Shunsui stood in the middle of the crowd looking around him with wide eyes. At the tender age of fourteen, he could barely comprehend the sheer size of the building before him.

He was standing in the courtyard of the newly built Shinigami Academy, staring in wonder at the enormous building around him. He hadn't expected it to be this—this imposing. He had finally managed to convince his family that becoming a Soul Reaper would be a perfectly acceptable career, and it suited him better too.

But now that he was here, he was beginning to have second thoughts. No he told himself, I can't go back now. If I go back now it's back to letting mom control my life, and being forced to marry that slut from the—wait, who were they? Whatever, doesn't matter now. Now I won't have to. He grinned all of a sudden. Something had just occurred to him.

Mom was always griping about how I would chase girls and ignore work. Well screw you mom, you ain't here now. This just might actually be fun. He stood there, a small smile on his face as he watched the old man—Yamamoto or something—cut the rope in front of the school.

Shunsui took the time to study the man as the crowd cheered. He wasn't really that old, he just had this 'no fun allowed ever' aura that made him seem like an old geezer.

"He looks very intimidating, doesn't he?" a quiet voice asked him from behind, causing Shunsui to jump about a foot off the ground. He whipped around, taking in the young woman that stood next to him. "I would hate to have him as a teacher," she mused softly, causing him to wonder how the hell he could even hear her over the crowd.

"Who are you?" he said sharply, backpedaling hard when he realized how rude he sounded. "I mean, I don't think I know you, and I was, well you—" he stopped, figuring out that he wasn't going to be able to make a recovery.

He always had issues when it came to talking to girls. He'd have to change that soon.

"My name is Retsu Unohana, who are you" she murmured.

"Shunsui Kyoraku, nice to meet you." He said, mildly amused that she had turned his earlier remark against him so easily. She was one to watch out for.

Under that quiet, shy demeanor, there was a real bitch hiding. She grinned back at him, no doubt realizing that he'd noticed. "So, Hana-chan are you always this quietly creepy or is that reserved for people you want to intimidate?"

"Hana-chan?" she asked calmly, a threat hidden in her eyes.

"You don't like it?" he asked, faking hurt. "I think it's perfect! Besides, you still have to answer the question."

"Very well Hana-chan it is" she agreed reluctantly. "As to answer your question, I don't know. I think I don't because people hardly ever notice, but I don't really act differently. Or at least, I don't think I do. But I guess I'm not sure."

"Well that's an incredibly long answer for a relatively simple question he drawled. She laughed. Suddenly Shunsui noticed that he'd been talking to her without any trouble for some time now. He couldn't help but smile ever slightly at that thought. "hmm….. what were you saying?"

She smiled a little at his distracted comment. "I said that you're a very easy person to talk to, Shunsui."

"Thanks. I think."

"You're welcome. I think." They exchanged small smiles, knowing that this would most likely be the start of a good friendship.

"Hey look the old man's gonna say something!" Shunsui mused, his remark coming out a little louder than he originally intended. This drew him glares from his soon-to-be-fellow-students.

Unohana giggled softly as Shunsui grinned evilly at the surrounding people. It would help his reputation a lot if his fellow students already were in awe of him. Old man Yamato got up on the platform and began to speak.

"Welcome, young ones, to the Shinigami Academy. This school will teach you how to control your Reiatsu, and to commune with your Zanpaktou. We will also teach you Kido, different fighting styles, and Shinigami lore. I expect the best, and only the best from the students that attend this school—"

Well I'm screwed over there, Shunsui mused there's no way in hell am I going to work hard now that I finally got away from my parents.

"— And I expect you to all to present yourselves with a willing-to-learn attitude to your fellow students and to your teachers, elders and superiors."

Well, I guess I already failed that—wait is he glaring at me??? Crap. He is. Crap. Crap. Crapcrapcrapcrap CRAP!! Shunsui ducked his head, focusing on his shoes for a split second.

What? An inner voice snarled at him. This is it? You spent so long talking your family into letting you come just so you could be scared shitless by some old man? Pathetic.

Shut up. Spat Shunsui, instantly retaliating against the annoying voice. But he knew that it wasn't the voice he was going to strike back at; it was that old man. His first act of defiance came as he lifted his gaze and me old man Yama's gaze head on. The man's eyes widened in surprise, and he nearly allowed himself to smile.

"This will be an interesting experience for all parties involved, I can tell," Shunsui couldn't help but wince at the implications in his voice, "so enjoy your leisure while you can, because soon you won't be able to. Report back here in two days at noon." With that the old man walked determinedly off the stage.

"Wait— two days?!" asked Kyoraku. "I thought we got in today?"

"No, we still have two days. Why?" answered Unohana.

"Hana-chan, have you ever noticed that you have a terrible habit of answering questions with questions?"

"Have you ever noticed that you do it too?"

"See, you're doing it now!"

"I'll answer your question once you answer mine. Why are you so worried about showing up here in two days?"

"It's not the showing up here that bothers me; it's the waiting two days. I'm not really a favorite of my parents right now, and I rather doubt that they'd let me in the door."

"Oh, well, do you want to stay with me? Well, at my house rather?"

"Really??? Sure, thanks! My stuff's right there I'll be right back. By the way, thank you so much."

"Not a problem." Retsu watched him leave with an amused look in her eyes. She'd never before met someone so, so, at ease in himself before. He intrigued her; there was no way around it.

She heard a rustling noise behind her as one of her friends walked up to her.

"Who was that guy you were talking to just now?" The girl asked breathlessly. "He's hot!" Unohana smiled lightly. This would be a fun two days.

AN—what think? Halfway decent? Should I write more? Review please!