A/N: Here's part 2 out of 4. Each chapter will contain a time skip of some amount, but it will always be mentioned in the chapter at some point, so hopefully no one will get confused. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Nope, still don't own anything excpept the idea...

Part 2~ Graduation

Alan stepped up onto the platform, a huge smile on his face. He walked over to the older Shinigami standing in the middle, who held out his hand with an approving look in his eyes.

"And now I am happy to present one of the most promising Shinigami to be joining our ranks," the elder Shinigami said, grasping Alan's hand and turning the boy to face the crowd of grinning Reapers. "Alan Humphries!"

The room exploded in cheers, and Alan smiled even wider. He could feel the tears of happiness welling up in his eyes as he walked off the stage and went to stand next to the other newly-inducted Shinigamis.

He had been waiting for this day for four years. He had poured his heart and soul into his work at the training school with the hope that he would become one of the top Shinigami to graduate in his class, just like his best friend had been. His work had paid off; he was in fact the top-ranked Shinigami at the training academy this year, and he was even going to work at the London Branch of the Dispatch Society, something he had been aiming for ever since he heard that his friend was being transferred there.

Alan gazed around the crowd, looking for said friend. After a moment of searching, he found the familiar face of Eric Slingby grinning broadly at him from within the center of the group. Over the past few years, Eric's hair had gone through many stages, starting from a brown, mid-length cut and ending in a longer in the back, shorter in the front style with one side blonde and the other half pulled back into black cornrows. Alan had originally laughed at the style, not being a very daring person himself when it came to hair styles or clothing, but he'd gotten used to it and now saw it as just another part of Eric's complicated personality.

Eric gave Alan a thumbs-up sign and Alan returned the gesture- subtly, since he and the other new recruits were supposed to be standing still and at attention. Eric's shoulders moved up and down with silent laughter, and then the two friends turned their attention to the rest of the Shinigamis who were being inducted.

When the ceremony was over, Alan immediately rushed over to Eric's side before the crowd could sweep him out of the doors. Eric patted his friend on the back and Alan beamed, extremely happy with his accomplishment.

"You're pretty amazing, Alan, you know that?" Eric said, grinning and ruffling Alan's hair. He was a few inches taller, so he often playfully mussed Alan's chocolate-brown hair. The younger Shinigami used to get very annoyed by this, but had gotten used to it over the years and now saw it as something as normal as a high-five from his friend. "I mean, you're top of the class and everything- it's great!"

"Thanks, Mr. Eric," Alan replied, and Eric rolled his eyes.

"I told you to just call me Eric." He sighed exasperatedly when Alan merely shrugged, having been through this conversation many times before.

"And I've told you that you're still my upperclassman and therefore I should refer to you with more respect," Alan said resolutely. Eric gave him an unimpressed look.

"Alan, I haven't been in training school with you for two years," he pointed out.

"But you're still older than me," Alan countered swiftly, meeting Eric's annoyed gaze with an obstinate look of his own.

"By two years!"

"Still…"

Eric groaned, realizing that he wasn't going to win this argument; Alan was just too damn stubborn. Even after four years together, Eric still couldn't get him to stop putting "Mister" in front of his name. Well, at least he'd stopped calling him by his last name… "Mr. Eric" was preferable to "Mr. Slingby," especially since they'd been friends for so long.

After that night in the bar when Alan had unintentionally convinced Eric and Ronald that he was a girl for a good half hour, the trio had become fast friends. Ronald was still a little bitter about being duped- he'd gotten a lot of heat from the other Shinigamis for hitting on one of their own, and questions about which team he was playing for had circulated for quite some time before Ronald finally had enough and brought out his Death Scythe on anyone who questioned his interest in the opposite sex-, so he constantly picked on Alan about all sorts of things. Despite this, the two of them often hung out together on their time off (along with Eric, of course).

Eric and Alan had quickly found an even deeper connection. Eric still couldn't get over Alan's innocent-looking face, and was constantly worried that someone besides Ronald was going to pick on him, or that something bad was going to happen to him. Alan wasn't the strongest or most assertive person and he was naively trusting of others, thus making him the prime target for all sorts of things that Eric didn't even want to think about. Throughout his time in training school, Alan had gotten a little more "street smart," but this did nothing to ease Eric's worries- it felt to Eric like Alan was the younger brother he never had, and he didn't want anything unfortunate to befall him.

The boys had been sad when Eric and Ronald had graduated, but they had all kept in touch constantly afterwards. Alan was delighted to learn that both Eric and Ronald had been transferred to the London Branch of the Shinigami Dispatch Society, and he wanted more than anything to work there as well so he could spend as much time with his friends as possible. He was ecstatic to learn that being top of the class meant that he would get first choice of where he wanted to work, and he knew exactly where he wanted to go.

"So, ready to start your life as an official Shinigami?" Eric questioned as he and Alan exited the room where the graduation ceremony had been held. Alan nodded, but Eric could see a flicker of anxiety cross his pale features.

"Yeah… I'm pretty nervous, though," Alan admitted, staring hard at the floor.

"Aw, you'll be fine!" Eric reassured him, ruffling his hair again. "Sure, all the guys there are pretty stiff, but they're not really mean… Well, except for Will- he loves to give out extra overtime just for the hell of it…"

"Is that why Ronald couldn't come to the ceremony?" Alan asked. Eric had informed him earlier that Ronald wouldn't be able to make it, but he'd never explained why.

"Uh, sort of…" Eric laughed and scratched the back of his head. "He's actually being punished- he and Grell had a bit too much to drink the other night and decided to come back to the Society at midnight and trash Will's office… He wasn't too happy about that, obviously, so he sentenced them to work during their break times for the next two weeks."

"Oh, Ronald…," Alan sighed, knowing that this was nothing out of the ordinary; Ronald had always been a party animal, even longer than he'd known him (or so Eric had said). "So, I guess he hangs out with Mr. Sutcliffe a lot, then?"

"Ha! Well, he kinda has to," Eric chuckled again. Alan glanced at him questioningly. "Grell is Ronald's mentor."

"Mentor?" Alan's forehead creased at the word. "What do you mean?"

"They never told you about that before you graduated?" Eric's wide eyes looked at Alan disbelievingly.

"No…"

"When you first start out as an official Shinigami, you're allowed to ask one of the more experienced ones to be your mentor for the first few years or so," Eric explained as Alan listened with rapt interest. The brunette loved learning new things about the ways of the Shinigami. "Just to sort of show you the ropes and stuff, you know? Get you used to real work out in the field and back at the office."

"Do a lot of new Shinigamis do that?" Alan wondered. Eric thought about it for a moment and then shrugged.

"Not so much nowadays, but it's not uncommon."

"I see." Alan was silent, thinking about what it would be like to have a mentor. It would sure be nice to have someone to help him on his missions for a while- he still wasn't completely comfortable with reaping souls. He had a hard time ignoring all the emotions contained in the Cinematic Records, but if someone was there with him it was easier for him to separate himself from the person he was supposed to collect the soul from. Alan thought it was a good idea to find himself a mentor as soon as he got to the London Branch so he could start being productive as soon as possible.

He wondered who he'd pick, though… He didn't really know any other older Shinigami besides Ronald and Eric besides his teachers at the training school. They were obviously busy with teaching the next batch of Shinigamis, and Ronald was out of the question since he was being mentored himself. Alan surreptitiously glanced up at Eric, who was squinting at something in front of him.

"Mr. Eric, how old does a Shinigami have to be to be someone's mentor?" Alan questioned, and Eric peered at him out of the corner of his eye.

"The age doesn't matter, as long as they've been out of the training school for at least a year and a half," he said, focusing again on something in front of him. "Just make sure if you're going for someone young that they know what they're doing…"

Alan bit his lip, debating whether it was a good idea to ask Eric to be his mentor. He certainly fit the criteria- Alan had seen him in action before when he was still at the training academy, and he definitely seemed to know what he was doing. Plus, he'd get to spend even more time with his friend, which was always a good thing. But, Alan didn't want to be a burden to Eric. He didn't know how stressful or demanding it was to start a Shinigami career, and he didn't want to add to Eric's troubles by giving him the extra responsibility of taking care of him. Still, it would be nice to be with someone he knew…

"Eric, do you think-"

"Look, Alan, that's your new boss," Eric cut him off, pointing to someone standing a few feet in front of them. Alan sighed and shifted his gaze obediently; he'd just have to ask Eric later. He looked straight in front of him and his eyes fell upon a tall man in a black suit (the typical garb of Shinigamis). He was standing perfectly straight and had short, jet-black hair and a serious expression. He was clutching what Alan presumed to be a Death Scythe in his right hand, which appeared to be some sort of long trimming device.

"Mr. Slingby," the man said as Alan and Eric came to a stop in front of him. He had a very domineering presence, and Alan couldn't help but stand up straighter as the man turned his icy gaze on him. "This is the newest member of our Branch, I presume?"

"Yup," Eric replied, and Alan shot him a stuned look as the man glared at his informal tone. "William, Sir, this is Alan Humphries. Alan, meet William T. Spears, head of the London Branch of the Shinigami Dispatch Society."

"At least you know how to properly address people, even if you are still lacking in formal manners," William said frostily. Eric merely grinned at him, seeming unfazed. Alan gulped when William turned his gaze on him.

"Mr. Humphries, it is an honor to welcome a top-ranking student such as yourself into our ranks," William said, giving him a curt nod, which Alan instinctively returned with doubled intensity. He blushed furiously as Eric chuckled silently at his actions.

"It's a pleasure to be a part of such a wonderful Society," Alan said, looking up at William's face but refusing to meet his gaze. "Thank you for allowing me to work at your Branch, Mr. Spears, Sir."

"Geez, no need to be such a kiss-ass, Alan," Eric muttered, rolling his eyes. Alan let out a little gasp of horror at his friends' words, and then he jumped as William abruptly smacked Eric on the head with his Death Scythe.

"Mr. Slingby, might I remind you that I only let you come to the ceremony today provided you act like a professional for once in your Shinigami life?" William said tartly, and Alan gazed at his friend questioningly. Eric immediately glared at the ground in shame, rubbing his head where William had hit it.

"Sorry, Sir," Eric muttered.

"You should be back at your office filling out paperwork with Mr. Knox and Mr. Sutcliffe, since you were a member of that little party in my office the other night," William went on, despite the shocked look plastered across Alan's face. "Need I remind you of your duties that still remain once we return to the Dispatch Society?"

"No, Sir…"

"Good. Follow me then, Mr. Humphries- I will show you the way to the London Branch." William abruptly turned and began to walk off, and Alan scurried after him, Eric trailing alongside.

"Mr. Eric!" Alan hissed, trying to keep his voice low so as not to let William hear. "You were involved in trashing his office, too?"

"I had a little too much to drink, okay?" Eric said defensively. Alan sighed and shook his head.

"Mr. Eric…"

"Besides, just 'cause old tight-ass over there doesn't know how to have any fun doesn't mean no one else should be allowed to either." Eric jerked his thumb towards William, who abruptly stopped walking, nearly causing Alan to run into his back.

"Mr. Slingby, contrary to what you may think, I am able to hear what people are saying right behind my back," William said over his shoulder, and Eric instantly blanched. "Just for that comment, I am doubling your paperwork and pushing back the deadline by a day." He started walking again, and Eric hung his head.

"Damn it…," he sighed. Alan gazed at him, concern in his emerald green eyes. He wanted to cheer his friend up somehow, despite the fact that deep down he felt that Eric did deserve a bit of punishment if he really trashed their boss' office…

"Mr. Eric," Alan began, and Eric glanced at him. "Would you… Would you like to be my mentor?"

"…Seriously?" Eric questioned, uncertainty in his tone. Alan nodded sheepishly and Eric grinned broadly. "Of course! That'd be awesome!"

"Really? You don't think I'd get annoying after a while?" Alan asked, and Eric shook his head vigorously and tousled Alan's hair.

"'Course not! Plus, that'd actually cut my work load in half!" He pumped his fist in the air, but William suddenly spoke over his shoulder.

"It is not that easy, Mr. Slingby- you and Alan will have the same amount of work, and if you are his mentor that means you will have to pick up any and all of his slack," he said sternly. "I will not tolerate unfinished jobs, top of the class student or not."

"Aw…," Eric whined, hanging his head again. Alan bit his lip again.

"Are you sure you still want to be my mentor?" he questioned, and Eric shot him a grin.

"Sure I do!" he replied, and Alan smiled back. "Don't let Will get you down- he's really a sweetheart under all that grumpiness."

"Mr. Sutcliffe- I mean, Mr. Slingby!" William yelled, glaring at Eric over his shoulder.

"Quoting lines from Grell- a good way to really piss him off," Eric muttered quickly to Alan, and then to William he said: "Sorry, Sir, I'll shut up now."

He shot Alan another playful grin and the new Shinigami laughed. He was going to have a great time at the London Branch, he could already tell.