Author's Note: I do not own Bleach or its characters. This is AU.
Make Him a Scholar
Taking a deep breath, Rukia let it out slowly. She was calm. She was going to manage just fine. Ichigo reached over, squeezed her hand, and grinned at her. He had refused let her go to her final hearing alone. Well, it wasn't exactly a hearing. It was more of the university board telling her what her fate would be. With a sigh, she adjusted her suit skirt. Rukia had even dressed up for this damn thing. The neat grey suit hopefully made her look older and professional. She wanted to at least look confident at this thing even if she didn't feel it.
She wasn't alone. Ichigo and his friends were with her. As were Professor Ukitake, Ms. Shihoin, and Dr. Urahara. And when they arrived at the room where this was all supposed to go down, Rukia found the halls filled with students and faculty, many carrying signs and banners in her support. The breath left her lungs in a rush. She hadn't expected this sort of outpouring of support. Ishida and Orihime just traded smiles, and Rukia couldn't help but wonder what exactly they had been up to.
With another deep breath, Rukia stepped into the room. Professor Aizen was standing up by the university board. Rukia squeezed Ichigo's hand and stepped forward. She was ready for this. Whatever the result of today, Rukia was pretty sure she would be able to handle it. Flanked by Ichigo on one side and Professor Ukitake on the other, Rukia made her way over to the table and chairs clearly set up for her. The few seats for the audience were quickly filled, and people were actually filling up the standing room as well.
"Rukia Kuchiki, are you prepared to hear the board's decision on your status as a student at Seireitei University?" Yamamoto, the university's president, asked.
"She is not." Dr. Urahara announced before she could speak. "There is new information that must be presented before the board can make a decision."
