She deflected the oncoming attack with her blade, then angled it to deflect another attack. She extended a finger to use hado one: sho, to block a third attack and used the opportunity. She flash stepped, appearing behind her opponent, for a moment no marks appeared on him, then a slash appeared on her opponent's arm. When he tried to raise his arm he found himself unable to. Grasping the sleeve of his uniform and pushing it up, the girl revealed two marks left by her fingers activating a pressure point in his shoulder, which prevented him from raising his sword. He looked to her, his pale grey eyes wide in surprise as he commented, "I'm impressed."

She gave a small smile in response, then placing her hand over the gash she'd caused him activated a kaido spell which showed as a green light from her hand and seemed to be minimizing the gash on his arm by the second. After about ten seconds of the kido being cast, she moved up to his shoulder, and released the pressure point.

Rotating his arm, the elderly shinigami looked to the girl and praised, "you exceeded my expectations, young Shimizu. The academy, and our clan have taught you well."

"Thank you, Captian Kuchiki," Tama replied as she sheathed her blade and bowed in gratitude.

Ginrei then continued, "in fact I would be offended if you would turn down becoming the third seat of my division. I can see you leading the elite fighters of our squad when Sojun and I are otherwise preoccupied."

'Third seat? That's the rank I was aiming for,' Byakuya thought to himself. He felt a twisting in his chest, but without realizing it a smile formed across his lips. He'd always known she was strong and capable, now his grandfather was recognizing that as well. What's more, he was certain she could make Lieutenant one day, perhaps when he joined the squad and he'd still get to start off his career as third seat. Whether or not she stayed in the sixth squad after making Lieutenant was the real question, but he hoped she would. To clarify, he hoped she'd be his Lieutenant one day.

He knew that this moment right now was critical to everything else, however. Ginrei offering her a high ranked position within the Sixth had several hidden meanings. For one, as he'd previously surmised it showed that he was willing to acknowledge her skill. Since the highest ranks of the Sixth were usually reserved for members of the Kuchiki clan, it was a discreet, unofficial way for him to welcome her into the clan without causing any waves with the elders. The big question was why was he accepting her? Had his grandfather noticed in the past several months that his father was treating Tama like his own daughter? Or had he grown suspicious of the time that he was spending with her? Had he been spying on them?

"Thank you, Captain Kuchiki, but I humbly decline," Tama replied.

Byakuya blinked as he observed her. A small smile crossed her face as she revealed, "a few weeks ago, Lady Shihouin approached me and offered me the same rank in her squad, once Kisuke Urahara recieves a promotion. For the time being, I would be her fourth seat. I already accepted her offer."

He wasn't sure if he was happy or sad about this. On one hand: his desired spot was still available within the sixth division. On the other hand; being part of the Stealth Force would mean he'd see less of her than he currently did, unless he stepped up his lessons with Captain Shihouin. The thought almost made him cringe. The woman herself was cringe worthy, between her ridiculous games of tag and her incessant tormenting of him. He then decided he'd do something so that he could keep seeing her discreetly.

He'd heard rumours of Lady Shihouin and Kisuke Urahara building an underground training area somewhere, maybe he could look into doing something similar. He then had an idea that caused a smile to spread across his face. The Kuchiki estate was rather large, large enough that he could in theory create a few hidden trap doors, and create a few hidden rooms within the mansion itself. Ginrei was so rarely home he doubted he'd notice in the slightest.

Yes, that's what he was going to do, and he'd have the passage way connect to Tama's room at the second so he could discreetly sneak off to her if he missed her, and she could sneak off to him if she wished to.

"Well Tama, it seems that now we can officially call you Byakuya's bodyguard," Sojun stated.

Tama nodded her head a little in agreement as she acknowledged, "yes sir."

"I'll speak to Yoruichi about you being the co-third seat of the second. I know since she took over there've been some changes. Traditionally, it was always the third seat who guarded the heir apparent to our clan—but that may have changed," he concluded.

"Yes, from what I was told, it has," she agreed. Sojun smiled warmly and gently patted her shoulder before he and Ginrei left the Kuchiki manor training area, leaving the two teens alone. She glanced at him, sheathing her zanpaktu at her side as she approached him. He smiled as he met her half way and commented, "that was impressive. You certainly made an impression on my grandfather."

Tama nodded as she replied, "I noticed, and on you. I saw that look on your face when he offered me the third seat position. That's your coveted spot, right?"

He blinked repeatedly in shock. He'd never told her that. He'd told her that he'd one day Captain the sixth and head the Kuchiki clan, when Ginrei stepped down from both positions, but not once had he stated his desired post prior to taking command.

"It wasn't difficult to figure out," Tama offered. He closed his eyes and gave a defeated chuckle as he commented, "always reading me like a book."

He opened his slate grey eyes to regard her before gaining a cheeky smirk as he jested, "well—in your case, better than a book."

She rolled her eyes, playfully moving to slap his shoulder. He blocked her, and took the opportunity to interlock his fingers with hers for a moment while their eyes met. Damn those rules. He'd love nothing more than to be openly affectionate with her at home, but he couldn't.

Tama leaned in, whispering something in his ear as she walked by him. His curiosity peaked, he followed her. She continued into the garden then past the well in the garden, to a hollowed tree. Crouching down, she felt along the ground before grasping a camouflaged rope and pulling it. The ground in front of her seemed to open up, and she glanced to him with a grin before entering through the hidden passage way. Byakuya stood momentarily stunned but followed her in, admittedly curious of what she was about to show him.