Chapter 5-

Back in the Soul Society, Yuki was in her room. She had had a long night of fighting Hollows and decided to lie down for a while. As she lay on her bed, she glanced out the window and thought of her new position. She heard a knock on her door, which shattered her thoughts. She got up to answer it. However, when she opened the door no one was there. She closed it and turned around. She came face to face with an intruder. He was tall, had blue hair, and wore white and black. Yuki backed away slowly.

"Don't try for the door," He stated.

"What do you want," Yuki asked, as she circled her way back to her window, "Grimmjow Jeagarjacques?"

"So you know my name," Grimmjow replied, "Well, that was unexpected."

"What do you want," Yuki repeated, her tone becoming fierce.

"I came for you."

"Wow, real original."

"My mission is to capture you, not kill you."

"Well, I'm not going anywhere."

Yuki smiled at Grimmjow just before she performed a Shunpo. She landed safely on the other side of the door. She ran down the hallway, which was empty.

"Why is he after me," Yuki asked herself.

She glanced behind her, but she couldn't see Grimmjow. She stopped to catch her breath. She looked up, to see Grimmjow standing over her. She backed away slowly, and then she began to run again. This time Grimmjow pursued her. She ran until she came upon the door to Gin's room. She pounded on the door.

"Captain Ichimaru," Yuki cried, "Please, open up."

Gin opened the door, just as Grimmjow rounded the corner and came into sight. Gin looked at Grimmjow and then back at Yuki.

"So this is your attacker," Gin stated.

"I'll be back," Grimmjow stated as he disappeared.

"Thank you," Yuki stated as she buried her face in Gin's chest and clung to him.

He wrapped his arms around her. After she was finished hugging him, he guided her into his room. He put his Haori around her shoulders.

"I think you should stay here tonight," Gin stated.

"Thank you, Captain Ichimaru," Yuki thanked.

"Don't be so formal. Just call me Gin."

"Okay, Gin. Thank you. I have a quick question?"

"What's that?"

"When you asked me to the ball, did you know I was going to be your Assistant Captain?"

"Of course, that's why I asked you. And even if you weren't, I still would've asked you."

"Really?"

"Of course. It's late. You should get some sleep."

"Thanks, but I'm not tired."

Minutes later, Yuki was lying on the floor asleep. She still had Gin's Haori, which she used as a blanket. Gin walked over to her. He gazed at the peaceful looking Yuki sleeping. He carefully slid one arm beneath her knees and the other beneath her neck. He cradled her in his arms as he carried her over to his bed. He set her gently down in the bed and covered her in the grey silk sheets that were on it. He then went back to the table he was at before and continued to read the book he had started before Yuki showed up.

The next morning, Yuki woke up to the sweet smell of cherry blossoms. She stood up and grabbed Gin's Haori, which she put on. She walked over and opened the door that separated the bedroom from the main room. When she opened it she expected to see Gin's grinning face, but he wasn't there. She walked over to the small coffee table that he was sitting at last night. She looked at all the different books that were scattered on it. She saw that four of them were hers. She picked one up.

"Even here people like my books," Yuki stated to herself.

"Good morning," Gin greeted.

Yuki turned around and saw Gin leaning in the doorway. She was so frightened that she dropped the book in her hand. She clutched her chest.

"Don't sneak up on me like that," Yuki stated.

"Sorry," Gin apologized as he fully entered the room, "So, did you sleep well?"

"Yes, thanks."

Yuki glanced down to see Gin holding something in his right hand. She smiled and looked back up at Gin.

"So what's that," Yuki asked, directing her eyes at the object he was holding.

"Oh this is your new uniform," Gin replied as he handed her the uniform.

"Thanks, I think I'll try it on when I get back to my room."

Yuki began to walk out of the room. However, just as she stepped out of the door, Gin performed a Shunpo and landed in front of her.

"Don't forget, you have training today," Gin reminded.

"Trust me, I'll be at the usual spot in twenty minutes," Yuki stated as she walked around him, "twenty-five max."

Exactly twenty-four minutes and 59 second later, Yuki came running in the training area of Squad three. She stopped just as she entered the area to catch her breath. She saw Gin sitting under a cherry tree. He rose and walked over to her.

"Excellent timing," Gin commented.

"Thanks," Yuki breathlessly stated, "So what's today's training?"

"Today, you spar."

"REALLY? WHO?"

"You get to pick."

Yuki glanced behind Gin to see Yumichika, Ikkaku, and Toshiro. She then looked back at Gin. The expression she wore was one of pure shock.

"You want me to spar one of them," Yuki whispered.

"Oh yes, Assistant Captain," Gin replied, "There's only a Captain, a third and fifth seat."

"So I get to choose one of them?"

"That's right."

"Okay, I choose Captain Tôshirô."

Gin turned and waved his hand to Yumichika and Ikkaku. The two of them left, leaving only Tôshirô. Yuki walked over to Tôshirô and looked upon the young Captain. She didn't know why she chose him, but she knew something good was going to happen if she spared him. Gin went back by the entrance to the training area, as Tôshirô and Yuki drew their Zanpaku-to. Tôshirô made the first move. He lunged at Yuki. However, Yuki diverted his blade away from her and she jumped back. The white haired Captain was emotionless.

"Captain Tôshirô," Yuki stated, "Don't go easy on me."

"Trust me," Tôshirô replied, with a smile, "I won't."

He straightened his stance and held his sword out in front of him. The sun reflected off the blade.

"Reign over the frosted heavens," Tôshirô called, "Hyôrinmaru."

Suddenly, Tôshirô was surrounded by a dragon made of ice and water. She froze in her place. Never before had she seen a move like this. She gazed at Tôshirô, who's Zanpaku-to had revealed its true form. She held hers in her hand.

"Rise from the ashes," Yuki called, "Furuifiinikkusu (Ancient Phoenix)!"

Yuki expected something normal to happen. However, she was enveloped in a fiery aura. Her Zanpaku-to changed into its true form, which was a golden blade with the crest of the phoenix as the handle. Her new golden Zanpaku-to gleamed in the sunlight. When the sword was finished transforming, the fiery aura thinned and hovered around Yuki's feet. She smiled at the confused looking Captain.

"Ice and Water versus Fire," Yuki chuckled, "This should be interesting."

Less than five minutes later, Tôshirô exited the third squad's training area. Parts of his Haori were scorched. Yuki followed behind him, but very far behind him. She walked over to Gin, who was leaning in a doorway. He simply smiled at her.

"So, how'd it go," Gin asked.

"Good, I guess," Yuki replied, in a low voice.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, I think I lost."

"LOST," Tôshirô exclaimed, "Really?"

"What," Yuki asked.

"You kicked the crap out of me," Tôshirô replied, "So don't go saying, 'I lost' to everyone."

Tôshirô smiled at Yuki, then walked away. Yuki directed her attention back toward Gin. Gin extended his hand out toward Yuki. Yuki did not hesitate to take it. Gin lead her out of the training area and into a larger area with cherry trees that were in full bloom.

"Now, for part two of your training," Gin stated.

"What is it," Yuki asked.

"You get to fight him," Gin replied as he pointed to Byakuya.

"Okay."

Gin walked away, leaving the two of them alone. Byakuya drew his Zanpaku-to. However, Yuki hesitated in doing so. Byakuya performed a Shunpo and, with his sword extended toward her, land in front of Yuki. She successfully blocked his attack with her Zanpaku-to.

"Reveal to me your Zanpaku-tô's true form," Byakuya stated.

"You first," Yuki replied.

"Very well. Scatter Senbonzakura."

Having said that, the entire blade of Byakuya's Zanpaku-to disappeared. Yuki searched for even the tiniest trace of its spiritual pressure, but couldn't find it anywhere. Before she could react, Byakuya's thousands of tiny blades found her. The thousand wounds on her body bled.

"Rise from the Ashes," Yuki gasped, "Furuifiinikkusu (Ancient Phoenix)!"

The fiery aura once again enveloped her. Before Byakuya's very eyes, the aura healed all of Yuki' wounds. Her blade turned into its true form, a golden blade with the crest of the Phoenix on the handle. The fiery aura disappeared, revealing a healed Yuki.

"Surprised," Yuki stated, "Furuifiinikkusu (Ancient Phoenix) can heal any wound. So is that it, or do you know Bankai?"

"I have achieved Bankai," Byakuya replied.

"Good, so have I."

"Show it to me."

"Okay, BANKAI!"

Yuki gazed at the gleaming golden sword, but nothing happened. Her expression changed to one of pure shock. She let out a low, nervous chuckle.

"Um, give me one minute," Yuki chuckled, "I truly have achieved Bankai. It's just its not working right now."

"How amusing," Byakuya stated, "That is enough for today, heal your wounds and spar me tomorrow."

"Sorry, Byakuya," Yuki apologized, "I wasted your time with my failed attempt at Bankai."

"Don't worry about it," Byakuya stated, with a smile, "I enjoyed it."

Byakuya walked away, leaving Yuki all alone in the area lined with Cherry trees. Gin casually walked up to her, still grinning his grin.

"So what happened," Gin asked," Everything go okay?"

"Yeah, great," Yuki lied, "Excuse me, I must go."

Yuki quickly walked away and entered the main complex. Along the way she'd hear other Soul Reaper's whisper comments like, "She's got the golden Zanpaku-to" and "She beat Captain Hitsugaya in a sparring match." AS she was walking she ran into Rangiku.

"Oh, sorry Rangiku," Yuki apologized.

"Good thing you ran into me," Rangiku laughed, "I was just looking for you."

"Really? Why?"

"Tomorrow is the Ball and you still don't have a dress."

"Oh my gosh, you're right. I have to go."

"Not so fast, you're coming with Yumichika, Ikkaku, Momo, and I to the land of the living to get one."

"You guys don't have to do that."

"We want to though."