Once again, I don't own anything. Just had this idea in my brain:)
When Lieutenant Colonel Hughes had discovered the boy slumped against the front door of his house he had thought he was Ishvalan, despite the difference in skin color and the almost Xing like features. When the boy had opened his eyes he had been expecting his eyes to be red, not the startling blue that they were.
Almost like ice, he thought to himself.
He spent the rest of the evening playing games with his daughter though he didn't seem to really be enjoying himself, Hughes was under the impression that the boy found the games to not be as tedious as he had originally thought.
He smiled slightly, it was obvious that the kid had grown up quickly in which case maybe it would be good for him to act his age for, at least a little while.
Hughes gazed lazily up at the ceiling, vaguely reminded of someone else he knew. Speaking of which, he had been informed by Lieutenant Ross that Ed had landed himself in the hospital again.
His dreamy smile turned into a smirk; maybe he'd pay him a visit tomorrow, it would be interesting to have the two boys meet. Then again he did have a lot of work…ah well, he could just dump that all on Sheska.
Toshiro Hitsugaya was not called a genius for nothing. It took him half the night but he managed to finish three different books on Amestris history and recent events. He was surprised to discover a form of science called alchemy. He'd have to do more research on the subject later but at least he had discovered enough to get by if ever a conversation were to come up. He vaguely wondered if perhaps he would be able to pass off his kido for the art or even his shikai or bankai for that matter. He'd have to do more research on the subject to be certain.
He then started to wonder if he could perform this so called alchemy, and if so, could he teach the other shinigami back home?
His mind wandered back to the evening with Hughes and his family. Honestly the man was far too lax. And yet he found himself smiling fondly at the turn of events, thinking that he would definitely get along well with his lieutenant.
His expression soon turned into a scowl. He had attempted to open a senkaimon several times but found himself incapable of doing so. Something was preventing him from leaving. It may even be the same thing that brought him to this strange world.
He was grateful that Hughes let him hang onto Hyorinmaru without a fuss.
He was a little surprised with Hughes's lack of concern over the zanpaktou. It might have something to do with the fact that he was a military man but even so, wouldn't that just make him more reluctant to having him carry around his blade?
Toshiro shook his head; this country didn't make too much sense to him. Just by reading about the country's history had him frowning by how much censorship and prejudice was obviously rampant. And though he came from a militaristic society they still had a voice outside the military to make decisions. Even he understood that a government system run strictly through a militaristic standpoint was due to fail. He'd seen that sort of society before to understand it didn't work.
He found himself lying back onto his bed, he had always been an early riser, and the sun was only just coming up as he contemplated his thoughts.
What should it matter to him anyways. As soon as he could find the opportunity he would go home and all of this would be a memory.
As soon as he had closed his eyes to let himself fall back into some sort of a sleep, the door to his room burst open and he jumped up into a sitting position.
Hughes stood in the doorway to the guest room, the same stupid grin on his face.
"Wakey wakey." The man said.
Toshiro could feel his eyes twitch with annoyance.
"Were you already up?" Hughes wondered, a finger to his chin the same way Alicia had done.
Like father like child, Toshiro guessed. A sense of dread washed over him, he prayed that the girl wouldn't grow up to be this enraging.
"Breakfast is ready. I guess this would be a bit early in comparison to when other people get up." Hughes admitted, "But I work in the military so…well, we all need to wake up at absurd hours."
"It's not too bad." Toshiro shrugged.
He had been wearing some of Hughes's old pyjamas from his childhood for the night.
"Well then, get changed and maybe I'll introduce you to my lovely assistant Sheska today."
Toshiro rolled his eyes at the man's antics, yet discovered to his surprise that he was starting to find the attitude almost comforting.
He was growing too soft…
Central military base was very…well there weren't really any words to describe it. It was disciplined, maybe even more so that the Gotei thirteen. Hughes was very specific in explaining where Toshiro was aloud to go and where he wasn't aloud to go. Through most of his time, however he found himself sitting in Hughes's office while the man blabbered on and on about his daughter to some man named 'Roy' (Whom he found himself holding a great deal of respect towards for putting up with the one sided conversation thus far) and watching Sheska sort through the piles of paperwork and files.
Toshiro, though not wanting to admit it, found himself feeling incredibly uncomfortable simply watching.
In a small lapse of curiosity, he picked up one of the sheets of paper that littered the desk. He raised an eyebrow, though in English it wasn't too different from the paperwork he filled out at home. Happy to find something familiar, he grabbed a pen and started filling out some of the forms.
He barely noticed when Hughes put the phone down as he murmured,
"Huh, must be a bad connection…Toshiro, what are you doing?"
Toshiro looked up at him, halfway done the form.
Hughes peered over his shoulder and started reading what he had written and raised an eyebrow,
"Where's the other books needed to fill this out?" he asked.
"I read through them already. I have an eidetic memory." Toshiro explained.
Sheska perked up a moment and Toshiro then realized that he hadn't seen her open up any of the other mandatory books ether.
"Just like Sheska." Hughes said confirming Toshiro's suspicions.
"I did everything correctly, right?" Toshiro said.
Hughes nodded,
"Well isn't that just great, now I have two geniuses working for me!" he let out an annoying laugh.
Sheska smiled slightly at the compliment.
"By the way," Hughes said suddenly sounding sober, "I was thinking, there's someone I'd like you to meet, Toshiro."
Toshiro raised an eyebrow with vague interest, but didn't say anything.
"So, come along with me then." He said grabbing the captain by the back of his collar and dragging him out the door before he could protest.
Toshiro's only thoughts were, 'if we pass anyone in the halls they might mistake this for a kidnapping.'
To the young captain's surprise he found himself being dragged down to a hospital. Were they going to see a doctor? He wondered, puzzled.
Suddenly Hughes turned towards a door and kicked it in.
"Yo Ed, I heard you snuck a girl into your room."
Toshiro ripped himself from the man's grasp, then as though to retain some dignity after being dragged all the way down to the military hospital started fixing his uniform.
"S-she's not my girlfriend!" the boy Toshiro now knew as Ed shouted, "She's my auto-mail mechanic!"
"So you hooked up with your mechanic, eh?"
It was obvious that one of Ed's wounds had opened up. Ed's mental freak-out was suddenly cut off when he took a look at Toshiro.
"Who's the kid?"
Toshiro shot him an icy glare. Ed shrunk back under his glaze.
"It's custom to introduce yourself first."
Ed stubbornly returned the glare after getting over the initial shock. Rolling her eyes, the girl with the blond hair decided it was about time to step in.
"Hello, my name is Winry."
Toshiro scanned her over a moment but she didn't seem bothered by this.
"Toshiro Hitsugaya." He introduced.
Ed's eyes widened comically as he began to stutter,
"I-is that a sword!" he said pointing to the hilt on the small captain's back.
It was then that Winry noticed this as well.
"Very perceptive." Toshiro confirmed, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"So…are you apart of the military?" Winry wondered.
Toshiro shrugged,
"Not this one."
"So then…you're apart of a different military?" Ed frowned.
Toshiro nodded dismissively.
"So what are you doing here?" Ed pressed.
"An accident. Only Hughes actually knows I'm here."
In other words 'I'd like it if as few people as possible know about my presence here.' Ed translated.
The other two people in the room made themselves known.
"Hello, my name is Maria Ross." The woman with short black hair greeted.
"Denny Brosh." The man standing beside her introduced.
Toshiro nodded his head in acknowledgement.
"Hey, that reminds me!" Hughes said suddenly, "It's true I wanted to see you, but I also came here with some news about the Scar incident."
Toshiro was aware of the sudden change in atmosphere. Though tense, Hughes smiled,
"Your body guards are going to be dismissed soon."
Ed brightened,
"Really?"
"Bodyguards?" Winry interrupted, her face paled, "Just what have you two gotten into while I was gone?"
"It's not really that important." Ed dismissed, though he couldn't meet the girl's gaze.
Toshiro raised an eyebrow, suddenly curious as to the reason why Hughes had him meet Ed in the first place. On the other hand, as long as Winry was around he doubted he would get any answers. These people, especially Ed appeared to be quite protective of her. Not that he blamed them. Winry was a civilian, having her be involved would only endanger her.
She puffed out her cheeks,
"You and your brother never tell me anything no matter how nicely I ask." But then her expression changed to one of acceptance as she said, "Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow, I need to find a place to stay for the night…"
"You could stay at the military hotel." Ed suggested.
However this idea was immediately shot down.
"I know how about you stay with me!" Hughes declared.
Toshiro raised an eyebrow realizing that this probably meant he'd be sleeping on the couch for the rest of his stay with Hughes.
"But I just met you, a-and I don't want to impose." She stuttered.
"Nonsense, my family would be happy to have you." He smiled grabbing her wrist, "Now that we have that figured out."
He started dragging her away in almost the same way as he had Toshiro who let out a sigh and followed them.
"It was nice meeting you." Toshiro said with no emotion, bowing then following Hughes and his latest victim.