(Shūhei thinks about his time with Katsurou from their academy days and onward)
Twice I failed the entrance exam to Soul Reaper Academy but on my 3rd try I got in. I was placed in the advanced class and for the first weeks, everything was as I expected. But one day...
I was on my way to Kidō class when I noticed three older students stand next to a guy from my class. I hadn't talked to him before but I recognized him.
I was about to walk away when I saw one of the older students punch him.
"HEY. Leave him alone"
I ran up to them and the three older students looked at me.
"Who are you?"
"Does it matter to you? Now leave that guy alone"
"Why are you defending him? He's not like us at all. He only got accepted into the academy because he is a captain's son"
"So that's why they're picking on him"
I had heard the rumor that the older students had spread about a guy in my class but I never expected it to be this guy. But I knew they were wrong since I recognized him from the entrance exam.
"No, you're wrong about that. He took the entrance exam and got placed in the advanced class due to his high score. I would know since I'm in his class and saw him at the exam.
-Now get lost!"
The three looked at each other before walking away.
I then turned to my classmate and helped him up.
You okay?"
"Yeah. Thanks a lot for the help"
"No problem. Those guys just think they're tough because they're third years"
"You're probably right"
He brushed off his uniform a bit before turning to me again.
"My name is Katsurou Ukitake by the way"
"I'm Shūhei Hisagi.
-Nice to meet you Katsurou"
He told me that I could just call him Suro if I wanted to and when I said it was nice nickname, he told me that his father had come up with it when he was little.
I quickly figured out by his last name that his father was the 13th division captain and told him that I believe those 3rd years were jealous since they don't have parents as well known as his father despite them being from nobility.
Katsurou and I became friends after that day and I swore to myself that I would be there for him if the older students ever picked on him again. I even moved into the same dorm room as him after I found out he had a room to himself.
One day after class, I returned to our room and Katsurou arrived a while after me.
Hey Suro, where did you go?"
"Our teacher just wanted to give me this"
He held up a letter before he sat down on his bed and opened it.
Once he had read it, he looked at me.
"Hey Shūhei are you going home on the day off?"
"There is not much for me to go home for. I don't really have anyone left in the part of Rukongai where I grew up so I'll probably stay here"
"Why not come with me to my home"
"Your place?!"
"Yeah. You see, I wrote a letter to my father the day we meet. I told him about everything that has happened and that you became my friend."
"You did?"
"Yep, this letter is from him actually. He says that it's great that I found a friend and if you don't have anywhere else to go on the day off, you're more than welcome to our home at the Ukitake estate"
"Well when you say it that way, it's hard to turn down that offer"
Two days later, it was time for our day off.
I had gathered some of my things and was on my way to meet Suro outside the gate, I was a bit late and worried that he may think I had changed my mind.
"Sorry for letting you wait"
"It's okay. Now let's go, there's quite a long way for us to go"
"Right"
He then began to walk away and I followed him.
"Hey Suro, what's your father like?"
"You won't find a man that's kinder than him. He saved me after all"
"Saved you?"
"I'm originaly from the 75th district of west Rukongai. One day, my father found me and adopted me into the Ukitake Family as his son.
-My memories from Rukongai are ones I want to forget and I also want others to know me as the son of the Ukitake family rather than "a filthy street rat" as others call kids from my district"
I looked at my friend and saw a bit of pain in his eyes. I had no idea his past was that bad since he seemed like the happiest guy I've meet.
He then looked at me with a smile on his face.
"You don't need to worry Shūhei. My father is a really kind man. Just be yourself."
"Right"
I then looked up and saw the number 13 on a building a bit away. When we got there, Suro walked inside and we meet a man with a badge on his arm which I had learned showed the status of a lieutenant.
Suro introduced him as Kaien Shiba and he told us that his father was outside.
So we walked around the barracks and found two men sitting outside. One with long white hair and kind hazel eyes and the other had dark hair and he wore a pink kimono over his uniform.
The white-haired of the two smiled when he saw us, got up and walked over to us.
I couldn't help but smile when he and Suro hugged each other and I figured that this man was his father.
We stayed at the barracks and talked with Katsurou's father for a while before we made it to his family's estate were I got to meet two of his uncles and one of his aunts.
The next day, we mostly relaxed in the garden but Katsurou also took me to see a friend of his, the lord of the Kuchiki family himself. I was of course nervous about meeting him but when he thanks me for being there for Suro, I allowed myself to relax a bit.
When we returned to the academy the next day, we continued our training and everything went well until a joint training during our second year were Suro was hurt by the very same student I had saved him from.
I had just gotten back to the academy after leaving Suro at the 4th division. As I laid down on my bed, I saw a few papers on both Suro's and my desk, I guess someone in our class had left them for us.
I decided to look at them later and before I knew it, I had fallen asleep.
Images of my friend being attacked haunted my dreams that night and I woke up multiple times wishing for it to be a simple dream. But Suro's empty bed was a clear sign that something really happened.
When I noticed the sun coming up, I decided to give up on falling asleep, I had to get through the day a bit tired.
I changed into a clean uniform and went to class.
"Hisagi stay for a moment, said our teacher when class was over"
I waited until the others had left before walking over to him and he held out a letter.
"This came from captain Ukitake of the 13th division earlier. It's adressed to you"
I took it and thanked my teacher before I walked outside and sat down under a tree were I opened the letter. I sighed a bit in relief when I read it.
Suro was alright but he would need to stay a few days in the 4th and then a week at home.
The student who injured Suro was expelled a few days later and when my friend finally returned to the academy, it was like that incident never happened. The only reminder was the scar on Suro's back.
Our time at the academy was pretty calm after that. We and the rest of our class trained hard and one day just a few weeks before our graduation, Suro, Myself and our classmates Aoga and Kanisawa were put in charge of a training exercise for the 1st years. But a giant Hollow appeared, injuring Aoga and I while Kanisawa was killed.
Suro and I had just gotten back after captain Aizen of the 5th division came and saved us from the giant Hollow.
"Let's go have your eye checked, Shūhei"
"Right"
We made our way to the infirmary were a healer immediately checked my eye.
"You're lucky that Hollow didn't injure you more. If it did, you would have been blind on this eye
-Your vision however will not be the same as it was since there as still a slight damage"
"I understand"
She wrapped some bandages around my head to cover the injured eye before turning to Suro, examining him really quickly.
We then went to the headmaster to report what had happened.
As we walked into his office, we both got down on our knees to bow.
"I heard your exercise didn't go as planned"
"Not fully sir, said Suro"
"What happened?"
"Everything was going well and then out of nowhere, this giant Hollow came. Kanisawa was killed by it and Aoga is badly injured.
-The healers are taking care of him right now"
"And as you can see, my eye was injured, I said
-But if Captain Aizen and lieutenant Ichimaru hadn't come, who knows what would have happened"
He nodded understanding.
"I am grateful that captain Aizen saved all of you and it's sad to hear that a student was killed"
The headmaster stood up and walked over to the window.
"I'll tell your friend's family about her passing, you boys don't blame yourselves for it"
"Yes sir"
"You may also have the next two days off after everything that's happened tonight"
"Thank you sir"
We both worked hard our final weeks at the academy and once we had graduated, Suro joined his father's division while I joined the 9th. Even though we were in different division, we did our best to find time to meet and most of those times we either trained Hakuda or just relaxed.
I soon reached the rank of lieutenant and some years later, Suro too acquired the position after the death of Kaien Shiba.
It was the day after Suro had been introduced to the rest of us as the new lieutenant of the 13th division and I was getting ready to leave for my lunch break.
"I'll be back in about an hour captain Tōsen"
"Alright"
I left the division and meet up with Suro outside a restaurant were we went inside to eat.
"I know this might be a sensible subject Suro but...
-What happened to lieutenant Shiba? All we got to know was that a Hollow is responsible"
"Well a Hollow was involved in it that's true"
When I saw the sad look in my friend's eyes, I regreted asking him about it. I knew Suro looked up to Kaien like a brother and a mentor so his death must have been hard for him.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked.
-You don't have to..."
"No, it's okay"
He took a deep breath before he told me everything that happened that night.
"If we had been more careful around it, then Kaien may still be alive"
"But didn't you say that he asked to fight it alone?"
"I did"
"Then there's no need for either you, your father or Rukia to blame yourselves about it since you did as he wished"
Suro looked up at me and a smile crossed his face.
"Thanks Shūhei. You always know what to say to cheer me up"
"That's what friends are for"
The Shiba clan fell from their status as one of the great noble clans shortly after that and 20 years later, another member of the clan vanished, captain Isshin Shiba.
After that, things we peacefull until Suro's subordinate Rukia Kuchiki was arrested because she had given her powers to a human.
But in the end, the situation was solved when we found out that Captain Aizen was a traitor along with Ichimaru and... captain Tōsen. The human boy Ichigo and his friends became our allies and we started to prepare for a showdown with Aizen.
The head-captain ordered all captains and lieutenants to prepare for the upcoming battle not long after we discovered the existance of the Arrancars.
Suro and I decided to train together in order to prepare ourselves for the battle.
"HOWL TOWARDS THE SHINING MOON!"
After his Shikai had activated, Suro sent his wolves towards me and I used different kidō spells to get rid of them until Suro suddenly stopped.
"What's the matter?"
"Shūhei why don't you use your Shikai?"
I looked at him in surprise before resting a hand on my Zanpakutō.
"You know why I don't use Kazeshini"
"I know, I know. You don't like the fact that his shikai is in the shape it is"
He scratched the back of his neck for a moment before looking at me.
"Shūhei use your Shikai against me as if I was an Arrancar"
"What?! But what if I hurt you or something?"
"Don't worry about me. The important thing right now is to get ready for the battle with Aizen and you need to be ready to use your Shikai even if you don't like it"
I sighed, knowing my friend was right.
So I drew my sword and looked at it for a moment before I grabbed it with both hands.
"Reap... Kazeshini"
My Zanpakutō split into two dual bladed scythes connected by a chain and I looked towards my best friend.
"I hope you're ready"
"Come at me"
I nodded and started to swing one of the scythes by the chain before throwing it towards Suro who dodged before he Flash Stepped around to confuse me.
Thanks to our training, Suro and I were well prepared for the battle were I actually ended up using my Shikai to defeat my opponent, Findorr. But I was later knocked out while fighting this giant creature that three of the Arrancars had created.
But thanks to Ichigo, we won the war and not long after that, my division as well as the 3rd and 5th were assigned new captains. My new captain was none other than Kensei Muguruma, the very same man who had saved me from a Hollow when I was little.
Sometime had now passed since the battle, one and a half year to be exact. Things had been calm since Aizen's defeat until now when reports about Hollows disappearing in the world of the living and people disappearing in Rukongai.
It was also that very same day that someone had sneaked into the 1st division and killed lieutenant Sasakibe along with other officers.
A few days later, the Seireitei was invaded by Quincies.
I found myself facing off against a Quincy who introduced himself as Driscoll Berci, the same man who killed Sasakibe.
He easily knocked me around and slammed me into a wall.
It was then Suro had appeared.
"You okay?"
"Yeah, don't worry Suro. But listen, that's the guy who killed Sasakibe"
"What?!"
Driscoll started laughing and pushed Suro's wolves off him.
"Your friend is right, I killed that lieutenant the last time I came here"
He then created this giant arrow and was about to throw it at us when Head-captain Yamamoto appeared, saving us and avenging Sasakibe by killing Driscoll.
The Quincies left not long after that. During the battle, we lost head-captain Yamamoto and many people were seriously injured. Captain Kuchiki and Zaraki survived but it wasn't sure if they would wake up. Some of the captains had also lost their Bankai.
Captain Muguruma took me to a place were he tried to have me activate my Bankai.
When they returned, they changed the entire Seireitei so they had the advantage against us. Along with Ikkaku and Yumichika as well as Renji, Rukia and captain Kuchiki who all had returned from the Soul Palace, we engaged the Quincies in combat until we were seperated by an explosion.
Suro and I had landed in rubble and had just got out when another Quincy appeared. He somehow took control of me and had me fight Suro but after he joined up with captain Kuchiki, they knocked me out and defeated the Quincy.
I woke up in a room were I found Isane, 3rd seat Yamada and captain Ukitake treating Ikkaku, Yumichika and captain Zaraki.
Once the others were treated, we entered a room were a large group of people were gathered and Kisuke Urahara explained that we would make our way to the Soul Palace.
But as he was explaining things to us, the ground started to shake, a sign that the Soul King had died.
Captain Ukitake then used the powers of a fallen god called Mimihagi to take the Soul kings place, giving his own life in the process.
As we worked on the gate, I could see Suro stand against a wall in the room, sadness in his always joy filled eyes.
I couldn't even imagine the pain he must be feeling right now.
I saw captain Kuchiki walk up to him and the two talked with each other. I was about to join them when Urahara told all of us to enter the finished gate.
As we were making our way towards the palace, I noticed that Suro took another way from the rest of us and not long after that, I was taken down by a powerful shot in the shoulder.
I woke up in the 4th and was informed that the war was over and that we had won.
Isane was looking over my wound which she had managed to heal while I was knocked out.
"Everything looks good lieutenant Hisagi. There's no need for you to stay here"
"Thanks lieutenant Kotetsu"
I put on my Kosode before I turned to look at her again.
"I there any chance that Katsurou is here?"
"Yes. He was brought in a few hours ago"
"How is he?"
"He's okay, just very exhausted since he used up all his energy"
"For what?"
"According to 3rd seat Kotsubaki, lieutenant Ukitake used a very powerful healing Kidō to save the life of his father"
I couldn't believe it at first. I never knew Suro was that powerful.
"Can I see him?"
"Of course. But I should tell you that he is unconscious due to his low energy but he will wake up in a couple of days"
"That's good to hear"
Isane smiled at me and instructed one of her officers to show me to the room my best friend was in.
I quietly entered the room and walked over to the bed were I sat down on a chair.
"You really are an incredible guy Suro. I knew you were strong but that you managed to pull off a Kidō like that is something I didn't expect"
A smile crossed my face.
"But I'm happy that you found a way to save your father.
-Get well soon, my friend"
I then got up and decided to also pay captain Ukitake a visit before leaving.
When I saw the state he was in, I was a bit sad but also happy that he was okay.
"Captain, it's me, Shūhei. I just came by to say that I'm glad you're okay, I can't imagine how devestated Suro would have been if you had really died.
-You mean a lot to him so I hope you wake up soon so he won't have to worry about you"
After that day, I was busy since everyone was ordered to start the rebuilding of the Seireitei. I visited Suro during my breaks and when a week had passed, Aoga came to me and told me he had woken up.
I went to the 4th division were I was told that Suro was in his father's room. I made my way there and walked in to see my best friend sit next to the bed with a bit of worry in his eyes.
But still, I was glad to see him up on his feet rather than laying still in a bed.
"Hey, how are you Suro?"
"I'm okay. I just need to stay here for a few days after what happened"
"Yeah, I heard about that. That you were able to pull off a kidō that strong but still fall unconscious"
"Well, that new Bankai of mine drained my energy a bit since I didn't know how to fully control it"
"New Bankai? So the one he's had until now wasn't his full power.
-Guess you're back to square 1 then"
"Yeah. Once everything has been rebuilt, I'll start training to fully understand and control my new abilities"
The two of us agree to train together since I was close to achieving my own Bankai.
We then sat there and talked while eating some Onigiri I had brought with me but during the entire time, I couldn't help but notice that even though Suro acted like his regular self, his eyes still showed worry.
Captain Ukitake woke up two weeks later and about a week after that, Suro returned to work. I was happy to have him back and he even told me that he had let his worry get the better of him while staying in the 4th division.
Time passed and a few months later, Suro saved a woman named Hana from a Hollow. The two fell for each other and started dating. Some time later, they got married and had a child one and a half year later.
I was busy with an article that was going to be in the Seireitei Bulletin when Suro came. I didn't expect him to how up since he was off duty for a few months.
"Surp what brings you here? I thought you were still on leave"
"I am. I just came by to invite you to our house tomorrow to meet my son"
"Can't say no to that. I promise I'll be there"
"Great. See you tomorrow"
The next day I finished my morning duties as fast as I could before making my way to the Ukitake estate were I found Renji and Rukia.
"I guess you were invited too"
"Yes, Katsurou came by yesterday and invited me. I asked if I could bring Renji and he was okay with it"
Once the head-captain and Nanao showed up, Suro and captain Ukitake welcomed us before Hana came in with their son.
Once he was placed in my arms, I couldn't help but notice how much he looked like Suro with his black hair and brown eyes.
"Shūhei there's something I want to ask you"
"What is it?"
"It's about Hikaru. When I was in the world of the living on a mission a few months ago, I overheard a couple talking about something called godparents so I asked Ichigo about it"
He told me that a godparent is someone parents choose to take care of their child if something would happen to them.
"When I got back from that mission, I talked with Hana about it and we thought it was a good idea.
-So I wanted to ask if you wanted to be Hikaru's godfather"
I looked at him in surprise as he said that.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, Besides, it's only if something happens to Hana, dad AND myself that he will be in your care
-So what do you say old friend?"
I looked at my best friend and then at the boy in my arms. I could feel joy build up inside me knowing that Suro trusted me so much that he would choose me for a position like that.
"It would be an honor"
"I'm glad to hear that"
Later when I was about to leave, I stopped in the door and looked at my best friend.
"Why choose me of all people?"
"You've been my best friend since that day you saved me from those bullies at the academy all those years ago. But I also see you as the closest thing I have to a brother. I would trust you with my life.
-That's why I picked you to be Hikaru's godfather. And who knows, maybe he'll call you uncle when he gets older"
I could fear a few tears in my eyes as I heard him say those words. I knew we were best friends but that he sees me as a brother was something I didn't expect to hear.
I walked up to him and gave him a quick hug.
"Thank you for trusting me that much"
"I wouldn't have it any other way"
I smiled and turned to Hikaru who laid in captain Ukitake's arms.
"Don't worry little guy. I'll make sure to live up to the position your parents have given me as your godfather and I promise you that I'll try to be a good uncle"
As Hikaru grew, I came by their home as often as I could to either look after him if his parents and grandfather were busy or just play. Everytime he called me UncleShūhei, I felt a lot of happiness knowing the boy loked up to me in that way.
Suro's daughter Haruka was born five years after her brother and the two couldn't have had more peaceful times to grow up in.
30 years after the war, captain Ukitake retired from his position and Suro took over as the new captain. I was incredibly happy for him since this was a position he deserved a lot.
Suro and I were standing on his division's training grounds, both of us were in our Bankai.
Despite his position, my friend still made time to continue helping me train to master my Bankai which I was grateful for. Kazeshini may have gotten a bit kinder with me but he wasn't gonna let me have full control that easily.
The energy around his hands then turned into a sword that split into these very small wolves in a way similar to captain Kuchiki's SenbonZakura.
"Sanran ōkami!"
The small wolves surrounded me but I used some blades of wind to knock them away from me.
I looked towards Suro and he had a smile on his face as his Bankai disappeared and I deactivated mine as well.
"I'd say you have that Bankai as good as mastered"
"Thanks"
Suro smiled and picked up his Haori that laid on the ground
"Even after 50 years, it's still strange to see you in that"
"Tell me about it. Some days it doesn't feel real for some reason.
-But I am the 13th division captain"
He put it on and turned to me.
"And soon, you'll be the captain of the 9th"
"If I pass the exam that is"
"Don't worry old friend. You'll pass and take over the position when Kensei steps down"
"You don't happen to know who will oversee the exam"
"I do but I'm not allowed to tell you"
"What?!"
"Just kidding.
-It's captain Hirako and captain Hitsugaya"
"I see"
I took the exam a few days later and passed.
When captain Muguruma and the other visorde stepped down a few days later, I was officaly made the captain of the 9th division.
I was bowing before head-captain Kuchiki and the other captains.
"Captains and lieutenants of the Gotei 13, today we welcome yet another new captain since lieutenant Shūhei Hisagi of the 9th division has reached the rank of captain.
-Serve your division and the Gotei 13 well, Captain Hisagi"
"I promise, head-captain"
I got up and turned to face the others who all applauded before gathering around me.
"You did it Shūhei, said Izuru"
"Welcome to the captains, said Renji"
I smiled at them, the two of them had become the captains of the 3rd and 5th division the previous days so they were as new as I.
"I wouldn't have had a better person take over, said captain Hitsugaya"
"Just don't do anything stupid just because you're new, said SoiFon"
"I won't disappoint any of you, I told them"
Suro then came up to me and placed a hand on my shoulder.
"I'm proud of you my friend. You passed the exam and now we're the same rank"
"I won't be behind you anymore"
He chuckled at that.
"No you won't
-To think that you were the first of the two of us to become a lieutenant but the last to be a captain"
"Hey!"
Everyone laughed a bit at that and I couldn't help but smile.
"Captain Muguruma, captain Tōsen. I promise that I will make the two of you proud now when I've taker your position.
-I'll use what you two taught me to lead the 9th in a fair way"
Suro and I have been through a lot together and I actually can't imagine what my life would have been like if I hadn't become friends with him.
Well I knew my life wouldn't be as good, that's for sure.
Our friendship is something I'll treasure until the day I die because a friend like him is hard to find and impossible to forget.
Author note
And here is Hisagi's chapter. I will update their little Bankai training once Can't fear your own world reveals his Bankai.
Translations.
Sanran ōkami= Scattered wolves