Author's Note: Hurrah, the second chapter is now up! Well, anyway, I received comments on people asking something along the lines of "How did you watch The DiamondDust Rebellion?" or "Where did you watch it?" or even, "You rewatched it!?" Yes, I have seen it, but I really do hate to admit that it wasn't exactly through legal means…SHHHH.

Humming a merry tune to himself, Ichigo pulled up his hakama, fastened his obi tightly around his waist, and flushed the toilet. He stepped out of the bathroom, closing the door behind him, and hurrying off back in the direction of the tenth division, lest he be noticed soon by the owner of the bathroom he had just used.

Now, Ichigo was in a particularly light mood. He had been making trips to Soul Society more and more often, thanks to Urahara's new technology, just to see a certain white-haired captain.

As he neared the tenth division office, the strawberry was suddenly aware of a reiatsu that was very ominous indeed. It was thick, unpleasant, and it seemed to be radiating directly outwards from Hitsugaya's office.

Worry beginning to tug at his heart, he began moving faster towards the office. What exactly was going on? Was Hitsugaya alright?

However, no sooner had these thoughts flashed across his mind, the reiatsu suddenly vanished into thin air as if it had never been there before.

"That's odd," he muttered as he hurried to the office doors and pulled them open.

"Toshiro?" he called out, "Is everything alright in there? I just felt…"

His words trailed off as he caught sight of Hitsugaya. His eyes; their usual haughty air was gone and had been replaced with the hollow appearance of fear.

"Toshiro?"

At the sound of his name being called for the second time, the juuban tai taichou turned to look at Ichigo, trying hurriedly to erase any signs of a harrowing experience from his face.

"What reiatsu?" he asked, and it hurt Ichigo deeply to see such a false smile on his little lover's face. How could he expect him to be convinced if his facial expression did not match his eyes?

"Toshiro, what happened?"

"Nothing, Ichigo, nothing happened."

"Are you sure? I could have sworn I felt this really weird reiatsu."

"Yes, I assure you, everything's…everything's fine," Hitsugaya insisted, turning away from the concerned strawberry. "If you don't mind, I'd like to be alone for a while. I have to finish this paperwork…"

Ichigo frowned. This was unlike his dear ice prince. Although it didn't seem as such, he knew that Hitsugaya would never shoo him from his office.

"What's wrong, huh, Toshiro?" he pressed on insistently, "Are you feeling alright?"

"Yes, it's just that I'm stressed because of this paperwork. You know how it is."

"Alright, if you say so," Ichigo muttered, turning away, hurt that Hitsugaya would lie to him so obviously. He had noticed that the boy had already flown through his work and only a few sheets were left to complete. "Well, call me if you need me…"

"I'm sorry, Ichigo, I…"

"No, it's alright, I'll leave."

Hitsugaya watched Ichigo exit the office, the doors closing behind him with a loud bang.

The young captain let out an audible sigh as he reached into his desk to get a clean sheet of paper. He hadn't meant to upset or turn the strawberry away, but it was for his own good.

He stared quietly at the blank sheet of paper before he began to write.

The minutes passed, and the office was enveloped in complete silence as Hitsugaya finally finished up the material. He folded it, wrote the name of his assistant captain on it so she would know it was meant for her, and stood up.

Hitsugaya knew that the decision he had made was his only option. If he could, he wouldn't, but he had no choice.

With another sigh, he quietly removed the tenth division haori from his shoulders, folded it, and placed it on the desktop next to the note he had just completed.

His eyes drifted to the clock. The night was still fairly young, but he knew that the sooner he left, the better. It would take him quite some time to travel to his destination.

Then, slinging Hyorinmaru over his shoulder, he quietly slipped out of the office doors and hurried off into the rapidly approaching darkness of the night.

Matsumoto Rangiku was a happy woman.

She had just enjoyed herself immensely at a drinking party with the ninth division, and now, as she staggered back towards her own division, cheeks flushed with the affects of alcohol, she wasn't even thinking about what her captain would say to her ditching work to drink.

As she opened the doors, the first thing she noticed was that the office was empty and dark.

"That's weird," she said aloud, "Where's taichou?"

With a shrug, she closed the doors behind her and flipped on the light switch.

The fact that she couldn't even feel her captain's reiatsu was enough to sober her up. This meant that he hadn't just left or he wasn't merely out getting some fresh air or at a captain's meeting.

He had already been gone for at least six hours.

That was extremely unlike her work-a-holic captain. Normally, he would shut himself in the office twenty-four seven, taking care of administrative business if he wasn't on a mission or at assembly.

That was when she noticed two items left on the desk.

Matsumoto's heart froze with dread as her ash-colored eyes caught sight of the abandoned haori, folded neatly and left to sit upon the desk.

Next to it was a folded note addressed to her.

Her eyebrows crinkling in confusion and worry, the fukutaichou of the tenth division slowly reached to the desk, picking up the paper and unfolding it before scanning the words it revealed.

Matsumoto –

I will be away for a while. Do not expect me to return anytime soon.

I have finished most of this week's paperwork, so I will be expecting you to finish it. Take care of the paperwork for the following weeks as well. Make sure to keep the office neat and that the rest of the division is in order. I will allow you full commanding powers, as I expect you to substitute for me in overseeing the affairs of this division. If you need assistance, please ask the third seat. Try not to drink too much; it's bad for your health.

Furthermore, I would like to ask you to inform the sotaichou that I am resigning my position as the tenth division captain. Given the current circumstances, I am afraid that I may not be able to return to Soul Society ever again. Please do not attempt to track me or communicate with me.

I am sorry if this is too much to ask of you, Matsumoto, but I trust that you will do a good job in my stead. It has been my honor to work with you and to serve under the Gotei 13.

Also, please tell Ichigo that I am very sorry, and goodbye. Do not let him try to come after me. Please let him know that I love him very much as well.

Your Former Captain.

Matsumoto's eyes widened in panic as she finished reading the letter.

"Taichou…where have you gone?" she murmured before tucking the letter into her robes and hurrying out of the office, the discarded haori clutched tightly to her chest.

If there was someone else that had to know about her captain's deliberate disappearance at once, then it was Kurosaki Ichigo.

As the night wore on, one by one, each division began to tune out for the night, the lights all flickering and dimming.

Masked by this darkness and being sure to keep his reiatsu carefully sealed, Hitsugaya had finally reached his destination, the West Gate.

He knew that Jidanbo was on the other side, and thus, he would have to take extra care so that the giant would not become aware of his departure.

As Hitsugaya's movement slowed to a quiet walk, his eyes peering through the darkness caught sight of the person who he had been expecting to be waiting for him.

"So you came, Hitsugaya-kun," Aizen spoke, his falsely warm voice chilling Hitsugaya down to the bone more effectively than something even below freezing ever would. "Have you decided?"

The white-haired boy nodded.

"I have."

"Very well, then, let's hear your answer."

Inhaling deeply, Hitsugaya spoke.

"Under the conditions you promised to me…I pledge my life and loyalty to you…Aizen."