Individualism is rather like innocence: There must be something unconscious about it. ~Louis Kronenberger, Company Manners, 1954

6. Strong

"You are lying! Admit it! NOW!" Hinamori screamed, her left hand still gripping Matsumoto's robe, her right hand raised, in front of the older woman, a fireball already hovering above it.

"It's true." Matsumoto answered calmly and closed her eyes, her hands by her side, waiting for the blow to land. Maybe that blow could just make her unconscious, maybe that blow, could just kill her and stop her from suffering… Maybe…

The loud sound of the door slamming closed shocked Matsumoto, and she opened her eyes just in time to see Hinamori being pushed backwards and falling to the floor on her bottom.

A short figure stood up in front of her, one hand on the hilt of her zanpakutou and the other held out defensively in front of Matsumoto. With a dark glare and cold voice, the figure threatened Hinamori, who was sitting on the floor, looking confused, "Don't you dare harm my taichou."

Then the 4th Squad members entered the room. Unohana walked up to Matsumoto and bowed as an unconscious Hinamori was loaded up the stretcher, "My apologies for letting our patient to cause you trouble again. I assure you, it will never happen again, Matsumoto."

"It's a-alright." Matsumoto said with a weak laugh.

"If you would excuse us." Unohana said, a gentle smile on her face. Then she left with the other members filing out after her.

Matsumoto took a deep breath and turned around to look at the figure who still had her back to her, "Kai-d…"

"Taichou, it's a taichou's job to protect their subordinates right?" The girl asked without turning around.

"Ah, it is." Matsumoto answered with a smile.

"Then, it's a subordinate's job to watch the taichou's back." The girl turned around, her brows knitted, her light green eyes bright and serious, "isn't it?"

A tear forked down the taichou's eyes. She then bent down and hugged the girl, "Kaida… What am I going to do without you?"

"I'll leave you in charge. Notify me if anything arises." With this the black haired fukutaichou left.

"The subject under observation is currently stable and well." The black haired fukutaichou reported.

The taichou merely nodded and replied, "I've sent Sakihara to ensure nothing of the sort will ever occur again."

The fukutaichou stared back at her superior, a rare dark scowl on her usually emotionless face.

"There's something I need you to do." A file slid across the table and stopped before the fukutaichou.

Her scowl darkened.

"Ne, Kaida. I thought you went home to visit your sister?" Matsumoto asked, the brush dancing over the paper.

"I had a bad feeling and decided to come back." The girl replied, her eyes still scanning the piece of paper in her hand.

"Is your sister alright?" Matsumoto asked and stole a glance at the girl in front of her.

"She's…" The girl's voice faded then she continued, "Fine…"

Matsumoto glanced up, a little shocked at the quietness of the girl. She asked, concerned, "What happened?"

"She… She hasn't been happy for a long time." The younger girl answered quietly before refocusing on the paperwork in her hands, indicating that the subject was closed.

"Do you wish to visit her?" Matsumoto asked and placed her brush down.

The girl glanced up, her eyes bright as if shocked to hear the question. She then stared back down at the paper, her eyes dimming, "It's all because of me… I made her suffer…"

Then with a smile, the girl continued, "But she's strong, very strong. I really admire her."

Kaida…

Matsumoto smiled at the once again enthusiastic girl.

"Ah, I once had someone like that too…." She looked out the window, her gaze distant. "He too is strong… Too strong for his own good…"

A hell butterfly flew in from the window and landed on Hitsugaya's shoulder. "Hitsugaya Toushirou, please report to Sakihara fukutaichou's office immediately."

"Hai." He answered and headed off.

"Ah, Toushirou-kun. Here you are." The fukutaichou greeted cheerfully.

"Sakihara fukutaichou." Hitsugaya greeted quietly.

"Here." Sakihara handed a letter to him.

Hitsugaya took the letter hesitantly, "Thank you?"

Sakihara smiled and nodded, motioning him to open it. He flipped the letter in his hands over. It was a plain white envelope with a seal written 'zero' behind. He opened the envelope and took out the letter.

His eyes widened in shock and he murmured disbelief, "What? A 5th seat?"

Hitsugaya walked back to his room, shocked. He had only been in Squad 0 for like? About what? 10 days or so?

But the moment he slid open his bedroom door, his heart felt tons heavier and his face darkened, eyes dimming.

He sat down next to his futon and placed his sheathed sword in front of him. He hugged his knees and stared at his sword. I made the wrong choice didn't I?

It doesn't matter, does it? The dragon replied with a question.

Hitsugaya stared at the sword in silence.

The dragon added. You can't change anything now. The only thing you can do, is move forward.

"Move forward…" Hitsugaya muttered. A few tears landed on his sleeve.

You should tell someone about it. Bottling up makes it worse, you know?

He tightened his hold around his knees, a soft sniff echoing in the room.

Thump. Hitsugaya glanced up and saw a shadow disappearing from the screen door.

He raced over and slid open the door.

There was no one in sight. A flash of white out of the corner of his eyes caught his attention.

It was a piece of paper.

He picked up the paper carefully. It was a piece of white paper folded into three equal parts.

What is this?

He straightened the paper carefully.

Dear taichou,

How are you? I really hope will come back. I really do. But, I know you would want me to move on. I was on the edge of giving up when I was reminded that, 'A taichou is supposed to protect their subordinates. And it's a subordinate's job to watch the taichou's back.'

A subordinate should be an asset instead of a liability. So, taichou. I promise you, I'll move on. I'll be strong and move up. You should too, taichou. Kaida, she reminded me of all these. She reminded me how it feels to be like in a Squad, how it feels like to have hope and how it feels like to have someone supporting you, trusting you. You're always keeping everything to yourself. Taichou, don't bury your feelings. I know somewhere in there, there's a taichou, who's caring, who's gentle and kind, a taichou who's not as strong as he looks like.

Taichou just remember that someone here that trust you, there's some one here that believes in you no matter what. Good luck.

Taichou, I'm still waiting. (:

Hitsugaya smiled, and a few drops of water landed on the letter.

Author's note: Yay! First thing first, I succeeded increasing the length of this chapter from 600+ to 1000+ Hooray! The last part was added last minute. And I can't believe that I actually get to finish this thing in time. Whoooooooooooooooo. So hope you people enjoy. And erm, you feel that this is a unlike my usual style. That's probably because I got a bit depress a few days ago and just recovered. Hope you people enjoy this chap.