Understanding
~Punishment?~
Twelfth division had picked up on the youngest taicho's wild, raw and destructive release of spiritual energy. And of course, Yamamoto had been informed about this information, right around the same time that Unohana had managed to come and personally tell him about what had transpired between the young taicho and the second of the fifth division. The first words out of his mouth were. "Should we have made him taicho?"
"He has the skills and means to be able to perform the duty and has done quite well in the past twenty years since his taicho disappeared," Unohana stated.
"But he is still a child, and we didn't take into account what his actual age meant, and I don't think that we exactly have been fair to him," the man stated, folding his hands and setting his elbows on his desk. "Because he is taicho, he is expected to act and think a certain way, like a mature adult. But can anyone truly think like this?"
"No, they can't. And the younger a person is, the more they don't know how to deal with certain feelings," the healer stated.
"Exactly my point with him… and he didn't know who to turn to, as he may not have felt that he wouldn't be ridiculed by asking the questions he needed to," Yamamoto tapped his fingers. "Isshin was right… he needed the chance to be a child… even as a taicho, we still should have given it to him, but we've majorly overlooked quite a few of these, haven't we."
"Sir?" Unohana stated, suddenly smiling, hoping that he was getting at what she hoped he was.
"If Ukitake and Kyoraku can act like children at times, not to mention your self and I being able to enjoy life, I don't see why the youngest of our ranks can't either," Yamamoto stated. "Just what to do know… twelfth division taicho is going to seek some sort of punishment, but I think that we all need to be punished for our neglect…"
"And what do you suggest," Unohana shook her head.
"Call a captain's meeting, but send the message directly to Matsumoto fukutaicho and tell her to hold off sending her taicho until he comes back, and if the meeting is over by that time, he is to see you and I directly," Yamamoto stated. "We need to discuss this as a group."
"Perhaps it would be better if we see Hitsugaya Taicho after the meeting, just the two of us. What ever plan we come up with, he will surely think that we are against him instead of helping him, if all of the taicho suddenly come out of the blue and confronted him with the truth of the matter," Unohana taicho sighed.
"Agreed,"
M
Nine captains assembled into the usual meeting spot. Yamamoto nodded his head at them. "We can now begin this meeting."
"But Hitsugaya Taicho isn't here," Ukitake suddenly became worried, seeing that the youngest wasn't there. "What exactly is this meeting about that we are called here to discuss things without one of our members who usually is the most prompt among us about showing up?"
"That is exactly what we are here to talk about," Kurotsuchi stated, a great deal of disdain in his voice. "My computers picked up the child having a mental break down somewhere out in the Rukongai. It was erratic, uncontrolled and completely uncalled for behavior for a captain."
"You are certainly one to talk," Shunsui sighed. "Are you absolutely sure that this happened… I mean, the kid has a great deal of control, and he wouldn't purposely try to cause destruction."
"I believe he went out to the Rukongai because he knew that he couldn't control it for once and wanted to cause the least amount of destruction possible, and to make sure no one other then perhaps himself got hurt," Unohana stated.
"So… is he all right?" Ukitake suddenly asked.
"We picked up his reiatsu near that Shiba female's, but that isn't the point of the matter," the scientist stated. "The point is, he lost control, which a captain should not do."
"I think the real point is, why he lost control like he did," Komamura suddenly asked.
"That is in truth the real reason we are here," Yamamoto stated.
"Is the reason that serious that all of us need to be involved," Byakuya asked, his eyes narrowed.
"What happened was that Lieutenant Hinamori Momo said some things that she, under her normal state of mind wouldn't say. Hitsugaya Taicho ended up taking the whole matter hard, and his emotions became uncontrolled," Unohana stated.
"I don't say that is a reason to excuse him for his behavior," Mayuri snapped.
"I don't think it is an issue of excusing him either," Soi Fon stated. "But the question I have, is… why he didn't feel that he could come to any of us with his problems."
"In other words, it isn't just the young one who is at fault here, Kurotsuchi Taicho," Kyoraku stated firmly. "I believe that the only one of us who allowed the young one to be a child some times was Ukitake. Even I haven't."
"Which is exactly why he's not fit to be a taicho," the scientist stated.
"And I wasn't when I first started?" Soi Fon muttered, rolling her eyes. "Look, he is one of the best captains we have, and we are already down three. It would be impractical, not to mention cruel to tell him that because he is as young as he is, he can no longer be a taicho, simply because we haven't allowed him to be a child enough."
Komamura smiled. "I think if two of our older taicho's can have… childish exuberance and look at the world from the view point of a child, I don't see why the youngest can't either. The trick is tricking him into acting his age, when he is used to acting like an adult."
"As if that is possible," Byakuya stated firmly. "The only person I see pulling that of is Kurosaki, and he's leaving tomorrow. To send him with the substitute soul reaper would cause anyone's sanity to break, not mend though. He's too much like… no, wait. He is like that person."
"You mean Isshin-san taicho?" Kenpachi finally spoke up, a huge grin on his face. "Yeah, I guess he is, isn't he?"
"We don't mention his name here," Soi Fon narrowed her eyes at the man.
"We don't mention him for the kid's sake, and he isn't here," Kenpachi yawned. "Send him to the living world, he needs the break… but don't tell him it is a break… trick him into thinking that he is going to be helping the substitute soul reaper, since that girl we tried to execute isn't going back. Tell him to let the substitute soul reaper handle things and only step in when needed, as to not insult Ichigo."
"Please tell me, we aren't going to listen to this buffoon's plan. I would have to put a double inhibiter on that child at his current emotional state, before I would allow him into the living world!" the scientist protested.
"Then do so," Yamamoto stated, narrowing his eyes. "We need to learn not to push so much on his young shoulders; he needs to learn to be a child and relax, not to mention deal with the issues with Hinamori and a chance to heal. The substitute soul reaper might be able to do this."
The decision was practically unanimous, as even the twelfth division captain couldn't argue with it in the end.
M
The night was quiet as Ichigo moved through the streets, close on the heels of the tenth division taicho. The young boy was starting to become irritated. "I don't need to be babysat."
"I am not babysitting you… if I was, I'd have to carry you, right, because you would be so small, and you wouldn't be talking back," Ichigo stated.
Toshiro's teal eyes suddenly darted back to the person who was following him. "I am not a little kid."
"No… then you would be the size of what, a toddler. Toshiro, I am not blind to the fact you're mature for your age. Hell, the reason…"
"Hitsugaya Toshiro," the boy snapped.
"What ever. The reason I am following you isn't because I feel that under every day circumstances you can't take care of yourself. You wouldn't be a taicho if you weren't at the level that you could. However, everyone has down days, and I think that this is one of yours."
"I didn't ask for you to care," the boy muttered, suddenly turning his head back to front.
"You remind me too much of myself when I was younger… stubborn, and not letting anyone in, so knock it off all ready, I don't buy your act," Ichigo stated firmly.
"I am technically older then you, you know," the boy stated as the temperature dropped.
"And Rukia and Renji are too, yet they are equivalent to my age and act…"
"Just leave me alone all ready," Toshiro was glad that they were nearing his division.
"I don't think you really want to be left alone. I will, however, stop talking, that's all I'll promise," came the teenagers reply.
"Thank you, I guess…" tenth division was now within site, and he saw that Matsumoto was outside of their division, a worried look plastered on her face. He couldn't help but mutter under his breath. "Shit…"
"Taicho!" Matsumoto suddenly raised her hand into the air and waved it. She suddenly rushed forward and squished him into her chest, causing him to suddenly struggle to be released from her grip.
"Umm… hello Rangiku, how are you to day?" Ichigo asked, a little bit bewildered, seeing the two together.
"Ehh… oh, hello, Ichigo Kurosaki… you were looking for Rukia earlier, weren't you?" she asked.
"Are you still drunk?" Ichigo asked.
"Well, on top of Gin being a complete loser, there was… another incident today that upset me. Ne, taicho? I am so sorry that Hinamori and you are…"
"Please don't talk about her. I am going to go into the office to do some paperwork. Please leave me alone," the small boy stormed off.
"Paperwork…" Ichigo scratched his head. "How can that be relaxing…"
"Shut up…" Toshiro's two teal eyes suddenly turned and he glared at the physically older boy. There was an odd glow to them.
"Umm… taicho… you may want to calm you temper… Unohana taicho and the general are in the office for you," she gave a half smile.
"I figured that what I did wouldn't go unnoticed. I am sorry to have caused you such trouble, Lieutenant Matsumoto," the small taicho stated.
"He didn't comment on me being drunk… ohh!" Matsumoto stated. "Though I think that he will comment when he finds out that Unohana taicho and…"
"Matsumoto!"
"I better go, as I shouldn't involve myself further," Ichigo stated, getting a rather uncomfortable look on his face.
"Matsumoto! Get over here now!" came the yell of the small boy.
"He can be a little snot at times, can't he?" Ichigo suddenly asked.
"Well… I kind of deserved it. See… I got myself and two guys drunk, and they kind of… got so drunk that they stripped down to their loin clothes… so… hee!" Matsumoto just smiled at him.
"And they stuck you with him?" Ichigo muttered, his eyes narrowing suddenly.
"I know… I am a bad influence and I am not the best lieutenant when it comes to work. I've known taicho since before he entered the academy though, and I know him the best. The two I got drunk… well, they needed it. They had their taicho's take off on them, so… it was to help them."
"What about the other…"
"Hinamori blew up at taicho today…" Matsumoto sighed, a sad look coming to her face. "She… took things too far, way too far."
"Matsumoto!"
"I really have to go now," the woman smiled at him, then took off to greet her captain.