A Falling Star's Last Wish

C H A P T E R T H R E E

You're searching... For things that don't exist; I mean beginnings. Ends and beginnings - there are no such things. There are only middles.

Tale silently began to pack her bag. Today was her last day as a fourth year at Shinō Academy. It was also the last day she would spend with Asa and Jinsu. Her two closest friends would be graduating today, and happily be hand-selected by the twelve captains, and one acting-captain lieutenant, of the Gotei Thirteen. Tale knew that she was very happy for her friends, knowing that they would move on and do great things the next two years that she wasn't with them, but she also felt jealous. She had heard of a few students that had finished the academy years early, why couldn't she be like that?

She packed the rest of her small little knick-knacks and closed her bags. Maiko would come and get them from her room while she was at the ceremony. Tale looked out her small window and at the large clock tower in the middle of the courtyard. She had half an hour to get to the ceremony or she would be late. Asa and Jinsu wouldn't be happy if she was late. Hopefully not all of the seats were full yet...

"I better hurry, then," Tale muttered to herself and grabbed her zanpakutou off her futon and ran out of her room. She followed the many other students that were on their way to the ceremony. She hurried past most them, wanting to get a good seat near the front.

Within moments of making it to the open courtyard filled with chairs and a small stage, the ceremony had begun...

The graduating class of shinigami came out, all dressed in their black and white Shihakushōu; some had even gone ahead and given it their own customization. Like Asa. Tale could instantly pick out her friend. The fair haired, light skinned new shinigami had ripped away the sleeves of her uniform, exchanged the white obi for an olive green one, and she even had a pair of black fingerless gloves.

Jinsu, her changes not as noticeable as Asa's, was just a simple change in making the Shihakushōu tighter than and not as baggy as it was on everyone else. Although everyone could notice the pale pink ribbon tied around her neck and matching head scarf holding back her flowing dark brown hair.

Tale was on the edge of her seat as she waited for everything to unfold. Asa had told her that there would be a surprise for her to see at this graduation, unlike the other three she had seen.

"Now, I would like to proudly present our fiftieth graduating class from Shinō Academy!" All the parents, siblings, friends, and watching students stood up to clap and cheer. As soon as they did, the little "surprise" began to unfold.

A long rope, though to have just been there to hold up the back wall of the stage, snapped and began to rush to the center of the stage... where a large bucket (obviously full) began to tip over. Yamamoto-sensei, as wise and keen to noticing things, did not have time to react as the large bucket of water splashed onto his head. Many students stood shocked that the man had been caught off guard so easily. Others were in fits of laughter. Especially Asa. Jinsu stood beside her friend, head resting in her palm as she shook her head. It was too obvious to tell who had done the trick. Asa was practically on the floor out of breath.

Tale shook her head, grinning ear to ear at her friend's antics. She knew Asa was going to pay for that one.

Tale waited for the crowd to clear out so she could go to her friends. Asa had gotten an ear full from all the teachers, Jinsu standing not far away as she watched Asa just grin ear to ear, her fox like eyes glinting with mischief. Tale knew of all the new pranks running through her friend's head.

"How you were picked to be an eighth seat of the Seventh Division, I will never understand," Jinsu muttered as she was finally able to pull her friend away to go and meet up with Tale one last time.

Asa rolled her eyes. "Like you have anywhere to talk, Miss Third Seat of the Twelfth Division." Jinsu did the same.

"You're just jealous."

"Am not!"

"Are too."

"Am not!"

"Are too."

"Am not, are too, what?"

Jinsu and Asa turned their attention away from their banter and looked at Tale. They had always seen her in either a uniform or her hakama and happi that she wore to the market. Never, had the two new shinigami seen their little princess-friend in a yukata and her hair properly put up into the bun it was in.

"Sugoi..." Asa whispered, surprised. Tale was even wearing make up! Tale tilted her head. "You really do look like a hime now, Tale. I can see why so many guys are looking at you like a piece of meat." Tale's face lit up into a bright pink. That was why she rarely wore her yukata. She only wore it because her mother would be very displeased for her to come home and not be in one. And with just her luck, she had to wear nothing but them for the next month for the academy's 'summer holiday', like humans had in their world for school.

"So, how does it feel to be shinigami, you two?" Tale quickly tried to change to subject to get rid of her flush. Asa shrugged, Jinsu gave a small smile.

"Not that much different as when being a student. We're still learning, we're still meeting new people. The only difference is we're sent on missions to kill Hollows daily."

Asa pulled on the sleeve of Jinsu's Shihakushōu. "Hey, com'on. We gotta go congrat Juu and Shunsui on making captain." Tale's eyes widened. Two graduates had been picked to be captains? Jinsu looked at the crowded new-taichou and then back to her friend.

"Come on, Tale, you can come with us." Jinsu pulled Tale by her arm as Asa pulled her. The three cut through the crowd easily and made it to the pair of captains. One with short white hair was surrounded by a few black haired little girls and a couple of black haired boys. The other, with wavy short brown hair and light stubble was grinning as he held another little black haired child. Were the two related?

"Juu-kun, Shunsui! Congrats are making us all feel like a bunch of useless twats," Asa said, slapping 'Juu-kun' on the back and kicking 'Shunsui' in the back of the knee. Jinsu quickly grabbed the small child before 'Shunsui' could drop him. 'Juu-kun' jerked forward a bit at the slap and gave a sheepish look to Asa.

"I really don't know what to say to that, Asa-san. I assume I'll just have to congratulate you on making eighth seat and Jinsu-san on making third seat."

"How about you just give me your spot..." Tale could hear Asa mutter, and she couldn't help but laugh. Shunsui quickly recovered from the kick at his leg and leaned over to get a better look at the chuckling fourth year.

"Hmm? Who's this little beauty that you haven't introduced us to, Asa-chan~" Tale blushed, stopping her laughing.

Asa grinned and wrapped her arm around Tale's shoulders and pulled her forward. The small children stopped what they were doing and look at the princess.

"Tale, this is Kyōuraku Shunsui and Ukitake Juushirō. Juu-kun, Shunsui, this is my lovely friend Tale." Her blush darkened and she gave a bow.

"A pleasure to meet you both, Ukitake-taichou, Kyōuraku-taichou." Shunsui chuckled. Juushirō gave another sheepish look.

"Please, Tale-san, don't bow. We're not even officially captains yet." Tale stood back up straight, her blush creeping down to her neck. Luckily, her skin was too dark for them to see it unless they looked closely.

"Juu-nii," one of the little girls tugged at her brother's haori. He looked down and scooped her up into his arms.

"Yes, Tomi-chan?"

"She's pretty! You should marry her." She had obviously meant to whisper it, but her words came out much louder than needed. This time Juushiro blushed deeply too, and one could see Tale's blush also.

"Yea, Juu. You'd both make a pretty couple, kawaiikun." Shunsui gave a wide grin, Jinsu smirked, and Asa laughed. The two they were talking about only continued to blush and try to get rid of it. Tale fiddled with the sleeve of her yukata. Juushiro whispered something into his little sister's ear and put her down as she grabbed her other sisters' hands and pulled them away.

"I'm sorry about her. She blurts things like that out all the time." Tale shook her head at the apology.

"Don't worry about it, she's young. Let her have her fun."

Jinsu handed the small child back to Shunsui who passed him off to one of the older boys still standing beside their brother. "Come on, Tamaki, let's go find okaa-san." The boys walked off, leaving the group alone. Shunsui spoke his thoughts.

"Tale-chan, I was wondering something." Tale tilted her head, motioning for him to continue. "You look awfully a lot like a young man I know that is friends with my brother. Do you by chance have a younger brother by the name of Ryuunosuke?" Tale nodded. How was it possible that he knew her younger brother? The only people who knew her family personally were... nobles.

Of course! How could she have forgotten? The Kyōuraku family had always been close friends to the Shihōuin house.

"I've always known a little hime when I see one... Okitetsu-hime." Shunsui gave a small bow before Tale could stop him. Juushirō looked about to do the same thing.

"No, please! Don't bow, I highly dislike when people do such a thing when I am merely just a student. I should be bowing to you, you are my superiors." There was a slightly silence between them.

"Well, it looks like we best be taking our leave. Tomorrow, we start our new lives as shinigami!" Asa said proudly, pumping her fist into the air. Jinsu nodded in agreement. "And it looks like it's time for Tale to go to the dungeon, Jin-chan." Tale rolled her eyes and slipped out from under Asa's arm to find Maiko patiently waiting for her at the entrance gate.

"You two have to promise me that you'll come and visit me during the year." Jinsu and Asa nodded, hugging their friend one last time. Tale gave the two captains a smile and a small bow. "It was a great pleasure meeting you both. I hope we'll become friends once I graduate." Tale turned to leave, only to hear a low whistle from behind her.

"Yes, I do hope we become friends..." But that was soon followed by another smack and an "ow". "Asa-chan, you're so mean to me!"

"Well then stop being such a pervert!"

-starlightstarbright-

"And now, I would like to proudly present Shinō Academy's fifty-second graduating class!"

Tale stood amongst the forty or so shinigami that were once her classmates. Many had made it as seated officers, others still trying to figure out which division they wanted to join. Tale was one of those. She may have been offered a few positions, one of them a fourth seat, but she wasn't particularly interested in the Division. She wanted somewhere where she could have fun while working, although she didn't want to be placed with Hanaru or Asa and Jinsu. She was surprised of being offered anything at all even though she didn't know shikai. Sure, she knew her zanpakutou's name, but that was it.

Suddenly, there was an echoing snap. Everyone looked around for it, but all Tale had to do was look at center stage. There a very aware sontaichou stood, waiting. A bucket of water splashed down on him, much like it had just two years ago from this day. Some things never change...

Once the shinigami were allowed to leave the stage, Tale jumped down, landing gracefully on the balls of her feet. She was instantly attacked by a pair of arms.

"Look how much she's grown up, Jin!"

"It's amazing what two more years of training do to a person."

Tale blinked and looked down at the two. She was now taller, by a good five inches, than Jinsu and Asa. She had changed? Look at them! Jinsu had cut her hair into somewhat of a pixie cut and Asa's was half way down her back! Not to mention the obvious muscles on their biceps that she felt hug her. Tale hugged her two friends back.

"I haven't seen you two since last year during the holidays! How are things going for you both? Any promotions?" Jinsu and Asa finally let go of the hime, both practically glowing with excitement.

"Well... Asa's cold heart has finally warmed up to a certain Fifth Division lieutenant..." Asa hugged Jinsu in the ribs and a light flush overtook her cheeks. Tale laughed. "...and she got promoted, finally, to fourth seat."

"Like you have anywhere to talk, Miss Twelfth Division's new fukutaichou..." Tale squealed with happiness and gave Jinsu another tight hug. "What about you, Tale-chan? Have you picked what squad you'll be entering?" Said noble chewed at the inside of her cheek.

"Well... I've gotten a few offers, but I really can't decide."

"Why not come to the Seventh Division with me? Sato-taichou would love you!"

"Or the Twelfth. I've told everyone about you, and they're very interested in a noble with your story-telling skills. Mostly the girls, but I've had a few guys ask about your action stories." Jinsu gave Tale a small wink. She could only smile.

As the three walked away, back to the dorms to get Tale's bag, said hime bumped into a student. He immediately bowed, shaking with a slight look of fear etched on his face.

"I deeply apologize for disturbing your peace, fukutaichou-san and shinigami-san! Please forgive my rudeness." The three blinked, surprised. Tale scratched the back of her neck.

"Eh, there's no trouble here. It's okay, really, everyone does it once and awhile." Jinsu shrugged as she spoke. Asa rolled her eyes with a scoff. Typical first years. Tale tilted her head at the student.

"What's your name, ichisenkan-kun?" The student stood up straight, his chin high. He was shorter than most first years. Asa was surprised they even saw him.

"Zenai, Miyazaki Zenai!" Asa chuckled. Tale's mind began to wonder.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Zenai-kun. I am Shihōuin Okitetsu, but you can call me Tale."

Author's Note:

So… another chapter it seems. /grin. Tale meets Juu… and Zenai! If you haven't read Supernova before then you don't know why this is important, but don't go read it! That story is horrible…

I really don't know what to say now… Although I wonder who this Fifth Division's lieutenant that Jinsu speaks of, is… /wink.

Sugoi – amazing, wow, etc.

Nii- "brother"

Kawaiikun – "pretty boy"

Ichisenkan – "first year"

If there were anymore that I didn't catch just tell me, or you can look them up yourself. Whichever is fine. :)

Review please?