Chapter 11: Round 2?

Keigo walked toward Acacio pausing a bit as he passed Ikkaku, "You are such a bastard, baldy!" Keigo sniped at him. Yumichika smirked.

Ikkaku lost his cocky grin for half a second, "You just wait kid, this is for your own good." Keigo was already mingling with the 'winners.' He felt a few pats on his back. And people calling out congratulations.

"That took some guts kid," a rough looking man called out towering head and shoulders above Keigo.

"That's that guy everybody was talking about. What was his name," a smaller female called to a friend.

"It's Asano. Keigo Asano, I think." Her friend informed.

"Awe he's cute, I'm gonna talk to him," Keigo is pretending not to hear the people in the crowd. He also heard some not so nice things.

"I bet he went easy on the kid," A sour looking brunette female looked down on the boy.

"Maybe they pulled some strings, He is supposed to be friends with Kurosaki." A boy with glasses sneered in his direction. He managed to find his stoic friend only by sensing his reiatsu.

"Hey Acacio!" Keigo waived. The man nodded, "You fought well. Keigo ran toward his friend, not noticing a string of drooling girls trailing him.

Yumichika elbows his friend, "Look at all those women following our Keigo."

Ikkaku grins, "Envious Yumi?"

"I most certainly am not!"

"Well I'd hate to see you when you do get jealous."

"Look at the blond one; she looks like a regular harlot!"

"Yeah you are totally jealous," Ikkaku rolled his eyes; "You know he has no clue they are following him either. What happened to the rabid little pervert we knew back before the winter war. He's changed."

"In what way, do you think?" Yumi sounded a bit too hopeful.

"Maybe I mean he now prefers men, more specifically you." He snorts, Yumichika shot a death glare with such intensity that the cue ball's head almost burst into flames. "Or maybe I mean he ain't that stupid little kid anymore."

"Don't go dashing my hopes like that," Yumi fake pouts, maybe over playing it a bit.

Keigo was a bit clueless. Acacio spoke up, "You know you have some admirers behind you." Keigo turned to see five female students suddenly looking away. Three of them suddenly found their own sandals very interesting. The other two were discussing something frantically, both these two kept stealing glances. Finally the blond one pushed the raven haired girl toward him. The girl had lovely ruddy brown eyes that looked at home on a small child, but lent a delicate beauty to her childish features. She was physically younger then Keigo, probably about fifteen, she looked more like a thirteen year old, where he was seventeen physically. Keigo was actually the youngest in the academy counting his year in the Rukon District he was technically eighteen.

The blond forced her to look at Keigo. She looked terrified. Keigo was horror stricken at what the blond was doing to her. Suddenly the blond hissed, "Say it!"

"H-Hello, your K-Keigo, right?" He nodded.

"M-My name is Saki," She blushed but her arm is jerked backward painfully. The blond watched Keigo, "A-and this is R-Ran!" She squeaked at the boy. Ran let her arm go. Keigo wondered how Saki got through only to be bullied like that.

The blond spoke to him using a sultry voice unlike the evil hiss the used just a minute ago, "So, you're pretty well known." She bit her ruby red lips seductively. Keigo is not biting. He already knows he won't get along with her.

"That's what I heard," was all he said to Ran, "So Saki I think I saw you beat some kid with hair the color of the grass. She nodded, "You kicked that guy's ass!" He leans in, "Why are you letting her push you around." Ran looked indignant and turned away from them.

She started to walk off the other three. Saki looked worried she wanted to stay near Keigo, but her group was leaving her behind. Ran was a bitch, but she was unlucky enough to get stuck with her as a room mate along with two other snobby bullies.

"Well, Ran and I lived together in Rukon. She has always been like that. We got assigned the same room. I wish we hadn't," I am not sure who decided where we stay, but I noticed they put 'clicky' people together."

"Well you can stay and talk with Acacio and me if you want," He smiled at the girl who looked as pathetic as Keigo felt, but he was kind enough not to say anything to her about that.

"Acacio, this is Saki, right?" Saki bowed.

"Nice to meet you Saki," He smiled briefly for her. She returned the smile with a haunted smile of her own. It was like a reflection of the man's soul. She seemed to be in a trance and her eyes began to water. She said something Keigo heard, "Inés." Acacio's eyes grew wide. He turned away from them.

The girl was blank. Keigo poked her shoulder, "Saki, are you OK." She was rigid.

"It was not your fault, Acacio," Saki spoke in a much deeper more mature voice, it was a woman of many years. Possibly Acacio's age maybe even older. The man on hearing this turns. A dangerous warning flashes in his eyes. The girl paid no heed to this warning.

"How, how do you know about her?" His voice has an even timber, but his eyes are liquid pools of fury.

Keigo was shaking the girl desperately sensing that she unknowingly waded into dangerous waters. Finally he felt her body relax, she shook her head like a dog leaving the water, stumbled back into Keigo's arms. He set her right blushing like there was no tomorrow.

Suddenly her voice is once again the child's voice. Sweet and innocent, "I'm sorry. I blacked out again. Ran said I'll never make it as a soul reaper if I pass out like that. I guess I should thank you for catching me," Red faced she turned to Keigo and bowed. Then she bid them farewell like nothing ever happened. Acacio suddenly realized what happened.

"Mind reader," He calmed himself. Nobody but Keigo knew how close the man was to blood shed just seconds before.

"What? I mean are you alright, but did you say mind reader?" Keigo got closer to Acacio sensing it is safe to approach again.

"She-there's no way she could have known otherwise, but no I am sorry I over reacted, the girl did not even know that she was doing it. Be careful Keigo. There are few souls that can delve into the minds of others. She-She is just a child, I could have destroyed her," Keigo sensed his shame.

"So who is..." Keigo trails off sensing that the subject is best left closed, "Never mind, I understand you have your private matters." He looked away from his new friend toward the instructor who had started talking again.

"Class now it is time for your final test, it will just be the victorious from the first test. We will be partnering you off in an unofficial tournament, it is single elimination so that means if you lose cheat of forfeit you are out of the tournament. This there is no failure in this test there are only different levers of success. To have made it this far guarantees you a place at the academy. So just do your best."

"Again with the waiting game, no?" Keigo looked at his friend, I hope they don't put us up against each other, at least not yet," Keigo smirked at the man, he nodded in return. This test went much like the last. Acacio and Keigo waited their names were not called in the first round of eight. Then Keigo was called in the second round.

Keigo got up nervously and went out with the other eight. This time the blond was talking as she handed wooden practice swords to each student, "Same rules as before, with the exception that you will be provided with armor. You are not to use outside weapons." The Brunette was giving. As she handed the armor out she seemed be saying something to each individually before leading them to their respective corners.

She got to Keigo, "Do you understand the rules, if you are injured you can forfeit."

Keigo shook his head vigorously, "I understand, I am not going to back out." He was still in pain, but he didn't want to back out. It wasn't for some petty reason like impressing girls or anybody else. He just knew he could continue.

She smiled, "Good luck Asano."

"Thanks," He smiled in return. She lead his opponent and he to the corner situated on the bottom left hand of the field. The furthest away from the ever shrinking crowd. He was grateful to be away from all those eyes.

He took his stance. Nothing was explained to them about handling a sword. He supposed it must be to gage how much they knew. He looked at his opponent it was none other then the swan. She was graceful and swan-like even up close, but that was just it her eyes were cold and dead like the beady black eyes of a swan. Her fair skin made her dark ruby colored hair look harsh, like blood. She frowned down on him. She was not very pretty up close, she looked smug and angry. Keigo remembered her fight, and was glad he had focused on hers and the tiger's bout.

They were signaled to begin. He stood in a defensive posture not wanting to advance on her like the tiger had. She would have to come to him if she wanted to fight. She had the same idea as Keigo, "What's the matter little boy, you scared." She grinned and unnaturally white teeth were shown. She now resembled more of a feral cat then a swan. Her gums were blood red, setting her teeth off even more. She looked like a walking disease, mentally and physically. She seemed to sway with the wind, "I'm waiting, little one."

Keigo wondered if her comments were supposed to incite anger in him, "Are you calling me short." He had difficulty in keeping a straight face. It was funny. He had never given thought to his stature. He was short maybe, but there as many that were shorter then him as there were that were taller, and didn't she know better then to judge a book by his cover?

"Does that bother you?" She smiled a cheshire cat grin, yes she was definately at the bottom of his shag list.

"Does it bother you that I think you look like a feral animal? Or that you are unnaturally tall for a girl?" He saw a vein pulse in her forehead, "What's the matter, did I offend you?" She wrinkled up her nose in disgust this swan cat lady seemed to snarl but stayed in her position. She wasn't about to fall for his tricks either. He heaved a sigh.

"You're scared aren't you," She guffawed.

He shrugged his shoulders, "Honestly I have no Idea how to attack you. I know you will see it coming If I make the first move." He nodded.

Her jaw dropped, 'Is he a complete idiot, who tells their opponent their strategy.' She snickers. She closed her eyes, for a second only.

"What's so funny," he whispered in her ear. Bringing his sword under her legs. She was surprised and swept off of her feet. He tried to pin her with the sword but she recovered by rolling away.

"You sneaky son of a bitch!" She growled at him. She struck, and he is laughing. It is strange to him that this should be so enjoyable, but he could not stop laughing. Surprisingly to everybody the swan couldn't touch him. He dodged, his reflexes are excellent. The further into the bout the crazier his laughter became. Some join in to the contagious laughter. Some looked on in concern. Ikkaku is smiling, he knew that face. He felt it on his own face in battle often enough.

She thrust, and jabbed she even tried to grab him with one hand to stop him from moving. He pulled away gracefully. He was graceful, but more erratic and unpredictable. He cackled as she lunged he tripped her. I almost looked accidental, his whole fighting style looked accidental. He was visualizing a battle field (or rather a certain brown furred maniacal red eyed beast was pushing a vision on him. He was- was slaughtering men. His sword was not wooden, it was not a katana style sword. It was like a roman broad sword. He was armor clad. His enemies were wearing metal armor and he seemed to be alone in the battle, but it felt right.

'Yes Haimon! Remember, wake up. Take your rightful place, you chose this vessel now show yourself!' The voice behind the eyes shouted. Keigo saw it a round fuzzy head glaring white teeth dripping with blood and entrails. It let out a deafening howl fallowed by rolls of ear splitting cackles. Keigo woke up. He shook his head. Everybody in the audience was quiet. He looked down to see a frightened looking swan blocking his sword with what looked like a broken arm. Her sword had been discarded. He dropped his own sword. And fell on his but in shock. He didn't remember what happened. The swan's cocky expression was replaced with terror.

"You-you're crazy!" She shrieked at him. The only emotion he saw in her eyes from the time they faced off was fear. The brunette woman came to the field with the help of a medic and took swan away. The blond came and grabbed his arm, "Come on Asano we need to get you off the field. He nodded absently he wanted to be anywhere but there.

'Granny you were right.' Keigo cried in his head.

The voice cackled again. He fought the urge to cover his ears. He was not paying attention. She lead him away from the crowd a few attempted to follow.

"If you do not wish to forfeit now you will all stay on the field!" Sasaki announced. Garnering many boos and hisses, "Stop your whining or you'll all be scrubbing he restrooms every night for the next six months!"

Keigo was numb. He looked at the floor, "What did I do. I don't know how I-I broke her arm. There's something wrong with me. There's a voice in my head, it tells me things. Things I shouldn't know." He looked up expecting to see the creepy blond only to find Ikkaku and Yumichika. Keigo felt shame, he'd failed.

"Ok kid, spill, I want to know exactly what you were thinking out there. No don't look like were interrogating you!" Keigo, eyes wide with fear, looked at the two would be mentors like they were asking him to kill someone.

He shook his head, "I don't remember." He was lying it was obvious.

"Cut the crap!" It was Yumichika's turn to yell, "If you aren't ready for this then you need to tell us, now!" Ikkaku nodded reluctantly.

"I don't remember what happened on the field after I tripped her. It got kinda fuzzy." He rubbed his eyes until they hurt, "I had a vision. I have something, or somebody else inside of me. It says I am a vessel for someone named Haimon. So maybe there are two somebodys hiding in here with me." He looked to sad to be sheepish. He gave a weak smile, "Is the 'swan' girl going to be alright?"

"Who?" Ikkaku asked.

"I think he means that pale, lanky woman he fought. I guess she had the air of a swan, or maybe and angry goose." Yumichika chuckled. He got a look of disapproval from Keigo and a scathing look from his bald friend that said, 'now isn't the time to crack jokes!'

"She'll recover, I think her arm was broken though."

"I was afraid of that," Keigo looked at the wall rather then his friends.

"Keigo," Ikkaku called him back to reality, "You are gonna need private lessons so you don't kill anyone." The man smirked, "Looks like I get to go up against you sooner then I had hoped."

"What?"

"Alright you convinced me, I'll take time out of my extremely busy schedule to train you personally." He didn't look all that inconvenienced. He actually enjoyed teaching. He hadn't had a student this promising since Renji Abarai came to him for help.

{Sorry I have been away for so long}