Chapter 9

Ichigo woke up the next day in his bed alone. He got up and saw a note on his desk. He grabbed the letter and noticed it was from Rukia. He read the letter telling him Rukia went to work and she'll see him later on. He threw the letter in the trash can in between his bed and the desk. He grabbed a clean uniform and went to take a shower.

After his shower, Ichigo got dressed and looked at the clock. He had thirty minutes before his first class to start. He didn't have time to eat breakfast and make it to class on time. He opened the door and saw Senna about to knock.

"Morning Senna," Ichigo greeted walking out of his room.

"Morning Ichigo," Senna greeted back as they make their way to class.

"What class are you heading to?" Ichigo asked.

"I'm heading to Hoho," Senna answered.

"Same here," Ichigo said with a smile.

"Do we have any other classes together?" Senna asked pulling out her schedule, and Ichigo done the same.

"My first class is Hoho with Hotaru. Zanjutsu is second with Genkei. Hakuda is third with Hiromi, and Kido is the final class with Suzuki," Ichigo answered looking at his schedule.

"We have the same classes," Senna said smiling at Ichigo.

"We are in the west wing while the regular class is in the east wing," Ichigo replied as they arrived at their first class.

Ichigo and Senna walked inside the classroom and walked to the back wall where the other students are located, not seeing a student glaring at them. A student with blue hair in a pixie haircut walked up to Ichigo and tapped on his shoulder. Ichigo turned around and saw a female student with size 34b breasts, 5'8 in height, an athletic body and freckles under the eyes going across the nose. She's also friendly and outgoing.

"Hello. My name is Shizu," Shizu greeted introducing herself.

"Hello Shizu. I'm Ichigo and this is Senna," Ichigo greeted introducing themselves to Shizu.

"It's nice to meet the both of you," Shizu said.

"It's nice to meet you too," Senna replied and the instructor entered the classroom.

"Morning class. I'm your Hoho instructor, Hotaru," Hotaru greeted introducing herself to the class.

Hotaru has purple pixie hair, green eyes with small glassed. Her breasts are 32b and stands at 5'8. She's wearing the standard Shinigami Academy uniform for females. Instead of a red hakama, the female instructors have green hakamas. The male instructors wear yellow hakamas. The instructors were in their lounge looking over the students' files before heading to their classes.

"Today we are going to be learning the basics of Hoho or Shunpo. We will be practicing as well," Hotaru instructed.

"I wonder how many people will crash their first time using Shunpo," Ichigo thought to himself.

"I'll wipe the floor with these wannabes," Ryuji thought cockily to himself not knowing Ichigo is a master of Shunpo.

Ryuji has black mid fade slick back hair and hazel eyes. He stands at 5'7 and thinks he's better than everyone.

"Does anyone know what Shunpo is?" Hotaru asked.

Everyone stayed quiet. Ichigo couldn't fully answer the question without exposing himself. Hotaru scanned the room and called on someone.

"Ryuji, why don't you tell us what Shunpo is?" Hotaru instructed.

"Shunpo is a movement technique which allows the user to move faster than the eye can follow," Ryuji answered the question.

"That is correct. We'll practice using Shunpo every day for two hours in this room," Hotaru said as everyone looked at the teacher in shock except for Ichigo and Ryuji.

"This is a piece of cake. I understand the two-hour class," Ichigo thought to himself.

"Ms. Hotaru," Shizu called out.

"Yes Shizu," Hotaru said looking at her.

"Why do we have to practice for two hours?" Shizu asked.

"The better you are at Shunpo, the less likely you'll tire yourself out and better chances of survival," Hotaru answered.

"That makes sense," Senna said.

"All right class, I need Ichigo and Ryuji to line up at the wall to the right," Hotaru instructed.

Ryuji stuck his leg out tripping Ichigo as Ichigo went to the wall. Ichigo fell towards the ground. He put his hands on the floor and flipped over landing on his feet. Everyone looked at Ichigo in awe except for Ryuji. He looked at Ichigo in shock as Ichigo walked up to him.

"If you do that or anything to me, I'll make sure you'll be with the nurse for a few hours," Ichigo whispered into his ear.

Ichigo lined up against the wall after Ryuji's failed attempt of embarrassing Ichigo.

"Okay Ichigo and Ryuji, I want the both of you to use your Reiatsu to move to the other side of the wall and back. Start out slow so the both of you can get used to the movement," Hotaru instructed.

Ichigo and Ryuji slowly Shunpoed to the wall in front of them and back. Senna looked at Ichigo and saw a bored look on his face after doing his Shunpo lesson. She'll ask him about it later after school.

The bell rang signaling the end of class. The class have been Shunpoing slowly from wall to wall for the rest of class.

"That was a great flip in class. You're so fast that you didn't hit the ground from Ryuji tripping you," Senna said as they walked out of the door.

"Thanks. The look on his face was priceless," Ichigo replied as they head to their next class.

"Next up is Zanjutsu," Shizu replied as Ichigo felt someone glaring at them.

"Why is she glaring at us?" Ichigo asked himself as they made it to their next class.

The trio walked inside the classroom and went to the back wall. Ichigo is standing between Senna and Shizu. Senna is on his right and Shizu is on his left. Ryuji is on the farther side of the back wall standing next to Fuyuko. The instructor walked in and began class.

"I'm Genkei. I'm your Zanjutsu instructor. You will be learning how to fight with Zanpakutos, and you will also learn how to communicate with your Zanpakuto after you imprint your soul on a Asauchi," Genkei said introducing himself.

Genkei stands at 6'0, bald with a beard, and has brown eyes. He doesn't cut any slack for slackers, lateness and sloppy sword fighting.

"We'll begin meditating using wooden swords. You will be issued an Asauchi as I deem you fit to wield one," Genkei said as he went to the cabinet. He opened the cabinet revealing wooden swords.

"Grab a sword one at a time, and go back to the wall for further instructions," Genkei instructed.

Everyone grabbed a sword in an orderly fashion and went back to the wall. Ichigo moved the sword as he's not use to the weight of the object after handling Zangetsu for years.

"This feels weird. I have to reduce my power, so I won't break any wooden swords," Ichigo thought to himself.

"Make some room as you sit cross-legged meditating," Genkei instructed as everyone sat cross-legged with the swords in their lap.

"Has anyone meditated before?" Genkei asked and everyone nodded their answer.

"Good. Now, put your hands on the swords and meditate. Doing so will allow you to imprint your soul on a Asauchi," Genkei instructed.

Everyone did as instructed. Ichigo decided to visit his Inner World for the time being.

Ichigo arrived in his Inner World and surprised to see the Quincy manifestation standing on his flagpole.

"I didn't expect you to be here when my Zanpakuto is in Rukia's room," Ichigo said as he walked over to the Quincy manifestation.

"My power runs through your blood as Zangetsu's power flows through the blades," the Quincy manifestation replied.

"Good point. What shall I call you?" Ichigo asked.

"You can call me Bach," Bach answered.

"I hope it won't be long before Zangetsu returns to me," Ichigo said.

"He'll be relieved when he's not in the closet anymore," Bach replied.

"Well, I'll be going, can't let anyone be suspicious or believe that I'm sleeping," Ichigo said as he fades away from his Inner World.

Ichigo opened his eyes to see Senna looking in front of him. He jumped a little, and Senna let out a small giggle.

"Don't do that," Ichigo said.

"No can do Ichigo. It's fun to scare people," Senna replied.

"How long have we been meditating?" Ichigo asked.

"Five minutes. We are about to use our swords in a practice fight," Senna answered.

"That'll be interesting to see others fighting with a sword," Ichigo said.

"Yes, it will," Senna replied.

"Listen up. I want everyone to pair up with someone. There are fifteen students in the class, so there's one person without a partner. So, the person will join a pair in the practice fight," Genkei instructed and everyone paired up except for Ichigo.

"Since you don't have a partner, you can join Senna and Shizu," Genkei informed Ichigo.

"This is going to be fun," Senna said as she smiled.

"I agree," Shizu replied.

Before the trio could begin their practice, they saw Ryuji getting pushed back by Fuyuko. Fuyuko pushed Ryuji away from her and landed in front of them.

"Having trouble?" Ichigo asked sarcastically.

"Shut up. You won't do better than me, and you're against two women," Ryuji answered getting up and stared at Ichigo.

"Get back to your match Ryuji," Genkei instructed.

Ryuji got back to his match with Fuyuko as the others watched. Ryuji swung his blade downwards, and Fuyuko dodged and swung her blade horizontally hitting Ryuji's right side. Ryuji jumped back after the hit and rubbed his side.

"Does the poor Ryuji give up?" Fuyuko asked taunting Ryuji.

"Never," Ryuji answered rushing towards Fuyuko.

Fuyuko swung her blade horizontally again and Ryuji blocked her swing with his blade. He knocked her sword out of her hands and hit her arm with the blade. Fuyuko grabbed her sword and hit Ryuji in the nose with the side of the blade. He fell to the floor again grabbing his face with both hands.

"Looks like I win," Fuyuko said smiling at her victory.

Fuyuko went back to the wall as Ryuji got up. He brushed himself off as he walked back to the wall. Ichigo laughed on the inside as he turned his attention to Senna and Shizu. Senna and Shizu were just playing with the swords not fighting seriously.

"You will die if you don't fight seriously," Ichigo said to the girls.

"We were waiting on you," Senna replied.

"I'm ready when you are," Ichigo said smirking at his opponents.

Senna rushed towards Ichigo swinging her blade. He blocked her blade with his as Shizu hit his left side with her blade.

"That tickles," Ichigo said taunting Shizu.

Ichigo jumped back and the girls teamed up again rushing towards Ichigo. Ichigo dodged Senna's blade as he blocked Shizu's blade. Everyone stopped what they were doing and watched the fight. Senna swung her blade downwards and Ichigo caught it with his right hand.

"What can you do now since I caught your blade?" Ichigo asked.

"I can't do anything, but Shizu can," Senna answered as Shizu swung her blade horizontally.

Ichigo quickly dropped his sword and caught Shizu's blade with his left hand. He lifted them up with ease by their blades.

"When your blade gets caught by an enemy, you do everything in your power to break free. Otherwise, you will die," Ichigo said as he threw them onto the floor.

"You win," Senna replied as they landed on their ass.

"Are you two all right?" Ichigo asked.

"We are fine. You didn't have to throw us on the ground," Shizu answered as they got up.

"An enemy won't let you down gently," Ichigo said as he felt a tap on his shoulder.

Ichigo turned around seeing Fuyuko with her sword at her side.

"Do you need help with something?" Ichigo asked.

"I don't need help. I wanted to know if you wanted to fight me," Fuyuko answered.

"Sure. My name's Ichigo," Ichigo said introducing himself.

"I'm Fuyuko," Fuyuko replied introducing herself.

Senna and Shizu stood against the wall as Ichigo and Fuyuko prepared to fight.

"Five touches wins," Ichigo said as he stood there with his sword in hand.

"Fine by me," Fuyuko replied as she charged towards Ichigo.

Fuyuko swung her blade downwards, and Ichigo blocked the strike with his blade. Fuyuko jumped away from Ichigo before he strikes. Ichigo charged towards her and swung his blade horizontally. Fuyuko blocked his strike and stumbled to the ground. Ichigo held his hand out, and Fuyuko grabbed his hand. Ichigo helped her up and put his mouth next to her right ear.

"I know you've been glaring at my friend during breakfast yesterday," Ichigo whispered into her ear causing a small blush to form on her face.

"Sorry. She beat me to the punch by talking to you in the cafeteria alone," Fuyuko apologized only he could hear.

"You could've come over to the table I was sitting at during breakfast," Ichigo said.

"I was intimidated by your appearance," Fuyuko replied.

"I don't try to intimidate people. My orange hair is a target for bullying, and the bullies would start fights with me because of it," Ichigo said and Fuyuko jumped back.

Fuyuko charged again and swung the blade downwards. Ichigo moved to the side and swung the blade horizontally making contact with Fuyuko's right side.

"That's one point for me," Ichigo said, and the bell rang.

"We'll finish this later Ichigo," Fuyuko replied.

"Of course," Ichigo said.

The class puts the wooden swords in the cabinet before exiting the room. Ichigo introduced Fuyuko to Shizu. Ichigo didn't tell Senna that Fuyuko was glaring at her. They're making their way to the cafeteria for lunch.