Chapter 9 ~ The Academy begins

Kabuto´s P.O.V

Finally, after a few more weeks, was it time for my first year at the Academy and I had to admit that I was a little bit nervous because of it. Maybe it was because Hotaru told me that the training there was hard sometimes, though I still believed that I could make it easily. Back when I was alive, it was a piece of cake for me to learn Medical Ninjutsu and that is known to be hard as well, so I couldn´t believe that learning to become a Shinigami was that much harder. Though I could be wrong…

The only thing which made me feel a little bit confused, was the fact that I had such a feeling inside as if I´d miss Hotaru when I was away. It was inexplicable why I felt like this, but since she told me that she liked me, I felt different towards her. Be it that I didn´t have anybody who´d offer me his friendship just like that when I was alive nor that she was just a kind girl who helped me whenever I needed her. No matter what it was, I knew I´d miss her and this some kind of scared me, because I wasn´t used to feel like this. Well, but I can´t change it now…

On said day, when it was time for me to go, were the first ones to tell me goodbye Ichigo and Rukia, who also wished me good luck and that they believed in me, what made me feel, for my surprise, some kind of happy. Hotaru was quiet silent, what wasn´t ususal for her, but when her parents went away and we had to say goodbye as well, she appeared a little bit nervous and held then suddenly a little plush bunny in her hands, while she said a bit blushed:

"T- That´s for you!"

Surprised I took it from her and she continued:

"It´s a lucky charm, so that you´ll be successful at the Academy…"

A bit blushed I replied:

"T- Thank you…"

She looked obviously nervous to the ground, until she suddenly looked back up to me and said:

"I- I´ll miss you! And I hope we´ll see each other soon!"

Her face was reddened, but I found that quiet cute and smiled lightly, while I responded:

"Of course we will and I´ll miss you too…"

I mumbled the last part, but she heard it anyways and a happy expression appeared on her face. My face was heating up again as she pulled me into a hug, but I just sighed lightly and returned it, though that still gave me a rather unfamiliar feeling inside. Being close to somebody never was one of my strenghts…

~ a bit later ~

Feeling a little bit excited, I walked through the hallway of the Academy to attend my first Class, but was relieved that the first thing to do was to learn a few things out of books and stuff, instead of starting to practice right away. The Uniform bugged me some kind of, but at least I was wearing some pants again, so there wasn´t really something to complain about. As I had reached the Classroom, there were already a whole bunch of other Students inside, talking or just sitting silent on their seat. I caught sight of a seemingly silent seat, where not too many people were sitting at for the moment, which appeared good for me since I didn´t really want to have a conversation with any of the other students. Though Hotaru said I should be a bit more social, but oh well…

My head was resting on my palm as I was waiting for the teacher to arrive, but I looked from the corner of my eye to the side as I noticed somebody sitting down beside me. A bit surprised I realized him as that guy I met in front of the Academy Building, on that day when I was accepted here, but I didn´t know his name though, so that I just said:

"Hey."

With a bored glance in his eyes he looked at me, and replied:

"Yo."

We remained silent for the rest of the time, especially when the teacher finally came and started explaining what we´d learn here in his Class. Attentive I wrote some notes down, since I wanted to be as prepared for everything as I could, but learning about such things as Zanjutsu from a Book, wouldn´t help me that much when I had to use it in reality. As I saw, payed my brown-haired neighbour not much attention to what the teacher said, so that I asked myself if he neither just didn´t care nor if he already knew about all of those things. Well, not that I care…

Later on that day, we also went to the outside Training grounds, where we should test our skills in Swordmanship, wherefore we needed a partner to practice with. For some reason, did I find myself always near that guy, who I found out was called Takeshi, so that I decided to pair up with him. Sighing I tapped him on the shoulder and asked:

"Do you want to practice with me?"

For a few seconds he just looked at me, but then he just shrugged and took a fighting stance, as well as me. Though I wasn´t very skilled with fighting with a Sword, I still knew how to wield it and so I wasn´t as bad as I thought I´d be. Takeshi, on the other hand, was quiet skilled and could´ve defated me easily if we were in a real Battle.

The day continued like this, until it was time for everybody to go into their rooms, which I unluckily had to share with another person. Hopefully it isn´t an idiot…

I had already packed out my things and sat on my bed, while I was impatiently waiting for my fellow lodger to arrive as well. My attention was suddenly caught from a white fluffy thing which laid inside of my bag, and a smile appeared on my lips as I thought about Hotaru. Hmm I already miss her big mouth and her sarcastic comments…

All of a sudden cracked the door open and a certain blue eyed boy glanced uninterested inside, though he seemed surprised as he saw me. For a moment we just gazed at each other, until he suddenly spoke:

"Seems as if I´d stuck with you the whole time…"

A small smirk appeared on his face, while I replied:

"Indeed, but I prefer you more than some loud troublemaker…"

"Me as well…"

Surprisingly he held out his hand and I grabbed it, so that we could shake them. Afterwards he also made himself comfortable in the room, as he suddenly asked smirking:

"You´re a fan of bunnys as I can see…"

A decent blush spread across my cheeks, while I responded:

"That was a present from a friend…"

He just shrugged it off and laid down in his bed, where he slowly dozed off. For a while I was just laying there in silence, thinking about the next day and the things I´d learn. I can do this and gain a whole bunch of strength, so that I can return to the living world and continue my plans…