Someone told me long ago
There's a calm before the storm
I know; its been comin' for some time
When its over, so they say
It'll rain a sunny day
I know; shinin' down like water
--Have You Ever Seen The Rain, Creedence Clearwater Revival
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"Time's up," one of the Soul Reapers called out, and there was an immediate outbreak of noise as students dropped their calligraphy brushes and flipped their papers over. Sora yawned, extending her arms out behind her head and arching her back as she stretched. That had taken long enough. The written exam had been laughable, and that was putting it lightly. She had finished it in slightly more than twenty minutes, double checked it in five, and spent the remaining time staring off into space, watching the dark shapes of the Hell Butterflies as they wandered over the rows of desks and examining the numerous students, trying to determine who looked to have the most promise.
She knew she was being judgmental. She also knew she shouldn't critique based on first impressions, but there wasn't much else to do for a whole half-hour, unless she planned on picking her fingernails.
She waited as the Soul Reapers walked up and down the rows, collecting the exam papers. When hers was taken, she looked up expectantly.
"Thank you all for your participation," a Soul Reaper called out. "Your exam grades will be distributed at a later date. As of this moment, you are all students of the Soul Reaper Academy." He paused momentarily, the corner of his mouth lifting as the group of students erupted into cheers. Sora allowed herself a small smile, letting it creep over her face. It felt so alien after years of desperation and struggle that her cheeks immediately began hurting. She had made it. Finally.
"You may exit the examination hall via the back door, just over there. Tomorrow, you will report to Lecture Hall Room 12 to register for your electives. For the moment, please stay seated as we hand out your dormitory information. Your uniforms have been placed in your dorm rooms for when you arrive. Classes will start the day after tomorrow.
"In the meantime, you are welcome to explore the Seireitei. Please take note that the entrance gates close at 10:00 p.m. sharp."
The Soul Reapers began to move about the aisles again, handing out small scrolls of paper tied with red ribbons. Sora drummed her fingers on her desk as she waited, conscious of the ever-present buzz of excited, hushed voices pressing against her on every side. She felt her heart beating nervously and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. She touched her neck cloth, willing calmness back into her veins, and like always, she began to feel a little better.
"Here you are," a young woman said, handing her a scroll. Sora opened it and scanned it quickly.
Student: Sora Hitorishi
Residence Hall, Dormitory One
Unit B – Room 343
Sora folded the page neatly and tucked it into a front pocket of her robe. Then she stood along with the rest of the students and made her way out the back door and into a large, bright courtyard.
The sun was high overhead in the pale blue sky, bathing the courtyard in a warm, welcoming glow. It was covered with deep green grass, and long cobblestone pathways snaked here and there throughout the yard, creating walkways and connecting the entrance hall to a large group of buildings ahead, off to the right side of the enclosure. Sora could see two other impressive buildings far off in the distance, and surmised that they must be the other facilities of the Academy.
She walked past a wide fountain in the centre of the courtyard, surrounded by a pool brimming with sparkling blue water. A pair of raised basins overflowed into one another in the centre of the fountain, topped by a statuette of a foursome of seahorses, all spewing water from their mouths into the stone basins.
Sora felt herself relax as she moved across the courtyard towards the building. The grounds were certainly pretty enough so far. She hoped that everything else about the Academy proved just as pleasant.
"How do you think you did?"
"I wasn't sure about the konsō question..."
"Do you think they'll dock marks for not remembering the Hadō incantation?"
Conversation bubbled all around her as she stepped up to the main gates of the first building. A large wooden sign stood outside the lawn, proclaiming:
Residence Hall, Dormitory One
A large group of students had already assembled at the entrance and were beginning to pour inside. Sora joined the throng and entered through the front gates, bodies pressing against her on either side. Inside the building foyer, there was a large welcome desk. A group of Soul Reapers sat behind it, quickly scanning lists of students and checking off names. Sora waited quietly in line, her mind whirling.
I wonder how far the training grounds are from here? I know I could have done better on the zanjutsu test. I'm definitely going to need to step up my act if I want to stay in the advanced class. And I thought I saw a forest somewhere in the distance... maybe if I go in deep enough, I can practice my kidō without alerting anyone.
"Next!" one of the Soul Reapers nodded at Sora. "Name, please?"
"Sora Hitorishi."
The Soul Reaper looked down and flipped through a notebook. "Hitorishi... got it." He checked off the name. "Unit B. You're on the left side of the building. Unit A is the boys' dorms, on the right. You'll be on the third floor."
Sora nodded and bowed. "Thank you, sir."
"Don't mention it. Next!"
She turned and ventured down the long hallway, feeling distinctly nervous. If only she had someone else to consult, someone to talk to...
But that was just a pointless fantasy. She had always been alone, thrust into a life she didn't ask for and didn't want. She and the other children had not had the chance to be friends; they had been too young and scared to protect her or care for her, and the ones that she developed closer bonds with were always sold away to other districts as slaves or labourers. She became a desperate wretch, raised in the cruel darkness of the night, isolated like a forbidden secret from the rest of the Soul Society.
Stop, she chided herself angrily. What's the use of dwelling on the past? Remembering them will only make you sadder, and to show sadness is to show weakness. Control yourself. You may be out of the Rukongai, but you're by no means safe.
Lost in her thoughts, Sora didn't even realize she had reached her floor until the noise alerted her. She glanced down the hallway. Several girls were flitting in and out of rooms, carrying bunches of clothes and bed wear. None of them had noticed her, which was fine with her.
She found a door with the number 343 on it four doors down the hall, on the right hand side. She raised her hand and knocked. No answer. Cautiously opening the door, Sora poked her head inside.
The room was empty, so whoever her roommate was must not have arrived yet. The room was traditional and unassuming: two single beds on opposite sides of the room, two desks, two closets, two dressers...
On the foot of the left bed were a pile of folded uniforms. They consisted of a red hakama and a set of white robes, with red stripes rimming the chest openings and running down each sleeve. Two small circular insignias that looked like four-pointed stars were adorned in blue on either side of the chest.
Sora closed the door, shutting off the idle chatter of the hallway. She quickly stripped out of her robes, hanging them over the back of her desk chair. Her bra was considerably tight across her chest, and the straps were frayed and shabby. Definitely too small. Making a mental note to find a way to get new ones, she slipped into her new uniform and tied the hakama around her waist. The fabric felt cool and soft against her skin. She rolled her shoulders, pleased.
I did it, Sensei. I made it here as you requested. And I promise, I won't let you down.
"Hello?"
A soft voice breached Sora's thoughts and she turned around, surprised. A youthful looking girl in a long white sundress was peering at her from the open doorway, one hand resting on the jamb. The dress was silken and highlighted her figure in a delicate manner, ending just above her knees. The dress was open at the top, exposing the girl's shoulders. It looked more expensive than anything Sora had ever seen before, and she knew instantly that the girl was from nobility. Her face was striking, with her dark auburn hair drawn up into a bun, the stray strands gracefully framing her face. Large maroon eyes peered into Sora's green ones.
"My name's Hazuki Shimizu," the girl said, stepping forward and holding out her hand. "This is Room 343, right?"
"Oh! Yeah," Sora started, taking the girl's hand and shaking it. "You must be my roommate. It's nice to meet you."
"You too," the girl smiled. She tossed a scroll identical to the one Sora was given onto the bed and sat down next to it. "This all feels so surreal, you know? I mean, just a couple years ago I didn't even know I had spirit energy. And now I'm at the Soul Reaper Academy!" She beamed brightly. "It's amazing, isn't it?"
Sora watched her, bemused. The girl was fluttery and excitable, but in an endearing manner. She might just be the first noble I've met who isn't a pretentious jerk. "It is pretty strange," she agreed, moving to sit down on her own bed. "I first found out I had spirit energy about eight years ago."
"That's a long time," Hazuki commented. "How did you find out?"
Sora smiled slightly. How indeed? The memory was one of the freshest in her mind, having set the past seven years of her life in motion. Indeed, if she hadn't encountered that young, redheaded boy with determined eyes and a colourful vocabulary, she would never have discovered what her hunger meant. She would have never been taught how to control her spiritual power, never have been exiled from Hanging Dog, never have encountered her Sensei. That boy saved my life. I wonder where I'd be now if it weren't for him?
"Hey, you still in there?" Hazuki asked, nudging Sora's foot with her own from across the bed. She grinned. "You've been staring off into space for a while."
"Oh, sorry," Sora replied, shaking her head slightly to clear it. "I met a boy back in the Rukongai when I was a little girl. He told me what spirit energy was, and how to control it. He even taught me how to use it for offense, just like he did when he..." she trailed off.
It's been so long since that night, but I still remember it so clearly. That was the first time I had ever seen something so strange and dangerous, yet also so beautiful. Before that night I was just another piece of Rukon trash, floating through life on a quiet breeze. And then he changed me... I became something else, something new entirely.
"When he...?" Hazuki prompted, looking intrigued. Sora blushed lightly. "It's nothing. But I learned from then on how to control my reiatsu. It was kind of hard, but it slowly became easier over time."
"I know what you mean," Hazuki said, nodding. "It was like that for me too at first."
"You're from nobility, right?" Sora kept her voice level and polite, even though she felt a sliver of derision run through her at the words. Hazuki grimaced. "Don't give me such a freeze," she said lightly, kicking Sora's leg. "Yeah, I'm from the Shimizu Family. It's one of the lesser noble families, but we're still well known. Despite what others may think, we're not so bad. I know nobles don't exactly give off the most generous image, especially to those from the Rukongai—" Sora nodded, that was putting it lightly— "but we're not pretentious like the Ōmaeda Family, or the Kasumiōji Family. Plus, what do most nobles know about the Soul Reapers? Not a damn thing."
Sora blinked, taken aback by the girl's statement. "Really? I thought lots of nobles were Soul Reapers."
Hazuki shook her head. "Barely any, actually. A few of the captains are, and a couple of the lieutenants, but that's basically it. 'Course, some regular squad members are from nobility too, but the Soul Reapers that used to be from Rukon outnumber them greatly."
"Wow," Sora said, intrigued. "I had no idea there were so many of us."
"What do you mean, us?" Hazuki said indignantly. "There's only one us now, roomie, and that's every Soul Reaper in the Seireitei!" She smiled widely and sprung up from her bed. "Come on, show some love!"
Sora was completely taken aback by the girl's attitude, but couldn't help but smile at her antics. Her sensei had always told her that she had been too serious, too quick to judge others. Maybe I should try opening up a little. Besides, she seems pretty nice.
"Alright," Sora laughed, getting to her feet. "I'm sorry." She help out her hand and smiled hesitatingly at the girl. "I never really introduced myself. I'm Sora Hitorishi."
"I'm deeply honoured to make your acquaintance," Hazuki said, with such stiff formality and a straight face that Sora burst out into laughter. Hazuki soon joined in and Sora's heart felt lighter than it had in years. Maybe this won't be so bad after all.
"Hey," Hazuki said suddenly, catching her arm. "There's a really cool tea house close by, in the residential area just outside the Squad 11 gardens. Wanna come with?"
She didn't even wait for an answer; before Sora could open her mouth, Hazuki had danced out the door, still tugging on her arm. "Let's go!"
With a growing smile stealing across her face, Sora followed her.
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A/N: Please review and let me know what you think!