Hitsugaya Toushirou: The Story

Summary: Story about Hitsugaya Toushirou as he travel the path of Shinigami to protect those who are dear to him. This is my version of his story. Last chapter ended with Toushirou are finally able to get out of the cliff. Let's get on with the story then.

NOTE: If someone is interested please become my beta reader & editor. I don't have much time to update my work and I'm already busy with my real job. Any ideas to improve this fic are appreciated.

Disclaimer: I don't own any part of Bleach. Perhaps some of the OC but they’re only side char and won’t appear long anyway.

Note: In this arc I'll try to explain some facts that I created regarding Soul Society and the way the academy works as there's no in-depth explanation on it within the Manga or Anime.

/Thoughts/

"Dialogue"

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Chapter 04: Another Trial?

Place: Unknown

Time: Unknown

"ARRGH!!" Toushirou evaded to the left and as he evade he felt the slash the Hollow had nicked his face. "That’s close!" Just after he said that another Hollow appeared above him and as he tried to move himself forward he felt like his feet was unable to move and as he look beneath him he saw the third hollow was holding his feet. "NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!" And the hollow above him stabbed its tendrils right through Toushirou’s body. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!"

Suddenly Toushirou was awakened only to find himself within a room and as he tried to recall everything his mind is still numbed from the scary dream he just had. "Where am I..? Ugh my head feels dizzy..." and as he said that he shake his head a little and take a look around him but he still felt that he was in an unfamiliar location.

As he looks around he found that the room he was in is only equipped with the bare essentials with a small 4 story cupboard and a small table. He closed his eyes for several more second and his most recent memories came back crashing through his head. “Damn… that hurts… how did I come here? I remember I was following the old headmaster into the forest where I was tested to figure out my soul’s potential strength. Did I pass? Is that why I am here? Or I failed and the old man is waiting for me to wake up to kick me out of this place? Oh man… thinking too much is useless I guess… I’ll just get some rest and try to recall my memories. This is too hazy for my taste.”

As he said that Toushirou flops back down onto his futon and closed his eyes and then he starts to remember…

Flashback

Place: Shinigami Academy, front gate.

Time: 1st day Toushirou arrived there.

After several minutes of waiting somebody came through the gate and greets Toushirou, "Welcome… Kusajishi-sama has said that you would like to enter our academy to become a Shinigami. However she said nothing regarding your abilities. I believe that you have heard what being Shinigami will receive better treatment within our society and you became interested to be one, however to become Shinigami is not easy and you will undergo a 10-years study program to become a Shinigami. Some will undergo even longer to specialize within a certain class." The Shinigami then gaze at Toushirou from the top-to-bottom and stared into his eyes and somehow his presence feels more imposing. "You don’t look too convincing and we have never received any application to enter this academy from a young soul like you. Personally I'll just reject you and do not think that you're ready to join us yet. Are you sure that you would like to join us young boy?"

Toushirou stayed silent during the greeting and kept his composure even when he is being looked over and replied when the Shinigami staring at him. "Yeah I'm sure. I'd like to join Shinigami for several personal reasons and I'm not interested in explaining it to you. Can we please go to meet the Headmaster of this academy to discuss the details regarding my acceptance into this academy?"

The Shinigami looked surprised for a moment and replied, "You sound surprisingly confident. Usually all the new recruits were shaking by the time I finished my first opening sentence. I like you boy, follow me, I'll take you to the headmasters office." and then he turns and started to walk into the building.

Toushirou followed the Shinigami and replies "Really? I did not feel anything when you spoke to me though and I'm already sure of my own conviction to become a Shinigami so no matter what you say so nothing sway me."

/Really? Let’s see later then... The headmaster will be pleased that we get an another over-confident brat to be put down a peg or two through the special entrance test that we rarely use since it left the examinee pissed down on his own pants and I had to clean after the mess. I don't really enjoy the cleaning but the fun far mo outweighs the cleaning so all is fine/ Outwardly there’s no changes in his face that shows his thought as only a small imperceptible smirk that indicates his thought.

/Huh? What the? Why am I suddenly having a chill when nothing is cold here? Oh well… It will serve me better to prepare myself for the incoming entrance test. Nothing will stop me from becoming a Shinigami… I need the power to protect… It doesn’t matter what I will go through as long as I am able to obtain the necessary strength to become a Shinigami like her/ as he is thinking, Toushirou still follows the Shinigami that is guiding him to the Academy Headmaster and noted that the path to the place and map it within his mind.

“We’re here. Please wait for a moment.” The Shinigami knocked onto a huge wooden door several times and stayed silent for several second.

After a moment an old sounding voice was heard from within the Headmaster’s Office. “Come in…”

Right after the Shinigami heard the voice the moved to open the door and gestured for Toushirou to get inside first as he is the guest.

Toushirou walks into the office and saw an old man behind a very large table with many documents and papers stacked on the side of the table. /Whoa! The old man looks ancient with the face showing the stress of studying the paperwork in front of him. That’s one thing that I don’t want to do when I’m old… It looks very boring and stressful/

The Headmaster stopped doing the paperwork and took a moment to look at Toushirou to ‘measure’ him and said “Please sit down and accompany me for a tea. I’m just thinking of having an afternoon break. We could have a conversation regarding your acceptance while we relax. Shinzo, could you please prepare a cup of tea for both of us?”

“Sure sir, the usual for you or you would like something different today?” Shinzo replied.

“The usual please, Thanks Shinzo” The Headmaster responded and then he look at Toushirou again. “Now, let us converse while we’re waiting for the tea to be prepared.”

“Sure, but first I thank you for the opportunity given to me to enter this academy sir.” Toushirou spoke.

“Oh it’s alright. Actually there’s some recommendation from Kusajishi-san to let you into the academy so I will make an exception for you since you’re actually still too young to be in this academy. Normally we only accepted a 20 and above years old soul since they are easier to be molded as their spiritual power have been unlocked for some time. I’m actually wondering what to do about you since it will be a burden to us if you’re unable to understand what we taught here.” The Headmaster said.

“Thank you for your concern however without venture there will be no gain and I’m prepared to take on any trial to become a Shinigami. Please give me a chance to study here and you won’t regret ever accepting me here.” Toushirou replied.

The Headmaster looked thoughtful for a second and then used his advanced senses to sense the potential within the boy in front of him. /Amazing, this boy shows more potential than what I have felt for a very long time and his eyes actually shows no doubt in his purpose. I guess this is enough and even though this can enter directly I’m curious on how he will perform this test of mine… I’d like have some kind of concrete evidence to check out this boy’s capacity after all/ “Fine, however you’d have to undergo the test that I’m going to give you later.”

“Thank you sir, I’ll do my best” Toushirou replies. /Now that I’m given a chance I’ll have to pass this no matter what…/

“Good! Now before we begin let’s have a tea first and we can start the test later. I’m thirsty from all these talking.” The Headmaster said.

Shinzo arrived right after the Headmaster has finished talking and starts to prepare the tea for both Toushirou and the Headmaster. "Please enjoy your tea, Ryuusei-san"

"Well, let us drink first, oh! shinzo, please start the preparation for the test. I'd like to start this as soon as possible."

"Consider it done Kouchou-sensei" Shinzo replied and then walked out of the room.

"Let's us start Toushirou-kun, now come closer to me"

From now onwards I'll shorten Toushirou to Shirou

Shirou walked several step towards the Headmaster and suddenly the Headmaster extend his hand toward his face and everything went dark...

Place: Unknown

Time: Unknown

Shirou's POV

/Ugh... what happened to me? last thing I remembered was talking to the old man... what did he do to me?/ I tried to stand however with some difficulties and realizes that I am again in somewhere that I don't recognize. /Was I moved here by the old man? then what is the purpose that he had to make me unconsious just to move me somewhere else? he can just ask me to go with him anyway. Maybe he want to keep the location of the testing ground a secret from me? Hmm... where is the old man anyway? I don't see him anywhere and I did not feel any presense of any soul around... Oh well there's no sense in making any conclusion without enough facts. I'll just try to explore this place a bit/ Having reached a decision I looked around for some clues and realizes that I am currently within a tunnel or something similar and found that this tunnel has only one way to go so without wasting anytime I walked towards the direction where the tunnel leads me.

I found it strange that within a tunnel that is supposed to be dark I could see as clearly as day. /This is getting strange... Is it just me or the walls of this tunnel lights by itself without any light source? Hmm.. maybe the wall contains some kind of Phosporic substance... however the luminescence is of different colour.. not red, blue or green... was it because this is not earth so the mineral here is different... wait a minute! that's it! I'm here within soul society so it's no wonder the substance here is different from earth. I'll have to remember to carry a research about what soul society is built of. Now to carry on with this tunnel.../

After I walked for what seems several hours and I don't think that I was wrong because my stomach is screaming to me to be feed. /Hmm.. How long has it been since I had eaten any watermelon anyway? I think it was several days ago. Oh man I need food!/ I squashed what I was thinking and decided that thinking of food will only increase my hunger.

6 Hours Later

/Oh man! this is crazy! how long do I have keep this anyway? will this tunnel never end? I hope not cause I won't be able to survive then/ Just after that line of thought I saw a bright light although small toward the direction I'm going. /It seems like this is it!/ Then I ran towards the direction and after several minutes of running I found myself not at an exit but at another dead-end. "WHATTTTTTT!! why is this a dead-end? I thought there's only 1 way! I didn't see any different tunnel" /Wait a minute... let's calm down. If there is no entrance or exit how was I here in the first place. This tunnel is strange in the first place as it is only one way. I'll try checking on the walls and perhaps there's a direction on what I should get out of here or what I'm doing within this tunnel in the first place./

I tried to feel the wall around the dead-end of the tunnel and hoping to find some kind of secret path or something like that. However several hours later it turned out to be a false hope. /Damn it! what is going on here! I had checked every details and found nothing. Was there something I'm missing? I'm tired... I'll just rest for now and try again later./

Somewhere

Third Person POV

Ryuusei and Shinzo was looking at a crystal ball where they could monitor Shirou's activities.

"Hooo not bad! not bad at all! he has finished the trial of body where he has to walk to the end of the tunnel... not any academy hopefuls are able to walk there without encountering severe exhaustation. His soul's stamina is higher than average. I wonder how long he is able to withstand the second part of the trial?"

"Want to bet Kouchou-sensei? I'm betting he won't last for more than 3 days in there before he gave up" Shinzo spoke to the Headmaster.

"Oo Ho? you want to bet against me Shinzo? Are you sure? I'll win if he last longer than that you know. I'll make you do all my paperwork for a week if I win then. " The Headmaster spoke with a flat face however let's take a peek into his mind /He he he Ha HA HA HAHAHAHAHA!! No Paperwork for a week!! BANZAI!/

Shinzo facefaulted and looks again into the mirror /perhaps I have to think about it a little bit more.../ "err... kouchou-sensei..? can I.."

Before Shinzo finished speaking Ryuusei cut in and spoke "It's a deal then! we'll wait for another... He looks at his watch and continues 60 hours till the deadline. anyway.. can you make a coffee for me Shinzo?"

Shinzo sweatdropped /Damn sneaky old man! he cut me before I can pull out from the bet. I just pray that boy will give up soon for my own sake/ he walks out of the office while thinking last time he had to do the paperwork and shudders.

Ryuusei looks again into the crystal ball /I'll see how long you could last within this 'Tunnel of Trial' Toushirou-kun/

Back to 'The Tunnel of Trial' (I know the name for the place sucks but I have no better ideas for now)

Third Person POV

Shirou awaken from his nap and continues to look for clues. /Did I really miss a path along the way? if this is a tunnel without exit what is the purpose for building it in the first place? there's not a single sign of landslide and I really doubt I can miss such an obvious clue... perhaps.. I have to dig a hole to the exit?/ He winced at imagining to dig a tunnel with his bare hand. /I doubt that digging an exit will be possible by myself without any help and I'll die of exhaustation before I finish it without knowing the geo-map around the area... I guess I'll have to go back to where I started to find any possible clues that I missed./

And Shirou continues to look for clues around the tunnel and finally he fell down exhausted after several days without any kind of nourishment and finally decided to just meditate to prevent him from losing his mind and sanity from being trapped within the tunnel. /I will not lose my sanity and I won't die here! I'll try to meditate to replenish my energy. I had read something about it and I doubt it'll work however I need to concentrate my mind and prevent it from breaking... I can't afford to lose myself now... I will be there to see her again and to protect her.../ Shirou's train of thought ended as he entered the state of zen.

Back to Ryuusei and Shinzo

Ryuusei can only be amazed as he found a spirit with extraordinary will refusing to give up even without losing a single bit of his sanity as he is trapped within the tunnel. /Incredible! up until now there's rarely any academy hopefuls who undergone this trial without losing his mind to hunger and still in control of themselves. this spoke volume of the boy's endurance and mental capabilities. It has been a long time since there's someone who could last this long... I guess I better prepare to summon this boy back soon./

Shinzo is speechless as he checked to Ryuusei's office to look at the boy's progress. He has been from several days ago since the time limit has passed and he has to do the paperwork as he has lost however he had to give it to the boy. He knew that the boy had a strong will however he did not know the limit of that will and he guess that he will not find out anytime soon as it seems the boy has not shown any sign of breaking at all. /This is ridiculous! where did he hide that spirit within his skinny body? a normal passing conditions to be accepted into the academy is to last for at least 2 days and he still lasts until now? it has been a long time since there's a soul who is this stubborn and that has been a very long time ago./ suddenly his train of thought is stopped as Ryuusei spoke to him.

"Shinzo, prepare for the summoning spell to pick up the boy. I believe he has shown us enough don't you agree?"

"Hai kouchou-sensei. I'll go and pick him up."

Shinzo starts to incants the spell to summon the Toushirou from the 'Tunnel of Trial' and as he spoke Shirou's body started to shimmer and the next moment he is gone from the tunnel and appeared in front of Shinzo. What he missed to realize is that toushirou is floating and just as sudden he dropped to the ground.

Headmaster's Office

"Ouch!! what happened? how did I suddenly drop myself?" Toushirou spoke to himself.

"Welcome back young man! I have to give it to you. You have passed with flying colours" /and I can look forward to 7 days of pure torture called paperwork no thanks to your stupid baka hard-headedness!/ Shinzo said.

"Oh really!? what is the meaning of that test aside from torturing me with hunger and will power anyway? I can't believe that I was trapped in that stupid tunnel without any clue or exit of what I should do! and you call that a test?!"

'Shinzo sweatdropped' /Ouch! guessed it in one go. Looks pissed to boot!/ " Ehhehehe.. You guessed it. It's a pure test of will power and you can be proud coz not many last there without sign of going mad and lost hope due to being trapped."

"Yes, you are a more of a thinker type so normally most of your type will start to lost hope when you're trapped in a situation where you can't solve the problem with you brain and will start to break under the stress. Anyway I'm glad that you have passed the test Shirou-kun. We have finished evaluating your progress and I have assesed that you have a lot of room for growth. Learn in this academy and I hope that you'll be able to attain your goal." The Headmaster pause to finish the tea.

"Rest for now, you have been accepted. Go back to your room and I'll send someone to tell you the classes that you have to join tomorrow morning." Ryuusei ends the conversation.

"Thank you Kouchou-sensei and you to Shinzo-san" Shirou bows his head and left the room to go toward his room.

"Shinzo, I want you to prepare a program for the Shirou-kun. I believe he will benefit by joining the 2nd year and 3rd year program" Ryuusei spoke.

"Wha? what do you mean that he'll be starting from the second year sensei? isn't it too soon for that?"

"No, he won't be learning anything from the 1st year class anyway. Just give him the text book for the 1st years and ensure that he studied it in his own time. Most of the 1st years are spent to develop the Reiatsu necessary to use the basic demon arts and learning the history of Soul Society anyway."

"Does that mean that he already have the reiki necessary to do the demon arts Ryuu-sensei? Even most of those with high potential in Reiatsu needs to develop their reiki first to let them adapt and prevent them from losing Reiatsu to the point of death!" Shinzou asks in disbelief.

"Do you question my judgement Shinzo-kun? I may be old but I hate to waste time on something that is not important. I created those different levels of classes is due to the requirements needed in order for the students to learn all the important things needed for them to fully develop themself. Shirou-kun is a little bit different. Somehow he already have a ridiculous amount of reiatsu that I wondered why haven't he collapse from all those consumptions of energy usage."

"I-I apologize that I have stepped out of line Kouchou-sensei... I should have realized that you have analyzed his potential from the trial that he had went through." Shinzo bowed and apologized.

"That is alright. You can start to do my paperwork now." /Hehhehehehehe.. AHAHAHAHA!! Time for a long needed vacation! I heard that there's a good fishing spot in Australia at this season./ "Anyway don't forget what I have planned for Shirou-kun" /I have to thank him for winning my bet for me and giving him some exciting class is good enough I guess/ "Jaa ne Shinzo-kun" Ryuusei then shunpo-ed away to la-la-land!

"Wha?! Kouchou-sensei..? what do yo..? OH NOOO!! YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS STUPID OLD-KIDDDD!!"

Back to Shirou

Grrrrr... "Uh Oh! Damn I still haven't eaten anything yet" SNEEZE "Wha??" SNEEZE SNEEZE SNEEZE "Oh man! Don’t tell me I can caught a cold even after death" SNEEZE "Better get some long needed rest first" GRRRRRR "..." GRRRRRRRRRR "Perhaps after I eat something..." GRRRRR SNEEZE

Back to Shinzo

grumble grumble gruble "Damn that kid! He'd pay for this" grumble grumble gruble "DAMN YOU PAPERWORK!!"

--

07 June 2007

Anyway I’m sorry for the long absence. I can't believe that it has been that long that I've neglected this story. Recently I start to read some Bleach goodness and got an inspiration to continue this fic. But I guess this is more for my own fun. I have lots of ideas for many fics without knowing how to start them. -.-

I’ll explain some of the Facts I created mixed with those based on manga:

Shinigami Academy

As you guys have known, there’s a place for the people within soul society to become a Shinigami. This place is created to teach basic knowledge to a shinigami until they’re proficient at least enough to survive in a fight against a hollow or able to perform basic administrative duties.

Classes

In the academy, there are many subjects that have to be taught, for example: Basic Understanding of Reiatsu, Demon Arts (Kidou), History of Soul Society, Basic Fighting Skills, First Aid Classes, Their advanced lessons and many more that I’ll reveal as this story goes. These subjects are taught according to the student’s level of understanding and their preferences.

The students will undergo various exams throught their studies and need to at least have basic understanding for all subjects. (Of course there’s some special cases where knuckle-headed morons pass but that is because they are not able to pass but have high aptitude for fighting ability)

Soul Ages

(I won’t go in depth coz I’m not too clear on the subject myself, but here goes)

Within Soul Society where all soul gathers there are many of those ages as they gets older. However I believe that soul ages as their soul matured and they does not follow the rules of normal earth time. Perhaps time flows slower, faster within soul society which is still undetermined yet.

Reiatsu

Within soul society, souls are composed of reiatsu and some to those with higher density of soul than normal souls have potential to become a Shinigami.

If Reiatsu’s were divided into classes such as F to S Class, then normal souls are F, Academy Students are E-D, Average Shinigamis’ are D-C, Vice Captain are ranged from B to A, Captain are from A to S Class. That are the basic plot, but of course there are some which possess reiatsu that does not fit into their supposed levels.