Skeleneko's Note: This isn't my story. I have permission from Twilight Countess (Amy) to repost this. If you like this story be sure to look out for her book "Eris"!

Senbonzakura

Chapter Six: Training and Promotion

Hisana's P.O.V.

"As you know there are four techniques of combat that Shinigami use: kidō, hand-to-hand-combat, agility, and swordsmanship."

"Hai, Ukitake-taicho," said Hisana, listening with rapt attention.

"What I'll be teaching you today falls under the same category as shunpo: agility."

Ukitake and Hisana were standing on top of the tallest building in the Thirteenth Division. Ukitake-taicho walked towards the edge of the roof. Hisana followed.

"Most Shinigami can do this to a certain extent," explained Ukitake. "The Shinigami uses the spirit particles around them to form a flat surface that they can stand upon mid air."

Hisana's eyes widened as her mentor walked right off the roof, but he didn't fall. He stayed suspended in the air three feet from the building.

"That's amazing!" Hisana gushed. Ukitake smiled and held out his hand for her to grab.

"Come, you try," he said.

Hisana swallowed. She grasped Ukitake's hand but stayed on the roof.

"Don't be afraid. I'll be right here," said Ukitake, giving her hand a squeeze. "Now, concentrate."

Hisana closed her eyes and imagined the spirit particles creating a stable surface. She took a deep breath and stepped off the edge. She half-expected to feel the wind around her as she fell, but instead, she felt something smooth under her feet.

Hisana's eyes opened and she saw that she was standing on a two by two feet square. It was blue and was glowing with spiritual energy. Hisana looked down at Ukitake's feet to see that his platform was invisible. She frowned.

"Ukitake-taicho, my spirit particles are blue. Is that bad?" Hisana asked.

Ukitake was looking at her platform in astonishment. "No, Hisana, it means quite the opposite. Take another step."

Hisana did as she was told, keeping a firm grip on her teacher's hand. Another glowing square appeared. She took another step, but this time she let go of Ukitake's hand. She then broke into a run, jumping from one square to the next. She smiled and looked over at Ukitake. Her smile disappeared when she saw Ukitake wobble in mid air.

"Ukitake-taicho!" Hisana said in alarm, running to him, more squares appearing beneath her feet. But Ukitake had already shunpoed back to the safety of the firm roof.

"Are you alright, Ukitake-taicho," asked Hisana.

Ukitake took a few deep breathes. "Of course, Hisana-san. As I said before, certain Shinigami can perform this technique to a farther extent than others. It seems that you are one of those few with the upper hand."

Hisana subconsciously puffed out her chest. "Thank you, Ukitake-taicho."

By the time she had practiced for two more hours, Hisana could make her squares appear without having to look at her feet.

"I think it's best if we end here on a good note for today. You may go," said Ukitake.

"Hai," said Hisana as she bowed to Ukitake and then walked away.

Half an hour later, Hisana sat under her favorite tree next to the creek that ran through the division. She blew on the stray piece of hair in between her eyes. It had been a year and a half since Byakuya brought her to the Seireitei. She wasn't even an official Shinigami yet.

Most in the squad knew her as 'Ukitake's urchin' because as his apprentice, she spent most of her time at his side.

She remembered when Ukitake-taicho asked her to become a Shinigami. She had flat out refused him at first, saying she had a responsibility in Rukongai. Ukitake asked her many times what this responsibility was and finally Hisana broke down. She told him how she left Rukia behind and she still wished to amend her error. Hisana remembered the look on her taicho's face, the compassion in his eyes.

There were two reasons why Hisana decided to accept Ukitake's offer. One was that as her senpai, Ukitake allowed her to continue her search for Rukia, something she knew she wouldn't be able to do if she went to the academy. The other, was her own selfish desire to get closer to Byakuya.

Ah, Byakuya. They had become friends, but nothing more developed after that first kiss on the bridge. She learned that he enjoyed walks during the night and how he detested the politics of the aristocracy. He explained how you could never turn your back on anyone unless you had a strong wish to be stabbed inthe back. He spoke so openly with her, and Hisana was content with being his outlet from all the formalities he endured every day.

Her reflections on her pitiful excuse for a life were cut short by a very loud, obnoxious voice.

"SAYURI-SAN!"

Sayuri. Since she had no surname, one was given to her by Ukitake-taicho.

Hisana screamed and found herself flat on her back with the Thirteenth Division's 4th seat above her, his nose mere inches from her own.

"AHHHH! Damn it, Shiba! Stop doing that!" Hisana bawled her hand into a fist and threw a punch at the offending face. She missed, but Kaien was sent sprawling on the grass in order to avoid it. Hisana got up quickly and dusted off her Shinigami robes.

"Kaien, stop terrorizing the poor thing," said a woman, who was helping him to his feet.

"Don't you have a leach for your fiancé, Miyako?" Hisana asked sourly.

"Hey, you ain't even a real Shinigami!" said Kaien in a reprimanding, yet teasing tone.

"You should learn to be more respectful of you superiors!"

"Ukitake-taicho said the only orders I am to acknowledge are from either himself or Kuchiki-fukutaicho. That does not include a seven foot gorilla with a brain the size of a peanut."

Kaien then grabbed Hisana by her head and looked at her with a smirk growing on his lips. "Well, you best be getting use to calling this gorilla Shiba-fukutaicho, won't you?"

"Wait…what?" said Hisana, her eyes widening. Kaien's grin faltered.

"Didn't Taicho tell you," asked Miyako. "Kuchiki-sama has been promoted to Captain of the Sixth Division."

"Huh?" replied Hisana.

"I'll take that as a no," said Kaien. "Yeah, seems Lieutenant Kuchiki went off and achieved bankai, and the former captain of the sixth was ancient. Not as old as Yamamoto, but..."

"I would have wished you'd let me tell her," said a low voice.

Hisana looked over Kaien's shoulder see to Byakuya. He seemed as regal as ever, only this time, he was clad in the traditional white haori of a captain.

Kaien let go of Hisana's head and rubbed the back of his neck with his hand. "Hey, Kuchiki-taicho…" Kaien never got along well with Byakuya. Their personalities were as opposite as fire and ice.

To break the new awkwardness, Miyako grabbed Kaien by the elbow and started to drag him away. "Come on, darling, we need to decide the right kind of flowers to use at the wedding."

"What? I thought your family was dealing with all that shit…" Miyako stomped on Kaien's foot. "Oh, right…See ya, Sayuri!"

Now just the two of them, Hisana looked at Byakuya, a smile forming on her lips. "The new uniform suits you, Taicho…"

Byakuya looked down at the haori. "Right, the uniform, now all I have to do is live up to it."

"Of course you will, you're very powerful," encouraged Hisana. She plopped back down on the grass and patted the spot next to her. He sat beside her with grace only he was capable of. They both stared at the creek.

"Does this mean I can call you Kenseikan-taicho?" asked Hisana hopefully.

Byakuya's faced hardened. "No."

Hisana pouted. "That's no fun," she said. "So…why the Sixth?"

"It was the only one available," replied Byakuya.

"Simple enough," said Hisana. They sat in silence once more until Byakuya spoke up.

"Hisana, tonight there is a celebration at my home in honor of my promotion. I would like it very much if you were to attend."

Hisana gaped at him. "You…want me to come?" Hisana tried to hide her shock with a small grin.

"Let me guess, you want me there because you're hoping that the noble women will leave you alone if they see me with you."

Byakuya took her completely by surprise when he took her hand in his and laced their fingers together.

"I want you there because it would mean a lot to me if you came," said Byakuya quietly. Hisana looked into his eyes and saw that they were unusually soft.

"Okay, Byakuya-sama, I'll go…" but then Hisana looked down at her black clothing. "But I don't have anything to wear to a noble house."

Byakuya stood up. "If were go there now, I'm sure we'll be able to find something appropriate." He offered her his hand. She took it and rose from the ground.

"Are you familiar with shunpo," asked Byakuya.

Hisana frowned. "Byakuya-sama, you know how slow I still am," she said.

"Well, in that case…" Byakuya proceeded to sweep her into his arms.

"Hang on," he said.

Author's Note: Next chapter, Hisana will butt heads with the nobles for the first time.