Road to Ruin

Chapter 5: Academy Blues

Chapter 5: Academy Blues

'Today is the day!' Anna smiled as she looked over her bag one more time. The clothes and books were perfectly placed, along with her pendant.

She had been trembling since last night, a mix of nerves and excitement was still fresh in her mind. Things that didn't matter much before were now sending her into tears again; getting her bed ready one last time, putting on her clothes or just looking in the mirror.

She took her time getting downstairs and eating breakfast as if trying to memorize every nook and cranny of her only home until now. Her mother noticed, and kept close to her the whole time. "You'll do fine. I know so, we'll be waiting to hear everything once you get back."

"Thanks, mama, I'll be off now."

Her dad came out of the kitchen and the two gave her lots of kisses before she left. "Have fun, we're both very proud of you."

Anna felt like the long walk to the academy was a blur, in less than an hour she found herself in the main courtyard.

"Let's see, according to the program the first class is swordsmanship...now where's the classroom?"

Somebody tapped on her shoulder and startled her. Sosuke was behind her, dressed in the academy uniform and to her surprise, he was wearing a pair of glasses. 'All those nights spent reading have taken their toll.'

"Took you a while to magically appear. It's good to see ya." She told him.

"Likewise. I would have arrived earlier but I'm afraid my mother was feeling more emotional than usual."

She chuckled. "I don't blame her. My folks were feeling just as melancholic as me. In any case, we have to hurry to the first class. Seems like the place is full."

"Swordsmanship it's on the third floor. You better be ready to run, or we'll be late."

"Why wouldn't I be ready to run?"

"I don't know Anna. Perhaps you've eaten too many plantain chips, you look a little puffy."

"Puffy?! What the hell do you mean by that?!"

Sosuke grinned and flashed stepped away. 'He's not getting off that easy!' Anna chased him all the way to the classroom and tackled him when they arrived.

"Oof! Anna, have mercy on my ribs."

"That's what you get for calling me puffy!"

"How cruel! Just when I made sure we arrived on time."

She realized then what he was doing and growled. "Handsome jerk!"

"Oh dear, I think we arrived at the wrong classroom Yoruichi. There seems to be a lover's quarrel here."

Anna and Sosuke both looked at the doorway. Two students had arrived. One of them was a blonde male with pale skin and grey eyes, the other was a woman with tan skin, dark purple hair and golden eyes.

"I'm sorry to disappoint but this isn't a lover's quarrel. More like a motivational workout to be specific." Aizen picked her up and stood.

Anna just blushed. The other two students didn't seem too convinced but thankfully dropped the subject. Sosuke let her down gently, and she wiped the dust from her clothes. "Sorry we startled you. My name's Anna Maria de la Rosa."

"Kisuke Urahara. Nice to meet you."

"I'm Yoruichi Shihoin."

'Shihoin, that sounds familiar...' Anna was sure she'd read the name somewhere in one of her books. Then she remembered.