Chapter 10

Hiroko's graduation came and went. She was appointed her very own Zanpakuto three weeks in advance, and then was appointed into Squad Four. She was introduced to the Captain, and the Lieutenant, and given a room to stay in, along with all the other Soul Reapers in that squad. I was happy for her. Although, I wasn't too happy to get my roommate. It was a guy, Marc I think he called himself. His hair was blonde, and hung just at the tips of his ears. His eyes were green. He was tall. Slightly handsome.

He kept to himself many times. Refused to talk to me, or even look in my direction. I would find him sometimes in the night, talking in his sleep. He would talk about revenge... How sweet she was going to be. It made me nervous. I don't want to be with him longer than I have to. I would get on with all my classes, and stay as far as possible from him at lunch.

Whoever he was.

I felt something near him.

I didn't like the feeling. It felt like I'm underwater and can barely breathe.

I would push the thought out of my mind. But it would always creep back in once in a while.

It was the end of the third week since Marc had become my roommate. I was fast asleep. When I woke up suddenly. I sat up in my bed, looked over at the bed beside me. No one was in it. Just the shadows casted by the trees outside the window. My gaze focused on the faint beam of light coming from the bathroom. The door was closed, but not fully. I wanted to believe he was just going to the bathroom.

Go check it out

"What? Are you crazy? I'm not walking in on him!" I argued with the figure.

You don't have to. Just get close to the door, see if you can hear anything.

"Why should I? He's not hurting anyone." I paused. Chuckled a little to myself. "Look at me. I'm arguing with an imaginary black figure."

There's something terribly wrong with that man. You need to find out what he's up to. And as imaginary as you want to believe I am. You will soon see how important I will be.

"I don't have to you want me to."

Just do it!

The figure then disappeared. I was contemplating his orders. Should I do it? What if he really was up to something? What if he finds out I spied on him? What am I thinking... He's not up to anything. Damn figure.

The curiosity was still there. I crawled out of bed, and crept over by the door. I listened, for anything. But there was no sound. The next thing I knew, my hand was reaching for the door. What are you doing? Trying to get yourself in trouble? Dumbass stop! I yelled at myself. My hand kept moving. Finally reaching the door, I pushed it open, and I peaked inside. No one was in there.

"Way to go. You lied to me." I said to the figure. I sighed in relief. Glad he wasn't really in there. I also questioned where he was. It was around one-thirty. He should be asleep. Like everyone else. Like me five minutes ago.

I didn't lie! He was there!

"whatever, I'm tired. I'm going back to bed."

In the morning I woke up. Next to me, was Marc. He was awake, staring at the ceiling.

"Uh, morning." I greeted. He just turned on his side. His back facing me.

"Er, okay. We should really get ready for today."

See there's something wrong with him!

"No shit. I found that out from day one. Where the hell were you at?" I murmured

You need to follow him around. Do what ever you can to find out what's wrong.

"You know what? I don't! You're just a stupid figure in my head! I don't need to do shit for you!" I blurted. Marc looked my way. My face flushed red. I couldn't think of any excused to why I just blurted out, so I just awkwardly went into the bathroom. Locked it.

"See what you made me do? I damn near made a fool of myself 'cause of you!"

I guess I have to show you my true identity if you are to believe me. Kirie, I am your Zanpakuto's spirit... Yakkaina Oni

"Don't be stupid. I haven't even got a Zanpakuto just my wooden sword."

The black mist that has been following me for well over a year now, began to transform. It transformed into a tall muscular man. He had orange spiky hair, with eyes to match. He wore a black cloth, covering his mouth. He wore an orange jacket, lined with black fabric, open slightly. Exposing his hardened abdominal area. His pants were orange, and tight. On his arms, he wore black blades, that protruded back to his elbows. He had black boots that came up to the middle of his calves. There were blades protruding the back of them aswell.

I wasn't sure I was ready to show myself to you. But, if it is what I must do to get you to find out more on this man. Then I shall.

I couldn't believe what I saw. What he was telling me. If he was willing to do this, than this Marc character must be some news.

"So, you're telling me you're... My Zanpakuto?"

Yes. We can't talk now. Not about him. We will see each other in our realm.

The fig-Yakkaina Oni, then disappeared. What was he talking about, our realm? I had to talk to Gengoro. He'd know what to do. And what Yakkaina Oni was talking about. I finished getting my uniform together, and left the dorms, searching for Gengoro. I found him in the Mess Hall, ordering himself some breakfast. I called to him.

"Do you remember that time I told you about that figure that told me what to do 'n' stuff?" I felt anxious. I wanted to tell him as fast as I could. He remained calm, finishing his breakfast order.

"Why, sure I do. Why? What's on your mind?"

"It finally showed its true form!"

He stopped ordering, and jerked around. "You serious?"

"As serious as I can be."

Me and him sat down and I began explaining to him what he looked like. He listened intently. His expression changing with every sentence I uttered. When I was finished, he sat astride in his seat.

"This doesn't make sense. You don't even have a Zanpakuto yet." he commented.

"Yeah, I know. He also wanted me to find out more information on my new roommate."

He looked at me with a puzzled look. "What?"

"I got a new roommate a few weeks ago. His name is Marc. He's really strange, but nothing that I should have to stalk him for."

"Anything else?"

"There is one more thing." I added, thinking about what it told me. "It said that if we wish to speak again, I have to join him in our realm. What does that mean?"

Gengoro sat in silence for a few moments, before speaking. "Well then, I guess it's time for you to get your Zanpakuto!"

I shot him a confused look. "But sir, aren't Zanpakutos only for the graduating students?"

"Yes, but it seems that your spirit wants to communicate with you right away. And seeing how you still have along ways to go in the Shin'o Academy, that would be almost impossible."

"So... What are we going to do?"

"He obviously wants you to communicate with him. Until you can graduate he will have to either wait, or communicate the way he was prior to this incident."

"So, he's just going to have to deal with not talking to me for five more years?"

"Not necessarily. If you meet me in the Zanjutsu Training Hall every night after curfew for special training, you should be able to graduate within a year or two."

"Why, thank you sir! This really means a lot to me." I thanked. He gave me a hard pat on the back, and sent me off to class. Just as I was about to barge into the Kido Training Field late, I stopped. The vision of the large wooden door began to blur, and fade away.