"Today, on the day of your graduation, all of you can say with pride that you are Shinigami of the Thirteen Court Squads. Congratulations, and welcome to your future."

The words of the Captain Commander of the Gotei Thirteen Genryusai Yammamoto fell into the air, weighted by his lead-like spiritual pressure. The older Shinigami stood before the crowd of graduates, looking out at them solemnly. Due to his presence, the graduates were seated below the stage in as far away a place as possible. Only the representatives sent from each of the thirteen squads stood at the feet of the Captain Commander, facing the graduates before them.

Noire Fusasaki was among the representatives, sent by Captain Komamura of the Seventh Squad as his representative. Normally, the tall captain himself would have shown himself like the rest of the squad captains, however he was currently on a mission with the lieutenant. Brow dampening due to the sweat that slowly rolled down her forehead, it soaked the band of her eye patch. The spiritual pressure of the Captain Commander was enough to send most Shinigami to their knees, but his pressure along with the pressure of the eleven other captains felt like she was breathing in molasses, despite her own strength. The tall woman couldn't help but pity the graduates; most of them from what she could discern from their expression seemed to be on the verge of collapse.

The urge to move, to wipe off the sweat, to sigh- all of the above- ringed in her, but as Noire let her lone green eye sweep over the stiff Captain Byakuya to her left and the other, less stiff but just as formal Captain Aizen to her right she thought better. It was bad enough that her Captain did not show up, but if his representative wasn't even able to perform to the highest degree, it would be bad for the captain and her.

Silently cursing her luck, Noire looked at the faces of the graduates. As usual, there was a wide range of age lined on the faces. Some were young, some were much older, and yet most were closer to appearing to be in their twenties and thirties. She caught the eyes of some of them, mostly rugged men who matched the stereotypical description of members of the Seventh Squad.

How disappointed they must feel, Noire thought with a twinge of humor, To see a woman standing in place of the Captain of the "manly" squad.

Noire did not blame them for thinking that way, in a way she would have been disappointed if she saw someone who was not her captain- or the lieutenant for that matter- standing where she was. It was only pure bad luck that the third seat could barely stand in the company of two captains. When he had asked, head bowed low to her, to take his place how could she refuse? She supposed it did make more sense, as she had spent a lot of time in the company of multiple captains in her time living as a soul.

The woman was brought out of her thoughts as she physically felt the pressure of the room lessen. Had she been paying attention, Noire would have realized that the captain commander had left some time ago, but it was only then that he was far enough away for his spiritual pressure to have lifted from the crowd of pale and sweating Shingami. Slowly, the room began to move as the captains dispersed.

Noire followed the white haoris outside, where the captains would then take their new members to each of their respected divisions. Once outside, the spiritual pressure lessened even more, and she finally felt like she could breathe properly. Glancing down the line of captains, Noire looked for a man in particular, who of course was not there. Instead, in his place were two Shinigami who also were without the white haoris of the captains. The two caught Noire's look and waved, smiling happily as they rushed quickly over,

"Good morning, Miss Fusasaki! Captain Ukitake couldn't make it today, but he told us to say hi and to drop by when you have the chance!" Kiyone Kotetsu jumped enthusiastically, nearly smacking her partner Sentaro Kotsubaki in the nose.

Glaring at his partner, Sentaro added onto Kiyone's statement, "He also says to not worry!" He crossed his arms, "And that it's just a fever."

Nodding, Noire smiled slightly. "If you get there before me, please tell him I'll be there once I'm done with the new recruits."

They nodded in response and said their goodbyes, leaving Noire to turn to the group of large men and a woman who seemed to be staring at her in a mixture of annoyance and confusion.

Feeling herself sigh inwardly, Noire braced herself for the amount of attention she was about to receive and opened her mouth, "New recruits of the Seventh Squad will follow me to the barracks, where you will be further informed on the happenings of the squad."

Turning her back and walking, she almost didn't hear the murmur of one of the recruits going, "Who's this woman? Isn't this supposed to be a manly squad?"

"Don't you know? That's Noire Fusasaki, one of those war machines from the Fusasaki house. I heard that she's tougher than an elephant! You could break her leg and she'll continue marching, break her arm and she'll keep swinging her zanpakuto!"

"You have to be shitting me! A woman like her?"

Noire sighed, this time externally. She continued walking, hoping they would stop soon. When they didn't, she threw over her shoulder, "Please save gossiping until the person is out of earshot. It's rude and belittling for new members of the Seventh Squad to do such."

They were silent after that, or they were talking low enough that Noire couldn't hear them anymore. She really wished that others wouldn't spread such gossip about her, but rather to ask her face to face. Was it really that hard? She blew such thoughts out of her head as they entered the compound for those who served under Captain Komamura of the Seventh Squad.

Noire continued to show the new recruits around their new headquarters and where they were likely to spend the next several decades of their lives, taking to show them the men's and women's wings, the several dojos to practice in, and Captain Komamura's private residence as well as his office. By the end of the tour, Noire felt exhausted and turned them over to the Shinigami who were in charge of the new recruits.

Looking to the sun to check the time, Noire decided that she still had some time to visit Juushiro Ukitake, and excusing herself she left the compound to make her way to Ugendo. Knowing where he would be, Noire quietly made her way through the halls of the family's personal estate, nodding to a few of the servants that recognized her and greeted her with a smile. After knowing Noire for several decades everyone in the household was used to her comings and goings, no longer showing surprise when she would arrive when she heard her long-time boyfriend was not feeling well.

Knocking quietly on the door frame, Noire waited until she heard Juushiro call out for her to enter. Sliding the door open, Noire crossed over, into his room with quiet footsteps and a smile, "Good afternoon, Juushiro."

Juushiro Ukitake turned in his seat, his white hair falling into his pallid face as he smiled in return, "Hello there, Noire. I'm afraid I can't quite find the energy to stand up, so you must forgive me."

Walking over and placing a hand on his wide shoulders, Noire sighed and shook her head with a slight smile as she laid a kiss to his cheek, "You know it's better to lay down when you're feeling sick."

The sickly captain chuckled lightly, "Well, I can't very well do work while I'm lying down, now can I?" His eyes were soft on her though, his hand coming up to grasp the hand on his shoulder.

Noire noticed how hot his hand was though, and so she attempted to put on a stern face, "That's why you have Kotetsu and Sentaro. And before you do any more, I insist you get back into your bed." Leaning down, she pressed her forehead against his, feeling how hot and sweaty he was compared to her own temperature. "You know better than to push yourself; you'll just have more work to do later."

Closing his eyes, Juushiro let go of a lungful of air that Noire could feel on her lips, before he smiled, "Well, if you insist." Helping him stand, Noire pulled his arm across her shoulders so that they could make their way over to his bed in the room next door.

Noire smiled as the smell of sandalwood that came off of Juushiro, recognizing the smell of the aftershave he preferred. His arms were warm as she supported him and helped him into bed, the difference in temperature not going unnoticed when they let go.

"How did the graduation ceremony go?" He asked from his bed as Noire grabbed a pitcher of water, pouring it into a basin and a washcloth in order to help with Juushiro's fever.

Noire thought as she carried the basin and washcloth over to his bed, sitting on the side and placing the glass on the floor. "I remember it being a lot different from my own. Shorter, and maybe a tad more bearable."

Chuckling, Juushiro watched Noire bend over to wet the cloth, "That was more than a hundred years ago, wasn't it?"

Pausing, Noire smiled at him as she placed the cloth on his forehead, pushing the bangs out of his face, "That it was. About a hundred and forty-five, back when they still made the graduates stand while the Head Captain gave his speech."

"Oh my, that really was a long time ago!" Juushiro laughed, holding the washcloth so that it didn't fall off, "If I remember correctly, you were one of the few who didn't faint that year."

"Your memory is as sharp as ever, Juushiro." Noire tilted her head, the corners of her mouth tilting up in memory. "Then again, I was slightly more accustomed to high amounts of spiritual pressure."

Reaching up, Juushiro took Noire's face in the palm of his hand, "Yes, but that in itself is just part of what makes you special, isn't it?" The corners of his eyes wrinkling, "And I'd be a bit worried if the one I care so much for couldn't even stand in my presence."

There was a pause as the two looked at each other, until Noire cleared her throat. "Move over, I'll lay down with you until you fall asleep." Pushing down the shyness she thought she had previously forgotten about while around her boyfriend, she laid on top of the covers, feeling Juushiro's arms come around her to pull her close and into his chest.

"Only until I fall asleep? In that case, it's best I don't sleep. Not if I get to spend some time with you alone," Juushiro's chest rumbled against her ear. Not that she minded, of course, she smiled and replied:

"We have all the time in the world, dear." Noire looked up to Juushiro's face, "And once you get better you can enjoy it more." Snuggling back into his too-warm body, she mumbled, "Now you go to sleep or I'll leave so that you can."

Juushiro chuckled, relaxing into the mattress, "If you put it that way, I guess I am a little tired."

"Then sleep," Noire smiled, her one eye closing in the silence that followed. It used to surprise her how comfortable the silence could be between the two of them, but years of knowing and taking care of each other taught her that words weren't always needed in relationships. She enjoyed the quiet moments, just like Juushiro did.

To be honest, Noire wasn't surprised when she found herself slowly falling asleep. In the back of her mind, she knew that someone would eventually come and wake her, but until then, she would sleep next to Juushiro, keeping him company while he dreamed.

"Today, on the day you graduate from this academy, you can now proudly say that you are a Shinigami of the Thirteen Court Squads. Congratulations and good luck to you all."

Noire could feel her knees shake as sweat rolled like waves down her back. Eyes glued to the feet of the captains standing at least twenty feet away, she couldn't help but want to sit or fall-one of the two. But she couldn't, not without disgracing not only herself, but the Fusasaki clan. Glancing to her right and left, all she could see was the hollow shells of her fellow graduates, all lying in disarray from fainting. Not wanting to look behind her, the teen could just tell that not one of the others besides her still stood.

She felt the eyes of the captains on her, all wondering who this young girl was who was actually able to stand their combined presence with the Captain Commander's. A few had a faint recognition, seeing her at minor parties some years before as the eldest adopted daughter of Ando Fusasaki. Noire couldn't stand their eyes, it felt like they were accusing her for being too strong, but not strong enough to even stand without shaking. Especially that man with the eye patch, the second to largest of them all that she knew to be the killing machine Kenpachi.

She had to stand through it, though. She knew that if she fainted or fell now, there would be even more accusation thrown at her. Trapped, that was what she was.

And confused. Her instructors had told all the others that morning where they were being assigned to, and yet when it came time to tell her all they said was to stay behind after the ceremony was over. Why would she not have been assigned to a squad? Did she fail something? Would she have to make up a class? Last she knew, the instructors for all of her classes thought well of her, except for the shunpo instructor. Maybe it was him?

As her knees began to quake even more and breathing became hard, the air lightened significantly. The Captain Commander had left, along with the other captains, allowing the trainers to make their way through the assembly to wake the unconscious graduates.

Feeling a hand land on her shoulder, Noire flinched and turned to see her reiatsu instructor smiling. "Please follow me, Fusasaki."

Nodding, she took after the slim man through the halls of the Academy until they came upon his office. Noire had not spoken during the time she followed him, but when she sensed another's presence in the instructor's office she began to have her suspicions.

Opening the door, the teacher indicated for Noire to enter, which Noire did so with an edge of trepidation. Stepping into the office, Noire's eye immediately landed on a man sitting at the table. He appeared to be in his late thirties, with light, slicked back hair that fought to curl beneath the hair product. He wore half-moon glasses on his nose that did nothing to conceal the dark circles beneath his eyes as he took her in.

"Kyosuke, your choice in coffee is absolutely disgusting." The stranger's mouth curled down in distaste, looking at the instructor behind Noire with familiarity. "Don't you have anything stronger?"

Kyosuke Tachibana led Noire to another seat by the rude man, sighing as he responded, "Then the next time I run out, you can buy whatever you'd prefer, Wilkin."

"Please," the man Wilkin sat back in his chair, "You know I only come back to Soul Society when I have to."

"Then don't complain," Tachibana said simply. "Now, I'd like to introduce you to Noire Fusasaki, she is the best reiatsu tracker of her year. Fusasaki, this is Wilkin Ainsworth, he's the head of the British Outpost in London, England. He's been asking for someone to replace their tracker that they lost a year or so ago, and I believe you may be up for the job."

Blinking, Noire turned to the strange man, bowing briefly, "It is a pleasure to meet you, Master Ainsworth." Surprised by the sudden change in plans, she wondered what it would mean for her if the man allowed her on the team. England was far from what she was expecting, even though she knew it was flourishing in the human world. From his spiritual presence, Noire could tell that Wilkin was incredibly powerful, just short of the weakest of the captains.

"Awfully polite, aren't you?" Wilkin raised an eyebrow, before looking at Tachibana, "I suppose that comes with being a Noble, though I thought the Fusasaki's aren't European."

"She's adopted," Tachibana intercepted, "But the Fusasaki name has been removed from the list of Noble houses. That was nearly two hundred years ago, Wilkin."

"Odd." Wilkin shrugged, "But that doesn't matter. Fusasaki, you think you'd be able to sense a hollow within a square kilometer?"

Nodding, Noire quietly answered, "Yes, sir. I've done so before."

"Even with two thousand other souls interfering?"

She paused, before relying, "I would be able to, after training specifically for it."

The man's already furrowed brows lowered even more, "How long would that take?" Wilkin lifted the cup of coffee, drinking it with a semi-disgusted face.

For the first time, Noire met his eyes, "A week would be sufficient." Her hands gripped the fabric of her pants, beating down the panic that was slowly rising.

Wilkin, his face blank, turned to Tachibana again, "Well, could she do that?" When the instructor nodded, Wilkin returned once again to Noire. "What are your other skills?"

Noire blinked, before looking back down at her hands.

"Besides her ability to track reiatsu, Noire was in the top five of her class for both strength and endurance, and is quite capable with or without a zanpakuto in her hands." Tachibana smiled, looking at Noire, "She just doesn't like to gloat."

Keeping a poker face, Noire closed her eyes briefly, "Gloating is unseemly, Instructor Tachibana."

"Damn, how polite is this girl?" Ainsworth scowled, "Is there a stick up your ass, or something?"

Wincing, Noire's eye focused on a crack in the floor. It wasn't like she was like this because she wanted to! Her hands clenched even further into her pants, nearly ripping the fabric as she held onto it.

"Ah, Wilkin, that is not very nice to say to someone you're going to be working with for the next several decades." Tachibana frowned, before patting Noire, ignoring the way her body flinched as she felt the contact. "Wilkin is a little rough around the edges, so you'll have to excuse him."

Taking a deep breath, Noire calmed down enough to pull on the mask she had been known for at the academy. Straightening, Noire unfurled her hands and folded them in her lap as she faced the men head on. "I am used to such words by now. As for my skills, one should not gloat over something they have spent the past hundred years training specifically in that field. It is only because of the Fusasaki's that I am stronger than most and can take more damage to my body. However, that is not taking into account how much skill I lack in speed and performing incantations or using projectiles. If Mr. Ainsworth is not sure whether or not to allow me to work at the British Outpost, then I suggest either a probation time or a test."

"Hm, so you do have a bit of sass in you," Wilkin drained the last of his coffee. "Very well, I like the sound of a probation. One month would be more than enough. Of course, if I do take you there will be a lot for you to learn, including English and the current culture over in England, as well as history." Leaning back in his chair, he eyed Noire, "And you'll have to modify your appearance to blend in, once we have your gigai. How bad is the skin where your right eye used to be?"

Sighing, Noire reached up for the string that held the patch to her eye, untying it, "My eye is perfectly fine." Pushing her bangs out of her face and opening the sickly yellow eye, she looked at Wilkin. "However, heterochromia disturbs most, and I prefer not to show off this eye."

Rubbing his chin, Wilkin took a better look at her. "Well, the scar can be covered with makeup and a contact for your right eye. The other man working with me has blue hair as well, but it is much darker and not so eye-catching. We can dye it the same color and say you're related." He grinned, "Though, now that I have a better look at your face you're rather attractive. It'll help bring in customers, and our next cover."

Giving him a rather dubious look, Noire tied the eyepatch back into place. "If you say so, Mr. Ainsworth."

"So, when would you be ready to leave?"

Smoothing her hair into place, Noire replied with the hint of a smile, "Name the time and place, sir." She had nothing to tie her to this place, not anymore.