Chapter 13
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Yuki stood out on the balcony a few weeks later. It was mid morning and the warm breeze blew in her face. Hisagi walked up to her,
"You sure seem to be in a good mood today."
She smiled, "Of course, last night I managed to accomplish something I never thought I could…I think today will be a good day."
Hisagi crossed his arms and leaned back against the railing, "Is that so?"
"Uh Huh."
He watched her silently for a moment. She had changed in the last few weeks. She'd become stronger somehow. Her personality had changed too, she seemed more mature,
"What?" Her voice cut through his thoughts,
"Huh?"
"You're looking at me funny…"
"Oh, heh, sorry…I guess I just spaced out for a minute there."
She raised an eyebrow, then went back to watching her fellow squad members dart around the sunny courtyard.
"Ahem…Excuse me..?" A tiny voice spoke. Yuki looked back over her shoulder, a very small Hell Butterfly fluttered there between them,
"Yes?" Hisagi asked.
It cleared its throat,
"Both of your pre..prescen…presencees..? are requested at the first division headquarters…straight away."
Yuki raised an eyebrow again,
"Alright…Thank you."
It disappeared and Hisagi glanced at Yuki,
"That was weird."
"Yeah…" They both sat pondering for a moment,
"Anyway, we should probabl go."
"Oh, Right…"
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When they arrived at the first division headquarters the doors opened for them and they were greeted by the other Taichou. Yamamoto stood at the head of the group,
"Welcome…" He paused, "As you allk know, we've been trying to decide who, of the two of you, is to be the Taichou of the ninth division. We have had equal nominations up to this point, and with the situation in Hueco Mundo escalating, this decision must be made now. We have decided that the two of you will battle for the position."
Yuki and Hisagi glanced uneasily at eachother,
"The battle will be held here…and now…"
"Wait, what? We don't even get time to prepare?" Yuki exclaimed.
Byakuya turned to her,
"There is no time for preparation in a real battle."
"Well, yes, but…"
"Enough!" Yamamoto shouted, "There is no time!"
Yuki shut up and snapped back to attention,
"You will do this now!"
She glanced up at Hisagi, who watched the floor nervously,
"You agree?"
After another moment she let out a long sigh,
"Yes, sir."
Hisagi looked up, "What?"
"We've got no choice." She rested her left thumb on the hilt of her blade and pushed it up out of the scabbard a little. Hisagi grabbed the hilt of his blade,
"You're right."
Byakuya stepped away from them, "Whenever you're ready then."
The two of them stood, feeling eachother out. Yuki wrapped her right hand around KoriHoshi's hilt, a little smirk creeping up on her face. She pulled it out of her sheath and it turned right into it's Shikai. She rushed at Hisagi, leaving him barely enough time to dodge before she struck. She shove dhim back into the wall. He was shocked for a moment, then pushed her back a few feet. He dashed toward her and she dodged out of the way. He spun around, swinging the blade toward her head. She ducked, a few white hairs trimmed from her head.
He brought his blade down toward her again. She lifted hers up and pushed him back, pinning him against the wall,
"It's over…"
The room suddenly filled with a heavy, icy cold, reiatsu,
"Ban…" She started, Hisagi's eyes widening, "Kai!"
Two enormous ice wings emerged from her baack, bright red blood pulsing through them as if to keep them alive. An icy cat tail grew out under the wings and slammed into the floor. Korihoshi transformed into a huge, white, ice covered blade, It looked a little like Zangetsu, with a double tip. The hilt was about a foot longer than it had been before, and a single star charm hung down from it. The entire room was now coated in a thin, sheer, coat of ice. Four three petaled ice flowers hung above her head, already beginning to desintegrate.
Genryuusai stepped forward,
"That's quite enough!"
Yuki and Hisagi turned to him,
"It has been decided…Hitsugaya Yuki…You are the Taichou of the ninth division."
"What?" Hisagi exclaimed.
"She has proven that she has the necessary skills required for the position…"
"But I've been doing all the work for this division and…" Hisagi protested.
"Enough!" Yamamoto shouted, "This decision is final!"
Suddenly the last petal of Yuki's bankai faded away and her bankai shattered. She fell to the floor, onto her hands and knees, exhausted. After a moment of catching her breath, she pushed herself back up onto her feet,
"Thank you…" She bowed, nearly falling back over again.
Byakuya stepped forward again, "Your first task is to visit the academy, we need as many recruits as we can get to fight Aizen…Your job is to assess them….And recommend any that stand out among the group…"
She slowly nodded, "I understand."
"You should go rest…This is very important."
She gave another bow, "C'mon Shuuhei, let's go."
Hisagi sighed, "Yes…Taichou…"
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Hisagi followed her back to her quarters. She turned around and looked back up at Hisagi,
"I'm sorry…"
"Why?" He asked, crossing his arms and looking away.
"I got the position…Instead of you…"
He glanced down at her, she really looked like she felt bad. He sighed,
"No…You deserved it." He turned back to her, a little smile on his face, "You'd better do a good job, Yuki."
Yuki smiled, "Don't worry Shuuhei, I'll do my best."
She opened the door, "Oh and Shuuhei?"
"Hm?"
"It's Yuki Taichou." She walked inside and shut the door behind her. Hisagi turned and leaned against the balcony, watching out over the courtyard,
"Right…Yuki Taichou…"