Chapter 7.
Again
Several days went by. There were no new reports about strange hollow attacks or any other weird things happening.
'Maybe Yamamoto-taichou was right…' Hinamori thought. 'Maybe it was just that one time and we exaggerated the whole event. Causing a commotion for nothing.'
'What are you thinking about? Hinamori.' Hitsugaya said.
'Oh, I thought Yamamoto-taichou might have been right.' The vice-captain answered. They were in the library, looking for information about that strange hollow attack.
'Why?'
'There are no other reports about them, so I thought maybe we're just exaggerating the whole thing.'
'True. But still, I want to know what happened with Ichimaru and Tousen.' Hitsugaya was silent for a moment before he continued. 'All we did was concentrate on him.'
'Almost a week past by, don't you think it might have been a coincidence or something?'
'But what if they waited on purpose? We have to think of all the possibilities, Hinamori!'
'Why would they wait?'
'Why wouldn't they?!'
'You don't have to get angry, Shirou-chan! There's no need to be fighting!'
'Right.' Both got back searching anyway.
Days became weeks. After a month, still no incidents similar to what was now known as "the-mass-hollow-incident" (empathizing the "the") occurred.
The 10th division's captain was sitting on his roof. He had just finished his own paperwork. Unfortunately for Hitsugaya, Matsumoto had learned from her past mistakes and did her work now. Well, for as long as it would last.
'It has to be Ichimaru. Or Tousen, it doesn't matter.' Hitsugaya thought.
'It's still on your mind? Even after a month?' Hyourinmaru spoke.
'Well, yeah. I have this feeling, it just have to be them!'
'But no-one believes you?!'
'No! They even brainwashed Hinamori into believing it is not true!' The temperature dropped a couple degrees.
'Hitsugaya-taichou!' A messenger appeared. 'You are to go to the first division's office immediately! Yamamoto-taichou's command!'
'H-Hai. Thank you.' Hitsugaya said a little startled and used Shunpo on his way.
In the office, Captain Yamamoto told him there was another hollow attack, similar to the one a month ago. The substitute shinigami and his friends weren't able to handle it on their own, so Hitsugaya, Hinamori, Renji and Matsumoto were sent to Earth to help them. Rukia was already there.
'You're getting weaker, Kurosaki!' Hitsugaya yelled at Ichigo when they arrived at the battlefield.
'No, those hollows are becoming stronger!' Ichigo yelled back, slicing a hollow in half.
'That's the same thing, baka!'
After defeating a couple of hollows, Hitsugaya found out Ichigo was right. These hollows were stronger than those during that last mass-hollow-attack.
The shinigami were busy for another 4 hours before all hollows were slain. They all sat together in Urahara's living room, resting and talking about the source of the attack.
'Hinamori and I were thinking it is Ichimaru who is planning these attacks.' Hitsugaya spoke. 'But the captain-commander doesn't believe us.'
'Urahara, what do you think of this?' Renji asked the shop owner.
'I recall Ichimaru and Tousen both died, along with Aizen, am I right?' Urahara replied.
'Yes, but their bodies were never found.' Hinamori said. 'However, Yamamoto-taichou said there was now way those two would still be alive.'
'He lied.' Hitsugaya said suddenly. 'Yamamoto lied.'
Everyone in the room gasped. Did the 10th division's captain just say the captain-commander lied?
'Shi- Shirou-chan?' Hinamori said softly.
'Why else would he deny it?'
'But there's no way Yamamoto-taichou would lie!' Matsumoto said. 'He wouldn't, would he?'
'Of course he wouldn't, that is beyond all doubt.' Renji spoke up.
A long silence followed. Of course, Captain Yamamoto couldn't lie. He had guided the people of Seireitei for so long and nobody doubted what he did. On the other hand, the hollows couldn't do this on their own. Aizen had helped them last time. Ichimaru and Tousen had helped Aizen. There wasn't any prove those two died. It had to be them, or one of them for that matter. No other solution was possible; the long hours Hinamori and Hitsugaya had spent in the library had made that clear.
The shinigami returned to Seireitei. But some things had changed. Maybe they did it without noticing it, or maybe they did it on purpose. Hitsugaya, Hinamori, Renji and Matsumoto were now watching their captain-commander more closely. Anything he did or said; anything could help them solve the current hollow problem.
I'm sorry I took so long again. It is just I don't know how to continue this. If you have any ideas, please tell me. I hoped you liked it. Bye bye!!!
