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xxxxxThe Captain of the Third Division has been promoted to the Zero Division. Head-Captain Tsurī Niwa was proud and happy for the man. However that left the Head-Captain with a problem. There is currently no Captain for the Long-Range Weapon Division.

xxxxxThere are a few candidates that meet the singular requirement of having a Ban Kai. Saito Kinabachi is a strong man with a fire whip Zanpakutō and a range of 200 meters. Kinabachi has a tendency to be silent but, he inspires confidence and is a natural leader. Yolanda Garcia’s Zanpakutō transforms into wind daggers that have a 150 meter range. Garcia is loud and mean but, she gets results. Then there is the previous Captain’s suggestion; Jack Mallory.

xxxxxHead-Captain Niwa is not quite sure about suggestion. Jack Mallory does have a Ban Kai and, her ice and blood bow Zanpakutō has a range of 194 meters. Head-Captain Niwa has a problem with the Third Seat’s personality.

xxxxxMallory has only been part of the Gotei 13 for about 75. years. Already she has gain a reputation for sadism in battle. She does not deliver death blows. Mallory rather make her enemies bleed to death. Mallory is gaining a name; the Archer of Death.

xxxxxThe Third seat is cheerful enough. However Mallory seems more concerned with getting laid than doing her job. She flirts with anyone who breathes and, sleeps with anyone willing. Head-Captain Niwa is not sure he has ever seen her frown.

xxxxxBut the pervious Captain of Division Three told Head-Captain Niwa, ”You should make Miss Mallory my replacement. It would be good for the Gotei 13 to have a Captain who still remembers how to live.” Then he paused before continuing, ”More importantly it would be good for her. She needs to feel like she belongs.”

xxxxxThat intrigued Head-Captain Niwa so despite his misgivings he is administering the Captain’s Test to Third Seat Mallory. The previous Captain seemed to think that there was more to Mallory than the sadistic flirt that everyone saw. Who knows? Maybe Head-Captain Niwa will figure out why.

xxxxxThe truth is there is more to Jack Mallory than anyone is allowed to know. Jack doesn’t talk about her past for a very good reason; an extremely good reason. She’s received the notification that she will be taking the Captain’s test. To say that she is anxious is an understatement. Jack is terrified and, she doesn’t know why. Perhaps it is the Head-Captain’s silent but, kind demeanor. She has known men like that before; she has known monsters in human guise like that before.

xxxxxHowever despite her instincts telling her to run Jack is staying to take the Test. The previous Captain of Division Three told her that she didn’t need to be afraid. Jack had a sneaking suspicion that the Captain knew more about her than she wanted him to. Jack was struggling to learn to trust. That’s why she was taking the Captain’s Test.

xxxxxWhether or not Jack Mallory passes the Captain’s Test the results should be … Interesting.

Rules:

1. This is a character development between Jack Mallory and Tsurī Niwa. You are free to read/watch but no posting.
2. This will probably morph into combat at some point. Since this is a Captain’s Test there is no Combat Limit. However let’s not kill of permanently injure anybody.
3. Constructive criticism is welcome. Being mean is not.
4. Let the other party know if there will be a break in posting longer than 48 hours. Please and thank you.
5. HAVE FUN! If you aren’t having fun there is no point and, we can call it off.

“I am so late!”

Third Seat Jack Mallory was running through the Seireitei half dressed. She was wearing her pants, socks and, tank top. She was lacking her sandals and her jacket. Her jacket was currently clutched under her arm as she dashed forward in a strange hobble as she forced her sandals on to her feet.

Finally the shoes had been shoved on her feet. Jack placed her sheathed Zanpakutō between her teeth as she speed up. She gave her jacket a snap before whipping it around to slide her arms into the sleeves. Jack quickly tied the jacket on before slipping her Zanpakutō on to her back. The strap holding her Zanpakutō cut a diagonal line across her chest.

Jack hurried tied her hair back into twin pigtails as she considered where she was going and why she was late. She had woken up this morning with plenty of time. In fact Jack had more than enough time to spend an hour at the archery range and take a 30 minute shower to clean up before heading out. Jack had only spent 50 minutes at the range but, she had lost track of time in the shower. She had emerged from the bathroom 50 minutes after she had gone in. Jack had taken just enough time to pull on her undergarments and pants before grabbing the rest of her stuff and heading to her destination.

Jack finished her pigtails, “Damnit! I hope it hasn’t started!”

Jack was headed to the Zaraki Distract of the Rukongai. She was one of the participants in the Captain’s Test for Division Three. Jack wasn’t sure why she had been invited to take the Test. She knew that the previous Captain had recommended her but, she hadn’t honestly thought that Head-Captain Niwa would invite her. Jack was not Captain material and, she wasn’t the only one who thought so.

Yes she had a Ban Kai but, that was it. Jack hadn’t even mastered it yet. Besides that Jack had no qualifications to be a Captain. Yes she got her paperwork done but, for the most part Jack was more concerned with getting laid. Jack was; was there a word for slut with positive connotations. Jack didn’t think so.

Once Jack exited the Seireitei she started to use Shunpo to flash to her destination. She should have been there ten minutes ago. Not that Jack wanted to take the Test. She was well aware that there were others more qualified than her. Her only real qualifications were in the bedroom and, they didn’t make people Captains for that. The only reason Jack was taking the test was because the previous Captain had asked her to.

Jack saw the group that had gathered to take the Captain’s test. Jack landed slightly apart from them; It didn’t look like it had started yet. Jack took a moment to regain her breathe before putting on her most charming smile.

Jack didn’t enter the group with any dramatics. If she was lucky the Head-Captain wouldn’t notice her tardiness.

Jack responded to the Head-Captain’s scolding with a flip of her hand and a cheerful quip, “Then it looks like I’m just time!”

Jack listened to Head-Captain Niwa. So they candidates had to survive with the Head-Captain hunting them down. Jack didn’t have a problem with that. She wasn’t too fond of the location.

Once upon a time Jack had lived here. Jack wasn’t sure how long it had been. She thought it might have been five years. She spent a great deal of time recovering from various addictions. There was a least six months of Jack’s memories that were a hazy blur. Jack was surprised she was still alive. Withdrawal should have killed her. Since that didn’t kill her someone should have. Maybe she had been too pathetic to kill and, she avoided fights back then.

Jack breathed in before coming to a decision. She readjusted the strap holding her Zanpakutō. Then she raced into the forest. She swiftly kissed the Head-Captain’s cheek.

Jack paused at the edge of the forest and turned back to wave at both the Head-Captain and the other candidates, “So all we have to do is survive right? Should be easy!”

Then Jack turned and continued running. The deeper she got into the forest the more strained her smile became. Then her lips twisted into a wry grin. It was symbolic in a way. The deeper she went into the forest the deeper she went into her memories.

A voice spoke from the back of Jack’s mind, “Will you be alright?”

Jack answered honestly, “I don’t know. I do know that this Shinigami uniform makes me stand out like a beacon. If Head-Captain Niwa doesn’t find me a Rukon resident will.”

Chimamire no Yuki asked, “Do you have a plan to hide?”

Jack smiled a tight smile, “One of my old hordes should be around here somewhere. Hopefully there will clothes there.”

The Zanpakutō fell silent. Jack almost passed the tree that marked the location of her horde. Jack quickly turned over the rock that guarded the cache. The food had disappeared but there was a shirt and a pair of leggings.

Jack quickly peeled off her uniform and pulled on the black leggings and, the pink shirt. It was more like a tunic and fell to her mid-thighs. Jack took the strap for her Zanpakutō and, used as a belt. It was odd to have Chimamire no Yuki attached to the back of her waist instead of between her shoulder blades.

Jack pulled of her footwear before heading towards the center of the forest. She couldn’t stay still for too long. If she did Head-Captain Niwa would find her.

Jack wasn’t quite running though the forest. It was more of a casual jog. With practice ease she leapt over fallen logs and small ponds. It was amazing how fast her old instincts had started to come back. She did have to resist the urge to scale a tree and, leap from branch to branch; Head-Captain Niwa would look for her there first.

Then Jack heard a creaking noise. She paused for a moment to consider where the sound was coming from. As she slowly moved to look behind here she tightly gripped the hilt of Chimamire no Yuki.

Jack felt her eyes go wide as she spoke softly, “Oh! I did not see that coming at all.”

Then she turned and was off like a newly released arrow. The forest was growing at an accelerated pace. It was probably the Head-Captain’s Zanpakuto. It might not have been but, Jack was willing to bet that it was.

She had to get out of the forest before the growth caught up to her. However it didn’t look like she would reach the edge in time. Jack cursed as she relented and used Shunpo. She continued to moving in the direction she was going but, she added an upward movement. Whether forward or upwards she needed to leave the forest.

Jack snapped out of the tree line and, it felt to her like she was just in time. She didn’t pause to figure out if she was right. She simply created an Air Walk platform. She pushed off of it and hurried away from the danger that was Head-Captain Niwa. Though the odds were that she stuck out like a single daisy in a field of grass.

Jack wanted to get down and hide again. She wished she understood why this test was important to her. Jack didn’t even want to be a Captain; she was happy where she was. Maybe she should just let herself be caught.

Jack let out a yelp as she felt a vine wrap around one of her ankles. She drew her Zanpakuto and, sliced at it. Jack managed to break free but, she had lost her balance. Jack struggled to regain it as she tumbled back down into the forest. At last she managed to reestablish one of her Air Walk platforms.

Jack decided to try a new strategy, “Stain it red, Chimamire no Yuki!”

Jack stayed put as she desperately scanned the forest. She would shoot any more vines before they reached her. Occasionally Jack looked in the direction of Head-Captain Niwa. It wouldn’t do if he snuck up on her.

“Seriously,” Jack thought. “Why is this so important to me?”