The orange-colored sunset was vanishing with the light, bathing the recently graduates into oblivion. Each of them was nervous and frozen in place, waiting for their names to be called through the mouth of Isae Nanao. Against their logic, the big wooden door by their right suddenly opened and twelve white jackets began their journey along the corridor of students. They would often stop near certain graduates and even talk to them. Stuck on the seventh row, column 4, graduated student Yurushimitsu Seika was wishing to go unnoticed by any of them. She was shy and therefore blushing her cheeks into hellfire. Against her will one hand-picked her chin up to look at these foxy look-alike eyes. The man smiled and coldly said:

- Don't look down on your captains.

Seika clenched the inside of her kimono as his hand slyly slid away from her chin leaving her on top of her toes. She was that weak… she was afraid it would happen again. "It"… Raising her head to the class she noticed a few of her comrades on the same situation. Captain Ichimaru was frightening. Through the corner of her eye she noticed a fellow cadet exiting the formation. Without looking she grabbed him by the shoulders and put her next to her.

- What…?

- Shush! They can hear you! Don't break the formation like that!

She remained silent, eyes focused on Ichimaru who was now passing by the front row. His eyes caught her attention and he suddenly released a giggle.

- Blending with the crowd, Captain Hitsugaya?

Seika stood frozen in her place as she turned her head to her left. Her eyes opened in shock as she realized she had pushed a captain into the formation. She had mistaken the tenth squad captain with one of the graduates. Behind the icy stare, Seika was nurturing a feeling of fear and embarrassment. He quietly stepped out of the formation, never losing eye contact with her.

- Quit it, Ichimaru.

Captain Hitsugaya was short and nerve wrecking for her. His cold reiatsu had always bothered her every time she was passing by the Juubantai division. He gave her one last look and without hesitation walked away from her. Seika finally exhaled the breath she had taken minutes ago, releasing her chest from the heavy weight. It would take a while before every captain visited all the rows. When the Captains finally ended their visit every graduate were forwarded into the main hall.

- I fucked up, big time.

Seika had finally blurted the right words out of her mouth. There was no way she would be put on a division with the past events. Resigning with her conscience she sat down against one of the stone pillars, watching the rest of the students overjoyed with excitement. She grasped her zanpakutou from her back and fondled it against her chest.

- It's good I can count on you for anything, Fin.

Nanao's voice rose from the intercom, scaring the girl. She quickly got up, moving closer to the balcony from where Nanao was talking. She began reading a list of names and ordering them into one of the side rooms. The group was becoming smaller by the minute. The girl grabbed her zanpakutou tighter to her chest, mumbling some mute words.

- "Ikase Monoko, Yurushimitsu Seika. Aisle 3, room 1."

Seika looked up in disbelief. How can this be? Ikase was one of the top students… In fact, anyone on her group of 10 was… Walking far behind the rest of the group she began wondering it had all been a mistake. She idly believed it. One of the seated officers led them into one the rooms:

- Stay here. You will have a hearing with your assigned Captain.

Seika sat on the floor, against the wall, clenching her zanpakutou. Her other teammates gave her an awkward stare, until one of them walked to her:

- You can have my seat if you want.

- Thanks, but I'm actually better like this.

The boy smiled at her, sitting by her side. His left arm was barely touching her right one, making her blush.

- You're right… We have a better view from here. Tactical, Ms. Seika.

- How do you know my name?

His blue eyes contrasted with his black hair as he gave her a smirk in return.

- You are a bit of a lone wolf, aren't you?

Seika nodded, throwing a serious stare at the boy.

- My name is Jaeger. Eren Jaeger.

- You already know mine.

- That… I do.

One of the officers entered the room from one of the side doors, calling:

- Eren Jaeger.

The boy gave Seika a quick smile as he got up and headed into the room. His rough look was too attractive. What was she thinking? She had bigger concerns than… a… Seika gasped. It took her ten minutes before she could see him again. He quickly sat by her again with a smile on his lips.

- Oh it was fun! Captain surely is amazing!

- Oh. Who is it?

- This is the tenth division barracks. You are about to meet Captain Hitsugaya.

Her heart stopped in that very moment. The boy saw the fear on her eyes and quickly said:

- He will not judge you from what happened… He chose you to be here.

That's right… He chose her to be there but… She was beginning to feel ill, until she realized the cold reiatsu in the air. How couldn't she notice it before? It had to be because of Eren's warmth… but now Seika was self-conscious.

- Yurushimitsu Seika.

Slowly she got up, legs shivering. She had given a few steps when Eren called her name.

- Wait! Take this.

Unannounced he took off his scarf and gently rolled it on Seika's neck. It was soft and there was a sweet scent of perfume…

- I hope it soothes you as it does for me.

For the first time in the day she smiled, hitting a soft core of his heart. Seika headed into the room, where Hitsugaya was standing along with Rangiku. Seika walked until she was properly close and bowed.

- I am Captain Hitsugaya Toushirou. This is Lieutenant Matsumoto Rangiku.

- Hi!

Matsumoto's excitement was not contagious. Seika bowed yet again, leaving the captain uncomfortable.

- Introduce yourself.

Seika raised her head until she was properly staring at the Captain. He had one of his fingers levitating above his lips, making it difficult for Seika to concentrate. She opened her mouth but no word came out.

- Close your eyes.

The Captain blinked once and Seika obeyed immediately. She closed her eyes, grasping the tip of Eren's scarf.

- Speak.

- My name is Yurushimitsu Seika, I am 17 years old.

- What district are you from?

- I am from the 80th district, long from Rukongai.

- What are your primary skills?

- Kidou.

- I've read your report. It says here that you Ace'd all the exams. It's not only Kidou you are good at.

Seika shifts place by a step or so, frowning her eyebrows. Can they possibly know?

- You shouldn't hide your zanpakutou. It's a beautiful sword...

- You are not… going to take him away from me…?

- Him?

As Seika opens her eyes she realizes the Captain was only a couple of steps away from her. She shook head to toe as he touches the hilt of her sword.

- Since when you've heard its voice?

- The first time was two months ago. I learnt his name.

- This is a first. A cadet with a soul spirited zanpakutou.

Seika was aware of it but right now she just wanted to slap his hand away from the sword. He realized her intentions and he quickly retreated to his position.

- You are too young to acquire such power. I would like to train you how to control your zanpakutou properly.

- Yes, sir.

- Don't mind Ichimaru. From now on you are our comrade. We value our partner's life.

Seika takes a quick sniff on Eren's scarf to soothe her.

- You can wait by the others.

- Yes, captain. Thank you.

With a bow Seika exits the room, rapidly exhaling. Eren greets her with a smile as he quickly gets up.

- How did it go?

- It was odd.

- Did he mention it?

- No… He wants to train me.

Eren's expression shifted a little during a few seconds, unnoticed by Seika who was looking at her feet. He fixes the scarf and Seika looks up at him.

- You can keep it.

- Thanks…

- Ha.

They sat on the chairs side by side, talking about the academy exams, until the very last cadet exited the side room and Hitsugaya entered along with Matsumoto. Every one of them lined up, bowing almost at the same time.

- At ease. You have all been admitted into the tenth division. Until you are ready to go to the World of the Living, you'll be given small tasks… that require precision and technicality nonetheless. You will stay at the barracks, so you can go pack your things. Yurushimitsu, not you.

As everyone was shuffling along the room to exit, the Captain called her one more time. Seika quickly grabbed the scarf at the same time Eren turned around.

- Your training starts early in the morning. I will be watching you this first week. Follow me.

Seika hesitates as the Captain throws a cold stare at her. Eren gets behind the girl and whispers in her ear:

- Good luck…

Seika gives him a warm smile as he tucks the scarf on her neck. She blushes, right before she exits with her Captain and Lieutenant into the left side door.

- You will stay with Matsumoto. I hope you are trustworthy.

- I would never….

- Not you, Yurushimitsu. I meant Matsumoto.

- CAPTAIN! If there was someone more responsible than myself…

- Just stop right there… Jesus.

Hiding her mouth behind the scarf she giggled. The trail of icy cold reiatsu was bothering her but although… she would've to get used to it.