Chapter 8 is up! Sry for the long wait, have been on holiday plus I had to work too. Hope you'll like this chapter and keep reviewing!!
Chapter 8: Making the grade
About three weeks had passed since Inugami Yugo had joined 2nd division again. The time had passed peacefully and without any incidents and Yugo enjoyed his calm normal life. Little did he know that his life was about to change yet again, all caused by a single letter.
2nd division, captain's office,
Soi Fong read the letter she had received for the fourth time. She already knew what it said but she couldn't help herself from reading it again. After all, it was not often that she got a letter from Yoruichi-sama. Who knows what secret messages it contained, maybe even a declaration of love...
"You called taichou?" a loud voice suddenly called out to her. It was Omaeda. She had been so busy reading Yoruichi's letter that she didn't even had noticed that her vice-captain had entered her office and it was very hard to not notice someone like Omaeda. She glared at him, half annoyed and half embarrassed. "Never heard of knocking?"
"Oh sorry taichou." Omaeda grinned.
"Never mind." Soi Fong sighed. "I have something to discuss with you. I received a letter from Yoruichi today. It seems that there have been strange signals in Karakura Town lately. She asks if I could come over to lend her a hand."
"That's nice taichou but aren't there enough shinigami in Karakura Town already?" Omaeda asked. "Surely Ichigo, Rukia and their human friends can..."
"They may be strong but operations of stealth and investigation require other talents. You can't kill the enemy if you cant' find the enemy." Soi Fong replied, annoyed by her vice-captain idiocy.
"I see, so you'll be going to the real world? Well don't worry taichou, I'll take care of the division while you are away." Omaeda smiled happily.
"Yoruichi also said that I should bring someone with me as back up." Soi Fong continued. Omaeda turned pale. Going to the human world wasn't something that was on his to do list.
"R-really taichou? And who did you have in mind?" Omaeda asked nervously.
"I was thinking of taking one of the new recruits." Soi Fong replied. "They could use some field experience."
"Excellent idea taichou." Omaeda sighed relieved. "Who are you going to pick?" She looked at him with a cold gaze. The truth was that she didn't want to take Omaeda to the real world. He was hardly qualified for some secret stealthy mission and she didn't want to disgust Yoruichi with his distasteful way of eating.
"I'm thinking of holding a little contest." Soi Fong smiled wickedly. "The one who wins accompanies me to the real world and will be made a ranked officer of second division afterwards."
"An excellent idea taichou!" Omaeda praised his captain. "I shall inform everyone immediately!" Without waiting for a reply, he dashed away to spread the news.
A few hours later, second division training grounds,
Soi Fong looked at the shinigami that had gathered for her little competition. Almost every new recruit was present, hoping to get their hands on the first prize. Soi Fong shook her head. Ninety percent of the shinigami before her didn't even deserve to be called shinigami, let alone to become a ranked officer. She hoped with all her heart that among the few people who actually had some talent there would be one worthy of the promotion. After all, she couldn't face Yoruichi with an incompetent officer.
"Alright, I guess you all know why you are here" Soi Fong started, "but to make sure I'll explain everything again. I'm going to hold a little competition and whoever wins, gets to accompany me to the real world on an important mission. If you do well, there's a chance that you'll be promoted. Is everything clear?"
Everyone nodded. "Good, alright then, the first challenger may step forward." Soi Fong smiled. The shinigami looked at each other in confusion and nobody moved. Soi Fong noticed their hesitation and laughed. "What? Did you think I was going to let you fight each other? This ain't no child's game. If you let a bunch of idiots compete against each other you get an idiot as winner. That's no way to sort the trash from the treasures."
"So... what are we going to do then?" A shinigami carefully asked.
"It's quite simply really" Soi Fong grinned, "We'll play a little game of tag and I'm it. All you have to do is evade using shunpo for as long as you can. The one who lasts the longest, wins."
A sigh of relief rose up from the crowd. "That's easy enough!" A shinigami laughed. "Yea, we don't even have to beat her, this will be a cakewalk!" Another grinned. Soi Fong faintly smiled. "Glad you're all so eager about this. Now, who will go first?"
Yugo entered 2nd division with a tired sigh. He had just come back from 4th division where he had helped Hinamori with her work. Hitsugaya had showed up again too to help, although Yugo had the feeling that he was more keeping an eye on him. He really was protective of Hinamori. Hinamori didn't seem to notice, in fact she didn't notice anything around her when Hitsugaya was with her. "Those two are so adorable together. I wonder if either of them really knows how they feel about each other."
When Yugo walked through the hallways of second division he noticed that it was strangely deserted. He checked every room but found nobody. After a long search he finally stumbled upon some shinigami. They were all pretty beaten up and could hardly walk.
"Hey what's wrong with you guys?" Yugo asked worried, "Did something happen?"
"Nothing much..." One of them replied coughing, "Soi Fong taichou is just holding a contest to see who is fit to become a ranked officer. We thought it would be a great opportunity but... she's personally testing everyone and we didn't stand a chance."
"I see." Yugo replied laughing. 'So were is this contest being held?"
"The training grounds but... are you thinking of entering?" the shinigami asked surprised.
"No way!" Yugo laughed, "but I might as well take a look. It sounds fun to watch."
"Well enjoy yourself then..." The shinigami tried to smile. "We're going to 4th division... or at least try to get there..."
The shinigami slowly left while supporting each other. Yugo decided to hurry to the training grounds. When he arrived he saw a small group of shinigami with Omaeda behind them. He was busy eating as usual. When he noticed Yugo, he quickly stuffed what food he had left in his mouth and approached him.
"Yuffo, I'm glaf that you came." Omaeda smiled, bits of food falling from the corner of his mouth.
"Nice to see you too Omaeda fukutaichou." Yugo smiled, ignoring the munching sounds of his vice-captain. "I heard that there's a little contest going on here so I decided to check it out."
"Oh yes, taichou is trying to find someone to go with her on a mission." Omaeda explained. "Are you going to try as well? It's really simple, just try not to get hit by her for as long as you can."
"Simple huh?" Yugo replied while looking at the training area. A new shinigami had just stepped up but was quickly knocked out again by Soi Fong. "So what the record time?"
"Seven seconds." Omaeda replied dryly.
"I see. I'll think I'll pass." Yugo smiled. He had no intention on being knocked into 4th division again.
"Oh but I think you might stand a chance Yugo-kun." Omaeda whispered while bending over to him. "You can use shikai right? With that you can easily last longer than seven seconds."
"I doubt it." Yugo sighed. "Besides I don't want to use my shikai till I completely master it. I still don't know much about it."
"A shame, I really thought you'd do well." Omaeda sighed disappointed. He turned back to the training area and was just in time to see his captain send yet another shinigami flying. 'Superbly done taichou!" Omaeda cheered while clapping his large hands.
Soi Fong gave him an annoyed glare. "Anyone else who wants to try?" She asked bored at the remaining shinigami.
"No-no we just remembered, that we all have a dentist appointment, right guys?" A shinigami stammered to his friends, who all nervously nodded before running off.
"Cowards..." Soi Fong mumbled. When she turned to Omaeda again she suddenly noticed Yugo. "And what about you? Aren't you going to try?"
"Uh no thanks taichou, I just ate and I always feel a little bloated when I have to run short after a meal." Yugo nervously replied. "I've got that too, very annoying." Omaeda nodded while fishing a bag of potato chips out of his pocket.
"I guess it can't be helped." Soi Fong sighed, "Omaeda, you'll have to go with me to Karakura Town after all."
Yugo froze. Omaeda coughed up some chips. "M-me? But taichou if I'm gone who will..."
"I'll ask one of the other captains to watch over 2nd division." Soi Fong replied. "I don't feel happy about it either but we'll just have to..."
"I'll try." Yugo suddenly interrupted. Omaeda and Soi Fong stared at him in surprise. "I'll try to win your contest taichou." Yugo said in a soft voice. Soi Fong examined him closely. "A strange turn, but I guess I have no choice. Alright, get ready."
Yugo stepped forward. His heart was 100 miles an hour and he felt like he was going to throw up."Alright you can do this. Just focus on her reiatsu and anticipate her moves."
"Are you ready?" Soi Fong asked. Yugo nodded. Without warning his captain suddenly vanished. Yugo was startled but quickly recovered and barely dodged her first attack. He tried to keep as much distance between him and her but she was simply too fast. To his surprise he managed to dodge her attacks, although it was very close. He gathered all his spirit force together and kept dodging.
"I can't lose. I have to make it so that I can go to Karakura Town to..."
His thoughts were interrupted when Soi Fong suddenly increased her reiatsu and charged at him. Seeing no way to dodge this attack Yugo closed his eyes and waited for the final blow. It didn't come. When he opened his eyes he saw his captain standing right in front of him. She lifted her arm and pushed with one finger against his forehead. "Tag, you're it." She said smirking.
"Guess I lost." Yugo sighed with a sad smile.
"We'll see." Soi Fong replied. "Omaeda, what's his time?"
"One minute and 47 seconds taichou!" Omaeda yelled excited. Yugo lowered his head. "Not even two minutes? But I gave it everything I got..."
"You sure about that?" Soi Fong asked, a little startled.
"100 percent taichou!" Omaeda replied. Soi Fong expression changed, as if she was annoyed with something. She then turned to Yugo, who was still disappointed about his performance. "Alright, go pack your things, we'll leave tomorrow morning."
Yugo looked up in surprise. "You mean I passed? But I didn't even last two minutes."
"It was good enough." Soi Fong snapped back, irritated. "Besides, you're the only who lasted longer than 10 seconds so you'll do."
"Alright, thank you taichou." Yugo bowed deeply. "I won't let you down I promise!" Yugo left the training grounds, pleased that he passed the test and that he could go to Karakura Town. Soi Fong watched him as he left, her arms crossed. "That idiot just keeps surprising me. This is becoming more and more interesting indeed."
Thx for reading and stay tuned for the next chapter: Tipsy bees like to sting