Ch. 1 The Captain's Test
A/N: Ok I have decided to post up Ch. 1. This is definitely not my best, but to those who have been kind to read this, thank you so much! I hope you will like this!
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach. It belongs to Kubo Tite. But all the OCs you find are mine.
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Three years passed. Thirteen shinigamis stood in a spacious room. The leader, who stood at the head leaning on a staff, addressed his fellow shinigami. "I have a candidate for 5th Division taichou."
A collective murmur pervaded the room before he spoke again. "She is Kurosaki Hisana-san. Although Kurosaki-san is only 150 years old, she is capable of fully controlling her Bankai. She is also an excellent shinigami and very intelligent, completing all courses of the Shinigami Academy in two years. Are there any recommendations for captaincy?"
"I recommend Kurosaki Hisana," said a white-haired man with aquamarine eyes. His white captain's haori had the kanji for "10" on the back. "I have become acquainted to her and I agree with the sou-taichou. Kurosaki-san is indeed strong and skilled. I also believe Kurosaki-san will be an excellent taichou for the shinigami in 5th Division."
A man wearing a black, sleeve-less shihakushou spoke. "I recommend Kurosaki-san. I have also become acquainted with her and she is the type of person 5th Division needs. She is, indeed, a skilled fighter, not only in swordsmanship, but also in kidou and martial arts."
Next recommendation came from a man wearing an expensive headpiece and an impassive face. "I recommend Kurosaki Hisana. She is well suited for the position and will be a valuable asset to the Gotei 13. Everything else has been said by the sou-taichou and the other recommendations."
"I recommend Kurosaki-san. Kurosaki-san is an excellent candidate for the position, and as an individual, is very kind. Her personality is also an asset that will make her a good taichou," said an elderly-looking man with a kind face and white hair.
The other two recommendations came from the sou-taichou himself and a man in a flowery kimono haori over his shihakushou and a straw hat.
"Does anyone approve?" asked the sou-taichou.
A man with scars and a jagged captain's haori cackled. "I approve! If this is a shinigami who has the strength to possibly fight me on par, I approve!!"
"I approve. I believe Kurosaki-san will be a wonderful asset to the Gotei 13." A gentle woman with a long braid down in front of her uniform spoke. "And if she has a personality as is claimed, she may help heal emotionally-ill members."
"I approve. I do want to get to know this Kurosaki Hisana-san. Besides, I think Kurosaki-san will be a wonderful taichou for 5th Division," said a woman with two braids with rings hanging from each end.
The sou-taichou exclaimed, "It is settled! Hitsugaya Toushirou-taichou, Hisagi Shuuhei-fukutaichou, Kuchiki Byakuya-taichou, Ukitake Juushirou-taichou, Kyouraku Shunsui-taichou, and I, Yamamoto-Genryuusai Shigekuni-sou-taichou, have recommended. Zaraki Kenpachi-taichou, Unohana Retsu-taichou, and Soi Fon-taichou have approved. Kurosaki Hisana is now officially 5th Division taichou!"
A shinigami stepped forward. His face was furry and one of an animal's. "However, how are we to know if Kurosaki-san is capable of fighting using shikai and Bankai? She has not taken a division entrance exam, as she was admitted almost immediately after her graduation. Then, she supposedly left for the living world for three months to train for Bankai."
"Ahh. Kurosaki-san foresaw this. She has agreed to fight seated members in shikai and Bankai, Komamura-taichou," said Yamamoto.
An orange-haired man started in alarm. "Requesting permission to fight—"
"Denied. Kurosaki-san personally requested that you not fight her, knowing you will go easy on her, Kurosaki Ichigo-taichou. No, for shikai, she will fight Abarai Renji-fukutaichou. For Bankai, her opponent will be Kuchiki-taichou."
"Hai," answered Byakuya.
"Kurosaki-san requests that you not hold back during the battle for her sake. Her status of taichou is definite, but she told me that she'd like to fight to our best abilities." He looked over the twelve shinigamis in front of him. "With your fukutaichou, you are to report to the Soukyoku Hill, the battlefield. You are dismissed."
The shinigami taichous began to disperse, but not before congratulating a woman with brown hair in a bun. She stopped Ichigo. "Ano, Kurosaki-taichou… why did you not approve of Hisana-chan being taichou?"
Ichigo smiled at the girl. "A worry that she'll get even more hurt than she is now. Don't worry— She'll be fine, Hinamori-san."
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"Well, Kamikaze? Think I'll win?" a young woman asked her zanpaku-tou. Her raven-black hair swirled around her face, revealing brown highlights where the sun caught it. Her amber eyes sparkled with hope and excitement.
'If you keep your cool and fight using tact, yes. If you rely on me too much, no,' replied a woman. Her silky, white robes flew about her with her brown hair. Piercing cerulean eyes penetrated the young shinigami. 'Remember. Borrowing and combining my power to yours is the only tactic. You mustn't rely on me too much.'
The shinigami stood, stretching. "'Course not! Look at what happened to Otou-san, when he relied on Zangetsu-san too much. I am not my father, right? I am his daughter, and I will not make the same mistake he did. Besides, how can I rely too much on myself? Not only are you myself, you, Kamikaze, are my friend!!" She smiled at the woman, who grinned back.
"Hisana-chan!!" Hinamori Momo called. A sweet, brown-haired girl with her hair in a bun, she ran to the young shinigami with bright, happy eyes. "You're to be my captain! Oh, I'm so glad it's you, Hisana-chan!! Congratulations!"
Kurosaki Hisana turned to meet her new fukutaichou. "Oh! Who am I to fight?" A look of horror crossed her face. "Not my father!! No, that is NOT what I need! Please, tell me, Momo-chan! Not my father…" She grasped Momo's shoulders.
Momo smiled. "Abarai-kun for shikai, and Kuchiki-taichou for Bankai." She knew Hisana's fear: her father going easy on her in an important test. But, remembering a comment from Ichigo made Momo frown. Her brown eyes penetrated the golden-brown eyes in front of her. "Hisana-chan, have you been getting wounded?"
Hisana's eyes widened. 'Does she know?' "Ano, no… why?" Someone came behind Momo. "Ah, Yamamoto-sou-taichou." She sank into a low bow. "O-genki desu ka?"
Yamamoto smiled kindly. "I am fine, thank you. Are you prepared for your fight?"
"Hai, I am." Hisana patted her zanpaku-tou strapped horizontally to her back at her waist. "Have Abarai-fukutaichou and Kuchiki-taichou arrived?"
Her answer was a "Yo." Abarai Renji, a man who had a ponytail of crimson-red hair and tribal tattoos was the speaker. "Ready to fight, Hisana-chan?" He grinned and said, "Congrats on making taichou." He ruffled her hair.
Before she could reply, all other taichous and fukutaichous appeared. Ichigo looked worried, as did a petite woman with violet eyes and raven hair. The white-haired, aquamarine-eyed taichou looked pensive, and the strawberry-blonde, busty woman behind him mirrored his expression. The man in the sleeveless shihakushou, who also had the number sixty-nine tattooed on his left cheek and a black choker, looked slightly apprehensive.
All the taichous and fukutaichous stood in a line in front of the Soukyoku. Hisana and Renji stood at opposite ends with zanpaku-tous out in an offensive stance. Yamamoto called, "The battle evaluation of shikai for Kurosaki Hisana will commence. Opponent is 6th Division fukutaichou Abarai Renji. Use of Bankai is prohibited. First person to fall on both knees loses. Begin!"
"Hoeru, Zabimaru!" Renji immediately released his zanpaku-tou. The blade widened and formed prongs. He immediately whipped his retractable blade at Hisana.
Calmly, Hisana blocked the attack with her own zanpaku-tou. Shun-poing to another point of the battlefield, she placed her left hand in the crook of her right elbow. Running it along her forearm and the blade of her out-stretched katana, Hisana uttered clearly, "Tsuyoi mo Yasashii Kaze to Nare, Kamikaze!"
The steel blade disappeared into nothingness as the sword was rotated counter-clockwise ninety degrees. The hilt became immaculately white and a carmine ribbon emerged from the pommel. As this happened, a gentle breeze whipped around the battlefield. Finally, Hisana tossed the hilt to hold it upside down, ribbon-side up.
Renji scoffed. "Hoeru, Zabimaru!" While he knew Kamikaze's attacks well, he decided not to get too worried. This was only a battle for show, after all. So, he attacked Hisana.
The prongs hit Hisana's shoulder and he pulled back, ripping the flesh. Hisana, not even wincing, flicked her hilt so that the ribbon cut through the blade. See, the ribbon can cut through solid objects, even steel. "Is that all you've got, ossan?" Hisana whispered as she suddenly shun-poed next to Renji, cutting a deep gash in his stomach.
"Is that any way to address your godfather?!"
Hisana smirked, looking identical to her father. "On the battlefield as opponents, yes." She smeared her fingers with crimson blood from her shoulder wound. Then, she wiped the blood in the air surrounding the shinigami. "So, now, ossan, try to get through my Blood Shield."
"Blood Shield?" gasped the busty woman on the sidelines. "A shield… made possible by her blood?"
Her taichou, Hitsugaya Toushirou, the white-haired shinigami with aqua eyes, replied, "She must control the wind. Her blood strengthens the wind shield with her reiatsu!"
The woman, Matsumoto Rangiku, nodded in understanding.
Renji threw the blade again, only to have it rebound. Hisana began to close her eyes and held her zanpaku-tou out. Soon, a twister of water began to materialize. At a flick of her ribbon, the twister darted at the man with deadly speed. The impact of the attack forced the older shinigami down on both knees.
"The battle is over. The victor is Kurosaki Hisana!" declared the sou-taichou. "You are granted a two-minute break before your Bankai test."
They bowed. "Arigatou gozaimasu, Yamamoto-sou-taichou." Hisana then turned to Renji. "Arigatou gozaimasu, Abarai-fukutaichou. Gomen ne… Renji-ji-chan," she then whispered. "Hontou ni, Renji-ji-chan, gomen ne."
Unohana Retsu ran out with Kotetsu Isane, her fukutaichou, to heal Renji. Meanwhile, Ichigo and the violet-eyed woman, Kurosaki Rukia, ran out to meet their best friend and their daughter. The other taichous and fukutaichous were talking amongst themselves at how short the battle was, even with Renji, one of the strongest fukutaichous, fighting to his best.
"Hisana! Let me see that wound," Rukia said, fussing over her daughter. While healing the wound, she asked her childhood friend, "Renji, daijoubu?" with worry.
Renji grinned, "Aa. You did well, Hisana-chan. Zabimaru hurt you a lot?" he asked with worry. "You've got your Bankai test with taichou."
"Daijoubu da yo. That's nothing, really." To her mother, Hisana chirped, "Thank you, Okaa-san. Two minutes are up, got to go." She kissed her mom, grinned at her father and godfather, and shun-poed to the battlefield.
"The battle evaluation of Bankai for Kurosaki Hisana will commence. Opponent is 6th Division taichou Kuchiki Byakuya. Only Bankai use is allowed. First to fall on both knees loses. You may begin!" called Yamamoto.
Hisana bowed respectfully. "I'm honored to be able to fight you, Kuchiki-taichou." She extended her zanpaku-tou in front of her and placed a hand on the blade. Running her hand along it, she said, "Bankai."
The whole sword became white, and the carmine ribbon fluttered and swirled around the shinigami. Its guard disappeared and the blade shortened in length. Her hair whipped around her face as a breeze blew. Hisana slashed the katana to her right, saying, "Eien no Kamikaze."
Byakuya held his breath. His niece's grace throughout the zanpaku-tou's transformation awed the noble. 'So much like Hisana,' he mused, thinking of his late wife. Dropping his zanpaku-tou to the ground, which absorbed it, he said, "Bankai."
Four rows of swords appeared around the two. Byakuya also had a sword in hand. "Senbonzakura Kageyoshi."
'Kirei desu ne… but never judge a book by its cover.' Hisana quickly cut her arm, using her white blade. Then, she smeared the blood in the air, but it seemed to vanish. By the time Hisana was done, her blood turned her sword's white hilt (as well as the blade) red. Both hands were drenched with blood. Shocked whispers pervaded the audience on the sidelines.
"Ike, Kamikaze!" cried Hisana, flicking her ribbon expertly. She was holding the sword by its blade, but surprisingly, no blood was shed.
The wind picked up speed and began to twist into a tornado. At another flick, it rushed to Byakuya, who commanded the swords to disassemble and defend him. Some of Hisana's attack hit, but most was neutralized.
Byakuya sent his blades at Hisana. They flashed in the air; the light catching them made the blades look like sakura petals. Hisana knew better. As the blades rushed at her, Hisana calmly extended her sword and held her stance. The blades seemed to vanish as they neared her. Then, after half disappeared, Hisana herself vanished.
Gasps were gasped. Then, Hisana appeared behind Byakuya like lightning, blade pressed to his neck. Byakuya himself shun-poed to the other side of the Soukyoku battlefield, generally looking impassive. But, his eyes held the slightest hint of amusement for his niece. 'She had the chance to but me then and there. But she didn't. Tenderhearted as always,' he thought affectionately.
"It ends here," Byakuya said, raising his sword.
Hisana had the same expression as Byakuya, but her amber eyes said, "We'll see about that." She just held her sword in a defensive stance, blood dripping steadily from her arm. 'Damn, I cut deeper than I meant to… Mustn't fall on my knees.'
'I used more than half of all my swords… this is going to be the very last attack of this battle. I am not using my second stage,' thought Byakuya.
Momo whispered to Renji, "Ne, Abarai-kun. Will Hisana-chan win? She looks tired… Plus, that wound she gave herself…" She bit her lower lip in anxiety.
Renji looked anxious too, as he watched Hisana prepare to counterattack. "I'm pretty sure Hisana'll win. That kid is stronger than you think, Momo. Yeah, I think she'll be fine."
'That's what Kurosaki-taichou said earlier…'
Byakuya sent a small tidal wave of blades at the shinigami. Hisana's amber eyes expressed concentration and determination as she countered with a hurricane of heavy winds, water, and…
"Taichou's blades?!" gasped Renji.
'Ah… so that's where they vanished to,' Yamamoto concluded. 'Very clever, Hisana-san.'
The hurricane overcame the blades and darted at Byakuya. He shun-poed away just in time, but he fell to his knees from the impact it made from when it touched him. 'What a tremendous impact.'
Hisana fell to both knees the same time Byakuya did. 'I feel weak. And I feel another one of those coming on…'
Yamamoto called out, "The battle has ended in a draw! Both opponents have fallen at the same time. I declare, as has been since this morning, Kurosaki Hisana 5th Division taichou! Promotional ceremony and presentation of the captain's haori will be in two days. All taichous and fukutaichous are required to attend. Dismissed."
As soon as the word "dismissed" left Yamamoto's mouth, the whole sideline crashed in. Yamamoto chuckled, "Come, we will give our congratulations at a less crowded time," he said to his fukutaichou.
"Hai."
Unohana began healing the gash on Hisana's arm. "You have made a deep incision here, Hisana-san. Look at all the blood you have lost." Her gentle voice admonished the new taichou. Hisana giggled and blushed in embarrassment.
"Gomen nasai, Unohana-taichou."
Hisagi Shuuhei said, "Congrats. We need to go celebrate, right, Momo-chan? Izuru?" He added hastily as Rangiku glared. "Rangiku-san?"
Rangiku cheered. "With sake! And karaoke!! Tonight!" She glomped the now-5'7"-Toushirou and chirped, "You, too, taichou! Just take a break for tonight! Momo-chan's going to come too! Right?" She turned to the brunette with pleading eyes.
Meanwhile, Soi Fon, Komamura Sajin, Kyouraku Shunsui, Kurotsuchi Mayuri, and their fukutaichous left, deciding to congratulate Hisana at the ceremony. Kenpachi hung around with a short, pink-haired girl hanging from his back. "Nee, Hisa-chan, you'll come play with me, right?" the girl, Kusajishi Yachiru, asked.
"Sure, Yachiru-chan, when I get time. Besides, I'm joining the Shinigami's Women's Association, so I'll see you often," smiled Hisana, sweat-dropping.
Yachiru cheered. "YAY~! Ok, bye-bye! Let's go, Ken-chan!" In a second, they were gone. Hisana laughed.
"She's got energy, that Yachiru-chan." Then, she gasped. "Byakuya-oji-san!! Are you alright?! Have I—"
Byakuya interrupted his ranting niece. "I am fine. Congratulations. I must return to the Kuchiki estate now, but not now… If you will excuse me." Byakuya then shun-poed off. (A/N: "I must return…now, but not now" That isn't really confusing, is it?)
"Daijoubu ka, Hisana?" asked Ichigo. "That was sudden; you suddenly slashed yourself! Be careful next time!" He crossed his arms across his chest. "Oh. Right. Izuru? You can have the rest of the day off; I'll finish up 3rd Division work," Ichigo addressed Kira Izuru, his fukutaichou. "Go celebrate or something."
"Otou-san! Be nice to Kira-san!" said Hisana angrily.
Unohana finished bandaging the gash. "Saa, Hisana-san, you are done. Oh, congratulations on achieving taichou. You have done a wonderful job. Go celebrate with your friends there. You've deserved it." She smiled warmly. "Hisana-taichou."
"Hontou ni arigatou gozaimasu." Hisana bowed. "May I go?"
"Go, Hisana-chan. Renji and Ichigo'll find you later, so go have fun, ok?" Rukia enveloped her daughter in a warm embrace. "Congratulations, sweetie."
Hisana grinned. "Arigatou, Okaa-san. Well, then, see you later!!" She ran to join the celebrating party: Momo, Hisagi, Kira, Toushirou, Rangiku, and now, Hisana.
Renji watched Hisana run. "She's grown up. No longer the little girl clinging to my hakama, begging me to stay." He grinned at the memory: Renji trying to walk out the door, only to be held back a five-year-old version of Rukia clinging to his hakama, pulling him back fiercely with teary eyes.
"She'd always cry." Ichigo's cold look softened. "Now she cries 'cause of him." Ichigo scowled again, a murderous look creeping into his amber eyes.
"We'll do something about it. We will," vowed Rukia, watching her daughter. "For her sake… and the world's."
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A/N: I hope this was ok… In any case, please R&R! if I get positive reviews I will continue to update!
Love always
hisanachan