"So, Captain Kuchiki, do you think there will be any good recruits today?"
The taller captain glanced at the young prodigy in deep thought. "I could not say, Captain Hitsugaya, it has been a few years now since any graduates could stand on their own."
"Don't make me laugh." Captain Zaraki started. "There won't be a single one who can fight worth a damn. I don't know why they even have that academy; none of the brats who make it through are worth fighting and have to be educated on how to not get themselves, and others, killed needlessly. This is a waste of my time."
"You know how I hate to agree with Captain Zaraki here, but he is right. Everything that's taught at the academy is just useless in a real battle and we have to teach them how it's properly done." Captain Kyouraku walked toward the others with Captain Ukitake walking beside him. The others immediately took notice of how Jushiro was leaning on Shunsui but none would comment, not even Kenpachi.
All the captains knew that Jushiro's illness had finally taken its toll on him and that he was not long for this world. He would die and Rukia, who had been appointed as his lieutenant after Sosuke Aizen had been imprisoned, would take over as acting captain until another could be found. Perhaps it would be one of the other Vizards, who had stayed in the world of the living, or it could be Renji if he wanted the job; he had achieved Bankai and was qualified. Either way, Jushiro would not last much longer unless Captain Unohana could find another treatment for the ailing captain.
"You shouldn't be so pessimistic. There's always a chance that someone will come through who's just a little bit different than the others." The other captains felt sick to hear the sound of a dying man's optimism.
"Perhaps you are correct, Captain Ukitake. We will find out shortly." Captain Kuchiki pulled the others' attention away from their comrade and toward the graduates who were being led into the large room by their teacher. All of the captains watched as the new soul reapers filed into the room with anxious looks on their faces. They moved to their seats to begin the selection process.
The gathering hall was enormous. None of the young hopefuls had ever been in a room as elegant as this. They were lined up in alphabetical order of their last names in front of the captains they all yearned to soon serve. Head Captain Yamamoto sat in the center of the small stage just slightly raised and a couple of feet further back than the other captains.
They watched as the other captains took their seats. On the far left was Soi Fon, captain of squad two and leader of the Stealth Force. Only the fastest graduates would be chosen by her. In the next seat was Rojuro Otoribash, usually just called Captain Rose. He was an odd and quiet man, but that was all that anyone really knew about him. Captain Retsu Unohana sat in the next place. She was a kind looking woman and a great healer. There were many hopefuls in the crowd of graduates for squad four. The captain of squad five was Shinji Hirako. Captain Hirako was strong and highly respected. The graduates had all decided long before their graduation that nobody really wanted to be in squad five because the captain was just creepy looking with his goofy hair and strange smile; they knew it was immature, but they just couldn't help it. All the girls wanted to be in squad six. Byakuya Kuchiki was the most handsome of the captains and had a reputation for protecting his squad.
There was a small gap after Captain Kuchiki's seat that allowed Head Captain Yamamoto to be seen easily and then led to the squad seven captain-Sajin Komamura. Squad seven had no real stand out traits other than the captain looking like a dog. The selection candidates were not for or against being chosen by or assigned to Captain Komamura. They were all pretty well against the next captain, however; Captain Shunsui Kyouraku was an old pervert who took nothing seriously. Squad nine, on the other hand, was headed by a man who took everything too seriously. Captain Kensei Muguruma was an uptight pain-according to the rumors-and nobody wanted to be a part of that squad either. Squad ten was supposedly a great place to end up under the order of Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya. He was a genius and could teach a young and ready mind many things. Everyone was hoping to avoid squad eleven. Kenpachi Zaraki was the worst captain to be stuck with. He was ruthless and murderous and absolutely out of control. Only the best and brightest would go to squad twelve-chosen or not-because Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi was as insane and deadly as Captain Zaraki but he would kill with painful experiments and toxins. Squad thirteen was about to lose its captain. Jushiro Ukitake was going to die soon-everybody knew it-and the entire squad would be thrown into discord- another squad to completely avoid.
"Captains," the academy instructor began his little speech, "I present to you this year's graduating class. All of the young soul reapers you see before you have proven themselves worthy to become members of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads. I would personally…"
The young soul reapers before the captains could no longer listen. They were watching said captains and gauging their reactions to the papers they had all received while the graduates had been lining up. The papers were the reports on all the students. The captains now held records of all their tests, both written and practical, all their exercises, and all the disciplinary actions that were ever taken against them and why. They were holding the younger soul reapers' futures.
The captains were no longer listening. Every year for nearly three hundred years the speech was the same. They were all much more interested in reading about the young people who were being presented to them than listening to their now former teacher say how great they are and how hard they've all worked. Everybody worked hard to become a soul reaper and if they made it to graduation it meant they were worth keeping around; what the captains were interested in now was what kind of problems they would have with any they may choose-such as behavioral issues or not being physically exceptional.
"Well, it looks like Captain Ukitake may have been correct about staying positive." Captain Hirako whispered to Captain Kuchiki.
"I believe you are correct."
All of the captains marked on their papers who they wanted in their squads and who absolutely could not be a part of their squads and handed in their papers to Head Captain Yamamoto. The academy instructor motioned for all of the new soul reapers to file out of the meeting hall as the captains stood to wait for them to go.
Once the room was cleared Captain Zaraki began laughing his usual, maniacal laugh. "So, how many of you suckers requested that Akihiko kid?"
"Why do you say his name like that, Captain Zaraki?" Shunsui smiled at the much larger man.
"Someone who has no disciplinary record and has perfect marks on all of his classes and tests is nothing more than an academic suck up with no personality or character and who will never be worthy of being called real soul reaper!" Kenpachi frowned at the thought of someone who he considered to be weak becoming a soul reaper.
"Just because you don't like people who aren't trouble makers doesn't mean that they aren't worthy of being called a soul reaper." Soi Fon scolded Kenpachi, although a small part of her believed that he was correct. While she did lead a group of endlessly loyal men and women she still felt that all people must have some mind of their own.
"That is enough" Head Captain Yamamoto rose from his seat to address the other captains. "All of you will return to your daily functions and I will send messengers with a confirmed list of all of your new squad members." All the captains bowed to their leader and separated to return to their respective barracks.
"So, captain Soi Fon, were there any candidates worth bringing into our prestigious squad?" Second Division lieutenant Marechiyo Omaeda smiled stupidly at his petite captain as she walked back into her office after the selection ceremony.
"There were a few of them who were half decent but none who were really worth being hand picked." She watched as the fat man threw more chips in his mouth and, as he was chewing, hit him hard in the gut and watched as he flailed wildly.
"Captain Rose, did you choose any new recruits?" Lieutenant Izuru Kira placed another stack of paperwork on his captain's desk.
"There was one that I thought had promise, but many of the captains agreed. This year it's squad seven's turn to get the most requested pick. We'll most likely end up getting the riffraff that nobody wanted."
"Lieutenant Kotetsu, please prepare for tomorrow's induction. I am expecting quite a few new comers to our squad."
Isane bowed politely to her captain. "Yes ma'am."
"Captain Hirako, do you know how many new recruits we'll be getting?" Momo smiled at her captain from her desk in his office.
Shinji returned a light smile to the young girl. "I'd say only about four or five, Lieutenant Hinamori. There weren't too many who were impressive and squad seven is up for first round picks. It's going to be slow tomorrow I'm sure."
Lieutenant Abarai was signing the final document in his current stack of work when his captain returned to the squad six barracks. "Captain, were there any good recruits?"
"There were a couple who stood out, but none of them were worth talking about." Byakuya sat at his desk and began working on his own work. "Renji, I need you to go to the squad twelve barracks and get confirmation on the training site tomorrow."
"Yes Captain."
"Welcome back, Captain."
"Thank you, Lieutenant Iba. Be prepared for tomorrow. I've chosen a young man who I expect great things from and I would like for you to take him under your wing after the test."
"Of course, Captain."
"Nanao, is everything ready for tomorrow?"
"Yes, Captain Kyouraku, all preparations are complete." Nanao looked down at her captain who was lying on the roof of the main building of the squad seven barracks and chewing on a piece of grass. When he didn't say anything else she began to get irritated. "Are you planning on doing any work today, sir?"
"Why, Nanao, I thought I had finally taught you that work is for rainy days."
Not able to take his lazy attitude anymore Nanao proceeded to kick her captain in the head.
"Nanao, why must you be so cruel, my sweet little Nanao?"
"Captain Muguruma, sir, how did the ceremony go?"
"That damn, big lug was right; it was a waste of time. Not one of those losers was worth leaving the office for and now I'll be behind on paperwork for a week." He threw his things in the floor next to his desk and removed his zanpaktou from his side to lean it against a bookshelf. "Shuhei, have any messengers come for me?"
Lieutenant Hisagi sighed at his captain. His former lieutenant was supposed to coming to visit him from the world of the living, but after two and a half months she hadn't even sent word. "I'm sorry, Captain, no. There have been no messengers."
"That's fine, let's just get back to work."
"Hai, Captain."
"Hi, Captain; I didn't expect you back so soon! How was it?"
"Terrible, Rangiku; there were only a couple worth considering but even they weren't very impressive." Toshiro sat at his desk and sighed. He leaned back and closed his eyes in hopes of a bit of rest.
"So, a slim picking as far as strength goes," Lieutenant Matsumoto started, "but were any of them cute?" She fell to the floor laughing when her captain's chair fell backwards and he hit his head on the table behind him.
"Yachiru, Yumichika, Ikkaku, I need you three to get ready for tomorrow. We may not be getting any strong candidates for our squad, but we still have to show up and make them feel…welcome." Kenpachi busted into a laughing fit while the others just smiled at the prospect of fresh meat.
"Nemu, send word to all the other captains of where we will being testing the new brats tomorrow and prepare for our new test subjects!"
"Yes sir."
Rukia carried a cup of tea to Jushiro's room. It broke her heart to see her captain in such a state. "Here's your afternoon tea, Captain."
"Thank you Rukia." He smiled as she handed him the warm liquid.
"Captain, I've heard there weren't many candidates who stuck out this year. What did you think?"
"On paper there was only one who made himself known, but there was young woman whose name I do not remember who looked like quite the difference maker. Of course, those could just be the thoughts of a dying man who's loosing his mind." He smiled at her again, trying to help her accept his death as he had long ago.
"No, Captain, if you saw something in one of them then I do not doubt that we will see just how much of a difference this one girl will make tomorrow." Rukia rose from her seat and took the empty tea cup from the sick captain. She smiled and bowed politely before leaving the room to again mourn the coming loss of her captain.