~I really like this chapter…I don't know why :P so R&R AND MAKE ME HAPPY!!

That morning, I woke up with something to look forward to. It was 9:00 a.m. when I was getting dressed and ready without complaining. When I was looking in the mirror brushing my hair, I noticed something different: I was smiling. I gave a chuckle, grabbed my sword, stuck it in the sheath that was hanging from my robe and ran out the door.

I was running toward our meeting place.

Once I arrived, I realized I was half an hour early...I'm such an idiot.

Another half hour later, in a flash, Hitsugaya appeared out of nowhere.

"Good morning Kaien-sensei." he said.

I gave him a smile and nodded, "Good morning Hitsugaya-kun. Where's Rukia?"

He shrugged, "Late I guess."

I sighed, I utterly loathed waiting. I am an impatient person.

I saw her walking toward us. It seemed as though it was in slow motion. My heart sped faster. After an agonizing wait, she arrived.

"Good morning Hitsugaya-kun, and Kaien-sensei." The way she said my name, it had the love that Megumi said it with. I closed my eyes and smiled. I thanked God and opened my eyes.

The clouds in the sky separated, letting the sun show its face. It brightened up the entire forest. It brightened up my mood, too.

My smile widened, "Are we ready?" They both nodded.

"Good, can anyone tell me why they want to be a soldier? Rukia, maybe?" Her eyes shifted toward me. She began to stutter, "Um...well...I guess...I just want to protect people."

I laughed, "Well, why do you want to protect people?"

She smiled, "I want to stop being a burden." My laugh faded into a frown. My heart skipped a beat. Burden? What did she mean? I decided to ask later...my urge to get started was taking over me.

I started to guide them through the forest until we reached an open space. The grass seemed to be greener; the forest surrounded us, causing the space to look like a circle.

"First," I took out two swords. "Show me what'cha got." I threw them toward Rukia and Hitsugaya. They both caught it.

They seemed hesitant on what to do. I raised an eyebrow, "Is there an instruction you did not understand?"

They exchanged unsure glances, "We just...attack you?" Hitsugaya asked. I chuckled, "Yeah...show me what'cha got."

Hitsugaya seemed to enjoy these instructions. He smiled, laughed, and rushed at me head-first. He gave a great swing of his sword, but I countered it with clashing Takaikizu. He bent down swiftly, and swung his legs, trying to trip me, but i jumped. I laughed, but when i looked back down, he wasn't there.

I looked above me and he was about to strike with his sword. I cursed under my breath. When he was about to strike i caught it in my palm and threw it along with him.

I reached the ground and winced at the pain in my palm. Obviously, i had a cut. I looked around for him, but couldn't find him. Before i could react, he locked my arms by putting his arms under my arms and onto my shoulders. He put his feet over mine, disabling my feet.

"Impressive," i scoffed, "But you're forgetting...I'm Kaien." I elbowed his stomach, causing him to cough up blood and squeeze his stomach, giving me arms back. I flipped behind him and elbowed his back. He fell to the ground and i put my foot on his back.

"I must say, Hitsugaya, you are wonderful. The best beginner trainee i ever saw." He smiled, "Thanks."

I looked over to Rukia who looked terrified, "Wanna give it a go?" i asked. She gulped.

I smiled a warm smile and walked over to her. I put my hand that wasn't bleeding on her shoulder.

"Rukia, i won't hurt you. I'll be gentle. You see, Hitsugaya enjoyed that. That's his version of fun. If you don't want me to be like that, just say so. I'm only doing this to test your strength." She smiled, too, and nodded.

We walked over to the center of the area. Hitsugaya got up and moved. He leaned against a tree and squeezed his stomach.

Now, i'd finally find out what strength Rukia posses. She looked nervous, as expected, and gulped.

"Ready?" i asked. She exhaled and nodded.

In a flash, i stepped behind her, and tried to strike her. She jumped and stepped on the hilt of my sword, she put both of her hands on my shoulders and flipped behind me. I was surprised, that was pretty good! She nearly struck my neck but i ducked. I hitched my foot around her leg and flipped behind her.

"Good job," i said. I nearly stabbed her but, like thin air, she disappeared. "What..." i mumbled. I looked around and couldn't find her. It's like she vanished from the face of the earth. Where was she? Left, right, up? I smirked: down. I stabbed my sword in the ground and a crack the size of an earthquake appeared. Hitsugaya's eyes widened as big as plates. But, to my surprise, she wasn't there. All i saw were squirmy earthworms. What the heck?

All of a sudden, as though i was going blind, everything around me seemed to grow as dark as midnight. What was going on? Rukia appeared before me.

"What did you do??" I asked. She put two fingers up, making a hand sign. I gasped, "Impossible..." I muttered. "How the hell is a trainee able to do this?" i asked aloud.

I guess she saw the surprise is my eyes. All of a sudden the bright realistic colors of the world returned. I fell to my knees and tried to catch my breath. I looked up at her.

What i saw in her eyes...it made my eyes widen. I did not see anger, or depression. I saw fear. Enough fear to make my heart skip a beat. It wasn't ordinary, it looked as though she saw herself murder one of her loved ones. "Rukia..." I muttered. She ran over to Hitsugaya.

"What...is she...?" I asked myself.

I saw Hitsugaya put a hand on her shoulder and tell her something soothing, i suppose. She nodded, tears escaping her eyes a little. He gave her a hug.

What is going on? I asked myself. Why was she so...upset? They both walked over to me.

"Um, well, i think that's enough for today. Tomorrow, the usual place, at 10:00 a.m. got it?" They both nodded.

Hitsugaya started to walk away. Rukia stood there for a while, starring at the ground, and began to walk. I stopped her with my hand on her shoulder, "Rukia...wait."

She stood there, her back turned to me.

"Can we talk for a little while?"

She turned around to face me, "I rather not Kaien-sensei."

I looked at her, "Well...ok then, later, all right?" she nodded, her eyes not leaving the ground, and ran away, leaving me confused.

I was undressing at home into my PJ's. I couldn't get the reaction from Kaori out of my head. What was going on? I was left unanswered. The look in her big gray eyes made me keep on pondering possibilities. Though...another question was left in my head: why do I keep thinking about her?

~FROM KAORI'S POINT OF VIEW~

I was walking home, thinking about what i did during training this morning. How could i be such an idiot? Using a technique like that in front of Kaien-sensei?? Did i forget everything that happened to me due to those types of things?? I hit myself on my forehead, just to teach myself a lesson.

"Pretty lady...why you hittin' yourself?" a voice said.

I jumped in my place and stopped walking. I looked around. There was nothing in the bushes or behind me. Maybe it was just my head.

I continued to walk but then i heard it again, "Where're you goin' girl?" I turned around, sure that the voice came from behind. Nothing was there.

I began to get frightened; the darkness only complimented my fright. I began to run, praying I would make it home.

"Don't run...i ain't gonna hurt you...that bad." There it was again.

"Don't touch me!!" I shrieked and started to run faster. I still couldn't see the source of the voice, but i was sure it was near.

All of a sudden there was a hand on my shoulder and it spun me around to face a man with hideous yellow teeth and a messy brown beard. His breath had a stench so foul it made me cough.

"Hey there, girlie..." he breathed.

"Don't TOUCH ME!!" I smacked his hand, frightened.

"I ain't gonna do nothin'...that bad! Do ya got some cash on ya?" he said, looking me in the eye as i tried to look away.

"No i don't! So let go of me!" i smacked his hand, maybe a little too hard. "Hey! What'ja do that fer? Well, if ya don't got cash, maybe I can just have some fun with you!" He pushed me and i fell.

I was shaking on the ground. He began to draw his sword.

"No please, stop! You bastard!!" I kicked him in a place…you wouldn't like to be kicked.

"Why you! Well if yer of no use, i might as well kill ya, brat." The moonlight reflected off of his blade into my eyes. He started to walk toward me and i crawled backward.

"Don't touch me!!" I repeated. He laughed, showing his yellow teeth. "Please!" i begged.

I was sure i was going to die; after all, I was useless. I didn't have a sword with me, I used all my energy on that stupid attack toward Kaien-sensei, and...No one would waist their time to save me. He picked me up using my shirt.

"Die, brat!" His sword drew nearer, but before it could touch me, i kneed him. He coughed up blood that landed on my face and he fell with a gigantic thud.

I began to run, but he appeared in front of me, clutching his stomach.

"Little brat, how dare ya do that!" he kicked me down.

A hideous cackle left his mouth. "You can't run if ya can't see!" he said.

"What're you talking about? I have perfect eyesight!" I shot back. Another laugh escaped his mouth.

He took out some type of powder.

"What is that supposed to be??" i asked. Instead of telling me, he showed me. The man threw the powder at my eyes. I shrieked in pain.

"What did you do?!" I tried to open my eyes, but it only stung. Everything was blurry. As if water fell on a wet painting, everything was smeared.

"Ow!!" i shrieked. It stung horribly.

"Now ya can't run, can ya?" I saw a figure drawing nearer, and nearer. A shiny blade--well that's what it looked like--was about to slit my throat.

"Get away!" i began to kick. I was hitting something. I didn't know what, though.

"You bastard!" he cursed. The hideous man picked me up and threw me.

Rain began to fall, what could be worse? I was wet, cold, and beaten up. I gave up. If i was going to die, let it happen quickly.

But before i hit the ground, something warm caught me. It was warm and it felt nice. What was going on? I was in a man's arms. Before I could question anything, everything was answered.

"Takaikizu..." it was the one and only Kaien-sensei. A blade started to glow. Was it his? He set me down easily,

"Rest a little bit, Rukia, I'll take it from here..." he whispered soothingly. A battle cry that sounded like his sweet voice filled the air. I saw something red fly into the air. Blood, maybe?

I hideous shriek filled the air, it was the man's. A humongous thud that sounded like thunder caught my ears. Kaien-sensei defeated him. Someone was walking toward me.

"Are you all right?" it was the velvet voice of Kaien-sensei.

"Um...i--i can't see." I managed to say.

"He blinded you?"

"Yes..." I replied.

"Let me take care of that," he picked me up. He began to run, the wind pushed against my wet face. It made me shiver. I sneezed.

"Are you getting sick?" Kaien-sensei asked.

I sniffled, "I might be..."

"Sorry, I'll slow down." The wind got lighter all of a sudden.

All of a sudden the wind stopped. He wasn't running anymore.

"Where are we going...?" i asked.

"I would take you to my place, but it doesn't have first-aid ever since Megumi...died. Do you know where Hitsugaya'splace is?" he murmured.

"Um...I think its a right turn off of Karakura Rd. onto Amaya place." i said, reciting Katsumi's address. He repeated what i said to himself and the wind started up once more.

I yawned, getting tired. I cuddled to his chest in his arms. He was warm, like a blanket. I felt myself dozing off. The wet painting that was my eyesight started to fade to black. And then, i was asleep in Kaien-sensei's arms.

~~This is the part where everyone says "AWW!" haha just joking, but I'm not just joking about this….REVIEWW!!! I have to get at least 3 reviews to update :P so…hit that button….c'mon…it's tempting :D