Reborn

It's been fourteen years since that day.

That day, that one fateful day…the day he lost his best friend, his best friend and Lieutenant: Rangiku Matsumoto.

Even though it was not his fault, he blames himself. He blames himself for her death, but in reality, it was never his fault.

He stood at her grave, reading her name over and over, before hardening his resolve to finally let her go.

"Rangiku…I know it's taken a long time, but I'm here to tell you…I'm finally going to move on. For fourteen years I didn't want to promote anyone to Lieutenant; I didn't want anyone else to take your place. But now, I stand here before you to tell you: I'm ready to move on. It was an honor to have you by my side as both my Lieutenant and friend…Goodbye Rangiku."

He laid a rose of ice, a rose of ice made with Hyourinmaru. This one rose, the one rose that will neither wilt nor melt, no matter what the weather. He laid down the rose of ice, showing he would always be there.

Later That Day:

Hitsugaya found himself staring into the eyes1 of his new Lieutenant (promoted an hour ago),Mai Kinoshita the second woman who would be by his side, never taking Rangiku's place, solely taking her rank. He stared into her hazel eyes and spoke with a steady voice, one he was surprised he had.

"Kinoshita, you have been selected as my new Lieutenant meaning your workload will increase. This includes managing the division while I am away; my mission in London will give you a chance to prove yourself. You are aware of my mission in London correct?"

"Yes Sir, I have read the report you gave me earlier today. Don't worry; I assure you I am more than capable of managing the division."

"Good, I shall be rating your performance upon my return. Before I set out, we need to get some papers filed and signed, come."

"Yes Sir!" She replied before falling into step with him.

Elsewhere:

In England (world of the living), a girl with messy brown hair headed for her parents after saying goodbye to her two friends, Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley. She was happy to see her parents, having been at school for so many months; despite her happiness, exhaustion took over and she flopped down onto her bed, wanting only to sleep.

Dream:

Hermione found herself dressed in strange robes with a sword in hand fending off strange monsters. She looked about and found she was standing in the sky next to someone she felt was important to her. She felt attached to the white haired boy before her; she felt, she would give her life to save his if necessary. She watched as a strange man before the boy raised his sword and cackled loudly, boasting about his skill and ability to kill the boy.

"Now die young Tai…" The man cackled.

She found herself running towards the boy and the man, hoping and praying desperately for the boy to be safe. Just before the sword reached the boy, she jumped in front and used herself as a shield, taking the stab for the boy.

Hermione's Room:

Hermione awoke, startled and baffled by the strangeness of her dream. She wondered if the dream was a sign of some sort, or perhaps it was simply a strange dream her mind conjured up, brewing from her extreme exhaustion. She decided to put it off as just a dream and readied herself for some breakfast. She ran down the stairs and headed for the kitchen, in desperate need of food. After finishing, she set out to meet her friends, Jaden and Kimberly, at the park for a day of leisure.

Park:

Hitsugaya stepped out of the Senkaimon, waiting to meet with a Shinigami sent by the English Branch of Soul Reapers, but it seemed the Shinigami was late.

"Hmph and I thought the English were always persnickety about being on time. I'm a Captain, not an unseated officer; I'll have to report them to the English Branch once he or she arrives." Hitsugaya thought.

Hoping to pass the time, Hitsugaya sat on a bench, staring at the sky through the leaves of a tree hanging over the bench. Little did he know, he was about to have one of the strangest yet most pleasing encounters of his afterlife.