The weather was warm and welcoming that morning, like it had prepared for this very moment. For the Soul Society, it wasn't as though they had, they did. All of the thirteen squads were gathered at the main gate and a soft murmur was settling over the crowd which was full of excitement for their mystery guests.

Ichigo and his friends were mingled into the mass, but he couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy. The Soul Society had never done anything like this for him or his friends. On top of that, it was a school day and he had to get up early for this event. Major as it was, he had been here for hours and he was dead tired.

Just when he thought he couldn't take it anymore, the gate opened for two Soul Reaper escorts and a boy of about Ichigo's age with a white sweatshirt or, at least, it used to be trudged in. Immediately, every squad applauded. His hair was dyed light blue and kept in a shape that reminded Ichigo of a streamlined bike helmet. His sword stood out just like Ichigo's did since it was in its first stage of release: shikai. It was two thin swords joined at the hilt and he wore a smile that was obviously forced. It didn't want to be on his face and he didn't want to be here. He looked so downcast.

Following directly behind with more escorts, was a girl of about the same age. Her hair was a dark, tightly curled brown with eyes to match under thin rectangular glasses. She was wearing a pair of bright white pants with a red belt and v-neck top of the same color. Her particular sword didn't resemble a sword so much as all the others. Hers was like wearing the gauntlet on a suit of armor, except it ran all the way up her arm and the side facing everyone was sharpened like an axe. She, in contrast seemed excited to finally arrive. She walked in strides and her smile had meaning.

More escorts walked in and a small boy, no more than ten by Ichigo's guess, peered around the side and nervously shuffled in. His hair was comparable to that of Chad's except he made an effort to keep it out of his face along with a baseball cap on top. He reminded Ichigo of all the boys his little sister played soccer with. He had a yellow backpack slung over his shoulders and a sword sticking out of it. He could only see the hilt of it, but he could already tell that the design was something different by how it resembled a cross shape that the knights of Medieval England bore.

Everyone's attention was brought right back as the next proceeded in. This time, it was a tall woman with long, straight black hair wearing a navy blue sweater and an intricately designed steel mace loosely held in her right hand. Her eyes were a soft amber color that seemed to lull the observer into serenity. Ichigo wasn't quite sure what to think about her, but he could draw that she did have some strength to haul that weapon around with little effort.

The next two came as a pair and everyone knew why: fraternal twins. A boy and a girl with light blonde, shaggy hair and vibrant green eyes. They both had on ski caps knit gray and the same green flannel shirts with rolled up sleeves and baggy pants. What was caught by everyone's attention first, even more than their extra long quarterstaves, were their aprons. They were dark blue and had a gold star sewn on the front with the two bottom tips curved like they were wearing elf shoes.

The two guards at the gate closed it once everyone had arrived and the new substitutes gathered in the center facing the Head Captain who raised an eyebrow in confusion. Everyone else seemed uneasy.

Rukia looked at all the newcomers intently before murmuring to Ichigo, "Wait, didn't you say that there were going to be seven?"

A little vein showed in his forehead, "Crud, that's just great."

Finally finished! It's midnight now, so I'm just going to crash now and think about my next piece.

Please enjoy and review ^_^