I've written out the entire story outline for TBGAE and actually I'm quite pleased with how this will turn out.
Ages: I have been searching every site and forum to try to get a rough idea how old Rukia and Renji are. The only thing that is given hint was when Rukia said she has lived 10 of Ichigo's lifetimes. So until I can find solid evidence how old she is, I'll just be using the Rukia is 150 in present Bleach (this story takes place 40 yrs before Bleach begins), so she is currently 110 with Renji and Ichigo slightly older than that. Please correct me if my math is wrong or if anyone can figure it out better, I found a timeline and it only made me more confused :(
Special thanks to: Black Sun Upon An Icy Sky, Mel72000, TealEyedBeing, ArrancarMaiden, lirica, Bikluf, RuByMoOn17, and CalypsoHatesEveryone. Thank you so much for reviewing and telling me your thoughts, it helps inspire me to write (though I will anyways, but faster).
Hundreds of students gathered in the waiting room waiting for their name to be called. A few were going over some last minute practicing in zanjutsu, hakuda, hoho, and kido before their name was called. Nervousness swept through the air from almost every student.
"So how was it?"Ichigo asked Renji who had gotten done with his test just minutes ago. He waited with Rukia, Izuru, and Momo who was going over the different divisions they could end up in. Both were good friends with the three, though not as close, they had practiced together and tried to help each other improve. It was Renji who had introduced the two to Ichigo and Rukia after his mission with them and had gotten attacked by hollows years ago. They were able to fend them off until Captain Aizen and his lieutenant, Gin Ichimaru appeared and decimated the hollows.
"I don't know how I did. I know I did okay in all except for kido." Renji replied and the others could tell he was not lying by the burnt up edges of his uniform. Rukia shook her head not feeling sorry for him. Momo, Izuru, and herself had offered to help Renji and Ichigo in kido, the one department they were lacking in, but both said that they would wing it.
"I'm sure you did great. I can see you and Ichigo ending up in squad eleven since almost no one can touch either of you in zanjutsu and they don't really use kido in there. I hope Captain Aizen picks me to be in his division. I can learn so much from him." Momo sighed happily.
"I hope not, I like fighting, but from what I heard those guys fight each other non-stop and the captain is a psycho. He challenges his members when he thinks they are getting weak and no one can beat him." Ichigo protested. He didn't really care what division he ended up in as long as it wasn't one where a guy kept trying to challenge him every hour of the day. He had heard some good things about squad eight and that the captain was one of the oldest and was really laid back. He wouldn't have minded that one.
"What you're scared of a little competition?" Renji snorted at Ichigo who glared at him. Rukia sighed and stepped in between them. The last thing they needed was to be kicked out because they started a fight.
"Are there any captains there during the exam?" Izuru asked, helping Rukia break the two up.
"I didn't see any though I heard from the student who went before me say that they are there. The only one that I saw was Captain Commander Yamamoto." Renji replied, remember seeing the elder captain and how he felt nervous having to perform in front of the academy's founder and other professors that had taught at the school.
"Rukia, do you know if your brother is here?" Momo asked the black haired girl whose brother had made captain only a few years ago. It was at the same time the creepy captain of squad three made it, Gin Ichimaru. She didn't know what it was, but every time she saw the fox smile on Gin it frightened her slightly. She didn't know how Captain Aizen could have dealt with it through the years.
"I'm not sure. I don't really talk with Nii-sama unless he has requested me." Rukia answered sorrowfully. She often wondered why the Kuchiki clan had adopted her if they planned on ignoring her. She was not allowed to approach her brother, make eye contact, or speak without permission from him. She was instructed to maintain her best behavior and not bring dishonor to the Kuchiki name. She had been bothered by this, but no one else knew with the exception of Ichigo and Renji.
"Hinamori!" Momo's name was called over the intercom along with others. She gulped and looked at her friends.
"Good luck." They wished her before she nodded and smiled before going on her way.
"Almost your turns." Renji smirked at them feeling less nervous now that he was done and could watch them sweat it out. He felt slightly bad for Rukia who was biting her lip. He knew she had more pressure on her than anyone else in the room, if she didn't make it into an officer's seat who knows what the Kuchiki's would do. He was slightly surprised they were even letting her finish up at the academy instead of just placing her in a squad like all the other noble families.
"I bet I'll make higher officer than you." Ichigo goaded Renji who glared at him. The orange haired teen was not nervous what so ever and had a confident smirk on his face.
"If you even make it into a division. Momo, Izuru, and I have already impressed the captains by what we did on that mission with the hollows or did you forget." Renji shot back at him. He felt somewhat confident because of that incident that he wouldn't have a problem with getting into a division, or at least he hoped.
Ichigo ignored him not really caring. "So did gramps say anything to you after you were done?" Ichigo asked Renji whose eyes shot wide along with Rukia and Izuru.
"Don't refer to the Captain Commander as gramps!" Renji yelled at him before Izuru could open his mouth. Most likely due to shock that someone dare speak of the head captain that way.
"I swear Ichigo; this is the reason why no one is going to want you in their squad. You have to show respect to those who are older and hold a higher title than you. No one wants a brat that calls them nicknames or by their first name." Rukia told him ignoring Izuru's shocked expression that had yet to fade.
"Then I get moved a lot." Ichigo shrugged not caring. It was one thing he had learned in his life; don't trust others unless they have earned it. Once that trust is earned then that person is worthy of his respect. As far as he was concerned he would call the captains by their first name because all they ever did when he saw them visiting at the academy was watch them before leaving. There was only one captain who he respected above all else and that was Captain Unohana. She was there for him during the worst time of his life and helped him. He knew he would be forever grateful to her and that she would not tell anyone about his past. It was something he would rather forget than to be reminded of.
"Kira…Kuchiki…Kurosaki!" A voice rang out the three names and others that were to report for the exam. They waved bye to Renji and Momo who was coming back and hugged them. She had a pleasant smile on her face indicating that it went well.
Unseen to the students partaking in the exam were the captains that were seated in a disclosed location with the perfect view. Not all of them had arrived to watch thinking it was not worth their time, such as Soifon who arrived early and left saying that she doubted anyone at this young age was worthy of being in her division. The others that hadn't bothered were those from the sixth, ninth, tenth, and twelfth divisions. The others were separate from each other watching the students perform.
"Poor kid." Captain Kyoraku said with amusement as the one student slip while going against the artificial dummy they had to fight with. That would lower the student's marks, but he admired how the student got back up and continued fighting. He turned to his companion and fellow captain standing next to him. "So, anyone interesting?" He asked him.
"There are many exceptional students and I believed they have exceeded last year's exams. There are many I wish I could take into my division." Captain Ukitake replied with a soft smile as he gazed down at the next student who came out. He didn't know if he was going to be able to attend the exams due to his illness spurring up in the past week and leaving his lieutenant, Kaien Shiba in charge of the thirteenth division. Luckily the day before it had finally come to ease and Captain Unohana gave him clearance to leave the fourth division.
He always enjoyed watching the students perform and show off their skills they have obtained over the years in the academy. It was their time to shine and even though it is nerve racking having to perform in front of the Captain Commander and professors which probably caused a few slip ups that would be deducted from their score, he never held it against them or his decision of who he wanted in his squad. He wanted people that were kind and would look after each other and treat one another with the same respect they would treat a family member.
"What a bunch of wimps." Captain Kenpachi muttered after not being impressed with a lot of the students. He didn't care about how talented they were in kido or how fast they were, he wanted fighters that would fight to their death. So far all there had been were wimps that barely held their swords without dropping it.
"Don't worry, Kenny, after a few years they might be fun!" Yachiru said from his shoulder knowing what he was thinking. None of the other lieutenants had accompanied their captains to the exam with the exception of Yachiru, and no one was going to tell Kenpachi that she could not come in.
The next student up was Izuru Kira and he began against his artificial opponent. "So, this is another one?" Captain Ichimaru asked from beside Captain Aizen who smiled with a nod.
"Yes, this one along with Abarai and Hinamori will be beneficial to us." Aizen replied to his old lieutenant who was now a captain. He had already reserved a spot for those three specifically in his division. Momo already adored him making her easy to manipulate while Izuru was very humble and would be very obedient. The only one he was truly unsure about was Renji. He seemed more rebellious than the others even though his strength was higher than the others. If he proved to be a thorn in their plans he would simply dispose of him.
"I wonder if there will be any competition for them, other captains might be interested." Ichimaru suggested even though he knew Aizen would have his way. After planning for more than a hundred years and all the pieces being placed together, Aizen would not allow anything to disturb his plans. All the other captains respected him and deemed his kindness as a rival to Captain Ukitake's.
"I am sure there will be, but I am not worried." Aizen smiled as his bangs fell in front of his glasses.
The next student came out, a nervous Rukia Kuchiki who bowed in front of her old professors and the Captain Commander. She began her fight against the artificial dummy while the captains watched high above.
"So, she's going to be in your division I heard." Captain Kyoraku stated casually to the white haired captain next to him. He noticed his friend gave a sadden smile and nodded.
"Yes, Captain Kuchiki has already made arrangements for her to be in my division and not to give her a seat. It is a shame, while her skills are not as strong as some of the others; she has the potential to be an officer. I have no doubt if it wasn't arranged for her, she would make fifth seat in no time." Captain Ukitake replied sadly. The girl was certainly what he was looking for in his squad, loyalty, friendly, serious when needed, and was very gifted. Perhaps he would ask his lieutenant to help her get stronger and maybe change Byakuya's mind.
Rukia's test was over and she bowed once more to her superiors as she left the grounds. She had done exceptionally well in her professor's eyes, though she had room to improve in zanjutsu and hakuda, her kido was outstanding.
The next up was Ichigo Kurosaki who had caught everyone's attention. He didn't bow to anyone, only simply saluted them with a 'yo' before he began. It was during his match that the Captain Commander's eyes opened slightly to look at the young man. He did not speak during any of the matches or after to treat everyone at the same level. His expectations for everyone were not high with the exception of this young man. He expected great things from him.
Captain Unohana stood next to Kyoraku and Ukitake listening to their conversation and would sometimes give her opinions of the students. However, when Ichigo entered the floor her usual smile seemed to brighten and her eyes shined with pride. It was if a mother was watching her child graduate into adulthood after many years. He had grown so much since their first encounter she could hardly recognize the scared child that was introduced to her years ago.
Gin watched as Aizen's attention seemed to brighten when Kurosaki started fighting. He looked down at the young kid and didn't see anything special. Sure he was fighting impressively and was quite fast. Other than that, he didn't know what held Aizen's attention to the young boy. "He's interesting too?" Gin asked his old captain who only smiled in response.
Aizen watched as Ichigo sliced through the dummy before bringing up his hands to perform a kido attack. It wasn't powerful, but at least it didn't blow up in his face like with Abarai. "Quite." Aizen responded leaving the other captain in confusion.
They had done research on each of the students to see who would make good candidates for their squads and there was no information given on Ichigo Kurosaki with the exception of when he entered the academy and what district he came from. No parents written down or previous history. It was like he appeared at the academy one day out of the blue. Gin didn't understand what made this kid so special, but he wouldn't question Aizen's judgment.
"You know who found him and brought him to the academy originally?" Aizen asked Gin who frowned slightly and shook his head. "An old friend of ours before his exile. It is that reason why I believe there is something more to this boy than just strength. Why else would Urahara pick him over any other mongrels in the poor Rukongai district?" Aizen answered as Gin's smile returned as if it never left.
"Wouldn't he have graduated already if Urahara brought him to the academy back then?" Gin asked as he turned back to where Ichigo was fighting. So, the boy was interesting after all.
"That is what I plan to find out; he didn't attend till years after Urahara was exiled." Aizen answered with amusement as Ichigo finished, not bothering to bow in front of his professors like the other students. The boy was certainly arrogant and stubborn, the perfect combination he could use against him if under his control.
"Maybe he experimented on the boy, you know those from the twelfth love to see what makes people go tick." Gin suggested as the next student walked in. He found these matches to be very amusing and the only thing that could make it better was if he could challenge the inexperienced students just to see them faint.
"Perhaps." Aizen stated not caring about the rest of the students that were up. The other captains could have the rest that tried desperately to impress their teachers. There were only two things he looked for in the students and that was strength and obedience.
He smiled to himself as he thought of the new challenge that lay before him. Kurosaki would not openly trust him and he did not expect him to. A person like that had to earn it and if there was anything Aizen was an expert at was manipulating people's emotions to thinking he was their alley until it was too late. He looked forward to meeting Kurosaki and the others to begin his game of separating the pieces and putting them in order. If some broke along the way, they can always be replaced.
I tried to keep everyone in character, though for some reason I was having problems with Gin. When he's away from Aizen-sama he is easier to write. The next update might take a little longer due to this and next week and exam and report week, I hate writing papers and my university loves them.
How was the chapter? Good, bad, what am I reading?