(A/N: The saga continues. Luke and Asch are out on the road looking for Shinigami)

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or Tales of the Abyss

Luke's pov

Asch and I had been travelling for a while. Asch and I had been wandering around the woods for so long and we hadn't come across a single person or creature.

"I'm tired," I moaned. I did not like walking for long periods of time.

"Quit your whining you worthless dreck," Asch sneered.

"We're lost you know that right," I groaned.

"We are not lost!" Asch shouted.

"But we've been wandering around for hours," I exclaimed.

"You wanna lead the way then!" Asch suggested angrily as he turned around.

"Uhhhh…"

"Yeah that's what I thought," Asch said as he turned back around and kept walking.

As we walked I stopped suddenly. I could swear I was hearing voices.

"Asch, do you hear that?" I asked.

"What?" he asked.

"Listen," I said. We listened and we could hear people talking. "I think it's coming from over this way." I said running off with the provisions on my back.

"Hey wait a minute!" Asch shouted running after me. As I neared the source of the voices I could see five people sitting on a red and white checkered blanket eating and talking. They all appeared to be wearing the same uniform save one, a woman with long, black, braided hair, who had a thin white coat over her uniform. To her left was a woman with silver hair and an armband on her left arm. To the black haired woman's right was a younger looking boy with short flattened blue hair. To the boy's right was a man with sunglasses and straightened out blond hair and directly across from the woman with the coat was a guy with regular looking brown hair.

"Maybe these are the Shinigami," I said aloud to myself when suddenly someone grabbed my back color and pulled me away from the bush I was hiding behind.

"You stupid dreck what are you doing?" Asch demanded to know and let go of me, not gently though.

"Asch," I pointed to the people out by the clearing, "I think those people are the Shinigami we've been looking for."

"How do you figure?" Asch asked.

"Well they're all wearing uniforms and one of them looks like she might be an important figure so,"

"Excuse me," A timid voice said coming through the bushes. It was the blue haired kid, "Oh hello," he waved with a smile.

"Yeah?" Asch asked.

"Captain Unohana noticed you two all the way over here and wanted to know if you would like to come join our picnic."

"Great you blew our cover you stupid dreck!" Asch screamed in my face.

"Is there a problem Gentleman," a soft voice that at the same time sent shivers down my spine said.

"Ah captain hello," the boy said to the woman with black hair.

"I think it's best if you boys came and joined us," she said happily.

"Actually we were just about to…" Asch started to say.

The woman smiled, "I said I think it's best you come join us."

"H-Hai, Sumimazen," Asch and I said simultaneously. The woman led us over to the campsite and had Asch and I sit down.

"What brings you two boys out into the woods?" the woman asked curiously.

"We're looking for a Shinigami patrol unit," I said.

"Oh are you looking to enter the academy,"

"Yes," Asch said.

"Hey wait a min—"

Asch leaned over and grabbed my collar, "Look we need to get to that Seireitai place and we're going to get their no matter what it takes got it dreck?"

"Y-yeah," I said. Asch let go of me.

"My you sure seem concerned for your younger brother Mr."

"Asch, Asch Fon Fabre, and this dreck here isn't my brother."

"Oh I'm sorry I just assumed…forgive me."

"So you're Asch what's your name kid?" the silver haired woman asked me.

"I'm Luke, Luke Fon Fabre."

"You're not brothers and yet you have the same surname that's the biggest bunch of garbage I ever heard," the blonde man with the glasses said.

"Iemura-san please let them be, it's possible they're just from the same community in Juniran," The brown haired man said politely.

"That's right," Asch said, "Luke and I were living together in the same inn."

"There you see Iemura-san," the braided haired woman smiled.

"H-hai taicho," he sweated.

"So who are you all?" I asked.

"I am Captain Retsu Unohana of the 4th Division of the Gotei 13," the black haired woman smiled.

"I'm Isane Kotetsu Vice Captain of the 4th Divison of the Gotei 13," the silver haired woman bowed her head while sitting.

"Yasochika Iemura," the blonde man said, "3rd Seat of 4th Division."

"I'm Hanataro Yamada, 7th Seat."

"Harunobu Ogido, 8th Seat," the brown haired man said softly.

"Seats, Squads, what?" I was confused.

"Forgive my friend here," Asch brooded, "He's not good with understanding things,"

"Hey you're probably just as confused as I am," I griped at him.

Asch ignored me, "Anyway if you could possibly tell us more about what we're getting ourselves into. To make sure it's the right decision Miss Unohana."

"Of course," she smiled, "Not a problem."

Unohana explained to us about Shinigami and their purpose, the Shino Academy and the organization that is the Gotei 13, standard rules and regulations, and much more. I understood some of it, but most of it went right over my head. Asch seemed to make sense of it though.

"We were told that Shinigami can sometimes go to the living world," Asch said with his thumb and forefinger rubbing his chin.

"Yes," Isane nodded, "In order to purify hollows that escape to the living world there are Shinigami representatives in every living world. Most people cannot see hollows or souls, so our work is done secret."

"However, if necessary to mingle with living souls we use what are called Gigai," Unohana explained, "They are artificial bodies for our souls to exist in."

"Uh huh I see," I said actually understanding this a great deal.

"So if you're a higher rank does that guarantee that you'll go to the living world more often?" Asch asked.

"Not necessarily it depends on the Captain you work under. Since the 4th Squad is used primarily for healing I only send my subordinates to the living world as either support units or as a vacation period. Currently my fourth seat is out on a mission with another high ranked officer from the 10th Division."

"How long do these missions last usually?" Asch asked.

"It depends on the mission, but the one I've sent my subordinate on won't be over for a few years."

"Years?" I asked.

"Shinigami live forever," Isane said, "Of course each world has its own temporal variance so for us it may seem like years to those out on the mission it could seem longer or shorter depending on the temporal variance variable."

"In English?" I asked.

"Basically time flows differently here than in any other part of the world," Asch said.

I wonder if Auldrant flows faster or slower than here, I wondered.

We'll only know if we become Shinigami, Asch said in my head.

Hey how is it you can still do that? I asked

Asch made no response. I really hated how he only spoke to me when he wanted to. He did however open his mouth to say to Unohana, "Could you take us to Seireitai after this so called picnic."

"Of course the Shino academy would be glad to accept youths such as yourselves with such impressive spiritual pressure. I'd say if you learned to polish your talents you could become seated officers right after graduating."

"That's great," I said joyously.

"Hey not to be rude, but what's in the bag?" Iemura asked.

"Oh extra food," I said digging it out, "Anyone want?"

"Ah arigato Luke-dono," Isane said joyously.

After we all finished eating Luke and I followed Unohana back to the Seireitai. She then led us to the Academy grounds where we came face to face with a man with messy brown hair and square rimmed glasses. He was wearing a Haori like Unohana indicating he was a captain.

"Good afternoon Captain Unohana," the man said with a kind tone to his voice, "I see you've brought guests with you."

"Yes this is Luke and Asch Fon Fabre," Unohana said, "They are interested in becoming Shinigami and since you're overseeing new entrants I thought to bring them to you."

"I see, I will take them to the training ground and see if they are capable of becoming Shinigami."

"Thank you Captain Aizen," Unohana said.

"It's no trouble at all Captain Unohana," Aizen rose from his seat, "Luke, Asch please follow me."

"Yes sir," I said following after him.

Asch and I followed Aizen to a flat training ground that kind of reminded me of an archery range without the large bullseye targets.

"Now then," Aizen said turning to face us, "I see you boys are already equipped. That will make this much easier. Did Captain Unohana teach you about using Spirit Particles?" I shook my head.

"No," Asch said aloud.

"I see," Aizen then gave this whole boring speech about how to use spirit energy to and all this other mumbo jumbo that went right over my head, but, as with Unohana's explanations Asch seemed to understand it. To me it seemed more or less like focusing my fonon's into my sword, but now, in this world, fonons were known as spirit particles. I simply shrugged and gave it a go. As I was concentrating there was a flash of light from Asch and he was wearing a white robe with blue lining. His steel sword that he had purchased was at his hipside. It was similar to Asch's usual sword in shape, but it had a red scabbard, a brown handle, cylindrical in shape and had a circular guard.

"How very efficient Asch-san," I believe that may be a new record for Zanpakuto materialization.

Asch gave me a glare, as if to say, what are you staring at, do it!

I returned my focus to my sword. After a short while I found myself in a similar state to Asch. My sword's blade was wider and had a red handle. The scabbard was dark green and the hilt itself had a small gold ring looped into it. The guard was a circle with four triangles sticking out of it.

"Well I must say you two look like rather ready recruits. If you'll kindly follow me to your entry exams so we can find out your level of placement," Aizen gestured to the small shack off to the side of the training ground

The exam was in front of me. It was 4 pages. 12 Questions

Question 1: What is courage?

The ability to brush past the fear in front of you and push forward

Question 2: What does it mean to protect someone?

To give your all for his/her safety

Question 3: How do you determine if something is worth fighting for?

Knowing if it's worth the risk

Question 4: You are with your direct subordinate and you are both fighting a losing battle. You see the opening to escape. Your subordinate tells you to run and survive. What do you do?

Stay and fight and get yourself and him out of it

Question 5: Under what specific circumstances, if any, would you disobey a direct order?

If it was completly outragoues and unreasonable

Question 6: Have you seen friends or family die? And if so do you pick up your blade now for their sake?

Yes and yes

Question 7: Would you go against the law of the Soul Society to preserve your ideals?

If the Law were to was unreasonable then maybe

Question 8: Against an opponent you find yourself losing against how long will it be, how much physical damage would you have to take, until you give up?

Until the battle has no point anymore

Asch's pov

Question 8: Against an opponent I find myself losing against how long will it be, how much physical damage would I have to take, until I give up? I review my answer: 'until I die'.

Question 9: What takes priority in a situation, the success of the mission, or innocent lives? I look at the answer I had written: 'Both if possible, if not Innocent lives'.

Question 10: If I had a superior officer's position would I see my subordinates as expendable pawns during a war, or allies that of which each life has meaning and needs to be preserved. My answer was simple: 'I wouldn't go sacrificing men, each one has there one individual traits that could help turn the tide in combat'

Question 11: If I'm having an issue of any sort which of the following would I take my concern to first

The officer with the seat above mine

My Vice Captain

My captain

I circled answer choice 'C'.

Question 12: When I take an oath, make a promise, or swear a vow how inclined am I to uphold to my words at all times? I wrote down my answer 'I will not falter to fulfill my oath'.

I walk up to Aizen and hand in my exam.

"Thank you Asch," he says and I wait outside for that dreck to finish his exam. It takes him several more minutes.

"Excellent here are the keys to your rooms," Aizen says handing us each a key. Looking through the dreck's eyes as usual I see he has the room next to mine.

Least we're not sharing the same one this time.

"You can pick up your class schedules tomorrow afternoon in the front office, after which you should get your books and other materials and you will begin your classes at the beginning of next week. Until then please enjoy the time you have before your classes begin," Aizen said.

"See you around." Luke waved. When I finally made it to my room I just sat in my bed thinking about my exam I wondered how an exam, examining my philosophy chose my placement in this academy. You would figure exams would test knowledge, that of which I hated, but this was intriguing, I felt as if this place was examining my very soul rather than examining my capabilities. What if my philosophies paled in comparison to what they're looking for here compared to that dreck. If his scores turned out better than mine…

"Gah!" I threw my pillow at the wall.

"Asch something bothering you?" My replica ask sliding the connecting door open

Of course the adjoining door has to be at the far end of the room, I thought to myself rolling my eyes, "It's nothing," I answered.

"Fine if you don't want to talk that's your business." he closed the door.

Damn it, why can't he just leave me alone, I tensed turning onto my side.

Luke's pov

Having only Asch around really made things hard to deal with. I mean at least when I was stressed out, like I am now I had someone to talk to. Guy, Mieu, Anise, Jade, Natalia, even Tear.

"Tear," I said aloud and choked back a waterfall threatening to burst as a single droplet of water descended down my face. I relaxed my body, closed my eyes, and went to sleep.

(A/N: So yeah, I ended this chapter with Angst, what of it? So Luke and Asch are finally part of the Shino academy? What was with the philosophical test? What scores will it yield? Did Aizen's distribution of the test have to do with the philosophy melted into them or is it just standard procedure? Why am I asking so many questions? To find answers you'll need to wait for the next chapter of Noble Flames…coming soon!)