Upon arrival at the Squad Captain's meeting together with Byakuya, Unohana immediately approached her to ask about her bandaged self and offered medical help. But Yuki kindly shook it off and in a soft voice, she said.

"This is something Kido can't heal."

Unohana, looked at her with a puzzled expression until Captain Commander stomped his staff on the floor. Unohana returned to her position while Yuki stood frozen in her place, still refusing to lift her gaze from the floor and loosening her clutch to her Usano Mimi.

"Come closer, child."

Yuki can't help but give a noticeable flinch upon hearing her Yama-jii's voice. She slowly shuffled her way towards the front which to her felt like kilometers when in reality, it won't even take a little less than 15 steps. So when she reached the front, Yuki immediately dropped to her still hurting knees and kowtowed in front of the Captain Commander. Her action also earned surprised reactions from the congregation of captains.

"I'M SORRY!!!" Yuki exclaimed while still on her knees

Then loud sobbing noises followed. Yuki's body shook for her sobs.

"I'm really sorry for leaving and causing a fuss. I'm really sorry for my insolence. I'm sorry!" Yuki said in between her sobs and screams of sadness

A certain captain has sadness and pity evident in their eyes and is about to go and comfort the crying feline but a certain father figure to her reached her first and scooped Yuki into his arms.

"There, there, Yuki-chan. Don't cry. We're not in any case mad. Fact is we're worried." Ukitake said while rubbing Yuki's back

"It's true, Kitty. Don't worry yourself." Gin said from beside Ukitake and handed her her stuffed rabbit which she willingly took

"But we do however, wanna know what happened to you at the World of the Living. Could you please tell us?" Unohana asked the still crying feline

With her head buried in Ukitake's, Yuki took out her snowflake pin and held it out on her palm. The pin all of a sudden glowed and floated out of Yuki's hand. It morphed into what looked like a screen and began to play a video in Yuki's point of view.

It showed in detail all the event that happened upon Yuki's arrival at the Karakura Town, meeting Ichigo, loosing Muracho, her moments with Yuroichi and Kisuke, her fight with Samui up until her recovery. It stopped playing at the scene of entering the senkaimon with an infuriated Byakuya.

The pin returned to it's original form and latched itself on Yuki's hair.

"Oh dear." She heard someone mumble

Her grip on her Chichiue tightened when she remembered all that happened.

"You've been through a lot, I see." Byakuya said as he stepped forward

"But that doesn't exempt you from being punished for your disobedience."

"How can you say that, Captain Kuchiki?! Yuki is just new here and she doesn't even know anything yet!" Toshiro said in bewilderment

"Captain Hitsugaya is right, Captain Kuchiki. Aren't you being too hard on the girl?" Captain Kyoraku asked

"She still disobeyed a rule imposed on Seiretei. She may be new and not yet an official shinigami but that doesn't give her reason to deliberately disobey them. Rules are made for a reason and whoever disobeyed them must be punished." Byakuya said and looked pointedly at the feline who is in his co captain's arms

"But can't you at least give her another chance? She didn't know it and look at her! She's injured!" Toshiro raised his voice at the Kuchiki

"You're letting your emotions cloud judgement, Captain Hitsugaya." Byakuya replied emotionlessly

"I am not-"

"ENOUGH!" Captain Commander bellowed and banged his staff on the floor even before Toshiro can finish his statement

Yuki tapped Ukitake's arms and he placed her down. Her head still low, she spoke.

"As much as I would like to thank you Master Hitsugaya and Captain Kyoraku for standing up for me, I'm afraid what Master Byakuya said is true. I disobeyed a rule and that is a punishable thing." Yuki said softly

"And also because of that, Master Rukia did a very grave thing when retrieving me. And now she is gonna be executed because of it. Because of me."

"Yuki-" Soi Feng was about to say something when all of them got shocked on what Yuki said next

"So in order to atone for my sins and insolence, I would like to take Master Rukia's place and be executed instead of her.

~^~^~^~^~^~

"What did you say!?" Rukia exclaimed from inside her holding cell

"Yuki is being executed instead of you. She's taking your place." Renji said with a solemn expression

"But why?! And the captains agreed on this?!" Rukia can't contain her anger from what she heard

"From what I heard, Yuki was the one who suggested it and not everyone agreed. But it was also because of Captain Byakuya. He was the one who insist to punish her."

Rukia's grip on her bars tighten at the mention of Yuki, Byaukaya's name and execution in one sentence.

"Nii-sama? How can Nii-sama agree to this? Yuki has nothing to do with this!"

"Apparently, Yuki believed that she is the reason why you're there so she took your punishment." Renji said

Rukia was about to retort back when all of a sudden, Byakuya appeared with some guards and a chained up Yuki.

"Yuki-chan!" Rukia screamed at Yuki's state

"Remove Rukia from her cell and place Yuki in it." Byakuya ordered to which the guards obeyed

Rukia was released from her cell whereas Yuki was placed inside with her stuffed bunny. Rukia quickly approached her and held her hand.

"Yuki, why?"

"I'm so sorry, Master Rukia. Don't worry, I'll pay for my own sins." Yuki said with her head down

Rukia quickly whipped her head back to look at his brother.

"How could you agree to such a thing! Yuki did nothing!"

"She disobeyed a law. And it's common sense to punish those who break them." Byakuya said with authority

"But Nii-sama-"

"Master Rukia please." Yuki interrupted the female shinigami

Rukia looked at Yuki with sad and guilty eyes. Almost to the brink of tears.

"I am the reason for whatever misfortune that is bestowed upon you. If it wasn't for my disobedience and curiosity this shouldn't have happened. So, I'm just correcting my wrongs. Don't feel bad, Master." Yuki looked at her with a forced smile on her face

Rukia can't help but give out a sob of pity for Yuki. This shouldn't be happening to her, Rukia is the one who gave away her reatsu and not Yuki. She should be the one inside the cell and not Yuki.

From behind them, Byakuya signaled the guards to take Rukia away from the cells. They did so, with a little struggle from the said girl. Renji followed shortly after when his captain told him so. So this moment, Yuki and Byakuya were left alone.

"Your execution will be in two weeks time. Since you offered to be executed in Rukia's steed, you will be accused and executed for the same reasons." Byakuya said to which Yuki answered

"Yes, Master Byakuya Kuchiki."

Byakuya took something from inside his haori and tossed it inside Yuki's cell.

"Be prepared for that." He said then left

Silence followed soon after and Yuki looked at what her Master Byakuya had given her. It was the stuffed kitten that his Chichiue had given her the first time they met. Yuki took it and hugged it together with her Usano Mimi.