The weeks went by and Tsukimori was beginning to feel like she was finally settling in and getting somewhat used to being around so many people. She was grateful that Yoshirou had taught her so many things to prepare her for the academy, finding that she was really skilled in kido and hakuda. She was decent at zanjutsu, and luckily she was smaller than most of her classmates, very light on her feet so she excelled at hoho with great ease.
As the days went by, Tsukimori found that she enjoyed her classes. She tried to stick to herself for the most part, participated in class discussions and activities, but she would join Momo for lunch and listen to what she, Renji, and Izuru would talk about. She could see that they were good friends and she was almost envious.
One day during classes, Tsukimori awaited her turn for the kido exercise. They were practicing using Hado #33: Sokatsui and when it came to watch the group before her, she saw that Momo and Izuru were getting the hang of it but Renji was having difficulties.
"Renji, take a deep breath." Tsukimori called to him, seeing what his problem was. "Widened your stance just a bit more, then focus your attention six degrees to the right."
Renji looked back at her, wondering why she would be helping, but he did as she instructed and said the incantation before releasing Sokatsui. He grinned with surprise when he finally hit the middle- more or less. He looked back at Tsukimori and smiled.
"Thanks, Tsuki."
Tsukimori looked at him, confused for a moment at the nickname. She offered a smile and stood for her turn, but she felt faint and stumbled.
"Tsuki? You alright?" Renji asked, steadying her.
Tsukimori nodded, and took her place. She tried to focus on the target, but her vision blurred in and out of focus.
"Begin." The instructor called out.
"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." The group chanted. "Hado #33: Sokatsui!"
Everyone in Tsukimori's group hit their targets, but she was having troubles getting the incantation out and her vision was still blurring.
Renji and Momo looked at each other, sensing something wrong.
"Truth... and temp..." Tsukimori began to teeter, and her vision went black.
"Tsuki!"
Renji rushed forward, catching her before she hit the floor. "Tsuki, wake up!" He tapped her cheek, but she was out cold.
"Take her to the infirmary." The instructor told him, then dismissed the rest of the class.
Renji hurried Tsukimori to the infirmary, holding her close to him. "Hang on, Tsuki."
Tsukimori was in the infirmary for three days and during that time, she found herself in what appeared to be a world of dreams.
She looked around, trying to find her way out.
"Tsukimori."
'That voice...' Tsukimori looked for the source of the voice calling out to her. "I know that voice..."
"Tsukimori. The time has come. You must speak my name."
"I don't understand."
"You must call out to me."
Tsukimori thought a moment or two, trying to recall the name she knew. "Yumi..." She looked around and saw a beautifully white kirin with pale golden horns and mane, iridescent pearl like scales, eyes blue as her own. "Tentai no yumi."
The kirin nodded, closing his eyes as Tsukimori felt herself being drawn back from the world of dreams and back into her body.
She opened her eyes, finding herself in some sort of room.
"You're awake!"
Tsukimori looked over, smiling when she saw Momo, Renji, and Izuru sitting by the bed.
"You had us really worried, Tsuki."
"What happened anyways? You just passed out on us."
Tsukimori thought a moment, smiling as the memory remained fresh. "I met him."
"Who?"
"Tentai no yumi. My zanpakuto spirit."
Once Tsukimori had been cleared to return to classes, she spoke with her instructors and began private lessons to call forth her zanpakuto. Part of her private lessons including training with a senior student to improve her zanjutsu, her tutor being a young man named Shuhei Hisagi.
She would attend her normal classes, as would Shuhei, then she would join Momo, Renji, and Izuru for lunch before meeting up with Shuhei to begin their training. Shuhei would drill her on what she knew of zanjutsu and hoho- as they went hand in hand- then he would give her pointers on how to improve each.
"Now, when you face off against an opponent, you want to make sure that your stance is wide enough to anchor yourself in position until the right moment to strike." Shuhei told her one session.
"Like this?" Tsukimori placed her feet apart.
"A little wider and bend your knees a bit more." Shuhei instructed, tapping her feet lightly until they were far enough apart. "Don't lock your knees, it'll make it harder for you to transition from this position to the next." He came up behind her, placing his hands over her elbow and hands. "Lower your elbows just a bit more, then loosen your grip a little. You want to be able to move your wrists fluidly, turning your blade in your hand with ease. If your grip is too tight, your movements are too rigid and stiff. If your grip is too light, your zanpakuto can easily be knocked or wrested from your grasp."
Tsukimori nodded, doing as he instructed. "Like this?"
"Very good." Shuhei stepped to the side, drawing his blade and standing next to her. "Now, let's begin the exercise again."
Tsukimori went through each exercise with Shuhei, doing as he instructed and following his pointers. Once the lessons were finished, Tsukimori helped clean up the training equipment.
"Thank you for training with me, sir." Tsukimori said.
Shuhei chuckled. "No need to be so formal, Tsuki."
Tsukimori blushed a bit at that, smiling. "What should I call you then?"
"'Shuhei' is fine."
Tsukimori's smile grew. "Same time tomorrow?"
Shuhei nodded, taking the last of the equipment from her and setting it on the shelf. "Same time tomorrow."