Dawn rose from the edge of a mahogany table. A young boy, silver hair and ocean eyes stepped into the orange-stained room. Within a short period of time, he settled into the cushions of the matching mahogany chair. Laying out sheets of paper, he gently took hold of a snow bristled brush. Pushing the fine, condensed tip into a pond of obsidian ink, his hands began to dance along the lines of the fine parchment. Though his physical self seemed to have taken profound concentration on his work, his conscience was elsewhere.
The young prodigy was distraught over the dream last night. It was far too real, too familiar to be looked over. What worried him most was the girl that had saved him. Who was she? Why didn't he remember her before? Nothing but questions flushed through his studious mind.
His trail of thought was disrupted by the shimmer of a violet butterfly, no larger than his palm. Gingerly reaching out to receive the news it had to offer, the butterfly slowly descended to the level of his hand. The voice of the new Captain-Commander, Kyoraku Shunsui resonated in his ear.
"Hitsugaya-taichou, I'm sorry for the short notice, but would you mind coming to my office? I want you to be an examiner for a girl taking a captain's test tomorrow. Before you decline, I must share with you I already asked quite a few captains and they all replied with something like 'I can't fight a little girl'." Hitsugaya's eyes narrowed. Had Kyoraku really just read his mind? A playful voice followed. "So, you really are the last person left. Hope you don't mind!" Toshiro sighed. Leaving him no choice but to go, he quickly scribbled down a note for his vice-captain. Muttering curse words in annoyance, he flash-stepped his way to the first division headquarters.
"Hey! Let me in! You Gotei 13 idiots summon me here to ask me to leave? What a joke!" Blocking the entrance to Seireitei, was a guard taking the appearance of an oversized monkey. His feet were firmly planted into the ground, as if he were a giant wall blocking the path of the girl.
Despite the intimidation between sizes, the girl would not budge. Arms crossed over her cyan blue kimono, her lilac eyes narrowed to a cold glare at the giant.
"You-!" She was cut off by a groan. Bending his mountainous legs, his tan snout descended to match the young girl's gaze.
"I was ordered keep anyone but the girl taking the captain's test out. I can't make any exceptions, even if you are such a cute, little girl." Angered by humiliation, the young girl snapped. Her patience had run out.
"For your information I am that girl!" The guard blinked a few times from her response, before bursting into a bellowing laughter.
"You? Taking a captains test? Do you even know what a shunpo is? Better learn how to make more reasonable excuses-" A flash of black interrupted the guard's guffaw. Eyes widening, actuality focused before him.
"By shunpo, you mean this?" The guard was no weakling. He was at least at the level of a Seated Officer. Immense speed was in order for such a person to lose sight of the girl. Body trembling from the lethal weapon pointed at his throat, a stutter finally spouted from his mouth.
"Y-you may pass..." Grinning wryly, the girl flash-stepped her way into Seireitei. The guard's knees collapsed upon the girl's departure.
"What a thing..."
"So that's everything, any questions?" The silver haired boy shook his head, before bowing and pacing towards the door. Just as a foot slipped through the gateway, a voice called behind him. "Ah, forgot to tell you; her name is Kiyomizu Harumi." Hitsugaya's cerulean eyes widened. Harumi... Why does that name seem so familiar?
