Names

Captain Unohana left me with the assurance that she'd sort out some paperwork, and then I could be released and go to the Shinigami Academy, where I'd have to pass an entrance test.

She'd also left me with a large and heavy book of names similar to a phone directory, except instead of numbers there was a short description of each entry's noteworthy deeds in Soul Society. Apparently, this was a common way for souls to choose new names upon entering the afterlife.

"Just choose one that sounds right," she'd advised before she left with the trolley, "Try not to over-think it."

It felt strange to choose my own name - it would become my primary identity, after all. It wasn't like naming a dog. Whoever I became in this life, I'd have to hear it every day.

The book was thick, and the words small, so I had no doubt I'd be able to find one, but somehow I didn't like the idea of being named after someone else. I was unusual already, so I should keep to that trend. I would make up my own name. I remembered the voice - my zanpakutou - telling me not to embarrass him, and bit my lip. I put the book aside and searched my brain for inspiration. I'd better come up with something good.

Captain Unohana was back within an hour, bearing clothes and a small bag of essentials.

She took one look at my glowing expression as I sat on the edge of the bed, my bare feet kicking off the side, and smiled. "So, what have you come up with?"

"Mitsomiya Faraendys Redendra," I said confidently.

Her eye twitched. "That's a... nice name." she said, after a moment's hesitation.

"It is, isn't it?" I agreed proudly. "I wasn't sure if it was long enough, but I couldn't think of more."

"It's certainly...er, unique." she coughed somewhat awkwardly. "Have you decided on a nickname? A... shortened version, perhaps?"

I nodded cheerfully. "I guess people can shorten it to Raen."

She appeared to be relieved. "Very well." she laid out the clothes and the bag on the bed, and handed me a sheet of paper and a pen. "Just write down your name here, Raen."

I bounced off the bed at the sound of my new identity, grinning, and signed my full name in all its glory with a flourish on the page.

Once that was done, I got changed into my new clothes (red pants and a white shirt - the Academy's uniform) and picked up the bag. It contained some toiletries, two changes of clothing and underwear, and a snack for later, which Unohana pointed out to me with a knowing wink.

"I'll assign someone to take you to the Acad-" Unohana broke off mid-sentence as I spontaneously flung my arms around her with a warm hug. Her chest was huge.

She froze for a moment, and I realised that it was probably against some rule to touch a Captain in the Gotei 13 so familiarly. I decided I didn't care.

"Thanks for everything," I said, releasing her. "Really."

She blinked, but seemed amused, not angry, by my forwardness. "It was my pleasure. I do hope you find your place here, Raen. If you're ever in trouble, you can come to the Fourth Division for healing or aid."

I nodded, feeling somewhat overcome with emotion. But I didn't have time to indulge in such weakness. I remembered my zanpakutou's warning about being embarrassing, so I kept my goodbye short and tried not to look too tearful.

However, I could not help one last, sad glance at the empty food trolley standing outside my room as we passed it.

I was led out of the building in the company of another shinigami, whose name, I was told, was Yamada Hanatarou.

We chatted a little as he lead me to the Academy, which was located only a short distance from the Fourth Division's barracks and hospital. He seemed like a friendly guy, if a little submissive, and I got many of my questions answered as we walked.

By the time we reached the tall building used as a dormitory for students, I had been briefed on many of the inner workings of Soul Society. Everything was new, and exciting, and I drank in the sights of the imposing white and yellow stone buildings rising high above me. The streets were lined with buildings reminiscent of the style popular in Feudal Japan (although I knew it was so, I had no idea where this information came from, as I had no memory of my previous life). Shinigami were everywhere, but I didn't attract much attention in my academy uniform.

"Should I be wearing this, if I haven't even passed the entrance exam yet?" I asked Hanatarou as we walked.

He flapped a hand at me, "It's fine, it's fine," he assured me, "Your reiatsu tested off the charts. They'll definitely accept you."

I nodded, relieved by his utter belief that this would be so.

"Although," he said with a bemused look that was sweet on his boyish face, "I can't really sense your reiatsu."

"That's good," I said in relief, "Because it was really hard to control at first." I was quite proud of myself that my reiatsu was now behaving, curled up into a tight ball of suppressed energy deep inside. "I can feel it, though," I added, "It's just... sleeping." He is sleeping, I corrected mentally. After Unohana's startled reaction, I'd made the decision to not blab about having conversations with my zanpakutou again.

Hanatarou helped me find my dorm room, and then said his goodbyes. For the first time, I was left alone.

Since it was only early afternoon (of the second day since I'd crash-landed in East Rukongai) the large girl's dormitories were empty. I would be sharing a room with five others, and I was a little intimidated by how military everything looked. All the beds were identical and neatly made up, with personal effects packed away in a single chest at the end of each bed. Between the beds there was a small bedside table on the right and a narrow desk on the left for each student. I assumed the students were still in class.

I felt a little nervous about everything, to be honest, so I calmed my nerves by eating the snacks Unohana left me. After that, I promptly fell asleep sprawled out on my bed.

I didn't wake up to see the other five students arrive back to the dorm.

"Who is she?"

"How should I know?"

"Don't look at me."

"New student?"

"Oi, you! New student, wake up!"

The five girls exchanged incredulous glances as they stared at the unmoving figure, sprawled in a crash-landing position among discarded snack wrappers. Her mouth hung open, out of which emitted soft snores. She seemed to also be drooling.

The last girl to speak made her voice a little louder. "H-hey!"

There was no response.

Annoyed, she strode forward and grabbed the girl's shoulder, shaking it roughly. "Wake up!"

I blearily opened my eyes and yawned, awareness slowly returning.

"Oh?"

I looked around in surprise - I was already standing up, in the middle of the dormitory. Then I caught sight of five girls, cowering against the opposite wall and staring at me in various attitudes of shock and terror. One girl was massaging her wrist with a pained expression.

I had no idea what had caused their strange behaviour, but I was also aware of the importance of good first impressions. So I smiled at them in what I hoped was a friendly-looking way.

They flinched and just stared.

I wondered if it was something on my face, so I brought a hand up, and was mortified to find a bit of drool on my chin. I self-consciously wiped it off and fixed my hair by raking my fingers through it. Hopefully looking more presentable, I tried another smile and said warmly. "Sorry you caught me sleeping! My name is Raen. It's nice to meet you!"

"N-nice to meet you!"

"Uh - welcome!"

They all chorused greetings and introduced themselves rather quickly, for some reason, and then a slightly awkward silence descended on the room.

Shrugging it off, I busied myself gathering all the wrappers from my bed and threw them away, and then decided to get some more sleep.

Oddly enough, all the girls vehemently refused when I asked them to wake me up for my entrance exam the next morning, which I felt was a bit rude. Then again, perhaps it was best if I learnt to rely on myself as soon as possible.

My last thought before I fell asleep was a vague anxiety about where I might find breakfast the next morning.