We were in the 4th Division Barracks, were injured shinigami were treated, a part of Seireitei we've never been in before.
Renji, Kira, Hinamori, Hisagi and I were all in the same room, with Hisagi on a patient's bed. Though he was awake, he wasn't allowed to be up and moving yet. We were here as visitors, but in truth, this wasn't really a normal visit, let alone a cheerful one. None of us was speaking, and the cup of tea in our hands were untouched. It was like all of us were waiting for the others to start speaking, but none of us were willing to be the first.
Finally, the one who couldn't bear the silence most broke it. I smiled wryly as Renji snapped. I knew it would be him.
"Some of us has some explaining to do." He looked meaningfully at me.
I shrugged tiredly. "What do you want me to explain?"
"How did you take out a Hollow that killed two sixth years in just one swipe? You're strong...but not that strong."
Now, all of them were looking at me. Renji, Kira, Hinamori, Hisagi.
I avoided all of their gazes. I was a good liar. I knew very well if I didn't look them in the eyes while I gave an explanation that was the surest way to confirm I was guilty of something.
But I didn't want to lie to them anymore.
I silently apologised to Ichimaru-sensei in my heart.
"Guys, I-"
The door opened suddenly, interrupting me. Just as well, I thought. The second the first word had left my mouth I'd regretted my decision. I looked up, glad for the interruption. It was a shinigami of the 4th Division. "Visiting time is over. I'm afraid you'll have to return to the Academy now, students. Let the patient have his rest."
Hisagi watched as we all got up, me too eager and the other three too reluctant.
"Asuka."
I turned to look at him. His eyes had a weird, concerned look in them. "Yes?"
He was silent for a moment. Then he shook his head. "Nothing. It's fine. Go. I'll be alright."
I nodded. Then we left.
We were supposed to return to our respective dorms, since our teachers informed us that after yesterday, today's classes would be cancelled, as a kind of rest day. Hinamori disappeared into the direction of her room, and I followed behind, before I felt Renji place his hand on my shoulder.
"Asuka...we need to talk."
I turned. Renji was giving me his serious look, and so was Kira.
Should I? Should I not? I hesitated. I'd regretted the decision just now, but then again, after that long walk back to Shin'o Academy, I was having second thoughts again. However, Ichimaru-sensei had yet to contact me after yesterday night, and I didn't want to make any more rash decisions yet. Risking that just to avenge Hisagi's injured face was a bit too overboard, now I looked back, but I still didn't feel the slightest bit of regret, but I did feel guilty for tossing Ichimaru-sensei's words away so casually for a senpai who'd barely spoken with me for five minutes straight.
So for the sake of the teacher whose trust I betrayed, I decided to lie to the friends whom I'd deceived for two months already.
"About what?" I put on a surprised face.
Renji frowned. "About how you killed that Hollow last night. You haven't answered us yet."
"Oh, that." I let my facial expression relax into one that looked at ease. "I thought it was something serious, judging by that look on your face."
He looked ready blow, and even Kira almost dropped his jaw at my reply. I kept my composure. "Isn't this serious enough? When the hell did you get this strong? You could've rivalled a seated division member of Gotei 13!"
I snorted. This I didn't need to fake. It came easily enough when I was talking to the idiot whose name was Abarai Renji. "Dude, how the hell would you know the level of a seated Gotei 13 member?" I stuck my tongue out at him.
He flushed, and I smirked inwardly at the small victory as Kira, flustered, tried to calm him down. Sometimes I was just glad that he had such a short fuse.
"Don't change the subject!" Renji yelled. We were in one of the Academy gardens, and thank goodness no one was nearby, or else someone would have come running at the volume of his angry shout.
"Come on, chill, Renji." I glared at him, genuinely irritated with his persistence. Geez, why couldn't he just get the hint and let the subject drop already? Kira was barely restraining him, as it was.
"Asuka! Renji! What's going on?"
I let out a relieved sigh. Finally, someone who could save some energy for me.
"Hey, Rukia! Good to see you."
"What happened to Renji?"
"Being an idiot and a dick to me, as usual."
"Don't mind him, he's always like that."
"HEY I AM RIGHT HERE YOU KNOW CAN YOU TWO NOT TALK ABOUT ME LIKE I'M NOT HERE?" He bellowed.
A kick to his face from Rukia shut him up and he went flying and hit a tree trunk then slid to the ground, unconscious. Kira walked over and leaned down, peering at his face.
"Erm...Rukia? I think you went overboard with that kick. He's completely out." Kira commented, giving Renji a few cautious pokes to his face. A huge red footprint was starting to show on his face. I suppressed a nervous giggle at the thought of Renji waking up later with a swollen face.
"Well...I'll be dragging him back to the dorm then," Kira sighed, straightening.
"Sorry about that, Kira," I said, watching as he started lugging Renji away like a really heavy sack of potatoes.
"It's nothing. Go get some rest, Asuka-san. Yesterday night was pretty taxing on you, so you need it."
"Thanks."
Rukia looked puzzled. "Yesterday night? I heard something about real Hollows, but I didn't think you guys were involved in it. Did anyone get hurt?"
I turned an incredulous eye on her. "You don't know? I'd have expected the rumours to have flown twice around the Academy already? Out of three of the sixth years who led the training, two of them died. The only one surviving is Hisagi Shuuhei, and he sustained some serious injuries."
The girl looked utterly shocked. "I-impossible. Sixth years are like almost..."
"Almost shinigamis, huh? I thought so too. But apparently, 'almost' is not enough. Sorry, Rukia, I have somewhere I need to go to." I started walking away from Rukia.
"Where?"
I didn't even look back. "To my training."
As soon as I was far away enough from Rukia, he appeared.
"Sensei." I muttered, bowing in his direction.
The man appeared from amidst some bamboo trees, his white hair, closed eyes and huge grin a perfect giveaway to who he was, if the 5th Division Lieutenant badge on his right arm wasn't indication enough.
"Asuka, how did you know I was here?"
"Please." I rolled my eyes at him. "You were there a bit before the 4th Division member asked us to leave. You weren't even bothering to conceal your spiritual pressure."
"My, my, that was careless of me, wasn't it? But then again, it was also careless of you to use that when we agreed not to."
"I'm sorry. It won't happen again."
Ichimaru-sensei sighed, though I guessed it was another of his theatrics. I rolled my eyes again. Seriously, everything was a game to this guy. "Unfortunately, the higher-ups have already received various reports on your feats yesterday night, from me, from Captain Aizen and from that sixth year student Hisagi Shuuhei. Because of your rash actions, I'm afraid you'll have to suffer some consequences."
"I know that, sensei, you warned me. What are those consequences?"
"Well, they haven't made a decision yet, but Captain Aizen is convinced that they're going let you graduate early."
"How early?" I'd heard that there were some other students who'd also spent less than the customary six years at Shin'o Academy before going straight to the Gotei 13. Ichimaru-sensei himself was one. He'd graduated in just one year, and was celebrated as a prodigy because of that.
"By the end of this year."
I sighed. I'd expected this much. Judging by his unchanging expression, he'd also expected my reaction too. We didn't have all those lengthy talks and discussions during our training sessions for nothing.
"You didn't come all the way here to tell me that." It wasn't a question. He didn't answer. Ichimaru-sensei just kept smiling. If anything, his grin got wider.
I squinted at him. That was the look he gave me whenever he was going to give me extensive training. "Don't tell me..."
"Uhuh. I don't have the 13 Protection Squads in mind for you..."
"Hey! I entered this Academy to get into Gotei 13! You can't make my decisions for me, even if you are my teacher!" I yelled at him. He just looked amused.
"...yet." He continued.
"Eh?!" I exclaimed, surprised. Damn him, he loved playing with his little games.
"Your training is about to get harder, but trust me, Asuka, your hard work is going to pay off some day."
I narrowed my eyes at him. "What if I don't want to? You aren't going to force me are you?" Actually I was dead sure he could, it was just I really wasn't certain on the whether he would or not part. Sometimes I wished I knew more about him. Darn, he was hard to read. Even his aura never changed.
"My, my, aren't we getting excited here," he made a calm down gesture with his hands. "Asuka, please, you have the rest of the year to think this out. There is not need to rush. And no, I'm not going to force you. But then again, if you don't accept my offer..."
He opened his eyes the slightest bits, and his blue eyes stared straight into mine. "...it would be your ultimate loss...Asuka."
