A/N: Hey everyone! How have you been? Good I hope! Thank you to all those who reviewed, it really makes my day to read them all and to know you're enjoying the story so far. Thanks for reading!

EDITED 2011-07-16


The day after receiving his orders Toshiro found a large trunk outside his office and if the hideous amount of candy accompanying several books was any sign, Ukitake-taicho must have had someone bring it over during the night.

The small taicho couldn't help but shake his head at the man's antics. It seemed that no matter how many times he refused the candy, asked politely that the elder taicho stop sending it to him, or given it away to Zaraki's second, the man was still dead set on giving him disgustingly large amounts of sweets. Matsumoto couldn't even finish eating one bag before he had been given three more. At this rate his office would be overrun with sweets and Matsumoto's teeth would rot.

Hitsugaya sighed as he threw yet another bag of candy onto his desk and pulled out the texts he would need to study for his mission. Thankfully he'd only be expected to learn up to the second year's material. Hell, with all the paperwork that he had found mysteriously shoved under the couch he'd barely have time for that.

Hitsugaya absentmindedly flipped through some of the books noting that he would most likely be able to get by with just learning the theory for now. Once he had his wand –he glowered at the thought- he could actually attempt the spells. But, for now the knowledge of how to perform them would suffice. He tossed the book aside and leaned back in chair, revelling in the silence.

Wait. Silence?

A pair of icy teal eyes snapped open.

"Matsumoto?"

The woman was no where in sight, or hearing distance for that matter.

He could only hope that she wasn't off antagonizing Kuchiki already, although he wouldn't put it past her. Leave it to Matsumoto to actually show some initiative over something like this, but she still couldn't be bothered to do her paperwork.

Hitsugaya felt a wave of sadness at the thought of leaving his subordinate behind for ten months. The woman annoyed him to no end but that didn't mean he wouldn't miss her. He considered her a close friend, which he would never actually admit to anyone if they should ask. But, they understood one another; they had a special bond formed from fighting side by side for decades. From being able to trust undoubtedly that the other had your back, from hundreds of fights survived together. Despite their differences and clashing personalities, they were friends. More than that, they were comrades. The small taicho couldn't help but let loose another sigh as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

'Only a few more days until I leave,' he thought; and with that he grabbed a text book and started reading.


Toshiro closed the last book having just finished reading A History of Magic Level Two. He had been rather surprised to find all of the books fascinating, while also far below his reading level. The overall curriculum was interesting, if not a little unbelievable at points. Dragons and Vampires he could believe. After all, Hyorinmaru was an ice dragon and vampires seemed to be a race similar to that of the Bounts. But dwarves, kappas, and giants? It all seemed a little far fetched.

It had taken him the greater part of three days to read through the books he had been given while also ensuring he didn't fall behind in his paperwork. During that time he had barely even lain eyes on Matsumoto except when she'd rushed into the room, grabbed an extremely large jar of jam from inside her desk and disappeared just as quickly, practically cackling.

Frankly, he didn't want to know what the woman was up to. It would just lead to another headache.

But...jam?

What could she possibly have planned that involved that large an amount of jam? If it had been anyone else he would have ignored it, but this was Matsumoto. Clearly something was up. A storm was brewing and Kuchiki (who had agreed to watch over her during his absence) was going to be caught right in the middle of it. He had no idea what he was in for.

The poor, unsuspecting fool.

But, Hitsugaya knew the stoic man would stand firm. Kuchiki would beat the woman out in the end. At least, he hoped so for the sake of the bet— Toshiro could have slammed his head on his desk.

It had finally happened. He'd been corrupted by Matsumoto.

The white haired boy groaned, "Someone kill me"


It was finally the day.

Hitsugaya was to leave in mere minutes.

His trunk was completely packed, he'd already picked up his gigai and he had readied his office, which meant anything breakable had been packed away in his quarters along with anything he actually liked. Any other taicho would simply leave their office the way they always had it. But no other taicho had Matsumoto working under them. There had been many incidents in which he'd come back from a long mission to find his favourite plants dead, his chair broken, windows cracked and the room smelling distinctly of sake. The woman could not be trusted with these things.

Unohana had kindly offered to take care of his plants while he was away and he had quickly accepted the offer. The last time Matsumoto had been assigned the task he'd returned to find his purple Narcissuses (1) that she had given him for his birthday almost dead and his pot of Thyme under his desk along with a large pile of bread crusts.

Needless to say, she was no longer allowed anywhere near his plants.

"TAICHO!"

Hitsugaya winced as the woman rushed into the room carrying a large pile of clothing, "Yes Matsumoto?"

"I just realized you're leaving for the living world today and you have no clothes!"

"The school has uniforms I don't ne—

"You can't just wear a uniform everyday! What about on civvies days or while you're in town picking up your supplies?" The woman asked looking scandalized. "I picked out the cutest outfits for you taicho so come on you have to get changed."

The next thing he knew, Toshiro had been thrown into the washroom along with several articles of clothes she had pulled from the pile.

He sighed as he realized that his subordinate had a point; he couldn't simply walk around in his uniform for the two days before he had to catch the train to Hogwarts. The young taicho reluctantly pulled off his robes and slipped on a black short sleeved polo with the tenth division's symbol embroidered in red over his heart and pulled on a pair of dark jeans that he found to be too form fitting for his liking. A belt was already looped through the pants and he quickly tightened it to fit his waist.

He then opened the door only to have a pair of shoes shoved forcefully into his arms causing the air to escape from his lungs with an 'oof'.

"Put them on, put them on," Matsumoto ushered as she practically shoved him onto the couch.

"Look I –

"Come on taicho, you have to get going soon!"

Hitsugaya growled as he slipped on the shoes and quickly stood. The woman looked him over carefully.

"Hm. Only one more thing," she said before ruffling his hair to make it even messier than before.

"There," she exclaimed happily as she continued to gush, "Taicho you look so cute! All the girls are going to love you. Now come on the gate to the living world won't stay open forever."

She grabbed his arm as another officer appeared to grab his trunk and the small taicho couldn't help but wonder if she was rushing so she could get rid of him.

Outside the division building they found Ukitake waiting, a gate already open.

"Toshiro-kun those clothes suit you nicely," the man smiled.

"It's Hitsugaya-taicho," the white haired youth snapped back as he pulled his arm from Matsumoto's tight hold.

"Yes, yes I know," the man said in a placating tone with a wave of his pale hand "But you'd better hurry up, the gate has been open for long enough as it is."

Hitsugaya nodded as the officer holding his trunk quickly shoved it through the gate and stepped back.

"Matsumoto you had better do the paperwork while I'm gone," he said as he turned to the woman.

She nodded before pulling him into a bone crushing hug, "Oh I'm going to miss you so much. You had better write to me otherwise I might just have to go down there myself to see you!"

Toshiro gasped slightly as he tried to draw air into his lungs and finding himself failing at the simple task miserably.

"Um...Matsumoto-san I think you might want to let him go. I don't think he can breathe," Ukitake smiled gently.

The buxom officer reluctantly let him go, grinning sheepishly before the man continued, "Take care of yourself Toshiro-kun. This mission is very important but that doesn't mean you should forget about your own safety. And here," he added as he pulled a bag of candy from his sleeve and quickly tucked it into the boy's arms.

"I won't be seeing you for ten months after all," he said rather sadly. "We'll all miss you."

Normally Hitsugaya would have said something about the candy and calling him Toshiro instead of his title. But, the man was right; he wouldn't be seeing him again for quite a while.

"Don't worry Ukitake-san I'll be fine. Thank you," he said with a small bow and with that he headed through the gate and he heard Matsumoto call after him,

"Don't worry taicho! I'll take care of everything!"

He couldn't help but feel that her words were rather ominous.


(1) I actually put a lot thought into what plants Hitsugaya should have. A Narcissus means 'Stay as sweet as you are'. Matsumoto had a bit of a hidden message when she gave him that plant : ) Thyme means strength and courage.