Yuki felt safe, something warm was wrapped around her. The warmth that engulfed her was so, so addicting, so deliciously addicting. Yuki unconsciously snuggled closer, it felt so good here. It felt like she was in heaven, like she had no worries, no bad memories, she breathed in deeply. The scent that hit her was so aromatic and fragrant, it smelled exactly like fresh-brewed tea, tea with real tea leaves, not those awful tea bags or stupid powders. Jasmine tea... it was her favorite, the scent was so fresh yet calming.

"It smells good." ,she muttered quietly.

Jushiro blushed as the girl snuggled closer to him, did he really smell that good? Even if this was his futon,he should probably let her rest, Jushiro sat up letting go of Yuki and surrendering the rest of the futon to her, he moved to stand but a hand grabbed his ankle before he could walk away.

"Warm, so warm... don't go,"

Jushiro looked down at her, her face wasn't the original peaceful state, it looked suddenly looked lonely and vulnerable, her lips quivering slightly. He sighed, sometimes the girl was so innocent-looking that he forgot that she was probably only a few years younger than him... physically of course. Jushiro complied and laid back down, embracing her again.

Yuki smiled as the warmth was returned to her, she laid her head right next to it. A few strands of something soft tickled her cheek and she shifted closer to the warmth.

Thump

Thump

Was that a heartbeart? That couldn't be her own, was this someone else's? Instantly her eyes snapped open to meet Jushiro's alarmed ones, she jumped back and quickly bowed.

"I'm sorry, I... I didn't mean to invade your privacy...", she mumbled out lamely.

"Well you were having nightmares, It isn't your fault."

I opened the door, preparing to walk back to Yoruichi's place. The sun was still low, it was morning. The battle had ended in early afternoon, she had slept throught the day and night?

Jushiro saw her confusion, and said," Unohana-taichou lets me rest for a couple of days, she tries not to bother me and lets me rest for a day or two before coming to visit, She probably didn't expect you to still be here and didn't tell you."

Oh no! She had kept him up while he was supposed to be resting. It was all her fault if he got more sick.

"I'm so sorry, I was supposed to let you rest and kept you up the whole time with my selfishness, please accept my apology.",said Yuki.

"It's no problem, ." ,smiled Ukitake.

"Thank you... I need to go," ,said Yuki before quickly running out, her face was flushed a deep red. She had to admit, 13th taichou of the 13th divison was rather handsome. He reminded her so much of Hiro. So kind and caring, so thoughtful... Her heart clenched as she thought about her big brother, tears beginning to brim at her eyes. At that moment Byakuya Kuchiki turned the corner and saw Yuki on her knees crying. He had been trying to find Unohana-taichou for some more medicine, the wounds that Yuki had inflicted on him had been quite deep. He stood still, watching her cry.

"Why did it have to be you Onii-chan?" ,she whimpered softly.

"It's... It's all my fault."

"I'm such a horrible person, I should've told Oka-san!"

"If-I-If I had... You would be alive!"

"It's all my fault you're gone...", sobbed Yuki.

Byakuya couldn't help but feel some sympathy for the girl. What had she done that could've been so horrible?

"Onii-chan, Ukitake-taichou is so much like you. So kind and wonderful, he's so caring and thoughtful... Just like you Onii-chan... Ukitake-kun is soooo different than Kuchiki-taichou..." ,she said, dreaming that Hiro-kun could hear her.

All symapthy Byakuya had felt flew out the window, what did she mean soooo different? He was kind and wodnerful too! He could be caring and thoughtful! That was what Hisana always said about him, that he was her Prince Charming., he took pried in her words. He was the epitome of all of those things!! The girl knew nothing about him.

"But maybe Byakuya-san isn't so mean... You always said , "Don't judge a book by its cover.", I can't judge a person by the way they act toward me. Maybe he's kind and caring too! It would be hard to imagine him smiling so kindly like Ukitake-san, but its possible right Hiro-chan?"

Slowly, Byakuya's sympathy returned. Maybe the girl wasn't as bad as he thought.

"The General Commander has requested an urgent meeting, all 9 (minus Gin, Tosen, Aizen and the General Commander) captains are required to come. Hoshizaki Yuki is asked to come too.", said a voice sounding out into the air, disappearing as suddenly as it had come.

Yuki gasped, a meeting? She quickly began to shunpo toward the 1st division, but remembered Jushiro. He was required to come, she quickly flash-stepped back. She slid open the door, Jushiro had heard the message too and was putting on his captain's haori.

"You need help getting there?" ,offered Yuki. Jushiro nodded appreciatively and Yuki put his arm over his shoulder, slightly supporting his body.

Byakuya watched the whole scene, Hoshizaki Yuki was a kind girl. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if she became captain...

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Meeting

Yuki slumped Jushiro inside the room, his brow was sweaty and his breaths were shallow and labored. Kyoraku eyed his buddy as she helped him to his spot.

"General Commander Yamamoto-sama? Where should I be?"

"You will stand in the center, this meeting revolves about you."

"Hai..."

"Captains! I have urgent news about our friend Yuki-san here."

"Is it about her and the captain position?" ,interrupted Kyoraku-taichou.

"Yes... It is. The decision has been decided."

Yuki sucked air in, this was it, she thought.

"She is more than talented enough to become a captain, she was proved herself in the battle with Kuchiki-taichou."

Yuki released some of the compressed air in slight relief, was that good news? Why couldn't the geezer just get on with it!

"However, Central 46 has argued that even though she was completed the courses. She has never entered the Shinigami Academy and therefore has never graduated from it. This will give subsitute shinigami such as Kurosaki Ichigo the wrong idea... "

Crap... Did this mean she wasn't becoming a captain? Why couldn't the geezer just directly say it, it was simple, yes or no?

"Central 46 has required that even though she has finished the courses, she is enrolled in Shinigami Academy, after she has graduated then she will take the test again..."

Wait... what? It was understandable if she didn't become a captain, but forcing her to enroll in the Academy and completing all the courses all over again! Then what was the point of that one month? Did that all go to waste?She had fought and trained for 31 with no interruption, she rarely slept, only stopping for necessary things...

Did Central 46 know what she had gone through? No! They didn't!

Blood had dripped from her wounds every day...

Sweat would pour from her brow...

She had almost died training...

The "incident" with Amida had almost killed her!

This was what she got...

The Central 46 knew nothing?

She would not accept this...

Why should she suffer the punishments of the people who were called Central 46?

There was no way she was accepting, none at all. And she would do whatever she had to do to make them understand, she deserved the position of being a captain!

Yuki put her hand to her neck and ripped off the necklace.

Clink

It fell to the floor...

With the necklace, the seal fell, unleashing itself...

"I will not accept this..."