I don't own Bleach.

Chapter 10: To Fight, To Survive.

Keigo was thankful to leave room that woman gave him the creeps. Now he liked women a lot and she was sexy, but she had a predatory air about her it reminded him of those red eyes too much.

Now, now, now I'm not some sluttish whore, It laughed, actually cackled was more accurate. Keigo saw razor sharp teeth dripping with blood in the back of his mind. That smile wasn't human. The boy shivered. He ran out not noticing the blond glancing at him then saying something to the teacher. The man cast a meaningful glance at the boy. The blond scowled at the man as if he were scum. She smiled softly at the back of Keigo's head, "Poor kid." Keigo caught her words and turned back. But the woman had turned back to the desk and seemed to be gathering up some papers. He left with the last of the other students.

Everyone else was waiting on him under the sakura tree. He smiled and waved, "Hey!"

"Keigo, move your lazy ass! I'm hungry!" Keiko screamed at him earning strange looks.

"Keep your damn pants on woman!" Keigo also earning stares and some giggles. He ran through the crowd to meet up with his friends.

"Oh, god Keigo, you know you have a fan club already. Your reputation has proceeded you."

"What reputation!" Keigo pouted in anger. Suddenly he heard giggles behind him.

"Hi, Keigo, Keiko said she was friends with you. We didn't believe her. Hum, looks like you aren't a total liar." Keigo turned to see three girls they were smirking past him at Keiko. The ring leader seemed to be the one in the middle.

'of course how cliché,' Keigo thought.

"You are pretty cute, but your friend over there now he's gorgeous. So is it true, what people have been saying?" She was twisting her curly auburn hair around her fingers. She gave him the once over, 'Hell did someone slip an aphrodisiac in the women's drinking water?' Keigo scratched his head. He wasn't listening to the girl any more. She frowned, dissatisfied with his inattention, "Well?"

"Actually it is true, my friends and I are very hungry. Thanks for asking," Keigo grabbed Keiko's arm and lead her away followed by Kiku and Ryou. The redhead and her flunkies glared at them. "So that's my fan club?" Keigo elbowed Keiko.

She was frowning, "Oh her, no Rei's just a bitch. She was hoping you really knew 'The Kurosaki'. Watch out for her she just wants to sleep with famous and powerful shinigami. Her friends are also in it to meet famous people. You are practically a celebrity weather you like it or not.

He did notice many people seemed to be watching him. He hated it. It's like being a caged animal at the zoo.

Tell me about it, at least the zoo'd have better food, old red eyes chimed in. 'Are you gonna do this all day?' Keigo asked the other in an incensed tone.

Keigo felt a tug on his arm. "Wake up Keigo we're here," Keiko whispered in his ear. His blood boiled, and he was blushing.

"Damn-it don't do that!" Keigo loosened his arm from hers and got in line at the mess hall. They had plenty of food again this time Keigo managed to eat his fair share. Keiko tried to take his grilled fish but he snatched his bowl away from her quickly and laughed as she fell face first onto the table. Men and woman

turned around to ogle the scene. Keiko seethed into the rough wooden table.

"Serves you right for trying , emphasis on the trying, to steal my food," he slid his last piece of fish into his mouth and savored it as she looked longingly at the empty bowl.

"Awe I don't have time to go back for more," Keiko pouted. Ryou slid his bowl to her offering his last fish. She smiled at him thankfully trying to look like he was giving her the bread of life itself.

Keigo didn't know why but he felt an ugly twinge of jealously toward Ryou, but it passed quickly. Kiku was watching Keigo watch Keiko and she blushed and looked down at her own bowl. She still had hardly touched her meal.

"You better eat Kiku, you don't want to faint during the sparing tests," Ryou looked concernedly at her. She nodded and scooped up some of her rice with her chopsticks. She hurriedly gulped down the last of her meal. Her friends waited patiently on her. They were the last ones to leave they separated to rejoin

their classes. Keigo hoped he would do better on this test then the last. He really hoped he didn't get the snot beat out of him.

Before he completely lost sight of his friends he screamed, "Good luck you guys!" his friends all turned and waved Ryou and Keiko disappeared down the same path together. Kiku blushed and nodded at him, going down a different path. He back tracked the path he had taken from the class room, but then fell in behind

the rest of his make shift class. He noticed a couple of new faces that weren't in class before. Then he remembered the boy took away those nine, *They must have split them up so they could take the rest of the tests with us. Keigo walked up to a very tall man, he looked older, but his shoulders slumped. He

noticed the man was carrying a sword.

"H-hello, My name is Keigo Asano, are you here for the test too." He was unsure the man was wearing the the same uniform as he was. This man felt powerful, scary powerful. The man turned and Keigo was surprised to see a middle aged face, with hard features, but gentle eyes. They were solid black and most would say they were deadly serous. To Keigo they only seemed to convey profound sadness. He had roughly cut short black hair. His face was all angles and scars. He had chiseled features but he looked more used then hansom. He didn't look unkind, but on the same note he looked like a potential killer. He could be anything. The man nodded to Keigo. "So d-do you have a name?" Keigo forced a smile.

The man seemed to accept the friendly gesture. "Acacio," His voice was fluid and clear. It did not match the rough exterior. It made Keigo think of the stuff they call quick silver, it was actually mercury. He didn't know how he knew that useless bit of information, but it made him think of liquid silver that flowed like silk, but was poisonous. The man looked at him blankly, but he returned the greeting, "Pleased to meet you Asano, are you the promising young lad everybody seems to be watching for?" Again his voice gave away nothing; no trouble, interest, or annoyance.

Keigo scratched his head and nodded, "I guess so. I haven't seen any other Keigo Ansanos around here yet. I hope I'm not a big let down to everyone." He looked at the almost robotic face of the older man. He smiled and saw a smile ghosted the mans mouth then disappeared quickly. It was such a sad smile, but it was beautiful because of the sadness. Keigo saw that Acacio was really a kind man. The rest of the way they walked in silence.

The students found themselves in a large arena like setting. Students were gathered in an outdoor training ground enclosed by a natural amphitheater. Students were setting along the bowl shaped indention. Keigo and Acacio mimicked this action. Everybody was looking at the center of the field. Instructor Sasaki was facing the throngs of eager and not so eager students.

"Good afternoon I hope that you all enjoyed your lunch because you are about to earn every bite of it. He smiled seductively. The women swooned, Keigo rolled his eyes. His neighbor, Acacio, remained blank.

"We will be pairing you off to spar my assistants and I will be observing you. Just follow your instincts and please try not to get to badly hurt. You will be called up eight at a time and each team of two will face off in one of the four

designated areas. This is not a tournament, winning will not guarantee a passing grade," he frowned, "Killing will of course disqualify you and you will be banned permanently from the academy. Maiming will also disqualify you. ...And no weapons. Other then that there are no rules." He read off eight names none Keigo recognized so he sat staring across the field. He noticed the blond and brunette woman were watching the matches.

Suddenly the brunette blew a whistle. It was supposed to put a stop to the fight. It did not. She jumped in and pulled a rather strange looking woman out of the ring. She was quite small. Her opponent was lying on the ground bleeding. The brunette wrestled something out of the smaller woman's hand. It looked like a knife from where Keigo sat.

Acacio huffed, "It seems the little one was not listening when the rules were explained." He spoke slowly and methodically.

"Yeah, she used a knife, and If I am not mistaken that other girl is missing some fingers now," Keigo's voice was sad. He felt pity well up in his heart for the girl, 'Maybe they can save her fingers?'

'Grow a backbone you pussy!' Red eyes spoke to him. Its teeth glinting. She wasn't fit for battle. It's win or die on the battle field. She would be dead a real situation.

'Are you my personal motivational speaker,' He sardonically bit out the words in his head.

'You could say I'm the thing that's gonna keep you alive until Haimon chooses to wake up. Then you can go to hell for all I care. You are just the vessel. Get over yourself you piece of shit!'

'You can go to hell nowfor all I care. If I knew I could do it, I'd dig a spoon into my brain and scoop you out!' Keigo was screaming in the inside, his face was as placid as his new friend's.

The other bouts were ended and soon eight more people were called up. He still was not among the lucky eight. Keigo noticed three of the first group were standing on the side lines, the rest were carried off, Keigo correctly assumed they must have been taken to the infirmary.

These fights were mostly predictable. He was glad he had a chance to observe the dances as they played out. There was a pair that was particularly elegant like a poem in movement. He was captivated, it was a slender young woman, and a tall well muscled male. She moved with the carriage of a swan. She even resembled a swan. The man was aggressive and cruel looking, like a tiger. He lunged swiftly and fluidly. They seemed well matched. He swung at her face. She caught his fist. He swung his leg at her ribcage he made contact. She countered with her fist, and broke away from him. She dodged and hooked her foot around his ankle. He was finally brought dawn. Their fight ended. The three other victors were waiting on the side lines with the three from the first round. Keigo missed all the other fights watching the woman's slow and graceful movements.

"Well that's sixteen down about forty-seven to go," Keigo counting in his head. Another round neither Keigo nor his new friend were called yet. Then another round, Keigo had to admit it is boring he'd rather be called upon then have to sit through one more round. The numbers in the audience were dwindling. The students that had fought and were considered the winners shuffling around talking amongst themselves. Acacio was called up. Keigo wished his new friend luck. The man went with the other seven.

He was paired with a tall lanky boy that looked to be about Keigo's age. The boy looked out matched, but Keigo had learned since coming to the soul society that outward appearances were deceiving. The man took his sword off and handed it to The blond assistant.

The boy was pale with white hair and red eyes. The eyes, he hated them. Acacio bowed in respect to the boy. The albino said something, he didn't bow. He looked down right disrespectful. He launched the first attack. Acacio raised from the bow to block a kick to the face. The boy twisted in the air and brought his other foot down on the man's shoulder. He stumbled back.

The boy landed on his hand and sprang back to his feet. Acacio waited. The boy looked cocky. He punched, but was blocked. "Acacio's surly not fighting seriously. I can sense his power," Keigo mumbled. The man just waited for the boy to come to him. The boy landing hard blows him only blocking, never dodging, just blocking. The older man was strong, he was not fast. He was deliberate.

Keigo watched the boy running around him jabbing and kicking at the man. He smirked. The wind caught his words so Keigo heard part of his monologue, "What's the matter old man to frightened to move, or just too weak?"

The boy went in for what he thought was the kill, Acacio touched the boy's collar bone he fell on his butt, a bruise was already forming. He scrambled up. He dove at the older man. Acacio touched his chest with two fingers. The boy fell again. He clutched the place on his chest. Even from where Keigo sat he saw a dark bruise form, spreading. The boy got up again. Again he attacked, though his movements were sloppy. He punched the old man's face. He blocked and place two fingers on the man's shoulder.

He said something to the boy and knocked him out of the ring out of the ring. The blond blew her whistle as the cocky albino got up and tried to run back into the ring. The Blond grabbed his shoulder he took a swing at her. She did not hesitate, she punched him in the stomach and carried him forcefully off the field.

Keigo heard murmurs from the few left inside the audience. Keigo counted again. Twenty three left, hey that leaves an odd number. Keigo had a suspicious feeling that he was going to be the odd one out. That was just how it always worked out for him. He saw his friend standing with the 'winners.' This was not supposed to be a competition, but it felt very much like one. Another round, Keigo was getting nervous. Then their were fifteen. Keigo hoped his name would be called.

'He, he, he, Maybe they forgot about you,' the voice laughed at him.

'Shut the hell up!' Keigo screamed, again in his head.

The last seven sat and watched they eyed each other wondering who they would be pitted against. Keigo just watched the bouts play out. He felt a foreign familiarity about this entire situation.

"Alright, I guess you seven know you're up," The teacher smirked. Keigo got up and followed. Keigo found his way down the field. He knew someone was going to be left out somehow, and he knew it would be him.

'He-he-he! The fates are conspiring against you! Come on let him out. WAKE UP HAIMON!' The thing snickered, red eyes sparked brown fur back lit by the midday sun. he was seeing it taunting him across the field. Large paws black claws. White fangs. It's body shaking with mirth. Keigo blinked and the thing was gone.

Keigo felt lost. Until he felt a hand come down on his shoulder, "Well kid looks like you need a partner. I'm not gonna make one of the other students fight again. You can fight me. Don't worry kid I wont be going easy on you. Keigo looked around helplessly he wanted desperately to quit, but it seemed too late.

The man was leading him to the unoccupied ring. Everybody was watching Keigo as if he was being lead to his death. Keigo noticed a bald headed man in a soul reaper uniform, next to him his prissy friend with the strange eyebrow adornment. Suddenly he realized that he had been set up, "You two bastards, you're behind all this. When I become a soul reaper I'm kicking both your asses!" Keigo glared at his conspiring friends.

"Don't disappoint me Asano!" Ikkaku yelled back. He looked truly entertained. Yumichika seemed to look constipated. He gave a brief wave the two stood along the border of the amphitheater, more people looking at the two visiting shinigami then the field. Ikkaku was looking interestedly at their little charge. He was looking forward to this almost as much as the swordsmanship test. Yumichika looked like he didn't want any part of the thrashing Keigo was about to receive. "Don't you dare go easy on that boy, Sasaki!"

Keigo had no clue what he was doing. He stood across from a man that would be his sensei if he managed to pass his tests. Keigo made no attempt to put up a guard. Sasaki bowed. Keigo copied his actions. As he straightened a fist was launched at him swiftly. He reflexive bent backward, and to the she left. He stumbled and almost fell. The man launched another assault, his fist his fist made contact with the ground and made a nice crater. Keigo rolled away on his feet. Sasaki kept up his attacks. He was smiling wildly. He said nothing. Keigo back tracked away. Keigo didn't try to hit back he was concentrating on surviving.

'Damn-it kid, FIGHT BACK,' Red eyes glaring at him, 'Haimon must be rolling over in his grave.'

'I thought he was just sleeping,' Keigo smarted off to the beast still trying not to get hit.

'Well I'd say getting stuck in a piece of shit like you is a fate worse then death, the thing snickered, Try hitting back.'

Keigo failed to completely avoid the fist that was flying toward him. He rolled to the side and took a hit in the ribs he felt a crack. He held his side.

'Remember in real life there are the victors and the dead.'

As much as he had really started to hate that voice he knew it was true. He needed to win. He let go of his side. He waited for Sasaki to attack again he was watching. The voice thankfully shut up. Sasaki punched and kicked quickly. Keigo was getting tired, but he was still dodging. His breathing hurt he was sure he at least had bruised ribs.

He was letting the man get closer each time before he dodged. Finally Keigo did something nobody would expect. Keigo grabbed Sasaki's arm he didn't let go. Sasaki looked surprised he tried to retract his arm. Keigo brought up his sandaled foot to the man's chest. He shoved hard on the man pulling his arm almost to the point of dislocation. He rocked backward onto his bottom and flipped the man over his head. Sasaki landed hard on his back. He lost his breath for a few seconds.

Keigo picked himself up. Breathing hard and turned to wait for the next attack. Sasaki got up himself. His smile was even wilder then before. He walked up to Keigo. He waited for the impact of another punch or kick. Sasaki simply looked at him, "That was fun, Ikkaku was right. The only thing wrong with you is that you don't trust yourself. Oh and you talk to yourself, a great deal." Sasaki smirked and slapped his shoulder which sent waves of pain through his torso, "Just go on over there with the others. I concede…this time." There was a glint in his eye. Everybody was watching them. Ikkaku and Yumichika both looked impressed.

'These people are all so freaking weird!'