You're a shinigami Harry (solo)

Yasu was like a flower grown in darkness. Her colours were etiolated and she survived on the smallest amounts; she took what she needed from the little she got. BEEP. In her dreams, there was always in a meadow. There was a breeze; a warm breeze filled with ebullient particles that soothed you as they passed. BEEP. The air was soft to the touch and the sun was more gentle than the wind that carried it. Wild flowers grew along knolls and rings of daisies huddled along hills. BEEP. Life here was free and calm and simple. In the distance lay a cabin surrounded by wildflowers, flanked by a willow tree. Yasu was never in the field, or the cabin but she knew it was her destination. It was her calm place and her ultimate dreamscape. BEEP.

Her dream slipped beyond her grasp as the light waned into reality.

BEEP....BEEP...BEEP...

Yasu's bright eyes were foggy and the room was out of focus as she blearily regained consciousness. The machine to her side beeped and echoed through her small room. Her breath fogged up the mask around her mouth and something next to her bed pumped up and down with each inhale. 'Damn shinigami' she muttered to herself. They'd saved her life. Yasu tried to strain forwards to get a better look around, sinking back into her bed when the burning around her ribs returned. She cast her mind back, trying to untangle the shapes and sounds from the smoke. Things had escalated so much faster than she'd ever anticipated. She knew shinigami were strong but damn, that guy was something else. Yasu truly owed her life to the other shinigami that showed up. In fact, she didn't even know where they were now, or what their names were. They'd helped her though...Without even knowing what was happening. That was a rare trait for anyone. Yasu exhaled as best she could, wheezing into her little mask. The world felt heavy and it pushed down on her with more force than her recovering body could manage. Darkness welcomed her return.

Beep...Beep...Beep

'Full name?'
...

'What is your full name?'

The man came into focus. Yasu's hand moved towards her hand, trying to shift the mask that was already gone. Her breath caught on that thought. 'Just relax. There's no rush. We've taken you off the ventilator because you're ready to return.' Yasu blinked hard, looking more closely into the hues of the man's brown eyes. He was one of those empathetic people, you could feel it. He radiated warmth like a small fire.

Fire flashed through her mind.

'Don't worry, you're okay...' She released her hand from his. Drawing it back to the safety of her personal space. The blood was gone, replaced with bandages. She felt like a ghost. A ghost without pain though. He swept a silver lock of hair from her forehead and smiled, glancing back down to his clipboard politely. 'Yasu' she croaked, surprised at how hoarse her own voice sounded. Her gave her a sympathetic smile to make her realise she'd answered wrong. 'Tanaka. Yasu Tanaka.' He stood back up straight, nodding as he scrawled down her name.

The woman's mind was waking up and she finally twigged onto what he'd said before. 'Return where?'. It was a weird phrase if he just meant to home. 'To your training.' He turned his back to her, fiddling with another machine by her bed. 'You're what, a second year? Third maybe?'. Now Yasu felt like she'd had a stroke. Confusion sprawled across her face and she frowned her response, 'What?'. She was clearly quickly exasperated by this. The man caught her tone and returned to her bedside with an apologetic look. 'The shino academy.' He began flipping through the chart in his hand. 'The shinigami that brought you in said you were a student with us.' Well, if she wasn't already in hospital Yasu probably would have dropped dead right there.

'I'm not...I mean, I guess I was going to, but...My friend, he...' It was a long story, that Yasu didn't really want to explain to this kind-eyed stranger. 'Sure'. she mused. Letting that lie sink into her soul for a second. The kind-man nodded with a quiet affirmation, 'Don't worry, we have our kaidō team coming around this afternoon. I'm sure your memory will become less foggy after they heal you too. You should sleep now'. Yasu didn't need to be told that twice.

It felt like she was sunbathing in a green light. The warmth flooded through her body as her eyes opened with a serenity she hadn't felt in a while. The green hue floated over her body, emanating from the hands of two shinigami that stood either side of her. Were she not so calmed by the feeling, she might've felt like she was about to be arrested. 'Hello, Yasu Tanaka. Please remain still. We're nearly done'. The woman's eyes glinted with the shards of emerald that sank into her body. Yasu had probably never felt so good. Her chest expanded with a deep exhale as the colour faded away. The two men nodded to each other and left.

Yasu lay there for a moment, wondering if she was just free to go or not. She decided she probably should. The woman held her breath as she swang her legs over the edge of the bed, expecting pain. Nothing. What an odd sensation. When Yasu was younger and she got sick, she would stay that way until her body fought it off. There was no magical cure. Well, there was, she was just never so fortunate. This was what the life of a shinigami opened up for her...This really was a new beginning. Yasu tugged the tie from her hair, letting it drape down against her neck, barely brushing her shoulders. Everything about this felt so surreal. Her feet padded against the cold floor as she shuffled over to her belongings (or what was left of them). Her dagger, half her jacket. No arrows. No bow. One thing did catch her eye though, a letter.

Yasu unfurled the note, half-heartedly reading as she began opening the cupboard to find some clothes to wear. Her gown was starting to feel very drafty. Her hair swept down in front of her face as she reached to the top shelf of a wardrobe. She scoffed at her own situation when she she realised it was a shino academy uniform. Her eyes settled on the words right then.

'Accepted into the Shino Academy'.

Her mouth fell open. Yasu looked around the room in shock, certain some spiteful shinigami were about to jump out and laugh at the woman. She re-read the letter. Five times.

'Well...Shit'

Yasu tugged and pawed at the white and red uniform. It was actually very comfortable but it made her feel like an impostor. Her hand ran slowly through her hair, watching it drape around her face as she turned to look at the new scar on her cheek. It had healed well and wasn't too obscene but it was noticeable. It didn't bother her, she'd never been obsessed with looks, wit and guile were far more useful. 'Okay...' she muttered, exhaling deeply. Yasu gave her reflection one last look, deciding to quickly tie up her hair before she left. Walking around without her bow put her on edge. It had only been two days since it was destroyed but she longed to feel it's grip in her hand, to inhale the draw and catch her prey in her sights. She tried to shake off that misery, since it didn't help anything. There was no getting it back now, her bow was a one of a kind and the man that made it was long gone. Even her arm guard had been destroyed. She was moving on.

Moving onto the Shino Academy. When Yasu had arrived home, her academy uniform had been waiting for her. There was a weird omnipresent vibe to the academy so far. She didn't know how they heard about her, why they accepted her or how they knew where she lived. That was top of her list for the day, get some answers. Yasu wasn't too bothered about making friends, though her distrust of shinigami ran deep, she knew at least one blue haired student who was decent, so she had tried to assume there'd be others. It would be a process. Her life in Rukongai had left a jaded opinion of shinigami. They were bullies, they destroyed homes and lives and didn't care about the consequences. Now she was trying to become one of them. It sounded more noble than she intended it to. In fact, Yasu knew her motives were self-serving. Sure, she could figure out what that guy had said...

'This won't stop us! They'll just send someone else now!'

Where was she even meant to start with that. At least she knew his name...She didn't see an immediate rush though, if what he said was true, she was bound to run into more corrupt shinigami. She knew they existed, so she just had to keep her eyes open until she had a few more pieces of the puzzle. Until then, she was about to enter a world of privilege that she'd never deigned to hope for. Yasu had been looked down on her entire life, she had a feeling this academy would be no different. At least she had a friend who was joining with her. They hadn't spoken since he signed up actually, her journey to join had been a little different but she was sure she'd see him today. Orientation day...

There was a jovial hum in the air, Yasu could feel it, like the leaves themselves were tingling as the crunched underfoot. The academy complex was impressive. In fact, the whole neighbourhood was. Yasu had never been so high up in the districts. She'd been walking for hours to get here and her feet were already tired, a light sheen of sweat beaded at her forehead. Everything was so clean. So orderly. You could see the queue out the gates as you approached. Whole families were gathered. Rich looking families. A few people, like her, had clearly made the trek too. There was a comfort in that variety. Yasu walked silently to the back of the line, letting her eyes take in her new surroundings. There were some kido and other combat demonstrations happening around the registration booth. Yasu found herself quite enthralled by the shows, she'd never seen such fair fighting. Where she grew up, people would throw dirt in your eyes or stab you in the back sooner than face you head on. She wondered if that were true for hollows. If they trained to fight them like that, how did they cope with someone who didn't fight fair. The rhythm of the combat was a pleasant distraction though and she'd reached the front desk in good time.

'Welcome to the Shino Academy. New or returning student?'

Yasu felt a pang of anxiety rush through her. She was good at keeping her cool though and at least keeping a cool demeanour. 'New. Yasu Tanaka' Her voice was smooth and soft, though her sultry tones always sounded that way. The man traced his finger down the list and gave a short nod when he found her. He had scruffy hair and and a friendly face, she understood why they put him out front. 'Okay, If you wanna take this information pack. Then follow your map round to lecture 7, your induction is in there. Class 2, well done'. Yasu nodded along with his instructions, 'Don't I need to take a test or something?'.

As she spoke, a wailing girl fled past her into the arms of (presumably) her father. 'I didn't pass! Again!'. The man soothed her sobs, rubbing her back in their embrace, 'There's always next year...' This only made the girl cry more...

Yasu turned back to her friendly check'in guy, her eyebrow raised as she titled her head towards the girl. Wondering somewhat if that would be her fate today too. He stifled a laugh at the silver haired woman, coughing back his demure expression as he looked through some more lists. 'Say's here you already passed. Ask your first teacher, they'll know. You should hurry though, the talk is about to start. Yasu took the bundle of papers from the man with a nod, following his gesture as she entered the compound. 'Hey, thanks' she called back over her shoulder, casually flicking through the papers to find her map. This place looked big from the outside but this map was crazy.

Lecture 7 was up on the third floor and seventeen hallways away from the entrance. Good signage at least. Yasu tugged open the door, expecting to step inside before she was knocked against the wooden frame by some bitch. Instinctively, her hand followed the girl with a shove. 'Excuse me?!' she snapped, stumbling back up to her feet. Yasu held her expression, 'You're excused'.  'Eurgh, they let anyone in these days'.The blonde woman flicked her hair behind her shoulder and marched up the aisle of seats. That was more what Yasu had expected of the academy. Their lecturer pretended not to notice their little spat and ushered the last few souls into the room.

The talk was long and boring and since Yasu hadn't found her friend yet, she didn't really care what was being said. She had a lot of time to read through her introduction pack though. This academy had a packed schedule waiting for them. The man did say theirs was a little harder though, since they were on the gifted program. It sounded like it meant more maths and theory classes though. Whatever, she'd do her time regardless. Life had little else to offer anyway.

When the man finished talking and her new classmates were filing out of the room, Yasu bounded over her row of seats to catch him before she left. 'Hi'. she managed to grab him before he fled, gently holding his arm as they both stepped aside to let the sleepers escape. 'I have a few questions about my admission. The guy before said to ask you.' The man was old and stern looking but he seemed like a fair character. 'Hmm. What questions?' He was no nonsense, you could tell. 'Well, I never took an exam I just got in a fight with a shinigami really' He nodded roughly, cutting her off before she could ramble through her story, 'Yasu Tanaka, yes?' He didn't wait for a reply. 'Your reiatsu spike during the event was enough to be enrolled in this institution. Though we weren't able to get a clear reference from the graduate who fought beside you, but of a layabout that one...Still, your sustained injuries and resident accounts were enough for us.'. In truth, it felt like a secretive invasion of privacy but she knew better than to say that to this man. 'Okay...Thank you'. He nodded and left without another word. She'd probably kept him from lunch or something.

Speaking of lunch, Yasu's stomach growled quietly. The silver haired academy student decided to abandon her map and take a stroll in search of food. She reckoned the animal here were so well looked after it would be a breeze to hunt around here. They'd probably never been hunted before in their lives.

Yasu frowned to herself, playing with the sliced fruit on her tray. The whole thing seemed weird. She vaguely knew what reiatsu was but she didn't understand how hers had 'spiked' or how getting beaten up qualified her to join the academy. She supposed it didn't really matter and it was probably more common for the academy to scout out potential candidates. It made sense, the more she thought about it. If their Gotei 13 were meant to be the best and brightest, they probably scouts to go round a look for people who could be shinigami. But she knew loads of people who were great fighters, why did they never get the call. Her forehead dropped into her palm, holding the weight of her thoughts before it swept back and released her hair from its ribbon. She tied the black fabric around her wrist for later. Yasu had never felt as vulnerable as she did today. No bow, no dagger and totally out of her comfort zone. It was probably time to change that.

Yasu grabbed her tray and wandered around the large canteen. She'd spent ages choosing her measly fruit. She'd never seen so much food laid out in one place and for fear of making herself sick, she'd decided to go for something simple. She probably overdid it. Yasu had a good eye for people, she was a natural observer. So the group of excited first years were easy to wheedle out, plus one of them she recognised from her class earlier. The woman smiled to the group as she approached the empty seat, 'Hi, can I join you?' her voice sounded more aloof than she felt but they let her sit down anyway.

'Hey, you're the one who got bumped down to class 2 right?'. One voice jumped across the table, pointing squarely at the new silver haired woman. Yasu was taken aback slightly. 'Well, I'm in class 2. But i thought that was good?'. Half the table giggled at her ignorance, the rest seemed as oblivious as she was. Nobody had explained how this academy worked. All Yasu knew was you show up, you learn stuff, then you become a shinigami. Beyond that, it all felt like politics. The man talking had perfectly coiffed hair, as black as night, with a single streak of red through it. He was half chewing on a piece of bread when he shook his head to reply.

'Nope. Class 1 is the top tier. Two is above average and three will just be unseated patrol shinigami forever' The man next to him jabbed him in the side. Yasu smirked at their interplay, grabbing a piece of apple from her tray as she regained more appetite. 'Yeah, so 2 is good.' She didn't see the big deal, her life wasn't top tier, what did she care which classroom she was in. 'Sure, 2 is good. But 1 is better. Especially when you were marked to be in 1, but your name got switched out this morning'. Their bustling group grew silent around the news, apparently it was a big deal.

Yasu didn't know what to say. She already felt like her admission was shady but she didn't understand why they'd change their mind about her, without anything else happening. Oh well. She cocked her head to one side, smirking gently at the man, 'I think class 2 sounds more my pace.' Her new friends relaxed around her, she really didn't see the big deal. Coiffed man wouldn't let it go so easily, 'Ah you say that now but when you don't get your first pick of squads you'll sing a different tune.' Yasu shrugged him off, 'Trust me, it's better if I don't sing.'. The laughs dissipated into general chat and a return of their original excitement. Yasu enjoyed the group dynamic, it was easy to relax into the casual conversation. In fact, with each minute that passed she thought she was starting to like shinigami more and more.

...

The first week passed the same way. Though balance of people seemed to include more annoying people. Some people took a few days to reveal their true selves. For some, becoming a shinigami was the end-all and be-all; those people didn't take kindly to the souls who stood in their way. Yasu was trying but there were a lot of subjects and it was all new information. She didn't put herself down for it though, she had a quiet confidence that told her she'd get there. Nobody was perfect the first time around. Though it sure did seem like some people were around here. Yasu was probably closer to the bottom of her class. She might not be the most refined student but her effort level was decent (a self-assessment). Life went on, this was just the new normal. That was taking a little time to wrap her head around. There was no free time, especially because she was far behind. Yasu would grab a book or a bokken and go train or study in her free time. She was going through the motions, even if her heart wasn't in it. Yet. She missed her dusty streets, her lumpy bed, her hunting ground. Those needs would fade with time. The gravity of the life-altering decision hadn't really sunk in yet. It still felt like her real life was going to drop back on top of her... She'd wake up and have to settle a fight between two drunk guys, grab a drink and spend all day stalking a bird that got spooked by some rowdy kids.

Some people still whispered about they grey haired girl who got dropped from class 1. Apparently her situation wasn't as common as she'd expected. Yasu didn't care. She had some casual friends, people she could spend time with easily. She didn't feel alone. Maybe she wished she did. It all felt lacklustre. The first week was quite a blur. It was all orientation and pre-reading and benchmark tests. Yasu didn't know it, but reality was about to hit. Not as she expected it to though. The change on the horizon was not one she could have ever anticipated.

Yasu had really started to make progress. The things which seemed unfathomable were now almost second-nature. The intensive schedule of the Shino Academy really drilled the basics in fast. Yasu had never spent much time considering her own intellect, but it was quietly affirming to know that she was capable of keeping up. In some cases, she had even begun to surpass classmates. Small victories were never so celebrated though, since they tended to appear on the rise of problems. Today was an exciting day though, a day that seemed to make all academy students thrilled with trepidation. Today, they received their Asauchi. It was a whole ceremony, then three days of intense classes to help students bond with their soon to be zanpakuto. Yasu was proficient with a sword and her zanjusto class was really one of her favourite but she still believed herself to be a ranged fighter. It never hurt to broaden her skill set though.

Yasu rested her head against the wall, she'd been stood in line for a long time and she was started to get bored. Conversations hummed around her, fading into the background as she closed her eyes. It was a special skill of the woman to be able to nap almost anywhere. Years of sleeping rough did have an advantage... A breeze whistled through the chambers of her mind, swirling and bouncing between a tunnel of rocks. It littered leaves as it moved. Yasu felt her body relax as it found a clearing, her shoulders sank with her exhale and the laves chattered into the grass. The breeze picked up again, dancing into the arms of a willow tree.

'Yasu! Wake up, we're moving!' Her friend pushed the back of her head and Yasu was awake. Class 1 were first, so they'd been lining the hallway until they were finished. As with every formal speech of announcement (ever) things took longer than they needed. It was an inconsolable part of this place, the air self-importance it carried. No wonder so many shinigami believed the sun shone out their arse, a lot of them were treated that way. Particularly in class 1.

The class marched past them, heads held high and sword clutched tightly to their claws. 'I can already hear whispers.' Yasu would recognise that voice anywhere, she'd had a run-in with the blonde before. Well, she ran into Yasu. The silver haired woman stuck her neck into the passing crowd, watching the blonde brag as she neared her. The girl caught sight of Yasu, mustering all the sass and smug one face could hold as she spoke at her, 'Some of us are more in-tune with our reiatsu already.'. Yasu laughed lightly, nodding at the girl as she passed, 'Wait, I hear it too'. She lowered her voice to her softest tone and whispered after the girl, 'You're shit'. Yasu turned back to her moving row, enjoying her own whimsy for the second before the girl yanked her shoulder back. 'You can't speak to me like that!'. Her silver eyes glinted with a spark of emerald, her mouth remained stoic as she shrugged the girl's hand off her. 'Why not?'. Yasu's calm didn't do much for the girl and she rammed her sheathed weapon at her. The ranger took an adroit step to avoid barge. The girl recovered her balance quickly enough though and unsheathed her blade, pushing Yasu against the wall with a sword aligned to her neck. The crowd around them froze. Yasu's expression was unmoved. 'Because you and people like you are scum! You don't deserve to be a soul reaper and you're a disgrace to this uniform. And one day soon, you'll learn that the hard way!' Yasu could see her eyes reflected in the blade and she stared in silence for a moment, into the blonde girl's hazel eyes. She really believed what she was saying. Damn.

Yasu was no stranger to intimidation. The woman didn't scare her and if she cared so much about being a shinigami, she wouldn't slit her throat. Not here anyway. Yasu moved slowly, raising her open palm as she gently pushed the girl's chest away from her, leaving a drop of blood trailing from her neck. 'Okay. Don't threaten people, someone might take you seriously.' Her words dropped like weights into the silence around them.

The girl's friends rallied around her, 'She's not worth it, Himori.'

'Let's just get out of here.'

'You'd better watch out.' she snarled, stomping away with her friends. As if that wasn't the least original threat ever. Yasu rolled her eyes  slightly, wiping the blood from her neck as she followed her class down the hall. A few hands patted Yasu as they moved. Yasu let it go, her own prejudice bred as much hatred for Himori as hers did for Yasu. They were two very opposite people. One of them had a stick up her their arse.

...

'When you hear you name, step forwards, receive your Asauchi and head to your assigned zanjutsu training ground immediately.'.

Yasu, like the rest of her class, couldn't help but stare at the large bundle of identical swords. It almost seemed unbelievable that they could all change so much. That a spirit inside that blade would bond with her own. She wondered, as everyone surely did, what her zanpakuto might look like. Yasu dreamt of a bow, she longed for one with every fibre of her being but she dared not pursue the hope. It was a sword after-all and she sure as hell wasn't a quincy. Yasu thought about her attack, the large shinigami who had released his shikai. They air became thick around it, and the sword had morphed before her own eyes. It was like magic really. That level of power and skill, well she hated that guy but that was admirable as hell.

'Yasu Tanaka.'.

Anticipation mounted in her body, eyes dilated, heart-rate increased. Yasu could ever feel a shiver down her spine, her mouth was instantly dry, her hands sweating. It was hard to identify. Fear, hope, panic? Probably more. When you're told something's a big deal, well, that's what it becomes. Each student before her, Yasu stepped forwards. Both hands stretched out to receive the blade, her head bowed in respect. The weight dropped gently into her arms and Yasu searched her body for any kind of change, any nuance that wasn't there before. Her gaze lifted slowly.Perhaps the sword had changed, like the man's cleaver she'd seen before, maybe it had taken it's true form? Nothing.

The rarest of moments occurred. Yasu's cheek's prickled with heat. She felt a little foolish for thinking something might happen. The woman smiled, laughing at her own ridiculous desires as she lowered the sword, holding it with one hand, following her classmates out of the room. Yasu abated her disappointment with optimism. She wasn't really in a rush to release her zanpakuto. There were still years of training ahead. Slow and steady was usually a better bet anyway. The cool breeze of the outside world ruffled her bright hair and she felt better. Fresh air always helped. Yasu turned back to her friends, waiting for a small herd of them to congregate before they made their to their training area. Each expressing their own disappointment as they laughed at one-another. Harry Potter really hadn't prepared her for that sword choosing moment. A wand would've been cooler.

Their Zanjustu instructor was waiting. A lithe woman with short black hair. She reminded Yasu of a cat and she moved like one too. Anytime Yasu thought she was agile, she just needed to watch this woman move to realise she was a tortoise. Yasu dropped her new sword on the ground, trying up her hair loosely as she stretched a bit. Last time she didn't stretch before their class she couldn't walk properly for a week. When her muscles were suitably stretched, she reached down and unsheathed the ordinary sword. It was by all accounts just an average blade, in fact it felt a little heavy. Yasu swung it around a bit, listening to the slicing sound it made as their teacher called them all in. 'Congratulations on receiving your Asauchi. You have a long journey ahead of you. Zanpakutō are the trademark weapons of the Shinigami. Capable of cutting spiritual bodies, they are among the few weapons which can be used to combat Hollows. Each Shinigami carries a Zanpakutō, and each Zanpakutō is unique: the swords are reflections of a Shinigami's power and soul, and sentient beings unto themselves. The Zanpakutō's name is the name of the living spirit which empowers the sword and lends its strength to the Shinigami who wields it.'

Yasu nodded along as her teacher spoke. Letting her words sink in as her silver gaze inspected every inch of her new sword. A bond for life? Okay, looks like we're in this journey together then. Whoever you are...You should know, Himori is a bitch. If she attacks me, well, us? Yeah, if she attacks us, just help me out okay? You don't have to answer. Maybe i should be talking out loud to you? But I think you can hear me, if you're art of me, or I'm part of you? However this works. I think it mean's we're a team now. So i'll keep you sharp and clean you as often as you need and then we'll get to know each-other. Fast friends I bet.

'TANAKA!'.

Yasu's head shot up towards their instructor. She had nothing. She was listening so intently, before she wasn't. The teacher was not known for her mercy. Time for a gamble. 'Yes' Yasu tried to sound as confident as possible, because she had no idea what was going on. A few laughs escaped the class as the woman marched over to Yasu and dragged her up to her feet. Yasu didn't bother trying to struggle, just regain her footing. For a lady who looked so slender, that chick had strength. 'Defend' she barked. Yasu had left her sword on the ground. No time to turn around, the woman lunged at her.

Yasu did not land well. She'd thrown her body to the side and rolled over her ankle in the process. The teacher was already on top of her. Yasu winced in anticipation as the slashes began to flurry around her body. Of course she couldn't block all of them. Her forearm drew into her chest as she turned, still catching the blade as she used her momentum to spin around the woman. Yasu ducked, she heard the sword without turning around but took a boot to her back for the skill. Dust stung her eyes as the dirt ground against her face. Yasu leapt back up to her feet, holding her weight of her right ankle as much as possible. She bobbed under the slash, glancing across to her abandoned sword as she took a hilt to the jaw. Her weight shifted over her already swelling ankle and she twisted, desperate to keep her balance. Yasu brought her guard back up, stretching her jaw as she decided to go on the offensive. She jabbed forwards, leading the cross as she shifted her weight. The woman stepped back, trying to get the distance to use her sword as Yasu had hoped. She pulled her punch, letting her weight drive forwards as she lunged, shoulder first at her teachers waist. She was pummelled on their way to the ground. Two elbows, another damn hilt and a cut across her back. Yasu rolled on the ground, scrambling to get her unsheathed blade as the students around them scattered. The sound of the metal colliding was a damn luck. Yasu opened her eyes, catching her breath as she looked up at her own sword, saving her damn life from her mercenary of a teacher. The woman took a short step back. Ignoring her dishevelled student as she yelled, 'Pair up!'

It had been a long day. The warm weather had rolled over its apex into a storm. The humidity had remained just long enough to spark thunder in the skies above and the heavens had opened to let a torrent of rain flood down. So much for Sereitei always being a haven of the world. It was a nice dose of reality but it sucked. Yasu had just finished her kido class, the last class of her day. Darkness had dropped much sooner this evening and Yasu stood in the doorway of her building. The training ground they'd moved to had a roof but it was so far away from the main compound that it didn't seem worth it. The rest of the class had rushed off as soon as they could, but Yasu had stayed behind to practice her kido a little more. She felt like she was just starting to make some progress with controlling her reiatsu but it was no easy feat. In fact, as soon as she was able to cast one spell, the next one was just as difficult. There seemed to be no gradient she could build upon. Still, she was taking as the small success she could and she was certain she could feel her own reiatsu. She couldn't control it one iota but she had awareness at least. Or she'd managed to fool herself into having this awareness, she was quietly proud of herself all the same.

Yasu stared out into the rain, the lanterns in the distance were engulfed in the stream of rain, and every now and then a raindrop would catch the moonlight; shimmering like broken glass onto the ground. It was actually quite beautiful. Less beautiful, was the idea she'd have to run through it. Moments like this, she wished she'd had an umbrella...Or the ability to shunpo. That was wild, she'd seen some upperclassmen practice that the other day and it was crazy, they just vanished and appeared somewhere else. She tied up her silver hair, letting the cool air prickle against her arms as her robes shifted. She dropped her arms with a shudder. Yasu dropped her hand onto the pommel of her blank blade. She had an unsteady feeling, thought she put it down to the weather, it had set her teeth on edge. From the light of the doorway, she could see her warm breath floating into the air, only to be beaten down by the rain. Yasu adjusted the books in her left arm and tugged them as close to her body as she could. She didn't have a bag, so she'd probably just have to dry them out when she got back to her room.

Okay, just go as fast as you can.

Yasu bounded forwards, her moonlit hair began to blurr into the downpour as she pelted towards the compound with her head down. A crack of lightning tore through the maelstrom as Yasu lost her footing. Her speed meant she fell hard, grinding into the soft ground. The woman's ears pricked up when she heard laughter. Three figures surrounded her and Yasu knew what was about to happen. Her strewn books lay open on the ground, soaked in an instant as the woman got back up to her feet. 'Himori' she snarled.

The girl's laughter echoed through her beyond the thunder. 'I told you I was going to have to teach you a lesson, street rat.' The rain pulsed around her ears as Yasu felt her senses sharpening. The two figures that flanked the blonde were vaguely familiar, but in the shroud of darkness it didn't matter. One looked relatively large in frame, the other average. The woman was the shortest, though still slightly taller than Yasu herself. The air seemed to grow thicker as a pale pink light glowed around the woman's blade. 'I might not know my zanpakuto's name yet but I'm still way ahead of you'. Yasu knew it was true, she could feel it. The taste of metal caught in the back of her throat as her hands hovered at the handle of her sword. This was a decision, to stand her ground. Even though Yasu knew it would hurt, she knew couldn't bring herself to run. Turns out, she had a little more pride than she expected.

There was a moment, where time seemed to move slower. Where Yasu could feel each raindrop colliding with her face, when she felt her warm breath cling to the icy air. She felt the first footstep towards her, sinking into the earth as a fork of lightning splintered the sky. Then the fight began...

She dipped, feeling a sword whoosh above her head as she unsheathed her blade, spinning into the air as she swung down with two hands. Her heavy move had landed but forfeited her own defence. A foot collided with her face, bringing the ground hurtling towards her face. Yasu could taste blood. A blade slice through her shoulder as she threw herself backwards. The rattle of metal rang beneath the thunder. Yasu was frantic, swinging her blade left to right. Trying to stave off the two attackers. Himori hadn't even moved yet. The bitch was still laughing though.

Yasu parried to the side, using the mans momentum to slash against his back. Too slow to to block. Blood began to poor from her shoulder. She snarled, pivoting and lunging forwards. Blocked. Her wrist was grabbed, pulling her off balance and into a fist. She staggered, swinging her blade blindly with one hand as another strike carved into her leg. Yasu was on the ground. Another foot ground her into the dirt. Then another. She could feel the blood pulsing through her body, soaking into her sodden robes. Yasu rolled over. Closing her eyes as she willed her body to rise. She heard it, the rain bouncing from a swinging blade. Her eyes shot up, their silver hues encircled with a green hue that began to surge through her. She rolled back under the strike. Swinging her leg around to drop the first man. Using her momentum, she swung back around the the next, feeling her blade cutting through the man's gut as his blood splattered into the grass. Washed away in an instant.

The pink glow had vanished. Himori appeared behind Yasu in a flash. 'My turn!' The density of her blade caught the woman off guard, Yasu jumped into her parry. Trying to get some distance but the bitch followed. The sparks of their blades rang like bells as Yasu swung from left to right, trying to block. She could feel her arm tiring, as she worked to deflect any and every attack. Yasu moved as fluidly as she could, not letting the tension in her body give away her fear. She tightened her grip; willing it to be sharper, willing herself to be faster, stronger.

Yasu adjusted her step, circling just out of reach for Himori's pink sword. It was a stupid colour for a sword and Yasu was more determined not to die at her hands because of the pink. Himori shuffled, shifting to keep Yasu in front of her. She held herself with an easy confidence, assured in the superiority of her weapon.

Good, be arrogant. Yasu thought. It'll slow you down.

Yasu continued to drift around the woman, maintaining the same distance and letting the tip of her sword dance hypnotically. As if she was mentally assessing the woman's armament, and trying – vainly – to ascertain her weak spot. She stopped being aware of breathing, as her mind unconsciously focused on the subtle changes in Himori's posture and position. Like hunting prey. This was Yasu's playground.

Himori leapt forwards, her sword lashing out towards Yasu's neck. Behind the weight of her sword followed her fist. A standard fighter might have expected the fist first but Yasu had never doubted the girl would lead with her blade. For all the speed she possessed, her intentions were etched into her form. Yasu stepped forward and to the outside. She slammed the pommel of one of her katana and her other forearm against the woman's arm, blocking the blow before it could even be fully extended.The witch reacted quickly, folding her arm back to make her elbow a blunt object. Her momentum carried her forward, and her elbow hit Yasu hard at the base of her rib cage. With a concussive whuff, the woman felt half her breath abandon her body. It was only an instinctive tightening of her abdomen that prevented her from being left gasping for breath.

Yasu felt the sword coming, her exposed face had been an obvious target. She had a choice, step in closer and lose her chance to block, or attack from further away. As the sword came hurtling down. The silver haired student darted to the left. Yasu brought her sword down at the woman's shoulder. She hadn't expected her redirect so quickly and Himori's blade brushed against Yasu's cheek as she blocked her strike. Her arm kept swinging, bringing the hilt against the side of Yasu's head. Yasu felt her grip loosen as she wobbled backwards. Her yells were swallowed by the storm. Himori pressed her advantage, pounding Yasu with short jabs. They weren't powerful hits, but the flurry of strikes were enough to keep her off balance, forcing her backwards. Each strike that hit her body created a small effusion of rain, erupting from the impact. Her foot hammered down against Yasu's wrist, as her left hand was pulled from her grip. Himori has seen her opening and Yasu's blade was struck from her grasp.

Another strike across her face. Yasu hit the ground again. She scrambled to find her blade but was caught underfoot by Himori. Her sword raised above her head as another crack of thunder exploded behind her. She yelled down at her opponent, shouting above the rain. 'I warned you! I told you not to mess with me. This is your fault! Maybe in your next life you'll be more obedient'.

The rain beat down in waves, pulsing into the ground. Yasu heard her breath hitch under the weight of the woman. Blood poured from her wounds and her head throbbed with welts. The rhythm of the world returned. She would not bend, even when broken. Yasu could feel it, everything. Like the darkness had opened up and let her inside. Her eyes bore into her rival, igniting with a green smoke that emanated from her blade. Yasu's sword shifted at her side, swirling in power as the colour of the grass seeped into the handle. The blade glistened, lighter and shorter. It was perfect.

Yasu's fingers wrapped around the handle. A reverse grip. The blood hit Himori's face before she registered the movement. It was clean cut, straight across her abdomen. Yasu was already up, swinging left to right as the blood cascaded through the air. She stopped, when the bundle of Himori was motionless on the ground. 'Fuck you' she breathed.

The reiatsu spike had alerted the academy staff, who surrounded the pair within seconds. Yasu dropped to her knees. Letting the relief dizzy her mind as she fell. Blood pooled around the pair as the green glow faded from the woman. Her sword had changed though. The first step had been made. The first connection.

((OOC: End))