A/N: A special thanks to MiaKito for becoming a follower to this story. I hope you all enjoy this next chapter, let me know what you think.

Chapter 5:

Start of a New Chapter

Taya

Settling into my dorm room, I let out a soft sigh realizing that I was nervous as hell. I knew absolutely no one and I had a huge weight on my shoulders. I didn't want to waste my opportunity the Soul Reapers were giving me.

A sudden flash of Shūhei's face appeared and I instantly froze. My hand instinctively went up to touch the place where my heart would be. I knew that if I wanted to see him again, I had to complete my training here and become a Soul Reaper myself.

"So you must be my new roommate." A female voice interrupted my thoughts.

I turned from the window I had been standing in front of to see a girl around my age, or at least she looked that way. She had short blonde hair and violet eyes. There was a genuine smile upon her face and that made me feel a little more at ease. "Yes, my name is Taya Ito." I said, extending my hand out to her.

"Awesome! I didn't think I was going to get a roommate this year. It's a please to meet you Taya. My name is Nika Matsami."

She took my hand firmly into her own and shook it. There was a pleasant cheerfulness about her and somehow I found myself glad to be her roommate. We exchanged conversations doing our best to try and get to know each other before classes would begin the following day. It just seemed like I had been the lucky one to arrive in the Soul Society a couple days before the start of a new year at the Academy.

"So why do you want to become a Soul Reaper?" Nika asked me as we sat down on the floor around candle light.

The question caught me off guard for a moment. I really had to think about what to say before answering her or I may end up saying the wrong thing; but at the same time I didn't want to lie to her either. "I just recently lost my human life. While I alive, I was hunted down by hollows and in the end I wasn't strong enough to safe my own life. After my death, I was saved by a Soul Reaper named Shūhei. He sent me to the Soul Society. After that, I was brought here by him and two others to learn to control this power I have deep inside."

"Wait! You were saved by Shūhei, as in Shūhei Hisagi the Lieutenant of Squad Nine." Nika asked flabbergasted by my story.

"I don't know for sure. I never learned his last name; but I did feel like he was of important rank." I answered, closing my eyes for a moment.

"Then I'm glad he saved you, because now I was able to meet you."

A smile tugged at me lips and I felt my heart swell upon hearing those words. No one had ever said that they were glad they were able to meet me before, not even Ayame. After the conversation, we finally went to bed so we could get up for classes in the morning. I was excited for what the day would bring and that was enough to allow me to sleep peacefully through the night.

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When the sun rose in the sky, my eyes fluttered open. I turned to see that Nika was already out of bed. Tossing the blanket off my body, placed my feet on the cool floor. My school uniform was folded neatly on the small table near by bed. I picked up the items and quickly got dressed. "The clothes suit you well, Taya." Nika's voice sounded.

"Thanks, I hope I put them on correctly." I said, slightly embarrassed that I had no idea how to put the garments on.

"It looks right to me."

She handed me a hairbrush so I could untangle my locks. Once that was done, we stepped out of the room and started to walk towards our first class of the day. From what I could gather from the description, it was an informative class for the basics of what Soul Reapers do. The room was huge and there were so many students.

I never imagined there would be so many people that would have spiritual energy. We took two open seats towards the front. The instructor was a older man, probably visually in his late fifties; but knowing how the Soul Society worked, he was probably much older than that.

He greeted us warmly and it settled my nerves. I listened to every word he spoke. I was fascinated to learn some of the history aspects of Soul Reapers. He talked about the Thirteen Court Guard Squads for a moment and that got me thinking back to Shūhei again. Was he really a Lieutenant like Nika says? If that was the case, then I was going to have to work even harder to make sure that I could see him again someday in the future.

"Taya, class is over." Nika said, nudging my shoulder.

"Uh, oh…sorry I was in deep thought." I answered softly.

"I can see that. Come on, we need to get over to our next class."

I got up from my seat and quickly followed after her. There was a sudden feeling of happiness wash over me. I realized then and there that I was never going to be able to change how things went in my life before my death, all I could do now was push forward and create a future in my current afterlife.

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Shūhei

Sitting behind my desk, I was working on the paperwork left for me by my Captain. Mashiro was absent as per usual. Letting out a deep sigh, I leaned back in my chair and looked up at the ceiling. I wondered how Taya was doing with her first day at the Academy.

"You're thinking again." A deep voice interrupted my thoughts.

I moved my head to see my Captain walk into the office. There was an odd expression of concern written on his face. "It's nothing to worry about." I answered, knowing that if I told him the truth he would convince that my concerns were meaningless.

"This is the fifth time I've seen that faraway look in your eyes. It can't be nothing. I need you to be completely focused on this Squad. So deal with whatever has you distracted."

"Unfortunately, it isn't that simple…"

Kensei raised a questioning eyebrow at me then let out a annoyed sigh and started to take steps towards me. He waved a hand towards the office door, issuing for me to follow him. Getting up from my chair, I did as he was asking.

Once we were outside, he lead me to the training grounds behind the barracks. His back was to me as the wind caressed around us. "I'm going to just come right out and ask. Is the reason you are distracted because of that mission you were sent on a few days ago?" He asked, turning around to fully face me.

"Not exactly…"

"It's that soul you sent back to Soul Society, isn't it."

I remained silent with the accusation. Captain Muguruma was highly aware of things around him and it came as no surprise that he could see right through me. Looking down at the ground beneath me, I tried to force Taya out of my mind.

Feeling a hand on my shoulder, brought my head back up. There was a slight smile on his face, which a rare thing to see. "If you are that concerned about her, then maybe you should check in on her to put your mind at ease. There is nothing wrong with following up with a result on a mission."

"Sir…"

"After that, get your ass focused on more important things when you get back. Understand?"

"Yes, sir."

I flash-stepped out of the training grounds and rushed towards the where the Academy was located, which was near the Squad One Barracks. Suppressing my spiritual pressure, I walked around the outside of the Academy trying to pinpoint where she was currently located. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see her Sakura pink hair in the Zanjutsu training yard. There was another girl next to her that had short blonde hair.

Both women were holding katana blades in their hands. The Asauchi sword was given to every student upon beginning their training as a Soul Reaper. It would eventually transform into their zanpakūto that would be uniquely their own.

"Take everything you feel in. The contours of the blade, the feeling of the hilt in your hands and the sight of the decorative guard." The instructor explained.

Taya looked down the blade in her hand, studying the structure of the item. Her other hand curiously reached out to touch the cool metal of the blade. Her eyes went wide for a moment and her hand retracted as if it had burned her skin. Narrowing my eyes, I continued to watch her until the class was over and all the students were dismissed for the day to return to their dorms.

As much as I would have liked to speak to her, I couldn't let my position to be compromised. Technically, I wasn't allowed to be here without permission. She turned her head for a moment to look at the slightly open section of wall that separated the pillars.

"Are you alright?" The blonde girl asked.

"Yeah…go on ahead. I need a moment alone." Taya answered.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah…I'll be back in a few minutes."

The girl did as she was asked. Taya soon walked towards the opening and turned the corner. There was nothing but trees ahead of her. A smile curved her lips upward. "I know you are there, might as well come out." She said softly.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and took a step from behind a large tree. Our eyes connected almost instantly. There was a few seconds of silence between us before she opened her mouth to speak. "Shūhei…" She whispered my name.

"I was just checking in to make sure everything was alright here with you."

"Following up with the mission?"

"Yes."

Her smile disappeared. It was like she was disappointed by my answer. She returned the blade in her hand to its scabbard at her side. It almost made her look like a Soul Reaper, without the traditional uniform. "Are you satisfied with what you saw? Is the follow up over now?" She asked, clicking the guard into place.

"I suppose I am…"

I knew that I had upset her; but I honestly had no idea what else to say to her. I was never really good with people outside of a combat situation. Another wave of spring breeze flowed through the trees around us and caressed her hair around her shoulders. Several sections fell into her face, masking the sadness I could see there. It took everything I had to not move the hair myself with my hand.

"I appreciate everything you've done for me; but I don't need pity from you. I don't want anyone to feel sorry for me." Taya said, sliding a hand through her locks of hair.

I was instantly taken aback by her words. Out of reflex, I flash-stepped towards her so I was only mere inches away from her face. "Is that what you think? I don't pity you. I'm concerned. I couldn't focus on my job today, I was wondering how your first day was going here."

"Taya!" A female voice shouted.

She looked up at me, eyes glassy with pending tears. She gave my hand a gentle squeeze before taking a step back from me. "Thank you. I thought I was crazy for thinking about you today. I will give it my all here and perhaps someday we will see each other again."

She took off in a sprint towards the sound of the voice calling her name, leaving me with nothing but more questions. My heart was racing and I didn't understand why. Why was this woman effecting this much in such a short amount of time? None of it made any sense to me, so I hesitantly returned back to Squad Nine in attempts to focus on my job.