oxo…oxo

In the week leading up to the captain's exam, the seven candidate's of the English soul society participating in it could be seen training pretty much non stop. None of them new what it was going to be so they trained in all areas; some including strategy.

And it was the same in the Japanese soul society. Renji and Ikaku had been given time from their duties in order to train and usually found themselves training against each other. But on the day before they where to leave for England, Ichigo arrived; very pissed off and fiery as ever.

"How come no one told me of this captain's exam?" he had yelled as he trudged trough the Seritey, threatening shinigami here and there with threats of mega wedgies if they didn't give him an answer. He had soon been found by a rather annoyed looking Rukia who had punched him hard in the face before dragging him behind her to the head captains office; cursing angrily under her breath as she walked.

The meeting had lasted a fair amount of time and by the end of it there were 3 broken chairs that had seemingly been flung from the room and a malfunctioning hell butterfly that had proceeded to fly in circles around the Seritey screaming "cookie's for reviewers!" to everyone it saw in a very high pitched voice that sounded suspiciously like the head captain on helium. The outcome, however, had been Ichigo's entry into the captain's exam and he himself was still oblivious as to how it had happened.

Needless to say, the arrival the next day in England of seven shinigami rather than the expected five had surprised the English head captain somewhat, but she didn't show her surprise for long. They arrived in the meeting room, as Toushiro and Soi Fon before them, but this time only the captains for the 6th and 11th squad had been called. The two other Japanese captain's had decided not to come as they seemed to think they would be risking their lives by being in the same room as Kenpachi when he arrived to this new, all powerful world.

Byakuya looked around with an uninterested look on his face. Two baby blue eyes watched his movement and he turned to look at the girl possessing them with his own hard, dark blue eyes. She had mid length brown hair and a smooth face. Her features taunted him, her lips pulled into a teasing smile. He stared at her for a moment longer before focusing on the male beside her. He was fairly tall with short, spiky, dark grey hair and blue eyes and was grinning with a smile that looked almost identical to Kenpachi's. Oh no… not another one of him…

Renji watched his captain nervously, looking around as well before focusing on the head captain as she spoke.

"Welcome! I am surprised there is so many of you." She said with an air of warmth.

"I am sorry." Ukatake said with a smile. "We didn't expect it either but we seemed to have a late entry if that's ok. His name is Ichigo Kurosaki and though he's only a substitute he is at a captain's level if not higher."

Hetta held up a hand to his protests. "But of course, that is fine. They are your captains you are getting; remember? I hold no power over who you enter into it." She told the captain and his smile widened.

"Thank you. I will be acting as his captain for this exam; Captain Jushiro Ukatake of the 13th squad." He told her with a small bow. She smiled slightly before nodding to someone who had been standing in the shadow. He came into the light to stand by her with a nervous smile as his eyes flicked around the room nervously. He was fairly short with short brown hair and brown eyes and on his arm was the vice captain's badge with the number one numeral engraved upon it. His face was taught with nerves.

"Thank you Robert. Could you please fetch Yufi? We are in need of her squad's hospitality." Hetta asked her vice with a kindly voice that seemed to set his nerves at ease. He nodded once before flash stepping out the room. Turning back to the others, Hetta began the introductions. "This is Ryan yenta our 11th squad captain and Fraya Payton, our 6th squad captain. They will look after you while you are here. Now if you would please introduce yourselves then you can be on your way."

The shinigami nodded before starting introductions. "As I have said who I am, I think I shall introduce the rest of us." Ukatake said with a smile at the rest of them. Byakuya nodded, his eyes still staying purposefully from Fraya. "The red head behind me is Ichigo; the grumpy one is Byakuya Kuchki." Byakuya's eyes flashed. "Our 6th squad captain and the one standing next to him is his vice, Renji Abari, the one with the bells is Kenpachi Zaraki, our 11th squad captain. The little one with pink hair is Yachiru Kusajishi, his vice and next to them is Ikaku Madarame, their 3rd seat." He explained in a chipper tone, pleased with his introduction and not noticing the dark cloud that loomed over Byakuya or the evil glint in his eyes.

"Ok, then Kenpachi, Yachiru and Ikaku, please go with Ryan and Byakuya and Renji please follow Fraya." She told them and they nodded, following their respective captains through the door leaving Ichigo and Ukatake alone with the head captain. A knock on the door caused them to turn and when Hetta called for them to enter, a tall girl with short, blood red hair and deep purple eyes.

"Ah! Yufi!" Hetta said happily, her arms stretched out before her. The girl smiled, clearly used to her head captain's behaviour. "These two are in need of accommodation. Do you think your squad would be able to take care of them?" she asked the captain as Yufi walked further into the room.

"Of course Hetta." She said with a smile.

"Good. Guys, this is Yufi Clannad and she is the captain of the English 13th squad. Yufi, this is Jushiro Ukatake of the 13th squad in Japan and he is acting captain for their substitute, Ichigo Kurosuchi." Hetta explained curtly before ushering them hurriedly out of the room.

xxx…xxx

"Ah! Toushiro!" Kenpachi exclaimed in surprise and amusement as he watched the young shinigami duelling a vice captain in one of the training arena's. The party of Kenpachi, Ryan, Yachiru and Ikaku stopped to watch as he was knocked to the ground by the vice captain he was fighting. "She's good…" Kenpachi murmured, a large grin coming upon his face before he leapt out of the window and ran towards the arena, the others following quickly behind.

"Damn it!" Toushiro cursed as he felt and saw who was coming. Amy, noticing his distraction, lowered her Zampacto and looked over in the direction he was looking. She was startled to see a large man with spiky hair that she had never seen before racing over towards them with his Zampacto in his hand and an evil looking grin on his face she had seen Ryan wearing many times. Taking a step back wards she flinched as the man's course veered towards her.

"Oh poo!" she cried before putting Akane Yuki back in her sheath and flash stepping away faster than ever before. Toushiro watched her for as long as he could before she vanished with a small smile playing at his lips. She's obviously seen that look before. He thought wonderingly as Kenpachi stopped next to him; a grin still spread across his lips and the other three came to a halt beside him a few seconds later.

"Damn she's fast!" Kenpachi stated and Toushiro looked up at him with his usual frown.

"What where you chasing her for anyway?" he asked coldly. Kenpachi looked at him, his grin widening.

"To fight her of course! She knocked you over so she must be good!" he explained loudly. Toushiro glared at him.

"With your style of fighting you'd likely kill her." He murmured as he turned away before flash stepping away in the same direction Amy had gone; the 10th squad barracks. And we wouldn't want that…but what was with the poo remark…?

xxx…xxx

Byakuya and Renji walked in silence as Fraya gave them a tour on the way to the barracks, telling them anything and everything about the soul society in her bell like voice. She talked non stop until Renji had looked out of the window to see a soul reaper with long brown hair that was white at the tips flash stepping very quickly across the rooftops before stopping and looking back to where she had come from with wide but relived eyes.

"Who's she?" he asked, pointing out of the window as he stopped to watch her, her long hair swaying in the wind. Fraya turned to look in the direction he was and smiled.

"Her name is Amelia Jones. She's a very talented soul reaper and is our 10th squad vice captain. She will be working against you in the captain's exam." She told him with a sly look as her baby blue eyes revolved in their sockets to watch the Japanese vice.

"She is bankai level?" Byakuya asked curiously, speaking for the first time since he had arrived. Fraya nodded before turning to look at the captain with a smile.

"She achieved it long ago but we haven't had any spaces for her so she has remained vice captain. This is her chance to become a higher rank." The girl explained. Amy turned to look at the group with a smile before waving and flash stepping away.

"She is fast." Byakuya remarked, his voice impressed in spite of himself. Fraya giggled softly before walking away. Byakuya and Renji followed and their tour began again.

xxx…xxx

Ichigo was stunned as he walked through the building behind the pair of 13th captains. The two where chatting happily as they walked down the small corridor that seemed so much like his school only that the windows where slightly smaller. He turned suddenly however as a new voice entered the conversation in front of him and he almost crashed into Yufi but managed to stop himself just in time.

"Good morning captain Clannad." The voice said; silky smooth and trustful. Defiantly a womaniser… Ichigo thought dryly as he looked past the two captains to see a vice captain with short, spiky, jet black hair and brilliant blue eyes, carrying a large amount of paper in his arms.

"Morning Damien. Shouldn't you be training?" Yufi asked with a smile. Damian smiled slightly back before nodding.

"Yes, but Captain Jewels asked me to give these papers to the head captain first. Besides; I don't have an opponent to spar with." He said with an air of regret in his voice.

"What about sparring Ichigo?" she asked lightly, turning to the shinigami behind her. Ichigo nodded slowly.

"That could be fun… captain?" he asked, turning to Ukatake who was slightly surprised at his reference to captain.

"Sure." He said finally, smiling at Ichigo and nodding. Ichigo then turned to Damien who was smiling.

"Follow me then good sir and we can spar after I have given these papers to head captain Hetta!" The boy said jokily, a happy smile upon his face.

"Just remember to bring him back to the 13th squad barracks when you've finished; and in one piece preferably please." Yufi said with a smile.

"Sure sure!" Damien told her before walking past them down the corridor and waving a hand out beside him in a goodbye with Ichigo following closely behind.

xxx…xxx

Aiedail yawned loudly as he walked into the main office of the squad's barracks, eyes drowsy as he collapsed onto the sofa.

"Who beat you up today?" Katie asked idly, sitting at her desk and completing her paperwork without looking up at him. Aiedail turned his head towards her with narrowed eyes.

"Soi Fon." He answered dryly, not approving of the insinuation that Katie had made. She sniggered slightly

"I'm surprised you haven't died yet; your either being beat up by her or Amy! It's quite amusing actually…" she stated, a small smile playing at her lips.

"Shut up…" he said coldly, turning over on the sofa so that his front was no longer facing him. Katie stopped writing to look at him for a moment before sighing softly.

"Why don't you go and find a guy to spar with? I think it could do you some good not to be beaten up by girls all the time."

Aiedail didn't reply. He just pulled himself up from the sofa and walked heavily away, hands in pockets as he walked back out of the room. Katie sighed again before shaking her head, a small smile playing at her features.

Aiedail walked slowly to the training grounds and was surprised when he found the first of the five arenas being used by vice captain Damien and someone with ginger hair he had never seen before but assumed to be one of the Japanese entries. They where using what looked like shiki. Aiedail had seen Damien's flower petal shiki before and it always amazed him but this Japanese guy with his large Zampacto seemed to doge his attacks easily. It was if he had fought the shiki before and that fact seemed to be annoying Damien allot as his features where twisted in annoyance; no matter how fast the small blue petals moved, it was never enough to catch him.

"Hey guys, if I could interrupt a moment?" Aiedail yelled at them as he walked over, his hands in his pockets and a small smile on his face. The pair stopped in their fighting to look down at him and a small smile appeared on Damien's face before he flash stepped over to him.

"Hey Aiedail." He greeted, the blue, petal like blades forming his Zampacto again before he placed it back in his sheath and smiling at his friend. Ichigo followed him at a walk, placing Zangetsu on his back as he strode toward them. "This is Ichigo Kurosaki." Damian was saying. "He's a substitute shinigami from Japan and is going o be entering the captains exam." Then he turned to Ichigo. "And this is Thomas Darkshade, also known as Aiedail. He's our 2nd squad vice captain."

Ichigo nodded before smiling slightly at Aiedail and offering his hand. "Pleased to meet you." He said in his gruff voice. Aiedail smiled back before taking the hand offered to him and shook it.

"The pleasure is mine." He told the red head. "But I do have to wonder; how were you able to dodge Damien's attacks so easily? It was as if you knew what was coming."

Ichigo smiled sheepishly for a moment as he spoke. "There's a captain in the Japanese soul society that has a Zampacto called Zembonzakura. It's basically the same as Damien's but pink and faster." He explained before his features became serious again. "His name is Byakuya Kuchki and he's actually here right now if you want to meet him. He's in the 6th squad barracks."

Damian grinned and nodded. "Sounds cool. Do you think he'll duel me?" he asked Ichigo who shrugged.

"There's no way to tell with him. He might be interested if I tell him your Zampacto ability…" he murmured thoughtfully. Aiedail looked at them.

"Let's go then! I'm sure Fraya wont mind, she fancies Damien." He said with a smirk. Damian glared at him.

"So what if she does? Your just jealous that she doesn't like you!" he teased back before the pair started walking toward the 6th squad barracks to find Byakuya with Ichigo following behind them, a small smile playing at his face.

oxo…oxo

Well that's chapter 3 done and dusted. I hope everyone who is reading this likes it and I hope I've kept them in character. Next chapter is going to be the meeting of the two similar Zampacto's then maybe I might start the exam, ne? ^_^

Please review! I love my reviewers!