Right now I should be reading The Scarlet Letter. Instead, I'm updating this. I keep getting distracted. BUT I SHALL PREVAIL!
I've got a lot to say. First: The updating schedule has been changed. It is now every other week. I should have done this in the beginning but I wasn't expecting the months-long writer's block that has barely been broken.
Second: I don't like this chapter. I'll make my complaints at the end of the chapter but I will completely understand if you don't like it either. I held back updating this because I was trying to edit this chapter but it refused to be edited. It really bothers me when chapters are like that. So, consider this to be the chapter to set the stage, if you will.
Third: This chapter is very late. Yes. I know. When I was first going to upload it, my sister took my usb key and I couldn't get it back until next week Monday or Tuesday, and you know I hate uploading on days that aren't Sunday. It's also late because of the first two reasons and my own laziness. Please forgive me and know that I will try to work harder.
This chapter's dedication goes to: tellyounolies. You're my best friend and it's really all your fault that I'm into fanfiction in the first place. C;
She remained still in her seat. People moved past her, blurry shapes and indistinct voices. Karin—that was her name, somehow she knew—wondered where she was. It looked like a classroom, like the one she'd had in college—somehow she also knew she had been to a place called college. "I'm confused," she muttered, looking around her. Still, no one became distinct and no voice became clear.
A fluttering noise broke through and she saw an eagle land in front of her. "Go to the Soul Academy," it ordered. "You're wasting your life in the Rukongai."
"You look familiar," Karin commented, scrutinizing the bird.
"Of course I do! He looks familiar too, doesn't he?" It gestured with its wing to the front of the room.
Karin followed its line of vision and saw a young man standing below. He did look familiar. The man had white hair and piercing turquoise eyes—I'd know those eyes anywhere, she thought as she gazed down. "Why does he look familiar? I've never been to the Soul Academy before."
"You're special, Karin. Go, like I've told you, and join the shinigami ranks."
—x—
That's what the eagle had told her, at least six months before. Karin had thought about it for a while and had decided that it was probably for the best that she entered the Soul Academy. It had taken time, but at last they had accepted her request to enter and her first day was tomorrow.
"I'll admit to being nervous," she told herself. "But it's close to the start of the year. I haven't missed much."
"And you're lucky you haven't," her roommate commented, walking into the room. "Stick with me and you'll be fine." The girl—Zakura Kudo, as she called herself—pulled out her hair tie and began brushing her hair.
"So you say. What's with all the rumors I've been hearing?"
Zakura sat on her bed. "Which ones? If they're about Yukiko Amane, just ignore them. She's a sixth year student you don't have to worry about." Zakura was a first year just like Karin but she had been there since the beginning of the year two months before.
"No, the ones about the dreaming souls, and the battle with the Hollows." It was clear she had struck a note, because Zakura dropped her brush.
"What did you hear?" she demanded.
Karin looked at her, puzzled, but answered. "Well, supposedly Captain Hitsugaya is one of them."
"Well, yes, I've heard that too. Anything else?"
"No one's seen the girl in question," she replied quickly.
Zakura grasped her brush again and continued brushing her hair. "Hmmm… That's true. But in my opinion, I don't think any girl is going to come out and say that she's the cause of all the trouble in the Seireitei. The shinigami have been preparing for such a massive Hollow uprising for at least a decade."
"How do they know Hollows have anything to do with it?" That confused her. The rumors she'd heard earlier were so wacked out that nothing made sense.
"Supposedly, and this is only the rumor, but supposedly the girl had been found a long time ago. She had a dream that foretold Soul Society's fall in the future, when she was older." Zakura put her brush away and got under her bedcovers. "Around that time, Captain Hitsugaya got severely ill. He's a lot better now, but everyone's worried he'll be sick again and no one will know why. The other soul is nowhere to be found, after all."
"That's depressing," Karin muttered. "I wonder if he knows where she is."
"Maybe she's told him in a dream. Good night Karin."
"Uh, yeah, good night Zakura." She flicked off the light and quickly, the pair of them fell asleep in their beds.
—x—
"Good, very good. You are here." The eagle had returned, and sat on her desk.
Karin petted the bird and then offered her arm. The eagle hopped onto it, and Karin stood up. Though she knew that the eagle was huge, the weight felt like nothing and it actually didn't feel that big. It might have been because of the fact that it was a dream or that it was her zanpaku-tou—she'd figured that out after reading on them. "Yeah, and you're right; I was wasting my time in the Rukongai. I like it here. All the classes are interesting. Even the history." Upon the word 'history' she frowned. "I just wish I knew more about myself. And what is with all of the rumors flying around about the dream girl? I don't think it's her fault there will be a battle or even a war."
"No, it's not. Remember that Karin."
"You think I'll meet her someday?"
"It's quite possible you will." It nodded its head. "For now, concentrate on excelling in your studies. I think that you will become a master at kidou. Better than your brother, anyway."
"I have a brother?" Karin asked, but right after she said it, she knew that she did. She also knew that she had a twin sister. "We all had fruity names, didn't we?"
"Yes, Karin. Yes you did." The eagle's eyes twinkled.
"I'll think about that later. I've got other things to worry about, like that test we're going to have over the proper way to hold a sword. And all the terms! Why does everything have to have a special name?"
"Because that is the way it is around here. Why does a soccer player need to know the names for all the special tricks he knows?"
"How else am I supposed to let anyone know what I'm going to do? I mean, come on, in order to win a match you have to know what the other is talking about." Then she blinked. "I guess I played soccer when I was alive too."
"Yes, and that's how you met the person you're about to run into."
Karin looked up and stopped walking just in time to avoid hitting the young man she had seen before. "I'm sorry," she apologized.
He smirked. "You never seem to know where you're going, Karin. Be more careful the next time, all right?"
—x—
"Class, we might have a pair of guests today, so please behave." The excited buzz grew louder and Karin looked at Zakura.
"Oh, right, you wouldn't know, would you? Every so often, the captains and or their vice-captains come and visit to see who might be possible candidates for their divisions. It's a great honor to be singled out by one of them. Though, sometimes, they call someone out to chastise them." Zakura grinned.
Finally everyone settled down and they began to go over the history lesson that was planned for the day. However, excited whispers passed through the room, particularly in the back where Karin and Zakura sat.
"I hope Vice-Captain Matsumoto visits," one girl whispered to her friend. "She's so elegant and beautiful."
"If you ask me," he replied, "I wouldn't mind Captain Ukitake visiting. They say that he was the Captain-Commander's student, along with Captain Kyoraku."
"Who do you want to visit?" Karin asked Zakura, nodding her head to the pair sitting behind them.
"Me? Well, I'd like to see the infamous Captain Hitsugaya himself. He visits the Academy more than any other seated officer."
"No guess as to why that would be," Karin commented, and they fell silent. Who do I want to visit? I do admit that Vice-Captain Hinamori strikes my interest, but maybe that's only because she served under Aizen.
The class period was almost over when the door slid open. "Are we interrupting anything?" a woman asked, stepping into the room. She was familiar, Karin noted, with strawberry-blonde hair. Karin also noticed that she had a pink scarf.
"No, do come in Vice-Captain Matsumoto." The name struck a bell in Karin's memory as she gazed down. I guess I met her at one time.
Matsumoto looked behind her, back into the hallway. "Come on Captain; I'm sure the first years are smarter than they appear!" Her captain was said something in reply to make her laugh.
"As we were about to begin, class, it's time for a contest," their sensei continued. "Those that have the following division symbols are to come down." The flower that symbolized the Eighth Division was drawn onto the board, as was the flower for the Third.
Karin looked at the card in her hand; the flower for the Third Division. Zakura had the flower for the Twelfth, so her turn would come some other time. The students made their way down to the front of the room and formed teams. It was a game they played periodically in order to test their memory, and it was a simple one. Whosever turn it was went to the blackboard and when the question was finished, quickly scribbled the answer. The team that won was awarded various prizes.
Toushirou and Matsumoto stood to the side and watched the students form teams. "Captain," Matsumoto whispered. "I think that we've hit something."
He looked down at her—it wasn't very far, as he had shot up significantly the past seven months and was still growing—and raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"Look. Isn't she familiar?" She pointed discreetly to the team with the Third Division's flower.
"Now tell me, you two, the name of the substitute shinigami stationed in Karakura Town."
That's easy! Karin thought, and scribbled down the name. It was as familiar as her own: Ichigo Kurosaki. That's… that's my brother's name! Ichi-nii!
"Very good Kurosaki. That's correct. Since you answered the question so quickly, would you tell us something else about him?"
"He had sisters," she answered. "They were twins. And when he became a shinigami, he…" she trailed off. "He made two, if not more, of his friends become spiritually aware."
"More than two? We only have two recorded."
"Sensei, with all due respect, that can't be true. If Ichi-n—I mean, Ichigo Kurosaki, if he can influence two people than surely there were more in his classroom. His sisters and father were probably also influenced by his inability to control his spiritual pressure."
Matsumoto jabbed her captain hard in the ribs at her comment.
"Kurosaki, is there anything else you'd like to add?" her teacher asked sternly.
"Why, yes, that Ichigo was prone to recklessness and nearly died all the time." Her voice softened. "I can imagine what his family felt whenever they saw him come home injured."
"That is enough, thank you."
"If I may," Toushirou interrupted. "I would like to ask her some questions myself."
The teacher seemed to think about denying him, but after some internal debate nodded slowly. The classroom fell silent, all eyes on Karin. She's gonna get it! some of them thought, waiting for what was going to happen.
Karin turned from heading to the back of the line. "What could the great Captain Hitsugaya want with me?" she asked, almost mockingly.
"I must first ask your name," he replied coldly.
"Karin Kurosaki, at your service." She bowed.
He hid his surprise. But, why would he be surprised? She looked almost exactly as he remembered her to be. "All right then, Kurosaki, answer me this: are you related to the aforementioned Kurosaki?"
"Yes, I think so. Seeing as I'm dead and don't really remember my life. I think he was my older brother—I used to call him Ichi-nii."
He paused for a moment, and then switched subjects. "Why do you want to be a shinigami, Kurosaki?"
"I was wasting my life in the Rukongai, sir. Besides, the eagle told me to." What was the point of hiding the fact that she had spoken to her zanpaku-tou spirit before? The captains would be interested.
His eyes narrowed. "I see. Not many have spoken to their zanpaku-tou spirit before entering this Academy."
"You were one of the few," she pointed out. "It just means that some of us have a stronger inclination towards becoming a shinigami, that's all." Karin shrugged.
"Have you any particular division you want to be in?" Matsumoto asked.
"Not yet. I'm still pretty new around here." She stepped back, basically telling Toushirou and Matsumoto that she was dismissing them and refused to answer anymore of their questions.
"Go ahead and continue; we are finished here," Toushirou said, and left the room. Matsumoto waved and smiled, and then she, too, left the classroom.
—x—
"That was really something Karin! The way you talked with him, anyone would think it a verbal spar," Zakura exclaimed excitedly as they ate their lunch.
Karin smirked. "Well, it was fun."
"To think, you're related to one of the greatest war heroes ever." Zakura whistled. "The captains are going to be scrambling to get you on their division."
"I don't think so. The Fourth Division is definitely not for me. My sister, maybe, but not me. And does anyone ever want to be on the Twelfth Division?" They both shuddered at the mere mention.
"Still. You're good at kidou for a first year," Zakura pointed out. "Who knows? You might very well be a good swordswoman too."
"I think you're a good swordswoman." A teasing spark came into Karin's eyes. "I saw the way you were looking at him. Handsome, isn't he?"
It produced the desired effect. Zakura turned red and shoved her friend. "Come off it Karin! Give me a break. I'm not the dream girl. He'd never look twice at me. Besides—every girl needs to have a crush on someone like Captain Hitsugaya, someone unattainable. It gives them something to be happy about."
Karin shrugged. "Maybe he won't look at you, maybe not. I happen to think that sometimes, you've got to let things go and look at things the way they are. You can't hang onto a dream forever, you know. Besides, wasn't there a choice that had to be made or something?"
"That's how it goes. I think it's terrible. He's already struggling with gaining respect since he's the youngest, and on top of that he's got the whole prophecy-thing hanging over his head."
"Maybe whoever the girl is is worth it. I want to see her face someday."
"I don't think she'll be someone we know. She must be extraordinarily beautiful."
Karin rolled her eyes and finished her lunch. "I don't think that Toushirou loves a girl merely because she's pretty. If he did, I'd be very ashamed of him."
Zakura stared at her. "You just called him by his first name!"
"Yeah, so? I've always—" she broke off her sentence as she realized what she was saying. She had always called him Toushirou. Karin was certain that she had met the white-haired captain when she was alive. "Oh, come on Zakura," she finished impatiently. "It only makes sense. I met Toushirou when I was alive at some point; my brother's the substitute shinigami for Karakura Town after all!"
"Well, yeah, but did you see him often enough to call him by his first name? That's the question."
Karin threw her hands up in the air. "How should I know? I lost my memories when I died. You're supposed to. Isn't it to protect the souls so they don't remember how they died?"
"I suppose so. But with a family history like yours, the procedure must have gone wrong or something if you're remembering all these bits and pieces."
Karin shrugged. "I think that's the last we'll see of him for a while." She yawned and stretched, leaning her head upside down.
"You look rather strange from that angle," a masculine voice commented, sounding amused.
Her eyes flew open, and she looked up to see Toushirou staring down at her. Blood rushed to her face—or maybe it was because her head was upside down. "Uh, hi there," she said. "Yes, I know, I'm in a strange position, but you don't have to make fun of me."
He squatted down so that his head was closer to hers. "Karin," he said softly. "Tell me. This eagle you spoke of… did it say anything about a golden forest?"
"I've been there a few times. It told me to visit there whenever I wanted to." She looked at him and flipped herself on her stomach. "How would you know about the golden forest? I haven't even told Zakura here about it."
"I've been there before," he told her. She stared at him, unbelieving. "Visit it again, and ask a few questions. The eagle should be most obliging after all this time."
"You sound like you hate my eagle."
He looked at her. His eyes were sad, and Karin felt that he was seeing right through her. "That eagle hurt you a long time ago. Maybe not on purpose, but I still remember the look on your face and the sound of your voice when you screamed."
Karin was quiet, staring at him and his beautifully sad eyes. "I have no words to comfort you, Toushirou."
"I'll be fine. You do well in your studies, and try not to back talk your teachers too much." A smirk crossed his face.
"Yes, well, I'll try. I can't make any promises though." A bell pealed throughout the grounds, startling the three of them. "We'd better head back to class," she stated.
"Oh no! We're going to be late Karin! It's clear on the other side of the school grounds!" Zakura jumped up.
"I'll take you," Toushirou offered. "They're not going to punish you for being late because I was talking to you. Being a captain has its quirks."
"Let's get going then," Karin said, and the three of them trouped over to their next class—kidou practice.
—x—
"There you two are! Since you decided you can just waltz in here, you can demonstrate how to perform byakurai." Their sensei's displeasure radiated from her body.
"I apologize for their being late. I was talking to them. Instead, why don't I do it?" Toushirou remained calm the whole time, Karin noted.
Their sensei sighed. "Well, I suppose so. Please go ahead, Captain, and try not to blow up anything like the first time."
Toushirou chuckled and stepped forward. He concentrated for a moment, lifted his pointer finger, and then shouted, "Hadou number four; byakurai!" Lightning burst forth from his finger and attacked the targets on the far end of the courtyard. They remained singed and still in pieces. "There, sensei, I left them mostly intact."
"Show off," Karin muttered, loud enough for him to hear. He rolled his eyes at her but smirked.
"Kurosaki! Show some respect! I was going to let it go, but since you've shown disrespect to a captain, you will do the same."
Karin sighed and nodded. She stepped up next to Toushirou. Lifting her finger just as he had, she concentrated, and cried, "Hadou number four; byakurai!" Lighting shot out and hit the targets; however, there was not as much damage as the prior attack. "See, you're not the only one who can skip the incantation," she muttered out of the corner of her mouth.
"I expected you to have mastered the more basic kidou by now," Toushirou whispered in her ear. "You've always had better control. You may very well end up being a master."
"Thanks, Toushirou," she whispered back.
"Captain Hitsugaya, would you like to watch the lesson?"
"I would, thank you." He stood off to the side and watched as the students together shouted incantations and aimed at the targets. A few were promising, including Karin and her friend Zakura. I didn't even have to go looking for her, he thought. She came here, all on her own. Karin is almost the same as she was, though I can't expect her to remember everything. That will come with time, if it does at all.
—x—
"That was an interesting day," Zakura commented. There was something in her voice that made Karin turn from putting her clothes away.
"What do you mean?"
Zakura picked up her brush and began brushing her thick black hair. "The fact that Captain Hitsugaya came and visited you is what's interesting. You know, we're only first years; what would he find interesting about a first year? Sure, you show promise in kidou and hakuda, but he hadn't seen any of that yet. So why would he make a point to come talk to you?"
"Maybe because he was surprised I'm here? I don't remember seeing him for the longest time before I died. It's possible that he didn't know I was dead and then now that he knows, he wanted to make sure I was okay."
Zakura shrugged, unconvinced. "From the sound of his voice, I don't think so."
Karin let out a sigh of frustration. "Then what do you think?" she demanded.
"I think that you are the dream girl Karin."
Karin's mouth dropped open in horror. She saw Toushirou fall out of a tree, dead; she felt a girl as familiar as her sister kiss her cheek; she watched as a Hollow's hand came down to crush her, and she felt a blast of cold air rush across her neck. Memories upon memories of dreams flashed before her eyes, and as she tried to make sense of them all she let out a gasp. "Wh-what do you mean? That isn't possible!"
"Of course it is," Zakura replied crossly. She didn't quite understand what had gotten over her friend. Karin was clutching her head with both hands, but she was trying to look at her at the same time. "Why else would he be so interested in talking to you? Besides, who else would know about the golden forest you haven't even told me about?"
Karin fell to the floor, the flashing images causing her to lose her sense of balance. They ran together in her mind, and though she tried blocking them out, they continued to clash. "M-make them stop," she pleaded. Then, she was lost in the memories of dreams.
There. Your mandatory Karin-goes-to-the-Academy chapter. I hate it because her memories came back too quickly in my opinion (the space of one chapter) even though there is a time lapse since chapter eleven. I'd say seven or eight years since chapter eleven, then six months (as mentioned in the chapter), then I'd say three months, and finally four months. Is that long enough? Anyway, names are either borrowed or ones I like. Like Zakura. I like that name. Amane is taken from Death Note and Kudo is from the third Bleach DS game.
That's it for now. If I've forgotten anything it'll most likely be placed in the next update. For now, The Scarlet Letter.