CHAPTER 16: WELCOME, NEW CAPTAIN

Hitsugaya gazed at her, with tears in his eyes. He could not be bothered about his pride any longer and teardrops fell from his eyes. They were happy tears. He was absolutely delighted, he knew all those years that she was alive. Unable to control himself, he knelt down by her bedside and held her hand, holding it close to his cheek. Using his other hand, he stroked her face lovingly. It had been fifty long years. For half a century, he had been waiting for this moment. Even though he never expected it to turn out this way, he was glad that she was alive. However, the tears of happiness turned into sadness, as he realised that she had been unconscious longer than he had been. Captain Ukitake sighed and patted Hitsugaya on the shoulder, telling him that they had to leave for the Captain's meeting. Unwillingly, Hitsugaya let go of her hand and followed Ukitake. Before he left, he told Hinamori, Renji and Kira to watch after her and inform him once she awoke. He looked at the five of them, ordering them to look away for a moment. They obeyed him and Hitsugaya turned back to the sleeping girl, quickly kissing her on her lips. After that kiss, he left her room with an unwilling heart.

A few minutes later, Tayomi slowly opened her eyes. She saw Hinamori, Renji and Kira all looking at her, smiling. She smiled back at them and squeezed Hinamori's hand, glad that she had done enough to save her. Hinamori thanked her, ruffling her hair. The three of them expressed their happiness to see her alive and asked after her. Tayomi sighed, telling her she was fine and it was just exhaustion. Looking around, she wondered where Hitsugaya was. Her eyes were wide and she frowned slightly. Kira quickly told her that Hitsugaya had to attend the Captain's meeting and texted Hitsugaya, informing him that Tayomi had awoken. A few seconds later, Kira received a reply, telling him to bring Tayomi and Kiseida to the Captain's meeting room. Tayomi's heart fell, as she realised that he had nothing else to say to her.

Tayomi and Kiseida, dressed in their Shinigami robes, made their way to the Captain's meeting room and waited to be called in. Once Captain-commander Yamamoto's voice ordered them to come in, they entered nervously. It was a long, nerve-wrecking walk as all the Captains of the Gotei 13 stared at the both of them. Hitsugaya looked at Tayomi, but she looked away, turning her head in Captain-commander Yamamoto's direction. He felt that she was avoiding eye contact with him on purpose, instantly knowing that something was wrong. He was not there when she woke up. Perhaps she thought that he no longer cared about her? Captain-commander Yamamoto questioned them in a serious tone, asking the both of them why they had been gone for so long, reminding them that it was a crime to stay in the Living World for too long. Tayomi took a deep breath and explained everything, hoping that Yamamoto would believe her. She started with the massacre and told him that Aizen was behind it all. Then, she explained how they were badly injured and were left with no choice but to recover in the Living World. As for why they never contacted Soul Society, she explained that her communicator had broken, fully aware that she sounded dumb. Kiseida and she explained the whole sequence of events till their mouths were dry. Yamamoto nodded and sent the both of them out, leaving the both of them shivering in fear.

"Should we pardon their crimes?" Yamamoto asked.

"Although they broke a law, they had no choice, under their circumstances… " Captain Shunsui sighed.

"Please pardon them!" Captain Ukitake cried. "I know the both of them well enough to know that they would never break the law unless left without a choice… Besides, they have made up for their crime by saving us!"

"I agree. They saved our lives." Captain Komamura sighed.

"I believe that we can make an exception for them. If we stripped them of their powers, it would be a waste of talent." Captain Soi Fon replied. "Especially 4th Seat Tayomi. She's a talent."

Captain Kenpachi, Captain Kuchiki and Captain Kurotsuchi simply nodded in agreement, completely exhausted after being dragged out of Hueco Mundo and leaving their battle with Yammy unfinished. Captain Kenpachi seemed grumpy as he was not finished with Yammy and was dragged out, just as he got excited and slashed away at the Espada. Captain Kuchiki seemed as stoic as usual and Captain Kurotsuchi was happy, as he had gotten all sorts of research from Syazel Apporo's lab.

"Yes." Captain Ukitake said. "Tayomi is a talent. If she had learnt Bankai, I believe she would make a fine Captain."

All the Captains stared at Captain Ukitake in shock. He had just made a huge statement. Even if she was a prodigy, they did not know her well and had not the slightest idea about her strength. Her capabilities and ability to lead a Division was still questioned. Captain Ukitake's face was full of determination. He believed very strongly that Tayomi would be a good Captain. Hitsugaya simply kept silent, though he secretly agreed. He was positive that she would have learnt Bankai by now. Captain-commander Yamamoto raised an eyebrow, asking Captain Ukitake if he was recommending Tayomi for the post of Captain. Captain Ukitake nodded. Captain-commander Yamamoto sighed and ended the meeting, asking Captain Ukitake, Captain Soi Fon and Captain Shunsui to stay behind.

As the Captains streamed out of the meeting room, Hitsugaya looked at Tayomi, who avoided his gaze once again. He was unable to run over and hug her in front of all the Captains. He sighed and returned to his Division's barracks.

Hitsugaya sat on his chair and spaced out. Suddenly, he felt someone slap his head and groaned. He looked up and saw his Lieutenant, Matsumoto Rangiku, smiling at him and Hinamori standing beside her.

"Taicho! You're spacing out!" Matsumoto laughed.

"Where's your paperwork?" He shouted.

"Did you see Yomi-chan? Did you talk to her?" Hinamori asked.

Hitsugaya's face went red. "Why would I?"

"TAICHO! You never told me you had a girlfriend…" Matsumoto laughed again, as if she was high on sake. "No wonder you never showed an interest in girls all these years…"

"Tayomi is not my girlfriend." Hitsugaya huffed.

"Hinamori told me everything already…" Matsumoto smiled. "So you do like her!"

Hitsugaya glared at her for a moment before replying. "So what? It's not like she cares."

Hinamori sighed and made Hitsugaya tell her everything that had happened. After much persuasion and scoldings from Matsumoto, he finally spilled. He told them about how she had avoided looking at him the whole time and Hinamori sighed. She reassured Hitsugaya that she was just shy. Matsumoto smiled and walked out of the room briefly. She returned with a whole stack of romance DVDs that she had bought in the Human World. Hitsugaya stared at her briefly, before snickering and looking away. Matsumoto forced him to watch every single DVD and ordered him to confess to Tayomi all over again, evoking a few giggles from Hinamori. Hitsugaya squabbled with Matsumoto, saying that he was her Captain and she had no right to order him around. Matsumoto glared at him, before smacking him with her chest and screaming back at him. Hinamori simply stared at the both of them, watching the strange fight unfold.

"Taicho! I'm telling you to watch them! Then you can confess to her PERFECTLY!"

"Idiot! Did I say I would confess to her?"

"Taicho… You can use the methods that the male leads use and LURE her into your room… Then you can confess your love! You can like… TRAP HER IN A CORNER AND MAKE SURE SHE CAN'T ESCAPE WHILE YOU PROFESS YOUR UNDYING LOVE FOR HER!"

"I'm not a pervert like you!"

"TAICHO! YOU CAN…"

"MATSUMOTO!"

Tayomi stood in front of Captain-commander Yamamoto, Captain Ukitake, Captain Soi Fon and Captain Shunsui. The four pairs of eyes were staring at her, making her nervous and bite her lip. Captain-commander Yamamoto broke the silence, informing her that Captain Ukitake had recommended that she become a Captain. Tayomi's eyes shot wide open in surprise, wondering why he said that. Captain Ukitake simply smiled at her, strongly believing that the girl he had found in Rukongai decades ago had the potential to become an outstanding Captain and contribute to Soul Society. Captain Soi Fon's face was as stern as ever, watching her every move carefully. Captain Shunsui seemed unusually laidback for a Captain, looking at her sleepily and playing with his straw hat. Captain-commander Yamamoto asked her if she had learnt her Bankai. Tayomi nodded and he ordered her to show it to them. She unsheathed her Zanpakutou and spoke under her breath.

"Ban-kai."

Hitsugaya sat tied to his chair, while romance movies were played in his face repeatedly. With help from Hinamori, Matsumoto had tied him to his chair and forced him to watch the DVDs. It was rather disturbing, he felt, watching the male lead and female lead do inappropriate things. He sighed and tried his best to sit through the torture. Looking to his left, he realised that there were five more DVDs to go. A few minutes later, he could not take it anymore.

"MATSUMOTO! YOU WILL UNTIE ME NOW!"

"No way… Taicho…" Matsumoto laughed, high on sake. "Not until you agree to confess to her…"

"OKAY! FINE! I'LL DO IT!"

"Good Taicho… Hinamori! Untie him…"

"Yes, Rangiku-san!"

The next day, a Captain's meeting was held early in the morning, regarding the new Captain of the 5th Division. Every Captain was left wondering who their new colleague would be and what he or she would look like. The whole of Soul Society was buzzing with curiosity, speculating who it would be. Only Captain Shunsui, Captain Soi Fon and Captain Ukitake knew who it was. Captain Ukitake smiled, excited to see the new Captain walk through the door. Captain-commander Yamamoto described the new Captain of the 5th Division as a talented, outstanding Shinigami, committed to serving Soul Society ever since she was young. All the Captains glued their eyes on the door as Captain-commander Yamamoto ordered the new Captain to enter.

She had long black hair and wore a pink hairband, letting her bangs cover her forehead and touch her eyebrows. Her eyes were purplish-blue, like the colour of a stormy sky. Her nose and lips were perfectly shaped, making her appearance adorable and cute like a young girl, but sophisticated and beautiful at the same time. She had a bright smile on her face, smiling at everyone in the room. However, she was not very tall, standing at one hundred and twenty five centimetres. She kept her Zanpakutou, which was sixty eight centimetres long, tied to her white obi sash. Instead of the usual ribbon which drooped downwards, her sash was tied in a small and stiff ribbon, slightly towards her right and she let the long tail of the ribbon hang down. Her Shinigami robes had been altered, as her sleeves reached up to her wrist and instead of the usual black hakama, she wore a short loose skirt, five fingers above her knees. She wore the sleeveless white haori worn by Captains, with the underside of it being light green in colour.

"My fellow comrades, meet the new Captain of the 5th Division, Tayomi Sakuri."

Author's note:
YAY at last, she's a Captain! Of course I would make her take the 5th Division... There's a certain significance to it :D ('His better half'... Isn't the value of 5 half of 10? XD)
Next chapter, she will settle into her new Division and Matsumoto and Hinamori will continue on their quest to bring their Captains together :D I managed to churn out 3 chapters today because technically, I have no school from today till friday...We're having this project and we're given days off to work on it XD I have french class tomorrow, so I won't be furiously writing so many chapters tomorrow... T.T
Hope you liked this chapter and please review! ^.^ Thanks!