Chaaaappppterrrrrrrrrrrrrrr 9!!!! Here we are! Like always review comment, and feedback, and crud. ^^- (ish happy about reviews for ch 8)

::::::Authors NOTE!!!::::::::::

Thanks to everyone's support this whole time! ^^ This fanfic has far exceeded my own expectations and I never realized how much people would like it. ^^ ....this chapter makes me very nervous! -_-' anyway: NOW to the FLUFFY FIC!! :3

Toushiro vision

I hurried towards the scream. I came to where two hallways crossed and looked to my left and saw a small group of academy students standing around. Several students were collapsed on the ground, bleeding.

I ran over to them.

"What's going on?" I asked them.

A boy with wide eyes turned to me. "I-it was a hollow! I don't know where it came from!! We were heading back to our rooms and…!" He gulped and looked down at the students on the ground.

"A hollow?" I looked at the kids on the ground too. They had multiple cuts all over, but they weren't dead. I told the students to bandage them the best they could and take them somewhere safe and headed off to look for any other signs of the hollow. If it wasn't found soon then many more would be injured by it. But in the back of my mind I wondered why it didn't kill them and just left them there, along with all those others. It made no sense!

I ran down the hallways, looking for any other signs from the hollow. I was passing another hallway when I saw something out of the corner of my eye.

"Fujiwara?" I mumbled looking down the hall.

Kaede looked over her shoulder at me. In front of her was a huge hollow, and a girl's body was lying on the floor, a girl with long brown hair.

Hinata vision

I raised Miharu and just barely made it in time to block its attack. Its two claws scraped eerily against the zanpakto and held them there, trying to push it out of the way. My hands shook as I tried to keep off of me. The hollow lurked above me, using both arms to try to crush me.

'Hinata push it off!'

'I'm trying!' I responded and once again tried to push back the hollow.

My eyes widened. The huge hollows neck extended and shot down towards me. I slipped Miharu out from under its palms and jumped out of the way just in time. The head stopped above the floor and it lunged for me. I hopped to my left and the hollow crashed into the wall.

I raised Miharu back in front of me, pointing it at the hollow.

I laughed and pulled itself out of the wall. "You're pretty good, Reaper to-be. But your skill level won't be enough!" It lumbered toward me, taking its time.

'What should we do?' I asked Miharu as it approached.

'Well we have two good options. A: run away and B: tell it how tasty Chitose tastes and lead it to her.'

'MIHARU!' I scolded.

'Hey, you have to admit they're good choices. Especially choice B. Let's do that one!'

'No!'

I was so busy getting mad at Miharu that I stopped paying attention to the hollow. It swiped a hand at my head; I ducked in the nick of time and backed up out of range.

'Hinata! Remember your lessons, off with its head!'

'Right.'

The hollow came toward me again and swiped at me again. I sidestepped the attack and brought Miharu down and through its hand. The hollow screeched in pain and fixed its yellow eyes on me, the glimmered with rage.

"Don't make light of me!" I said out loud and put on the bravest face I had.

"Try saying that after a gouge your intestines out." It growled at me.

Toushiro vision

"Captain Hitsugaya!" Kaede called.

I noticed the hollow behind her raising a claw. I rushed forward and blocked the attack. Kaede watched with wide eyes as I threw it backwards. She whistled as it fell down several feet away.

"Nice one." She commented. "Where's Hinata?"

"Back in your room." I answered watching the hollow. I nodded to Chitose. "What happened?"

"I was passing by and saw that Chitose was about to get killed so I stepped in. Though so far you're doing a much better job!"

I paused. "You would actually save Chitose…despite what she did to you and Hinata?"

She nodded. "'Course I would! I just wouldn't let her die!"

I thought about this. An admirable quality. Just what we needed in a shinigami, I made a note to mention this to the headmaster later.

She continued. "Besides I think anyone would rather," I gasped, "do the killing themselves." Her zanpakto shimmered, my blood streamed down my arm. While I had been thinking she had run her sword into my shoulder. She pulled her sword out of me. I staggered and almost dropped Hyourinmaru.

'Toushiro!!'

I dropped to one knee and clutched my shoulder, trying to slow down the blood flow.

"K-kaede…why…?" I managed to get out over the pain, looking at her.

She smirked at me. "I guess I'll go ahead and tell you, since you're dying anyway. I'm from a low lineage bloodline. Full of peasant workers, farmers, and servants. Due to this bloodline of mine I've never gotten respect and people like Chitose have always looked down on me. When I was alive I was abused by my parents and one day, when my father was drunk, he threw me into a creek and I cracked my head on a rock. I died that day."

She began wiping my blood on her sleeve. "Then when I came to the soul society I showed some talent so they sent me here. But no matter what I did, or how much I showed my abilities, I was still looked down upon. Then Hinata came along. Got special treatment and soared above and beyond me! It was always Hinata this or Hinata that! It sickened the HELL out of me!" She clenched her teeth. "Then I got a plan. Befriend her, get all buddy buddy, then use her to get a special recommendation and fame for myself!! But then she goes and makes me…. Get close to her.

Before I knew it she really was my friend. She…made me forget all my angst and hatred. Seeing how pure and kind she was made me loath my awful side. And when Chitose did that… what I caused… the pain I caused that innocent girl. I hated myself beyond belief."

She hung her head for a minute. I felt pity for this girl. This sorry girl.

"Then… I came along and Chitose was getting killed by the hollow. I can't tell you… how much I enjoyed her fright." She smiled, an insane glitter filler her eyes. "She called 'help me help me!'" She laughed. "Can you imagine a more pathetic spectacle?! Best show I've ever SEEN! Then the hollow stops attacking her and leaves her there for me. And we start talking. Can you believe it? A hollow understands what I'm going through! Someone finally understood!!"

She grinned evilly at me. "So then it offers me a deal I can't refuse. Team up with them, get what I want, and get power! Power that will make everyone who ahs mocked me shake in FEAR!! How could I refuse. And step one is to hand Hina-chan over to them." She turned away and began walking down the hall. "Thanks for telling me where she is!"

I stared in horror at the twisted girl. "Wait! Fujiwara! I thought you were Hinata's FRIEND!! What happened to just five minutes ago when you were concerned for her?! This isn't you! Don't be fooled, the hollow-"

"SHUT UP!!" She glared at me. "Stop acting superior!! You people always do this! You have no idea, you don't know me! Don't try to make me look like the bad guy!!" She laughed strangely and clutched her head, sobbing. I suddenly realized that she had gone half insane since the last time I saw her. "What's one or two fools to me? I'm far above you! I'm special! I deserve recognition! I'll do anything for myself. I'm just… selfish like that. But when I'm a GOD you people will praise me. See ya later, Reaper!" She ran off cackling.

I stared at her. "'God'? What the fuck? What did you tell her?" I asked the hollow.

It laughed. "Nothing really. Though I did influence her mind a bit to my liking. Though it looks like she's gone a bit off the deep end due to it." It laughed. "She be tasty to eat, probably laugh while I chewing her bones!"

"…you brainwashed her?"

"Something like that. Just put this in her ear." It help up a wormy looking thing sticking out of its palm. "And just shifted things round a bit." It giggled at my horrified expression.

I glared at it, wanting to rip its head off. "Bastard. What do you want with Hinata anyway?"

It started coming toward me. "Why should I tell you? In a minute you're going to be dead anyway. I think I'll start with those pesky little eyes of yours."

I gritted my teeth.

'Toushiro, you can't fight like this…' Hyourinmaru commented as I tried to stand.

'I know that, but I don't have much choice, do I? Besides there's still…' I glanced at the unconscious Chitose.

'You always have too good options. A:-'

'Don't start.'

'Dammit.'

Hinata vision

I blocked another attack, throwing the hollow off again. It staggered backwards a few steps but quickly regained its balance. I huffed and kept my eyes on the hollow.

'Hinata you have to end this soon. You can't take much more.' Miharu told me.

'I know.'

I suddenly felt a pang in my chest. I hunched over and clutched the front of my kimono.

'Hinata?! What's wrong?'

'I…I don't know. It feels like something bad has happened!' A mental picture of Toushiro flitted into my mind. 'I hope Toushiro-san is alright.'

'Worry about him later. You can't afford to be distracted right now!'

'Don't have to remind me.'

I heard something behind me, I whipped my head around to see Kaede.

"Kaede!!" I smiled warmly.

"Hey, Hinata! You ok?" She asked me, running up next to me.

"Yeah I-" I noticed her sleeve. "Kaede?! Are you hurt?!"

She paused and looked at the blood on her sleeve. "This? Don't worry, I'm perfectly fine, just a scratch is all."

I was still concerned but she seemed ok so I let is pass.

She looked at the hollow. "Ugly guy. Let's kill it already, you distract it and I'll chop it's head open."

I glanced at the hollow. "But its neck-"

"Don't worry! I'll be fine, we have to kill it before it has the chance to get anyone else!" Her determined face put me at ease. I nodded at her.

"Ok. Get ready." I took a step forward.

'…Something's not right.' Miharu mumbled as the hollow lumbered toward us.

'What do you mean?' Its eyes honed in on us.

'The blood on her sleeve… doesn't it look like it was smeared on? … and as far as I can tell… she's not injured in any way…'

I stopped as Miharu's observations sunk in. 'Miharu…what are you-?'

'HINATA BEHIND YOU!!' Miharu yelled at me.

I spun instinctively and blocked a sword that was just about to stab me. At the other end was Kaede.

"Shit." She mumbled and knocked my sword off of hers. She took another swing above my head. I raised Miharu, blocked the attack, and threw her off balance. She loss her balance and stumbled back a step. I rushed forward and put the tip of my zanpakto against her neck.

"Kaede? Why are you attacking me?!" I asked her. A silence passed. Slowly at first, but it became louder. Laughter. She was laughing!

"Why do you think, stupid? I was trying to cut your arms off!" She smirked at me.

I stared at her in horror. "Cut…? Why?! What are you talking about?!"

She looked behind me. Smiled. Locked her eyes with mine again. "I'm with the hollows. If I help them get you then I get everything I've ever wanted!"

"Me? What…?"

She rolled her eyes. "I don't believe this. You haven't even noticed your own abilities! How pathetic!" I was about to ask another question, but the hollow took another swipe at me, leaving me with no choice other than to move away from Kaede.

She tsked me, fingering her sword. It was right them that I noticed it had bloodstains on it.

"Hinata, you sure are dumb. You should have killed me, get rid of one of your opponents. But no, now you have to deal with me and the hollow. Fool." She grinned at me. "So what would you prefer? Your right arm or your left?"

"Kaede… why are you doing this? Aren't we friends?" I stared at her.

"FRIENDS? HA! We were never friends! The only reason I started being nice to you was to get attention from the higher ups! You were never ANYTHING TO ME!" She laughed at me.

I stared at her. "…But…you were my friend. I… always thought of you as my best friend. A sister even…I liked hanging out with you. It felt like there was at least one person in the academy who liked me. And even better it was you."

"What are you spouting now?" She grumbled.

"I was very happy when we became friends… it was fun." I felt my eyes brimming. She clenched her teeth. "That's why… I don't believe you. The Kaede I've known this whole time wouldn't do this. Not to me."

"What? Are you retarded?" She laughed. "You don't know me! How can you possibly-"

"OF COURSE I KNOW YOU! YOU'RE MY BEST FRIEND!!" I yelled at her. "I'll always know you. This isn't you. You could never hurt me. You're good. Please…Kaede stop this." I begged her, the tears in my eyes stung.

Kaede frowned, glared. She tilted her head, and smirked evilly. "I'm good? Try asking the captain about that part. Ever wonder where this blood came from." She pointed to her sleeve and grinned as it sunk in.

My fists gripped around Miharu. I clenched my teeth. "You… Kaede what did you do to Captain Hitsugaya?"

She grinned at me. "Do you need to ask?" She laughed loudly, the hollow chuckled. "What do you think now? Still think I'm-?!" She halted as I punched her. Kaede fell backwards. I grabbed her kimono and shoved her to the ground, pinning her down.

"H-hinata? Y-you wouldn't… I mean… you said it yourself. I'm your best-"

"Kaede. You have five seconds to tell me what you did to the captain before I kill you." I growled at her.

Kaede stared at me. Then looked past me. Her eyes widened. Miharu was pierced through the head of the hollow, which was slowly disintegrating to nothing. I had made sure to dispatch of it before this. She gaped at her fallen comrade, then looked back at me. She was beginning to tremble.

"H-hinata-"

I put a hand on her head and yanked her hair. "Tell me." I glared at her. I felt indescribable rage inside me, taking over my every thought, my every action.

"I-I-I-I n-nothing! I just stabbed him! That's it. He was still alive when I left! H-Hinata you wouldn't- I mean you could never-"

"Kill you? Of course I could. I just would have a bad taste in my mouth for awhile is all." I slowly released Kaede. "I'll let you go for now. But if he's dead… I'll track you down and slice your head in two!" I vowed. I got off of my former friend and walked away, catching Miharu in my hand as she fell from the last remaining bit from the hollow. I heard Kaede get to her feet and run away.

'Goodbye…Kaede.' I thought one last time, a cold feeling swept through me.

I walked to the next hallway connecting to this one and took off, searching for any sign of Toushiro. I shed a few tears for Kaede as I ran. Miharu knew that trying to console me would do no good so she kept quiet.

I ran down several hallways, looking desperately for him.

'Please. Please be okay.' I wished. I closed my eyes and his face flashed into my mind, making me run faster. 'Toushiro!'

Toushiro vision

The hollows claws scraped against Hyourinmaru. I grimaced as my shoulder pained me again. I shook the hollow off and huffed. The hollow took its time getting up. It didn't need to hurry, I wasn't going anywhere. I searched my mind for any way to end this. I couldn't use Hyourinmaru's shikai or bankai with my shoulder like it was. I couldn't leave Chitose behind, nor could I keep the hollow back or get her to safety. I was trapped.

'I can't believe I let this happen! I thought I was a captain. To think I just let that girl…'

'You didn't let her. She tricked us, we had no reason to suspect her. She was Hinata's friend after all.'

I twitched. Hinata… that's right. She's in danger too. I gripped Hyourinmaru. 'That girl better have not hurt Hinata…'

'Faster you kill the hollow the faster we can go find her.' Hyourinmaru told me.

I turned my attention back to the hollow. 'Yeah but that's the problem right there.' I could only hold my zanpakto with one hand, less power and maneuverability than with two. I was at a severe disadvantage, not even counting Chitose, my shoulder, or my quickly weakening state. My vision was starting to act strangely as well, everything was beginning to blur.

The hollow lunged at me, this time I raised Hyourinmaru and ran the zanpakto through its hand. It roared in pain as I sliced a chunk out. The hollow glared at me as its hand froze solid.

"Want to try that again? Next time I'll slice your whole arm off." I vowed.

"Let's see you try." It hissed at me.

I heard footsteps coming down the hall, I half turned, expecting Kaede or another hollow. Two pale lavender eyes met mine. I didn't react for a few seconds.

"Captain Hitsugaya!" Hinata smiled. She ran toward me.

"Hinata-chan?" I mumbled quietly in disbelief as she hugged me. It took me a long second to realize that she was crying. "Why are you crying now?" I sighed.

She sniffed and buried her head into my good shoulder. "I thought you were dead! Kaede said she stabbed you!"

'Oh so Kaede did go to get Hinata… what happened anyway?' I thought to myself.

'Obviously she kicked that bitch's ass.'

I sighed heavily. "You're so stupid sometimes, Hinata." I put my arm around her and savored the moment.

I heard laughter. "What's this now? A reunion with your lover or something?"

I turned my head to the hollow and glared. "Hinata get back." I ordered her. She noticed the hollow and began to let me go but flinched.

"Captain?! Your shoulder!! Did Kaede do that?!!" She gawked at my injury.

"It's fine, now do as you're told."

The hollow laughed again. "How funny. A shrimp acting tough for his shrimpet!" It fixed its gaze on us and stopped. "Wait a minute… is that her? That Hyuuga girl we came for… now that I think about she does… heh heh how interesting."

This was starting to annoy me. "It's about time you fess up. What do you guys want with Hinata anyway?" I raised Hyourinmaru up to point at the hollow.

"Wouldn't YOU like to know!" It teased me. "Besides, in your current condition you won't live long enough to find out."

"Captain…" Hinata mumbled.

"Ignore it. Don't let it get to you." I told her. I was about to take a step forward but I felt Hinata grab my arm. I looked over at her. "Hinata, let go."

"No."

I sighed. "As your captain I order you to let go."

"You're not my captain yet."

"Hinata…" I growled at her.

She held on tighter. "Your face is pale…"

"So is yours."

She glared at me. "You know what I mean! You're hurt badly, I won't watch you die!"

"I'm not going to die-"

"You can barely stand! I refuse to lose anyone else, especially not you!"

I flinched at that and stared into her eyes. They glimmered with unshed tears. "Hinata…"

"YAWN! What is this a soap opera?" The hollow grumbled. "Seriously, kid, if he wants an early death let him! You're not going to live that much longer after him anyway."

I remembered the hollow and the current situation. I looked away from those eyes and pulled my arm out of her grasp. "Hinata, get Chitose and get yourself and her to safety."

"…Chitose??? What?" A pause. "What the heck?! When did she get there?!!!"

I rolled my eyes. "She's been there the whole time."

"Really?! I didn't notice at all!"

"…Idiot."

"That's my line." I replied.

Hinata vision

I looked at Chitose's still body on the ground and wondered if she really was still alive. I saw her body move, breathing, which answered my question.

Toushiro stood in front of me, even in his condition he was still trying to protect people. The hollow started coming toward us.

"Hinata, get Chitose and get away from here." Toushiro repeated.

"No!"

"Don't start this again." I could tell he was losing his patience but I didn't care.

"Captain I won't leave you behind!"

"Just go." He said coldly. I stared at him, it felt like everything was ebbing away from me. "Why are you just standing there? Go!"

I looked up at the hollow, at Toushiro, at the ground.

'I…I can't... Why am I not allowed to help him?'

'…'

'I… I wish there was something I could do… am I really this useless to him?'

'Hinata…you really want to help him? Answer carefully.'

The hollow charged at Toushiro. He braced himself.

'Yes.'

'Then, just want it!'

The hollow swiped down at Toushiro.

"Toushiro!" I yelled.

A bright light surrounded him. It blinded me for a moment. When I reopened my eyes Toushiro was staring at his shoulder. He moved it around a bit and looked over at me.

His shoulder was completely healed.

The hollow was also staring at Toushiro.

A long moment passed and the hollow started laughing uncomfortably .

"Well, guess I should…. mosey along now." It began shuffling away.

"Ahem." Toushiro turned back to it. "Where do you think you're going?"

It chuckled uncomfortably again but stopped when Toushiro released his bankai and got two ice wings. It was the first time I'd ever seen it so I made sure to pay close attention as he beat up the hollow, apparently enjoying it.

One Hour Later…

"Well it looks like there were only a few injuries, no one was seriously injured or killed, thank goodness." A man, one of Toushiro's subordinates, told us.

He sent the man on his way and we watched as the other shinigami got accounts of what happened from the other students. No one had seen Kaede since she ran off and we had yet to tell them of her betrayal. Toushiro didn't have to tell me that even if she was found that she would be punished severely for what she had done.

"Toushiro…?" I mumbled, as we sat down, waiting to give our accounts on what had happened.

"Hm?"

"I just remembered. You stopped calling me Hinata-chan earlier."

"And I just remembered that you stopped talking to me properly and started talking to me in a very intimate way about that time."

I paused.

'He's right. You ARE calling him by his first name.'

"Oh! Sorry!" I apologized quickly but he just shrugged.

"Its fine, I don't mind."

A small silence passed until randomly Toushiro pinched my ear.

"Yah! What are doing???"

He pinched harder. "I remembered that you completely disobeyed my orders earlier as well. This is punishment." He pulled on my ear and pinched it again.

"Ok ok ok! I'm sorry." I leaned toward him to relieve pressure on the ear he was killing.

'fufufu. This is entertaining.' Miharu giggled.

'No it isn't!'

After another minute of ear pinching punishment he was satisfied and released me. I rubbed my poor ear. Finally a shinigami came over to take down our accounts. We stood up and followed the man through the academy and into the headmaster's office where they were currently set up.

Three shinigami, and, surprisingly, Toushiro's lieutenant waited for us inside.

The shinigami straightened up as we entered and the three subordinates bowed to Toushiro. "Captain!"

He waved for them to stop and we sat down in some chairs and started telling them what had happened, skipping everything before we had…kissed… and including the kiss. I suddenly remembered that during Toushiro's account. I wondered if that kiss had meant something to him too, he didn't act like it did… finally Toushiro finished and I gave mine, omitting a bit. The shinigami were silent when I was done.

One of the male shinigami sighed. "I guess this means we have a fugitive reaper on the loose, with the knowledge Fujiwara has she could become dangerous for the soul society…"

Another nodded. "And the fact that hollows would even attack the soul society, much less the academy of all places, is also troubling."

The third agreed. "Especially how they specially targeted Hyuuga-san. We'll have to figure out why they did that if we want to prevent this from happening again."

I was wondering about that too… suddenly something clicked in me. Something that Miharu had said to me nine whole months ago.

'Miharu, did you know something like this would happen?'

'Eh? What do you mean?'

'Remember before we left for the seireitei and I was still making my decision you said "If you stayed here you'd make them a target for attack". I didn't notice until just now but that statement was… a bit odd. Why would me being there make them a target? I didn't really think about that until just now. Answer me truthfully, did you know something like this was going to happen?'

'… sorta.'

I almost fell out of my chair, much to the surprise of everyone in the room. 'MIHARU! What haven't you told me?'

'hmm… maybe I should just let you find out on your own.' She teased.

'Miharu this is no time for games! Seriously why am I being targeted?'

'For being extra special adorable?'

'That's not funny.'

'Yes it is!'

'Stop playing around already!!'

'YAWN. I'm sleepy, good night.'

'What??? You can't sleep, you don't need to! Miharu!!' I yelled at her a bit but she continued her sleeping farce and ignored me.

Lieutenant Matsumoto had been thinking to herself the whole time. She straightened up and walked over to us.

"Captain."

"Yes?"

"Something that you two had told us during your accounts has been bothering me. And they've started to link up. Can I do an experiment?"

Toushiro and I looked at other, I shrugged, and he gave her the go ahead.

"Alright, first, Captain take out your zanpakto."

"My zanpakto???"

"It's needed."

He paused but obeyed, holding his sword in one hand.

Matsumoto nodded, pleased. "Now, Hinata-chan, I need your hand."

"My hand???" I asked her, holding it out.

"Yes, and I need The Captain's hand."

Toushiro gave Masumoto a look. "Lieutenant, where are you going with this?"

"Just going to do this Captain." She yanked our hands and made link fingers. I blushed and Toushiro gawked at what she did.

"Lieutenant!! What is the-?!" He was cut off when Hyourinmaru switched to shikai form. He stared at his zanpakto. "Again?" He mumbled.

"Eh?" A shinigami looked at the captain.

"Has this happened before?" Matsumoto asked him curiously.

"Yeah, but it happened nine months ago when-" He stopped mid sentence. "When I had gone to send Hinata to the soul society…" Then he looked at me. "Hinata… is this your doing?"

"EH???" My mouth dropped open. "What are you talking about? I didn't do-…" I paused.

'Miharu. I have an idea what my ability is.'

'And that is?'

'Er… like sharing energy or something?'

'Close but no. '

'Miharu!'

"Hinata?" Toushiro asked.

I bit my lip and looked up at them. "I think… I might be doing it, but I'm not actually doing it."

Matsumoto hmmed. "Well we need a proper test." She held out her hand. "DO ME NEXT!!" Before Toushiro could stop her she grabbed my hand and pulled out her zanpakto. It changed as well, to its shikai I supposed since I had never seen hers before.

She cheered and started parading around the office, showing off how she 'solved the mystery' or something like that.

"Has this happened any other times as you recall?" A shinigami asked me.

I was about to answer no but something came to mind. "I think so… when I first came to the academy Kaede and I were doing Kido spells. She put her arm around my shoulder and even though she had said the chant completely wrong she fired a kido at an instructor. She had tried it again later but couldn't do it again…"

"Oh! You were one of the girls who almost blew up he instructor?" A shinigami laughed.

"Don't forget about earlier…" Toushiro added to the conversation. "When Hinata showed up while I was fighting the hollow she called my name and suddenly my shoulder was all healed, good as new. And it felt like I was completely re-energized." Toushiro thought for a second. "If I was to surmise… your ability is to…bring out other people's abilities. Up until now you had only done this when you were in contact with other people, but earlier you did it to me from four feet away, not only that but you did it differently from the other times. Do you think this is correct?" He asked me.

'Miharu…?'

'Yes, he's very correct. Although the last time was done more consciously.'

'Couldn't you have told me all this?'

'Awww. But that's no fun!'

"Yes, it is." I replied. Everyone in the room thought to themselves.

"So what do we do now? It's a good ability to have, and imagine if she is trained properly! This could be our ace in the hole! Not having to expend energy to heal or to bring out a shikai. And imagine the possibilities is she learned to control it!" A shinigami said.

"No wonder the hollows wanted her, such an amazing power! Imagine if one had eaten her, yikes!" Another added.

"Men." Toushiro mumbled.

"Yes Captain?" The shinigami straightened up.

"The information regarding Hinata's ability is not to leave this room!"

"WHAT?!!!" Their mouths dropped open.

I also stared at Toushiro as he continued. "That kind of ability is good, but imagine if everyone knew about it. Hinata could be used for personal gain in that situation. Someone might even become captain if she became strong enough to release bankai. She could even be in danger if the information leaked out too far, it's best if this stays secret, at least until she is strong enough to protect herself."

After a minute the shinigami agreed with him but asked what they should do now. Toushiro supposed that I probably shouldn't stay in the academy, best to get me somewhere more secure and where there were less people that could be injured.

"Call in the headmaster." He told them and a shinigami ran outside to fetch him.

Matsumoto grinned at him. "What are you up to Shiro-chan?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

A few minutes later the shinigami came back with the headmaster.

"You wanted me, captain?" The headmaster asked him.

"Yes, I was wondering if Hinata was excelling in her studies."

"Eh? Of course, she's one of the most talented students in the fourth class, she even outshines several fifth and sixth years!"

"Then it shouldn't be much problem if she left the academy early."

"WHAT?!!!" Everyone's mouths dropped open including mine.

That's it for chapter 9!! Yay! This is one of my more controversial chapters…. -__-' one I'm the most worried about. Feel free to give advice on how to make it better.