A/N: I honestly didn't know how to start this chapter. I hope you enjoy it anyway.
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Chapter One
Tarena Mitsuya: Eleventh Division.
Emotionlessly, she stared at her name, the Division number beside it.
Her teeth ground together lightly as others, few as they were, discovered which Divisions they would be entering.
She knew she would be going to the Eleventh, no matter how hard she tried to convince anyone otherwise. In their eyes she was unstable and bloodthirsty.
If only they knew the truth behind it.
Pulling her fist back, slender fingers curling in on one another, she brought it forward into the wall, hearing a crack from her knuckles as they collided. Turning on her heel, she walked away, eyes cool and features blank.
Murmurs broke out from behind her as the others began to wonder why she had been so upset by the results of the exam.
None of them get it. She thought bitterly.
None of them would understand.
They would if you told them.. the feathery soft voice of her zanpakuto whispered in her mind, muffled by the ever present wind that stole her voice away.
What good would it do? All it would prove is that I've been abused. All I'll ever get is pity. It doesn't mean that it will stop. Tarena retorted.
Tarena.. her zanpakuto sighed before falling silent.
Tarena remained silent, her steps light as a cats as she stalked away, spine rigid.
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The Eleventh Division intimidating, in a slightly subtle way.
The grounds, made up of lighter compacted dirt, was clean. The buildings, scattered as they were, were clean, the white faded from time and use.
No, it was the men that were littered throughout the grounds, training and sparring, their faces streaked with a combination of sweat and dirt.
Breathing suddenly seemd difficult, her chest constricting and settling her into a familiar feeling of defense.
"Can I help you?" a low, gruff voice asked from behind her.
Turning around, Tarena was sure what little color was left in her face drained away when she noted the white haori marking the man as a Taicho.
"Hai. Tarena Mitsuya, new recruit." she replied cooly, keeping her features neutral. Silently, she was grateful for her determination and support from her zanpakuto.
"So you're the woman? Don't look like much." he commented with half lidded eyes. "Tenth Kenpachi, Kenpachi Kiganjo."
Tarena took the opportunity to observe her new Taicho.
He was on the heavier side, with dark skin that reminded her of freshly dug earth. His hair was slightly greasy and unruly, looking as though he'd just been in a wind storm, a few shades darker than his skin and eyes. The only thing that really stood out to her were the two silver piercings below his lip on either side, both ending in points.
"Come on." he interrupted, shoving past her and into his Divisions barracks, leaving her standing in the doorway for a moment before she followed.
As she passed by the men, one by one, they turned their disdainful and sneering faces to her. She held herself up rigidly, not allowing any emotion to cross her face, appearing ever inch an ice sculpture.
Until one of the men was bold enough to reach out to touch her hair.
In a single instant, she whirled, eyes blazing, features stone cold, and punched him in the jaw. A crack sounded from both his jaw and her knuckles, but Tarena ignored the jabbing pain to glare at those surrounding her. It was a clear warning.
A few more glances, and they resumed their training, albeit reluctantly.
"Not bad, woman. Do it again and I'll have to assign you cleaning duty. Understood?"
"Hai, Taicho." she replied, eyes still narrowed.
"Good. You'll be tested by the fourth seat to determine your abilities in an hour. Even if your zanpakuto is a Kido type I can't get rid of you. Orders from the Soutaicho." Kiganjo looked as pleased as Tarena felt, his lip curling ever so slightly in disgust.
"Hai." she replied again.
"You're staying over in the third building. Fifth room on the right." he gestured carelessly over in a general direction, dark eyes still half lidded.
"Hai." she repeated, feeling exactly like some kind of slave as she did so. Ordered around like she was some kind of trash.
Maybe because I am. she thought bitterly as Kiganjo slouched off.
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Strike.
Strike.
Dodge.
Kick.
Strike.
Dodge.
The mantra flew through her mind as her zanpakuto spoke quickly and calmly, guiding her wielder through the testing as easily as koi in a pond.
She tensed as the fourth seat, Hajime Fukuyama, brushed her shoulder as he went by and disappeared.
Bringing up her sword to block one handed, she whirled, using her other to brace the blade against her opponents.
Breathing lightly, she kicked again, aiming for his hip, but missed as he slipped away yet again. Years of living in District 73 had honed her baser levels of speed and hakuda. Training in the Academy had only improved them.
She hissed as his sword clipped her shoulder, a thin line of crimson appearing from where the metal had made contact.
However, she retaliated, her hands grasping the hilt of her sword, and struck like a viper, eyes narrowed. The fourth seat dodged, his own eyes widening in slight shock. She wasn't this good a second ago..
Pushing him back with a vicious kick to the stomach, she breathed deeply, calming herself down before she did something she'd regret later. She didn't know who was watching, after all.
"Hey."
Her eyes flicked up to meet his gaze.
"What did you do there? You were different. Stronger."
"So?" she said it so casually, so neutrally, like it didn't matter.
Hajime studied her, seeing the defiant look in her face and the tense movement in her shoulders, his words affecting her more than he thought.
Huffing, he sheathed his sword and began walking away, his hands casually tucked in the edge of his hakama. "That's enough." he called over his shoulder. "It was a pleasure sparring with you."
Tarena didn't know whether it was the flippant manner that he spoke to her or his arrogance, but he annoyed her.
Muttering under her breath, she sheathed her own sword and took another breath of the fresh air.
He was being pleasant..you could have done the same.. her sword scolded softly through the wind in the back of her mind.
And every time, it goes wrong. Zanpakuto or not, you're wrong.
Silence greeted her, and Tarena suddenly regretted snapping at her sword. She was the only other person who knew her best. She should heed her words and learn from them.
I'm..sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you.
Silence met her ears.
I'm sorry..
That I can't be stronger.
A/N: I know, I know. You're all going- "That frickin author doesn't update forever, and then comes up with this piece of shit?"
Well too bad. I'm under a lot of pressure, and I have a life other than Fanfiction.
Sorry.