Chapter 9: World of the Living
I'll start this a few days before we left on the trip, though, to include more information.
About three days before the trip we were finally practicing real Kido, using Hado #31: Shakkaho.
"I'll send you up, three people at a time," our instructor told us. "You are to aim at a target, recite the incantation, and make sure to regulate the energy in it."
We all nodded, so he selected me as well as two other people.
We all went to separated areas, where we lifted our hands and focused our energy as we recited the incantation.
"Ye lord! Mask of blood and flesh, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! Inferno and pandemonium, the sea barrier surges, march on to the south! Hado #31: Shakkaho!" I recited as a sphere of crimson red energy formed. When I finished speaking I made sure it had the right amount of energy in it before it flew from my hands and reduced my target to ash.
"Oops, too much power," I muttered. The attacks were supposed to only blacken the targets, not destroy them.
"Good job executing the Kido, but you need to work on regulating your energy," the teacher told me as I returned to my seat.
I bowed. "Thank you."
Haruka was part of the next group called up, and she executed the Kido technique perfectly and returned to her seat.
"Good job," I told her.
She smiled. "Thanks."
I nodded as we watched one spell go haywire, exploding and covering everything nearby in ash, as well as charring the user's hair. No more damage was done, though, so the teacher just lectured him on what he did wrong.
After that, in our Zanjutsu class, we started our second week of training with our Zanpakuto. We were ahead of the planned schedule, so we would be going on a trip to the world of the living to practice the Konso ritual three days later. Three upperclassmen would be accompanying us, and if anything went wrong, Captain Shiba and Lieutenant Matsumoto would be on standby, waiting for the call.
"I can't believe it, we finally get to go to the world of the living!" I exclaimed after class.
"Yeah, yeah, don't get ahead of yourself," Haruka told me. I just laughed as we continued to lunch.
Three days later was the trip, and we all gathered in front of the Senkaimon, waiting to get through.
"Alright, stay close to us and try to keep up with us," the upperclassmen told us as the doors opened and fifty-three Hell Butterflies flew with us as we went. They made sure we got through safely and arrived on time at what looked to be an industrial area.
"Alright, listen up!" one of the upperclassmen told us. "We're going to separate you into twenty-five groups of two. You will all face dummy Hollows, and are expected to kill them and successfully perform Konsos on the Pluses you encounter. Remember, this is a graded trip, so don't goof around," he explained. "The three of us are here to maintain the barrier protecting us and to take care of injuries. Are we clear?"
"YES, SIR!" we replied before they split us up. Haruka and I were both put in a pair and set off, destroying any fake Hollows. They were basically giant animated plush Hollows, and very easy to take down.
We had both performed a Konso when I sensed the spiritual pressures of two of the upperclassmen disappear. The third spiked for a few seconds in alarm before it vanished as well and we could hear the howls of Hollows in the air.
"That's not good," I muttered as I jumped up onto a large pipe to see several dozen Hollows flood into the area. "Crap."
"How long will it take the Captain and Lieutenant to get here?" Haruka asked me as she used Shakkaho to shoot down a Hollow.
"No clue, probably a couple minutes," I replied, using Shakkaho as well to destroy quite a few Hollows.
That display of power, though, just drew more Hollows to where I was.
"Great, absolutely fantastic," I snapped sarcastically as I saw more students fire spells and attack as well. I joined in, and managed to use my skill in flashstep to get past every Hollow's defenses and kill each one I came across until I saw the Senkaimon doors open and Captain Shiba and Lieutenant Matsumoto stepped through.
"Everyone, get back!" Captain Shiba yelled at us as he drew his Zanpakuto.
We all leaped away as he focused on his Zanpakuto. "Burn, Engetsu!" he commanded. His spiritual energy spiked, but his Zanpakuto didn't change in appearance except that the tassels grew in length and glowed with energy.
Matsumoto nodded and drew her Zanpakuto as well. "Growl, Haineko!" she commanded. The blade turned to ash, which spread out to many Hollows. The moment the ash touched a mask, that Hollow died.
Captain Shiba smiled at her. "Hey, Rangiku! Leave some of them for me, will ya?" he shouted toward her.
She smiled and stepped back. "Go ahead, Captain," she said.
He grinned and held his Zanpakuto in front of him as spiritual energy gathered around it. "Getsuga…" he began as the energy grew even more, "…Tensho!" he finished, slicing the air in front of him. The energy flew out, destroying all of the Hollows we could see.
We started cheering for their success when I saw another Hollow appear behind him. I had just started to form my bow out of instinct when a different Quincy arrow flew up and destroyed it. I followed the arrow's trajectory back to its origin, and instead of a Quincy like I expected, I only found a long metal device with a cross on it and a book with a note on top. I hid them in my robes, being the first there, and looked behind me as Captain Shiba arrived.
"Takumi? You're a…?" he asked me, stunned my appearance.
I shook my head. "No. I was the closest person to this position and raced to get here before the person could escape," I told him, bowing deeply.
He studied me for a minute before the rest of the students arrived as well as Lieutenant Matsumoto. "Did you manage to see him?" he asked me.
I shook my head. "No, he escaped before I could arrive," I replied. It was actually a lie, because I caught a glimpse of white hair before the figure disappeared.
He nodded and placed a hand on my shoulder. "Don't worry about it. By the way, good job to all of you for dealing with the Hollows until we could arrive, you have our thanks," he told all of us before pulling out a device and pressing a few buttons. The Senkaimon doors appeared again and the Captain and Lieutenant carried the upperclassmen's bodies as we followed a group of Hell Butterflies to the Soul Society again.
"What happened?" some Soul Reapers asked Captain Shiba when we arrived.
"Hollows broke through the barrier and attacked the students," he explained as some Squad Four members took away the upperclassmen. Among them was Hanataro, and he was relieved when he saw me among the group. As he left I could tell that one of his next stops would be to Koharu, whom I hadn't seen since my first day at the Academy. Since then, I had grown slightly, become more muscular, and my hair had become much shaggier.
"Are you all okay?" Lieutenant Matsumoto asked us. All the girls and I nodded, while the guys admired her…figure. She just nodded and walked away.
"Alright, you guys should return to your rooms and relax after what you've been through, okay?" Captain Shiba asked us.
We all nodded, but he came with us to make sure we all returned to our rooms safely.
"It's been good seeing you again, Takumi," Captain Shiba told me when we reached my room.
I bowed. "Good to see you, too, Captain Shiba," I replied. "Hopefully, when I graduate, I'll be able to join Squad Ten and rise through the ranks so that we will be able to fight together as equals."
He smiled. "I look forward to it," he said before walking away.
When I got to my room Akaguu leaped at my head, as usual, and I pet his back for a few minutes before I remembered the strange device and the book. I pulled them both out and read the note on it:
'Dear Reader,
The moment you crossed over into the World of the Living, I could sense your energy and I knew it was that of a Quincy, yet distorted somehow. I rushed to your location and found dozens of Soul Reapers training, and you were among them. I even saw you use a Kido technique against a Hollow. I don't know how you came to possess the powers of both a Soul Reaper and a Quincy, but I wish for you to learn the way of the Quincy, even if you insist on also being a Soul Reaper. I believe, though, that Quincies and Soul Reapers will eventually be able to coincide with each other, although I do not know how long it will take for this.
You are my hope for this. From the bow you started to form, I know that you can use it, but not from the Reishi surrounding you. This book will teach you everything you need to know for how to be a Quincy. The item that came with it is known as a "Seele Schneider", and it is a powerful Quincy weapon. This book also explains how to use it.
Use this book and your abilities to your greatest potential, and you will never ruin the Pride of the Quincies.
Soken Ishida'
"Wow," I whispered to myself. My first thought was how he was able to write the entire thing in such little time, but then my thoughts settled on the book. I opened it and began reading the first section, the history of the Quincies.
Once I got tired of reading the book, I marked my page and set the book under my bed so that it would at least be semi-protected.
I then detached my Zanpakuto from the sash securing it, placing it (in its sheath) on my lap. I had several hours before I needed to be anywhere, so I might as well do some training with my Shikai. I haven't used it outside my Inner World so that I could surprise everyone during my test at the end of the year to determine how many levels I should be elevated. Everyone takes it, but some have even been able to graduate in a single year. That was my goal, but my Hakuda wouldn't be good enough to allow me to graduate in that single year, but two should be enough.
"Akaguu, I need you to guard the door for me," I told Akaguu. He just looked at me before running out the slip in the window that allows him to come and go as he pleases. I rolled my eyes and closed my eyes, entering a meditative state.
"So, you've come back," my Zanpakuto Spirit said when I arrived. "When will you stop insisting on training here and work with the others?" he asked me.
I shrugged. "I don't want to reveal my power yet," I replied.
He nodded, at least I think he did, and flew over to me. "Today, I will help you reduce the size of my unreleased form," he told me. "I dislike being in such a large form, it decreases my speed."
I smiled but nodded as he showed me how to further reduce the size of my Zanpakuto blade until it was the size of an average katana. He also taught me how to quickly return it to its lengthened form if I'm against an opponent with greater physical strength so that I will be able to build up power in the larger blade.
"Now, do you believe you have fully mastered summoning my Shikai?" he asked me afterwards.
I nodded and released the Shikai form with his name and the release phrase. I'm not telling you the name or what it looks like until later, though, to make the surprise even better when I finally do.
He nodded and examined it. "Very good. I will now teach you the first technique you can use with my Shikai," he told me. He flew up into the air, and Reishi formed around his wings. He flapped them once and multiple projectiles flew from them, shaped like his feathers.
"Whoa!" I exclaimed, using my blades to block the projectiles. "Watch where you're aiming those things! You're supposed to teach me, not try to kill me!" I yelled at him.
He narrowed his eyes at me. "I am using a teaching technique you are familiar with," he told me. "You learned flashstep in this identical manner. The Soul Reapers were chasing you with flashstep, and after long enough you learned to copy their techniques. It worked then, and it will work now," he explained.
I rolled my eyes but nodded as I carefully studied his attacks, watching as he formed blades with his energy, then launching them at me. It took a full month of this to master the basics, and another month to master it completely. When I did, I was so happy while meditating that my outburst of energy blew everyone nearby back by several feet.
"Did you manage to learn your Zanpakuto's name?" the teacher asked me, caught off-guard as well.
I opened my eyes and shook my head. As far as all of them but Haruka know, I have only been able to see it, not contact it. I told Haruka because she could tell I was lying when I told that to the teacher, and I didn't want to lose her as a friend. She's never seen my Shikai before.
"I was able to get it to speak to me," I told him.
He frowned. "What did he say?" he asked me.
"He said, 'You're younger than I expected'," I replied, making up a random phrase.
The teacher sighed and nodded before we left for our next class.
The next several months seemed to go by fast. At the end of the first month, I had almost mastered the concept of using the Seele Schneider and carried it strapped to the inside of my left arm in case of emergencies, although I rarely practiced so that I wouldn't attract attention. As we got into harder techniques in our Zanjutsu class, I picked them up easily, although Haruka had troubles keeping up. I started helping her train to keep up, and in exchange, she helped me with healing Kido. I was absolutely horrible at it, unlike Hado techniques, but she was very good at it, so she helped me with it. Through our tutoring of each other, we both rose in skill. By the time of the yearly Recruitment Fair, we were both near the top of our class.
For those of you who don't know what it is, every year representatives from each Division of the 13 Court Squads as well as from the Onmitsukido and Kido Corps. It's optional for lower-classmen, but for all upper-classmen, it's mandatory so that they can have a choice in where they go after they graduate.
"So, do you think you're gonna go to the Fair?" Haruka asked me the morning of. There were no classes that day so that nobody would miss out on anything.
I shrugged. "Probably. I might just visit the Squad Four booth to see if it's anybody I know," I replied.
She smiled. "I'm thinking about going, just to see if any of the Squads stand out to me," she replied.
I nodded. "That's a good idea, I'll do that, too," I agreed.
After we finished breakfast we went to the main courtyard at the Academy, where fifteen stalls were set up for the different groups.
"Where do you wanna begin?" Haruka asked me when we arrived.
I shrugged and pointed to the stall for Squad One. "Might as well start with number one," I told her.
She nodded and we walked over to it, where a man was handing out flyers. "Ah, hello! How are you on this fine day?" he asked us as we approached.
We smiled. "Very good, thank you," we replied, accepting the flyers and looking through them before moving on to Squad Two's booth. I don't know how she did it, but Captain Sui-Feng managed to get her Lieutenant to man the booth.
"Hello, here are your fly—hey, Takumi!" Lieutenant Omaeda exclaimed when he saw me.
I smiled. "Hello, Lieutenant Omaeda," I replied, shaking his outstretched hand.
He grinned. "So, I didn't know you joined the Soul Reaper Academy!" he said. "Captain Sui-Feng is one of the people overseeing the examination, but she never tells me stuff like that," he explained. "I had been wondering why I hadn't seen you around in so long."
I smiled and nodded. "Yeah, I've been here that entire time," I replied.
Haruka's eyes widened during that entire conversation. "Seriously? How many seated officers do you know personally?" she asked me.
I counted them off in my head. "All Captains and Lieutenants except for those of 1, 12, 3, and 5," I replied. I've met Captain Yamamoto, but I don't know him enough to be casual, I never really liked Captain Kurotsuchi, and there was always something about Captains Ichimaru and Aizen that creeped me out.
Her jaw dropped slightly. "So, you know nine Captains and Lieutenants on a casual basis?" she asked me.
I shrugged as we passed the Squad Three booth and took the flyers. "Well, not on a casual basis, but yeah," I told her.
"Which Captain do you think you like best?" she asked me.
I shrugged. "I would rather avoid that question, as one of the candidates is standing next to us," I replied as we reached the Fourth Squad booth, where Captain Unohana herself was handing out flyers to students. When she saw us she smiled and held out two flyers. "Hello, it's nice to see the two of you again," she told us as we accepted the flyers. Haruka, I heard that you have a talent with healing Kido."
Haruka smiled and nodded as we moved on to the Fifth Squad's booth.
"So, who's your least favorite Captain?" Haruka asked me as we moved on to Squad Six.
"Captain Kurotsuchi," I replied immediately. "I hate how he looks at me, like I'm a lab subject.
"That is simply because I still cannot recall where I have sensed your spiritual pressure before," Captain Kurotsuchi stated as he appeared behind us.
We spun around, startled by his appearance. "C-Captain Kurotsuchi! You s-surprised me!" I stuttered out of surprise.
He sneered at me. "Yes, I can tell. Since we last met, I have developed a theory on your spiritual pressure, but I still need to research more before I can be sure," he told me.
I snarled at him. "It's a good thing you're the head of the Research and Development sector," I told him.
He openly frowned at me as his hands neared his Zanpakuto. "Watch your tongue, boy," he snapped before walking away, his Lieutenant quickly following.
"I see why you don't like him," Haruka commented as we arrived at the Squad Seven booth, where someone was handing out the flyers.
"Out of all these choices, which Squad would you prefer to join after you graduate the Academy?" Haruka asked me as Squad Nine's booth.
I paused in thought. "Hmm…probably…Squad Ten," I replied. "Captain Shiba is pretty cool, and his Lieutenant is really nice."
"Aw, thanks, Takumi!" a loud voice said as we saw Lieutenant Matsumoto at the Squad Ten booth. "I hope you join Squad Ten, too!"
I smiled and nodded. "Sure, but I'll make sure to avoid your parties," I replied. "I've heard stories from Squad Four members about them."
She rolled her eyes innocently. "I have no idea what you're talking about," she stated. I just smiled and grabbed a flyer and moved on to the booth for Squad Eleven. Captain Zaraki wasn't there (I didn't expect him to be), and instead, Yachiru was there.
"Taku! It's been so long, Taku!" Yachiru cheered when she saw me.
I nodded and smiled hesitantly. Her enthusiasm can become annoying at times. "Yeah, it's been a while, Yachiru," I replied as she sat on a stool so that she could see over the table. "I'm surprised you aren't with Captain Zaraki."
She shrugged. "Kenny doesn't really like going to this place, and every once in a while one of the top two seats in each Squad has to go, so I went!" she explained.
"So, Yachiru, why do you call Takumi 'Taku'?" Haruka began to ask when I clamped my hand over her mouth to shut off her speech.
Yachiru grinned, having heard most of it. "Well, that's what I call him! I give everyone nicknames, and that's his!" she explained.
Haruka smiled as we moved on to Twelfth Squad's booth, but I just kept moving since Kurotsuchi was there.
"Ah, hello, Takumi!" Captain Ukitake said when he saw me.
I nodded and accepted the flyer. "Aren't there usually less Captains here than usual?" I asked him. "From stories I heard, there's occasionally one, and I've met three so far."
He smiled and nodded. "Ah, yes, about that," he said. "Every Captain is required to run their own booth once every ten years. Captain Unohana does it every year because she enjoys it, and most of us are doing it now because we haven't done it yet, and this is the final of ten years. You should have seen it when Captain Yamamoto shows up, that booth is always crowded."
I smiled, imagining it. "It definitely sounds interesting," I replied.
Haruka got to us right then. "Another Captain?" she said, shocked.
Captain Ukitake nodded. "Yes, it's nice to meet you," he said, handing her a flyer. "Do you have any questions about my Squad?" he asked her.
"Um, what is the duty of your Squad?" she asked him.
He smiled. "That's an excellent question," he replied. "My Squad protects several areas in the World of the Living, and in times of emergency, we aid in the protection of the Seireitei."
She nodded and we looked at the two booths for the Stealth Force and Kido Corps. They didn't have much, although Captain Sui-Feng was at the Stealth Force booth.
"Let me guess, you haven't done your required time at the booth?" I asked her.
She frowned. "You need to respect your superiors, Takumi Shimizu. Your mother respected people, and it got her places," she told me.
I sneered at her. I hate it when she uses my mother as an example for me.
"Wait, your mom was a Soul Reaper?" Haruka asked me. I had forgotten that I had never told her about my mother.
I nodded. "Yeah, she was the Eighth Seat in Squad Two," I replied.
Her jaw dropped slightly. "So, that explains your skill in flashstep, but not in Hakuda," she replied. I'm at the top for our Hoho class, but I'm near the middle for Hakuda.
Captain Sui-Feng narrowed her eyes. "So, your flashstep has improved?" she asked me.
I shrugged, but Haruka intervened. "Absolutely! On his best day, he beat the teacher!" she said.
I rolled my eyes. "He was holding back," I replied. "I had seen him go way faster before."
We continued the argument a few minutes longer before leaving the Fair and hanging out in a forested area, where there were also training areas.
"So, will you finally show me your Shikai?" Haruka asked me as we got ready to practice our Zanjutsu.
I smiled. "I will when you achieve Shikai so that we may both fight with them," I replied as I drew my Zanpakuto, which is now the length of an ordinary katana, and got into my stance. We soon began fighting while making sure not to injure. I had her disarmed and defeated in five moves, though. I don't know how, but I can see just the smallest hints as to an opponent's attack, and I use that to defeat my opponent. Our Zanjutsu teacher calls it the 'Gift of the Warrior' when I talked to him about it.
Our end-of-year test took place a few months later, and when it was time for it, we were both excited.
A/N: Hello again, everyone! I'm baaaaaaaack! I'm going to be adding quite a few chapters right now to make up for not updating in so long, so be prepared!
See ya next time!
~dicarten_ice
