My name is...

(Rin's pov)

Did he just say, Edo? But it would mean that we are in the past. The city of Edo became the capital of Japan and was renamed Tokyo in 1868, but that would mean we are at least in the 19th century.

Did we travel back in time or something different entirely? I don't know. I should be shocked, nervous, panicked, or all these things at the same time, but I was happy.

That revelation meant that I could see Saki-sama and Aya at some point in the future.

I partially gave up on this but knowing that there was a chance, I smiled. Now that I think about it, Ryoto mentioned something like this before. That he has his suspicions, he even said something about going back to life when we first got to Soul Society. I looked at Ryoto, who smiled at me gently. I think we'll talk about it when we return, but I couldn't hide my smile.

I feel like for the first time since I got here, I genuinely smiled. It didn't mean that I didn't enjoy spending time with the small group that we created, but I always felt that something was holding me back.

---

To be honest, I enjoyed walking around Edo. While we were still here to train, we could still enjoy our time here. Ryoto's words, not mine. But still, seeing the past was an experience I didn't think I would... experience. Ordinary people couldn't see us, which was something new for me. I don't like to brag, but Saki-sama was often a target of male stares. As expected of Saki-sama.

Unfortunately, we couldn't try any food... Until Ryoto and Yoruichi decided to steal some. I couldn't let food go to waste, so I ate it. Together with Ryoto, I lived in poverty for some time, so I understand how valuable even a little amount of food is.

We were later reprimanded by our senpai. I think Ryoto is starting to have a bad influence on me. I need to show more restraint.

But it's not like I don't enjoy these moments.

We were walking around the city, and our senpai helped everyone to perform Konso. It wasn't difficult as we learned theory about Konso in the classroom before. The only thing we need to do is to touch a forehead of a soul with Zanpakuto's Kashira (buttcap).

The problem is that not all souls are cooperative. There are two ways to calm them down. Either intimidate them or calm them down with kindness.

---

After the training which felt more like a field trip, we were about to return, so our group went to the forest near the city, but everyone heard a terrifying scream. It was like nothing I had ever heard before.

Most of the students panicked. Even Yoruichi-San Tessai and Urahara flinched at that sound, but unlike the others, they composed themselves fast.

The only one who was calm, at least from what I could see, was Ryoto.

Rin: "Ryoto, how can you be so calm? Didn't you hear that scream?"

Ryoto: "I heard it alright. It's just I faced someone a lot stronger than whatever is coming. The pressure coming from that person was enough to make me want to run away. Just being in front of him, I felt that I could die at any moment."

Is the training with Head Captain Yamamoto so strict?

Ryoto: "Lala's father is really scary."

...

Was he talking about Lala's father the whole time?

His comment made me relax a bit, but just moments later, a massive monster-like creature with a huge hole in his chest appeared seemingly out of nowhere.

Hollow: "GGGRRRAAAGGHHH!!!!!"

(A/N I don't know how to write Hollow scream/screech. Help would be appreciated. Editor didn't read Bleach and can't help me :(

So that's a Hollow. I've seen pictures before but seeing them in real life is completely different.

Senpai: "Everyone, stand behind me!!!"

Our senpai prepared himself to fight, but before the fight even started, I heard Ryoto scream.

Ryoto: "Pierce through the heavens, Zangetsu!"

And the next moment, a big sword flew next to our senpai and pierced the Hollow through its mask and killed it in the process. Ryoto then pulled back his Zanpakuto by its cloth.

Ryoto: "Sorry, senpai. Zangetsu would be grumpy if he didn't see some action against a real opponent. Even though it's a weak one."

The senpai looked back, shocked by what just happened, but he didn't have time to ask any questions as we all heard multiple screeches again. Much louder than the one before.

Hollows: "GGGRRAAAGGGGHHH!!!!!!"

Ryoto turned serious hearing it, and from what I know about him, he only turns serious when something is wrong. Before, he was relaxed even though he heard the scream as well.

Ryoto looked around fast, looking for something. He looked at everyone in our group and he saw something. I tried to see whatever he was seeing but without success but whatever he saw made him angry.

The air around Ryoto changed instantly. I've never seen him like that. Without saying anything, he walked up to one of our classmates and stabbed his leg.

Rin: "Ryoto!!!"

Senpai: "Yuuki-kun!!!"

Everyone else was shocked. Yoruichi-San and Urahara waited to see why he did that. Tessai, on the other hand, was ready to step ahead in case something happened.

Ryoto: "Why did you use the bait?"

He wasn't speaking loudly, but everyone was able to hear him clearly. The only ones to have a reaction to his words, however, were Urahara and our senpai.

Kisuke: "What did you say!?"

Yoruichi didn't know anything about it and tried to get an explanation from Urahara.

Yoruichi: "What does that mean, Kisuke?"

Kisuke: "As of late, the black market circulates a Hollow bait. By using it, you can gather a large number of Hollows to your location. It's mostly used on suicide missions when you want to kill a target that you normally wouldn't be able to. But that would mean..."

He turned to the student that used the bait, according to Ryoto, but he just started laughing.

Student?: "Hahahahahahaha!!! Now everyone will die. But most importantly, the princess of the Shihoin clan will die here! Hahahahahahaha!!!"

Ryoto stabbed his second leg, making him wince in pain, but his expression was grim as he sensed incoming Hollows.

We were surrounded by monsters.

Ryoto: "I'll take care of you afterward."

He said to the assassin.

Ryoto then stood in the way that he would protect me just in case.

I bit my lips. I didn't like it one bit. Did I train so hard for the past few months just to be protected again?

No, I refuse!

???: "Yes, finally! You go, girl!"

A familiar voice rang in my head. It was my Zanpakuto speaking to me again.

???: "I totes believe that you'll be able to hear my name this time. Prepare yourself for my amazing name. Call me..."

Rin: "Open and close all the doors before me, Tsunagari!"

My sword didn't change its shape, but there was a pattern resembling a key with a skull on the handle. The color of the blade also changed to be slightly darker.

Tsunagari: "Now, let's party!!!"

---

END

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