Response to 'A-humble-random-reader' review.
Thank you for your kind words. I'm not all too sure of timeline bacause I've never found exact dates of some of the events mentioned in the story. For the sake of my plan let's assume that the year is 1881. 20 years before the hollowfication incident. Aizen is still just a lieutenant, Visored are still a part of the soul society, Ichimaru just starts first year of the academy and Kisuke is still a part of the second division.
Thank you for reading and enjoy.
"Do not seek beauty in battle. Do not seek virtue in death. Do not make the mistake of considering only your own life. If you wish to protect that which you must protect, slice the enemy you must defeat from behind."
Such was an opening statement at the academy's admission ceremony. While grand words, and something that all soul reapers should abide by, considering all the standoffs, bragging matches and alike in the anime it's a failed lesson.
Truthfully speaking Kamui wasn't paying much attention to the speech overall. While it was all very flowery, Kamui didn't need any new ideals, and he certainly didn't need any new morality thrust upon him. Regardless of the world you're in, whether it's fictional or not propaganda is always going strong. After a certain time you get used to it, and you're gaining a certain amount of immunity to it.
He glanced that at the leaflet he was handled out earlier. He was placed in the class 1, which is an elite course. There are about thirty such students each year, and their guiding teacher is Gengoro Onabara. Kamui didn't have any expression of such character, but considering he was given responsibility for the most talented students speaks a lot about him.
His dormitory's number was 58, at 1st year's moon pavillon. For some reason the moon referred to male population, while the sun referred to the female population. Weird custom. Anyway, it seems he will be given a single roommate, but he wasn't told the name of such a person. Only that he will be in the same class.
Something that he wasn't aware of before now, is that he will be receiving a monthly allowance of 3000 kan. Apparently class two and three receive correspondingly 2000, and 1000 kan per month. It seems to be a way to show that talent, and hard work will be rewarded. It didn't matter much anyway, since everything in the academy is free, from lodgings to food. Allowance can only be spent in your private time. Obviously he wouldn't complain about receiving free money, but he wasn't sure how much 3000 kan was worth. It's probably not all that much.
Other than that there were the general rules of the academy, plan of the campus, and his timetable. Pretty standard stuff. Honestly he was a bit disappointed how normal it all seemed. Well school remains school, even if you train to be a supernatural killer straight from folk tales.
"Now then, go familiarize yourself with your new campus, dormitories and roommates. At 9 a.m. tomorrow you must gather in front of your dormitories. You shall then be directed to your respective classes."
When the crowd started dispersing slowly, Kamui stood there considering where to go. He was very eager to explore the campus by himself, however considering his past complicated relations with his roommates in school he decided to first go to his assigned room, hoping to meet a person with whom he'll potentially spend six next years living with.
Leaving the auditorium building he headed towards the so-called moon pavilion.
But he had to admit. Even after life full of travels, and seeing many wonders of architecture and nature, Shio'n Academy still manages to impress. The whole campus resembled a huge stylized park with isolated buildings dotting the landscape, creating a very serene effect of ambience. You'd think that what is essentially a military school would give out a more intimidating, uniform feeling. But no. It was a very peaceful, beautiful place.
Both moon and sun pavilions of the first year vere located close to each other, separated only by a small pond. On the other side of the pond, creating with other pavilions the shape of a triangle, was a dining hall, where students gathered for breakfast and a supper. Dinner was given out elsewhere. While the buildings themselves were fairly big, they still gave very… feng shui style.
After entering the pavilion he found out that not many students came here as of yet. Maybe that's better. Even if he wasn't a center of attention earlier during a ceremony, there were still a considerable amount of looks sent his way. He preferred peace and calm like that.
He quickly found out room number 58 and entered. It was a small and narrow, but practical room. Two beds, two night stands, two desks and two wardrobes. One tiny window. With a corner of his eye he saw a door to a small but surprisingly modern looking bathroom.
Sighing, he chose a bed and put his limited number of things on it. Well he only had two pairs of school uniform, and a white kimono that he still wore. Suddenly he froze. He sensed a presence outside of his door and out of curiosity took a glance with his Tenseigan. And boy, was he glad that he did. It gave him this much needed second to prepare for what's to come.
His roommate.
Door opened and revealed a tall and thin teenager, with silvery hair, eyes narrowed into slits and a weird mocking grin on his otherwise sharp features.
At least he won't be able to complain that his roommate is not interesting.
"It seems we're roommates from now. I look forward to it. I'm Ichimaru Gin."
This obviously mocking and annoying voice. This tilt of his head that looked like an invitation to punch him into his smug face. He could honestly say that he also looked forward to it. A lot.
"Likewise. I have this strange feeling that we'll get along. Nice to meet you. I'm Shirato Kamui."
"You should be proud of being admitted into the first course. It's a proof of the academy's belief that in the future you'll be a cornerstone of the Soul Society. It's a great honor. But you shouldn't depend solely on your talent. At the end of the day it's your hard work that decides how high you can go. Never forget that! Next six years of your life will be an unshakable foundation on which you'll build yourself!"
Impressively enough Gengoro-sensei, seemed like he was genuinely 100% invested into his teachings, and was determined to do his best. As someone who worked with children before, Kamui knew how hard it is to accomplish over a long period of time. Daily migraine is a thing.
"Everyday we'll start our day, just like this. General material. For two hours, we'll discuss soul society's history and rules, learn combat tactics and hollows characteristics. We'll delve into the basics of Reiatsu and Reiryoku manipulation. In short we'll cram you full of the vital and indispensable knowledge."
There were some groans of protests from the surroundings, but Kamui looked forward to it. Afterwards until now, this world was entirely fictional to him. Such a chance to learn more about it from the inside is amazing. Besides his main goal for admitting early into the academy was specifically knowledge on energy manipulation.
"Classes will be held six days per week, with one day of free time in between. However you're not allowed to leave the premises of the academy during those days off. Only on the last day of each month will you be eligible to leave. And even then only after leaving me a notice on the previous day."
That sounds like a pain. He was prepared for the academy to be a little restrictive, but nothing on that scale. Well, he could deal with it, afterwards for him the academy is safer than the outside. Afterwards his appearance and dojutsu were already seen, and it's harder to get to him, here within the public eye of the academy. Even if that sounds a bit paranoid.
"After the general lesson, you'll head to Zanjutsu class to learn about the intricacies of fighting with your Zanpakuto. This class will take you another two hours. Next, you'll be taking two hours of class on Hoho - the movement techniques. In between each class you'll be given half an hour for yourself to rest and eat. You must remember about proper sustenance."
He looked sternly around the class to check if everyone was paying attention. It seemed like everyone was listening, although whether it was true, or everyone was just being a really good actor was anyone's guess.
"This schedule will continue for three consecutive days. Afterwards there will be a change. Zanpakuto lessons will be switched into lectures on Kido - spiritual spells. Hoho lessons will turn into Hakuda - the art of hand to hand combat. This will continue for another three days, until the cycle will reset and we'll start from the beginning. Such schedule will give thorough understanding of Four Basic Fighting Styles that each Shinikamibis required to be proficient in."
"Additionally each day after classes, there will be an hour to attend optional courses at your own discretion. Rest of the day will be given for you to spend at will, but as you are students of the prestigious first class I expect that you'll spend this time at self-improvement. List of the optional classes is written behind me on the blackboard. I'll give you a few minutes to familiarize yourself with it."
Wow, that was a lot of info to take in. Kamui started to remember why exactly he disliked school back then. The schedule is really tight!
With a sigh at returning to this dreadful institution, he directed his sight towards the list of optional classes.
There were classes on pretty much everything. Cooking, gardening, painting, literature, music heck there were even theatre classes. It seems like these optional classes were mostly focused on various ways to relax in their free time. Makes sense really. If everyone just trained in the 'One hundred and two ways of turning hollows into a stain on the wall' then they would just burn out. Everyone needed some kind of hobby.
"Ne, ne Gin. Where should we apply to? The massage class sounds interesting."
"It's a class on giving, not on receiving massage, Rangiku. Not something you'd be interested in. But that also is a prospect worth looking to."
That's right. This excited voice belonged to Matsumoto Rangiku. They met earlier in the morning, and as it turns out she also joined first class. While she was truly beautiful, she appeared slightly malnourished and for some reason scared.
Kamui however didn't pay much attention to her. While she was a significant canon character in Bleach, at least at the moment he didn't find her all that interesting.
And while she appeared earlier to be curious about Kamui's exotic looks, she also was much more reserved with strangers than what the anime would suggest.
"I expected you to spend all the free time you can in your room napping. I'm proud of you Rangiku. To consider giving your time to learn how to please people. There's a broad future in front of you."
"Hey!"
Damn did she have strong lungs, Kamui winced at her cry of indignation. But he didn't join the conversation as a particular position in the list caught his eye. And apparently not only his.
"Kamui-kun, what about you? Maybe you should pick tuesday's class on calligraphy? It sounds like something that'd fit you. Apparently it's led by a real lieutenant. Aizen Sosuke. Officers in the Gotei 13 must have a lot of free time."
Kamui still faced the blackboard, while focusing his Tenseigan on the mocking face of Gin.
Was that an innocent question, without any deeper motive? His own strange brand of teasing, by throwing an unaware person in front of a starving lion? Or did Aizen want to meet him, and ordered Gin to arrange it and appear coincidental?
"I don't know yet. In the same time frame there's a lesson on flute playing. I always wanted to learn to play it but I never had enough time and most of all talent."
Gin had no reaction. Well, his mocking grin widened if you call it a reaction but that's it.
"But I might visit calligraphy class, to give it a try. For as long as I can remember my handwriting was atrocious. It sounds like a good chance to do something about it."
There were three reasons for him giving such an answer. If it was really Aizen wanting to see him, then if Kamui refused, he would just find another occasion. If Kamui still blew him off, then it would be clear he's been avoiding him. Which is not good.
It's true what he said earlier. While playing a flute was just a whimsy for him, that served as a convenient excuse at the moment, his handwriting being atrocious was a great source of shame for him. Especially in this foreign alphabet that he miraculously learned overnight without his own knowledge. If he ever became a captain, it would be a disgrace for him, if his written orders would be unreadable.
But most of all. He was just damn curious. It wasn't only a chance for Aizen to meet him, but for him to meet Aizen. And he was always one of the most interesting people in the series. Even if he'd only meet a fake pesona of his, it would still surely be a thing to remember.
"Is that so? We'll go together then. It will surely be something."
This time Kamui faced Gin directly and asked with a tilt of his head.
"It's a calligraphy lesson. Don't you put too much worth in it?"
Gin chuckled mockingly.
"I meant seeing you trying not to make a fool out of yourself. I look forward to it."
Urgh. Point for Gin.
"Hey don't go making plans by yourself! What about me?"
"You're welcome to come with us Matsumoto-san."
Thanks to the fact that his Tenseigan was still paying attention to Gin, he noticed. Gin flinched. Clearly he didn't want Rangiku to gain too much exposure to Aizen.
He was just about to continue when Gengoro-sensei decided that enough is enough because he coughed loudly to gain attention and returned to his lesson.
"At the end of the class you will all be lent Asauchi of your own. I say lend because in case that you were not able to graduate the academy those swords will be taken back. Only at graduation will those swords truly become your property."
This time it was clear that the teacher held full attention of his class. Some people even seemed like they stopped breathing, afraid to miss even a single word.
"Asauchi is an embryo type sword, that you'll all nurture with your reiatsu trying to bind it and awaken your own Zanpakuto spirit through it."
"Listen up! Although each and every single one of you possesses a Zanpakuto spirit, not everyone will be capable of awakening it. It requires hard work, talent, luck and most of all understanding of your own being."
"While it's true that Zanpakuto spirit is its own entity, it's essentially your alter ego. Manifestation of your core personality, your secret desires given form, your vision of a perfect being, or a complete opposite of yourself. What I'm getting at is, while Zanpakuto spirits are it's own separate entity, you must not forget that they originate from you and remain an essential part of your own being. Their power is your power, your power is their power. It's a symbiotic relationship like no other."
Even Kamui was a bit moved after hearing this speech. It just… spoke to something deep inside his soul.
"To bond with an Asauchi, you must always be in close contact with it. You sleep, you eat, you go to the bath with it. Every single moment from now is to be spent together with your blade. Pour your reiatsu everyday within, after waking up, and before going to sleep. At least once everyday let the blade taste a few drops of your blood. After establishing such a routine, any deviation in it might result in losing all your progress."
Without even realizing it Kamui nodded with determination. He will not be a background character. He will do everything to learn his Zanpakuto's name and achieve Shikai and then Bankai.
"The rest of today's lesson we'll go over proper ways of maintaining your blade, and ways to handle it in respectful and dignified manner."
Rest of the lesson went by fairly quickly. Everyone was impatient to finally receive their own blades, so they absorbed the information like crazy, after the teacher reminded them once again that these swords are on a loan, and will be taken away if not handled properly.
Lessons were fairly standard. From ways to polish the blade, to some regular common sense.
Although Kamui sensed a story behind the explicit rule: 'Do not use your Zanpakuto to unclog the toilet.' Guess that even among Soul Reapers there are geniuses of the highest calibre.
But eventually the lesson came to an end.
And a long awaited moment arrived.
They were led into a room adjacent to the class. It was dark. Full of the smell of incense, while the only light in the room came from two hooded silhouettes standing in the corner and holding tall, lit candles.
In the center of the room was a podium on which, on a sheet of ornamental silk lay thirty pairs sheathed nondescript katanas. It was all very mystical.
After taking their swords and leaving the room Gin, Rangiku and Kamui huddled in the corner and revealed the blades with varying expressions on their faces.
"It's a key to the new beginning." Said Rangiku with an awed, but slightly lost expression on her face.
It was. Those swords had so many different meanings to the three.
A key to stand freely on it's own, and be able to repay a debt of a lifetime.
A key to attaining revenge, and regaining what was lost.
A key to free and unrestrained life without a shred of regret.
Kamui stared silently at the pure and untainted blade, noticing absentmindedly, how ridiculously sharp it was.
"Yeah. You're right Matsumoto-san. It all starts now."
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