Chapter Sixteen

When Karin had agreed to spar with Rukia that day, she had forgotten that she had her test. So, she was naturally surprised when the teacher came up to her room to bring her down, saying that she was late. She wasn't in trouble. But everyone was waiting, including Ichigo, who had taken a day off from work to watch the test. Karin gasped when she saw him out in the audience. He smiled when he saw her staring at him. He hoped he wasn't embarrassing her by being there. He didn't want to miss her promotion.

"Today, we are here to test Kurosaki Karin to see if she is ready to advance. If she passes, she will advance two grade levels. She will be tested on all four combat styles; Hakuda, Hoho, Zanjutsu, and Kido. If she succeeds at all four, she will advance. If not, she will remain in her current year. Her score will determine whether she moves up one or two years. Hajime!" The instructor announced. Suddenly, someone poked Ichigo in the side.

"Hey, Captain Kurosaki! A pool is going around."

"A pool?" Ichigo whispered.

"A betting pool. Odds are 100 to 1 that she passes. You wanna throw in your two Kan, so to speak?"

"Get out of my face! No… I bet 75,000 Kan that Karin advances two grades."

"Hmmm… A risky gambler, I like that. I respect that."

"Great, good. Shut up, and let me watch."

"Karin…" Ichigo said telepathically. "I believe in you." He finished. Karin's nerves steeled. She wasn't nervous anymore about Ichigo watching. She was still nervous about failing. But that paled in comparison.

"First we will test her skill in Zanjutsu, though she is welcome to use other forms of combat, and is encouraged to if the situation calls for it." The instructor declared. Karin and her opponent bowed to each other, and waited for the instructor to tell them to start. When he did, Karin, made a quick strike against her opponent, who was an upperclassman that she recognized vaguely. He was much larger than her, and was known for using a lot of strength in his attacks.

After her quick strike, she ducked, seeming to predict his attack, which was a wide sweep, and kicked at his ankles, unbalancing him before striking again, and being blocked again, less surely this time, though. This time, however, Karin moved less quickly, and was almost struck with her opponent's sword. She managed to cartwheel out of the way in time, but seemed shaken. For a moment, she couldn't think of what to do, so she merely dodged his attacks while she gathered her wits.

Finally, she found that the room wasn't spinning anymore, and she ran up to him, dodging his attack and kicking his sword out of the way before jumping over it, twisting in the air, and kicking him in the back of the head, sending him tumbling head over heels, landing gracefully, and putting her sword at her waist again.

She went two more rounds with him, and lost one round because she was not focusing due to her pride at defeating him in the first round so easily. However, in the third round, she rushed him, leaping over him in a flip and a twirl above his head, landing and striking him hard with her sword, easily winning the third round. Ichigo was amazed at how much Karin had improved over these past few months.

"Well done, Kurosaki Karin. You receive 8 points. You defeated him with grace and style, but sacrificed efficiency in favor of an overly showy style, and were complacent in the second round, and lost because of it. Nonetheless, you have passed." The proctor and instructor said to loud cheers from the audience, though, given the fact that most of them were betting against her, many weren't sure how well to wish her. Her speed was her greatest asset, and if someone could use that against her

"The second test is Hakuda. First, she will go through numerous standalone attacks and kata. Then, she will engage in unarmed combat." Karin resolved not to show off as much. Ichi-nii might be there, but she had to work efficiently and effectively, lest she fail the test. She went through the Kata, showing exceptional grace that even impressed Rukia, and finally, it was time for the sparring.

A different opponent walked out. This one was much less bulky, thin and angular in appearance, his fingers occasionally twitching, his violet eyes narrowing as he approached the floor. Karin sighed. She was much less confident, now. She had seen him defeat three opponents at once, though, if she was to advance two grade levels, it only made sense that she should be able to defeat him. He was one of the finest students in his grade level.

"Now, Kurosaki Karin will do combat with Yamazaki Timofei." The proctor said. Timofei took an unusual stance, suggesting a style that Ichigo didn't see very often. Capoeira. He had heard a little bit about Timofei. He was almost ready to graduate, and would likely take a seated position immediately after graduation. He wasn't sure Karin could beat him. But, naturally, he would cheer for her. Rukia was sitting right next to him, her breath caught in her chest.

"This will be a good fight." Rukia whispered, eyes wide with anticipation.

"San… Ni… Ichi… Hajime!" The instructor said. Karin hesitated for a moment, scoping Timofei out, and making sure that she wouldn't be caught by surprise. After a moment, she moved in, and was almost immediately tripped by a spinning kick that seemed more like a dance move. Timofei leapt up off his hand, landing next to Karin, punching down and just barely missing her.

Karin rolled to the side and righted herself, chopping at Timofei's leg, unbalancing him, kicking at his chest, but being deflected. Ichigo was amazed. Nobody in the school that he had yet seen showed as much promise as Karin. Suddenly, Karin retreated briefly, grabbing a football* out of her gi, and kicking it at Timofei, hitting him right in the head, dazing him rather severely, running in and punching him in the stomach, sending him to the floor.

The proctor called the match, and then went to the other proctors, who discussed it for a few minutes, seeming to be caught up on something. Finally, he stood full height and announced.

"Kurosaki-san wins the first round. While the football was not exactly traditional, it was a good distraction, though perhaps more suited for an acrobatics show. Second round commence."

As soon as he said commence, Karin cartwheeled to the side and swept at Timofei's legs again. Timofei jumped and tried to kick Karin in the chin, but missed. Karin was much more on her toes in this match. This went on for a few more seconds until Karin grabbed Timofei's leg, and slammed him in the chest, winning the second round.

"Kurosaki-san passes the Hakuda test. As she is not a high enough level Shinigami to manage Shunpo, she will not be tested on such. So the only test left is Kido. She will be asked to perform the highest level Kido she can, with or without incantation. You may begin. Fire at the target."

Karin nodded, and began incanting Hado #1. After thirty minutes, she was feeling a little tired, but kept going.

"Master of Turbulence. Lord of Chaos. Fire ye upon this earth and reduce all to ashes. Turn to sludge and destroy all creation! Hado # 32. Okasen." Karin incanted, swiping her arm and sending a yellow arc at the target and very nearly disintegrating it. Karin gasped for breath, feeling her whole world spinning around her.

She had overexerted herself. But she knew more, and she wasn't ready to quit yet.

"Ye lord! Mask of flesh and bone, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! Truth and temperance, upon this sinless wall of dreams unleash but slightly the wrath of your claws. Hado #33 Sokatsui." She called, sending the blue fire at the new target. This one wasn't nearly as powerful, and completely exhausted her.

She felt totally spent, the last vestiges of her energy leaving her, and collapsing on the floor. Ichigo was about to jump in and help her, but Rukia stopped him, as an instructor walked over to her, checking her vital signs to make sure that she didn't injure herself too seriously, then called for some members of Fourth Division to come collect her.

"Very well. The test is over. We will collaborate and discuss whether she passed." The instructor said, retreating to the panel, and discussing with the other proctors, who all seemed impressed with her skill. After almost thirty minutes of discussing, the judges parted and the head proctor announced that Karin had advanced two grade levels. Ichigo watched with smug satisfaction the gambling pool man's face fall. He realized how very much money he had just lost.

On the other hand, Ichigo had just won 7.5 million Kan, assuming the gambling man had that money.

"Hey, Captain. I'll get you your money in a week."

"Sure… Whatever…" Ichigo said dismissively. Rukia raised an eyebrow.

"You bet on the outcome of the match?" She asked. Ichigo nodded.

"Yeah. I bet that Karin would advance two grade levels, and won 7.5 million Kan out of the deal.

"Excuse me. I need to go congratulate Karin. I'll be right back." Ichigo said. Rukia nodded.

"Take all the time you need." Rukia said, heading out to finish some paperwork while Ichigo headed to the infirmary to wait for Karin to wake up. Kataguchi, the new captain of Fourth Division said it might be a while, but Ichigo had the whole day off, so he wasn't in a hurry.