Chapter One
The Selection
Asuka's Point of View
"Fujiko Takashi!" the speaker roared deafeningly. "Tenth Division! Division member!"
"Tachibana Haruka!" he yelled once again. "Thirteenth Division! Division member!"
"Mizukashi Asuka!" he hollered as I raised my attention to him.
Today was Selection day—the day when we would know our results from our interviews and recommendation letters our teachers sent on our behalf. In the World of the Living, it would seem like those college acceptance letters, except, this one, was like announcing your future amongst the hundreds of other graduating shinigami. Imagine the pressure upon your shoulders . . . if you didn't get accepted into any of your choosing divisions. That . . . would be . . . devastating.
My first choice was Suì Fēng's division—Squad 2. I excelled in speed, or Hoho, but was a little above average in Kido. As you can see, my zanpuktou skills were . . . let's just say pretty superior.
"Second Division!" he finished. "Third Seat!"
My heart skipped a beat. I got . . . through my first choice? I got into the Division of my dreams . . . Not to mention . . . Third Seat!
As I was about to smile, I stopped myself. No . . . I couldn't smile. Emotions would just hinder myself, making myself look weak. My face stayed indifferent.
I stepped out of the organized lines to meet with the captain on stage. As the speaker continued on with the names, I was given a scroll from the Head Captain. I shook his hand before passing Kyoraku Shunsui, the leader of the First Division, to meet with Suì Fēng.
All the captains and vice captains were there, lined up in chronological order.
"Congratulations," she said indifferently as she shook my hand. "Third seat is a high position. Nice job on your exams."
"Arigato," I replied monotonously as I took the place behind the lieutenant.
I stayed there throughout the rest of the ceremony.
"This is the Squad Two barracks," Captain Suì Fēng informed our little group of new graduate shinigami of the surroundings. "You are all dismissed to your respected dorms."
Everyone around me left in little clicks and groups, chatting along the way, and I was left to leave alone.
As I turned, about to leave, Captain Suì Fēng called for me, her lieutenant right behind her.
"Mizukashi-san!" Captain Suì Fēng called for me.
"Hai?" I asked, turning around to face my captain.
"Come with me," she told me simply.
"Hai," I replied as I followed her and the lieutenant.
She guided me to her main office.
"This is your stack of paperwork. It is simple," she told me. "It relates to the completed missions of our stealth force. I want you to finish them by tomorrow or earlier. Again, it is simple, so they should be done appropriately. When finished, you should deliver them directly to the Head Captain. Your office is located on the outskirts of the barracks. Apartment 263. Dismissed."
"Hai," I replied as I used my shunpo abilities to dash to my office.
It took a little more effort to find it, but, now, I knew that it was the last apartment of the entire barracks. I guess that Third Seats are like guards, really. Cast at the outskirts of the entire barracks . . . What was this treatment? I don't really know.
Just then, I noticed that Captain Suì Fēng never really gave me a key. Deciding that she must have had a reason or forgot, I opened the door only to find it unlocked. The desk and walls were made of what seemed like mahogany. The office desk was vacant, and only a golden key was found. There were a few drawers attached to the wide desk, and on the wall behind me was a bookshelf that spanned the entire wall. However, beside that large shelf, there was a door small enough to fit beside the wall-spanning bookshelf. All my luggage, which consisted only of a small box of clothes and supplies.
I stacked my paperwork neatly to the right of the center of the desk. I took a pen out and filled it with black ink. Upon doing so, I took out the first page of the large stack and started completing the work.
The work was about what the shinigami in our group completed. The various missions were either on guard around Soul Society, defeating hollows in both the human world and Soul Society, or marking souls in the World of the Living so that they could live peacefully in the various districts of our dimension.
Just then, I thought about the responsibilities of a Squad Two Third Seat. Every division had different jobs for each squad member. For example, Captain Suì Fēng's job was to direct her affiliates to appropriate tasks and missions and take responsibility for any scandals within our force. Lieutenant Ōmaeda Marechiyo's task was the various paperwork done to be given to Head Captain Yamamato. Another job he had to undertake was commanding our division members along with Captain Suì Fēng during battle and other important squad meetings. But . . . what was mine? Just plain paperwork?
I sighed as I read and signed off the last bits of paperwork. And, my, was it tedious.
Remembering Captain Suì Fēng's words, I rose from my chair and gathered the papers, which were set neatly in folders. Opening the door with my arm the best as I could since my arms were filled with the papers, I opened it quickly with my hand, and then opened the rest of the door with my foot.
A sudden wave of fresh air hit me. The wisp of it was . . . refreshing. The sun shone upon my auburn hair, making it seem like a light hue of hazel. Since it was slightly past my shoulders, you could find a few highlights of gold within.
Holding the folders tightly, I dashed to Head Captain Yamamato's office to turn in the papers.
I knocked on his door.
"May I ask, who is knocking?" Head Captain Yamamato asked through the closed door.
"Mizukashi Asuka," I responded. "Squad Two, Third Seat."
"Come in," Was his reply.
I opened the door to find a dim-lighted room. The Head Captain was seated behind his desk. Again, his office looked as if it was made of mahogany.
The sun had finally set, so the three connected windows behind him were pitch-black.
"I came to deliver some paperwork," I informed him as I placed them on his desk.
"Arigato," he smiled. "You are dismissed."
"Hai," I replied before returning to my bedroom (behind my office) for bed.
