Prologue
Kuchiki Byakuya opened his eyes to another day. The large room where he slept was empty and quiet. He sat up and took a deep breath. He walked over to the shoji screens that separated his room from the garden out back and opened them up. He sat and meditated, quietly, and tried to welcome another day peacefully.
He blinked his eyes open as he felt the sun trickle over the high fence and onto his face. The sun shown in his deep grey eyes and he decided it was time to go. He had to review the new students at the Academy by request of Captain Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni.
His servants had laid out the gi and cloak he had requested and he decided to dress himself. He looked at himself in a mirror as he threw the white cloak of a Captain of the 13 Gotei over his shoulders. He slid his arms through the arm holes and pulled his hair out from underneath the white cloth. A servant combed Byakuya's hair, careful not to disturb the Kenseikan, the adornment that reflected his nobility.
When it was time Byakuya left the house of Kuchiki and headed for the Shinigami Academy.
Renji eventually shook off the sleepy feeling from his limbs and sat up on his futon. He yawned, sighed, then he too got ready for the day. After he dressed he combed and tied his hair back. Looking in the mirror he ran a quick hand across his forehead admiring the tattoos that signified his accomplishments and smirked. He picked up a piece of white cloth and carefully folded it over. He then tied it around his head. Renji Abarai picked up his sword, slid it into his belt and headed for the Shinigami Academy. He was to meet his captain there to review the powers of the students they took on that semester.
Tashi Touichi had recently been accepted to the Spiritual Tehcnique Insititute, otherwise known as the Shinigami Academy. She woke up in her family's large home and was served her breakfast in her bedroom. She was greeted with "Good morning young mistress."
Her servants tended to all her needs and she felt some anxiety as she had never been away from home before, nor without a chaperone. 'I'm going to have to try and live like a normal school girl. I can do this!' She had two bags packed and waiting for her by the door. She told her servants she would be dressing not in her normal travel attire, but in her school uniform.
She spent some time with her elder brother who was currently on bedrest recovering from an illness. After saying her goodbyes to him she said goodbye to her parents and got on to her palanquin and headed for the academy. She watched her large home get smaller in the distance and looked ahead down the road in front of her. '…I hope I can do this.'
Tashi's parents, members of a rural, but noble family, paid for her lodging which was much closer to the school than her home. She decided to rent a house close to the school and took on two roommates. They were two girls who Tashi met during the entrance exams; Eri, who was from a respectable family, though it was in the middle districts of Rukongai and Atsumi, who was also from Rukongai, but not so respectable. The odd trio all shared one bedroom, a bunk bed and a single bed, and a desk that they all shared. They were fast good friends, despite their differences.
They were entering their first year at the academy and looked forward to the several years that lay ahead of them. They all knew that the training of a Shinigami was long and arduous, but they figured that if the three of them could stick together they could get through anything.
All three girls were placed in the third class. They were average amongst their peers, and glad of it. One day, in between classes Atsumi said to her companions "Ah, shit girls. Can you imagine the pressure of being in the 1st class? Jeez. They're number 1, so they have to stay number one. Then the 2nd class is always being pressured to beat the 1st. It's fuckin' crazy. We may be number three, but at least we can learn at our own pace, eh? Shit, it's not like we're at the bottom of the barrel in the 6th class. That would just plain suck balls."
Tashi often felt like washing out her ears after listening to Atsumi muse. Tashi had been raised in a noble household and taught very rigid and proper etiquette. Swearing was on her list of 'don'ts'. "You're right on that account Atsumi, but I can't help but feel my parents were disappointed that I didn't make it up there."
Eri sighed and clasped her notebook to her chest. "That's Tashi for you. Always worried about her parents." Eri then looked at Atsumi and said "And you need to watch your tongue around here. At home you're just offending us, but when you're here, Atsumi, the professors might hear you. Watch out; if not for Tashi's sake, for your own."
"My sake?" said Tashi. "Why me?"
"You get all squirmy when I talk sometimes" said Atsumi laughing at Tashi's prim and proper nature. "You get uptight about some things."
"Actually I was thinking it's because the captains are going to be on campus next week. One of them might overhear you!" said Tashi.
Atsmui said "We need to relax you a bit. OH! That reminds me!" Atsumi put her arms around her friends and huddled them close. She whispered "I hear there's going to be one huge-ass party at that guy Tetsuo's place tomorrow night. You guys in? I can get you in, you know."
Eri perked up and said "Tetsuo?"
Atsumi tugged on one of Eri's low and short pig tails then nodded and said "Uh-huh. That hunk-a-hottie you like."
Eri got very red in the face and said "I-I-I-"
Atusmi finished her sentence "Got a big thing for him?"
"Oh shut up, Atsumi" said Eri, embarrassed.
Tashi smiled and giggled. "You should go then! Why are we whispering?"
Eri and Atsumi looked at Tashi and both said "duuuuuuh."
"Duh what?"
Atsumi said "#1, not everyone is invited, and #2 there'll be booz. A whole fuckin' lotta booz."
Tashi's eyes went wide and she said "But, but, we're too young! That's illegal! And as students of this Academy it's against the rules!"
Atsumi nodded with satisfaction and said "Uh-fuckin'-huh."
"Guys, be careful if you decide to go" said Tashi.
"Whattaya mean? You're comin' too!" said Atsumi.
"No, I'm not. If I get caught that's the end of my life right there. I can just hear my mother now." Tashi straightened up her posture and made her voice a whiny high pitch. She pointed her finger to the sky and said "Well I never. In all my years raising a proper young lady of the royal courts, I never expected you to stoop so low as to ruin all my hard work! Who's going to marry you now!"
"What does a party have to do with you getting married?" asked ATsumi.
"If there's one blemish on my reputation it could hinder a suitable man from approaching me" explained Tashi.
"You're a fuckin' kid" said Atsumi.
"And when I'm not anymore someone is going to look back and check my record. If there's one blemish ATsumi that's it. I need to be able to rope in the best."
"What does it matter so much? Why not just marry someone who loves you for your faults, eh?"
"Because the man I marry will affect the lives of all the people my father currently lords over. I'm not marrying him for me, Atsumi."
"Eh?" said Atsumi "Sucks to be you."
Eri said "Well, I can understand you being cautious Tashi, but don't forget to have some fun while youre here. Maybe next time?"
"Maybe when I'm legally old enough to enjoy a party like that" said Tashi. The bell rang and Tashi said "I'm sorry guys. Really. If it was just me I had to worry about then I'd be ther in a heartbeat."
Tashi ran ahead and Atumi said sarcastically "Well she's going to be a load of fun this semester."
"Don't be cruel Atsumi. She's under a lot of pressure."
"Yeah. I know. C'mon we'll be late" said Atsumi, unsure of what the future held.
