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Chapter Nine- New Arrival in the World of the Living
The next morning Hitsugaya awoke early, along with Ichigo and Rukia, and the trio prepared for school, since there didn't seem to be any immediate threat of a Hollow attack. After getting dressed in their uniforms the three left Ichigo's house and made their way to school.
Hitsugaya was still in a bad mood due to the events of the previous day and Ichigo and Rukia were giving him some space, hoping that he'd calm down soon. Ichigo was even refraining from tormenting the young captain, although it was proving really difficult. He had to bite his tongue every time Hitsugaya spoke to keep himself from delivering a smart ass come back.
Assembling in homeroom the trio took their seats, barely making it to class before the warning bell rang. However the teacher wasn't in the classroom so it wouldn't really have mattered had they been late.
"I wonder where Sensei is?" Orihime said, gazing toward the front of the room.
At that moment the classroom door slid open and the school's principal entered, followed by another man, dressed in a suit.
Hitsugaya glanced up as they entered the room and his eyes widened in surprise. He stared in horror at the white haired man standing behind the principal. "What the hell?" he thought to himself. What had he ever done to deserve this?
Hitsugaya wasn't the only one in the class who was shocked by the new arrival. Ichigo, Rukia, Orihime, Uryu and Chad all stared in disbelief at the new arrival.
"Class," the principal said, instantly gaining the children's attention. "Your teacher has taken a leave of absence and will be gone for an undetermined length of time. This is your new substitute teacher, Jyuushirou Ukitake. He's going to be taking over classes for awhile so please show him your respect."
"Thank you Mr. Fuji," Ukitake said. "Good morning class."
"Good morning," the students all echoed.
"Good luck Ukitake-sensei," Principal Fuji said before leaving the room.
Hitsugaya really wanted to know why Captain Ukitake was now a substitute teacher at Ichigo's high school and it was only by sheer force of will that he managed to force himself to keep his seat and not shout at his former captain, asking him what the hell was going on. However as soon as he was alone with Ukitake, he would find out.
Ukitake came to stand at the front of the classroom, a wide smile on his face. "Well you all know who I am now I think it would be nice if you introduced yourselves." Starting at the front of the class Ukitake pointed to each student in turn and asked them to state their name and a little something about themselves. The students all cooperated, for the most part, up until Ukitake-sensei pointed to a certain white-haired boy in the back.
Growling under his breath at the absurdity of this situation Hitsugaya stood up beside his desk and stated in an emotionless monotone, "Toushirou Hitsugaya." Then he quickly sat back down.
"Don't you want to tell us something about yourself Toushirou?" Ukitake asked.
"No," Hitsugaya snapped.
"Alright," Ukitake said with a grin. "Moving on to the next person then."
After the introductions Ukitake began lessons, ignoring the questioning looks from Ichigo and Rukia and the annoyed look from Hitsugaya. "Alright, I think we'll begin with. . ."
Hitsugaya tuned out the sound of his former captain's voice, annoyed that Ukitake was here in the world of the living and determined to find out the reason for it. There was no way that this could be a coincidence. It had to be somehow related with his own assignment and that annoyed him. It was bad enough that he had to be here. Why the hell had they sent Ukitake?
As soon as the class was dismissed for lunch Hitsugaya walked up to the front of the room, his green eyes narrowed. "What the hell are you doing here?" he demanded, glaring at Ukitake.
"Tsk tsk," Ukitake said, gazing at the boy in a fatherly manner. "You should show your teacher a little more respect than that Toushirou."
Clenching his hands into fists, Hitsugaya glared at his former captain. He managed to keep his voice quiet however there was no way to miss the anger within. "Just answer the question Ukitake."
"Fine," Ukitake said with a sigh. He hadn't wanted to tell the kid this little piece of truth however he wasn't going to quit until he knew. "When I spoke to Head Captain Yamamoto about the identity of your attackers I accidentally let slip that you had returned to Soul Society and needless to say he wasn't overly happy about it. As a result I was sent here to keep an eye on you and to make sure that you stay here, where you're supposed to be."
"Dammit," Hitsugaya swore.
"Behave yourself Toushirou," Ukitake warned, eying the younger captain. "Or else you're going to end up getting yourself into trouble."
Unable to believe his lousy luck Hitsugaya turned his back on Ukitake and left the classroom without another word.
"That didn't go well," Ukitake thought to himself as he watched Hitsugaya leave the room. "I'm sorry Toushirou but this was an order from Head Captain Yamamoto."
As he left the classroom, Hitsugaya muttered to himself, annoyed about what Ukitake had just told him. "So not only can I not protect myself but now I need a freakin' baby-sitter. ERR!"
As he ranted Hitsugaya made his way out to the courtyard in front of the school and over to the tree under which he and the others usually hung out during their lunch break. Ichigo and the others were already there and they gazed at Hitsugaya in question as he approached.
"So what's the deal with Ukitake?" Ichigo asked as Hitsugaya joined them under the tree.
Hitsugaya clenched his hands into fists yet again. "He's here to keep an eye on me. Apparently they aren't happy about the fact that I went back to Soul Society."
"See?" Ichigo said, rolling his eyes at the young captain. "Rukia told you it was a bad idea Toushirou but you just wouldn't listen."
"Shut up Kurosaki," Hitsugaya snapped. "And how many times do I have to tell you that it's Captain Hitsugaya before it sinks into that thick skull of yours?"
Ichigo shrugged.
At the end of the school day Ichigo and his friends left together however Hitsugaya hung back, leaning up against a wall and waiting for Ukitake to exit the building. He had a few things he wished to discuss with their new 'teacher' and as Ukitake left the school Hitsugaya fell into step beside him.
"Hello Toushirou," Ukitake said as the boy appeared at his side.
"Who sent you here?" Hitsugaya asked, managing to keep his voice calm this time.
"I told you earlier Toushirou. It was Head Captain Yamamoto's decision to send someone here," Ukitake said to the young captain. "And I volunteered for the job."
"You volunteered?" Hitsugaya repeated. "Why?"
"Because there's something strange going on in Soul Society," Ukitake said, attempting to keep the worry that he was feeling out of his voice. "And I have a bad feeling. We know for a fact someone inside the Seireitei is acting as a spy for Okano and his friend but we still don't know who it is. And that means that you're still in danger."
There was concern in the older captain's voice and Hitsugaya now felt bad about his earlier behavior. It still irritated him that Captain Ukitake had been sent here to keep an eye on him however he now realized that the captain's intentions were good. Ukitake was just worried about him.
"So Sensei," Hitsugaya said, deciding to change the subject. "Where are you going to stay while you're here?"
"I'm staying at Kisuke's place," Ukitake replied, relieved that Hitsugaya was no longer angry at him.
"Urahara huh?" Hitsugaya said. "He should open a hotel."
Captain Ukitake chuckled softly. "Well at least I have a job and can pay for my room and board. I don't intend to be a freeloader."
Hitsugaya smiled slightly at the jab at Abarai, who was also staying at Urahara's place.
Hitsugaya accompanied Ukitake all the way to Urahara's Shop, where they parted ways. "Take care Sensei," Hitsugaya said with a careless wave.
"Be careful Toushirou," Ukitake said.
Hitsugaya walked away and when he was out of sight Ukitake entered the shop. He was greeted by two children, a girl and a boy. "Hello, is Kisuke around?"
The girl nodded and said softly, "I'll go and get him for you."
And with that the girl walked into the back of the shop, leaving Ukitake with the boy, who eyed him appraisingly.
"So you're a Shinigami huh?" the boy said. "Are you gonna be a freeloader too?"
Ukitake chuckled. "No."
"Jyuushirou!"
Captain Ukitake turned around and watched as a man wearing a green and white striped hat walked toward him. "Kisuke, it's been
awhile."
Urahara nodded. "So what brings you to the world of the living Jyuushirou?"
"There's trouble in the Seireitei," Captain Ukitake said. "There's a traitor among us, again, and that traitor is working with a former member of Squad Twelve and the former Captain of Squad Ten. They're after Captain Hitsugaya, who is currently here in the world of the living so I came to keep an eye on him."
Urahara nodded. "Bet that went over real well."
"You've no idea," Ukitake said, thinking back to Hitsugaya's anger when he'd found out that he was stationed in the world of the living and the reason for that assignment. "But it's okay. Toushirou and I go way back so he'll forgive me."
Urahara nodded. He knew that Ukitake had been Hitsugaya's squad captain when the boy first joined the Thirteen Court Guard Squads and that they had gotten along really well.
After leaving Urahara's shop Hitsugaya made his way back to Ichigo's house where he found Ichigo talking to Rukia and Abarai. The trio looked up when Hitsugaya entered the room.
"Welcome back," Ichigo said with a smirk. "So did you and Ukitake fight?"
Hitsugaya shook his head, annoyed by the obnoxious smirk that Ichigo wore however choosing not to comment on it. "No, it's okay. I don't like what he did but I do understand why he did it. And he did tell me an interesting piece of information. It seems that something serious is going on in the Seireitei."
That got Abarai's attention. "How serious?"
"Serious enough to make Ukitake come to the world of the living," Hitsugaya said. "The old man was going to send someone else but Ukitake volunteered for the job. I don't know what he's up to but the situation must be pretty serious if Ukitake feels the need to be here."
Abarai agreed. It had been many years since Captain Ukitake had left Soul Society on a mission so this really must be serious.
"So what are you gonna do Captain Hitsugaya?" Abarai asked, giving Hitsugaya a questioning look.
Hitsugaya sighed. He'd been debating his course of action since leaving Ukitake at Urahara's place. "For now I'm going to abide by his wishes and stay out of trouble. At least until I find out what's going on."
"Aw, Toushirou's learned to behave himself," Ichigo said, the smirk returning to his face. "You know I don't think you dislike everyone as much as you say you do. I'll bet it's just an act."
"Shut the hell up Kurosaki," Hitsugaya muttered, a threatening tone in his voice and an icy look in his eyes. "And I've told you about a million times that it's Captain Hitsugaya!"
And with that Hitsugaya turned and stalked out of the room.
"I think you pissed him off," Abarai said as Hitsugaya slammed the door behind him.
"Possibly," Ichigo said. "So what's the deal between him and Ukitake?"
"Well I know that Captain Ukitake was Captain Hitsugaya's squad captain," Abarai explained. "He was placed in Squad Thirteen when he joined the Thirteen Court Guard Squads. As for their relationship now I don't know."
Ichigo turned to face Rukia. "You never told me that you and Toushirou used to be in the same squad. When he showed up here you acted like you didn't know him, just knew who he was."
"That's right," Rukia said. "I'd never met Captain Hitsugaya before then. I knew him by reputation only since he became captain of Squad Ten right before I joined Squad Thirteen. Kaien spoke of him sometimes though. Apparently he'd enjoyed picking on him."
"Oh," Ichigo said.
Muttering under his breath, Hitsugaya made his way to the highest point in Karakura Town. Once there he leaned up against a guardrail and stared off into the distance, his gaze focused on the sky. Since his arrival in the world of the living this was where Hitsugaya came when he was angry and for some reason he seemed to be coming alot.
"First someone tries to kill me, then I find out that there's a traitor in the Seireitei. Next I get sent to the world of the living where I have to put up with Kurosaki and now Ukitake's here to baby-sit. I'm not sure that things can get much worse at this point. What did I ever do to deserve this?"
As he thought about the situation Hitsugaya's hands involuntarily clenched into fists. He couldn't wait for this whole situation to be resolved so that he could go back to his normal life, away from Ichigo Kurosaki.
Hitsugaya was still leaning against the guardrail, lost in thought, when he heard someone calling out, "Toushirou!"
Snapping out of his thoughts, Hitsugaya glanced up and saw Ichigo's little sister Karin approaching with a group of her friends.
"Hi," Hitsugaya said, his gaze going back to the clouds.
Karin came to stand beside Hitsugaya although her friends hung back, looking wary. "You sure spend alot of time up here. What are you doing?"
"This is the best place I could find to look at the sky," Hitsugaya replied quietly, his gaze still intently focused on the heavens.
Staring at the young boy Karin got the impression that he was lonely. He didn't seem to get along with her brother, she heard them arguing constantly, and she'd never seen him hanging out with any friends his own age. "Hey Toushirou, we're going to the park to play soccer. Would you like to come along?"
Hitsugaya turned to gape at the girl, as did her friends. "I don't think so."
"Come on," Karin persisted. "It'll be more fun than staring at a bunch of clouds."
Hitsugaya opened his mouth to tell her no once again however he was interrupted when one of her friends grabbed her by the arm and pulled her off to the other side of the road.
"What are you doing Kurosaki?" the boy demanded, his gaze shifting from her to Hitsugaya. "That guy's creepy looking. Did you see his eyes? They remind me of ice."
Rolling her eyes at her friend, Karin said, "Toushirou's harmless. He's been staying at my house so I think I'd know if he were dangerous."
Hitsugaya rolled his eyes at this point however he didn't interrupt.
"Staying at your house?" another of the boy's exclaimed. "How come we've never seen him? And why doesn't he ever go to school?"
"He goes to school," Karin said. "He's in Ichi-nii's class."
That statement made all four boys turn around and gape at Hitsugaya. "That midget's in high school?!"
Hitsugaya's eyes narrowed and he was on the verge of yelling at the group of boys however Karin stepped back over to him and grabbed him by the arm. "Come on Toushirou. Come play soccer with us."
Still not enthusiastic about the prospect of joining their game Hitsugaya never the less followed Karin and her friends to the school's soccer field.
"Alright," Karin said, pulling her soccer ball from a bag and putting it on the ground. "We'll play three on three. I'll be the captain of team one and Toushirou, you can be the captain of team two. Okay?"
Hitsugaya shrugged, not really caring, however Karin's friends looked mutinous.
"I don't wanna be on his team," one complained.
"Yea," another added. "He probably really sucks."
"Shut up," Karin snapped, effectively putting an end to their complaints.
Soon teams had been chosen and the game began. And about two seconds into it Hitsugaya effortlessly stole the ball from Karin, the best player among the group. Giving the ball a ferocious kick, Hitsugaya sent it and the goal keeper flying back into the net.
"Captain Hitsugaya you rock!"
This statement gave Hitsugaya pause until he remembered that Karin had made him a team captain in this silly game.
"Oh it's on now," Karin said, a determined look in her eyes.
The game continued until the last rays of sun disappeared below the horizon and it was at this point that Karin was forced to admit defeat. Her team had put up a valiant fight however Hitsugaya had led his team to victory, ahead by ten points. Out of breath but enjoying themselves immensely Karin and her friends collapsed to the ground, laughing.
"I can't believe this guy beat you Kurosaki," one of the boys said, offering Hitsugaya an admiring look. Although Karin's friends had all technically played the game had really been against her and Hitsugaya and everyone knew it.
"I know," Karin said, glancing back at Hitsugaya, who was standing a few feet away. "But I'll get him next time."
"Next time," Hitsugaya muttered.
"Well," Karin said, getting to her feet. "It's getting late so we should probably head home. I'll see you guys later."
Her friends all waved and called out their goodbyes.
"Come on Toushirou," Karin said.
Hitsugaya shrugged and followed Karin back to the Kurosaki Clinic. Once inside the two parted ways with Karin going into the kitchen where Yuzu was and Hitsugaya climbing the stairs to Ichigo's room. Without even bothering to knock Hitsugaya pushed the door open and entered the room where he found Ichigo and Rukia sitting beside each other on the bed.
"And he's back again," Ichigo said.
"Shut up," Hitsugaya said, walking over to the cot where he slept and laying down. The young captain turned his back on Ichigo and Rukia and pulled the covers up over his head.
"Okay then," Ichigo said.
