Chapter 4-

Moments later, in the fourth squad's medical room, Yuki was sitting there as one of the nurses bandaged her wound. As soon as she was finished, Gin came running into the room. Unlike previous times, he was not smiling. Instead he wore a very worried look upon his face. He rushed to Yuki's side.

"What happened," Gin asked, a great worry filled his voice.

"I was attacked," Yuki replied, as calmly as she could, "by an intruder."

"Are you injured?"

"He got me in the shoulder, but I'll live."

"We are currently looking for the intruder who attacked you. When we find him, we shall interrogate him and make him tell us why he targeted you."

"Thank you, Gin."

"I should have been there with you. If I were there, I could have protected you."

"Gin, sit down."

Yuki motioned for Gin to sit next to her on the bed. He sat next to her.

"Don't blame yourself," Yuki stated, "It was a random attack. No one could have predicted that someone would attack me as soon as you left the room."

"Still," Gin replied, "I should have been there. Captains should be there for their pupils."

"Okay getting off topic, what was that meeting about?"

"You'll find out soon."

"What?"

"Never mind, I think some people have come to see you."

Gin began to smile his old smile and turned toward the door. He stood up and opened it, to reveal Yumichika, Renji, Ikkaku, Momo, Rangiku, and Yachiru. They all ran in and ran to Yuki.

"ARE YOU OKAY," The six of them shouted in unison.

"I'm fine you guys," Yuki laughed, but soon stopped as she felt pain in her wound.

"Thank goodness he didn't damage that beautiful face of yours," Yumichika commented.

"Yumichika, if you say the word beautiful or any of its synonyms one more time," Yuki threatened, "I am going punch you, in the face."

"At least she didn't lose her personality," Ikkaku stated.

"I hate to do this to you guys, but I'm going to walk back with Gin," Yuki said as she stood up and walked over to Gin.

She waved at them just before she left the room. As the two of them walked back to the main complex, they remained silent. Gin kept looking straight forward as Yuki looked up at him. She didn't know what it was. Maybe his hair of silver, his voice that took away any pain, or his gentle grin. Something about him made her feel like she was at home.

"We're not going back to my room are we," Yuki asked.

"No, we're going to see Head Captain Yamamoto," Gin replied.

They walked to the meeting room of the 13 Squad Captains. As soon as they entered, Gin went to stand in his place leaving Yuki all alone in the center of the room. The Captains gazed at Yuki and talked in low whispers. Yuki looked at Head Captain Yamamoto.

"It's an honor to meet you Head Captain Yamamoto," Yuki stated, with a bow.

"Do you know why I summoned you here," Yamamoto asked.

"No sir."

"It is because you were recommended by five Captains to become an Assistant Captain."

"Really? Me?"

"Yes, and now I thought you might like to see the final decision from the other Captains. I have already voted in your favor."

"I SoiFon, Captain of squad two," SoiFon stated, "Vote in her favor. She would be a valuable warrior to have."

"I Gin Ichimaru, Captain of squad three," Gin said, "Vote in her favor."

"I Retsu Unohana, Captain of squad four, vote in her favor," Unohana stated, "The Phoenix brings healing and life. It would be a great help to my squad."

"I Sôsuke Aizen, Captain of squad five, vote in her favor," Aizen said.

"I Byakuya Kuchiki, Captain of squad six, vote in her favor," Byakuya stated.

"I Sajin Komamura, Captain of squad seven, vote in her favor," Komamura said.

"I Shunsui Kyôraku, Captain of squad eight, vote in her favor," Kyôraku stated.

"I Kaname Tôsen, Captain of squad nine, vote in her favor," Tôsen stated.

"I Tôshirô Hitsugaya, Captain of squad ten, vote in her favor," Tôshirô said.

"I Kenpachi Zaraki, Captain of squad eleven vote in her favor," Kenpachi stated.

"I Mayuri Kuroshutji, Captain of squad twelve, vote in her favor," Mayuri stated, "It shall give me a chance to study her rare Zanpaku-to."

"And finally, I Jûshirô Ukitake, Captain of squad thirteen, vote in her favor," Jûshirô stated.

Yuki merely stood there in shock. All thirteen Captains had approved for her to become an Assistant Captain.

"Congratulations, Assistant Captain Yuki Okayama," Yamamoto stated.

"Thank you," Yuki replied, "Who's Assistant Captain am I?"

"That would be me," Gin stated as he stepped forward.

"Ichimaru was the first person to recommend you," Yamamoto explained.

"Thank you, all of you," Yuki stated, "I am truly honored."

"This meeting is dismissed," Yamamoto said.

Everyone walked out of the room and into the hall. Yuki walked out with Gin and stood out there in the hall. She was still in shock over the fact that she was now Gin's Assistant Captain.

"Thank you Gin," Yuki stated.

"It wasn't all me you know," Gin replied.

"Oh, that's right. Who were the other four?"

"That would be us," Aizen stated.

Aizen, Tôshirô, and Jûshirô walked over to Gin and Yuki.

"Thank you so much," Yuki thanked.

"Don't mention it," Aizen stated.

"You deserve it," Jûshirô replied.

"It's so nice when people you haven't even met think you're good enough to become an Assistant Captain," Yuki stated.

"I knew it when I first felt your spiritual pressure after your first day of training," Tôshirô commented.

"How come," Yuki asked.

"I think he's talking about the fact that you wield the Furuifiinikkusu (Ancient Phoenix) Zanpaku-to," Jûshirô replied, "It is rare for it choose a master, for it holds a great power."

"Sorry, I hate to get off topic, but who's the other Captain that recommended me," Yuki asked.

"Oh, that would be Byaku...," Kyôraku started to say, "I guess he's not here."

"Please excuse me," Yuki stated as she walked away from the group.

She walked down the empty halls of the main complex. Her mind was reeling at the fact that she was made an Assistant Captain. Also, she was Gin's Assistant Captain! Her day couldn't get any better. As she walked alone, back to her room, she felt an unusual spiritual pressure. She turned around, but saw no one. As soon as she turned around, she saw an arrow on the wall. She followed it and it lead to another arrow. She kept following them until she reached a door. She opened the door, only to see a dark room. She turned on the lights.

"SURPRISE," People shouted in unison.

Renji, Momo, Yachiru, Nanao, Ikkaku, Yumichika, and Rangiku came up and greeted Yuki. She smiled at them. The room was decorated in streamers, balloons, and flowers. She saw a cake in the back on a table.

"What's this," Yuki asked.

"This is your official Assistant Captain Coronation party," Yachiru stated.

"You guys did this for me," Yuki asked.

"You deserve it," Momo said.

"I don't know what to say," Yuki replied, as tears began to well in her eyes.

"Don't cry," Yumichika stated, as he wiped away a tear from her face, "You'll stain your beautiful face."

Suddenly, Yuki reached back and slapped Yumichika so hard he went flying into Ikkaku's arms. She wiped away the rest of the tears, as Yumichika recovered from the surprise attack. He held his hand to his right cheek, where she had struck him.

"What was that for," Yumichika asked.

"I warned you," Yuki replied, "If you said the word beautiful or any of its synonyms one more time, I was going to punch you in the face. Be lucky I only slapped you."

"That hurt," Yumichika stated as he gave Yuki the most pathetic looking face.

"Oh, I'm sorry, here I'll make it feel better," Yuki replied.

Yuki went over to Yumichika and removed his hand from his cheek. She then kissed him on the cheek where she had hit him.

"Feel better," Yuki asked.

"Much," Yumichika smiled.

"Come on, let's celebrate," Rangiku stated as everyone picked a cup of tea, "To Assistant Captain of Squad three, Yuki Okayama."

Back in the land of the living, Ichigo, Rukia, Uryû, Orihime, and Chad had all gathered at Kisuke's shop. They all sat around a round coffee table. Rukia held her Soul Society phone in her hand.

"So what's up," Ichigo asked.

"Should I tell them," Kisuke asked Rukia.

"Go ahead," Rukia replied.

"It's about Yuki," Kisuke stated.

"What's wrong," Uryû asked.

"Nothing's wrong," Kisuke explained, "It's just, she's become an Assistant Captain of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads."

"WHAT," Ichigo shouted.

"That's great," Orihime stated.

"That's not great," Ichigo replied, "How are we going to save her now?"

"Save me," Yuki stated, "I didn't think I needed saving."

The group turned and saw Yuki leaning in the doorway. They all stood up, each of them wearing a shocked expression on their face.

"Hey," Yuki greeted.

"YUKI," They all shouted in unison as they ran to hug Yuki.

"Guys," Yuki gasped, "You're . . . crushing . . . me."

"Sorry," Ichigo stated as they all got off of her.

"Well, look at you Assistant Captain," Rukia commented.

"Of squad three," Yuki added.

"That's great, I'm so happy for you," Orihime stated as she hugged her.

Yuki let out a low cry of pain, which made Orihime back away.

"What's wrong," Uryû asked.

"I was attacked today," Yuki replied, "I got wounded."

"Are you okay," Chad asked.

"I'm fine, it's not that deep," Yuki replied.

"Can I see your Zanpaku-to," Kisuke asked.

"Sure," Yuki replied as she handed Kisuke her Zanpaku-to.

He held the red sheath in his hand. He then grabbed the handle and revealed its blade. He and Rukia stared at it in amazement.

"This is," Kisuke started to say.

"Furuifiinikkusu (Ancient Phoenix)," Rukia finished.

"It's my Zanpaku-to," Yuki stated.

"You wield it," Rukia asked.

"Well yeah," Yuki replied.

"Congratulations," Kisuke stated as he handed her back the Zanpaku-to, "You must be one powerful Soul Reaper in order to wield it."

"Okay, now I have a question," Ichigo interrupted, "What are you doing back here?"

"Well, I was on a call," Yuki began, "I finished the call early, so I thought I might stop by and say hello. Oh, and I needed to pick up a few things from my apartment. "

"So you're staying," Uryû stated.

"It's not for the reason you think," Yuki replied, "I'll explain later. I have to get back."