The classes were brutal as were Master Genkai’s training methods; however no-one could deny their results. Everyone who had entered the class had learned their Shinkai within the first few weeks, and by the end many had even master the abilities of their zanpakuto’s first releases. Karin and he stuck together through it all, and even made a few friends like their classmates the brutish and unrefined Sanosuke Sagara and the calm and elegant Sakura Shinguji. Still they did have a few problems; Makoto Kibune for example rubbed everyone the wrong way with his smug nature and condescending attitude.
Still they all waited patiently in a lecture hall; however it was far emptier than it had been on the first day since eleven of his classmates had withdrawn over the course of the year, and those that remained were still tense. Of course this was with good reason after all, Master Genkai warned them at the beginning of the year that if they withdrew she would send them back to the beginning of their last incomplete year, but in the advanced class; however any who failed would have to repeat their entire education from square one, and in the lower-level classes at that for failing to recognize their own shortcomings.
Looking around just told him the state of his classmates’ nerves, Sano was practically on pins and needles, while Sakura’s poise was visibly off. Even Karin’s normal annoyed demeanor was abandoned, and she looked just as focused as she was in the final minutes of a soccer game. Of course Makoto was looking like someone with an expression of total confidence, utterly sure that he would be awarded a high-ranking seat.
Just then the door slid open, and their elderly instructor for this course from hell approached the podium, setting a case to the side before beginning to speak. “Now one and all, over the last year you have come to know me as a teacher and you know that I don’t like to sugar-coat things or try to soften any blows. The fact is that becoming a member of the Gotei-13 is a very demanding responsibility and to become a seated officer is even more so. After all you have the lives of your squad-mates in your hands, and cannot just be concerned solely about yourselves; however some of you obviously still need to learn that lesson.”
“Others of you could have problems ordering good men and women who you may have become friends with into dangerous and possibly life-threatening situations, and thus couldn’t handle the strain of command. So just to be clear, if you fail to pass there will be no whining or arguments; because I see no need to explain myself to any of you the faults that you should have recognized within yourselves by now as many of your former classmates did. Now have I made myself clear?”
“Hai Genkai Sensei!” was the shout that resonated from the mouths of every student in the class.
“With that being said I will now read out the names of those of you who have succeeded in your gambit. As I read your name I will also tell you your assignment, and then you will approach the podium to receive your officer’s badge and a scroll containing your orders.”
“Asano Rin you will report to Squad 9 as its new fifth seat, and no asking questions about Captain Tosen’s handicap.”
“Magatsu Taito you shall fill the odd vacancy of Squad 11’s fourth seat, I wish you luck all the luck in the world, you’ll need it with kind of ship Captain Zaraki runs.”
“Kurosaki Ichigo you are to report to Squad 13 as their new fourth seat. A word of warning, if I hear you start acting like Kosubaki and Kotetsu do around Captain Ukitake I will personally come over to the Squad 13 barracks and wipe the floor with you…figuratively and literally.”
“Kurosaki Karin you are to report to Squad 8 as their new fifth seat. Try not to let Captain Kyoraku’s work ethic rub off on you.”
“Sagara Sanosuke you are now the fourth seat of Squad 10, so you had better fly strait because Captain Hitsugaya does not tolerate slackers.”
“Shinguji Sakura you are to report to Squad 6 as their new fourth seat. My advice to you is to keep up the level of discipline you have shown here; because Captain Kuchiki is a very stern man.”
“Sojiro Seta you are now the fourth seat of Squad 5. I expect great things out of you; if you disappoint me you had better hope you don’t live long enough to meet me again.”
“Tensunosuke Ichimura you are to report to Squad 7 as their new fifth seat. Take my advice; do not ask about Captain Komamura’s helmet, he does not like to talk about it.”
“Now that is everyone,” Genkai stated as the closed the case next to her, “remember you should have at least a day before you have to report to your new post. Make the most of the time you have left because from this moment forth you are now seated-officers within the Gotei-13, and you must work to earn the respect of your fellow officers as well as the trust of your subordinates within your squad. Now you are all dismissed.”
“Wait a minute,” Kibune shouted as he stood up, “how dare you pass me over when I am the most skilled student here. None of these others even hold a candle to my skills with kido or with a blade, so how could you have the nerve to pass me over for one of them?”
The only response he received from Genkai was a look of annoyance, after less than a minute passed his patience at her to address his wounded pride had run out, “That is it,” Makoto shouted in anger as he drew his zanpakuto, “Rage-violently Reppu.”
Without waiting for another word the furious Shinigami let his blade fly with abandon like an air born buzz-saw, wisely every other student in the class his the dirt as soon as Kibune drew his blade as they knew from experience that he always attacked with the target only in mind and woe be it to any in Reppa’s flight path. Unfortunately Kibune his choice of target was as foolish as his actions for despite Reppa’s destructive capabilities; Genkai caught it between her thumb, index-finger and middle-finger and with the slightest effort snapped the brutal-looking weapon in two like a twig.
What happened next was so fast that even Ichigo, Karin, and Seta the three fastest sets of eyes in the class could see no more than a blur, until Master Genkai sent Kibune flying into the back wall so hard that he dented the plaster. Of course this still was not enough to stop Makoto Kibune who staggered driven by his wounded pride, sadly for him Genkai was waiting for him to get up as this time she sent him flying through the wall and part-way through the next with a blast of pure reiki.
“When I said I felt no reason to explain myself I meant it,” Genkai stated firmly, “Now does anyone else feel like complaining?”
Taking a minute to listen to the silence Genkai stated after clearing her throat, “I believe that I told you all to leave now.” The desks could not have emptied faster if she threw the lot of them out of the room.
“So Karin going to go hang out and play soccer with those kids in the Rukongai’s Inuzuri District?” Sano asked catching the attention of the youngest shinigami of the Kurosaki clan.
“Of course ondori-kun,” Karin remarked calling her tall former classmate by her preferred nickname, “it may be in the Slums but at least the kids there know how to act like kids instead of pompous brats. Besides I know that you, Ichigo, and Sakura go there to visit the tea houses all the time; although you spend most of your time hitting on that waitress…let’s see what was her name To…”
“Enough you two,” Ichigo spoke up as he interrupted the fight that was about to spring-up and turned to the older of the two, “Jeez Sano do you have to fall for her taunts every time, we need to get going before Jidanbo has bar the gate for afternoon inspection.”
“Oh Ichigo,” chimed Sakura who the fourth member of their entourage, “do you think that Yuzu would mind us having a victory party over at your family’s estate this evening?”
“What you mean is that you want to come over and pick poor Yuzu’s brain for recipes while you can right?” Ichigo remarked with a smirk eliciting a blush of embarrassment from his comrade.
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(Posted Thu, 30 Oct 2008 20:13)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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