Chapter Forty Two

145 years before Rukia Kuchiki's arrival in Karakura Town

The Academy grounds were an absolute splendor to behold in springtime. Even though she'd seen them plenty of times before, Yoruichi still could not help but smile as she looked upon the cherry trees in full bloom. Classes had just recently gotten out for the day, so the main courtyard was filled with students heading for the dorms or meeting up with friends for some late afternoon leisure time.

She took a deep breath and inhaled the wonderful scent of the cherry blossoms. "Ah… this really takes me back."

To her right, Soi-Fon nodded. "It is nice to return here. This courtyard was a very soothing place to study when I was going through my training."

To her left, her other companion, Squad Twelve Captain Kirio Hikifune, smiled. "Indeed. I wish we had enough space at my division's barracks to recreate this. Our training yard's nice, but it could do with a little more natural beauty."

Yoruichi nodded. "Same with mine. I've had my family's decorators and gardeners come by a few times, but there's really only so much they can do with the space available."

Kirio shrugged. "Oh, well. We have much more important matters at hand than gardening, anyway."

Yoruichi smiled. "That's true. We really should get a move on; it took quite a bit of work for me to convince the Head Captain to get these three a short-term approved leave from class for this little mission of ours. We need to make the most of it!"

Soi-Fon gave her a skeptical look. "Lady Yoruichi, with all due respect, was it really necessary to include them in this? Between Squads Two and Twelve, we already have more than enough people for this assignment. We hardly need to include students in the roster, regardless of how gifted they might be."

Yoruichi shook her head. "It's not a question of manpower, Soi-Fon. They've only got a year left at the Academy before graduation. I'm sure that they've been studying hard since the last little operation we took them on, but there's no better preparation for what they'll face out there once they're through here than to get them out into the field as much as possible."

"She's right, Soi-Fon," said Kirio, "Besides, as you're well aware, there's more to being a Soul Reaper than just purifying Hollows and performing the Konsō on lost souls. The mission that we're going on is an ideal example of an assignment that falls outside those first two tasks. Academy students don't normally get much exposure to missions like ours, so if we can give a few members of the advanced track a taste of the more exotic assignments that they might be given once they join us on active duty they'll be much more prepared for them when the time comes."

"Very well," Soi-Fon conceded, "but why these three in particular? They're the best of the fifth-year advanced track, but if we're only looking for quality then shouldn't we be seeking out students in the sixth-year group?"

Yoruichi smirked. "Normally you'd have a point, Soi-Fon, but even the students in their last year got nothing on these three; their most recent test scores are proof enough of that!"

"Not to mention that one of them in particular is shaping up to be the most sought-after recruit of his class!" chirped Kirio with a grin, "I've been meaning to work on my sales pitch for him, but you've been hogging him all to yourself, Yoruichi! That ends today; you're not getting him without a fight!"

Yoruichi chuckled. "Bring it on, Kirio."

Soi-Fon looked around the courtyard. "So, where do you think Itachi's at? Should we check the dorms?"

Yoruichi shook her head. "From what I've heard, it seems that he likes to go to the library once class is over. Let's start there."

"Hopefully the other two will be there as well," said Kirio, "It would save us some time."

Indeed, she mused, and from what Rija and Shisui told me after that mission last year, it would seem that the three of them have become a little group of their own, at least if the way they fought against the Hollows together is any indication. We might just get lucky…

The three of them made their way to the library, but it turned out that luck wasn't quite on their side. They found Itachi sitting near the back reading, but neither Jiraiya nor Visaelya were with him.

"So much for finding all three at once," Soi-Fon muttered.

Yoruichi shrugged. "We'll track the other two down soon enough."

"Forget about them for now," said Kirio, eagerly eyeing Itachi, "Let's go say hello!"

Yoruichi was amused; she hadn't seen her colleague this excited about a man in quite some time. She wondered how Kirio's Lieutenant would react if she learned that her Captain's attention was at risk of being stolen by someone else; Hiyori Sarugaki was notoriously temperamental.

You'd better hope that Kirio doesn't talk about you in front of her Lieutenant, Itachi, she thought, I'd hate to imagine what Hiyori would do to you…

She saw him look up as the three of them approached. "Yoruichi…"

Soi-Fon's eyes narrowed. "That's Captain Shihōin or Lady Yoruichi to you, Itachi Uchiha!"

Kirio put her hand on Soi-Fon's shoulder. "Calm down, Soi-Fon. We're in a library, after all."

"That still doesn't mean that he should be allowed to address Lady Yoruichi so informally," Soi-Fon huffed.

Yoruichi laughed. "Soi-Fon, you really need to lighten up. I've told him before that it's fine for him to address me like that. Honestly, I prefer it that way. How's it going, Itachi?"

Itachi nodded as he stood up to greet her. "Very well, thank you. It's been some time, Yoruichi."

Kirio gave her a knowing smirk. "You two are on a first name basis? What have I been missing out on?"

Yoruichi chuckled. "I know where your mind's going Kirio, and it's nothing quite like that."

Although I wouldn't exactly say no if it were, she thought as she looked the handsome student over, Itachi, you're a treat for the eyes that never gets old…

She saw him tense up ever so slightly; was he aware of how she was eyeing him? Yoruichi had thought that she was being subtle, but apparently Itachi's senses were even sharper than she had previously realized. She gave him a friendly smile to put him at ease; now wasn't the time for teasing, no matter how much she might enjoy it.

"It's good to see you as well, Miss Soi-Fon," he said with a slight bow.

Soi-Fon nodded. "Likewise. I hope you've been keeping up with your studies; your performance reflects upon Lady Yoruichi since she vouched for you in the past."

"I can assure you that I've been taking them as seriously as ever," Itachi replied.

Yoruichi gave Soi-Fon a pat on the back. "Come on, Soi-Fon, stop giving him a hard time. You've seen his test scores, too; you know that he's doing just fine."

"Fine would be an understatement," said Kirio with a grin as she stepped forward, "Hello, Itachi. Do you remember me?"

"Of course," he replied, "It's been a long time, Captain Hikifune."

Kirio giggled. "Oh, there's no need for formality. Please, call me Kirio!"

And you were getting on my case about being on a first name basis with him, thought Yoruichi with a smirk, Kirio, you're as shameless as ever!

Itachi seemed a bit taken aback by that. "Are you sure?"

"Oh, of course!" she said, "There's no need to be so stiff and proper when the Head Captain's not looking over our shoulders. Or Ginrei Kuchiki, for that matter; the two of them seriously need to learn to relax a little more."

Yoruichi chuckled. "That's putting it mildly."

"I'll take your word for it," said Itachi, "If you don't mind me asking, what brings you all here?"

"Something special's come up," Yoruichi replied, "An opportunity that could serve to benefit both the Soul Society and you, along with Jiraiya and Visaelya."

"We've been looking for a few gifted students to take with us on a field assignment," said Kirio, "You certainly fit the bill, and I'm sure your two fellow classmates do as well!"

"What sort of field assignment did you have in mind?" he asked.

"One that would involve you spending at least a few days away from the Academy," Yoruichi replied, "We've already cleared it with your instructors, and it'll even count as bonus course credit."

"That being said, you should still be prepared to work hard upon your return," Soi-Fon pointed out, "You will have extra work to do, after all."

Itachi nodded. "Of course. It won't be a problem."

Kirio smiled. "You certainly don't lack for confidence! I'm feeling better about our decision to bring you along by the minute!"

"With all due respect, you still haven't completely answered my question," said Itachi, "I would like to know more about what I'm getting myself into."

"Don't worry," said Yoruichi, "We'll fill you in on the juicy details as soon as we round up Jiraiya and Visaelya."

"Do you know where we might find them?" asked Soi-Fon.

"Jiraiya should be back at the dorms," said Itachi, "I believe he wanted to spend some time working on his latest novel. As for Visaelya, I believe she's at the meditation hall; her Zanpakutō recently awakened, so she's redoubled her Jinzen training."

Kirio raised her eyebrow. "Captain Drakken's niece has already awakened her Zanpakutō? Impressive."

"Indeed," said Soi-Fon, "It's the first I've heard of it."

Yoruichi nodded. "Same here. Well, good for her. Sounds like she's coming along quite nicely."

"Yes," said Itachi, "Her Zanjutsu is improving as well, especially considering our latest match."

Yoruichi raised an eyebrow. "Don't tell me that she actually beat you? From I've heard, you're untouchable in your sparring class."

Itachi shook her head. "She's achieved no victories over me, but her level of growth has been substantial. In that light, I would say that our sparring matches have been a success."

Soi-Fon's eyes narrowed. "Are you saying that you've taken it upon yourself to train her in lieu of the Academy's instructors?"

"No," said Itachi, "She initiates the challenges of her own free will. However, that does not mean that I cannot use them to help her refine her technique."

Yoruichi smiled. "Well, how about that… you took a potential rival and turned her into a friend. Itachi, you're really something else, you know that?"

Itachi looked a bit taken aback. "What do you mean?"

Yoruichi chuckled and shook her head. "Never mind. Come on, let's go and round up the others. We've got a lot of material to go over before we hit the road."