Chapter One
The warm water of the shower splashed down my body, leaving a transparent trail as it moves down my body. I turned off the tap and got out of the bath, drying myself. Wrapping the towel around my waist I walked out of the shower into my quarters. The smell of scented and new rosewood assaulted me, overcoming the dominant smell of shampoo that was flooding in from the bathroom. What I expected wasn't this one person room, but the one I shared with my old classmates. Our time in the academy just sped past us in a blur. We used to dread being in the academy, but now, we dreaded leaving each other. Shaking my head, I shook these thoughts out of my mind as I reached out for my uniform. Again, I was shocked. Instead of the old white and blue robe I was expecting there was a black robe trimmed with white in its place.
In a few minutes I was already walking down the corridors, uncomfortable in my new uniform. My zanpakuto (A weapon that we Shinigami use, usually coming in the form of a Katana) hung loosely from the white sash tying my robes together. Even then the front of my shirt was slightly opened, revealing an extremely muscled chest underneath. Another thing I was uncomfortable about was the crest located on my shoulder. The number "11" was imprinted on it, and it represented the division he was in. Eleventh. A group of battle-crazed maniacs, they were seen as the rowdiest party animals in the whole of Soul Society! His specialization in the way of the sword had earned him a place in this division, and he feared the consequences. Would he survive this division? He feared his demise. It was ironic, really. Shinigami, the Death Gods, being afraid of death? Furthermore, he feared being shunned by the members of the division. The 11th was a Division infamous for their lust for fighting and specialization in the usage of melee weapons. No one knew about this yet, but I have made contact with the spirit within the blade. Perhaps it was natural affinity, perhaps it was due to our love and passion for music, I don't know. My Initial Release was definitely not the physical one. When I had heard the first few notes of music playing, I knew my hopes of attaining a melee release was dashed.
Running a hand through my blonde hair, I rapped my knuckles sharply on the door. There were sounds of music reverberating from the inside of the room, and the loud shouts of various rowdy shinigami. I gulped. Was I prepared to meet my new division members? The door opened, and a bald shinigami stood in the way. He had a wooden sword resting against his shoulder, and a flask of sake in his other hand. "Who're you?" the man had asked lazily. Of course I knew who he is. Ikkaku Madarame, 3rd Seat of the 11th Division. Madarame was a man famous throughout the whole of Soul Society for his bald head. Rumours were that he had attained his Final Release, though it was covered up, it was also speculated that it was due to his loyalty to the captain of the division that he had kept it hushed up. With the current lack of Captains, Madarame would most certainly be promoted if he revealed the existence of his Bankai.
Madarame's cheeks had a touch of pink to them. He was most probably half-drunk, like the rest of the people inside. Afraid of getting reprimanded on my first day, I snapped a quick salute and said in an even tone, "Kentake Hoshiro, 4th Seat." Madarame tilted his head to the side, as if in deep thought before his eyes lit up, "Oh! That new guy we were told by old Yama that was joining us today. Come on, loosen up. Come on in and meet Captain Zaraki. After that you can get a drink." Confusion was apparent on my face as I entered the room, what the hell was up with this division? Turning around the corner I immediately felt a sharp pain across my cheek as a heavily-built man in black robes jumped at me with a broken glass bottle.
"WHAT THE FUCK?!" I shouted, placing a hand to the cut on my cheek, which was now bleeding quite badly. This was just absurd. Who the fuck gets attacked on their first day? I mean, who ever heard of a subordinate attacking their superiors on their first day? Opening my eyes I saw the heavily-built man again, and now I slowly took in his features, trying to ignore the piercing pain in my left cheek. His cheek were red, probably drunk, that's why he attacked. Hmph. Didn't matter. The man's arm was rearing back for another strike before I knew I had to make a move, before my head gets cracked open. My hand shot up, grabbing his wrist as it came down and with blinding speed my knee slammed into his stomach in a disabling strike. Clutching his gut the man collapsed to the floor, the wind knocked out of him.
"You gotta cool down, mate." I said indifferently to the man on the floor, walking past him with Madarame following behind, grinning smugly. Pandemonium filled the entire area, as shinigami of the 11th Division drank from sake flasks and ran wild within the area. What shocked me wasn't the pandemonium, but the man I was about to meet. Standing nearly two and a half metres tall, his heavily-muscled chest was dominated by a multitude of scars, where a set of bandages were tied around his gut area, revealing only two packs. His hair was shaped into drooping spikes that hung around his face, and tied to each spike was a bell. On his face was an eyepatch, rumoured to be worn to eat away at his spiritual energy. Even then, the air was almost tangible with the amount of spiritual energy emanating from this man. His face was cracked in a feral grin and his arms crossed his chest as he looked at me from across the room. I tried to avert his gaze and walk away, pretending to get a drink but I felt strong hands grip onto my shoulders and push me towards him. "Comeon, don't be a coward. We ain't got space for cowards here. You'll get used to the spiritual pressure." The crowd parted unconsciously before me and Madarame as I was pushed towards the menacing captain of the 11th Division.
The spiritual pressure increased with every step towards him, and I had to too increase mine, in case I get overwhelmed by his. "Ahh .. You must be Kentake." Kenpachi Zaraki spoke, in a deep drawl. "Y-y-yes, sir." I replied, my words seemed to get stuck in my throat. It wasn't anxiety or nervousness .. But rather, fear. The primal look in this man's eye kept creeping back into my mind. I knew I would have a few sleepless nights after this. "Don't stammer in front of me!" the man in front of me suddenly exploded, punching a fist through the wooden table that was infront of me. The hairs on my necks stood on end as the wooden table suddenly collapsed in front of me. Zaraki's anger faded as it came, as his face broke out in a wide smile, "Good. You didn't jump. Mark of a good 11th Division-er. Welcome, boy." What the eff?! Wasn't I supposed to get introduced to the members of the division, get briefed with my duties and all that stuff? Well, I could only blame myself with my stupidity as I realized that I wasn't about to get a formal introduction when I heard the music.
"Run along, boy. Its time for me to sleep." The eccentric captain of the 11th Division dismissed me with a hand, as a woman – Correction. Girl with a shock of pink hair leaped in front of me. "Ken-ken needs to sleep-sleep-sleep-sleep. So you, go away!" Placing her hands on my shoulders, she pushed me away with surprising strength towards the refreshments table. Madarame was already there, stacking his plate high with various delicacies. Tapping him on the shoulder with my finger, I asked loudly, making sure he could hear me over the entire din. "Whats up with this Division? And who's that pink-haired shortie?" to emphasize my point I point at the party, then at the pink-haired girl. I jumped when Madarame suddenly made a startled glance at the girl, before placing a finger to his lips. "SHHH! Don't let her hear you say that! She's Yachiru, Lieutenant aka Vice Captain of our Division. Don't be fooled by her appearance. Wait till she gets angry. Now get some drinks!" Slapping me in the shoulder with a friendly shove, he walked away to the gambling table as I was left alone at the table of refreshments.
"What the hell was up?" I said to myself, feeling rather stupid.