The four of them had set off to join their squads. They had to meet with the captain of each squad and pass a test of some sort to join. Grimmjow walked into the room where he was supposed to be meeting the 11th squad's captain. I wonder what this guy will be like. I hope he's tough. I would hate to work for someone weak Grimmjow thought. Suddenly, Kenpachi came crashing through one of the walls.
"See, Kenny-chan, I told you this was the right way!" Yachiru said cheerfully.
"Yeah, yeah, you got it right. For once," Kenpachi muttered.
At least he knows how to make an entrance... Grimmjow thought.
"Hey, are you the new guy?" Kenpachi asked.
"Yeah, I'm here to join," Grimmjow said.
"You'll have to pass a test first!" Yachiru said.
"So what is this test?" Grimmjow asked.
"You have to fight me. If I think you seem strong enough, you can join," Kenpachi explained.
"Fine. Bring it on," Grimmjow said with a grin.
"I'm surprised. You didn't whine about it being unfair that you had to fight a captain. I like that. It proves that you aren't a coward," Kenpachi said with a grin.
"Thanks, but what reason is there to whine? Captain or not, I'm still gonna beat you," Grimmjow bragged.
"You've got guts. Now let's fight!" Kenpachi yelled. Grimmjow unsheathed his sword and ran at him.
Twenty Minutes Later
Grimmjow had fought as hard as he could, but he still hadn't won. Every time Kenpahi knocked him down he would get back up and keep fighting. Finally, he collapsed from exhaustion. Kenpachi sheathed his sword. "No, wait! I'm not done yet!" Grimmjow growled while trying to stand up.
"Yes, you are. The point of this fight wasn't to beat me. It was to test your power and endurance. And your will to fight," Kenpachi said.
"So did I pass?" Grimmjow asked.
"Of course you did! I haven't seen someone as promising as you in ages! You could be really fun to fight, with enough training," Kenpachi said.
"Thanks, but fighting you isn't my priority. I've got to train to defeat Ulquiorra and Kurosaki first," Grimmjow said.
"Kurosaki? I've been wanting to fight him too. He keeps getting away from me though..." Kenpachi said with an expression of disappointment.
"Cheer up, Kenny-chan! Now that he's officially become a shinigami you'll get more chances to fight him!" Yachiru pointed out.
"That's true," Kenpachi said with a grin.
"What do I do now?" Grimmjow asked.
"Kill hollows when you're told to and train in your free time," Kenpachi said.
"Sounds good to me!" Grimmjow said.
"By the way, you look familiar. Have I met you before?" Kenpachi questioned.
"Not that I know of," Grimmjow said with a shrug.
"Huh, guess it doesn't matter," Kenpachi said. Then he ran through a different wall and went on his way.
Meanwhile...
Ulquiorra had arrived at his meeting spot. "You are ten seconds late. That shall hurt your chances of joining my squad," Byakuya said.
"I'm sorry. I would have made it sooner if some piece of trash with a little girl riding on his back hadn't crashed into me," Ulquiorra said.
"That 'piece of trash' is another captain. Insulting your superiors will not be tolerated, although I'll let it slide this time," Byakuya said. Mostly because I agree with his opinion of Captain Zaraki he thought.
"I apologize. Now, what is it that you wish for me to do?" Ulquiorra asked.
"You must keep a young sakura tree alive and healthy for a week," Byakuya said.
"How is this a test?" Ulquiorra questioned.
"It is to test your patience and ability to follow orders. It is also to see if you are capable of more than just fighting. We aren't the 11th squad, after all," Byakuya said. Ulquiorra nodded and then left.
"You just wanted him to keep it watered while you left on your mission to the living world, didn't you?" Renji questioned.
"Of course not," Byakuya said. Renji noticed that he didn't look him in the eye when he said this.
Wow, he's a bad liar. I feel sorry for the new kid Renji thought.
One Week Later
Byakuya had come back from his mission in the world of the living and had gone to check the condition of the sakura tree. "How did I do, Kuchiki-sama?" Ulquiorra asked. The tree was in perfect condition and it seemed to have grown much faster than it normally would have. It also seemed to be more beautiful than all the other trees.
"How did you do this in one week?" Byakuya asked.
"I watered and trimmed it. I also used some new fertilizer another captain said he wanted tested," Ulquiorra said.
"Which captain was this?" Byakuya asked.
"Mayuri Kurotsuchi," Ulquiorra answered.
Why would he make something like this? He usually prefers to make things that cause death, not life Byakuya wondered. "It seems you pass, though you did use outside help. However, since you were helping Captain Kurotsuchi that will not count against you," Byakuya said.
"Thank you. Now, what is it that I must do?" Ulquiorra asked.
"Follow your superiors' orders without question and do something productive in your free time. Perhaps growing more sakura trees, or training if you feel you need it," Byakuya answered. Ulquiorra bowed and then left. This young man shows promise. He follows orders without complaint and appears calm and controlled. If he proves strong enough, I might replace Renji with him Byakuya thought.
The Next Day
Byakuya walked into his garden while drinking his morning coffee. He decided to see how the tree Ulquiorra had taken care of was doing. As he neared it, he noticed a terrible smell. Then he saw it. The tree was completely dead and rotting. It was oozing some terrible smelling unknown substance. "Kurotsuchi!" Byakuya growled angrily.
One Week Earlier
Stark had arrived at his meeting spot a half-hour late. He had, of course, overslept. Here we go again. I'll probably be scolded for an annoyingly long time; I'll get bored and fall asleep, and then I'll be scolded again. That's how it always goes... Stark thought with a sigh. He looked around the room. No one was there. Huh, I guess he got tired of waiting on me. Just then Shunsei walked in.
"Sorry, I hope I haven't kept you waiting too long. I overslept," Shunsui said with an apologetic smile.
"Erm, no problem," Stark said.
"Let's see, you want to join my squad. Am I correct?" Shunsui asked.
"Yeah, so what do I have to do?" Stark asked. Shunsui looked like he was in deep thought.
"How about a saki drinking contest? If you can impress me by drinking enough saki, then I'll let you join," Shunsui offered.
"Sure, sounds good to me," Stark said. This is my kinda guy! he thought gleefully.
An Hour Later
Stark had drunk himself into a coma. The good news was that Shunsui was highly impressed with how much saki he had managed to consume before passing out. "Nanao, tell him he's in the squad if he wakes up before me," Shunsui said.
"I really don't understand how you ever became a captain... What kind of test was that?" Nanao questioned irritably. As she said this, she realized that he had already fallen asleep. She sighed.
Meanwhile...
"You shall be the captain of squad 5," Yamamoto said.
"Erm, I haven't even joined it yet. I thought I was supposed to take some sort of test..." Ichigo said.
"You already defeated Aizen, what more do you need to do to prove yourself?" Ukitake questioned.
"I guess you've got a point. Well, I guess I'll go take my stuff to my quarters," Ichigo said. Well, that was easy he thought.
At Ichigo's House
"You're already a captain? That's great!" Orihime said cheerfully.
"Yeah. A bit weird, though," Ichigo said.
"Are you any better at Kidō yet?" Renji asked with a smirk.
"Shut up," Ichigo growled.
Flashback
Ichigo was in the middle of Kidō class when Rukia and Renji decided to pay a visit. Ichigo had just finished accidentally blowing himself up with a Kidō spell that was meant to be a shield. Renji rolled around on the ground with laughter while Rukia just shook her head at how hopeless they both were.
Present Time
"By the way, I met some old friends there," Ichigo said.
"Really? Who?" Orihime asked.
"Stark, Grimmjow, and Ulquiorra," Ichigo said. Everyone's jaws dropped. "I told Unohana about them and asked her not to tell anyone. I didn't want Yamamoto to find out and have them locked away or spied on. I think they should get a second chance," he explained.
"I understand what you're saying, but won't he know by now? They've already joined, or attempted to join, a squad by now," Rukia said.
"I know, but maybe he won't recognize them," Ichigo said with a shrug.
"I think that was really nice of you," Orihime said with a smile.
"Unohane probably won't tell anyone if it could cause someone to get hurt," Renji said.
"I know, that's why I asked her about them," Ichigo said.
"It's only a matter of time before someone recognizes them. That's why you need to become head captain, then you could help protect innocent people from being treated unfairly," Rukia said. Ichigo nodded in agreement.
"Well, I gotta get back. I'll see you guys later," Ichigo said with a wave. Rukia and Renji followed him back to Soul Society.
In Soul Society
Shunsui was lying on his bed attempting to go to sleep, something that usually came easily to him. But this time sleeping was difficult because he had something on his mind that had been bugging him for a while. That kid looked so familiar, I could swear I've seen him before... he thought. He lied there thinking about it for a while. I remember now! He was the first Espada! he realized. He seemed like a pretty good guy when he was an Espada. I think we could be friends now that he's a shinigami.
The Next Day
Kenpachi was watching Grimmjow fight some other squad 11 members. I keep thinking I've fought him before, but that's impossible... Kenpachi thought. Suddenly it came back to him. He was that blue-haired guy who attacked Captain Unohana! I thought he seemed strong before. Maybe now I can fight him and actually have fun after he's trained long enough Kenpachi thought excitedly.
The only one who had yet to be recognized was Ulquiorra. Byakuya had never met him so he didn't recognize him. Even if he had, he probably wouldn't have cared. He was the perfect squad member in Byakuya's eyes. He always followed orders perfectly, he never questioned his orders, and he was always calm and controlled. Byakuya couldn't wait for him to get stronger so he could replace Renji with him.
