A/N: Yo, the story isn't dead. And I'm going implement shoutouts for reviews!

it's pronounced 'lowlight' : Um, what is Shibata? And yeah, there's a reason for Yosuke scoring high. You'll see.

Heir of Schiffer : Yarp, he definitely isn't the best. In fact, at this point he can't keep up with Ichigo at the west gate for the first time. Still, that's miles above the rest of the n00b Shinigami. :) And yes, I've thought up a name for the zanpakuto. Simple though. My kind of name.

randomguy24 : It had to be awesome. It's the most important part of every chapter after all.

Oh yeah, there's a new system for thoughts.

This is the font for elf-lady.

This is for Shiro's conversational thoughts.

This is Shiro's inner hollow, if he ever appears.

This is storytelling and commenting thoughts.

It may seem confusing at first, but you'll get used to it. Now that that's all done and over, another new thing is also up. I have chosen an opening song that I'd imagine would go well with the feel of the story. As each arc ends, a new song is chosen. Naturally, there is an ending theme as well. Now that that's over with as well, let's get the show- story- on the road.

Opening Song: Karma - Bump of Chicken

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, Tite Kubo does. I do, however, own the OCs thus far.

Chapter 10

After getting over the initial shock of Yosuke's exam results (which was admittedly only a few seconds), I started paying attention to Shuhei, whom was in charge of addressing the above-700 group. He cleared his throat once before beginning his speech.

"You are all in the Advanced Class. Simply put, you're better than the others. Assemble at the West Gate tomorrow morning." He paused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully before continuing. "That is all. Dismissed."

What.

You'd think that he'd be a little more congratulatory. Itisthe advanced class, after all.

Precisely my point.

A few of our newly-formed batch seemed to have slightly crestfallen looks on their faces, obviously expecting something more, and a few girls (probably Shuhei fans) wore expressions of what looked like utter disappointment. Kinda sad really, as considering from what I'd seen so far, Shuhei had the emotional capabilities of a stick.

A fairly animated, mischievous stick.

Um, what?

Sorry. I don't even know what I'm thinking about anymore. Someone help me!

"Hey."

My desperate mock plea for assistance was somewhat answered as I was pulled out the confusion of my inner thoughts by none other than Akiro. I turned around to face him, and I saw a hint of a smile on his usually serious face.

"What is it?" I asked, naturally curious about his behaviour. I hadn't really known him for a long time (heck, we met this morning), but long enough to know that he was the type of person who wasted no actions.

"Glad we're in the same class." He offered a handshake along with a quiet smile, and I knew that I had found a dependable friend right there and then.

It goes without saying that I accepted the gesture of friendship.

"Same here."

Since I had nowhere to spend the night, both Akiro and Yosuke offered to bunk me in at their respective places. I wasn't really tired, however, and I ultimately declined both invitations. Akiro nodded while Yosuke just shrugged at my polite refusal. They both said their goodbyes and began to walk off in completely separate directions.

Before either of them managed three steps, my stomach decided that it was of utmost importance to growl loudly at that particular moment in time.

Feeling my ears burning, I shunpo-ed onto the overhead roof. I heard Yosuke's amused snicker while Akiro simply covered his mouth, presumably hiding a smile. They resumed their walking and soon enough both of them disappeared into the night fog.

Feeling a tap on my shoulder, I whirled around to see Ayame slowly and deliberately insert a rice cracker into her mouth. My stomach could only feel agony as I watched her chew on the snack costively. Her eyes were bright with laughter and I knew with absolute certainty that she had heard my stomach as well.

What a sadist she was.

"Want one?" She asked, offering the bag of rice crackers that she held in her hand.

I take my previous comment back. She's a life- no, soulsaver.

We sat on the edge of the same roof, munching on her rice crackers while trading words. Save for a few lanterns here and there, the entire district remained mostly unlit, leaving the town with a serene feeling. The fog around us was thick and moist, the breeze a little chilly and the atmosphere calm and relaxing. It was… pleasant, to say the least.

"I knew we would both be in the same class." She said, after a long moment of silence. She popped a cracker into her mouth and chewed slowly, savouring the subtle flavour of the snack.

I chose to deliver the corniest, cheesiest line in the history of mankind in the most dramatic fashion as a response. Without another moment's hesitation, I got to my feet, struck a pose and pointed to the sky in an exaggerated manner. I took in a deep breath.

"It must be fate!"

Ayame, who had been watching me with rapt attention, burst into sudden, hysterical laughter.

Score one for Shiro!

I reclaimed my seat next to her, smiling at her reaction. She was still in a fit of giggles from my impromptu… performance, and those giggles were definitely infectious. I had to resist the urge to laugh alongside her, as you should never (and I mean never) laugh at your own corny phrases. It's much more effective if it's deadpanned, after all. Being able to say such absurdities with a straight face is indeed a brilliant talent, sought-after by every ladies' man out there.

No, I am not a ladies' man. I just have the skills of one… maybe.

Do not kid yourself.

Ouch.

"So as I was saying, I knew we would both be in the same class." Ayame repeated, her hands on the roof edge. Her fits of laughter had died down after a while and the seriousness had returned to her voice. I couldn't see her face at all; her raven locks had fallen all over the side of it, almost covering it completely. But I didn't need to see her face to know what she was saying.

She chuckled quietly to herself. "As corny as it seems, fate probably did have a hand in our meeting." She turned to me, and for an instant, I saw her icy blue eyes. They were guarded, her emotions tightly controlled by an inner discipline. In a way, I admired her self-control, and yet, it was so sad.

"Heh." She turned her face to the other side. "Just listen to me, rambling off to an incomplete stranger." She mumbled in a self-mocking tone.

I simply shrugged. Her entire attitude seemed to have undergone a vast change from the morning, and a majority of her confidence was gone. She needed some encouragement at that moment. That was for sure.

"You know, there was someone in the world of the living who once said, 'There are no strangers in the world, only friends we haven't met as of yet.'" I pulled out a William Butler Yeats, hoping to cheer her up a little.

Ayame turned to me with a tired smile on her face, before getting up. Her confidence seemed to have returned to her, and she stood there with her hair blowing in the wind.

"Friends we haven't met?" She looked aside. "What a load of trash."

She turned around and sighed heavily.

"I'll see you tomorrow."

And she simply vanished, leaving me alone in the darkness of the night. In silence, I remained on the roof, reflecting on the day's happenings. The clouds above parted, leaving a clear view of the full moon, shimmering with a pale light. The stars accompanying the silvery moon lacked their usual lustre tonight, however. Perhaps it was just the pale moonlight outshining the distant stars, or maybe the stars themselves were burning out.

They say that the eyes are the windows to a person's soul. But tell me; if the windows are locked and shielded by a curtain, how does one see into another's soul?

… I don't know.

I thought so.

…

Heh, it's been so hectic lately, I almost forgot I was searching for Kairi.

You shouldn't lose sight of your objectives, Shiro.

I guess so… Hey, what do you think she's doing now?

I wouldn't know. The last time I saw her was the last time you did, and I know only as much as you do about your life.

I thought you had some kind of sixth-sense or something. But I guess not.

We'll just have to keep on searching, then.

Yeah, I suppose that's all we can do. Even through life and death, we'll find her.

At that moment I made two promises; one to myself and another to Kairi, wherever she was. I would find her and we'd finally be together once more after our seven years of separation.

It was a promise I intended to keep.

Twilight reigned over the sky, and an explosion of colour enveloped the Rukongai. The stars faded into the midnight blue emptiness, as did the moon itself, giving way to the rising of the sun. The breeze from before had turned into a gentle zephyr of cool air, carrying with it a chain of golden-brown leaves.

I had about two hours before I had to meet up with the others at the West Gate, so I got up and began my walk there. On the way, I passed by an all too familiar ramen store with an equally familiar smell wafting out from it. I was broke, but hey, maybe I would strike the jackpot and encounter one of the three lieutenants I knew.

I entered the establishment searching for faces that I recognized, but to my utmost disappointment, the store was empty with the exception of an old man behind the counter preparing ingredients for the day. He handled the cooking knife with an expertise one wouldn't expect from an old man, chopping each ingredient rapidly and evenly. After he was finished with that particular set of ingredients, he looked up and noticed me at the entrance. The crinkly eyes and warm smile on his face immediately made me feel welcomed in his shop.

"Welcome. Whaddya wanna eat?" He inquired, gesturing to the menu on the counter.

Although I was hungry (again), I had no one to freeload from, so I just shook my head politely.

"I don't really have the cash for it, and I was looking for someone I knew." I explained.

He took a closer look at my face and seemed to recognize me.

"I know you. You're that guy whom was with the lieutenants, right?" He asked, and began chopping another set of ingredients. Spring onion, if I remember properly.

I just nodded. This guy had to have good memory if he could remember a one-time customer.

"You have an uncommon look. It's easy to remember spiky blue hair, but top it off with red stripes and you're a memory beacon for all to see." He continued. "Plus, you were in here with the lieutenants."

That makes sense. I keep forgetting that my outwards appearance had changed drastically since I entered the Soul Society.

"Well, since it's still early and you're my first customer of the day, so why not have a bowl of ramen?" He asked. "It's on the house."

Score!

But it would be rather impolite to say that out loud, so I opted for a more mannered answer.

I took a seat at the counter and gave him a polite smile.

"If you insist."

I left the store a very satisfied customer. His ramen was definitely some of the best that I'd eaten. I glanced at the signboard above the shop, which read 'Yakitate Ra-men!', reminding me of some bread anime I watched while I was alive. Well, the ramen was the real thing, so I guess the copied name is excusable.

Dawn had approached, so I wasted no time going to the meeting area. On the way, I recognized a few of my soon-to-be classmates. One particular one I recognized was 'fro head, but I kinda forgot his name. Funkeh!

Taking longer strides, I soon arrived at the West Gate to see quite a number of people already present. I looked around and spotted Yosuke and Akiro conversing with one another, but as I suspected, it was Yosuke who contributed most of the words said. I walked up to them and overheard the last bit of Yosuke's endless prattling.

"-and everything went BOOM!" He appeared to have delivered a punch line, as he started laughing loudly. Akiro gave a quiet chortle at the joke, before noticing me approaching them.

"Hey."

Ah, Akiro. One word is all you'll ever need to identify yourself.

"Shiro's here. How're you doing today, my main man? Sleep well? Ate well?" An endless stream of random questions directed at me came gushing out of his mouth.

"How'd your night go?"

…

"Don't you ever change clothes?"

…..

"Hey, did you see the fireflies last night?"

Okay, now I know he's just testing my patience, so I ignored him and turned to Akiro for some rational conversation. Akiro, however, was smirking at Yosuke with his hand held out.

"I told you he wouldn't break. Now give it back." Akiro demanded triumphantly.

Yosuke sighed, regretfully handing Akiro a loaf of bread, which Akiro gladly reclaimed. He broke off a quarter from it, the crust of the bread tearing with a mouth-watering sound, while the white insides of the bread were soft and fluffy.

"Want some?" He offered the broken bit to me.

Score!

I just ate ramen, but I don't say no to free food. In fact, that's the third time I had free food today.

Freeloading glutton.

Hey, keep your opinions to yourself!

I gobbled up the inviting piece of bread quickly. It tasted good, really good, made with the craftsmanship of a master. Or maybe that was because I was hungry again.

I finished up the last crumb and sighed happily.

"Thanks. That was good stuff." I remarked.

"Thank you." Akiro said, smiling at my food antics.

Wait, why is he saying thanks for? Unless he-

"You baked it yourself?" I asked, sounding slightly incredulous even to my own ears, a question to which he nodded.

"Well, it was good stuff." I repeated. Hey, good things are good things.

"Indeed." Ayame said, finishing the last bit of her quarter, causing me to jump.

I was so caught up by the taste of the bread, I hadn't noticed Ayame arrive. And she came just in the nick of time too, because Jidanbo began to raise the gigantic gate a few seconds later. After about half a minute, the gate was fully raised, and the first wave of students walked past.

So we're going through the gate once more?

Yes, elf-lady.

I know it seems foolish to ask, but are you ready, Shiro?

Why do you keep asking that?

Just answer the question.

I followed the rest of the students through the gate, where some MiB (Men in Black), traditionally disguised, of course, were already waiting to take us to the academy.

I'm always ready; you should know that by now. Now let's go kick some ass.

Closing Song: Saikou no Kataomoi - Tainaka Sachi

A/N: Arrgh late late late late late! I'm so embarassed. After I said I would update every week, I skipped a whole three weeks of updating. I've been run-down by exams and given the finger by writer's block! Sorry! .

Anyway, this chapter is a little more balanced, in my opinion, though it lacked a little action. :P

And as always, please please please PLEASEPLEASE PLEASE

REVIEW. They would be extremely appreciated.