It's up! Finally (:

10. I'm fine

Matsumoto stood rooted to the ground, her eyes staring at the empty ground where her taichou was standing, just a few seconds before. His last words rang in her head, deafening her.

Goodbye… Goodbye… Matsumoto taichou… taichou…

She stood there for a long time. She didn't react when Sou-taichou ordered for dismissal, she didn't react when all the taichou started leaving, she didn't react when Ichigo tried to comfort her, tried to call her back or when he started shaking her, she didn't react when Kyouraku taichou dragged Ichigo away from her, she didn't react to anything that was happening around her. The only thing that was on her mind was her taichou, his clear intelligent eyes, his cute death stares, his childish coldness, his lonely shadow and his heartbreaking farewell… Goodbye… Matsumoto taichou…

"Rangiku." She suddenly snapped back to the reality.

Forcing herself to put on a smile, she then turned and hugged the speaker tightly

"Hi. Hinamori-chan."

The pale faced girl looked up and cupped Matsumoto's face with her hands, "Rangiku… Are you alright?"

"I'm fine!" She exclaimed and bounced up and down trying to be like her usual self.

"Rangiku, what happened?" The girl asked, her glassy brown eyes clear and bright like an innocent young child.

"I'm fine, Hinamori-chan. How are you then?" She asked cheerfully.

"I'm fine… But Rangiku, you really don't look well…" The girl reached out her cold hands and touched her forehead.

"I'm fine. Anyway, why are you here? Oh ho, don't tell me you ran away when Unohana taichou wasn't there..." Matsumoto said, her lips curved up to what seems like an evil grin.

"I'm not like Shiro-chan who would run away whenever the healers are not aware." She grinned at the memory of Hitsugaya running out of the room when his healer had her back turned to close an opened window which was opened intentionally.

"Unohana taichou said that I'm free to go. And I'm looking for Shiro-chan. He promised that he would bring me out when I am released, I…" Hinamori's grin faded from her face when she looked at Matsumoto who started ruffling her messy brown hair.

"Ran-giku… what happened?" Hinamori asked concerned. Matsumoto shook her head, trying desperately not to break down before this girl.

No, I can't break down here… No, I can't hurt her anymore… Not her.

"Did Shiro-chan bully you again? Oh, that little idiot. Why can't he learn how to treasure his own subordinate? I told him to be better towards you. I told him that one day if you leave him, he will surely regret. That idiot just won't listen!" Hinamori said stamping her feet to the ground in frustration.

Matsumoto laughed.

"Rangiku… Are you alright?" The girl asked, still unconvinced.

"Yeah, I'm alright. Wanna go out for dinner? Taichou said that he's busy and told me to not bother him so… we might as well go out and have some women's time. You ready?" Matsumoto asked.

"Ok."

"Let's go then. Oh, it seems like it's going to rain! I think we better hurry!" Matsumoto said wiping off the droplets of water that had landed on her cheeks.

"Ok."

Ran-san… Those aren't rain… Those are… your tears…

They traveled out of Soul Society, entering the 1st distinct and stopping at the peak of Yukikai Cliff. For some unknown reason, white leaves grew on all the trees in the area, earning this hill the name of Yukikai Hill, meaning 'snow sea'. The white leaves were like snow covering the hill, every season, every year.

Before he became a shinigami, he had always traveled up here. He was drawn to this place like a bee to a flower. It was partly due to the silence and the scenery here which reminded him of himself; cold and indifferent. He would sometimes stand at the edge of the cliff and stare at the ground below, somehow feeling that it was unreal. This place just seemed different and special, unlike any other place in the 1st distinct, and maybe even the whole of Soul Society.

Hitsugaya raised his eyebrow as the shinigami who called himself the messenger stepped off the edge of the peak, seemingly floating in air. The shinigami mumbled a string of words so soft that he couldn't catch any of it, and before he knew it the shinigami was calling out, "Way of binding Number 102, kakushi kurodoa."

(AN:kakushi kurodoa means hidden black door)

So there are spells stronger than the 99th… Hitsugaya noted quietly.

A square hole opened, and the earth spread out and up.

So this isn't the peak. It was protected by a barrier, just an illusion.

"This area is protected by a strong barrier. No ordinary soul, not even one with strong spirit power, can sense it. This road leads up to the peak of the mountain and the seated officers of Squad 0 will guide you from there onwards. I'll leave you here then."

The messenger looked at him, expecting him to look shocked or even nervous. However, Hitsugaya disappointed him by returning his glance with a cold stare. He wasn't shocked or anything else of the sort. Maybe it was because he was used to surprises, terrible surprises. Or maybe… He had expected this to happen long time ago…

Maybe it was the barrier that caused the trees to grow white leaves.

Without saying another word, Hitsugaya stepped past the barrier and walked up the mountain. The hole closed up immediately after he entered the barrier.

I wonder if it can sense who enters the barrier…

He arrived at the real peak, and was greeted by a shinigami wearing a taichou's haori with '位4' printed on the back. (AN: seat 4) The shinigami looked at him with a smile and said, "Welcome. I believe your name is Hitsugaya Toushirou."

Duh.

"I didn't think that they would promote a kid like you."

Kid…

"I am Kurotaki Hika. 5th seat of Squad 0. We will be entering the royal grounds. I will need to blindfold you as the route is to be kept absolute secret, save for seated officers of the Squad 0 and above. Please refrain from moving once you are blindfolded. Please close your eyes, Hitsugaya."

"Hai." Hitsugaya answered coldly. He closed his eyes and felt himself losing all his senses.

Author's note: Well, it has been, 1 week… wait or was it 2, never mind. I was having some trouble thinking up names and making up spells. The procedure for the entering of the royal ground also took some time, so it's kinda late. But don't blame me ok? At least it's a long chapter! (:

Oh, wait, do you guys prefer having what was happening about Hitsugaya and Matsumoto in the same chapter or separate? And also, please if you can, give me some names. I need to name the characters in Squad 0 and well, I suck in naming things. Thanks… (: