November 22, 2013 - Friday

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or Freezing. Bleach is the property of Tite Kubo, TV Tokyo, Dentsu, Viz Media, and Studio Pierrot. Freezing is owned by Dall-Young Lim, Kill Time Communication, and A.C.G.T.

Author's Note: Sup guys, how y'all doing? Good news first, I'm still kicking and breathing. Bad news, I haven't updated in nearly two months. Now I could make a bunch of excuse on why I haven't updated *cough* video games *cough* lazy teenager *cough*, but what good would that do? Instead, just sit back and please enjoy the latest chapter of Nova Rising.

Chapter 3: Entrance Exam Part I

Unedited Version

"That was a long ass day."

The dorm door creaked loudly as a worn out Ichigo stumbled through the door. He nudged the door shut behind him, before slowly making his way to the welcoming bed. As soon as he was within range, the teen collapsed on the bed and groaned.

"First day at West Genetics, and I'm already worn out." He rolled over and kicked his shoes off. "That's not a very hopeful sign that things are going to be easy."

After being introduced to the top Third Year girls, Ichigo spent the remainder of the day being filled in more about West Genetics by Elizabeth and Chiffon. Though it sounded harmless enough, it was absolute murder the whole time for Ichigo. Modesty mustn't have been in Elizabeth's vocabulary, because she had layed out on a floater without so much as towel on, and had acted so nature about.

Ichigo's face reddened and he shook his head, thinking back on it. "At least she's not teasing me like Yoruichi did."

After the President and Vice President left the pool, they showed Ichigo a few more destination, before finally ending up at the entrance to the Boy's Dorm.

"So what do you think of West Genetics, Ichigo?" Chiffon had asked.

Ichigo shot a quick glance at his surroundings before shrugging. "It's a lot bigger than my old school."

The Third Year laughed. "You don't say. This is considered the best Genetics in Japan. East Genetics is a close rival but, we've managed to keep the title." She turned her head to the side and her smile seemed to grow. "I just hope you'll be able to find a partner."

"A partner?"

"You're a Limiter. Every Pandora needs a Limiter as her battle partner during a fight with the Nova."

The orange-haired teen snapped his fingers. "Oh yeah yeah, our Freezing field neutralizes the Nova's Freezing field." He raised an eyebrow in question. "Why would finding a partner be hard for me?"

"Well Pandora's like choosing a Limiter younger than themselves, because it allows better compatibility. Since you're a Fourth Year, the only Pandoras you'll find without a Limiter will be ones younger than you..."

Ichigo jolt a little as he was brought back to the present by the sound of a phone ringing. He mumbled a curse under his breath before reaching into his pocket and held the phone to his ear. "Hello."

"So Ichigo, how's West Genetics treating you?" Kisuke's amused voice answered. Ichigo could just imagine the shop owner with a smirk on his face.

"It was...interesting to say the least." He adjusted the phone to his other ear. "It may take me awhile to understand all this stuff about Pandoras and Novas, but it should be interesting."

"Glad to hear it." There was a short pause. "But there's a very important question I have to ask you."

"Uh...sure. What do you want to know?"

"You have to answer this honestly. Ichigo...what do you thing of the bombshell Pandoras so far!"

Ichigo face palmed. "Really Kisuke? What are you my dad?" He groaned. "Now that you mentioned it, what's up with all the girls here looking like supermodels? That pervert Kon would be in Heaven here."

He could hear Kisuke laughing. Was Ichigo's whole life just one big sitcom for the man. Every discomfort in the boy's life, Kisuke seemed to get a kick out of.

"I don't know how to answer that," Urahara finally replied after getting control of himself, "but I bet your dad would be so proud of you."

The teen scowled at the thought of his old man finding out. "Yeah, don't remind me." He glanced over at his alarm clock. "If you don't have anything else to say, I'm going to hit the sack."

"Fine by me Ichigo. I just wanted to check in one you to make sure you're settling in alright. Night my boy." There was click and the line went dead.

Ichigo snapped the phone shut and stretched his arms over his head. "Goodnight to you too Mr. Hat and Clogs."

"This is almost unbelievable."

Elize Schmitz looked up from her laptop. "Excuse me?"

Yu-Mi Kim continued looking at the data displayed on the monitor as she replied. "I just received information on one of our new students, Ichigo Kurosaki, from a Kisuke Urahara." She scrolled through the data and shook her head in disbelief. "I've never seen anything like this in a Limiter before. It's like Stigmata is pumping through his veins."

"What do you mean?" Elize asked. She placed her coffee down and rolled her chair over to monitor. Displayed on the hologram screen was a profile picture of Ichigo Kurosaki, along with personal information.

Name: Ichigo Kurosaki

DOB: July 15, 2048

Nationality: Japanese...

Underneath a front and side picture of him, was a spinning full body diagram displaying his vital signs. A light blue glow highlighted his blood veins.

The German's eyes widened in shock. "Th-at's...Stigmata? But it's coursing through his veins like it's his blood. Nobody can have that much Stigmata in their body and still be alive."

"Well Kazuya Aoi's body is 30% Stigma tissue. It's possible that Mr. Kurosaki came from a similar background." She took a slip from her coffee cup, and made a sour face. It had gone cold. "However it happened, if Ichigo Kurosaki's body already has Stigmata in it, then he may have the same abilities as Kazuya."

"He could create a Freezing field without a Eiernbar Set?" Elize asked in astonishment.

Yu-Mi nodded. "That may just be scratching the surface of his true potential..."

Knock Knock Knock

"Ichigo it's time to get up."

The bed covers rustled as the orange-haired Substitute rolled on to his side. "It's way to early Yuzu," he mumbled. "Comeback up later."

"Ichigo you're going to be late for class if you don't hurry up."

The teen cracked one eye open. That wasn't his little sister's voice. 'Oh yeah that right' Ichigo thought to himself as he sat up and stretched. He glanced over at the door and yawned. "Who is it?"

"It's Chiffon Fairchild." the cheery voice finally registering to Ichigo. "I'm suppose to walk you to your first period class. I also some other things for you to look at. You've got to hurry up too, we only have about a quarter of an hour till class starts."

Not good. "I'll be out in a minute!" Ichigo scrambled out of his bed. He had fallen asleep with is black t-shirt and pants on, which had amazingly not gotten very crinkled. He quickly threw on the Genetics vest, pulled on his shoes and socks, and dosed himself in body spray, before grabbing the doorknob.

"You moved fast," Chiffon noted when Ichigo stepped out the door. She looked him up and down and nodded. "You got presentable pretty quick."

Ichigo ran his fingers through his hair in a last-minute effort to smooth it out. "So I look O.K?"

"I'd say so." She gave him a beckoning gesture with her hand. "Walk with me, I've got some more things to fill you up on."

The pair strolled side by side down the hallway. Even now, the hallways here still confused the hell out of Ichigo. Everyone hallway looked the same and the campus maps only succeded in making Ichigo want to yell in annoyance. He found the feeling of a mouse in a maze as the best way to describe it.

"Mind if I ask you a question?" Chiffon asked, breaking the silence.

Ichigo gave her a sideways look and shrugged. "Shoot."

"How much combat experience have you had?"

Ichigo almost busted out with laughter. He stopped dead in his tracks and covered his face with his hand, completely oblivious to the strange look Chiffon was giving him. How much combat experience had he had? He didn't know why, but Ichigo had to restrain himself from laughing like a maniac. It wasn't like he could just tell her he'd fought everything, from lowlife thugs to transcendent beings like Aizen before. Add the fact that all of this had happened more than fifty years ago, he might as well ask to be locked in a rubber room.

"Are you alright?" Chiffon's concerned question helped the Substitute regain control of himself. "Did I say something wrong?"

"Nah no." Ichigo waved it off. He cleared his throat and wiped his forehead. "I've had my fair share of battle experience and I've managed to survive." 'Though, technically I was considered dead more than once.' Ichigo though to himself.

"So you've fought along side a Pandora before? That's go-."

"Actually no."

"Excuse me?"

"I've never fought along side a Pandora before."

Chiffon looked like she was taken back by that fact. "I don't...never mind." The smile returned to her face. "It's not my business to target you with so many question." She held out the clipboard, she'd been holding, towards him. "Besides, the entrance exam will answer any questions I have."

"Eh?" He looked down at the clipboard she'd given him and read the message written on it.

Ichigo Kurosaki,

You are assigned to be at the Combat Arena by 1:00 P.M. for your entrance examination. You will be teaming up with a Third-Year Pandora, so that your combat level can be measure effectively.

Signed, Headmistress Sister Margaret.

Ichigo reread the message several more time before sighing. A mock battle. He'd trained several time with Renji in the Soul Society, so how different could this be? But then again, there was the Pandora. If they wanted to test his strength, why would they include a Pandora? If he teamed up with one, he would know how to fight along with her...

"What?" Arnett yelled. "I have to team up with that new guy in a mock battle?"

Ticy cringed slightly from the red-head's sudden outburst. "Y-yes. There was a random drawing, a you were picked."

"But I already have a Limiter." Arnett replied. She wasn't angry, just surprised. How did she end up being the one drawn. "How am I suppose to even work this guy. Ichigo right?" She shook her head slightly. "He's not my Limiter..."

To Be Continued

Author's Note:

Sorry for the short chapter, but I really just wanted to get something posted before I left for a trip. I promise the next chapter will be 5000+ words long. Leave in a review what you thought of the first part of the Entrance Exam, and what you hope will happen next.

Alright, I took the top four girls from my last poll and added them to the new one on my profile. Elizabeth, Chiffon, Arnett, and Satelizer ranked in the top four. I just to remind y'all that these polls may or may not have any affect on the story. They're really just for me to see who your favorite pairing is.

I've been watching the Freezing: Vibration episodes, and noticed how they're not following the manga exactly. I think I'll be following the anime version of the E-Pandora arc more that the manga version. The Siblings arc may appear later on in this story like it did in the anime.

Last thing, my Thanksgiving break started up today, and I'll be off for eleven days. I don't want to get your hopes up, but I might be able to get another chapter up before I have to go back to school. Just might...

Please follow/favorite if you haven't, and the more reviews I get, the happier and faster I'll write. Later.