Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ Tests ❯ Chapter 1

Tests

By: eternalsailorsolarwind AKA youkai_girl

 

Disclaimer: Bleach and all of its characters are owned by Tite Kubo, his Japanese publishers, and Viz. I only play with them for grins and giggles.

 

A/N: Written for the Week# 57 prompt on bleach_contest: Someday. This short piece is a return to the “Ishida in the Afterlife” semi-series, and takes place after the previous “chapter,” End of Term. Now that he's in the Sixth Division, Ishida has been given an unpleasant task, which is actually a test.

 

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The errand he was given irritated Ishida. Not because he thought that running an urgent report to the Thirteenth Division was beneath his newly-seated dignity. Far from it. Now that he was actually in the Court Guard Squads, he was looking to advance in the ranks. He suspected that Kuchiki-taichou had engineered this little task as a test. Gauging to see whether he'd turn it down or accept it. The option to defer it to an unseated Soul Reaper had been left open.

 

Ishida Uryuu always passed his tests with flying colors.

 

“I knew this would happen someday,” he muttered as he briskly made his way to the Thirteenth Division's headquarters. This wasn't going to be a pleasant assignment. “I'd hoped I could put it off for awhile. Like maybe a decade or two.”

 

Arriving, he asked to speak to the fukutaichou, explaining that he was there to deliver reports for his eyes only. The functionary slipped into the lieutenant's office to announce his presence, and returned a moment later, asking him to wait. Forcing a smile, Ishida nodded in agreement. He was unsurprised at having to cool his heels. It seems everyone wanted to test him today.

 

Five minutes became ten, and then stretched into fifteen. A full half hour passed before he was finally ushered into the office. Bowing formally to the superior officer, he held it until the other man released him. Eyes the color of frozen water watched him; perfect for a man with no warmth in his soul.

 

“Hello, Ryuuken.”