Happy Pi Day! Ok, this one probably could have easily been two chapters, but since not much happened in the first part, I decided to put them together. I'm not so sure about some of the stuff in the second part, so don't be afraid to critique. I tried to get a little more into describing the characters, and I finally was able to introduce the one OC I have had planned since the beginning. I hope you enjoy!
Disclimer: I don't own anything other than the plot and my OCs
"Hurry! We don't want to be late on our first day!" Keiko shouted at Karin.
"I'm coming! Geez, the bell doesn't ring for another 5 minutes. I think we'll we fine." Karin grumbled, unhappy that her breakfast had been cut short by her friend's urgency to get to class.
"But if we wait to long, all the best seats will be taken!" Keiko whined. "If you sit in the first row, your chances of paying better attention and getting better grades goes up. If we want to succeed, we need to get seats in the front!"
"I'm sure the second row will be just fine." Karin pointed out. "Besides, I'm not interested in getting the best grades. I just want to pass and become a Soul Reaper. I'll leave the high honors to people who actually care about that kind of stuff."
"Well, you can slack off if you want. You obviously have lots of natural talent, so you can afford to. But if I want to get into something as prestigious as the Kido Corps, I have to study hard!" Keiko continued rambling as they walked into their homeroom class, which was unsurprisingly empty. "I hear Bakudo theory is the weed-em-out class. And basic incantations is considered one of the hardest first-year classes at the academy. I'm definitely going to have to study this year!"
"Uh huh." Karin nodded, not really paying attention to her loquacious friend. To be honest, she still hadn't completely woken up yet, despite the two cups of tea she had already drunk. Her mind was still dwelling on that dream.
She had started having that dream since she had first decided to become a Soul Reaper. She didn't have any concept of where the dream took place or what she was doing in it, but she could always remember the voice she couldn't tell you who the voice belonged to or where it came from, but she did know what it said.
Remember! Remember, and find him!
Unfortunately, as soon as she started gaining consciousness and clarity and got rid of her drowsiness, she would forget the dream. As such, she never got around to telling Kukaku-nee or Ganju-nii about it. She didn't have a clue what the voice was talking about. Did it have something to do with her missing memories?
"Hey, Rin-chan!"
Karin looked up. The two guys she had met after the ceremony were coming her way and sat down next to her. Karin was glad to see them again, though she couldn't remember their names to save her life.
"I told you Junji-san, it's Kar-chan. Rin-chan sounds to strange."
Right, Junji was the wild one who looked like pick a fight with the whole school, and might possibly be able to survive the battle. Which made the sickly white-haired one...
"I still say it sounds like you're calling her your mother, Gyou-kun. And quit being so formal with me, we're gonna be living next to each other for at least the rest of the year."
Karin piped up. "So you guys are living in the same dorm?"
"Yes." Gyou confirmed. "We met when we moved in, and since i noticed he didn't have much more than the clothes on his back I offered to loan him some of my supplies. One thing led to another, and next thing I know I am being dragged across campus to try and pick up some so-called 'cute chicks'." He frowned. "Although, how chickens and women correlate, I will never know."
Junji put his arm around Gyou's shoulders. "You, my young apprentice, have led a very sheltered life with your nobles and Taichous for your uncles, but those of us who grew up in the edges of the Rukon district have learned to appreciate life. And one of life's few finer things is the lips of a pretty woman..."
"I'm going to pretend that comment wasn't demeaning of my sex." Karin cut in. She turned to Gyou. "So you have a relative whose a taichou?"
Gyou nodded, looking a little embarrassed. "Jushiro-ji is the taichou of squad 13. He's my great uncle." He gave a weak smirk. "He's actually the main reason I decided to join the 13 Court Guard Squads. Growing up, he was my favorite relative in our large family, and I want to be just like him."
At that moment, all talking in the room came to an abrupt halt as the teacher walked in. He was a balding middle-aged man wearing the black Kimono of the Soul Reapers with a sheathed Katana attached to his belt. He sat on at his desk in the front of the room and opened a book.
"Please raise your hand and say 'here' when I call your name." He started listings off the names of everyone in the classroom, and they all responded.
"Kira Nagami."
"Here!"
Karin turned to see the girl who had glared at her in the ceremony sitting a ways back. Great, looks like she was going to have to deal with whatever her problem was during class. Or at least, Homeroom.
The names continued to be read off, including Junji's, Keiko's, Gyou' and Karin's. When he finished, he closed his book and stood up.
"This is the Advanced Class." He began.
Great, another long winded speech.
"All of you are here because you showed exceptional skill and potential on your entrance exams. However, power is not the most important thing about a Soul Reaper. The key to success is the knowledge and training to utilize that power effectively." He started walking up and down the rows of students. "Far to often does a Soul Reaper fail his mission or get passed over for the promotion he wants not because he is lacking the power and abilities necessary, but because he doesn't use them efficiently. The opposite is also possible, where souls with low spirit energy are successful and move up the ranks because they understand and can use their power effectively."
"As the Advanced class, we at the academy expect great things from you. But that doesn't mean you get to slack off. If anything, this means you need to work harder. The grading curve for your class will force you to push yourselves to your limits. Get all thoughts of breezing through this academy out of your head right now. You WILL work hard if you plan to graduate."
Karin shifted in her seat. For some reason, although the teacher was scanning all the students as he talked, she felt like he was talking directly to her.
The instructor took a deep breath. "Since it is your first day, and you will need to find your classrooms, I'll let you out a few minutes early. Use your free time wisely. Class Dismissed!"
All the students stood up and bowed. Karin started gathering her books and realized something.
"Hey, what are you guys taking? Keiko and I only have two classes together since she's on the pre-Kido Corps track and I'm not." She asked the two guys sitting next to her.
Junji pulled out his schedule and handed it to her. "Gyou-kun and I have the exact same schedule. You probably do to, since it's just basic stuff for first-year Advanced class future Soul Reapers."
Karin checked his schedule and found that he was right.
"Well, in that case, how about we head over to first-year Hoho together?" Karin noticed that Keiko had already left, probably to get the best seat in her next class.
Both boys agreed, and they walked out of the classroom. Suddenly, Karin had a thought. "Uh, do either of you know where Hoho is actually taught?"
"Um..." Gyou looked at their schedule. "The schedule says it's in practice room 213B. Junji, do you have the map?"
"I thought you had the map! Rin-chan, have you got a map?"
Karin checked her bag. "I must have left mine in my room. Sorry."
"Can I help you?"
Karin, Junji and Gyou turned to the speaker. He was standing behind them with his book bag over his shoulder and a notebook in his hand. He had black hair and striking green eyes, and seemed to give off an air of disinterest. He seemed to be starring at Karin for some reason.
"Yeah, do you know how to get to classroom 213B? First-year Hoho?" Junji asked.
The other boy nodded. He pointed to the stairs. "Go up those stairs, turn left, turn right at the end of the hall, and it will be the last door on your right."
Karin gave a short bow. "Thanks, uh... I don't think I caught your name."
The boy blinked, showing the barest hint of surprise. Was he actually surprised someone would want to know his name. "Oshiro Suzaku, second year."
Karin smiled. "Well, nice to meet you, and thanks Oshiro-sempai."
She then raced up the stairs with Junji and Gyou, leaving her Sempai stunned.
"It is a well known fact among the 13 Court Guard Squads that Zanjutsu is the most important fighting style." The instructor began.
I think I'd be more willing to believe that if I hadn't heard the exact same speech in Hoho, Kido, and Hakuda.
"As such, your future as a Soul Reaper is primarily dependent on how well you do in this class." The instructor walked down the row of students, taking a moment to look each of them intimidatingly in the eye. "I expect nothing less than the best from my Advanced class. Do not disappoint me."
He walked over to a rack of wooden swords. "Now, take a practice sword and pair up in groups of two to practice your basic techniques."
Karin fell in line behind Junji. Part of her was really surprised, most of her other classes today hadn't included much actual practice, and had mostly consisted of a long-winded explanation of how important the subject matter was. Maybe this ment Zanjutsu really was the most important fighting style.
When she got her sword, Karin then had to try looking for a partner. Unfortunately, Junji and Gyou were partnered up together, and Keiko wasn't in this class, so she didn't know any of the people who were open.
Suddenly, she saw a blonde head storming het way. It only took a few seconds for Karin to recognize her as Kira Nagami, the girl who seemed determined to piss her off. Unfortunately, she had been in every one of Karin's classes, and Zanjutsu was the last class of the day.
"You and I will spar." The blonde stated.
Karin grumbled. "Fine, but you could have asked nicely."
The instructor showed them how to properly hold their swords and went around correcting their mistakes. When her got to Karin and Nagami, he frowned.
"Wrap all your fingers around the sword completely. You don't want to loose your grip in the middle of your swing."
Nagami chuckled at Karin's humiliation. Karin grimaced and tried to correct her mistake.
"What, is this your first time holding a sword, Shiba-san?" Nagami mocked. "And you really expect to become a Soul Reaper."
Karin felt the sting of her words like a punch in the stomach.
"Not everyone here has had the fortune of being born into a house that started training their children at a young age." The teacher chastised Nagami. "And your posture is sloppy now."
Karin felt a little relief at that, but it didn't address what had really bothered her about Nagami's comment. The fact is, she didn't know if she had held a sword before in her life, and had no way of finding out that or many other things about her past. How could she expect to become a Soul Reaper with so many gaps in her memory?
After he finished nitpicking all the students, the teacher returned to the front of the class. "Now, for the rest of this class, I want you to spar with your partner. I'm not going to teach you any techniques yet, so just use your imagination. I want to see what your reflexes come up with." He raised his right hand. "Are you in position? On my mark, you will start fighting. One, two, THREE." He lowered his hand and the students began their attacks.
Karin almost didn't raise her sword in time to block Nagami's swing. When the force of their clash registered in her brain, Karin was glad she had adjusted her grip, since otherwise she would have lost her sword from Nagami's first swing.
The blonde had an evil grin on her face. "You're in big trouble missy. I've been taking lessons since I was big enough to pick up a sword. You don't stand a chance."
"You are taking this fight WAY to seriously!" Karin gasped in excretion. She tried to get a hit in, but was blocked. "What is your problem with me anyway?"
"Oh, who said I had a problem with you?" Nagami asked.
"Well, considering all you've ever done is glare at me and try to make fun of me, I'd say you must have some kind of issue." Karin replied, trying to focus on dodging her opponent's sword.
Nagami continued her onslaught. "I don't know what you're talking about." She gave a little smirk that told Karin that was a lie. It also made the girl look a little crazy as she attacked Karin.
Karin felt something bump her leg, and realized she had almost run into the wall. Nagami was backing her into a corner. Karin could tell that she needed to attack now if she wanted to walk away from this fight feeling like she had some dignity left, but it was taking everything she had to block with her level of skills.
Nagami lifted her sword over her head, poised to give a strong hit, that even if they were wooden swords would leave Karin with some difficult injuries.
Karin panicked. She tried to slash at Nagami's unprotected stomach, but before either girl could complete their swings, the Teacher's voice echoed around them.
"STOP FIGHTING THIS INSTANT!"
All the students turned to look at him. His face was red, and he appeared to be fuming about something. "This is first-year intro to Zanjutsu. You will NOT use any spirit attacks in this class. I should not have felt a rise in spiritual pressure for ANY reason. Now, who is responsible?"
The whole class stood in complete silence; nobody seemed interested in confessing. Karin honestly couldn't understand what he was talking about. How was spiritual pressure raised, and why did that make the teacher so mad?
A slightly familiar voice came from behind their instructor. "Sensei? May I speak?"
The instructor's face softened. "Ah, Oshiro-san. Class, this is Oshiro Suzaku, your sempai and my teaching assistant for this class."
The entire class bowed and chanted, "Hello, Oshiro-sempai."
The older student who had spoken up stepped forward, and Karin recognized him as the guy who had given her directions to her first class. He addressed their teacher again. "Sensei, since they are only first years, it is highly unlikely that they have enough control over their spirit energy to do that deliberately. It was more likely that someone with unusually high spiritual pressure unconsciously responded to the stress of battle."
Karin felt a little insulted from the way he said "only first years", but decided to leave it.
The instructor relented. "That is a good point. I guess the culprit will remain unpunished, but take this as a warning, I will NOT tolerate attacks that aren't Zanjutsu in this class, no matter the reason."
He marched to a set of boxes at the back of the practice area. "Since we are on the topic of spirit energy, and class is almost over, I might as well give you these." He opened the boxes and Karin gasped to see they where filled with Katanas."Oshiro-san, could you pass these out please?"
The assistant nodded and started gathering the swords.
"What you are receiving are called Asauchi. They are empty Zanpakuto. Although it is to dangerous to let you practice with them, you will keep them with you at all times. You will even sleep with them by your beds. And if by some miracle you are lucky enough, you will hear it calling you by the time you graduate." He explained. "If not, then it will be much harder for you to rise up the ranks in the 13 court Guard squads."
Karin looked at the small Katana Suzaku-sempai handed her. This was going to be her sword.
Before he continued to the next person, Suzaku-sempai whispered in her ear. "I thought your increase in spiritual pressure was rather impressive, but I would suggest you avoid sparring with that particular opponent in the future, at least until you learn how to control that vast spirit energy and your emotions."
He then walked away, leaving Karin stunned.
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