Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Bleach
This chapter is a light chapter. It is connected to the last chapter of 'Just gets Better with Time' where Gin and Byakuya was training Hisagi and Kira for the captains position. Byakuya is in training also.
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Kira and Hisagi stood in the middle of the field. The early morning session with Gin was to be their last before they go in front of the committee. Both were up for Captain's position. Their friend, Renji was the first to go through the training with both Byakuya and Gin. Renji told him that the final battle was him going up three others. He stated that it was one of the hardest battles fought. He had to think about everything before he struck.
'At the end of the battle, you will know why everyone thinks Gin is an evil son of a bitch', Renji said to them.
Kira was a little nervous as Hisagi placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry, both of us will get through this." Hisagi smiled at Kira. He leaned in and gave Kira a quick kiss. It seemed to have calmed him down.
Kira stood and stretched. "I wish we can get this over with."
"Why, Kira, you have something else to do," Gin said as he slowly appeared in front of them. "Isn't this a great day to take a final test?" The fog was so thick that Kira and Hisagi could barely see him.
"Now, candidates, I would like to direct your attention to the top of that hill." Gin point to the hill to his right. The moon gave off enough light that they only saw four figures standing on the hill. "They are your competition for today. Two of them have a flag. Kira, you have to get the blue flag and Hisagi, the red one."
Gin started to pace back and forth with his famous grin. "Now if either of you get the other's flag, well at the end of the competition, you better have your own flag. I don't who has which flag, but that what makes it fun." Gin got close enough to the two so that they could see his face. "Any Question?"
He stood up quickly and started to walk away. He stopped and turned back to the two. "Oh, I forget to tell you; you got one hour." Gin was then gone in a flash.
When Kira and Hisagi looked at the hill the figures were gone. They both swallowed hard and got in a fighting stance.
Gin watched for the top of another hill as the battles began.
"Do you think it fair to put them up against seasoned fighters?" Kyoraku asked as he watched the fighting below.
"I have against each of them. Believe me, I am not worried about their fighting ability, as captains, we have to think and protect our division. Kira is very smart on the field. Hisagi is very strong. If they get the flags, they will be fine." Gin continued to watch the field.
He saw Nobou run at Hisagi. His speed and the cover of the fog kept Hisagi off balance. Then he saw Raiden take his run at Kira. He made contact with Kira and they fought in combat mode.
"You know that they love each other. Like you and Byakuya do." Ukitake said as he walked up to gin and placed an arm around him. He gave Gin a quick kiss on his cheek.
Gin gave him a quick peck on his cheek. "Hey poppa in-law." Ukitake has been a guardian to Byakuya for so long that Gin calls him 'Poppa in-law'.
"Do you thing he is ready?" Ukitake asked as all of them watched the field.
"He's ready. The difference between us and them, I trust my husband to do his job in battle. They have to build that trust. It is like they have to get in sync." Gin smiled as he saw the last players come into play.
"Howl," Renji yelled as he came out from behind Kira. Although he recognized his friend's voice, it must have clicked in his head that he knew Renji fighting style. He smiled and prepared.
Gin smiled because he knew what was coming next.
He turned as he saw his parents walking up with the children in their arms. Kyoshi had Gina in his arms. Gin smiled because she is defiantly a granddaddy's girl and if she is not being held by him, Kyoraku would be holding her. Gineri was still asleep in his 'Grandma's arm".
"You two ready?" Gin spoke to Aimi and Kyoshi. Aimi gave Ginrei to Ukitake. He hugged and kissed his grandson who was still asleep. At fourteen months, he is becoming a hand full for all of them.
Kyoshi handed Gina to Kyoraku who had a smile that he only gave to Ukitake. He held Gina like Gin does; like he would give his life for her. At five months, the only man in her life is her big brother
Gin stood and gave his children a kiss. He then hugged his father and mother who he gave a kiss on her cheek.
"I'm waiting on a word . . ." Gin stopped as soon as he heard the word.
"Scatter," a monotone voice commanded.
Gin smiled and looked at his parents. They both disappeared in a flash. Ukitake and Kyoraku looked at the battle and now started to change.
"How has his training been going?" Ukitake asked Gin about Byakuya.
"He is good. It is like he never lost a step. He and Renji are teaming up. Both of them will critique each other after the competition."
"Yeah, speaking of competition, who has the flags?" Ukitake asked.
Gin looked down and held out the flags. "Oops." Gin gave his famous smile.
"Gin, did you do this on purpose?" Kyoraku said as he kept a protective hand on Gina.
"Well, I wanted to give it to the strongest fighter I know." He held them out to his grandmother.
She slowly walked up next to Gin and grabbed the flag. She spoke to Ukitake and Kyoraku and reminded them to protect her great grandchildren. She continued out to the field.
"Gin, are you going to let her go into that fight?" Ukitake asked.
"Why not?" Gin smiled, "she is the strongest shinigami I know."
Mother walked onto the field. She continued to walk until Hisagi noticed her.
"Hey old lady, you are not suppose to be out here. You can get hurt." Hisagi ran towards the old lady as he felt someone come toward her.
As the old woman started to become confused, a blade appeared around her neck and an arm around her waist.
"Please help me," the old woman said with a shaky voice.
Kira came out of nowhere and did a Kido. It knocked the player out. He looked for a flag and when he did not find it he turned to fight back an attack from Byakuya. As Kira and Hisagi stood around the old lady to protect her, they heard Gin's voice yell out.
"Tick, tock, gentleman, Tick tock. Two more minutes."
Kira and Hisagi helped the old woman through the field. They were trying to get her off the field when a couple ran up to them.
"Mama, are you okay?" Aimi said as she came up to Mother. "Thank you for finding her. She wondered away from us."
"Thank you for protecting her." As Kyoshi bowed to them, on instinct, they bowed back.
"You should never take your eyes off your opponent. Opponents both known and unknown," the old woman spoke.
They looked up and saw Aimi and Kyoshi with their swords drawn on them.
"Just because I am an old lady, doesn't mean I am harmless."
Kira and Hisagi realized that Mother was a yielder of two katanas. Both were near their throats. They were frozen with fear when they saw Gin walk forward.
He was followed by Ukitake carrying Gineri and Kyoraku carrying Gina.
"Times up," Gin said. "Bring it in everyone. Let me introduce you to my staff. First, did you get the flags?"
Both looked and started to say no when the old lady spoke up.
"They were in possession of me for a while and did their best to protect me so yes they did have the flags." Mother produced the red and blue flags Gin gave her.
Gin walked up to the old lady and gave her a kiss. He took the flags and gave them to Kira and Hisagi.
"Keep these flags as a reminder. Take whatever lesson you learned today. I have mine woven on my hilt of my katana. I learned many lesson from my grandmother. Gentlemen, meet my Grandmother.
They both bowed to her.
"My parents, Aimi and Kyoshi, and my cousins Raiden and Nobou." Raiden appeared with Nobou. He had his arm around Nobou as he helped him to the group.
"Damn, Kira you pack a punch with your Kido,' Raiden said and he winced with a little pain.
"I told not to get too carried away. Come on, let me heal you," Aimi directed them over away from the group.
Byakuya and Renji walked up to group. They both bowed to Kira and Hisagi. They in turn bowed to them.
"Out of everyone, we recognized you and Kuchiki taichou." Hisagi said.
Byakuya walked up to Gin and kissed him. He then walked up to Grandmother and kissed her on the cheek. He walked to Kyoraku and kissed his cheek and took Gina in his arms. He walked to Ukitake and kissed him on the cheek and kissed Gineri. He then looked at Gin and winked at him. Ukitake and Byakuya disappeared in a flash. Mother hugged her grandson and disappeared in a flash. Kyoshi went over to Aimi, Raiden and Nobou. They helped Raiden up and the group flash away.
That left Renji, Kyoraku, Gin, Kira and Hisagi on the field.
"You guys did well. I put up against the best I know and you stood your ground. Abarai taichou, is there anything you like to say?"
"You guys held your own out there. That's good but always remembers what you learned out here today. You will come across it again." Renji smiled as he spoke about fighting with his captain. He remembered that in battles, his captain always told him to watch him so that I could learn. He told them that he is in the process of picking a lieutenant. He told his friends that they would do well on their test and look forward to their promotion. Renji left the group in a flash.
Gin looked at Kira and Hisagi. Both looked exhausted but Kira asked Gin a question. "Your family, taichou?"
"Why not, they are the best I know. It took me years to beat my cousin. My parents, I just beat them before Gineri was born. I would not put my Uncle Jiro out here with you and my Grandmother; I have never beaten her." Gin chuckled. "This exercise was my grandmother's idea. She wanted you to know that at times you have to fight as alone, with a partner or with your division. But you have to be ready to teach and lead. She trained a lot of people and she trained me. And that I am appreciative of. I know me and Byakuya are going to train my son and daughter the same way." Gin bowed to them. "Thank you for being great students and good luck on your test."
Gin turned and started to walk away. He disappeared in the fog.
Kira and Hisagi hugged each other and left the field.