Chapter Eight: Mission

So this was their first mission.

As Juushirou led the way cautiously into the forest, he felt a faint flicker of anticipation stir inside of his body. His fingers brushed against the hilt of the asauchi, and he smiled, turning to glance at his eight companions.

Kazoe had not given them many instructions, in the end. Instead he had told them in short, concise phrases that there had been a disturbance reported in the areas of sector four and six within the tree-covered area of the map, and that it was up to Toutai to go and discover not only the cause but to find a solution to whatever problem lay within. It was vague and inconclusive, yet Juushirou did not feel apprehensive. With his asauchi at his side and his black haori flapping in the morning wind over his kimono, he felt eager and impatient to move forward into the trees.

Minabe-sensei didn't want me coming in here this morning. I wonder if that's why she was really here - to help set up whatever it is we're going to investigate. It would make sense...but still. Even noticing a little thing like missing tea mugs has a knock on effect - thanks to that Toutai are on a proper mission already.

His smile widened as he remembered Kazoe's dismissive words about Shunsui's squad.

Whilst Katai are going to be doing some wholesale cleaning and clearing of the campsite and all kinds of other mundane tasks. Yes, we definitely got the better end of the deal. Whatever is in the forest - it has to be more interesting than scrubbing down mess tents or sorting firewood.

"So this is it, I guess. We're on our own from here on." He said aloud now. "We need to work out where we're going from here. Sou-taichou said sectors six and four on the map...which means there are two areas of disturbance that need to be looked into."

"Are we going to split up, then, Taichou?" Aki asked, as on cue Ryuu pulled his map from his obi, spreading it neatly out on the uneven forest floor. "If there are two areas...is that what you want us to do?"

"We don't know what we're facing." Juushirou admitted. "But then, Kazoe-se...Soutaichou said that we were to complete the mission as quickly and efficiently as we were able - before the sun sets, that was what he told us."

"It can't be anything that dangerous, surely?" Chiyoko observed. "We're students and in training. They're not going to try and get us killed."

"Genryuusai-sensei likes to push people." Kamitani shook his head. "Yunosuke-nii was always saying it to me - that I should keep on my toes and work hard, because Sensei wasn't always conventional in how he drummed lessons into students."

"I think that whatever we're here to do, it isn't going to be entirely safe and easy." Juushirou agreed solemnly. "I've seen it as well - the way Sensei likes to let us make decisions for ourselves and, in some respects, face up to the consequences. Kamitani is right. We shouldn't take it for granted that even though this is a test exercise, we're going to be able to wing it without any real effort."

"Then do you think we should stay together, and attempt to deal with both incidents in turn?" Ryuu glanced up. "Because it seems to me that we would waste a considerable amount of time doing so. We are currently within sector five. The two areas we are supposed to investigate are in opposite directions." he indicated. "We have to pinpoint and assess a location thoroughly and deal with whatever problems we encounter on the way. That being the case - do we have time to investigate thoroughly if we don't divide into two groups?"

Juushirou was silent for a moment, moving to crouch at his subordinate's side as he scanned over the map for himself. Then he nodded.

"How many people brought maps, other than Kuchiki?" He asked softly. "I have my own copy, but that aside..."

"I have mine, Taichou." Chiyoko said, and Kira nodded his head.

"Me too, Taichou." He said eagerly. "I thought it would be useful, so I brought it along just in case."

"Mm. All right then." Juushirou cast Ryuu a glance. "Then are you happy, leading a team of half the squad if I take the other half?"

"With pleasure. As Vice Captain, that is my duty." Ryuu said immediately, and Juushirou grinned ruefully.

"I shouldn't even ask, should I? I should know that right away." He said sheepishly. "All right then. In which case, we'll divide here."

"But how will we keep in contact? What if something terrible happens and we can't get help?" Kira asked anxiously, and Juushirou smiled.

"Hopefully it won't." He admitted. "But we don't have any kind of communication devices, so I guess we're meant to think that one out for ourselves."

"We could send a runner." Ryuu suggested. "If Saitani and Hirata are meant to be our messengers..."

"Maybe, but then they might be at risk if they had to negotiate large areas of forestland on their own. We don't know what the threat is, and I won't allow them to be put in any kind of danger unless it has to be that way." Juushirou shook his head. "But I do have another idea."

He took a few paces, resting his hand against the trunk of a tree, then,

"I know this forest a little, thanks to Shunsui...Kyouraku and I having our little adventure last summer." He said slowly. "It's quite dense overhead, but even so, possibly not dense enough to be a problem. When Shu...Kyouraku and I were trapped in the cave, he fired Shakkahou into the sky to get the attention of anyone nearby. I vote we do the same thing again. We can all fire Shakkahou, right? It's the first spell we learnt, so everyone should be able to - and if not, Kuchiki and I definitely can, so that shouldn't be a problem. If there's a major problem and you need help - that's what you should do. Fire Shakkahou and we'll see it and know."

"See it...? From across the forest?" Chiyoko looked doubtful, and Juushirou nodded.

"Yes. The land here is like that. It should be all right for us to at the very least sense the spell, if not see the light from it for ourselves."

"Are we allowed to use Kidou?" Kira's eyes opened wide with surprise.

"Sou Taichou did say that we were to use anything we'd legitimately learnt so far in order to deal with the problem." Hirata said softly. "Ukitake-taichou is right. We've all learnt Shakkahou, so that should be all right. And I'd rather...that...than running through the forest alone when it might be dangerous."

"Hirata, if you don't have any confidence in doing such things, you'll make a poor Shinigami." Ryuu scolded. "What happened to the spirit that drove you all the way to District Two by yourself last summer?"

Hirata reddened, shrugging his shoulders.

"I don't know." He admitted. "That was a special circumstance...but this is how I feel about it at the moment."

"Then it's decided." Juushirou said firmly. "We'll use Kidou but only in emergency circumstances. None of us know enough complicated spells to communicate that way, so it's our best bet. If it's only as a last resort, we'll know when there's a genuine problem and when we need to act."

He glanced at Hirata.

"And if the worst comes to the worst, and we do have to send someone for outside help, Hirata, I would probably ask it of you." He admitted. "Since you're the only one of us who knows and can use Kyakkou - you'd stand the best chance of escaping without being noticed."

"Kyakkou? What's that?" Aki's expression became confused, and Hirata offered him a faint smile.

"A Bakudou spell my Father taught me when I was small. It bends light, so it makes you seem invisible." He said quietly. "If you suppress your reiatsu at the same time, you pretty much disappear. But I didn't learn it in class, Ukitake-taichou," He turned back to his friend. "And Kazoe-soutaichou did say anything we'd learnt legitimately."

"I suppose that's true." Juushirou sighed. "Oh well. Hopefully it won't be an issue, in any case."

He frowned, then,

"We shouldn't waste time. Kuchiki, you're good at Kidou and sword skills. Saitani's good at Hohou. Kamitani's good at Sakusen...take Fujiwara too and that should give you a more or less balanced team skill-wise, since he's picked up asauchi skills pretty quickly in class this last couple of weeks. I'll take Kira, Edogawa and Hirata - unless you think that's too unevenly balanced in terms of class rank."

Ryuu snorted, shaking his head.

"Saitani, Kamitani and Fujiwara, come with me." He said frankly. "I have no objections to that team. But are you sure yourself? Hirata and Mitsuki are neither one of them capable physical fighters and Kira may be good with theory but he doesn't seem to be much of a practical fighter, either. Kamitani and Fujiwara are at least vaguely capable at Ouyoudou and Saitani said she can shunpo a little. Rank has little to do with this exercise since that is mostly class based...and we do not know what danger we might face up ahead."

"I'm sure." Juushirou said firmly, even as both Mitsuki and Hirata flushed scarlet at their classmate's rough assessment of their skills. "So then, it's settled. You go towards Sector Four, and we'll take Sector Six. We'll meet back here before the sun shifts too far into the afternoon, with any luck - when the trees' shadows reach half way towards the next copse, that's when we'll meet up. Good luck and remember what I said about Kidou and emergencies. Bring back whatever information you can - let's prove that we can pull together and do this, even if we are all new to this squad thing!"

Ryuu saluted sharply, then turned on his heels, gesturing for his team to follow him as he made his way unhesitatingly into the woodland beyond.

Juushirou watched them go for a moment, then let out his breath in a rush, nodding his head.

"Right. That leaves it to us, then." He said firmly, turning to face the opposite direction. "There should be a pathway through the trees that animals use…if we stay close to that, we should cross from the fifth sector into the sixth one fairly easily."

He glanced at Kira.

"Kira, I'm leaving it to you to be our navigator." He added. "You said you had a map – and I want you to make sure we don't stray from the right path. We don't know what we're heading towards, so I want everyone on their guard."

"Yes, Taichou." Kira nodded quickly. "I can do that. I'm good at that kind of thing."

"Yes, I know." Juushirou shot him a grin. "Your map-reading on our trip back to school got us across the District Seven/Eight border an hour earlier than we expected, so I'm pretty sure I can leave a small task like this to you."

Kira returned the grin, looking rueful at the mention of their eventful journey to District One.

"What Kuchiki-fukutaichou said is true, though, Taichou." Mitsuki looked troubled. "None of us are really that good with asauchi. If we meet trouble…"

"That's why Ukitake-taichou kept us with him, Edogawa-san." Hirata said softly. "Because we're weaker fighters than the people he sent with Fukutaichou, even if we rank higher overall. None of us rank at all well in Ouyoudou, which is what we most need here."

"Not exactly." Juushirou shook his head. "I have confidence in both of your Kidou skills, after all – and I don't think that it's all about using the sword."

"No, but…" Mitsuki faltered, then she sighed, nodding her head.

"I just don't want to be useless or let you down." She said honestly. "Because even though I can fire spells in class, Ukitake-k…taichou, I'm not sure I could use them to hurt anything. So…"

"Don't look so worried." Juushirou assured her gently. "I don't think any of Toutai are dead weights and I don't think that anyone is going to let me down. The point of this exercise is to prove that fact. Squads have different abilities and disabilities, after all. Capabilities vary from member to member – its how those capabilities work together that Sensei wants us to find out."

He shrugged.

"And in the end, I was the one who split the squad into these teams." He added. "If there's an imbalance, the blame is mine. Not yours. Okay?"

"Taichou?" Before Mitsuki could respond, Kira spoke up, raising his gaze from where he had been scrutinising his much-folded copy of the map they had all been issued with.

"What's up, Kira?" Juushirou eyed him quizzically, and Kira flushed slightly, shaking his head.

"Maybe it's nothing." He said quickly. "But it's just…this path…it's going to fork up ahead. And…well, you said we should follow the animal track but…the other way is a quicker route into the Sixth Sector. If time is of the essence…"

"Let me see." Juushirou frowned, peering over his companion's shoulder, and Kira ran a thin finger along the line on the map.

"Like this." He said softly. "I think…it looks like a proper path. And…"

"And it does look quicker." Juushirou nodded. "All right. We'll try that, then. When we fork up ahead, we'll take the right, not the left. Okay, everyone? That way if we investigate this sector and clear it quickly, we can get back to Ryuu-kun and the others more speedily in case they need us."

They walked on in silence for a while, crossing the grass and taking the pathway Kira had indicated when their track reached a distinct fork in its route. Though the right hand path was less well marked out on the ground, Juushirou soon realised that it had led them more directly to their intended destination, and as they stepped forward into a break in the trees, he clapped his hand down on Kira's shoulder.

"Good call." He said frankly. "That path wasn't hard at all."

"Well, I have to be useful for something." Kira said honestly. "Because my Kidou is awful still, Ukitake-k…taichou, and my Hohou is worse. I'm really good at all the theoretical stuff, but…"

He shrugged.

"There's a reason I'm bottom of the year." He said pragmatically. "I try my best, but that's just how it is in the end."

"As I said to Edogawa-san, there's strengths and weaknesses in every squad." Juushirou assured him. "That's why we've been grouped how we have in the first place. I don't think Sensei thinks of any of us as being useless. Otherwise he wouldn't have us here as students in the first place. To get here, you both must've passed the guidance tests and shown potential, after all."

"I suppose that's true." Mitsuki looked thoughtful. "I'm sorry, Ukitake-kun. I guess both Kira-kun and I need to believe in ourselves a little more."

"And remember not to call me –kun, even though nobody's here to report it." Juushirou winked at her, and she flushed an embarrassed red at his expression. "But yes. That's what I think, too."

He frowned, turning as something pierced through his senses, and at his action Hirata tensed, his eyes becoming big behind his glasses as he glanced around him in a panicked, apprehensive manner. All around them, the copse had begun to grow quiet. Moments before the birdsong they had barely even noticed on their trek had stopped abruptly, and something prickled through the atmosphere, sending a sense of foreboding through each of the four young students as they stood in the centre of the clearing.

For a moment, nothing moved.

And then, out of the corner of his eye, Juushirou saw it.

"Everyone get back out of the way!" He exclaimed, fear coursing his body as he registered the huge, lumbering creature who had just thrust its horned head through the trees towards them. "Everyone get back – it's a Hollow!"

"I wonder what Toutai are doing right at the moment."

Back at camp, Enishi sat back on his heels, eying his cleaning cloth with a rueful smile as he glanced over the newly polished row of wood tables that lined the mess tent.

"Whatever this mission is, I bet they're having a blast doing it – I wish we'd been able to go into the forest this morning as well."

"I guess the early bird catches the worm." Kai reflected from his own position across the tent. "Don't slack, Houjou. We're being graded – and if we fail this, you can tell what we'll be doing for the rest of the week at this rate. First blood went to Toutai, after all – like hell are we going to let them take second and third."

"No kidding." Enishi grinned. "But even so, it's a bit rough – don't you think so? They get to run riot round the woods playing at being Shinigami – while we get to crawl around on hands and feet playing at being house maids. I'm not bitter about it, exactly – but I really don't want to spend another day doing this if it can be at all avoided."

"I think we all feel that way." Shunsui pushed back the flap of the tent at that moment, walking across to Enishi and dropping his own cleaning cloth down on the tall boy's head with a heavy sigh. "How are you people doing in here? I swear I'm starting to have an allergic reaction to all this heavy work – I think I need to sit down."

"I'm not doing your share of the cleaning, Kyouraku. Not even if you are Taichou." Enishi said wryly, removing the cloth and tossing it back. "Captains lead by example, after all…isn't that how it goes?"

"Yeah, I know." Shunsui flopped down on the ground in a heap, taking his cloth and toying with the edges of the fabric as he nodded defeatedly. "But since Juu and the others disappeared into the wilderness, Katai have been dredging the lake, tidying the tents, de-thorning the surroundings and now, polishing the tables and organising firewood."

"And we're going to keep on doing so till Toutai come back from the forest. That's what Sou-taichou said." Kai reflected. "Though it could be a lot worse. When Nee-sama was training with Uncle, he made her do a lot worse than just cleaning and dredging."

"Maybe the Shihouin go in for torture and self-mortification, but the Kyouraku like an easy life." Shunsui said ruefully. "Still, I take your point. And I suppose going into the forest would have meant some kind of work as well, in the end."

He rubbed his temples.

"I just had to split up a catfight, however." He said heavily. "Between one girl who doesn't like me very much and one who doesn't like anything very much. Why Soutaichou assigned the two of them to work on piling firewood together, I have no idea. I wouldn't have had them near each other or near me, if it had been my choice…but there you have it."

"Shikibu and Nakamura, huh?" Kai stood upright, dusting himself down as he eyed his Captain pensively, and Shunsui nodded. "I figured. It had to be them. Nakamura was born to whine and Shikibu…Shikibu is still in Princess mode, and hasn't realised that this is the nitty-gritty of being part of a Gotei squad."

"They also hate each other, as Sora's told me." Shunsui responded darkly. "That's obviously the reason why Kazoe assigned them together and why he did so then disappeared and left me to sort them out when fur started flying. I think I did – for the time being – but only because their mutual mistrust of me overrode their differences for a brief moment. If this is what being a Captain is always like, maybe I need to think about dropping out of school before training for it damages me permanently."

"Do you want me to speak to them?" Kai asked, and Shunsui shook his head.

"No. It'll look bad if I have to delegate it to you, and Juu won't let me hear the last of it if I can't hold my own squad together." He said wearily. "It's fine. I'll manage them somehow. I just came in here to get some sane conversation."

"Is Sora still at the lake, then?" Enishi asked, and Shunsui nodded.

"She, Iwai and Atsudane have been doing fine clearing out the bathing spring of twigs and stray debris…Iwai even found a dead something in there which…I really didn't want to stay and look at too clearly, but told them to get well rid of it before Naoko-chan saw it. They're all mucking in just fine – which is why I'm trying to as well, because otherwise I might actually find myself feeling guilty. But even so…"

"That's probably our test for the day." Enishi reflected. "Doing mundane, boring, horrible tasks under your watchful leadership."

"Yeah. We're already doomed." Shunsui grinned sheepishly. "But at least the campsite will be spotless and clean by the time Juu and his band of hunters come home."

"We're not doomed." Kai said pragmatically. "This is annoying, but it's not the end of the world and it's not beyond us. Stop being melodramatic, Kyouraku. Do you think that I'm going to let Kuchiki crow it over us if we flop out and fail, even if the orders we have suck? Not a chance. We'll be fine. Trust me."

"Enishi, our Vice Captain is a little scary when he gets that look in his eye." Shunsui observed plaintively.

"And speaking of scary, sounds like there's another squall coming from outside." Enishi nodded in the direction of the tent entrance, and at the sound of raised voices, Shunsui groaned.

"Naoko-chan again." He muttered. "All right. I guess that's my moment of sanity over. Keep at it, you two. At least I know that if I've you both and Sora to back me up, I might not completely lose the will to live. And this is only day one? God help us all."

With that he disappeared back into the outside world, and Enishi burst out laughing.

"Somehow that's just like him." He said, amused. "Poor Kyouraku. He's avoided all kinds of responsibility since we started, and yet…"

"Now it's going to bite him." Kai nodded. "But it has to, sooner or later. He's like me, Houjou. He's the heir to his Clan. And more than that, he's their Gotei heir, too. Eighth District don't currently have a representative in the Gotei because his Clan have earmarked Shunsui for the job and Tokutarou-sama's rumoured to feel the same. He might not talk about it – and he might fight against it at every opportunity…but what we're doing now is his destiny more than any of ours. He's been pretty much named for the haori by the Kyouraku since he was born."

"Really." Enishi looked thoughtful, twisting his cleaning cloth back and forth in his hands as he eyed the still flapping entrance to the tent. "That's a tough break. Do you think he'll manage it? I've never seen him quite that flustered before."

"Mm. I think so." Kai agreed. "He's tougher than he appears to be, Kyouraku. Shikibu, on the other hand…"

He shrugged.

"I can't imagine that she'll be entering any squad if she carries on like that." He admitted. "Her spiritual power is all right, but her attitude sometimes…"

"She outranks me, so if she's out, I haven't a hope." Enishi remarked, and Kai snorted, shaking his head.

"If I was a Captain, Houjou, I'd have you in my squad tomorrow." He said bluntly. "You work hard, you listen, and you cooperate. Plus, you can fight. The other stuff can be polished later. It's easier to teach someone skills than it is to change their attitude."

Enishi chuckled.

"A few Kidou disasters and you might change your mind." He said frankly. "But I take it as a compliment, Shihouin. Thank you."

"No problem." Kai grinned. "Even despite all of the craziness that engulfed my Clan last year, you've never got involved in the sniping or back-chatting that some people have - Shikibu included, for the record - and I appreciate that. I didn't do a lot then to deserve your support, but I feel like I've had it anyhow. Last year was complicated and last Autumn and Winter pretty horrendous in a lot of ways. But I've learnt not to take it for granted – when someone shows you a friendly face."

"Well, the Clans look down on me a lot too, because I can't dance, I mix up my manners and etiquette and am far too awkward in society to impress any bigwigs." Enishi said categorically. "My Clan have a lot of past issues with those chemicals, but I don't have any with you and you weren't really involved, in the end. So why hang onto it? Life's too short – it's better to enjoy it and get along with people."

"Which is why I'd have you in my squad." Kai grinned. "Even if you did blow up the base with your spells."

"It's a different thing, really, being here and being in a classroom." Enishi reflected. "I feel less out of place here, even doing this and even though it's only first day. At least my strength and size has come in handy so far this morning – and nobody's asking me to remember long and complicated streams of kanji for spells or theories on particle displacement for Hohou tests."

"I think that's part of the reason for doing it. To show people in their real colours." Kai agreed. "It's all very well ticking the boxes on the classwork forms, but in the end…"

He gestured around him.

"This is what it's about. And Neesama's made it very clear that I'm to work hard and give it everything I have so that I can help her restructure the Shihouin and make us respectable again. So I will. Even if that means polishing tables and dealing with Shikibu's whining."

He looked amused.

"The one good thing out of all of this is that nobody will want to arrange a marriage contract of convenience for me while the Shihouin are so out of favour." He added. "Right now that would be the worst thing imaginable. I'm really starting to enjoy being the kind of student Genryuusai-sensei wants us to be – and working so closely with Shikibu and Nakamura has told me quite clearly that I don't want some fancy engagement to throw a spanner in the works."

He shrugged.

"If everything with Uncle and the reidoku hadn't happened, probably I would've been thrown into some political match on his behalf." He concluded. "So if one good thing has come out of it, it's that."

"You don't want to marry?" Enishi was startled, and Kai tossed his cleaning cloth from one hand to the other as he considered.

"Not really." He admitted. "Since last year's wake-up call, pretence for the sake of pride is the last thing on my agenda. And being here now has just confirmed what I'd already begun to suspect…that Clan hime and I are really not at all compatible in close company."

Enishi laughed.

"You might regret that attitude, one day." He teased. "I'm infamous among many Clans for bruising the feet of any woman I dance with and I'm probably hopeless in terms of political advantage when it comes to marriage…I'm quite resigned to training and being a soldier rather than a Clan dynastic mainstay. But if you're Midori-sama's heir, you might need to think about it – and the more you fight it, the harder it'll be."

"Right now, it's not on my mind." Kai grinned unrepentantly. "Right now, Katai is my first concern and nothing else."

He sighed.

"Sora's not a bad Third Seat." He admitted. "And I'm a Shihouin, so obviously I've nothing against women in positions of command. But if you ask me, even given your class rank, you should've been put in charge of the wood task and not Shikibu. You don't need my supervision – and after last night's little debacle, I'd be quite happy to whip her into shape."

He tapped his fingers against the wood idly, then,

"I still think she should've picked up the clue about the inspection. If Kira could, she could've. This whole thing is partly her fault – she's got no business moaning about it now."

"But that's how it goes, sometimes. Everyone makes one or two mistakes sometimes." Enishi said sensibly. "Don't dwell on it, Fukutaichou-sama. Kyouraku needs our support if Shikibu and Nakamura persist in being difficult – let's not make the situation worse by pointing fingers, huh?"

Kai grinned.

"Sensei would be proud to hear you say things like that." He teased. "All right. Then my instructions are 'get back to work'. We'll finish this off and then see what we can do to help out outside – all right with you?"

"Yes, sir." Enishi saluted sharply. "As you wish!"

As the creature loomed out of the trees, Juushirou felt his heart still in his chest, his eyes widening with fear and dismay as he registered the ungainly form of the monster that now accosted them. For a moment he felt pinned to the spot, as the beast turned its heavy, white-masked head towards him, letting out an unearthly roar as it fixed its glittering red eyes on him.

Time seemed to pass in a blur of slow motion as terror took control of his body. Memories of his father's death and of the encounter with Shunsui the previous summer rocketed through his thoughts, and he felt the sweat beading on his brow as his reiryoku began to surge and ripple inside of him, instinctively wanting to defend him from the threat that now faced him.

And yet even so, somehow he could not move.

"Hadou no Sanjuu Ichi: Shakkahou!"

The bolt of red flame burst through the copse at that moment, its heat and power jerking Juushirou back to his senses as he realised he was not here alone. To his right, fingers still glittering with red light stood Hirata, anxiety and apprehension on his young face and somehow this managed to stabilise Juushirou's own terror as he realised that, unlike those times, now they had a way to fight back.

"Ukitake-taichou!" That was Kira's voice, frightened and more high-pitched than usual and Juushirou registered that his companion's fear was overwhelming him, piercing through the copse and, most likely, touching against his own rattled senses as he struggled to put together a coherent line of thought.

"Stand back!" He exclaimed at length, holding up his left hand as the beast swung its tail from side to side, avoiding Hirata's Kidou blast by the narrowest of margins as it let out another scream. "If we panic and fall apart, then we're all in trouble! This is a training exercise, remember? Training. We're not...it's not..."

He faltered, as the beast lurched in his direction, and he felt a fetid burst of hot breath against his skin. Somehow, however, he managed to keep a hold on his wits, pulling his asauchi from its sheath and taking a deep breath into his battered lungs in order to calm himself down.

"Stay away from us!" He exclaimed, swinging the weapon haphazardly and at his wild slashing, the beast drew back, mewling its complaints at his sudden, violent action.

"It looks...real." Hirata whispered, and Juushirou could tell his friend was trembling with fear. "My Kidou didn't even touch it...Taichou, what are we..."

"We're not going to panic." Juushirou made up his mind, closing his eyes briefly, then, "We're going to retreat. We're going to retreat and regroup - everyone, follow me!"

With that he grabbed the almost hysterical Kira by the arm, pulling him towards the way they had come. Relief flooded through him as he registered no hesitation from either Mitsuki or Hirata to his instructions, and he struggled to control his racing heartbeat, knowing that even if it was just a training exercise, he was truly, honestly terrified of the monster that had just crossed their path.

As they entered the next copse, Kira stumbled over a stone hidden under the leaf litter, letting out a panicked cry as he fell to the ground, and immediately Mitsuki was at his side, anxiety in her expression.

"Kira-kun! Are you all right?" She exclaimed. "Your foot - can you move it? Can you stand?"

"He has to stand, doesn't he?" Hirata sent Juushirou a panicked glance. "We're not far enough away. The monster...it's coming, Ukitake-kun. It's still coming to get us."

Juushirou glanced at Kira, noticing the pallor of his cheeks and the fear that had flooded the blue eyes. From Mitsuki's anxiety, he knew, Kira had not simply fallen but had probably twisted or bruised his foot in some way, and he muttered a curse, moving to the fallen boy's side.

"Can you get up, Kira?" He asked softly, and Kira gazed at him in terror, only just enough in his wits to be able to acknowledge the question.

"Edogawa, help me get him up." Juushirou instructed, but Mitsuki shook her head.

"His ankle's turned. If we make him walk, he'll hurt it more." She said anxiously. "He fell on it badly - Ukitake-taichou, we..."

"The Hollow is coming." Hirata exclaimed fearfully. "Ukitake-kun, I can...sense it...it's coming closer to us!"

"Well, we can't leave Kira behind." Juushirou stood upright once more, fear coursing through his own system a second time as he weighed up the situation. "That's not an option. None of us are strong enough to carry him alone - and even if we did try that, it'd slow us down pretty badly. Which means..."

He trailed off.

I'm Captain. In this situation, a Captain leads. If it's dangerous, and you have to make split-second decisions...that's what Sensei always teaches us. To try to make the right ones under pressure -and be willing to change strategies at any given moment. Kira's hurt because I chose to run - but running doesn't solve the problem and that was my own stupid fear getting the better of me. Of course if you see a Hollow, the first thing you want to do is run. But Shinigami don't run away. They can't run away.

He took a shaky breath into his lungs, feeling the hot surge of his reiryoku once more inside of him as he grasped more tightly onto the hilt of his asauchi.

"You understand then, Juushirou. What In and I keep telling you. You can't run away forever. You have to face it - all of it - sooner or later."

You's voice cut across his mind like ice, and somehow it had the desired effect of bringing his racing thoughts under some modicum of rational control. He gritted his teeth, nodding as if confirming something to himself.

"It's coming, no matter what we do. So listen." He said. "Kira's hurt. Edogawa-san, please, stay by his side and make sure no further harm comes to him. If you have to fire Kidou, you have leave to do so. Only use your asauchi if you feel confident to do so - your Kidou is strong enough, I think, to protect you and Kira both from whatever happens. Understand?"

"Y...Yes, Taichou." Mitsuki's eyes were huge with fright, but she nodded her head, shuffling protectively in front of the injured, half-fainting Kira. "I understand."

"Hirata, I want you to be prepared to back me up." Juushirou continued softly. "But right now, I need your speed and your Bakudou. Can you suppress your reiatsu and use kyakkou to disappear even if you fire off a signal to Ryuu-kun and the others? Even if it's not a legitimate spell from class, if you can, I want you to do it."

"Leave you...with the Hollow?" Hirata whispered, and Juushirou nodded, hoping that his own terror was not as obvious to his companions as theirs was to him.

"Come back when you've done it." He said frankly. "I trust your speed and accuracy in finding the right place to fire it and your ability at suppressing reiatsu is more instinctive than any of the rest of ours. And, if you use kyakkou, the creature won't be able to see you, either. We'll be okay - Edogawa-san is here too, and we'll manage, somehow, till you get back. Go now, and quickly - the sooner it's done, the better."

"Yes, Taichou." Hirata still looked apprehensive, but he nodded, bringing his fingers together.

"Bakudou no Nijuu Roku. Kyakkou." He whispered, and then was gone from Juushirou's sight, only the faintest trace of his comrade's suppressed reiatsu telling him the path that Hirata was taking into the forest. He was heading right for the clearest opening he could, Juushirou knew - and he let out a heavy sigh, knowing that he had no choice but to trust his companion's accuracy and judgement.

There was no time for further thought, however, as with a tremendous shriek and a crack of splintering wood the Hollow emerged into the copse, pushing trees aside as it raised its ugly, horned head to give out a tremendous bellow. Juushirou felt his heart clench in his chest once more, his grip on his asauchi becoming so tight that his knuckles turned white, and as the hot fire of his fighting spirit raced through him, he felt the all-too familiar burning at his lungs as he allowed his survival instinct to take control of his body.

Think rationally. Calmly. Think it out, bit by bit.

He told himself firmly, steadying his stance as he gazed up at the huge creature with apprehension and fear.

This is a training exercise. It's not a real Hollow. There's no way a real Hollow could get through Kazoe-sensei's barrier, after all. But even so...even so, that doesn't mean I should let my guard down. It's frightening and I'm afraid of it. Even if it's not a real Hollow - I know I still am, and that it can probably still hurt me.

He closed his eyes briefly, then snapped them open again, resolution burning in his hazel gaze.

I lost the last two battles. Both times I lost control of my body, and people got hurt because of it. But if I want to be a Shinigami, this is something I have to face. I have to overcome it. I can't always run away. It's all right to be afraid, isn't it – so long as I don't run away?

He raised his sword as the beast lunged at him, swinging it so that it clattered against the creature's hard-armoured claw. The jolt sent shock-waves through his body, yet he leapt back, the fingers of his left hand already glittering with white energy as he settled his mind to what he had to do.

Fake or real, I have to take charge. Edogawa-san, Kira-kun, Hirata - are all my responsibility. If I crack now, they'll all be in danger. They're as scared as I am, after all - if I'm leading them, I can't let them see how unsettled I am by this. I have to keep going - no matter what.

"Hadou no Yon: Byakurai!" He exclaimed, as lightning shot forth from his fingers, zig-zagging against the Hollow's substantial frame and causing it to fall back with a shriek. Buoyed by this, Juushirou gathered his courage, dragging from the depths of his memory every bit of advice he had ever received from both Minabe and Genryuusai on how to battle with a sword.

"A Hollow is only purified when you split its skull with a zanpakutou." He muttered. "So I have to do that, with this asauchi. That's what I'm supposed to do. Kill the Hollow. Save my comrades. And win."

The beast swung itself towards Mitsuki and Kira at that moment, and Juushirou cursed, berating his brief loss of concentration as the huge claw swung down towards the duo huddled on the ground.

"Bakudou no Hachi - Seki!" Mitsuki flung up her hand instinctively, the Bakudou spell passing her lips almost as though it had come automatically, and as the Hollow's blow glanced away from them, Juushirou was once more into the fray, sword raised as he forced himself between his comrades and the enemy.

"Edogawa-san, are you both all right?" He demanded, and Mitsuki nodded her head.

"We're fine, Taichou." She said softly. "Don't worry about us. If you do, it will hurt you. Whatever it is - we have to stop it somehow, and you're the only one of us who's any good at using an asauchi."

"Mm." Juushirou gazed back at his opponent, preparing his sword for another assault. "That's not saying much, considering. But I'll still do my best."

"Taichou!" Ryuu's voice from the far side of the copse both startled and relieved him and he raised his gaze, seeing the anxious grey eyes of his Vice Captain across the grass. Ryuu's sword was already drawn, having quickly summed up the situation, and at this realisation, Juushirou felt his initial panic begin to abate.

"We found an unwelcome adversary." He said now, gesturing to the Hollow with his left hand. "Kira's hurt his foot and Hirata...I sent Hirata to summon you, but..."

"I'm here, Taichou. I came right back." Hirata himself emerged at that moment. "I did as you suggested...Kuchiki-fukutaichou came right away, so I guess it worked."

"What are we meant to do with that thing?" Aki gazed at the Hollow apprehensively. "It...isn't real...is it?"

"Probably not, but either way, it can probably do some harm." Juushirou was feeling more himself now, and he shook his head. "Kamitani, will you and Fujiwara help Edogawa to get Kira somewhere out of the range of fire? He's hurt and half-hysterical and there's no sense keeping him in any danger. Edogawa can tend to him better that way, and I think he'll more easily calm down if he's not quite so much in the middle of it."

"Yes, Taichou." Kamitani nodded, grabbing Aki by the arm and pulling across the copse to where Mitsuki was supporting the still-pale Kira with one arm.

"Kuchiki, you and Saitani attack from the left. Hirata and I will attack from the right." Juushirou continued firmly. "Kuchiki, we're aiming for its head. If one of us can slice through it - Saitani, Hirata - cover us in whatever way you can."

"Yes, Taichou." Chiyoko looked doubtful, but she nodded, obediently drawing her sword from its scabbard. Hirata made no such move, yet from the glittering reiatsu at his comrade's fingertips, Juushirou knew that his young classmate was only a few words away from launching another Kidou spell, and he nodded his head.

"Then let's do this." He said quietly, raising his left hand and flinging it forwards in the direction of the Hollow.

Ryuu did not need any further encouragement to attack. With a yell he leapt forwards, bringing his weapon down towards the enemy in a sweeping, controlled strike, and something in his companion's calm confidence helped to steady Juushirou's own doubts once again.

My Vice Captain has confidence and isn't afraid. Therefore, as Captain, I can't be afraid. I can't let him do all the work - together we'll wipe this thing out, and then everything will be over.

With that thought in mind, he darted forwards, swinging his weapon across towards the Hollow's throat and slashing decisively across its lower jaw, shattering its teeth and sending shards of white matter scattering to the ground like flakes of snow. As Ryuu sliced through the monster's horn, Juushirou steadied himself for another sword thrust, this time bringing it down squarely across the monster's skull. As the asauchi cut cleanly between the creature's still glittering red eyes, it flickered, faded and disintegrated into dust, and Juushirou dropped to the ground, breathing heavily as he realised they had won.

Across the grass, Ryuu landed more gracefully on his feet, slipping his asauchi back into its sheath with a sigh.

"So that's how Sou Taichou intended on testing us." He said quietly. "By throwing us an enemy and seeing if we could work together to destroy it."

"That Hollow...wasn't real, was it?" Chiyoko murmured. "I mean...it sure...looked and felt...real."

"It did, but I don't suppose it was." Ryuu grimaced. "It would be something of a risk, after all, to send us into that situation with an enemy who could really do us harm."

"Genryuusai-sensei is the kind of teacher who might do it, mind you." Juushirou said ruefully. "It felt like a real Hollow, but it wasn't as powerful - at least, I don't think so. Compared with the two Hollows I've encountered before...I think that one was set up as a training exercise. But even so..."

He sheathed his sword, wiping his sweat-drenched hands against the folds of his blue hakama.

"Even so, it was frightening." Hirata murmured.

"That's what we're training for, however. Therefore the experience is invaluable." Ryuu reflected. "And we have proved one important thing, also. Toutai can work as a team - and pull together when needed."

"That's true. Even so early in our camp exercise, everyone did exactly as they were supposed to." Juushirou agreed. "And I'm glad about that. It would've been a mess, otherwise."

"Is Kira all right?" Chiyoko asked, and Kamitani glanced up from where he and Aki had transported their classmate, nodding his head.

"A bit dazed and bruised, but he'll be okay." He agreed. "His foot is turned, not broken - if we get him back to camp, some cold water and rest should see it all right over night."

"I have some herbs I can give him, too. It will help stop it from aching." Mitsuki added. "We're all all right, Taichou. Thanks to your orders, everyone is safe."

Juushirou looked sheepish.

"If I'd been more decisive, maybe Kira wouldn't have fallen." He admitted. "But you live and learn, I suppose. I wasn't expecting to face something like that - it took me by surprise."

He coughed, putting his hand to his lips, and Hirata let out an exclamation.

"Taichou! You're bleeding! Are you all right?"

"Bleeding?" Juushirou drew his fingers away from his mouth to glance at them, registering the reddish substance that now stained his skin. He sighed, brushing his sleeve absently across his lips and nodding his head.

"I'm fine. Just a bit shaken up inside - it's nothing major, Hirata." He said firmly. "I'm not about to have an attack, I promise. It's just the result of an adrenalin rush - nothing more."

"Are you sure?" Hirata still looked apprehensive, and at his expression, Juushirou smiled ruefully.

"Yes. I'm sure." He agreed. "It's all right, really. It took me by surprise and my power surged a little too quickly – but I got it under control and I'm fine."

He glanced at Ryuu.

"Did you find anything in your sector? We should be heading back, so there isn't time to mount a further investigation now."

"Not much." Ryuu shook his head, slipping his hand into his pocket and pulling out a broken piece of wood. "Just this. It looks like nothing in particular, but it has the character for 'soul' carved into it, and it seems to have been coated in some kind of spiritual matter, since we tracked it down and sensed it through those means. I imagine that the mission intended us to find the soul and beat the Hollow - so I brought it back with us. If there was anything else...I am not aware of it."

"A fake soul and a fake Hollow. Some beginner mission." Juushirou grinned, taking the wood and turning it over so that he could see the carved character for himself. "All right, then. Kamitani, Fujiwara - I'll leave Kira to you. Everyone else...let's head back to base."

There was a murmur of assent, and as the group made their way slowly back towards the animal pathway that led to the camp, Ryuu fell into step with his companion, casting him a thoughtful look.

"Hirata's spell was powerful, but we were already heading back to find your group." He said quietly. "I knew, you see, when your power flared – that something had happened. You need to be more careful. If you flare your reiryoku like that, you'll draw enemies to you, not drive them away."

Juushirou nodded his head.

"I know." He admitted. "But it frightened me, and I reacted instinctively."

"It was not a real Hollow. There was no need to fear it. Many Clans use dummy Hollows for training purposes – and this was simply another example of the same." Ryuu shrugged his shoulders dismissively. "Although it appears to be dangerous – such creatures really cannot sustain the kind of attack needed to cause harm even to students of our basic level. There was no real danger. Sou-taichou was merely testing our reactions – that is all."

"Maybe not." Juushirou agreed. "But it reminded me of the real ones I have seen, and the dangers they can cause."

He sighed.

"Thank you for coming so quickly." He murmured. "I think I could've beaten it alone – but it was good to have back-up."

"That is a Vice Captain's duty." Ryuu said firmly, though the expression in his grey eyes belied the flippancy of his words. "And I believe in carrying out such things to the letter."

"Yes. I know." Juushirou sighed again, stretching his arms over his head.

"I'm a little raw inside." He owned. "But at least this time I got myself more under control."

Ryuu was silent for a moment, then,

"I came as quickly as I did because I sensed your releasing reiatsu." He said quietly. "But it wasn't simply that – after all, I know that you are not incapable, even despite your low birth. As you say, you did not need my help to beat down such a feeble opponent. However…"

He paused, and Juushirou shot him a quizzical look.

"However?"

"I have felt that flare of reiatsu before, but today it was different." Ryuu said gravely. "There was something else in it today, Ukitake. I do not know what it was, or how to explain it to you. But either way, it was something different from what I have come to expect as usual from you. And considering your weak health – I suppose I wanted to ensure you had not got hurt."

"Something…different?" Juushirou's brows knitted together, and unbidden You's words came once more into his mind. His frown deepened, and he shook his head.

"Nothing is different." He said at length. "And I'm all right, Ryuu-kun. Really. But I appreciate the concern."

Ryuu eyed him for a long while, then he sighed, shrugging his shoulders.

"Then I suppose all is well." He said frankly. "And we have completed our mission with some success."

He smiled.

"Whilst Katai were left behind to do menial labour – I truly think we have had the best of the action today."

"Well, it's certainly started us out with a bang." Juushirou admitted ruefully. "I wonder if it will get any less emphatic from hereon in?"

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Author's Note

As requested in a review, the kanji for Shikiki is.... 織姫.

AND spoons. Well. I'm western so spoon comes more naturally to me BUT...I have read that spoons existed in ancient China for soup and such like and although Japan is NOT China (let me emphasise that once again), ancient Soul Society is not entirely ancient Japan. (For example in canon they have computers in an Edo-jidai setting, and as for Shinji and his musical taste...nuff said). So I don't think spoons are particularly anachronistic. And even if they are...well...meh. They're staying anyhow xD.

*scuttles away*