I do not own Bleach I realize I have not put up a disclaimer yet I apologize. Tite Kubo is Bleach's creator I am merely a fan.

Chapter 7: Making Good First Impressions

Keigo had never been more nervous in his-well yes even in his mortal life. He followed Ikkaku silently. The quiet started to get on the soul-reaper's nerves, "You nervous kid?"

"Uh," Keigo groaned.

"You'll be fine."

"No, I don't belong here."

"If that's true then I would not have bothered saving your ass," Ikkaku looked back with a glint in his eyes,

"You better prove me right. I expect you do be in Squad eleven."

"Really?" Keigo astonished.

"Yeah we are the strongest squad. You are pretty tough."

"Huh?"

"I'd like to see what you can do with a zanpaktou," Ikkaku almost sounded excited.

Keigo gulped, he in fact knew what a zanpaktou was, both Ikkaku and Yumichika, even little Yuchiro carried them. He had yet to get on of course. He still was not clear on the whole process. It had been explained that he would have to obtain his zanpaktou on his own, and not to worry if he had not most if not all of his class had not gotten theirs either. There was something to do with dreams, but Keigo had not remembered dreaming since he woke up in the Rukon District. Well yeah he had been having nightmares, but he never remembered them. Though as he thinks on it; the evil cackles that send shivers through his whole being, the dark red blood-lots of it every where. Someone calling his name. Someone crying, screaming, running. Glowing red eyes staring intently at him. Darkness, fear, anger sadness, pain, and yet hope.

"Here, we've made it," Ikkaku stoped. Keigo walking behind still lost in disturbing reverie smacked into him and ended up on his butt. Ikkaku chuckled, "I told you there's nothing to be nervous about." The man turned to his young friend, to see a man still in pained contemplation. Ikkaku nudges the boy with the sheath of his sword, "Wake up!"

Keigo looked up at him like a kid lost in a shopping mall trying to find his mother and mumbles, "Great."

"Snap out of it you don't want to make a bad impression," It seemed that this boy was bringing out well hidden paternal instincts of the well known bloodthirsty third seat of squad eleven. They were eliciting stairs and mummers from both students and officers, "Keigo, you'll do fine. I've got faith in you." He smiled.

Keigo finally shook off the dark thoughts and grinned his goofiest grin, "I'm ready." He promptly jumped up and strutted in the front gate of the academy.

Keigo looked behind him for his escort only to find him whispering to another shinigami and pointing at the boy. Keigo shrugged it off and joined the crowd of first years milling about the court yard. All the boys wore white and blue. The girls had white and red uniforms. There were quite a few lovely females to admire. There was more then one glancing at him he noticed. Then he noticed much of the male population was staring too. There were whispers going around him he started to worry and wanted to withdraw. As he backed up he hit something soft. He turned around to see who he had bumped into, "I'm sorry, I didn't..." He trailed off at the sight of her. She was beautiful to be sure but also she had striking long wavy pale green hair. Weird, true, but beautiful none the less, and violet eyes that seemed to run deep and see everything. Pale skin and a really nice figure though her clothes hid it Keigo was a master of observation when it came to the female form. Keigo blushed and tried to turn away.

"Oh, it's fine, I wasn't paying attention. Your Keigo right? Keigo Asano?"

"Whaa?" Keigo confused as to how she knew his name.

The girl snorted, "I'm sorry, It's just who you came with, and the rumors of you, you know Killing a Hollow in the Rukon district to save a little boy's life, and saving the lady Miriam. Not to mention your strong reisetu." The girl realized she was babbling the stopped short and blushed. Keigo felt she had a lot of power also.

"Y-ya know m-most of that stuff isn't true. I-I mean I did take on a hollow, but Ikkaku saved me from it."

"Wow, so it is true you personally know 'The' Third Seat of Squad Eleven. The Eleventh squad is the strongest. That is the squad I want to be in," She said with such relish that it actually scared the boy. Then she did something he'd never expected she grabbed his arm. This beautiful powerful, creature was dragging him through the crowd; and he still didn't even know her name. She moved to the center. "Hey, Kiku! Kiku! Over Here!" The green haired lady shouted and caught the attention of another female that was identical except the other girl sported short violet locks and pale green eyes. The other girl approached shyly.

"Hi," Violet said to mint.

"Hey Kiku! I've made a new friend. Hugging the helpless Keigo's arm, "Kiku, meet Keigo. Keigo this is my sister Kiku Tanaka!" She smiled.

"Um Keiko, I think your going to break his arm," Kiku looked at them timidly.

"Hey, I just realized Keigo, Kiku, and Keiko! Our names match!" Keiko jumped up in the air taking Keigo with her. Keigo looked confused.

"Huh?" Keigo looked to the violet twin for help.

Kiku sighed in frustration, "Sister? Don't tell me you ambushed this poor guy and have been dragging him around like a dog on a leash. I apologize for my sister's actions she always was to bold for her own good." The violet girl added, "Especially if she thinks the boy is cute."

Keiko blushed and snarled at her sister. The she haughtily pushed Keigo off her arm like it was his fault that her sister said what she had. "Ignore Kiku she's just trying to get under your skin," Keiko blew a raspberry at her twin.

"So Keigo? How long have you known?" Keiko asked innocently.

Keigo was clueless, "Know what?"

"Well that your different? You know like us?" Keiko asked nudging him.

"Um, Ha-ha-ha, I've always been different. But I'm not sure I know what you mean," He grinned.

"Hey, hey, HEY! Ryou over here!" Now Keiko was attracting the attention of a tall man he had a stoic, maybe serene, look to him he reminded Keigo of someone. He had short spiky hair, it was a dark rust color, his eyes black pools of calm. He walked over nonchalantly.

"Hello," he sort of grunted.

"Keigo this is our friend Ryou Funaki," Keiko spouted cheerfully, "Ryou, this boy is Keigo Asano."

Ryou and Kiku's eyes widened ever so slightly. Ryou mumbled, "So you are the one everyone's been talking about."

"I seriously don't get it, Ikkaku and Yumichika seem to be really well known, but since I came to this place people have been staring and pointing at me. I'm nothing special. I'm weak!" His reisetu flared. Now everybody within ten meters was staring at the small group.

Keiko snorted loudly then cackled, "Yeah you are such a weakling." She clutched her sides then punched Keigo painfully.

"Ouch, damn-it! You have a mean punch Keiko," Keigo rubbed his arm.

Keiko smiled warmly, "thanks!" She grabbed his arm in a friendly gesture not noticing the bright blush crossing his cheeks.

"So Kiku, you and Keiko, your really real sisters aren't you? I mean in all the time I have been in the soul society I have yet to see actual families. I mean I think of Granny Mim as family but I know we aren't related." Keigo said all in one breath. Then he blushed again.

"Yeah, were true blood sisters," She smiled at her shy twin, "We found each other a few years ago. I saw her and I had no doubts," Keiko shouted. Between the two of us we have pieced together a little bit of our lives. We died together, about fifty years ago. She and I were mere miles from each other in the Rukon District. And one day I got lost near the 59th district it was a rough neighborhood, but I had been itching for a fight and I knew I'd find one. I saw a crowd gathered around what I thought was a fight. I pushed my way through only to find a group of men trying to take advantage of an innocent girl. Well you can imagine I was pissed," Keiko cracked her knuckles, " I punched out the first one them I took on two at once. Luckily Ryou had followed me cause there really were two many. He had my back without saying a word. We took on how many was it, Ryou?"

"Twenty," His voice gave away no emotion.

"Right. Well when those bastards were lying on the ground Ryou here helped the girl up. He made a face, I'd never thought he'd make. I mean it Keigo his face never changes, but this was priceless. He looked like this, just like this," Kieko made a shocked expression, eyes wide mouth agape. Keigo looked to the man who looked like a breathing statue. Keigo's expression was incredulous.

"Hey, believe me, he did! Anyway he looked at me then Kikku. I had not looked at her yet I was to busy looking at him you see. I finally asked him what was wrong. He Pullet the girl around. I saw me, well not exactly me. She was bloody and crying she had a black eye, but her face was the same as mind. She grabbed me and pulled away from Ryou—who could blame her I was scared of him when we first met—she sobbed into my shoulder and we took her home with us. Well the rest is pretty much history," She was almost breathless, but she grinned mischievously, "So tell us about your self, you self. Keigo says that the rumors aren't true I think he's just being modest!"

Keigo's mouth was agape, *Does this girl yell everything she says, sure she's hot, I mean scorching hit I could just...* He shook his head, "What?"

They were staring expectantly at him.

"Oh, he-he, Me? Well I haven't been here for more then a year, really my story isn't really very interesting, except maybe the people I have come across. I've met well Granny, she's the sweetest woman in the soul-society. Then Ikkaku and Yumichika, they say they knew me before I died. They apparently stayed with me when they were on a mission in the living world. Um they say I was good friends with a guy named Ichigo Kurosaki, who is some big deal war hero or something, I haven't actually met him yet, but I've met Rukia Kuichki she is his girlfriend or something. Hanataro Yamada, he's a healer and very kind. Some guy named Ganju Shiba, I don't think he's a soul reaper is helping to take care of Granny but I didn't actually meet him. Little Yachiro, the lieutenant of Squad eleven; she's cute but don't turn your back on her, and if she ever calls you a puppy, you better play along, or you might get a big chunk bitten out of you. I speak from experience on that." Looking at them now the looks were curious if not astonished. At the mention of Kurosaki the famous substitute soul-reaper, who helped the soul-society in the winter war and countless other times. He apparently was some what of a celebrity, being considered for position of Captain in the newest division the 14th Squad the living world division. Keigo knew none of this. Even though Ichigo's fame was relatively recent it was wide spread.

"Y-you know Ichigo Kurosaki? Oh my! He's, he's, he's so powerful. He's as strong as a captain and I've heard he even beat Captain Zaraki once. That's so cool!" Keiko screamed.

"You know, you have quite a few connections in the soul society already," Ryou regained himself and remarked evenly, "are you sure you you've only been here for a year. I've been dead for thirty years."

"Wow, you got him to talk usually he only gives one word answers," Kiku smiled. There was almost a blush running across Ryou's face when Kiku spoke. It escaped everybody however.

"I think he's going be fun to hang out with," Keiko crushed Keigo in a hug. He wondered if she noticed his face was bright red.

"Keiko I think you're embarrassing him, seriously not everybody is a touchy-feely as you," Kikku scolded her sister.

Then everybody's attention was called to the entrance of the courtyard near there one of the many white washed buildings. There a three men and two woman were standing at the top of a short flight of stairs.

"Please quiet, Everybody! Eyes up here!" One of the women a very busty brunette yelled.

A man with a stalk of golden yellow hair then spoke, "Greetings everybody, I'm Isamu Ito, and I'll be teaching you the art of combat along with Sora Watanabe," Raven haired woman she had a scared face and rustic brown eyes bowed with respect. Then Isamu went on, "Akira Sasaki will be teaching Kido, medical and healing arts," dark brunet with blue eyes, and dashing good looks bowed, "Taiki Miyake will be teaching hadou," A small boy with wise green eyes bowed. "Last but not lease," Isamu said with a twinkle in his eyes, "Emi Yoshida will be instructing you in both kidou and hadou, concentrating on the defensive aspects of kidou." A pretty young woman with sapphire eyes and long blue hair that swept the ground as she bowed. She shot him a meaningful look that did not escape the crowd."

Keiko interjected, "Rumor has it Ito and Yoshida are engaged." Kiku and she sighed at the romance.

"...I am sure you are all excited to get started. We are looking forward to seeing what you can do. For today we are just going to settle in and tomorrow we will be conducting tests to see where your talents lye."

"Oh gwad! I hate tests!" Keigo moaned.

Suddenly he was jerked out of his thoughts. Ryou pulled Keigo, "Were going with the men, unless you want to live in the woman's dorms."

"Oooo, is that a option," Keigo said this as if the idea really appealed to him. The impassive Ryou let out a soft chuckle that surprised himself, 'This guy may be interesting. I have a feeling that once he comes out of his shell he'll be a force to be reckoned with.' A small smirk appeared then left and the man's blank expression returned. Ryou decided he was glad he had met Keigo, because his only friends happened to be the female twins that were separating from him. Despite his stony appearance he really did enjoy being near people, and he felt that he was going to miss his companions though he would see them everyday. Ryou didn't understand why, but he was terrible at making friends.

The men went to their dormitories and settled in.

"I still don't like tests," Keigo sighed.

Origional characters

Isamu Ito -m combat instructor.

Sora Watanabe -f combat instructor

Emi Yoshida -f Kido/Hadou instructor.

Akira Sasaki -m Kido Instructor, Healing &Defensive.

Taiki Miyake -m Hadou Instructor

Keiko -f Student and new friend to Keigo.

Kiko -f Student and new friend to Keigo. Twin to Keiko.

Ryou -m Student and new friend to Keigo.