Well, this is pretty random. Later in the larger story I'm writing (of which Stranger is the first part) Alia is going to end up talking to Matsumoto about how Hitsugaya became a captain. I was just going to leave the explanation at what I put there, but for some insane reason I decided to elaborate on it, and thus Journey to the End was born. It's probably a pretty unlikely explanation of how it all happened, but as I'm kind of obsessive about Hitsugaya, he inevitably ends up seeming totally amazing in my stories. Ah well, if you don't like him, you probably wouldn't be reading this. The story is told from multiple points of view, starting and ending with Hitsugaya's.

"Which division are you aiming for?"

"Definitely the second."

"I heard the sixth is really selective."

"My brother's 12th seat in the thirteenth."

"So you want to be in the thirteenth?"

"No way! I want to be in the third."

"What about you?"

"I don't know…"

"Oh, come on. How can you not have a preference?"

"Who cares? It's not like hoping for one is going to get you into it."

"Yeah, but you can still hope for it!"

"Which one are you aiming for, then?"

"Fifth for sure."

There is one thing that every person has the opportunity to feel in equal measure, no matter who they are; be they black, white, or even Shinigami, and that's the excitement of graduation. It may mean something different to everyone, but they all feel the anticipation of knowing they're about to move on into another, new part of their lives.

Hitsugaya Toushirou felt it too, though he perhaps didn't show it quite as much as some of his classmates. He allowed the excitement to exist, though it was contained.

There was partly an obvious reason for this—Toushirou celebrated alone. He had no real friends here since the fiasco with Kusaka, and he was younger, smaller, and smarter than the rest of them. Nevertheless, no one had the time to tease him today; they were all absorbed in their own excitement, gathered around the entrance to the largest training area outside of the Academy.

Mostly in groups of three, four, and five, the soon-to-be-graduates stood around, waiting for instruction, chattering excitedly or staring nervously at the gate to the training grounds. When one of their trainers appeared through the gate, silence fell more quickly than it ever had before, every student gazing expectantly at the trainer.

"Each of you will be called out individually, by the order of your last name. You will go out into the training grounds through this door," he indicated the door he had just come through, "where you will face one of your trainers in a short spar. There is no need to introduce yourself. This is a chance to show your skills and what you have learned to the captains of the Gotei 13. Do not hesitate to use anything you have learned during your time at the Academy. The trainer you are sparring with will call off the fight when your time is up. At that time, you will proceed through the door on the opposite side of the training grounds, to a courtyard where you will await the final decision. When you arrive in the courtyard, you will be given a name card. Your division number will appear on the card when they have made their decision, and you will group yourselves according to division. When every student has been placed, the vice-captains of your new divisions will lead you to your barracks, where you will be introduced to your new home, your responsibilities, and probably your captain. We will begin in about ten minutes, so prepare yourselves."

The trainer disappeared once more through the door to the training grounds, but this time the chatter from before did not start up again. Toushirou recognized his own slight nervousness and shut it away; he did not need it to do this. He was at the top of his class. He had achieved far more than any of his fellow students in the way of combat.

It seemed like no time at all had passed when the door to the grounds was opened once again. "Ageda Mai" came through the door, and a girl standing near the front shook her hair out of her face, stood up straight, and marched into the training grounds. The door shut once again.

Toushirou stared around at his classmates and wondered vaguely how many of them would be in his division, whichever he was in. He didn't really care; no matter which division he was in, it would inevitably be another battle for respect. He hadn't really earned it from his classmates, but maybe he could earn it from his fellow division members if he worked hard enough. He was still young. The dream was far off, but maybe he could become a vice-captain someday. Or even a captain…

"I'm gonna be a captain for sure!"

"You can't know that."

"I can feel it. Besides, I'm great at fighting, and I'm smart too! I'll be a captain someday, I know it."

"Don't be so arrogant, Kusaka."

"Oh, come on, Toushirou. We can be captains together!"

"I sincerely doubt that'll ever happen."

"You're so gloomy. You're ruining my mood."

"Now if you're ever a captain, it'll be a surprise."

Kusaka looked at him incredulously. "Did you just make a joke, Toushirou?"

"No." but he smiled. Kusaka ran a few feet to catch up with him and punched him lightly in the arm.

"I'm willing to bet we really will be captains someday."

You were wrong…

No, Toushirou thought. This wasn't the time to be thinking of that. Still, memories of his former best friend plagued his thoughts. He took a deep breath, trying to drive them away, and felt a comforting presence in the back of his mind.

"Hyourinmaru."

"Of course."

This effectively drove away bitter memories of Kusaka and brought Toushirou back to wondering exactly where he was in relation to his classmates. He didn't really talk to them, so he couldn't be sure, but as far as he knew, he was the only one who had progressed to the point where he could actually have a conversation with his zanpakutou in his mind.

"Not many can do that."

"Not many of my classmates? How would you know that?"

"No. Just not many."

The dragon in his mind settled down at that point, leaving Toushirou wondering what he meant.

He looked around; there were about sixty graduates total, and he would say probably ten of them had gone. He must be coming up fairly soon. He focused his mind around the zanpakutou residing there, drawing strength from its presence. I'm ready for this.