Moriko quietly walks down a dark hallway in Squad 13. She wears the Academy uniform: a red shitagi and matching hakama, a white kosode with red stripes and the circular emblem of the Academy mirrored on each side of her chest. Her feet are bare in the sandals that move noiselessly on the floor. Sniffing, Moriko approaches the door and slides it open cautiously to peer inside. A shaggy dark haired man Moriko recognizes as Ryuu stands with his back to her. He pours a steaming black liquid into a mug. Ryuu turns with his mug and starts at the sight of Moriko. The black liquid sloshes dangerously, but Ryuu steadies the cup with both hands.
"Jeez, you scared me half out of my wits again. Don't do that!" Ryuu exclaims. "I nearly lost my coffee!"
Moriko bites her bottom lip in chagrin as she enters the room, ducking her head sheepishly. Her stomach growls loudly before she can speak. Blushing, the wolf eared girl says, "I am sorry, Ryuu-sama, for startling you again. Is there anything I can eat?"
"You came to the right place," Ryuu replies with a grin. He gestures to the room, explaining, "Captain is pretty good about letting squad members have access to the kitchen. Can you cook?"
"I do not think I trust myself without instructions," Moriko confesses, remembering her attempt at roasting fish several days ago.
Ryuu's forehead wrinkles in thought. He puts the mug down and peruses the room. Moriko tilts her head while she watches Ryuu opening and closing various doors. His face lights up when he opens a white door, the cool air from within wafting into the room.
"How about some Onigiris?" asks Ryuu. The scruffy man brings a huge bowl to the table surrounded by four chairs. He sets the bowl down and uncovers it, explaining, "Akihana makes them whenever she's restless at night. They're pretty tasty."
Moriko creeps forward to peer into the bowl. Neat white balls of what Moriko identifies as rice nestle within. She hesitates before she takes one of the balls and tentatively bites into it.
"Well?" asks Ryuu as Moriko chews and swallows thoughtfully.
"It is not spicy...but the salt adds a nice flavor to it," Moriko says. She finishes her Onigiri in a few moments and frowns slightly, admitting, "But it does not take long to finish them."
"That's the beauty of them," Ryuu declares. He picks up an Onigiri, takes a hefty bite and explains around a mouthful, "You can eat as many as you want."
"Very well...if you say it is alright," Moriko answers. She picks up another Onigiri and proceeds to devour it.
A few minutes later, Ryuu stares in slight shock at Moriko finishes the Onigiri in her hand. The bowl is completely empty.
"How are you so skinny?"
Moriko shrugs sheepishly. "I do not know, Ryuu-sama… Is it okay that I ate so many?" asks the wolf eared girl.
Ryuu chuckles, scratching the side of his face, saying, "Ah, I wouldn't worry."
Moriko's shoulders relax before she tentatively smiles. She bows to Ryuu.
"Thank you, Ryuu-sama. I should be on my way."
"Isn't this a bit early?"
"Hai but I do not know the way to the Academy." Moriko bows her head, clutching her hands in front of her, as she confesses, "I found it by chance."
Ryuu sets his empty mug down on the counter. He asks, "Why don't I take you there?"
Moriko hesitates for a heartbeat before she smiles. "I would be grateful for your guidance, Ryuu-sama," Moriko says, bowing.
"You're a funny kid," Ryuu declares, ruffling the hair between her ears. He grins, saying, "Let's go."
They leave the squad as the dawn barely touches the sky. Moriko follows Ryuu who reminisces about his days at the Academy with Akihana. She listens with a small smile, glad to have his voice distracting her from the nerves twisting inside her gut. While she listens, Moriko notes their surroundings by their scents to memorize the path. A whiff of sakura blossoms causes Moriko to pause. The wolf eared girl turns her head to a neighboring building's rooftop. She glimpses the man from the other day before he vanishes from sight. Moriko blinks her red eyes. Was he really there? The black haired girl wonders.
"Moriko, we're here!"
Jolting slightly, Moriko looks forward to see Ryuu standing in front of the Academy. She hurries forward to stand opposite of Ryuu, bowing.
"Thank you for showing me the way. I will remember it."
"No problem. Come to me if you need help with anything," Ryuu tells her with a warm smile.
Moriko returns his smile with her own, saying, "Thank you, Ryuu-sama. I hope your duties go well today." She bows slightly to the man.
Ryuu grins and gives Moriko a 'thumbs up' before he heads back in the direction they came. She watches him until he vanishes from sight. The young woman breathes deeply before turning to the Academy and entering it. Inside the courtyard, it is quiet and empty. However, Moriko smells people within the Academy buildings surrounding the courtyard. She hesitates before she sits in the corner she and Hoshi sat in on the previous day. Her hand reaches back, but Moriko remembers she left her samisen behind.
Perhaps I should bring it if there is time to practice during the day, muses Moriko. Seeing a clear patch of dirt, she practices her handwriting, frowning in concentration. She huffs, annoyed at the messy characters. The wolf eared girl erases her characters and tries again. Moriko growls and bares her teeth because these characters are sloppier than the first attempt.
Footsteps approaching cause Moriko to look up from her messy characters. Walking her is the sandy blonde boy from the other day. He towers over her, blocking the sun from her eyes. The blue eyed boy wears the Academy uniform, but its color scheme is blue and white rather than red and white. His scent of oranges invades her nose with a pleasant tingle.
"Where's the cat?" asks the sandy blonde boy, plopping to sit across from Moriko. "Don't tell me that spitfire failed the exam."
"Hoshi will be here…I hope," Moriko admits. "She likes sleeping in as late as possible." The young woman scratches behind her left ear, eyes downcast, as she says, "About the exam day, I am sorry."
"For?"
Moriko looks up and sees the young man looking curiously at her.
"I am sorry for my friend attacking you. She is...impulsive." Moriko choses the word after a moment of mental searching, feeling the word described her younger friend well.
He snorts in laughter and grins at her, "So, mutt ears, you came early to mark your spot?" asks the young man.
Moriko's cheeks flame in embarrassment. She scratches behind her left ear, saying graciously, "They are wolf ears…but I suppose I could be mistaken for a dog. My name is Moriko."
The blonde boy laughs, grinning at Moriko, "You really don't know sarcasm when you hear it," remarks the blue eyed boy. "Careful. You'll be easy pickings with that oh so polite nature."
"I can defend myself if the need arrives," Moriko says, a bit puzzled. She shakes her head for a moment before she asks, "What is your name?"
"Masaru," he answers.
The wind shifts carrying the scent of jasmine and soap. Moriko turns towards the Academy doors and sees Hoshi. Like Moriko, Hoshi wears the Academy uniform but has her pouch at her waist as well. The furious look on the tiger eared girl's face makes Moriko nervous. Masaru follows Moriko's gaze. He smirks deviously before he waves casually at Hoshi.
"Morning, Shorty."
The fury on Hoshi's face intensifies. She stalks towards them.
"Say that again...Blondie," growls Hoshi.
Masaru's smirk turns into a glare. He rises to his feet, easily towering over Hoshi who stands in front of him, unintimidated by his height advantage.
"Don't call me Blondie!"
"I'm not a Shorty either!" Hoshi declares. "I'm the perfect size to take on anything! I'll take you on if you keep calling me that stupid nickname!"
Moriko scrambles to her feet. She steps between the two potential combatants, pushing them apart. Her hand twitches on Masaru's chest as if something shocked her hand, but Moriko keeps her hand there.
"There is no need to fight like this," Moriko pleads. "You two have only met twice."
"Yes there is!" The pair exclaim at the same time. They point accusing fingers at the other, declaring in unison, "She called me Blondie!/He called me Shorty!"
Chuckling directs Moriko's attention towards the Academy where Toshiyuki exits the building.
"I was wondering where the excitement was coming from this morning," the Kido sensei remarks when he stops before the three. He smiles and continues, "Considering who's here, I'm not at all surprised. Though...should I inform your sister that you are fighting again, Endo-sama?" inquires Toshiyuki, humor lurking in his eyes.
Sweat breaks out on Masaru's face. The young man rapidly shakes his head, exclaiming, "No!"
"I thought not," Toshiyuki answers with a nod. His kind expression turns serious before he states, "But you must watch your temper. It's because of that lack of control that you need to train your powers. We don't want an incident like the one before."
Masaru's face twists with brief pain. He lowers his head with a slight nod. Moriko wonders about what the sensei meant when her ears flick toward the other Academy students entering the grounds. Her ears pick up huge yawns and complaints of it being too early to start classes. Toshiyuki follows Moriko's gaze to the incoming students.
"Ah, the welcoming ceremony is not too far away. I'll see the three of you in my Kido class."
Masaru and Hoshi develop comically furious expression. They point at each other, exclaiming, "I'm in class with him/her?!"
Toshiyuki chuckles at the pair, remarking, "I say it will be good practice for the pair of you to control those tempers." His expression darkens as he states, "However…If you two fight in my class, I will make you both regret it. Understood?"
Moriko watches in fascination as both Masaru and Hoshi develop comically scared expressions while they nod rapidly.
"Hai!" The pair answers together. They then glare at each other out of the corner of their eyes.
Toshiyuki smiles with amusement in his eyes. "Until Kido then," murmurs as he walks away.
Moriko smiles, but it fades as the students keep coming. She has never seen so many people gathering in one place. After a short interval of time passes, the courtyard is full of students of many different ages all wearing their respective uniforms. Moriko stays close to Hoshi, a bit unsure of herself in the vast ocean of people.
Her wolf ears flick backwards towards squealing behind her. Whipping around towards the source, Moriko sees a familiar pink haired girl falling straight towards her. She shoots her hands out to catch the girl before she crashes into her. The force sends Moriko reeling onto her back, eliciting a startled yelp. Her pink haired assailant just giggles.
"Wow! Your eyes are so pretty! Just like blood," the little girl declares. Moriko gauges the tiny girl to be less than four and a half feet tall and was the weight of a feather.
Hoshi double takes at the sight of Moriko on the ground. "What?! How can I miss when a pint-sized brat can pounce on you and knock you down?!" exclaims the tiger-eared girl.
"Yachiru, what are you doing here?" asks Masaru.
"Oh," the pink haired girl says. Tipping her head back, Yachiru sees Masaru. She laughs before she jumps off Moriko onto Masaru. Yachiru lands neatly on Masaru's shoulder and bangs her hands against his head, declaring, "Bolty! You're in the Academy finally!"
Moriko winces on Masaru's behalf while he grimaces briefly.
"Finally?" sputters Masaru. "I could have gotten in easily the past two times if my spiritual energy wasn't so fickle in those days!"
"Do you know her, Masaru-sama?" asks Moriko, getting back to her feet.
"Bolty visits to play with Baldy!" exclaims Yachiru happily. She jumps from Masaru's back to Moriko, landing on her shoulder. Moriko winces as Yachiru tugs on her wolf ears.
"So they are real. I can't wait to tell Yun-Yun!"
Moriko grimaces when Yachiru bends down to look at Moriko's face. She sees the girl has a perpetual blush on her cheeks and dark pink eyes.
"What's your name?" asks the girl.
"It is Moriko, Yachiru-sama," answers Moriko, wondering if her ears will recover from the girl's clenched fists.
"Aw! You made a pretty friend with Mo-Mo, Bolty," Yachiru tells Masaru, straightening up and releasing Moriko's ears much to her relief. "She's so nice!"
"Then what am I?" demands Hoshi, glaring at the pink haired girl.
"Hmm," says Yachiru, looking down at Hoshi. A delighted grin appears on the girl's face before she springs onto Hoshi. Moriko bites her bottom lip to keep herself from smiling when Hoshi gets knocked over.
"Kitty-chan!" declares Yachiru from where she is propped on Hoshi's chest. The pink haired girl tugs on Hoshi's ears. Yowling, Hoshi shoves Yachiru off of her and into the air. Yachiru laughs before she lands neatly on her feet.
"Fun," Yachiru exclaims, throwing her arms up in the air. "Let's do it again!" The pink-haired girl runs at Hoshi but stops with a thoughtful expression on her face.
Moriko's neck hairs prickle, sensing a great and powerful spiritual energy. Its weight surpasses the pressure of the Soul Reaper of the sakura blossom scent. Her ears flattening, Moriko edges away slightly from the main entrance yet turns towards it. Yachiru follows Moriko's gaze.
"Ken-chan's here!" exclaims Yachiru. The pink haired girl scurries over to the gate. She reaches the handle with a hop and pulls the door open.
Moriko inhales sharply when the spiritual pressure crashes into her, an overwhelming wave of weight. She staggers back a step before she manages to regain her balance and maintain her footing. The sound of bodies falling causes Moriko to look around. Her eyes widen to see most of the other first year students on the ground. Masaru and Hoshi are the only other two still on their feet. Moriko also notes they are fighting to maintain their footing.
"These are the first years?" growls a distinctly male voice.
Moriko returns her attention to the entrance. Standing within the threshold is an extremely tall and muscular man. A ragged, sleeveless white haori swishes as he strolls further into the courtyard. He wears the black and white clothing identical to Rukia and Yachiru's clothing. However, bandages around his midsection peek through the clothing while a sheathed zanpakuto is in his obi. Perched happily over the man's left shoulder is a grinning Yachiru.
"Bolty's here too, Ken-chan!" Yachiru tells the man happily. She points to Masaru before pointing to Moriko and Hoshi. "He's made friends with Mo-Mo and Kitty-chan!"
Moriko's ears flatten further on her head. Sweat beads out on her face from the strain of withstanding his spiritual pressure. The man follows Yachiru's finger, his gaze landing on Moriko. She gulps slightly beneath his piercing green eye. A black eyepatch with a thin outline of gray covers his right eye.
"Captain Kenpachi Zaraki," breathes Masaru. "What's he doing here?"
Moriko glances at Masaru, glad for an excuse to break her gaze from the man.
"He is one of the Gotei 13 captains?" asks Moriko.
Masaru nods. Sweat covers his face. The sandy blond haired boy continues speaking, "He's the captain of Squad 11, the security forces."
The cooling effect of a shadow over her startles Moriko. Yelping, Moriko looks up to discover Kenpachi looming over her.
"Ah, she makes Wolfie noises!" giggles Yachiru. "Don't you think her blood eyes are pretty, Ken-chan?"
Kenpachi remains silent, studying Moriko. She gulps but keeps her eyes on him, wanting to study this captain. His close proximity reveals a long face with pronounced cheekbones as well as pronounced, hairless brow ridges. From the top of his left face down to his cheek and over his eye is a long, thin scar. The wind picks up slightly to rustle the man's dark spikey hair that flows past his shoulders. Moriko's stomach churns uneasily at his scent of heavy sweat and blood. He slowly grins menacingly.
"You're standing a bit straighter than the other two beneath my spiritual pressure," remarks Kenpachi.
"I would be lying to say I am not intimidated by you, Captain Kenpachi Zaraki-sama," Moriko admits. She swallows hard while feeling sweat trickle down the side of her face. The red-eyed girl says, "If your power is any indication of what the Gotei 13 strives to gain, I am not sure I will be able to use what gifts I have to further its goals."
Kenpachi chuckles and says, "Oh? You're much stronger and more powerful than you think you are. You're just not trained how to use your talents." He shrugs, saying, "That's what this hole in the wall is about, learning how to harness that strength and power. Yachiru calls you Mo-Mo. What do others call you?"
"Moriko, Captain Zaraki-sama," Moriko answers. It takes effort, but Moriko manages to bow respectfully. She straightens, confessing, "I am not sure if I can say it is nice to meet you for you are terrifyingly strong and powerful by the weight of your spiritual pressure."
"You ain't seen nothing yet," Kenpachi assures her, his grin widening.
"What about me?" Hoshi demands. She steps forward to stand beside Moriko. Moriko sees sweat running down her face, but Hoshi's green eyes glare daggers at the towering man.
"Oh? Big talk from such a little thing," says Kenpachi, amusement coloring his voice.
"Want to call me 'little thing' again, tough guy," growls Hoshi, lifting her fists.
Kenpachi throws his head back, roaring in laughter.
"Why you—" Hoshi exclaims. She goes into a crouch, but Masaru comes behind Hoshi to effectively pin her to the ground. "Let me up!" cries Hoshi, struggling to break from Masaru's grip.
"Don't even think about it!" hisses Masaru. "He kicked my ass with one blow! He'll crush you without a second thought!"
"Endo boy, seems like those spars with Ikkaku have been teaching you a few things," Kenpachi tells Masaru. "Perhaps we'll have to have a rematch to see if you've grown stronger."
"I'll need a few hundred years to be on your level, Captain Zaraki," Masaru replies.
"Not if you stick with these two," Kenpachi informs the blue eyed boy. He looks between Hoshi and Moriko. "They carry a similar scent, yet there's a difference in where they stand in levels. Train with them, and you'll be surprised how fast you progress in your own level."
The captain surveys the courtyard and snorts. "Looks like you three are the only ones who have a measure of strength in comparison to the rest. So I'll make my speech short."
"Speech?" asks Moriko.
"The Gotei 13 decided to have a captain do the welcoming speech for new students. I got ambushed into it at yesterday's meeting," Kenpachi grumbles.
A laugh escapes Moriko. She blushes when Kenpachi looks at her.
"I am sorry, but I find it amusing somehow," Moriko explains sheepishly. She scratches behind her left ear, saying, "I suppose I am so nervous for starting on the path of a Soul Reaper that I need to escape my nerves by laughing."
Kenpachi lifts a hand before he roughly messes with her hair between her ears. Moriko gazes at the captain, uncertain of what to make of the rough yet affection gesture.
"Good girl," states Kenpachi. He lowers his hand.
"This hole in the wall is where you'll learn to fight with what you got. Where you're strong, you'll learn to use that strength effectively. Where you're weak, you better learn quick how to compensate. Hollows will eat weaklings. There's that general nonsense that they make you do, but you'll learn what you need to know to be a Soul Reaper." Kenpachi then leers down at the three of them. "You three better work hard. I'll definitely come back to see if this hole in the wall has made a difference to the three of you."
"Ken-chan! You forgot to say, 'Welcome to the Academy!' Gramps will get angry at us if you forget to say it!" exclaims Yachiru from Kenpachi's shoulder.
A growl escapes from the towering captain. "Welcome to the Academy," he grumbles.
"Thank you, Captain Zaraki-sama," Moriko says. The bow comes easier to her than previously. She manages a tentative smile at him and Yachiru, adding, "It would be an honor to see how my strength and power compares to yours once I have lessons."
"And I will get strong enough to kick Blondie's butt! Then I'll show you that I'm the perfect size to take you on!" exclaims Hoshi from her pinned form from the ground.
Kenpachi chuckles with a grin.
"I'll see the three of you later," the captain tells them before he strolls towards the exit.
"Bye-Bye, Mo-Mo, Kitty-chan, Bolty!" calls Yachiru from Kenpachi's shoulder, waving at them.
Moriko waves at Yachiru, feeling relief sweep over her the more distant Kenpachi's spiritual pressure grows.
"That's one Hell of a welcome," Masaru remarks. He gets off of Hoshi. "It's a bit weird he focused on you, Moriko."
"Hai," Moriko murmurs. She notices the students tentatively picking themselves up from the ground.
"The next time I see that man, I'll kick his butt," growls Hoshi. "'Little thing,' my ass."
"He's not wrong," comments Masaru.
"That's it!"
Moriko whirls to see Hoshi springing at Masaru who simply dodges her. Hoshi lands in a crouch and glares over her shoulder at Masaru who simply grins back at her.
"Don't take me lightly!" exclaims Hoshi. She goes into a crouch when a bell tolls.
"Academy students! Form a line! We'll pass out your schedules!" calls a voice.
The three turn to see a man standing before the doors. He wears a light blue hakama held up by a black obi. A white shigiti peeks out from the light tan kosode. On his shoulders is a black haori its sleeves edged with a stripe of white. Light reflecting off of his glasses allows Moriko to catch a glint of gold at his throat.
"It seems we need to go claim our schedules," Moriko ventures speaking, hoping to prevent Hoshi and Masaru from launching into a fight.
Hoshi glares at Masaru for a heartbeat more before she stands, dusting herself off.
"Fine…I'll let it pass…until I'm faster and stronger than you," she informs Masaru. Hoshi then turns her glare at Moriko, pointing her finger at her, declaring, "I'll get my pouncing record back from you! If a pint-size pink haired brat can get you, there's no excuse for me missing!"
"Let us do our classes first," Moriko tells them.
Masaru shrugs, saying, "Fine but I'll stick around with you two. Kenpachi doesn't say things like he did unless he's serious about them."
Moriko hangs back a little bit as the pair approaches the lines. Nerves flutter in her stomach. She inhales deeply before she joins one of the lines to the Academy's front door.
This is for my promise, Moriko tells herself. No matter the challenges, I will keep my promise to Satoru-sama to use my gifts to protect and take care of others. She straightens her shoulders and lifts her chin up, determination on her face.
To Be Continued...