Disclaimer: I do NOT own Bleach in any way! All copyrights of this series goes to Tite Kubo. The only character I do own is Shia Hitsugaya.


Author's Note: It's about time you updated this story. Yeah yeah, I'm guilty as charged. It's my fault for not feeling so motivated to continue with this story. I got to get out of that habit. However, school is not making it easy. . Anyways, thank you everyone for being so patient with me over the past few months especially my reviewers: forbiddenlovex, icyangel27, rockbabyval, peachysnowFan, Crystal183, xXSennaXx, and toshihitsu. Without any further delay, here is chapter nine. Enjoy!


LEGEND

"Talking." "Thinking." Flash Back.


Secrets Retold

Chapter Nine: My Choice

Long after everyone went to sleep, Shia Hitsugaya woke up and quietly got out of bed. She got changed into a violet coloured kimono with small white flowery designs. Just as she is trying to put on her sash, she found it difficult to tie it up nicely. So, she resorted to improvising. She tied it on in the same fashion as a regular Soul Reaper's white sash. "Yosh, that should hold it up."

The dual haired girl then walked over to the small table. After placing her hand on the handle, she slowly opened the drawer. Inside it was a lone small light blue box. Shia extended her hand out and picked it up. She opened the lid and looked at the contents inside. Inside the small box was a pair of round bells that are attached to a red ribbon.


"Tadaima."

Recognizing the voice, the excited little girl stopped what she was doing. Shia jumped off her chair and quickly ran to the front door to meet with him. She extended her arms out so that he can see. "Oto-san!"

Hitsugaya smiled and bent down on one knee. Once he held his arms out, he embraced his little one.

"You're finally home!" She pulled away and added, "I missed you."

"I miss you too, Shia."

"Toshiro."

The white haired captain raised his head up to see his childhood friend. He let go of his daughter so that he can stand up. They looked at one another for a brief moment before suddenly hugging each other. With content smiles on their faces, they exchanged kisses. "Momo, I'm glad to see you again."

Hinamori smiled back. "Same here. How was your mission to the living world?"

"It went well. I was fortunate to have completed it earlier than expected."

"I see."

All of a sudden, he felt something tugging on his haori. Toshiro and Momo looked down to see their daughter standing between them. She asked, "Oto-san, what did you bring home for me this time?"

Hitsugaya let out a chuckle and bent down on one knee. He put his hand into the inside part of his kimono and took out a small box. "This is what I got you."

He lifted the lid up so that she can see what's inside. "What is it?"

"It is a hair accessory for you. You'll need it soon because your hair is getting longer."

"Yeah, but once I wear it, it's going to ring every time I move around."

"It will be easier for us to find you."

"What about the Hollows? They'll be able to find me too."

Hitsugaya suddenly placed a hand on her head. "Then, you just have to learn not to ring it."

"Eh, is that even possible?"

"Why don't your mother demonstrate for us?" He then turned and held out the gift to Hinamori. "Isn't that right, Momo?"

The peach girl smiled. She picked up the accessory from the box and suddenly disappeared into thin air. Shia then looked around in search of her mother. "S-Sugoi, I can't hear it at all."

Once she reappeared by her side, Momo handed the accessory to her daughter. She smiled. "You'll get the hang of it soon enough, Shia-chan. All it takes is a little practice and patience."

The dual haired girl nodded with agreement. "I'll do my best!"


With her other hand, she picked it up and stuffed it under the chest part of her kimono for safekeeping. She silently nodded with agreement and headed towards the door. Along the way, she stopped to pick up her wooden sword from the wall. Shia equipped it onto her back (with the use of a sash) and left the room. Just as she is making her way to the front entrance, she stopped and turned her body to the side. Facing the sliding doors to the other bedroom, she thought about her mother. "Okaa-san..."

She bowed her head.

"I'm sorry for running away again, but...I want to save Oto-san. Just like you, I don't him to die. Please forgive me."

Feeling tears beginning to form in her eyes, the dual haired girl shut her eyes tight and ran out the door.

"I'll be home soon."


Shia stood in front of the large division headquarters and took a deep breath. "Maybe I shouldn't have come here," she said. "Kurotsuchi-taicho is so scary..."

All of a sudden, she shook her head.

"No, I shouldn't be thinking these things. I desperately need his help. Besides, Oto-san's life is on the line."

With a nod of agreement, she used flash step to speedily go inside. She looked around the division, but there is no sign of a person anywhere.

"Could they be asleep right now?"

"Who goes there?"

Shia suddenly stopped and looked over to the side to see a familiar face. "Nemu-san."

"Shia Hitsugaya, what are you doing here?"

"Actually, I need to ask you a favour," she said to the artificially made Soul Reaper. "Can you please lead me to Kurotsuchi-taicho? I would like to speak with him."

"I'm sorry, but Mayuri-sama is bus-"

"Well, isn't this a surprise?" a voice interrupted. "I never expect you to come here especially on your own."

Shia turned around to see the twelfth division captain standing in her presence. "Kurotsuchi-taicho!"

"Shia Hitsugaya, daughter of the fifth and tenth division captains, what do you want to speak with me about?"

She let out a gulp. "I knew it; he really is scary."

"Well? I have a busy schedule to run."

The dual haired girl suddenly bowed her head over. "I-I need your help to make a cure for Oto-san!"

"Hn?"

"Please!" she pleaded. "I promise to bring back the ingredients needed to make the antidote!"

There is a moment of silence. "You do understand that going on this mission could kill you."

"I know."

"If your parents find out that you somehow escaped and died out there, they're going to start a killing spree."

"Yeah, I know." She raised her head up. "However, it's a risk I'm going to take."

Suddenly, he let out a smirk. "You have spunk just like your father."

The dual haired girl placed a hand on the back of her head. She turned to the side and let out a hesitant laugh. "Yeah, I've been told that before."

"You're definitely one interesting experiment."

Shia raised an eyebrow at him and titled her head to the side. "Experiment?"

"I can't wait to perform some tests on you once I get my hands on you."

She then smiled sweetly. "That's only if you're able to get to me. You have to pass Oto-san and Okaa-san first."

Kurotsuchi suddenly gave her a stern look. "Yes, your protective parents. They just don't understand how special their child is."

He turned his body to the side and extended his arms out. "It is already rare for spirits of Soul Society to mate and have children. However, it is even more rare for high ranked Soul Reapers to raise a family by biological means."

As the twelfth division captain continued talking, the little girl lost her focus on him. "Whatever he's talking about, it sounds boring."

"After all things are considered, it makes me wonder..." He leaned towards her, getting her attention once more. "...how powerful you're going to become when you grow up."

"I-I don't think I'm going to be that powerful in the years to come."

"I beg to differ because of your father's reputation," Mayuri explained. "I expect his offspring to do just as many amazing things as he did years ago."

"Um, thanks I guess," Shia said awkwardly. "So, you're going to help me. Is that right, Kurotsuchi-taicho?"

"Fine then, I'll help. However, don't expect me to save your butt when you're in trouble. I'm doing this for my own personal reasons."

Shia smiled. "Thanks again, Kurotsuchi-taicho!"

She turned to his lieutenant.

"Arigato Nemu-san!" The dual haired girl ran to the door. Before she left, she waved them a friendly farewell. "You two are the best as long as I know which buttons to press!"

By the time she's gone, Mayuri crossed his arms over his chest. He then hissed between his teeth. "Tch, that brat...apparently, she has also inherited some of her father's bad genes."

"What do you plan to do now, Mayuri-sama?" Nemu asked.

"Well, I just have to do some digging for a cure for this disease. Once the girl comes back with the ingredients, I will make a sample. From there, Toshiro Hitsugaya will be my guinea pig to see if it works."

"How will she know what to look for?"

"Isn't that obvious? I'm going to be keeping in contact with her."

"I see."


Once she carefully navigated her way in the fourth division, Shia made it inside her father's room. She sighed with relief. "Somehow, I managed to get in here without being spotted."

She quietly closed the door before turning to the ill tenth division captain, who is resting in bed. The dual haired girl walked up to his bedside and stood there. After a few moments, she extended her hand out and placed it on top of her father's.

"Oto-san, I'll be back home soon. Until then, please stay strong."

Just as tears were about to come out, the Hitsugaya child raised her other arm and wiped the tears away with her kimono sleeve.

"Ja ne."

With that said, the dual haired girl turned around and began leaving the room. Little did she know, her father opened his eyes. Hearing the sound of footsteps, he turned his head to the side and saw something in the distance. However, he couldn't clearly make out who it is. At the same time, his eyes are too tired to keep him awake. "This reiatsu..."

He soon closed his eyes.

"It's...fami-liar."

The tenth division captain tried opening his eyes again, but his efforts were futile. He doesn't feel any strength in him.

"Too familiar just like...hers."


As she is walking through the deserted streets, Shia closed her eyes and let out a sigh. When she opened them again, she stopped for a moment to look at the night sky from the slit windows. After a moment of silence, she put a hand under her sash and pulled out her red ribbon with twin bells. Then, she tied her hair up into a ponytail. "Yosh, I'm ready to go."

"Shia-chan, what are you doing here?"

The dual haired girl froze. "Oh no, why now?"

She slowly turned around to see the tenth division lieutenant and the third division captain in her presence. She raised a hand up and waved at them. "Hey Rangiku-san. Hey Ichimaru-taicho."

"Shouldn't you be at home right now?" Matsumoto asked.

"Yeah, bu-but I wanted to say good night to Oto-san," Shia lied. "Don't worry; Tobiume-san came here with me."

"Oh, really?" Gin asked. "Where is she right now?"

"She's...racing with me. Anyway, I got to get going or else I'll lose the race."

Ichimaru didn't answer right away. Instead, he spent some time peering at her. Seeing him staring at her so intently is making her feel uncomfortable.

"Mou, leave me be already..."

"Alright then," Ichimaru finally said. "You can run along."

She smiled. "Oyasumi Ichimaru-taicho! Rangiku-san!"

As they watched her leave, the third division captain raised a hand up and waved. "Bye bye!"

"Oyasumi," Matsumoto said. Once she is gone, the younger childhood friend turned to the older one. "Hn, she's growing more to be like her father by the day. Don't you agree, Gin?"

Hearing no response from the gray haired Soul Reaper, she gave him a look.

"Oi Gin, are you even listening?"

"Hn, did you say something?" he finally asked.

She paused. "You're an idiot."

"Now, that's so mean to say."

Matsumoto folded her arms over her chest and turned away. "I don't care."

As she is walking away, the third division captain chased after her. "Oi Rangiku, wait up!"

Once he caught up, the two long time friends walked together. "You should pay more attention to what others have to say."

"I'm sorry, but I was thinking about something."

"About what?"

"About what might happen in the near future, that's all."

"Hn, is that so?"

"That's correct." There was a moment of silence. "Rangiku."

"What is it, Gin?"

"Do you want to go somewhere with me for a bit?"

Matsumoto raised an eyebrow. "Where would that be?"

The third division captain let out a grin on his face. "Come with me and you'll find out."


Japanese Word Translations

Kimono - a Japanese traditional garment that is worn by men, women, and children, Tadaima - I'm home, Oto-san - Father, Haori - A captain's cloak, Sugoi - Amazing, Okaa-san - Mother, Taicho - Captain, Arigato - Thank You, Ja ne - Good Bye (casual/informal), Reiatsu - Spiritual Pressure, Oyasumi - Good Night


Author's Note: Now what is Ichimaru is up to this time? Maybe ask Rangiku on a date? LOL. Who knows, the guy always likes to do whatever he wants. Also, who would have thought that Shia is capable of getting Kurotsuchi to do some of her bidding? I suppose it runs in the family. LMAO. Anyways, what is going to happen next? Well, stay tuned to the next update. Please review! Thanks.