Chapter 2:

"Out of my way! Where is he?" Rangiku pushed past everyone in her way in her attempt to reach the infirmary. "Where is he? Is he ok?"

Unohana blocked her path into the recovery room and put a finger to her lips. "Shh! Please lower your tone. Hitsugaya is resting."

"Is he ok? He's not hurt, is he?"

"No, no. He is uninjured."

Rangiku let out a huge sigh of relief. "Oh, thank God..! I was so worried about him. I thought something had happened to him. So he's alright?"

"Now, I didn't say that."

Her heart sunk. "What? What do you mean by that? I thought you said that he wasn't hurt."

"Well, physically no. Unfortunately, he seems to be having problems with his memory."

"What kind of problems? What's wrong with his memories?"

"He has none."

It was true. Hitsugaya couldn't remember a thing. His mind had been wiped clean. He felt so lost and confused. All he could remember was his name. He was Toshiro Hitsugaya. But other than that, he didn't know. He had no idea where he was born, who his family was, his past, his present, nothing. He didn't have a clue as to where he was right now, either. He was in some sort of hospital bed, but why? Did this have something to do with his memory loss?

The door opened and he heard footsteps approaching the bed. He pulled the covers up to his eyes, hiding. The footsteps grew louder as they got closer to his bed. That's when the privacy curtain was pulled back revealing a very pretty woman.

"Hello, there! How are you feeling?"

He shyly hid behind the covers. He didn't recognize her.

She lowered her volume. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."

"I- I'm not scared," he answered.

She sat down on the edge of his bed. "Do you remember me?"

He shook his head.

So it was true. He really didn't know who she was. "My name is Rangiku Matsumoto."

He lowered the covers slightly. "I- I'm T- Toshiro Hitsugaya."

She smiled at him in a friendly way to reassure him. He smiled back in return.

His stomach growled loudly. He pulled the covers back up to his eyes, embarrassed.

She laughed at his action. He was acting so shy. How odd. That was so unlike him. "I figured you'd be hungry so I smuggled this in for you to eat." She extended a bag out for him to take.

It fell open on his lap and a variety of rice balls spilled out onto the bed. "Onigiri?" He knew what that was right off the bat. There were all different kinds, too. Pickled plum, salon, chicken, and beef rib, all wrapped up in poorly wrapped packaging.

Rangiku gave a weak chuckle. "Sorry about the wrapping job. I didn't have much time…"

"You made all these?" he asked, picking up a seaweed wrapped rice ball.

"Well…" She already knew her cooking wasn't the best, but perhaps he didn't remember that. She watched him closely as he peeled back the paper and took a bite. He didn't make a face. It must have been good, but she decided to ask anyway. "Do you like it?"

He nodded. "Mm-hmm. It's good."

She clapped her hands together. "I'm so glad!"

As he ate, Hitsugaya started to feel a little more comfortable around her. This woman wasn't so bad. He still wanted to know who she was, though. That other woman, Unohana, felt like a mom to him, but it turned out that she was only a doctor or something like that. So did this make her his mom? No, couldn't be. She looked nothing like him. An aunt maybe? He wasn't sure who she was to him.

Once he had finished eating, he decided to ask her. "So… Are you my family?"

She blinked. She wasn't sure how to answer that. "Uh… Well, no. I'm… Call me a friend. I'm a close friend of yours."

"Close?" His eyes widened. "Are we dating?"

She fell off the bed. "No! No, not at all. No."

He let out a relived sigh. "Oh, good..! I was scared there for a minute. So you're just a really good friend?"

"Yeah. We've known each other a while. We go way back."

He smiled again at her. "I… I'd like to remember it."

She sat back on the bed. "So you really don't remember anything? Nothing at all?"

"I remember my name, but that's about it." He rubbed the back of his head. "Did I hit my head or something?"

"I… I'm not sure. They found you last night in the street."

"They?"

"Um, some other people in black kimonos."

"Oh. What was I doing out in the street?"

"We don't know. We were hoping you could tell us that. But I guess you can't because you can't remember anything anyway."

Hitsugaya folded his hands in his lap. "I'm sorry."

"That's ok. It's not your fault."

Hitsugaya was quiet after that for a while. After several long minutes passed, he fluffed up his pillows and made himself more comfortable. He sat facing her and looked into her eyes. "Uh, Rangiku, was it?"

"Yes."

"Since we are such close friends and all, could you please tell me about… me?" His eyes looked curious and hopeful. "I want to remember. I want to find out about me. Please?"

"Uh… Well…"

The curtain pulled back a second time and Unohana walked in and stood at the foot of his bed. "So how are you feeling?"

Hitsugaya smiled. "Fine. I feel alright."

"Have you remembered anything yet?"

He shook his head sadly. "No, not yet. But I'm sure I will."

Rangiku turned her head to look at the female captain. "He wants me to tell him everything about himself. Should I?"

"No."

"Aw! Why not? I want to know!" Hitsugaya whined. He really wasn't himself at all.

"This is a strange case of amnesia. To forget everything but one's name… I've never seen anything like it. But it's amnesia just the same and therefore must be handled the same way. You'll have to remember things on your own over time. We can't force it on you."

"So what should we do?" Rangiku asked.

"His memory should come back on its own. I'm sure there's nothing to worry about. For now, he'll have to remain here. Perhaps he could be released just long enough for him to go home. Maybe being surrounded by familiar things will help him to remember. But that won't be for some time. I would like for him to stay here for a little while longer."

"Can't you do anything for him?"

Unohana shook her head sadly. "No. I'm skilled when it comes to healing, but I'm afraid that memory loss is quite different from a gaping wound. There's nothing I can do for him. No medicine I can give him or anything like that. I'm sorry."

Rangiku stood up from the bed. "But when will you allow him to leave? He needs to remember as quickly as possible. He is a captain, after all. He has things to do. How long will this last?"

"Hopefully not too long." Unohana took a look around the room before sighing. "I suppose I can let him leave later today. I'll do a little more research on this and let you know what to do. You'll have to be in charge of him, you know."

"I understand."

"And this is where we… well, you spend most of the time during the day. The office!" Rangiku showed Hitsugaya around his vaguely familiar office. After he had been released from the infirmary, Rangiku had spent all of her time showing him around, trying to jog some of his memories.

So far, it didn't seem to be working. He still seemed so lost and confused. He reacted shyly to everyone and everything. When he had seen a Hell Butterfly, he literally ducked in cover behind a potted plant. Clearly this wasn't working.

Hitsugaya looked around the office, picking up and studying everything he could get his hands on. He thumbed through all the waiting paperwork on his desk with a sad look on his face. He turned to look at her. "I'm sorry. But I don't remember."

"It's ok. You will. It will take some time. Unohana said that there is no way for her to cure you instantly. You have to work things out on your own. You'll be fine."

Hitsugaya ran his fingers over the top of the desk. "Is it true?"

"Eh?"

"Me." He turned his gaze back to her. "Am I really a captain? Me?"

Rangiku was afraid of this. "Well, yes. Why?"

"I just… I just didn't think that they allowed kids in or something. And this thing…" He pointed to the sword propped against the wall. "Is that really mine?"

"Yes. That's your zanpakuto."

"And… and I can use it?"

"Yes. You know how. You've just forgotten, that's all. It'll come back to you soon enough. Trust me."

Even though he nodded, Rangiku could tell that he wasn't so sure. It was hard enough finding out that he was a captain, now this? She hadn't told him that much yet, but what little she did tell him must have been overwhelming.

"And…" he went on. "And these Soul Reaper people… could you run that by me again?"

"Sure. You and I, and everyone wearing a black kimono is a Soul Reaper."

"And we kill these Hollow things… right?"

"Well… Yes, to put it simply. We're the good guys. We help people."

"I see…" He turned back around and looked out the window. The outside world seemed so vast. Looking out from this high position made him feel almost like a king overlooking his kingdom. So why didn't he feel powerful? Though he was so high up looking out at this big world, he felt so small and weak. He felt like a tiny ant constantly running and hiding and dodging people's feet. Even now he felt like he was being crushed. "Rangiku?"

"Yes, sir?"

"D- don't call me that, please. I just- I just can't…"

He didn't need to finish. She understood what he meant. "I'm sorry."

"But Rangiku?"

"Yes?"

"I…" He placed his hand on the window. "I would like it to stop now, please."

"What do you mean?"

"These lessons or whatever." He hung his head. "I don't want to learn anymore today. There's still so much I don't understand but… I just can't… Please, Rangiku?"

"Say no more. I understand."

He nodded keeping his back to her. "Yes, thank you."

Slowly, he walked over to the couch and sat down. He put his knees together and laid his hands atop them, leaning forward. In doing so, he almost looked like a girl working up the nerve to talk to the cute boy she liked. But Rangiku didn't dare to tell him that. She knew it wouldn't help. So instead, she sat down next to him and put her arm around him.

"You'll be just fine, Captain."

This time, he didn't correct her from addressing him by his usual title. He must have been worn out, mind and body.

His stomach growled and he turned his head to hide his blushing face.

She smiled with a soft chuckle. "I'll go and get you something to eat. You just stay here and rest, ok?"

He looked at her as she stood up and then turned away, keeping his eyes to the floor. "Yes, thank you."

And so she got up and left the office.

It was all so overwhelming. He couldn't understand any of it. He never felt so confused in his life. At least, not that he could remember. He hated having amnesia. He wanted to remember. He really did.

He lay on the couch flat on his back, staring up at the ceiling. He reviewed what he had learned that afternoon. None of it made any sense to him at all. He just wanted to take a nap and wake up with all his memories. But that was unlikely, wasn't it? Why could he only remember his name? Why was he in the street? Why any of this? He covered his face with his hands and rolled onto his side, facing the back of the couch. This was so frustrating. He prayed for a miracle.

I need something. Anything to help me remember. Please! Someone just help me out, please!

His prayers were answered when he heard a song.

Lowering his hands, Hitsugaya sat up on the couch and looked around. "Singing?" The voice was loud and clear but no one was around. "Who's there? Who's singing?"

No one answered him. All he heard was singing.

He got off the couch and walked to the window. It was coming from outside. He opened the window and stuck his head out. No one. Nothing but the wind…

… And that song.

It was very comforting. It cast a strange spell over him, making him feel calm. It was very soothing. It was as if an unseen hand reached out and caressed his face like a summer breeze. He wanted to find the singer. But for some reason his legs would not work. They had gone numb. So instead, he just closed his eyes and listened to the song. It was like ocean waves lapping up onto the shore.

When he opened his eyes, he was greeted by big blue orbs staring back at him. He jumped back in surprise.

The girl only smiled and chuckled. "Sorry for startling you like that. So how have you been?"

Hitsugaya stepped further away, keeping a good distance between them. Something about this girl made him feel nervous. "Who are you?"

She moved closer. "Sapphire."

He pulled a chair out and hid behind it. He wanted to keep the distance between them. "What are you doing here?"

Again, she moved closer. "I'm here for you, of course."

Using the chair as a shield, Hitsugaya moved backwards towards the other side of the room. "Why me? What do you want with me? What's this about?"

She advanced towards him again. "I'm here to take you back."

"Back? Back to where?"

"Home. With me and my sisters. You don't belong here."

Taking another step back from her, his back hit the bookcase. He could go no further. "What do you mean I don't belong here? What's that mean? What are you talking about?"

She scoffed. "So many questions. Come on, already. Come with me." She extended her hand out towards him.

Putting his back against the bookcase, Hitsugaya leaned away from her. "Stay away from me!"

"What's wrong with you? I've come to save you."

"Save me? Save me from what?"

"From here. From this place. You don't belong with those people. You belong with us. Now come with me."

Now only a step from him, Hitsugaya thrust the chair between them towards her stomach. "Back!"

"Hitsugaya, put the chair down."

"No! And how do you know my name?"

"I told you that you belonged with us."

"Us?"

"My sisters and myself. Now come."

"No!" Like a lion tamer, he held the chair up, pointed at her slender body. "Stay away from me! I'm warning you!"

She looked at the chair as if he were threatening her with a stuffed animal. With a flick of her wrist, she cast it aside. It slammed into the floor, breaking two of its legs. That action was done so easily, like she hadn't even tried to make an effort of it. She must have been strong.

Hitsugaya pinned his back against the bookcase, unable to move any further away from her. "St- stop! Don't come any closer! I- I'm warning you! There's a woman that will be back here in a few minutes- seconds, even! She'll take care of you! So- so don't-!"

She didn't stop smiling for one second. She wasn't frightened at all by his empty threats.

"Sister!" A second girl hopped through the window and into the room. "You found him?"

"Indeed. But he won't come."

This girl was quite pretty. She was wearing a light purple kimono covered with blossoms and flower petals. She had this charm about her that made it hard for him to resist coming to her. Some sort of magnetic pull was willing him over to her. It was all Hitsugaya could do to remain in his currant spot.

She moved closer to him can cast her big hazel eyes onto his. "What's wrong, Toshiro? You don't remember us?"

Trusting this girl a little more than the other, he answered with a shake of his head.

"How disappointing. Sister?"

The one called Sapphire raised her hand. "I'll make him remember us."

As she moved her hand towards his head, he pushed her away and ran behind a desk. "No! Leave me alone!"

"Toshiro, it's us. It's Lavender and Sapphire. You know us."

His mind was spinning. He didn't know them, did he? He didn't know! "I don't know! I don't know! I can't remember!" He sank to his knees holding his throbbing head. This was all too much for him.

The sisters exchanged looks.

"What do you think?"

Sapphire sighed. "Just as I thought. I never did finish the job. Looks like he only remembers his name."

"Why is that?"

"Because I never meant to erase that from him. I left him with his name. But that's about it. I didn't replace anything yet."

"I see." Lavender looked at Hitsugaya whimpering on the floor. "Let me see if I can calm him."

"I expect nothing less from you, little sister."

So Lavender crutched down to Hitsugaya's level and tried her best to coax him out from his hiding place. "There, there, Toshiro…"

He looked up at his name being spoken so gently. His name sounded so good coming from her sweet lips. She was smiling gently at him.

"I won't hurt you."

Her words were very assuring. He did trust her. But he was still frightened. Having no memory meant that he couldn't tell the difference from a friend or enemy. Her sweet words could have been a trick.

"We can help you. My sister and I can make you remember."

Those promising words pulled at the strings of Hitsugaya's bewildered and swaying heart. He wanted to believe that so much. He was desperate to remember. He looked into her eyes and detected no lie behind those words. They were the truth as far as he could tell.

He started forward. But then something held him back. Something still didn't feel right. So many conflicting emotions! He was curious about them, he was desperate for answers, he longed to remember, but he was also afraid. Afraid of what he might find. He was afraid that it could all be a trick, of what his memories had to hold, if they would hurt him in some way. He was afraid.

Lavender lowered her head and looked him straight in the eyes. "I promise… Please, trust me." Her words sounded like a song. It put him at ease.

Lulled by her sweet, gentle tone, Hitsugaya finally took her hand and allowed himself to be pulled up by her strength. She was fairly strong. She helped him to his feet and escorted him over to her elder sister.

As she started to raise her hand, he pulled away again.

"It's alright," Lavender assured. "She's going to return your memories to you. But in order to do that, she must touch your head."

Putting his trust in these two girls, he nodded and turned his head back toward Sapphire. Allowing her easy access to his skull, Hitsugaya closed his eyes and waited. No sooner had he done so did he feel her warm hand on his forehead.

Then there was a strange tingling sensation.

"Captain, I brought you din-" Rangiku dropped the tray of food on the ground finding the window wide open and no trace of her captain anywhere. "Oh, no!"

In no time at all, word quickly spread around the Seireitei of Hitsugaya's disappearance. Everyone was told to keep an eye out for the amnesia-stricken captain and any news regarding his whereabouts was to be reported immediately. In the meantime, Squad 2 was now given two jobs: keeping an eye out for the threat plaguing the other villages near the Soul Society and to search for Hitsugaya. It was entirely possible that Hitsugaya's disappearance and the activity in the civilian villages could have been linked. They couldn't rule anything out.

Squad 10 was at a great loss now. Not only did their captain have amnesia, but he was also missing! Why was this happening now? Rangiku felt awful. He had been in her care during his disappearance. This was all her fault! If only she had been more attentive and vigilant. She felt terrible! She vowed to not stop her search until he was found.

But that wasn't all that was happening at the moment. Squad 2 had just been informed that all the children from all the villages had just been returned. To Soi Fon and everyone else, this was indeed odd. The moment Hitsugaya went missing, all the children had been returned to their homes. What in the world was going on around here?

Led by the two girls, Hitsugaya stepped through the barrier and was wrapped in fog.

"Right this way, Toshiro." The soft feminine voice didn't match the strength he felt resonate from the palm of Lavender's hand, urging him onward. Her hand was nice and warm. He really didn't mind it being there at all. It made him feel safe.

The fog cleared and Hitsugaya blinked a few times for his eyes to adjust. His feet touched grass. The next sight he saw was breathtaking.

A beautiful mansion shrouded in light and vegetation.

"This is our home."

It wasn't overly fancy, but it was furnished elegantly. Rather than a traditional Japanese mansion, it looked more like a colonial mansion. But the large stone pillars in the central garden took back to a much older age like Greece and the Orient. All in all, it was beautiful.

Hitsugaya could hardly believe that he was living here now. Like a curious child, he raced towards the garden. He wasn't surprised to see that it was filled with all sorts of beautiful flowers. There were so many colors! It was wonderful. He inhaled deeply and took in the sweet floral smell. It tickled his nose. His wondering legs carried him toward the tall stone pillars in the center of the garden. There he found a large working fountain with fresh clean water and Lilly pads. He checked it for frogs but was disappointed. But that was alright. There were still so many things to see.

He turned and took in the sight of the garden from his new point of view. There were rose bushes lining the stone path leading to the place he was at now. There were also rose bushes lining the side of the house he now called home. But there were other bushes filed with freshly bloomed flowers of all different colors.

He looked to the side and spotted a white table and some cushioned lawn chairs. That looked like a good spot to hang out and have a nice picnic. Then he turned his gaze back up to the large mansion that was his new home. Three stories. Wow! He could only imagine what it was like on the inside if the outside of it looked this wonderful.

Sapphire and Lavender walked through the garden and stood by the table he had been checking out earlier. "Well, what do you think?"

He hurried back to the two girls with a big smile. "I love it!" Unable to contain himself, Hitsugaya wrapped his arms around the two of them in a big hug. "So I'll be staying here with you guys, right?"

"Of course! What, did you think that we were going to chain you outside like a dog? No, you'll be staying inside with us."

His smile grew at Sapphire's words.

"You'll have all the freedom you could want, just as long as you stay true to your duty. You remember what that is, don't you?"

Lavender watched Hitsugaya's lips as they moved to form his words.

"I am here to serve and protect you with my life!" He put his hand over his heart as if swearing an oath.

Lavender looked back at her sister as she nodded.

"Good. Well spoken." Then her face became gentle and extended her hand towards him. "Come on. Let's see the inside."

He took her hand without hesitation and followed.

Lavender followed after them. She quickened her pace to catch up with her sister. Once at her side, she asked, "So now what?"

"What do you think?" she said without turning to look at her. "We find our little sister."

"And him?"

"Isn't it obvious? He's going to help us do that. I've got it all worked out. Being a Soul Reaper, they'll welcome him back with open arms. Inside, he'll have easy access to everything. And being a captain, he should have no problem with anything. He'll be able to do anything he wants and go where he pleases. He should find her in no time at all."

"So we're sending him back?"

"Only to find Ruby."

"Then?"

"After that, he'll stay with us."

Lavender stopped walking. "What? You mean forever?"

Sapphire stopped as well. "We need protection. We have to keep him close. You understand."

"But…"

She turned around. "But what?"

Lavender avoided her eyes. "But nothing, big sister…"

Sapphire took Hitsugaya's hand once again and led him inside their large home. After a few minutes of hesitation, Lavender followed as well.

The plot thickens. Please review! ^-^