Motivated.
The one word that could describe Yamaru and Tansuko the months that followed their visit to Squad 11, motivated. It had been nearly ten months since then and the two friends had been training the entire time.
"We're wrapping your final year here at Shinoreijutsuin, tomorrow is graduation." A man said, standing in front of 8 rows of students. "You have all done well, and learned a lot in your time here. So today there are no lectures or drills." The class gave a general sigh of relief. "There will, however, be light sparring. Amimono Tansuko!" He called as Tansuko stepped forward.
"Sir!" He said as he stood next to the instructor.
"Who wished to spar against Amimono-kun here?" He asked the class as a low mummer of unsteady confidence spread throughout the ranks. "Is nobody willing to spar with him?" He asked again.
"Sir, with all due respect, it's not sparring when Amimono-kun is the opponent." A female student said. "First of all, the opponent needs to be either of equal skill or far of far greater skill but with the wisdom to teach."
"He just keeps fighting until he has either won, or been beat to a pulp." Another student added.
"There's only one other student here who can properly 'spar' with him." The girl said.
"So you're telling me that the entire 6th year class has been surpassed by a 2nd year student?" The instructor asked almost mockingly, knowing full well who she was referring to.
Unfazed by the taunt, the class nodded their heads replying with a "Yes, sir."
The instructor sighed, holding his head up with his hand.
"Sorry I'm late, sir." A familiar voice called from behind the ranks of students.
"Speak of the devil." Tansuko said as Yamaru appeared in front of the instructor using a Subayaiho.
"You're not even supposed to be here." The instructor said.
"Well who else is going to spar with Tansuko?" Yamaru asked looking to the class as they all shook their heads.
"Tomorrow's graduation for him." The instructor stated, sighing again at the sorry state of the graduating class. "So I'll stop the match before either one of you gets hurt."
"Yes sir." The two replied, getting into place.
"Ready?" He asked as the two faced each other. They merely smirked as they both got ready to charge. "Begin."
Yamaru and Tansuko charged one another, Yamaru leading with a one-handed strike, while Tansuko came in for a right hook. Each mirrored their opponents movements as they caught the others strike under their off-hand arm.
"How many times has it been?" Yamaru asked, "That we've spared that is."
"I don't know." Tansuko replied. "How many times have we been hospitalized?"
"Good question." Yamaru said, bringing both legs up and kicking off Tansuko's gut, releasing himself from his lock and flipping back away.
***2 Months Ago***
"You two again!" A woman in pink with a nurse's hat said in disbelief as two badly beaten and bruised people stumbled into the Squad 4 barracks.
"Nice to see you too, Aki-san." Yamaru said weakly with a grin.
"How have you been?" Tansuko added with a chuckle.
The other nurses around giggled lightly at the site, before continuing on with their duties.
"Why can't you two just spar normally for once?" Aki sighed, "You know where you're room is by now, you're almost every week." She motioned for them to walk down the hall.
"You're gonna make us walk?" Tansuko asked.
"You have only yourselves to blame and you're in a hospital now, so yes, walk." She replied coldly.
"Yes ma'am." They both said as they began to limp towards the hall.
"Those two really do train hard, don't they?" A woman said from behind Aki as the two got out of ear shot.
"Most dedicated students I've ever seen." Aki replied, turning around to see Unohana standing over her.
"They overdue it a lot though." Isane said, stepping out from behind her Captain.
"But they'll be great Shinigami." Unohana said, turning to leave. "I'm going to Squad 13 for a bit, Ukitake-taicho requested a bit of my time, so I'll be back soon."
"Is it his illness?" Aki asked concerned.
"No, he wishes to speak to me as about Academy issues." She answered, exiting the building.
***Present***
The graduating class watched the match between Yamaru and Tansuko; the two seemed oblivious to the class's presence however.
"Hey." One student whispered to another.
"What, I'm trying to watch the match here." She replied.
"This is their first match since Kotetsu -fukotaicho came to visit a couple weeks ago isn't it?" He asked.
"I think so," She said. "At least it's the first time they've sparred in class since then."
***2 Weeks Ago***
Everyone always notices when a Shinigami comes to visit the Academy. It's not that it's a rare event; it's just that seeing someone who was graduated from the same school they are now attending is nice, reinforcing the reasons why they decided to enroll there in the first place.
Isane was walking through the halls, heading towards the 2nd year Zanjutsu class that was currently in session.
"I hope everything is okay." She thought to herself as she approached the door. "Kotetsu Isane, Vice-Captain of Squad 4." She announced as she knocked and opened the door.
Everyone was busy sparing with each other while the instructor walked around observing and commenting on forms, stances, and strikes. After a few moments the instructor finally realized Isane was standing at the door. He told the students to keep practicing and made his way over to the Vice-Captain.
"Kotetsu-fukotaicho, what brings you here?" He asked a little worried.
"I'm looking for a student, Kireajiha Yamaru." She said.
"Kireajiha-kun? He was transferred to 4th year Zanjutsu after graduation, ma'am." He replied.
"I didn't realize that, sorry for the interruption." Isane said politely, excusing herself and leaving the room. She made her way to the 4th year hall, approaching the Zanjutsu class room. "Kotetsu Isane, Vice-Captain of Squad 4." She announced again, knocking and opening the door.
The instructor was in the middle of teaching the students a new stance as she entered the room. She was about to stop her lesson and go see what Isane wanted, but finished her demonstration when Isane motioned for her to continue. She told the students to break off into pairs and practice as she went over to talk with Isane.
"Is everything alright, ma'am?" She asked.
"Is 2nd year student Kireajiha Yamaru here?" Isane asked.
"No ma'am, he hasn't shown up for class for over a month now." The instructor said Isane's face paled a bit at the news.
"Over a month? Do you have any idea where he might be?" She asked.
"6th year Zanjutsu." She answered. "He's a talented one, that Kireajiha-kun. He used to show up and say he was going over to the 6th year's class to practice, but he just stopped a little over a month ago."
Isane let out a sigh of relief as the color returned to her face. "Thank you and I apologize for interrupting your class." She said, leaving the room. One last time, Isane walked through the halls of the Academy, closing in on the 6th year Zanjutsu class. "They both better be here." She thought frustrated as she got to the door. "Kotetsu Isane, Vice-Captain of Squad 4." She said, knocking and opening the door.
Inside, the students lay scattered on the room, bruised and tired while only two were left standing, even if just barely. Isane gasped at the scene as the instructor came forward.
"Is that the best you can do?" He said, looking at all the students on the floor. "77 versus 2, half of you didn't even try and the other half got in everyone's way and yet you weren't able to actually beat these two?" He pointed to Yamaru and Tansuko as they fell to the ground gasping for air. "Okay, you were able to exhaust them. You are about to graduate and become true Shinigami, fighting hollows and protect Soul Society, and yet this is the level of your skills?"
"What is going on here?" Isane burst out, rushing to the nearest student.
"Kotetsu-fukotaicho? When did you get here?" The instructor asked.
"Just now, but more importantly, what is going on here?" She demanded, determining that most of the students had only minor injuries.
"A test." He replied.
"A test?" Isane repeated in disbelief. "What kind of test forces two students to face 77?"
"Squad…11 …" Yamaru said between breaths.
"What?" She asked confused.
"Apparently, they were challenged by some people in Squad 11 to take on the graduating class." The instructor explained.
"I'm not surprised you two accepted it." Isane said, now understanding the situation. "I am, however, surprised you allowed it." She said to the instructor.
"I didn't think they'd win." He defended. "I thought it would be a good lesson for them, they'd beat about 20 or 30, get beaten and then learn their limits. Instead, they actually won." He looked at his class sprawled out on the floor.
"So…why…are…you…here…Ko-te-tsu-fu-ko-tai-cho?" Tansuko managed to ask.
"You two haven't been admitted into the hospital for over a month." She said. "Aki-san and some of the nurses thought you might have killed each other sparing." She finished, laughing slightly, and realizing that they probably had the worst injuries.
Everyone how was still conscious laughed at the comment, having witnessed many of the 'sparring' matches Yamaru and Tansuko had.
"Well, everyone except these two will be fine." She said. "I'll take them back for treatment."
"The nurses will be relieved then." The instructor said with a smirk as she picked both Yamaru and Tansuko up and left the room.
***Present***
"It's gonna suck, isn't it." Tansuko said, breathing irregularly.
"What is?" Yamaru asked, also breathing quicker.
"Not being able to spar like this." He replied, charging in.
"You still think you're going to graduate?" Yamaru teased while parrying around a high-kick, wrapping his sword around Tansuko's leg. "You're Zanpaktou has yet to tell you his name."
"At least mine talks to me." Tansuko countered, jumping and kicking Yamaru's side with his free leg, but failing to free himself from Yamaru's iron grip and falling to the floor.
"I think it's been trying." He defended, finally releasing his hold and striking Tansuko's side with his sword.
"Whispers don't count." Tansuko said, holding his side and flipping away from Yamaru. "Besides that, you'll still go visit right?"
"Only until Kenpachi-taicho turns pacifist." Yamaru answered, earning him the laughs of every other people in the room. The very thought of putting Kenpachi and the very idea of any pacifistic act was unheard of.
"Well don't worry," Tansuko said. "I'll send a better escort."
***6 Months Ago***
"Tan-chan! I've come to pick you up too." A young girl giggled as she opened a door to the Kido field.
"Yachiru-fukotaicho?" Tansuko asked, losing his focus and firing his spell off into a group of students. "Oops."
"There's another tournament today." She replied, reaching into the paper bag she was holding and popping a candy into her mouth. "Let's go."
"I see you found Yamaru already." He said, noting the bag of candy.
"Candy first, escort second." She giggled; reaching passed the door opening and pulling a mass into view. "First target acquired." She said triumphantly, showing a barely conscious Yamaru. "He always got treats." She ran over, dragging Yamaru with her, grabbed Tansuko's collar and took off out the door, leaving a room of confused students behind.
Moments later, Tansuko and Yamaru found themselves in the Squad 11 barracks.
"We'll that was fun." Tansuko said, picking himself off the floor.
"She needs to learn a little restraint." Yamaru agreed, sitting up.
"Ken-chan says restraint is for weaklings." Yachiru said, appearing on top of Yamaru's head, eating more candy.
"Comfy?" Yamaru asked, looking up to pink haired Vice-Captain.
"Why is there another tournament so quickly?" Tansuko interrupted.
"Squad members want another chance to beat you two." Yachiru explained.
"Fully-qualified Shinigami losing to regular students can be embarrassing." Tansuko said.
"Too bad we can't enter this time." Yamaru commented.
"Why not?" Yachiru asked, bending over and looking at Yamaru.
"We were released from Squad 4 yesterday under orders from Unohana-taicho to not engage in combat for a week or so." Yamaru explained.
"That's too bad, even Ken-chan loosely follows Re-chan's instructions." Yachiru said, a bit of disappointment in her voice.
"We can stay and watch." Tansuko offered.
"How convenient we got here before mentioning this." Yamaru smirked sarcasticly.
"We're going to miss the first round." Yachiru said, pulling at some of Yamaru's hair. "Let's go."
The trio made their way through the halls of the Squad 11 barracks to the main training field outside. Everyone in Squad 11 was already here watching as two unseated Shinigami faced one another.
"Yo! Yamaru, Tansuko, over here." A familiar voice called. "Where have you too been, I have seen you around for a while now."
"We are still students at the Academy, remember Renji-san." Yamaru said as the red-head emerged from the crowd.
"Oh, that's right, I forgot about that." Renji replied, slapping his forehead. "It just feels like you guys are part of the Squad already, everyone thinks of you two as members."
"So, are you participating in this tournament Pineapple-chan?" Yachiru asked.
"Of course I am it would be an embarrassment if this was won by unofficial members of the squad." He chuckled in reply.
"We can't enter." Yamaru countered.
"Doctors orders." Tansuko added.
"Which doctor?" Renji demanded.
"Unohana-taicho." They answered in unison.
"Well, she knows best." Renji quickly said, his face going blank. "You should never question her orders."
"Well good luck in the tournament, but with only four people in the entire Squad stronger than you, you have a good shot anyways." Tansuko said.
"You never know, but thanks." Renji replied.
***Present***
"I think this is as good a time as any to put this match on hold." Yamaru said his sword inches away from Tansuko's neck.
"You may be right." Tansuko agreed his fist also a few inches under Yamaru's chin.
"Not that you have a choice." The instructor said, holding back both of their attacks. "It was a good match, now go rest, tomorrow is a big day." He released the two as their walked to the side lines and sat down. "Dentsu Kira! Come forward and pick from the remainder of the class to spar against."
"Sir!" A male student said standing and walking to the front of the class.
"I mean it, you better come visit a lot until you graduate." Tansuko said to Yamaru as the class continued.
"Please, with all the free time I'll have next year, I'll basically live them." Yamaru chuckled. "But I should get going; I have a Hakuda class soon." He said as he got up to leave. "Good luck tomorrow."
"See ya later." Tansuko said, "You too." He said as Yamaru waved and closed the door behind him.
NRawk's Notes:
Well then, I bet you guys started to think I forgot about you. Fable 3 was better than I expected, there is even a local 2-player mode now, so my girlfriend and I were playing together, but enough of that.
Sorry you guys had to wait so long, but I'm already working on the next chapter if that helps. So R&R and I hope you enjoyed.