Chapter 6: Entering Squad 10
I managed to graduate from the Shinigami Academy two years after you entered the thirteen court guard squads. While, under normal circumstances, I should have only graduated after an additional three years, my status as a prodigy that "only comes around once every thousand years" allowed me to graduate early.
On top of graduating early, I was also appointed the title of third seat right away in squad ten. As extraordinary as it was to move up in the ranks so fast, it only made sense that I'd be given such a title right away. After all, I had already mastered my shikai and was currently working on achieving my Bankai at that point.
And so, as I made my way towards the squad ten barracks for the first time, I couldn't help but feel like I had finally caught up to you….
Flashback, catching up to you
"Hmm, you do look awfully familiar…" a young Matsumoto muttered to herself as she stared down at me. "Do I know you from somewhere…?"
I had merely sighed in response. It had been only a few minutes since I first properly introduced myself to the current captain and vice-captain of squad ten and Matsumoto was already beginning to recognize me from our first encounter all those years ago. It seemed that while I had recognized her right away, she was finding it harder to place me in her memories.
"I believe we met several years back in Jurinan…" I replied as I returned her blatant stare.
"Oh! I remember!" she suddenly exclaimed as though she had just put the pieces together in her head. "You're that brat with the high spiritual that was suffocating his grandmother! Say, how is the old women doing now, anyway?"
"She's doing fine…" I said in annoyance through my clenched teeth. "And would you please refrain from calling me a brat? My name is-"
"Yeah, yeah, sorry" she interrupted as she waved off my response and turned towards the squad ten captain. "Say, taichou, aren't you going to introduce yourself to the new kid? You did pick him from the academy yourself, after all."
Just as I was about to respond to Matsumoto comment about me being a "kid", the captain rose from his desk covered in paperwork and came over towards us. Once he reached us, he merely stood towering over us he closely examined me with an unreadable expression on his face.
I remember feeling a mixture of unease and nervousness as he stared down at me. You see, while I had heard countless tales from you about how wonderful captains were, or more specifically about how wonderful Aizen was, I had never actually been in the presence of one. So, this was my first time actually meeting someone of captain status, and never before had I felt as small as I did then. Just his mere essence was overflowing with power.
And I knew, right then and there, that if I ever wished for you to look at me with the same admiration that you looked at captain such as Aizen, I had a lot of work to do.
After about 30 seconds had passed, the squad ten captain broke the silence. "So, this is what you look like…" he muttered as he leaned in to get a closer look at my face. Then, he suddenly picked me up as though I was a toddler and lifted me into the air. "Well aren't you a cute one! Looks like I finally have a cute little son to look after!" he exclaimed with a goofy smile on his face.
I was too dumbstruck at the first to be able to say anything in response. Then, after a moment had passed, I was finally able to regain my ability to speak. "S-Sir? Um…" I weakly replied as I tried to regain my composure as much as I could while being lifted in the air. "Could you please put me down…?"
"Whatever you say, kiddo!" he exclaimed in response as he lowered me to the ground once more. "My name's Shiba Isshin, captain of squad ten." he said as he extended a hand out for me to shake. "But you can call me Dad if you want." he added with a wink.
"Um… I think I'll just stick to Shiba-taichou…" I muttered in response as I hesitantly shook his hand. Are all captains like this? I had thought at the time as I was shaking his hand. If so, I wonder what kind of guy this Aizen really is… And just what is his relationship with his subordinates…
"Aw, that's no fun!" Shiba-taichou wined in response as I let go of his hand. "Rangiku here refuses to call me dad, and now you do too! I was hoping at least you would call me that, Toshiro! Because who knows if I'll ever have a real son of my own… I'm not getting any younger, you know."
"Uh, yeah, sure…. Whatever you say, Shiba-taichou…" I hesitantly replied, not sure whether I should be concerned about my now displeased captain. I remember reasoning to myself that since Matsumoto wasn't calling him Dad either, I should be fine.
After a moment of awkward silence had passed, the captain spoke again. "Say, Rangiku, shouldn't you be at a vice-captain meeting at about now?"
"Ah! You're right!" she suddenly exclaimed as she remembered. "I completely forgot! They're initiating a new vice-captain today too, so I really can't be late!" She then took off towards the door, but before she could leave, the captain called out to her once more.
"Say, who's this new vice-captain again? I know their name came up at the captain meeting last week, but I honestly can't remember it for the life of me" he stated as he looked at Matsumoto, hoping she would know the answer to his question.
"Oh, her name's… uh… her name's…" Matsumoto fumbled as she tried to recall the name of the new vice-captain. After a moment had passed, it suddenly came to her. "Oh! Her name's Hinamori Momo! Yeah, that's her name! She's replacing Gin-, I mean, Ichimaru-taichou's old position as vice-captain of squad five."
"Oh, is that so…" Shiba-taichou muttered to himself in response. "Anyway, make sure to let me know whether she's a cutie or not!" he called out as Matsumoto merely brushed off the comment with the wave of her hand as she made her way out the door.
Meanwhile, I was stood frozen in place. While I had known that you were trying for the position of vice-captain within your squad, I had no idea that you were that close to achieving it. So she finally did it, huh? I thought to myself as my mind began to wonder. That's good, I'm glad….
"Hmm? Something on your mind, Toshiro?" the captain suddenly questioned as he roused me from my thoughts.
"I-It's nothing, sir" I stuttered as I tried to regain my composure under my captain's watchful gaze.
"Oh, I get it" he stated as a grin made its way onto his face. "You're interested in this new vice-captain too, huh? You are beginning to get to that age, so it only makes sense. Oh! And don't worry about falling for a girl that your captain also finds cute! After all, as your new dad, I'll happily step aside for my son's happiness!"
"T-That's not it!" I exclaimed as my cheeks began to flush. "A-Anyway, is there you want me to do, Shiba-taichou?"
"There's no need to be embarrassed, Toshiro. It only makes sense to be interested in a cute sounding girl" he responded as he looked down at me. After seeming to notice that I was in no mood to further discuss the subject, he sighed as he decided to answer my question. "Hmm, well, I suppose you could help me with a few things…"
I remember spending the rest of that afternoon and early evening helping the squad ten captain with various tasks he had to do. While the idea had crossed my mind that he was making me help him with work he should have done himself, I merely brushed the thought aside as I helped him with duties. After all, as a newly appointed third seat, I couldn't exactly say no to him.
I did everything that day from paperwork to sparring with subordinates, to even running around delivering messages to other squads. By the time nightfall hit, I was exhausted.
"Thanks for the help, Toshiro!" Shiba-taichou exclaimed after a long day of making me do half of his work for him. "I'm happy to have such a reliable third seat! I'll definitely be relying on you in the future!"
Meaning you'll be making me do your work for you on a regular basis then… I thought grimly before giving him a short bow and exiting the tenth division office.
Once I was out of sight, I sighed. Looks like it's too late to congratulate Hinamori on her promotion today, huh? I thought as I looked out the corridor windows as I walked back to my room. Guess I'll just have to try and catch her tomorrow…. But if tomorrow's going to be anything like today, I doubt I'll get the chance…
Then, just as I turned down the corridor in which my quarters, I noticed someone standing outside my room, almost as though they were waiting for me to return. Since they were facing away from, I couldn't make out their face. After taking a few steps closer without them being any wiser to my presence, I decided that I should probably say something.
And, almost as though they sensed that I was about to say something, the mysterious individual turned around to look at me.
And low and behold, that person was you.
"I was wondering when you were going to get back, Hitsugaya-kun" you said with a gentle smile on your face. "Must have been a long first day, huh?"
"Y-Yeah, it was…" I muttered in response as I took in your appearance. You were dressed in a white sleeping gown with your hair hung loosely in a ponytail over your shoulder. While I had been used to you dressing so casually in the past, I couldn't help but feel embarrassed looking at you now. It suddenly felt so personal, seeing you dressed in so little clothing. It's almost as though- I started to think but immediately shook the thought from my head almost as soon as it had come. What's wrong with me?! She's Hinamori! I shouldn't be thinking of her like that!
"Say, Hitsugaya-kun," you softly began as you roused me from my internal conflict. "Would you be up to staying awake for a little bit longer? I, uh… You see, um..." You let the rest of your sentence fade into silence as your gaze shifted to your feet.
"Yeah, I guess I could stay up for a little while longer" I said as I read into between the lines at what you were implying.
"Great!" you exclaimed as you looked back at me with a smile. You then approached the door of my room and started to open it in an attempt to make your way inside.
As I watched you begin to make your way into my room, the image of Matsumoto and my captain catching you leave my room late at night appeared in my head. "H-Hey! How about we go somewhere else? It's nice night out, we should go outside. Come on, I know just the place!" I stated urgently as the picture of my superiors tormenting me about our relationship filled my head. I knew that if they caught you leaving my room at this hour, it wouldn't matter how many times I told them we were just childhood friends: they wouldn't believe me. No way am I letting that happen I thought with a slight shake of my head.
"Oh, Okay. Let's do that then" you replied with a slightly confused expression on your face. You then proceeded to close my door and follow me down the squad ten corridors.
Once outside, we settled on a spot near the squad ten training grounds to sit down and look at the night sky.
"Wow, you were right! It really is a nice night out" you exclaimed in awe as you took in the sight of the starry sky.
I grunted in response as I took in the scenery for myself. After a moment had passed, I decided to break the silence. "So, Hinamori, Congra-"
"Congratulations on becoming a third seat, Hitsugaya-kun!" you suddenly interrupted with a bright smile, unaware that I was about to congratulate you on your own promotion. "I gotta say, I was pretty surprised when I heard about it from Matsumoto-san at the vice-captain meeting earlier today. To think that you would get the rank of third seat right after graduating… You really are amazing, Hitsugaya-kun."
I remember breaking my gaze away from yours as I felt my inner temperature start to rise at your sudden compliment and bright smile. "S-So, you heard from Matsumoto-fukutaichou, huh…" I stuttered in an attempt to try and make it seem as though I was unaffected by your previous statement.
"Yeah, I did!" you happily exclaimed, ignorant to my flushed face. "She kept talking about the white haired…" you hesitated for a second before adding "boy who just became her new third seat. It sounded like you really impressed her and Shiba-taichou, you know."
Don't you mean white haired brat? I thought sourly to myself with a slight frown. "I doubt I really impressed them that much" I responded as I turned away from you to look once again at the sky.
"Of course you did!" you half shouted as you forced me to look at you once more. "From what I heard, you've already mastered your shikai and you're currently working on your Bankai! All that despite just graduating! No matter how you look at it, Hitsugaya-kun, that's just plain amazing."
I grunted in response, unsure of how to respond to all the recent praise I was given.
Mistaking my grunt for not believing in what you just said, you continued. "I mean it, Hitsugaya-kun. You really are amazing. I just wish I was even half as talented as you are…"
"You say that as though you weren't just awarded the position of vice-captain of the fifth division" I retorted, not liking the way that you were beginning to put down your own achievements. Seeing the surprised look on your face, I added "I heard earlier today from Matsumoto-fukutaichou."
"Ah, okay…" you hesitantly responded, unsure of how to proceed in the conversation.
"Congratulations, by the way" I said as I broke the silence that was beginning to form between us. "It looks like you finally managed to achieve that goal you set for yourself all those years ago…. Guess I'll have to start calling you Bedwetter-Fukutaichou now, huh?" I added with a slight smirk on my face.
"Yeah, it looks like I did- Wait! Don't call me that!" you exclaimed in response. "Please, don't call me that!"
"Whatever you say, Bedwetter-fukutaichou" I replied as my smirk grew in response to your newly formed frown.
"You're so mean sometimes, Shiro-chan…" you muttered as you pouted at me. "And you can drop the fukutaichou around me. Just calling me by name is good enough. After all, we've each for so long, it would just be weird to start using fancy titles."
"Whatever you say, Bed-wetter" I responded, which earned me a glare from.
"Anyway, are you busy tomorrow? I was thinking of paying Oba-san a visit, and it'd be nice if you could join me." you asked with hopeful eyes as you changed the subject. Seeing the excitement on your face at the prospect of visiting her, I just couldn't say no.
"Y-Yeah, I should be free…" I lied, knowing full well that I had a fair amount of paperwork to help out with tomorrow. Maybe if I hurry and get it done tonight, Shiba-taichou will let me take tomorrow off I thought as I tried to think of a solution to my current predicament.
"Great! I'll stop by tomorrow at noon, then!" you happily exclaimed before returning your attention once again to the night sky.
And so, once we said our farewells for the evening, I went back to my room with all the paperwork that was scheduled to be done tomorrow. While I knew that I wouldn't be asked to complete all of it by myself, I didn't want to take the chance of having to stay behind after I had told you I would go with you.
And then, before I knew it, it was already morning…
"Here's today's paperwork" I stated with a small yawn as I handed my captain the work that I had spent the majority of the night completing.
"Wow, you did this all by yourself?" he said as an impressed look made its way onto his face. "Looks like I made the right call snatching you up when I did!"
"Y-Yeah…" I muttered, sighing as I guessed that he was going to start expecting me to keep up this heavy workload from now on. "A-Anyway, sir, would it be possible to have the rest of the afternoon off?"
"Hmm? Why do you need the rest of the day off?" he questioned as he closely examined my face for clues. "Not that I mind, you did complete all of today's work after all. I'm just curious."
"Well, uh…" I fumbled as I tried to think of a response. While it would have been easiest to simply tell them the truth, I had a funny feeling he would misunderstand the situation.
"OH! I bet you're going on a date with that cute girl from last night, huh?" I heard Matsumoto suggestively ask from behind me as she made her way into the room.
"W-What are you talking about?" I stuttered as a sense of dread and embarrassment made its way into the pit of my stomach.
"You know, that girl you were sitting down and talking to outside last night" she elaborated as she joined me in front of the captain's desk. "And don't even try to deny it, I saw you two on my way home from drinking last night. ...Okay, I couldn't really see you since it was pretty dark out, but I could tell by your white hair that it was you! And you definitely weren't alone!"
"Oh? You have a girlfriend, Toshiro?" Shiba-taichou exclaimed as I turned to look at him once more. "In that case, feel free to take the day off! It just wouldn't do for you miss your date with her, especially after you eagerly did all of today's paperwork just so you could go!"
"Listen! It's not a date! We're just-" I began but was then interrupted by the sound of the door opening and someone entering the room.
"Shiba-Taichou, Matsumoto-san, I have some paperwork for you from squad five!" I heard you exclaim from behind me as you approached us.
"Ah, perfect. Just set them down here, Momo." Shiba-taichou said as he gestured to his desk. "It is Momo, right? The new vice-captain of squad five?"
"Yup, that's me!" I heard you happily reply from behind me.
Can't he tell she's the new vice-captain by her badge? I thought to myself before turning my head to look at you. Once I saw your appearance, I understood his confusion. Rather than wearing your typical shinigami uniform, you were dressed in a light pink kimono with light orange flower decorations on it. No longer use to seeing you wear anything other than your uniform, I couldn't help but stare as I took in your appearance.
Seeming to finally notice my presence, you turned to face me. "There you are Hitsugaya-kun!" you exclaimed with a smile on your face as you addressed me. "I was wondering where you were. Guess it was a good thing I decided to deliver some paperwork before we went out this afternoon, huh?"
"Y-Yeah, looks like it was…" I muttered in response as I turned to look at the shocked faces of my two superiors. Guess they weren't expecting someone like Hinamori I thought to myself as I took in their confused faces.
"Y-Your girlfriend's Hinamori!?" Matsumoto exclaimed as she seemed to regain her voice. "Wow, didn't think you had it in you to get a cute girl like her. Good for you, kiddo!"
"I agree!" Shiba-taichou added with a delighted smile on his face. "You've found yourself a real cutie, Toshiro. And a powerful one, no less! As your captain and designated father, I give you two my blessing!"
I knew they would act this way I thought with a sigh. Oh well, guess it's better than being mistaken for her little brother like usual. "Hinamori's my childhood friend; we grew up together in Jurinan. We're not going on a date, we're just going to go visit my grandmother." I stated as I tried to clear up the misunderstanding.
"Sounds an awful lot like a date to me…" Matsumoto muttered to herself as I shot her a quick glare which she ignored. "I mean, look at Hinamori. She's dressed awfully cute to just be visiting a friend's grandmother…"
Turning to look at you, I noticed your face turn a deep shade of red in response to her remark. "I-I'm just wearing the kimono Oba-san gave me…" you whispered as you lowered your gaze to your feet.
"Yeah, Yeah, whatever you say" Matsumoto replied, clearly not believing the reason you had just given her. "Anyway, you kids go on and have fun your date!" she added as she rushed us both towards the office exit.
"Oi, Matsumoto-fukutaichou, I told you it's not-" I began but was interrupted as she pushed us both outside the office.
"Bye now!" she said with a big grin on her face. "And don't do anything I wouldn't do!" she added before closing the doors to the tenth division office.
I sighed as I stared at the newly closed doors. "Well, guess we may as well head on out then…" I said as I turned to face you.
"Y-Yeah, let's go" you said as you tried to regain your composure after having to deal with the comments of my superiors. With a slight shake of your head, you then proceed to follow me outside of the tenth division barracks.
And that was how things were for me in squad ten. Despite constantly being overloaded with Matsumoto and Shiba-taichou's share of the paperwork, I still did enjoy my time with them overall. Things were always loud and eventful with them around. It definitely a nice change for the quiet days I had spent alone in Jurinan with Oba-san. I guess, in a way, they reminded me a bit of you in that regard.
And so, as time went on, I even began to find myself thinking of them as more than mere lazy superiors: they were companions, people I knew I could truly trust if the need ever arose.
Well, unless the need was to get paperwork done on time…
Anyway, with them now in my life, it felt as though my small world starting to expand into something more. Slowly but surely, I felt myself starting to let more and more people into my life. The sphere of people I now cared about was starting to grow, all thanks to my acceptance in squad ten…
That being said, it goes without saying that you were still at the center of my heart. That was one position which you could never lose to anyone, even if I knew I had lost that very same position in your own heart…
Regardless, the days I spent as the third seat of squad ten were exciting yet peaceful at the same time. And they were only made better when you would come to visit.
Ever since that first day they saw us together, Matsumoto and Shiba-taichou would never stop going on about how you were my "girlfriend" and "how cute it would be if we got together", and even saying "how we were just meant to end up together". No matter how many times I would correct them, they would still insist that were we destined to fall in love with one another.
… Looks like they were right in the end, wouldn't you agree, Momo?"
And Thanks for reading chapter 6!
Man, this one took a while to write! I was starting to think that I might have to change my rule of having an entire life event per chapter! Fortunately, for those who hate cliff hangers, I was able to pull through and abide by my own rules!
And, just as a sneak peak as to what's to come, I'm thinking of doing an Aizen chapter either the next update or the one after that. I already have an idea about what I want to say, and man, it's pretty sad. And I know it's just going to get even sadder when I actually write it down...
Anyway, thanks again for reading and reviewing!
~ H-Mira