It have been ten years. Ten years since Ichigo and Renji met Rukia and later Toshiro. They have been a lot of traveling. Knowing new places. They were also training all together now. At first, Ichigo and Renji were best, but Rukia was learning fast, and Toshiro….well, they all agreed that he is prodigy, all training that Ichigo and Renji have done in 5 years, he did in one year, and now, is best from group, much to Ichigo's and Renji's displeasure. They aren't stoling things anymore, here, in these lower District they can easily find some job, and earn at last some money, but for them, it is enough. After some time, they were able to buy new clothes, it wasn't anything special, it was ordinary pants, like had almost everyone here, Renji and Ichigo have sleevles top, and Toshiro had with sleeves. Rukia had kimono, not some big, with pictures on it, just kimono. From their original group, only these four friends left. All others just…..disapeared. When they went to search for them, only thing, that they found, were clothes, any blood, or anything like that. So they ended up alone. They have become like family. Last year all of them started having strange dreams. In all of their dreams, there is some figure, that is calling to them, but hey can not hear them properly, and what is worse, Toshiro is sending out freeze when he have those dreams. But Ichigo, Rukia and Renji decided not to tell him. He is good boy, and he would be really sad, and angry at himself if he finds out.

Now, they are on their way to District 5, these ten years, they were slowly traveling closer and closer to center of Rukongai, to Seireitei. They have heard many things about these place. For example, that there are living some "Shinigamis", they are strong wariors, who are fighting some monsters called hollows. They have never met any shinigami, so they don't know what they are like.

Right now, they have come to District 7, to the District 5 it's about one day on the road. They have come to one big street full o people. They started searching, for some house, where they could stay. Then they saw some old house, where were big board with 'doss-house' written over it. They went inside, first thing they saw was something that looked like reception.

"Good day, could we please get some room ?" asked Toshiro politely, he was representative of group. He has good behavior and manners. So he was one to speak, when it was needed. Rukia was decent and good too, but Toshiro was also making good first impresion. Ichigo and Renji were good boys but they could be too…hot-headed.

"Yes of course. Please come with me." said eldery woman, who was standig at reception. She was leading them throught hallway to the last doors.

"I am sorry, but this is only room we have left. Is it alright ?" asked woman.

"Thank you, it will be enough." said Toshiro. Then she have handed him keys and turned to leave. Toshiro opened doors and walked in, others following him behind. It looked like any other room, they were staying in. One room with one bed, one table and some decorations, and bathroom. Rukia was always the one who was sleeping on bed, while boys were on the ground. Ichigo was often complaing, it was always something like 'she is not woman, she is just little annoying midget' but he always get smacked by this midget, and then he is quiet.

"We are so close." sighed Ichigo. When they started travel, they had only one goal. Get to District 1, when life is calm and peaceful. That's something they wanted.

"Yeah." said Renji as he stretched.

"You should stop dreaming, we are not there yet. We have also run out of our supplies, someone should go and buy some food and drink." said Rukia as she sat up on bed.

"I will go." mumbled Toshiro as he grabbed some coins and went out.

Toshiro was walking throught street full of people, he wasn't too tall, so he was having some problems in situations like this. In lower Districts, people were poping in him and often also casting him down. But not here. This was whole new place, new people, new life.

He saw some shop with food and went in. There were multiple ledges with fruits, vegetables, fishes and other food.

"Good day son, what would you want ?" asked old man with smile. He had some classic brown clothes, long white hair that were reaching his shoulders and even longer white beard. He looked like nice man.

"Good day, could I get some food ?" smiled Toshiro.

"Of course, choose whatever you like." said old shopkeeper. Toshiro started going around shop and taking what he wanted. He took some fruit, vegetable, three fishes and peace of meet. Then he came to shopkeeper and put all these food on his table. "This is all."

"Ok, it will be one thousend yen." said old man. White haired prodigy took out some coins and gave it to him.

"Thank you really much. Good bye !" yelled Toshiro as he was about to turn around and return to his friends. When he turned around he bumped into something soft, yet strong enough to knoch him down.

"Good day ! I came to buy some food !" even when Toshiro was in momentary shock, he still recognize that voice as a woman's one. When his shock disapeared, vision cleared and his calm attitude returned he saw back of woman with strawberry blond hair, she was whole in black clothes, only pink scarf was shining on her. When she turned around, he saw her light blue eyes. Wait, she was wearing black clothes, that looked like kimono, and katana at her hip. That meaned, that she is…shinigami.

"Oh, what are you doing on the ground kiddo ?" asked this shinigami in concered voice.

"You have knocked me, you should be more careful." snapped Toshiro as he walked out of the shop.

'Strange, I could swear that I was feeling strong reiatsu from him…' thought this woman.

"What was taking you so long shorty ?" asked Ichigo from the ground as he saw Toshiro walk in to the room.

"How many times do I have to tell you to NOT call me shorty ? Should I beat your ass again in fight, strawberry ?" said white haired boy, last part in mocking voice. Ichigo just growled at him.

"But you were seriously away for too long Toshiro, what happened." asked Rukia, who was sitting on the bed.

Toshiro was in silence for a while, then he closed eyes and spoke. "There were just too many people in the shop, that's all. Here is the food I have brought. " Toshiro then put bag on the table and turned around.

"Hey ! Where are you going ?" asked Ichigo after he get up from ground.

"I am going for a walk."

"But you have just come back ."

"So what ? I just want to go for a walk, is that a problem, strawberry ?"

"No, of course not. I just wanted to know where you are going. Jeez Toshiro, don't be so angry."

Toshiro was eying Ichigo for a while, before he turned around and walked out of the door.

"Great, you have insulted him again. Nice going strawberry." said Rukia in sarcastic voice.

"Shut up midget." mumbled orange haired boy.

Toshiro was at some kind of forest, near river. He was laying on big rock, woth closed eyes and hands behinf his head. He wasn't sleeping, he was just thinking. This Shinigami he saw. She had some strong energy. He felt it. He was feeling this energy when he was dreaming 'those' dreams.

He was laying there for ten minutes ? Or twenty ? Or hour ? He didn't know. Slowly but surely he staeted falling asleep.

There was nothing. One big black nothing. Toshiro was standing in total dark place.

'It's that dream. I can hear someone. It's echoing. It's crushing me and embracing me. It's as if thunder is falling into my palms.' Toshiro saw moon, it was whole black, like ot was in phase called new moon. Then light shot out of there, revealing what is on front of him.

Big dragon made only from ice was standing before him. He was big, with tail swinging, and two big wings. Wind was blowing, what he wasn't shivering. There was ice everywhere, but he wan't feeling cold.

"What are you ?" asked Toshiro.

"Child, you are…" said dragon, but white haired boy could not hear him properly.

"I can't hear you !" shouted Toshiro back.

"My name is…" his voice was weakening that Toshiro could not hear him anymore. He had red eyes that were so close to him, yet so distant.

"I can't hear him!" said Toshiro one last time.

When he woke up, he saw some blurry figure right above him.

"Hey." it was this shinigami he had met today!

"You are from this afternoon !" shouted Toshiro as he got to his feet and backed away.

"Hide your reiatsu when you are sleeping. Or it will have bad affection on people around you." she said. Toshiro just now realized that the whole rock he was sleeping on was covered in ice.

"Bad affection on people around me…" mumbled little prodigy to himself. For a few last months, always when he woke up, he finds out that all around him IS covered in ice. His friends including. Only Rukia is little resistant to it. But truly only a little.

"Kiddo you should become Shinigami." Toshiro gasped at this but she continued. "Powerful children like you have to learn how to control their own abilities. Otherwise you'll end up killing your friends with it."

"What are you-" white haired boy snapped at her but was stopped when she knelted down before him and put her hand on his chest.

"You can hear a voice, can't you ?" his eyes widened even more.

"How do you know ?"

"Like I said, you should become Shinigami like me. When you decide to do so, go to academy. It's in seireitei. Think about it." said strawberry haired shinigami before she turned around and started walking away.

"Wait, will you tell me your name ?" yelled Toshiro to this woman

"Not now, but I am sure we will meet again, kid." she said, without turning around to face him. Then she faded in distance. He was standing here for about ten minutes before he took a deep breath and the let it out. After that he turned on his feet and walked away.

When white haired boy camed back it was late in the evening and everyone of his friends were in their room.

"Hey Toshiro, where were you for so long ?" asked Rukia in concered voice, he was away for three hours. This is unusuall. Rukia also noticed that he was looking to the ground and had sad expression on his face. This expression wasn't seemed on his face for ten years…

Then he did something that nobody was expecting.

He kneeled down before them.

"What are you—" Ichigo started but was cutted of by boy kneeling in front of him.

"I am sorry! I am truly sorry! I am sorry…" this sad boy was now crying in front of them and begging for forgiveness.

"But for what ?" asked Ichigo in now really worried voice.

"For that freezing always in nights! I-I didn't know it was me! I am sorry!" yelled Toshiro as tears were rolling down his cheeks."You should told me and I would go aw—" He stopped when he felt hand on his shoulder.

"That's the only reason why we didn't tell you. Don't worry about it. What are friends for ?" Ichigo gave Toshiro reassuring smile."We are all friends. We will find out something to do, but you going away isn't a option, do you understand ?"

White haired boy's eyes widened. Then he looked down again and whispered."Thank you."

"Don't worry about it, we are all friends, right ?" asked Rukia and Renji just nubbed with smile.

"You know, you aren't only one who have those…dreams." Said Ichigo as he scratched back of his head. After he said that, all eyes in room widened.

"You too ?" said Renji and Rukia. Then they looked at each other and their eyes widened.

"So, if is there anybody who DON'T have those dreams, raise your hand." said orange-haired boy. Like he expected, any hand was raised.

"So what do we do now ?" asked Renji as he sighed.

"We should became Shinigami." all eyes have fallen on Toshiro, who said these words.

"Shinigami ?" asked Rukia. She did know only a little about them, but she knew, that they are living dangerous life.

"Yes, this afternoon I have met one, and she told me that when we became shinigami, we can learn how to control our power." said Toshiro as he wiped tears from his eyes.

"So this is why you were away for so long." thought raven-haired girl and prodigy just nobbed.

"So became shinigami you say. Well it surely sounds interesting. And where do we start ? is there something like school, or academy ?" asked Ichigo and then looked at Toshiro who nobbed.

"Yes, that Shinigami said, that in seireitei is should be academmy." spoke Toshiro. Seireitei was in center of whole live only Shinigamis.

"Ok, how about we tomorrow start heading to seireitei ? It's about five days walk." suggested Ichigo.

"I agree." said Toshiro as he stood up.

"Me too." Rukia joined.

"Well, it looks like I don't have any other choice." Grinned Renji.

Five days later

"So this is Seireitei." Toshiro was surprised. He thought, that District one is beautiful, but this is even better. It looked wonderful. So may houses, and streets, and all were clean, what isn't so often to see in Rukongai. And even from distance you could see castle in the middle of whole place. Toshiro, Ichigo, Renji and Rukia were all standing in huge crowd before Spiritual Arts Academy. There were exams. Applicants to the academy must pass an entrance exam in order to be admitted, and likely must demonstrate that they have some Reiatsu.

"Another one!" yelled some mentor, who was standing near big doors. All four friends come there and signed their names on list."Ok, go further." said man.

When they came inside, they saw that there were't almost anybody. Exactly, there was just one man.

"Come here." said that man. They all have obeyed and came near him. He was tall, with long blond hair, black eyes, and glasses. He wore Shinigami uniform, Shihakusho. "In this exam we will see of you have enough of reiatsu and if you even are worthy of become Shinigami. Now, I expect that you don't know what it's reiatsu, right ?"

They all nobbed so he could continue. "Reiatsu is physical force that your Reiryoku creates when is released. And Reiryoku is a power aligned with the spiritual sensitivity and willpower of the user. Is it clear ?"

"Yes, but how do we show power of our reiatsu ?" asked Toshiro in interested voice.

"Well, it's energy of your soul, will pover and physical stranght. You have to feel it and control it. At firt, you must concentrate by meditation until you can feel your Reiatsu, then you just have to release it." said mentor. They all nobbed. "This is one by one, that means only one at time can release his reiatsu. Who is first ?" Rukia wanted to have it all done already so she raised hand as first.

After ten minutes of meditation, she could feel her reiatsu. Then she started to release it.

"Good, that's enough. Your reiatsu is high enough for you to enter academy. Please step aside and let others to try." raven haired girl smiled and nobbed. Then she stepped aside. Renji was next to go. It was the same as Rukia. After ten minutes he started releasing his reiatsu.

"Ok, it's also good enough. Next one !" now it was Toshiro's turn. He was meditating about twenty minutes. But the rate of his reiatsu was incredible. Mentor's eyes widened. "Wow, this was something really…interesting. You have truly high reiatsu. Now the last one."

Ichigo was meditating about thirty minutes, he was already feeling his reiatsu, but he thought that it still wasn't enough, so just kept on it. After another ten minutes he released all reiatsu he felt. When he opened his eyes, he saw that Rukia, Renji and even Toshiro were on their knees and mentor was gaping at him.

"What happened ? Are you alright ?" asked Ichigo as he stood up and went to their friends to help them up.

"Well, this was really something, you have surely reiatsu about captain level, but I can see that you can't control it properly, am I right ?" asked blond-haired man.

"Yes." answered Ichigo as he helped Rukia up from the ground.

Mentor nobbed and then looked at his list of people signed in. "Now it's time for recapilation. Rukia and Renji Abarai—" he said as he gestured towards red-haired boy and raven-haired girl. "—you two have strong reiatsu, something upon average. But you two, Ichigo and Toshiro Hitsugaya—" now he gestured toward orange-haired boy and white-haired one."—you have really huge reiatsu, I never didn't saw anything like that, I believe, that with proper training you will surely reach rank of captain." after saying this Toshiro's and Ichigo's eyes widened. They was hoping that they could become strong shinigami, but captain level was something that they weren't even dreaming about.

"Came back in one week, that's when we're staring new year. And now, please leave, there are other people, who want to try to pass." said mentor with smile.

After the left Academy, they all felt happy, but also nervous. After all those years, they are now standing before start of new chapter of their life. Chapter, where they all become Shinigami.

Bleach belongs to Tite Kubo