Disclaimer: If I owned Bleach, I wouldn't be writing this. And Ichigo would have never lost his powers. Just saying…

Rukia stood in front of the Senkaimon Gate. Her slender body was a black silhouette against the blinding light that spilt forth from the portal.

She reached out her hand…

….

…and Ichigo took it.

He laughed softly at the small hand that tugged him into the light with a disproportionate strength. Laughing was easier now, he noticed. Somehow, he felt better, lighter. Not that he was completely leaving his old life behind, but something stirred within Ichigo that gave him a new conviction. He was turning over a new leaf. This life, he decided, would be worth something and he wouldn't wallow in the guilt that he had drenched his human life in.

The boy and the shinigami strolled as lazily as one could stroll through the Senkaimon Gate. In reality, that meant running as fast as they could. The gate hissed open and the pair tumbled out into the center of a courtyard in the Kuchiki Manor. The late morning sun was bright and it shone through the cherry blossom trees that embraced the square.

"Nii-sama is already at the barracks." She said.

A black hell butterfly drifted through the courtyard and landed on Rukia's outstretched finger. A voice only she could hear relayed a message. The butterfly swept away as gracefully as it had arrived.

Then, almost lethargically, Rukia turned to Ichigo and said, "Come on, I have to bring you to the Soutaicho."

Ichigo looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

"You remember what Tessai said. Your…ummm…future is to be decided."

Rukia looked at him with a guilty expression and he stopped them both with a short tug on her hand. The two now stood on some rooftop in the Kuchiki compound.

"Wait, why do you look so nervous?"

"Uh-humm," She laughed nervously," The Soutaicho and the rest of the captains have to decide what to do with you. Whether you like it or not, you are considered a threat and the Gotei 13 very well can't have you running around Sereiti as you please. There has been a lot of speculation about your future lately."

Now she looked smug.

"I get that, Rukia. But I thought that I was going to the academy or something."

In the distance, the metallic clash of swords could be heard.

"Well, yes. You are going to the academy but they are talking about after the academy. What squad will you be in? What seat will you be? Will you have to work for that seat or will you just be placed there? Will you even get a seat or will you just be made captain?..."

When Rukia caught Ichigo's eye, he was staring at her. He knew the Soul Society was anal, especially after the Aizen fiasco, but this? Why were they planning so far in advance? He would be at the academy for seven years, dammit. Probably even longer if his kidou was really as atrocious as everyone predicted it to be. Maybe living for hundreds of years blurred the shinigami's understanding of time but still, seven whole years. That's more than enough time to decide the fate of one being. Hell, they decided to execute one of their own in little under a day. What made this any different? Ichigo decided to voice his comment.

"I'm gonna be at the academy for seven years, Rukia. Why the hell can't they take a break and worry about me after? I think rebuilding the morale of the people is a little more important than my future."

Rukia let out an exasperated sigh. She looked at Ichigo like he was a child making a special effort to annoy her.

"Some shinigami are under the opinion that you won't be at the academy for seven years."

He looked up, surprised. She continued.

"In fact, I don't think anyone believes that you will be there for seven years. Your rate of growth is so incredible that they don't know what to think. Some say five years, others six months. There are several pools, too. I think Ikkaku and Matsumoto started them…anyway, the Soutaicho is just preparing for the extreme. Remember, you are already a master at Zanjutsu and Shunpo. Your hand-to-hand could use a little polishing but it looks good otherwise. The only things you'd need to learn are Kidou and Soul Society history. And, if you really tried, you could probably pick those up really fast. Unless you're like Renji. That's possible. Hah, the great Kurosaki Ichigo, savior of the Soul Society and an atrocity at Kido…"

She trailed off in laughter.

"Funny, Rukia. Really funny. Wait, they seriously think that I might go through the academy in less than seven years? Alright, I guess that makes sense. I did learn bankai in three days…"

As they conversed, the sun rose higher in the cloudless expanse of blue sky.

"Kurosaki Ichigo, step forward."

The Soutaicho's voice rumbled throughout the hall. Like the man it belonged to, the voice filled the space with power and authority. The remaining captains lined the walls of the chamber with stoic faces. Only the barest hint of a smile could be seen on the usually jovial Kyoraku.

Ichigo stood before the ancient commander looking as meek as anyone had ever seen him. His calm, emotionless face was slightly shrouded by his vibrant hair but the effect made him look younger, somehow.

"Kurosaki, I assume that Kuchiki Rukia informed you of our plans? Yes? Well, do you have any questions boy?"

"Just one, sir. What will I be doing after the academy? Rukia wasn't sure about that…"

Yamamoto eyed Ichigo like he was a bug. The youth had enough sense to look humble and sincere.

"You will join the ranks as a seated officer. Then, under the guidance of your captain, you will be prepared for a higher position." Then, almost as an afterthought, the captain added, "and you will then be trained to take over my place…"

Ichigo winced slightly at the Captain-Commander's words but remained silent. Yamamoto looked up and regarded the whole room.

"It is settled, then. Kurosaki Ichigo will begin his schooling at the Shinigami Academy tomorrow. I suggest you get some sleep tonight, Kurosaki. The courses are a little more rigorous than human schooling."

The Captain-Commander sat down heavily in his chair and the meeting was adjourned. Life for Ichigo would begin tomorrow at 7am.

A/N I: Yeah, yeah, I know. The ending sucks. I hate, hate, hate, hate, hate, writing the Soutaicho. He annoys me.

A/N II: Please, please review. I am being very nice and taking a break from my summer to write this for you so throw me a bone and review. Actually, throw me a cookie 'cause I don't like bones…