Chapter 6.

I finished my tests four days ago. Classes were approaching their ends and nervously, I waited for the results to come in. I tapped my pencil fiercely on the paper, not knowing what to do. One curved line, some ovals...it looked like a deranged bunny. I crumpled up the paper and threw it into the trash. A gentle summer breeze blew petals onto the desk and I placed one of them in my school notes.

"Attention students!"

Sensei was speaking in front of us and immediately, everyone sat down on the spot. A saw a nervous girl chew on her pencil quickly and a boy tapping his foot uncontrollably.

"Results are in for the examination you all took four days ago. Now, some of you will be happy and some of you will be disappointed. Listen here, all of you. All you need is more practice if you failed and to succeed next year, you must work hard. For those of you that were permitted in the Gotei 13, I congratulate you. Now, I will begin announcing names."

A number of names were called and I still awaited mine. I looked at my hands. I'm sure I did decent in all of them. Kidou was my best round, but I wasn't too sure about Hakuda. I never really liked fighting hand to hand. I...

"Hisana."

I got up from my chair and mumbled to myself.

"Please let me get in, please, please."

I received the envelope from my teacher and bowed before stepping aside. I took one good look at the white envelope before breaking the seal off. Immediately I unfolded the paper:

- Hisana

You have taken the graduation exam recently and this document contains the final score of your test. Writing is out of a hundred points, performance counts as four hundred points. Performance is divided into a single score for Kidou, Zanjutsu, Shunpo and Hakuda each. They are worth a hundred points each. To qualify for a spot in the Gotei 13, you must score a grade 400 or higher out of the 500 points. Your grades are the following:

1. Written: 98 points

2. Zanjutsu: 72 points

3. Kidou: 90 points

4. Shunpo: 75 points

5. Hakuda: 62 points

Total score: 397 points.

We are sorry to inform you that out of the minimum score of 400 points, you scored lower than the required amount. We advise you to take another year of training at the Shinigami Academy to retake the test next year. We hope that you will achieve your goal next year at the same time and place. If you have any questions, please ask the office or your respective teachers.

I felt two teardrops land on the paper. I couldn't believe my eyes. I was just three points away from the minimum. I couldn't speak a word. If I hadn't landed so sloppy, and maybe if I hadn't kicked that last target in Kidou, I might've gotten in. I saw that other students were disappointed as well through my watery eyes. Darn it! I folded up the paper and crammed it into my kimono. I hit the desks with my knuckle as I walked back to my seat...

"Hey! Hisana!"

I wiped the tears off my face and turned around to see Byakuya-sama and Rena-chan. I envied them. They wore their shinigami uniform and I could see their zanpaktous, hanging from their white belts. Zanpaktous were given to graduated students a week after their scores came back. After the ceremony, they got to choose a zanpaktou, a special soul cutter that was only for them. It was important to choose one that was easy for the owner to use or they might not have the chance to choose again.

"Hey, I heard that students were given their scores today. How did you do?"

"I...I failed!" I cried out. I grabbed Rena's arm and wept bitterly. It wasn't fair that she was excused from the test. It wasn't fair that she didn't have to go through the trouble of it all and I couldn't stand looking at both of them. "I failed! I can't..."

"It's alright." Rena held my hand like a sister. She looked as sad as I was now and two tears fell out of her eyes. "I wish that we could help you somehow, Hisana. I really wished that she could be shinigami together this year."

"But I..."

"Byakuya-sama, I want to ask you to do a favor for me."

"What?"

"Hisana, I want her to graduate badly. You could help her right?"

"That would be..."

"Against the rules, yes I know! You're always telling me that. We climbed that damn cherry tree anyways!"

"Its branch broke," Byakuya calmly said. I didn't understand their situation, but I assumed it was from their childhood.

"Anyways Byakuya-sama! Please ask them to request an excuse for Hisana."

I looked at her. Was she serious? A non-noble couldn't be excused from the test, could they? She was serious and pulled Byakuya's sleeve. I looked at the wrinkled paper and bit my lip. I looked up and saw Byakuya step down to my teacher. Rena pulled me down with her and walked straight behind Byakuya.

"Sensei."

"Kuchiki, what brings you here into the academy? I thought you graduated some time ago."

"Our first intention was to visit an acquaintance, but I have a small request for you and the academy board of staff."

"What is it Kuchiki-san?"

"I wish for Hisana to be excused from the exam."

"Excused?" My teacher was bewildered. "That is unexpected of you. I can not say that Hisana did poorly, but I can not say that she has passed! Why would you request such a silly matter like that? I'm sure with one more year, she could pass."

"...As a noble I request this action to be taken seriously, sensei. Speak with the staff on my behalf. Hisana will pass the exam like I stated and I will take responsibility for the problems that follow. Believe me, I have high respects for the regulations for the school, but this is a private request, an exception from me and Rena."

He looked at the three of us and sighed, shaking his head.

"Really, Kuchiki. This is highly unexpected, but I guess I have no choice but to speak with them."

Byakuya nodded and turned around to walk back to his division headquarters. I sadly watched Rena trail behind and before she disappeared, winked at me. Sensei was watching me carefully as I wandered back into my seat and put my head down.

--

The following week, I prepared for the ceremony. All day, people watched me walk down the halls with disgust. Byakuya succeeded in persuading the council to change their decision. I was to graduate with everyone else the week after the exams. I felt guilty for getting in without a passing grade, but still, I couldn't tell them to forget about it. I had to become a shinigami and then I had to find Rukia.

I combed my hair slowly and straightened my kimono. I grew a lot since my Rukongai days. My hair got longer and my eyes matured, but still were round and childish. I was much taller than before, yet Rena could see the top of my head and Byakuya, well, he towered over me.

"All graduates assemble in the main hall. The ceremony will begin shortly," called the headmaster.

I cranked my neck and sighed. I wondered, which division will I be placed in? Which zanpaktou would be right for me? I thought these things as I went down the corridor, my hands shaking from the nervousness.

--

"I stand here before you all to announce something wonderful. We have new graduates for our Academy, the same academy that Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryusai founded. I congratulate you all for your hard-work and dedication. You will all be members of the divisions and mobile corps and proud members shall I add. Train hard and take care of your fellow shinigami; be prepared to fight many hollows in your lifetime. Now, let us begin the induction of students in the Gotei 13!"

"Aimi! Shinju! Taro! Hisana!"

I walked up to the platform to greet the line of staff and bowed in respect to all of them. I peered out into the crowd to see many glaring eyes. It was too true; it wasn't fair for me to get in even though I didn't pass the test. One man gave me a black package wrapped in plastic. Inside was a shihakushou, a shinigami uniform. I stroked the surface sadly and walked down the platform.

"Tsukiko! Osamu!..."

The voices ceased as I walked to the group where the other graduates gathered. They gave me a glance before looking away.

"Please, please get in line! Alright, the picture will commence! One...Two...Three!"

Click.

--

The next week, I was brought to a building for people to examine my reiatsu. From there, they analyzed my strong points and weaknesses and then they would give me a choice on which zanpaktou I wanted, according to an array of swords they selected from my information. I didn't want anything that used brute force, or speed. None of them seemed to peak my interest. The zanpaktous that focused on kidou were way too small.

"How about this one?" The man asked me. He pointed to a sword far off in the corner that had a fairly decent size even though it was still smaller than most. The guard was shaped like a feather and the hilt had a simple diamond pattern on it. I decided to touch it and I ran my fingers down the blade.

"Do you like this one?"

I looked at him and back to the sword. There was one way to be sure that it was right for me. I swung the sword back and forth, testing the weight and the speed that it could travel. The grip was fine, and the way it went through the air was good. I smiled.

"What is your name, zanpaktou?...Tatsu...Tatsumaki. A tornado."

"Well?"

I turned to him and nodded. He handed over the sheath. It was quite beautiful with a silver chain hanging off from the handle. The charm resembled a small silver feather. He nodded and called for an escort to the Gotei 13 hall. A captain must choose us to be in their squad. Rejects would go to any captain that could make use of them most. I hoped that I wouldn't be last. I hoped that they wouldn't make a fool out of me, but I realized, I was already a fool to begin with.

"Thank you sir." I followed the shinigami escort out of the building.

--

Byakuya-sama and Rena-chan were both in the 13th division under Ukitake Juushiro, the captain who was one of the first to graduate from the school. I didn't know if he was going to choose me, but if he did, I would be happy. The captains of the squads were filing in the office to draft us. We were placed in the middle, lined up and silent as they observed us. Many captains already planned out their choices from the moment they heard about our skills. I wondered who would pick me. I heard Captain Ukitake was one of the oldest and had long silver-white hair. There was none in the picture. Only twelve captains were present.

"Where is Ukitake-taicho?" One of the captains asked.

A man with wavy hair in a pony-tail shrugged it off. "He's sick again Aizen. He decided to draft from the comfort of his bed. Yawn what a day to be sick, eh?"

"Shunsui, that's sad to hear...Well now, these students look absolutely bright, don't they? It would be a shame for him to miss this." He smiled at us warmly. "Let's see..."

I closed my eyes a bit, hearing names being called out loud. That's not me. That's not my name either. I was scared. What if the captain was harsh to his squad? What would I do? What would I...

"Hisana."

I looked up to the woman who had called me. She was a dainty woman with wrinkles on her cheeks when she smiled. It was the captain of fourth division and her vice-captain, Unohana-sama. Fourth division was the healing squad. They were in charge of taking care of the injured and cleaning up after the rest. I didn't know whether to be happy or sad. The squad was friendly to each other, but the others teased them, I heard. Taking care of the injured? I didn't know if I could do it.

"Please come forward." Her vice-captain called. I nodded as I looked towards the ground. She put her arm on my shoulder and smelled sweetly. At least, I told myself; at least I would feel like I was loved. Outside, a small sakura petal flew by.

--

When I entered the 4th division headquarters, already I saw some bandaged shinigami lying on the beds. Vice-captain Unohana led our small group of shinigamis around the building and eventually, into the water system.

"You will need to know the system during your time in the 4th division," She told us. "It's important because we must do the jobs that many others aren't willing to do. You will need to memorize the maps given to you and quickly."

I looked at the strange map. There were so many tunnels, passageways, exits and dead ends on the map and we were required to memorize them all. And we had to give up the maps because the other divisions shouldn't get their hands on it. I sighed and looked around the damp place.

"Please be aware that as a member of my captain's squad, you will be in Soul Society for most of your days as a shinigami. We rarely go outside of Soul Society to heal unless there is an emergency."

"That's not fair." A smaller shinigami stated. "I want to go to the material world too!"

"Maybe if you work hard enough, you can."

I felt the wall and rubbed my fingers. Kidou wasn't always used for fighting I guess. People who can use kidou well can also heal well, they said. Maybe if I was better in the other fields, I would have gone to another squad, but it's no use thinking of that now. I just hoped that I might be able to see Byakuya and Rena sometime soon.

--

"You look disappointed."

"No, not at all, Unohana-fukutaicho. I'm just thinking that's all." I bit my lip. Did I really look that depressed?

"I can see sadness when I look into your eyes. You know that soon, our taicho will retire. She's become sick of the blood and her hands became pink with blood stains. She told me that, one day I would take over her division."

"Unohana...taicho?"

"Yes, I think that in one more year, she will be gone. She's much too old for the job." She smiled. "I heard that you were the 'excused' shinigami."

I blushed in embarrassment. "Yes..."

"You think that everyone's against you, but see three points away isn't so bad."

"What score did you have when you graduated?" I asked.

"Let's see, I think I got in at about...oh 425; something like that. But you see, I wasn't the best in some areas too, like you. You'll get used to hakuda and shunpo. Trust me."

"Thank you, Unohana-fukutaicho."

"Your welcome, oh and you were the one at that academy hollow mess, right?"

"Huh?"

"I helped operate of Kuchiki. He asked about Rena's safety...and yours too. He said in small sentences: Where's Hisana, did she get attacked too? I realized after we picked you, that you were the Hisana he asked about. Nobles make more than noble friends these days. Interesting."

She smiled once more and walked away. Somehow, she seemed like someone I could trust. She seemed almost motherly in a way. I wouldn't mind having her as my captain. Truly.

--

A year later, Unohana-sama became captain of 4th division. Despite her womanly and motherly looks, she was deadly. No one questioned her, not even the shinigami of 11th division who was the ruthless powerhouse. I didn't hear from Byakuya or Rena in quite a while and slowly, I began to forget about meeting them. The members of 4th division were warm to me and I felt comfortable healing the injured. They were right, I was good at healing and I was happy too. I rarely had to use my zanpaktou, Tatsumaki, the tornado, but when I did use it, it was only for show. Tatsumaki was considered a beautiful zanpaktou, one that people admired in battle.

"Orimageru, Tatsumaki!"

That meant to double, orimageru. I would spin the sword and it would separate in the whirl. It would separate into two large black and white fans, each a little longer than my forearm and as tall as my head. The blades were on the top and they folded along with the movements of the fans. I controlled the wind through the battlefield and under our feet. The trick was to dance smoothly as if you were just dancing for fun. A beautiful tornado that crossed the lands and was condensed into a sword, they said.