Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ Sleeping with the Enemy ❯ Third Seat, Division Five ( Chapter 1 )

Chapter 1: Third Seat, Division Five

 

She held the slip of paper in front of her face as she made her way through Seretei and checked the order of the division numbers. Division Two, Division Three…she was supposed to report to Division Five at 8 am sharp, and that deadline was drawing dangerously near. The young woman, a recent graduate of the Shinigami Academy, adjusted her bag and hastened her steps. The place was so enormous that she wasn't even sure if the increase in speed would get her there any sooner. She'd been praised throughout the academy for her punctuality, outstanding academic performance in all areas of study, and no absences. Showing up late would certainly debunk any faith her sensei had placed upon her.

Finally! A large gate with `Division Five' emblazoned on it came into view, and she checked the time: 7:55 am. Nina Seito jogged to her destination, and she paused for a moment to have a look around upon passing through the entrance. People were milling about and socializing on the covered verandas of the division barracks. Someone walked by her, and she stopped them.

“Pardon me, but where are the Division Five offices?”

The person smiled and pointed in a direction. “Just down that way a few doors. Captain Aizen should be in already if you're looking for him.”

“Thank you,” she replied. Nina looked at the time: 7:58. “Damn.”

She took off for the office in the direction indicated. It indeed was just a few doors down as she had passed it entirely in her haste and realized it just a few seconds too late. She doubled back and approached the doorway, catching her breath.

“Please come in,” a soft and calm male voice said from within. “Your timing is indeed impeccable as your instructors have indicated.”

Nina ventured in and checked the time again: 8 am. Yes!

A tall brown haired man wearing glasses rose from his desk and approached her with a welcoming smile. “I hope it wasn't much trouble for you to find the offices. I know Seretei can be a bit difficult for newcomers to navigate.”

“N-no, sir. Not at all.”

“Good. Please, have a seat. I have been eager to meet you. I am Aizen Sousuke, captain of the Fifth Division as you might have guessed. You must be Seito Nina.”

“Yes,” she quietly said. Nina clasped her hands in front of her with arms down and bowed respectively at him before sitting down in a chair.

“Can I offer you something to drink? Some tea perhaps? I imagine you have come a rather long way,” Aizen told her as he began taking down a kettle and a box of tea.

“Er…y-yes. That would be fine. Thank you.”

He chuckled ever so slightly. “You seem nervous. Relax. I'm not going to bite.” Sousuke filled the kettle with water and put it on heat.

He was reputed to be a gentle sort of man who rarely ever got flustered over anything. He watched over his division with impartiality, and those under him considered their captain to be a generous and understanding man as well as a great teacher. The haori he wore over his black Shinigami uniform was a mere article of clothing to him that only indicated his rank and allowed him to run things a little more smoothly.

The kettle began to whistle a short while later, and Sousuke removed it from the heat for the sake of silencing its annoying sound. He prepared tea for the both of them and handed Nina her cup before sitting down behind his desk. “So. I saw your performance in the dojo in the academy, and I must say you were most impressive.” He took out a folder and skimmed over it. “I reviewed your school records prior to your arrival, and your achievements are commendable as well. High marks, perfect attendance, punctuality, and then graduating a year early - splendid.”

Nina blew on the hot tea. “Thank you, Captain.”

He closed the file and placed it on the desk as Nina took a sip. He took a quick moment to have a good look at the young lady sitting before him. She was so very lovely with hair as black as a crow's feather and striking eyes as clear and blue as the sky above them. Her skin was somewhat pale, but not sickly, and she was petite creature. Her mannerisms told him that she seemed somewhat shy or just naturally quiet natured, as some people tended to be - people like him. This one would be tricky to get to know indeed, but looks did deceive: he'd seen what she could do as well as her promising potential as his third seat.

“Well, I know all about you as a student, but what about you as a person? Tell me a little about yourself, if you would.”

Nina looked up, somewhat startled. She had prepared for the interview well in advance, but no one told her that her new captain would ask her to talk about herself. “What would you like to know?”

He smiled a little. “Well, I suppose interests, hobbies...things like that. I try to make it a point to know at least a few things about those under me.”

“Oh.” She thought for a moment. “I…enjoy reading. I read quite a lot in my free time. I like being outdoors with my sketchbook.”

“Ah, so you're a bit of an artist, Seito-san?” he inquired curiously.

“I suppose. I'm not sure that I'm any good, but I do it for the enjoyment of it.”

“Perhaps at another time you can show me your drawings, if you wouldn't be bothered. I understand things like that can also be a private matter, so you don't have to show them to me if you don't want to.” He could sense that she didn't want to be too open about herself at the moment. She was nervous, in an unfamiliar place, and in the company of an unfamiliar person, so it was understandable. He simply smiled. “Well, I suppose I should give you your assignment. Based on your talents, I have chosen you to be my third seat replacement as the former has transferred to another division due to promotion.”

Nina's eyes widened in surprise. She put down her now empty tea cup, contemplating how it could be that she actually made a high position like that! She had expected a much lower position, but still, Nina composed herself. “I am quite honored, Captain. I shall do my best.”

“I have every reason to believe that you will.” He glanced up at the clock in his office. “If you will pardon me, I must get to a captain's meeting in Division One. Lieutenant Hinamori will show you to your quarters and brief you on your responsibilities. Normally, I do that, but I have much to do today.”

She nodded. “I understand.”

Aizen smiled and called in his lieutenant. He turned to Nina. “This is Hinamori Momo. You will be with her most of the day.”

“Hi,” she said bowing. “I've been looking forward to meeting you finally. Come with me, and I'll help you get settled in.”

Aizen left for his meeting, and Nina was left alone with this other girl. Lieutenant Hinamori was a young, small thing with black hair tied back in a bun that was neatly kept in some kind of little cap. She had a sweet face and big blue eyes as well as a cheerful disposition. She was smiling sweetly at Nina as she waited for her to collect her things.

Nina followed the girl out of the office and out into the division barracks. She looked around at the place trying to familiarize herself with everything since this would be her home from now on.

“Captain Aizen really is a good man. You will love serving under him,” Hinamori remarked happily. “I've learned so much from him as his lieutenant, and I'm sure you will, too.”

They came to a door, and Hinamori slid it aside. “Here is where you will be living. I know it doesn't look like much, but these rooms are really quite comfortable. Your things should be arriving soon so that you can move in today.”

Nina glanced around inside. These quarters were certainly much nicer than the ones she had back at the academy, and it didn't appear that she had to share with anyone. Nina liked that. She valued her alone time so she could paint, read, or draw. Back in the academy, the dorms were always so noisy that she would often have to sneak out to be alone so that she could focus on her art. Plus, she didn't like her roommate or having to share a room.

Hinamori handed a book out to her. “This is a book of the rules and regulations of our division. You know, proper conduct, consequences for ill behavior, that sort of thing. Many of these Captain Aizen established himself. Please read over it when you get the chance.” She held a hand outside the door. “If you come with me, I'll give you a tour of our grounds and explain your duties.”

Nina followed Momo out of the barracks and into other parts of Division Five. The other girl explained many of the responsibilities of the third seat. Nina herself didn't have a lot to say, but then again, she never did. But she had to admit that her Lieutenant seemed rather nice and sensible. She was also introduced to other members of her division; some of them seated officers, others unseated and back temporarily from assignment from the living world.

She followed her senior officer wherever she went and listened carefully to what she had to say. By the time Hinamori returned Nina to her quarters, Nina's belongings had been dropped off, and she was ready to begin moving in. Later that night, as Nina lay in bed, she read part of the book by her lantern's light and sipped on some tea. Ugh, it was so long! It was almost like reading a novel except…boring. She'd received her full uniform - it was neatly folded and placed near her bed. She was to report for duty early in the morning on the Fifth Division training grounds, wherever that was. Nina put the book down and put out the light. If she were to make a good impression on her first day, she'd need to get a good night's sleep!