Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, Tite Kubo does. I do, however, own the OC thus far.

Chapter 6

I slept for twelve full hours as preparation to shunpo all the way to the Shinigami Academy. As I said before, I never back down from a challenge. Before the timing started, I asked my zanpakuto spirit for the directions.

The Shinigami Academy is in that direction, in between the two tallest trees. She pointed out. Let's go.

I started to shunpo in that general direction. Surprisingly, although the world was passing by quickly, I saw the world in as much clarity as I would have if I was taking a leisure stroll. The trees zoomed by as I took step after step, and I caught the incredible scenery in high definition.

That's good. Your senses are becoming more refined due to your body getting adjusted to your once-suppressed reiatsu. This helps you to focus much more as compared to before. It also means that shunpo would be less tiring for you.

Hurray. Now can you please let me concentrate for half an hour?

Fine. Be that way.

I will. Now shut up.

…No need to be so rude.

I mean it.

I made the rest of the journey to the Shinigami Academy in silence.

We're here, elf-lady.

I stood outside a giant wall, with an equally huge sleeping giant leaning against it. I wouldn't have guessed that this wall was the meeting place if it wasn't for the fact that there were posters and signs pasted all over it.

So you did make it in under 30 minutes. Most impressive.

Yeah, yeah. I told you, I never back down from a challenge.

I walked and put my hand on the gate. It felt different, as though it was trying to drain something away from me.

"So you're here, and early too. In fact, you're the first to come." A familiar voice came from behind me. I turned, only to be greeted by Lieutenant 69's smirk. Needless to say, I was surprised.

So he can smile, even though it's just a smirk.

Yeah, elf-lady. I just thought the same thing.

"Yes," I nodded to his question. I arched backwards, leaning against the gate. "It was tiring getting here."

He shook his head. "It's only half a day's walk, you know. Eight hours run. Or fifteen minutes for shunpo." He waited for a while before raising his eyebrow. "You're not gonna ask me what shunpo is?"

"Nope."

He seemed disappointed, as though he wanted to astound me with his knowledge. Raising his head, he continued.

"Anyway, you must be hungry. Follow me. We'll go have a bite or something." He said, gesturing me to follow before turning his back and walking forward.

I gratefully accepted his offer. Apples can only last you for so long before you get hungry again.

"By the way, my name is Shuhei Hisagi. I'm the Lieutenant of Squad 9."

"Shiro Aragaki."

He nodded, and we continued on in silence. There was a gentle breeze tonight, and the moon was three-quarters full. The area around here was much cleaner as compared to the sector I landed in earlier.

Walking behind him, we entered a traditional Japanese restaurant where the only customer was a large man in shinigami robes. The only two additions was a large purple collar around his already huge neck and a badge with the number 2 on it. He sat at the counter, gobbling bowl after bowl of steaming hot ramen. The mouth-watering smell wafted around the store, and I was tempted to steal his food right there and then.

That's not nice.

Hey, I'm hungry, okay?

It's still not nice.

I looked forward as Shuhei walked up behind the man. Seeing an opportunity to freeload, his eyes lighted up.

"Hey, Marechiyo. I'm kinda hungry and I don't have any money. Mind sparing my friend and I two bowls?" He gestured at the mountain of bowls that was in front of the large man.

"Why should I? I'm still hungry, you know." He replied, downing the soup in his current bowl before moving to another.

"I'll tell Rangiku to feed you for a week if you don't…" Shuhei threatened in a singsong voice, with an evil glint in his eye.

Somehow, this Rangiku person must be a really bad cook, because Ramen Monster over here started sweating bullets. Shuhei sat down two seats to the right of Ramen Monster, and gestured for me to sit down.

Without waiting for a reply, he grabbed two bowls from the heap and slid one down to me. I grabbed the chopsticks from the stand in front of me and began attacking the ramen, which was beef, like there was no tomorrow. Suddenly, Ramen Monster stood up and turned around.

"You can have the rest. I have no appetite anymore. What were you thinking, Shuhei, mentioning Rangiku's cooking while I'm eating?" He muttered before walking out of the store shaking his head.

"Score!" Shuhei exclaimed happily. He quickly finished the bowl he was holding and grabbed another from Ramen Mountain. He attacked it with such ferocity that put Ramen Monster to shame. I continued eating mine at the same pace, which was a tad bit slower than his, before stopping and asking a question.

"Who was that man, Shuhei?"

"It's Lieutenant Hisagi to you, since you're joining the Shinigami Academy."

He has faith in me, huh?

"Anyway, that was Marechiyo Omaeda, the Lieutenant of Squad 2. Believe it or not, he's actually way faster than he looks." He said in between slurps.

So people who wear badges are lieutenants, huh? Interesting.

"So who is Rangiku?" I wanted to find out more about the cooking terror. Anybody who can make a man lose his appetite like that had to have beyond terrible cooking skills.

"Rangiku Matsumoto. She's the Lieutenant of Squad 10. As you've probably guessed, she's a terrible cook." He shuddered, and his pace of eating slowed a little.

"Who's a terrible cook?" Shuhei froze, fear written plainly on his face. I turned around and noticed a beautiful woman with the biggest jugs in shinigami uniform standing right behind us. She had strawberry blonde hair, icy blue eyes and a beauty mark on the right side of her mouth. Her expression was one of anger. I didn't really understand why until I noticed the badge on her left arm.

It had the number 10 on it.

Shuhei is so screwed.

Agreed.

I resumed my delicious meal over the screams of the Lieutenant of Squad 9. I gotta remember this place. Their beef ramen is exceptional.

"So who's this?" Rangiku turned to me, looking satisfied after executing her punishment.

Damn, she's hot.

"He's the source of the reiatsu surge in the 1st District two days ago." Shuhei informed her. He looked like he was still in pain. "He's here for the entrance exam."

"Shiro Aragaki. Nice to meet you." I greeted her.

"Likewise. As Shuhei here already told you, I am Lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto of Squad 10, but you can call me Rangiku." She replied. Her eyes narrowed. "However, I am not a terrible cook. My style of cooking is just unique and underappreciated."

I looked behind her and saw Shuhei shaking his head and forming an 'X' with his arms. Guess her cooking really is bad. She turned around, and Shuhei hastily lowered his arms and put an innocent expression on his face.

"So Rangiku," Shuhei began, wanting to change the subject. "How did you know we were here?"

"I saw Marechiyo coming out of this store, muttering something about Shuhei and cooking. So I came in." She turned to her left arm and adjusted the badge. "These badges are so irritating. Thank goodness we only have to wear them for formal occasions."

Shuhei glanced at his own badge. "It's not that bad."

"That's because you wear it all the time." Rangiku countered. "Anyway, the sun is rising, and we're gonna have to be assemble outside the gate soon."

"It's that late already?" Shuhei scratched his head before standing up. "I guess we'd better get going. You too, Shiro."

I nodded and stood up alongside them.

"Ugh, this is so troublesome. Why do we lieutenants have to officiate these ceremonies anyway?" Rangiku complained as we stepped outside.

"Orders of Head Captain Yamamoto. Apparently this year, all captains and lieutenants have to assist in a class once every month." Shuhei replied.

"So which class are you taking, Shuhei?" Rangiku asked as we started walking back to the giant wall.

"The writing class. I need more people to submit stories to the Seireitei Communication." The Lieutenant of Squad 9 answered. "How about you?"

"I dunno. I just found out about it." She pouted. "Maybe the zanpakuto meditation class. Since the helpers just have to keep the quiet, I could probably slack!"

Shuhei and I exchanged a look. Rangiku was actually serious about the idea.

"So do you think you're gonna be able to pass the test?" Rangiku questioned me.

Definitely.

"Maybe. It depends." I replied.

At that moment, a black butterfly flew towards our little company, and perched on Shuhei's finger. Before I could even blink, a second butterfly landed on Rangiku's as well. After a moment of unseen communication, they nodded to each other and turned to me.

"We're going to have to go now. We'll probably meet you by the gates." Shuhei said. With that, they shunpo-ed away, reappearing far in front of me before completely disappearing in the morning fog.

Well, we're alone again.

Yeah… Should we catch up with them?

Why not? You could still use the practice.

Alright, here I go.

It took me two minutes to get to the gates. Shuhei and Rangiku were nowhere in sight, but there was now a large crowd gathered around the gate. The giant was also awake, conversing with a few people up front.

I bumped into someone.

"Oi oi, why'd you have to push me down?" I looked down and saw a young man looking up in annoyance. His medium-length brown hair was messy, he had sharp-looking eyes and an equally sharp chin that was clean-shaven.

"Sorry, it was an accident. Are you alright?" I held out my hand.

"Yep. No harm done." He announced as he accepted my offered assistance and pulled himself to his feet and dusted himself.

"So you're here for the entrance exam too?" I asked. He looked at me curiously.

"Dude, are you like new or something? Everyone here is taking the entrance exam. It's pretty much a one-way ticket out of the Rukongai."

One...two...three, I estimated about 500 people here.

Holy crap. That's a lot of candidates.

Not really. I only detect about a hundred students with enough reiatsu to even qualify, and half of them probably don't know how to do anything.

How about this guy here?

He has decent amounts of reiatsu. He might be one of those who'll pass.

Interesting.

"I didn't catch your name." He said.

"That's because I didn't say it." I replied. "Shiro Aragaki." I held out a hand.

He shook it. "Yosuke Shibuya."

We started conversing about random things, but I did catch on to a few important things. Apparently, he wasn't that old either, having only spent a few months in the Soul Society. He travelled here from the 2nd District-

"Silence!" A loud voice demanded before I could learn anything more about him. I turned to the front, and Yosuke did the same.

The crowd obeyed. In front were the three lieutenants from before, Rangiku, Shuhei and Marechiyo. Marechiyo continued talking.

"You have gathered here today to take the entrance exam to the Shinigami Academy. Before we continue, all of you had better be commited, or I'll smash the eyeballs outta you! Anyone who isn't, leave now!"

No one moved.

"Good. I'll now pass the time to Lieutenant Hisagi" He gestured to Shuhei, who looked unbothered about the whole thing.

"Good morning, everyone. We, the Lieutenants of Squads 2, 9 and 10 have been instructed to conduct this examination here at the West Gate." His eyes narrowed. "Before we start moving into the Seireitei for the examination, I want to give you all a warning." His voice became threatening.

"Do not, and I repeat, do not take this exam as a joke. A majority of you will fail the first test, and believe it or not, the second test is harder."

There was an excited buzz among the candidates. Listening on to a conversation to my left, I learned two things.

One, this was the first time Lieutenants were involved in the exams, and two, the tests really did involve the four main techniques, Zanjutsu, Kido, Hoho and Hakuda.

You didn't trust me? She sounded amused.

A little.

I see. This time, her voice was quiet.

"Please form four lines and queue outside the gate. Jidanbo, the gate keeper will raise the gate for us. After that, follow us into the Seireitei and do not make any detours. Anybody who does so will be apprehended immediately." He warned. He then turned to Jidanbo, and nodded.

The giant began to literally raise the gate by carrying it with his bare hands. His armoured shoulder, which was his left, began to support the gate once it was high enough. He stood up with the gate on his shoulder, and used his right hand to flip a switch to lock it in place. He then stood to the side with a satisfied look on his face.

The four lines began to march past the gate with the three lieutenants in lead.

The test is about to begin Shiro. Are you ready? My zanpakuto asked as Yosuke and I passed under the gate side by side.

Yes, elf-lady. I think I am.

Just watch me.

A/N: That was comparatively long compared to the previous chapters. I'm sorry if some of the characters seem abit OOC, but well, I barely know about Hisagi and Omaeda. Bleach wikia for the win! =D

Please, please review. I do need the encouragement to write. They would, as usual, be extremely appreciated.