Chapter 4: Do It Up, Academy Style!


They walked passed all the bustling students toward Class 2A with new found determination. They would be the best and no one would stop them.

When they reached the classroom they found that it was actually a lecture hall with over 150 other students of all different sizes, shapes, colors, and species apparently. A man at the podium at the bottom waved them in with a smile. They all found seats in the front two rows near each other.

Traban looked around and saw Kensei with his own two friends talking. They were the same two he had sensed in the tree before his Konsō. He then thought that he and the rest of his new companions must have been placed in the year that was already running, but what worried him was how much they missed and if any of it was important. The man at the podium, who must have been the teacher, then spoke quieting everyone and bring the attention directly to him.

"Good Morning everyone and welcome to the third day, or for some" he said, looking directly at them, "your first day to First Year Orientation! My name is Tobi Gonzo, but you can call me Tobi-sensei or Gonzo-sensei, either or is just fine!" The man, Tobi-sensei said with a hardy laugh.

"Now that all of you are here, I'll once again state the main purpose of this class. This class is for you to get to know one another. The people in this room will be with you in this homeroom, and the rest of your time here in the Academy. Now after this first week we will be using the time to get into groups and to practice the skills you will be learning in the other classes. But first, I will recite the Soul Reaper credo. This will be your pledge for the next six years and the rest of your lives as Soul Reapers." Tobi-sensei said, then stepped in front the class and asked them to stand, to which they obliged. He raised his right hand, with them doing the same. He spoke the solemn oath of all Soul Reapers.

"Do not seek beauty in battle. Do not seek virtue in death. Do not make the mistake of considering only your own life. If you wish to protect that which you must protect… slice the enemy you must defeat from behind." He said with the utmost seriousness as the students nodded.

"Now all of you get to know each other while I go see the other instructors." He said leaving out of the room.


Huey and the gang went to the only other person they knew in all the class: Kensei. What caught them off guard was that Kensei and his two friends were doing the same, coming to them. They met halfway and stood in line as to introduce them. Huey and his friends went first. Kensei then started to introduce his friends, starting with the person next to him.

"This here is Shinji Hirako." He pointed toward the boy next to him.

Shinji had hair that was very long, reaching down to the lower part of his back. He had brown eyes and a facial expression which revealed his upper teeth. He gave a lazy wave as a greeting.

"This is Rojuro Otoribashi, but you can call him Rose." Kensei said jabbing his thumb toward "Rose".

Rose had purple eyes, long, wavy, blond hair and a perpetually bored expression. He gave a curt bow in greeting.

"This here is Love Aikawa."

Love was the tallest of their group. He has brown eyes and a thick, black, classic, rounded afro style with long sideburns, which added further to his rather incredible height. Love wore a pair of dark-lensed sunglasses mirrored sunglasses. He waved and looked toward Huey

Just about everyone looked at the two in complete silence. That silence was then shattered as Traban put an arm around both of them and proclaimed, "Afro Buddies!"

He was then slapped to the ground, in the back of his head, by both Afro-head Shinigami-in-training who gave him annoyed looks. He pulled his face from the ground only to see that he fell to the feet of someone, who was wearing some really cool clogs and no socks. He got up and saw that the person was standing in front of him with a hand outstretched and a small nervous smile on his face.

"Kisuke Urahara, at your service" the boy said as Traban shook his hand and told him his name.

Kisuke Urahara was a tall light-skinned man with messy, light, bleached blond-colored hair and gray eyes. Traban looked to the side of the blond and saw a much taller male.

"And I am Tessai Tsukabishi. It is a pleasure to meet you." The tall guy said in a completely respectful tone with a small bow of respect. Traban raised a brow at the action, but bowed back.

Tessai was a tall, muscular, lightly tan-skinned older looking teen. His hair was corn-rolled and he had a light mustache, which was connected to his long sideburns. He wore a pair of rectangular-shaped glasses.

"There was another of my own group, but she is in the Accelerated Class. Her name is Yoruichi Shihoin." said Kisuke with a small smile.

"Aye, is she fine?" Riley asked as he noticed Traban talking to the two, but was then smacked in the back of his head by a fuming Cindy.

"I don't know the only ones who know her are Kisuke and Tessai there." Kensei said with a shrug at seeing Traban's questioning look, and Huey's secret one.

"Okay then, like Tobi-sensei said; let's all get to know each other better." Traban said rubbing the back of his head with Riley doing the same.

They then told each other more about one another and were becoming fast friends.


Huey was a highly precocious intelligent person who recognized and detested the absurdities (both obvious and perceived) of the society in which he lived while actually alive. His cynicism often touched upon subjects such as politics, the media, businesses and corporations, African-American culture and American society as a whole.

Traban was another case. Although he was usually seen as a laid-back, jovial fellow, Traban also showed a deceptively cunning and serious side when the situation warrants it. He commonly used the idle conversation and outward concern as an act of distracting the people he's observing, something which Kisuke pointed out. Despite his care-free attitude, he almost always spoke politely, but was sometimes sarcastic. He was usually random and played most subjects of topic off as idle chit-chat. He was told that he was very much like Kisuke by Tessai, who had known the latter previously so quite some time.

Riley was told, by Traban and Kisuke, that he was a highly impressionable person who tightly embraced the stereotypical "gangsta" lifestyle. Though they did say he was also intelligent, when he wants to be. They also said that he and Cindy share many of those aspects.

Jazmine Dubois was a typical naive and innocent bi-racial girl, which to her chagrin, made her an object of ridicule for Huey and Riley in the past. She is one of the kindest people most of them have ever met. Traban then stated that she and a person he knew in life could be long lost twins, because of appearance and personality.

Love was a laid-back and easy-going guy, usually said to read manga in his spare time, more often than not, spoiling a piece of the story by quoting lines and explaining what the character meant by it in a dramatic, tough-guy demeanor, almost as if he was an actor rehearsing movie lines. As with most of his friends, Love's attitude switched from serious to carefree within a moment's notice, something Huey noted was somewhat like Traban. Love believes in respect and maintaining the peace, quick to uphold those standards when no one else will, something Huey and others stated that they respect him for.

Rose, a seemingly foppish man with a disinterested air, was one of the more laid-back members of the group. He was frequently fixing his hair and chatting with Love rather than paying attention to what is going on around him. He said that he was interested in music and often discusses what he had recently heard with Riley and Cindy. He also enjoys reading manga, a pastime shared with Love, although he became irritated when Love spoiled the storyline for him on the newest one they had gotten only three days ago.

Shinji was somewhat comical, adding a bit of levity to situations that were otherwise serious. He had a flippant attitude under normal circumstances and seemed to like annoying his associates, which usually earned him a slap from one of them, mostly Rose. Although, he was quick to make faces or insults at their expense, he said that he'd die for any of them since they seemed like "alright people". He also appeared to have a history of referring to cute girls he meets as his "first love"; complete with a deadpan look on his face despite the obvious lie, to which Love said that he does it often when he did it to Cindy and Jazmine, only to get knocked around by Riley and Huey. He also apparently enjoys listening to music along with Rose.

Tessai was a quiet, stern, and level-headed man who often acted as a source of discipline to anyone of mischievous behavior, but had a sentimental side. He was, apparently, very loyal to Kisuke; to which Riley muttered "gay", but not loud enough for the Tessai to hear.

They spent nearly the whole time talking about whatever came up, until Traban remembered he wanted to ask Kensei something.

"Kensei, how far did you guys get in the three days?" Traban asked with his friend looking curious at this.

"Well, for the other classes, this will be the first day. The only things we talked about are the minimal basics, which I'm sure you told them." At this Traban nodded.

"We also took a small trip to do Konsō on a few souls in the Human World, but that was for the summer early starts, which was only twenty other people; including myself, Shinji, and Rose." Kensei said as Traban rubbed his chin in thought before nodding.

"Okay so the first year is only now being officially started?" Traban asked with Kensei nodding, "Good."

With the rest of the time they saw who was with whom. It seemed that Kisuke was the only one to share Traban and Huey's schedule. Rose, Love, Kensei, Riley, and Cindy had the same as well. Tessai was placed in Advanced Kido classes for his proficient and ability in the art. Kisuke then told Jazmine that her schedule met she would be a Healer of Squad 4, to which she accepted. In the last five minutes the teacher returned and said to prepare to leave.

As they we're leaving Kisuke guided Huey and Traban to the Zanjutsu class. Riley and the rest walked with them on their way to class, when Riley bumped into someone.

"Aye! Son, watch where you goin'!" he yelled to the person he bumped into.

It was a young man that looked about as young as Riley. He had on normal attire, and did not where the Academy uniform. He had a distinctive haircut and wore black sunglasses with a sleeveless shirt, showing a dragoon tattoo on the upper part of his arm. Traban at seeing this grew a look of rage as he growled out one word.

"Yakuza!" Traban growled out as he glared at the tattoo.

"Yeah! What of it?" the boy said getting up facing Traban while the others were confused.

"Hooded men shot, and killed me, because apparently I was in the way of their intended target. At least, that's what that lame-ass poet guy said, except in some stupid-ass rhyme that I punched him in the face for. One of the hooded guys had a Yakuza tattoo, and he was the one that did the deed of ending my life." Traban said as Huey and the other's eyes widened.

Huey then told Traban and the others everything about the events of that night that Traban and Kensei had found them dead. He then was about to apologize when Traban raised a hand.

"No need for apologies, because now I have a lot of new friends and a new life, so I should be thanking you" Traban said as Huey raised a brow, but said nothing.

"Well the Yakuza would shot ya, but some members go rouge and join other groups. By the way the names Tetsuzaemon Iba and I'm not really sure how I got this tattoo, but I know it was well I was small child." The new found boy said as Huey caught the gleam in Riley and Cindy's eyes as they bombarded the boy Tetsuzaemon with questions.

After that introduction he was taken away by Riley and Cindy, who had a million questions about the 'real gangsta life'. It was luckily for Tetsuzaemon that he wasn't to start school for a long time from now, as he had only come to the school with his mother. Apparently he was bored and wanted to see the Academy while his mom had business there.


From there they all let for their first class. Huey, Kisuke, and Traban entered a room that was more like a dojo than a classroom. The teacher was an old man with a wooden kendo blade in hand.

"Welcome to your first lessons in Zanjutsu. Now who can tell me what that is? Yes you in the back there."

"Zanjutsu (swordsmanship) is the most used form of combat among Shinigami, since their Zanpakuto is the most effective way of dispatching any given opponent. As the name suggests, it involves using a Zanpakuto." A random student answered as the teacher nodded.

"Good, now who knows what a Zanpakuto is? Yes you with the afro." The teacher said pointing his wooden Kendo blade at Huey, who's eye twitched in annoyance. Huey gave the same thing Traban had told them while still in the Human World. Traban was rather impressed that Huey had remembered that, let alone word-for-word.

"Excellent. Now Zanjutsu is an art form, not just swinging around a sword like... like..."

"A bunch of crazy niggas." Huey and Traban finished for him in unison, with him nodding his thanks.

"Now grab a kendo blade and pair off into weight groups. I'll show you the Academy style, but next year you'll get a generic dull blade to use and will create your own style unique to yourself." He said as he started instructing them in stances and movements, correcting them each time they made a mistake. Pretty soon the class was over and they head to the Kido class practice grounds.


It was a wide closed-off field which had targets and dummies around. After five minutes the instructor walked in with a stack of papers handing them each one as she passed them, since she had them all lined-up against the back wall of the building. She then smiled at them in that, "I'm crazy as hell and would like to torture you!" way.

"These are the Kido you all will be learning this year, but before we start with all that, who hear knows what Kido are? Yes you, mop-top." She said pointing to Traban, who twitched in annoyance at the nickname.

"Kido is the technique that Soul Reapers use to focus their energy into a wide variety of magic spells that can serve many purposes, such as healing, defense, or combat. It is one of the four basic Shinigami combat forms." Traban said as her smile grew.

"Very good, mop-top, now what are the types of Kido?" She asked him.

"They are Hado, Bakudo, and Healing." Traban said smugly as she twitched, but her smile stayed.

"Okay now explain each, smart-ass." She said as he nodded with a smirk.

"Yes, Sensei. Hado are offensive spells which harm an enemy or cause damage to objects. Bakudo are a broad category of defensive spells which block/repel attacks or freezes enemies in place. Healing Kido don't have names, numbers, or incantations to cast and simply heal the target. There are also other Kido made for other things or situations."

"Very good, smart-ass. Tell me what is used to power a Kido?"

"Spirit Energy, and the incantation, Sensei." Traban replied as she nodded.

"So what's Reiatsu, mop-top?" She asked as she saw him twitch again.

"Reiatsu, or Spirit Energy, is a power aligned with the spiritual sensitivity and willpower of the user. It is used by Shinigami to provide power for their various feats and to effectively channel the powers of their Zanpakuto. It can also be used to cast Kido. Reiryoku, or Spiritual Power, can even be coalesced into a physical form and thrown or shot as a projectile. As a display of potency, spiritual beings have the ability to incapacitate the opponent's movement and simultaneously frighten them, by means of dispersing Reiryoku into the air. The aforementioned ability is known as Reiatsu, or Spiritual Pressure, possessing power that could be literally felt within the atmosphere."

"You know, for a mop-top, you're alright, smart-ass." She said with a smirk as he twitched again, but forced a weak smile.

"And why, if I may ask, is that?" Traban said trying very hard to keep his cool while Huey and Kisuke laughed quietly.

"Because, in five minutes, you went over everything we going to cover today and tomorrow. But now we have an hour and a half to practice the first Kido." She said while clapping her hands as Traban face-faulted with Huey and Kisuke laughing out loud.

"Now on these sheets are Hado 1-15, Bakudo 1-15, the basics of Healing Kido, and some minor Kido use. The last of which will be practiced toward the end of class, and trust me you'll know why." She finished with a dark chuckle that made them look at her crazy.

"Now would the first vict- I mean student please come up and help me demonstrate. Yes you, Sandy." She said pointing to Kisuke, who looked confused. Mainly, because he didn't raise his hand, but like a fool- I mean, good student he obeyed.

"The first Bakudo is number 1; the incantation is on the paper." She said as she stood in front of Kisuke with an arm outstretched toward him, with her opened palm at his torso.

"Disintegrate, you black dog of God! Look upon yourself with horror and then claw out your own throat! Bakudo #1, Sai!" She recited as they read the Kido from their papers.

The effects were instantaneous as Kisuke's arms went behind his back as if he were hand-cuffed and he fell forward on to the floor with his ass in the air. Traban would have made a joke about this, if he wasn't thanking whatever God she was referring to, for letting that not be him right now. The teacher then spoke breaking his prayers as she gazed over them with a predatory look and grin.

"Next is the first Hado is also number 1, which Sandy here has graciously asked to help me show." All the while she was talking Kisuke was crawling like a worm to get away from her.

"She's going to kill me." Kisuke thought as he tried desperately to get away.

"Where are you going, Sandy?" She asked sweetly as she slammed her foot on top his back to keep him in place.

"Ye lord! Mask of blood and flesh, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! Inferno and pandemonium, the sea barrier surges, march on to the south! Hado #1, Shu!"

As soon as the final words left her mouth a small halo of Spirit Energy formed at her palm. It shot out at Kisuke and pushed him from under her foot to the other side of the room in which a wall stopped him from going further. The class looked from Kisuke, as his body slowly slid down the wall, to the instructor, who was cackling evilly. They all thought the same thing.

"Please Lord, let this just be Kisuke!"

The rest of the class passed the same except with students shooting each other across the room, being on the ground with their asses in the air, at which Traban and Huey made several jokes, or blowing themselves up. The last twenty minutes was learning and using Healing Kido on the classmates who couldn't walk. Traban and Huey, since were okay, healed Kisuke. The teacher dismissed the class until the next tor-, I mean lesson tomorrow with another dark chuckle that made them scared for their lives.


After rushing from the insane lady, not even knowing her name, they went straight to Hoho class. The classroom was more like a giant hallway than anything. It stretched on out to a field. The sensei was at the opposite end of the field against a wall reading some form of book. He then looked up at his new class and shut the book. Before any of them could blink the door behind the class was being shut loudly. The students looked toward it to see the same man who was once sitting on the grass, now at the door which was a good 100 yards or so from each other.

"Incredible! I barely saw a flash of white pass me!" Traban, Kisuke, and Huey thought in awe at the man's speed and control of it. The others were just, if not more speechless than him. It was then that the man coughed and spoke in a lazily voice.

"Hello, I'm your sensei for Hoho or more commonly known as Shunpo-class. My name is Doshiro Hatake, but you can, call me Do-sensei. Now I'll explain everything so follow me to the field and pick your jaws up off the floor." The man said, moving pass them with them following his instructions. When on the field he spoke again.

"Now the skill I displayed for you all was known as Hoho. Hoho, also known as the Step Method, is an important skill for most Shinigami. The agility and speed of Hoho can be enhanced and improved through mastery of it, concentration, and training. The foremost practitioners of this technique are those assigned to the Stealth Force. Shunpo, or Flash-step, is the most commonly used Hoho technique. However, there are variations even within Shunpo and other Hoho techniques that only master Hoho practitioner can use."

"Flash-step is a movement technique that allows the user to move faster than the eye can follow, if not trained. The focal point that determines the basis of this technique is speed. As speed is the main point of the technique the method is best characterized by how fast one can get from point A to point B in the least amount of steps. Training and skill are what determines how fast a user of Flash-step can move; those of little skill in the technique or those who haven't used it an extended amount of time would obviously be out of practice, causing those individuals to be considerably slower, which requires the use of more steps to move the same distance and become winded far easier in a shorter amount of time. The Quincy variation of is Hirenkyaku, but no need to explain that."

"Senka, or Flash Blossom, is a special Shunpo technique where one moves to their opponents back. Directly attacking and sealing one's Chain Binding and Soul Sleep in one strike. The movement is so fast that an opponent may not be able to tell whether he was attacked from the front or the back and even an outside observer may find it impossible to tell what the movements are if not properly trained."

"Last technique is, Utsusemi, or Afterimage Step, which allows for a movement at speeds so great one leaves behind an afterimage. The afterimage may even appear to have taken damage."

"Now we need not explain anymore for the next three years; unless I'm impressed by your progress, or you need a lot of help." Do-sensei finished while Flash-stepping to table with a huge box and was back before most even knew he moved. The only ones to have seen him flash there and back were Huey, Traban, and Kisuke, but that was mainly due to years of training on each of their parts.

"Dammit! He makes my speed look like a slug goin' in slow motion! How the hell could that be? Genkai-sensei said I was one of the fastest… on Earth… dammit!" Traban thought as he realized the Soul Society was in an entirelydifferent league.

Do-sensei then dumped the contents of the box on to the floor. Now on the floor were a lot of… ankle bands? At the questioning looks from his students Do-sensei explained.

"Since today is your first day we will only see what you can do and then move from there later. As of now, I only want you to strap one of these to your ankle. It will monitor how far you can go in one Shunpo and trust me it will know." He said the end with a devilish smirk. At this Huey and his two new friends, Traban and Kisuke, moved to the back in fear of another crazy sensei. The others had formed a line and an arrogant looking boy was walking toward Do-sensei with a prideful smile plastered on his face. He then spoke in one of the most arrogant voices Traban had ever heard, and trust him, he's heard a lot.

"Don't blink sensei or you might miss me, Koga Inzu." The boy said while placing the device on. The sensei rolled his eyes at the cocky kid.

"Yup, he defiantly deserves what he's about to get." Do-sensei thought with a mental smirk.

"Alright then, I won't because I defiantly don't want to miss this, kid. Now begin."

The boy then moved as a blur… a single millisecond before his face was painfully introduced to the grass-covered ground. The funniest part was he didn't even get one inch from the starting point. The class was at first stunned, but quickly broke into laughter as the cocky kid made a total ass out of himself. The teacher then said that the device would forcefully stop the energy going to your feet and legs. He then said that this was to see who had good control and who didn't.

Then it was their turn to come forward and fall on their face. It was hard to Flash-step the first few times, but as the class went on it became easier, though not by much. Traban seemed to have gotten it down to a science, which he said he'd tell them later. When class ended Do-sensei then collected the bands off the students and ushered them to leave.

Outside of the class Kisuke nudged Traban, who glanced back at him.

"So, how did you get Shunpo so easily? You said you'd tell us." Kisuke said as Traban nodded.

"Well, after the first three times of my face meeting either wood or grass I thought of what I was doing wrong. I realized that sending a constant stream of spirit energy to my legs and feet was the wrong way to go, so I lessened it with each try afterward. Then as I got further I came to the conclusion that sending singular bursts timed before I make the step help, but I'm not quite sure why." Traban explained as Kisuke and Huey nodded, though they and he still looked confused. They'd have to talk to their sensei about it.


They ran to make it to their next class, which was on the other side of the school's grounds. They had just made it on time and entered the classroom. This one too looked as a dojo would, but had practice dummies and other objects to the far-off wall. The instructor of this class was bald old man that was half their size. He cleared his throat and spoke to them as a grandfather disciplining his grandchildren would.

"Hakuda, or Hand-to-Hand Combat, is the general term for close-combat techniques that make use of one's own body as a weapon. High-speed Taijutsu attacks are used to overwhelm the opponent. Physical strength and skill is determined by this class. It is also a combination of several martial arts." He said sternly as he took in each of their faces.

"The foremost practitioners of this technique are those assigned to the Stealth Force, though not all masters of this art stay with the Stealth Force, or have ever been with that branch."

"Now I will show you the basics of this academy, but make no mistake, after this year you will create your own style of fighting unique to only yourself and those you wish to train in said style."

The old man, who was to be called Torah-sensei, then went through the academy stances and forms, with the class mirroring each movement. Once they had it slightly memorized he went around disciplining those who messed up with a strike from a cane he pulled from nowhere. Everyone in the class had been hit at least twentytimes before the class was over. When it was they ran for the door, with Traban being the last to walk out of the class. He then found out that was bad, because the old man whacked him upside the head telling him to get to class.


Kisuke and Huey were waiting by the door for their new friend to come out of the class. They then fell over laughing at the huge lump on Traban's head. It was gone after ten minutes as they made their way to their next class: History, a class they were just dreading the whole way there, though Traban seemed at least disinterested probably because he knew it all.

The History class looked like an actual classroom. It had desks, and everything. There was no teacher in sight until five minutes had passed when the class door was shut loudly and a regal looking man stepped to the podium in front the class with an air of royalty. He then spoke in a, surprisingly, calm, and kind voice.

"Alright everyone this is the most boring class you'll have to endure; History, so let's get to it. I'm Hidan Kuchiki, but please call me Hidan or sensei. Now let's begin with our first lesson: the earliest history of the Soul Society."

And the lesson began. Traban was bored because he already knew all the things that we're being said, but found that as the teacher spoke there were time gaps in information, but waved it off as some really bad things Soul Society didn't want people to know about. The class ended as quickly as it was started. With this the teacher told them they were free of any other classes and could go back to the dorms.

"I really hope time flies, because if it doesn't these classes are just gonna blur together for me." Kisuke said as Traban chuckled and patted his back. Huey let a small smirk grace his face as he walked with them.

"Don't worry; I'm sure it'll be fine." Traban reassured him as they walked off toward the dorms.

"Yeah, but I can already tell what I'm going to be good at." Huey said as Kisuke looked at him while Traban raised a brow.

"Oh, and what might that be?" Kisuke asked.

"Hakuda and Zanjutsu; they're both things I've trained in since I was a child, and I know them both well." Huey said with confidence as Traban shrugged.

"Well, I can already see that my talents are gonna be. I'm very good with the Kido and Shunpo they had us do, so if I can keep a good understanding of the two I could become very proficient in both." Traban said as Kisuke looked at him and Huey.

"Well, I wouldn't be so quick to pick, but I can already see that your both good in what you say are. Perhaps I can take tips from both of you and use them to become greater than either of you." Kisuke said jokingly as Traban scoffed and Huey raised a brow.

"Yeah… We'll see about that." Huey said as they got to their dorm.


SEGA! TIMESKIP: FIVE YEARS

Five years had passed since that day, and even though they had all tried not to get any unwanted attention they were very unlucky. Not only that but Huey and Traban had been labeled, "A prodigy duo not seen since the times of Shunsui Kyoraku and Jushiro Ukitake" though none of them were top of their year; mainly because they didn't care or didn't want to be. Yoruichi Shihoin, childhood friend of Kisuke Urahara, was top of their year with Kensei and Shinji close behind her.

Today was the final exam of their Last Year Course, and it was the only time that members of the Court Guard Squads would come and watch the students besides mid-terms. The students were tested in their skills in Hoho, Zanjutsu, Hakuda, and Kido. They were using an outside testing ground while the visiting Third Seats, Lieutenants, and even Captains were there.

Most of the students would rush to go and see the Captains when they arrived, but no Traban and Huey had to be asses and disappear. It was almost time for the tests to begin and Riley couldn't find them anywhere. He had flash-stepped place to place, in search of his brother and their annoying ass friend.

"Where… the… hell… are… they?" Riley said getting louder with each flash-step as he tried locating them. Just as he was about to go search the eastern wing of the school, Cindy appeared before him in a blur.

"You found them?" Cindy asked as Riley twitched and shook his head.

"No, you?" Riley asked as she shook her head as well.

"I can't even locate their Spiritual Pressure anywhere. It's not like them to just disappear without telling us something." Cindy said as Riley nodded.

"Yeah, but we have to find those two niggas before they get called. Captain Kyoraku and Captain Ukitake are here to watch them specifically." Riley said as Cindy looked shocked.

"Really? I didn't see the two Captains in the upper stands with the others." Cindy said as Riley looked confused.

"Wait, I saw them there myself… unless… OH! I hate them niggas! They asses hanging-out with Captains and they ain't even tell us! I'm gonna kick they asses!" Riley yelled as he disappeared via Flash-step while Cindy sighed and followed. Sometimes she worried for that boy…


At the testing rounds the students were talking excitedly about the arrival of the Captains. Jazmine was talking with Tessai while Kisuke and the others were trying to find Huey and Traban.

"So which members are here? I see Head-Captain Yamamoto, Captain Unohana, and Captain Kuchiki but I don't know the others." Jazmine said while gazing up at the top as Tessai nodded with his arms crossed.

"Understandable, Lady Jazmine, as even I don't know most of them. I do however no that Captain Uzumaki is up there next to the Head-Captain." Tessai replied just as respectfully as he always did.

"Tessai, I thought I said to stop calling me Lady Jazmine. We're friends, and I'm not royalty. That's Traban's thing." Jazmine said as Tessai nodded sheepishly.

"Sorry about that, Jazmine, though I still can't believe that Lord Traban is related to Lord Tousen of the Tousen clan." Tessai said as Jazmine nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, and he couldn't either. You know they wanted to train him privately so he could be the Head of the Clan, but he turned them down so he could stay with us?" Jazmine said as Tessai raised a brow.

"Really?" He asked in mild shock as she nodded with a smile.

"Yeah, and he'll still be the Clan Head later, since he's the only male that they'll have left use that old guys retires." Jazmine said as Tessai looked impressed.

"You know it's not nice to talk about people when their supposedly not around." Traban said as he and Huey walked up to them with everyone else.

"Well, if you two hadn't run off to God knows where we would have said it to your face." Jazmine replied while sticking her tongue out at him.

"If I may ask, where did you go? We've all looked for you since early this morning." Tessai said as Traban chuckled sheepishly while Huey raised a brow.

"We were kind of kidnapped." Traban replied with another sheepish chuckle as Tessai looked confused.

"You two? Kidnapped?" Tessai asked in disbelief.

"They were taken by two Captains, Tessai. They're fine, just been wasting time talking and messing around with the old farts." Kensei interjected bluntly as he shot Traban and Huey a dark look.

"Really now? Which two?" Jazmine asked in curiosity as Huey pointed up at the Captains.

"The one with the pink robe grabbed Traban and the one with the white hair snatched me." Huey said impassively as Jazmine looked up and saw the two he identified.

"Those are Captain Kyoraku and Captain Ukitake. They're the guys everyone compares you two to." Jazmine said with a smile as Huey grunted and muttered something about never having white hair.

"Yeah, well they want to train us if we do well in these exams today. Apparently they got wind of those comparisons and came to meet us by kidnapping. Once we graduate we'll be placed into their divisions and trained from there." Traban said as Huey nodded.

"Well that sounds cool. I wanna go into Squad Four to be just like Captain Unohana." Jazmine said as Huey rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, and you've been saying that nearly every day since we met the lady. I don't think we'll forget." Huey said as Jazmine shot him a look.

"I wouldn't be talking if I were you, Mr. Prodigy. We still have to take our Kido and Hakuda exams." Jazmine said as Huey scowled.

"You act like we can't breeze through those as well. The hardest exam was Shunpo, and we got through that in a snap, so calm down." Huey said as he rested a hand on her shoulder. Jazmine was always worried during tests.

"I can't help it. What if I mess up, or if I'm not good at Hakuda? What if I use the wrong Kido?" Jazmine worried as Huey sighed and hugged her close to him, stopping all of her blabbering right then.

"You'll do just fine, and I think my left arm, right leg, and Traban's ass can attest to your skills in both Hakuda and Kido." Huey said as Traban's eyebrow twitched while Jazmine laughed into his chest.

"Let's just get this crap over with. We have other things to do." Traban muttered as he strolled forward toward where the other students were being tested. An examiner caught them and began flipping through the pages of his clipboard.

"Are one of you a Jazmine Dubois?" the examiner asked as Jazmine nodded and stepped forth with confidence.

"That's me." Jazmine said brightly as the examiner nodded to her.

"Your Hakuda exam is to take place by station 13 and so will your Kido exam. Please make your way there now as your examiner is waiting." The man said as she nodded, kissed Huey, and ran off.

It wasn't long before they had all finished their exams, and the day was out. They had been told that tomorrow they would be gaining their Zanpakuto, and afterward they would be doing a trip to the Human World for practice against Hollows. Now they were sitting in class, waiting for Tobi-sensei to arrive. The damn guy always showed up ten minutes late.

"God, Jazmine, I know today's a really big deal and all, but please, just be quiet for a minute. I got no sleep last night, and I am not a happy camper today." Huey mumbled with his head on the desk. He and Traban had stayed up all last night, but Traban was just fine with no sleep.

"I wasn't being that loud." Jazmine mutter with a pout and her arms crossed over her chest.

Traban rolled his eyes, before his voice imitated a high-pitched shriek, "Oh my gosh, we get our precious Zanpakuto tomorrow! Oh my god! Oh my god! I hope mine has something to do with ponies! Oh, I can't wait! I'm so excited! Aren't you guys excited! Yes! Yes! Yes!" Traban mocked as everyone else laughed at this display.

Jazmine gave Traban a dark look before she moved closed and whispered something in his ear that left him looking pale and shaky. Riley was about to ask about it, but then Tobi-sensei came in, and everyone quickly became quiet.

"Alright, settle down! Today, as you guys know, is the creation of your Zanpakuto." Tobi-sensei said as several cheers were heard throughout the room, Jazmine's being the loudest. Huey groaned as his nap was interrupted. His eyebrow twitched when Cindy gave him a kick under the table. It was unnerving, these women dared to… oh they would all pay…

By the time Huey had finished his mental rant of revenge, the instructor had already taken out a list, "Now, when I call your name, step into the room. First off, Shusuke Aisawa." And so, one by one, the students went in. There were four rooms, so four could be creating their Zanpakuto at the same time. When it was Huey's turn he was told to wait, and so was Traban.


Huey and Traban waited along the wall with their friends as they showed them their Zanpakuto.

Jazmine was the first to show hers off, since it was "just so cute". Jazmine's Zanpakuto took the form of a regular katana with the only slight difference being the five-petal flower designs stamped on the rectangular guard with a light pink handle, and red sheath. She had that it may not be a pony, but it was just so cute that she couldn't stay mad.

Cindy then showed them all hers. Cindy's Zanpakuto took the form of a katana as well, except hers was a bit longer than standard. It had a dark blue hilt and sheath, as well as a round bronze guard with strange lines running through it.

Riley showed them his almost immediately afterward, saying it was the best looking thing he had ever "created", to which Traban snickered and Huey rolled his eyes. Riley's sword was a normal katana with a dull red sheath, grey hilt, and a guard in a shape of a hurricane emblem, consisting of a circle with a swirl-like shape in the center and three points protruding from the edges evenly spaced apart.

"Those are quite the swords you three have. Jazmine's is cute, Cindy's is mysterious, and Riley's is just... complex in design. I hope my own Zanpakuto is as good as yours." Traban said as Riley scoffed at him and Huey rolled his eyes.

"Ah, there you two are. Here" Tobi-sensei said as he walked up to the two and handed them two generic katana. Huey and Traban blinked at Tobi-sensei as he walked away, like they understood everything about what was going on.

"What the hell, man?" Huey and Traban shouted as Tobi-sensei turned and looked at them.

"You two are to be tested by Head-Captain Yamamoto to receive your Zanpakuto, though that will come later, because right now you're going on the Hollow trip. Good Luck!" Tobi-sensei said as he waved them off and walked away.

"Let's just get this damn trip over with…" Traban muttered as he placed the katana at his right side with Huey nodding while he scowled. Riley was snickering the whole time as he and the others followed the upset duo.


Huey dodged a Hollow's claw, tilting his body back, and flipping backwards as he acrobatically avoided each attack made by the creature.

"Hado #33, Shakkaho!" Traban murmured softly as he struck out his palm while a large ball of red fire shot at the Hollow, hitting it dead center in the mask along with the two behind, destroying them instantly.

Huey landed next to him, only to jump away as the spot they were at was hit by an energy blast moments later. Traban looked toward Huey and saw that he was staying extraordinarily calm. He glanced over his shoulder, seeing several other students running away from the west direction.

"Huey" Traban called out calmly as Huey blurred to his side with a nod. They both began to run in the direction the students had come from, and saw the biggest Hollows they had ever seen in reality.

"My, my, you're all big bad beasties. I wonder if that'll help you any?" Traban said mockingly as the Hollows began to laugh at them while Huey raised a brow.

"Didn't we just devour some of your little classmates?" One of the large Dinosaur hollows said as Huey narrowed his eyes.

"Well then, we should probably kill you, shouldn't we?" Huey asked as he began to redraw his sword.

"Indeed." Traban said as he in return sheathed his and stuck out a hand, only pointing his index finger at the lead Hollow. Huey jumped behind him as he saw what Traban was about to do.

"Hado #4, Byakurai!" Traban said as the point of his finger generated a concentrated lightning bolt that shot out at the lead Hollow, killing it and all the Hollows behind him.

The other Hollows didn't even get the chance to comprehend what had occurred before Huey had appeared in front of them, his sword held out in front of him with both hands like a Kendo-user.

"Tensho" Huey said calmly as yellow energy engulfed his blade. He swung down and the energy surged forward, killing all Hollows in its wide path.

Huey came back down to Traban as the few Hollows that remained grew angry and increased their Spiritual Pressure. Huey raised a brow to it as he and Traban increased their own, leveling off with the Hollows.

"You'll pay for that, you brats!" The Squid-like Hollow roared as its tentacles shot out and grabbed Huey's blade from his hands, throwing it far off as Huey simply kept his brow up, but gained a smirk.

Thank you." Huey said impassively as the Hollows grew confused. The Squid Hollow was the most confused, but it grew far more shocked when the remaining Hollows around it were hit with energy blasts. It gazed down at Traban's smoking palms as the boy jabbed a thumb toward the one with the afro.

Huey appeared in front of it as its eyes widened. Huey brought back a fist as the Hollow found itself unable to move due to six bars of light holding it in place.

"Ikkotsu" Huey said as he used a powerful punch against the evil creature. The punch completely shattered the Squid Hollow's mask and sent it flying along the street and into a building where it disintegrated.

"Are we done here?" Traban asked in a bored tone as Huey jumped down to him with a nod.

"I'm not gonna find that sword, am I?" Huey asked as they started walking.

"Not unless you wanna search the city for the damn thing, and I'm not helping ya." Traban said cheerfully as Huey sighed, but shrugged as they met up with the others.

"Now that this dumbass field-trip is over, we can go and get our Zanpakuto." Huey said in an impassive tone while Traban nodded with a slight smiled.

"Yes, and then I can finally become King of the Squirrels! Mwahaha!" Traban said wickedly as lightning flashed in the backroom while he laughed manically.

"I worry about you're mental health." Huey commented while they walked through the Senkaimon back to Soul Society as Traban smiled.

"Don't worry I'm just me." Traban said as Huey raised a brow, but couldn't argue that point.

"I don't doubt that…" Huey muttered as Traban began whistling joyful tone.


Arriving back the class was immediately taken back the classroom and asked to wait their while the teachers and several members from various Squads reviewed the footage of the field-trip.

"When do we get to join Squads?" Traban asked as Jazmine looked at him.

"Next week. After that, we can join any Division of our choosing, but some of us will be assigned to a specific Squad." Jazmine said as Huey raised a brow.

"How did you know that?" Huey asked as Jazmine smiled at him.

"It's written on the blackboard behind Traban." Jazmine said as she pointed directly behind Traban, who looked over his shoulder and saw that she was right.

"Huh? I gotta start paying attention." Traban said aloud to himself.

"So niggas, guess what Squad I'm go be in?" Riley said as he jabbed a thumb into his chest as he stood proudly.

"I don't know… Squad Six?" Huey said after rolling his eyes.

"Wrong, nigga. Anyone else?" Riley said as he formed an X-shape with his arms.

"Squad Two so you can work with the Stealth Force?" Traban answered as Riley shook his head and Cindy looked up.

"No, nigga, that's C-murph's plan. I'm joining Squad Seven!" Riley proclaimed as Huey raised a brow.

"And why is that?" Huey asked in genuine curiosity as Jazmine nodded.

"Because, they work with the Rukon district." Riley said as everyone only got more confused.

"You do realize that they police the Rukon district, right?" Jazmine said for clarity as Riley nodded.

"Yeah, and I be seeing them niggas fucking shit up for good and nice people. They don't do anything but shop and cause trouble. See when I get out there, I'm be cracking skulls and taking down crime. This is supposed to be Heaven niggas, how you go fuck with a nigga's afterlife? That's like finding Jesus smoking crack in the Head-Captain's office." Riley said as Traban literally fell out of his chair laughing.

"Why are you laughing?" Huey asked as he was actually amused and proud of Riley.

"Because, I just realized two things. One, Riley would be the only person I know to use the word nigga when in the afterlife, Heaven, and while most of the residents are Japanese. Two, is that Riley wants to be a cop, when in life you guys said he hated the police." Traban said as he got up and patted Riley's back while Riley glared holes in his head.

Just as Riley was about to make many rude remarks toward Traban, Tobi-sensei came in and gave everyone a sheet of paper that told them where to report to get either their Squad assignments, or where they could find the Squad brochures and members.

It was when Huey and Traban were about to leave that the door seemingly shut itself. They turned around to question their teacher, but were surprised by what they saw when they did.

Their current teacher and four captains, one being the Head-Captain, were in the room. The only other kids in the room were Jazmine and Shinji, and both looked very confused as to how they got there in the first place. Huey turned his attention to the Head Captain, who stood by Unohana, Ukitake, and Kyoraku. He banged his walking cane once to silence any questions they had.

"I know you all have questions, so I'll answer the obvious ones now. The ones in this room are all that are needed. Your other friends will not require the extra training, because they will have other duties upon graduation of the Academy. They will be in Squad Seven and will police the Rukon District until they have made it into the ranks of Seated Officers. From there they can do as they please. This young lady, Jazmine Dubois, will be in Squad Four; under Captain Unohana. Young Hirako will be place within Squad Five. The only exceptions who weren't here or to be placed in Rukon are Kisuke Urahara, who was placed in the Stealth Force, and young Tessai, who was recruited by the Kido Corps. You, young Freeman and Tousen, have been recruited until we can antiquity judge your skills in a secure environment." Yamamoto said as Traban and Huey kept a serious gaze on the old man.

"Now on to the training you shall receive." Yamamoto said roughly banging the stick once again as he stroked his beard, "Both you young boys will require much more training in the four arts."

"Now as for your instructors; Captain Kyoraku can instruct young Tousen while he services as a member of Squad Eight, while Captain Ukitake trains young Freeman. Little Jazmine shall be trained by Unohana and her Squad as an official member of Squad Four. Young Hirako will be trained by Captain of Squad Five, Isshin Kurosaki."

"The training will begin today; until we meet again in one year, younglings." Yamamoto finished as the teens each were guided away by their respective masters for the next one year.

It was that which help to shape the futures of those around them. Only a few of the pieces were on the board, but the rest were slowly gathering. For this was the event they named the "The Start of the Pendulum".