Chapter 2 – Captain meeting

Hitsugaya Toshiro's POV

The tensai entered the big room and looked around as he placed himself in the seat meant for the juuban-tai taicho. With a quick look he saw Soi-Fon taicho and Kenpachi taicho being engaged in a discussion about fighting and strength. I wonder who will stop their fighting today. This thought made the white haired move his eyes to the yonban-tai taicho Unohana and Ukitake taicho. He heard them discussing his health, for the numerous times. On the other side of the room he could hear Mayuri taicho argue, but with whom he was not sure of. He is arguing with whoever listens I guess. But should not soutaicho start the meeting by now? Everybody is present, and is it not time to stop this arguing and noise? It's certainly giving me a headache. Besides wasn't this an emergency meeting? The young taicho looked up at the old man, and sighed in relief when he finally stomped his road to the floor. "Now everybody, we shall start."

"Ehhh? A menos in Seireitei? My computers have not warned me." Mayuri said. "I do see that there is need for action, but what I do not see is way we need a taicho meeting. A menos is not such a big deal. A normal group would easily take it out." This was Kuchiki speaking. As Toshiro looked around him he saw several of the other taicho nodding in acknowledge. No, there must be something else. There is no way that the soutaicho would call a meeting if it wasn't important.

His thoughts were backed up by the soutaicho seconds later. "I do understand why you say that, but this is a bit different. We can say it has gone through a few changes." The captains started to talk among themselves before Unohana taicho raised her voice. "Excuse me soutaicho, but what kind of changes are we talking about?" "Let us just say that the old tricks do not work on this one" Some sat and waited for him continue, but most you that this was all the information they would get. "Okay, then to the team. I need a taicho that does things fast and organized. Hitsugaya taicho, could you take care of this?" Before he could answer Hitsugaya was cut off by loud arguing.

"Why him?" almost screamed Soi-Fon, while some of the others protested a bit lower. The one that shouted the loudest was Mayuri. "I do not understand why a little kid like this should have that kind of responsibility. Actually I do not understand how a mere child can manage to become a taicho. Is that not supposed to be a high rank, something that is hard to reach? He is a kid! No, you know what. I have a better idea. Let me test him. Just a little bit. A small peek in that tensai brain, a few physical test to see how his body works, a few…" At this point Ukitake cut him off. "I am sorry, taicho, but this will not happen. I will not let any of your scalpels touch him. Do you understand? And as the assignment goes, I think we should give him a chance. It usually turns out that Hitsugaya taicho comes good out of tough situations." After this Mayuri were silent and the others agreed that they would give the youngster, as Kentachi called him, a chance.

A youngster, a kid, a mere child? I know I am young, but I do think I have done a good job. I mean, I do even more than the others just to make sure they do not think of me as a slacker. Maybe soon they will see what I really can do.

Later that evening the taicho walked in to the garden. He had decided to take the long way back to his office. He needed to get some air. As he walked in to the garden and stopped when he saw his sub-ordinates still training. What! "Everybody, why are you still training? I told Matsumoto fukutaicho to tell you to stop." "WHAT!" all the shinigami shouted in synch. What has she been doing now, forgetting to tell these guys to stop? "Fine, you can stop for today. Good work everybody.""Osu" they tried to stand straight, but as soon as Hitsugaya turned his back he could hear one after one falling to the ground in exhaustion. As he entered he could smell the unmistakable smell of sake. And as he walked in he saw his fukutaicho rising up from behind the sofa, with a bottle of sake in her hand. "MATSUMOTO!"

Hinamori Momo POV

Moo… Why did he not come to tell me at once? He always tells me the news. The raven haired girl walked in to the juuban-tai taicho's office, but at first she could not see him. She was about to leave, when she heard a voice from behind the stocks of paper. "Was it anything you wanted, HInamori?" Hinamori stared a bit, but she suddenly realized to it was. "Don't scare me like that, Shiro-chan!" She pouted a bit before she went to her childhood friend's desk and walked around the stocks of paper. "Baka, how many times do I have to tell you? Stop calling me Shiro-chan!" Hinamori carefully moved a few sheets away from the desk so she could place herself on the edge of the desk. They were both silent for a minute, just relaxing in each other's company. It's so nice being with Shiro-chan. But he seems rater tied up. What ever can it be? He seems almost sad. She ended up sitting there looking at Toshiro as he did his work, and then suddenly she felt her cheeks go warm. Then Toshiro broke the silence. "Was there anything you wanted, Hinamori? As you see I have a lot of work to do."

Hinamori was snapped out of her thoughts and hurried to look an oher way befor he turned his head. "Ah..Ano.? Oh, yeah. I am a little angry with you Hitsugaya-kun. Why did you not come to tell me about what had happened in the captains meeting? I heard it from Ukitake. Is it true? Is it a dangerous menos on the loose? Did you get the job of destroying it?" He looked at her for while she was talking, and when she was done it was his turn to talk, "Yes, all is true. But you need to calm down a bit." "But this is big Shiro-chan, to get that kind of assignment." He looked away before he answered. "As I have already said, calm down." After this she did calm down a bit, and they sat yet again in silence, while Toshiro resumed his work.

This time it was Hinamori's turn to break the silence. "I want to go with you!"

Hitsugaya Toshiro's POV

No! She can't, I won't allow it. I will never put her through anything like that again. I can't let any harm come to her ever again. "I don't think so." He struggled a bit to keep his voice even. "Maybe you should go now Hinamori? It's getting…" "NO WAY, SHIRO-CHAN! I will not let you go anywhere without me. I won't let you handle this on your own." She stopped talking and started to glare at him. Since when was she this determined? I can't let her in harm's way again. Not after all that. It can't be my fault again! "Even if you tell me not to come, I will follow you." He looked back up at her where she was sitting on his desk, and he understood. He understood why she wouldn't back down on this. Had it be him he wouldn't have done it either. "Fine, you can come." But please promise to be safe.