Captain Hitsugaya sipped some hot green tea as he filed a stack of paperwork in his office with the Squad Ten barracks. Of course, he thought, gritting his teeth, it was Matsu Moto's job, but she had spent the time instead drinking sake with Kira and Hisagi. He sighed, shuffled the remaining papers, and placed the in a neat stack on the corner of his desk. Glancing at the wooden clock mounted in the corner of his office, he realized that he had to judge an audition for two newcomers who wanted to join the tenth company. Pushing his chair back, he fastened Hyourinmaru to his back and strolled out the door.
The pavilion where the audition was held was littered with delicate, pale pink cherry blossoms. The cherry blossom trees swayed loosely in the gentle spring breeze. Hitsugaya seated himself on the stone bench beneath a tree beside Matsu Moto, who had sunken eyes and was clutching a clipboard to record the results.
"Drank too much yesterday," she groaned, not her usual, chipper self.
Hitsugaya found this strange as she often drank sake, so he figured she must've developed immunity to the alcohol by then. However, that was not the case.
"I had to do the paperwork you didn't do yesterday," he snapped. "No more sake for you today!"
"Yes, Taichou," Matsu Moto yawned for what seemed like the hundredth time. Of course, Hitsugaya knew, Matsu Moto would drink sake today. And tomorrow. And the day after that. And so on. It was an exclusive pattern that repeated itself over and over again.
Hitsugaya swiveled his head around on the bench. "Where are the contestants?"
"They're here, Taichou!" called third seat Masashi Kyou, as he ran forward. The two newcomers followed closely at his heels.
Hitsugaya eyed the two contestants. The first was a buff man in sleeveless robes leaning against his katana. He had cropped chocolate colored hair and sea green eyes. His mouth was fixed in a permanent scowl. The second was a girl about Hitsugaya's height. She had a sleek, black mane of gently curling hair that rested on her chest. A silky white gauze was draped about her shoulders. After a moment, Hitsugaya realized that the gauze was attached to the tail of her katana, which was strapped to her hip. She had gleaming teal eyes that, he was astonished to know, were fixed icily upon his. He blinked a few times, shook his head, and turned his attention to Matsu Moto.
"Begin the audition," he commanded. First, they would fight Masashi, and then they would fight one another.
"Yes, Taichou."
The buff man was first. He was to spar against Masashi. He pulled his katana from the dirt an eyed Masashi carefully. Masashi pulled his zanpakutou from its sheath and came in for the kill. The buff man blocked his first strike with ease. The second. He smoothed his hand over his katana, and a surging wave of fire roared out at Masashi. But quick as a rabbit, Masashi hopped behind him and had a sword to his throat. The buff man grunted in despair while Matsu Moto scribbled furiously on her clipboard.
The girl sashayed lightly from where she was leaned against a cherry blossom tree and unsheathed her zanpakutou. "I guess it's my turn right?" she asked with a cold smile toward Masashi. But it seemed more like a statement. Masashi got into ready position. The girl did a few quick hand movements, twirled her katana from the gauze- and vanished. Hitsugaya's eyes widened. Then Masashi let out a yelp as a droplet of blood dripped down his wrist. The air shimmered, and then the girl had pressed the hilt of her sword to Masashi's throat. With another Mona Lisa mystery smile, she withdrew her sword and sheathed it with undeniable grace.
"There is no need for another duel," panted Masashi sullenly. "I think we know who the winner is."
The buff man turned and stomped off.
"You, what's your name?" Hitsugaya asked pointedly motioning to the girl while Matsu Moto's handwriting grew into a crazed scrawl on the clipboard.
The girl smiled, sending a strange tremor through Hitsugaya's ice-cold heart. "I'm Hiromi Kazue," she said. "Nice to meet you."