The trip through the Senkaimon was only a moment, but to Kokoro it seemed to take hours. Going back to the soul society on such short notice would surely upset the thirteen court guard squads. If she were to see Toshiro again, how would hr react to her being there? She had lied to him and now she suddenly comes back. He would be better off not knowing where she was from her point, but Matsumoto gave her no choice. When the bright lights finally faded she found herself in her old home. She looked around; nothing has changed since she left. She had forgotten how large the place had been. Without warning Matsumoto grabbed her wrist once again and started using shunpo to quicken the pace. Kokoro had a hard time keeping up; she had not used her shunpo in years. She had not even touched her zanpakuto since Kisuke saved her. She felt pathetic. Not even able to fight anymore, meant she was useless to the thirteen court guard squads.
"Lt. Matsumoto…may I ask you something?" Kokoro asked nervously.
"Sure, but make it quick we're burning daylight." The red head said with a grin.
"Since you have brought me back to soul society, what do you plan to do with me?" she asked.
"What do you mean?" Matsumoto asked her.
"I can no longer fight, lieutenant. If that is so I am of no use to squad ten any longer. So why am I here? I am sure that Captain Hitsugaya does not wish to see me." Kokoro said saddened, "I lied to him. That, to me, is unforgivable."
"Kokoro, it isn't that you can't fight. It is that you haven't fought in a long time and you need training. As for the captain, I'm sure he'll love seeing you." The lieutenant said trying her best to assure the forgotten shinigami. "Now perk up, do you want to see the captain after all these years looking like you're about to cry?" Kokoro shook her head. "Then wipe your eyes and let's go!" Matsumoto started off again and Kokoro remained silent for the rest of the trip.
When the two finally reached the first squad barracks Kokoro looked up almost trembling. She remembered the head captain's spiritual pressure was beyond anything she had ever felt. Matsumoto called up,
"Open the door please, it is urgent." The doors slowly opened and Matsumoto lead Kokoro inside. Once inside the two saw the elder standing in front of them as he had not been expecting the two.
"Lieutenant Matsumoto what is the meaning of this?" he asked angered by the sudden audience with him he had not been alerted of.
"Sir, I'm sorry to barge in like this, but I have the need to report former fifth seat squad ten Kokoro Haruka has returned to the Soul Society." Matsumoto said kneeling bringing Kokoro with her.
"What's this?" The head captain took his seat to listen closer, "You say that girl actually lives?"
"She is right in front of you head captain." Matsumoto gestured for Kokoro to stand. She nervously stood up straight,
"Former fifth seat squad ten, Kokoro Haruka reporting sir." She said. It almost hurt to say 'former' rather than being the rank now.
"Fifth seat Haruka…how is it you have been present all this time and we have not been able to find you?" head captain Yamamoto asked with an unreadable tone.
"Sir, a gigai I was given concealed my spiritual pressure." She answered.
"I see, but why did you not return to the thirteen court guard squads?" Yamamoto asked.
"Sir, I was injured and I never returned for personal reasons." Kokoro said her voice nearly shaking.
"Yes, but do you realize that you could have put all of Soul Society in danger with your absence? You could be a traitor for all we know." Yamamoto said questioning the girl.
"I understand your concern, head captain. I will say now that I am no traitor, but if you so rule me to be. I will accept the consequences you see fit." Kokoro said understanding her actions may have been a sin to Soul Society.
"Now wait just a minute, head captain, this girl has not been traitorous to soul society in anyway. She was injured badly by a hollow and would not be able to return for an extended time, but afterwards she found trouble within herself she needed to handle alone. Please sir, I beg do not punish her." Matsumoto begged. If Kokoro would not beg for her life, Matsumoto surely would.
"Lieutenant Matsumoto, I do not intend to punish former fifth seat Haruka, however, I cannot let her be a soul reaper again until I see if she is still able to fight to normal standards. If she cannot she must return to the world of the living, stripped completely of her powers as a human." The head captain told them.
"Sir, how are you going to know if former fifth seat Haruka is up to your standards?" Matsumoto asked.
"I will watch her as she participates in normal life here within the thirteen court guard squads and once she battles I will know what to make of her." Head captain said.
"Thank you sir." Matsumoto said as she stood.
"Go." Was all that the head captain said to them as they turned to leave.
Outside of squad one's barracks Matsumoto was relieved to have Kokoro be able to stay with them for the time being.
"C'mon Kokoro be happy, you are able to stay here! At least crack a smile!" Matsumoto said cheerfully.
"With all due respect, I cannot. When Captain Yamamoto sees how I fight he will never let me become a soul reaper again ad I will live as a human. I will never have the hope of seeing anybody I care for in soul society again." Kokoro said distantly.
"I know you can do this Kokoro. You just have to believe it too." Matsumoto said squeezing Kokoro's hand. Suddenly two soul reapers appeared in front of the two girls.
"Hey, Rangiku!" a bald one said.
"What do you want Ikkaku?" Matsumoto asked with a huff. It was clear she didn't want to talk to either of the soul reapers.
"We just wanted to come and find you. Your captain heard you rejoicing about something and sent us for you." The other said with feathers on his face.
"He did, did he? Well, I'll go with you, granted you do me a favor Yumichika." Matsumoto said with a devious smile.
"Whatever it is the answer's no." Yumichika said crossing his arms.
"Just do what she wants so we can go back to our barracks." Ikkaku said impatiently. Yumichika sighed,
"Fine, if I must. What is it you want me to do, Rangiku?" Yumichika asked with an irritated voice. Matsumoto shoved Kokoro into Yumichika,
"I want you to take her to squad ten barracks and set her in my captain's office!" Matsumoto said smiling.
"Why the hell should I?" Yumichika asked. He had never even seen this girl before.
"Because I said so!" Matsumoto said with a wink as she used shunpo to escape. Her plan to get Kokoro alone with her captain was going into action. Ikkaku growled,
"Damn it, Rangiku!" he chased after the red head. Yumichika sighed at his friend's behavior. He turned to look at Kokoro.
"So who are you anyways? I've never seen you here before?" Yumichika asked.
"I, uh, I used to be a soul reaper for squad ten, but I haven't been back in a while." Kokoro summarized her being there.
"Is that so? Well, I guess I better take you back to squad ten. I'm Yumichika Ayasegawa." He said as he started towards the barracks,
"I'm Kokoro Haruka." She said chasing after him.
"A fair name." Yumichika said.
When the two finally got to the squad ten barracks Yumichika turned to leave,
"Captain Hitsugaya's office is right inside. It will be easy to find." He said as he walked off.
"Thank you, fifth seat Ayasegawa!" Kokoro shouted after him. Kokoro went inside and quietly snuck around looking for Hitsugaya's office. The barracks were bigger than she remembered. She read the signs on each door until she found the one that had 'Captain Hitsugaya' written on it in kanji. She slid open the door, but gasped slightly to see Hitsugaya was not there. Perhaps he had gone off on a break or to get more paper. Kokoro came in and looked closely at his desk. She spotted a certain picture that the captain had not bothered to remove from his desk. It was the once of her and him when they were both in school still. She picked it up carefully and looked at it with her pink eyes. She missed the smiling boy he used to be. When she left he was quite a bit stricter, but he was still her best friend. Kokoro heard the footsteps come to the door she carelessly left open. She heard a familiar voice and her eyes widened,
"K-kokoro…"