"Hitsugaya Yukiko...you are here today from the accusation of colluding with the traitor captains: Aizen Sosuke, Ichimaru Gin, and Tosen Kaname." The commander-captain's voice echoes throughout the Hall. He pauses for a second, "Since there was no proven evidence that you had anything to do with their betrayal, you will be returned to Soi-Fon's squad."
The handcuffs fell to the floor with a clatter. You rub your wrists before bowing deeply and replying, "Thank you very much sir." As everyone leaves Sotaichou calls Byakuya to a halt.
"Kuchiki-taichou, I want you to watch Yukiko. Make sure that she isn't doing anything suspicious."
The stony-faced man bows and mutters a quick, "Yes sir," before leaving as well.
Later that night you take a walk through Sereitei. The crisp night air feels good against you. However, while moving through Sereitei, you felt another presence. Someone was following you. You made a sudden stop, and change directions using shunpo. Whoever it was, wasn't going to catch you that easily. As you were about to take another step, the stalker attacks. The sound of swords clashing rang through the still night. You are push backwards from the force of the blow. Since the attacker was hidden in the shadows, you make a counter attack.
The assailant made no attempt to block. Out from the shadows came 6th squad captain. You are to far in the attack that you can't stop completely. Somehow, you manage to stop mid-swing, just barely cutting the sixth division captain.
"Kuchiki-taichou! I'm so so sorry!" You gasp, quickly bending at the waist, in a bow.
"You shouldn't be so reckless," he says calmly.
"Excuse me, Taichou," you whisper, still facing the ground. You raise your eyes and notice blood seeping through his hakama and captain's haori. "Taichou...are you ok?"
"I'm fine."
Cautiously, you arose. Byakuya has a blank expression, but you can see the blood clear as day. "Kuchiki-taichou!" Apparently the cut you had caused was not so shallow after all. Quickly, you tear off a piece of cloth from the sleeve of your hakama.
"What are you doing?" Byakuya questions.
"I have to stop the bleeding," you reply.
"It will stop on its own."
"Not until you've passed out from blood loss!"
There was a long silence before you whisper, "Please Kuchiki-taichou..."
Reluctantly, Byakuya begins to take off the top half of his hakama. You star at his body for a split second, soaking in his features. To your astonishment, Byakuya was fairly muscular; you had always thought he was skimpy. The captain seems to notice your gawking, and makes a small cough to regain your attention. You start blushing like mad, and were suddenly grateful for the dark shadows. There is an awkward silence as you bandage up Byakuya's wound. "There done," you say, breaking the silence. Byakuya replies, "Learn to control your sword." Before you knew what happened, Byakuya uses shunpo and disappears from sight. You try to push all thoughts out of your head, and continue on your stroll.
You wake up late the next morning. You pull on a hakama and race over to Soi Fon's office. She was going to kill you, if you were any later. You stare at the torn sleeve. Swiftly, you pull both sleeves completely off, turning the top half of the shinigami uniform into a tank top.
"You're late," Soi Fon mutters.
"Yes, I apologize Taichou..." you breathe, kneeling on the floor in front Soi Fon's desk.
"Hmph. Anyway, I have no choice but to demote you to fifth seat." Anger flares up inside you, but you kept a calm face. "However there is this one way you can move up in rank..."
You knew Soi Fon was up to something. "I'm listening..." you say curiously.
A smirk spreads across the captain's face. "There's an exam for any shinigami wanting to become the 9th division captain."
"Are you insane! I almost had a death sentence and you want me to try and become 9th division taichou!" you exclaim, trying not to raise your voice at your captain.
"Don't worry, I've already asked Sotaichou and he said that he would consider your placement depending on your skills, and I believe you are well ready to become a captain," replies Soi Fon.
After a short silence, Soi Fon suddenly attacks with her fist. You shift your head a little, letting the punch whiz by your head. "There's no reason why you can't go," she says.
"Fine, I'll consider it. No promises though!" you get up to leave.
"The trial is in exactly 1 week, at the southern dojo, at exactly 12 noon!" She calls after you.
Soi Fon and Sotaichou approach you 2 weeks later carrying a small package. "What is that...?" you ask. You have a hunch, and adrenaline starts pumping through your body. Soi Fon starts to smile broadly, "Congratulations.... Hitsugaya-taichou." The Commander-Captain gently unwraps the package, and inside was the white haori of a captain. A wave of happiness washes over you. Trembling, you reach out to take the haori, the number 9 gleaming on the back. The fabric felt soft between your fingers and quickly you slip the garment over your regular hakama.
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" you squeal, tears of happiness starting to run down your cheek. You throw your arms around your ex-captain, and bow very deeply to Sotaichou. "Thank you! This is such an honor!" You bow once more, before Sotaichou and Soi Fon disappear.
~Hisagi P.O.V.~
You see Yukiko's white hair just as it disappears into the 9th division's captain's office. "A little scare will teach her to go rummaging through this division's office," you think. You use shunpo to get into the office and are about to scare Yukiko, but notice something different about her. She was wearing a haori...and only a captain wearss a haori...which means that Yukiko -. Before you can finish your train of thought, a sword blade is pressed against your throat. "Too slow," she teases in your ear, making your insides melt. Her voice, her scent, everything about Yukiko makes you melt on the inside. "You'll have to be quicker if you wanna scare me," she adds, before continuing on her quest through the old closets.
"Yuki...are you the 9th squad captain?" You ask curiously.
"Yup, although I'm not sure how...." she replies, reappearing from inside the closet.
"I'm very sorry then, Hitsugaya-taichou!"
Yukiko gives you a quizzical look. "What's with the sudden formalities?" She asks while placing a dusty box on top of the desk.
"It's how you're supposed to address a taichou," You reply meekly.
"Yeah, but we've been friends for how long?"
The word 'friends' stung. Friends, that's right, that'll all you'll be to Yuki. "Still, people would think I was being rude."
"Well then promise me you won't use formalities when it's just you and me, ok?"
"Oh, um sure."
You're P.O.V.
"You wouldn't happen to have-" before you can finish your sentence Hisagi says, "All Tousen's files have been checked, and no I don't have any secret files." Before you could reply a hell butterfly flutters into the room. "Hitsugaya-taichou, please report immediately to Sotaichou."
"Wonder what he wants, I just spoke to him," you mutter. "Hisagi I got to go, would you mind cleaning up? Please and thank you!" You leave quickly; you could tell that something was wrong.