Secret of the Years
by
PanMarlon
Screaming, exploded building debris and smoke filled the air. Shinigami and everyday civilians warded off the multitude of Hollows and Espada that were invading the Seireitei. Shikai and Bankai were released in great outbursts of power. Kidou spells and guns were going off. Many who couldn't fight were running for their lives or using what they could to defend the injured and the children. Near a dead and bloodied body of a male teenage shinigami academy student , a boy and girl, also dressed in academy clothing struggled to their feet. The dazed pair were no more than about 9 years of human age.
A full grown Toushirou Hitsugaya was yelling at the kids to hurry and get to safety. All of the sudden there was a snapping sound. The two kids looked up in horror.
"DADDY!" The little boy cried out.
Stepping into the compound of the Tenth Squad, the Hitsugaya family was given a warm welcome back. Toushirou and his beloved wife Momo and five of their seven children were with them. Yes, they were much like rabbits and had many children: three sons and four daughters . Their eldest child, Toushirou Jr., and fourth eldest, Sapphire, weren't present. Sapphire was still on bed rest. Junior's where abouts still wasn't disclosed.
Despite the clamor of everyone rejoicing over their return, something out of the corner of Toushirou's eye caught his attention. This was a distracted from the happy commotion. The silver-haired captain looked up to spot a small group of masked people watching the reunion from a balcony. The immediate rush of protectiveness that rose within him settled as he noticed that the masks were not the kind that hollows wore. Still, he didn't allow himself to totally relax.
Seeing that they were being observed, several members of the group stepped aside to allow a smaller one of their number to approach the rail and look down on the scene below. The small figure wore a hooded hoari observed without speaking for a moment, but when he did, said, "So, they finally woke up." A thin hand reached up and shifted the mask he wore.
"This will be interesting," the tallest one of the group who was standing close by said, as he snapped off half of his mask. Revealed underneath was lilac-colored hair pulled back in a ponytail and one orange eye.
Toushirou and Momo walked toward another welcoming crowd inside Commander-Captain Yamato's room where all the meetings were held. He and wife received them with a few warm words of acknowledgment. Then, as the two moved into the crowd, hugs, backslaps (mainly reserved for Toushirou), and bows, formal and informal, were exchanged as the couple were ushered deeper into the room of people eager (some not so eager) to greet upon their long-awaited return.
Watching the warm and friendly reception Mayuri nearly gagged at the sight. He had never been fond of the white haired shinigami to be made captain, but then, he had never been fond of anyone or anything. Pulling a sour face, he watched Nemu go up and hug HInamori who received it with a look of hastily concealed surprised.
Hisagi came up with one of his underlings and bowed low in Hitsugaya's direction. Unlike Mayuri, he greatly respected the 'ice captain'. Following behind him, Kenpachi gave them a nod of recognition although his assessing eye lingered on the younger captain. It was obvious he was wondering what the outcome of a battle between them would be as he then let a wolfish grin spread across his lips. Yachiru, who had been following hard on his heels, stopped to sweep the couple up into her arms and spin them around. Both were surprised to see how much she had grown while they had been away. She was nearly as tall as they were and looked much like a human teenager. Last time they saw her she was the height of a ten year old.
Byakuya Kuchiki dipped his head in formal greeting but didn't say anything, although his lieutenant, Abarai Renji ruffled Momo's hair with a laugh until Ichigo moved up. The two of them turned their attention to man of the Hitsugaya house. They joked and smiled, the jocularity hiding the fact how pleased they were upon the return of their more aloof friend.
Suddenly a squeal sounded. Matsumoto hurled herself at her captain, swallowing him up in a mighty breasted glomp before turning her attention to Momo and sweeping her up into a happy hug. Tears were trickling down her face.
Waiting with the dignity of her station for her turn, Soi Fon held out her hand in the fashion of the living world, to give the two a handshake. Omeda followed her example and did the same before making a beeline for the buffet.
Kira came up shyly and started to also extend his hand in a handshake, but Momo grabbed him and gave him a hug instead. Blushing mightily, the blonde shinigami turned hesitantly toward Hitsugaya hoping that he wasn't about to become the object of the captain's ire or jealousy. He was relieved to see that the captain didn't seem to notice. Or did he?
Bonding up Ukitake shoved Izuru Kira out of the way. He was to excite for his own good. With Kiyone, the new lieutenate helped in Handed over a cake to the young pair.
"Now now Jyushiro, We can't go attacking others now." Kyoraku said taking off his straw hat. Nanao help Kira to his feet before shooting dagger at the 13th squad captain. Once she was sure Kira was okay she joined her captain. Very briefly the gave idal chit-chat. Actually more like showing a ring engagement ring to them and giving them a personal invitation.
Standing next to the commanding captain the small masked figure stood. He remained unnoticed that and ignored for the longest time. Couldn't be helped. He wasn't going to get into that mess of people. He was to afraid of being stepped on. Or worse, being shoved like the blonde lieutenate. He turned and faced Yamato for a second before he walking over to his spot.
The meeting soon began. Everyone lined up evens on right side odd left side. Hitsugaya barely noticed the kid. He estimated the kid to be about the age of a pre-teen. They stood next to each other in silence. While doing so the older captain glanced down at the yonger one's back. You can't be serious!? He was flabbergasted to see the kid was identified as the tenth squad captain.
The meeting that was being held that day was to help the Hitsugaya's catch up. For the last 20 years many thing happened. First thing was first was to tell them about their dormancy. They were in an unresponsive, near coma state. Learning of their spiritual energy nearly collasping gave them a scare. Only the last weak everything improved.
"It was like ice melting in the summer heat," Unohana said. "Not getting any of you to stir was very heart breaking." She looked down recalling the days.
The kid beside Toushirou coughed hearing the sentences out of Unohana mouth. It was at that moment Kyoraku leaned down some and smacked the back of kid several times till the kid forcely stopped coughing. It was then the flowery captain realized the two haven't been properly introduced. "Nee' Hitsugaya I like to introduce this fine young fellow. This small captain you see here is, well was, may still is, your temporary replacement. His name is TouKo b..." All of a sudden Kyoraku looked over to Nanao. He had a pained expression on his face. TouKo who was a bit upset was digging his heel into Kyoraku foot.
A couple days later at the tenth squad courtyard a meeting was being held. It was at this meeting . Announced that Captain Hitsugaya was going to soon retake his place as the squad captain. That didn't go well with many of the squad members. The ones who raised a fuss only new as captain not his other man. Many of the older members who knew of Hitsugaya died or changed squads.
Standing in between her squad and TouKo, Matsumoto twitch. The second in command was a bit annoyed but understood the uproar. Never-the-less she tried hard to keep the others calm.
Momo who was a little ways from her female companion watched the crowd slowly grow aggressive. She go very uneasy, even more so with Hitsugaya's growing anger to it. Now she wished she stayed home with the kids.
He was going to lose it. Hitsugaya was about to burst and ice them all ten-fold when he noticed TouKo behavior. Both eye brows raised in shock. The kid is just sitting.
Yep he was. Sitting off to the side with an empty cup in his hand TouKo seemed relaxed and very indifferent. He turned and handed the cup to one of his fellow masked member who loyally stood next to him. He made a comment on ironing out some wrinkles as he shot a glance to various member of the crowd. Brushing himself clean as he stood up the child bellowed. "SHUT UP!"
The crowd silenced. Few fell over due to the kids energy blowing them over. Toushirou and his wife noticed it had an icey touch to it.
For himself, TouKo wanted out! He'd be damn if anyone was going to ruin this change for him. The position captain had been forced on him when he would rather have stayed in the lower ranks. He would be delighted to go back to the lovely eight seat once he could be relieved of this job he never wanted in the first place. It was a part he was forced to play by order of the Captain-General.
"This is too much responsibility and you all know it!" He pointed a finger at the group. "that and being on these restriction is the pits." He watched as many of his member lower their heads. "It's not like I am leaving!" The kid snarled half tempted to snatch his cup back and toss it at the subordinates. "All I am doing is returning something I was ordered to take care of."
"Restrictions? Now why would he have restriction?" Momo looked up and placed a hand on her chin. Is he still suffering from injuries?
Hitsugaya on the other hand was thinking the kid had something else. His paranoid side took over. The kid has power of great depth. Why else would he be wearing a mask and several amulets? Crap he might be like Captain Zaraki!
A few weeks went by. Three to be exact. Hitsugaya was slowly getting back into the routine of work. Most of the time he was getting to know his newer division members. The older one's he pretty much caught up with: Marriages, births, death and promotions.
He was leaving for the day and happened to pass by his old office. Hitsugaya had yet to enter the office. Something told him he should go inside tonight. So he did. Looking to his left then to his right nothing seemed too different. Other than the Sofa's had blue covers over them. His eyes focused at the captains's desk. Their was TouKo, Mask hood and all. He was apparently reading up on files. "Does he ever sleep?" He rarely saw the kid leave except on a light work day and on Thursdays.
As Hitsugaya went closer he notice . starting to slump over. "Ah so you do sleep." Hitsugaya smiled remembering how hard it was on him at that age to keep up. Well now he had more things in common with TouKo Matsumoto still didn't put her two cents in, they were both elemental, and both work to the point they slept at the desk.
The next thing that TouKo knew he waking up on the couch. As his eyes opened he saw nothing but blue. Moving around he noticed the lime green blanket was over him. At first he did nothing. When his brain realized where he was the masked captain sat up quickly. In a franizy he looked over to see at the desk Captain Hitsugaya and the love of his life whispering.
They glance up giving the kid recongition before snickering. They were having to much fun. Both couldn't help but laugh at the way the youth had been talking in his sleep. "Maybe we should call him Mini Shiro!" Momo teased. "You're both Icy, work-a-holic, and talk in your sleep."
"Momo..." her hsband frowned. "Shiro belongs to me." He watched her glide away toward the bookcase. "TouKo, Do you normally sleep ten hours?" Hitsugaya was smacking a reject stamp on one of the documents.
The boy gasped and held his head. "I actually slept a full night?" He couldn't believe it. It was a rare event to have such sleep.
"Yes why wouldn't you?" Momo turn on her heels. She looked at the boy and smiled at him motherly.
As TouKo blinked the sleep from his eyes and tried to think of a way to tell why he never got such sleep just as Isane appeared on the scene. She frowned at the youth. She turned and faced the other two and ratted him out.
"The boy over works himself physically, and mentally. If Captain Hitsugaya hadn't been here last night he'd be back in fourth squad for a week." She told of at least five different incidences of falling down stairs that she knew of, falling at the desk, and at least once at a captain's meeting. Momo and Toushirou's eyebrows rose at the recitation as they studied the youth with new eyes.
With not a trace of emotion in his voice (and if anything showed on his face, the mask hid it), Touko said, "Correction my dear lady. Six times down the stairs with one going the whole flight. There were seven in town or was it eight, three in the bath and the rest you have right." Then, letting a bit of pride seep through, TouKo added, "Oh and the garden pond!"
Momo gaped at him, while Hitsugaya frowned and began admonishing the youth on the responsibilities of being a captain and taking care of oneself was only to the betterment of the Company.
The kid was startled at the scowl but he smiled behind his masks. If only he knew, the kid thought to himself.