[centre][b]Shin'ō Academy[/b]
"So then it's a deal?" Asked captain Akihiko shooting the doubtful lieutenant a toothy grin. However, he only looked over at the young Tomoko in time to see her ducking away from the incoming student, flung in their direction, or rather Akihiko's direction, by the head captain. He had just enough time to get out a befuddled; "Wha-?" before the young trainee crashed into his lap, promptly knocking him off the pink haired student and onto the ground a couple feet away. "Ugh...I guess she noticed me." Muttered Akihiko, propping himself up and rubbing his head. Having her fall broken by a captain, of all people, made the young student rather flustered. "C-captain Igarashi?!" She quickly leaped from the 5th squad captains lap and bowed several times. "I'm s-sorry captain!" Cried the blushing student before she hastily dashed off. Had the student been more experienced, he might have left her to land on her own. But other then the risk of a broken vase, it was of little consequence to be a safety net for a fellow soul reaper. 

Pulling himself to his feet, made slightly difficult by his strange elongated clogs, Akihiko absently checked the small vase that dangled off a ribbon at his side just beneath his haori. "Whew..." A sigh of relief was followed by a grunt and a raised eyebrow as Akihiko waved a finger at Kotohime. "You know, there wont be any sake to save when you smash my container with your flying girl attack." Unsure if Kotohime was even still paying attention to him, Akihiko continued to observe, keeping his wits about him in case another student or object came hurtling his way. Mean while a pair of students lied on the floor, clutching their faces from the retaliations of their head captain. Their classmates, the last two of the remaining challengers, exchanged discouraged looks as they watched their comrades fall. Had they been any closer, they too would have been swept onto the ground. 

With little confidence left, the students backed away. Having seen the acrobatics and power of their commander, even while holding back, the thought of landing a hit grew further and further from their minds. Also, neither were too eager to suffer the same fate of their classmates. Rubbing a hand down his face, the class instructor could only think of how unfortunate his luck was, having to watch his novice students take a pounding in front of captains and lieutenants. He was already disappointed only 5 students stepped up. But for them to do so badly even in their first week was almost unbearable to watch. Still, not much could be expected from such a nubile bunch. An equally bitter expression managed it's way onto Captain Igarashi's face, reaching for a small pouch of coins from the baggy sleeve of his coat. "I should have bet on one minute."

Suddenly, the blur of a black figure appeared, kneeling next to Kotohime. It was a member of squad 1 flash stepping in. "Head Captain Minamoto! Please forgive me for this interruption. I have important information of private nature pertaining to the Rukon District." Declared the soul reaper. "Hmm? I wonder what that's about?" Curiously asked Akihiko, scratching the stubble of his chin as he noticed the arrival of the head captain's subordinate. Pulling back from his sleeve, shot a shifty look toward Tomoko. "Whelp the battles been stopped...I guess the bets off."
 
[b]Mashiba Warehouse[/b]
A vein popped on Junko's head as Angelo joked around, descending from his section of the warehouse. "Yeah right! I don't hear any complaints when your stomach is full, so deal with it!" Lopping off the head of a onion, she continued. "And you couldn't take me out anyway with that bit of chicken scratch you make." She laughed mockingly, sweeping the onion slices into a skillet. The sizzling sounds of frying beef and bubbling of stewing miso filled the warehouse as Junko prepared dinner. A pot of boiling udon billowed steam into the air as it's lid was removed. It didn't take long for the aroma of delicious food wafted through the 'kitchen' and into the warehouse. Even Ezekiel couldn't help but be overcame by the scent as he hungrily stared at the stove top, anticipating the meal to come. Though he didn't dare go near the food for fear of Junko's wrath. Instead, he absently stirred a pitcher of ice tea. 
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