Chapter 5: Becoming a Shinigami

A lot happened in those two years you didn't visit. At least, I know that now looking back. At the time, it felt as though time simply stood still, never advancing from the day you left. Sure, I went through and faked the normalities of everyday life as though nothing was on my mind, but deep down, I just couldn't stop thinking about the moments and memories you had left behind.

And that was how I lived my life for the first year you were gone. Back then, I was still holding onto the hope that you would just show up out of the blue someday with that same bright smile on your face...

...But that day never came. And once that first year had passed, I knew it was time to force myself to move forward. Eventually, I was able to accept that you weren't coming back. While it had taken me a while, I even got use to living a life without you...

And then Oba-san started to get sick.

It was a very gradual process. So gradual, I even managed to fool myself into thinking I was just imagining her worsening condition. But deep down, a part of me knew she was dying... I just didn't want to accept it.

Then, shortly after that, I met Matsumoto for the first time. She had told me about my overflowing reiatsu and how it was the reason Oba-san's health was failing her. When I had asked her how to save my grandmother, she had told that there was only one way: for me to become a Shinigami.

So, with no other choice, I packed my things and headed off to the Shinigami Academy...

Flashback, following after you:

"Now, Toshiro, do be careful" my grandmother cautioned me as we stood outside the Shinigami Academy gates. "I know that you scored the highest in this year's entrance exam, but..."

"I'll be careful, Oba-san" I replied with a slight smile on my face. "I promise." And then, after giving her a slight nod, I took off into the Academy.

"Say hi to Momo for me when you see her, Toshiro!" she called out to me as she waved me off.

Right, Hinamori... I had thought hesitantly as I turned back to acknowledge my grandmother's wave before entering the academy building.

As I'm sure you remember, Oba-san would send you letters and parcels while you were away at school. However, I, being the stubborn brat that I was, never even sent you a single letter. Sure, I would try to write to you sometimes, but I never had the courage to actually send you any of my letters...

Anyway, because of this, I had yet to tell you about my acceptance into the Shinigami Academy. And while this was a large part of the reason why I had yet to tell you, there was another reason why I didn't tell you... It was because I didn't know how.

I mean, when you had initially told me to enter the academy, I merely brushed off your request with asking who in their right mind would want to go to a stupid Shinigami school. And, as it turned out in the end, I did. I wanted to go to a stupid Shinigami school.

While this may seem like a stupid reason for not saying anything to you, it still made me too embarrassed to tell you

Once inside the building, I had to admit that it was as grand and as elegant as you had made it out to be all those years ago. With its large overbearing halls and its grand decoration, I couldn't help but be impressed as I made my way towards my assigned classroom.

Unfortunately, seeing as this way my first time in the building, I really had no idea where I was going. I remember trying to figure out the map given to me with my acceptance letter, but it was all to no avail. So, in a desperate attempt to make it to class on time, I decided to ask one of the seniors present for directions.

"Oh? Are you lost, little boy?" a blonde hair senior asked me as he tried to bend down to my height. "If you go back that way, you should be able to get back to the village. Or did you want some help finding your mom and dad?"

My eye started to twitch in response. While I knew I was young to be attending this academy, it still pissed me off to be mistaken for a child because of my height.

"Yo, Kira, this kid's wearing a school uniform. He's got to be one of the new students this year" a young Abarai stated as he gestured towards my uniform. "I think he's asking for direction to the first year classrooms."

"Oh! You're right!" a young Kira exclaimed as he noticed my uniform as well. "I'm sorry for mistaking you for a child. What first year classroom are you in?"

"I'm in the advanced class." I stated bluntly, eager to conclude this conversation and be on my way. I knew I was already cutting it close time wise, and I had no intentions of being late of my first day.

"Wow? The advanced class?" Kira said in surprised. "You must be pretty talented! It's nice to see bright new recruits into the academy!"

I frowned slightly in response, unpleased that I had yet to get the information I needed. "Yeah, yeah, I'm looking forward to bringing pride to the academy. Now, can you please point me in the direction of the advanced-" I began but was cut short after hearing an all too familiar voice calling out from down the hall.

"Kira-kun! Abarai-kun!" I heard you call out from down the hall behind me. "I've been looking everywhere for you two! We're gonna be late for our next class if you two don't hurry up!" you continued as I heard your steps coming closer and closer towards where I was standing.

Shit, I don't even know what I want to say to her yet. I can't face her now! I had thought as I internally began to panic. Fortunately, you had yet to recognize me, so I knew I still had some time to get myself out of the current situation unseen.

"Oh, Hinamori! We were just helping this new student here with directions!" Kira called out as he waved you over.

After taking a quick moment to internally curse Kira for his action, I turned quickly to Abarai. "So, where's the classroom? I'm gonna be late." I asked urgently in an attempt to quickly get the information I needed so I could leave.

"Just keep going down this hallway and take two lefts and a right." Abarai stated in response as he gestured to the hallway behind him and away from you. It was clear by the look on his face that he brushed off the urgency in voice for fear of not wanting to be late.

After giving him a quick nod in thanks, I quickly rushed by him in an attempt to escape unseen. As I made my way down the hallways and into the classroom, I prayed that you hadn't recognized me.

And, as luck would have it, you had recognized me.

As I made my way out of class at the end of the day, I was exhausted. Since I never really did much of anything during my days in Jurinan, I wasn't yet use to such full and hectic days. After letting loose a sigh, I groggily made my way towards the dorm rooms. Thankfully, I already knew where those were and didn't need to ask for directions again.

Then, after taking a few steps down the hallway, I felt a sudden presence tackle me from behind in a weird sense of déjà vue. Fortunately, I was a lot bigger and stronger than had been that day all those years ago, so I merely stumbled forward a few steps as the mysterious figure wrapped their arms around me.

"It's so nice to see you again, Shiro-chan!" you exclaimed in my ear as you commenced to hug from behind. I remember that the sudden physical contact caused my internal temperature to rise.

"H-Hinamori! W-What are you doing!?" I stuttered in response as I turned my head around to face you.

"I'm hugging you, of course!" you happily replied with that bright smile of yours as you continued to embrace me. "It's just been so long since I last saw you! I'm so happy to see you again, Shiro-chan!"

"C-Cut it out, will you!? And would you let me go already!?" I snapped as I tried to wiggle free from your arms. "And don't call me Shiro-chan!"

"Ah, sorry! Guess I got a little too carried away, huh?" you responded as you let go of me and walked ahead of me so we could now talk face to face. After taking a moment to take in my appearance, you added "Wow, you really did make it into the advanced class. That's amazing, Shiro-chan!"

"You say that as though you weren't in the advanced class too..." I mumbled as I looked off towards the side. Noticing the curious stares we were getting from the other students, I then quickly grabbed your wrist. "Let's talk somewhere else." I said before beginning to make my way out of the building, all the while pulling you along behind me.

Once we had reached a nearly deserted clearing outside the building, I stopped walking and faced you once more. "This should be far enough" I stated as I looked back at you. Noticing that I was still holding your wrist, I quickly let go of it in a feat of embarrassment at what I had done.

"Say, Shiro-chan," you began as you looked directly into my eyes. "Why didn't you tell me you enrolled here? I could have helped you and showed you around, you know. That way, you wouldn't have had to ask Kira-kun or Abarai-kun for directions."

"Well, uh, you see..." I fumbled as I tried to think of a reason on the spot. In reality, I had originally planned to figure out a reason to tell you within the next few days. So, as it stood at the moment, I still didn't really know what I wanted to tell you. "I guess I, uh,... wanted it to be a surprise?"

Seeing the confused look on your face, I internal facepalmed myself. A surprise? That's seriously what I went with? I had thought to myself as I internally winced. God, that has to be the worst possible excuse I could have given her!

"Ah, a surprise! That makes sense!" you stated as you smiled brightly at my dumbfounded face.

At the time, I couldn't believe you had fallen for my sorry attempt for an excuse. But, I chose not to question it too much, since it saved me the trouble of having to give you another answers.

However, as I think back now, you probably knew I was lying. After all, you could read me better than anyone else could, so you definitely knew I was hiding something. Yet, you chose to say nothing and accepted my excuse without question. You must have known that I didn't feel like honestly answering your question, so you decided not to push me on the subject.

You really are something, Hinamori Momo.

"And what a surprise it was too see you talking to Kira-kun and Abarai-kun this morning! I might not even of noticed you had Kira-kun not started talking about the white haired student he was helping out!" you continued as you recalled our brief encounter earlier that day.

So it was this Kira's fault I was caught, huh? I thought angrily as I pictured the blonde haired student from that morning. He was probably bragging to Hinamori about helping out some poor helpless student, too.

I then shook the thought and image from my head before it lingered for too long. "Yeah, well, as I said, I wanted my enrollment here to be a surprise, so..." I said as I let the rest of my sentence fade into silence.

"Yeah, I know" you replied with the same gentle smile on your face. After pausing for a moment to look at the darkening sky, you added "It's starting to get pretty late. We should probably head back to the dorms now."

As I was about to reply, I was cut off by the sound of my growling stomach. Crap, I forgot. I skipped lunch today I thought with a wince.

"How about we grab something to eat on our way back?" you asked with a slight laugh. "You probably didn't have a chance to eat lunch today with all the first day commotion, huh?"

"Y-Yeah, I didn't have the chance..." I had muttered in response.

Seeming satisfied with my answer, you grabbed my hand. "Come on! If we hurry, we can grab some food at my favourite canteen before it closes!" you eagerly stated as you began to run off back towards the academy, with my hand tightly in yours.

Being with you again at the Academy, it felt as though the part of me that had died when you left was suddenly full of life once again. Sure, we didn't get to see each other everyday because of our conflicting class schedules, but I was still able to just... Be with you. And that was enough.

So, as the years went on, we each got further and further along in studies. And, despite the fact that I had managed to skip a few years because of my prodigy status, you still managed to graduate before me.

"Hey, Shiro-chan, guess what!" I heard you call out from behind me, which caused me to take a break from my current training session in the field outside of the academy.

"Oi, I thought you agreed to call me by my last name" I retorted as I turned back to look at you. Seeing you grin from ear to ear, I added "Why are you so happy?"

"Tada! Check it out, Shiro-chan!" you exclaimed as you waved a black shinigami uniform in front of me. "I finally got accepted in the 13 court guard squads!"

"Wow, I guess they really do let bed-wetters become Shingamis. You certainly proved me wrong" I replied as I watched you wave around your new uniform. After registering my remark, a frown made its way onto your face.

"You're so mean, Shiro-chan..." you muttered as your frown turned into a pout. "And to think that I rushed all the way here so that you would be the first to know..."

I'm the first one she wanted to tell? I had thought as I began to feel a little guilty about my previous remark. And she ran all the way here, too? And then knew I had to try and make up for what I had just said.

"Congratulations, Hinamori" I said as I offered you a slight smile. "I mean it, congratulations. You worked really hard for that, much harder than I've seen anyone else. And your kido skills are renowned throughout the school, so it makes sense that some captain would be eager to snag you for their squad." After taking a moment to reflect on my last remark, I added "So what squad took you in, anyway?"

And with that, your bright smile returned. "I'm in squad five with Aizen-taichou!" you happily declared with a grin plastered on your face.

After hearing you happily say Aizen's name, I felt my chest begin to tighten as I recalled the conversation we had about him all those years ago. So he's still the one I had thought as the pain in my chest got worse.

"Shiro-chan, what's wrong? Are you hurt?" you called to me with a worried expression on your face. Seeing your face, I tried to break away from my thoughts and hide the pain I was currently feeling.

"I'm fine. It's nothing, really." I replied as I shifted my gaze away from yours.

You don't seem fine. Are you sure you don't want to go to the infirmary?" you asked as you closely examined my face.

"Nah, It's fine." I answered as I continued to look away from you. Then, under my breath, I muttered "I doubt they'd be able to do anything about it anyway..."

"Hmm? I didn't catch that last part" you questioned as you continued to examine me.

"D-Don t worry about, alright?" I slightly stuttered before turning to look at you once again. "Anyway, you must have other people to tell the good news to. So..."

"Ah! You're right!" you exclaimed with a small jump. "I promised I would check in with Kira-kun and Abarai-kun after we got our results! I guess I got too caught in telling you that I forgot to meet up with them. Oh, they're so gonna kill me for being late!" You then commenced to turn around and run back to the academy. "See you later, Shi-, I mean, Hitsugaya-kun!" you called back with a wave as you ran off.

"See you later, Hinamori..." I whispered in response as I watched you disappear from my sight. Once you were gone, I placed a hand gently on the spot where my chest had been hurting just moments before. What was that? I thought as I pondered the cause of the sudden pain. I've never felt a sudden pain like that before. So what was it? And why did it happen when Hinamori mentioned Aizen?

I guess even a prodigy isn't immune to love... and heartache...

Hey guys, hope you enjoyed chapter 5!

I know I usually update more frequently than this, but I was pretty busy with work for my summer university classes.

So, I thought I'd give you guys a longer chapter instead!

Anyway, thanks for reading and reviewing!

~ H-Mira