Disclaimer: I do NOT own Bleach in any way! All copyrights of this series goes to Tite Kubo. The only characters I do own are Shia Hitsugaya and Naoki Rin.

Author's Note: I really need to fix this terrible habit of mine I've developed for this story. Anyways, thank you everyone for all your patience especially my awesome reviewers: icyangel27, peachysnowFan, rockbabyval, xXSennaXx, xXToxicCrimsonXx, and Reader-Favs. Without any further adieu, here is chapter ten. Enjoy!

LEGEND

"Talking." "Thinking." Short Flash Back.

Secrets Retold

Chapter Ten: Search Party

Kira, Hisagi, and Renji are walking through the hallway of the ninth division headquarters, chatting with one another. Shuhei asked, "Did you guys get a chance to read the latest death toll report regarding the disease?"

The two lieutenants nodded with agreement. Izuru replied, "Yeah, a lot of our men lost their lives because of the disease. There are also still a lot of people, fighting against it."

"I heard Hitsugaya-taicho is one of those individuals," Abarai said.

Hisagi nodded. "Yeah, he's still fighting it. From what I heard from Unohana, his condition is getting worse."

"...I see."

"Hinamori-kun is definitely worri-" All of a sudden, a person appeared in their presence. The three Soul Reapers jumped and stopped walking. "H-Hinamori-kun!"

"I'm sorry to bother you," Momo apologized. "Have you guys seen Shia-chan?"

They looked at one another for a moment before resuming their attention to the fifth division captain. Hisagi shook his head. "Sorry Hinamori, we haven't seen her at all."

"Oh..."

"Is there something wrong?" Kira asked.

"I'm worried that she ran away again."

"Ran away?"

Hinamori explained, "She must have decided to do that after she found out that Toshiro became ill."

"That's terrible!"

"Where could she have run off to then?" Shuhei asked.

"The only thing I can come up with is she went to Rukongai to look for the Hollows that caused the spread of the disease in the first place."

"Uh oh..."

Momo nodded. "I just hope what I'm thinking is not true. I hope she's with Rangiku-san right now. I haven't seen her either."

"We'll help you look for Shia-chan," Kira said.

"We'll help too," Hisagi agreed.

"Let's split up and look for her," Renji suggested.

Momo smiled. "Thank you, everyone."

With that said, the four Soul Reapers began their search for the missing dual haired girl.

"Please be somewhere around here, Shia-chan."

Without any warning, Shia sneezed. She raised her arm up and wiped her nose into her sleeve. She said, "I better not be catching a cold. The last thing I want is to get sick during this journey. Oto-san's life is on the line, not my health!"

Then, she let out a yawn.

"Other than that, I could use some rest. I've been running and walking since I left Seireitei last night."

All of a sudden, she heard a noise. She stopped and looked around, pinpointing where the sound is coming from. She heard it again. This time, she is picking up the sound from the other side. So, she turned her head in the other direction. She raised her hand up and took hold of her wooden sword's hilt which is on her back. She spread her feet out and prepared for battle.

"Please let the Hollows be the ones I'm looking for." Suddenly, a group of three Hollows made their appearance known by toppling the trees down to the ground with their feet. Noticing the dual haired girl, they roared in unison. "Holy crap, these ones are huge! They're even bigger than the ones I've seen Oto-san and Okaa-san fought against!" All of a sudden, she thought of something. She folded her arms over her chest and began thinking. She said, "But then again, they did say that the ones they fought were easy to take down."

They roared again. Using this moment, Shia quickly raised the palm of her hand out in front and exclaimed, "Hado Number 31: Shakkaho!"

Just when she thought she successfully fired a kido move, it exploded on her. She let out a yelp. As a result, she closed her eyes and began coughing.

Once the smoke cleared away, Shia opened her eyes and pouted, "No, not again!"

One of the Hollows took a step forward. As a result, it caused a vibration underneath. By the time she realized it, she is a mere centimeter away from making physical contact with the masked beast.

"Something tells me I'm in deep shit right now."

The Hollow opened its jaw and roared in her face. Shia screamed. She quickly turned around and began running away from the Hollows.

"AHHHH!" Noticing a large log on the ground ahead, she jumped over it. "This is not the way I wanted things to go!"

She glanced over her shoulder to see them still following her.

"At least I'm fast enough to run away from them. My training with Oto-san is paying off."

She picked up her pace, fast enough to disappear from sight. Upon seeing the magic act, they stopped and looked around. As they were looking for the dual haired girl, she appeared from above their heads. Seeing the open opportunity, she drew her sword out and raised it above her head.

"This is my chance!"

She let out a fierce yell. Just as she is about to strike them, she sensed danger from the side. She looked over to see a large moving log is coming in her direction. Shia used flash step and dodged the assault. However, the Hollows weren't so lucky. The log smashed them into a thick tree. The impact was enough to break their white masks. As a result, they disappeared into thin air.

Once she landed on the ground safely, she placed her hands together on the hilt of his wooden weapon and raised it up. Then, she turned her body in the direction where she saw the log attack her from and prepared for battle. "Well well, what is a person like you doing around these parts?"

Shia narrowed her eyes. "Show yourself!"

Suddenly, she heard the sound of rustling. The dual haired girl raised her head up and saw its coming from the nearby tree. Moments later, somebody jumped down from the tree bush and landed on his knees and a hand. "Eh, he's only a kid just like me."

The spiky black haired boy, who is dressed in a dark blue yukata, stood up on his feet. He placed a hand on his hip and gave her a look. He replied, "You're definitely not from around here. You're probably from the better districts."

Not liking the tone of his voice, she gave him her own glare. "Is there something wrong with people like me living there?"

"You people live pampered lives."

"Well, I'm sorry for burning your style." Shia put her wooden sword away. Then, she folded her arms and turned her body to the side. "It can't be helped that I grew up in Seireitei."

"Eh, Seireitei?" he suddenly asked. "Then, you're a noble?"

"Well, my mother is one."

There is a silent pause. "I definitely would have not guessed you're one. You're a lot different from what I imagined them to be."

"Not all families are like that."

"What do you know?"

"...My parents don't act like that. My mother may be a noble, but before...she and my father grew up in Rukongai together."

"Yeah, whatever..."

He began walking away. Upset that she didn't believe her story, the dual haired child followed him. "But it's true!"

He looked at her. "I don't believe you."

"Then, I'll prove it to you!" she explained. "Once I find a cure for my father, you can come with me back to Seireitei? There, I will show you what my parents are like."

The boy stopped walking. As a result, she did the same. "A cure for what?"

Shia lowered her head. "My...father was diagnosed with the deadly Hollow disease and he has about three weeks left to live at most."

Before long, tears began forming in her eyes.

"It's my fault for getting him sick in the first place; he was only trying to protect me."

Just watching her upset like that made the black haired boy close his eyes and sigh with defeat. He knows too well what she's going through right now. "Hey, stop crying. It's not going to help if you're going to do that."

The dual haired girl wiped the tears from her eyes with her kimono sleeves and raised her head. After looking at her saviour, she asked, "So, do you have...some sort of idea where to find the cure?"

Shia then put her hands down.

She further explained, "I'm trying to find a group of Hollows that are able to get people sick with the disease."

He gave a look. "...You're serious?"

The child Hitsugaya nodded her head.

"You're nuts."

"I know, but I eventually have to walk on this path." She then raised a fist up and said, "Besides, I want to become a Shinigami when I grow up."

"You should become a Shinigami. If you continue to stay here, you will eventually lose all the important people in your life around here."

"W-Why should I believe you?"

"I've been in a similar situation as you, that's why."

"A Shinigami, huh?"

She nodded her head. "Yep. Anyway, if you don't know, that's fine. I can ask somebody else."

The dual haired girl gave him a short wave as she began walking.

"Thanks for your help."

Just as she is about to leave, the boy stood on the spot and thought for a moment. Then, he raised his head up and chased after the girl. "W-Wait a minute!"

Shia stopped and glanced over her shoulder. "Hn?"

"I'll come with you."

All of a sudden, she turned around and broke into a bright smile. "Really, you'll do that?"

The boy folded his arms over his chest and gave her a stern look. "D-Don't get the wrong idea; I'm only doing this because I have my own pursuits. Just like you, I want to become a Shinigami someday. Plus, you can use someone who knows how things go around here."

"Really? That's so cool!" the dual haired Hitsugaya said. "I'm Shia."

"People around these parts call me Naoki Rin."

"Rin-kun, huh?" she smiled. "It's nice to meet you."

"You better not slow me down."

"I should say the same thing to you." All of a sudden, the girl used flash step to speed ahead of the boy. By the time she reappeared, she is several meters ahead. She let out a grin. "Besides, I've already mastered the basics of shunpo."

"Eh, that's not fair!" Naoki protested, running after the girl. "Who taught you that?"

Shia winked. "It's a secret."

"Come on!"

The dual haired girl giggled. "Okay, I will once we have something to eat. I'm starving."

Japanese Word Translations

Taicho - Captain, Oto-san - Father, Okaa-san - Mother, Kido - Demon Arts, Yukata - a casual type of kimono that is worn by men, women, and children, Shinigami - Soul Reaper, Shunpo - Flash Step

Author's Note: Shia has an ally now. Hopefully, they'll be able to find the Hollows soon. Please review! Thanks.