned around and evil aura started flowing around her.
"You will die for this, Strawberry."
End of Flashback
When Ichigo woke up sun was already shining through windows right to his face . He lazely opened his eyes and started looking around. Renji and Toshiro were still sleeping, but Rukia was nowhere to see. Since the accident three days ago she wasn't much talking to him, not that he minded. He stoop up and stretched his arms and legs, then he went out to get some fresh air.
When he came out, sun was just raising on the sky. It was still morning and everything was still quiet. He looked towards walls of Seireitei and his look hardened. Isn't this too risky ? What if they would find him ? What will he tell them ? Ichigo doesn't like idea of this. What will happen if he would be found by his fam—
'What the hell ?'
A while ago he was deep in his thoughts and next thing he knew was that he was kicked to the jaw. He looked around and found this little midget standing here, arms crossed.
"What the hell was that for, midget ?" asked irritated Ichigo.
"I was yelling at you for last ten minutes and you were just ignoring me, and I am not midget, strawberry. You are just too high."
"Sorry about that, I was thinking."
"What about ? About starting out first year of Shinigami Academy ?"
"Yes." well, it isn't complete lie. They were just standing there for about another ten minutes when Toshiro came out of the house. Well out of the doss-house.
"Good morning you two." greeted Toshiro.
"Good morning." answered Ichigo and Rukia in union.
"Renji is still sleeping ?" asked Carrot-top.
"Yes. Should we wake him up already ?" suggested white-haired boy. Rukia nobbed and was about to go wake Renji and Ichigo stopped her.
"I will do it. I just need cold water, rope and fish." grinned orange-haired boy before he went inside to their room. Unfortunately, they probably have all these things. After a while they all heard two shoutings. It was something like "WHAT THE- YOU BASTARD !" and "HAHAHA, I GOT YOU!"
Shinigami Academy
This was written on big doors before Ichigo, Renji, Toshiro and Rukia. It was there. They were all waiting for this for last week.
"So, we will be just standing here, or will we come in ?" asked Ichigo as he yawned.
"You should be more excited. Don't you think ?" Renji could not believe it, they are becoming Shinigamis and Ichigo is doing like it was nothing.
"Why ?"
"Come on, we are becoming Shinigamis."
"So what ?"
"So nothing!" yelled Pinapple in the end.
"Oh, alright then." smiled Ichigo as the conflict ended.
"Stop your bickering kids and come, there is ceremony on the beginning of new year." said Rukia as she and Toshiro started making their way across areal of Academy.
It was big building with many small windows. Behind gate was long alley that was leading straight to the building. On the sides of alley were many trees and statues that was symbolizing peace and stability in humans souls. When they came in the building, they were in big hall. There were several corridors that were leading to different parts of Academy. The hall was almost empty. There were only a few benches and big board with list of all classes, their location, teachers and students in this school. They came there and started searching for their names.
"Here we are, It looks like we are in the same class." said Toshiro after a while of searching. All other friends came to him and looked at the board when Toshiro was indicating.
"Hmmm, we are all in Class #1 and our teacher is Gengoro Onabara." said Rukia.
"Huh ? Class #1 ? Isn't that for talented and promising students ?" asked white-haired boy.
"So what ? We are extra promising students, aren't we ?" said Ichigo and grinned.
"Yes, we are !" yelled Renji as answer and gave Ichigo a high five.
"You two are best to talk." sighed raven-haired girl. "We should head to our homeclass, there should be some welcoming ceremony." they all nobbed and headed towards direction that was on the board.
They came to big hall that has plave for thousend students at last. This big class was the lowest near board and was raising as it was taking distance from it, so every student could have good look. There already were many students. They were all wearing the same. Boys had white and blue students uniforms and girls white and red ones. On all uniforms were Academy went to take seats, all together. After about fifteen minutes of waiting, when everybody was here, came big man to the class. He was bald, with gold necklace and glasses. He was wearing Academy Uniform that was reminding of their uniforms, but his was while gray and has black shihakusho over it. He stood before whole class and became his speech.
"Welcome, new students. Our Central Spirit Technique Institute is a academic institution with long tradition of creating future Secret Mobile Corps and Thirteen Court Guardion Squad, or in other words Gotei 13, members. I want you all to apply yourselves every day so that you are not embrrassed by that tradition. I am your primary instructor Gengoro Onabara. This freshman Class #1 is a so-called special advanced class where are gathered those who achieved the most exemplary scores on the exam. In order for you men and women to become not only members of various squads, but eventually the Shinigami at the top thereof, I hope ypu will do your best in training. The special advanced class does not have a monopoly on excellence. If you all apply yourselves each day to keep up with them, you won't be the least bit inferior to anyone. Now you all will get your schedules. Your first class is Kido class. . This is all I wanted to say. I wish you good luck on your road to become strong." with this, their new instructor bowed and left the class.
In the moment he left the class, everyone in class started talking and yelling. Slowly, they all started leaving for their first class. After some time, Ichigo, Renji, Toshiro and Rukia stared heading there too.
When they were leaving their homeclass they all get chedules. It said, that their next class is on another part of school, so they have quit a way ahead.
When they arrived there, they saw that this class is a lot smaller then the class before. Students are probably separated in different classes. It was klassic small class with same scrolls in corner, with big windows and many desks for students. In front of class is board with desk for teacher. They found they seats and waited for class to begin. They were waiting about ten minutes when teacher came in. It was the same man who was at their exams of their reiatsu. Tall, with long blond hair, black eyes, and glasses and with shihakusho. He came in front of class and bowed.
"Welcome in my Kido class. My name is Sakaide and I will be your teacher. In first place, I would like to inform you, that in my class, we will be learning only theory of kidos. There is special field, where you will be learning how to use them. Now, we will start from basics. Kido is technique that is using your reiatsu inti wide variey of magic spells. They can be use in many ways like healing, defense or offense. Defensive spells are called Bakudo and offensive spells are called Hado. Each kido is graded on a scale from 1 to 99, the higher the number is, the stronger is kido. Of course, the more powerfull kido is, the harder it is to perform. Every kido has also incantation, that's what I will be teaching you here." said Sakaide with smile. "Now, let's start our first class.
"Pffft, that was really boring." breathed out Renji as he was walking down the corridor with his three friends. About five minutes ago their theory kido class has ended and they are now walking towards their next class that is practical use of kido.
"You are right. They should just learn us use how to fight." agreed Ichigo.
"Shut up Strawberry, and you too, Pinapple. This is something really important that we will need as shinigamis. Besides, the high class kido is really strong." said Rukia. How could they be so stupid ? Kido, is along Zanjutsu(Swordsmanship), Hakuda(Hand-to-hand combat) and Hoho(Fast movement) one of four most important things that every shinigami should know how to use.
"Yeah, right, whatever." sighed Renji.
After a while they arrived on training field. There were some targets, but that was all. Some students were already there. They were all standing in lines of ten people in each. Some students were already standing in front of targets and preparing kido. It was inly their first day, but they were already learning kido number 31 ! Is that normal ?
Most of the shots missed, but some of them hitted edge of the target.
"Next !" yelled some instructor. Before them were still about five lines of students so they had to wait for a while.
After only about three minutes they were almost on turn. In group before them was girl with short black hairs in two low ponytails. She had brown eyes and was wearing normal Academy uniform. She extended her hand with opened palm and started incantation.
"Ye lord! Mask of blood and flesh, all ceation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! Inferno and pandemonium, the sea barrier surges, march on to the south! Hado Number 31, Shakkaho!" yelled girl in the end. During incantation, a red light ball started forming in her palm and in the end it shot out. It destroyed half of target. It was first shot that even hitted the target so everybody was surprised. That girl also looked surprised, but after that she smiled and went to sat beside some girl, some friends of her, probably.
Toshiro was watching her entire time. She looked interesting. He was so interested in her, that he could not see what was happening on the field. He the turned around whe he heard many surprised gasps. Some blond guy has completly destroyed target.
"Okay, next !" yelled instructor again. Now it was their turn. Toshiro was hard focusing and after saying incantation he fully hitted target, like that guy before him, he then went back to sat and watch how his friends would do.
Rukia was really nervous, she was trying to focus but it was harder then she thought. She started incantation but really quietly. In the end she yelled "Hado Number 31, Shakkaho!" it has hitted target, but only one edge. But it was still better then anything.
Ichigo was next. He was standing on right side of field he extended his arm and started focusing, after incantation red light shot out of his palm, but it has hitted last target on th left side. All looked at him and he just snorted. "What ? I was planning to do that."
Now it was Renjis turn. He saw that blond guy to destroy the whole target and he didn't want to stay behind. 'I don't know who the hell he is, but I won't let him be the only one getting props. I am gonna use this chance and show him up good!' he raised his hand and started yelling incantation. "Ye lord! Mask of blood and flesh, all ceation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! Inferno and pandemonium, the sea barrier surges, march on to the south! Hado Number 31, Shakkaho!" And then there was big explosion. Instead of shooting out, it has exploded it his arm. It has even send flying some students that was near him.
"Abarai, stay after class for some extra practice." sighed instructor.
"H-Hai." said Renji before passing out.
Next class was practice of Zanjutsu. It was in separated hall that was about ten minutes walk from main building of academy. They were practising with wooden swords. There were many stundets, some were still practising, other were just watching and trying to learn something. This was something that our four friends knew quit well, becouse of their training. Rukia didn't have almost any problems. It was qiut easy for her. When she was practising against Renji, or Ichigo, it was like going agains mountain. But her opponent was just some girl that barely knew hot to hold sword. After five minutes it was over. Ichigo and Toshiro were somethinf else. Their opponents didn't have any chance, their fights, if that could be called like that, were over in one minute, or less.
Then came Renji, his opponent was this blond guy who destroyed whole target in Kido practice. He grinned and came to the middle of room, when was made place for fight. They get wooden swords from their instructor. They bowed to each other and then started fighting. Renji wasn't holding back and that blond guy had really hard time blocking. After a few dodged hits, Renji came even faster at him, he even didn't have time to recover from last attack, and stabbed him to the shoulder. It didn't pierce him, becouse it was just by wooden sword, but it still sent him flying across the room. Renji had to calm down, becouse he was going full-out on him. He then noticed that some girls and instructor came to that blond guy to help him up.
"Are you alright ?" asked Instructor.
"Y-Yes." answered that boy. Renji just 'hmpf-ed' and walked away.
'What the hell was he doing ? He did know that this guy probably would not have any chance to win, if he would go all-out on him.' thought Ichigo.
It was pause now and everyone was relaxing before their next class should begin. So was doing Renji. He was sitting under a tree, and relaxing. He was there alone becouse Ichigo and Rukia were going to get some food and Toshiro just disapeared. Pinapple breathed out and closed his eyes. He was thinking about that blond guy from before. Maybe he should not be so hard on him. Now he probably looks like some bad-ass boy to other students.
"You look tired. Is that from our Zanjutsu training ?"
Renji opened his eyes and turned his head towards the voice. It was that blond guy from before. What does he want ?
"I'd like to take a break too, can I join you ?" asked this boy again.
"Uh, sure." answered Renji. Blonde came near him and also sat under a tree, relaxing. Then he raised his hand above his hand and looked at it. It was trembling.
"Your attacks back there really sent me flying. I was overhelmed by youe power nad couldn't counterattack. My arms are still shaking." even thought he was talking about his loose and his arms were shaking, his voice was calm and he was smiling. It looked like he even wasn't angry at him.
"I am sorry about that. I didn't mean to hurt you. It's becouse I messed up in Kido practice. I felt like I had to restore my name during Zanjutsu class." said Renji truthfully.
"I think that you were training a lot in a fight with sword, am I right ?"
"Well, yes. Me and my friends are all learning how to fight with a sword for quit a time. But it's only Zanjutsu."
"Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hoho and Kido. If each abilitu doesn't reach a high level, we won't have an effect even after becoming Shinigami. That's why we are here in this Academy. To learn this things." explained this blond guy.
"Yeah, that's true." answered Renji. Then this guy extended his arm to Renji.
"I am Kira Izuru. Nice to meet you. Would you tell me your name ?"
Renji sighed and closed his eyes. "Self-inroduction and a handshake. I suppose that means that you are little rich boy from a good family." Renji looked at Kira and smiled. "Handshaked aren't my style. I am Abarai Renji. Good to meet you."
Kira smiled at him and then looked to his side when he heard some noises."What's going on ?" All studenst were running somewhere. "Should we look there too ?"
Renji grinned and nobbed.
Toshiro was walking throught corridors of Academy. He has separated from his group becouse he wanted to explore the whole area of this complex. He has been in almost all classes and training fields. It all looked great. Now, he was just about to turn around a corner when he was knocked by somebody down.
"What the hell ? You should be more—" Toshiro stopped at his sentence when he looked at this person who knocked him down. It was this black haired girl from Kido training. "Oh, I am sorry, I didn't mean to yell." apologized Toshiro.
"That's ok, it's my fault, I wasn't paying attention." smiled brown-haired girl before she stood and bowed. "My name is Momo Hinamori. Nice to meet you."
"Toshiro Hitsugaya." said white-haired boy as he bowed too.
"Are you taking break too ? If yes, then we can go together." smiled Hinamori.
"Well, yes, I think." answered Toshiro. They came out of the building where they sat on benches. They were relaxing, becouse they were tired from their Zanjutsu classes. "I saw you on Kido practice. Your Shakkaho was really impresing." said Toshiro after a while.
Hinamori blushed a little. "Th-thank you. Even after that, my ability og fighting isn't that good. But your Zanjutsu was really good. Could you sometimes learn me how to fight like that ?" asked Hinamori with stars in her eyes.
Toshiro was just staring at her and after a while of silence he nobbed. "Sure."
After about five minutes of talking they heard some noises. They both wanted to know what's going on so they decided to go find out. They went to main gate of Academy and saw that there were two lines of people on the sides of gate. Toshiro and Hinamori were too short to see trought that group of people.
"What is everyone looking at ?" asked confused Hinamori.
One student turned to her and answered her. "Oh, one of the Gotei 13 Captains is coming to inspect the Academy."
"C-Captain ?" asked Toshiro. Thirteen Captains. Captain is most powerfull shinigami on squad. Why is one of them here ? Just then people started pushing them and they fell out of the line right in front of captain and his lieutenant. They immediately came back to the line. They were both watching them.
"So this…is Captain."
"Wow, his reiatsu is on completely different level then ours." Toshiro couldn't believe it. It was such a strong energy coming from him, and even from his lieutenant. When that Captain entered building, all students ran after him. Only Toshiro and Hinamori stayed here. Hinamori was too about to run after that Captain, but was stopped when she heard someone yelling.
"Oi Toshiro, so there you are. Huh, who is this ?" she looked around and saw high, orange-haired boy, with academy uniform and short, black haired girl with violet eyes. They came to her, looked at her and then at Toshiro."You have already found a girlfriend here ? You are really good man! Give me high five!" But only thing he get was punch to the jaw.
"Y-You idiot! You should be nicer! This is my new friend, Momo Hinamori. This strawberry idiot is Ichigo, and this is Rukia." sighed Toshiro as he gestured towards Ichigo, whi was holding his jaw, and then to Rukia, who bowed."Nice to meet you." Then Ichigo looked at her. "Yes, yes, nice to meet you."
Hinamori blushed a little. She then bowed too."Nice to meet you."
"Huh, what the hell is going on there."
Ichigo, Toshiro, Rukia and Hinamori turned around and found Renji standing there with some blond guy. 'That guy looks familiar. Oh yes! He's the one from Kido training. Wait, he's friend with Renji, even after that Zanjutsu training ?' thought Ichigo while he was watching like Renji and that guy came to them.
"Yo, I think that you don't know each other yet. This is Kira Izuru." said Renji and Kira bowed."Nice to meet you."
Renji sighed."Yeah, and this is Ichigo, Rukia, Toshiro and…eh…who are you ?" he asked, poiting at Hinamori. Ichigo came to Renji and whispered to his ear.
"That's Toshiros girlfriend." Even if it should be whispering, everyone still heard that.
"Hohoho, you have already found a girlfriend, you old dog. Give me high five!" yelled Renji as he raised his arm, but like Ichigo, he just get punched by blushing Toshiro. Renji came to Ichigo and asked. "What did I say wrong ?"
Ichigo then came to Kira and shake his hand. "I saw you at Kido training, you were really good."
And Kira just smiled and answered. "Thank you, you were really good in Zanjutsu class, like Renji and Toshiro, I expect that you were training together."
And so it went on the whole day of their. In the end, they found out, that they are all living in one street, and decided, that when they will have free time, they will train together. This day was something new for everyone of them. They were already excited about what will happen next, on their road to become shinigami.
Bleach belongs to Tite Kubo
