I've read a few of HitsuMatsu fics and I really like this pairing. As there are not many fanfics of this pairing, I am contributing with collections of one-shots. I will be updating when I have inspiration.
Thank you if you took the time to read the useless info above.
I have nothing against Hinamori so please don't flame me HitsuHina fans. I simply find Hitsugaya paired with a creative and quite hilarious woman, well, hilarious and damn close to perfect.
Disclaimer: I hold no rights for Bleach.
This one-shot came to be froma curious thought: how did Hitsugaya and Matsumoto become such a great team?
I plan to have one or two one shots on how Hitsugaya and Matsumoto meet, each in a different 'universe'. This one is a dark, somber one type. The others that follow will most likely be lighter and contain more humor.
Genre: General/Drama
Sun and Moon
Her Taicho was a Genius
Matsumoto remembered when she had gotten Hitsugaya as her taicho.
Watching them now, shinigami wouldn't believe that the two had a rocky and albeit hostile start. The previous Tenth Division taicho had been a just and honest man who was well liked in his division despite his infamous perverted ways that rivaled Shunsui.
The taicho and his fuku-taicho were a well balanced team, although they had their slip ups every now and then. The two were also well known as drinking partners.
One day, they had gotten a message that a particularly strong Hollow was roaming the Eastern lands of the human world and was said to be capable of killing even shinigami. The Tenth division themselves had lost and good number of unseated and seated officers.
The taicho of the division decided to risk whatever danger there was, tired of sending of his subordinates only for them to be killed. Matsumoto had nearly thrown a fit when he told her to remain behind. He set off, despite the protest of his fuku-taicho, other captains and his own division.
Warai-taicho never came back.
Matsumoto had been devastated. She couldn't believe it, she should have gone with him! She moped around for a few days before taking temporary charge of the division herself, being the highest ranked shinigami left.
She was running the division for weeks. She met each of the members, seated and unseated (quite a trip for they had over a hundred shinigami altogether) and held a few gatherings with most of them over sake and talk about their deceased taicho.
She trained like never before. Her job was a dangerous one and she knew the dangers out there. But now she knew she couldn't afford to die. The shinigami in her division looked up to her and she had to be strong. She and Haineko grew stronger together, supporting one another.
They all trained, weekly meetings in order to train as a whole unit and socialize a bit. But mostly to train. They were waiting for their new taicho.
Then a little child prodigy entered the picture.
She had heard rumors about her new taicho. Of course she did, she was a regular at the bars here.
She heard that this white haired boy had swept threw the academy, something not unheard of but it was his age and lack of royal bloodline that made it surprising. Usually, only the nobles graduated the academy in such little time.
She heard that he had the strongest ice zanpakuto in all of Sereitei, surpassing the one of Kuchiki Rukia, a noble, even if she was just adopted. She also heard that the icy power could fend Yamamato's fiery one.
But there was only one rumor that unnerved her. It was the most widespread and well known in the gossiping community. It was often mentioned, almost nightly, even by the boy's division mates.
That Hitsugaya Toushiro was a cold hearted bastard.
Its said that it first began on one of the white haired boy's missions. He had been a shinigami for a good three years by then and was not one to cause trouble, complaints or even fear. In fact, he had often been teased and looked down upon for his age or revered for his genius.
Then he returned from a mission from the real world a week overdue, uninjured and without his team. Thirteenth division members who had seen him enter their headquarters, rips and tears in his uniform but otherwise unharmed. And his eyes.
People would shudder and saw those eyes were cold enough to freeze hell over and hard as diamonds. They heard from a shinigami passing by the office that Hitsugaya's voice rang out in a clipped tone.
"...Casualties: Three. Mission: Completed."
And so began the rumor of Hitsugaya's cold heartedness.
A year later, the boy had been transferred to the Eighth Division, further fueling the rumors. Had Ukitake kicked him out? Some even fancied that he had resigned and had signed up for the Eleventh division, was denied and put into Eighth Division. The real cause was unknown but under Shunsui-taicho's command, he quickly rose the ranks and reached fuku-taicho.
It was said that Shunsui recommended him and several other captains had given their consent straight away. There was a slight bump on the way, with his still 'immature' or undeveloped (seeing as he only recently gained it, or so it was said) Bankai but after a Byakuya-taicho calmly pointed out Zaraki-taicho's condition, Hitsugaya Toushiro became the youngest taicho in Sereitei history.
And right now, her new taicho was waiting in his new office. Adjusting her kimono self-consciously, she to a steeling breath, opened the door and stepped through.
Grey eyes met teal.
Matsumoto couldn't help but feel anger seeing this child sitting rather haughtily (through her eyes) behind Warai-taicho's desk with a neutral look fixed on his face. The desk, the office itself no longer were Warai-taicho's, she reminded herself.
It was now Hitsugaya-taicho's office.
The ever present flower pot with its weekly changing flowers were gone. Warai-taicho never did mention why he change the flowers each week but kept the same pot. It was just there. And now it was gone.
"Matsumoto fuku-taicho, are you paying attention?"
The sharp command broke the shinigami out of her thoughts on a stupid flower pot.
But damn she was going to miss it, she was missing it already.
"Matsumoto fuku-taicho!"
"H-hai!" She snapped to attention, staring back unflinchingly at her taicho's glare. She watched as the young boy, looking as if he was barely into his teenage years, closed his eyes and gave a soundless sigh.
"I said there is a large amount of Hollow activity in the Western human world."
She said nothing, still lost. Again the boy sighed, although this time it was slightly audible.
"Tenth Division, even with a new taicho, must do its duty. It is rather sudden and I would prefer to have met the division first but it seems the Hollows are reaching mid-level in numbers." Matsumoto winced involuntarily.
Warai-taicho died in a mid-level Hollow mission.
"The Hollows, although relatively weak, appear to be great in numbers. It is a disturbing situation, which is why I will be accompanying the squad that will be sent out." He rose, smoothing the new captain's haori he wore.
Suddenly remembering the rumor, where only Hitsugaya had returned, Matsumoto burst out, "Matte!"
The boy stopped, halfway to the door and turned back to her.
"Please allow me to accompany you!"
This time, his sigh was deafening in the silence of the office.
"I told you already," he snapped in irritation, resuming his way to the door. "You are to retrieve to other shinigami you deem suitable and as a four man squad, we will head out to the human world."
With a terrible snarl, the Hollow lunged forward only for its mask to be sliced cleanly in half. Howling, it disappeared, only for two more to take its place. They too were quickly taken care of. Matsumoto swore, commanding the released Haineko to attack the one sneaking up on Akira. Next moment, she was in the air, dodging the enormous clawed hand.
It had started rather peacefully. They had journeyed for several hours, Hitsugaya scouting ahead occasionally. They had found a cave where they saw Hollows sheltering in. Nine or ten of them. That itself was unusually as Hollows tended to consume one another just to become stronger.
She, Hitsugaya-taicho, Mikadzuki and Akira, their tenth seat and eleventh seat respectively, made quick work of them. Their first mistake had been to relax and turn back to their taicho. They had seen him fight and were impressed but held their distance, the rumors strong in their hearts. Only Hitsugaya kept his zanpakuto out before him and he opened his mouth to yell at them.
That's when the Hollows attacked.
They swarmed over them only to be blown back by the wild burst reitsu from the white haired boy. That was what probably saved to other shinigami. With the precious second the Hollows used to collect themselves, they drew their weapons.
The Hollows kept coming, seemingly endless. They had long lost count of the monsters, slashing desperately, pushing forward to the mouth of the cave. Matsumoto's arms ached as she knew her limits and had quickly recalled Haineko into her sealed form, reserving her reitsu. She, Akira and Mikadzuki were covering each others backs, edging their way to the exit.
But Hitsugaya-taicho was still going strong.
He whirled around, stabbing and hacking away, Hollows being purified in an amazing rate. His light frame was easily evading attacks, even leaping off disappearing Hollows to attack another. The fight showed why he was called a genius.
But suddenly, Mikadzuki cried out. A Hollow had slipped past her guard and she flew into the cave wall. Unconscious, she slumped down, zanpakuto a few feet to the woman's right as blood seeped through her wounded arm. Crowing with delight, the greatly diminished, but still many, Hollows moved forward.
Matsumoto screamed.
Her friend was in dire need, helpless against the advancing Hollows. She did not see but Akira would later tell that Hitsugaya had bodily thrown him out the cave and put up a barrier to keep him out. But she did hear Hitsugaya shout at her.
"Get out of here, Matsumoto! Leave her!"
Rage exploded from her and Haineko echoed her mistress' fury, blade melting to ash.
How dare he! That bastard, leaving Mikadzuki behind!
Crying out wordlessly, she attacked, determined to protect her friend even if her taicho would not. Hollows were purified and with deafening howls, they disappeared. Matsumoto's shoulders slumped with relief.
But it was short lived. For she saw to the Hollow too late, her reitsu so low and she feebly ordered Haineko to defend her.
Not enough reitsu. Those glowering eyes just came closer.
Too slow. She shut her eyes, resigned.
The disgusting sound of sharp teeth sinking into flesh reached her ears. She opened her eyes as Matsumoto felt blood splatter on her face. Blinking dumbly, a hand went up to touch her face. It never made it. She gapped at the scene before her.
The entire left side of Hitsugaya-taicho was being gnawed at by the Hollow.
The two were at an angle and she could she his unnaturally pale face, a mask of stone. Only those teal eyes and gasping breaths betrayed his pains. He raised his free hand.
The katana plunged into the mask, the Hollow so lost in its bloodlust to defend itself. Screeching, it disappeared.
The boy fell to his knees, blood pouring from his torn side. Gasping, Matsumoto hurried forward.
"Help her first!" His snarl surprised her and she hesitated.
"What the hell are you waiting for?!" he roared, fighting to stand with only his zanpakuto to aid him. "Help you friend!"
Matsumoto no longer hesitated. Hoisting the smaller woman up, she came over and grabbed her taicho's right arm. He said nothing and together they hobbled out of the cave.
Akira was waiting for them and was dumbstruck by their state. Hurried he scrambled for their supplies. He came back with his pack.
"Get the rest, you fool!" The man did not deserve to be yelled at but Matsumoto was frantic. One pack didn't have enough supplies for two critically injured shinigami!
"The Hollows got to them," Akira replied hysterically, yanking out the medicine and bandages. He moved to help Hitsugaya only for him to be yelled at again.
"Help her first, that's an order!" the boy growled, clutching his side. Whatever protests Akira was going to say was killed by the icy glare.
The man began patching up his friend as Matsumoto knelt by her taicho.
This was no cold-hearted taicho and she felt deep shame within her as she thought of how she must've acted towards him. She took off her pink scarf and offered it to Hitsugaya. He accepted gratefully and tied it tightly around his wound. Even as he moved his hands away, Matsumoto could see the blood already seeping through.
"Taicho, you need help!" His glare didn't speak of the pain that she knew he was feeling.
"Mikadzuki needs it more than me." If the situation had ben different, it would almost be comical. Her wound was a scratch compared to the chunk ripped out of him!
"I-" Her eyes were burning suspiciously and her throat was dry.
"I'm sorry taicho," she whispered. "I haven't been fair with you."
He looked up at her, surprised. Then his surprised look changed into a breathtaking smile. It was a small one but damn, she knew he was going to be a looker when he grew up!
Then Hitsugaya collapsed.
It was a blur, it went by so fast.
Matsumoto had flown through the gate back to Sereitei, faces bleary and noises muffled. The only thing that mattered was the small body bleeding in her arms. She needed to get him to Unohana-taicho!
She knew she had burst into the Fourth Division, terrifying some meek shinigami. She didn't care. As she watched them take the taicho from her arms, as she waited in numb silence, all she could think about was her taicho.
He had shielded her with his own body.
When Unohana had declared Hitsugaya in stabile condition, she stayed by his bedside. Hours and days passed but that didn't register in her mind. She was wracked with shame and guilt.
Finally, in the quiet hours of the night, he woke up.
His soft groan alerted her and she rushed to his side.
"Taicho?"
Another groan. Bleary eyes slowly opened and focused on her.
"Matsumoto?" his voice was so soft, not the commanding tone of a taicho.
"Taicho I'm so-"
"Don't," he snapped weakly. Her head fell, ashamed. She had only been with him for a few hours but seeing him in this state, so weak and frail, hurt. And it was her fault.
"It's not your fault."
She looked up, startled.
"I know your thinking it's your fault but its not," he said softly, strength returning to his voice but somehow, the moonlit room only permitted whispers. "Never blame yourself, Matsumoto. It won't do you any good."
Their eyes locked, silently conversing. Teal ones so strong and commanding, demanding her to listen. Grey ones stubbornly hold the self-resenting feelings.
Finally, one surrendered. Sighing, Matsumoto turned away.
She moved her chair closer and laid her head on the bed, pillowed by her arms. Softly, Hitsugaya began speaking.
"If I went all out, I could've prevented all this," he said and Matsumoto looked at his in surprise. "The first burst of reitsu took much more out of me than I expected. It was too hasty and it weakened me. The power limit didn't help at all." Quiet chuckles were exchanged.
"I got Akira out first. I tried to tell you but..."
"You were going to leave Mikadzuki behind!"
Cool eyes studied her.
"You really believe those rumors?"
The words were said so quietly she barely heard it. She couldn't stop the small gasp. His lips twitched.
"I am called a genius." There was a quiet scorn in his voice as he spoke. Scorn at her for forgetting or scorn at his title?
"I'm sorry." If she didn't know better, she could've sworn Hitsugaya just rolled his eyes.
"I wanted to release Hyourinmarou but since you are unaware of my zanpakuto's capabilities," he continued calmly. "It wouldn't have been good if you were nearby. When the Hollow came after you, I just-"
"Taicho." He paused from his explanation, or was it excuses? Matsumoto was looking at him.
"You don't need to say another word."
Hitsugaya smiled again, eyes brightening slightly at her understanding.
"Aa."
A comfortable silence settled between them. Their eyes slowly began to close. Their breaths began to slow, lulling each other to sleep. But before falling to the comforting bliss of sleep, Matsumoto smiled.
Only one rumor is true, she knew now.
Her taicho was a genius.
Unohana-taicho found them like that in the morning. Smiling knowingly, she back out of the room and closed the door.
"Unohana-taicho," the confused voice of her fuku-taicho came from behind. Isane was holding a tray, blinking at her taicho. Unohana smiled.
"Let them rest undisturbed."
After all, Ukitake-san would no doubt barge into here, yelling for Shiro-chan. Give them peace while it lasted.
A blur of silver and black.
"SHIRO-CHAAAN!"
Oh. Ukitake-san and Hinamori-kun.
I tried to lighten the ending a bit. Not sure if it kinda kills the story but I'm satisfied with it. It seems that I can't write a serious or angsty fic to save my life. It may start off dark and moody but slowly the mixture of silentcuriousity will seem through; 5 parts humor, 3 parts sarcasm and a pinch of sugar. Shake well and enjoy!
I also plan to have another one shot that is connected to this one. There may be several, don't know yet. Perhaps one, most likely a humorous one, to explain why Hitsugaya resigned from Thirteenth Division and how he got into Eighth.
Glossary
Mikadzuki- means 'New moon' I believe
Akira- er, it's a common name isn't it?
Please click the purple button below this sentence and follow the instructions.