Graduation

Just over a year ago, Rangiku had burst into Isshin's family home with an unconscious and bleeding Rukongai child. Isshin had been wary and distrustful of the boy at first, but he could hardly keep that up when the boy saved his mother from an intruder.

Now that same boy was graduating from the Spiritual Arts Academy.

Isshin had kept a close eye on Toshiro during his time at the Academy, and though the captain knew the boy was intelligent, he had almost choked on his drink when he found out the boy would be graduating in one year's time instead of the normal six. Isshin had definitely choked on his drink when the boy had managed to release his Zanpakuto, which was revealed to be the legendary ice dragon, Hyorinmaru.

Toshiro was something special, that was for sure, if the most powerful ice element spirit had chosen him as his new host Soul.

Isshin knew every squad in the Gotei Thirteen would be after the boy, and in truth, Isshin had always planned to offer him a place at the Tenth but now he knew he was going to have to up his offer.

Thankfully, Isshin had just the place for the kid. Watanabe had just retired anyway.

The day before the graduation ceremony, which all the Shibas and Rangiku would be attending, Isshin entered the Academy gates in search of the little boy from Hitsugaya.

The place always brought back nostalgic memories for Isshin – six years of fun, no responsibility and women, so many women. There was barely any learning going on, that was for sure, but still Isshin managed to graduate into a low seated position at the Tenth.

Eventually the captain found Toshiro out in the gardens, sitting in the shade below a tree.

The boy had four open books around him and two separate piles of paperwork that were weighted down by rocks.

"Exams are done, Kid," Isshin teased when he was close enough. "What are you studying for?"

Toshiro's eyes snapped up to Isshin, and upon seeing him, he broke out in a wide smile. For some reason, that kid smiling at him always made Isshin's heart flutter.

"Captain Shiba," Toshiro grinned, bowing his head a little since he was already down on the ground.

He had only started doing that since starting at the Academy, obviously learning that Isshin was a captain and captains were to be bowed to in respect.

"I am studying for fun," he answered as he straightened back up and continued to grin.

"Of course you are," Isshin murmured dryly, a slight smirk on his face. He now knew that Toshiro was a big (figuratively speaking) nerd. He loved books and he loved learning about anything and everything, he had all his study notes organised perfectly.

If they had been at the Academy together, they wouldn't have been friends.

Fortunately, Isshin had matured over the years and saw now that this kid was going places faster than the captain had.

"Well I thought I'd bring over my offer for you to join the Tenth," Isshin handed Toshiro the envelope, loving the way those teal eyes lit up excitedly. "How many captains have hand delivered offers to you, hm?"

Isshin was being smug, but he hadn't expected Toshiro's response.

"Including you…" Toshiro drawled, his expression thoughtful. "Eight."

"Eight?" Isshin spluttered.

Toshiro nodded before he continued matter-of-factly, "The rest had their lieutenants bring them."

"The rest?" Isshin repeated again in shock.

Toshiro hummed and gestured to the two piles of papers.

"I'm thirteen for thirteen," he shrugged.

Isshin's eyes went so wide they hurt and he was sure his eyeballs were going to fall out of his head. He knew Toshiro would be a popular option for many squads but he had hoped the boy's age might turn some of the captains away. Clearly that was not the case as Isshin stared down at the offers piled together, their corners flicking gently in the breeze.

"Third seat?"

Toshiro's voice pulled Isshin from his shocked stupor.

The captain glanced down at the boy to find teal orbs staring up at him in surprise.

"Tell me I'm the only captain to offer you a position as high as third seat?" Isshin groaned.

"You are," Toshiro assured him, but he looked uncertain. "Third seat is too high for me. It's too high for any graduate."

The captain lowered himself to the grass, the insane curiosity over taking him for a moment as he scooped up one of the two stacks of squad offers and began flicking through them.

"Hey don't mess those up!" Toshiro squawked. "I just sorted them."

"What are the two stacks for?" Isshin asked.

"No and maybe," Toshiro answered.

Isshin frowned, glancing down at the top offer on this pile and then flicking through the ones behind it.

Tenth seat at Squad Four, seventh seat at Squad Seven, sixth seat at Squad Three, eighteenth seat at Squad One, eleventh seat at Squad Two, Fourteenth seat at Squad Twelve-

"Tell me this is the 'no' pile," Isshin frowned down at the last offer.

Toshiro's smirk was wide as Isshin held up Kurotsuchi's offer.

"I'd be a good scientist," the boy defended.

"He's a psychopath, Toshiro," Isshin spat. "You'll be lucky if he doesn't want to cut you open."

Toshiro shrugged, but his grin was playful.

Isshin sighed; he was being wound up - this was the 'no' pile.

"I know all about Squad Twelve's captain," Toshiro explained seriously. "I'm not going there."

Toshiro explained why he rejected the other offers too. He had decided against becoming a healer because Hyorinmaru was combat-based Zanpakuto and he believed he owed it to him to fight after lying dormant for so long. Toshiro rejected the Seventh because he won't trust a man when he can't see his eyes. Isshin nodded, that seemed fair.

Toshiro didn't want to work under Gin Ichimaru, and apparently not just because of the clash of interest of him being Rangiku's boyfriend.

"Don't tell her I said it," Toshiro pouted, "but he's kind of creepy."

"He's very creepy," Isshin agreed with a sigh.

To be fair, Gin seemed alright when he took that stupid grin off his face and had an actual conversation. Isshin supposed that's what Rangiku saw.

"I wasn't too sure about the First and Second Divisions," Toshiro admitted. "They seem like large squads with a lot of opportunities but..."

He trailed off and Isshin never heard what Toshiro had to say about that but he could probably guess enough. As a small kid, Toshiro would be lost easily in the larger divisions, not to mention the suffocating pressure that would be on him if he had Yamamoto looking down on him or the fear of serving Soifon. Squad One had over eight hundred soldiers in it, always a popular choice for recruits who thought it would be the quickest way to climb the hierarchy, and while Squad Two was smaller, Soifon was stretched thin by the Stealth Force too.

Isshin was glad Toshiro had said no to both of them. He was a kid, and he needed a close working relationship with his superiors – he needed that almost parental guidance in his life.

"Well," Isshin sighed, placing the 'no' pile down. "I don't think you should be considering any position below a tenth seat anyway. You're too smart and two powerful."

Toshiro ducked his head and thanked him, but Isshin still saw the slight pink in his cheeks.

Picking up the other stack, the 'maybe' pile, Isshin began flickering through it. He internalised the sigh – there were a number of great offers.

Sixth seat at the Fifth, thirteenth seat at the Sixth, seventh seat at the Eighth, ninth seat at the Ninth, fourth seat at the Eleventh (now that one was a surprise, both the offer and Toshiro considering it), and lastly, eighth seat at the Thirteenth.

Isshin scoffed; even his own brother was going to try steal Toshiro from him.

"Let me help you," Isshin muttered, throwing the offer for the Sixth in the 'no' pile - Toshiro was worth way more than a thirteenth seat – and then the offer for the Eleventh in the same pile.

"Hey!" Toshiro pouted. "That's a good offer!"

"No, I won't allow it," Isshin answered simply, like he actually got a say. "They're all brutes there, they'll kill you."

Toshiro snatched back up the offer from the Eleventh.

"I'll have you know they really like me over there," Toshiro straightened, puffing his chest out a little. "I got excellent combat scores and I can do all their paperwork."

It was a good offer, the next best to Isshin's third seat officer and that's probably why the captain hated it so much.

"There is no loyalty over there," Isshin argued. "They'll kill their own captain to prove themselves."

Toshiro shrugged, "Hyorinmaru loves a fight."

"I bet he does," Isshin sent the Zanpakuto lying on the grass beside Toshiro a pointed look, "but the Eleventh is not the place to use him or train him."

"I'm still considering it," Toshiro decided, placing the offer next to the 'no' pile.

When had Toshiro become such a defiant little kid?

Isshin sighed and returned to the stack in his hands, he tossed away the offers for the Eighth and Ninth.

"Kyoraku is my friend but he's a worse drunk than Rangiku and you shouldn't be around that at your age," Isshin muttered. "The Ninth is a nothing squad, and frankly that Tosen has always weirded me out."

"Because he's blind?" Toshiro smirked.

"Because he won't stop talking about getting justice," Isshin answered sternly. "It's annoying and a little creepy."

Toshiro smirked.

"I suppose he falls under the same rule as Captain Komamura," Toshiro shrugged. "I can't see his eyes so I don't think I can trust him."

That left Isshin holding two offers other than his own – the one for the Fifth and the one for the Thirteenth.

He had no arguments left. Both positions were highly ranked, and both squads had gentle and friendly captains. Isshin didn't personally care for Aizen, as nice as the man was. They had been at the Academy together and Aizen was the nerdy, goody-two-shoes type that Isshin had spent his entire academic career rolling his eyes out. He supposed it stung now, knowing Toshiro was the same type and would get along perfectly with Aizen.

Squad Thirteen was also a brilliant offer, and though an eighth seat position was lower than Toshiro was capable of, it would be under the stewardship of the kindest captain in the Gotei Thirteen. It also had the added benefit of Kaien, who Toshiro was already familiar with.

"Lieutenant Hinamori taught a kido course here last term," Toshiro explained softly. "She was really nice to me, and helped me with my kido which was my worst class at the time."

Isshin frowned, remembering Toshiro's grades – he had ended up scoring in the ninety-ninth percentile across all areas.

Sighing, and deflating a little in defeat, Isshin had to put the two offers back on the 'maybe' pile, no rebuttal coming to mind.

Toshiro added the offer from the Eleventh on top and then Isshin's offer on top of that.

The boy had four squad offers to consider and the Tenth was only one of those.

"I'll let you think on it," the captain murmured quietly as he stood back up. "Just don't pick the Eleventh, okay?"

He didn't want little Toshiro to become a brute like them. He certainly didn't want him to get hurt by his own squad members that might think it okay to pick on an innocent child.

Toshiro's smirk was mischievous.

"We'll see," he drawled.

Cheeky, that kid, terribly cheeky.

Isshin grimaced and made to leave.

He paused though, and glanced back over his shoulder.

"A third seat position is not too high for you," he told the boy. "You are powerful and intelligent, and I know for a fact that you will be able to handle the role, and I will be there to support you every step of the way, Rangiku too."

Toshiro's expression was surprised at first, before it turned pensive.

"I'll see you tomorrow," Isshin told him in farewell, and walked away from the tree.

He felt uneasy that Toshiro might still pick one of the other squads. He didn't like the idea of Toshiro training and serving under another captain. Isshin was the one who had named him, he was the one who had enrolled him and walked him through the Academy gates on his first day. It should have been him to guide Toshiro through his career too.

Alas, he could only hope Toshiro would feel the same when he eventually decided.

…

The next day, Isshin and his family stood waiting in the shade for Toshiro to catch up with them.

"He looked so adorable, didn't he?" Rangiku gushed to Mari.

"I wish he would have let me alter the ceremonial robes for him," Mari murmured. "The poor kid was swamped in fabric."

Toshiro's graduation ceremony had just finished.

The whole thing had been far more civilised than in Isshin's day. The graduating glass was rather large, a hundred or so this year, and they had all sat quiet and patient until they had to stand to receive their certificates.

As top of his class, Toshiro had given the student's address. He was nervous, Isshin could tell, but he did a good job of it.

"Toshiro is far smarter than he lets on," Kaien had commented quietly after the speech. "He ranked over all these students, most of which have done the full six years."

"Yep," Isshin agreed dryly, "and many of them have come from long lines of Soul Reapers. They've grown up surrounded by it."

"And yet they were all beaten by a little boy from Hitsugaya," Kaien finished.

Isshin nodded; either the standards were dropping, or Toshiro was way more intelligent and powerful than he let on, and the captain was betting it was the latter.

Being an early summer day, the sun had beat down rather hot and while Isshin and Rangiku certainly hadn't minded, the rest of the Shibas had been glad when the ceremony finished and they were able to move into the shade.

Toshiro was currently speaking to the Academy's Headmaster, but promised to catch up with them soon.

Isshin shifted his weight nervously; all graduate squad selections had to be in by midnight. So far the Tenth would be welcoming seven new unseated officers, two new nineteenth seats, a seventeenth seat and a fifteenth seat. More than half of the offers the Tenth made had been accepted, but there was only one Isshin truly cared about.

Isshin hoped Toshiro would pick the Tenth of course, but if he didn't Isshin still hoped Toshiro could come to him first. He didn't want to hear from Aizen or even Kaien if Toshiro went with one of the other divisions.

"There's our little graduate," Mari cooed and Isshin looked over to see Toshiro running up to them and straight into Mari's open arms.

For an ice type, he was surprisingly affectionate with the people he was comfortable around.

"You came," Toshiro's voice was muffled by Mari's kimono as she hugged him tightly, but the excitement was clear in his voice.

"We wouldn't have missed it," Kukaku answered with a smirk. "I even put on my good arm."

Toshiro's eye peeked out of Mari's kimono to glance at Kukaku's 'good arm' and he grinned widely when he saw the silver prosthetic she was wearing today.

"That's so cool," Toshiro breathed, leaving Mari's side to come inspect it. "Does it get hot in the sun?"

"Not as much as you'd think," Kukaku laughed, ruffling the boy's hair.

Toshiro made the rounds then, giving each Shiba a quick hug and thanking them for coming while they in turn congratulated him.

Finally it was Isshin's turn, and he realised as he hugged the boy back, that this was the first time they had ever hugged. He remembered once when Toshiro's skin had been so cold, he had rarely reached out to anyone, but it seemed he had now controlled his powers and reined in the chill because the boy hugging Isshin now wasn't cold at all.

"I, um," Isshin cleared his throat as Toshiro pulled back from the hug and he fished a small wrapped package from his pocket. "I have a little graduation gift for you."

"You didn't have to do that," Toshiro gasped, his eyes going comically wide as he was handed the little gift. "I got you a gift!"

"Me?" Isshin frowned. "It's not my graduation."

"No, but," Toshiro inhaled and exhaled sharply. "You got me here. There wouldn't be a graduation if you didn't enroll me and tutor me and-and feed me and-"

Oh. Isshin pulled the boy in for another hug.

Despite Toshiro's beliefs, Isshin hadn't done all that. Mari had fed him. Rangiku had pushed for enrollment. Isshin had tutored him for the entry exam but the kid hadn't really needed it since he was naturally smart.

"It was hard," Toshiro admitted quietly in his hold, "but every time I wanted to quit I thought of you so I stayed and worked harder. I didn't want to let you down. You're the reason I am graduating today."

Isshin felt his heart clench. He knew the boy had made a huge impact on his life, but he hadn't realised how much he had made his own impact in Toshiro's life.

He pulled back from the hug and grinned down at the boy.

"Open your present," he instructed Toshiro, and the boy hesitated a moment before he finally started unwrapping the small package.

He opened it and gasped when he saw the little bronze badge. It had a tiny daffodil in the centre of it – Isshin had it made before he realised he was going to have to fight the other squads from Toshiro's recruitment.

"You can use it to clip your sword sash around you, or you can simply wear it or keep it somewhere safe," Isshin shrugged when those teal eyes glanced up at him. "Even if you don't pick the Tenth, you will still have a little piece of Rangiku and me with you."

Toshiro's lips twitched into a smile and he looked down to pin it to his uniform beneath the ceremonial robe.

"I will wear it everywhere," Toshiro murmured. "Thank you."

Rangiku was beaming happily as she knelt down to straighten the badge on the boy.

"Now I have something for you," Toshiro looked back up at Isshin, producing an envelope from his pocket and handing it to the captain. "I probably shouldn't have called it a gift, but hopefully you will understand my appreciation."

Eyes flickering to the boy for a moment and back to the envelope, Isshin opened it carefully, sliding out the folded up paper.

He opened up the paper and felt a wide grin stretch over his face.

It was Toshiro's signed acceptance for the offer of the third seat position at Squad Ten.

His eyes snapped back to Toshiro and the boy bowed quickly.

"I will serve Squad Ten well, Captain," Toshiro promised him.

Beside them, Rangiku was cheering, doing a little celebratory dance and teasing Kaien who rolled his eyes and muttered about giving it his best shot.

"I know you will," Isshin smiled down at the boy as Toshiro straightened back up.

Toshiro grinned back at him as Ganju, standing the closest to him, clapped him on the back and congratulated him.

Isshin folded back up the acceptance letter and returned it to the envelope before depositing it safely in the inner pocket of his haori.

"I've got to say, Toshiro," Isshin chuckled. "I am so glad you didn't decide to go with the Eleventh or the Fifth."

Toshiro smirked and shrugged.

"It was always the Tenth, Sir," Toshiro admitted cheekily. "I was never going to work for anyone else."

Isshin rolled his eyes and reached down to ruffle Toshiro's hair.

Cheeky as he was, Isshin knew Toshiro was going to be a brilliant third seat at Squad Ten.

…

Which Squad would you want to join and why? Drop a review to let me know!
I'm biased, of course. Ten all the way! (though I have a big weakness for Kyoraku and Nanao too xD)

Heba – I can't reply to guest reviews :( but I'll try do one of those requests (probably the Kaien one as I want to keep this fic set in this time period, though it might just kill me to write the sads). Thanks for your review and I'm glad you're enjoying the story!