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Chapter 10; Test

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Kuchiki Rukia woke up early that morning. Not being able to fall asleep after waking up an hour ago, she decided to practice her sword skills at the beautiful garden of the Kuchiki manor. Holding onto a kendo sword, she swung down the object with much strength, as the sound of the wind cutting apart was heard. "Ha!" She did the same move again. Again. And again.
"Rukia." The petite girl stopped her movements for a moment and turned her head. Only to find the sixth squad captain and her adoptive brother, Kuchiki Byakuya all dressed up for the day in his usual captain's haori and shihakushou.
"Nii-sama." She bowed politely in a perfect ninety degree. "Good morning, how was your sleep?"
"Fine. Get changed and have your breakfast. It's an important day for you." He ordered, a tone with strictness and concern together.
"Gladly." She replied with a tinge of happiness. Her brother rarely show his emotions after all. He turned and walked away, as Rukia ran towards her room.
When she arrived at the dining area, Byakuya was already seated, consuming his food.
"Are you confident for today's test?" He asked out of a sudden.
"Yes, I've trained a lot for this. Tou-Hitsugaya-taichou helped me improve a lot ." She replied, internally slapping herself for almost calling the name.
"Good. Do your best."
"Of course, nii-sama."

Rukia stood in the middle of the room, not knowing what to do. It was filled with her squad members. They looked prepared and Rukia's nervousness level flew to the peak. Can she do it? She fiddled with her sleeves, looking around cluelessly. What am I suppose to do, I'm too nervous.. Her eyes kept looking towards the entrance, wondering if a certain someone would come. He was the source of her confidence after all. Then,
"Alright attention!" Ukitake walked in clapping his hands twice to gain attention from the crowd of shinigamis. All of them immediately turned towards the white hair man and bowed. "Good morning, Ukitake-Taichou!" They greeted.
"Good morning. I hope all of you are ready for today. It will be the ranking test and in addition, I'm also expecting a new lieutenant from today's test. All of you will be given a number in random order. And you will fight with someone for a minute for me to grade." Ukitake said solemnly. He ordered Kiyone to give out the numbers randomly to those participating. Rukia looked at her number, '36'. Out of 140 members participating huh...
After giving out, the captain resumed his speech. " For today's test, I have someone to help out to test your strengths." Ukitake stepped aside, revealing a figure walking in. Rukia gasped.
Kira walked in. "Kira-fukutaichou of the 3rd squad will be the opponent."
"I'm glad to be here." He bowed towards the crowd politely. A tinge of fear appeared within Rukia's heart. She always knew that Kira was strong, very strong. With his intelligence and his sword, Wabisuke, he created many fears to his opponents. However, she shook off that thought. She put in so much effort to be as strong as his kind. She can not be afraid.I'm prepared, I can do it. There were many groaning and complains among the crowd.

Toushiro groaned, looking at the stack of papers in front of him. It's her special day, and he couldn't be there! Thanks to a certain women. He groaned again.
"Alright,alright. I shall do it. Go and watched Rukia. I know you missed her." Matsumoto sighed, standing up from the sofa and tossing her fashion magazine on the table. Toushiro blushed slightly at the last part. "I-I don't miss her."
"Yeah right Taichou." She smirked.
"Sh-shut up. Do your work, I will be going now." He hung his sword around him and ran out.
"Enjoy!" Even though Matsumoto hate working, this was worth to do, just for her captain's happiness. She smiled.

When Toushiro arrived at the venue, the test had already begun for quite sometime. He walked towards the older white-haired captain and greeted him. "Ukitake."
"Shiro-chan! " a vein popped at his forehead. How many times must he tell him not to call him Shiro? Ignoring it, he took a seat beside him. "How was it?" He asked, looking at the fight. Kira was easily blocking and dodging attacks launched by the opponent.
"Until now, there's not many who could hold up against him. Kira still looks energetic as ever." Ukitake said truthfully.
Toushiro nodded. "Then...?"
Ukitake looked at him, getting what he meant. "This is the 35th. Rukia's next."
Toushiro heaved a sigh, he did not miss her fight after all. His eyes then scanned the crowed, looking for a black hair girl. She was found easily as her eyes were staring at his figure since the moment he stepped in. Rukia smiled, feeling glad that he was here on time to watch. He gave her a small smile, showing encouragement in it. Rukia nodded vigorously.
The fight before her ended, Kira won effortlessly. "36." They announced the next number. Rukia's face turned into a serious one, eyes full of focus and determination. She slowly stepped into the area where her opponent was standing.
"Rukia, I'm happy to fight you." Kira said, acknowledging her strength. Rukia's heartbeat sped up and she took in a deep breath.
"I won't hold back." She warned seriously, unsheathing her sword.
"Neither would I." He replied.
The bell rang, the cue to start.
Rukia charged forward, swinging her sword down. Kira countered it with his sword and pushed her back. Their swords kept clashing and clashing, both speed matching. Rukia jumped back, decided that she should not play any longer.
"Mae, Sode no Shirayuki." Her plain sword turned into a beautiful white katana.
"Wabisuke." He decided to go shikai as well, knowing that he can't hold up against Rukia's shikai. Rukia gulped, this is the hard part. His sword doubles the weight of the object it hits, so she had to be careful. Kira attacked first, with Rukia dodging them. She can't have contact with his sword after all. However, he casted a kido, making her block the attack with her sword, and in the midst of it, he appeared behind her. Rukia immediately turned and countered it with Sode no Shirayuki. He hit it not once, but trice in that attack. Rukia immediately casted a kido to create a distance between them. Her zanpakutou fell onto the ground heavily as she can't carry the weight of it.
"Looks like I win." Kira said confidently. However, Rukia was thinking the opposite. She smirked.
"Some no Mai, Tsukishiro." Kira's eyes widened as a pillar of ice started to form at his position. He barely dodged the freezing attack. He looked at her confusingly, and noticed that her sword was connected through a string of ice to her shoe. Rukia took hold of the opportunity and shunpo beside him, kicking his sword away. Wabisuke flew to the other side.
"We are equal now!" Rukia was about to launch another kick, but the ending bell rang. There were cheers among the crowed as everyone applauded. Toushiro smiled, feeling proud of her. Even Ukitake looked pleased with her performance.
She bowed. "Thank you for the fight."
"Same to you." Kira bowed.
She picked up her sword, heart filled with hope. She did better than she expected. She grinned widely and looked towards her teacher. He nodded lightly with a smile and that made her feel even happier. She stood aside, allowing the next participant to enter. She can't wait for this to end, so that she can know her results. Rukia patiently watched as the next fight begun. The opponent immediately released his shikai, a fire element one. He was randomly swinging his sword, as Kira blocked them all easily. Rukia can see that he have no control over his sword. Suddenly, he threw a fireball towards Kira, and he dodge it by moving away. Rukia's eyes widened as it was going towards a shinigami, who didn't notice the incoming danger. He was talking to another guy beside him. Rukia ran towards him trying to stop the fire.
I can't freeze it on time!
"Agh!" She used her back to block it. Everyone gasped. Toushiro stood up immediately and shunpo to her. He caught her falling form.
"I will tend to her, please continue Ukitake-Taichou." He said calmly, glaring at the crowd gathering. Toushiro then carried her princess-style and she groaned in pain when his arm was in contact with her wound. He may look calm at the outside, but he was trying to stop the urge to kill the one who launched that attack. He shunpo away immediately.
"I will take you to the forth."
Rukia shakes her head weakly. She don't want her brother to know that she was hurt.
Toushiro sighed.
"I'll.. Take you to my room.." He frowned worriedly and ran as fast as he could.

Toushiro immediately brought the petite shinigami to his bathroom. "Rukia, let go, I have to see your wound." Rukia however kept her small arms around his neck tightly to forget the pain on her back. "Please Rukia." He begged. He pried open her death grip around his neck and turned her around, surveying the injury. Her upper back was burned, with a few blisters forming and her skin red. The back of her uniform was burnt along with the bindings for her chest behind. Toushiro knew it was embarrassing, but there was no time to think. He removed her top by slipping it off her shoulder, making her half naked in front of him. Rukia was oblivious to this due to the intense pain she was experiencing. He scooped a pail of water, "Rukia,this will hurt." And poured the water on her back. She screamed. Her body leaned forward and her arms stretched out towards the floor, nails scratching the floor.
Toushiro pulled her up and hugged her from the front. "Shh, it's ok, I'm here." He pushed her face onto the crooked of his neck as she buried her face into it,trying to maintain her screams. He scooped another pail and poured slowly on her aching back. "Nnn!" She groaned and bit on his shoulder.
"Ugh!" Toushiro winced, not expecting that. He still resisted the stinging bite as his pain was nothing compared to hers.. After repeating the same action for a few times, her skin cooled down. Rukia was panting heavily after the torturing process. Toushiro picked her up and placed her facing down on his bed, covering her nudity of her front. He took bandages and slowly covered them on her wound.
"Rukia, I have to bring you to the forth, this burn is too serious."
Rukia shakes her head, still rejecting the idea while burying her face into his pillow. It smells like him and it calmed her down.
"You have no choice in that." He pulled her up slowly, not looking at her body and covered her with his haori. He scooped her up carefully, trying not to inflict any pain to her weakened body. Toushiro gritted his teeth tightly while carrying Rukia to the forth. How could he allow another loved one to get injured? He was supposed to protect them.
"D-don't blame...yourself...T-Shiro..." Rukia mumbled weakly. His eyes widened. Even in this state, she can still sense his emotions, his despair. "N't...your..fault.."
Toushiro looked down sadly at the figure. Why does everyone keeps on forgiving him?

Dashing in the forth, he spotted Unohana doing her work.
"Unohana!" The calm and peaceful captain turned her head and looked at him confusingly. "Hitsugaya-Taichou? How may I help you?" Toushiro frowned and looked down at the figure her was carrying.
Unohana, who noticed the weakened state of Rukia then spoke. "Oh my, bring her here." She instructed him to place the petite girl on the bed carefully. "She have a second degree burnt." She removed the haori and bandages and observed. "But it was tended.." She realized.
"I-I poured water on the wound as first aid."
"That was helpful, other wise the wound will be even serious..." Toushiro heaved a sigh. "I will take care of it now, can you excuse us for a moment?" She requested. Toushiro nodded as he exited the room. He leaned against the wall, slouching a little. Then, a burst of reiatsu appeared.
And he knew it belonged to that person.
The sudden flare of reiatsu was scary, angry. Toushiro don't have the mood to deal with him now. Releasing a huge breath, he straightened himself and turned towards the owner.
"Kuchiki." Toushiro frowned. Byakuya glared at the shorter captain coldly.
"What happened to Rukia." It was not a question, but a command for answers.
Toushiro stared back with the similar look, full of intensity. "Some idiot can't control his zanpakutou. She protected a comrade." Toushiro knew that the idiot will be suffering tomorrow by the wrath of Kuchiki Byakuya. The angry captain nodded and entered the room Rukia was in. Toushiro sighed and leaned against the wall again. He closed his eyes, trying to clear his thoughts. He was tired, very tired. He was dozing off, until the door opened abruptly. Byakuya and Unohana exited the room.
"Thank you, Hitsugaya-Taichou." Byakuya said and left immediately, leaving only the female captain and himself at the corridor.
"She will be fine. I've treated her. I doubt there will be any scars." She reassured him. "She wants to see you."
"Thank you, Unohana." He nodded and entered the room. The raven haired girl was lying face down on the bed, her back bandaged and it definitely look better than before. He slowly closed the door and walked towards her. Rukia's weary violet eyes was staring at his figure. "Toushi-Hitsugaya-Taichou.." He held her hands.
"Don't worry, we are alone." He rubbed his thumb in her palm gently. "Do you feel better?"
She nodded, "Unohana-Taichou's kido skills are extremely good. I feel way better." Her lips curved up slightly. Oh, how he wanted to kiss that lips. He ran his thumb over her lips, rubbing them softly.
"Rest." He ordered.
"Toushiro, do you think I can be a lieutenant?" She asked out of sudden. He raised a brow at her sudden question.
"Of course. You did well." He frowned. "Now sleep."
She nodded, closing her eyes slowly. Toushiro gently caressed her cheeks, letting her know that he's here. She smiled and nuzzled into the warmth.
At least her day ended off well.

TBC.

ugh, many mistakes, too lazy to check. sorry.