A few days later...

"Captain, I heard we were getting a new 3rd seat today."

"That is correct. She will be arriving soon."

"Who is it?"

A knock came at the office door and a seated officer opened, bowing before addressing his captain and lieutenant. "Captain Tosen, there's someone here to see you. Shall I show her in?"

"Yes."

The seated officer went back out into the hall, beckoning to the new 3rd seat. She bowed to her new captain and lieutenant. "Thank you for seeing me, Captain Tosen."

Shuhei Hisagi, lieutenant of Squad 9, stared at her in surprise. "Tsuki?"

Tsukimori looked up at that, her eyes wide. "Shu?"

"You two are previously acquainted then?" The captain asked.

"Yes, sir." Shuhei looked from Kaname to Tsukimori. "What are you doing here?"

"As of today, Tsukimori Gushiken will be filling the position of 3rd seat." Kaname said, accepting the paperwork as Tsukimori handed it to him. "I trust everything is in order, 3rd seat?"

Tsukimori nodded. "Um, yes sir."

"Very well. Lieutenant, please show her to her new quarters."

"O-Of course, sir."

Tsukimori followed after Shuhei as he left the office. It had been nearly thirty years since she had last seen him or spoken to him, nearly thirty years since she had last lost control.

Shuhei led the way, silently, as he tried to put things together. Tsukimori had previously shown no interest in joining a squad and now after nearly thirty years she shows up as the new 3rd seat. 'What's going on here?'

Tsukimori was glad to see Shuhei again, but she felt awkward around him since it had been so long since they were last together. As they walked, she recalled the last time they spent any time together- before the night she had an episode.

"Tsuki?"

Tsukimori turned, finding Shuhei standing in the clearing with her. "Shu, what are you doing here?"

Shuhei shrugged, rubbing his neck. "I couldn't sleep. You?"

"Same. I seem to have a lot on my mind."

"Want to talk about it?" Shuhei asked, wondering if perhaps he was intruding. "It's alright if you don't."

Tsukimori looked at him. "Actually, I'd like that."

Shuhei smiled. "Why don't we take a walk?"

Tsukimori nodded, following after Shuhei through the woods.

"So what's on your mind?"

"I'm just anxious over the coming finals I suppose."

"You're close to being ready to release your zanpakuto, aren't you?"

Tsukimori nodded. "But I don't know the command to release him."

"You know his name at least?"

Tsukimori nodded. "I do."

"Then finding the release command should be easy." Shuhei noticed she still looked worried. "There's something else."

Tsukimori sighed and stopped, looking down at her hands. "Before coming to the academy, I lived alone with Yoshirou. He had found me alone in the forest when I was very young, took me in and raised me as his own. He taught me everything I needed to know before coming here. But he couldn't prepare me for the anxiety I felt around other people."

Shuhei looked down at Tsukimori, listening as she finally spoke out.

"I don't do well around other people. It's difficult having lunch with Momo, Renji, and Izuru. I've tried to overcome that, but it's been difficult. Even with the recommendations I've already received, I just don't think I can be in a squad or apart of any group without feeling as though everything is closing in around me." Tsukimori sighed. "You're the only person I feel calm around. My mind is still, my body stops shaking."

"Are you worried you won't be able to overcome this?"

Tsukimori nodded. "You're leaving to join Squad 9, Shu. I'm not sure I can do it without you."

Shuhei smiled softly, lifting her chin up. "Hey, look at me."

Tsukimori met his gaze, blushing a bit.

"You are an amazing girl. You're excelling in your studies, you've exceeded my expectations and that of the instructors, you're incredibly gifted." Shuhei tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "You shouldn't be so quick to doubt yourself, Tsuki. Believe in yourself and you can accomplish anything."

"Shu..."

"This is your room."

Tsukimori pulled herself out of her memories and looked up at Shuhei as they stopped by her new home, seeing that her things had been brought in already.

"Why don't you get settled in? Feel free to explore the barracks once you're done."

Tsukimori turned to thank him, but he was gone too quickly. 'Shu...' Sighing, she turned back to her things and started to unpack- spending the next few hours getting settled into her new home.

As she finished, a knock came at her door. "Excuse me, 3rd seat Gushiken?"

Tsukimori turned to see an unseated officer. "Yes?"

"Captain Tosen asked me to give you a tour of the barracks before we join the rest of the squad in the courtyard for introductions."

"What is your name?"

The young Soul Reaper looked up at her for a moment, then bowed hastily. "N-Nishimura, ma'am. Toshiyuki Nishimura."

Tsukimori smiled. "Thank you, Toshiyuki."

Toshiyuki looked up at her and blushed when she smiled at him. "O-Of course, ma'am. Um, are you ready?"

"Of course. Let's go."

Tsukimori followed Toshiyuki as he led the way through the barracks, showing her where everything was. As they made their way to the courtyard, Toshiyuki looked over at Tsukimori.

"Um, 3rd seat Gushiken?"

Tsukimori smiled. "You can just call me 'Tsuki'."

"O-OK. Tsuki? How are you liking the barracks and the squad so far?"

Tsukimori shrugged. "Everything is all still so new to me and you're really the only person I've met besides the captain and lieutenant."

"What do you think of the captain?"

"Captain Tosen seems like a great captain, commanding great respect from his subordinates and his peers. I've heard excellent things about him."

"What about Lieutenant Hisagi?"

Tsukimori sighed. "I've known Shu for a long time. He was my tutor at one point during his last year at the academy. But I haven't seen him in a long time."

Toshiyuki sensed the sadness in her voice. "Did you know each other well?"

"We were close at some point, but that changed after he graduated the academy. It's been so long I don't think we know each other anymore." Tsukimori sighed and offered a smile. "But I suppose that will change with me having joined his squad."

"We're here."

Tsukimori noticed that the entire squad was already waiting in the courtyard and she felt nervous.

"Tsuki?"

Tsukimori looked at Toshiyuki, seeing his concern. "I'm alright."

"Are you sure? You don't look well."

Tsukimori nodded, trying to calm down. She still got nervous around large groups like this. 'This may be harder than I thought.'

"Now that everyone has arrived," Kaname started, sensing that Tsukimori had finally joined them. "I would like to introduce our newest member, Tsukimori Gushiken, who will also be filling the position of 3rd seat."

Tsukimori joined him and Shuhei and bowed to her new squad. "It's a pleasure to meet you all and I look forward to working with you."

Squad 9 looked over their new 3rd seat, seeing a young woman a little younger than their lieutenant with short, wavy smoky blue hair, silvery blue eyes, incredibly fair skin with dainty freckles across her cheeks and nose, wearing a sleeveless uniform similar to their lieutenant's as well as a pair of silver hoop earrings, a beaded fang necklace, and a simple silver bracelet on her left wrist that they sensed was a limiter. She was stunning and charming, but they noticed that she looked incredibly nervous even with as best as she tried to hide it.

"Welcome to the squad, 3rd seat Gushiken!" Someone shouted, causing Tsukimori to look up in surprise- her smile growing as the rest of the squad's welcomes echoing about.

"With introductions out of the way, everyone has the rest of the day off. I suggest that you all take the time to get to know our new 3rd seat and help her feel welcome." Kaname said, dismissing them.

Immediately, Tsukimori was surrounded and greeted by dozens of her fellow squad members. Off to the side, Kaname instructed Shuhei to oversee things while he attended a brief meeting with the Head Captain. Once the captain had left, Shuhei watched as Tsukimori was pulled away by some of the squad.

'She's still no good with crowds...' He noted, noticing how uncomfortable she was. Even so, he could tell that she was trying her hardest not to freak out.