Kagashi walked silently through the halls with Steph and Tamashi to their next class. The short break that they had was over and they needed to reach their Shunpo class for the next test. The results from the last test weighed on his mind, having seen what Steph was capable of doing when he was focused had him a little worried. The change that he had witnessed in him during the first test seemed to have altered him on more than just a mental level. He could see the determination, but that alone should not have been enough to make the dramatic increases that he was seeing out of him. Kagashi had noticed it out of the instructor as well, they were even more aware anyone else. The whole week he had never seen Steph with the level of strength he had today. If that continued to increase Kagashi feared that would happen to the Steph that he knew.
He looked back behind him seeing Steph laughing and smiling with Tamashi. ‘He looks the same in so many ways, but he is no longer the same. He may be reaching for that step to become a Shinigami now, but at what cost does he have to pay to reach it? So many mysteries, but he is not the only odd one. Makes a guy like me seem insignificant.’ The three soon made it to the next room being one of the first arrivals. It gave them time to rest as Kagashi took up a seat in the grass. Tamashi and Steph took up seats near to him relaxing.
“You ready for this, Kagashi?” Tamashi said suddenly continuing to keep his gaze at the tree that was creeping into the open ceiling of the room.
Kagashi looked back at him finding the question a little odd, but answered him anyway. “Yeah, not much point in getting worried over it now. We’re halfway through.”
“Two-fifths, actually,” Steph said staring at the same tree as Tamashi.
“Huh?”
“We have five tests, so we aren’t halfway yet.”
“Close enough.”
“Hey, you’re sounding pretty calm, Steph,” Tamashi said. “Didn’t you have trouble with the shunpo?”
Steph knew that it was not going to be an easy test for him, but he knew that he had to get through it no matter. He was coming back and passing the next time. It was the only goal in his mind at this point. For him the test today was just proof that he was ready to move on. They would see what he could do. “Yeah, but it’ll work out. You’ll see…”
“Huh? Alright.”
Haruka walked into the room and as though Kagashi’s mind was attuned to her aura he jerked up. He tried to be discreet about staring at her, but there was nothing subtle about him at the moment. The brief conversation he had with her was left unfinished. There was the urge inside to try to approach her, but his legs were protesting him. They knew better than him it was not the time to move. His concentration snapped the moment the Jekyll and Hyde sisters arrived making him lay back.
A few minutes later the class was brought to order with the instructor stepping forward to announce the commencement of the shunpo test. It was simple, they just had to do two individual shunpo and their distance would be graded. Kagashi knew it would not be too hard, but he still was relieved to know that it was not going to be more elaborate. Thus it began again the lining up. Steph, Kagashi and Tamashi took up positions in the line together with Tamashi in front followed by Kagashi and then Steph.
Kagashi killed the time coming up numerous lines to start out a conversation with Haruka. Every line he had he immediately shot down knowing how lame it sounded. His internal dialogue left him with a slightly red face and Tamashi staring at him having finished his test. “Hey, lover boy, you’re next!”
“Huh!? What? Shut up!” Kagashi said looking narrowly at him while he made his approach to the starting line. The instructor glared back him to be serious as Tamashi casually stepped away disappearing to the back of the room. Kagashi did not waste anymore of their time beginning to focus his efforts on completing the test. It had become significantly easier for him to do shunpo through the week, but the distance he was making still seemed almost pointless. ‘Shut up, can’t let that distract me. Not right now.’
The first flash step proved to be a little short only coming up to seven feet. It seemed more like a jump than a real step, but he used it only to focus harder on doing better the next time. His second attempted proved much better going beyond ten feet nearly making it eleven. The achievement left him with a small grin as he stepped out the way to allow Steph his chance.
‘Time, again…’ Steph looked down at the line before him. It ran out for more than forty feet as though someone from the class could actually flash step that far. He knew that none of the students he saw were able to get anywhere close to that distance in a single step. The ending line was a tempting goal to reach as proof that he was not a child. However, he knew that it was far too great of a distance for him to aim for right now. The best he had been able to do in the week was hardly two feet if it was a good day.
The instructor gave him the signal to go and he focused his energy. There was an odd feeling at his feet this time that he had not experienced before. It felt like he was on a cushion of air rather than the uneven bubbles he was used to. Even though it was new, there was something telling him that it was right. He made his move quickly, but there was sudden increase at his feet giving him a boost that he was not expecting. It sent him out of the flash step almost as soon as he entered sliding face first across the ground painfully. He came to a stop at the end line with the forty-foot line mocking him. ‘On my feet, not my face.’
Steph gave a silent sigh knowing that he was forced to a take a default for the first attempt. He walked back to the line with the stares of the students at him. There were some that looked like they were wanting to burst out laughing, but holding back only because the instructor would yell at them. ‘I was just caught off guard. I think I got the hang of it now.’ Steph placed his foot at the starting line feeling out the ground already preparing again. ‘Yeah, even the flow there. That feels better now.’ He was given the go-ahead and he immediately moved disappearing from the starting line reappearing a little past the twelve-foot mark. The forward momentum that he had was still urging him on, but he balanced himself out to come to rest.
Kagashi looked up at Steph hearing the whispered murmurs of the students. The first embarrassment had him feeling a little better that Steph was still the same. However, when he saw Steph standing at a distance even further than he had achieved he felt his body go cold once more. He watched Steph walk away from looking pleased with himself letting the next person step up.
The atmosphere in the room was changed watching Steph move away from the testing area. Everyone that had been laughing at him up till now was becoming well aware now that Steph was no longer the same. This was not a coincidence any longer. Low whispers trailed through the room trying to understand what had happened with him.
The class eventually came to an end letting everyone depart for another brief recess before heading to their next class. Their break took them to an empty hallway in the academy building. In other parts of the academy there were real students in training in classes. The two of them remained quiet moving through the hall. The hall came to an abrupt end with an exit out across the academy grounds.
“Hey, Kagashi,” Steph said as they began walking outside.
“Hmm?”
“Do you know anything about the Soul Society?”
“Huh? That’s a strange question.”
“Well the next test, it’s about the Soul Society or something like that, right?”
Kagashi had tried to forget about it as much as he could. It was something that he was not too confident about. They did not even have a class for it. They were just expecting people to know about it from living in the Rukongai. “No more than you probably.”
“You probably know more than me. I’ve been a wanderer for the last ten years mostly keeping to myself. I know more about the type of water you’ll find in each of the districts for the Rukon than anything else.”
“Type of water?” Kagashi stared at him a little perplexed by what Steph said. He was not aware that there were different types of water. The last time he remembered it all was the same. He could not even remember there being salt water anywhere.
“Well the water in 79th district is heavier almost like there is something more in it than just water. I did not really like it that much. Then the water in the second district is very sweet. It is not pure, but there is a hint of fragrances from the flowers that flow through. I think the best water was from the 24th district. It was very light almost airy and felt like it had some sort of healing properties to it. I think some of that is because of the near by hot springs.”
Kagashi looked at him blankly slowly blinking his eyes as Steph scientifically went through naming the different waters that he had experienced. “Yeah, you’re probably right. That’s not going to be on the test. But I doubt my knowledge is any better. I did not speak to that many keeping to myself.”
“So I guess we’re in the same situation. I guess it’s a little late to be worrying about it huh?” Steph said laughing a little pulling out a wide grin. He rushed on ahead bouncing along the stone walkway. When he came to end of the path he turned away looking at Kagashi. “Hurry up, slow poke!”
“Alright!” Kagashi hastened his pace a little still watching Steph. ‘I guess he can’t help but act the same.’ Once he had caught up to Steph they continued into the other side of the academy eventually reaching a large lecture hall. It was where the written test as about to begin. It seemed that they were all given a place to sit forcing Kagashi and Steph to split ways.
Kagashi took his seat in the second row to the front while Steph was forced to go up several steps to one of the rows closer to the back. Steph sat down looking at the turned over booklet of papers waiting to written in. There was an ink reservoir and a thin brush to write with. ‘Do they think everyone is Japanese. That’s a little narrow minded. I guess it is a good thing I spent a year in Japan.’
He leaned back in his chair looking around the room seeing how full the room was becoming. There were other students that he did not recognize in the room. It looked like they had several classes packed together into one room. However, by a strange coincidence Steph turned his head to the left to see Haruka sitting quietly next to him. ‘How long has she been there? Was she there before I sat down?’
Steph tried to casually watch her finding that she looked to be troubled by something. He was not certain, but she seemed to be pensive. ‘Should I say something? I barely know her. We were in the same school for a year, but that is about it. She knows Kagashi, maybe that is something.’ There was the thought to be silent and not interrupt her going through his mind. He did not like to inject himself into places that he did not belong. However, he was feeling different today making himself more out going then usual.
“Hey, Haruka!”
“Steph…”
“Is everything alright? The tests getting to you?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah something like that…”
Steph tilted his head a little not sure that he believed she was being completely truthful. He could tell that she was not completely in the room even though she was answering his questions. “Huh? So you ready for this test? I’m going to do badly on it.” Steph laughed a little at the comment trying to make her cheer up a little.
“Yeah…”
‘So distant.’ He scratched his head shifting around his hair a little. Steph let his hair down against his shoulders to allow it time to breathe. He would not need it out of his way for this test. “Do you think I look like a girl?”
“Yeah…”
Steph twisted his mouth knowing that she was not even paying attention anymore. There was something bothering her, but it was holding on to her so hard that she was elsewhere. ‘A different approach is in order.’ He narrowed his eyes whispering close to Haruka’s ear so that she could not miss it. “You know Kagashi says your name in his sleep.”
“Yea-what?! Steph!”
“Heh! Welcome back!”
“Does he really?”
Steph grinned back at her not answering her question. ‘Guess that answers a couple things.’ Haruka stared at him for a little while seeking an answer, but Steph was not going to give up his hand. As fortune had it, the testing began with a shout from the instructor at the bottom.
Everyone was forced to become quiet flipping through the pages of the exam. Steph slowly went through it finding it all to be in Japanese, again. ‘I swear, if I ever become a shinigami I’m going to give them a piece of my mind about their narrow-minded approach. Its like they like everyone comes from Japan and everyone else in the world just doesn’t come to the Soul Society.’
He began to work on the questions finding some of them impossible to understand. His Japanese was very rusty, but he was able to remember enough of it to get through. ‘What’s the name of the Captain-Commander of the thirteen court guard squads? Huh? Who’s supposed to know that?’ The question was passed as he went on to the next one. Most of them were too difficult to read or something that he did not know the response. ‘How many districts are in the Rukongai? Oh, finally one I can answer.’
Kagashi was fairing about the same, but he at least understood all of the questions. He was being forced to leave many of them blank not having a clue. ‘How many gate guards protect the Seireitei? Hmm…I think I remember hearing something about this. I guess not, moving on… Who is the current Captain of Squad six? Another one of these…why don’t they just saying out loud. You must know everyone in the Seireitei. This is stupid.’
“Finally over,” Steph said as the class was allowed to leave. He had seen many waiting in their seats for the time to be up, but he used up all of the time and still did not manage to translate or even answer many. He had only managed to answer five of the questions. It was over at least and he shuffled out with everyone.
Steph walked into the hallway feeling bored wanting to do something. The tests were beginning to wear on him, but the day was almost over. He disappeared alone into the halls finding his way back to the massive grounds that connected between the different buildings of the academy. The last room was back in another section of the school making this a suitable resting spot until the time came.
Time slowly trickled away forcing Steph to start moving to the final test. It was one that he was not looking forward to since it involve combat again. He was feeling better since the swordsmanship class, but he still knew that it was not going to be an easy test for him. However, he was not going to let it stop him at this point. He had already made it this far and was going to finish it. Once this day was over he could finally rest for real.
The class was nearly full when he arrived with the time to start almost over. He hung out against the sidewall keeping to himself trying to prepare for the hand-to-hand combat test. He knew all to well that he was even worse off at hand-to-hand than with swordsmanship. His hands tightened tasting the tension that was growing in the air. Everyone wanted the day to be over just as much. Some of them knew that it was already over for them and others were uncertain. The results of the tests would be posted in a day. Those that passed would be joining the ranks of students immediately. The rest would be kicked out or if they showed promise allowed to try again.
“Time to begin!” the instructor said in a firm voice presenting another shinigami at the front of the room. They were going to be showing off what they could do against the shinigami and be graded on it. It felt like the kidou exam all over again. Steph felt fortunate that he did not have to worry about hurting the individual. The call to order brought the masses into a line ready to begin, some looking very eager.
Somehow Steph ended up very close to the front forced to go after only a few people. He did not back down from the shinigami staring up to the ceiling to see the woman’s face. The last shinigami was a man, but this time it was a woman. He felt a little odd about doing this against a woman, but if anything he should be worried about being hurt. After the courteous bow Steph stood off against the shinigami in a weak stance. The instructor did not call out what to do, but told them roughly what he was expecting to see. The man was letting the shinigami determine each test.
The shinigami took the first swing at Steph. It looked fast, but Steph was able to track it blocking it. The force pushed Steph back breaking his footing bringing him to one knee. “Stand up!” she commanded to him looking like she wanted to knock him down again. Steph nodded to her and quickly pulled himself up. Every time he looked up he felt like he was getting smaller. The woman was twice his height it felt.
Steph took the opportunity swing his leg at her once he stood back up. He did not waste time to go back into a stance before his kick was launched, but the woman effortlessly blocked throwing him to the mat. He could see the smirk on her face causing him to swing his fist at her hoping to get free, but he was pinned quickly.
“Alright, that’s enough,” the instructor said. The shinigami immediately stood up pulling Steph up as well dropping him to the ground. His feet slapped the wood when he found his footing. He walked away not sure if it was a good or bad thing. The tests were over for him though and all he had to do was sit and wait for everyone else to finish. Steph laid back in the corner going to sleep.
Kagashi was standing in line with Haruka behind him. He had the unnerving feeling that she was staring at him the entire time. Every time he looked back to try to confirm the feeling she just looked away. He was trying to figure out if there was something that he was being oblivious about. However, his turn came and he did not have any more time to waste thinking about her.
The shinigami was staring him down and he stared back. He was not going to be intimidated by the fact that she was a woman. Kagashi came to his stance waiting for the test to start for him. The signal was given and he exchanged blows with the woman. It was only a few, but she moved quickly. He did not remember her moving this fast for the last person, but he was not very good. It made his defenses weaker than he wanted eventually knocking him backwards a step. Kagashi recovered the ground immediately taking a swing with his foot. She blocked him, but he returned with a swing from his fist. The test was soon over after that.
Kagashi walked to the back seeing Steph there. ‘Asleep in class…I guess it is the end of the day now. Sounds like a good idea as well.’ He was laid back on the floor near to where Steph was closing his eyes letting the thoughts of the day wash over him.
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