Disclaim: manga belongs to Tite Kubo
Chapter 9: Back to that town
6 o'clock precisely Hitsugaya wakes up every day. It takes him precisely seven minutes in the shower and five more do be ready to go outside. The time to go out and the small differences that always appear, he is out of his door at 6:15 every morning. He always walk past his office to judge the among of work that day.
He runs a tour before being back at his house at 6:55. The time to make a breakfast and to eat it, he is out of the little living area at 7:30. Around 7:40 he would be in the cave to train. If everything goes smoothly, he would be leaving the cave at 11:30. The quick run toward his flat would take him less time than the way too, mainly because at that hour the streets are crowded and he prefers to avoid contact.
By 12 o'clock he would be in his office acting as if had been there his entire day. Until then he would have the time to take a shower and eat his lunch. When he comes, Rangiku would be gone and the entire office would be precisely like it was when he went by earlier. Around 1 o'clock, his subordinate would act as if he was perfectly normal.
For the rest of the day he would act like the perfect captain and do his duties with perfection. He would leave for captain meeting with his straight face and no one would ask him if he is fine. No one was stupid enough. He would do his tasks and every one would pretend they didn't see his cold stairs that only harden over time. Only when night comes at last, they could see him sit on the roof with shoulders relaxed watching the night sky.
If work needed him earlier a day, he would leave the cave earlier, but never would he be disponible before 9. That was a rule in his squad: never bother the captain before 9 o'clock unless the ultimate need. And even then, they passed by the vice captain first. She then went find the captain. No one was as stupide to go talk to him unless they absolutely had to. Well apart from vice captain Hinamori, but she was his sister.
It was 10 o'clock when there was another presence in the cave. Groaning, he made sure to store his weapon before turning toward the occupant.
"Captain Kurosaki," he said to the orange haired male leaning against the wall. Kurosaki had a tendency to interrupt him every Wednesday and Fridays but that was at 11:30 when Hitsugaya was going to leave.
"What brings you so early?" Honestly he was the only one that was remotely close to understand his feelings. Or maybe Hitsugaya was the one that remotely could imagine how it felt like to leave your family. Needless to say, the two didn't loathe each other that much any more.
"It's not Wednesday," he said as if that was explaining what he was doing there. He moved as if his presence was not bothering the white haired that had an extreme want to grab his zanpakuto.
"Then what exactly are you doing here." He didn't mind hiding his hate this early in the morning, another reason why none wanted to bother him.
"There was a captain meeting. I'm just coming from the first division." Hitsugaya looked baffled back. Never had they excluded him from a meeting, even those that were hold 7 o'clock in the morning.
"Why did nobody tell me?"
"Because you weren't invited," said the orange haired looking away. "But," he continued before the other could speak, "I was ordered to come get you. The head captain wants to speak to you." Ichigo's ten years as vice captain had actually taught him to be polite toward the higher ranked. Or well more anyway, even if there was no secret that lieutenant Kuchiki had done much too.
To say Hitsugaya was worried about that command was an understanding. Last time he was personally convoked to the first squad after a meeting done behind his back was nearly 18 years ago, right after he had left her.
"Captain Hitsugaya, Captain Kurosaki," said the head as the two males entered the room. Hitsugaya saw Ichigo go back to his position in the corner of his eyes, but honestly his heart was drumming to loud in his chest for him to focus on anything really.
"Captain Kyoraku," he answered politely as the mask was back put up again.
"Good, you seem to be in a good mood. Now tell me how are things going in your squad," said the cheerful head captain as if he didn't know what was hidden behind the ice wall of the captain of the 10th squad.
"All the reparations are made and everything is going smoothly. The new recruits that arrived a month ago are well set in and all the seats are filled."
"Good," he said with a smile that could hide everything really, "that means you have time to leave your squad for a bit to perform a mission in the world of the living, right?" No, Hitsugaya did not like where this discussion was going. Last time he had a mission in the world of the living was more than 25 years ago, and the word of introduction had been exactly the same.
"We were just discussing that a high spiritual energy is running wild in the world of the living. We suspected it to be due to someone giving away their soul reaper ability since that would be the logical explanation. But since the last one being there was lieutenant Abarai and he has come back, that is not the cause. And after all, we have had two other cases about this before. We thought that: time would take it away, but it has gone a year since the energy was first present."
The poor captain cursed his luck and the only thing repeating in his brain was no. No the captain wasn't seriously asking him to do this. Just how much pain did he still need to endure. Where this was, was no secret and the name of Karakura was hanging loudly in the air.
"Anyway," continued the 1st squad captain, "since you did such a good job teaching Kurosaki Karin so many years ago, I wish you to go and check out to whom this energy belongs and if possible take him, or her, back to soul society should the person be an extremely rare case as captain Kurosaki here."
The mention of her name made him flinch, a movement very visible to everyone in the room. Seeing the smile in the corner of the lips of the speaker, that was the reaction he suspected.
"But," added the squad leader in a serious tone making the poor white haired even more uncomfortable, "you have a week to find the person and to bring him or her back to soul society. And should you come across Kurosaki Karin, you are not allowed to speak or touch her. Should that come to pass, your sentence will be extended by twenty years."
Hitsugaya's mask was cracking and the tension in his body was showing. Every word stabbed him like knifes, her name a knife right through his heart. Pretending he didn't miss her was easy in a place knowing there was no way he could actually see her. Being in the very same town as her and feeling her reiatsu was torture on a whole new level. Not really managing to think straight he forced his head to think clearer about the other situation.
"Captain," he said after swallowing painfully and nodding concerning his previous statement , "why bring the person to soul society?"
"It was a common decision between the captains. It was what we should have done with captain Kurosaki those years ago. Teaching the kid to use it's ability properly is the right thing to do. You may leave."
Nodding toward the captain he left the room, to many thoughts playing in his mind. "Captain," came lieutenant Matsumoto's voice from behind. But she could just as easily been standing behind a wall or right in front of his face, the captain didn't notice her before she slammed a pack of paperwork on his desk. Looking at the tower of paper she happily gave him every day, he looked annoyed back at her for the first time in a long time.
"Do your own paperwork," he said, returning to his five last papers he needed to be finished with before leaving, abandoning a very concerned and confused Rangiku that had been giving her share for the past 17 years really.
"Are you okay captain? Captain?" He looked back at her behind unfocused eyes.
"I'm leaving to the world of the living soon," he said after a while.
"Really?" She said surprised but in the same time she sound happy. She was reading him all wrong.
"They have noticed an odd spiritual energy from Karakura. They want me to bring whoever is causing it back to soul society. Make sure to do the paperwork while I'm gone." He rose to leave the office as a small voice piped up.
"Captain what about," but knowing where that question was going he cut her off.
"No," he said darkly, specifying that the discussion was closed. He knew that Rangiku could see right through his shell but didn't really mind. What surprised him was the distant look she gave him back. Did she know something about this person? She was the one responsible for that town over the years. He didn't push it as he saw her looking absently out the window. He'll find out soon anyway.
The feeling of being back in this town was killing him. It had been 17 years 11 month and 29 days since he left, not that he was counting. The first thing he did was hide his presence, she couldn't know he was here. There was actually a great chances that the person he was searching for was none other than her sister. She had the potential.
The second was finding her. The captain hadn't said anything about that. She was in the clinic as he recognized Isshin's energy, but he also sensed Yuzu and her energy hadn't changed. He stayed a bit just feeling she was still alive and apparently well. Well, to a certain extended anyway.
The third thing he did was running over town to see if he could find the culprit of the raising reiatsu in town. There was no need to bother with a gigai as the one he was searching for was most probably capable to see him in this form. Plus it would bad to go to Urahara to get a gigai. He would have to explain the circumstances and he was not ready for that.
He didn't take long before finding that the one he was searching for was going to Karakura high school. Walking around in the building he went from classes to classes to see if the one he was searching for was there, making sure to enter through the back so he didn't get anyone's attention. Strangely, apparently this one knew how to hide the spiritual energy. In one of the classrooms, he found two potential suspect. There were four main suspects even if two of them seem greater than the other two. But the stronger one had more chance of knowing how to hide there energy.
The two in question were two girls around 16 years. From behind they both looked identical and there nearly identical energy confirmed his suspicion that they were twins. There light brown hair looked a lot like the youngest Kurosaki.
The two others seemed to go in the same class too, but there energy was way to different to be related. They were around 17 and looked like friends. Feeling closer he could feel the orange haired girl was none other than a Quincy. After the last big war any captain was capable to feel the remaining of Quincy powers.
She sensed him as she suddenly turned around toward him. She could see him, that was a fact, as her eyes widen when their eyes crossed. She had long hair and a pair of glasses hiding her dark orbs.
"Ishida," said the teacher, "what do you think you are doing?" She apologies humbly. This only confirmed his doubt. If this was the daughter of Uryu Ishida and Orihime, there were no doubt she would be strong.
But he could see the movement she made toward her neighbor that was watching out the window, the final suspect. This was a boy with night black hair and as he looked closer, a fully outgrown soul reaper energy. Not perfect but very similar to Kurosaki's when he first came to soul society. The boy looked bored back at him. A quick glance at him put his mind a ease: this was the one he was searching for. The boy seemed to read his mind as he immediately stood up.
"I need to borrow the bathroom," he said and walked out passing the captain without caring about the glare the teacher was giving him. He lead him to the roof, where he finally turned back. He wasn't high and the captain had to look down at him. The turquoise eyes staring back at him shocked him. Few were the humans with so clear eyes.
"Who are you?" He asked as he sat down against the wall.
"Shouldn't you have stayed in class," asked the captain back.
"When exactly did soul reapers care about school?" He said dully back. "Anyway, the bell will ring soon." This kid seem to know more about soul reaper than what he thought, but then hadn't they said there was a year since they had felt his reiatsu.
"We don't," he said blankly, "but humans have a tendency to think it is important to learn what you learn so you can study further." Hitsugaya sat down in front of the child understanding that the kid had no reason to hurry back.
"So who are you?" Asked the kid laid back. "I've never seen you before, and considering your ability I would guess you are no random soul reaper either." This child was sharp, way sharped than captain Kurosaki.
"Captain Hitsugaya Toshiro of the 10th squad, nice to meet you," he presenting himself. The kid seem to straighten up at the mention of captain.
"Ryuu. Nice to meet you captain, but what brings such a high officer down to the world of the living?" The skeptical look in the boy's eyes made him understand he knew deep down what was going on. At that moment he could hear the door open. Looking toward the sound he saw the Ishida girl coming toward them.
"Bell is broken," she said throwing a sandwich toward the kid. "So," she continued sitting down beside the two, "what is a captain doing here." How did she know he was a captain? "The look on your face is telling me I'm right. You're haori is a dead give away anyway," she finished taking a bit of her food.
"This is captain Hitsugaya from squad 10. He still hasn't answer why he is here but I suspect it's because of us," finished the kid looking straight passed him.
"Nice to meet you captain," said the girl politely. "I am Kosakura Ishida. I suspect you know my parents." Hitsugaya ignored the boy as this one seemed to let them talk together. Turning fully to the girl he answered:
"Uryu and Orehime Ishida are heroes of the 1000 years war, there is no reason I wouldn't know them."
"In that case, could I ask how both Kurosaki and Sado are doing? My parents would be thrilled to hear more about them." The name Kurosaki seem to trig the last one into the conversation.
"Kurosaki is captain of the 8th squad guard and is doing well. As for Sado, he has fulfilled his academy years and is currently my fourth seat. This position being only temporary. But for further information I would rather deliver them directly to your parents." She seem to understand as she nodded in content.
The door opened again to revile two boys with clearly no ability to see him as they nearly stood on him as they loomed over Ryuu.
"Oh aren't the nerds cute together," snickered the highest boy with brown hair and ruffled cloth.
"Oh aren't you going to kiss?" Teased the other one with bleached blond hair. "Are we interrupting the lovers." The focus of the two youngsters he had been speaking to was solemnly on the two bully.
"Morning Akeno, Michael, what brings you two on the roof when the sun is shining," said Ryuu. "Thought you were allergic to sunlight." The captain was surprised. This child talked back with a blank expression and cold exterieur he always did when he was younger, or still did for that matter. But suddenly without a sound the girl stood up.
"Please," she said looking straight at them, "you are standing on a very respectful soul reaper here. Do you mind at least not stand on his robs." This took the captain by surprise. Did she just plainly say he was there. That was until the two actually back away several meters.
"We apologize sir. Please pardon us," they started bowing in his direction. Did they suddenly see him?
"He is standing behind you now you idiots," she said, even if clearly he hadn't moved. The two suddenly turned away to resume their antic. She continued telling them thing he apparently told them to do, a smirk on the lips.
"Let her have her fun," said the boy as if what she was doing was totally normal. "They know she can see ghosts and believe everything she says about them."
"Anyway, I think I should be off," he said before standing ready to leave.
"Are you leaving already?" Asked the girl coming up behind him, the two others gone. "You sure there is nothing we could help you with?" Thinking about her words he guessed that maybe.
"Not at the moment but do please meet me tonight if you can."
"Where?" Asked the two as if helping him was something they would have done anyway.
"Somewhere away from habitations, I will find you." They nodded toward him.
"One last thing," asked the boy, "should we bring the two others you without doubt can feel too?"
"Yes," he said before running away.
This was interesting indeed. Not only was there two strong, but there were also two that would in the future maybe have the potential. Deciding he would be true to his words, he made his way toward the hospital he could feel both Ishidas working. He entered the office without bothering.
"Captain Hitsugaya," said Uryu when he saw him enter in his Shinigami attire, "what brings you back to Karakura after all this time? I didn't thought you were allowed to come back so soon."
"I'm here because a new wave of strong spiritual energies is felt in this town."
"Kosakura," said the father understanding. "As you can feel, I taught her well so you wouldn't be interested in her." The dark eyes of the father stated very well that he would not accept any interaction with soul society.
"I'm not really here concerning your daughter. I promised I would pass to tell you about your friend in Seireitei. "
"What is it Uryu-kun," said the voice of his wife suddenly from the door before seeing the person standing inside the room. "Hitsugaya-kun," she said happily, "it is so nice to see you again. Is your suspension over?" Where all of them going to ask him that?
"No, Hitsugaya is here because of the rising reiatsu in town," said the husband trying to confer all the hate he was feeling.
"Oh, is my daughter on your list of suspects?" She asked panic covering her voice.
"I didn't come see you too tell you that. All trough, if it comes down to it, I would warn you if soul society takes an interest in her. I'm here to get a boy in her class."
"Ryuu?" Asked miss Ishida shocked somehow.
"You know him?" Asked the captain at the strange looks that the two married were exchanging.
"We do, but it isn't really important," argued Uryu. "Anyway, you said you were here to tell us about Ichigo and Chad. What about them?"
The conversation went back to the two friends that were no longer part of their world. Hitsugaya told them about the decision to put Sado on his squad at first so he would be used to work in a random squad. The idea was to place him as the third seat in ichigo's squad so the two friend could be together. Since he was a hero of the war, it was natural he would be able to choose in which squad he wanted to be in.
Leaving the couple, evening was past. Feeling the energy of the Ishida girl clearer than before he made his way toward the park they waited for him. She must have left her energy flow a little for him to find her. She really was something.
Arriving at the spot, he saw Ryuu speaking with the two twins and Ishida standing looking toward him. She seem to make the three others focus as he came to them. Looking better, he saw the boy was no longer in his uniform, but in the perfect soul reaper uniform with a light blue katana on the back. He assumed there was much this one could learn coming to soul society.
"Akina, Ayaka, this is captain Hitsugaya I was talking about," said the oldest girl, the two others looking exactly the same and even bowing in the same time.
"We are sorry," started one of them.
"But we cannot see you clearly," said the other. "We are not as strong as these two..."
"But we can see your contours and the relative shape, just not very sharply."
"Can you hear me?" He asked as the two nodded. "Well, I wanted to see how strong all of you were to see if you could be a threat to the society."
"I am not allowed to go there, nor are these girls as they are not soul reapers, at least not yet. Why bother having us here if you clearly are here for Ryuu," said the eldest.
"I don't know who it is that had disturbed the flow a year ago but please bear with me until I know what you are capable off." They didn't seem to argue. "Good, do you all know why your spiritual energy is so high?"
The two girl explained that it was normal in their family since their mother was the daughter of a soul reaper and a Quincy. They did tell him they were the daughter of Yuzu Kurosaki that apparently had married as her name changed. But their mother wasn't that good at seeing spirits as she lost the ability when the girls were born. They had been able to see spirits for a long time and had dismissed it as they were born in a family with great spiritual energy.
Since their father also was capable of seeing spirits and was trained in seeing them they had been thought to a certain extend to control their energy. He did recognize in their monologue splinted in two the name of one of Urahara's lackey. That explained more in it self.
For the last girl, he didn't need her to explain. When the turn of the boy came he seem to be absorbed by something else. Sensing closer, he could feel the presence of a hollow, soon off the radar as he felt his old student's reiatsu. He supposed she was still performing her duty as substitute soul reaper.
"My mother is a soul reaper," said the boy only when explaining his ability. "Urahara has taught me a lot about the rest." Off course that man was behind this. The fact the boy was the son of a soul reaper made Hitsugaya sick. Somehow he didn't want to know if his suspicions were right.
Hitsugaya passed the night with the children to see just what their limit was. As Ryuu was in the fire, there was no doubt this was the one he needed to bring back to soul society, his seemingly control was just an illusion. The kid had absolutely no control of his reiatsu, and it didn't help that it was supposedly growing.
The girl was indeed extremely strong too but she must have been taught a long time ago as she was very capable with her ability. The two younger had a lot of ability only because they didn't have any idea how to control it. They didn't have enough thou to warn Seireitei about their energy. They would need training, but that could wait. And anyway, there was a huge chance either Urahara or Jinta would take care of that.
He left the four of them in town, making sure that they were safe inside town. There were no questioning what he had to do, but first he needed to make sure the captain commander was serious when he said to bring back the boy to soul society. The kid would never have a normal life if he did. Then something hit him. The kid could pass as a 17 years old in his human body, but his soul was way younger, meaning he had to be dragged out of his body a long time ago. Why didn't soul society notice him before?
Like I said, spent my time writing this weak, so I will try to post the two next chapters before being torned apart from my computer for a week.
Always a pleasure knowing you take the time to read :D