IMPORTANT: This fic was inspired by (predictably enough) "Squad 0" by Crystalscar. [go to www(dot)fanfiction(dot)net/s/6112263/1/Squad_0 to read it! (The link is on my profile page.)] Please do read it before reading this fic, otherwise I will not send out any search party, no matter how lost you are.

DISCLAIMER: Bleach is Kubo Tite's. Original idea is from Crystalscar, used with permission... and mangled beyond recognition.

Author's Note: I can't really say for certain where this story branches off from the main timeline, since it's not all that specific. After all, my aim is not to write an AU, but a fic with a similar concept to the original. But I would think it starts somewhere after the first chapter, and probably the second, too. :D Anyway, here goes...

Tōshirō put on his captain's haori as he walked to the office.

He felt just the slightest bit guilty for not coming in earlier as he had originally planned. There was so much work that needed finishing before he left.

But after all that's happened these few days, I think that it's acceptable –

His thoughts stopped abruptly as he slid the door open.

There were many things that he had come to expect, though not look forward to, after his years in the Gotei 13, ranging from more paperwork, to a smiling, candy-bearing Ukitake – he shuddered at the thought – to death threats.

But never in a million years would he have expected to see this.

Tōshirō stared at his desk, stunned at the fact that he could actually see its smooth mahogany surface, cleared of almost all its usual debris. His fukutaichō sat behind it, rapidly adding to a stack of finished paperwork beside her. The height of it told him that she had been working on it since early this morning.

She was so engrossed that she failed to notice his quiet approach entirely.

He tapped her on the shoulder, causing her to whirl around in the chair. But instead of the usual complaints that he had expected, he received only a polite greeting as she sprang from the chair.

A frown crossed his features. Something was wrong, and he was determined to find out what.

He grabbed her wrist as she made to pass by him, and she turned to look at him, faintly surprised.

With a sinking heart, Tōshirō realised that she had also taken off her pink scarf.

She had never gone without it as far as he could remember.

What had happened?

"Matsumoto."

His voice was soft, almost inaudible to anyone else.

"What are you doing?"

to be continued...

2nd Author's Note: I'm sorry if it's a little short, but this was the best place to cut the story. Don't worry, the second chapter is done and awaiting editing, while the third chapter just needs about three more paragraphs before it's done - and, of course, waiting to see what people think of this story.

3rd (and last) Author's Note: Please do review! Thank you! (Even my A/N got shorter... I really need sleep right now.)