You might see I have posted this at many other places, I might have mentioned this before but anyways, I would love reviews on this ….if you can. The mature part starts here actually.. Please excuse me if there are some mistakes. Funnily enough, I have already thought of a third fic. I guess I will be notorious for abandoning my fics but its the reviews, the number and content and suggestions that sparks inspiration in me and also ideas as to where I might carry the story next.. I understand the lengthiness of my fic puts people off but I can not go from one idea to the next without explaining. This will be the last post for sometime, I guess...I had placed some links for pictures I drew for this fanfic to save me descriptions of characters as I suck at it. I don't know where to post them now.:(
I don't like to write without plot lines and the ensuing plot and the next fic sort of have the same plot though markedly different settings which is why I have to come up with something new. DAH! THAT is SO HARD! Thanks everyone for reviewing 'Trilogy of a different setting'. I think I will finish that and then this because the former just has a li-ttle bit remaining.
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AFTERLIFE
The tea did spill over.
Matsumoto realised it and turned around, and turned the stove off.
" So this is how your place looks like.", Toushirou looked around as he was released from the reverie and tried to calm down.
" Ya", she smiled at him then noticed that the room was dark except for the moonlight. She hurried to switch the lights on.
Before she could, she saw a hand withholding her wrist. She snapped it back instinctively. Her heart had skipped a few beats. She felt like a school girl and it made her nervous and very angry with herself to see how effected she was. She tried to calm down.
" No lights", Hitsugaya said from beside, "...please"
Matsumoto didn't look at him and hid her face behind her hair holding her wrist with her other hand as if it were hurt. Hitsugaya, to her relief moved away from her, found a chair, pulled it to the window and sat down.
Matsumoto was very disconcerted by her captain's manner. What was wrong?
" Taichou", she turned to him again, regaining her composure, " You came in through the window? How come? You could have rung the bell. Imagine if I thought you were a burglar?"
" It was easier to get in through, I was running on the rooftops."
" Why on earth for? To get here?"
" Where were you throughout the day?"
"Come to check on me since I took the day off? I just wanted to sleep as I was tired.", she lied.
Hitsugaya knew she was avoiding him so he didn't say anything.
"It is very ungentlemanly to come in through a lady's window.". she gently rebuked.
" what's so ladylike in forging my keys?"
"Ookay- guilty on the same count. But wh-"
"I leave today morning."
Matsumoto stiffened, then tried to playfully continue, "Oooh! Another mission on earth? Taichou, am I in or am I out?"
Hitsugaya now turned his eyes away from the outside view and looked at her. He noticed she wasn't coming near, at least not within his hand's reach. Her form was half shadowed by the darkness behind. He could see the outline of her long hair but he could not see the expression on her face. Maybe, he should have let her switch on the lights but he felt, if he saw her face then, he would not have the courage to continue.
"Matsumoto, as of today, I will no more be your captain."
Matsumoto stood very still.
" Wh-why? Are you-?"
"No, I have been reassigned to be one of the Colonels under Mehuel-san."
"Wha-what?", Matsumoto's head was reeling. She knew what it meant. It would mean he wont be back to SS, at least a very long time.
Hitsugaya didn't know how to proceed. He felt awkward. It was so unlike when he asked Hinamori to be his girlfriend. It was easier then , but why did it feel so hard now? What if-?
" Wha-what about--", Matsumoto wanted to say 'me' but she said, " What about Hinamori-san? Will you leave her behind?"
Hitsugaya looked at the front view again. He felt sad for Hinamori... but now,... that he knew how much the woman he was with now... meant to him,... he couldn't just stop himself...anymore.
He sat his elbows on his knees and grasped his hair with clawed hands resting the ends of his forehead on his palms.
"T-taich-"
" I broke up with her."
She was very surprised. Has it come to this? He really is leaving? The fact that he was leaving them for a long time. This fact overrode the guilt that she felt when she realised that she was a bit happy about the break-
"You-you are – really leaving??" , she tried to control the tremor in her voice. She wanted to scream, " What about me??" but she couldn't , she just couldn't voice the words of her heart.
" In 9 hours."
" So you ca-me to say Goodbye...", she closed her eyes in the dark, " ...forever?"
Hitsugaya lifted his head, his eyes looked very tired. He looked older. He didn't want to say goodbye. He knew once he came to her, he would loose the strength to leave.
" Wha- about the 10th Division?"
" You would have to manage by yourself", he said slowly, " I heard someone from Mehuel's army will come to replace me. You will have a new captain, I suppose. "
Matsumoto lost it. She came forward and grabbed him roughly by the collar of his robes, shaking him, her face distraught, and to his surprise, tears streaming down her cheeks, " YOU ARE LEAVING? WHY DID YOU ACCEPT THIS MISSION? DID YOU VOLUNTEER FOR IT? AFTER ALL I HAVE GONE THROUGH? AFTER I CAME BACK???? "
Hitsugaya shaken with the violence, erupted also, " I DIDN'T ACCEPT IT! I WAS FORCED TO! AND ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU WENT THROUGH?? YOU NEARLY KILLED ME!!"
She retorted, "IT'S YOUR FAULT FOR BEING SUCH A STUBBORN FOOL!!" angry for the first time with her captain, and fell to his arms crying on his robes.
Hitsugaya softened as he held her shoulders, touched that she was crying for him, pained that he made her cry, hopeful because she cried for him. He then put her arms around and hugged her. Matsumoto could hear his heart beat and calmed down gradually.
"Matsumoto", he spoke to her in a gentle voice.
His tenderness woke her up, and she broke out from his arms drawing back.
She had to remember her place.
"Gomei-taichou...I-I", she tried to look away and disengage his arm that was still holding her sleeve.
He would not let go, she looked back in surprise. He was looking at her in a way he had never looked at her before. His eyes were sad, gentle and had a loving look. She could not tear her eyes away from his riveting eyes.
"Tai-taichou???"
"Shhh..", this time it was he who put a finger to her lips. They were so soft and felt as sensitive and sensual as they looked. He gazed at her silently as if he had never seen her before.
He traced the back of his finger along her cheek and felt it's smoothness. He noticed how arched her eye-brows were, how perfectly shaped her nose was, how enchanting her eyes were. He traced his finger to the mole under her lip. In a trance-like state, he brought his face nearer to hers and tenderly kissed the mole. Matsumoto entranced herself, closed her eyes and felt his lips upon hers. She felt his breath and with his lips' touch, she felt her heart was squeezed, like she could not breathe.
Hitsugaya's heart beat faster as he finally felt how his first kiss should have tasted like. A wave of pleasure spread through him as he put his arms around her to press her body to his. She put her arms around his neck, naturally, as he bid her with the touch of his lips to open her mouth. He felt each part within her mouth, exploring it, owning it, nibbling her lower lip at times. He could feel his heart rate growing faster with her taste and he couldn't remember anything anymore.
-------
Matsumoto presently realised herself and then pushed him away. Both were panting a bit because they were breathless. Matsumoto covered her lips with the back of her hand and tried to rub off his essence. Her eyes were stricken.
" Wha-what are you doing, taichou?"
Hitsugaya was recovering, and couldn't help smiling.
He folded his hands, leant on the wall and gave her a mischievous side look, " The same as you were doing. "
He knew she liked him, not to mention enjoyed it too! Her physical response was true enough.
Her abashed face did not dull her alluring beauty. He knew, Matsumoto didn't know, that her flushed face was her most captivating look. He doubted many would have seen this face of her, and he felt a bit proud he could make her look that way.
" Don't play with me, taichou! Th-this isn't a joke!", she scolded with passion.
"I wasn't joking.", he said, turning grave again.
He looked up at the ceiling with hands still folded and still leaning on his back on the wall.
"Matsumoto-I... I think..."
He took a deep breath with closed eyes for a moment before he abruptly turned his face at her so that she could not escape getting locked by his mesmerizing eyes once again.
"...I have fallen for you."
----
" S-Say that again...", Matsumoto said, she was standing, looking surprised, not wide-eyed though, just a bit sceptical that he actually said it!!
"I was not joking", he said slowly and deliberately.
"No-no, the one after that", Matsumoto felt that for once the roles had been reversed.
"I called 'Matsumoto", he said still leaning on the wall and not looking at her, a light smile playing on his lips.
"Mou taichou!!!", she said., "The last thing you just said."
"Hmmm...can't seem to remember", he mimicked Matsumoto a little., " Maybe if we tried it once again, it might refresh my memory."
-----
She backed off a bit and said " Don't push your luck, captain!"
This was such a change of personality. For the first time, she seemed to show some awareness that her taichou is no more a boy.
Though it was charming for him to see his vice-captain for once, to be in such a confusion but he sighed mentally.
" Damn! She won't give up without a fight."
Despite what her normal personality is, a very practical or call it stubborn part of hers would show up at times like these.
What was he expecting? Her to jump in joy and fall helpless into his arms, or teasingly play up to the situation a bit and make him feel like a nobody with her levity?
" At least, I now know that I mean something to her."
Hitsugaya was a very pragmatic person, and in every situation, and I mean every situation , he always conjectured the possible problems and instinctively calculated what options he had, to deal with it, in milliseconds before he faced them, even though he wouldn't consciously try to do so.
The histrionically flopping of Matsumoto into his arms was an occurrence that he had credited 0.02 of probability.
The above zero value allotted was due to his laziness that came up when he was really weary.
Possibility number two was of two categories, opposite results in mind.
If she switched or retained a gay attitude, she could either teasingly reject him or teasingly accept him after a cat-playing-with-her-prey game, being the feline that she is.
Acceptance was given a humble 29.49 and rejection was given a credible 48.49.
Possibility number three was a flustered / angry/ anything-that-was-not-like-her-usual-disposition demeanour. That again held two plausible conclusions- same as above. But this was better than dealing with her mirth, this reaction suggested a presumable serious consideration on her part.
Once again, rejection held a strong 13.73 while acceptance held a doubtful 8.27.
The remaining 2 were left to unavoidable interruptions due to someone else being around or popping up, duty calls, etc or if she suddenly decided she would do something else to prolong the moment, or maybe even dismiss it by going out/ sleeping.
Hitsugaya had planned different strategies for each of these conceivable reactions of Matsumoto once he knew he would confess with the flow of the situation.
All in all, he knew Matsumoto's decision won't always be according to what she felt. She would respond in a way that she knew that was good for him...however the consequences hurt her. That was the way she was.
He had to quell her doubts as well as his.
...-------------------------------------
The clock was ticking, and Hitsugaya felt his heart in his mouth. He had to deal with the situation very carefully, enough to show Matsumoto that he had done his part of the thinking, not that she would doubt him at this moment.
Matsumoto felt the darkness protected herself from giving away. She had to count in everyone who might get hurt by what might happen now. She knew she loved Hitsugaya. But acting upon it, making it a reality hadn't been an option for Hinamori's sake not to mention Hitsugaya's. Whatever happened now, this was the only time she could open her heart or shut it forever. After Gin, she didn't feel it was a good idea, to have love especially not at the cost of another.
He knew she would bring the issue of Hinamori now any instant.
"Hin-"
" I met her today morning. I had tried to ask her to take me back." Hitsugaya felt like a lousy lout, understanding the fact that he tried to make it sound that Hinamori was encouraging this...with her tears.
" Take you back..? You mean that you had –she had dumped you??"
"No.", Hitsugaya knew he had to tell the truth, at least be honest with Matsumoto. Enough lies, enough deceit, enough suppression, let it all be in the clear, " I had pushed her to a corner when I decided I would convince you not to leave."
"Pushed her to-?"
"Matsumoto", he had his back to her, looking into the darkness in the other side, hands folded, no more leaning on the wall, " I hadn't realised my thoughts comprised mostly of you. She noticed it, for a long time, I guess. I hadn't noticed, hadn't realised how much I had hurt her by talking mostly about you if not about work or past memories which had ceased to be relevant perhaps a long time ago."
Matsumoto was silently listening. She was looking at her Taichou's back lighted by the mild moonlight coming through the window in between them, the white robe sporting the 10th division symbol, the straight shoulders bowing to no one, the spiky white hair with his head held high, showing his strength of character, and also , ...his going away,...like Gin's...both the men she had loved have shown their retreating backs, leaving her...never to return.
She felt a constriction in her throat once again, and all her resolution was vanishing. She -...
" She told me she didn't want to live with someone who didn't love her."
Matsumoto stopped herself when she was about to advance caught up in her own sense of loss.
" I was lying to her, lying to myself. I-I hadn't thought this through... I should have ...before I brought someone else in. I-"
"Taichou-", Matsumoto put her hand on his shoulder and still stood behind him.
" I understand.", she said.
This didn't sound right. It was like he was being-
" Good night, taichou.", she said desperately holding the tremor in her voice, " It was nice knowing you."
-------------------------
Why? Matsumoto, why?
It wasn't Hitsugaya asking but Matsumoto's heart.
Her reply?
I love him.
I love him so much that I have to let him go, grow up to realise she won't be, she can't be the one for him. He was young, and...well, so was she but still she had seen things he hadn't seen, mature as he might seem to be...they had centuries ahead to regret what they might have done. ... she couldn't do this to someone who was so young, young enough to not know, his decisions might change, so many things, so many possibilities might escape him had she tied him down...she, at this moment, felt this is the surpassing...of her love for her taichou winning over every feeling she had for anyone, anything else.
The ultimate sacrifice in her part.
She felt every feeling, every thought leave her body as she said those words. She hid her face by lowering her head, to mask her zombie-like expression.
Hitsugaya was prepared for this.
She turned to walk away and leave him alone.
" So that's it?"
He didn't turn and neither did she.
She didn't say anything, had stopped and then continued to walk to leave the room, to let him leave the same way he came in.
" Are you going to draw a curtain over this and leave?", he said, his expression was his normal stern one, " Denying yourself, your feelings every time you have scope of fulfillment?"
She stopped. " I don't understand what you mean. What about my feelings? Did you honestly think that I could have hadanything for you?"
She continued to walk a step when she was met with silence.
" You are a coward, Matsumoto. Unexpectedly"
She stopped and then advanced towards the doorway once again. It was childish to expect that these words could provoke her, she thought.
" You think I am going to say you are afraid of getting hurt.", he said, " But I won't."
She did stop once again. It was interesting to her how he read her thoughts.
" I know you more than anyone though I have been the least time with you compared with your former captain and even Gin, with whom you have compared me more than often."
" Despite what you think, I also do know it IS true you are afraid of getting hurt, but that is not all there is to it."
She was listening very intently now. It had suddenly turned into a battle of wits or something like that it seemed.
" What is it, pray tell me?"
" You are a coward..."
" That is what I have heard, what's the rest?"
" ...for not looking into the future. For not wanting to be a part of it, for leaving it to me, ...perhaps Hinamori also, and all the others ...you consider not yet burnt out. Isn't that why you drink every night?"
How puerile, she thought. Actually, flinging that at me, you sound like a kid who has lost his last game and is just fumbling about for self-gratification with wicked words, she thought vehemently.
" I have followed rules always but it's time I learnt not to get caught up in it...like you should...you who have always followed rules, despite what you behave like, you have always always followed orders. Never openly contesting them, accepting fate,... still you complained to everyone and to me at times. I liked this part of you. I thought you were one of the few ones who dared to defy with reason. With you by my side, I found sense in every thing I did and I was meant to do. But now, I see you bound again by rules, by what had happened to you in the past, not believing that the future is going to be different, that you could overcome it, whatever crosses your path. You underestimate me and yourself!"
Matsumoto found herself furious, and she turned around.
" Don't think you know me with that lame deduction of yours! "
Hitsugaya turned also challenging her, " Prove it! Prove that you are not a coward! Prove it to me in the best way you can!"
Hitsugaya retracted his sword, and said, " Fight with me!"
I don't know exactly if it is true, but I think in many warrior cultures, you could prove your point if you won a duel/ fight. Is that true?
---------
They were at the flat land close to the roof of Matsumoto's quarters as the topography was like stepping plateau. There was 7 and a half hours left to go before he left. They had been fighting for almost an hour.
She was exhausted. She never could counter Hitsugaya's Bankai and she hadn't yet realised her own.
Every time she had tried before, she failed, wondering what was lacking.
Why was tonight different?
It was different. Every thrust of her sword was directed with fury in her body, at her situation, at her captain's 'mocking' of her reasons. She had never fought with only passion and no desperation before. It was like her captain's words had awoken the lioness in her.
The air was thick with ashes but washed down with water from Hitsugaya's Zanpakutou.
She thought, She needed fire, not ashes, fire to give her anger true form.
As her reiatsu dampened while her captain's remained the same, tiredness coursed through her body weakening it, her spirit was yet to diminish. She hadn't felt this tired in ages and this angry since she saw her instructor in her academy ridiculing her after which she discovered her first release of her Zanpakutou.
She held herself, burying the tip of her sword in the ground, she was panting and saw that her captain was also panting when she saw him, suddenly swinging a direct attack, it was those moments where a mini-break was unspokenly understood. He was playing dirty!
" Where's your Bankai?", his taunting words seemed to be the last thing she heard before she lost her senses.
She hadn't fainted but something definitely did happen to her as she spilled out words that came to her mind,
" BURN WITH RAGING FURY, HAINEKO!"
Her sword erupted into ashes once more, spread through the air and each particle burst into flames, then converging in front of her, into a huge burning, lion??
A loud hiss was heard as Hyourinmaru clashed into the burning animal form, the water evaporating forcibly from the heat given out by the collision.
Matsumoto stood dumbfounded as the smoke of the impact cleared, she saw her captain stood on the opposite side, smiling calmly, saying, " Congratulations, Matsumoto! I have finally fulfilled my last duty as your captain."
He collapsed. Matsumoto didn't understand what had happened until she saw a huge burn mark on the ground trailing all back to Hitsugaya. Apparently, Hitsugaya let out Hyourinmaru in 10 percent of the normal force otherwise the burning Haineko would not have been able to evaporate him due to its sheer volume. The negative point was that his ice wings weren't able to counter the backlash that the reborn Haineko dealt and Hitsugaya once again took Matsumoto's attack almost with open arms.
-----------
" You knew, didn't you?", Matsumoto said to Hitsugaya's sleeping face placed comfortably on her pillow. They were both on her bed. He laying down, she sitting by his side watching him yet again. She had managed to get his body there though he seemed really heavier than he was 2 years ago. She had laid him on his side facing her, as she feared he would fall off had she laid him on his back.
He fortunately wasn't hurt, but was exhausted, dealing with all he had to deal with in the day, fighting to keep his Bankai from hurting her which she in her blind rage had failed to see, working her up, pushing her buttons, all while in control of himself.
Even though she felt it was childish of her, she thought, she couldn't help feeling a rush of gratitude towards him. This act of consideration reminded her of all the times he had picked up after her, cleaning up her messes, like a true friend...like how a man would pick up after his woman, she realised with a blush.
True, Hitsugaya was a man to her in all his might. Never for once, though his appearance sometimes made her realise he was a kid, but never for once did he slacken or show any weakness or perform an action akin to a child's in front of anybody let alone her.
" You are almost like my man, taichou"
She placed her hand above his flick of hair falling on the left side of his face when Hitsugaya's left hand abruptly clasped her wrist and his eyes flipped open revealing he was wide awake.
Clearly, he had been awake long enough to hear her last words, for he replied.
" Let us make that true, then."
----------
She was caught by surprise. He recovered in just half an hour of sleeping! 6 and half hours till he left.
"Wai-wait", she couldn't help shying off to this aggressively masculine attitude of his. She was ashamed to think she was...turned on!
Both were being completely uncharacteristic of their usual selves. Love does make you different, doesn't it?
He pulled her hand behind as she tried to retract it and sidle off but then she realised, Hitsugaya was indeed physically stronger than her. With a sharp pull, he had made her fall to his side, close enough for him to whisper in her ear.
"I can't wait anymore." , he said in a whisper, his eyes so intense that Matsumoto couldn't look away.
" I am at my limit. You have tormented and teased me enough. Now, let me have my fill."
Ever since the realisation that he loved Matsumoto, Hitsugaya couldn't stop his lust for her creeping on in him. Especially when in close proximity of her.
Even before that, Hinamori was the factor that kept him on leash not to mention his own personality, of even realising that he desired her in that way.
The effects of the kiss were not forgotten. He knew what she tasted like and wanted to explore more.
Instinct had taken over and his love for her made her even more desirable. He didn't want to hurt her. And he had decided he would stop if she resisted.
Matsumoto had felt her captain's strength, felt his breath on her cheek, felt his gaze on her as she lowered her eyes unable to hold herself. She could feel how gingerly he held her as if she were a delicate object, she was surprised to realise his shoulders were wider than hers, giving him enough expanse to protectively hold her.
She could smell him and feel how supple his body was, how hard and well-defined his musculature was as she placed a hand on his chest looking back at his eyes wanting to defy him but unable to do so.
She felt like a woman in his arms... cared for, treated preciously as he didn't make sudden moves. It was as if he was waiting for her to give the green signal, though not letting her go as he engulfed her between his arms.
He could smell her hair as she lowered her head trying to hide her eyes. she seemed soft and delicate, a fact he never anticipated. Her shoulders were so thin, she was so feminine. He did all he could to hold back but not allowing her to escape, waiting before he could get her approval.
"Matsu-moto"
"Taichou-", her voice was soft, relenting, " tomorrow morning, you wil-"
" I--- , I will let go if you tell me now... Do you understand?", he now had hid his eyes in her hair as she looked down from her stance.
She nodded her head.
" But if you don't...I will not hold back... I will go all the way...", his voice was a bit hoarse.
Matsumoto sensed the tension and couldn't help being affected also. Both of them were breathing hard already. It was like they were charged and tried to brace themselves, collect themselves before they went mad.
Matsumoto turned while still locked between his arms. She could see his face and his eyes, they were looking at her, the real her and no other.
He could see her feelings reflected in the liquid eyes, her perfect features, her lip quivered before she drew her face closer to his and kissed him in response.
...and agreement.
-----------------
Like a hungry tiger suddenly let out of his cage, 'her approval' made his desire escalate to vulnerable heights which he tried to control desperately, trying not to hurt her. However, the thought that this must not be Matsumoto's first time did keep him in check for a moment but after that, his drive returned in twofold. The pace was made right gradually and naturally.
Her undressed body had staggered him a bit. She might have exposed her cleavage quite a lot but the sharp contrast of her slender waist and how flat and taut the skin over her abs were, enhanced the fact of how truly beautiful she was, not to mention her curvy hips and her muscled, shapely long legs. She didn't have a single extra inch of fat and her skin was so smooth and tanned that he finally understood the true significance of Shunsui's insistence that he was 'lucky'. Her blonde hair shone like silken strands in the moonlight coming through the bedroom window, her eyes were like phials of shimmering blue fluid and her lips so sensual that he... Even though he had seen her in a bikini quite a few times but he still wasn't prepared for this...
"Taichou, are you alright?"
He hadn't realised he had been staring all this while Matsumoto coloured a bit...resulting in him doing the same.
She blushed for a different reason also besides his staring.
Hitsugaya was by no means left behind in physical beauty himself though he wasn't aware of it.
His naked lean body was packed with compact muscles giving his body a form to close perfection of masculine beauty. ...countered with his chiselled facial features making his slightly slanted luminous green eyes shaped by dark lashes all the more startling. She was as tongue-tied as he was.
As they both admired each other, they both mentally agreed, that shinigami robes did not do justice to what lay underneath.
Hitsugaya also came to realise that rather than looking at it, 'devouring' her beauty was more pleasurable. He finally got to feel the tantalizing mounds that teased everyone else, felt the curve of her back, the sweet smell of her skin, the exhilarating sound of her moans intoxicated him. Her warmth, the sensation of her breathing against him, the feeling of oneness as he entered her, he drank in every moment of their love-making.
Even though, he tried to control his sounds but he as well as she lost themselves during their climaxes, when water and fire met each other.
He couldn't get enough of her. The more he explored her, the more he wanted her and satiation seemed a far cry as he went on again and again until they fell back thoroughly exhausted.
As he was panting with the exertion, he felt her rest her head on his shoulder as she fell asleep. He gingerly lifted her head to place his arm underneath her neck and around her shoulders.
" I want to be with you forever."
He whispered to his beloved as she felt sleep. Her peacefulness, her presence finally made him feel complete and he hoped,
" Let the morning never come."
-----------------
Mehuel headed the earth division of the death gods. His Army was the largest among all armed forces in the whole of SS.
It was divided into 14 sections spreading amongst the land inhabited by human beings. North America formed section 1, section 2 and section 3 together while South America formed section 4 and section 5 as Africa was divided into section 6 and section 7. Australia and a small part of Asia formed section 8.
The Eurasian formed the last 6 sections and Karakura city as well as whole of Japan fell under section 10.
The earth division was actually responsible for death burials of all human beings amongst many other things.
Except for section 10 where the activity of the hollows were maximum the spirit circle concentration being the most in this section. This section was more or less maintained by SS who didn't do a great job of maintaining the balance of the souls hence the high birth rate and the not adequate death rate. At one point of time when section 10 had a Colonel who quit after deciding to be a doctor and a family, it was quite peaceful but currently, there was no colonel in this section and it was understood since a long time ago, there wouldn't be one as SS were in charge here.
Masanori Mehuel was the General of the Earth Division , the Daichi Gunryo. He had 3 Lieutenant Generals and 13 Major Generals under him. The Major Generals were the nominal heads of the 13 divisions and the intermediary of the 13 Colonels of the 13 sections between the centre and the sections. The colonels did the majority of the work while their Major Generals spoke at the central meetings with the General and Lieutenant Generals on their behalf. Thus, each of the Colonels had 5 majors under them with Lieutenant Colonels being 1 or two depending upon how many the Colonel wanted to keep, to help them. The 5 majors actually were responsible for the divisions within the section. Thus, all the sections were divided into 5 divisions, once again maintained by the Majors with their lower rankers there to help them.
As SS maintained section 10 while the Daichi Gunryo maintained the rest of the globe, there were little chances, anyone could meet another of the other divisions in the field.
Hitsugaya was supposed to be appointed as a Colonel of one of the other 13 sections which naturally would take him far away from section 10 where he could have scope to meet anyone from SS.
-----------------
"Unohana-san? You are up so early?", Isane interjected, rubbing her eyes.
Unohana was sitting at her usual place on the platform of the 4th division watching the Sun paling the horizon with its brilliant light as it announced the dawn.
Unohana turned around, smiling gracefully and greeted her fukataichou.
" Don't you think the Sun is a bit slow to rise today?", she said.
" Eh?", Isane who didn't catch what she said.
Unohana said nothing.
Isane sat beside her captain, one of things she loved to do.
Isane presently felt she wanted to make conversation so she asked whatever popped into her mind.
" Captain?"
"Hmm"
" I have been meaning to ask, who exactly is Mehuel-sama?"
" As far as I know, he used to be the current General's sempai."
"Oooh! You mean he is older than Yamamoto-sama??"
"Hmm, yes. And if I am not very wrong, he used to be the captain of the 1st Division before he accepted the post of being the General of the Daichi Gunryo"
"You-you mean that--"
"Yes, he is the predecessor of the current General."
------------------
The morning did come. Hitsugaya was already clothed in his captain's garb and standing in front of the mirror adjusting his clothing. He was waiting for Matsumoto to wake up. It was almost time to leave. He wanted to wake her up and see her eyes once more.
He turned and sat on the bed. His heart lurched when he gazed upon her. He felt he was going to leave a part of him behind. She would not wake up and he didn't have the heart to disturb her.
"I will come back, I promise. I will find a way out of this. Please stay strong.", he said as he kissed her hair.
He took one last long look at her, to capture her image in his mind and then took to the roof tops once again through the window.
Matsumoto opened her eyes once he left the vicinity. She was awake. She hated goodbyes, and now, she knew she would hate saying goodbye to her captain the most. Her former captain that is.
Her heart sank when she felt his presence fading and she buried her face in the pillow. Her hand felt something on the side of the pillow, and she picked up her face to see what it was.
It was a dull silver ring, quite old with a star encrusted with minute diamonds. It was a symbol of the wielder of the oldest and strongest of the ice and water Zanpakutou, gifted to Hitsugaya by Hyourinmaru once the former achieved his Bankai. Hitsugaya would not part with it for the world...until now..
It was too early in the morning to cry but the tears sprang up stubbornly from her eyes and wetted the pillow.
------------------
Hitsugaya had sensed she was awake. His heart felt like a cold lump of ice as he shot through the air on the rooftops. He could also sense that she was crying at the moment.
"Matsumoto", he murmured and slackened his speed unknowingly.
-------------
"RENJI!!", Ichigo had finally caught onto Renji. The daylight was still to spread and Renji had woken up Ichigo from his peaceful slumber with a bucket of water, had himself chased all the way on the direction to the 10th Division Lieutenant's quarters.
Renji had been very worried about Matsumoto all the night and vowed to check on her first thing in the morning. The bet, the gossips of the public had all gone out of the window when Hitsugaya's reassignment was announced.
Renji suddenly stopped on his tracks to which Ichigo had finally manage caught up to the fleeing perpetrator. Renji was looking at the sky in wonder and pointed at something. Ichigo's eyes followed the direction and he could make out a running form on the rooftops. It was slow enough to make out the silver spiky hair.
Both chimed.
"Hitsugaya-taichou??"
"Toushirou??"
They were near enough the 10th division vice-captain's quarters for Renji to figure out where he came from.
Being the man that he is, Abarai immediately singled out the reason. Ichigo didn't know where Matsumoto lived or why both of them were headed there. All he knew that Hitsugaya was heading out pretty fast. He tugged on the collar of the slightly stunned Renji.
"Oye! Renji! Why were we headed to Toushirou's place? It's no more our business anyway. We did all we could last night. It was up-"
"He doesn't live there", Renji pointed, " His Lieutenant does."
Renji looked at Ichigo who took a few moments to grasp the implication then turned beet-red.
Both jumped aside.
" Last goodbye, early morning, that's what it was", insisted Ichigo scratching his head.
" Sodana. Yes! That is what it was!", Renji said embarrassed, following suit.
In both of their minds, rang a common thought.
"Lucky Bastard!"
-------
Hitsugaya was late, for the first time in his life.
He was met with the General at the venue, and his vice-captain,Sasakibe Chojirou.
No one else was in sight, not that he expected it.
He was pretty sure that those who would try to meet him, were ordered to leave.
" The old man's grudge bears no bounds", Hitsugaya muttered under his breath.
There was a big gape on the wall in front. He would not take the normal exit as he was supposed to directly land on Mehuel's island.
He took a deep breath and took a step then retracted it, remembering to say something important to Yamamoto.
After that, Hitsugaya left Soul Society.
...----------------------
Matsumoto stared at the ring on her finger. She had never seen it worn by Hitsugaya. It was late morning, almost noon. It was after a Lieutenants' meeting. She hid herself in the woman's restroom not wanting to face pointed queries about how she was or either condolences or congratulations for her former captain's promotion. She even caught Abarai staring at her a number of times who would hastily turn away when she met his eyes. she could have sworn that he would turn a shade of crimson, at least his ears would.
She sighed. Could she be any more depressed?
"I see the captain made his point."
Matsumoto jumped. Nanao was eyeing her chest, not to ogle (she's straight! As far as I know) but to bring into notice that it was covered and the comment was her deduction from this.
Matsumoto caught off-guard reddened a bit then recovered (she had a knack of covering her moods) and playfully said, " Oh! Whatever do you mean, Nanao-san?"
"I mean hickeys. He definately wants to mark his territory--"
"Ohh! It's a shame , I can't hide anything from you but then again, you must be pret-ty EXPERIENCED in this!!"
It was Nanao's turn to get flustered as she pressed the neck of her glasses.
"I-I ---Shunsui-san would never-!!"
"Ara! Did I mention Shunsui-taichou?", Matsumoto put a finger on her cheek.
Matsumoto was indomitable so Nanao changed the topic, and stated the true purpose of her appearing there.
"Yamamoto-sama wants to see you."
-----------------
Mehuel resided in the main headquarters in an unplotted island in the middle of the pacific ocean protected from intruders and boats by a force field which also rendered the whole island invisible. This island was called Gehilin. The research and development department was with the main headquarters. The technology, so to speak, belonged to Daichi Gunryo and had no connection with the 12th Division in SS.
Hitsugaya was a bit overwhelmed how incredibly big the whole place was and the futuristic look of it. Also, he sensed the incredible amount of spiritual particles and energy all around the island , maybe as much as SS.
He was ushered towards the apparently main building reminiscent of Las Noches by a masked shinigami whose collars were grey and the colour of his robe was not quite black with a slight velvety look suggesting that the material was thicker than what they wore in Seireitei. Hitsugaya had noticed, that the station of the shinigami leading the way, was marked by huge blue metal star crests at the back of the robe, under which was a white symbol for Earth in Japanese .
He recognised it to be of a Major General. By the hierarchy in the DG (Daichi Gunryo), a colonel would be of an equal rank to a Major General where the latter was the representative of the former in Gehilin.
Still, Hitsugaya was quite surprised that such a high ranking shinigami would be entrusted to greet him. He expected no more than a private or at tops a sergeant to do the job. It mystified him.
Once inside the main building, the population within was sparse.
The masked MG took him through a maze of doors with fewer and fewer people around. Every door seemingly had no security until, Hitsugaya noticed that the doors would part at a finger's distance from the one he was following. He assumed that the MG was being his key through the path to meet the DG General. Still, he couldn't pinpoint how was the MG verifying himself through each door.
" So this is the technology of Daichi Gunryo."
Hitsugaya wondered how far had they surpassed SS if indeed they had.
Finally, they seemed to have reached the last door, for the masked shinigami had made it open but stood aside to let the newcomer in instead of coming in himself.
Hitsugaya hesitated a moment before he entered. The setup was so different from SS, that he felt he was entering a new world.
The numerous levels of hierarchy had confused him a bit when he first came to know of it. The thing that even surprised him more was that why was he appointed to such a high level at first step though he knew he wouldn't be satisfied with anything lesser. One thing that bugged him was why had Mehuel specified that he wanted someone, at present a captain, no less, from Gotei 13.
In front of him was a large white space and an old man in shinigami robes was seated in between 2 circular tables lined with chairs on the outer sides of both . He counted 13 to be exact around the outer table, three around the circular table bordered by the outer table and an old man seated at the centre of the concentric tables. There was a space between the circumferences of the circular tables for the chairs as well as a pathway to enter them blocked from view due to the occupied central chair.
Hitsugaya then noticed that all the walls weren't white, in fact there were mirrors placed in such a way that you could not detect their presence at first glance. Hitsugaya guessed that since the one seated in between would have the chance to face everyone and look at the mirrors to have a full scale view of everyone seated, it was a method to look at every one without loosing the central seat. Actually, maybe everyone could see everyone here at a glance.
Still, the whiteness of the whole building, the corners, the confusing doors screamed Las Noches to him.
"Aizen was here once" , said a low voice.
Hitsugaya's attention shifted to the old man again. He was the one Hitsugaya had had a voice-conference with in SS. He looked like General Yamamoto back in SS except he seemed a bit more docile than the former.
Hitsugaya coughed at his recollection and bowed. He waited for his new superior to speak. But the unmoving figure would not go beyond the last words.
Hitsugaya presently wondered whether he himself was supposed to start.
"Hitsugaya Toushirou, former 10th Division captain of Gotei 13 at your service. General.", he bowed again.
Finally the old man said, "Please to be acquainted. Have a chair, captain."
As Hitsugaya took a chair, a head suddenly popped out from a door on the wall, behind the old man and smiled at him.
Hitsugaya was a bit taken aback. He hadn't noticed there was a door there!
No, the door appeared from the wall just now!
The intruder stepped in and Hitsugaya could see he was another old man, not very different looking from the first except the one tooth smile that made him look extremely harmless, his eyes squinted by his smile because of which you could barely see his eyeballs let alone his irises. The new person's face had a very emaciated look and despite the fact that he stood pretty tall, his robes were bigger than he was, so it seemed. Also, there was a metal band around his neck that shone like solid gold. He looked a bit like a monk.
A Lieutenant General perhaps.
Hitsugaya could see that the smiling old man did not have a mirror behind him and as the latter approached Hitsugaya, his back did not show any stars when it did come under view.
Puzzling.
The seated old man ignored the presence of the other as he continued.
"Please give me a short description of your achievements during your captainhood and then tell me what you know about Daichi Gunryo."
" Didn't he read my file?", Hitsugaya thought but showed no change in expression.
As he complied, Hitsugaya noticed that he couldn't feel a single drop of reiatsu from either, maybe a slight one from the middle one as he sharpened his radar, one of the best in SS, when heightened to its extreme.
With time, Hitsugaya also realised the two old men actually were similar in features though not expression. They would have to be something like brothers then.
" Before you let him go, Masa-san, may I ask something of this young fellow?", the cheerful old man chirped in.
Hitsugaya had already finished what he had to say and turned to the standing old man also waiting for 'Masa-san' to approve.
"Go ahead."
"Much obliged", the sprightly one offered, " Now, tell me.."
He finally opened his squinted eyes, " Why do you think Hyourinmaru asked you to take him in, after 5 days after you achieved your Bankai? "
Hitsugaya was stunned. He had never told this fact to anyone! He had let everyone believe that he obtained his Bankai in 7 days not 2. He was sure he didn't even tell Hinamori he had obtained his Bankai in such a short time let alone anyone else. At that moment, he also realised that Matsumoto hadn't ever posed him this question. She never DID have a determination of attaining her Bankai before last night, did she?
But the tension of his current situation brought him back. The fact that he did not KNOW the answer!!
Hyourinmaru had never told him why he wanted those five days??!!
--------------
Think, Toushirou, Think! You know the old dragon better than anybody in both the worlds now, now that he LIVES within you.
Lives within you? That's it! It was a guess he hazarded. But this has to be it.
" He wanted to go through the cycle of water before he was eternally captured within me. To live like he used to in freedom for the last 5 days."
Hitsugaya could finally see the eyes of the questioner. They were golden, as bright as the gold band around his neck and a black cross cutting his irises, like the eyes of the king of the Jungle.
He did not have any doubts now.
Hyourinmaru had once told him, the strongest and rarest of the Zanpakutous, before which even he, the dragon of ice and water would feel intimidated did not come in the form of a sword. It was not required. There was only one of its kind, it was called Seishin. Two of its known capabilities was mind reading and mind control of any being, living or dead, and could affect as many and as far as the whole of the living world if required.
Hitsugaya bowed, " My apologies for not recognising you, General Mehuel-sama."
------------
Yuu Sanada looked at Ryo Chevon obliquely. Like the many times before, he wondered what the latter was thinking. Ryo's face was as expressionless as it was the first time Yuu met him, of course, the calm disdainful look was there as well.
Ryo was standing at the end of the corridor of the fourth floor and watching outside the window from where he could see the rock pillar entrance of Fudoushima. All preparations were done though they had started from the morning a day before.
" Never knew the old General would actually bring someone from outside? Eh, Roy?"
Yuu was the only one who could call Ryo 'Roy' and on a first name basis.
Yuu's comment irritated Ryo but he simply asked where the others were.
"Hmm, Akane is waiting with Fumio at the office. Shin is at the entrance of this building looking at the gateway as you are."
Ryo raised an eye-brow that Fumio Uesugi was waiting with a woman at the same place, especially Akane Minamoto. He didn't say anything, however.
Yuu continued, " The moon maiden is missing at daylight as usual."
Ryo didn't need to know that neither had he asked. He knew Tsukiko Kusunoki better than the others though he never showed it. Ryo and Tsukiko joined the Daichi Gunryo together. Yuu came later.
Ryo wondered, " How long ? How long before I get my due?", his steel gray eyes hardened.
--------------
Matsumoto's head was reeling a bit as she stepped out of Yamamoto's office.
She finally got the opportunity to be the 10th division captain. Hitsugaya had had a few words with the General that morning before he left, asking what stood on the way of Matsumoto in succeeding him. It was a known fact that Matsumoto hadn't yet achieved her Bankai for quite sometime and as the General put in that she would not qualify for that singular reason. Hitsugaya also queried about the newcomer who had his Bankai already and as a final request as a captain, Hitsugaya recommended that the winner of the duel between Goro Masurao (the shinigami transferred from DG) and Matsumoto be chosen as his successor, calmly inserting the fact that Matsumoto had accomplished the final release of her soul slayer.
Yamamoto had summoned her to introduce her to Masurao and laid out Hitsugaya's condition. The battle lasted for 15 minutes. After fighting Hyourinmaru, Matsumoto had all the training she needed to defeat her rival to the 10th division captain's seat.
After she won the combat, Yamamoto gave her a choice yet again. It was a decision between her two main priorities at that moment. You had to sacrifice one to achieve the other. She bid some time to think.
Yamamoto surprisingly suggested that she should take the day off and left it to the third seat of the 10th division to show the new vice-captain, Goro around . For a change, Matsumoto didn't want the day off. But the General was insistent.
Matsumoto wanted to jump to the opportunity but she thought what if he thought last night was a mistake?
She felt so hollow, the victory, her achievement was so hollow. Was this the feeling of being a new captain? She didn't feel like it changed her life. She felt-
"Rangiku-san?"
Matsumoto was lost in thought once again in the middle of the street and as a déjà-vu , she saw it was Hinamori again who woke her up from her abstraction.
Kira was standing behind her. Apparently, he and Hinamori were walking together.
" Ah! Hi-namori-san...", she was the last person Matsumoto wanted to meet.
She didn't know what to say to her.
But Hinamori smiled, " Don't worry. I am alright. Did you meet him yesterday?"
"Uh-yea..."
Hinamori seemed okay. " Don't worry, I am okay. Really I am."
Matsumoto found it hard to believe her but she herself in her heart sensed no resentment nor overwhelming sorrow emanating from the delicate Hinamori.
In truth, Hinamori was much better. Last night, she had sat with Kira watching the stars after she had gone through all the crying and was in the peaceful episode that ensures after one bitterly sheds tears.
Then Kira tentatively spoke about his former captain.
Despite the fact, that Gin did keep his traitorous operations a secret, and manipulated him, Kira knew the most about his captain than any other in SS, even more than Matsumoto.
Hinamori came to know about his sadistic affection for Matsumoto. Kira had stopped counting the number of times Matsumoto was left hanging in the 3rd division office, where Gin would make her wait for hours after a few minutes of meeting her, how he had played with her and during some rare moments, displayed endearment just enough to make her feel he was back to how he was in their Rukongai days. It was pretty clear that Gin had kept Matsumoto locked in a cage, he would not feed the bird yet he would not let her go.
"But why wouldn't she just leave him?", Hinamori a bit surprised how submissive Matsumoto seemed.
Kira timidly replied, " Ah...Hinamori-san, I thought that you of all people would realise it."
Hinamori was a bit confused when she understood, it was how she was with Aizen though it was more one-sided on her part.
She finally understood the pain Matsumoto had gone through. Hinamori then, because of her own innate kindness, thought that it would have been a blessing to have fallen in love with someone as intrinsically good as Hitsugaya.
Hinamori had looked at the crescent moon. Maybe, it was time to let go of both of them- the man she had loved but who didn't stay with her and the man who had loved her, stayed with her but whose heart she couldn't keep.
" You know what Gin-san had said, when he saw Matsumoto-san the first time with Hitsugaya-taichou?", Kira said remiscently.
Hinamori said no.
"He said that his pet bird had found the key."
-----------------
"I have been thinking for quite sometime to have Section 10 re-formed.", Mehuel begun.
Hitsugaya felt a wave rise in his chest.
" I have spoken to Shigekuni about it". It took sometime for Hitsugaya to realise that Mehuel was referring to Yamamoto-Genryusai.
M:"Your five majors and 2 Lieutenant Generals,... no one of them at the moment, are already waiting for you in Fudoushima."
H: "Fudou-shima?"
M: "It's the section 10 headquarters above the spirit lake, Ma-re-ku"
The name of the lake sounded extremely familiar to Hitsugaya who knew the geography of section 10 as well as all the other captains in SS.
Mehuel reading his mind, explained.
"Yes, you are right", as if Hitsugaya had spoken, "The new headquarters of section 10 is in Karakura city."
-----------------------------
Hitsugaya was travelling through the teleporting channel which was like a level escalator, guided by the masked MG whose name he came to know was Isao Kameningen. Hitsugaya had already changed into his new set of section 10 Colonel's robe which he realised was extremely comfortable.
Now that the initial part of his journey was over, Hitsugaya was left with his thoughts, his mind immediately came to Matsumoto. What was she doing? Was she alright? Did the General take his suggestion? Was she finally the 10th Division captain? Would he meet her soon in active duty if by some blessing of fate, she came down for a mission?
If she was a captain already, it might be harder for her to come to Earth. But he just might meet her again sooner than it would have been had he been appointed the Colonel of a different part of the globe.
He felt her absence. There were so many things he felt he wanted to tell her... He brushed these thoughts aside.
Hitsugaya had no MG to represent him at Gehilin as the workload with the SS was lesser. He was to make up for it by having direct video conferences at regular intervals with the General himself. He also came to know that the DG division for section 10 had existed for just above 1 year. The upper strata of this division comprised of shinigamis from other sections but who originally came from this part of the world. There was a temporary unofficial Colonel for the last few months but from what Mehuel had said, Hitsugaya could discern that he was 'driven' out...by his subordinates, maybe?
He wanted to get to know where he stood before planning what to do next. He was sure that skipping some steps in between won't be taken lightly by his new subordinates especially with the way he looked. It would invite more troubles than it had when he was first appointed captain of the 10th division.
He felt a taste of excitement for the first time in months. Despite his calm exterior, Hitsugaya liked challenges. He wasn't called a child prodigy for nothing!
------------------------------------
" Who is THIS Hitsugaya Toushirou?", Yuu voiced Ryo's inner thoughts or so he thought.
Ryo didn't respond. He was used to Yuu's 'illogical' taunts but a slight flick of his steel gray irises could cut off the other in mid-sentence. Yuu knew his place at those times.
They were walking towards the office of the new Colonel. News had reached them that the new boss had reached the terminus.
The view that met Hitsugaya's eyes as he stepped in between the guarding pillars of Fudoushima was a smaller SS, almost. Except the robes the shinigamis wore were of the same texture and colour that he had seen in Gehilin, however, they had no grey collars and no markings on their backs to denote their station. And ...there were even released souls residing with the shinigamis!!
He could see plain clothes souls around. He pointed at them and questioned the MG about it.
" They are pluses who can't return to SS even with the ritual of soul burial owing to violent deaths, death at very old age etc. They hang around here until that building there" Isao pointed to a tower like structure with a single base window in front of which a queue stood, " announces that they could enter the cycle of reincarnation."
" So they wait...", Hitsugaya said.
"...until their number comes up."
Hitsugaya thought about their situation and wondered if the shinigamis for the DG were recruited from THESE pluses. He watched a very bent, wrinkly, skinny old man on a stick with dark glasses walking blindly and actually very close to him. he had a bald head and a little pony tail with the sparse hair that remained.
He had come very close to them and the MG stopped with Hitsugaya by his side giving him way to pass in front, when suddenly the plus lost his footing and fell on Hitsugaya's chest.
Hitsugaya, a bit surprised, held the old man by his shoulders who was shorter than him. Suddenly he felt bony hands groping his chest!
Hitsugaya jumped a bit and threw him on Isao, disgusted with the sensation.
" What is with you??"
From behind, a female plus wearing a nurse's outfit was running towards them crying, " Oyaji!!"
Isao said not a bit fazed, "I see you are up to your tricks again, old man."
" Damn, even this one isn't a woman. TOO many men! They have TOO many men in here! Not very healthy for a virile man like me!"
The female plus, (Mimi) panted on her knees and scolded, " Awww! Isao-san! Even you could have stopped him! He's molesting teenagers you know!"
Hitsugaya winced but at least 'teenager' was more acceptable than 'kid'.
Isao said calmly, " This is the opening ceremony of every new entrant to this base."
"Opening ceremony??", Hitsugaya felt a vein pop on his head.
Isao turned his masked face towards Hitsugaya and simply said.
"Welcome to Fudoushima, Colonel."
--------------------------
" What are you doing?", Ryo's deep voice rang out.
Akane had bounded Fumio with pink strands of fabric to a chair. At Ryo's appearance, the pink strands vanished.
"Hmmm..That at least solves the mystery of how Fumio was with Akane here.", murmured Yuu.
At the entrance of the same building, Hitsugaya was introduced by Isao to one of his Majors, a looming tall fellow with trusting blue eyes and crinkly black hair. One look at him, and Hitsugaya knew, this one would be an ally.
He had a very serious look on his face and bowed obeisantly. The new Colonel's obvious youthfulness did not deter his sense of duty, it seemed though his face registered some surprise.
" That's one down, 6 more to go."
Hitsugaya followed Major Shin Saigo up the building.
He was given way on the door to his new office, he looked around as the Isao introduced him to the other Majors.
"Major Fumio Uesugi "
Fumio stood looking straight. His robes were open giving a good look at his buffed chest and a huge tattoo across his torso. He hated women. Hitsugaya guessed this man liked fighting and the green pendant as well as his left eye had something to do with his Zanpakutou. He bowed stiffly.
Ally or not? neither at present, he decided.
"Major Yuudai Sanada"
He wore coloured glasses, a shirt like inner with the collar coming out. He had a shameless look on his face and bowed with mocking respect.
Hitsugaya thought, " Flirty, sceptical, not easily convinced."
Hitsugaya decided he would be trouble.
"Major Akane Minamoto"
She had a dazed look in her eyes, she simply stared at the young Colonel. It was as if she couldn't believe it. Hitsugaya sensed she would be trouble in a different way. She forgot to bow but did a hasty one when she got a side look from Shin.
" Likes to play around, probably loud."
Hitsugaya decided that maybe it was better she wasn't an ally.
"Major Tsukiko Kusunoki isn't here yet.", a deep voice from the doorway behind Hitsugaya startled him a bit.
This wasn't Imao who spoke. Hitsugaya turned around to see another officer enter. At first look, he looked stately and gave out an icy aura enhanced by his cool grey eyes. his hair was a mixture of grey and black strands tied low by an Egyptian bow, the ends of his alternate coloured hair coming down and then rising up to his shoulders. His angular face had an impassive look with a tinge of disdain. He walked to the new Colonel with a grace that suggested nobility, lightly reminiscent of the 6th division captain but this one was taller and his voice was indeed deep, sort of suggesting he did not spoke unless he had to.
Hitsugaya could see he would be attractive to women.
The newcomer stood tall in front of him, Hitsugaya knew this one would be the biggest trouble of all. Due to his hostile expression, attitude or aura? No, because the lack of it. And because, Hitsugaya intuitively felt so.
" Feels threatened by my placement, probably was aiming for the Colonel's seat before I stepped in. Dark character under a calm exterior."
He bowed slightly in a dignified manner.
" This is Ryo Chevon, your Lieutenant ."
" Please to meet you.", Ryo said looking down at his new superior.
------------------
Hitsugaya showed acknowledgement to Ryo as he did to the others. As was his general character, his own face did not show any change from his characteristic scowl. He could tell though that all in the room with the exception of Imao were astonished at his age and it was obvious they felt hostile, excluding Shin.
Still he wondered two were missing, the fifth Major and the second Lieutenant Colonel.
"I was told there was another Lieutenant Colonel.", Hitsugaya said since this wasn't mentioned.
Everyone but Isao were surprised.
A familiar voice from the doorway called, " Excuse me, Colonel for coming in late."
Hitsugaya whizzed so fast around, that he almost stumbled.
A blonde lady in a Lieutenant Colonel's robes stood at the door, bowed in the most perfect way and said very respectfully.
"Lieutenant Colonel Matsumoto Rangiku at your service, sir!"
---------------------
Now everyone in the room were surprised including Isao , though some more than the others.
None of them had heard of this!
Ryo watched Hitsugaya narrowly from the corner of his eye. The Colonel's reaction was a bit too quick. Ryo kept that into account.
Hitsugaya, however, immediately regained his composure. He was trying to contain the bursting feeling inside himself. Here he thought he wouldn't see her for a month at least or more, and there she stood in flesh before him (so to speak). He was part surprised, part delighted, part anxious that something might have gone wrong. At the moment, he had no scope of solving the puzzle of how the heck had she come to become a part of DG let alone section 10, so he concluded that he would have to keep this for another time.
On Matsumoto's side, she could hardly trust herself not to react in an inappropriate fashion once she saw his face, so she closed her eyes and bowed with all the respect she harboured for the young Colonel who ruled her heart and soul.
Isao was taken aback at first but he knew that the wily old General was fond of surprises.
He didn't know the background, but was glad that she was the first who wholeheartedly welcomed the new Colonel, herself being a newcomer though.
With the sight of Matsumoto, Hitsugaya realised, he now felt more confident than before. Her presence was like a ray of sunshine in the room. He immediately turned and took charge.
"Now that (almost) everyone is here, I would like to..."
-------------------
The section 10 Colonel was busy the whole day. He could hardly get a moment of respite with the load of operations section 10 were involved in.
Some examples, sorting out ghosts developing into something other than a hollow when captured by human beings with spiritual powers. Clearing out the messes of Onmyouji, priests etc when they exorcised ghosts. More often than not, they turn out to be fakes. Experiments or covert activities of so called psychic societies or clubs, who recalled spirits even after their soul burials and bind them to people or places. Guarding of holy regions or Mukeiwa which gave off spiritual powers and could amplify the spiritual powers of humans as well as pluses and any other kind of being which was essentially a spirit.
On top of that, Hitsugaya had to read the profiles of about a 100 shinigamis or more who were a part of section 10 to be able to gauge their abilities so as to assign each to his appropriate task. Besides this, he had to approve and authorize the immigration of each and every plus who failed soul burial.
Finally when the day was over, Hitsugaya saw that there was a shifts chart on the wall of his office and to his exasperation, his two Lieutenants were the stand-ins when he slept!! To complete it, Hitsugaya squinted to look at the Fudoushima map pasted right beside it which showed his new accommodation was separate from the accommodations of all the Majors and Lieutenants!
No time and no scope to be alone with Matsumoto.
" Damn!", he cursed, " What the heck were we doing in SS? This is maniacal in comparison!"
Something on the map caught his eye and he took a good look at it. The chambers of both the Lieutenants were side-by-side! Even though he trusted Matsumoto, but , as doubtful as his actual character might be, Hitsugaya couldn't ignore the fact that Ryo was a handsome guy.
He shook his head. He was being absurd. He blamed it on his fatigue.
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He shifted his exhausted body to his new house. The whole town seemed to be asleep except for the main building. It was 2 AM. He wondered whether this was to be his schedule every day.
He entered his new place using the key he was handed and saw it was a huge house. Indeed, it felt so empty even though he could see his stuff around, placed by the privates no doubt. He suddenly detected a faint reiatsu. It was gone as soon as he detected it.
Hoping against hope, he thought, "Matsumoto?" . He switched the lights on and checked every room until he gave up just before he entered the bedroom. He peeped in and felt his drowsy body give way.
He collapsed on the soft bed. He thought that he was getting delirious, in his extreme jadedness, his mind was playing tricks on him making him thinking about the one thing that was his constant companion in his thoughts throughout the day.
He covered his eyes with fore-arm and said out aloud, " What a waste!"
"What is?"
Hitsugaya started and saw Matsumoto was sitting her elbows on the side of the bed and looking at him like an innocent kitten.
"You-you here?...How did you..Don't you have your shift?..."
Matsumoto replied, " You should read the chart properly, alternate days!! My shift is tomorrow!"
"But how did you get in?"
"Aww..", Matsumoto flopped herself on the bed, as if it were her own, " I-"
"- couldn't have forged my key again??". Hitsugaya looked at her with a raised brow as he stood up and faced her.
"Nope! But I did make a hole in your kitchen window."
" WHAT??...Then, how come I didn't notice it??"
" Coz I covered it with a curtain. You wouldn't know what was different if you hadn't been here before, wouldja?"
She placed her arms below her head as she lay facing upwards.
Hitsugaya was at first bewildered and then couldn't help but be amused by the absurdity of her action. How did she manage to keep that spirit? But then again, this was one of the numerous reasons he fell in love with her.
He had to laugh. For the first time today. He covered his eyes, and let out an honest from the heart laughter, genuinely impressed at her waywardness, her wildness. In his mind, "My girlfriend is a riot!!"
Matsumoto was surprised at his reaction, then she smiled at him while watching him, her eyes twinkling. He looked happier to her and he looked ...
Hitsugaya stopped when he noticed her staring bemusedly and asked , " What?"
She rolled herself towards him and propped herself on her elbows.
"Taichou...when you laugh...YOU ARE SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO CUUUUUUUUUUUUUTE!!"
-------------------
Hitsugaya blushed a bit and coughed.
He sat on the side of the bed with his back to her.
" Matsumoto, did you loose to the new captain of 10th Division?"
"No."
"Didn't you get appointed as the 10th Division captain?"
"Yep."
"What are you doing here?"
"The old General...well, our ex- boss gave me an option to choose between being an LC here or a captain there.."
"...And you chose...?", though he knew the answer.
"Here."
Hitsugaya folded his hands and sat down with his back to her. Though Matsumoto couldn't see his face, she knew he was wearing a serious expression.
"Why?", he said.
She lay on her back again with her arms pillowing her head, " Ah! I couldn't handle the pressure...no more sleep-ins...aww, life got harder..."
"..."
"...without you around..", this last part delivered in a lower tone.
Hitsugaya breathed, sensible to what she said. He still didn't turn around.
" So you thought, since I was the Colonel here, you could get some slack once again..."
"hmmm...nah!", she rolled on her tummy one again but this time, she rested her chin on her fore-arm flat on the bed, her eyes shining in the dark room, " ...but I would get to hear you screaming 'Matsumoto' once again..."
Hitsugaya turned to look at her while seated, she was smiling ear-to-ear, obviously glad to be with him again...(in a childlike way, he thought.)
Hitsugaya sighed. They were missing the same things. The settings wasn't the same however. Now that he was relaxed a bit, he got to realise that he might have been doing more than his share today. Besides Matsumoto, he could not trust anyone here. He knew he did not have the trust of everyone, if of anyone at all. The section 10 members not being so long in this division, he could see that there was not much unity. He would have to work something out to bring everyone under his command. In the midst of this, ...
"Taicho, what are you thinking?"
Matsumoto had sat up a bit and was looking at his face at two inches distance as she normally did so many times during the last 6 years. She was seated up on her palms leaning towards him. But the situation now was different than all those times. Their places in each others' lives was different now. He had more rights now, he was in a liberty to...
The room was dark, the bedroom window curtain obscured the moon but let a few streaks of moonbeams in, the face of the sultry beauty close to his, stirred something within him.
" I think...", he said as he placed his hand on her arm and buried his face between her neck and shoulder.
"...that now is not the time for words."
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His hand travelled around her narrow waist and pulled her down lying flat on the bed.
Matsumoto was still unused to this part of him, even after last night. She couldn't stop her heart from beating wildly as she fell powerless under him.
" W-wait!"
Hitsugaya stopped but didn't raise his head, his breath lingering on her neck, she felt ticklish but willed herself not to giggle.
" I heard that sex with an underage was punishable by law."
" There is no such rule in SS.", Hitsugaya raised his head.
" But we are under the jurisdiction of human countries... I am pretty sure all these countries have.."
" Last I heard, they aren't applicable to the dead...", Hitsugaya bent on her neck and kissed it.
She felt his long fingers touching her waist, she brought them to her chest, her robes still covering her mammoth cleavage. He raised his head, looking at her and then kissing her on the lips as he inserted his hand between the partition of the robes to touch her warm skin underneath.
From a dead tree outside the house overlooking the bedroom window, a dark figure stood watching on a bough, through a telescope apparently made of solidified moonlight??, its line of vision forming a streak of moonbeam that came through the parted curtain of the bedroom window.
The dark figure was of a very pale skinned woman, shinigami, no doubt. she had long flowing dark hair, the lightest blue eyes and a small mole touching her upper lip which was blood red and curved in a smile. She had a tattoo of crisscrossing moons below her neck and above her chest.
She had a small headphone attached to her ear with a microphone, just like the ones in SS. Through her headpiece, she could hear someone at the other end saying, " Interesting."
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