The ink on the paper was written very neatly, with no smudges. And as far as she knew, her eyesight was perfectly fine too. So… that would make it a typo. Right?

"I'm sorry Miss Rina. But it does indeed state that you have been placed in the Eleventh Division." The person at the desk said clearly, with a fake tone that had obviously no genuine sympathy at all.

"E-Eleventh Division. With Kenpachi?" She stuttered over for the eighth time, just for the sake of clarification. Surely there had been some kind of fatal mistake, or switching.

"Captain Zaraki. And yes, you have also received ninth seat. Congratulations." Looking bored, the woman stifled a yawn, and dragged out another slip of paper from a wooden drawer built into the desk. "Now sign here and you're good to go."

The words "Funeral Insurance" were printed in bold at the top of the page.

"You're kidding me. This isn't real. No." The newly graduated Soul Reaper said in utter denial.

"Sweetie, do you really think you're going to make it? If you live through the first twenty years, you may get transferred if that is your request at the time. Now sign, and quit hyperventilating. That's quite unhealthy for you." She advised, holding out a ballpoint pen while tapping her fingers on the other hand in impatience. "Be quick about it. Kenpachi doesn't like it very much when he's held up with newbies."

The kanji that composed of her name was shaky and scrawled, but it seemed to satisfy the desk woman, as if she had seen worse. "Good. Now take this badge, keep breathing, and keep your chin down. It's much harder to decapitate people that way. Shoo!"

Rina still stood there, with her mouth wide open, frozen and unbelieving. Giving another agitated sigh, the woman picked up a stapler, and with marksman precision, flung it at her straight at the forehead.

She ducked out of the room, where the next fidgety graduate shuffled in, giving her looks of pity as she walked out. "Good luck, Rina." He whispered, with eyes wide as if she had already died, with his own fingers tied in knots.

Not exactly what she wanted to hear. Taking a fortifying breath of air, she looked at the address printed on the misfortunate sheet, and memorized it. But her legs were also paralyzed with shock.

Why had this happened? She was okay in kido. And maybe she failed once or twice in the medical exams… But as for physical abilities and weapon wielding… what were they thinking? Placing her into the Eleventh Company? It was an incredibly sick joke for them to play on her. She gripped the hilt of her zanpaku-to for reassurance, fingers fading into a shade of white as the pressure squeezed the blood out of her hands.

I can do this. I can at least walk, right? Because if I can't, then I might as well slit my throat right now…

One leg, up, down over there. Repeat with other leg, switch back and forth until arrival. Above all, keep breathing. Her body was on complete autopilot, the mind in deep thought and poisoned with dread.

Mom, Dad, can you see me? Can you see me from the heavens, or wherever you are?

That was fast. The building was only a few feet away. Why does this always happen when she wasn't paying attention? Keeping breathing, stay positive.

I'll be joining you soon. Say hi to Taku for me, okay?

Too late for any optimism. The doorway appeared before her, looming way over her head and casting imposing shadows that may have been implying certain doom.

And tell him that I tried. I really did.

Step in through the doorway, don't bump into anyone-

"Ouch!" a voice rang out in alarm, sounding oddly dignified for someone who was supposed to be hurt.

"AGHH!" she cried out, stumbling backwards with no grace whatsoever.

Okay, the good points. She landed on her knees, little injuries sustained from that. What were the bad points from this? The other person was scowling openly, rubbing his forehead. This person looked androgynous, as the gender was hard to place. He (Or very possibly she) had the sleekest hair that she had ever seen before, and an orange collar underneath the traditional shinigami robes. Were those feathers near his (She decided on his) eyes? He seemed…

Well, he seemed pissed, really.

-End Chapter 1, continuation on Chapter 2-