After walking home from the Kuchiki-ke, Kazue mustered up courage to tell her parents her plans for the following year. They weren't surprised at all, considering they, themselves, are members of the Goteijūsantai and it was only a matter of time for their children to decide for themselves. Unfortunately, her brother, Rafael, did not have that opportunity; he was born with a defect that affected the way reiryoku was stored in his body. If he were utilize it in any way, it caused severe spasms and pain throughout his body.
Their mother, Renata, was devastated at the pain her son experienced; she had been a member of the yonbantai for over 200 years and was at a loss when it was discovered that the medical technology was incapable of helping her son. The only thing they were able to do was pain management whenever an episode occurred. Seeing her older brother in pain resolved Kazue in wanting to join the Goteijūsantai and become a medic like her mother. She hoped that by the time she joined, the medical technology had advanced to the point where it could relief her brother's pain.
Although they were seated officers of the Goteijūsantai, her parents felt it would be a disservice to their daughter if they alone trained her. It was decided that they would enlist the help of Yoruichi, who was the captain of the nibantai and the Commander-in-Chief of the Onmitsukidō. She was already training Byakuya, so it wasn't as if she was new to having a student.
Yoruichi brought Kazue to her close friend, Shiba Kūkaku. The Shiba-ke lived close to the Hakutōmon, the Western White Way Gate of the Seireitei. Kūkaku had long, messy black hair that part down in half and dark green eyes. She stood taller than Yoruichi; what struck Kazue was that Kūkaku's right arm was missing from just above the elbow.
"Here, take this," a sphere was tossed towards Kazue, and she clumsily caught it. The medium-sized spherical device, about 20 centimeters in diameter, had the Shiba clan's insignia, a red crane. It was called the Reishūkaku, a spirit-gathering core.
"With this orb, you're going to create a barrier using your reiatsu. While this isn't the primary use of the Reishūkaku, it does well to help utilize reiryoku."
"O-okay…" Kazue held the orb in her hands and concentrated her reiatsu. It was definitely easier said than done; since it was her first time even using her reiatsu, she was only able to produce a weak and partial barrier that did not even come past her knees. It was also extremely grueling—after just a minute or so, Kazue fell on her knees, sweating dripping down the sides of her face and panting heavily.
"All right, I ain't gonna kill you on your first time. Come back tomorrow and try again and again until you can properly activate the Reishūkaku."
It took her at least two days of recovering to even roll out of her futon. It took another four days to produce a sturdy and spherical barrier. After that, she could produce a perfect barrier once she touched the orb. Now that Kazue had control of her reiatsu, it was time to start physical training with Yoruichi.
Once Yoruichi was done with her duties in the Onmitsukidō, Kazue's evenings consisted of physical training. Yoruichi taught Kazue the basics of hakuda and hohō, as well as learning shunpo. Yoruichi was known as the Shunshin, the Flash Goddess; she was the fastest in the Seireitei. Yoruichi brought her young bodyguard and protégée, Suì-Fēng. She may have looked like a mere child, but Kazue had so much to learn from her. Suì-Fēng wasn't Yoruichi's protégée for nothing; she had dedicated her life to the person she adored―no, worshiped.
"Okay! Here's the deal, girls: to make this a little fun, the goal is to bring me Kuchiki Byakuya's hair tie," Yoruichi explained.
"Yoruichi-san, what is your obsession with teasing Byakuya?" Kazue questioned, stretching her legs.
"He makes it too easy!" Yoruichi laughed. "All right, girls, are you ready?"
"Yes, ma'am!"
Suì-Fēng and Kazue were off in a blink of an eye towards the Kuchiki-ke. The sun just started to set, meaning Byakuya's training was soon to be finished for the day. Soon, the massive mansion of the Kuchiki family came into view. Suì-Fēng was the one who reached Byakuya first—his long black hair cascaded, a look of shock was plastered on his face. Before he could say anything, Kazue shouted, "I'm so sorry!" and she chased after Suì-Fēng.
Kazue was just an arm's reach behind Suì-Fēng on the way back to Yoruichi's training area. They both knew that Kazue was slowing down. Kazue pushed herself to go a little faster, using branches and walls as jumping points. They were quickly approaching the training area and Kazue needed just one more jump—
"A-ha!" Kazue did a front flip where she launched from a tree branch above Suì-Fēng. Byakuya's hair tie wrapped itself around Kazue's fingertips, and she clenched a tight fist around it.
Finally, they reached the training area. Yoruichi clapped her hands and whistled.
"Wow, that was really close at the end! Congratulations, Kazue. The hair tie is yours~" Yoruichi laughed and teased, causing the red-haired girl to blush. Kazue stammered, the hair tie still tightly clenched in her hand.
"N-not necessary at all, Yoruichi-san! I'll be returning it to Byakuya-san!" The response only made Yoruichi laugh more while Suì-Fēng had an exasperated look on her face.
March, 109 years ago
Kazue walked with her father, just a pace behind with hands behind her back. A twinkle in her blue eyes, Kazue couldn't help but smile—today was the day she took the entrance exam for the Shinōreijutsuin. Even though butterflies fluttered around in her stomach, she felt prepared for it.
Since her training, she had noticed changes to her body. She grew taller and leaner; her waist pulled in slightly, breasts small but round. She retained her full cheeks, but her heart-shaped face and chin slimmed and her freckles became more prominent across the bridge of her nose and cheeks. Her child-like round eyes narrowed to the almond-shape. Bright blue deepened into a dark blue, with a thick hazel-green ring around her irises, like her father.
Kazue picked up her pace, taking her father's hand in hers. Mamoru looked to his side, blue eyes crinkling as he smiled and gently squeezed her hand. Their joined hands swung while Kazue giggled.
"Dimé mijita, how are you feeling about today? ¿Tiene confianza o miedo?"
"Hmm… no sé, papá. I feel butterflies in my stomach, but I also feel calm," Kazue answered, her free hand poking her cheek. She pouted momentarily before shaking her head.
"I have the feeling you'll be just fine. You know your mother and brother are rooting for you."
They stopped in front of the gates of the Shinōreijutsuin, Kazue's face squeezed against her father's side. Her father placed a kiss on the top of head and he smoothed her red hair away from her face. Not liking her hair out of place, she pushed her father's hand away with a light laugh and fixed her ponytail. Once fixed, she wrapped her arms around Mamoru's waist in a hug; it was returned with a bear hug and a lift. After a shout from her, he placed her back on her feet.
"You should go now, Kazue. I'll see you later when you're done with orientation."
"Bye papá."
She started forwards towards the academy as her father waved to her. He waited until his daughter walked past the doors, entering the Academy before making his way back to his division. Upon entering the large courtyard, she noted there were dozens of people scattered about. There was a space underneath a tree about three yards from her where she figured she would wait. She would also have the opportunity to observe her soon-to-be classmates―
"Wow, I've never seen such red hair before!" A feminine voice startled Kazue, "It reminds me of persimmons."
Kazue turned to see a girl about her age with wavy blonde hair that just reached her chin and blue eyes that matched hers. She had a beauty mark over the right side of full lips. Kazue also noted that this girl was wearing the uniform of the Academy: a red shitagi, a white kosode with red stripes on the sleeves, and red hakama. The kosode had two black, circular emblems of the Academy on each breast.
Kazue instinctively started playing with her hair that was held in a high ponytail, "Oh, thank you. My name is Nomiya Kazue."
"It's nice to meet you, I'm Matsumoto Rangiku. I'm in my second year here. Are you taking the exam for the first time?"
"Yes, it's my first time. Is it that obvious?"
Rangiku laughed, "No, I'm just messing with you. You seemed like the kind of person wouldn't mind a little bit of poking fun. I hope you didn't mind." Rangiku wore a worried expression, her lips in a pout.
"Oh, no! I am not bothered by it at all," Kazue waved her hands, dismissing the worry away. "I guess I'm more nervous than I thought. I was feeling pretty confident until just now," Kazue nervously scratched her cheek with a small laugh.
"I'm sure you'll do fine; I may be a second year student but I can tell you have what it takes to pass the entrance exam. You could even be placed in the advanced class."
"That's very generous of you to say, Matsumoto-san."
"Please call me Rangiku, Kazue!"
"Apologies, Rangiku; force of habit. Clearly, I'm out of my element here. I've never been around so many people. The Kizokugai may have many residents, but they mostly keep to themselves or mingle with the higher nobility."
"Oh, you're from that side of town. I'm surprised that connections weren't used to get you into the Academy without needing to bother with the exam," Rangiku crossed her arms under her bosom. "Then again, I really don't get the feeling that you're anything like them."
"My family comes from humility; we know our place in the grand scheme of things. We would never use influence or allow another family to use their influence to raise our reputation." Ironic, considering influence was used in order to prepare her for the exam.
"I get it; like I said, I don't have the feeling that you're like those stuck-up snobs. I like you—I think we could be very good friends."
Kazue abruptly takes hold of Rangiku's hand, "I have hope that we can be friends, Rangiku. You would be my first one."
Kazue's circle of friends was limited, to say the least. Her handmaid, Hatori, was the person she would consider her best friend. They've known each other since they were young. Suì-Fēng, Yoruichi, and Byakuya could be her friends; though Kazue kind of feels like it was a manner of coincidence. Although she's just met Rangiku for less than five minutes, Kazue had a feeling that this was just the beginning.
Before they could continue mingling, there was an immense presence that silenced the courtyard. Everyone turned towards the entrance of the Academy. Standing at a podium on the second floor of the Academy was an elderly man with a bald head, visible wrinkles, long eyebrows and mustache. He had two prominent scars above his right eye. He was none other than Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni, the Sōtaichō of the Goteijūsantai. A man over three millennia old, Yamamoto exuded authority and demanded respect.
Standing on his right was his lieutenant, Sasakibe Chōjirō, a man taller than his captain. He had lightly tanned skin, short silver-grey hair and a small black handlebar mustache. His pupil-less eyes scanned the courtyard before him.
"Welcome all to the Shinōreijutsuin. In its over two-thousand year old history, we've had tremendous talents find their place in the Goteijūsantai. Today, I have asked a few of my old students to join us today and oversee the examination."
On the left side of Yamamoto stood two men, both standing tall compared to the Captain-Commander and his lieutenant. One had wavy brown hair tied in a low pony tail with long bangs framing the left side of his face. He wore a Sugegasa straw hat and a pink flowered kimono that draped across his shoulders and over his shihakushō. His grey eyes held a lackadaisical personality. Next to him was an equally tall man with white hair held in a low ponytail. He appeared to have a somewhat emaciated appearance; his shihakushō and captain's haori hung loose on his body. Despite his appearance, his green eyes held life and high hopes.
"My name is Kyōraku Shunsui. I'm the captain of the hachibantai. I hope to see you cuties in my division~," the brunette introduced himself with a flirty flair. He sent a wink to a group of girls in the front, and they started to swoon.
The white-haired man cleared his throat, interrupting, "Please excuse my friend here. I'm Ukitake Jūshirō, the captain of the jūsanbantai. I look forward to seeing you in my division."
Whispers broke out in the courtyard, now wondering how the entrance exam will be administered. Yamamoto tapped his large walking stick, twice against the floor, regaining attention.
"Now, before we get started, I'd like for all of you to start filing into a single line at the doors below. We will bring in groups of twenty at a time. I won't be taking much of your time today, but I would like to impart the motto of this institution." Yamamoto opened his eyes, revealing devilish red eyes.
"You would do well to abide by these words: 'Do not seek out beauty in battle, Do not seek out virtue in death, Do not think of your life as your own, If you desire to protect that which must be protected, then cut down your foe from behind'."
With that, Yamamoto and the others turned away from the podium and left the balcony. Kazue and Rangiku said their good-byes and went their way. People quickly starting lining up at the doors, in a single file of course. Onlookers stayed on the side, curiously awaiting the results of the exam.
With groups of twenty being taken inside the Academy, Kazue shifted her weight between her feet until she was able to take a few steps forward. She twirled the end of her ponytail around her finger absentmindedly and rocked back and forth on her heels until it was time for her group to be walked in. Upon walking into the building, she noted there were two hallways in the massive room. One was straight in front of her and the other was to her right. The people who walked forward were cheering and high-fiving each other; the other group walking to the right left quietly, not even looking back.
"Next! State your name," demanded a tall man with a bald head and light brown eyes. Thick eyebrows sat behind thin-framed glasses. He wore the standard shihakushō, opened, with a grey kosode, a white shitagi, and dark blue hakama. A gold choke necklace glowed against his lightly tanned skin.
"Nomiya Kazue, Kazue is written as 'one (一)' and 'favor (恵)'" Kazue answered.
"Nomiya, eh? Mamoru must be your father," the man nodded in recognition of Kazue's surname, writing it down on the board in his hands. "For the exam, I will be measuring your reiryoku and based on the level, you will be placed in either the standard, gifted, or special accelerated program. Let's begin."
Kazue hadn't paid attention while waiting to how the exam was conducted in the first place. The entrance exam itself is easy—all one has to do it show up. The next step is the reiryoku measurement. It was measured by an examiner activating a kidō spell at the tip of their two forefingers and pressing it against the chest of the examinee. A string of reiryoku is pulled and gathered into the palm. Based on the density of the reiryoku, the examiner can determine class.
A rope, about 2 centimeters thick and about 15 centimeters long, emerged from Kazue's chest and gathered into the examiner's palm. It curled into itself and condensed into a orb about 6 centimeters . The center glowed a bright blue, pulsating every three seconds.
"Congratulations, Nomiya Kazue, you are placed into the special accelerated program. My name is Ōnabara Gengorō, and I'll be your instructor for the duration of your time here at the academy."
"Y-yes, thank you, sir!"
