I do not own Bleach or any of the characters.
Academic Rivalry
"First group to the line!" the instructor called out and the first group walked forward to the line. "You will now demonstrate Hado."
Among the group was one of Kurai's only three friends in the Advanced Class, Momo Hinamori. Rukia had been stuck in the Normal Class by one point while Renji got into the Advanced Class. in addition to Renji and Momo, the other friend Kurai had made in the Advanced Class was Izuru Kira.
"Ruler," Momo spoke up, beginning the Soul Chant for one of her favorite Hado spells. "Mask of flesh and blood, all things in the universe fly. That which names all in nature. Gathering of heat and war. Beyond the seas in reverse, take steps to the south. Hado Thirty Three, Shakkaho Red Flame Cannon!"
A red sphere of Spirit Energy formed and launched from the palm of her hand, along with a couple of others from those that had successfully launched one, though those only made it halfway before fizzling out and dropping. Momo's crashed into the upper left corner, exploding and taking a fair amount of the target with it.
"Very good," the instructor spoke up, not really paying much attention. "Next group!"
"Yes sir!" the group responded as they and the first group switched places, this one having Izuru in it.
They all fired and only Izuru hitting his target, and him getting a perfect shot, if a little high. Renji watched him with an impressed and annoyed look and Kurai could only grin. Kurai had a secret.
"Group three, to the line!" the instructor called out and the third group took their place, Renji and Kurai standing beside each other.
"Remember the chant?" Kurai questioned and Renji only grinned.
"Hado Thirty Three!" Renji shouted ignoring the chant altogether. "Shakkaho Red Flame Cannon!"
The resulting explosion was at the point where the sphere had formed and burned Renji quite badly, those around him being thrown away. Several people laughed but Kurai simply walked back to his spot and held out a hand.
"If you skip the chant, you still have to know it," Kurai stated. "And you need to use the spell enough that you've memorized how the spell feels. Then...Hado Thirty Three, Shakkaho Red Flame Cannon!"
He fired his own spell and it hit dead center of a target, obliterating it and a good portion of the post it was on.
"How the hell did you do that?" Renji questioned.
"I just told you," Kurai stated.
The next class was to train them to fight with zanpakuto. Several groups went before Renji and Izuru were paired up. It was a short fight, with Renji not holding back and leaving no time for Izuru to fight back. The match ended with a jab to Izuru's shoulder that hurled him. all the girls in the class rushed to his aid and several people scolded Renji for being too rough. Then, it was Kurai's turn, and against Momo, no less.
"Can't I fight Renji?" Kurai complained, worried about hurting Momo.
"You won't hurt me," Momo promised. "You won't even be able to hit me."
"No switching," the instructor stated as both took the practice swords and Kurai sighed. "Begin!"
Momo charged, Kurai instantly noticing that she left an opening on her left. He neglected to use it and instead sidestepped her attack.
"That's one," Kurai stated before blocking another attack and shoving it away. "That's two."
She growled in annoyance, slashing at him again and again he blocked it.
"Fight back!" Momo demanded.
"I don't attack girls," Kurai stated pushing her sword away and backing up.
"Get over it!" Momo shouted charging.
Kurai sighed blocked her sword but she spun, Kurai stumbling past, eyes widening before he felt the training sword smack into his legs and take them out from under him.
"Match, Hinamori," the instructor stated. "Not all enemies will be men, Mori."
"Got it," Kurai groaned holding his nose closed from where he had landed on it.
Sometime during the break after that class, students gathered along the path into the school murmuring amongst each other.
"Hey," Momo spoke up from beside Kurai as she was too short to see past anyone. "What is everyone looking at?"
"Oh, one of the Court Guard Squad captains is supposed to be coming here any minute to review the class," one of the nearby students told her as Izuru and Renji arrived.
"Really, a full captain?" Momo questioned.
"It'd work out better than half of one," Kurai joked. "Want to see?"
"Yes please," Momo nodded and he put a hand on her shoulder guiding her through the crowd that parted for him, allowing them to reach the front quickly.
Kurai watched as the captain, that he would later find out was Aizen, and his lieutenant, Gin Ichimaru, approached. Momo looked awestruck, as did most of the others.
"Better pick your jaw up off the ground," Kurai whispered to her. "Wouldn't want them to step on it."
"It'd be an honor," Momo grinned playing along.
A couple days later, Renji and Rukia got into a very entertaining argument about Renji's place in the Advanced Class, sparked by the Advanced Class getting to go to the World of the Living to fight dummy hollows.
"And just you wait," Renji called over his shoulder as he and the others walked away. "I'm better than you already, and when I come back there won't even be any comparison between us."
"Yeah!?" Rukia shouted after them. "Well when you come back I'm gonna be a...I don't know."
"Don't feel bad," Kurai smiled resting a hand on her shoulder. "Your class is going to get to go later. And besides, if you actually apply yourself in your classes maybe you'll get to skip to the Advanced Class later. And if you don't, maybe the seniors overseeing your training will be us."
"Are you saying I'm not going to graduate as soon as you!?" Rukia growled.
"Maybe," Kurai grinned walking away. "See you around Rukia!"
A little while later, three upperclassmen, Shuhei Hisagi, Kanisawa, and Aoga, divided them out into groups of three, Kurai being the odd man out.
"Looks like we may have miss counted," Aoga noted pointing out Kurai who looked bored and accustomed to being left out.
"What's your name?" Kanisawa questioned.
"Kurai Mori," Kurai stated. "Please tell me I don't have to try to pass alone."
"No," Kanisawa smirked. "You'll be going with me. Aoga and Hisagi will be the judges without me."
"Way to make it easy for him," Hisagi snorted.
"Better than making him fail," Kanisawa shrugged.
Hisagi sighed and nodded then turned to the others again to tell them what they were going to be doing.
Kanisawa fired a Shakkaho at the dummy hollow, missing on purpose but sending it toward Kurai.
"Quick question, is this a real zanpakuto?" Kurai called out.
"Now's not the time!" Kanisawa replied.
"Well?" Kurai pressed.
"Yes!" Kanisawa sighed. "It's a real zanpakuto, now will you finish this?"
"Yeah sure," Kurai nodded darting forward.
He slashed the dummy hollow horizontally, cutting it in half then spun, the hollow's upper half sitting on the lower as the lower continued running and the hole thing sparked.
"Hado Thirty Three, Shakkaho!" Kurai shouted firing and blasting the dummy hollow into pieces.
"Impressive," Kanisawa smirked walking over. "You've got a gift for Kido."
"I know," Kurai nodded. "But I've always preferred swords to spells. We should head back."
Kanisawa nodded and they started heading back.
"Do I get to keep this zanpakuto?" Kurai questioned as I walked.
"You're just full of questions aren't you?" Kanisawa chuckled. "Not really but if you get there early any time we need them you can find that one. Hoping to learn its name before you graduate?"
"That would be nice," Kurai grinned. "How do I tell it apart?"
"The easiest way is that the buttcap usually will have a different carving than the others," Kanisawa explained. "Like you, I always take the same one. However, these are only the training zanpakuto so most people don't really care. I've heard, however, that if someone were to unlock one of their shikai, the sword would change into a real zanpakuto, changing its appearance and everything. I've grown attached to my zanpakuto, training version or otherwise. So I'm going to keep it and unlock its shikai."
"Me too," Kurai grinned looking at the buttcap to see a field of grass and flowers with the sun either setting or rising in the background.
They reached the others and one by one the groups began to return until only Renji, Izuru, and Momo were still missing.
"I think that everyone has returned safely," Aoga stated.
"Not yet," Kurai spoke up. "One group's still missing. They should be here soon."
"This is Hisagi at the rendezvous point," Hisagi spoke into his communicator. "Barrier Unit, what is the situation there? Barrier Unit, acknowledge. Barrier Unit, can you here me? Report in at once! Barrier Unit, report!"
"Uh...Hisagi..." Kurai spoke up facing behind Hisagi.
"What?" Hisagi questioned looking back to see a massive green hollow with bone spikes for arms standing there.
It swung one arm downward at Kanisawa who screamed. Just before it hit, however, Kurai's sword smashed into its arm, knocking it aside just enough that instead it tore his right shoulder open before slamming into the ground. Kanisawa stumbled back, Hisagi and Aoga drawing their sword as Kanisawa fumbled with trying to get hers out.
"Stay back Kanisawa," Kurai growled standing and picking up his fallen zanpakuto, holding it in his left hand, his right hanging limply at his side. "We'll handle this."
"You bastard!" Aoga shouted sprinting forward. "You killed them!"
"Aoga no!" Hisagi shouted as Kurai sprinted forward, driving his zanpakuto into the ground.
"Hado Four, Byakurai!" Kurai shouted firing his second favorite spell.
The spell hit the hollow in the left shoulder just seconds before the right claw hit Aoga. Instead of completely impaling him, it simply removed his right arm. Kurai caught him, jumping back to his zanpakuto and passing Aoga to Kanisawa before picking up his zanpakuto again.
"We're going to die right?" He asked, looking to Hisagi who didn't answer. "That's what I thought. Kanisawa, get everyone out of here. Run as far as you can."
"Soul Society, come in," Hisagi shouted into his communicator. "Emergency. Shuhei Hisagi requesting assistance. I'm in the World of the Living coordinate point One O Two Six. Hug hollow attack at this location!"
He stopped as the hollow fired a blast of Spirit Energy from its mouth. He and Kurai both leapt out of the way, the others all fleeing except Momo, who was standing rooted to the spot in shock.
"Take the lead!" Kurai instructed. "With one arm I'm not as fit for battle."
Hisagi nodded sprinting forward to fight it as Kurai fired a couple of Shakkaho blasts at it. The last one blocked a killing blow for Hisagi which instead smashed him away, cutting his forehead over his left eye, blood blurring his vision instantly.
"Damn," Hisagi growled. "I can barely see it!"
It fired several blasts at Hisagi and he dodged them all before sprinting forward. He leapt into the air to slash its mask but it smashed him away. Kurai darted forward, slashing its leg and it shrieked in pain, swinging at him. He leapt aside, landing on his injured shoulder and losing his zanpakuto.
"Is that all you got!" Hisagi shouted getting its attention as its right arm split into a dozen spikes. "Well bring it on!"
It swung at him, the spikes extending and shooting toward him. Just before they hit, Renji, Izuru, and Momo blocked them all, stopping them just short of a killing strike.
"You three!" Hisagi growled.
"We just wanted to help Sir," Izuru grunted, struggling agains the spikes trying to push him down. "Sorry to disobey."
"We came here to save you so you'll remember to forgive us," Renji stated as all three pushed the spikes away.
All three extended their hands and Kurai managed to lift his left one, still only up to his knees.
"Ruler, mask of flesh and blood, all things in the universe fly," they all chanted together. "That which names all in nature. Gathering of heat and war. Beyond the seas in reverse, take steps to the south. Hado Thirty Three, Shakkaho Red Flame Cannon!"
The four spells hit the hollow, Kurai's missing its mark and hitting the hollow's shoulder rather than its head, and exploded into a massive smoke cloud. The moment they hit, the four standing students turned and fled between two buildings as Kanisawa arrived and grabbed Kurai and his zanpakuto, following the others.
"How could such a gigantic hollow manage to sneak up on us like that?" Renji questioned.
"I don't know," Hisagi growled. "It seemed like it was able to conceal its Spiritual Presser somehow."
"There's no way we're strong enough to defeat it so what do we do?" Izuru shouted. "Just keep running?"
"I've already called the Soul Society and requested backup," Hisagi stated. "Until then we just have to stay alive!"
They slowed to a stop as they exited the group of buildings and everything before them blurred.
"What the hell?" Hisagi gasped. "Why is everything getting all blurry?"
"Hollows," Kurai growled, left arm around Kanisawa's shoulders as she supported his weight. "The big one brought friends to the party."
Sure enough, eight more massive hollows appeared before them, surrounding them.
"How can this be happening?" Momo shrieked.
"This hole thing is just crazy!" Hisagi stated. "So many hollows!"
"No way," Izuru breathed panic setting in. "No way. No way. I don't wanna die like this. I don't wanna die at all you guys."
He sounded close to tears and Kurai couldn't blame him. His own panic was blocked by the mind-numbing pain in his shoulder, but he could tell the others were all scared. Izuru suddenly screamed as the hollow in front of him opened its mouth, charging an energy blast. Before it could fire, a glowing white sword blade drove itself up through the hollow's head, destroying it before the blade retracted to none other than Gin Ichimaru, who was standing behind Captain Aizen.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," Aizen apologized. "We got here as quickly as we could."
"It's Captain Aizen," Hisagi breathed. "Leader of Squad Five. And his lieutenant, Gin Ichimaru!"
"Finally," Kurai muttered, barely awake.
"You've done very well," Aizen smiled, resting a hand on Momo's head. "I'm sure you were scared, but you're safe now. We'll take over from here. You go and get some rest."
And with that, they walked past the group.
"My, there certainly are a lot of you," Gin commented drawing his zanpakuto. "Slay them, Shinso!"
He drove his zanpakuto toward them and the blade extended, impaling four hollows' heads before he slashed three more with it. The last hollow threw a punch at Aizen but he raised a hand and a barrier stopped the attack. Then, he flexed his palm and the barrier flashed, the hollow falling into a dozen pieces and fading. Then, Aizen smiled back at them. Just as he did, Kurai passed out.
he snapped back to reality as he sensed a spike in Momo's Spirit Energy. He turned, seeing dust curling into the air and sprinted toward it, using Flash Step to speed up. He had to be on time. If not, the person behind it would have gotten exactly what they wanted.
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