A/N: I do not own Bleach or characters/plot/materials from it. The only thing I definitely own is the original characters/plot/materials in this fan-fiction.

* * * This is the story of Ukitake Jushiro.

Struck by a mysterious illness since he was just a child, he took it upon himself that no one else should worry of him but he himself.

He made it clear that he must never let anyone worry for him, that such burden was something only he would be allowed to carry. It was his decision that no matter how often he would fall in love or how deeply others would fall for him, he must not ever commit himself to a relationship, to love, to life. He will never let someone be so close to him as to share this burden of his.

Ukitake Jushiro - stoops in pain, lives alone and that is how he planned his life to be and to end.

He swore an oath of fortitude in solitude… forever.* * *

"You know, I won't enjoy this at all," I mumble, but I highly doubt that they could hear me. The excitement in their faces show just how big of a deal it was. I couldn't have told them that I was uncomfortable or that I was incredibly modest when it comes to these matters - in fact, I think I've said that already! But they seem to enjoy doing this to me… perhaps, knowing also that I would never have resisted them or hurt them in resisting.

"C'mon, taichou!" Sentaro eagerly tags along my side (gripping on me) as we pass corridors by corridors - frankly, I think I need a breather…

Kiyone is even more joyous than him and she hangs onto my other arm with a vice grip that could've cut through my flesh had it been a cero. I dare say this whole thing was her idea - she does look very happy in dragging me around…

"Yeah, taichou!" she insists, "You're the first graduate to become Captain! No, you're the first graduate who became first Captain! You've gotta make a speech for that!"

"But, how is this any different from any entrance ceremonies before?" I protest. I hated to think that I did so and without reward to my effort or painfully, should I say, without success.

"Because," Kiyone replies musically as she darts her deep lavender eyes toward Sentaro, who's - would you believe it - grinning all over, "Because you're the best, Captain!"

"Yes!" Sentaro agrees (for once) with her, "Between you and Captain Kyoraku, you're so much better!"

"Yes, in both diplomacy wise and character wise!"

"Yes, yes! You are good with other people and even those lower than you and - "

"And you know how to handle other people and even those lower than you!"

Realizing that they were saying the same thing, they look at each other and grin even wider than before; I watch in the sidelines as this friendship so strangely bonded in my time of distress. Come to think of it, didn't they just repeat the same thing? Oh dear, we're going in circles… again.

"Look," Kiyone's sudden pitch hike sure startles me. "The Captain-Commander has asked his lieutenant to find us lieutenants to tell both you and Captain Kyoraku to join him at the Academy."

Sentaro nods his head vigorously; I couldn't help but feel the sweat drop down from my brows. "Yes, Captain!" he urges with wide dark eyes that almost frightened me, "You see, he wants to show them a bit of something!"

"Yes, yes! To show exactly what kind of person he wishes the next graduates to be!"

"Yes, yes! And that this year was a bit different than normal because…"

"Because?" jumps Kiyone as he turns her head to his; both seem confuse. Oh dear.

I should suspect that they must've misunderstood the orders from Sasakibe-san, but I did hear that Shunsui was ordered to join the Master at the Academy. I hear Kuchiki-san was also called for this one… I wonder what could be the case? The last time Kuchiki-san was at the ceremony, his adoptive sister Rukia was just taken in as a graduate. Perhaps… another noble related to him? Who else could it be?

"I don't know," says Kiyone as she cupped her chin with her fingers. "Lieutenant Sasakibe said: bring him to the ceremony. Then we asked, if it was necessary for him to come up front because he was ill and all and then he said: under the Captain-Commander's orders. Then he turned to Ise-san and said: bring him to the ceremony as well."

"Ah," I take the chance to stop moving and start breathing again, "Then you have indeed misunderstood him. How many Captains are called for?"

"So far only you and Kyoraku-san."

Sentaro then gives a quick nudge at her elbow, "Hey! What are you talking about? Renji said his Captain was going as well!"

"Then, only our Captain, Kyoraku-san and Kuchiki-san?"

"Yes," he replies as sternly as usual seeing as he has the upper hand over her, "Yes, sir!"

Well, it seems that I was right! Perhaps another noble indeed… "Then you needn't worry," I sigh - I would've rather just spend the day trimming my bonsais, but if the Master calls for us, we must always come to his side. "I'll handle this matter myself!"

"What do you mean by yourself?" Kiyone makes a quick slip of her hand and slaps Sentaro childishly, "This was all your fault! Now we won't get to see him in action at the Academy!"

Sentaro checks to see that he still has his cheek and then yells back at her, "Hey, how's this my fault? You're the one who don't know what you're talking about!"

Here we go again.

"Sentaro, you promised you would back me up!"

"I said no such thing!"

"Yes, you did!"

My, my! I must break this up. I wonder how many times has this happened? I lost count at three… "Alright, both of you!" I command, but none of them seem to stop. "Come on, now! I said stop it!"

"But Captain!" they yell in unison in my face, "She/He started it!"

I could cringe, but I don't dare break their heart. They had been very loyal to me, surely not as much as to deserve my annoyed expression. No, indeed, I deserve to be taking care of them like this… Yes, because I owe them that loyalty.

"Now, now," I say as I wave my hands down, "Easy does it, you two! None of you started anything, alright? We're all good here… I just think that you should both take a break and let me handle this by myself… for once!"

"But Captain!" Kiyone argues, "You're not feeling too well!"

"It's too late for that, Kiyone!" Wow, that stung harder than I thought it would… "I'll be alright! Don't worry!"

Sentaro quickly jumps in as well, "But Captain! We insist!"

Oh dear, again. Seems like I can't get out of this without insisting myself, Sentaro! "No, how about I insist?"

"Captain," they coo meekly in a low voice - so low, you would think they sighed… so low you would think they scoffed. Honestly though, I don't think I could ever get tired of this - of pushing everyone away…

"Ja," says Sentaro as he look down at his feet rather sadly, "You're going to the Academy alone?"

I nod. "Yes. No worries! I know my way around, Sentaro! I wasn't born yesterday you know!"

"Well, that may be true, sir, but…" Kiyone's lilac eyes suddenly waver in teary pleading. "But we'd like to be useful to you!"

"To be useful to me would be to be listening to me," I insist myself again; I accompany my statement with a smile, "Please, allow me to handle this by myself. I am an old man - old enough to do his own bonsai trimmings!"

At that, I hear myself laughing alone and their expression is that of disagreement, if not silent contest to argue that I was incorrect. Have I not trimmed my own bonsai?

"Um, r-right on that one sir…" Kiyone sheepishly blushes and looks away, stifling her laughter - what could that mean?

Sentaro nods repeatedly once again. "Yes, yes! You're good at that… sir."

"Well, anyway, I better get going then!" I quip. I think the atmosphere has tensed too much I can't breathe…

"Y-yes, sir!"

I make my way past them, but for a few steps they eventually follow me; when I do turn my head to stop them, those footsteps stop as well and they offer me a smile that confuse itself between awkward and normal. Then, I offer my own smile and at this sight, their bodies twitch and stumble backwards - now that is rather normal. Before I take another step though, they're already gone. I feel safe enough to let out a sigh of relief as I continue to walk towards the Shinou Academy.

Finally, I am the master of my own body again. I am free from the bounds of their endless affection toward me… If I didn't know it any better, I might've been dragged all the way to the Academy doors and my, that would be embarrassing indeed! And look how far they've brought me - I'm already at the Fifth Division's barracks!

But anyways, that aside, the weather is very fine this late morning. The sun is shinning brightly above my head and its ray of warm light that cascade over my long hair sends a refreshing energy throughout my weak body. The air is filled with the fragrant smell of gardenias, clematises, daisies, daffodils, roses and lilies - all of which I definitely think is from Unohana's barracks. She used to tell me that the patients who are still recovering always need some motivations and flowers always are the best. Ever since, I took it to my heart that I should have a bouquet of snowdrops around whenever I was ill.

As I silently smile at the sight of her barracks' door, I am then startled to see Matsumoto and her Captain coming out from it.

"Shiro-chan," I call for him, which is quickly welcomed by a sudden twitch of his ears. "Could it be that you were also invited?"

He pouts adorably as he turns toward me; his spiky platinum white hair gently wave at the wind's command and the way his aquamarine eyes stare at me shows just how he hated me calling him that. But, I think it suits him well…

"Ukitake-san, what do you mean? Invited where?" He says rather snappily.

Matsumoto seems to an idea of what I was talking about; her blue eyes widen as she says, "Oh, of course! You were invited by the Captain-Commander to join him at the Shinou Academy!"

"Yes," I nod, "The entrance ceremony is today, right?"

"Well, although it is the entrance ceremony, I should warn you, Captain Ukitake. Most of the new students have already started learning."

"Hah?" Toshiro exclaims in disbelief; he crosses his arms to his chest as he hisses, "What kind of an entrance ceremony is that, when the student has already started classes? That's not an entrance ceremony!"

It is strange… I quite like to know that as well!

"Well, you see," Matsumoto chirps cheerily, "Quite a number of these students have passed the entrance exam - even more than the previous years. It came as an unexpected surprise so they decided to admit them as soon as possible - just to test if they were genuine. When they have indeed shown their own skills in all areas, the Captain-Commander was then informed of this after their two weeks in."

I must've nod my head almost as vigorously as Sentaro did because Toshiro looks at me strangely; "That's interesting! I didn't know of that!"

"You should look out too, Captain Ukitake! Who knows someone might caught your eye for when you'll be able to chose your recruit later!" Matsumoto laughs as she nudges on Toshiro's elbow, "Too bad you're not invited!"

"I've had enough of recruits!" Sighs Toshiro as he looks away, "What good is there to take up recruits like that anyway? I think they'd be rather suspicious!"

Well, I must say, if Kuchiki-san is coming along, suspicious isn't the word… uncharacteristic or special is more like it.

Matsumoto suddenly gasps, as if she remembered something; "Come to think of it, I think one of them is Kazue-san!"

"Kazue?"

Oh no. Is that who I think it is? Uh-oh.

"You mean," I almost stammer, "The Kuchiki Kazue?"

She nods her head. "Yes, that's her!"

"Another noble!" Toshiro scoffs, tightening his grip around his arms, "What good indeed!"

"Oh, no, Shiro-chan! That's the last thing Kuchiki Kazue wants to be known as!" I smile at his ignorance, "You see, she's also known as Reisaki Nobuo Kazue… perhaps you might've heard of her with that name?"

"Reisaki? Well, I never thought a noble would share a name with that peasant," he responds indifferently, "What's got her so famous again?"

"Her father is Kuchiki Nobuo, a rather deadbeat noble," Matsumoto answers for me in a dark tone - she clearly knows the history and hates the said man for it - well, quite frankly, who doesn't? "Her mother is a low-class commoner who was forced into a marriage with him. She died when she was ten and he died about forty years after she did… her childhood's pretty rough, I hear."

Let's not get into that… "Matsumoto-san," I swiftly jump in, "We shouldn't talk badly of others."

"Badly? Oh, no! Kazue-san is my idol! She's a zesty, rebellious new-age woman for going against her father! Wasn't it made public?"

Ah, there she goes… She went over the line with that last one!

"Kazue, huh?" Toshiro muses loudly, "Yeah, it does sound a bit familiar…"

"Of course! She is famous! After her father died, she took up his name just so she could embarrass him!"

Ah, she went over the line again!

"Ukitake! There you are!"

Saved by the bell! I spin around to see Kyoraku and Ise coming towards me. I can't tell him just how relieved I am to see him!

"Captain Kyoraku, Nanao-chan," Matsumoto greets them with a smile. "What are you guys doing here?"

"Well," Ise jumps to her side and whispers conspicuously, "We were on our way to the Academy…"

"We've been looking all over for you, Jushiro!" He adds with a wink as he tugs his hat.

"Kyoraku. Ise. Aren't you two supposed to be on your way to the Academy?" I ask.

Ise nods her head quietly as she shoves her glasses upward, "But he insists that we bring you with us!"

"Whatever for?" Toshiro pouts once more, finally speaking after brooding for so long - he always has trouble remembering the littlest details about someone!

"Um, shouldn't the first two Captains be coming in together?"

That may be a good idea, but not in actual fact a good action… "I see. That's a bit sensational, don't you think?"

"C'mon now, Jushiro!" I hear Kyoraku cheers for me, "We're the first graduates to become first Captains. We learnt from the very first Shinigami - surely being invited to an entrance ceremony is an honorable thing to accept?"

I can't believe he said the same thing as my lieutenants did. Should I tell him that? "Well," I laugh nervously - I can't ignore the similarities, "Even so, I am not one who shows off…"

"He's right," Toshiro answers for me, "He's not that type."

"Are you saying that I am?" Kyoraku snaps playfully - his blur expression is obviously getting in Toshiro's nerves.

"Don't deny that you are, taichou," quips Ise.

"No, I don't mean it like that!" I quickly recover, waving my hands as if to surrender - honestly, I could've! Kyoraku always gets you with your own words, as if he's always engaging in battle: an opponent using your own skills to your own disadvantage - so well I hope he wasn't like that at all! "More importantly, I hear Kuchiki Kazue is one of them!"

Kyoraku has a sneaky smile on his face, as if he knew exactly what he was getting into, which means… "Oh, yes," the smile now shift into a smirk, "That woman."

"Taichou," Ise interrupts, looking extremely annoyed. "We've discussed this haven't we? The whole motive to this entrance ceremony is not because Reisaki-san is one of them!"

"Kuchiki Kazue. I wonder what kind of a Shinigami would she turn out to be?"

Ise quickly scowls at the correction; I prefer to have called her that myself, but it would depend on our actual introduction, wouldn't? That's right, Jushiro - don't jump into your own conclusions! At the same time, Kyoraku ask a good question. But personally, considering the rumors and history, it has its dangerous effect to the mind. It is rather impossible to guess…

"Taichou!" she yelps like a child and starts pouting.

"Come on now, Nana-chan! There's nothing wrong Kazue - you said so yourself! Admit it, it'd be great if she's joined our Division!"

"While I won't protest that it'd be extremely great if she was around," Nanao seems to have lost her cool as she blushes red and repeatedly fix the position of her glasses over her nose. "And while I do look up to Reisaki Kazue-san, I think your point of view of things aren't necessary the right way of viewing things. If that makes sense…"

"A little," Kyoraku chuckles while Matsumoto stifles her laugh.

"Well, don't just stand here!" Toshiro suddenly screams, "Aren't you guys going to be late?"

"Oh, don't worry!" Kyoraku speaks up again, "The trainees are always a little late for assembly!"

Ise suddenly let out a scoff as Kyoraku and I walk off, waving at Toshiro and his lieutenant. "Not since Kazue-san's joined…"

To be honest, even I myself is curious about Kazue. What kind of a person is she really? I'm not one to believe in rumors, but are all the things they said about her is true? Or is she really a very sad person inside, having gone through all of that?

I think… I wouldn't know if I didn't see it for myself.

But I can't say I look forward to it. Something just tells me that every one of those rumors are possibly true…