I am so sorry! I know it's been longer than what I said when the update was gonna be, but school just slapped me in the face along with my after school activities. The bottom point is, updates will be horribly irregular and waay to dependent on my mood.

Anyway, I would like to thank Abby-Flourite, marc, tellie, FreeSoul1990, Redstarling, Lizard Lover, and zikkedia. Thanks guys, you make my day! Also to those who added this story to their favorites or alerts, thanks!


Saturday, March 25, 2000

The students were all chattering in the Central Courtyard. Empathic people would feel a mixture of emotions, ranging from excitement, nervousness, anxiety, and curiosity. The reason was very simple: right now we are being assigned our groups for the Field Evaluation. Now that we had completed a year of instruction for our shinigami training, Shino was required to see how we incorporated the knowledge in real life situations. We were going to pass through a structure called Senkaimon and into the Living World.

Today's Field Evaluation was exclusively for Year One students. To pass the test, we had to complete two tasks: maneuver our way through the Living World and send at least one soul per group to Soul Society. Now, if my line of thought was correct, going through the Living World wouldn't be too hard. After all, according to everything everyone has said, the Living World is Earth. Compared to the people here, who have never left this place, I have lived there for my whole life, and the advantages were obvious.

Performing konso would be harder, since this part wouldn't depend on me. Fortunately, we have more than enough students that already have a zanpakutou, so theoretically, every group should be able to complete this task.

Class One had yet another task: leadership skills. It was common knowledge that you could very well even die in this Field Evaluation if you didn't do what you were supposed to. The leader's job was to prevent anything bad from happening. Poor leadership equaled many problems, and this was prominently reflected on your grade. The other classes simply had to follow their leader's orders to be considered eligible for promotion to Year Two.

"Group Nine and Ten, please come forward," the main examiner called from the front of the courtyard.

Yesterday we had been given slips with numbers on them. I had gotten nine, which meant that I was in charge of Group Nine. Groups were paired up to facilitate grading and success. Although we were separate, we could advice each other and had to work together to protect each other, if the need arises. Thus we would be graded on cooperation as well.

I walked in front of the main examiner and after receiving a speech on my duties as leader and whatnot, I got a standard katana. I slightly unsheathed the sword and met my reflection in the smooth steel.

The examiner left back to the center to continue calling out groups, which bewildered me slightly. Wasn't he going to wait for the other group leader? Apparently even he didn't want to continue droning about something we were already supposed to know.

The air felt colder when I saw who Group Ten's leader was. My eyes narrowed and I smoothly inquired, "You are not in charge of Group Ten, are you?"

Kannogi's dark blue eyes looked at me with contempt. "I could ask the same question."

Tension spiked as we regarded each other with anything but positive feelings. Somehow I felt as if Shino had purposely chosen this arrangement to make things harder for us. However, I wouldn't let him have the satisfaction of making me fail, at least before he failed.

One by one, Group Nine started crowding around me. Out of the four, I only recognized a former classmate and two Class Three. My former classmate was Okamoto Mamoru, who I only remember because he was always called out on laziness and failure to complete the exercise (I immediately cringed on having to work with him). The other two I recognized were hard to miss or not know. The Akato twins are infamous among Year One, simply because no one knows anything about them. I have never heard Akato Yuuki or Yuuma speak before in my life. Even I spoke when asked to. They just stared at the person with blank faces, sometimes showing understanding or confusion.

Out of the two of them, Yuuki had a more gentle disposition, simply because she was the girl. Her innocent appearance of a delicate face and her long white hair made her much more approachable than Yuuma. Of course that luck would have it that her older brother would be part of Group Nine. Yuuma had rougher features, but it could be noted that he looked slightly feminine. Both of them having red eyes did not help their overall appearance.

"I think we're all here, Kannogi-sama," a meek voice announced. The owner was probably his second in command, and I could see that he would have no problems imposing his leadership.

It was an amusing coincidence that my second in command would end up being Saigo Midori, the girl I had my spar with on my first end-of-term. Akato Yuuma was in Class Three, and my Class Five was a guy named Suzuki Hajime.

I admit that I am not good in determining chemistry and the like, having never been an overly social person, but my group did manage the almost impossible task of making me feel uncomfortable and slightly self-conscious.

"Ano..." I uncharacteristically started. "We should probably go to the Senkaimon now..."

"You think?" Hajime snidely commented.

I internally took a deep breath and lightly exhaled. "Suzuki, if you want to ever graduate Shino, I suggest keeping the criticizing comments to yourself, unless you plan to accompany that comment with a productive one, which I highly doubt."

No one said anything after that.

Groups nine through twelve were aligned and led to the Senkaimon. It was located in a big courtyard with many arches surrounding it. The portal was guarded by two of the Kido Corps (I believe). A white-haired man with a captain's haori was waiting for us at the end, patiently waiting for everyone with a kind smile.

"Hello, Year One students! I am Ukitake Juushiro, as some of you may know me. I am here in order to wish you luck and basically explain you how everything works, since I'm sure many of you don't listen to your instructors when needed," he finished, chuckling.

The captain started giving a very superficial explanation on the tasks done by the Hell Butterfly, or Jigokucho, as they called it. He spent a great portion of the time convincing the students into not fearing going through the Senkaimon, telling them to rely on the ever convenient Jigokucho.

Personally, I did not see how a little butterfly could do everything Captain Ukitake said they did, but in my years in this place I had learned not to question the workings of my mind.

"I hope that you all have a successful mission and have fun! Remember that your safety as well as your teammates' go first in this!" Ukitake said with a comforting smile.

The gates opened and from the bright white light came many black butterflies. They each found one student and one by one we filed through.

For some reason, when I went through the portal, I felt as if I was getting closer to something I had forgotten, but my body hadn't...


"Costa, do you have any idea of where we are?" Midori asked, eyeing her surroundings in wonder.

I spared her a glance and shook my head. "No, but I know where we're going." Of course I knew, this was Tokyo, a place I had visited nearly a decade ago. Although I would be lying if I said this was exactly how I remembered it, but probably my mind put in the few pieces missing.

The funny thing was that no one could see us. It was as if we were invisible to this world. The instructors had told us that this was because we were spiritual beings made out of reishi, and the people in here were made out of atoms and couldn't sense us. This had sparked my curiosity to unimaginable levels.

I was going to investigate this as soon as I came back to Soul Society.

However, I digress. Our mission was to perform konso on a soul. It hadn't been too hard locating it, since this place had levels so low in reiatsu that differences were really noticeable. Getting there was the tricky part, since we were doomed to walk and not all of us could use shunpo as continuously as I could.

"Doesn't seem like that to me," I heard Hajime mutter.

There was the severe temptation to turn around and scold him, however I ignored him, continuing my way through the crowded streets of Tokyo instead.

"You're having a hard time reeling in your subordinates, huh, Costa?"

I closed my eyes and then turned to him, opening my eyes and regarding him coldly. "Not all of us have a magical last name that just mentioning it makes everything better."

Kannogi visibly frowned but wasn't too angered by my comment. "Although many think that being a noble makes me automatically successful, even I can fail among other nobles. Competition is just as hard, Costa."

"Are you explaining something to me or offering an excuse?"

He shrugged and continued looking forward. "Take it as you like."

Knowing that he wasn't watching, I allowed my eyebrows to rise. I wasn't used to this –dare I say it– placating Kannogi who did not follow my insults or continued the discussion. Maybe he wasn't feeling well, making him unable to think sarcastic remarks with me back and forth?

What good is a sick Kannogi, then?

...Not that I was worrying about him or anything. I simply needed someone to fight with to keep me entertained. Besides, these random arguments boosted my team's trust in me, whatever the reason for that.

As we continued walking, the environment started feeling more heavy. The light hairs in my arms shot up, and I felt goosebumps covering my body. The feeling was so heavy that I resorted to humming my lullaby quietly to myself, something I hadn't done since I had begun the schizophrenia tests. The lullaby had been the first piece of music I created: extremely simple, with light, soothing tones, dedicated to Alberto, my brother.

I wasn't the only one feeling apprehensive. Kannogi looked focused, his hand inching closer to his zanpakutou. The Akato twins, although in different groups, kept giving each other glances.

We continued walking, thinking that the farther away we got from the feeling, the safer we were going to be. However, our plan was doomed to fail since we didn't know the source of the oppressing aura to begin with.

"Kannogi, do you feel that?" I asked quietly.

He nodded. "Be alert, Costa. Can't have you messing up right now."

I opted to hum Franz Liszt's La Campanella instead. The happy tones always managed to reign in my frustration.

Just when the feeling was about to leave, we heard a deafening roar coming from our right. A giant bird-like hollow had appeared, which was unexpected, but not uncommon. Immediately after it's appearance, two of our senpai immediately engaged in combat with it.

We realized a bit too late that the fight was closer to us than expected.

"Watch out!" someone yelled.

I didn't know what I was doing. I only knew that a hollow limb was heading my way, fast and with blood squirting from it. I used shunpo to get out of the way, not even thinking of how much reiryoku to put behind the step or where I was going to land. I just used it.

I landed in the top of a building, safe. I looked around and realized I had lost my team and Group Ten. Growling in frustration, I walked towards the edge of the building, trying to figure out where I was. The chilling reiatsu I had come to associate with the hollow was gone, either because the Year Six students had taken care of them or I was so far away I did not even feel tuned with their aura.

"Great," I mumbled. The wind was stronger and colder so high up, even though it was March, and messing with my bangs. I decided to shunpo to the streets, since at least then I could find my comrades better.

I gasped in pain when I landed on the sidewalk. People continued walking through me as I crouched, trying to catch my breath. For a second I felt as if all of my muscles had cramped. My lower legs were not responding, my arms were dangling in front of me, barely keeping me up. What... What in the world was going on?

My body felt incredibly weak, and each moment my limbs were more wobbly. Duly, I noted that my reiryoku levels had gone at an all-time low, even though I had barely used two shunpo. Breathing became harder, my breaths resembling wheezes more than labored ones. My vision was becoming invaded by dark black spots, and everything seemed double.

Finally my legs came out, and my body hit the sidewalk heavily, landing on my chest and hitting my chin. I quietly moaned and tried staying awake, looking straight ahead.

Each second, I felt closer to figuring out what I had forgotten but my body hadn't. Just as I was about to grasp the answer...

The last thing I saw were sandaled feet walking towards me.


...I know I ended it in a way most people hate it. Yes, I hate cliffhangers as well. But, this means I want to know what happens as well, so this gives me encouragement to update sooner. I also introduced a slight mystery and ta-daa, plot! Finally we get into plot, or at least some of it.

Also, I'll compensate for the shortness of this chapter with the next one. I just need to gather my thoughts, since I expect there to be a high amount of something.

Also, I WILL explore reishi and atom difference. I just can't pass up with that opportunity. Of course, since Tite Kubo has said nothing about reishi composition (why would he? guys are interested in the battles and blood and chicks, and girls are interested in the battles and blood and bishies), so I will explore that (meaning make up).

Comments, criticisms, or concerns are widely accepted.