2

ALL during the day, Hitsugaya bad been sitting in his office and wondering what was going on. His vice-captain, Matsumoto, was naturally lazy and left most of the office work to him so he finds himself having to work overtime due to her inefficiencies. Hitsugaya looks around his office, looking for something to release his stress on. He was after all, the youngest captain in the Gotei 13 and it was not easy for a 12 year old to take on the job of captain. Being the hard working feeling captain, Hitsugaya had volunteered to do all of the 5th Division's paper work and in term become a temporary 5th Division captain in the absence of Aizen. Naturally, he became bogged down with work after accepting the work load that was never rightfully his own. As he worked by himself in the office, with Matsumoto sleeping on the couch, he thought to himself.

Who could have killed Aizen? Ichimaru? Such a weakling like him can actually kill someone as powerful as Aizen? Who else could have killed him, the intruders? How could they be strong enough to kill…no…it's not possible. Must have been Ichimaru! That bastard is tricky and it doesn't mean that you are strong if you are able to assassinate someone stronger then you…something must be done…something is out of place…

As the captain was lost in thought, his servant came in with his hot tea and put his tea on his desk.

"Captain, this is your tea that you requested sir!" Ichihana said

Hitsugaya's attention was drawn to Ichihana. His figure stood tall in the doorway, masculine yet gentle. His eyes told the story of wisdom, something too deep and profound to describe.

"Thanks Ichi! Hey, are you busy today? Do you have time to help me with something? I have something important to do today" Hitsugaya said

"Yes sir, I have plenty of time. Is there anything I can do to help you?"

As Ichihana talked, Hitsugaya sensed something strange in his voice. For some reason, he felt that their goals were not of the same path and so he hesitated from telling Ichihana all of the details of his incendiary task.

"Well…"

For a minute, Hitsugaya paused and thought to himself…

Why is he so willing to help? What are his motives and what does he want with me

While Hitsugaya was stuck in his train of thought, Ichihana kept himself in a kneeling position and looked up slightly as to see what the captain was doing.

"If you will not be needing me sir, I will be returning to my post sir." Ichihana said

Hitsugaya looked shocked; he did not expect to hear such a thing from his servant. He was no sure that he was at least willing to uphold the basic rules of the Gotei 13 and respect him as a captain. He was now at some what of an ease but not completely, he still felt somewhat disturbed and distrustful of everyone due to the fact that that assassin that killed Aizen could have been someone from the inside, anyone around him could be working for that culprit.

Hitsugaya regained his composure and continued his dictation to his servant, Ichihana.

"Well its nothing important…just I need you to run this message to Captain Kuchiki and tell him that I request that he respond as soon as possible." Hitsugaya said

Ichihana looked somewhat disappointed. His visage changed from a solid stone to a visage more befitted to a rejected animal on the streets. His loyalty had been mistaken for traitorous intent and his task had been lessened in order to lessen the chances of betrayal thought Ichihana.

"Yes sir!" Ichihana said

Hitsugaya handed Ichihana a parcel addressed to Captain Kuchiki of the 6th Division. As Ichihana received the parcel in mid air, he immediately began to run out of Hitsugaya's office and in a moment, he was gone. Hitsugaya was relieved because of another burden lifted. The letter that he ordered Ichihana to send, would lend him aid in the discovery of Aizen's true killer. The usually apathetic squad, the 6th Division, if brought to any side would be a true aid to victory thought Hitsugaya. Hitsugaya sat down in his chair; he looked outside his window towards the eastern wall and watched as the clean up crew carried away Aizen's dead body and cleaned the mess. As he occupied himself with the perplexities of the mystery of Aizen's murder, the young captain thought to himself what a fool he was not trusting Ichihana. He has proven his loyalty under many circumstances and he would not consciously betray his captain.

x x x x x x

As the hours passed, Hitsugaya stood in his office finishing the last of the paper work. Determined to investigate the murder of Aizen with or without the help of the officials, Hitsugaya was going out to the scene of the murder to see what he could find. Suddenly, Ichihana appeared with a letter addressed to Hitsugaya from Captain Kuchiki. Hitsugaya received the letter from his loyal servant and opened the letter over his desk, his servant stood watching as the captain read the letter to himself.

"To Hitsugaya Toushiro, Captain of the 10th Division of the Gotei 13

At the moment many captains, including myself, are busy fighting the intruders who have entered not so long ago. I understand your concerns and the reasons for your actions but I have no time for such matters for I have something much bigger to draw my own attention to. Furthermore, if you seek help with your investigation, please look to the 13th Division. Perhaps Ukitake Juushiro could assist you in some ways, he is by far the most compassionate captain of the Gotei 13.

Sincerely yours,

Kuchiki Byukuya, Captain of the 6th Division and Master of the Kuchiki Clan

"

Hitsugaya stood displeased by the letter; he made a fist with his hand and looked to where his servant had been for he had gone. Hitsugaya was shocked to see that Ichihana had gone, he found himself very confused wondering what to do. Putting the letter into his pocket, he walked over to the armory, grabbed his sword, put his sword on and started to run towards the eastern wall without his subordinate, who by now is probably off in her dreams he thought. As Hitsugaya ran, he thought to himself while keeping his eyes fixed in front of him. He passed the 3rd Division building with his usual suspicion and for some reason; the lights in the building were not on as usual. He ignored this aberration and kept his brisk pace. Something was amiss and Hitsugaya could sense it. He felt nervous and uneasy as he ran. As Hitsugaya arrived at the eastern wall, he was shocked to find almost the entire wall destroyed. Someone had come earlier to destroy the evidence to Aizen's murder and to conceal their own identity. Not a drop of blood or evidence was left at the scene and Hitsugaya was baffled.

"Whats going on here" Hitsugaya said

As Hitsugaya spoke to himself, a shadowy figure came out of the dark and confronted the young captain. The figure was well dressed in red robes and carried a large sword to match his own height. His hair was orange and his face reflected the visage of someone with a very serious mission to fulfill. The captain could make out a emblem of some sort on the figure's clothes, a black swastika.

"Captain Hitsugaya, I was told that I would find you here" the person said

Hitsugaya was shocked from hearing someone's voice and turned around to face the unknown figure. He took one step towards the figure and readied himself for combat, putting his hand on his sword, ready to draw at a moments notice.

"Who the hell are you? Whats with the swastika! Are you the one who did this?" Hitsugaya said

Without answering the infuriated captain, the mysterious figure turned around quickly and ran off in the direction of the southern gate. Seeing how the figure was fleeing from possible guilt of murder, Hitsugaya quickly ran after the suspected killer. As they ran, they quickly approached the southern gate. Hitsugaya was pleased to see that there was no way that the mysterious figure could escape, the wall was sealed and completely impermeable to even the strongest attacks or weapons. Suddenly, as the mysterious man was about to hit the wall, the man disappeared and left a white outline of his own figure as he disappeared through the wall. Hitsugaya was baffled and tried opening the enormous gate but to no adue. Hitsugaya decided to go back to the 10th Division building to research what he had seen that night and to find out who the man dressed in red with a swastika really was. Hitsugaya made his way back to the building and pulled out many books on the family emblems and other books that talk about symbols used by royal or just regular families. He sat on his desk and began to research, suddenly, Hitsugaya felt smelled a silky sent in the room and fainted.

x x x x x x

As morning came to beat away the retreating night. Hitsugaya woke up in his office to find all of his books charred and torn on the floor. The 10th Division building was a mess and Hitsugaya could hear the 4th Division healers and helpers running about outside the locked door.

"Captain Hitsugaya! Is everyone alright in there?" a 4th Division healer said

As Hitsugaya heard the call, he slowly made his way to the door. He was feeling dizzy from what ever had been put into the air last night and could not walk straight. When Hitsugaya finally reached the door, he opened the door and greeted the 4th Division men.

"Ugh, what happened last night? I feel like someone intentionally knocked me out using some powder or something" Hitsugaya said

"Captain Hitsugaya, my name is Hanataro. I do not know what happened last night but your Division building is partially on fire and many windows have been broken. It seems that someone broke in and set the building on fire last night" Hanataro said

As Hitsugaya heard the words of Hanataro he looked around shocked, he had not realized the fire before Hanataro had told him and he found himself standing in a position where he did not know what to do.

"Captain, are you alright? You're bleeding from the forehead!"

Hitsugaya felt his forehead and felt a cut. Blood started coming out of the wound and the captain fainted. The 4th Division healers, known for their healing abilities and for their impartiality to any and all conflicts that occur in soul society, carry back the captain to the 4th Division building to heal the captain.

"Okay! You fellows carry Captain Hitsugaya back to the hospital! I will see to it that the fire it put out safely and that no one else is hurt" Hanataro said

As the 4th Division healers carried away the injured and unconscious captain to the hospital, unbeknownst to the remaining 4th Division helpers are helping to put out the fire, a figure loomed within the shadows of the building and had disappeared. Hanataro, the vice-captain of the 4th Division, looked towards where the figure had been. Attracted by the individual's strange aura, he looked around for anything that the individual may have left behind. He found a envelope with a swastika imprinted with hot wax. As Hanataro stood in the shadows with his newly found letter, a few 4th Division helpers run up to Hanataro and are ready to do their duties.

"Sir! We have just finished putting out the fire. The building seems to be fine now and we have other things to do! If you will not be needing us sir, we will head out." said the helper

"Okay that's fine, thank you for your hard work buddies! Go do what you need to do!" Hanataro said

As the men from the 4th Division walked off, Hanataro stood holding the letter. He thought to himself if he should open the letter or not.

What is this envelope and who is it from? A swastika? I never knew people still used that symbol for anything. Furthermore, who knocked Captain Hitsugaya unconscious and made him bleed? Making a captain leveled shinigami bleed is not an easy task, whoever did this must have been powerful…Mabye I should take the letter to Captain Hitsugaya, he might know who it was from

As Hanataro thought to himself, the mysterious figure from the shadows appeared again and followed Hanataro as he walked towards the Hospital, never reveling his true identity or allowing others to see who he really is. Hanataro felt very uneasy as he walked past the 3rd Division building towards the 4th Division building, he felt as if someone was following him from behind. Even though the urge was great, he ignored the urge to look back and to see who it was and kept on moving forward. As he reached the 4th Division building, he opened the door. At that moment, he could no longer resist the temptation to look behind him and looked to find no one. Only a clear sky and a bright sun. Hanataro silently laughed at his own suspicion and fear and entered the 4th Division building.

As Hanataro entered the building, things were quiet. The entire building was quiet except for the sounds of the injured patients playing chess and the noisy alarm clocks that rattled everytime they went off. Hanataro went to the front desk and asked one of his friends, Momoto Hinamori, where Captain Hitsugaya was being treated.

"Hey Hinamori! I have a letter for Captain Hitsugaya, do you know which room he is being treated in?" Hanataro said

"Hmm, Captain Hitsugaya…I believe that he is being treated in room CD-203" Hinamori said

"Thanks!" Hanataro said

As Hanataro made his way up to the room specified by Hinamori, he walked from lighted hallways to darkened hallways where the window blinds had been shut to keep out the light. Once again, Hanataro felt a sense of fear and insecurity as he walked down the dark and silent hallways. As Hanataro approached the room, CD-203, he felt a very strange aura from outside the door. He slowly turned the door knob and walked into the well lit room.

Phew, atleast the room is well lit. I was getting really scared outside there in that creepy hallway. Shouldn't the blinds be open to allow sunlight and fresh air to come in? Whatever, I'll fix that later after I deliver this message to Captain Hitsugaya

Hanataro thought to himself while walking towards the bed in which the captain was laying on when suddenly, the spirit powered lights in the room go off. Hanataro was annoyed more then he was shocked and picked up the communicator to call Hinamori about the lighting problem. The communicator was dead and he had no way of reaching anyone other than going out into the creepy hallway and walking down to the first floor. Hanataro did not suspect anything. Hanataro left the envelope on the desk next to the bed and started walking towards the door. Hanataro put his hand on the door knob and opened the door. He walked intrepidly into the hallway and suddenly, felt a powerful and evil aura from behind him. The aura was so intense that he was unable to turn around to see who had come to kill him. Suddenly, he felt a sting from behind his chest on his back and looked down to see blood and a sword piercing his stomach. He did not feel pain for he was killed too quickly. He did not make any noise and was silenced quickly, without delay, the killer had finished his task and disposed of Hanataro's body. Leaving no trace of blood, death or Hanataro. Hanataro had simply disappeared. The hallway was now empty and the blinds open. The lights were restored and everything was back to normal.

As Captain Hitsugaya woke up, he rubbed his eyes because the lights were soo bright and blinding, he could barely make out his own hands with his eyes. He looked around as he got out of bed and saw a strange letter on the table next to his bed.

A swastika! Could this be it? Could this letter be from that one bastard from last night? The one that ran away from me and wore long red robes?

The captain got out of bed and grabbed the letter, tearing it open as he discovered a terrible truth and at the same time, the solution to all of his troubles. His reading was disturbed by a scream in the hallway, as Hitsugaya made his way to the door and looked out into the hallway, he saw something horrible and was utterly shocked

"What exactly is going on?" Hitsugaya said

The 4th Division nurses were gathered in the hallway and were calling for assistance with something terrible. Something had come out of the darkness.