Disclaimer - I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist or Bleach, I'm merely having a little fun with the characters.

Chapter Nine - Unwanted Training

Once class at the Academy had been dismissed Ed quickly made his way to the Squad One barracks, accompanied as always by his younger brother Al. Head Captain Ukitake had mentioned something about a new kind of training when he'd issued the summons however the old, white haired captain hadn't given him any of the details and Ed found that he was somewhat excited despite himself. His growing powers were fascinating to the blonde haired youth and anything that might help him master said powers was welcome.

Or at least that's what Ed thought until he actually reached the Squad One courtyard and saw who it was that was standing beside Ukitake. Ed cursed under his breath as his golden eyed gaze fell upon the young Captain of Squad Ten. "Dammit, what the hell did I ever do to deserve this?" he muttered under his breath as he and Al made their way toward the two captains. The white haired youth had been his unofficial rival since the day they had met and Ed had to fight the desire to turn around and leave Squad One.

Forcing himself to refrain from reciting a list of possibilities Al merely followed his brother silently across the courtyard. He could list a half a dozen things since they had arrived in Soul Society alone that could have caused this karma however he chose not to tell that to his older brother.

"Welcome Elric-kun," Ukitake called out once the two boys were within earshot. He offered both boys a wide smile however his gaze remained locked on the elder of the two. "And I see that you brought your zanpaktou, excellent."

"So what exactly is going on old man?" Ed asked as he fixed Hitsugaya with a narrow eyed gaze that the young captain returned.

"I heard about the battle with the Arrancar," Ukitake said. "And about how you managed to use Shikai to defeat it but your instructors say that you haven't been able to call upon those powers since that day."

"That's right," Ed said, somewhat embarrassed by this fact but still not willing to deny it. He was many things but a liar was not one of them. "For some reason I can't explain I ended up with a stubborn zanpaktou and he refuses to let me use Shikai now."

"Gee Nii-san, you don't think that it might have something to do with your own stubborn personality?" Al thought to himself, amazed that Ed was actually surprised that his zanpaktou had a stubborn streak a mile long.

Ukitake nodded, already aware of the situation between the young man and his sword. "That can happen sometimes. In the eyes of your zanpaktou you were not ready to wield the power of Shikai yet when your life was in jeopardy he had no choice but to relent and lend you those powers." Ukitake paused at this point and fixed Ed with an intense look. "You seem to control your powers better in a battle environment which is why I have enlisted the help of a couple of members of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads. I know that you can progress much faster than you are currently and wanted to help you out a little bit."

Ed nodded as his gaze shifted from the Head Captain to Hitsugaya. "Is that why HE'S here?"

"Captain Hitsugaya has graciously agreed to be one of the people who help with your training," Head Captain Ukitake said.

There was a smug expression on Hitsugaya's face, as though he were thinking that Ed didn't stand a snowball's chance in hell against him, and Ed found himself annoyed with the look. Drawing his zanpaktou from the sheath that he wore secured to his sash he locked the Squad Ten Captain with an intense gaze. "Alright then, if you really want to help with my 'training' then let's get on with it."

Shaking his head at the blonde haired menace Hitsugaya took a couple of steps away from the Head Captain and drew his own zanpaktou from the sheath that he always wore secured across his back. If his opponent was really so eager to be defeated in battle, again, then who was he to deny him that wish? The two boys stood a couple of yards apart, each holding out their zanpaktou and glaring at the other.

Ed's gaze shifted back and forth between his miniature blade and his opponent, as though just waiting for Hitsugaya to make a comment about it's size. That was one thing that he didn't have to worry about however since Hitsugaya knew that size had nothing to do with power and that a skilled Shinigami could actually control the size of their sword, based on how much reiatsu they chose to release. He said none of this to his opponent however but instead merely stared at the boy calmly.

For some unknown reason that just made Ed angrier. "You ready?"

Without a word Hitsugaya nodded.

Al moved to stand beside Head Captain Ukitake and watched as his brother ran recklessly toward the white haired Captain of Squad Ten. The younger boy shook his head. "He has got to learn some strategy," he muttered to himself as Hitsugaya effortlessly blocked the obvious attack, knocking Ed back a couple of feet. The attack hadn't even made Hitsugaya take a step back.

"Patience," a familiar voice barked as Ed fought to regain his balance.

"I know," Ed snarled, sick of hearing that word from his zanpaktou. Holding up the short blade he said, "Are you going to cooperate today or are you going to let me fall at the hands of this brat?"

"We'll see," was the only reply that he received.

"We'll see he says," Ed repeated as he jumped toward Hitsugaya and swung his blade, his voice filled with disgust.

Unfortunately for Ed Hitsugaya had been well within hearing range and as a result had heard every word that the blonde boy had said to his zanpaktou. "So I'm a brat am I?" he asked as he pointed the tip of his blade toward the sky.

"Uh oh," Al said as he watched the scene that was unfolding before his eyes. His brother had done it again, said the wrong thing, and now it looked as though there would be hell to pay for it this time.

"Remember, you're the one who asked for this," Hitsugaya said in a low, deadly tone of voice. "Reign over the frosted, frozen sky, Hyourinmaru!"

Ed's eyes widened as he watched a form emerged from the tip of Hitsugaya's zanpaktou. The sky overhead, which had been a vibrant blue mere seconds before, now turned dark as a blue dragon shot up into the air and circled above the spot where Hitsugaya stood. "Shit," he muttered as he witnessed Hitsugaya unleash his Shikai.

Al's eyes widened and he made a move to walk toward the two combatants however he was stopped by a gentle hand on his shoulder. Looking back his gray eyed gaze met the kind eyes of Ukitake. "Don't worry," the old captain said in a soothing voice. "Toushirou may sound angry but I promise you he will hold his temper in check. That's part of the reason why I chose him for this job. His dedication to his duty is unrivaled in the Thirteen Court Guard Squads."

There was still a look of concern in Al's gray eyes as his gaze returned to his brother however Ukitake had never given the two of them any reason not to trust him so he remained where he was. Watching but not interfering.

Ed stood transfixed as Hitsugaya swung his long blade in an arc in front of him. He had never seen an attack like this and he seemed paralyzed before it.

"Nii-san!"

Al's shouts broke through the trance that had seemed to hold Ed paralyzed.

"It's just a thought," Al shouted at his brother as he watched the dragon of ice and water that was flying toward Ed. "But you might wanna, oh I don't know, GET OUT OF THE WAY!"

Instantly deciding that his brother was correct Ed managed to dodge the incoming attack mere seconds before it hit the ground where he had been standing. Completely unphased by the fact that his attack had missed it's intended target Hitsugaya raised his blade and prepared for a second attack. Once again swinging the sword in an arc above his head the young captain directed the dragon toward Ed's new location.

"You have got to be kidding me," Ed muttered as he once again barely managed to dodge the attack. "Yo, Hikari no Shinjitsu, do you think you could maybe get off your ass and help me? Or would you rather see me die?"

"He isn't going to kill you," the far off voice said in it's usual, arrogant tone. "But this is just embarrassing so yea I'm going to help you."

"Thanks, you're too kind," Ed said somewhat sarcastically as he raised his sword and called out, "Shine the light of truth upon my enemies, Hikari no Shinjitsu!"

Hitsugaya watched as Ed tossed his zanpaktou into the air and clasped his hands together. A bright golden aura surrounded the blade and when it fell back into Ed's ready hands the young captain saw that it was now in the form of a staff, complete with a blade at the end. "So you can do Shikai after all. That's good to know, I was ready to call a couple of people a liar."

"Why you. . ." Ed muttered, his hands clenching around his zanpaktou.

A tight smile appeared on Hitsugaya's face as Ed once again ran toward him. He may be able to use his Shikai however his battle tactics were still sadly lacking and Hitsugaya knew that it would take a great deal of progress before the boy was a worthy opponent. Swinging Hyourinmaru in an arc in front of him Hitsugaya prepared for Ed's pending attack.

Ichigo and Rukia were walking through the Seireitei, hand in hand, when the orange haired Substitute Shinigami suddenly came to an abrupt halt. Rukia gazed up into his brown eyes and noticed the rare, serious expression that was held within their depths.

"Looks like they're at it again," Ichigo finally muttered, his gaze focused in the direction of the Squad One complex. After a brief moment of thought Ichigo grabbed Rukia by the hand. "Come on Rukia, you have GOT to see this!"

"What?!" Rukia exclaimed as Ichigo began pulling her in the direction of Squad One. "What is going on Ichigo?"

"Toushirou and Edward are at it again," Ichigo said, recognizing both distinct sets of reiatsu and knowing what that meant. "Trust me, you don't wanna miss this."

Giving up Rukia allowed Ichigo to pull her toward the Squad One barracks and, once there, the two of them entered the courtyard. Sure enough there was Captain Hitsugaya, along with the blonde haired Academy student, both with swords drawn. Making sure to keep to the edge of the battlefield Ichigo led the way over to the spot where Ukitake was standing with Ed's younger brother.

"Hello Captain Kurosaki," Al said politely.

Ichigo nodded in Al's direction before turning his attention to Ukitake. "So what's going on Ukitake? Are you determined to put those two together until Toushirou kills him or what?"

Ukitake shook his head. "Toushirou isn't going to kill him. I've discovered that like you Edward's powers seem to develop faster if he's in danger and while this isn't going to cost him his life it is possible that he could get injured. Or at least that's what I want him to think."

Ichigo smiled. "That's very manipulative. Congrats old man, I didn't think you had it in you."

Despite himself Hitsugaya was forced to admit that Ed had some fairly impressive powers, for an Academy student at any rate, however he was still no match for Hyourinmaru and the young captain felt the need to prove this fact. The white-haired youth leapt into the air and then launched himself toward the ground, holding the tip of his zanpaktou pointed toward the ground. Hitsugaya buried the tip of his zanpaktou into the ground and then released a burst of reiatsu.

Wondering exactly what it was that Hitsugaya was doing Ed watched the young captain and his golden eyes widened in surprise as he watched shards of ice erupt from the ground. "Shit!" he exclaimed as he raised his staff, knowing that he couldn't block all of the shards, there were simply too many of them.

Twirling his staff Ed managed to block a large quantity of ice shards however when the attack ceased he found himself lying on the ground with the tip of a sword pointed toward his throat. "Submit," Hitsugaya said in a quiet and yet at the same time commanding voice.

That was the last thing on earth that Ed wanted to do and yet at the same time he knew that he didn't really have a choice in the matter. He was defeated and he knew it, he just didn't want to admit to that fact. "Fine," he said finally, almost choking on the words. "You win."

With a smirk on his face Hitsugaya sheathed his zanpaktou and walked away from his opponent. Ed got to his feet and sheathed his now transformed zanpaktou before following the path that the young captain had taken, coming to stand beside his brother.

"With more practice you may actually prove to be a worthy opponent some day," Hitsugaya said in a gruff voice before he turned and walked away.

Ed clenched his hands into fists however both Ichigo and Ukitake watched the Squad Ten Captain's retreating back, their eyes and their mouths both open in amazement.

"I swear one of these days I'm going to knock that smug look off his face," Ed muttered, using a threat that was by now familiar to everyone who knew him.

"You shouldn't be that way," Ichigo said, turning his gaze to Ed. "What he said to you was actually high praise coming from him."

A confused expression on his face Ed turned his gaze back in the direction that Hitsugaya had walked off in however he was already out of sight. Had he really meant those words as a compliment and not a taunt? Ed just didn't know.

A/N - I'm sorry that it took so long to update this but things have been rough and my typing is slow. Hope you enjoyed, please review and tell me your thoughts. And I promise that I will eventually reveal the powers of Al's zanpaktou. Til next time this is Hitsu-taichou signing out.