"We cannot, under any circumstances tell her about the nomination. I have hold her that she's going to be fighting a different Captain for acceptance by the clan. I would like for that to be what she believes during the battle for you guys to see the whole Kanashii when she's fighting." Byakuya explains, looking at Yamamoto.

"Ah. That's understandable. Well, I agree. She would be a great Captain. Now, we face the problem of...who should she fight?" Yamamoto says, runninga hand over his beard.

"Not me...probably not Zaraki...or Jushiro..." Byakuya says, naming off the ones that wouldn't be good in this situation.

"Captain Hitsugaya shall do it." Yamamoto says, suddenly speaking up. Byakuya thinks for a moment before nodding.

"Very well. When shall the battle be?" Byakuya asks, looking at Yamamoto.

"Hm...well...how about tomorrow at sunrise." Yamamoto says.

"Very well. I shall inform her." Byakuya says. He leaves, and walks back to his quarters.

*So she has to battle the genius, huh?* Byakuya says as a smile spreads across his face. He opens the door, only to hear two people arguing when he walks inside.

"You have got to be kidding me!" Byakuya shouts, glaring in the direction of the noise. He shakes his head as he walks into the room. "Do the two of you ever not argue? That's all you've been doing since you met each other!" Byakuya shouts, glaring at the two of them. He shakes his head when he sees that the thing they were arguing about was Renji's Zanpokuto.

"I'm serious! That's how you use it to the best of its ability!" Kanashii shouts, pointing at something on the sword.

"And what if he won't train me?" Renji shoots back.

"You have to work that one out with your spirit. I'm sure he will if you ask him." Kanashii says. Renji sits there for a minute in thought.

"Are you giving pointers?" Byakuya questions. Kanashii freezes.

"Hahahahah! No!" Kanashii says in a nervous voice. She dodges into the kitchen.

"What's wrong with her all of a sudden?" Renji questions, watching the door slam back into place.

"She was telling you a guarded family secret." Byakuya says, smiling. "She must trust you not to abuse the knowledge. Byakuya says,turning tolook at Renji.

"I thought she hated me!" Renji says, eyes wide as he turns to look at his Captain.

"Well, be glad, cuz you're currently the only one she has ever told about that secret...come to think of it, I didn't even know she knew about the secret." Byakuya says, thinking if he'd ever heard her mention it to him.

"So, she knows stuff that she's not supposed to?" Renji asks, trying to understand what his Captain mentby that. Byakuya smiles.w

"Yeah, but I'm not surprised. As kids, we used to get in a lot of trouble." Byakuya says, remember one of the times.

"You...got into trouble! Wow!" Renji says, speachless at the prospect of Byakuya breaking rules. Byakuya merely looks at him.

"Enough aboutthis. I must tell her." Byakuya says as he walks into the kitchen, only to see Kanashii pealing a potato. "I just spoke with General Yamamoto." Byakuya says, and watches as Kanashii jumps to her feet.

"And?" Kanashii says, excited to hear it. Byakuya laughs.

"So impatient, you are!" Byakuya says with a grin plastered on his face.

"Quit stalling and tell me!" Kanashii shouts,glaring at Byakuya for stalling

"Fine, tomorrow at sunrise, you will be battling against the Captain of 10th company." Byakuya says in a completely even voice. Kanashii looks confused for a moment.

"And who might that be?" Kanashii asks when she fails to remember who exactly that Captain is.

"Toshiro Hitsugaya." Byakuya says. Kanashii's eyes widen.

"Is he strong?" Kanashii asks, growing excited. Byakuya nods, and a smiles spreads across Kanashii's face. "I shall prove myself by beating this Toshiro Hitsugaya and regaining my place within the clan!" Kanashii says in voice used for making vows. Byakuya goes to walk out of the kitchen, but stops when he hears Kanashii's voice.

"Hey, big brother?" Kanashii asks.

"Hm?" Byakuya questions, standing in the doorway.

"Did you ever blame me for what happened?" Kanashii asks in a sad voice.

"No. I blame our father." Byakuya says, turning around to look at Kanashii, only to see tears falling down her face.

"Thank you, big brother." Kanashii says in a soft voice. Byakuya nods, and walks out of the room.

"So, what happened?" Renji questions when Byakuya walks into the livingroom type room. Byakuya turns to look at the young Abarai.