Author's Note - Next Chapter up! Enjoy! Please R&R as usual. You only make me better.

Chapter 2 - Taichou Mine

Hitsugaya-Taichou… Nagayama Kaori had seen him before, several times, but always from a distance. There had been days, when she was still in Shinigami training that a few of the Taichou from the 13 Gotei had come to visit the classes. "Scouting for potential", She had been told. There had been plenty of chatter among the recruits as the Taichou had come by. She remembered a few of them. Kuchiki Byakuya, silent and serious Taichou of Squad Ten; Zaraki Kenpachi, fierce and often brutal Taichou of Squad Eleven, then came… Kaori stopped as her eyes fell on him.

"Hitsugaya-Taichou"

"Nani?" She heard herself say, her eyes never leaving the short, impossibly young looking Taichou.

"That's Hitsugaya Toushiro, Taichou of Squad Nine." The recruit to her right told her, pointing to the diminutive Taichou. The recruit's voice dropped to a whisper. "What a joke huh? A kid in charge of a whole Squad."

Kaori shot the recruit a withering glare, silencing him at once. She knew what it was like to be small, to be underestimated. She scowled as she looked back to the passing Taichou. He was short indeed, but so what? His frame was powerful, with lean muscles showing at his forearms and chest. Short spiked hair the color of new fallen snow blew gently in the passing breeze, and his intent turquoise eyes sparkled with intelligence. His gaze swept the crowd of recruits and for a moment settled on Kaori. Her breath caught as she felt the weight of his Reiatsu. It was like a warm yet suffocating blanket had been draped over her and she almost had to struggle to take a breath. Hitsugaya seemed to sense her discomfort and withdrew his gaze, sweeping on to observe the other recruits. Kaori drew a breath then, amazed, and inspired. If he can become a Taichou among the Shinigami, then surely I too can rise to such power

Kaori smiled again at that. It had been a few years ago now, that encounter. Now she was out of training, and to her delight she had been assigned to Squad Nine. She had seen Hitsugaya-Taichou this very afternoon. He looked the same as when she had last seen him, but this time, she was stronger. She had knelt before him, greeting him formally, and he had acknowledged her , requesting for her to rise. Kaori lifted her head bringing her silvery eyes to meet his turquoise gaze and again she felt the power of his Reiatsu, only this time she could bear it. It was warm, as before, but no longer unbearably heavy, this time it felt like something tangible that she could wrap herself in for comfort or warmth on a chilly night. She had smiled then, a slight smirk as she gave him a bow and left to go find her new quarters in the Squad Nine barracks. Yes, She thought to herself, I have already become more powerful. Here, under his command, I can only grow stronger.

She smiled up at the night sky, watching the stars winking in and out behind the slowly drifting clouds. Tomorrow, my real training can begin.

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Author's Note - Little bit of Japanese translation for those who don't know.

Nani - What