Disclaimer: I do NOT own the Bleach series in any way. All copyrights go to Tite Kubo.
Author's Note: I'm back with the second chapter! Special thanks goes to Momo - Toshiro, Chibiussa, Kinaia, echo of silence, FallenHope-Angel, and swirlheart for reviewing. Without any further delay, here's the next chapter.
LEGEND
"Talking." "Thinking."
Amnesia
Chapter Two: Foreign
"Hitsugaya...Is that my name?"
Hinamori blinked a few times and gave a short chuckle. "This has to be a joke!" she thought. "Mou Shiro-chan, stop poking fun at me again. You always do that Hitsugaya Toshiro. You know it's mean to that to your childhood friend."
"Childhood friend? We know each other?"
"What are you talking about? Of course we know each oth--"
She is soon stopped by Matsumoto's hand placed on her shoulder. Turning to the tenth division lieutenant, she gave the younger fukutaicho a head shake. "Taicho's not joking around. He has been like this since he woke up."
"Then, you mean..."
With a short nod fourth division captain Unohana Retsu explained, "Yes, Hitsugaya-taicho is currently experiencing amnesia."
"Amnesia?"
"It is safe to say that the injury that is inflicted on the back of his head is the main cause."
Folding her arms over her chest, Matsumoto continued, "So that means taicho is feeling this way over a simple bump on the head?"
"Yes. However, as of right now, I have no idea if his condition is permanent or not."
"S-Souka?" Hinamori said.
"For now, I will keep him here for tonight so we can have a more accurate idea what we're dealing with."
"Hai."
Turning to her fukutaicho, Unohana said, "Isane, can you please inform Yamamoto-soitaicho about this?"
"Hai taicho," she replied, giving her a short bow.
Once she left, the black braided haired woman resumed her attention to the two lieutenants and said, "Please don't worry; I will take good care of him. Now get some rest for the night, okay?"
"Ah arigato Unohana-taicho," Matsumoto said as she and Hinamori slowly left the room.
"We'll be back again tomorrow morning to check up on him," Hinamori said. "I hope you recover Hitsugaya-kun!"
Just as they left the two captains alone, Hitsugaya turned to Unohana and said, "I have a question, um..."
"Unohana Retsu, captain of the fourth division."
"Unohana-taicho, who is the girl with raven hair which is tied up in a bun?"
"That Hitsugaya-taicho is fifth lieutenant Hinamori Momo."
"Hn, Hinamori huh?"
Watching the young prodigy show a bit of interest in his childhood friend, a smile formed on the female captain's lips. Maybe not all hope is lost after all.
"I hope he gets his memory back soon," Hinamori said as she and vice-captain Matsumoto were walking through the halls of the fifth division headquarters.
"Daijobou Hinamori-chan," Matsumoto replied. "I'm sure Unohana-taicho is doing whatever she can to make sure taicho recovers. However, with his memory wipe out, Yamamoto-soitaicho might have to consider unfortunate measures."
"What do you mean?"
"Taicho might have to be dismissed from the Gotei 13."
"Dismissed from the Gotei 13, why?"
"Isn't that obvious? As long as taicho doesn't remember, he can't perform his duties as both a Shinigami and the captain of the tenth division."
"S-Souka?"
"Well, on the bright side, taicho has two choices he could make: one, if he wants to continue being a Shinigami, he can go back to the academy to relearn everything and two, be transferred to Maggot's Nest(1) to live the rest of his days there."
"M-Maggot's Nest? Why there?"
"Remember, that place is for people who may pose as a danger to Soul Society. It is also a place for retired Shinigami."
Placing her hands together, Hinamori said, "That's not good! I don't want Hitsugaya-kun to live his days in there without knowing that he has amnesia!"
"I know, but who knows when taicho's going to have his memory back."
With a sigh of defeat, Hinamori opened the slide door to her office, allowing both girls to enter the premises and sit down on the couch together. "Mou, this is so difficult."
Throwing his arms over the back of her head, Matsumoto stared at the ceiling above her. "Hn, maybe...at least you have this golden opportunity to be taicho's girlfriend."
Upon hearing that, she suddenly turned red. "W-What are you talking about Rangiku-san?"
Grinning at the younger fukutaicho, she threw an arm around her neck and pulled her close. "You know what I mean. You're secretly in love with taicho and you couldn't confess it to him."
Pulling her arm away, Hinamori half turned her body away and folded her arms against her chest. "Th-That's because Hitsugaya-kun and I grew up together! I-I don't want to ruin the relationship we already have. Plus, that is taking advantage of him!"
"Fine then, do what you want," Matsumoto said as she stood up and began to slowly walk out of the office. "Either way, since taicho is in that state, he might actually start to notice you as an attractive woman, not as his childhood friend and Rukongai sibling. Besides, he could use a girlfriend in his workaholic life."
By the time she left, Hinamori gave out a grunt, lying down on the couch. "Mou Shiro-chan, why did you have to affect me in the first place?"
The next day, Captain Commander Yamamoto-Genryusai Shigekuni has sent out a message to the other eight captains of the Gotei 13 to meet in the first division barracks to discuss the matter on Hitsugaya's condition. Placing his hand on his chin, thirteenth captain Ukitake said, "Now that's very unfortunate for Hitsugaya."
Kissing her teeth as she turned her head to the side, second captain Soifon retorted, "Well, that's his fault for not being careful in the first place."
"Now now, there's no need to get all pissed off over something that has already happened," eighth captain Kyoraku Shunsui said as he tilted the position of his straw hat closer to his face. "Isn't that right Yama-jii?"
Upon clearing his throat, the captain commander said, "As long as Hitsugaya-taicho is still experiencing amnesia, the tenth division is to remain in Soul Society until further notice. Unohana-taicho, what is his condition as of right now?"
"Yes soitaicho," Unohana said. "Currently, Hitsugaya-taicho is staying in the fourth division headquarters. According to the results from my last check up on him, there is a chance that he may regain all his memories back. Despite the memory loss, he is able to function normally as a regular soul. So, all he needs to do is be surrounded in his usual environment."
"Hn, is that so?"
"Yes, but...the problem is who knows how long it will take until he starts remembering."
"Yare yare, now that's a problem," Kyoraku said.
"Tch, I wouldn't care less about the little shrimp," eleventh division Zaraki Kenpachi retorted. "If the kid doesn't recover soon, we might as well say that he's as good as a regular soul."
"Correction, a dangerous soul," twelfth division captain, Kurotsuchi Mayuri corrected. "He is most likely to be thrown into Maggot's Nest."
"Now give the young captain some slack," Kyoraku interrupted. "Before we throw him in there, we might as well let him go back to Shinigami Academy to learn how to be a Soul Reaper once more."
"And after wasting a possible six years, what happens next? He might not be as powerful as he once was before the memory wipe out."
"In that case, we should do what we can do," seventh division captain, Komamura Sajin suggested. "Get his vice-captain to watch over Hitsugaya-taicho for a while."
"Matsumoto may be his lieutenant, but she is busy looking after the tenth division affairs as the act in captain," sixth division captain, Kuchiki Byakuya said.
"Hn, you got a point there," Ukitake agreed.
"How about let Fifth Division Lieutenant Hinamori deal with this matter then?" Unohana suggested.
"That is a good idea. Hinamori and Hitsugaya-taicho both grew up together in Junrin'an, West Rukongai."
"Very well, the decision is as follows," Yamamoto stated. "I will instruct Lieutenant Hinamori to take care of Hitsugaya-taicho for a whole week. If he doesn't regain his memories by that time, he is to be dismissed from his involvement in the Gotei 13. Depending on the situation, he can either be transferred to Shinigami Academy or Maggot's Nest. You are all dismissed!"
Knowing that he is not seriously injured, the young prodigy took the liberty to walk around in the fourth division, familiarizing himself in his unknown environment. He saw many medical Shinigami scrambling from room to room with trays of different kinds of materials on them: from food to needles. "This place looks very busy," Hitsugaya stated until he bumped into a running Shinigami at the corner.
With both parties falling onto the floor on their behinds, Hitsugaya placed a hand on his forehead and watched his tray of soup spilling on the poor Shinigami. "Ah, gomen nesai...it's my fault for bumping into you," he apologized, standing up to assist him. "Daijobou?"
"Itte, ouch...that hurt," he said, looking up to see the white haired captain holding out his hand.
Immediately standing up, he bowed to him and exclaimed, "Hitsugaya-taicho! Iie, it's not your fault! I was the one who isn't looking in the first place."
"C-Captain? What kind of taicho am I?"
"Ah, I'm sorry...I forgot you have amnesia."
"Amnesia? You mean I lost my memories?"
"Ah hai! I'm seventh seat of the fourth division, Yamada Hanataro. You, Hitsugaya-taicho is the captain of the tenth division."
"Tenth? What am I supposed to do?"
"Well, your main job is to purify Hollows and send souls of the departed to the afterlife."
Despite the explanation, the white haired captain did not quite get what he's trying to say though hearing about Hollows and tenth division seems to ring the bell. He just couldn't put his finger into it. "Okay..."
"Hitsugaya-kun!" called out a voice.
Even though he only heard her voice about once or twice, the boy knew exactly who it was. Turning his body around, Hitsugaya saw the happy raven haired lieutenant approach him. All of a sudden, he felt his cheeks turn a little red. "H-Hinamori..."
Putting her hands behind her, she slightly bent over to her childhood friend and said, "Sugoi, you already remember my name!"
As the redness of his cheeks turned a shade dark, the young prodigy turned his head to the side, avoiding eye contact with the girl. "Gomen nesai, I...had to be reminded."
"Souka?" Hinamori asked before she gave him a smile. Placing her hand on his head, she began to ruffle through his snowy white hair. "Arigato Hitsugaya-kun. You're so honest."
"Um, why are you here?"
"Hitsugaya-taicho, Hinamori will be taking care of you over the next few days, okay?" Unohana said as she walked up to the two childhood friends. "She will do her best to help get your memories back."
"Ah hai."
Just as Hinamori hold onto his hand with hers, the raven haired lieutenant turned to the fourth division captain. "Thanks for taking care of him. I better get going."
With her a sincere smile, Unohana replied, "It's no problem Hinamori. You two take care of yourselves."
"Hai! Let's go Shiro-chan!" Hinamori said as she pulled him along to their next destination, the tenth division headquarters.
Opening the slide door to his room, Hinamori and Hitsugaya entered the room. "This is where you sleep Hitsugaya-kun," Hinamori said as she watched the white haired boy examine the room.
"So, this is the tenth division headquarters?" he asked.
"Yes it is. Did someone tell you that?" Hinamori said as she began setting up his futon on the floor.
"Yeah, seventh seat from the fourth division Hanataro did."
"I see."
By the time she finished, the two sat down on the floor next to each other. "Hinamori."
"What is it?"
"Um, are you...staying here for the night?"
Giving him a smile, Hinamori nodded with agreement. "Like Unohana-taicho said before, I'm going to be taking care of you. Just in case you get scared or anything, I'll be here to protect you, okay Shiro-chan?"
"Ah hai. Um arigato, demo why do you keep calling me Shiro-chan?"
"I always call you that," Hinamori replied as she began to untie the knot in her bun, allowing her hair to fall onto her shoulders. "We grew up together in Junrin'an, West Rukongai."
"S-Souka?"
"Hai," she replied, untying her obi sash.
Suddenly realizing what she is doing, Hitsugaya turned a little red and quickly turned his body away from the girl. Keeping his eyes from glancing at her figure, the prodigy asked, "W-Why are you undressing here?"
It is after she took off all the black articles of her clothing, Hinamori explained to him, "Daijobou, I am wearing a juban underneath. I usually go to sleep in it."
"I...see."
Just as she crawled under the blanket, Hinamori turned to him and asked, "Well? Don't tell me you're going to sleep in all that clothing Hitsugaya-kun. It's too hot to be wearing all that at night."
With a sigh of defeat, he began undressing himself. By the time he is only in his juban, the young boy crawled under the blanket and laid down next to her. "Back in Junrin'an, we lived with Obaa-san. We would always do a lot of activities together. It has been a long time since we last slept together like this."
"H-Hinamori, wh-what was I like before I got amnesia?" Hitsugaya asked.
"Hn, I will explain to you tomorrow. Right now, it's time to sleep okay?"
"Ah hai."
"Oyasumi Shiro-chan."
"Oyasumi Hinamori."
Hitsugaya opened his emerald teal eyes to find himself in an awkward sleeping position. He woke up after sleeping against Hinamori's chest. Feeling all pink faced, the young prodigy quickly decided he should get out of bed before things start to get complicated. That's only if he could do it. "I-I'm stuck..." he said after he struggled to break free out of Hinamori's embracing arms.
He sighed with defeat. Hitsugaya has no other choice, but to wait until she either releases him or she wakes up. "Shiro-chan..." she murmured in her sleep as the girl started stirring around in bed.
Taking the opportunity as she released her arms from him, Hitsugaya quickly got out of bed. With a sigh of relief, he took one last look at the peaceful girl and got out of bed to change into his captain's uniform.
By the time Hinamori woke up from a good night sleep, she found the white haired boy isn't by her side. Quickly sitting up from the futon, she began searching for him in the room. "Where did you go?"
Without a moment to waste, Hinamori got out of bed, tied her hair up into a bun, and changed into her black kimono. When she opened the slide door, the raven haired girl soon found where the white haired captain went. He stood outside and is admiring the view of beautiful scenery in front of him. "Hitsugaya-kun."
The instant he saw her, the boy turned a few shades darker and quickly adverted his eyes from having any contact with hers. "Um, ohayo Hinamori," he greeted.
Giving him a smile, Hinamori replied, "Ohayo Hitsugaya-kun."
They arrived at the tenth division office expecting vice-captain Matsumoto to be in, doing her captain's paperwork. But despite all that, she is once again late for work. "If Hitsugaya-kun hasn't lost his memory, he would have been mad at her again," Hinamori thought as she watched her childhood friend walk up to his desk.
Placing his hand on the neatly stacked paperwork, Hitsugaya felt nostalgic all of a sudden. "This...place," he said, "it feels familiar."
"It is Hitsugaya-kun," she replied. "This place is where you do your paperwork."
"S-Souka?"
"Hai."
"Ohayo minna!" called out a cheerful voice.
The two Shinigami turned around to see a happy Matsumoto enter the room. "Rangiku-san," Hinamori said.
"Ah Hinamori-chan, what brings you here?" the strawberry orange haired woman asked, walking over to her side.
Feeling the familiar icy reiatsu, Matsumoto turned her head to see the white haired prodigy looking at her. Placing her hands together, she said, "Ah taicho's here too!"
"Hn, who is she?" Hitsugaya asked, pointing at her.
"Oi oi, that's so mean of you to say that," Matsumoto pouted. "But then again, you still haven't got your memory back."
Walking up to him, she placed her hand on his head and began ruffling through his white hair. "My name's Matsumoto Rangiku; I'm your fukutaicho."
"Fuku...taicho?"
She then placed her hands on her hips. "That's right taicho."
"S-Souka?"
"Ano Rangiku-san," Hinamori interrupted. "Shouldn't you be doing your paperwork right now?"
Turning to the raven haired girl, Matsumoto place a hand on her back and laughed. "Oh yeah, I totally forgot about that! Now that taicho's unable to take his position for a while, all duties in the tenth division goes to me."
"Gomen...Matsumoto," Hitsugaya suddenly apologized. "For making you work so hard."
"Hn, what are you talking about?" Matsumoto said, turning to her captain. "Just concentrate on getting your memory back. So that things can return to normal, okay?"
"Ah hai."
"Arigato Rangiku-san," Hinamori said as she grabbed his wrist and began pulling the young boy along with her. "Come on Hitsugaya-kun, there's a lot of places I want to show you!"
Just as she watched the two childhood friends leave the tenth division office, Matsumoto stood at the front desk, smiling. "I hope you're able to bring him back Hinamori-chan because you might lose him forever if he doesn't recover."
With a short sigh of defeat, she held her hands up in front and pouted, "And if that happens, taicho may never be able to do his paperwork again! Ah, that means I can't go out and drink sake at the bar during the daytime! Aw, there's also no more days of being late for work! Now that's a big problem!"
"Hinamori, where are we?" Hitsugaya asked.
"This is Junrin'an," Hinamori explained as the two were walking through the streets of West Rukongai. "The place where we grew up."
"T-This place?" he said, looking around the area.
Compared to Seireitei, Hitsugaya found this place to be less urban, but not by much. At the same time, that same feeling he felt a while back in the tenth division office resurfaced. Hinamori must be right. He did grow up here. "Ah Hinamori-kun, what brings you here?" asked a voice.
Upon turning around, Hinamori and Hitsugaya saw two Shinigami approach them. One of them has pale blond hair while the other one had a tatoo with the number 69 on the right side of his cheek. "Kira-kun! Hisagi-san!" Hinamori said. "What brings you here?"
"We just finished exterminating a few Hollows in West Rukongai District Seven," Kira replied. "We're heading back to Seireitei to report to Yamamoto-soitaicho."
As the three Shinigami were talking, Hitsugaya stood between them, wondering who are the new faces he is seeing. Tugging onto the sleeve of her kimono, Hinamori turned her head to the puzzling boy. "Who are they Hinamori?" he asked.
"Ah daijobou Hitsugaya-taicho," Hisagi said, placing his hands on his waist. "We work with you in Seireitei. I'm ninth division lieutenant Hisagi Shuhei."
"I'm third division vice-captain Kira Izuru," Kira added. "We used to go to Shinigami Academy together with Hinamori-kun."
"Oh..." Hitsugaya said.
"So the message is true after all," Hisagi replied, "Hitsugaya-taicho really did lost his memories."
"Ah hai," Hinamori agreed. "I was ordered to help restore his memory before the end of the second week or else he's going to have to dismiss his involvement in the Gotei 13 and be transferred to either Shinigami Academy or even worse, Maggot's Nest."
"That's not good," Kira said. "Shinigami Academy would be fine, but Maggot's Nest? Hitsugaya-taicho doesn't deserve all that especially if it's over something as little as losing his memories."
"Yeah..."
Noticing that the raven haired girl is feeling down, Hitsugaya couldn't help it but feel a little responsible. Even though he doesn't know what got him to be this way, but he knew it is the cause of her sorrows. He wanted to make her happy. "D-Daijobou Hinamori, I'll work hard to remember everything again. I promise."
"Hi-Hitsugaya-kun..." Turning to the shorter boy, Hinamori smiled. "Arigato, you're so sweet. Just don't push yourself too hard, okay?"
He nodded with agreement. "Hai."
Smiling with amusement, Hisagi whispered to Kira, "It's funny to see Hitsugaya-taicho acting like this."
"Hn, why's that?" Kira asked.
"He's usually all serious and mature, but look at him now; he's totally acting like an innocent little child who likes to cling onto his caring big sister."
After taking another look at the two childhood friends, Kira understood what Hisagi is trying to imply. "I see your point. He really does act like that."
"Did you say something you two?" Hinamori asked.
"Iie, don't worry about it Hinamori-kun. Anyways, we better get going now. We'll talk to you again later," Kira said as he and Hisagi slowly left the two alone.
"We hope the best of luck to you Hitsugaya-taicho," Hisagi said. "Work hard to get your memory back."
"Ah hai, arigato," the boy replied.
"So, do you remember something yet?" Hinamori asked as they were sitting together in front of a food stall, eating manju.
During the whole morning, Hinamori gave Hitsuaya a tour around the familiar places in Junrin'an where they would usually play at. They even visited their Obaa-san to see how she is doing. Despite all her efforts, Hitsugaya replied, "Gomen nesai, I don't remember."
"Oh...okay then. Let's head back to the tenth division for a while once we finished eating."
He then finished eating the rest of his manju by stuffing it into his mouth and chewed on it. After swallowing the food down his throat, he turned to Hinamori and nodded with agreement. "Um, hai."
She then started giggling. Taking out a pink handkerchief from under the chest part of her kimono, she began wipping the stain on the corner of his lips. "You're so silly Shiro-chan. Let me wipe that of you."
As she is doing that, Hitsugaya suddenly felt his heart pounding faster. He just realized how close she is. She appears to be in a great position for him to just lean over and kiss her soft smooth lips. "Don't do that! I'm not a kid!" Hitsugaya retorted as he suddenly flicked her hand away with his own.
"Eh, Hitsugaya...kun?" she asked. Hinamori is quite surprised by his instinctive action. It felt as if she was just talking to the Hitsugaya Toshiro; the boy who she grew up with. "Did you jus--"
"Ah gomen nesai, I didn't know what came over me," Hitsugaya quickly apologized. "I-I'm sorry."
"It's probably just me," she thought. "Iie, it's alright. Now that we're done eating, shall we get going?"
"Ah hai."
When arriving at the tenth division office, Hitsugaya and Hinamori found Matsumoto sleeping on the couch. They knew she was working hard judging by all the scattered papers on the work desk. "It must be very frustrating for her to do all the paperwork," Hinamori said.
"Why's that?" Hitsugaya asked.
"Before you lost your memories, you would always do all the paperwork because Rangiku-san overslept or she ran away from her duties."
"Oh..."
"But aside from that, she has her good points. She's a reliable fukutaicho when it comes to following orders in the battlefield."
"Battlefield...um Hinamori, about Shinigami, I have seen all of them carrying swords tied onto their obi sash. Is that how you exterminate Hollows?"
"Ah yeah, we also use kido or hand to hand combat to defeat them."
"S-Souka? Then, I must have a sword too."
"Of course you have one taicho," Matsumoto suddenly said as she sat up from the couch.
"Ah Rangiku-san! You're awake already?" Hinamori asked.
"Yep! How can I stay asleep when I sense the presence of the both of you in the office?"
"Where is it?" Hitsugaya asked.
"Oh, your zanpakuto's over there with mine," Matsumoto pointed out at he two swords leaning against the corner of the wall. "But taicho, please don't use it. You might hurt yourself."
"Ah hai," he replied, walking over to the two zanpakutos.
As he approached them, Hitsugaya could feel a familiar aura coming out of the long sword. Catching his interest, he gripped his hand onto the hilt of it and slowly lifted it up. With the blade resting on his other hand, Hitsugaya analyzed its features. The blade, the hilt, the sword, it all feels so familiar as if it has always been a part of him. He needed to reunite with it. Maybe this zanpakuto can answer all his questions. "This zanpakuto is mine's," he whispered.
Once he blinked, the young captain soon found himself not in the tenth division office anymore, but a place...no, a world of only ice. "W-Where am I?" he wondered as he looked around.
No one he knows is here. What is this place? How can he get back to the others?
'Boy, you have found me...' echoed a voice.
"Who are you?"
He heard its voice...
It's echoing voice...
Calling from a distance...
'Toshiro...'
"Show yourself!" he called out.
Falling from the skies above, Hitsugaya witnessed an enormous ice dragon, landing on the icy field in front of him. Its glowing ruby red eyes is looking down at him. 'You have forgotten yourself; you have forgotten me.'
"W-What do you mean?"
'Remember who you are, your feelings, your talents; it's all in the deepest parts of your heart and soul. Look there and you will find your answer.'
"You haven't told me your name!"
'My name is...'
References
Fukutaicho - Lieutenant / Vice-Captain
Taicho - Captain
Souka - Is that so
Hai - Yes
Arigato - Thank you
Soitaicho - Captain Commander
Gomen nesai - I'm sorry
Daijobou - I'm alright / Are you alright
Sugoi - Amazing
Ohayo - Good morning
Minna - Everyone
Reiatsu - Spiritual Pressure
(1) Maggot's Nest - is a place in Seireitei which serves as a prison under the supervision of the third corps, the Detention Unit of the OnmitsukidÅ located in the Second Division. Prisoners who live there are people who are potentially dangerous to Soul Society or they're retired Shinigami.
Yes, it's an early update. Isn't that great? For those of you who is also reading Blessed from the Heavens, I'm almost done typing the chapter. So, expect an update tomorrow. xD Well, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please review and I'll be back again next week with another. See you all later.