It has been two months since I've arrived in the Soul Society. I've also completed the entrance exams to enter Shino Academy as a first year student. But it all seemed too easy for some reason. How could a dead spirit, who had just transferred to the Soul Society after two months, enter a prestigious school so quickly?

Renji had told me once a dead soul goes to the the society, they wait there until they are reborn into the human world again, and that takes for who knows how long.

He had also told me that sometimes, when a spirit has some sort of reiatsu, or spiritual power, than they could become a soul reaper. Renji told me that he DID sense some sort of power like that in me, and I decided that I would become a soul reaper myself. I was too tired of being so helpless, from my death incident, to my immobility when those Hollows attacked me, and the fact that everyone I knew was now suffering from grief.

Besides, I've always wanted to live a more adventurous and magical life. This was probably my chance...

Surprisingly, I had passed the nine hour long exam. I guess I wouldn't be too surprised, as I most of my time in this new world studying and cramming as much as I could. I suppose written exams were my pro. It didn't hurt that Renji had reluctantly helped me say some good words to the professors about my reiatsu.

Today was the day. The first day of the Academy, which basically consisted of a formal ceremony that welcomed new and old students back to the school.

I had yet moved into the dormitories of Shino Academy, and lived in the outskirts of the Seireitei, in the first district of Rukongai. It was just an abandoned shack, to which Renji was kind enough to bring books and food for me. I didn't see him much of the time, only about once every two weeks, but he had been good company.

It took six hours of walking to the to the school, so I woke up early in the night to prepare. I quickly dressed in my new uniform, a hakama with red bottoms and a white top, two imprints of the Academy crests on either side of my front. Packing up everything I had, and neatly folding up my loaned textbooks in a silk cloth, I bowed to my now unoccupied little shack- naively thinking that because everything in this world was living that I should pay my respects and gratitude to it-and left.

The more I got closer to the Seireitei, the more I saw of people clothed in the same as I was. I felt as though I was at the first day of kindergarden again, and felt nervous and excited at the same time.

Finally, I arrived at my destination: Shino Academy. It was the largest building I've ever seen, not even our largest mall in the country cold match up to its sheer size, constructed in a traditional Japanese agricultural theme.

I placed my bags in the room I was assigned to with a seven other girls, and waited until we were called down to the large hall. Everyone was quiet in this room, I noticed, even though we were freely to scream as loud as we can. I suppose we were all shy and just met each other. It was pretty awkward to tell the truth. And I wanted to spark up some sort of conversation, but before I could manage it, a sixth year student popped their head into the dorm.

"All first year students to go to the entrance hall at this instant!", he shouted, and left as fast as he appeared. As instructed, we quietly walked together in a close huddle and marched to the room. We were one of the last people to arrive, and sat at the front of the room with all other first years.

It was quite rowdy and hectic for at least half an hour, until a loud boom stopped us. In my head I commented that in the Real World, it wouldn't take that quick for everyone to shut up. I looked at the front of the room, to see Commanding Captain Yamamoto and the Taicho and Fukutaicho of the Gotei 13 stand in orderly fashion. Yamamoto slammed his cane onto the floor once again, and began his speech. Later on, he announced that the first years would come up to the stage to receive their katana and sheath.

I remembered Renji saying before, that, "Soul Reapers have their own zanpakuto blade forged from their reiatsu, but until that time comes, the Academy provides the student with a katana."

As the names were being called, I searched the front officers to find Renji. I saw him looking serious and stern, and smiled because I knew he was never like that, only putting on that facade for the sake of the students. And beside him, I saw the Sixth Taicho, who I encountered with once, looking as strict and mean as ever.

The first time I met him, was when he saved my life two months ago, and it went like this:

Holding onto Renji's wrist before he could send me to the Soul Society, the charming and handsome Sixth Taicho-as the red haired boy called him-looked at me with a look I couldn't decipher as a glare or a look of surprise.

"Taicho?" Renji asked.

"...Repeat your name.", he was talking to me.

"S-Sakamoto..."

"..."

"She said her name already."

"Not all of it."

"My name is S-Sakamoto...Hisana...", I stuttered, heart beating too fast for comfort.

He just kept on glaring at me, probably trying to drill holes in my head or something. But finally, Renji spoke out to him, a bit nervous himself.

"Er...Taicho, we should be going back ourselves..."

He finally took his eyes off from me, and glanced at Renji. "...Of course..."

He shifted his eyes back at me with lightning speed and I saw him move his shoulders,

"Woah!"Renji shouted, as this Sixth Captain forcibly pulled his subordinate's wrist-and the hilt of his sword-and slammed it into my forehead, HARD. And I disappeared, and entered the Spirit World.

"What did I do? That was the hardest hit I've ever received..." I mumbled to no one in particular, stepping out of my flashback. The sixth year student sitting beside me at the end of my row glanced at me questionably, but didn't pay anymore attention.

"Sakamoto, Hisana!", I suddenly looked back at Yamamoto reading out our names, which signified that I had to go up to the front to earn my katana. And not only take the blade, bow to all the seated officers before me.

I stood up, and stepped down the clean stairs, and toward my teacher. I took the offered sword, and bowed to Yamamoto, thanking him. He only looked at me, much more than he look at the other students. In fact, all of the Captains, as I continued bowing to them and their Fukutaicho, stared at me with a look resembling that of the Commanding Captain. I reached Kuchiki Taicho second last. He had the hardest look out of all the Captains. And I looked at Renji, grinning down at me. I looked back at the other Captains as well, who, just like before, stared as I bowed to the Sixth Captain.

"...Not enough...", I heard him mumble.

I timidly looked back at him, "I'm sorry?"

"Your unacceptable bow, is not low enough..."

"Taicho...", Renji muttered.

"I'm s-sorry, I apologize.", I stuttered, everyone, and I mean EVERYONE in the room was looking at me.

"And when you speak to someone of higher rank, you stutter? That was so rude..."

My heart started beating fast again, and I looked a Renji, who made a signal that showed I should bow again. I quickly bowed, lower this time. "I beg for your forgiveness, Kuchiki Taicho."

"That bow was too quick, as if you want to anger me and disrespect me.", he stated.

Now, was really panicking. It was my first day in the Academy and already I've caused problems for myself. And I didn't know what to do, so I bowed again.

"I beg for your forgiveness Kuchiki Taicho...", I said, trying not to start whimpering, and trying to bow as low as possible, and as slow as possible. What did I ever do to him?

"...Do you know who I am? You have repeated mistakes for far too many times. How will you carry on with your education? Will you continue to disappoint and fail your teachers over and over again?", he mocked me again, his voice seeming to start increasing in volume, and it was very rare to see this happen.

I am in DEEP trouble.

"..."

"You don't belong here...", the raven haired man said, and I looked tensed up. Would he have me expelled? I can't be expelled for this! I didn't even get to study!

"Now, now, Kuchiki Taicho...", a light colour haired man said. I recognized him to be Third Company Captain, Gin Ichimaru, "She's new, don't be so harsh on her!"

"I don't think that this has got to do with you, Ichimaru.", Byakuya said.

"Well, she is only a first year student! She hasn't learned yet...you are always too strict Taicho.", he said, and looked at me with his large smile, "You should go, Hisana, before you make Kuchiki Taicho even more upset. Don't be too sad, Hisana. Go on now, Hisana!"

"You seem to not want that tongue of yours Ichimaru.", the angry Taicho said to him, apparently very angered at this point.

"...Hm...", he smiled, "I think we have made the Sixth Taicho very angry, don't you think? ...Hisana?"

Byakuya took one step forward, and was about to strike, but with Yamamoto's slamming cane erupted again,. We all froze in shock.

"That, is, enough!", he said, "Sakamoto, you are free to go back to your dormitory. Koichi Sensei, please continue."

I bowed to Yamamoto, who nodded to me, turned around to bow lastly to Ichimaru Taicho. I sped off to my new home, sparing no glance at the bane of my existence.

And when I approached my bed, I slumped onto my knees, and hugged my head, which laid on the mattress.

"What did I ever do to you...Taicho...?", I whispered, too exhausted from the events that happened just this morning, and fell asleep.

Later on during the day...at the Sixth Division Office.

"Come in.", a working Byakuya Kuchiki said.

"Hi.", a silver haired man replied, rolling out the door. On the back of his long white haori, showed the traditional number for thirteen.

"...What brings you here, Ukitake?"

"I was just a bit worried about you this morning at Shino Academy."

"..."

"I understand why you would be a little worked up about that young girl, but that-"

"There is nothing to say about that girl...but simply that she has not paid me the proper respect."

"...Her bow was perfectly fine..."

"If I say that it was unacceptable, then it is. That girl may not have disrespected you Ukitake, but she has, to me."

"...I know that isn't true. I know that her name makes you-", Ukitake could not finish his sentence, for the younger Captain, opened out a textbook loudly.

"I'm sorry Ukitake Taicho, but I must resume back to my paperwork. I have no time to be wasted upon the topic of that girl."

"Alright then, I won't say anything else."

"Is that all you have come to say today? Fantastic, please close the door behind you when you leave.", Byakuya continued with his busy paperwork.

"...Have a good day...Byakuya.", Ukitake sighed, and closed the door behind him as he departed for his own headquarters.

Inside the room, the Sixth Company Captain, carried on with his calligraphy, holding ont his brush more roughly that he should have been.

-TBC-

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