Yuki was just a little girl when she was found in her village, alone and the sole survivor of a Hollow attack. She stood in the centre of icy carnage, bodies everywhere, tears running down her cheeks, crying out into the emptiness as the snow began to fall.
-O-
"Retsu, where are you going?"
Captain Retsu Unohana stopped and turned to look at her friend and fellow Captain, Jushiro Ukitake. "Head Captain has sensed a strong exertion of spiritual pressure in the southern part of district 43. He asked me to investigate it."
"Would you like the company? It could be a new recruit for the Academy and you know we need more."
"Of course, Jushiro. I'd welcome your company."
Jushiro smiled and followed Retsu off to district 43, neither of them prepared for what they would see next.
-O-
The sound of the village ahead was eerily quiet, the buildings covered in shards of ice. Even the snow falling from the sky could not produce something like that. Retsu and Jushiro looked at each other, then proceeded with caution into the village. They saw the hundreds of bloodied bodies, all signs of a Hollow attack there, and only stopped when they heard crying. Retsu let her motherly instincts take over and motioned for Jushiro to follow her. She searched for the source of the crying and found a little girl, no more than two years old, standing at the epicenter of the ice. She was covered in blood and dirt, tears free flowing down her cheeks.
"Oh, you poor thing..." Retsu approached the little girl cautiously. "Are you alright, sweetie?"
The little girl looked up, her eyes fearful. "Go away!" she said, stumbling back in fear and ice sprouted from where she stood.
The ice barely missed the two captains as they flash stepped out of the way. They knew this was the spiritual pressure Head Captain Genryusai Yamamoto sensed early and knew that this little girl needed training. But they had to get to her first, had to calm her down and make sure she was alright.
Retsu landed softly in front of the little girl and looked at her. "Sweetie, I am sorry. I did not mean to frighten you." she said, soothingly. "Are you the one that made the bad monsters go away?"
The little girl, who had been crouched down and crying into her arms as they wrapped around her knees, looked up at her and nodded. "M-monsters k-killed e-everyone... Yu-ki is all a-alone..." she sniffled. She looked at the woman before her, sensing something motherly about her.
Retsu opened her arms and offered the girl a hug. "Do you trust me?"
The little girl nodded and cautiously went to Retsu, letting her arms encircle her and pull her into a hug.
"That's a good girl." Retsu said, petting her head and smoothing back her black hair. "Now, can you tell me you name sweetie?"
"Yuki." the little girl said, feeling calm now in Retsu's arms.
"Hello, Yuki. You have a beautiful name. My name is Retsu Unohana."
Yuki looked up at the captain. "Ret-su Uno-ha-na?" she asked, sounding out her name.
"Very good." Retsu smiled and praised her.
Yuki smiled at that, then noticed the other person with Retsu. "Who's that?"
Retsu looked over at Jushiro. "He's a friend of mine."
Jushiro looked at the little girl and smiled. "Why hello, little one. I am Jushiro Ukitake."
"Ju-shi-ro U-ki-ta-ke?" Yuki asked, sounding out his name.
Jushiro nodded and patted her head. "Very good. You are quite the smart little girl for one so young. How old are you?"
Yuki looked down at her hand and counted to two. She lifted her hand and showed Jushiro, a big smile on her face. "This many!"
Jushiro laughed at that and patted her on the head. "You're remarkable for so young. And adorable, too."
Yuki smiled, feeling safe with the two captains. She looked at Retsu, her face suddenly serious. "Retsu, can I go with you?"
Retsu and Jushiro exchanged looks before she answered. "Of course, sweetie, but what of your parents?"
Yuki shook her head. "I don't remember. I'm always alone now. 'Cept for Hyoko. Hyoko keeps me safe. She helped make the ice!"
Retsu felt her heart melt. She had always wanted a daughter and perhaps now would be her chance. "Would you like to come stay with me so we can get you looked over? I want to make sure the monsters didn't hurt you. I can fix up that scratch on your cheek, too. Will that be alright?"
Yuki smiled and nodded. "Yes!"
Retsu smiled and stood, clutching Yuki in her arms. "Then let's go home."
-O-
"I assume you have your report ready, Captain Unohana?"
"Of course, Head Captain."
"Then proceed."
"When Captain Ukitake and I reached the village in the southern 43rd district, we came upon a horrifying sight. It was a slaughter. Hollows had attacked the village and killed everyone. Save one." Retsu started. "The spiritual pressure you sensed, Head Captain, was that of a little girl, only two years old, who had unleashed her spiritual pressure in fear as the Hollows attacked. She killed every single Hollow in the village with blasts of ice."
"You have proof of this?"
"We found her at the epicentre of the blast, sir." Jushiro interjected. "When we arrived, she was the only one to be found alive. Her spiritual pressure saved her life and when we first tried to approach her, she was still fearful and caught by surprise as more ice sprouted from where she stood. I would not have believed that someone so young could have that much spiritual pressure, that much power, but she is quite the remarkable child and shows great potential. She will need to be trained, of course, but in time, I do believe she would make an excellent candidate for Shino Academy."
"Indeed." Retsu said, agreeing with him. Looking to the Head Captain, she continued. "Head Captain, I have made a few decisions on the child's behalf for her safety and well-being."
The door to the meeting hall opened and Isane Kotetsu- Retsu's lieutenant- entered inside. "Oh, please forgive me for my tardiness. Captain, I'm sorry, I tried to keep her in the room, but she ran off and came here."
To everyone's surprise, a little girl with long black hair bearing a single silvery-blue streak came running into the room and straight to Retsu.
"Momma!"
"Momma?" everyone said in surprise.
"Please forgive me, Head Captain." Retsu said, looking at the old man. "Yuki is an orphan. She has no memories of family or of anyone, only of being alone. We cannot determine how long she has been alone, but it looks as though she was fending for herself and has managed to survive this long on her own. I have made the decision to adopt her as my own and raise her. She does indeed show great promise, but she needs a teacher and needs someone to help her grow to her full potential. I will take the responsibility in doing so."
"Child, step forward."
Yuki looked at the Head Captain. She sensed a great power coming from him, but felt as if she recognized him from somewhere. She took a few steps forward and bowed to him.
"You show great respect for one so young." Yamamoto noted, surprised by this child's respect.
Yuki looked up and smiled at him. "Hyoko taught me! She said that when you see an old person, you show respect. You seem really strong, too, mister, and Hyoko said that when someone shows great power and strength, you bow to them too."
Everyone in the room stood there staring at Yuki. She was so little, so young, so adorable, and yet she seemed smarter and wiser than one her age would be. Then, out of nowhere, the ringing of laughter began to echo through the hall. Everyone looked at the Head Captain as he laughed and stood, walking to Yuki.
"My, my, you are quite the remarkable young girl indeed." Yamamoto said. "What is your name, girl?"
"I am Yuki U-Unohana! Who are you, mister?"
"I am Head Captain Genryusai Yamamoto."
"So you're a captain like Momma?"
Yamamoto nodded and chuckled. "Yes, Yuki, I am. I wonder, who is this Hyoko person you spoke of?"
"Oh, Hyoko is my friend. She is a giant white and blue tiger and she teaches me about ice and how to control it! She helps keep me safe and talks to me when I'm lonely!"
Jushiro looked at his friend, Shunsui Kyoraku- Captain of squad 8- as he said, "Sounds like she's already met her zanpakuto."
"But she is so young!" Jushiro said, looking back at the little girl. "When I asked how old she was, she said she was only two."
"Really? Well, now, that's something you don't see everyday."
Yamamoto chuckled. "I see. Well, then it's a good thing Hyoko has taken such good care of you. Now, why don't you run along and be a good girl for your mother, hmm?"
Yuki smiled and nodded. "Ok!"
"Captain Unohana, I give you my blessing with this child. She is remarkable and shows incredible potential. I wish you the best of luck in raising her and training her until she is ready to attend Shino Academy."
"Thank you, Head Captain." Retsu said, bowing. "If you will excuse me, I best get her home then."
"Momma, are we going home?"
"Yes, sweetie, we are."
"Is Isane coming too?"
"Yes, sweetie, she is. Now come along."
Yuki grabbed her mother's hand and followed her out of the meeting hall.
When the door closed once more, everyone looked at the Head Captain.
"I never thought I'd see the day that someone would make you laugh, Head Captain." Shunsui said. "That being said, if this Hyoko is her zanpakuto's spirit, then she needs to begin her training immediately."
"Agreed. Captain Kurotsuchi, please craft Yuki a limiter. She has a vast amount of spiritual pressure well inside of her and though she seems to have been able to control it thus far with the aid of this Hyoko, I fear she may hurt herself if it gets out of control. She show the potential to reaching heights I've never seen in one so young."
"Of course."
"Now, unless there is anything else, you are all dismissed. I do expect each and everyone of you to help Captain Unohana raised this child. She will need all the help she can get."