A new beginning *Solo*

Words washed over her. She wasn't paying attention, she couldn't, she couldn't grasp the details of the bigger picture she wouldn't accept. Not for the world.

Kaiyo's eyes were glazed, their stare fixated on the whirling ball of energy that a child had conjured up not moments ago. The anomaly had gone un-noticed by social norms, and the child was so blissfully toying with pure energy, as if it were something people did every day. Perhaps, here, it was. The oddity of it had only really hit home when something inside of the girl had registered the energy, she'd felt the tremor of spiritual pressure pouring into the little sphere, and she couldn't for the life of her even fully realise what it was.

'Did you hear me?' A hint of concern pushed the fierce nature of the man forwards, perhaps he had only meant to sound caring, but his fighting spirit came across only as impatience. The poor soul was in no fit state to deal with such a tone, and jumped quite involuntarily. With eyes as wide as a deer in headlights, her mouth dropped ajar ever so slightly. 'Er...Something about, other dead people like me' she stammered, her voice shaking at the words that tumbled so uncertainly from her mouth.

The man sighed under his breath, he considered his own great act of kindness to extend only to a certain point with patience. It was only at this moment, the girl got a good look at the man. His robes weren't exactly what everyone else around them was wearing, it really did look more like a uniform, but with all the black, she couldn't see any symbol or anything. Her eyes traced around the bustling noodle bar, the colourful clothes of the other citizens were enough of a contrast, without the glances. At first she thought it was an after-death-paranoia. Then she became quite sure, people were staring at them, she only hoped it was him who'd been attracting at the attention. The girl lowered her head as she felt her cheeks begin to prickle bright red.

In a bid to comfort the girl, the shinigami in front of her gently placed his hand on hers. The shock of physical contact really made the girl jump; she stumbled backwards off her seat in a mad flurry of panic. Dropping her ramen to the ground and serving only to attract the attention of everybody around her. The man seemed almost as ashamed as Kaiyo. She dropped to her knees, wishing she had longer hair to hide her face as she tried to pick up the mess of broken bowl and strewn noodles.

'I'm sorry, i know this is hard to accept at first...But trust me, this is a place you belong.' His first glimmer of humility erred on sincerity and it was the first time she had truly believed him. 'Erm...What if, like, they don't let me in?' She avoided prolonged eye contact, scooping up the last of the slimy noodles as she rose to her feet and slid the broken bowl onto the table.

'Well, what have you got to lose? You're dead already' He smiled, his optimism seemed almost contagious.

-Skipping forwards in time ever so slightly-

Kaiyo glanced down to her feet, the soft grass was tickling her toes and she quite enjoyed the feeling. Any feeling was good. It was re-assurance, that she really was alive again, or at least in a state of living. Of feeling.

'You know, most people wear shoes...'

The man was clearly addressing her. Eyes burning bright, and her cheeks burning even brighter, the girl snapped her head back up to the examiner. The souls around her scoffed. They each seemed so sure of themselves, like they were here for some greater purpose. Kaiyo hoped she could find purpose here. She smiled weakly, 'Sorry, erm, i'd prefer to run without them, if that's alright?' She was making a conscious effort to stop of voice from shaking.

The entire day thus far had gone quite precariously. The small tests they made people take to study at the Soul Reaper Academy were quite varied. In fact, a few of them Kaiyo hadn't even understood properly; though she was quite certain she had failed the direct combat part already. Given that she ran away...

Regardless, here she stood. Amongst various other potential classmates all vying to beat the competition around them. All geared up in their various robes, ready for the run. It seemed just about the only normal task they'd asked of her so far. It was, more specifically, an agility run but they'd not been given the specifics of that just yet. Kaiyo couldn't help but feel like a sore thumb here. Her peers were all so prepared, so focused, and above all else, so plain looking. Strolling in with bright blue hair and a bright red robe had caused a few more wandering glances than Kaiyo had hoped for.

'Hmm, alright then, i suppose its's your choice' The man mused, scribbling something down on his clipboard as he shuffled to the side of the start line. The first corner was blind; Kaiyo could only assume the agility part was some form of assault course? She'd find out soon enough.

'Remember, this is a race! If you fail to finish, you will be asked to leave' That was a first. Every other task had been a give-it-ago, or a just-to-see kind of test. A weight dropped to the pit of the girl's stomach as she frowned at the worry of it. Kaiyo shut her eyes for a moment. Allowing herself the few seconds she had to relax. 'Come on, you can do this, just keep moving no matter what...Keep running' Her chest rose and feel rhythmically as she inhaled slowly, allowing her lungs to fill with the rich air and then gently push it out of her body.

'Go!' The instant rush of the start hit her square in the stomach; her adrenaline kicked in.

Her body lunged forwards, arms pumping at her side as Kaiyo sprinted forwards, her own speed measuring impressively against the others as she sped to the front. Unable to help smiling as the air whipped against he streamlined body. Her feet pressed so quickly through the grass that each step felt like running through clouds. The girl's smile widened as she reached the corner. Her heart pounding steadily, her mind just about as focused as she'd ever been. Her body titled round the corner, moving at such speed that she pushed her right hand down on the ground as she rounded the corner, twisting off the ground for a moment as she continued on.

Thankfully, the route was still grass, but now faced with a series of wooden bars, vertical and horizontal, thing were getting more difficult. The first was a hurdle over, straight after the corner, and Kaiyo heard the man right on her tail run straight into it. His pained response the sound of his air being forcefully pushed from his lungs. The girl landed on her right foot, shifting her weight to the left as she side-stepped around another bar. The crowd behind her now reaching the obstacles as well. Beads of sweat began to form at the girl's forehead; through her enjoyment she didn't notice exhaustion rising in her body. She should have eaten something earlier.

Left hand on the bar, her body swung over on the right side. Dropping back on the un-spoiled green turf as the continued her sprint. Internally reminding herself to just keep moving. Ahead, Kaiyo could see the next round. Moving objects: brilliant. The prickle of energy tingles along her body, a chill of energy rushing through her. An unknown source that seemed to come from within her, Kaiyo could think about that later, now it was moving time.

Her right foot kicked upwards as her agile body followed, arching her back as two blades sliced through where she might have been. Their speed piercing the air with a speed that she'd rather not measure against her own. By this time, Kaiyo had forgotten the race. Oblivious to the competitors around her, some had caught up, some had already dropped out and others were so tired that they wouldn't last to the end. The girl landed, her red robes flapping against her body in anticipation as she kept low, swinging under another shimmering blade. The increased issue of bare feet added the tension that Kaiyo needed to keep her focus. The girl was moving so quickly that her mind ware barely able to register each new strike in time. In fact, she was getting closer and closer to each of these moving blades. Spurred on by her current success, the girl rolled to the side, landing on her ankle the wrong way as a surge of pain spiked through her body. Throwing her focus for a beat enough to stumble a pace or so. Now very aware of her injury, Kaiyo continued forwards. Her arms numbing at her side from exhaustion, the girl skidded feet first under a horizontal axe. She didn't even want to know why people would use such an aggressive weapon. Her body lunged up the air, flipping forwards as she tried to tuck in tightly. Her technique was a little off. Caught by the tip of one of the swords, it sliced through her left calf muscle. Kaiyo landed with a swan dive roll.

Tumbling over the finish line first and remaining lying on the ground. Panting heavily as the air seemed to thin. Her face red, and sweating, trickling blood seeped into the luscious green grass. The minor cut stung, and it was a pain that Kaiyo wasn't used to. The blue haired girl rolled onto her stomach, grimacing in pain as she just lay there for a while. 'Oh my god' she winced weakly, through bated breath.