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: Sorry about the delay; I finally came around to finishing up this chapter. Thank you for all your patience especially my wonderful reviewers: icyangel27, skylark dragonstar, Hyourinmaru10, kirana46, darklover, rockbabyval, and Reader-Favs. Without any further delays, here is chapter fourteen. Enjoy!

LEGEND

"Talking." "Thinking."

Secrets Retold

Chapter Fourteen: Ambush

By the time the three Soul Reapers of the Gotei 13 caught up with the two children, they were hiding behind some bushes and looking at what's beyond them. Shia and Naoki faced them. They raised their fingers up and placed them between their lips. After letting out a soft hush, they resumed their attention to the scenery out in front. A young woman is lying on the ground where a group of Hollows had her surrounded. Shia whispered, "We have to help her!"

Just as she is about to go, she felt something tug her back on her shoulder. The dual haired girl looked over to see her mother has taken hold of her.

"Okaa-san."

"Something's wrong with her."

Wondering what she's talking about, the Hitsugaya female resumed her attention to the front. The woman was curled up into a ball while her hands are clutched onto the center of her chest. She groaned in pain. "Hn, that looks like Hitsugaya-kun."

Everyone turned their heads to the third division captain. Matsumoto gave him a stern look. "No, you idiot. Besides, how does she look like taicho anyway?"

"That's not what I mean, Rangiku. I mean the way she looks right now looks awfully similar to whenever Hitsugaya-kun is having those heart problems."

All of a sudden, Momo let out a soft gasp. She turned to Ichimaru and asked, "Could it be that she got ill from the disease?"

"Judging from the situation here, it's quite possible."

"If that's the case, then one of those Hollows might have the ability to make others ill," Rangiku concluded.

Hinamori replied, "We should follow them just in case they lead us to more of their kind."

The others nodded with agreement. With that in mind, they cautiously followed the Hollow's movements. "Sugoi, that's one big hideout," Naoki said.

"Yeah, but why would they make a hideout here?" Matsumoto asked.

"Hn, it's possible that the infected Hollows are a bit smarter than the regular ones we usually fought against," Ichimaru speculated. "Regardless, I may be a genius. However, I'm no scientist. So, we'll just have to let Kurotsuchi figure that out."

"Ah yeah...In the meantime, what should we do?"

"Well, we can capture some of those Hollows and bring them back to Seireitei."

"What about Shia-chan and Naoki? It's dangerous to leave them alone and follow us."

"Then, we're just going to train them a bit," Momo suggested.

The two children blinked. "Eh?"

"Are you serious, Hinamori?" Matsumoto asked. "Mastering a particular skill doesn't take a whole day, you know."

"I know that. The least I want to do is complete Shia-chan's kido training," Hinamori said. "It's almost done anyway. All I need to do is to watch her do a few spells and point out what she needs to work on."

"That does make sense," Naoki said while folding his arms over his chest. "Besides, she totally sucked at it."

"Hey!" Shia snapped. "I-I just need a little more practice, that's all."

"Hn, so you've been firing kido without my or your father's supervision?"

Noticing the glare from her mother's eyes, the dual haired girl placed a hand on the back of her head. She laughed hesitantly. "I'm sorry, but I was in danger at the time!"

However, the fifth division captain isn't too happy with her response. "You could have just used flash step, the same skill that your father taught you, to run away."

Shia lowered her head and apologized a second time. "I'm sorry."

Momo remained silent for a moment before she sighed with defeat. "Well, I guess it can't be helped. It already happened in the past."

The Hitsugaya child raised her head up and let out a faint smile.

"Please try to understand; I'm only doing this because I worry about you," Hinamori explained. "Your father would have done the same thing if he were in my shoes."

"Yes mother."

"So, what should we do about Naoki?" Matsumoto asked.

The two females turned to the tenth division lieutenant. Then, they looked at the young Rukongai boy. Momo replied, "It's best that h-"

"I want to help," Rin interrupted, getting everyone's attention. "There has to be something I can do that can help get the cure for Hitsugaya-taicho."

After looking at his puppy dog eyes, the fifth division captain closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh. Why do children always pull off this old trick in the book? "I know you want to hel-"

"Leave him to me, Hinamori-chan." Upon hearing his voice, everyone turned their heads to the gray haired captain. "Rangiku and I can take care of him while you finish Shia-chan's kido training."

"Eh?" Matsumoto pointed a finger at herself. "We're taking care of him?"

Gin nodded his head. "Yep, that's right. Besides, babysitting him is good practice for the real thing."

All of a sudden, the strawberry orange haired lieutenant gave him a look. "Hey, what does that supposed to mean?"

"Oh, I don't know," Ichimaru replied while walking off. "You might want to have kids in the future."

Rangiku suddenly blushed. "W-Wait a minute! We're not even married yet!"

The gray haired captain stopped walking to glance over his shoulder. "So, what? Hitsugaya-kun and Hinamori-chan are still not officially married and they're already expecting a second child."

She turned a few shades darker and called out to the older Soul Reaper, who is walking away with the Rukongai boy. "G-Gin, you shouldn't be talking about stuff like that in front of the two kids here!"

Momo laughed hesitantly. Once they are gone, she turned to her daughter. Shia said, "Hn, you and Oto-san are not married? I thought you are."

The fifth division captain placed a hand on her head and replied, "Neither of us liked the idea of going through the whole marriage thing. It's...a bit of a hassle for us considering my side of the family and its status. Besides, all that matters is we love each other."

"Oh, I see."

Noticing her daughter is feeling a bit sad, Hinamori then let out a soft smile. "We might change our mind in the future...if we're both still alive by then."

All of a sudden, she let out a bright smile. "Really?"

"Maybe..." Momo replied. "In the meantime, let's finish your kido training."

"Hai!"

"Um Ichimaru-taicho," Naoki asked as he followed the third division captain through the forest. "Where are you taking me?"

Gin glanced over his shoulder to see the black haired boy. "You said before you wanted to help us to find a cure for Hitsugaya-kun, am I right?"

"Yeah, so what about it?"

It is when he stopped walking. Once he and Lieutenant Matsumoto did the same, Ichimaru turned around. "While Shia-chan is completing her kido training, with her mother, we'll teach you a little skill that will be useful."

"Really?" Rin asked. "You'll do that for me?"

"Yes, but I have some unfortunate news regarding to it: We will teach you the basics," the third division captain explained. "However, it takes a lot of training to master this skill. In other words, you won't be able to keep up with us at the beginning."

"Eh, what you mean by keep up with you, the skill you're planning to teach me is..."

"Yup, that's right. Do you want to learn?"

All of a sudden, a smile appeared on his face. "Hai!"

"Then, let's get started."

"Oi Gin, are you serious about this?" Matsumoto asked. "Like kido, it's not something he can learn within a day."

"Yes, but he has already has the qualifications to enter the academy. Also, I'll be the one teaching him."

She folded her arms over her chest and sighed with defeat. "Fine, do what you want. However, once Shia-chan's training is done, we're going to ambush those Hollows in the hideout."

"Yes ma'am, whatever you say." Rangiku gave him a stern look while Gin just gave her an amused grin. He then turned his attention to the Rukongai boy. "Shall we get started?"

"Hai!"

Sirens echoed throughout the Gotei 13 barracks causing Soul Reapers to scramble out of their rooms and meet with their leaders in the courtyard. Hearing the noise, the white haired captain slowly opened his eyes. He recognize that sound from anywhere to what it is regarding. Hollows have appeared in the area. Toshiro closed his eyes for a moment to sense for any of them nearby.

By the time he reopened them, he looked over to the side to see his zanpakuto spirit standing in front of him with his sword raised. He whispered to his partner, "Hyorinmaru..."

The humanoid dragon glanced over his shoulder to see his master has regained conscious. After resuming his attention to the front, he replied, "I won't let them get near you."

The white haired Soul Reaper coughed a few times before giving a short nod. At that moment, fierce roars can be heard in the hallway. "A few of them managed to get inside."

He placed a hand over his chest and tugged onto his white robe. He began breathing heavily again, knowing too well that another attack from the disease is going to give him excruciating pain. He closed an eye and bit the bottom of his lip.

"D-Damn...it."

All of a sudden, he heard the sound of shattering glass. His eyes widened upon surprise. He turned around to see the roaring Hollows are breaking in through the window. Before they were able to make a move, Hyorinmaru quickly stood in between his master and their enemies. He swung his sword across, creating a shield of ice. "Soten ni Zase."

It blocked all attacks and prevented the Hollows from coming in any further. Suddenly, the zanpakuto spirit heard a painful yell. He quickly turned around to see his master has curled up into ball. As his breaths are heavy and uneven, sweat began dripping on the side of his head.

"This isn't good," Hyorinmaru thought. "Master Toshiro is suffering from another attack."

He jumped off the bed and took a moment to place his hand on Hitsugaya's forehead. Then, he pulled away.

"He has developed a bad fever."

Without any warning, the white haired captain let out several horse coughs. Though he wanted to stop and care for his master, the dragon spirit has no time for that. Hyorinmaru went back to concentrating on the enemies that could come into the room at any moment.

"Just hang on a little; Momo and young Shia will return soon with the cure."

Japanese Word Translations

Gotei 13 - The Thirteen Court Guard Squads, Okaa-san - Mother, Taicho - Captain, Sugoi - Amazing, Kido - Demon Arts, Oto-san - Father, Hai - Yes, Zanpakuto - Soul Cutter

Author's Note: Please review! Thanks.