Six years before Ichigo became a Soul Reaper…
Outside of the 10th Squad barracks, on a balcony stood a young man of normal build with slicked back black hair and a chinstrap beard. He had a ring on his left eyebrow and his Zanpakuto was held diagonally across the front of his waist.
"Hey Akanehime," said the black-haired young man to a long, red haired girl.
"Yes Ryuu?" said the red haired girl, smiling.
"Remember when we were in the Soul Academy together?" he asked leaning on a rail.
"Yeah and how you had and still have a crush on Lieutenant Matsumoto?" she giggled.
"Shhhhh! She could be coming at any…" he was whispering with a red face.
"I'm not deaf you know," said Rangiku Matsumoto, a tall buxom, strawberry blond woman of much allure. "I'm not blind either. Of course I know you have a crush on me." Ryuu blushed immensely and looked down at his feet after he caught himself staring at her.
"I uh…I…umm…I don't know what to say," he replied bashfully.
"I know what you can say," she said with a sultry smile. Then, she cleared her throat and said formally and assertively, "Akanehime Raiden and Ryuu Raiden!"
"Akanehime and Ryuu reporting for duty!" they said together as they stood at attention. Rangiku came close to Ryuu's face causing him to reel back in surprise. She forced him to the railing as he squeaked out, "Lieu-Lieutenant what are you doing?" She softly kissed him and winked over at Akanehime who was trying to contain her laughter. Rangiku slowly moved her head away from Ryuu and whispered, "This will never happen again. Our ranks are too far apart...there would be too much animosity in the squad. And most of all," she said looking away from his eyes, "Our captain wouldn't approve." She then whipped her head to face Akanehime. As she did this, her hair swiped Ryuu in the face and he caught a whiff of her perfume. It was intoxicatingly sensual. She smiled and waved at Akanehime before walking away. As she retreated towards the indoors, Ryuu collapsed to the floor not believing what happened. Akanehime burst out laughing.
Shortly after, Toshiro Hitsugaya, the captain walked by. "Good morning, Captain!" exclaimed Akanehime, stifling her hilarity. He stood much shorter than his Lieutenant. He had spiked white hair and his Zanpakuto was strapped to his back.
"I'm glad I found you two. Ryuu, I need you to take reports to the Head Captain," Ryuu looked up and immediately regained his footing. "Akanehime, you're coming with me on a mission to the real world," said Toshiro.
"Where are the reports?" asked Ryuu looking around as he entered his captain's office.
"They are on my desk, it isn't hard to miss." Ryuu had a confused look on his face and thought: That was odd. What does he mean by not hard to miss? He then saw a stack of papers that was as tall as the captain. Toshiro, Akanehime, and Rangiku left as Ryuu dropped his jaw and stood in the doorway frozen with shock. When he finally mustered his wits, he picked up the large stack and slowly, with much encumbrance, carried the stack of papers to the 1st division barracks. He was hoping that Head Captain Shigekuni Genryu-Sai Yamamoto would be around so he could hand deliver the reports.
He was hoping that there would be no wind. Luckily for Ryuu there wasn't. He got to the 1st division barracks after a pain staking hike. He looked around in the barracks for an officer and saw Retsu Unohana, a tall black haired woman, smiling…again. "Excuse me Captain Unohana? I have reports from Captain Hitsugaya that I need to give to Head Captain Yamamoto. Is he available?"
"Oh, I'm sorry to say this but no. He's with somebody important," she replied. "I can take those reports to him for you." Ryuu quickly set them down and half-muttered a thank you. "Is there anything else I can do for you?"
"Yeah…who's he with that's so important?" asked Ryuu bluntly, with a bit of frustration.
"I'm sorry dear but I just don't know," she responded with a smile. They exchanged quick goodbyes and Ryuu headed back towards the 10th division barracks. All he could do was wait for Toshiro and Akanehime to get back. He soon felt two, very ominous sources of reiatsu and one that was growing weaker. Terror consumed him and he felt a sweat come over his body. The weaker spirit he knew.