A/N: Thanks Griff212 for pointing out the upload problem for me. Not sure why it happens, I'm not using google docs just Copy+Paste from Word :S
Chapter 21 - A Fresh Start
As the carriage trundled down the now familiar route, one piece of advice that Granny Chie had once given me stuck in my mind: Don't dwell on things.
The more I thought about what I was leaving behind the more homesick I felt, and I hadn't even crossed the border to district one yet. I decided to put my past behind me; Not to forget it entirely, how was I supposed to forget almost fifty years worth of fond memories? But in order to pursue my future to its fullest, I could not allow the past to hold me back. That would be what my family would want for me too.
I smiled at the again familiar sight of the white and golden-roofed building as my carriage pulled up to the pavement directly outside the courtyard entrance as it had for the exams. I had only been here twice before but strangely I felt as though I knew the place already.
The carriage driver dropped a set of steps and helped me and my luggage down.
Immediately I felt stares and whispers on my back and I switched to self-conscious mode. No matter how much I didn't like to admit it, I looked like a snobby rich kid right now. The majority of new students filing onto the campus grounds around me wore ragged, tattered clothes, some didn't even wear shoes, and some were carrying just a blanket with all of their worldly possessions wrapped inside. And there I was, climbing out of a shiny black carriage drawn by a majestic looking steed, clothes of rich, expensive and good quality materials that carried my family crest on the back, with two bags, a suitcase full of possessions and my gleaming Onyx sword at my sword.
I was tempted to let my hair down out of its tie knowing that it would cover the cherry blossom crest on my back, not that there was much chance of anyone recognizing it around here but it told everyone that I belonged to a wealthy family.
Why are you so ashamed? A voice that sounded like Hatsu's asked inside my head. Your family would tell you to flaunt your house colours with pride!
Having a crest emblazoned on my clothing was like having a neon light above your head saying 'Rich kid, come and bully me and hate me!' and that was the last thing I wanted to be labelled as. Unlike some of the kids here I wasn't a case of 'all money no talent'.
I took a deep breath and held my head high, looking straight ahead as I walked and ignoring the eyes glaring at me.
Instead of the long endless queues that had greeted Hatsu and I the last time we were here, I saw a long row of tall whiteboards with writing dashed across them at the front of the courtyard with people crowded around them.
Students, already dressed in their uniforms to make them stand out from the rest of a crowd, red and white for girls and red white and blue for boys, were calling instructions over the babble of noise.
"First years find your name on the boards!"
"First-year boys this way for your accommodations!" A group of male students called to the left, taking it in turns to escort groups to their rooms.
"First-year girls this way!" Called another group of girls on the opposite side of the yard.
A handsome young man in white and blue with messy dark hair and markings on the side of his face kindly offered to hold my suitcase while I quickly checked the boards.
I left my suitcase with the boy and rushed forward, finally thankful for my petiteness that allowed me to squeeze past people like a mouse.
I watched as a group of boys that looked more like barrels with legs pushed a girl over as if she were a bowling pin as they forced through the crowds to the front. No wonder they're so stressed, having to organize this rowdy bunch…
My eyes skimmed across the board, searching quickly so I could get out of there and not have to risk being crushed.
"J... K... L… M… Ma.. Mu.. Ah! Murasaki-"
Name: Murasaki, Kimiko (A*); Residence: Emerald Plateau.
What does that A* mean? I wondered but before I could consult the boards for its definition I was being ushered along to make way for more people.
Flustered, I looked around for my luggage, thanked the guy for his help and jogged along with some difficulty to a student girl who was now walking away with a group calling "Emerald Plateau this way!"
She led us into the main building and along the corridors for a few long minutes before deciding to break the awkward, nervous silence with the girl nearest to her.
"So, you are living in Emeralds? It's the best I promise you!" She said cheerfully. "The dorms are separated into houses and believe me things can get quite competitive. The guys-" she pointed out of the window to a large Japanese style building with a rusty red roof in the distance. There were more of them with different coloured roofs in the further back forming a sort of small village cul-de-sac. "They live in those dorms, but the girls live over here," told us pointing again as we stepped out of the main building and onto a long winding cobblestone road.
Directly in front of us was another Japanese style building; A roof of umber black wood and walls of pale green. Outside and to the left of the doors sat a willow tree, surrounded by small neatly kept gardens, protected from the road by a low stone wall.
The cobblestones were doing a number on my suitcase wheels. They were getting stuck between them repeatedly and it took all of my strength to heave them out quickly and not get left behind by the group. I began to wonder why I had decided to bring so much with me, but I was thankful to see that a low slope led up to the towering wooden doors to the left as well as steps.
"This is the Emerald Plateau, the best girl's dorm... But that's what everyone will tell you about their house" the girl laughed. "It's the largest and the only one and its called the Plateau because it has a great view overlooking the grounds around the back, which I'm sure you'll see at some point. The others don't have such a good view… except maybe Sapphire. They have a view of the lake too but nothing else. If you carry on along the road and up the hill, you'll find Ruby Hall, Sapphire Isle, Diamond Pavillion and Crystal Court"
She leaned against the door that led into the entrance hall, keeping it open for those with suitcases and making sure everyone was present. We lingered around for a few moments for the last few straddlers to catch up which gave me a chance to look around.
The inside of the building was of almost the same colour scheme as the outside. The walls were a shade of jade green similar to my bedroom back home which was comforting, the ceiling was high and, like the floor was the same color as the outside, a dark shade black-brown wood that was plunged into darkness at the top where the light of a bronze chandelier did not reach. Long tea-washed brown sliding doors with landscapes and animals hand painting in colored inks led off to other rooms and corridors.
I spotted menacing looking gargoyles staring down at me as if scrutinizing my every movement, looking for wrong-doers and I made a mental note not to take trips down here at night.
Finally, someone clapped loudly for their silence and attention. To my surprise, it was the Head girl who had lead my group through the exams.
"Alright settle down. My name is Kanisawa, I'm the Head Girl of this academy and the house president for Emeralds" she said prodding at the sword-shaped emerald pin on her chest that was next to another golden pin with the Shino-o academy logo. "But there's no point giving you a full introduction, that will come later. For now, let's get you into your rooms" the way she said this it seemed like she had said it a million times today already and was stuck on a replay loop.
One by one we handed our boarding passes to her and a few other girls. They checked them, redirecting anyone who was in the wrong house and handed room keys to everyone else. They also handed out maps of the academy and the layout of the dorm building.
I received my key and checked the number. Number sixteen.
I checked the map. My room was up on the second floor which meant…
I turned to look at the grand staircase at the far end of the room and felt my arms scream in protest. I almost shouted out loud at my key for doing this to me but thought better of it. I didn't want to be labelled as insane before I even started classes.
I sighed and marched off to tackle my fate, shoving the key into my pocket angrily.
Luckily a student was walking down one of the corridors that branched off of the landing at the top and rushed to help me. I found it strange how there were no teachers or Soul Reapers in sight, not like at the exams. Had this whole thing been organized by the students?
When I reached my room I found the door ajar and heard voices inside. I gulped. Here we go, time to make a good impression.
I knocked on the door and nudged it open, hearing the voices stop. The room was small and square, with a little kitchenette on the left wall as I entered and the rest of the room was a living area complete with dining table, coffee table, and a bookcase.
A girl's head popped out of the first bedroom on the left. "Oh hello! You must be our last roommate!" She said cheerfully walking out.
She was small but still taller than me with short brown hair tied into two piggy tails at the nape of her neck by red bead hair ties, wearing a light pink Yukata. Her whole demeaned was infectiously cheerful. "I'm Momo Hinamori, but you can just call me Momo" she held out her hand to shake mine, but just then the other girl wondered out of the first room on the left.
To my surprise... It was Rukia Abarai who I recognised immediately from the exams. It seemed that she had recognized me too, she seemed just as a surprise as I was and looked away awkwardly. I thought about this quickly. The last thing I wanted was tension between the girls I would be living with for the next few years. And truthfully Rukia had done nothing wrong, it was her brother that had been an asshole to me.
Drop it, it's not her you hold a grudge with, I told herself.
"Hey, Rukia was it? We were in the exams together" I smiled kindly and she seemed to loosen up a bit.
"Yeah, I remembered" She muttered fidgeting. Then she suddenly sank into a bow.
"I apologize for what happened in the exam. My brother was an idiot but please don't hold it against him, he didn't mean anything by it!" Her words tumbled out.
I didn't answer right away. I doubted that highly, he meant everything he did. He had stooped lower than low in that exam not only physically hurting me but by winning by cheating and jeopardizing my prospects. That laugh he gave when he saw me fall had been the icing on the cake. Just thinking about it made my blood boil; However, I wasn't prepared to have tension between my roommates because of an idiot like that. The best thing would be to agree even if I didn't mean it, just for the sake of keeping the peace.
"Forget about it, it's in the past." I heard myself say. Not bad. I had neither agreed or disagreed but I did feel hypocritical, telling Rukia to forget about it when I had no intention of doing so. If he was here too I would give him hell if I ever saw him. "I'm Kimiko Murasaki, but you can call me Kimi," I said accepting Momo's handshake and then offering my hand to Rukia too.
She accepted with a relieved smile.
Momo looked nervously between us, deducing that something had happened but not wanted to get involved. "I'm sorry, we already chose our rooms so you have the last one on the left, the bathroom is this one here," Momo said slightly guiltily pointing to my room, then to the one next to it.
"No problem, first come first served. I better start unpacking, it might take a while" I said with a nod towards my pile of luggage.
"We're nearly done so just call if you need a hand with anything" Momo smiled again and skipped back into her room leaving the sliding door ajar.
I heaved my suitcase to my own room.
It was less than a quarter of the size of my room back home but had the same colour scheme, dark wood floors, and pale mint green walls so it felt like someone had shrunk my room. I wasn't bothered at all though. My room had often felt empty and lonely with so much empty space, this one more suited such a small girl.
Directly next to the door on the left as I entered was a closet that filled the wall. To the right was my bed, a bunk with a little ladder leading to the mattress and a desk below. In front of the door was a floor-to-ceiling window slightly concealed with dark curtains.
"Cosy" I muttered dumping my backpack on the cushioned chair at the desk. It was all very basic compared to what I was used to but I liked it in a strange way. It made me feel independent like I had moved out of my parent's home to my own little apartment.
I set straight to unpacking to get it over and done with. I knew that if I didn't my room would end up looking like a laundry room or clothing store within a few days.
When it became unbearably stuffy from moving around I reached to open a window which was actually a door that led to my own private balcony overlooking the grounds.
So this is why it's called the plateau I thought, watching the light breeze rolling over the lush green grounds far below, picking up pink petals that swirled like brightly coloured dust from the ancient looking cherry blossom at the centre. Even from so far above on this hill the tree made my own back home look like a sapling in comparison.
Over to the left was a huge lake, shimmering in the sunlight. I stood in the doorway taking deep breaths before continuing but just then a knock came and Momo poked her head in her already ajar door.
"This just came under our door," she said waving a green slip of paper. I took it and read:
Welcome meeting for all new emerald girls. 2 pm in the Main Hall downstairs. Please make sure to attend.
It was signed by K. Kanisawa the Head girl.
"There's only half an hour left so if you like the three of us can go down together, best not to be late"
"I'll be glad for a break," I said stretching.
Momo called for Rukia who shouted her reply from the bathroom, swearing that she wouldn't be much longer.
We soon found that Rukia liked to take forever in the bathroom. We sat waiting for her for another fifteen minutes. "Not much longer she said..." I mumbled flicking through an old book from the bookshelf in the living area.
Momo looked a bit worried too, she was probably one of those people who worried about being late for things like my Sister.
"Rukiaaa, come on already!" she called and Rukia suddenly emerged from the bathroom with a toothbrush in her mouth. I couldn't help but blink. Now that Rukia had finally cleaned up she looked totally different. Her hair was no longer matted and full of dirt but sleek, straight and shiny with a natural flick that followed the curve of her shoulders. Now that she had scrubbed off the layer of dust from her skin we could see that she had a flawless fair complexion.
She held up a finger to signify 'one more minute', mint toothpaste dribbling from her mouth slightly and she dived back into the bathroom before it could drip on the tatami floor.
I looked at Momo and she gave a little smile of recognition.
"I borrowed her some of my old clothes that I don't really wear anymore just until she can go into town and buy her own. She bought nothing of her own, can you believe that!?" Momo said in a hushed voice sounding scandalized.
In fact, I could believe it. Not everyone was wealthy like me, and Momo didn't seem to be exactly poor either.
"She looks totally different"
Momo giggled. "Well let's hope that the physical transformation echoes a mental transformation, she needs to lighten up already."