A/N: I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who came back to this story and everyone who is new. I've taken a long break from this story and because of that, so have my ideas. I came to the decision that I want to change the direction of the story which, ultimately, led me to change the name. I'm sorry about this, but the old title and summary no longer pertained to my new plot. I also didn't want two short chapters, so I decided to insert a time skip about halfway through the chapter. The focus is not on Karin's time in the Academy, but rather as a Shinigami, so I skip the majority of the Academy. I hope you enjoy! Remember to leave me your thoughts, I read all of them!
The Academy wasted no time in getting classes started. After the exam ended, Karin walked with Kei over to the Administration and Student Affairs Department to grab their schedules and room assignments. Surprisingly, it didn't take long at all to get what they needed. The system was quick and organized and Karin couldn't help the bubble of satisfaction for the efficiency of the school. The two documents were folded together and sealed with a sticker. She slipped her finger beneath the paper and ripped through the sticker. She fought with the sticky material for a bit before flicking it to the ground in a fit of irritation.
"Who's class are you in?" Karin asked nudging Kei in the side with her elbow.
Kei didn't answer right away as he was busy reading through the papers. "I'm in Class One with Gengoro Onabara, you?"
Moving her black braid to her other shoulder, Karin started to read the papers. She couldn't believe her luck. In clean, black ink, the name Gengoro Onabara was printed. "You'll find out tomorrow," Karin chuckled. She watched out of the corner of her eye as Kei's face scrunched in confusion before smoothing out into one of pure joy.
"You mean – "
"Glad to see you're not dumb. See you in class, Bud!"
Karin walked away and she felt like she could still feel the happiness radiating from the tall man. They had spent the majority of their evening together and it was safe to say she had found her new vice-captain. The tall man had the body of a fighter, but his behavior and personality were so innocent. Even though they had known each other for less than a day, Karin could still feel the immense loyalty Kei had for her. He could have left her after the exam, but he didn't. He ate dinner with her and stayed with her to get their documents. The pure, unadulterated joy he had when Karin told them they'd be in the same class couldn't be faked. He had her back and she would have his.
0oo0oo0
Karin woke up the next morning with more than enough time to spare. She had never needed as much sleep as everyone else and she always woke up way before she needed to. As she was in no rush, Karin turned over in her bed and reached for the schedule she had gotten the previous day. Once the paper was in her hands she rolled onto her back and lifted her hair so it wouldn't be trapped under her. With her body comfortable, Karin unfolded the paper. She ignored the top portion as it was just information about her. Right below it, though, was her class listings.
Monday, Wednesday, Friday:
Hakuda (8:00 am - 11:00 am ) – Buichi Ryuzaki (North Grounds)
Break (11:10 am - 12:50 pm)
Kido (1:00 pm - 4:00 pm) – Zenko Murahashi (North Grounds)
Jinzen (4:10 pm – 5:10 pm) – Gengoro Onabara (North Grounds)
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday:
Hoho (8:00 am - 11:00 am ) – Seijuro Ohara (North Grounds)
Break (11:10 am - 12:50 pm)
Zanjutsu (1:00 pm - 4:00 pm) – Hisoka Shouzo (North Grounds)
Jinzen (4:10 pm – 5:10 pm) – Gengoro Onabara (North Grounds)
Even though she had already read through it once, Karin still balked when she saw workload assigned to her. It had been decades since she had been truly challenged and the idea of getting her joints and muscles working again sparked a desire that she didn't know was there. She almost felt bad for it, though. Back in Rukongai, Karin had to watch over the kids, which makes it sound like it was their fault she was unhappy. Pushing that thought out of her mind, Karin flipped the blanket off of her and walked into the small bathroom attached to her room.
The tiled floor was cold against her warm feet and an involuntary shudder shot up her spine. Again, she was impressed by the Academy as they had provided all the necessary hygiene products she could ever need. She wrapped a stiff hand the smooth wooden handle of a hairbrush and ran it through her long black locks. She worked through all of the knots that formed in her straight hair before she put it in a ponytail at the nape of her neck with the thin white ribbon she had removed from the shampoo and conditioner gift set. After brushing her teeth and changing into one of the many clean uniforms she now had, Karin stepped out of her room.
Karin found the North Grounds easily enough and she was surprised to see a few students already there. She, herself, was at least an hour early! The sun hadn't fully risen yet, so it was hard for Karin to make out her fellow students' faces, but she had no doubt in mind who possessed the shock of yellow hair. A smile broke across her face and she picked up her pace.
"Hana!" Karin called out in a hushed voice.
Hanami swiveled her head until her eyes landed on Karin. The taller girl let out a shriek and dashed forward. Her slender arms wrapped Karin in a warm hug, and Karin returned it. "You," Hanami began, "were epic yesterday!"
Karin chuckled and patted Hanami's back. She motioned for Hanami to lower her voice as it was still morning and some of the other students weren't awake yet. They found an empty space in the compound and resumed their hushed talking. Most of the conversation was about the exam as they didn't have any history prior to the exams.
"My partner was horrible," Hanami whined. "I found her with like a minute left and she was sitting on a barrel with the ticket in her hand. She wasn't even looking for me! I felt like I flew around that freaking place looking for her!"
Karin didn't want to brag about how wonderful Kei was when her friend was so upset about her own partner. She tried to offer words of comfort, but before she could even speak, she was being lifted into the air and placed on a lap.
"Good morning, Karin-chan!" a man said while wrapping his arms around Karin's waist.
The raven-haired woman wasn't even scared. She recognized the gentle touch as soon as the man's hands came in contact with her body. "Hey, Kei," Karin said twisting her neck to look at the tall man. "This is my friend Hanami." she introduced without missing a beat.
"Hello!" Kei and Hanami chimed together.
The three young adults chatted until quite a few students had arrived. Karin had gotten quite comfortable in Kei's lap and she didn't bother hiding her disappointment when she had to stand up. They moved over to where the majority of students stood but continued their talk. Karin was glad to see Kei and Hanami getting along.
"Alright, listen up, everyone!" A booming voice cut through the early morning chatter. Karin looked around trying to peer through bodies. When she found a sufficient space, she firmly planted her feet and concentrated on listening to the giant bald man speaking (Was everyone in the afterlife tall?). "I'm Gengoro Onabara, you will call me Onabara-sensei. I am in charge of molding you to be the future of Soul Society. The sixty of you have been handpicked by the exam proctors and identified as the best applicants, but do not hold on to the false hope of security!"
A quite mutter spread through the crowd, but Gengoro kept speaking.
"If your performance is not satisfactory, I have the authority to remove you from my class and replace you with someone better. We produce the finest Shinigami – keep that in mind. Your next sensei will be here soon. Be ready." Gengoro walked away without another word.
The class remained silent until their next teacher arrived. This time, an average man approached the group. He wasn't tall and he wasn't short. He was plainly average and Karin couldn't help but wonder how such a boring looking man became a teacher for the advanced class. She watched as he took Gengoro's spot and a sly smile split his face. "Welcome, welcome," he greeted. "We will begin right away!"
Before he finished speaking, the deceivingly simple man was gone. A shout of pain echoed through the grounds and Karin watched in awe as a few students fell to the ground. A grin of her own spread across her face and excitement to learn took over her body. She briefly saw a figure flash in front of her before a knee was in her gut and she was sent back. The attack brought back memories of soccer balls being launched at her and the reactions came back as well. Karin dug her heels into the ground and bent her knees. The knee would leave a bruise, but nothing she couldn't deal with. The rush of the action made her feel alive and she couldn't help the exclamation that burst from her throat.
Karin stood to her full height. "All right, Sensei, bring it on!" All of the energy she bottled up for the past two decades came flowing out of her. Right now, she was a battery brimming with electricity and she didn't care that she was going to get destroyed.
"What a bizarre young woman." the teacher whispered as he made his way behind Karin. He reached for her arm in a move to flip her onto her back but he wasn't expecting the resistance he was met with. He had underestimated her slight stature for being weak and had to do a few flips of his own to dodge the cannon of a fist Karin sent his way. While Karin was recovering from her way too powerful punch, the teacher made his way back to the front of the class. "Now, now, let us begin the real class. I want you to line up in two lines facing each other."
The students scrambled about to follow their teacher's instructions. Karin was shoved around more than a few times, but she was still too buzzed to care. The grin had fallen from her face, though, but her features were set. The boy who took the place across from her looked to be shaking in his skin. Karin felt bad for the boy, but she paid him no mind as her eyes shifted to the teacher who was now walking between the students.
"I am Buichi Ryuzaki and I will be leading your Hakuda studies. As demonstrated previously, your reactions are horrible. As Shinigami, it is our duty to remain ready at a moment's notice. We have six years to get you to be ready for duty. Your six years start right now. If I do not see improvement by the next class, you will be on my list and I will bring the issue up to Onabara-sensei. We cannot afford to have those in our class who do not care."
The little spiel had similar vibes to the one Gengoro gave and Karin felt slightly guilty that her attention started to wander. She gave her hands a light pinch to get her focus grounded. Buichi continued to ramble but he stopped when he reached the spot in front of Karin. The young woman snapped to attention.
"What is your name?" Buichi urged.
"Karin Kurosaki, sensei."
Buichi's eyes clouded as many thoughts ran through his mind. His face visibly brightened as realization dawned on him. She must have some relation to Ichigo Kurosaki, Buichi thought, their reiryoku is strikingly similar. "Where did you learn to do that?"
Karin felt that her honest answer wouldn't be an acceptable one so she answered vaguely. "It's been too long for me to remember."
Buichi nodded, not really accepting the reply but not willing to push the matter, before resuming his walk and addressing the rest of the students. "The person across from you will be your training partner for the time being. I want you to attack each other with everything you have. Bodies are the only weapons permitted." When Buichi said no more, the students took off with a scream of determination.
0oo0oo0
Karin flopped to the ground. Her hair was a sweaty mess and he muscles were sore. She was exhausted, but she felt great. Next to her Kei had laid prone. His dark curls turned sleek and straight. Buichi had proven to be anything but average. He was all about the hands-on teaching style. As he taught his students how to move, he was right there demonstrating it. Not minute was spared for resting. All three hours designated to the class were spent working their bodies to the bone and Karin loved it. She was never one to do things half-assed after all.
Hanami stumbled over to the pair. "If this is how the advanced class is going to be, I might ask to be dropped. This was absolutely brutal!" The smaller woman gestured for Hanami to take a seat as she reached for the hair tie the blonde was fumbling with. Rising to her knees, Karin deftly placed Hanami's blonde locks into a secure bun. "You are a lifesaver, Karin-chan!"
Karin simply shrugged and put her own hair into a similar style. The pain in her muscles had reduced to a dull ache and she had felt ready to go again. Her two friends, though, they looked like they wanted to melt into the dirt. "Come on, guys, it wasn't that bad," she frowned, concerned for their well-being.
"Says who?" Hanami countered. "Look at us, all of us. You're literally one of two people not bothered right now and the other one is Buichi-sensei."
Her friend was right. Karin cast her eyes over the field and realized that her classmates were in various states of disarray. She honestly hadn't thought much of the class. Was it challenging? Yes, but it wasn't anything unbearable.
"Give me one more day. One more day and I'll hand your ass to you."
Eyebrows raised, Karin turned her attention to Kei. He was still in the same position and she had thought he had fallen asleep. The young man pulled himself into a sitting position and looked at his friend.
"Really, now?" Karin challenged.
"Really, I'm just rusty. Give me time to move my joints and loosen my muscles. You won't be able to touch me."
Nervous laughter filled the air and both Karin and Kei snapped their heads towards her. "Let's stop with the death threats and go get some food yeah?"
0oo0oo0
Lunch passed by way too quickly and the trio found themselves returning to the training grounds. Everyone looked ragged. Bodies were thrown haphazardly all over the ground and pained grunts filled the air. While Karin guaranteed that she felt much better than them, she couldn't guarantee that she looked any better.
The three friends took a seat at the end of the somewhat formed student line up. Soft footsteps echoed out and Karin directed her attention to the lone building in the area. A short, plump woman with fiery red hair was leading a group of students who were carrying large stacks of thick books. She stopped in front of the tired students and the group following her began to pass out the books. Karin caught one that was thrown in her direction and the weight of the book almost brought her to the ground.
The book had a hard black cover and the pages looked as if they had been dipped in coffee. Just as Karin placed the book in her lap so she could open it, a startled cry. She looked over to see one of her female classmates with her arms twisted tightly behind her back.
"Did I tell you that you could open the book?" the teacher scoffed haughtily. The student shook her head aggressively. "It would do you well to have a bit of patience. Kido is a fickle thing and has no time for impatient little students." Whatever she did to Karin's classmate, stopped and the girl dropped her arms to her side.
"I am Zenko Murahashi and I will be teaching you Kido. None of your other classes will ever amount to the difficulty of this class. Most of you won't even use Kido once you graduate, but that is no excuse for you to not try. While the Academy doesn't require you to be proficient, I do. I will not pass you if you are not up to my standards." The class remained silent and at attention. "Although Kido is not typically used on the front lines, it has been known to save lives. You must stay alive to keep others alive and I will make sure of that."
Karin found the woman's speech inspiring. The blood in her body warmed at the thought of having such strength. To hold such a beautiful position of power was enticing. To command an entire army to ensure the safety of others. She wanted that. She pulled herself away from her thoughts when the students around her started to move. Zenko paced back and forth in front of the students eyeing each one of them.
"Kido begins with a good posture. If your bodies are scrunched so is your energy. Balance the book on top of your head and extend your limbs." Zenko instructed.
The book was beyond heavy in her hands and Karin was worried it would crush her neck if she put it on her head. None of the other students hesitated, so she begrudgingly followed. A few moments passed when she felt someone breathing by her ear and soon fingers were poking her side. She was about to snap when Zenko spoke again. "Next is to keep focused. You will rarely find yourself in a position where you can perform Kido quietly. You must be able to block out distractions. One by one, I want you to say your name and the district you came from. The person after you will state their information as well as the previous. The person last in line must repeat the information from all of your classmates. When one round is complete, the first person moves to the end and we will begin again. If someone makes a mistake, we start again from the beginning. Patience and focus are the keys to successful Kido."
Karin balked. There were sixty students which meant that they had to do this at least sixty times. She wanted nothing more than to snap the fingers poking her side, but she wouldn't let her anger get the best of her. She was here to become a Shinigami, and she'd be damned if she got into her own way. Karin focused on the students shouting out their information. She was in the front row near the end and her turn was coming up soon. A wave of panic washed over her as it neared her turn. Thankfully, she passed her turn with a small, hopefully unnoticeable, pause.
The exercise went smoothly until the last row of students. A young man with a scowl on his face skipped over a student and Zenko immediately restarted the activity. The whole class let out a collective groan of irritation. Their limbs were stiff and their necks hurt from the book. Karin passed her turn again only for Hanami, who was directly beside her, to confuse the order. The small woman shot a glare through the sweaty hair that had fallen out of its style. Hanami glanced at Karin apologetically when Zenko shouted to start again.
Finally, the class managed to complete the activity and Zenko let them drop their books. Karin's spine felt as if it would break in half, but any movement brought more aches.
"We do not have enough time to begin talking about performing a spell so we will do that next class. However, it is your duty to memorize the incantation of the first of the Bakudo spells." With her expectations said, Zenko walked back into the building that she came from and the group that came with her, left with her.
"What a bitch," Karin muttered under her breath. She could already tell that she was going to hate this class. Karin had practically no patience, and waiting around like that drove her crazy. She just had to get through one more session before she could throw herself in the shower and wash the day away.
It was entirely too soon that Gengoro came back. He wasted no time in telling the class to get into a quarter lotus position. "This will undoubtedly be your most important class. You can always train, but you only get one Zanpakuto. It is here where you begin to forge the bond with your blade. Your Zanpakuto is an extension of you. I doubt you will get far today, but you will try."
Karin didn't doubt Gengoro when he said that there would be little progress, but she didn't expect to sit in silence staring at the back of her eyelids. The whole thing felt like a waste of her time and it upset her. She wanted results and she wanted them now. Her stomach was filled with undigested food that seemed hellbent on giving her indigestion which only irritated her more. She trekked back to her room with heavy feet and the damned kido book tucked into her elbow. Nothing sounded better than shower hot enough to boil her skin, so that's what she did. Karin returned to bed comfortably dressed in the pajama set provided by the Academy.
The Academy was supposed to be a challenge. It was supposed to provide Karin with the opportunity to grow, but damn, it was day one and she was fed up. The only thing she had ever been good at was throwing around brute strength and she was sick of it. Her short temper was quick to end things that she wasn't happy with. Nasty attitudes were curbed with her sharp tongue and bad behaviors stopped with her blunt fist, but the more she thought about it, the quicker she realized that she was the way she was because she lacked passion. She had soccer when she was alive, but ever since coming to Soul Society, she had no direction.
Every day was spent watching after kids and serving drunk men alcohol and food. But that wasn't Karin. She wasn't some tame character satisfied with the mundane. She wanted to be challenged and find excitement. She wanted power. That was her direction now. She wouldn't stop until she got to where she wanted to be. She would improve. She would succeed. And it started now.
0oo0oo0
Six Years Later
"To your left!"
Karin stopped fast and switched the direction of her feet. Her feet barely touched the ground before she was moving again. The white band of fabric tied around her left ankle fluttered and the hand that reached out for it came away empty. Once again, Karin took off in the opposite direction to avoid the three men who had charged her. While her attention was focused on getting away from the group, a woman had dashed forward and threw her hands towards Karin's ankle, but Karin was already gone and a bell had sounded.
"Well done, Kurosaki-chan, spectacular as always." the teacher, Seijuro Ohara, praised.
"Thanks, sensei!" Karin said between breaths. She wiped the sweat from her brow and straightened her posture. Hoho was her favorite and she also happened to the best in her class. She was light on her feet and her reaction times were phenomenal. Her classmates had yet to best her speed and swipe the fabric from her ankle. After six years of intense training, she was so close to being able to perform shunpo. If she managed to get it down, she would be the first student in the history of the academy to use shunpo. It was a technique that many entry-level Shinigami had issues with.
"Remember, the afternoon classes are cut short today because of the Dinner with the Captains. This is your last year and Captains really begin to pay attention to you now. Know the specialties and impress. Good luck!" Seinjuro's smile caused many of the other students to smile back.
"Thank you, sensei," Kei bowed as he walked by the older man. Seijuro acknowledged Kei with a pat on the shoulder before leaving.
"You ready to eat?" Karin asked.
"Yeah, Hanami wanted me to tell you that she won't be there today because she's gonna practice a bit more with her friend before her practical."
Karin nodded her head and wrapped her arms around Kei's longer ones. Hanami had been dropped from the advanced track at the end of their first year. Gengoro believed that she wasn't improving at a rate fast enough, so he placed her in the accelerated track. She was one of fourteen people to get dropped. Karin, on the other hand, showed incredible growth. She was the top student in Hakuda and Hoho and nearly the top in Zanjutsu. Kido, though, that's where she suffered. Spells constantly blew up in her face or didn't work, but she was able to get enough of it down to just barely pass. She was set on leaving her Kido skills in the Academy.
As usual, lunch came and went without much happening. Karin and Kei didn't have much of an appetite, so they ended their lunch earlier and decided on a quick stroll."Any progress?" Kei questioned.
Karin knew exactly what her friend was referring to and her mood had immediately soured. "What do you think?"
"Sorry, I just– "
"I know, it's just the little bastard doesn't want to speak. And it's fucking irritating."
Kei put his hand on Karin's head and gave her loose hair a little ruffle. "It'll come around. I'm sure of it."
The smaller girl shrugged out of Kei's hold and smoothed her hair down. She couldn't wait for the day she could talk to her Zanpakuto spirit. By all the books she had read, every fourth year should be well on their way to unleashing their Shikai. Hell, she was a month out from the end of her time at the Academy, and Karin was the only one in her class without a Shikai and it pissed her off to no end. "The Headmaster said there would be no problems with me graduating, but he also thinks that no Captain wants a new recruit who can't use their Zanpakuto."
"Hey! Don't think like that!" Kei lifted Karin up so he could look into her eyes before he continued. "Any Captain would kill to have you on their squad! I heard Buichi-sensei and Seijuro-sensei say that your speed rivaled the Flash Goddess's. Everyone will want you after the Graduation Showcase."
The Graduation Showcase! Karin had completely forgotten about that. The month before graduation, the graduating students would submit their top five squad choices and the Academy would arrange a match between each squad and the student. All of the Captains would be present and they could snatch a graduate if the student's preferred squat didn't want them or if none of the Captains wanted them, they'd return to the Academy for another year.
"That's what tonight's dinner is for! I'm literally so stupid! I forgot all about it!" Karin realized.
"Exactly, so you take your sorry self and you show those Captains what they'd be missing. But right now, we should probably head to class."
With that, Karin and Kei headed towards the Northern Grounds where the Zanjutsu class would be. The rest of the class was already there, but their teacher, Hisoka Shouzo, had yet to arrive. Karin easily settled into her spot with her partner who she strongly disliked. For as long as she could remember he disregarded her abilities and talked shit about the other students. Buro Date was a horrible person, but he wasn't evil and she could give him that much.
Neither said a word to each other as Hisoka arrived. "We don't have much time today, so we won't be sparring." The teacher said. "I would like to take some time to talk to you individually about your strengths before you submit your choices tonight."
Karin joined back up with Kei as Hisoka pulled the first student aside. Not much conversation was made as Karin was deep in her own thoughts. Despite her attempts at trying to cut her temper, her temper was a beast to tame. She was still hot-headed so she decided she was going to embrace it. Because she had such a volatile temper, she knew the First, Fourth, Sixth, and Thirteenth Squads were out of the question. She wasn't smart enough for the Twelfth Squad. The only thing she did know was that the Second and Eleventh Squads were her ideal choices and when it was her turn to speak with Hisoka, that's exactly what she told him.
"Kurosaki, that limits your options greatly. It is highly not recommended to only submit two choices." Hisoka explained.
"I understand that sensei, but I don't have my Zanpakuto. No one is going to want to have a newbie swinging around a nameless blade."
"Now, that's not true. Meet with the Captains and submit five names."
"But it is sensei! I don't even want me! I want to prove to them that I'm powerful, not my Zanpakuto. I've accepted that I may never know the name of my spirit, but that is not going to stop me. It can't stop me."
Hisoka remained quiet. His face told Karin that he was completely unhappy with her decision, but she wasn't willing to back down. "At least meet with three other Captains tonight. Talk to five Captains and if you still submit two squads, that's your choice." her teacher sighed while walking away. What a way to have her mood ruined. She didn't expect to spill her thoughts like that and now it was weighing on her. She just wanted to know the name of her Zanpakuto! Was that too much to ask? Upset and in a mood, Karin stalked away to freshen up for the dinner.
0oo0oo0
Being in the advanced track had its perks. Karin's class was able to sit right in front of the podium where the Headmaster would introduce the Captains. As usual, Karin made sure to grab the seat next to Kei. His goofy smile and child-like aura always made her feel infinitely better. From her spot, she would be able to see every single Captain in great detail. The stadium filled with chatter as the rest of the six years piled in. Everyone quickly quieted down when the Headmaster took his place in front of the microphone. "Welcome! As you are all now settled in, we'll bring our honored Captains out. Please pay respects to the Captains of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads."
Karin, along with all of the other students, stood to attention and bowed at the waist. Everyone remained bent until they received the signal to relax. Karin returned to her full height turned her gaze to the line of Captains. To her surprise, she noticed that three people were not wearing the characteristic white haori. Squads One, Three, Five, and Nine showed up with Lieutenants as their representatives. She knew that the Captain-Commander didn't show up to the dinner and that the Thirteen Court Guard Squad lost a few captains, but she figured that the spots would've been filled by now.
"Unfortunately, the Captain-Commander has yet to find adequate individuals to fill the spots of the missing captains, so we have the Acting Captains, the Lieutenants, of Squads One, Three, Five, and Nine."
The Headmaster continued talking, but Karin stopped paying attention. Her focus was directed on the redhead who stood tall and proud. She hadn't seen Renji since the day Jun had been taken to the Fourth Squad Infirmary. She watched as his eyes swept over the crowd. When his eyes locked on hers and a slick grin split his face, Karin knew there was no stopping the blush the crept up her face. She was an indomitable force among her fellow students, but something about the look on Renji's face made her uncomfortable and it was a feeling she wasn't used to.
Karin vaguely registered the Headmaster dismissing the students to the Dining Hall, and when everyone started moving she latched onto Kei and pulled him along.
"Whoa, what's wrong?" Kei asked confused.
"Shut up," Karin countered weakly, the blush on her face intensifying.
Kei let out a little gasp of joy and leaned down to whisper excitedly in his friend's ear. "Is it Captain Kuchiki? Oh! Maybe you're attracted to the masculine wiles of Captain Zaraki?"
Karin balked and immediately wrapped her arms around the much taller man and placed him in a choke-hold. "I do not have a fucking crush on one of the Captains!" She hissed. A few students turned her way and started whispering. "Look at what you fucking started!" Kei easily removed Karin off his body and gently pat her head. He knew he was pushing her buttons, but he wanted to get her mind off of her nameless Zanpakuto. Hopefully, his plan was working.
Once they all made it to the Dining Hall, the students scattered fighting to get an audience with the Captain of their first choice, and Karin was no different. She scanned the hall and her eyes lit up when she saw Captain Sui-Feng nursing a cup of water. She turned back to Kei to tell him she had found her target. He was in the process of motioning to Kyoraku which led to both of them cracking a smile before heading in different directions.
By the time Karin arrived, a small group of students formed around the intimidating Captain. Unfortunately for Karin, Buro Date was one of them. She had half a mind to walk away when a scowl found its way onto her face, but she quickly wiped it off and kept her feet planted. Sui-Feng said nothing as she stared at the group of students. Her eyes locked onto Karin for a split second before looking down into her cup. "Why did you guys decide on Squad Two? If you're here now, this must be your first choice."
None of the students answered Karin included. Why was Squad Two her first choice? She couldn't say that it was because she didn't have a Zanpakuto and felt that she wouldn't really need one in this squad. Sure, every Shinigami used their Zanpakuto, but Karin felt that if she could get by without one, it would be this squad.
"I have a lot to offer."
Karin's eyes snapped up to the person who spoke. She wasn't surprised to find that it was Buro – He had always been cocky.
"That's cute, the baby thinks he has a lot to offer." Sui-Feng scoffed. "You don't get to decide that, I do."
Karin really tried to hold back her snicker, but she couldn't stop the smirk from appearing on her face. Her and Buro brought out the worst in each other and she knew it. Anything she did made him angry and vice-versa, and this was no different. It was like a switch had been flipped and Buro rounded on Karin. "What are you laughing at, you failure? Six years in the academy and you don't even have a Zanpakuto!"
Buro's words were loud and uncalled for. Every sign of mirth on Karin's face was replaced with pure rage. "Who the fuck do you think you are to tell my business?!" In a flash, her hands were tangled into the collar of Buro's kosode and she shoved him back into the pillar behind him. Her glare was the fiercest it had ever been and she was subconsciously releasing reiatsu. "Don't mess with me, Date." Her words hit Buro directly in the face and Karin watched the sweat drip down his brow with an odd sense of pleasure. She briefly wondered when she had gotten so twisted, but it was quickly pushed when her eyes caught Buro's lips move. He wasn't trying to speak, he was getting ready to spit on her!
Karin, in movements too fast for her classmates to track, threw Buro to the ground and stood over him. "Just what is your problem with me? What about me bothers you so much?"
Buro got to his feet and met Karin's glare with one of his own, but he said nothing. Karin was at her limit. She had planned to keep quiet about her situation, but Buro had to ruin it. Her teeth were clenched so tightly the strain was visible in her cheeks. All of the Captains and students had stopped their discussion to watch her and Buro's display and the feeling of dread washed over her. She had just screwed her chances. Despite her brain telling her that she needed to stay, Karin turned on her feet and walked out of the Dining Hall unaware of the turquoise eyes that followed her movement.
0oo0oo0
It was the morning of her portion of the Graduation Showcase and Karin was simultaneously miffed and relieved. She was relieved that her time with Buro was coming to an end, but upset because she knew that all of the Captains would be judging her twice as hard due to her inability to manifest her Shikai. She paced in the hallway leading to the stadium when Gengoro approached her.
"Kurosaki," he greeted.
"Onabara-sensei! What are you doing here?" Karin gasped genuinely confused by the stone-of-a-man's presence.
"I haven't gotten the chance to talk to one of the finest students ever produced by this Academy, so I wanted to do it now. I'm aware of the conflict that happened between you and Buro and your issue. Those Captains out there will not care and the ones who do are not worth your time. No matter the outcome of today, I know the Thirteen Court Guard Squads will have a place for you, so go out there and do your best. I expect nothing less."
The man was gone before Karin could process his words. "Always the man of little words, huh, sensei? Don't worry, I don't know how to give anything less than the best." With a newfound determination, Karin tugged on the door leading out to the stadium and walked through.
The Graduation Showcase was designed for the student to fail. The match that was arranged was five versus one. The point of the match was not to emerge the victor but to display a variety of skills and the potential to be a Shinigami. The students would battle with the previous year's recruits and the Captains would analyze the performance.
Karin stepped out onto the battlefield and took in her opponents. Instead of five newbie Shinigami, she found herself in front of two seated officers from Squads Two and Eleven. Karin had disregarded Hisoka's advice and only submitted two choices, so the Academy upped the experience level of her opponents. Karin waited patiently for the Headmaster to introduce her so she could begin her match.
"Potential Graduate Karin Kurosaki, please step forward. Karin Kurosaki hails from Junrinan. She currently holds first place for Hakuda and Hoho, ninth for Zanjutsu, and forty-second for Kido. Let the match begin."
The officer from Squad Eleven cracked his knuckles before charging forward. Karin used shunpo to move to the other end of the stadium. She had managed to perform the technique not long after the disaster of the dinner and spent the remainder of her time practicing it. She was far from being proficient, but this was a start. The officer from Squad Two tailed her and followed up with a sweeping kick which Karin dodged with a few flips. A battle cry from her right drew her attention back to the brute of a man who raised his Zanpakuto over his head. With a curse, Karin raised her own scabbard to block the strike only to use shunpo once again to avoid the officer from Squad Two.
Both men started her down, shocked at how much speed Karin possessed. Karin threw her long ponytail over her shoulder and clutched at the hilt of her Asauchi before she tossed it aside. It was useless to her. It had been declared that the seated officers would not be allowed to use their Shikai for the safety of the student and Karin could see the officers getting frustrated. They took the lull in the movement to use shunpo and crowd Karin. Their own shunpo wasn't as fast as her own, but it was much more controlled. The officer from Eleven clipped Karin in the gut with a well-aimed punch and the officer from Two sent her sprawling with a kick. Karin wasted no time in reacting. She used her arms to launch her lower body up high enough to where she could lock her legs around the waist of the officer from Eleven. She used the momentum of the locking motion to flip her upper body up and slam the larger man into the ground.
Sweat was dripping into Karin's eyes and she attempted to wipe it away, but the officer from Two took the opening to engage Karin in close combat. With sweat burning her eyes, Karin did her best to block the strikes. Her forearms were getting pummeled and a dull ache began to spread through them. The officer from Two landed a palm strike to Karin's temple which had her reeling. The officer from Eleven flashed behind her and reached out to pin her, but Karin used her dizzy state to fall to the ground and roll away. The officer from Eleven locked his comrade in a crushing hold and Karin took this moment to cast a Kido spell. She knew it wouldn't hold but she needed a minute to breathe and think. It was the first spell she had learned, but she couldn't do it without the incantation. She rushed through it hoping that they would be immobilized for even a few seconds.
The moment her opponents' arms locked behind their backs, Karin inhaled deeply. Her chances of winning were slim, but if she played her cards just right, she might be able to pull off a victory. The officer from Eleven was a tank and the officer from two was a bullet. If she could somehow manipulate their speed and strength against each other, she could incapacitate them. Karin's thinking was cut short when the officer from Two appeared by her side with his sword drawn. From out of the corner of her eye, she could see the officer from Eleven charging with own sword straight out in front of him. If she didn't move she was going to get impaled. A plan suddenly came to her. She let the officer from Two to slash at her side. She winced but she didn't make any attempts to move. The officer from Eleven grew closer, but he wasn't close enough. When Karin felt the blade leave her body and the tip of another touch her stomach, she used all the energy in her body to use one final shunpo.
Karin's body was no longer in contact with any weapons, but the officer from Two was in the line of one. Realizing that he was about to get injured, the officer from Two moved to step out of the way, but his partner's blade caught on his arm. Karin was out of breath and she was panting heavily. She hadn't been this challenged in a long time and she was living for it. She readied her stance again when the officer from Eleven pointed his sword at her, but the Headmaster flashed between them.
"You Squad Eleven Shinigami always take things too far. Not everything is a fight to the death!" The Headmaster scolded. He motioned for some standby medics to take care of the bleeding officer before turning to the crowd of Captains and Students.
The Captains now had the chance to present the student with a Shihakusho embroidered with the Squad's insignia. If none of the Captains stepped forward, the student wouldn't graduate and would return to another year at the Academy. Karin waited with bated breath. She locked eyes with every single Captain and Lieutenant present and eventually, Kenpachi Zaraki bounded over the barriers separating the audience from the stadium and presented Karin with a wrinkled Shihakusho bearing the yarrow.
"I want you to train under me," Kenpachi said. "You remind me a lot of me and I will make you strong."
Karin grinned at that. It was no secret that Kenpachi was the most brutal Captain. He had little morals, but he protected his comrades like no other. It would be an honor to train under him. She was just about to accept the Shihakusho when three more Captains stopped in front of her. Sui-Feng, Renji, and the Captain of Squad Ten, Toshiro Hitsugaya, held out their own Shihakusho.
"You are durable and light on your feet. Despite your horrible temper, I think you would do well with us," Sui-Feng offered.
"I told you once before that you had great potential, Karin, you would grow stronger with me," Renji said.
"You are interesting and familiar. I wish to learn more about you." Toshiro spoke bluntly.
Karin almost couldn't take her gaze off Toshiro. He was remarkably younger-looking than the rest of the Captains, but he was almost just as tall as Renji. He was nowhere near as broad, though, and his appearance was almost sickly. His face was handsome, but his eyes were bored and that pissed Karin off. She looked back at the other three Captains and landed on Renji. The man was the reason why she was here, but his promise sounded too generic. She was grateful to the man, but he wasn't going to get her stronger. She turned her attention to the only female Captain in front of her. Sui-Feng's personality was not one that Karin felt she could vibe well with and one look at the crisply folded Shihakusho told her that Sui-Feng was just a tad too uptight.
"I honestly thought that I had screwed up my chances at becoming a Shinigami, so thank you all for believing in me," Karin said, "but I think I belong with him." Her bruised and dusty hands grabbed onto the Shihakusho belonging to Squad Eleven. Her eyes traveled up to meet the intense gaze of Kenpachi and she offered a toothy grin of her own.