Now for the first major battle of my story.

Chapter 6

Power and Responsibility

Souji was going through some drills with his zanpakuto when Kiyone flashed next to him. "Captain Ukitake wants to see you, Souji."

"I'll be right there."

Kiyone nodded, and flashed away.

Souji sheathed his sword and wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Alright. Now let's see if I can do this right."

Souji focused his energy, and did his best to flash step across the barracks.

Souji stumbled outside of Ukitake's office. "I'll get the hang of this eventually."

Brushing his shihakusho off, Souji knocked on the door. Ukitake told him to enter.

Souji saw Rukia kneeling in front on Captain Ukitake. Nodding to her, Souji kneeled next to her.

"Now that both of you have arrived, we can get down to business. Several buildings in the Rukon District have been destroyed, and several souls disappeared."

Rukia spoke up. "What does Head Captain Yamamoto think?"

"He thinks that there are either rouge shinigami in the area, or somehow Hollows have gotten into the Soul Society."

"How would Hollows get into the Rukon District?" Souji asked. "Wasn't I told that they could only be brought in?"

Ukitake nodded. "That's the problem Souji. Neither possibility would be a good one. Now, we need the two of you to investigate the area. See what you can find, deal with the problem if it is reasonable, and report back. If it's bigger than the two of you can handle, get back immediately and we'll organize a bigger force."

Rukia and Souji nodded. "Understood."

Rukia flashed to the most recently destroyed area, Souji arriving a few seconds later.

"You're definitely getting better with the flash step, Souji."

Souji breathed deep and wiped his forehead. "Thanks. It's not as easy as it looks, but I'm getting it."

Souji looked around the area, his hand on his zanpakuto. "This place is trashed. What could have done all this?"

Rukia sighed and looked around as well. "Can you feel anything, Souji?"

Souji knelt and put his hand on the ground. With training, Souji had increased his ability to feel reiatsu, though it was still hard to use when not on a person.

"The area's energy is chaotic, too mixed to feel out."

But then he felt something in the trees to the left. "There's something over there that I haven't felt before."

A roar sounded, and both of them drew their zanpakuto.

"That sounds like a Hollow," Rukia said.

Then, a projectile shot from the trees, which Souji blocked.

Some trees shifted, and a giant creature with a white mask pushed through the brush. Several spikes pushed out of its arms, and shot toward them. They both flash stepped away.

"It's just one Hollow," Rukia said. "We should be able to deal with it."

Then Souji felt another one. "Rukia, behind you!"

Rukia turned as another Hollow rose up to strike her. Rukia responded by putting up her hand. "Hado 33, Sokatsui!" A white flash exploded from her hand, and struck the Hollow in the face.

Sure that she was good on her own, Souji looked back at the spike-thrower. "Let's see what you got."

A sinister laugh emerged from the Hollow. "You might regret that, weakling." More spikes came from its arms, which Souji dodged.

'When facing a Hollow, aim for the mask.'

Souji remembered his instruction on this, but found it difficult to find an opening. As he dodged several more spikes, he looked for a place to strike.

Then, he saw it. As it fired another volley, Souji flash stepped behind it. He leapt up its back, and stabbed the mask.

As the creature collapsed, Souji looked over to see Rukia dispatch hers as well.

She sheathed her zanpakuto and walked over to him. "How did it feel to kill your first Hollow?"

Souji shrugged as he sheathed his as well. "I'm more worried about how they got here."

Rukia nodded. "We need to report back to Captain Ukitake."

As they turned to leave, Souji suddenly whirled and drew his sword. "Except we're not done. There's another one here. And it's massive."

As another roar sounded, the sky cracked, and a large Hollow forced its way through the crack.

Rukia wasted no time in action. "Hado 33, Sokatsui!"

The attack flew to the Hollow, but stopped short of it, reflecting off some kind of barrier.

"Dammit, it's got a shield!" Rukia exclaimed.

Souji just stared at the Hollow. "Its power is massive. How do we fight this?"

"Like this." Rukia held her zanpakuto in front of her. "Dance, Sode no Shirayuki."

Rukia spun her sword in front of her, and it turned completely white, with a ribbon extending from the pommel.

Souji looked on in awe. "Is that your shikai?"

"Yes, now stand back." Rukia gripped her sword tighter. "Some no mai, Tsukishiro!"

She swung her sword, and a white circle glowed beneath the Hollow. With a flash, the circle flashed up, encasing the Hollow in ice.

"Incredible," Souji said, staring in awe at the pillar of ice.

Rukia sealed her zanpakuto, and sheathed it. "Let's get back, Souji. We need to report..."

Rukia turned in shock as the ice shattered, and the Hollow emerged unharmed.

The Hollow roared, and a red sphere of energy formed in its mouth.

"Look out, Souji!" Rukia shouted. "It's using a cero!"

Souji just stared at the power being formed. Almost in reflex, Souji drew his zanpakuto. "Awaken, Izanagi!"

Souji swung his sword, and released its true form. This time, when he looked at the energy, he could see how the flow of it formed from the Hollow's reiatsu.

If I can see that, then maybe I can study the shield.

With a roar, the Hollow fired its cero. Instead of moving as Rukia shouted, Souji stood his ground and braced himself, Izanagi at the ready.

As the cero flew at him, Souji struck it with Izanagi, cutting through the flow of energy forming it. With one last push, it blew apart.

Rukia's eyes widened at the display. "How did you do that, Souji?"

Souji didn't answer, but focused on the Hollow. Tightening his grip on Izanagi, Souji looked at the shield.

"Time to test it. Tenraisabaki Tenteidoki."

Souji launched the attack and it connected with the shield, making it flash. It was quick, over in a few seconds. But it was long enough for Souji to get a feeling for the energy. "Rukia, can you keep it distracted?"

Rukia looked at him, incredulous. "Distracted for what? There's no way through that shield."

Souji just held up Izanagi. "Trust me, please."

Rukia looked less than convinced, but something in Souji's voice made her trust him. "Just like Ichigo," she said.

As Rukia fired shot after shot at the Hollow, not giving it the time to form another cero, Souji focused on the feeling he got of the shield's energy.

He focused on the energy swirling around Izanagi, and compared it to the shield's reiatsu. He then began to change it to counteract the shield

Then, with a flash of realization, he had it. "Rukia, get away!"

Rukia nodded, and moved behind him. "This time, I've got you." Souji raised Izanagi. "Tenraisabaki Tenteidoki!"

The attack flew again, and hit the shield. But this time, the reaction was different. The energy fought with the shield, tearing at it.

With one last flash, the attack ripped open the shield, and sliced the Hollow's mask in half. With one final roar, the Hollow was ripped apart.

Souji resealed his zanpakuto, and sheathed it. "Now, we can leave," Souji said with a tired voice. Using two of his technique, plus modifying the second, had taken a lot out of him. It would take most of his power just to get back.

In fact, he was so tired he didn't even see how Rukia was staring at him. Her eyes wide at his display of power.

After giving their report to Captain Ukitake, Souji went to the barracks to take a quick nap to regain his strength. Rukia had stayed behind to talk to the captain about something else.

Once rested, Souji decided to get some more training done. As he was walking to the training yard, Kiyone and Sentaro appeared before him, talking over each other.

Souji waited till they stopped for breath, and held up his hands. "One at a time, please. Now, what did you want?"

"Please report to the meeting room, at once. A meeting has been called by the captain."

Souji shrugged. Maybe this had something to do with what he and Rukia found in the Rukon District. "I'll be right there."

As Souji entered the room, talk began to circulate among the gathered squad. On the stage was Ukitake and Rukia. Rukia was holding a small box.

"Souji," Captain Ukitake said as he entered, "please come up here."

Confused, Souji walked onto the stage.

"Rukia has told me about what happened when the two of you went out. You displayed an incredible amount of power, and more than that, the ability to improvise and keep your head in a crisis."

Because that's what I've done for months, Souji thought.

"For too long," Ukitake continued, "there has been an open position in this squad, because no one has come forward who is able to take it."

Souji looked at Rukia, who averted her gaze.

"Therefore I, Captain Jushiro Ukitake, hereby offer you the position of lieutenant of Squad Thirteen. Do you accept this honor and responsibility?"

Rukia opened the box she held, revealing an armband with a snowdrop, and the symbol for thirteen.

Souji stared in awe at what he saw and heard. He, who had only been here for a month, was being given such a high position. "But, Captain, surely there's someone..."

Ukitake shook his head. "There is no one better qualified for this, Souji. You are the most powerful of this new generation of shinigami. I ask again, will you accept this?"

Souji looked over his squadmates, who were staring at him in awe and respect. Looks like, in the end, I still can't escape the burden of a leader.

Straightening up, he looked back at Captain Ukitake. "I am honored to accept this position, and will do my best to honor it, and the responsibility that it represents."

Ukitake nodded to Rukia, who came forward and took out the armband, and placed it on Souji's left arm. "Congratulations, Souji."

Ukitake extended his hand, and Souji took it. Then, the world chimed and froze.

Thou art I...And I am thou...Thou hast established a new bond.

It brings thee closer to the truth.

Thou shalt be empowered when fighting with allies of the Justice arcana.

As Souji shook Captain Ukitake's hand, the squad members began to cheer for their new lieutenant.

Souji's shikai ability was actually different when I created this story initially. To use the concept of the Wild Card, Souji was going to have the ability to copy any Shikai ability that he'd seen. But I decided that was WAY too overpowering, and changed it to the ability to see and attack energy.

I know Rukia becomes the lieutenant in the current manga arc, but this is my universe. So if you don't like it, then I'm rather confused. You're okay with me mixing Persona with Bleach, but it's a problem that I don't follow continuity?

Please read and review.