I *totally* guessed it was Yoruichi and Kisuke at the end of last chapter and I feel completely validated. Muahahahaha.

Love this story and your version of their bankai. Shunsui’s mom rocks!

Knowing I’m years late in reading this:
Thank you So Much for all of your time, energy, research, effort (probably other things I’m missing.)

Gee, where to start? This story is incredible in how well you both preserve and expand on canon, so many OCs but none of relevance fall flat at all. Not to mention the character and relationship development throughought is subtle and heavy in all the right places. There’s a great balance of both plot and characters driving narrative, lots of entertainment and humor making it fun to read while your audience has plenty of bigger picture and palpable feels.

Like the moments of intimacy and tenderness and watching Shunsui slowly grow into less of an emotional twit, it feels both realistic but also never boring. Your outtakes on AFF are wonder relationship development and addition to this story.

I know I can’t put all of my thoughts and feelings and gratitude into one review but I hope you know what we’ll crafted writing you have and that your creative muses forever flow.

This was everything I never knew I needed but am so so grateful to you for writing it. Thank you for allowing me the privilege of reading this beautiful masterpiece. I’ve always loved Jushiro. And Shunsui has been my fave too. Their bond has been something I’ve loved so much in the canon storyline. To have this beautiful backstory and how they are each other’s soul mates is just amazing. Thank you for this! You’re an amazing writer. I loved the tactics team too. I cried for Kaoru when I thought Kali was dead. I love how it all came together. And appearances by baby Kisuke and Yoruichi was just so cute and amazing too! Ahhhh I love this story. I read non-stop (except when I had to sleep) and now I’m wondering how I’ll ever read another story again without feeling like I’m missing out or something.

Aw. Jushiro’s new year wish facing the rising sun. That made tears spring to my eyes :’)

I just want to let you know that I appreciate the amount of research and thought you put into this fic to make it oh so real and fully fleshed our in our minds. I loved the exercise between the team mates in this chapter. It fleshed our the characters through the eyes of the others, giving such insight. I gotta say I’m already attached to this group of students. I feel they’ll end up forming the first of the Gotei 13. The formal one.

Shunsui randomly spouting poetry about Juushiro being lily white and pure all wrapped around a will of steel while they’re secretly planning a rescue mission is everything I needed ever. So perfectly in character that moment was. I’m falling in love with how much they’re falling for each other. Ugh. Reading this fic is destroying me because I know shunsui would be completely destroyed in the end of the last arc and be forced to live on a long life as the head captain without his soul mate. Oh god.

I’m only on the 3rd chapter and I’m already crying. Omg. Shunsui weighed down this way and crying breaks my heart. You write sooooo well?!

Wow okay. Sorry I didn't get to this sooner. However this was perfect. Such a sweet chapter and you've really wrapped up the emotional parts of the story with the boys opening up to each other in more than one way. The idea of them sharing a inner world is really incredible...I've seen it done in a few stories and it's usually an overpowering focal point...here you've just slyly slipped it in and it turned out quite beautiful both in its overall appearance but also it what it facilitates between Juu and Shun. Truly loved the way you wrapped this up for the guys...Absolutely Wonderful!

And Bang the boys got everything they wanted! And you really took to the idea of "keep your friends close, and your enemies closer". I was not expecting that twist at all however it was a good one and an appropriate way to do it...though I would have been content to see those two die.

I also was not expecting that hollow troupe to have been lead by Baraggan...completely caught off guard there. It is a very good idea though since we know from canon he was kinda like king in hueco mundo before Aizen rolled in.

Overall this was done fantastically, though I wasn't expecting the proceedings of that final meeting to go so quickly and smoothly, and I loved where you left it. I am looking forward to reading the postlude however for the story itself it was fantastic. Your writing is very smooth and made visualizing this story quite enjoyable. Thanks so much for the awesome read!

Shihouin Itsuki is an interesting character. I like him. He might be noble but he can also be made to actually listen to those 'below' him. He respects the opinion of the academy students and clearly is taking Juu's words at point value and considering them. He's a good role model for Yoruichi :)

Seems Juu and Shun and the rest of the tactics group really are a big catalyst for the forming of the Gotei. That's really cool. Looking forward to the rest!

Okay...so ya I read a lot last night. It was just too good to stop to review. They finally have Shikai! Atta boys! And of course they did it at the exact same time. It was the perfect way to grant it to them though...they were done for if not for that change.

And it seems everyone in the group is on the same page about who did it. Now they just need to figure out how to deal with them...would have been so much nicer if some hollows killed them instead on their way back to Shiba manor. Now they have to figure things out the hard way. However thankfully the boys won over their little spy (who's romance by the way is adorable) and have got someone to help them out. I'm surprised Yama went down but I know he'll be fine so Im looking forward to the conclusion of this mess that Ren and HInata put everyone in.

These last few chapters were wonderful gems. Filled with suspense, action, good battle tactics and well written fights. This has been awesome and Im off for the last couple chapters.

Haha the deceiving old man can kick butt. It was a good teaching opportunity for the group though and it seems Shunsui and Juu picked something up from it. I imagine it will come in handy during their assignments. It also seems that the old man was right about things brewing with the nobles...looks like we are finally going to see some moves made against the academy and maybe even Yamamoto himself (though people would be crazy to attempt that).

Looking forward to what changes this brings. (That maid I can guarantee is the fortune teller/spy...Juu outta trust that intuition a little more)

Well that was a well balanced chapter. We started off with some good natured fun with the kids (nice to see Tessai in the mix) and then Daisuke kicking butt as expected...and it turned into a lesson of sorts about a fight for pride. Good way to incorporate that difference.

The new years celebrations for Juu and Shun was quite cute. They are such a perfect pair and no matter how much of a silly guy Shunsui likes to act like he's got a golden heart buried within.

Now that was sweet...seems Shunsui is opening up even more with Juu. I'm glad. A nice a slow development between these two it seems.