i do NOT own Bleach!

I kind of skipped two years -i was running out ideas for the Academy, anyway this isnt supposed to be an Academy based story. so its been three years since the Garganta incident, two years since the last chapter.

Rukia could hardly believe that she had finally married her childhood friend, and that it had been two years ago that he had first asked for permission.

But right now, Renji was occupied most of the time with the list of graduating students applying to join the Squad. That was the annoying part of having a Lieutenant as a husband –he had most of the paperwork to do. Byakuya always left the selection of raw recruits to Renji –he would have turned away a lot more than Renji would.

Izumi knew very little about each of the Squads, so she went through the summaries she had made a few years ago, looking for the ones she would be best suited to. Out of the thirteen, only four had made it onto her shortlist.

This was part of the curse of being in the final year –she had to choose where she wanted to start after Graduating from the Academy.

Her eye was drawn away from the paperwork and out of the window to the sparring ground. Naomi was there, sparring with one of her own year while the rest cheered them on.

The gleaming zanpukto in her hand caught the crimson sunset. The wakizashi blade that she had carried around in Zaraki, the one she had once taken from her sister's bag, had taken on zanpukto characteristics. It was a wind-based one, called Redikaze(1). With it, Naomi could redirect and control wind pressures with each swing. It was a deceptive blade, almost strong enough to blow Fenikagi out with a single swing. And Izumi had no doubt that it was just going to get stronger.

Izumi returned to the list. Her choices had boiled down to one between Squads 5, 6, 10 and 13.

She knew Raidon was going to become a ranked Officer as soon as he entered Squad 6. Although they were secret lovers, it would probably be even harder to keep that hidden if she joined as well, and act like an ordinary Ranked officer and sub-ordinate under his father's watchful eye. So Squad 6 was out of the equation.

Ichigo and Momo were Captain and Lieutenant of Squad 5. They had been in contact with her since she had joined the Academy, and they were the ones she knew the most about. They had even offered her a Ranked Seat as soon as she joined. And while she knew them on a first-name basis, she did not want to be known as the Captain's pet, or given a high-Ranked Seat just because they had been first to find her. So Squad 5 was also out of the running.

That left only two options –one as a first choice, and one as a back-up.

Squad 13 was made up of a Captain Izumi had never seen before, no Lieutenant and two 3rd Seats who were said to be constantly tripping over each other to please their Captain.

The only other option was Squad 10. Izumi shivered each time she remembered the Captain with the chilling aura and dragon ice-based zanpukto. But it wasn't a shiver of fear –more one of respect. He had struck her as a reliable Captain, balanced by his more easy-going fun-loving Lieutenant.

If there was an easy Squad to get used to, it was probably Squad 10.

She put pen to parchment and began the task of writing out her application to become a member of Squad 10 upon graduation.

Toshiro Hitsugaya frowned as he read one of the recently arrived applications. He remembered Izumi Kihara –she had been that student in that class he had visited a couple of years ago. He was surprised –he knew that Ichigo had offered the girl the position of 8th Seat in Squad 5. Why had she not taken up that offer?

Then he smirked –he had the chance to show up Ichigo. One of the applicants Ichigo had been sure that he would get had instead applied to Squad 10 and, if Toshiro didn't want her, Squad 13.

Kihara was definitely a powerful one, with that fire zanpukto, not to mention incredibly intelligent. She was a genius, of the sort that only came along every two centuries. Her scores were only surpassed by those of Raidon Kuchiki. Her spiritual pressure was easily in the Lieutenant-class level, and he had sensed the fiery shield she had raised that time he had visited the Academy.

But all his Seats above 11th were filled. The first and only available empty Seat was 12th. So he would offer her that one.

The Graduation Ceremony was the largest event in the calendar of the Soul Reaper Academy –it was the day the Sixth Years left and joined the ranks of the Soul Reapers. It was presided over by the Head Captain who would announce the names of the students and assign them to their Squads. The Captains and Lieutenants were there as well to welcome their new recruits.

Fifty-three students, visible in their red and blue uniforms, left through the open gates and into the centre of the assembly of Soul Reapers.

As they lined up, Izumi caught a glimpse of Ichigo's orange hair to one side of the field and Toshiro's white hair on the other.

Head Captain Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryusei stood and absolute silence fell. Stooped and leaning on a cane, his haori flung loosely over his shoulders and a long white beard, he looked as though he no longer belonged on the battlefield.

But he was scarred from hundreds of battles, and gave off an aura of choking pressure. He was the wielder of the greatest and oldest zanpukto, Ryujin Jakka.

Every single student shivered in awed fear upon seeing him, the founder of the Academy and one of the longest-living Soul Reapers.

"Welcome to this event," Yamamoto began. "You have all completed your studies and are ready to take your places as fully-fledged Soul Reapers."

Ichigo always zoned out when he had to listen to this speech, but he managed to look as though he was paying full attention. He had had to listen to every word of this before he had been elevated to the vacancy of the Squad 5 Captain. He could remember the look on his fellow students' faces when they had learnt that he was really Ichigo Kurosaki, the famous Substitute Soul Reaper who had finally defeated Aizen –he had gone by a different name the whole time.

"Izumi Kihara," Yamamoto said, bringing Ichigo back to the present. He focused on Izumi, ready to greet her, and thought it strange that she was avoiding his eye.

He understood why, though, at the Head Captain's next words.

"You have completed your studies two years before the rest of the freshmen you arrived with, and with the second-highest results. You have been accepted into Squad 10, and in recognition of your excellent results have been awarded the position of 12th Seated Officer of the Squad. Congratulations are in order."

Ichigo couldn't believe his ears as he watched Izumi bow low and head towards the Squad 10 area. She was greeted by Toshiro and Rangiku, and given her new shihaksou robes.

Toshiro grinned at the sight of Ichigo's face. But somehow he got the feeling that Ichigo wasn't just about to let this slide.

(1) Redikaze means 'Lady of the Wind'. I got the idea that fire and wind are difficult opponents, but are strongest when used together. the idea just needs to be developed in later chapters.

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