A/N: This is just some background. I have absolutely no idea if Hitsugaya went to the Shinigami Academy (or if it's even called the Shinigami Academy) or not, so I'm just changing everything to suit my purposes. If it really bothers you, leave a review with suggestions as to how I can change it so that it isn't screwed up. Also, please excuse in spelling errors when it comes to character names.

Disclaimer: Bleach belongs to Tite Kubo.

Preface

One warm spring evening found Hitsugaya Toushiro, otherwise known as Shiro-chan, and his fukutaicho in the Squad Ten office, Morimoto Rangiku guzzling sake as her white-haired captain sat, consuming more candy than was physically possible for someone of his stature. Why were they drowning their sorrow in sake and candy? They were going back to the Academy.

It had happened something like this:

First Captain: It seems that you, captains and lieutenants alike, have forgotten the basics. I will give you two years to prove to me that you remember everything that you have been taught at the academy. If you fail to impress me, than you shall all be going back to the Academy. I want no back talk. I am not changing my mind. You are dismissed.

All Taichos and Fukutaichos except Hitsugaya: Nooooooo!!!

Hitsugaya:Is it really so bad?

Everyone else, except Nanao, who was determined to stay dignified: Yes!

Hitsugaya:O-okay. Sorry I asked.

Matsumoto:Shiro-chan! No! Don't be sad!

(Rangiku proceeds to hug Hitsugaya, who promptly begins to turn interesting shades of blue and purple.)

Yachiru:Ooh! Pretty colors!

Hitsugaya:Mmrff! Airf! Airf!

Matsumoto:Aw, you're being a puppy dog! How cute!

Hitsugaya:Noff! Airf! Neef Airf!

Hinamori:I think he's saying he need's air, Rangiku.

Matsumoto:Oh!

Hitsugaya:MATSUMOTO!!!

Matsumoto:I… think he's mad…

Hinamori:Ya think? Your name was bolded, underlined, capitalized, italicized, and followed by three exclamation marks.

Matsumoto:How do you know that?

Hinamori:Don't ask, just run.

Matsumoto:What do you me- AHHHH!

Hinamori:I guess… I'll see you later?

(Giggle from Gin.)

Gin:Highly unlikely.

First Captain: What? You're still here? Get out already, you imbeciles!

(They run for it, causing quite a traffic jam.)

First Captain: Ah, peace…

"How do you think we'll be able to convince him that we're stronger than a bunch of snot-nosed teenagers." Matsumoto said drunkenly, leaning heavily against her much smaller captain.

Hitsugaya pushed her off, startled out of his flashback.

Damn… I hate those things.

Hyourinmaru?

Yeah?

What the hell are you doing here? I thought you were vacationing in the Living World!

I came back. Couldn't stand to be apart from you.

Sure.

What! You have so little faith in me…

Just shut up. I think Matsumoto is worried for my mental health.

I come back to be with you and this is what I get: a bunch of spiteful words thrown in my face! We Soul Slayers have rights, you know!

Hitsugaya, tuning out the whining of his katana, listened, instead, to the complaints of his fukutaicho.

"Well, we'll just have to prove that we have mastered the basics." He said grandly. Matsumoto nodded, agreeing whole-heartedly. They were, after all, the twenty-six most powerful shinigami in Soul Society. They could prove that they were better than some naïve, untrained teens.

They failed horribly.

Hitsugaya sighed, running a hair through his wild, gravity-defying hair, fluffing it up even further. He pouted, blowing at that on lock of hair that was determined to hand down. Two years had passed and nothing had changed with the fighting capabilities of the Thirteen Squads.

Although, Hitsugaya himself had changed. A lot.

His long-awaited growth spurt had finally caught up to him, and he now proudly stood at 5'11" (how he grew nearly two feet in two years shall forever remain a mystery). No more being called 'elf boy', 'you kid', 'midget', 'thumb sucker'… it was amazing, the volumes of self confidence height could inspire. And, he could finally reach the top shelf of his refrigerator. No more needing to ask Rangiku to help him get his iced tea. Oh, no. Now, he could reach it easily. Oh, the wonder…

He sighed and donned those ridiculously puffy blue pants.

What a waste of fabric. You could make three pairs of pants out of all that cotton…

Hitsugaya just massaged his pounding temples, steeling himself for eight hours of pure torture. He opened the door of his one room apartment, locking it behind him.

I don't get the point of locks. I mean, this is a city of Shinigami. They can just cut your door in half and get in that way. And, most Death Gods are accomplished lock picks…

Trying to shut out the annoying ice dragon's endless prattle, Hitsugaya continued down the dirt road, feeling extremely self-conscious. Damn pants…

So, when you gonna get yourself some. Quite a few people have been offering…

Ew! I don't need my sword governing my love life.

Sex life. He corrected crisply, unaware of his master's discomfort. Or was he?

Shut up already.

Hey, you're hormones need a representative. Be fair to them.

"Be quiet!" Hitsugaya frowned, realizing that he had said that out loud. People were giving him strange looks.

I have every right to talk!

If you don't put a cork in it, I'll buy a new katana.

What! You can't! I'm the most powerful ice/snow/water type Soul Slayer out there! I'm irreplaceable!

Oh, look. I have just enough money to go buy one of the new ice type Soul Slayers in the shop down the road… Hitsugaya jangled the coins and bills in his pocket, which was really only pocket change. When you're a Captain, you get paid well.

Shutting up, master. Hyourinmaru said meekly.

That's more like it.

Hitsugaya sighed and quickened his pace as the Academy came into view. Best to face it now…

Let the torture begin.

A/N: Next chapter will be better. I promise.