Only when I stop to think about you,
I know
Only when you stop to think about me,
Do you know
I hate everything about you
Why do I love you?
You hate everything about me
Why do you love me?
--I Hate Everything About You, Three Days Grace
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Renji was simply too exhausted to run the entire way back to the Lecture Hall, so he settled for a light jog, ignoring the protesting burn in his calves. The rest of his class were too tired to do the same, and fell behind as he made his way across the grounds. The redhead was nowhere to be seen.
He arrived at the Lecture Hall with three minutes to reach his classroom. Panicking slightly, Renji dodged in and out between groups of wandering students. He didn't want to be late for yet another class, and give another professor reason to dislike him. He really needed to—
"Hey, watch it, you idiot!"
He smacked right into someone petit and warm and swearing. "Rukia?"
"No, the Head Captain," she said sarcastically, frowning up at him. "Thanks for nearly crushing me — wow, you look awful!" The corners of her mouth lifted and her frown turned into a sly smile. "Having a rough time in the advanced class?" she said in a honeyed tone.
"Oh, shut up," he growled, fixing her with a glare. "At least I'm in the advanced class."
"So? I must say, I never realized your face could turn redder than your hair. Kind of looks like a tomato..."
"Oh, yeah?" he snarled, taking a step forward, towering over Rukia. "You think you're real funny, don't you?"
"Hey, relax," she said in mock nervousness. "I was just kid—hey!" she yelped as he tickled her ribs. "Renji, cut it out! Hey! Stop!"
And she ran off down the long hallway, and he chased after her like when they were little kids.
He found out Rukia had the same Soul Society History class as he did, since the advanced and regular classes shared courses that were not centred upon the four basic Soul Reaper fighting techniques, the Zankensoki. After he cornered her and tickled her into submission, she told him where their classroom was, and they made it in just as the bell was ringing.
Renji looked around self-consciously at the students all around the room, trying not to stare. He saw a few faces he recognized from his Hohō classes, but the majority were people he had never seen before. He stood next to Rukia, looking for an empty seat.
"Over there," she whispered, nudging his ribs. "Right side."
There were two empty seats at a long desk near the back edge of the room. Renji walked over and sat down, Rukia joining him. He took out his notebooks and reached for a calligraphy brush next to the nearest inkpot. The professor at the forefront of the room, an old man with large glasses and a thick white moustache, rapped a long wooden pointer on his desk. The hushed conversations the other students were having ceased immediately.
"Welcome to Soul Society History," the professor said calmly. The room was quiet apart from his quiet voice, which seemed to permeate every corner of the room despite its softness. Renji could tell he was a man with the ability to keep a class in line without effort. "In this class you will be taught of the basic workings of the Seireitei and the surrounding Rukon District. You will also learn..."
"Psst," someone whispered from behind him. "Hey. Red Pineapple."
He turned around in shock. One row back and grinning at him from several seats away was the redhead girl from his Hohō class. His jaw dropped. She winked at him, twirling a strand of hair around her finger. "Pay attention. The professor will get angry," she said, in an exaggerated singsong voice. Grunting, Renji turned back to the front of the room, determinedly ignoring Rukia's questioning glance. Just his luck that the nutty girl was in his class.
The rest of the lesson passed away without much incident. After an hour, the bell rang loudly and Renji trekked back to the Residence Hall with Rukia for a quick lunch. The redhead had mysteriously disappeared from class before they did, but Renji didn't think too much on that. He was sure he'd see her around again at some point.
Tatsuyoshi was conspicuously absent during lunch, which surprised Renji slightly. He had expected the brown haired boy to have been inhaling the nearest food dishes by the time they arrived, but when it was twenty to one and about to leave, he still hadn't shown up.
"Where do you think he went?" Rukia asked, frowning.
Renji shrugged. "He probably fell asleep somewhere, knowing him."
He parted ways with Rukia, who was off to her first Kidō class, and made his way alone across the courtyard to the Training Hall, refreshed. In a delightful change of pace, he was one of the first students to arrive in the large indoor training field. Several others were already there, doing stretches and warming up with practice swings of their wooden swords. Renji spent the time doing push-ups in the corner, limbering up his muscles before selecting a wooden sword from the display rack. It was quite similar to the one he had used during his zanjutsu exam.
The door slid open and a young girl walked into the room. Renji glanced at the doorway, then did a double take. It was the pale girl with the light grey scarf around her head. He stared at her for a moment, but she didn't look over as she strolled casually over to the wall, leaning against it and focusing her gaze on the instructor. After a moment, Renji turned away from her and continued his exercises. He wasn't sure why the girl enticed him so. He didn't even know her.
The instructor called the class to session a few minutes later. "Welcome to zanjutsu class," he said. He had short, spiky dark hair and wore a black hakama with a deep blue uniform. "You've all scored high in your zanjutsu entrance exam, and as such, the Soul Reaper Academy has high expectations of you. You will be expected to demonstrate the same skill and fortitude that you have shown your examiner. If you have all selected a sword, please divide into two straight lines on either side of the room."
There was a brief flurry of activity as the students lined up along the sides of the large, spacious room. Renji joined them, seating himself between a younger boy who looked almost like a child, and a blonde-haired boy who had deep, somewhat lidded eyes. He felt excitement and apprehension flooding his veins.
"To begin, we will be taking the training relatively slow," the instructor said. "You will each be called to spar with another student. The first to incapacitate the other, or force them into submission, will be declared the victor. These sparring matches are so I can get a decent inspection of your separate abilities." He clapped his hands once. "First match: Kira vs. Kenta."
"Yes, sir!" two voices chorused. The blonde boy next to Renji stood and walked to the centre of the large gym, joined by a darker haired boy from the other row. They squared off against each other, wooden swords at the ready.
"Begin," the instructor ordered.
Both boys sprang forward in a flash of movement, battering at each other's defences. Renji watched with an appraising eye, as did several other students. The scarf girl was at the far end of the opposite row, watching with intense violet eyes. Three seats down, the hulking giant with the scar was staring at the two impassively. Renji analyzed the fight as it continued.
That blonde kid... he's got good moves, but he doesn't swing with enough strength. He should be easy to beat. And that other kid is an amateur. This fight will be over in moments.
True enough, the blonde kid spun around in a dizzying spiral and slammed the wood sword down upon the other boy's wrist, causing him to drop his sword. "Match, Kira," the instructor called, and the room broke out into a smattering of polite applause.
"Next: Idono vs. Li," the instructor rapped out, and two other students took their place in the centre of the room.
The fights continued on, and the whole time Renji watched with interest. Most of the kids were nothing special, being merely passable with their weapons. Despite the repetitiveness of the bouts, Renji took the time to study each student, observing their separate fighting styles, strengths, and weaknesses. Renji was only astonished once.
"Tokiwa vs. Fuji," the instructor called.
The muscular youth with the scar stood quietly and lumbered over to the centre of the room, facing a young, wiry boy who looked terrified by his opponent. His body looked painfully weaker than the buff giant before him, who was clutching his wooden sword in just one hand.
"Begin," the instructor called, and the wiry boy leapt forward immediately, thrusting and stabbing with his sword. The bigger student did not even move, simply stood his ground, effortlessly blocking each blow while wielding the sword with one arm. Renji's eyebrows rose as he observed the battle – or lack thereof – with growing interest.
This guy has skill. He might be my best competition in this class.
The idea was reinforced a split second later when the large student struck out suddenly, landing a blow at the hilt of the boy's sword and sending it spiraling out into the air. The boy froze, looking stunned. The entire class was watching, open-mouthed.
"Match, Tokiwa," the instructor said approvingly. The class, too late, began to applaud, but it was hushed and scattered. The large student did not react in the slightest, merely sitting once more and staring forward once more.
"Next: Abarai vs. Hitorishi."
Renji got to his feet, grinning. He cracked his neck and moved to the centre of the gym. Finally, it was his turn to show some promise. I won't let that huge kid show me up.
His grin vanished and turned onto a gape of surprise when the girl with the scarf moved away from her row and made her way across the room. She walked with a defined sophistication, despite her cool nature. The uniform top hugged her curved figure closely, highlighting her luscious body in all the right places. He swallowed hard. Damn. Why do I have to fight her? He hated fighting girls, and a pretty one at that...
The girl stopped before him and as she looked up and met his gaze, her eyes widened in shock. Her soft, pink lips parted in a gasp and her hand twitched, almost as though she had started to bring it up to her mouth in surprise before she controlled herself. Renji blinked, confused. What was up with this girl?
"Begin," the instructor called.
Shrugging away his doubts, Renji moved forward and struck before the girl was ready. He didn't know who she was, but for some reason he didn't want to hurt her. Where the hell did that come from? He thought, appalled. This was a fight. There was no room for hesitation, or for weakness. But here this mystical girl with her exotic eyes and perfect body was making him forget everything he had ever learned. Goddamn it, who is she?
I'll soften my blows so so I don't hurt her.
His sword came at her in a sweeping twist, aiming for her neck. She barely managed to dodge it in time, snapping out of her stupor as his next attack went straight for her face. She brought her wooden sword up and deflected the blow to the side, before lunging at him with her eyes narrowed.
They whirled around each other again and again, using every inch of the floor. She was faster than him, Renji established immediately, able to duck and roll and somersault around him so fluidly it was as though her body was made of liquid. Her advantage came from her unpredictability. Her strikes came at him from every conceivable angle, causing him to use every evasive tactic he knew and his own cunning to ward off her attacks.
However, he was stronger than her, and they both knew it. Her blows were quick and hard, hammering down like rain, but they did not have much power behind them. While he was slower, he landed his attacks with much greater force, causing her to stumble back with each successful hit. He also surprised her with strategy, mimicking her technique by employing unorthodox dodges and attacks that made it seem as though he was retreating, when in reality he was actually moving closer to her.
The girl's mouth was drawn into a tight grimace as she fought, lips tensed. He tried not to focus on her face... or her lips... or the slight sheen of perspiration on her creamy skin, causing her body to glow as she attacked, the scarf trailing behind her like smoke. He could hear oohs and aahs as the other students watched the fight on tenterhooks. He slowly drove the girl back, though he could see the hard determination in her eyes. She clearly wouldn't go down without a fight.
But then her foot slipped. The floor was wet with their sweat, and the girl was vulnerable for a split second. Seizing his advantage, Renji moved forward and kicked out with one foot, knocking the sword from her grip. He then brought his sword around in a sweeping arc, meaning to level it at her throat. However, the girl had stumbled when his foot made contact, and he misjudged her distance, striking her squarely on the side of the head. The girl let out a pained cry, her scarf dislodged by the hit. It melted off her and pooled on the floor.
"Oh, shit, I'm sor—" Renji's voice died in his throat. The girl's hair had flowed outward as the scarf was removed, cascading down her shoulders. It was vivid and green, the deepest and most perfect shade. As she moved her head and brought her hand up to cup her wounded temple, her hair turned a softer emerald under the ceiling lights.
Oh, my God.
She was, without doubt, the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.
"Um..." he stammered, immediately blushing. Her cool violet gaze locked with his dark brown one, though her mouth was still in a thin line.
"Match, Abarai," the instructor called. The room burst into applause.
"I didn't mean to do that," Renji said quietly, under the noise. He reached down and picked up her scarf, handing it to her. She snatched it from him quickly, and his eyebrows rose in surprise.
"It's nothing," she said sharply, turning away so he couldn't see her face. "Don't sweat it."
Why was she getting so defensive? It wasn't like he had hit her on purpose. "There's no need to get so angry," he said, feeling his own temper rise.
"Why don't you just keep your opinions to yourself?" she snapped.
He immediately felt incensed. Who the hell did this girl think she was? "Listen, you..." he started furiously, but she had already turned her back on him and strolled back to her seat. Renji uttered a deadly curse under his breath and turned away as well, sitting huffily back at his spot. He glared at the girl across the room, and when her eyes wandered back to him, they hardened as well.
"Next," the instructor called. Renji stared at the girl, but she turned her head away. He grinded his teeth together. Something was with the girls here. They were all crazy. Well, Rukia had always been nuts. But then there was that redheaded speedster, and now this vicious green-haired...
He suddenly became aware that he was still looking at her. That in itself was unnerving. The girl was completely rude, and like an ice queen. She had no respect.
So why can't I stop staring at her?
He felt his heartbeat speed up in confusion. She was brushing dampened locks of her bright green hair back, though several strands were plastered to her neck. He felt a stirring in his blood as the girl stretched, arching her back, and Renji's face burned. There was definitely something wrong with him. The girl had almost bitten off his head, yet here he was ogling her curves. He turned back to watch the next sparring match, doing his best to ignore her, and wrestling with his disquiet as he continued to steal glances at her for the remainder of the lesson.