Chapter 3-

Two days had passed and Yuki was back in the Soul Society. She had met up with Gin and the two of them were in the third squad's training area. Gin stood in the center of the training area, grinning his foxy grin.

"So what's the first day of my training," Yuki asked, "a dummy? Sparring?"

"Summoning your Zanpaku-tô," Gin replied.

"You're serious. I don't even know what name to call upon."

"I think you do. Just calm your senses and concentrate."

Yuki took a deep breath and began to concentrate. She could see the Zanpaku-tô that was to be hers. She tried to call its name, but none came to her mind. She thought and thought. Finally a name came to her.

"Rise from the Ashes, Furuifiinikkusu (Ancient Phoenix)," Yuki called.

The Phoenix itself appeared before her. Its essence of pure fire heated the entire atmosphere. In its talons it held the Zanpaku-to. Suddenly, the Zanpaku-tô appeared in her hands. She observed the black blade and the red handle. She came out of her concentration with the sword still in her hands. Gin applauded.

"Very good, Yuki," Gin commented, "You have successfully called upon your Zanpaku-tô on the first day of training."

"Now what," Yuki asked.

"Now, we end your training for the day," Gin replied as he exited the training area.

Yuki began to wonder around, with her new Zanpaku-tô in its fiery red sheath. She walked around the entire barracks, but everywhere she went seemed empty. She finally continued to walk until she came to a wide open area. It was lined with cherry trees that were in bloom. The pink petals floated on the breeze. She could see some other Soul Reapers toward the other side. She decided to go over and introduce herself.

"Hello," Yuki called to the other Soul Reapers.

As soon as they heard that, they walked up to Yuki. One was bald and the other had straight black hair and was wearing a fake kind of turtle neck thing.

"Hi, I'm Yuki Okayama," Yuki introduced, "and you two are?"

"How rude of us Ikkaku," Yumichika stated, "I am Yumichika and this is Ikkaku. You're the girl that Captain Ichimaru is training, right?"

"Yes." Yuki replied.

"I see you have your Zanpaku-tô already," Ikkaku stated, "It took me two months to call upon my Hozuki-maru. You must be one quick learner."

"I guess so," Yuki replied, "Can you guys kind of give me a tour around here. I'm completely lost."

"Sure, it would be our pleasure to help one as beautiful as you," Yumichika replied, with a smile.

"Thank you," Yuki thanked.

The three of them walked around the main fort of the large complex, which consisted of much more than this. As they walked, Yuki began to learn more and more about what it meant to be a Soul Reaper. When they were rounding a corner, they met up with Renji.

"Hey Renji," Yuki greeted cheerfully.

"Don't forget me," Yachiru chuckled as she popped out from behind Renji.

"Hey Yuki what are you doing with these two," Renji asked looking at Ikkaku and Yumichika.

"They were just giving me a tour," Yuki replied.

"A tour huh," Renji stated, "Mind if Yachiru and I..."

"And me," Rangiku interrupted as she came running up to them.

"And Rangiku come along," Renji finished.

"Not at all," Yuki stated.

The group of six began the tour once more. As they walked, they came upon a room that was being decorated with extravagant decorations. Yuki stopped and simply stared at all of the beautiful decorations.

"What's this for," Yuki asked.

"The annual 13 Court Guard Squads Ball," Rangiku replied.

"Ball?"

"Yes," Yumichika replied, "Every year we host a ball for all Soul Reapers to attend."

"It gives us a chance to relax," Ikkaku stated.

"Female Assistant Captains always accompany their male Captains," Rangiku said.

"Really," Yuki replied, "So who are you going with, Rangiku?"

"My Captain, of course," Rangiku stated.

"Oh right, so what if a Captain doesn't have a female Assistant Captain," Yuki asked.

"Then he asks someone else," Yachiru replied.

"Normally, it would be either the highest ranked female in his squad or any other female," Renji stated.

"So it looks like you have a good chance of either going with Gin or," Rangiku started to say.

"Or who," Yuki asked, her tone turning bitter.

"Or one of the other Captains," Yumichika interrupted.

"Like who Yumichika," Yuki asked.

"Like Captain Kuchiki," Ikkaku replied.

"The day Byakuya asks me to this dance is the day the sun freezes," Yuki coldly stated as she walked away from the group.

She began to walk back to her room in the main complex. AS she walked, she thought about the ball. She never liked parties. Maybe it was the fact that she never fit in. As Yuki thought, she accidentally tripped. She began to fall forward, but was stopped by something. Well, it was more of a someone. She looked up into the grinning face of Gin. She quickly corrected her posture.

"Are you alright," Gin asked in his low, calming voice.

"Fine, thank you," Yuki replied, "now if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to my room."

Yuki walked past Gin hurriedly. Her cheeks turned bright red as she quickened her pace. She made a fool of herself back there. Not to mention, what would she do if Gin came to ask her to the ball? She finally reached her room. She ran inside and shut the door. As she turned around, she saw Byakuya sitting on her bed. Her eyes dilated and her hand began to tremble.

"Finally, you're back," Byakuya stated as he stood up from her bed.

"Can I help you," Yuki asked.

"I just wanted to talk," He replied as he sat back on her bed, "Come on sit."

Yuki sat next to Byakuya, his emotionless expression still holding.

"So what's on your mind," Yuki asked.

"I just wanted to apologize for my behavior when we met," Byakuya stated.

"Oh, well, don't worry about it," Yuki replied with a smile.

"I also wanted to ask you something. Would you accompany. ..."

At that moment Gin walked in the room.

"Sorry to intrude, but Head Captain Yamamoto needs to speak with you Byakuya," Gin stated.

"Sure," Byakuya replied as he stood up and left the room.

The room was now filled with silence. Gin casually walked over to Yuki, his foxy grin remaining. He looked down at her.

"So, I take it you know about the ball," Gin asked.

"Yes, why do you ask," Yuki asked in reply.

"Well, one, in your first book, your character attends a ball. Two, I was chosen to come up with the theme. Three, I was wondering if you would accompany me to the ball."

"Okay, my turn. How many of my books did you read?"

"All of them."

"You've read all four?"

"They're very good. I can't wait for book five."

"Two, what's the theme?"

"In your book, you made it Victorian, so Victorian. Also, I thought it might be fun."

"Three, it would be my honor to accompany you to the ball."

"Thank you, sorry to question you and run, but I need to attend a very important meeting."

"Sure."

Gin exited the room, leaving Yuki all alone once more. She got up and looked in the mirror. She gazed out at the trees that were reflected in the mirror. She also caught a glimpse of something or someone. She ran to her window, trying to find what she had seen reflected in her mirror. She turned her back to the window and sat on the floor. She was considering staying here in the Soul Society, but only until she developed her Soul Reaper powers fully. She glanced up at the mirror and drew her Zanpaku-to. She then turned and blocked the sword of a masked intruder. She got up and ran out of her room. The intruder followed her, his sword still drawn.

"Of all the times for there not to be any Soul Reapers in the hall," Yuki thought, "Now had to be the time."

She continued to run, until she came upon a dead end. She turned to face the intruder. The intruder charged at her. She deflected his sword away from her heart and into her left shoulder. Yuki kicked the man out of the way and began to run again. Hopefully with any luck, she'd run into Kenpachi or Aizen or anyone. She kept glancing back to see the intruder was still following her. The wound on her left shoulder bled profusely. She rounded a corner and ran into Aizen. Aizen stopped her, and as he put his hand on her shoulders he felt the blood on her left shoulder.

"Yuki you're injured," Aizen stated.

"Someone's after me," Yuki replied, in a trembling voice, "They're right behind me."

Aizen looked around the corner, but saw no one there. He turned back to Yuki, who had put her Zanpaku-to back in its sheath and covered her wound.

"We need to get you to the fourth squad's medical unit," Aizen stated.

"Please, there was someone there," Yuki replied.

"I know, I felt the spiritual pressure, but I couldn't see the person. Now come on, we need to hurry, before you lose any more blood."