The sixth year curriculum was not that much more interesting or challenging than the fourth. Toshiro was still far above anyone in the class at kido and flash stepping, and he was the only one to have attained Shikai.
As he had expected, the sixth year students were as resentful of his abilities as the fourth years had been, even more so do to his presence stealing the thunder from their impending graduation into becoming bona fide Soul Reapers.
But the proximity to the end of the school year was still more of a blessing than a curse for Toshiro. It meant he would soon be leaving the academy for good. He spent his spare time practicing his sword skills and his mastery of his attacks in Shikai form.
Six weeks before the end of the term the thirteen captains came to inspect the graduating class. For the most part they merely watched a training session where all of the sixth year students battled the toughest dummy hollows the academy had, but every year several captains stayed to speak with several students who had caught their eye.
That year nearly every captain, with the exception of the captain of the Second Division, Soifon, stayed to speak with the prodigy and form their own impressions of him.
Captain Unohana of the fourth division smiled sweetly and told Toshiro in a frighteningly sweet voice that she was glad he had avoided getting into fist fights with his peers over the second half of the year and expressed her hope that that trend would continue.
The Head Captain, Genryusai Shegekuni Yamamoto, admired his Zanpakto, saying that it was the opposite of his own, the greatest fire type Zanpakto in existence.
The Captain of the Third Division, only recently appointed, Ichimaru Gin, smiled rather creepily and said that he looked forward to working with the greatest prodigy since himself and that he'd save the lieutenant position of his squad for Toshiro. He also congratulated Toshiro on beating his record for the fastest graduation. Gin had set the previous record by doing so in a year, but Toshiro had missed the first month of the school year even if one counted his private sessions with Matsuda and was thus the only student in the history of the academy to graduate in less than a year.
The Captain of the Fifth Division, Sosuke Aizen, told Toshiro that he enjoyed working with prodigies in the past and that if he was anything like Gin the Seretei had gained a valuable asset.
The Captain of the Sixth Division, Byakuya Kuchiki, merely said that he had talent before walking off with the same expression of indifference on his face.
The Captain of the Seventh Division, Sajin Komamura, whose face was hidden by a basket hat he wore over his head, said that he enjoyed watching young Soul Reapers grow, and that they'd all be keeping an eye on him.
The Captain of the Eighth Division, Shunsei Kyoraku, said that he regretted that Toshiro could not join his squad, but his lieutenant expressly forbid any minors from being in their division. (He neglected to say it was because she was worried about the influence her captain would have on the impressionable youth.)
The Captain of the Ninth Division, the blind Kaname Tosen, said that he hoped Toshiro would contribute to the peace and justice of the Seretei. Toshiro muttered about the justice of Central Forty Six under his breath.
There was no captain of the Tenth Division, which surprised Toshiro.
The Captain of the Eleventh Division, Kenpachi Zaraki, said with a malicious grin that he hoped Toshiro would be able to give him a good fight when he grew up.
The Captain of the Twelfth Division, Mayuri Kurotsuchi, told him that Toshiro that he looked forward to studying how the boy became so advanced at such a young age and what the secret of his hair was.
The Captain of the Thirteenth Division, Jushiro Ukitake, told Toshiro how glad he was to have another "Whitey" around (Toshiro had to literally bite his tongue to keep from yelling at the long haired captain) and then somehow pulled mountains of sweets out from under his robes and stuffed them into Toshiro's arms.
"Wha-how did you hold all this?" Toshiro asked, swaying under the weight of the candies and torn between fury and curiosity.
"If you like I've got even more at my division barracks!"
"No, thank you. This is enough. Really. I mean it. I mean it! This is enough! Arg!"/
The graduation ceremony was surprisingly simple and subdued. Each graduate would be called up by name to receive their uniform, a black kimono, and would then be told their division assignments. No captains were present, nor were any other grades. This was done to impress on the graduates that they should not think too much of themselves for becoming Soul Reapers. Many who did so never amounted to much.
The greatest deviation from a regular attendance call, other than the black kimonos, was that the students' names were called not by alphabetical order, but by their placement in the class.
Toshiro's name was first.
Though the kimonos given out were tailor made for each graduate, Toshiro knew from the moment he held his that it had been made too big for him.
After putting it on, Toshiro was beckoned to a board which had the names of the graduates divided into their new squads.
To his surprise, Toshiro was not in squad one, three, five, seven, eight, nine, or thirteen.
He was in the Sixth Division.
Wondering how he had gotten placed with the captain who had barely seen fit to say a word to him, Toshiro found the Soul Reaper who was to guide the new members of his division to their barracks.
The man laughed hysterically when he saw Toshiro, whose face turned red.
"And who are you supposed to be? The captain of the junior division?"
As much as Toshiro wanted to gut the man with Hyorinmaru, he knew that he could not be entirely blamed for laughing. As Toshiro had thought, the sleeves covered his arms entirely and the bottom dragged on the ground, creating an extremely comical image.
The rest of the new draftees into the Sixth Division agreed.
"All right." the experienced Soul Reaper said. "Settle down. One thing you need to know about Captain Kuchiki is that he very much likes order. Cause a ruckus at you're peril. Now let's move."/
Captain Byakuya Kuchiki was waiting for them at the entrance to the Sixth Division Barracks.
"Welcome." he said.
"You have all been chosen for the privilege of serving in the Sixth Division. Do not take it lightly.
"I expect and demand nothing short of the best from my subordinates. Anyone who cannot meet my expectations will be disciplined until they do or transferred to another division.
"If my words are making you have second thoughts then you should have thought of that before you entered the academy. You have chosen to perform the sacred duties of the Soul Reapers, an occupation that is not to be entered into lightly.
"Do your best, and things will go smoothly. Fail to do so, and you will suffer my…displeasure. Dismissed!"
Captain Kuchiki then walked though the tinning crowd, straight at Toshiro. His senses were keen enough to sense the boy even with all of the other Soul Reapers in the area.
"Toshiro Hitsugaya."
"Yes, sir."
"Come with me."
Toshiro had to jog to keep up with the quick and silent strides of Captain Kuchiki.
"Many captains wanted you in their divisions. Did you know that?"
"Yes, sir."
"But I argues that they would not provide appropriate environments for you to realize your potential. The Head Captain agreed with me. Gin Ichimaru languished for decades in a post beneath him because he had the wrong captain to start out with."
"I see, sir. Where are we going?"
"The division training grounds. I wish to see just how strong you are."
They arrived quickly. Captain Ukitake and a black haired girl were waiting for them.
"You will be fighting my younger sister."
Toshiro looked at his new captain, then at the girl, then back again.
"Do not underestimate a member of the Kuchiki clan, boy. It would be a fatal mistake."
"Are you sure he can fight like this, brother?" the girl asked. "He won't be able to hold a sword in those clothes."
Captain Kuchiki took a long, hard look at Toshiro.
"For now, remove your kimono. We shall have a new one made for you that will fit properly, and when you receive that you will treat it as a uniform to be worn at all times while on duty. But for now dress in a way that allows you to fight."
Toshiro gratefully threw off the kimono, revealing the students' uniform underneath.
The captains went off to the sidelines while the combatants faced each other.
"Rukia Kuchiki." the girl said, bowing.
He bowed back. "Toshiro Hitsugaya."/
"Thank you for agreeing to this." Byakuya said to Ukitake.
"Not at all. I had to hurry over here after meeting my own recruits, but I'm as curious as you are. This kid's first battle with a real Soul Reaper should prove interesting to say the least. And a clash between two ice type Zanpakto is a rare thing indeed."/
Toshiro and Rukia stared each other down, swords at the ready. For several minutes neither moved a muscle.
Toshiro's took his eyes off of his opponent for an instant to look at the two captains watching them.
"Focus on the one you are fighting!"
Rukia had attacked immediately upon seeing his distraction, charging and bringing her sword down in an overhead strike. Toshiro blocked the blow high and was forced to back up half a step.
They gritted their teeth as they continued to push their swords against each other.
Toshiro leaned forward, twisting his wrists so as to force both swords into the ground. It worked, leaving Rukia's sword pinned in a useless position.
He took the opportunity to swipe at her, which she only avoided by leaping back.
They returned to their guarded positions, the first blows traded without injury./
"He did that deliberately." Ukitake said. "He wanted Rukia to attack first."
"True." Byakuya said. "Despite what you told her to expect, she does seem to be thinking of him as just a child."/
Toshiro started the second part of the fight, leaping above her and bringing his sword crashing down.
Rukia stumbled back under the blow, and Toshiro followed up with an underhanded swipe that knocked her sword out of her hands.
Never one to panic, Rukia leapt back, somersaulting and catching her sword one handed at the same time. She landed with such grace that an observer would have been fooled into thinking that she had meant to lose her sword in the first place.
"Is that all you've got?" Toshiro asked. "Stop holding back."
Rukia was flustered. Sure, her initial attack had merely been meant to gauge Toshiro's skill, but at the moment she was barely holding her own with all of her skills and experience.
Rukia held her sword out and began to twist it in a counterclockwise direction.
"Dance, Sode no Shirayuki!"
A long white ribbon appeared on the hilt of her Zanpakto, flowing in the opposite direction of the turning sword. Toshiro resumed a defensive position, waiting for her Shikai attack.
Rukia held her blade upside down and stabbed it into the ground.
"Some no mai, Tsukishiro!"
A large, glowing white circle appeared under Toshiro, who quickly jumped out of it. Less than a second after he was clear, a pillar of ice shot up from the circle, traveling all the way up to the heavens.
'No one told me she also had an ice type Zanpakto!' he thought as he landed. He had no respite, as another glowing circle appeared under him almost immediately.
'She's fast. I'm barely to dodge that attack once, but she just keeps it coming, giving me no chance to counter.'
The fourth circle Rukia summoned underneath Toshiro formed as he was still in the air from his last leap.
'Damn it! No way to dodge this one!'
Toshiro swung his sword down at the pillar of ice shooting towards him, pouring his reiatsu into the sword. There was a sound of thunder as metal met ice and the pillar shattered from the top down.
"No way…" Rukia whispered as she watched her attack be stopped by someone who was not even using Shikai.
Toshiro breathed a sigh of relief when he landed.
'So…her attacks sacrifice power for speed.'
Rukia was already preparing another attack, causing several white lights to drop from her sword into the ground. Toshiro raised his sword as Rukia pointed hers at him.
"Tsugi no mai…"
"Reign over the frosted heavens…"
"Hakuren!"
"Hyorinmaru!"
A torrent of ice shot out of Rukia's Zanpakto, even larger than the dragon Toshiro had formed when he had demonstrated his Shikai to Misa. It raced towards him at blinding speed.
Toshiro held his sword straight out in front of him. The torrent of ice burst around him, swirling for several seconds.
Rukia's eyes widened as she watched her attack merely circle the boy before coalescing again at the tip of his blade.
Toshiro slashed his sword in Rukia's direction, redirecting her attack back at her. She stared in open mouthed horror as the ice was about to envelop her.
A flash of pink lights appeared in front of Rukia. The torrent of ice broke upon it like water upon rock.
"Brother!" Rukia breathed.
"That is enough." Captain Kuchiki told the combatants. "I have seen all that I needed to see. Captain Ukitake and I still have things to discuss, but for now I wish to speak to Hitsugaya. Rukia, you may stay with your captain or return to your squad."/
Captain Kuchiki led Toshiro to the other end of the training grounds where no one could hear them.
"You are hereby assigned the position of fifth seat of squad six."
"Thank you, sir."
"Additionally, from now on, I will personally be taking charge of your training."
Toshiro looked inquisitively at the captain. He wished the man would have some form of expression on his face that would tell Toshiro what to think. A part of Toshiro was scared that Byakuya Kuchiki had not taken the defeat of his sister well.
"You will report to me here at sixteen hundred hours every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday."
"Yes, sir. Um, sir, may I ask when I start?"
"Tomorrow."
"Oh. Um….um…can I make a request, sir?"
Captain Kuchiki raised an eyebrow.
"You may always make requests. Whether they will be fulfilled is another story."
"I'd like to be able to go home for a little while."
Captain Kuchiki's face was like a statue. Now Toshiro really wished the man would have an expression.
"I left my grandmother. She doesn't know that I graduated in a year, so she'd be expecting me to come back during the summer. And she wasn'tdoing very well the last time I saw her."
Though his expression still remained the same, Captain Kuchiki looked over at where his sister was talking with Captain Ukitake.
"Very well. You may take a short leave of absence. In the future, I will require notice several weeks in advance when you have similar requests."
Toshiro bowed. "Thank you, sir."/
"Don't feel bad." Captain Ukitake told Rukia. "Your brother only wanted get a sense of how powerful his Zanpakto is. His pride is not hurt in the slightest, anymore than it would be if you lost to me."
Captain Kuchiki came back alone. "Captain Ukitake." The two captains began walking together.
"So." Captain Kuchiki said when they were out of Rukia's earshot.
"It was impressive."
"Yes. You have told me before that Rukia's Zanpakto is one of the most powerful ice types you have ever seen in your two thousand years."
"It is. Top ten easily. But that kid's; it's at a whole other level. He doesn't just create ice. He was able to manipulate the ice and moisture all around him, even her fast moving attack. That makes his Zanpakto as far above other ice types-"
"As the head captain's is above other fire types."
"Yes."
They stopped.
"Byakuya, that boy will make a good lieutenant for you."
"No."
"What?"
For the first time that day, Byakuya Kuchiki had an expression, even if it was just a furrowed brow.
"I am not Sosuke Aizen. That boy will never be my lieutenant."/
When he looked back, Toshiro thought that he had taken so long to get to the Seretei because he had not wanted to go in the first place. He had no such problem when heading home.
And now he had a flash step that would make most Soul Reapers jealous.
He could not wait to show his grandmother his new uniform and tell her how he was a record breaker, the youngest graduate in history, the youngest seated officer in history. She would be so proud.
Proud?
It was the first time since he had left his home that he had thought that word. It was strange. Most people would have been exceedingly proud to have accomplished what he had in less than a year.
So why did he not experience that feeling?/
"I'm home!" Toshiro said for the first time in a year.
"Granny?"
The house was not as messy as he remembered it, which was to be expected, given that the only small child there had left.
But the food in the kitchen reeked from being spoiled.
"Granny?"
And now that he took a good look at the furniture, he found it all covered in a thick layer of dust.
"Granny, where are you?"/
The storm surprised Hinamori.
It wasn't the suddenness of the clouds that were so dark they made day seem like night. Or the thunder that shook the ground.
It was the thick snow.
"What is this? It's summer!"
The storm slowed her down for the last hour on her way home. But it began to clear when she finally neared the small village.
It looked pleasanter than she remembered it, being covered in twenty centimeters of snow. She smiled at the sight of several children engaging in a snowball fight.
When she reached the house, she found it empty.
"Where are they?"
Wondering if her little friend was playing in the snow by himself, Hinamori stepped into the backyard. Her hands immediately shot up to cover her mouth.
There, in the snow, was a large mound that had not been there two years earlier. Above it was a stone grave marker.