Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or Shingeki no Kyojin.
Chapter 5 – Shirosaki
Thanks to working at a blacksmith and then being forced to work on a farm, Ichigo wasn't a stranger to being forced to wake up early in the morning. It had become a habit of Ichigo's to wake up the moment the sunlight hit his face through the window and his current bed was right next to one. The young orange haired cadet found it difficult to get out of bed since he hadn't slept on this kind of comfortable mattress since the day the Titans attacked. It took him a couple of minutes, but Ichigo finally forced himself up. Only a few seconds later, a loud bell pierced his ears and he watched with amusement when many of the sleeping cadets were suddenly forced awaked.
Ichigo heard a miserable groan from above him and he looked up to the top bunk to see Denryū sitting up with his black hair all over the place. Ichigo couldn't hold back a smirk at the sight, not even his sisters had such a bad case of bed hair.
"It's plain criminal." Denryū complained tiredly, "Letting us sleep on these amazing beds just to force us to get up at a ridiculous hour. I need my sleep!"
Ichigo snorted, "It's only six in the morning, if anything they are being generous. What time are you used to getting up?"
Denryū yawned loudly, "Usually at about nine."
"Nine?!" Ichigo said incredulously, "I haven't slept in until nine in about three years." The orange haired cadet stood up and he removed the white singlet shirt he was wearing, leaving him in only black pyjama bottoms. "You need to start going to be earlier."
Denryū scoffed, "I have been going to bed after 12 every night for years... that isn't going to be an easy habit to break."
"Not really," Ichigo smirked up at him, "we're about to begin military training. By the time we have finished training each day, we are going to be exhausted. Falling asleep won't be hard." The orange haired cadet glanced around the large cabin for a moment to see most of the other boys struggle to get up out of bed before Ichigo headed out towards the showers.
"I won't get exhausted." Denryū retorted too soft for Ichigo to hear.
Half an hour later, Ichigo approached the courtyard where they assembled for Instructor Keith's welcoming speech and there were a few cadets already gathered. There were a couple that Ichigo didn't recognise but there were four that stood out. The two older male teens that Ichigo had conversed with were already among the small group, they were talking with some of the other cadets.
Ichigo frowned for a moment as he tried to remember which one was which. Was the tall one Betholt..? Bertort? And he couldn't place the blonde haired one's name either. Ichigo growled lowly, he hated the fact that he struggled to put names on faces. He also noticed the blonde haired girl that had explained to him about the flaws in the military system. She was standing on her own, with her arms folded across her chest, a clear look of boredom on her face.
"Damn it," Ichigo muttered annoyed with himself as he drew a blank on her name, "I really need to get better at this. Amy... Alisa... Andie?" Ichigo shook his head, he would just have to play it cool for now until he could either remember their names or overheard them being called.
There was one person that he confidently knew the name of. Although he had to double take when he noticed a major difference in her appearance. Like the blonde haired girl, she was standing silently on her own. He quickly approached her, interested on discovering why she had gone through this change.
The black haired girl smiled when she noticed Ichigo only a few feet away from her.
"Mikasa, what did you do to your hair?" Ichigo immediately asked her.
Mikasa raised her hand and she flicked a lock of her now shortened hair, "Eren said that I should cut it as it might get caught when I use the 3DMG."
Ichigo nodded, but he didn't say anything and instead he just stared intently at her new haircut for a few seconds.
"Do you like it?" Mikasa asked him softly.
Ichigo frowned in confusion. He didn't understand why she would meet his eyes and in the past year, there were times like just now, when Mikasa seemed shy in his presence. Ichigo didn't hesitate to answer honestly though, "It really suits you. Although long hair looked nice on you to."
Mikasa blushed slightly, "Thanks." She muttered to him quietly.
The two friends spoke with each other until the rest of the cadets finally arrived at the assembly area and they all had to line up like they did the previous day. Instructor Keith was just as intimidating as he had been the previous day and it was unfortunate for all of the ones that had been late because they all copped his wrath. Fortunately for Eren and Armin, they had arrived a few minutes before Keith had. Mikasa had been confused on what she would do if Eren had been late. Would she have berated Eren for being late or go after Keith somehow for punishing Eren? Ichigo would have to make sure he had a discussion with Eren about not getting on Keith's bad side for Mikasa's sake.
Instructor Keith led them over to a specific training ground and they saw that there were roughly 20 groups of three large wooden poles standing upright into the shape of a triangle. On one pole in each group, there was a handle. There were also two wires descending from the large metal machinery on top of the poles.
"This is the first test to see if you're worthy of this training!" Keith barked loudly, "You have come here in order to help humanity in the fight against the Titans! So, of course, you will need to learn how to wield the equipment in order to kill Titans! Without it, you are nothing more than food! You will all undertake the aptitude evaluation! You will be given today and tomorrow to prove that you are capable of using the 3DMG! If you fail, then you will be sent back to the fields!"
Ichigo recognised the stands as something similar to what his uncle made him do a few years ago. They would have to put on a harness and then attach the two wires. From there, they would be lifted into the air and in order to pass, they would have to keep their balance. His uncle Kaien had told him that if you weren't able to keep a good balance then you would not be able to wield the 3DMG. When Ichigo had done this, Kaien had declared him proficient at it. He just hoped that he could still do it.
For over an hour, the cadets were put to the test and Ichigo watched as many succeeded but there some that failed abysmally. For a moment when Armin was called up, Ichigo thought that his intelligent friend was going to fail when he flailed initially after being forced up into the air but to his credit, he was able to gain his balance. Although he kept steady, it was obvious to see that Armin didn't have a natural talent for it. Mikasa, on the other hand, had absolutely no trouble with the exercise. Her form was flawless as she just hovered in midair with a bored look on her face. Denryū was as good at this as Mikasa was, Ichigo noted.
Ichigo was finally able to remember the names of the three people he had met at dinner last night when Keith called them up. Annie, the blonde haired girl, was the first of them to give it a go and like Mikasa she had no problems with it. Although, Ichigo had to wonder, did she ever show any emotion except for boredom and indifference? Reiner had no difficulties with it either and after a shaky start, Bertolt was able to succeed. Eventually he had to go up and fortunately for him, he was able to do it and the best part was that it was easier than when he done it as a kid. He had good instincts, he smirked as hovered without much difficulty. He wasn't quite as skilled at this as Mikasa, Annie, Reiner and Bertolt but he was good enough to pass. Keith Shadis nodded approvingly at his ability.
It wasn't all good news though. When Mikasa was taking her turn, Eren had also been called up. To Ichigo's surprise, when Eren was lifted into the air, he immediately flipped upside down and his head smashed against the ground. Ichigo didn't really understand how this was possible as Eren had also done this same exercise with him when they were younger and he managed to do it.
The cadets had all been sent to dinner after the exercise is over except for the few that hadn't done so well and were determined to keep trying. Eren was naturally one of them and Mikasa and Armin stayed behind to help him.
"It looks like your friend is all talk." A voice to Ichigo's right surprised him. He turned to see Annie standing a few feet away from him, with her hands in her pocket, staring at Eren with her usual indifferent look.
"I wouldn't write him off just yet." Ichigo replied with a tilt of his head, his eyes narrowed on Mikasa for a moment. He wondered...
Annie didn't say anything and instead she just walked off without a backward glance. Ichigo watched her go for a moment before deciding to head over to where his friends were.
"You should be able to do this if you stick to the basics." He heard Mikasa tell Eren, "Don't try to get to fancy. Stiffen the muscles of your upper body and let your lower body hang loose. Just keep your balance, while slowly shifting your weight to the belts on your waist and legs."
"You can do it if you just relax." Armin assured him, "Even I managed it and I have no coordination at all."
"Just remember what you did all those years ago." Ichigo informed him. "You had no trouble doing it back then."
"I... have a feeling I'll get it this time!" Eren vowed, "Lift me up, Ichigo!"
"You got it." Ichigo began turning the handle that lifted Eren up into the air. Unfortunately for Eren, the results were the same and he slammed face first into the ground.
"This could be a problem." Ichigo admitted, staring down at Eren's defeated face. Armin and Mikasa picked up their friend and they carried him on their shoulders towards the medical bay.
Dinner Time
The four of them sat at a table in the far corner of the cafeteria, eating some soup and a loaf of bed. Eren had a bandage tightly wrapped around his forehead and he was the only one that wasn't interested in eating. Instead he just stared at his soup helplessly as the realisation that if he didn't accomplish the task tomorrow, then he would be sent to the fields. His dream of avenging his mother and exploring the outside world will be over.
He could hear the muttering of all the cadets around the room about his lack of skill. All of them were mocking him and he wasn't surprised by it considering how much he had boasted the previous night but it had never occurred to him that he wouldn't have the talent to train with the 3DMG.
"Eren!" Mikasa snapped him out of it by grasping his shoulder tightly. Eren glanced around to see Mikasa sitting to his left, staring at him with concern. Armin and Ichigo were sitting opposite of him.
"There is no sense in letting them get to you, Eren." Armin advised him, "All you have to do is get it down tomorrow."
"It's pathetic," Eren sighed, raising a hand to his forehead, "How am I ever going to eradicate them like this?"
"You shouldn't set your sights on that anyway." Mikasa informed him, rather coldly. "If you're not cut out for it, then what can you do? At this rate, you're just going to die in vain. All of your dreams and efforts will have been for nothing."
Ichigo, who hadn't been paying attention until now, looked up from his plate and stared at Mikasa with narrowed eyes.
"What'd you say..?" Eren growled at her.
"I'm saying that you shouldn't be a soldier. You can always support the human race by being a producer." Mikasa explained calmly, not affected by Eren's glare at all. "Laying down your life isn't the only way to fight."
"You know what I saw that day." Eren glared at her, "Do you really think that argument's going to change my mind."
"It's not your call to make, Eren." Ichigo reminded him, "That's why we had to do that test.
"It has nothing to do with your resolve." Mikasa added.
Eren didn't say anything else and instead he just gave Mikasa a final quick glare causing her to look away. It didn't help his mood that she was able to do something else better than him and she didn't really notice or care at how that made him feel.
"I'm not telling you to go back to the settlement alone, Eren." Mikasa said quietly, looking down at the table. She didn't notice that Eren had stood up and began walking out of the large hall with Armin. Only Ichigo remained at the table with her. "I'd go with you, so don't worry about it." Mikasa looked to right expecting to see Eren but instead Sasha had taken his seat.
"Is it okay if I eat this?" Sasha asked her, pointing to the loaf of bread remaining on Eren's plate.
Mikasa stared at her for a moment and she picked up the roll but instead of giving it to Sasha, Mikasa took a bite of it. Sasha's mouth dropped open in horror and she left the room with her head bowed and her stomach still rumbling.
"You couldn't have split that in half with her?" Ichigo asked her in amusement.
"No," Mikasa bluntly answered, "this is Eren's and since he didn't eat much he is going to need it later."
Ichigo chuckled lightly. That was typical Mikasa behaviour. He glanced around to see that only he and Mikasa were left in the dinner hall. That was twice in a row he had been one of the last people to leave.
"How did you do it?" Ichigo asked her curiously.
"How did I do what?" Mikasa looked away unable to meet his stare. Out of all of them, Ichigo was the only one that Mikasa had trouble looking him in the eye and Ichigo didn't know why.
"What did you do to Eren's equipment that made him unable to balance while hovering?" Ichigo questioned her, "I couldn't see any faults in his equipment but considering that Eren was able to do this a few years ago, he should have no problems now. I know the last thing that you want is for Eren to fight the Titans, Mikasa." Ichigo leaned forward and Mikasa still couldn't meet his eyes. It was because she couldn't meet his eyes that he knew that he was right. "You know you can't convince him and you know that this is the only chance you have left to stop him from fighting the Titans."
Mikasa sighed and she finally looked into his eyes, although she couldn't help fiddle the bracelet on her wrist, "Are you going to tell him?"
Ichigo shook his head, "No, I'm not. I would probably do the same thing in your position."
"I broke his belt," Mikasa admitted, "I broke it in an area that you wouldn't be able to see."
"I guess that your only hope of succeeding is that the instructor doesn't spot something amiss." Ichigo conceded, folding his arms across his chest, looking thoughtful. "I guess tomorrow will be the last day we're together for a few years."
"Yeah," Mikasa muttered looking down at the table. They remained silent for a few minutes until Mikasa looked back up at him with pleading eyes, "You can come with us. I'm sure Armin will come with us as well."
"The offer is tempting Mikasa, it really is." Ichigo assured her, "It will be hard as hell to go on without you around but I promised my sisters that the next time I would see them I would be a soldier." He might not be aiming to go to the Military Police but the money that he would be given the moment he became a soldier would help him provide for his sisters for about a year, especially if he joined the Scouting Legion. Those that joined the Scouting Legion were given a larger pay then those that join the Garrison as an incentive for people to risk their lives outside of the wall.
"It's getting late," Ichigo got up off his seat, "we better be heading back to our cabins before curfew."
Mikasa nodded and she followed him to the exit. However before they reached the door, Mikasa grasped Ichigo's shoulder, stopping him from exiting the door. He turned around, ready to ask her what was up but instead Mikasa wrapped her arms around him and gave him a soft hug. Ichigo was startled for a moment but he quickly returned the hug, knowing that after tomorrow, they wouldn't see each other for a few years at least. Just the thought of this, subconsciously made Ichigo tighten the hug.
It was judgement day for Eren the next morning. The cadets lined up in multiple lines as they watched the cadets that failed the previous day have one more chance to prove themselves. Most of them had failed miserably, some of them showed improvement but it wasn't enough to pass and others managed to succeed. It wasn't long until it was finally Eren's turn.
"Eren Yeager... are you ready?" the instructor stood in front of Eren, the young cadet was strapped up to the mechanism, "Control of the 3DMG is the bare minimum requirement to be a soldier. If you can't do that, then it is back to the settlement... Do you understand?!"
"Yes, sir!" Eren shouted firmly.
"Begin!" Keith Shadis ordered.
The cadet standing next to the handle was Thomas and he immediately began turning the handle which slowly lifted Eren into the air. To everyone's surprise, especially Mikasa and Ichigo's, Eren managed to keep upright once he was off the ground. Mikasa immediately turned towards Ichigo with a glare, believing that he had told Eren about the faulty equipment but she froze when he saw the shock on Ichigo's face. The previous night, Ichigo was able to see through her but she could also see through him and she knew that he wasn't faking. The surprise on their faces disappeared when Eren suddenly lost his balance and slammed into the ground.
"Get him down!" the instructor ordered.
"No, not yet!" Eren called out desperately, "I can still –"
"Bring him down now!" Keith demanded and Thomas followed the order and he lowered Eren to the ground.
Eren climbed to his knees in despair and he stared out at nothing in particular as the realisation that he would never achieve his goals became a reality.
"Wagner!" Keith barked immediately.
"Yes, sir!" Thomas saluted straight away.
"Trade belts with Yeager!" the instructor ordered him.
Ichigo glanced at Mikasa and while she didn't lose the emotionless look on her face as she observed the scene but Ichigo managed to catch the flicker of frustration that flashed in her eyes. He could understand why. Now she would have a tougher time protecting one that wouldn't hesitate to rush into danger.
With a new belt on, one that wasn't damaged, Eren was surprised to discover how much easier it was to balance in the air.
"I don't understand." Eren muttered out loud.
"Defective equipment," Keith grunted holding the broken belt in his hands, "The metal fitting in the belt that you were using was broken. Normally, you're suspended from the waist, so even if you flip over, you shouldn't be able to hit your head on the ground. I have never heard of these things breaking before but you'll need to have a little maintenance done on your equipment."
"Then my aptitude score..?" Eren asked him hopefully.
"No problem... keep practising, Cadet Yeager!" the instructor informed him.
Eren threw his arms up into the air with a victorious roar. He looked down triumphantly at Mikasa, internally thinking, 'I did it! How about that Mikasa, Ichigo?! I can do it! I can fight the Titans! You will never have to take care of me again, Mikasa!'
"It looks like he is getting it!" Reiner shouted his approval next to Armin.
"His eyes are saying, 'what do you think of this?!'" Armin called out.
"Wrong," Mikasa informed them, "He's relieved, because now he won't have to be separated from me."
Ichigo didn't respond but he felt that Mikasa had misjudged what Eren was thinking. It was a secret to Mikasa but it wasn't one to Ichigo and Armin as they knew about the inferiority complex that Eren had towards Mikasa. Ichigo thought that Eren would be more delighted by the fact that he could train and become strong enough to fight the Titans on his own.
'He doesn't seem to excel, especially... and yet... for a few moments there, he maintained his balance with this broken equipment. Could anyone else have done that?' Keith thought curiously and two people came to mind and they were Levi and Kaien. The thought of Kaien made him look over at Ichigo Kurosaki, the boy didn't seem to have the same natural talent as his uncle did, which was disappointing. He looked back over at Eren, 'Grisha... today, your son... became a soldier.'
The cadets that passed the aptitude test were all given the rest of the day off but the instructor warned them to use it wisely as their brutal training would commence early tomorrow. Ichigo decided to stay away from the entire ruckus, preferring to find a quiet place to relax as he began to develop a splitting headache.
It didn't take him long to find a large isolated tree near the outskirts of the training facility and he climbed onto a branch and he rested against the trunk. He had no idea where this headache came from but it was a painful one. Ichigo had never had one this painful before and soon sweat began descending his forehead rapidly and he blacked out.
"Can you finally hear me, Kingy?!"
Ichigo's eyes snapped open and he looked around wildly. He was surprised to find that he was still sitting on the branch of the tree and he noticed that the sun was setting. He must have been out of it for a few hours and for a brief moment he seriously had to wonder just how he didn't fall off.
"Keeping your body still was easy, that's how." A voice suddenly said to him.
Ichigo's eyes widened and he looked around to see where the voice had come from but he could see anyone in sight or at least close enough to call out to him.
"That's because I'm not outside, King. I am talking you from within."
'You must be joking!' Ichigo thought back incredulously, 'That isn't possible!'
"I'm afraid that it is," the voice snickered, "I can't believe how pathetic you sound right now."
'I have gone insane.' Ichigo groaned miserably, 'I should have known that this would happen.'
"You are so ignorant, Ichigo. Weak and ignorant but you're not insane." The voice informed him, "I've been trying to communicate with for a long time now, King. I finally was able to break down the subconscious barrier that you created to keep me out. When I slammed on the wall and began forming cracks, that created the headache when I finally broke through, it caused you blacked out."
Ichigo couldn't believe that he was having a conversation with another voice in his mind.
'How can I possibly have another voice in my head?' Ichigo demanded to know, 'I've never heard of somebody having a separate voice in their head!'
"You know this how?" the voice drawled.
'I read plenty of my father's medical books when I was younger. I have never heard of anything like this... or at least anyone that was sane having this problem. That must mean that I am insane.' Ichigo decided.
"Don't make me repeat myself, Ichigo." The voice was obviously annoyed now, "You are not insane. You just aren't a normal human!"
'What am I then?' Ichigo wanted to know.
"You're not ready to know," came the blunt reply from the voice in his head, "All you need to know is that you're someone that has the ability to turn the tide in this battle against the Titans."
'You can't be serious.' Ichigo retorted, 'I'm nothing special.'
The voice snorted incredulously, "Tell that to those men that were killed by you a few years back or that Titan that you killed."
'I didn't do anything against that Titan!' Ichigo snapped at it furiously, 'I blacked out just like I did against those men!'
"Hmm, you're right." The voice agreed, "Technically I was the one that killed the Titan and those men."
'You did?!' Ichigo's eyes widened at the revelation, 'How?! I thought you just said you only broke through just now!'
"I guess you could say that in those times of peril, you were so desperate to survive and win, that you subconsciously opened a door that allowed me to take over briefly." The voice explained to him, "Your body was too young and weak, so I wasn't able to be in control for very long."
'That clears that up, thanks.' Ichigo thought gratefully, fully aware that if it wasn't for this mysterious being in his head, he, his sisters and Mikasa wouldn't be here right now.
"At least you have manners." The voice brushed off his gratefulness.
'So, do you have a name?' Ichigo asked it curiously.
"Of course I do," the voice retorted indignantly, "my name is ********!"
'Sorry, I didn't catch that.' Ichigo apologised.
"I'm not surprised," the voice drawled indifferently, "my name will unlock your power but like I said, you're too weak."
Ichigo couldn't deny that he was curious about his so called power, 'Okay, then I train my ass off at the Military academy so I can get this power.'
"You do that but you need to know... it's not just physical strength you need in order to wield this power, Ichigo." The voice informed him.
'What do you mean?' Ichigo inquired curiously.
"Don't worry about that just now. You should be more worried about the fact that if you hang around here, you're going to miss dinner." The voice reminded him. "I'll leave you alone for a while."
'That's a good point.' Ichigo agreed, just realising how hungry he was and he climbed down the tree. Once he reached the bottom and he had began walking towards the dinner hall, he couldn't help but ask, 'What should I call you until I learn your real name?'
"Just call me Shirosaki."
'Why do you want to be called Shirosaki?' Ichigo asked curiously.
"Kuro means black, so I will use the opposite, which is Shiro as it means white." Shirosaki informed him. "Plus when you learn my name, the reason will become clearer."
'If you say so.' Ichigo conceded. He still had so many questions about what the hell Shirosaki was and what was so special about him but he knew that he wouldn't get the answers until he became strong enough. However there was one obvious thing that he knew and that was that it wouldn't be prudent for him to tell anyone about this. He wouldn't even tell Mikasa, Armin, Eren and his sisters.
Unbeknownst to the orange haired cadet, a silent figure walked out from behind the tree with a smirk planted on his face. It was just like he had thought. Ichigo was similar to me, Denryū Ishida acknowledged. This was going to be interesting.
End of Chapter
If you like it then please leave a review. If you don't like it then don't read it.
Next chapter will be released on the 2nd of November.
Answering the Readers:
C: It must be hard to write this story, especially with how much we still don't know or understand.
R: Unbelievably hard. Unlike all of my other main stories, I don't have the ending of this story planned out because I still don't know all of the facts about the major players in SnK manga. I have a rough idea at what I am doing with the Bleach characters but I need the answers to the other major players in the manga in order to make it fit. Fortunately after the ending of the latest SnK chapter, we may be getting some answers in the next chapter which is exciting. It is for this reason why I am stalling a bit in the last couple of chapters.
Q: the next thing ya know, Arrancars are gonna be throwing dance parties at your whim, eh?
A: The idea is very tempting ;)