บท 58: CH 51: FIVE YEARS/TROUBLEMAKER

[West Rukongai.]

"Dance! Sode no Shirayuki."

Standing in a clearing, with green vegetation all around, a black-haired girl murmured as she held her sword.

The moment her incantation was finished, the ordinary katana in her hand changed into an extremely beautiful white sword. From the blade to the hilt. Followed by a long white ribbon attached to the hilt.

A rush of cold hair followed the transformation of her sword.

"Ohh! Every time I see your sword, I am always happy. It isn't known as the most beautiful sword in the Soul Society for nothing."

Rukia blushed slightly at the compliment from the tall black-haired man clad in a shinigami outfit facing her.

"Enough about this. I really don't know who gave that nickname."

"Hahaha! Little Rukia is being shy! Well, I guess it's my turn."

Unsheathing his sword, he began to twirl it gently and murmured,

"Rage Through the Seas and Heavens! Nejibana!"

Light covered the sword as it began to elongate and change form.

When the transformation was finished, what was in his hand was a trident with a pointed end. At the same time, water appeared out of thin air and began to surround him.

"I must say, your sword is really the nemesis of mine. Despite this, you still can't beat me. Work harder, Rukia."

Rukia took no offense to those words. After all, they were true.

The man in front of her, Kaien Shiba, the vice-captain of the 13th division, was both her best friend and her mentor.

It was thanks to him that she stopped being ostracized in the division because of her status.

At the same time, he was a genius who had graduated in just two years from the academy.

Meanwhile, the only reason she graduated early was thanks to her brother.

"Sigh. You are once again showing this expression."

Kaien scratched his hair in frustration before swinging his trident like a baseball bat.

Following that move, water surged like a mighty wave and rushed toward Rukia.

Snapping out of her daze, she took a step back, and in a flash, pierced the ground four times in front of her. Then,

"Tsugi no Mai, Hakuren!"[1]

From the tip of her sword, an avalanche of snow was expelled and rushed towards the attack of Kaien.

This was the start of another training session.

---

Two hours later, Rukia laid panting on the ground, her face matted with sweat.

Meanwhile, Kaien was quite nonchalant as he changed his trident back into a simple sword.

"Is it finished now? Come take a bite."

A gentle voice sounded, as a black-haired woman with a warm smile made her entrance.

"Oh! Miyako Darling! What did you bring us today?"

Showing a goofy smile, Kaien used shunpo and came close to her before hugging her.

Yelping, Miyako accepted the hug without fighting back before separating,

"I have made some simple but nutritious food."

Opening the basket she held, she showed the food in it.

It was nothing particularly strange. Rice, fish, meat and some dessert. The only problem was that all of them looked like weird rabbits.

Kaien chuckled, while Rukia blushed, "I see that you have taken Rukia's peculiar tastes into account."

"Heh! Rabbits are cute!"

"Hahaha!"

The three began to laugh and joke while eating.

Watching both Miyako and Kaien like this, Rukia felt her heart warm up.

If Kaien was her mentor, then Miyako Shiba, Kaien's wife and the 3rd seat of the 13th division was her idol. She wished that one day she could have the same composure and aura.

It had been five years since she graduated and joined the 13th division.

Even though things hadn't been easy, she was undoubtedly very happy.

'Thinking about it, Kira and Renji should be about to graduate.'

Time flew so fast.

She knew that out of their little groups, both Momo and Toshiro had already graduated. The same went for Gojo.

Since the day she graduated, she had kept little contact with Renji. Their relationship had a weird feeling of awkwardness she did not like.

Meanwhile, she was closer to Momo and Nanao. Though she met them only a few times every month.

After all, the two of them were very busy.

"Speaking of which. It seems like your friend once again had a fight with the 12th division."

Hearing this, Rukia winced.

Satoru Gojo, a name that has become synonymous with trouble since some time ago.

Everything began about five years ago when he fought against the vice-captain of the 11th division and won.

Even though no one saw the fight, from the destruction in the surroundings, people guessed how dangerous it must have been.

One year later, during a mission on earth, he used his Shikai while facing three Gillians and purified them without being wounded.

This was the start of his fame... or his infamy.

The 12th division became intrigued about his Shikai that had Quincy-like power and claimed that Gojo should let himself be studied--which of course he refused.

As if it wasn't enough, the captain of the 11th division, Zaraki Kenpachi fought against him. While the result was unknown, since they fought in the Seireitei they ruined basically a fourth of the 11th division's territory.

The captain of the 8th division was also interested in him and was claiming that he was observing Gojo to see if he was worthy of his Vice-captain Nanao.

Both the captain of the 9th division, Kaname Tosen, and the captain of the 7th division Sajin Komamura judged that he wasn't worthy of being a soldier and should be expelled from the Gotei 13.

Even their own captain, Jushiro Ukitake, took a liking to Satoru Gojo and spoke about weird things like creating the Silver gang with him, Gojo, the 4th seat of the 1st division, Toshiro Hitsugaya, and the vice-captain of the 5th, Gin Ichimaru.

As if it wasn't enough, there were many rumors about his relationship with different women in the Gotei 13, some of which concerned the captain of the 4th division, Retsu Unohana, the captain of the 2nd division, Soi Fon, and the vice-captain of the 10th division, Rangiku Matsumoto. Though none of those rumors were confirmed.

Finally, every time he met her brother, Byakuya Kuchiki, the vice-captain of the 6th division, the two of them seemed ready to draw their sword at each other.

From what she knew, because of this rivalry with her brother, some women with unhealthy thoughts began to imagine different scenarios of unspeakable love between them.

It was to the level where there were some Mangas drawn about it and it was incredibly popular with women.

She herself had some samples of it in her bedroom. Though it was just for research purposes.

Counting with his fingers, Kaien murmured, in awe, "The 2nd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th. Your friend basically had contact with all the divisions of the soul society."

Rukia simply acquiesced, Gojo's attraction for trouble was something she knew from their academy days.

"Why did he have a dispute with the 12th division this time?"

Miyako answered, "It seems like he said he might cooperate if Captain Mayuri gave Vice-captain Nemu to him. They nearly came to blows but were stopped."

The three of them could only look at each other in a dumbfounded way.

At the same time, Rukia felt an immense amount of respect for him. After all, not everyone could act in such a troublesome way.

You needed to have the power to back your actions.

"I have heard that he was about to announce his candidature for the position of captain of the 3rd division."

"Heh--I thought that this position was supposed to belong to vice-captain Ichimaru?"

"Normally. Both the current captains of the 6th and 3rd divisions are about to retire. Vice-captain Byakuya would be promoted to the 6th division. As for vice-captain Ichimaru, captain Aizen had nominated him for the post."

Kaien chuckled, "So I guess we must add the 5th and the 3rd division to the long list of people he messed with."

"Doesn't it mean he messed with all divisions of the Gotei 13?"

"..."

----

[1]: Next dance; White wave.

(AN: In Bleach, Rukia learn Shikai from Kaien about 3 or 5 years after she graduated. Since that happened Fifty years before she met Ichigo, it means she had Shikai for 50 years. What's more, she is an expert in Kido. Despite this, she nearly died because of some weak ass hollow in Ep/Ch 1. There are many possible reasons. One, she jumped in to save Ichigo who was stupid and rushed toward an enemy he can't beat. Two. She was traumatized because of the event that would happen soon in Canon and didn't train for 5O years. Three and honestly the most likely. Kubo didn't really create the concept of Shikai in CH 1. The first Shikai was introduced in CH 54 with Renji. That basically one year and two weeks since the first CH of Bleach. Also did you know that initially Rukia was supposed to be the main character of Bleach?)