Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.

Thank you so much for the kind responses! I really appreciate them. (This comment seems the norm for any of my author's notes.) I'm glad everyone likes the story and that more and more people are liking HitsuRuki because of it. Yay!

Alright, so without further ado, here's chapter three!


Wheel of the World
Chapter Three: Convincing Yamamoto


Hitsugaya sighed as he walked through the halls toward Yamamoto's office. He felt a slight tightening in his stomach with every step he took. Despite his rank, and the people who referred to him as a "prodigy", he still was intimidated when he had to go see the leader of all Soul Society. Who could blame him? He remembered seeing even the most powerful and high-ranked shinigami being humbled in Yamamoto's presence.

As comforting as that thought was, Hitsugaya still couldn't keep his palms from clenching tightly together in anticipation.

The white haired man sighed as he turned the final corner to arrive at the genryusai's office.

He could only hope that his somewhat foolish idea wouldn't be laughed at.

Raising his hand to knock, Hitsugaya took in a deep inhalation of air and closed his eyes.

"Come in, Hitsugaya."

Hitsugaya gave a slight gasp, but he shouldn't be surprised. Yamamoto had known that he was outside the door, although he hadn't even rapped at the door yet. His power was indeed amazing.

The white haired man opened the door and stepped into the elder shinigami's office.

Yamamoto sat in his chair behind a huge desk with some papers and other things resting atop it. The bearded man was reclining quite comfortably, in a relaxed position, Hitsugaya noted as he studied the powerful man's body language. Maybe his relaxed mood would help him agree to this ludicrous idea the ice shinigami had come up with.

"I hear you wanted to discuss something with me." His deep voice boomed, penetrating the silence between them.

"Yes, Yamamoto-genryusai." Hitsugaya stated as best he could without stuttering.

"Alright..." The elder said, his eyes scrutinizing the taichou's movements. "...there is no need to be nervous. I am all ears and will hear you out."

Hitsugaya closed his eyes and gave a slight bow of his head in respect. No matter how much his ego seemed to expand, he still had his polite moments, especially in front of one of the most revered men in all of the Seireitei.

"I want to request you let me spend some time in the human world..." Hitsugaya began after clearing his throat, "...and for you to let me take a few back up shinigami with me...and put them, as well as me, in gigais." He elaborated for the elder man, "To pose as students in Karakura."

Yamamoto quirked a grayish-white eyebrow as his eyes continued to study the short captain, "This is a most unusual - and out-of-the-blue - request, Hitsugaya."

"Yes, sir, I am aware of that," The turquoise eyed man said, meeting his eyes with those of Yamamoto's, "But I do believe you will not be wasting your time on this."

Yamamoto gave a slight nod of his head, "Alright, continue."

"I want this to be done to protect a girl with a dubious amount of spiritual energy." Hitsugaya said in an even tone, but with equal conviction, as he saw Yamamoto's questioning look at his statement, "And I'm not just talking about some kid with only the ability to see ghosts, as that power is common. Or a psychic. She has enough spirit energy to make her a target for a hollow." He took in another deep breath, "She even has the amount of spiritual pressure that rivals Abarai-fukutaichou's."

At this, Yamamoto finally took interest. "So you're saying that this girl...this human girl has enough spirit energy to possibly be a shinigami when she passes on?"

Hitsugaya nodded.

"Interesting."

It grew silent for a moment after.

Then Yamamoto spoke, "So, as well as you protecting this girl, could you mold her spiritual powers? You could very well train this girl while she is still in the world of the living. If she is as much of a rarity as you say she is, she could learn a variety of kido and also learn how to use a sword."

"Like a zanpakutou?"

"Not quite. Start her off with a regular sword and see how she progresses." Yamamoto replied, "Or...maybe just teach her kendo. You are quite proficient in that as well. That will help her with her sword handling skills."

Hitsugaya nodded in agreement, "Yes..." He trailed off before saying, "So are you approving my request?"

Yamamoto repeated the gesture, "Yes. I will leave it up to you to find the shinigami to travel with you. You may take at most four. We cannot afford to lose many at this time."

The white haired man gave a bright smile at his elder, "Thank you, Yamamoto-genryusai."

Hitsugaya turned to walk out the door but was stopped when Yamamoto once again called out to him.

"Sir?" The captain turned to face him, standing in the door frame.

"May I ask the girl's name?"

"Kuchiki Rukia."


"Hey, taichou, how'd it go?" Matsumoto greeted her captain outside of the genryusai's quarters.

"Good." Hitsugaya answered, "He gave me permission for everything. He said we can have gigais and I could bring as many as four other shinigami with me on this mission, but I must train the Kuchiki girl in kido and some light swordplay while I am there..."

The strawberry blonde nodded in agreement, "So, who's the lucky four?"

"Well, I only have three more to find."

"What do you mean, taichou?"

"I would hope that my fukutaichou would be accompanying me in this venture." The white haired man said with a smile, looking up at his assistant captain, trying to get a glimpse of her gray eyes, but couldn't due to certain...obstructions.

Matsumoto slightly flushed at her captain's comment. It was quite the nice gesture to be considered for such an assignment by Hitsugaya of all people. She was a bit lazy - no, very - and she was quite surprised that he would choose her over several other hardworking shinigami that were just as strong as she was.

"So I expect you not to be lazy and to actually try to help."

The big breasted woman sweatdropped, sighing. All good things come to an end...

"Yes, taichou." She said in an exasperated manner, scratching her head in a languorous manner, and her eyes looking like that of a little kid who had been scolded.

Hitsugaya gave a yawn as the two began walking.

"Tired?" Matsumoto began, looking down at her white haired superior.

"No, no, not at all." Hitsugaya replied stubbornly, keeping a strong front up.

"Ah, denying the truth as always." The assistant captain said as she kept her pace with the quickening one of her shorter taichou, "But I wouldn't be surprised."

"Why's that?" He looked up, turquoise questioning gray.

"Well, you probably stayed up all night watching that cutie Kuchiki sleep."

Hitsugaya's eyes widened and his face flushed in embarrassment, "N-No, I didn't!"

"Hey, I wouldn't blame you." Matsumoto smiled lazily, looking up at the clouds moving slowly by, "Prolly thought about jumping her bones, too, ne?"

"M-Matsumoto!"

"I understand...a guy your age...emotions fly...yup. All makes sense now why you were so insistent on helping her."

Hitsugaya growled, "That's a stupid accusation!"

"Stupid? Really, now your words match your age."

"Damn...you."

Matsumoto smiled as she followed Hitsugaya around the corner and to a very old friend's house. "Oi, why are we at Hinamori's house?"

"Because I was gonna ask her to come too."

Matsumoto closed her eyes and smiled warmly, "Ah, makes sense."

"What does?"

"Oh, you seem angry with me, so I won't bother to elaborate."

"That's probably for the best."

Suddenly, a bright and cheery voice called out from the door frame, "Toshiro! Rangiku!"

Both the aforementioned people stopped, looking at Hinamori Momo who came racing toward the two.

"Hey, Hinamori." The two said in perfect unison, a habit they had picked up from being around each other too much.

"What brings you here?" Hinamori said with a bright smile, looking at her childhood friend and his assistant captain. "I'm glad to have you visit me."

Without any further delay, Hitsugaya got straight to the point, "Matsumoto and I are going on an assignment to the human world and were wondering if you would like to come with."

"It was mostly taichou's idea." Matsumoto interrupted.

"M-Matsumoto!" Again, for the second time that day, Hitsugaya Toshiro was a very embarrassed shinigami.

Hinamori only laughed lightly and smiled at them, "Sure, I don't think Aizen-taichou and I have anything important to do in terms of work, so I'm up for it. May I ask why?"

Hitsugaya - without the help of the nerve-wracking commentary of Matsumoto - explained everything to the interested Hinamori, who listened to every word the white haired man had to say.

"Okay, that's fine with me!" Hinamori said once all the questions had been asked and everything had been cleared up, "When do I have to be ready?" She asked, placing a hand on her zanpakutou in a subconscious manner.

"We're leaving tomorrow." Matsumoto replied, meeting gray with brown, "So be prepared."

Hinamori nodded and smiled, which Matsumoto thought must be one of her favorite things to do, "Thank you for considering me! I'll be ready by tomorrow." She then raced off into her house, "Thanks, Toshiro, Rangiku."

Hitsugaya gave off an exasperated sigh, "You think she'd call us by our ranks."

"Yes, because I know how much you love her calling you Hitsugaya-taichou." Matsumoto said suggestively, leaning over and whispering the last words into his ear in a girlish tone, much like that of Hinamori.

"You're a perv, Matsumoto."

"You know it!"


"HAIYAAA!"

"Gosh, Dad, you are damn crazy!"

"Aw, come on, son, you gotta toughen up!" Kurosaki Isshin said, putting his fists up and facing his orange haired son, "Abarai, show 'em!"

Abarai Renji looked at the older shinigami with wide eyes, "K-Kurosaki-taichou, I know you mean to make Ichigo stronger, but..."

Chunk, chunk.

"...throwing poisoned ninja stars at him while he is sleeping is not the way!"

Isshin looked at Renji with incredulity, "So you want me to start throwing the stone spears now?"

"NO! Anything but that!" Both Renji and Ichigo screamed.

"Alright, then, if you say so."

"We DIDN'T say so!"

Shink!

Hitsugaya and Matsumoto froze completely when a stray spear flew through them and wedged itself in a tree just inches behind them.

"Ah, Hitsugaya, Matsumoto, what a pleasant surprise!" The extravagant Isshin said, holding out his arms and hugging both shinigami tightly. "What brings you here?" He said jovially, brown eyes looking at them with kindness...and weirdness.

"Um...uh...Kurosaki-taichou..." Hitsugaya said underneath the pressure of Isshin's embrace, "I can't...b-breathe."

Isshin sheepishly smiled and let them out of his arms. Closing his eyes with a smile, he said, "Oh, I forgot since you are so little - "

Hitsugaya sent him a death glare.

" - little in the hugging department!" The black haired Kurosaki man saved himself from a beating from the much smaller man, "Yes, yes, not very emotional. Hates to be hugged. That's lil - I mean big Hitsugaya!"

Surprising how a man as powerful as Isshin would be intimidated by one glare from a man of lesser stature.

Matsumoto gave off a airy laugh as she stared at the two taichous, "Anyway...we're here, as Hitsugaya-taichou tells me, to talk to Ichigo and Renji about an assignment to the living world."

"Living world!" Isshin said in excitement with a hint of disappointment, "Aw, why didn't you consider me? That makes Isshin sad."

"Dad, don't refer to yourself in the third person. It confuses people."

"Aw, Ichigo hates Isshin."

Ichigo rolled his eyes and scratched the back of his head with a large hand as he looked Matsumoto in the eyes, "An assignment to living world? What for?"

Hitsugaya quickly explained the whole story, growing quite tired with the repetitive motion. As he talked, both Renji and Ichigo listened carefully, while Isshin was off chasing a bee with his zanpakutou, but then he smelled that Masaki had cooked lunch, but before he could go inside to eat, the enraged bee viciously stung Isshin and he wailed as he ran into the house, dropping his zanpakutou along the way.

"Ma-Masaki! A bee stung Isshin."

"Oh, it'll be okay, don't worry about it. Let me get a bandage."

"It hurts!"

Hitsugaya rolled his eyes as he continued with his story, "So, anyway, we have to go protect this girl. She has very high spiritual powers. Almost to shinigami level. And while we are there, we are to get gigai and go with her to school, and also we - or I - have to teach her kido and swordsmanship. Yamamoto-genryusai's orders on the last part. And I have to take at least four other shinigami with me. So far, Matsumoto and Hinamori are coming with me." The white haired man said, turquoise eyes glimmering in the sunlight, "And if you two are up for it, we will have the amount needed to go."

Ichigo gave a smirk, "Sure I'll go. Anything to get me away from Psycho-taichou's training regimen."

"Count me in as well." Renji replied as well, adjusting his sunglasses on top of his head. "When do we leave?"

"Tomorrow." Matsumoto said, her eyes moving from the orange haired assistant captain to the red haired one.

"Good." Both Ichigo and Renji replied together.

The back door to the Kurosaki house opened and there stood Kurosaki Karin and Kurosaki Yuzu. Yuzu was the first to speak, fiddling with her apron as she did so, "Um, lunch is ready and Mom was wondering if Hitsugaya-taichou and Matsumoto-fukutaichou would like to join us."

Karin looked at the two with her hands casually stuffed into her pockets, "Yeah, she's already set a place, so...you might as well."

Matsumoto looked at the white haired man and smiled, "Well, we don't have any other paperwork to attend to...and no other matters."

"Because you put them all with Ise-fukutaichou."

Matsumoto sheepishly smiled and gave a light, airy laugh at just screamed: "I'm innocent and this man works me to death."

"But," Hitsugaya said, looking from Karin to Yuzu, "...yeah, we can stay."

"Okay!" The two sisters said before making their way back into the house.

Ichigo looked from Hitsugaya to Matsumoto with an air of dread.

"Prepare for insanity."

Those words seemed to describe the meal quite well, the two soon found out.


It had been two days since her encounter with Hitsugaya Toshiro. But only one had gone by since she last saw him, gliding his way past her on her way to school, zanpakutou in hand, eyes set on her walking figure. It made her wonder what exactly the white haired man wanted. She wondered if he was going to be around her more often, since he said himself that she had an immense supply of energy that hollows would love to eat. But that last theory was probably wrong, since she hadn't seen, nor felt his presence, anywhere around her in the last day.

Rukia assumed his interest had just faded away, as that hollow did that night.

The raven haired girl sighed as she listened to her friends chat on and on about something that she wasn't even paying attention too. All she saw was that Chizuru made a grab for Orihime and was quickly apprehended by an irate Tatsuki, who stepped on the bespectacled girl's face.

Ishida was sitting beside her, just quietly and calmly taking in all the action that had just happened with a slight smile on his face. His navy orbs looked over to Rukia, and he finally spoke so only she could hear, "Anything wrong?"

Rukia shook her head, "No...I was just thinking."

"About what happened?"

"Yes and no." Rukia didn't want to admit that the white haired shinigami had been on her mind on several occasions lately.

"Ah," Ishida breathed, pushing his glasses up farther onto the bridge of his nose, "Well, you don't have anything to worry about, okay? I'm here for you."

A smile spread across Rukia's features as she connected her eyes with his, "Yes. I know, Ishida. And I'm glad you are."

The Quincy felt his face heat up, and he quickly turned away, forcing his gaze from the attractive woman.

Orihime then spoke up, hazel orbs looking over his flushed and scarlet red face, "Uryu, do you have a fever?"

Tatsuki and Chizuru looked at the quiet man, then to Orihime, who was oblivious to what had just happened.

Before Ishida had time to answer, the door to the classroom swung open, and Ochi-sensei entered, smiling as always, but this time with a renewed vigor.

"Listen up, class! We have some fresh meat today."

"For lunch!"

"No, Inoue," Ochi-sensei smiled, slightly laughing at the girl's naivete, "as in new students."

At this, Rukia tilted her head in interest.

"They're all transferring from a school in Hokkaido...yes, way out in the country, I know." The teacher gave a laugh as she cracked her knuckles, "Five of 'em."

This was unusual. Five students transferring at once? It was a very scarce occurrence, as well as strange.

"Come in, everyone." Ochi-sensei called out to the students, who were obviously outside the door.

Rukia looked at the people walking in - an orange head, a red head, a bun head, and...that strawberry blonde shinigami from that night! How was she here? And a student, nonetheless!

The last "transfer" student came in slowly, almost hesitantly, but walked with a confidence that Rukia immediately would recognize even if she hadn't seen him.

Spiky, white hair.

Greenish blue eyes.

Short. Painfully short.

"These are your new classmates - Kurosaki Ichigo, Abarai Renji, Hinamori Momo, Matsumoto Rangiku, and - "

Rukia's eyes never left him, not even after he locked his gaze with hers.

" - Hitsugaya Toshiro."


End Chapter Three.

Oh, yes! I am done! Sorry for the wait, I just couldn't sit down long enough to finish it, but I finally did! And in one day, nonetheless. Shows how much of a life I have. Haha.

Anyway, if anyone was wondering, I'm making the Kurosaki family nobles. Like the Kuchiki family in the anime, but sillier. And because Isshin is frikin awesome!

Also, I'm not actually sure how people become shinigami, but I'm going to do my take on it. Like, when a person dies, their soul goes to soul society and if they develop their powers enough, that's how they can become shinigami...or something like that. If you have any questions, feel free to review/PM and ask them. I'll be happy to answer them.

R & R!