Shunsui Kyōraku

Yoshino led them through the Seireitei towards a large building in the distance. When they arrived, Yoshino brought them to a counter with two Shinigami. The Shinigami looked up.

"Only two people? The dorms are set up for three, and we're currently expecting a third person, so could you just wait a bit? You can have your room keys in the meantime."

Takashi and Jūshirō nodded. They were fine with waiting a bit longer and they were curious to see who their new roommate is.

A few minutes later, a child came barreling down the street, tripped, and crashed into the counter, knocking over everything. He quickly stood up and dusted himself off.

"I'm not late am I? Wait, is this the right place? They said there'd be a counter here."

Takashi and Jūshirō wordlessly pointed to behind him. The child turned around and saw the wreckage he'd created, and rubbed the back of his head with an embarrassed look on his face.

"Ah, sorry, sorry, sorry, I didn't mean to do that. But if there is a counter here, is this where I'm supposed to register?"

"Are you Murano Kuchiki?"

"No! I'm Shunsui Kyōraku." He seemed affronted at being taken as someone else.

"Ah, yes, yes. Here is your room key. You guys are room 17. Here is a map of the school, and here's the map of the Seireitei." The Shinigami gave Shunsui a key, then gave Jūshirō, the one he judged as the most mature, both maps. Jūshirō glanced at the map.

"Follow me." Jūshirō started walking and Takashi silently trailed after him.

"Hey, why do we have to follow you anyway?" Shunsui complained and walked off in another direction. However, he quickly came running back, yelling "Wait for me!!!"

They were walking together silently when Shunsui suddenly broke the silence.

"You know, I actually didn't want to come to Shinigami Academy; it was my dad and older brother who forced me. Since I'm here though, I wanna make the best of it. Do you think there'll be pretty ladies in Shinigami Academy? I sure hope so. Pretty ladies are the best. Am I handsome? I think I'm handsome. More handsome than that lame Murano. Why do all the pretty ones like him? He doesn't have any good qualities."

Shunsui kept on rambling on and on and on and no matter how good of a relationship Takashi wanted with Shunsui, this was too much. Takashi couldn't take it anymore, so he turned around and brought his hand down on Shunsui's head.

"Owww!!!" Shunsui yelled and collapsed on the floor, rolling around in exaggerated pain.

Takashi also collapsed, as he hadn't slept since they arrived in the Seireitei, which was a long time for him. Shunsui immediately stopped pretending to be in pain, and started worrying about Takashi. Jūshirō smiled as he saw that though his new roommate was playful, he was a kind person at heart. Jūshirō walked over and picked Takashi up.

"Don't worry about it. He has a sleeping problem, which causes him to fall asleep at random moments. I'll take care of it."

Jūshirō carried Takashi to the dorm and laid him on a bed, but the moment Takashi was out of his hands, he started coughing blood. Shunsui walked over to hold him steady.

"Do you have a disease as well?"

Jūshirō nodded.

"Ugh, just my luck. Both of my roommates have a disease." Shunsui said that while laying Jūshirō down on a bed. Jūshirō kept on coughing until he fell into unconsciousness, while Shunsui made sure that Jūshirō didn't choke on his own blood. When Jūshirō woke up, he found a bowl of rice and veggies next to his and Takashi's beds, with a note reading:

I've gone out to explore. Don't bother looking for me. -Shunsui.

Even though Jūshirō was finding it hard to breathe, he still felt warmth in his chest because of Shunsui's actions.

When Takashi woke up the next morning, he found Shunsui still sleeping, and Jūshirō having left a note about going out to buy breakfast. Takashi was bored, so he decided to go out and make himself a Go board.

By the time he got back, he smelled a wonderful fragrance coming from room 17, and found Jūshirō watching over Shunsui with a small smile on his face. Jūshirō turned and noticed the board and the pebbles Takashi was carrying.

"Is that a Go board and stones?"

"Yeah."

"Awesome. Let's play a game while eating breakfast. I have some rice, soup, pickled vegetables, and dried seaweed."

Takashi and Jūshirō played Go until Shunsui woke up. Shunsui was curious about it, but after Takashi explained the rules, Shunsui dismissed it as boring.

"This game is so boring. Let's go do something fun. Why don't we have a battle? I'm curious to see how strong you are."

"Sure. But Jūshirō's focused on the game right now, so I don't think he'll return to us until he makes his move."

"Looks like it'll just be you and me, Takashi."

Shunsui and Takashi found an empty field. They moved around two meters apart and released their Reiatsu.

Shunsui shouted out, "3, 2, 1, start!!"

They charged at each other, Shunsui with a sloppy but recognizable fighting stance while Takashi was just charging in, swinging his fists like a lunatic. It was over before it even began, as Takashi tripped over his own feet and smashed his face against the ground.

"Wow, you really don't know how to fight. Our Reiatsu is similar but my fighting technique is way above yours. Let's continue sparring, so that you can learn how to fight."

They sparred for a few more hours, with Takashi visibly improving. Jūshirō was still deep in thought by the time they got back. Takashi noticed a black butterfly flying around in their room.

"Shunsui, what's that?"

"Oh hey, a Jigokuchtx. I wonder why it's here." Shunsui held out his hand for the butterfly to land on. He took a look at the message.

"What time is it?"

Takashi suddenly felt an ominous feeling. "It's 3:55."

"Then we have no time to waste. We're supposed to get to the courtyard by 4:00. Let's run."

Shunsui flipped over the Go board to get Jūshirō's attention, and quickly explained the situation. They ran as fast as they could and barely made it in time. A man was standing on the podium. He was mostly bald, with short hair around the sides, and a tuft of hair in the middle of his head. There was a diagonal scar across his forehead, and he had a thick mustache. He looked out over the crowd.

"Everyone who isn't here right now is expelled!!"

All the students in the courtyard were very surprised, saying things ranging from "What!!" to "Does he have the authority to do that?"

The man on the podium seemed to anticipate their responses.

"I am Shigekuni Yamamoto, Captain-Commander, Captain of the 1st Division, and founder of Shinigami Academy."

There were many gasps heard, as they were either surprised by how important Yamamoto was, or, like Takashi, were surprised with how he looked.

'I can't believe this is what Yamamoto looked like a long time ago.'

Yamamoto continued, "You have nearly become students of Shinigami Academy. However there is still one more test you will have to go through. The objective is simple. As long as you survive, you pass."

Without giving anyone time to prepare, he immediately released his Reiatsu. A number of people who weren't able to react in time were instantly turned into ashes, while the rest managed to release their Reiatsu and protect themselves from the flames. Afterwards, the entire courtyard was covered in flame. Yamamoto stood there silently, overlooking the courtyard. A dark figure appeared behind Yamamoto.

"Interesting. You're conducting the exam personally, and even staying to watch the results. This is very unusual, Yamamoto."

"I'm looking for disciples this year."

"You're looking for disciples this year? If word got out, everyone would be rushing to prove their strength and show their potential. Anyway, who's it going to be? Most of them are barely surviving, certainly not up to your standard. Oooh! There are a few interesting ones. Murano Kuchiki, the black hair, the brown hair, the silver hair with green eyes, and the silver hair with blue eyes. You're quite lucky to have such an outstanding batch this year. I think I'll have to poach some away."

While the two were chatting, Takashi was trying to survive. He had been pumping out Reiatsu for two straight hours already, and Yamamoto's Reiatsu did not show any signs of dissipating. He felt more and more tired, as he had already been sparring with Shunsui in the morning, and now had to protect himself from the raging flames. He shook his head and slapped his cheeks.

'No, I can't fall asleep, I can't fall asleep. Wait, didn't I have these thoughts . . . '

Before he could finish that thought, his eyes closed, and he collapsed, sound asleep.