Author's Note - Updates should be coming swiftly with this story, it's all in my head and I'm trying to get it out before I lose it. Enjoy!!
Chapter Four - A Little Advice
Hitsugaya Toushiro sat at his desk in the Squad Ten office. Stacks and stacks of paperwork piled up on the surface before him and he had to resist the urge to sigh in frustration. As it was a grimace had formed on his face, causing his brow to tighten into deep furrows. From across the room Matsumoto Rangiku quietly studied her Taichou's unusually stressed out face. He seemed not to notice her scrutiny as he stared at the paperwork, clearly his mind was somewhere else and not on the work before him. With a roll of her eyes and a deep sigh, Matsumoto spoke.
"Taichou?" Her melodic voice rang out in the small room. Hitsugaya's turquoise eyes flashed up to look at her, annoyance plain on his features. Ignoring his scowl with her usual zeal Matsumoto smiled radiantly. "Keep scowling like that Taichou and you are going to end up looking decades older than you really are." She tried to joke. His expression cemented itself even further in place.
"Was there something you needed Matsumoto?" He asked through clenched teeth, eager to end the conversation and get back to… to what? He gritted his teeth harder and closed his eyes. He was doing it again, daydreaming. In his mind he could see their combat, his and Kaori's, their blades clashing, bodies twisting and dodging, sweat and even blood flying as they battled, endlessly it seemed. His hands tightened into fists. They were still no closer to unlocking the mystery of Kaori's Zanpakuto. It was taking its toll on Kaori, he could tell. Hell, it was taking its toll on him. He was beginning to feel like he was failing her, it had been months now, almost a year actually since she had come under his command. They should have made some progress by now.
"Taichou!" Hitsugaya jerked upright in his seat, his eyes focusing on Matsumoto, or rather, her massive cleavage; the woman now stood in front of him, hands on his desk, leaning over him and staring at him as though he had just grown horns. Her face was screwed up into a puzzled look as she sighed and straightened, planting her hands firmly on her hips. "You are hopeless!" She exclaimed.
Hitsugaya felt his annoyance come back full force as he glanced away. "Shut up!" He quipped. "Can't you see I'm trying to think?"
Folding her arms beneath her breasts with a loud 'humph' Matsumoto scrunched her nose up and looked away. "Daydreaming is more like it…. What's with you anyway? Whatever's on your mind you should deal with it instead of just moping around like that."
Hitsugaya sat very still, an expression of surprise on his face. Matsumoto rarely spoke to him like that. With a sigh he grudgingly admitted that normally when she did, she was right. Blowing out a sigh he slumped back in his chair.
"You're right Matsumoto, Sorry for being such an idiot." Rising from his chair he gestured toward the stacks of paperwork on his desk. "Since I'm going to take your advice, would you mind taking care of this paperwork? I've got someone I need to go talk to." Without waiting for an answer he started for the door, leaving a stunned Matsumoto in his wake.
"N-Nani?!" She stuttered. Realizing she just received his revenge for speaking to him like that. Plopping down in his chair she blew out an annoyed sigh and reached for the pen. I guess that's what I get for trying to help. She thought as she pouted.
Outside, Hitsugaya headed for the Squad Ten barracks, the light spring breeze blowing across the Seireitei seemed to somehow do wonders for his mood. Maybe I just need to get out of the office more. He mused for a moment before his brow furrowed once more, seriousness making its way back into his demeanor. Later. He thought, Right now I've got something to take care of…
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