This, as you probably would have guessed by now, is a Bleach fanfic centred around an original character but with plenty of canon ones appearing throughout. This is my first ever fanfic so please don't be too harsh but any input/critical reviews would be appreciated; I want to improve after all! This story falls somewhere between the death of Kaien and the whole Ichigo/ryoka business and hopefully there won't be any continuity errors... Enjoy!


Second to One

A cool midwinter's sun hung in the cloudless sky over Seireitei warming everything in its gaze. The relative warmth that the pale yellow orb brought was greatly appreciated by the multitude of shinigami that stood in organised lines filling the expansive training courtyard. The dusty barren field was supposed to be empty this morning but due to the extraordinary number of people attending the graduation day ceremony, which was in its final stages, the procedure had to be moved here. Indeed the turnout was so great that the traditional assembly hall, where the proceedings normally took place, was abandoned due to insufficient room, forcing everyone outside. Not only was the number of students graduating this year higher than ever before, but eleven of the Gotei 13's taichos were in attendance, perhaps to encourage the new shinigami to join their division's ranks. At the very front of the horde of graduates, newly garbed in their black and white shihakushō, was Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13 and founder of the Academy. His voice boomed across the sandy training grounds which seemed contrary to his elderly appearance. Currently he was explaining that despite having learnt much during their time at the academy there was still much for the new shinigami to learn and they would do this under the leadership of one of the thirteen taichos.

"Your future leaders are assembled here," he indicated towards the captains that stood to the side of those assembled. "As you well know there are thirteen divisions in all, eleven of which are represented here by the ten taichos to your right as well as myself. Most of you have already chosen who you will be serving under for the foreseeable future, but for the rest of you I suggest you decide swiftly otherwise the decision will be made for you. Do not let the failure of Soi Fon and Jūshirō Ukitake to appear today dissuade you from joining their respective divisions. Soi Fon is currently on a vital reconnaissance mission whilst Ukitake is currently absent due to illness."

A muttered discussion began at the far end of the central most line of former students in reaction to the Sotaicho's last sentence. The culprits were a red-headed female and a scruffy brown haired male.

"Can you believe that? A captain so ill he can't even make the graduation ceremony," whispered the girl.

"Does it matter? It isn't compulsory for them to attend and besides the Nibantai taicho isn't here either," muttered the boy keeping his eyes forward.

"Yeah but at least she has an excuse. This Ukitake is a joke, who'd want a sick old fool for a leader. I'm glad I chose Kuchiki-sama's division."

"I've heard Jushiro's one of the best, actually, despite his illness, in fact I was thinking of joining thirteen."

"What!" the sudden outburst by the red-head caused several surrounding shinigami to turn round and shush her. She continued the conversation despite the disapproving stares and glances thrown her way. "Are you mad Tomohiro? I thought you were gravitating towards Shunsui's division with all the other slackers."

"I was Akane, but I guess I've changed my mind now." Tomohiro had hoped that he could have remained anonymous in this conversation in case someone overheard their mutterings and reported them for talking during the ceremony. He had quite a lot of experience of being reprimanded for chatting in class and it was almost always because of Akane.

"You really are a moron brush-head. I guess while your future taicho rests in bed mine will be giving me one to one tuition," her heart fluttered at the thought.

"In your dreams, I've heard he's as cold as ice. He rarely acknowledges his subordinates existence let alone take the time to babysit them!"

"B-babysit! What is that supposed to even mean? Just you wait, after a few years under Kuchiki-sama's wing, I'll be serving him as third seat!"

"Hah! Well I'll be fukutaicho before he even knows your name!"

There were more than a few people watching their now heated argument, one of the graduates in the outside right line, near the assembled leadership of the Gotei 13, reported their dispute .

"You as fukutaicho? I'm amazed an idiot like you even graduated, you make sloths look like hard workers! Besides you'd have to surpass the current fukutaicho and with your talent you'd be lucky to make tenth seat!"

"That's where you're wrong. Jūsanbantai don't have a second in command at the moment so I could just waltz in and be named fukutaicho within no time!"

"Tomohiro…"

"What are you lost for words? Typical, you always stop randomly when I prove you wrong!"

"No Tomohiro, you should stop...," Akane slowly raised her hand, indicating behind the now fuming shinigami. This was why he was the one that got into trouble whilst Akane seemingly always avoided the tutors notice; he never knew when to stop. Tomohiro's mouth opened but stopped suddenly, his brain intervening before any words could escape, but it was too late. Someone had already alerted one of the fukutaicho's to the pair's argument and he had approached to see what was going on. Akane had noticed him approach and saved herself at the expense of Tomohiro; a tactic she had adopted throughout her student-life.

Tomohiro slowly turned to face where she had been pointing and froze under the gaze of the alerted fukutaicho. He panicked, turning back to face his old accomplice only to be betrayed once more as she looked away denying any involvement with him. He had nowhere else to turn, there was no digging his way out of this mess.

"Oh…" he murmured pathetically.


Well there you have it! Hope it wasn't too bad but remember this is my first try. Who is the lieutenant I hear you ask? Well you'll find out in the next chapter!